By Carol Duvall
These are the fun products and the ones we had to show you today do everything from light up your life to organize your supplies to help you with your math. Sort of. Up first was a lamp from The Daylight Company that truly can lead a double life. At first glance this is a nice looking floor lamp that has a long gooseneck to make it possible to aim the light exactly where you want and need it. It also lives up to it's name as The Ultimate Daylight Lamp in that it simulates daylight so you see things as they really are, colorwise. It has a companion gooseneck that has a magnifying lens attached. And to make it even more practical it's all on casters so it will move easily where ever you want it. But that's not all! You do not have to keep getting up to get the scissors or the needle and thread or the whatever it is that you need because there is a metal tray (figure A) that slips over the lamp stand and holds all of your current needs at your fingertips. Put it on. Take it off. It can be done as quickly as you can read about it. It was the needleworkers of the world that Artfully Scribed had in mind when they came out with their Stitch-A-Log Needlework Organizer. This little book has a place for everything. There are pages for you to attach fabric swatches (figure B) along with everything you need to know about it. Is it dry cleanable or washable? What is the fabric? Where did you see it (or buy it) and on and on and on. Patterns? There's a place for those too?either those you have or those you want. If it has to do with needlework there is a place for it and all the information concerning it. There is even space for keeping track of your sewing machine maintenance! And speaking of sewing machines the latest from As You Wish is called Make It Sew (figure C) which was designed not with seamstresses in mind but rather the scrapbookers among you. "Don't glue it! Sew it!" should be the motto for this totally portable little battery operated sewing machine that comes complete with foot pedal. It's very small and very lightweight so you can easily stitch up those small paper embellishments (figure D) and then sew them to the pages themselves. It will give your scrapbook a whole new look. And again for the scrapbookers of the world comes an item designed with you in mind. Do you like the kaleidoscope look (figure E) but think it is waaay too difficult to accomplish especially because you have long forgotten your high school math? Not to worry. The clever Kaleidoscope Mirrors and Zangle templates (figure F) make it a snap to accomplish. Place the kaleidoscope mirror (figure G) in back of your picture and move it in and out until you get the look you want, put those see-thru plastic templates in place (figure H) and find out where to cut on how many photos. And do what they say in their printed words. Easy and fun. Next was a product that to many of you would look familiar, because you know it has been around for a very long time, but look again. Though the Hands-Free Magnifier (figure I) from Carson Optical may look familiar, there is a small but very helpful change. This wear-around-your-neck magnifier now has a small light underneath that is directed to what you are working on. Turn it on or off as the situation requires. It's a little thing but a big help. So is the quarter-sized bi-focal lens inserted just above the light. Little things can sometimes mean a lot. Another product that has been around for quite a long time is the Logan Mat Cutter (figure J), that finds its way into many craft and art supply stores because of the number of mats many crafters use when framing their art work. The mats can be fairly expensive to buy but surprisingly easy to make. The large mat cutter has not changed ("if it ain't broke, don't fix it"), but they now include a straight-edged cutter with it (figure K). This makes a complete set because with the straight-edged cutter, you can cut the very large pieces of mat board into individual pieces, and then use the original beveled-edge cutter for cutting the centers from the mats. But relatively new on the scene in the Do-It-Yourself Mat Cutting Kit. This is smaller than the big mat cutter and much less expensive ($59.95), but it has many of the same features as the larger model and does a terrific job. If you cut many mats (figure L) for photos or needlework or youngsters' art, etc., a mat cutter can be a real money saver. Can there ever be too many rulers in the world? Obviously the folks at Olifa don't think so because they recently came out with Optima, an entire batch of rulers from small 4-1/2" square rulers to 6" square to 12" square to 6" x 15 to 6" x 24". But just a bunch of new sizes was not the big news, it was the reversible quality of them. When drawing or measuring on dark colored fabric or paper, turn the ruler with the bright yellow markings side up (figure M). When you switch to lighter colors like pastels and whites turn the ruler dark side up (figure N). All of the markings are exactly opposite each other so you don't have to try and guess which side you are looking on. In all instances it will be the side you can see! For scrapbookers, cardmakers and general crafters are the new REALLY BIG Gargantuan punches from E-Magination (figure O). Circles, ovals, squares all big enough to use for actually cropping your photos. But what makes them different from some of the other big punches out there? It's their weight. How they make punches this big but still have them weigh in at a reasonable poundage I have no idea. But they do and they work.
RESOURCES :
The Ultimate Lamp
Daylight Company LLC
New Holland, PA
Toll Free Phone: 866-DAYLIGHT (329-5444)
E-mail: info@daylightcompany.com
Website: www.daylightcompany.com
Stitch-A-Log
Artfully Scribed
We apologize no contact information is available.
Make It Sew sewing machine
As You Wish
Draper, UT
Phone: 801-553-7095
E-mail: info@asyouwish-products.com
Website: www.asyouwish-products.com
Zangles cutting templates, Kaleidoscope Mirrors
Romar Photo
Beloit, WI
Phone: 608-299-1615
Website: www.romarphoto.com
MagniFree Hands Free Magnifier with light
Carson Optical
Hauppauge, NY
Phone: 631-547-5000
Toll Free Phone: 800-967-8427 (OPTICS)
Website: www.carson-optical.com
Do-It-Yourself Mat Cutting kit, Compact Mat Cutter
Logan Graphic Products Inc.
Wauconda, IL
USA
Phone: 847-526-5515
Toll Free Phone: 800-331-6232
Fax: 800-331-6329
E-mail: cs@logangraphic.com
Website: www.logangraphic.com
Gargantuan punches jumbo-sized punches
Emagination Crafts
We apologize no contact information is available.
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