Eye Candy: Wireless USB Display

Our DisplayLink Certified partner, Soundgraph, introduced this eye candy at IFA earlier this month.

And yes, we get excited about how our customers use USB virtual graphics in unique and interesting ways.

Read more here: http://bit.ly/bmrux1.

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Burner covers part 2 - Decoupage it!

Ready for more? Part 1 was revealed last week! I have loved reading your comments and emails! don't forget to share your finished projects!

This week:

Decoupage it!

supplies:

Burner Covers - I buy the 2pk from the $1.00 store! (yup only .50 each for this project!!!)

Fabric or Scrapbook paper

Mod Podge
Brush

Magnets

Paint the edges of the Burner Cover first if desired using spray paint. 

Turn the burner cover over and trace around the circle on the wrong side of the fabric or scrapbook paper. 

Cut out and apply Mod Podge onto the top. Let dry. 

Create magnets by using my tutorial HERE

Hang or place on a plate stand! Useful for many rooms of the house. Can be used as a magnet board to hold recipes, notes, photos, etc.

Share what you create in our Flickr group!

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todays post sponsored by:

I will also be blog hopping around these CRAFTY parties! 

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And now, a message from my original sponsor.

Big and exciting changes are afoot around an apple a day and here to tell us more about those changes is my mother. Yes, she knows this is going on the internet. I think.

The main thing is that my job at Saipua recently came to a bittersweet close. I wasn't quite ready to go, but we have to learn to accept even the unexpected endings with dignity and grace. (New mantra, repeated several times under breath.) I had a wonderful year and a half being a member of the family and have so much respect for what Sarah, Eric and Susan have built together. I worked hard there, learned more than is conceivable and broke approximately 483 vases and one very expensive rolling security gate in the process.

Now it's time for new visions and new seasons, as my mom so sweetly wrote. What is it that the kids are saying these days? Let's get this party started? Yeah. Let's try that.

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My Photo Friday....."Fall"ing

(For those that are new to my blog, each Friday I share a photo I have taken. I enjoy taking pictures for fun and capturing what I see through the lens when so inspired to do so. The photos can be business or family related, from my personal life or just from the everyday. enjoy!)

FALL is officially here! (squeal) I love this time of year. It's my absolute favorite. My husband and I took a drive up the canyon this past weekend and I was able to snap a quick photo of this gorgeous mountain side beginning to turn and show it's Autumn wardrobe....  :) 

Take time to "fall" in love again this season......This guy makes me laugh and I love him for that......have a great weekend......Meg

(candid shot)

Don't miss part 2 of what I have crafted up using Burner covers!!! (part 1 has already been revealed)

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When Choosing a PC for Multi-Display Keep it Simple

We often come upon interesting user questions. Our friends at Plugable wrote a recent blog post on choosing a PC for a six monitor setup to be used for stock trading and ESignal Qcharts. Read it here: http://bit.ly/aCyEko.

And while you are there, check out the user ratings for Plugable USB graphics adapters from Amazon.com readers, averaging a full five stars.

One customer says, "The DisplayLink product line makes for expanding to additional displays a breeze."

Another says, "Quite impressed with this display adapter. I wanted to add a third 25" monitor to my system for video editing, works like a charm."

Enjoy!

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Pumpkin ice cream

Do you guys remember this post from a little over a year ago? Probably not. It's a prerequisite for the one I'm writing now, so go and take a minute to get caught up to speed. I'll be here when you get back.

No seriously, go back and read it.

When spring rolled around this past year, my beloved Ralph's never opened for the season. I was crushed. There is now an awfully unnecessary late night deli (which might officially be called "late night deli" or something equally banal) in the old Ralph's corner location. It only took one summer for the war of Graham street to be over and for Uncle Louie G's to push out my dear italian ice spot. Boo. Hiss.

I swear with you as my witness, never once did I purchase ice cream from Uncle Louie G's while Ralph's was in business, pumpkin ice cream or no. I was stayed loyal till the end.

Of course the upside of all of this is that I can now eat pumpkin ice cream whenever I want and today being the first day of fall, I did just that. Nevertheless, rest in peace sweet Ralph's. Gone but not soon forgotten.

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Flickr me Happy - featuring YOU!

I love being able to share my ideas but what I LOVE more is seeing YOU create the same projects with your own taste or twist put on it and sharing the photos with me! 

Here are some photos YOU have shared in the Brassy Apple Flickr group!

from my Bitty Doll Apron pattern 

she also shared it on her blog! 

A darling nursery decorating using my Fabric Wall art Tutorial:

She shared more photos on her blog too!

and she tried her hand at refashioning with my Ruffle ME UP! tutorial:

now it's your turn to upload and share YOUR photos of  how your tried patterns, ebooks, tutorials, projects, etc. I can't wait to see!!! :)

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Burner covers part 1 - paint it!

Who's ready to get crafty! I hope you will be inspired to create some of these same projects or spin offs! I LOVE to see what you have created from the ideas shared here in the Brassy Apple Flickr group!

I have several tutorials to share with ideas all centered around using Burner covers! YUP - burner covers!  In this day and age of flat top ranges and gas stoves these babies can be used in new ways! 

Paint it! 

supplies:

Burner Covers - I buy the 2pk fro the $1.00 store! (yup only .50 each for this project!!!)

Spray Paint

Marker or paint pen

Magnets

Cover the desired number of Burner covers with spray paint and let dry. 

Add the details as necessary with a marker or paint pen or paint brush.

Hang on your wall for a fun FUNCTIONAL art piece! Left just as it they add color and interest but they can also serve as a magnet board to display pictures, school work, photos, etc.....

Jazz up your magnets by following our tutorial HERE

EXTRA IDEAS!!! - Think of how FUN these would be too add a 3D polka dot to a child's wall or how about using it as the center of a flower on the playroom wall ( you could even use the fabric wall art technique to create the petals and stem!) 

I didn't have time to try all ideas - that where you come in! Create some, snap a pic and share it! 

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today's post sponsored by:

I will be linking up with some fabulous CRAFTY parties! 

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My Photo Friday.....adding in orange

I love making small changes in the main living areas of our house to reflect the seasons. Even though the weather here has been in the upper 80's all week I have started decorating for fall! Adding in the oranges, browns, mustard yellows and TEXTURE! lots of fun new textures and shapes to splash around. Have you started to decorate for fall yet? It's my favorite season......

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Hmmmm...have I got you thinking?

Just a little preview to what will be coming up! Maybe you can even start brainstorming your OWN ideas too! Can't wait to share all the tutorials! get ready to get crafty! :)

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Today's USB Virtual Graphics Tech

DisplayLink USB virtual graphics technology is integrated into more than 3 million innovative peripherals and devices that take advantage of simple USB connectivity and solve real-world business and consumer productivity problems.

Check out a few of these beauties on display at Intel Developer Forum this week.

Wanna get your hands on these devices and more like it? Visit the DisplayLink Shop.

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Interactive Networked Graphics - The Missing Link

This week at the Intel Developer Forum, DisplayLink is garnering a great deal of buzz about its next generation chip platform designed to take full advantage of the bi-directional, interactive nature of SuperSpeed USB 3.0, taking a major step towards any device to any display connectivity.



Features of the platform include:

• Single IC support for up to two full HD displays
• High performance HD video, 3D gaming, and beyond HD graphics
• HDCP 2.0 for protected content playback
• Integrated multi-channel audio
• Networking for docking stations and zero clients
• Support for leading display standards – DisplayPort, VGA DAC, DVI, HDMI
• Backwards compatibility with 3+ million DisplayLink USB 2.0 graphics devices
• USB bus power capabilities for both USB 2.0 and 3.0
• Proven Windows driver support (XP, Vista, Windows 7, MultiPoint Server 2010, and Server 2003/2008)

With such robust capabilities a new host of products will be enabled that create an interactive connection between device and display. These include:

• USB or Ethernet bus powered monitors
• Universal USB docking stations with graphics, networking, and audio
• Affordable Ethernet and USB zero clients for shared resource computing
• USB to HDMI adapters for PC to TV connectivity
• USB to DVI, VGA or DisplayPort adapters for multi-display notebooks
• Mobile device to display
• Dual-Headed USB bus powered graphics adapters

"The prevalence of USB ports and the increased power of USB 3.0 make it well-suited as a display and docking station connector for both consumer and business markets, especially in today’s mobile environment. Ideally, standard network interfaces should be easy to incorporate into devices and able to handle multiple interactive tasks such as audio, graphics and video across a variety of displays.

Rhoda Alexander, Director Monitor Research, iSuppli

For more information, read the DisplayLink News here: http://displaylink.com/current_news.php.

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Brassy Ruffle Top tutorial

If you are itching to get sewing again and looking for another refashion project......well I have got something for you! I recently shared this tutorial on the Tatertots and Jello Blog. If you missed it the first time around, here's your chance. 

Brassy Ruffle Top

Materials:

2 matching T-shirts (1 needs to be your size)

scissors

measuring tape

thread

sewing machine

optional: rotary cutter, mat and ruler

Step 1: Rounded Neck line - cut out the neck hole

V-neck - Leave the neck alone

Step 2: Leave the sleeves on or cut them at an angle for cap sleeves (1st photo) or cut them all the way off (2nd photo) for a sleeveless look following the diagrams below

Step 3: Using your scissors, cut up the middle of the top layer of the t-shirt.

Step 4: Fold back and under the neckline so the point is in the middle of your chest or lower if you want a deeper V. Taper from the middle point up each side through the neckline.

Pin into place. Repeat on the opposite side. Sew  and trim the excess fabric from the underside. Set aside.

Step 5: Creating the ruffles - Take the 2nd t-shirt and square off the bottom hemline if necessary. Cut three 5" wide strips (1st photo). Cut each piece at the side seams creating 2 separate pieces (2nd photo). 

Cut a 1/2" wide strip. Cut at the side seams creating 2 pieces the same length. Gently pull on each end to make the knit roll into a "tube". These will the front ties.

Step 6: Using a basting stitch - sew along the top edge of each strip. Do not backstitch at either end. 

Step 7: Gently pulling the thread from the underside of the strip, gather or ruffle each strip. 

Step 8: Lay out your t-shirt flat working on one side of the front. Starting at the bottom, place a ruffled strip matching it up with the bottom hemline. Adjust the ruffle to fit between the side seam and the inside cut edge. Pin in place

Step 9: Place 2nd ruffled strip above the 1st and overlap bottom of the ruffle 1/4 - 1/2" to the top of the 1st ruffle. Pin and repeat with the 3rd strip. Follow the same steps to place the ruffled strips on the opposide side. 

Step 10: Place 1 end of the 1 of the ties at the inside edge of the top 3rd ruffled strip. Pin.

Step 11: Stitch each ruffled layer into place by using a straight or zig zag stitch and sewing over the gathering thread line. 

Step 12: Repeat on the other side. And you are done!!! Dress it up or down - just have fun wearing it! 

*If you give this refashion a try strut your stuff and share a photo in the Brassy Apple Flickr Group! *
I will be sharing this project in several linky parties! check them out! :) 

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