As far as I can see, the return on the investment known as US Foreign aid has bought us nothing but hurt.

I do firmly believe that IF someone wants to make charitable efforts outside the country that makes it possible for them to do, that is their right and privilege.

So if Brangelina want to make life better for those in Africa instead of South LA, it is their money to spend as they wish.

But NOT so the US Government.

Instead

-restore the tax benefits so that once again there is a reason for the kind of Corporate support that so advance the Arts in the USA

– make it EASIER for individual and businesses to be good neighbors

– stop all foreign aid – and take all that money being used to help fund attacks on the USA, and use it for Small Business and Development loans and Disaster Relief within the US.

– Use tax credits and Right to Work laws to encourage companies to bring back their jobs and update their facilities lying dormant.

If we must buy raw materials, fine, but let’s see if we can bring them to the US.

– Let’s make it a REQUIREMENT that all Government goods and services from Medical Transcripton to clothing for out armed forces, MUST be awarded to US Companies PRODUCING the product or service in this COUNTRY.

Isn’t really about time we considering possibly having less so that we can make it possible for each of us, individual or company to help our neighbors instead of our enemies.

Just one of those things that runs thru my head pretty much every day.

Obviously all those things will take time, but in the meantime,

Let’s stop buying off shore on eBay and support the jobs for those same products that are helping to pay the salaries of our own citizens.

Let’s fuel our economy with oil and natural gas found inside our borders.

Let’s make it clear to the Wal-Marts that we are willing to pay an extra dollar for a shirt made in the USA instead of putting an entire town out of work over 50 cents.

Let’s stop defending everyone else’s borders so that there is safe haven for terrorista and bring our armed forces home and use those funds to protect our borders.

Let’s stop selling to our enemies and limits sales of technology and raw materials to our friends.

My personal goal is find at least ONE item each month that is either “Made In America” or is helping to support US Jobs

Here is just one:
– Buddy Jeans and Texas Jeans

And oh yeah, lets elect state and federal legislators and executives willing to put America first and take us back to a country where the concept of a Hand Up and further denigrate our citizens by only giving hand outs.

Okay rant over …. for the moment

My friendship with Jean dates back decades.

While it is often mentioned her significant contributions to Crochet …

It is well worth mentioning how much she has given to ALL segments of the industry.

Leisure Arts & American School of Needlework under her guidance probably MADE the craft industry possible.

Name a fiber activity and Jean was right there ready to encourage the budding independent designers and authors – generous to a fault with her time and talent,

After Leisure, Jean, with Rita Weiss created “Creative Partners” continuing thier individual and joint contributions.

Take a moment when you can and read just the brief summary of her life in the Needle Arts Industry and look at the wide range of her contributions to all niches.

http://www.creativepartnersllc.com/About_Us.html

On a personal level, Jean has been one of the most supportive individuals on the planet to me over the past few years as I dealt with issues related to my own health issues and my mother’s final illness and recent death.

Just a year since the death of Kim Crews Barnett – it seems we are losing far too many, too soon of the wonderful people who have worked to make these hobbies available to us.

Please hold her in your heart as well as here family and friends

Lest we forget what today really means:

http://ramparts360.com/american-exceptionalism/fridays-at-the-pentagon/

Memorial Day is about Honoring, not eating

and sometimes a little more,

Happy Birthday Observed & Actual to Ffej

Thanks to all who serve

Wheat

Okay, YES I am now selling yarn in our on-line store. And this is, to a VERY small degree related to that… but, it is more about getting your feedback – who knows if I will ever find the time to implement it.

One of the challenges for those new to design is the availability of yarn “other than” using your 40% coupons at JoAnn’s Michael’s etc.

Sure there is eBay and if you have enough street cred to have built a relationship with a particular yarn distributor.

As the economy has tightened, so have the ability of the non-Chain yarn distributors to provide yarns for sampling. In fact, maybe 90% of the time I actually buy sample skeins at retail.

From another seat at this table, retailers often have a problem with odd skeins from dye lots they can no longer match. (I have this constantly increasing box from where someone purchased 8 or 9 skeins and am left with only one of a dye lot.)

Then there is the problem not quite salable as new from returns, or torn labels or slightly underweight because someone thought it would okay to use a few yards from the skein to finish a project and then return it or other instances that cause me to refrain from selling at full price.

Additionally, for those whose only access to yarn is “on-line” how do we are today’s retailers respond to the need of the Yarn users who want to try “Yarn Shop Yarns” but still would like to obtain sample skeins to interview the yarns before committing to a major purchase.

I know this will not be quite as easy at it seems “to keep up” but I am wondering if it is something even worth doing because of the investment of time and energy required.

“your thoughts”

Wheat

who is STILL in search of an independent toe-up crocheted sock
pattern that can be used “for promotional purchases” – The pattern
author will get paid but the consumer will get the pattern with the
purchase of certain yarns.

Makiko Tada, who has given much for the good of the craft braiding community, is asking us to help her country.

I hope you will consider making a small donation – and will with all in the fiber arts community.