Did you know that June 25th is LEON day. Have you ever heard of it? Me neither until a visitor named Cindy explained it to me a few years ago. LEON is NOEL spelled backwards. LEON day is the half-way mark until Christmas! It has been six months since Christmas and it is six months until Christmas

4th of July

Craft Designs 4 you has a great easy coaster set to make on plastic canvas. Plastic Canvas is great for kids because the needle has a large hole and its not a very sharp needle. 

http://www.craftdesigns4you.com/freejulycoasters.htm

Keeping with the coaster theme I found a crochet patriotic set on http://www.marloscrochetcorner.com/Patriotic%20Set.html

and I have of course found a knit pattern for you too...

Lion has a free pattern on their site for knit coaster and placemat but you need to register on their site to see it. Registration is free http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/kkc-patrioticPlacemats.html

Beads and things has a really great beaded necklace http://www.rings-things.com/Projects/68002-38.htm and their matching earrings http://www.rings-things.com/Projects/68002-38B.htm

My new favorite thing has been filet crochet. and there are so many free patterns on the net to do. About.com has this great flag pattern from 1795.

http://crochet.about.com/library/n1795usflag.htm

You can also go back a few weeks and listen to our Memorial day crafts episode. there are a lot of crafts and links there too. 

Joke of the week:

One day, we saw a news report on TV about the owner of a craft shop and one of her employees who had apprehended a would-be thief and held him captive until the police arrived to arrest him.

As we listened to the story, my grandson commented dryly, "What did they do? Hold him at needlepoint?"

Product recalls:

http://arkansasmatters.com/content/fulltext/news/?cid=76781

Dollar Tree is recalling 470-thousand hot glue guns made in China that pose a fire hazard.

While no injuries have been reported, there were four reported incidents where the glue guns short-circuited.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission says the Crafters Square Hot Melt Mini Glue Guns (see photo below) were sold at Dollar Tree stores for one-dollar each from December 2007 through March 2008.

People who purchased these glue guns should stop using them and return them to the Dollar Tree store where purchased for a refund.

Recycling and crafts

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=235401.0

crocheting with pop tabs tutorial and beautiful bag

http://www.craftzine-digital.com/craft/vol03/?pg=120&pm=2&u1=friend&cookies=1

Lime and Violet Binary Pattern for knit mittens - their podcast and yarn porn section are just great!

http://www.limenviolet.com/blog/?p=3536

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