PBDesigns Crafts And Other Adventures

Hello Bloggers, Dows anyone Blog anymore? Crochet Pattern Sale

2018-03-27T21:27:00.000-07:00

Hello Bloggers,
I know with all the social media out there I wonder how many still blog?
I know I am not here very often. Time just does not allow it. But I am trying to do better and increase my followers again.

What's going on in my life this week?

I am working digenly on my SnC [Stitch n Chicks] Club Projet. This year the group voted to do a "Temperature Scarf/Lapghan" I chose the latter. It's week 9 and I am on target. We crochet 4 rows each week based on the average temps or if it rains the ladies cna use their "rain" color for that week. I have chosen to do 10 colors and some of the ladies are doing 8 colors. We all made our color chart hooking a strand of each color, the name of the color and brand next to the thermometer reading along with the temps to use with that color. Our rain, muti colored yarn is the last.
As you can see we also keep a diary of each week and our feelings and why we chose certain stitches or colors. My lapghan is coming along well I started with a white base which I will use around the lapghan when its done. :) Lots of rain over the last month.

I have acquired some wonderful crochet and knitting magazines. Many of these are out of print. MY PBD Patterns blog will be selling them. Be sure to go THERE and take a peek!

Some Paarties, Crafts, trips & more

2017-09-14T20:07:00.000-07:00

I found these Twinkies that are chocolate and peanut butter.

My hubby loves Reeses. Its like the same flavor but in cake form.

my friend and I went to a Safari Masquerade party and we made up our costumes. Since it was a Red Hat event we kept our colors true. we got purple tee shirts and ironed on paw prints with Queen crowns and the words "Wildcats" then made our masks with red rhinestones and got purple tone leopard leggings and tails and cat ears and put red on our heads...

cute huh

Only a lick for the cupcake since I swore off sweets

This was another masquerade Midnight Summer's Dream :)

And we had a Crazy Wig party and I won a Pink wig my

favorite color

I really like this one

this I made for the SnC winner at our picnic in our crating group

the SnC of the year won this cute pin cushion I made

and this too

the Snuggle I made

I also made this Sparkle thin scarf from ladder yarn

these three Football heroes are in Buffalo in front of a restaurant

I made this card and this cupcake was a gift for a crafting friend

These gals put on a "Love Boat" skit with singing for a friends birthday

that is always cruising

my DIL and Niece and I in NY

my Niece made me this beautiful "mad" book for keeping all my special stuff and thoughts in I love it!

this fan was a gift at the Midnight Summer's Dream party too cute

Till next time.......

4th of July Crafting

2017-06-28T17:12:00.000-07:00

Hello Blogland....

Today I worked on a fun 4th of July Craft... I got my idea from over at

Sword fights and Starry nights

I had a really fun day crafting it and added a few little designs

of my own to the original design.

What do you think?

I think it came out pretty cool...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

2016-12-24T12:27:00.004-08:00

To all my blogging Friends

Happy Easter Blogging Friends

2015-04-03T20:00:00.002-07:00

Merry Christmas Readers

2014-12-11T10:46:00.002-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS

HAPPY NEW YEAR

from our home to yours...

Pretty - Funny - and Just Thinking

2014-09-08T12:10:00.002-07:00

MIA with Some Funnies & Pretty Stuff

Hello all it has been awhile since
I have posted...
with FB it seems that blogging got left
behind a bit. :(
I do miss my blogging friends. It seemed so much more personal and enjoyable. I like to use FB for posting my photos. That way I can share with family and friends anywhere.

thank you Chatty Crone

Source: Pinerest

thank you Chatty

FIND THE PROBLEM IN EACH PICTURE ~ HOW SHARP IS YOUR MIND?
Colgate has created a very ingenious advertising campaign to promote their dental floss, but before I explain to you the main detail of these images, I will let you appreciate them quietly ~

All right, now that you had time to quietly observe the images ~

In the first one you will now notice that she has one finger too many in her hand.

In the second one a phantom arm is floating there.

In the third one the man has only one ear.

Thank you Ann - I missed all of them!

Thank you Chatty

The Common Cold

2014-01-10T14:02:00.000-08:00

[source]

How is the common cold transmitted?

We often wonder how is the Common Cold Spread? I always thought you had to be around an ill person. But, as you read further you will see it is not always the norm.. WASH your hands often and carry little hand disinfectants in your bags to use when you go shopping or anywhere else.

The common cold is spread in 2 ways; by direct contact with infected areas from a contaminated surface or by inhaling the airborne germs after someone sneezes or coughs. Person-to-person transmission often occurs when an someone who has a cold blows or touches their nose and then touches someone or something else. A healthy individual who then makes direct contact with these germs can become infected, often after their contaminated hands make contact with their own eyes or nose. A cold virus can live on objects such as pens, books, telephones, computer keyboards, and coffee cups for several hours and can thus be acquired from contact with these objects.

What are the symptoms and signs of the common cold in adults, children, and infants?

The symptoms of the common cold typically begin two to three days after acquiring the infection (incubation period). Symptoms and signs of the common cold vary depending on the virus responsible for the infection and may include the following

• nasal stuffiness or drainage, • sore or scratchy throat, • sneezing, • hoarseness,• cough, • watery eyes, • low-grade fever, • headache, • body aches, and •fatigue.

Does it have anything to do with exposure to cold weather?

Though the common cold usually occurs in the fall and winter months, the cold weather itself does not cause the common cold.

What is the difference between the common cold and influenza (the flu)?

Many people confuse the common cold with influenza (the flu). Influenza is caused by the influenza virus, while the common cold generally is not.

Are antibiotics a suitable treatment for the common cold?

No. Antibiotics play no role in treating the common cold. Antibiotics are effective only against illnesses caused by bacteria, and colds are caused by viruses.

When should a physician or other health-care practitioner be consulted?

Generally, the common cold can be treated at home and managed with over-the-counter medications. However, if you develop more severe symptoms such as shaking chills, high fever (greater than 102 F), severe headache, neck stiffness, vomiting, abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, chest pain, confusion, or failure to improve after 10 days, you should consult your physician

[source]

Some Pretzel Fun

2014-01-05T15:29:00.004-08:00

I love Pretzel's do you?

[source]

Pretzel Dips

Nutrition Information

Pretzel Recipe: Pizza Pretzel with

Pasta Sauce

In 2003, Pennsylvania Governor, Ed Rendell declares April 26 National Pretzel Day to acknowledge the importance of the pretzel to the state's history and economy.

A Brief History Of The Pretzel, presented by Snyder's of Hanover

Let's Look at a 2013 Pretzel Commercials

Over the Last 39 Years

In 1971, the word "Salt", did not have the
negative outlook from people as it is today

Smoken' HOT Country Dancing - Pretzel - Instructional Country Swing Dancing

2014-01-05T15:16:00.001-08:00

Homemade Soft Pretzels - Recipe by Laura Vitale - Laura in the Kitchen E...

2014-01-05T15:14:00.001-08:00

MErry Christmas to All and Happy Crafting....

2013-12-30T12:36:00.000-08:00

Hello my fellow bloggers. It has been awhile. I have been extremely busy with my groups and then in OCt I hurt my shoulder/arm and was unable to be on the computer too long. :(

Alas my blogs suffered! but I am back....so as to what the photo above it?????

They are called "Notes to Self" socks... have you heard of them??? Really cute....as some of you know I always get something funny, interesting, different for my adult children and this year for Christmas I got them all these socks....

The socks send messages to the wearer... with an explanation on the hanging card.....really clever...

For one of my parties and with my family I wore these light up Reindeer glasses too cute!

Now to crafting I made 2 new decorations this year....one was these really fun Christmas tree combo

aren't they so cool? Pretty Ditty has a tutorial for them. I loved them and got so many compliments even from the kids which is unusal... they think I craft wayyyy too much!! LOL but really I want to make more for gifts for next year. I added gifts under the trees.. I thought it was a nice touch!

Then I saw this fun Santa wreath and had to try it. This was the easiest wreath to make... REALLY... try one you will be surprised and it looks so terrific.. see She Knows for the tutorial...

Christmas was a fun day at my house with my family. Everyone came and everyone got along! WOW!!! Isn't it true how all family gatherings there is usually always something to talk about for days afterwards????

So how was your Christmas? Did you make anything special? I would love to hear about it!!!

Till 2014 Happy New Year to All!!!!!

We"re off to See the Wizard the Wonderful Wizard of Oz!!!

2013-10-12T19:46:00.000-07:00

[source]

One of all time favorite movies was and still is The Wizard of Oz. It has become an annual ritual over the holidays to make sure I watch it at least once or maybe even twice. I was sadden when I asked my granddaughters if they liked it and they said they had never seen it???? What I said? But they were not really interested in seeing it. I guess it has fond memories of my childhood linked to it. When I was little my mom and dad always went over my favorite Aunt & Uncle's house and played cards. It was more than one time, but I specifically remember it during November when I would sit in front of their black & white [oops showing my age] and watch the notorious all time classic, The Wizard of Oz, while they were laughing and arguing over their card game in the nearby kitchen. I lived in the east and it was cold outside and you could hear the wind blowing and the windows creaking from the force. I loved it there and felt warm and cozy with my pillow in my pj's watching my movie all curled up in my big fuzzy blanket.

I am sure we all have our favorite childhood memories, but this was the one that made the 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz, become my favorite holiday ritual.

[source]

The story of Dorothy and her friends on the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City has become an icon to many baby-boomers, but I wonder has it lost its appeal to the next generation or what about the next one???
It is, perhaps, the closest thing I have today to a perfect fairy tale. I love the part when the strong wind hits Kansas and you hear Dorothy yelling "Auntie Em! Auntie Em!" Or what about the theme music for Miss Gulch's demonic bicycle ride or the march of the Wicked Witch's palace guards? And my favorite of course, "Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!" I am also partial to the phrase "I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore,".

[source]

The movie has been remade, made into a play and referenced in dozens of movies, television shows, and books. And who doesn't love Elton John's 1973 release Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, but none have come close to the imaginative power or lasting mind imprint of the original movie.

Did you know that Buddy Epsen was originally suppose to play the scarecrow? He actually started to play the part when he became deathly ill and had to be hospitalize from the silver paint in the Tin man's make-up.

Even Judy Garland who was made legendary after playing Dorothy was not the 1st choice. Originally MGM wanted Shirley Temple, but alas she was obligated to to Fox and Over the Rainbow [my favorite version was done by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole's] most was cut out of the movie. Think of how different that would be today??? The song has become and American culture known song.

W.C. Fields was casted to play the Wizard, but as he was well known for his difficulty to work with, the studio changed their minds.

[source]

I do love the this movie and ALL its characters too. If you get a chance it will be playing this year on TMC [Turner Movie Classics]

SUNDAY NOVEMBER, 24 2013 AT 08:00 PM

SUNDAY NOVEMBER, 24 2013 AT 10:15 PM

FRIDAY NOVEMBER, 29 2013 AT 03:45 PM

SATURDAY DECEMBER, 21 2013 AT 07:00 PM

SATURDAY DECEMBER, 21 2013 AT 09:15 PM

SUNDAY DECEMBER, 22 2013 AT 01:00 PM

I'll be watching it will you?

A Crafting We Will Go......Projects for Halloween

2013-10-08T11:16:00.000-07:00

I love Halloween

my friend made up this cute snack bag and I won it in a raffle

bagged prizes

cute boxes from the $1 store for prizes

I made some red sucker spiders

decorating a pupkin

getting my feet massaged at the fair...

my Sherlock Holmes hat

I love PINK shopping purchases

Sherlocks outfit

this was funny found it at an old fashion candy store

the pumpkin guessing pumpkin all dressed and ready for the party

added a cpouple spiders too

earrings I made that can be worn by the winner

one of our members made all these Snuggles blankets for our charity giving in Dec

these are for our SnC Halloween party gifts for members

I made spiders

got a bit better

I love these jewels

fun to make

they look cute

a picture I made a few years ago for our Halloween party

I made a pink one too

my favorite one

Halloween Crafts

2013-09-22T20:25:00.000-07:00

easy and a great decoration

Spider Egg

Owl Lantern

add some fangs to make him spooky

I just made these for a Red Hats party I am having next month

they are easy and a fun little table decoration and treat.

Here's the "How tos

Guest Post: How to Optimize your Store using SEO Techniques by Brandon Leibowitz

2013-08-29T21:42:00.001-07:00

Guest Post:

How to Optimize your Store
using SEO Techniques

[source]

In order to optimize an online store for handmade and vintage goods you want to make sure you have done the proper keyword research first. This is a step often overlooked by many people. Without knowing what keywords people are searching for you will never have a chance of getting traffic from Google, Yahoo, Bing, or any search engine. You will rank, but those keywords will have no searches so it is pointless to rank for those. Use the free Google Keyword Tool to find keywords that have high search volumes while having low to medium competition. You will even find keywords you may never of thought about giving you new ideas.

Once you find these keywords you want to place them in as many places as possible on your store without looking like a SPAMMER. This can be tricky so using keyword variations, synonyms, plurals, reorder the words, etc. is highly recommended. Places to add your keywords include the store name, product titles and descriptions. An example of a good product title would be “Buy Handmade Art from (Store Name)”. This incorporates the keyword you are targeting as well as branding your store name in the mind of users. Keep the page title tag under 70 characters so it will all appear in the search engines and not be cut off. The meta description should be two sentences between 150 and 170 characters describing your products with a call to action at the end.

Alt tags are a way for the search engines to understand what your picture is about. Search engines cannot read pictures then need alt tags that can help them read what the image is about. A good example of an alt tag would be “unique handmade gifts”. Not all stores offer this so call and see if they do. Also be sure to name the product images with the proper keywords as this can get your products appearing in Google Images. This can bring in a lot of traffic, more than Pinterest would bring in.

These are all techniques and ways to expand your online store and generate more visitors to your site. It is up to you to have a properly optimized landing page / store that you test to see how you convert your leads into sales. Always be testing what products do best and promote those.

Guest Bio: Brandon Leibowitz, enjoys working with crafts and selling handmade items on the internet, mainly unique and vintage items that no one has or can find. If you want to join the virtual marketplace it is a great place to be at The Craft Star.

Note: All information is the opinions of the "Guest Post" author, unless otherwise noted. PBDesigns Crafts and Other Adventures does not guarantee or may not agree with any of the material covered in this article.

DIY Ideas..

2013-07-13T17:03:00.000-07:00

What a great idea....pens and a plastic bottle as a Sprinkler

See how to make it HERE

Too cute and made with plastic spoons just head off to the $1 store and start making your lamp

Directions HERE

Fun Projects

2013-06-14T16:48:00.001-07:00

Chatterbox made a really cute postcard that is easy and fun to make..

Make a cute easy teacup pincushion

Our Group went on a Boat Cruise

2013-06-12T20:27:00.000-07:00

What a fun project to make.... a vintage looking lamp

we saw "Bob's Big Boy"

Naples

our stitching group too a stitch and cruise ride today

Afterwards we went and ate at a local place that was on a pond

Trip back to NY and Projects and Fun

2013-06-11T20:26:00.003-07:00

Check out I got my new website up ....still under construction but its looking better and much more friendlier to use. :)

www.pointbreezedesigns.com

Cute idea...make a plastic canvas playing card holder...tutorial here

my 1st strawberries

my front flowers

I love spring when the trees are all in bloom

the river leading up to the falls

the Falls

rain is coming

pouring thunder and lightening

cute store

I finished my mystery puzzle

Psych "The Chocolate Dance"

2013-04-17T11:51:00.002-07:00

I love "Psych" it is so over the top silly.....and this is why....

Who doesn't love the

"Chocolate Dance"

Dove's Dark Chocolate is my favorite what is yours????

What Have I Been Up To? Let's Take a Photo Stroll ....

2013-04-11T20:12:00.000-07:00

my jacket is done

seen on our shopping spree

my friend loves frogs

had to let it sit while the glue dried that held the straw in place

poked in lots of flowers

I used a foam ring

I made a$1 store wreath

my new IPhone

my RH friend gave me a RH Flag

some new lip earrings and flower clips

I got a new purple dress

I went shopping at Khols

driving up to Big Bear you can still see the snow

this is going up the road entering Sugarloaf

looking up the road to our cabin

this is looking up our street from in front of our cabin

on our back porch

the yard

Chloee was fasinated with the fire

our Red Hats went bowling, I missed the pins

my RH friend is lending me her handmade bunny slippers and purse for
the PJ breakfast I am attending in May too cute!

the flower hat, ring, bracelet I won in the drawing

I bought a mic

these MM glasses I got at the garage "Trunk" sale

My best pen pal friend sent me a wonderful bax filled with loads of crafting supplies. WOW!!

look at all the goodies

stamps from all over the world

ribbons and trims

beautiful scarf

bells and more

glitters

masks to decorate

metal rings

satin ribbons

I cannot thank her enough for all these jewels!

Happy Birthday to Me.................

2013-04-06T12:50:00.000-07:00

Wow ...It's my Birthday!!!! Well actually it was Thursday....I had a wonderful day and week....my family celebrated with me and friends on Sunday along with Easter...then on Wednesday my hubby took me out to my favorite restaurant, Walt's Wharf....for some scrumptious Coconut Shrimp. And then on Thursday my stitching friends gave me a little celebration WOW.....I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family and friends to celebrate my special day!!!

You have to watch this...my good friend gave this

chicken to me on Easter.....lol

I won a gift card to the movies from a naming contest

some of my Easter bunnies

my mom made this in her ceramics class back in the early 70s for my son for Easter one year

IT is so cute

I even got "Maxine" slippers LOL

my sister sent me this cute dancing dog...lol

and a book by one of my favorite authors Maggie Sefton

March National Craft Month

2013-03-26T18:40:00.000-07:00

[source]

Although the month is almost over there's still time to CRAFT!!! March is Inter(national) Crochet Month and that lots of crochet bloggers, authors and designers are doing some really fun things to celebrate. One of those things is the huge Blog Tour Through Crochet Country hosted by Crochetville. If you want to see some of their designs Crochet Concuoiscence has posted 2 dozen crochet projects that have been posted on the tour, including free crochet patterns, tutorials and more.

I loved this one!! Hot Lava Crochet shows how you CAN crochet just about anywhere and anytime... lol

[source]

How Much Should I sell My Handmade Item For????

2013-03-21T13:36:00.002-07:00

I was bog hopping my "fav" blogs and ran across this post over at "Craftymumz Creations" that she saw over at another "fav" blog of mine "Bumble Bee's Craft Den" concerning selling your handmade items. We all know how hard we work making our crafting projects, but when it comes to selling them most people do not want to pay the worth of the item. :( A lot of people don't seem to want to pay a lot for handmade items or think that maybe they should be cheaper than a mass produced item. This poster hits the nail on the head really! Most crafters don't get paid anything like the minimum hourly rate and can take hours handmaking an item and I think sometimes people forget this.

Sad but oh so true!!!

People need to stop thinking it is a garage sale

and that just because it is handmade

doesn't mean it is cheaper!!!!

I have made it a practice to charge the cost of the materials, the time, and the profit.

Rule of thumb 3X the cost.....

this does not always work when trying to sell,

but it is what your items are worth.

[source]

How can you get these prices????

Well make your displays look inviting,

never overcrowd the table.

[source]

Always use boxes or something to give it

a tiered look, such as 3-4 levels.

Always keep your box with $$$ hidden behind a box.

Be super friendly and explain your product,

in other words sell it.

Also be sure to clearly mark the price, and name of item and maybe its use if there may be a question.

Think to yourself, why would I buy this item?

Then arrange how you might want to see it on a table. Also be sure to use a colorful table cloth

and put cheaper items up front.

[source]

Think of how restaurants do it???

They always have a "come on"

to get customers there.

Then once they are there they are sure to

buy something a little more costly.

You can maybe have a cute basket

of small $1 items, or hanging items up front

and make sure the $1 or $2 or $3 items

are clearly visible to catch their eye.

The point is to bring them to your table!

Even if it costs you more to make them,

once someone lingers at your table

they will start looking

at the other more costly items.

[source]

Keep a mirror handy for customers to see

what it will look like on them.

Never sit down and ignore customers,

always stand and talk to everyone.

Always have business cards,

flyers of where you will be next,

and a poster with your name advertised.

And most importantly, other than your "come on" items, never price your other items too low.

[source]

People will pay if they think it is a higher cost item. The ones that won't...

wouldn't have bought the item at any cost.

Don't cheat yourself or other crafter's trying to make an honest dollar. It may take longer to sell some items, but when you do you will go away with a

[source]

BIG smile [who can resist that smile]on your face, satisfied that you made someone happy with an item you worked with pride!

Happy crafting!!!

**I hope these hints help you this is PBDesigns personal opinion.