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I have a Lumix DMC-FZ20 (5 megapixel, 12 x optical zoom) and works PERFECT for taking pics of those teensy weensy itty bitty little things (using the macro lens of course). Here are two pics of teensy flowers I took. The flowers are really itty bitty. They range between 3 and 5mm in diameter.
I like installation instructions ( http://www.google.com/tisp/install.html) especially this bit
"Professional Installation Service
You can also choose to request our professional installation service, which dispatches an army of factory-trained, sub-contracted nanobots from the TiSP Access Node. The nanobots travel with exhilarating nano-speed through the sewer system and into your home to perform the installation service, which should be complete within 15 minutes. Note: For your own physical safety and emotional well-being and in consideration of the nanobots' working conditions, please make absolutely certain that your toilet is unoccupied at the scheduled appointment time.
In-Commode Package Delivery
With professional installation service, you can also have your Google Checkout purchases delivered directly through the sewage network into your bathroom. Each package comes pre-sealed in a watertight and nanobot-resistant bag made of biodegradable corn-based plastic. For a limited time, TiSP subscribers who sign up for a Checkout account will receive free bathroom delivery on their first ten Checkout purchases.
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Sheesh that's 2.5 bears a week without vacations, holidays or sick days for you and 5 bears a week for your friend. Smaller bears I presume?
I'm not too sure how many Ingrid makes a week - I'll have to ask her. But yep, she makes minuature bears.
I used to make 4 sometimes 6 bears on average a week (minaitures mostly), without holidays (that was between January 1999 and January 2003)......and they were all handsewn. Petty crazy, huh? Gosh, I didn't have a life and hubby was complaining that he did not have a wife any more....not to mention that I missed out on spending quality time with the kids. I was pretty 'beared out' by that time too. I had to start scaling down when I fell ill in January 03! I've made on average about 50 bears a year since then. This year I've decided that, that won't do either. So I've decided to only make about 3 or 4 bears a month....so far I'm sticking to the plan 
Hi Sandra, we had a similar problem when my son was still in primary school. He was terrified to go to school. I eventually called the principal of the school and demanded that they sort out the problem as I see it as bullying when a child becomes terrified and feels unhappy and unsafe at school. They agreed with me. What they ended up doing was called the kids in and had them discuss the situation with a teacher and the principal there to help. Each one had to say what he/she was doing and what they wanted to achieve by their actions......my son had to say how it was making him feel. The situation was sorted out very quickly and he was happy again to go to school. But I think you do have to get the principal involved. My daughter again complained to the teachers about the boys hitting and pestering her. My daughter gets very angry because all the teacher does is say in a nice voice "Please don't do that, Danielle doesn't like that". Like she says, what does that help? I don't even compain to the executive teachers any more, I go straight to the principal. It works!
Oh wow!! That's wonderful!! You are a lucky girl indeed! Happy birthday for yesterday!! :bday: :cake:
Gosh, I think he is a real cutie! Nothing poopie about the little guy at all! I agree with Dilu....the right person has just not seen him yet! I'm sure he will find a home soon! Just hang in there!
I've made 1064 bears so far (that is since January 1999). :)
Gosh, I thought that was a lot, but my friend Ingrid ( http://www.ingebears.homestead.com ) has made 1857 bears since 2000. Now that is a lot of bears!!
Awwwww, he's sooooo cute! 
Oh wow, what a great find! I LOVE antique things!
Thinking of you and your family! :hug:
Oh I can just imagine the havock and the tears. Just recently my friend's son's tarantula pulled a Houdini on them too. My friend found spidy in a wardrobe 2 weeks later......and all was well again. I hope you find the hamster, maybe he's just hiding in a wardrobe somewhere.
Wow, another little bundle of joy on the way. You must be sooooo excited! I wouldn't be going back to work either....gosh, I have my hands full with only 2 
Way back, when I started making bears I also had heaps of requests for patterns and so I came up with my line of patterns/kit bears. Funny enough, I still get asked if my clawed bears are available as patterns/kits, but then I just explain the whole thing about keeping my LE's and OOAK non-commercialised and people usually understand. I think you should definitely do the project for the magazine! It is great advertising for yourself, not to mention how much exposure you'd be getting from it. I would also take the plunge with offering patterns as well....and if you feel it does not work for you, you could always discontinue the patterns. I think your patterns will sell very well, your bears are sooooo cute!!
This is very sad news indeed! My condolences to her friends and family.
Hi Lynette, I will most definitely add Eva and her young family to my prayer list!! Sending lots of positive thoughts!!
Hi Peta, long time no squeak, how are ya going?
Anywhoos, to answer your Q: Although my pattern/kit bears have similar facial features to my Limited Edition and OOAK bears, they are completely different in design. I also use different techniques for my LE and OOAK bears. I do this because I'd like to keep offering collectors unique, non-commercialised bears. Besides, my LE's and OOAK are miniatures...pattern and kit bears are MUCH bigger.
Ah, the bread machine did a great job. I didn't increase anything, I just kept it the same. I first added all the dry ingredients, then the water-butter mixture and then the eggs. Next, I set the bread machine to Basic and pressed start. Once most of the ingredients were mixed together I added the last cup with water (usually I would use soda water as a replacement for the yeast, but I did not have soda water so I just added the warm water less the yeast). I then just left the bread machine to do it's thing until the bread was ready. I was very impressed with the end result!!
From what I've learned, Guar gum is often combined with xanthan gum, locust bean gum, or carboxymethylcellulose to promote synergistic changes in viscosity or gelling behaviour, so I took it that they are not the same thing. Also on some of the flour mixes I have they list both gums as the gelling agent. Mind you I did learn something new today and now I feel a bit stupid 
- When I went to stock up on my ingredients earlier today and couldn't find the tapioca flour where they usually keep it, I asked them what happened to the tapioca flour. They told me that arrowroot is actually tapioca flour too......hmmmmm, and here I always thought they were two different things....shows how I read the packets. 
WOW, that is BY FAR the best GF bread recipe ever and hubby agrees!! :dance:
I tried making it in my bread machine last night - I did not use yeast (as I'm yeast intollerent) and used guar gum instead of xanthan gum - and it turned out BEAUTIFULLY and oh soooo YUMMY!!! The bread wasn't even out of the breadmachine for a whole 3 seconds when hubby appeared next to me with the butter and apricot jam in his hands....he must have smelled the bread all the way from the bedroom. So there we were, standing at the kitchen counter eating warm fresh bread at 11:30 PM last night! Must stock up on some more ingredients today so that I can bake some more bread tonight.
Thank you so much for that bread recipe. I'm definitely going to try making it today using my bread machine. (it doesn't sound like any of the bread recipes I have, most of the ones I have uses buckwheat, brown rice flour and arrow root).
Anywhoos, here is a nice "ice-cream" recipe for those of you who are lactose/dairy intolerant (I have more ice-cream recipes, but this is one I've actually tried and it is really yummy. )
serves 4-5)
(free of dairy products, wheat, yeast, sugar, eggs, soy and nightshades)
2 punnets strawberries OR 500g of frozen berries
2 bananas
1 avocado
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons tahini (the tahini gives the ice-cream a creamy texture).
Blend all ingredients at high speed. Pour into container and freeze.
(I found that it freezes a bit hard, so you could perhaps freeze it in serving size plastic containers, or leave it out for a while to soften before serving).
It would be absolutely wonderful if you would be able to email me those recipes (or post it here).
I was diagnosed 5 years ago, but we think my daughter has the same problem so I'm always on the lookout for great recipes, especially to make it more tasteful for the kiddiewinks. 
They are ALL very cute!!
Another wonderful work of art!!
OH WOW, he is absolutely gorgeous!!!
Thankyou so much for that website Chrissi! Oh wow, all the food on that site looks soooo yummy! I use Orgran products (http://www.orgran.com). I'm not too keen on their bread mix as it comes out that strange thick styrofoam consistency. I've added millet flakes to it before and then it tends to turn out better, but still not too crazy about it. Their pizza dough is nice, but it taste like scones, so I make scones with it <giggle>. The pasta flour mix is also nice as you can put it through a pasta machine, but I also tend to use it for pizza crust. I'll let you know if I find a good homemade pizza crust recipe.
(PS: I'm wheat/Gluten, dairy, yeast, soy, nut, fish/seafood and preservative free)
I was wondering, does anyone have any yummy GLUTEN FREE recipes to share?
