Cajun Corner Vol. 2, No. 46

Cajun Corner – Vol. 2, No. 46 – November 26, 2010


Bon Jour! Welcome to Cajun Stitchery’s weekly email and welcome to our family.

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Don’t forget to visit our  catalog at www.companycasuals.com/cajunstitchery and www.cajunstitchery.etsy.com often.

I still haven’t received the certified copy of my birth certificate.

I certainly hope everyone had a delightful Thanksgiving Day. On our end, I cooked way too much food and ate way too much food. We only had one visitor and that was our neighbor, London. We enjoyed his visit tremendously. We splurged and let the dogs eat leftovers. Evie and I definitely need to go on a diet today. She looks bloated. We watched several Christmas movies and just had a very nice, relaxing day. I must say that George has a gift for packing the refrigerator. I couldn’t get all of the leftovers in there but he worked his magic and everything was put away. If anyone is hungry, drop by the house; we have tons of food.

This week has been very active filling orders. Sadly, I cannot post the pictures on much of these things because they are Christmas gifts and top secret. A friend of mine asked me to make her a kleenex pouch with the words “You have a booger” embroidered and sent me a website where a lady made these for Christmas and traced the wording with a fabric marker, rather than embroidery. I laughed hysterically. I doubt I’ll make a kleenex cozy but I will embroider that and similar sayings on handkerchiefs. Somehow, I think that’s cute.

I finally found a robe wholesaler that I like, seems to have a good quality products and reasonable prices. If anyone is interested, I can get a 100% cotton, 3 lb, kimono terrycloth robe, 50” length, for about $30 and I’ll throw in the embroidered name or initials in the left chest area. This would make a wonderful and elegant Christmas gift for man or woman. This wholesaler also carries children’s terry robes, body wrap towels, towels, and hair wrap towels. In fact, this will be the sale of the week.

George got a bit sidetracked on the house. We needed to tear down the utility shed in the back but when George got inside he believes that it is salvageable. He took what remained of the roof off and is going to work on this building for the time being. The AC guy came over on Monday, as planned. He is supposed to have an estimate to us next week. As long as we can afford the AC job, George will work on the shed while the AC people are installing the AC/heat unit.

Christmas is coming and customers are doing their Christmas shopping at Cajun Stitchery. Get this out of the way as soon as you can. For all who have businesses out there, remember that we also sell personalized gift baskets.

Always remember that we are just a call or email away at cajunstitchery@yahoo.com or 850-261-2462 and place your order.

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This may be a repeat. If so, sorry:>(

Pierre and Boudreaux went on a camping trip.

After supper and several beers they both laid down for the night, and went to sleep.

Some hours later, Boudreaux woke up and nudged Pierre.

Boudreaux says, "Pierre, look up at de sky and tell me whatchu see."

Pierre replies, "I see millions and millions of stars."

Boudreaux says, "What does dat tell you?"

Pierre ponders for a minute, den says ... "Astronomically, it tells me dat dere are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe dat Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce dat de time is approximately a quarter past three. Theologically, I can see dat God is all powerful and dat we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, I suspect dat we will have a beautiful day tomorrow."

Well, despite all of de amazing information coming from Pierre, Boudreaux is not impressed. Boudreaux asks, "Mais Pierre, but *what* does dat tell you?"

Pierre is silent and puzzled, and doesn't answer.

Boudreaux slaps Pierre across de head and says, "Pierre, you idiot. Someone has stolen our dam tent!"

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French phrase of the week: Placer boogers ici. (Place boogers here)

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From: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-topsoil.htm

Topsoil is the upper surface of the Earth's crust, and usually is no deeper than approximately eight inches (20 centimeters). The Earth's topsoil mixes rich humus with minerals and composted material, resulting in a nutritious substrate for plants and trees. It may one of the Earth's most vital resources, because it represents a delicate nutritional balance that provides food for many of the animals on Earth, either directly in the form of plant material or indirectly in the form of products from animals that eat plants.

The delicate nature of topsoil was imperfectly understood until very recently. Traditionally, farmers have rotated crops because they discovered that rotation created a better crop yield, but they did not understand why this was. During the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, farmers planted profitable crops over and over again, rather than rotating, and ultimately stripped the topsoil of nutritive value. The stripped soil did not support plants, which hold topsoil to the earth, which meant that even light winds could pick up the limited remaining topsoil and transport it elsewhere.

Modern sustainable farming practices place a heavy emphasis on crop rotation to conserve valuable topsoil. Farmers keep crops in rotation, allow fields to lie fallow, and plant nitrogen fixing plants like beans to promote soil health. Many farmers also plow plant material into the topsoil to enrich the humus, and spread compost and manure on it to make the topsoil more nutritious and rich. Healthy topsoil is dark brown, moist, and crumbly, with chunks of plant material and rich earth. Unhealthy topsoil is pale gray, thin, and uniform in texture.

Farmers who do not use environmentally sensitive practices are slowly killing off their topsoil. In some areas of Africa, Australia, and the Midwest, farmers are working with only a few inches of topsoil and a growing pharmacopoeia of fertilizers. As the topsoil becomes more and more degraded, more complex formulations are needed in an attempt to restore the balance of nutrients to the soil. This exhausted soil can take years to repair with organic practices after it has been abandoned by conventional farmers. The ultimate result if these farming techniques continue is desertification, a process which is already being observed in Africa and Australia.

Farmers are concerned about topsoil because it sustains their crops, but biologists also keep an eye on global topsoil health. Plants need healthy topsoil to survive, and it is actually very easy to damage. In nature, an assortment of plants combine with natural cycles of fire and water to maintain the topsoil. Plants hold the topsoil to the Earth, water nourishes the plants, and the plants die or are burned in fires to restore nutrients to the topsoil. When this cycle is disrupted by farming or clearcutting, the results can be disastrous.

Please let me know if there is something that you would like to see in the weekly email. You may always call me at (850) 261-2462 or email me at cajunstitchery@yahoo.com.

If you are not a subscriber and would like to receive Cajun Corner weekly, please email cajunstitchery@yahoo.com and let me know to put you on our email list.

C’est tout, mes amis

Peggy Henshall

Cajun Stitchery

(850) 261-2462

cajunstitchery@yahoo.com

P.S. You are always welcome to stop by and look at all of the catalogs and pass some time with me, cher.

SALE OF THE WEEK (Good through Thursday, December 2, 2010)

Robe + embroidered name or initials = $30.00 (plus tax/shipping)

UNISEX - TERRY KIMONO BATHROBE

100% NATURAL COTTON

Terry Kimono Bath Robes have been woven using 100% Natural Cottons. The World's softest and the most absorbent cottons ever. Robes are made of terrycloth inside and outside. These top quality terry cloth robes are used by most of the first class hotels and spas for their valued customers. First Class luxury hotel spa robe for as low as below wholesale robe price. These terry hotel robes are designed for maximum comfort and durability.

Length Waist Size

S 43" 51"

One Size 50" 56"

ROBE SPECIFICATIONS:

• 100 % Super Absorbent Top Quality Natural Cotton

• Approximately 3+ lbs Each Bath Robe.

• 100% Cotton Terry cloth Inside & Outside

• Two Patch Pockets

• Self Fabric Two Loop Belt

• 16 oz/yd2

• Double Stitched for Durability

• Mens Robe & Women's Robe (Unisex)

• White Robes

• Kimono Style

Our products do not contain any harmful chemicals.

Don't You Just Love Those Old Fashioned Ladies Handkerchiefs?

A friend of mine emailed and said she wanted to order some ladies handkerchiefs.  She said that her husband chidded her for leaving Kleenex in her pockets and when they did laundry those little bits of Kleenex lint were all over everything.  She said that she wanted to bring back the dainty ladies handkerchiefs of old.  I immediately set about making some handkerchiefs and hand rolled the hems.  Then I regained my senses and went searching on the internet for wholesalers of ready made handkerchiefs.

My handkerchief search reveals some things to me.  Most handkerchief wholesalers are in China or India.  Although those wholesalers probably offer a good product and are good companies, it dawned on me that all of my wholesalers are within the United States.  In fact, most of my wholesalers are factories that actually make the thread or fabric.  Those that are middle men may purchase from China or India.  All I know is that I purchase from the United States.  In the end, my new handkerchief wholesaler is here in the good ole USA.  I wanted nice, dainty, elegant, high end ladies handkerchiefs.  The funny thing is that I ended up with a company that I have visited their website ever since I was first introduced to machine embroidery.  I never purchased anything there, just got great ideas from them.  Now they have grown to have a wholesale company in addition to their retail company.  I have now placed my first order and am anxiously awaiting arrival.  It will probably arrive in a week.  I purchased a few of many of the handkerchiefs available.  Everything that I purchased is embroiderable.  No.  I did not purchase any Irish Linen.  That Irish Linen company that impressed me never responded to my inquiries.  My new wholesale company does carry the Irish Linen.  I can get it if you want.  I purchased a lot of their middle-of-the-road handkerchiefs.  There really was nothing there that I did not like. 

Now I have to determine what we are going to charge for these little goodies.  At this point, I believe we will charge $5 or $6 for each, plus embroidery.

The internet search gave me so many wonderful ideas.  These handkerchiefs are definitely in the "heirloom" area and would make nice gifts for any shower, wedding, birthday, etc.  I saw some of these handkerchiefs that had things like wedding bells embroidered with the names of the couple and date of marriage and some with a baby's name and date of birth.  One place suggested the handkerchiefs as wedding favors and had the handkerchief folded on a tiny coat hanger with a cardboard bodice.  All of the handkerchiefs that I purchased are white, except I did purchase 5 black handkerchiefs.  The synopsis under the black handkerchief said that these were appropriate at funerals or as a gift to the surviving spouse.  Some of these handkerchiefs are even used in scrapbooking.  They are all 100% cotton.  The ones that I purchased all have lace, as well.

As I said, when my friend first contacted me, I immediately made a couple of handkerchiefs.  Those handkerchiefs are now on our Etsy website for sale.  I may be making more.  In fact, I think the ones that I made will be more in the everyday handkerchief category or "artsy" category.  Those are a good thing for me to do with my hands when I'm just sitting around.

All of that is to say that I, personally, am tossing out my kleenex and bringing on the cloth handkerchiefs and hope all of you do the same. 

Now onto the next unusual request.  A customer asked if we embroidered welcome mats.  I never thought of that and initially wondered if Boudreaux could do that.  Then came the internet search.  As usual, I was very surprised to see that carpet, mats, rugs can be embroidered.  This venture may require us purchasing a special hoop for Boudreaux.  The customer has a condominium in Navarre that they rent and they wanted a welcome mat with the name of the condominium and a design of a pelican.  Immediately, I'm thinking that I want one that says Cajun Stitchery:>)  So far, I have not found a wholesale company for the door mat/welcome mat.  Still looking for that.  In the meantime, we are going to go buy one someplace and see how it works on Boudreaux.  Oh, and yes, Boudreaux is supposed to be able to embroider on these mats. 

Hopefully, I'll finish another duffel bag today.  Don't you love the little "wrestler tyke" design.

C'est toute, mes amis.