Need a New Browser?

Like many other people on the net you're getting tired of the spyware and pop ups and other funky things that certain browsers tend to put on your computer not to mention the weekly nagging updates to the program! Yeah I'm talking about IE or Internet Explorer (Exploder haha). While it's a good browser there are others out there that can do the same things and some even have other bells and whistles that are more useful!

First FireFox

Fire Fox is found on www.mozilla.org and is an open source free browser. It does the same thing as IE.... surf the net. FireFox also has other features though. You can install add ins for various features including a calendar (in beta still but useful) and my pet Quick Notes which lets me take notes without having to switch windows to a text editor everytime I need to make a note about something. Useful for research or copying parts of e-mail that you need to keep or whatever. It also has a feature that lets you have multiple pages and sites open in one window and it takes up less system resources! You can also set multiple home pages in tabs so that everytime you open the browser your favorite places to visit open up on their own... say your e-mail, search engine and a favorite YahooGroup's homepage.

There are many, many, many other things the browser does some of which I don't use but you might find useful. Explore the extensions area and also search for 3rd party extensions as the best part of open source software is that anyone can create an extension or add in for the browser and give it away!

Next time:
Mozilla

Sue Darby ~ www.suestinycostumes.com
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Downloading My Products

I now have a new process for delivery of the items on my site. The old process required me to manually setup downloads. My new process is automated. Buying is still simple: click the buy button and the item appears in your cart, click checkout and you have the option of signing up for PayPal or not or using an existing account to pay. It’s the after payment process that is new. PayPal still sends a confirmation of payment but it also behind the scenes contacts the download provider for me, PayLoadz. PayLoadz job is to send you an e-mail with your order information and links to download the item(s) you just purchased. It has a 48-hour time limit on the original message they send you but I can extend that if needed.

It’s simple really once you get the Order Information message you

1) Click on the link provided or copy & paste it into your browser

2) Right click on the item link and go to save as

3) Navigate to the folder you wish to save in (personally I put everything on the desktop and move it to it’s folder later on… just faster and easier for me)

4) Repeat for any other items you purchased

It’s that easy! Once the items are on your system they are your patterns to keep. You may make up the pattern and sell the finished item but NOT the pattern or the file for the pattern. The only thing I ask is if you sell the finished items you make please give credit to the designer in the form of my name and at least my web address. If there’s question about this drop me a note and we can discuss it.

Sue Darby~Owner
www.suestinycostumes.com

Tips & Tricks

Hints Tips & Tricks

Cutting:

Cut out paper patterns with white space and use scotch tape to hold the pieces down. Then use a rotary cutter to cut each piece on the single layer of fabric. This requires a little more work for reversing pieces and cutting enough of each piece but the accuracy of the rotary cutter is worth it for the effects for sewing.

Marking:

Use a pin to mark dart tips & ends and then use a water, air or chalk marker to mark where the pins are so that if the pins fall out before you can match them you still have the markings.

Construction:

Baste darts or any seam where the fabric might slip with simple pinning. Basting saves needles and your machine along with producing better results with seams. It allows you to ‘see’ the design come together and try it up to the doll for fitting and any adjustments you deem necessary. If the fabric is very fragile basting instead of pinning will leave fewer pin marks, which on some fabrics can be hard to get out.

As I learn more I'll post further ideas and suggestions for sewing. I am by no means a beginner but I've just never really thought about writing out all my ideas and things I've discovered over the years.