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@SheriARicherson: Welcome peeps to the first #homesteadchat. Tonight’s topic is fall #gardening. Many of you may already grow a fall #garden. #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: I think that’s great – tonight we can talk about what to grow, various growing methods, cold frames, tunnel houses – ask away #homesteadchat
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@Daeryn: What can you plant this monthn #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: September is a great time to plant cool season crops – lettuce, radish, carrots, spinach, turnips, kale and Brussels sprouts #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: In fact, in many areas, kale and Brussels sprouts will persist throughout most of the winter without any type of protection #homesteadchat
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@BG_garden: RT @SheriARicherson: kale and Brussels sprouts…throughout most of the winter without any type of protection #homesteadchat< love it!
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@SheriARicherson: @BG_garden – thanks – and they are pretty plants, not to mention nutritious. Have you seen the red Brussels sprouts? #homesteadchat
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@Daeryn: besides the kale and sprouts will the other crops need protection #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: Yes, if you want to grow them through the winter. A small cold frame is ideal for most home #gardeners. #homesteadchat
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@BG_garden: RT @Daeryn: besides the kale & sprouts. the other crops need protection #homesteadchat< I’m going to try to cover my raised beds this yr!
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@SheriARicherson: Row cover, also called frost cover, will help protect the plants from light frosts. #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: @BG_garden @Daeryn – it’s easy to make your own cold frame using plastic conduit and 6mil. plastic from the store. #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: @BG_garden @Daeryn – just make sure the edges are secured to the ground and in the event of heavy snow, brush it off #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: Join me for a #homesteadchat TweetChat at: http://t.co/vEsxW4F – chat is live and in progress! #homesteadchat
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@BG_garden: RT @SheriARicherson: @BG_garden @Daeryn – just make sure the edges are secured #homesteadchat< very important!
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@SheriARicherson: There are some crops that self-seed as well meaning you will never have to buy seed for those again – great way to save money #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: Herbs – Chamomile, cilantro, basil, celery, parsley, dill, feverfew – the seeds can be invasive however #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: Vegetables – lettuce, radish, beets, carrots – but make sure they don’t cross with the wild queen ann’s lace! #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: pumpkin, tomato, peas, winter squash, spinach, parsnips, mustard, kale and many more #homesteadchat
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@Daeryn: if planted now with they be ready to harvest before winter #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: @BG_garden @Daeryn – it really is very important…you don’t want cold air – or hungry animals getting to the vegetablesn #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: @Daeryn – it depends on how long some of the crops take to mature – choose ones that mature in 30 to 50 days if possible #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: @Daeryn – if you cover those crops with a cold frame, you can harvest most of them throughout the winter months #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: @BG_garden @Daeryn – planting the fall garden – http://t.co/Q5BhXJF #homesteadchat
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@BG_garden: @SheriARicherson love this blog entry : http://t.co/fScYMNo < planting a fall garden #homesteadchat/ #gardenchat favorite!
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@Daeryn: should you allow self-seeding crops to drop all of their seed into the garden #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: @BG_garden – thank you so much! Those pre-seeded planting strips were so nice to work with – now to find out germination rate #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: @Daeryn – no – always save some just in case something happens – wild critters could eat it – bad weather could destroy it #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: The really nice things about growing a fall garden is there are less pests, it is cooler and – #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: If you don’t have room indoors to store produce, you can leave it in the garden, under cover, all winter long #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Year-Round Gardening is a great source of information on growing vegetables and flowers #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: There is a #free sample download for the Kindle so you can try it out before you buy it! #homesteadchat
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@Daeryn: does the book only cover growing outdoors #homesteadchat
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@Daeryn: and does it say anything about saving seeds #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: @Daeryn – no, it also covers greenhouses and indoor growing, as well as cold frames and outdoor growing in cold climates #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: @Daeryn – the best book for seed saving is The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Seed Saving & Starting available for pre-sale #homesteadchat
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@Daeryn: does it cover companion planting #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: Yes – both books touch on that subject. Companion planting is very important for the health of our crops and environment #homesteadchat
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@BarrowsGarden: RT @SheriARicherson Welcome peeps to the first #homesteadchat. Tonight’s topic is fall #gardening. Many of you may already grow a fal…
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@SheriARicherson: @BarrowsGarden – welcome to the first #homesteadchat and thank you for the RT! #homesteadchat
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@Daeryn: are there any plants that bloom in the winter in zones 5-6 #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: Yes, there are and many of them are perfect for fall planting – hellebore, witch hazel, crocus, winter aconite #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: @Daeryn – winter, to me is the time between November and February – I have these plants in my garden – don’t forget pansies #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: Join me for a #homesteadchat TweetChat at: http://t.co/vEsxW4F – tonight’s topic is fall #gardening #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: Fall really is an ideal time for planting. The cooler weather makes it easier for the plants roots to establish. #homesteadchat
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@Daeryn: should you mulch the vegetables when planting in the fall and winter #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: You can. It helps conserve moisture and insulate their roots. Straw is one option, but do watch out for critters such as mice #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: @BG_garden – just love #gardenchat! #Gardening is such an important part of #homesteading and being #self-sufficient #homesteadchat
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@Daeryn: can you really save money by planting crops in the fall and winter #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: @Daeryn – yes, a packet of seeds is a few dollars and you can get many plants out of that one packet – best of all – #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: @Daeryn – the food is local grown – you know how it was grown – organic produce is the best – it tastes better – is healthier #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: Many cool season crops have a tender taste to them when grown in the fall or winter – and you just don’t get that in summer #homesteadchat
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@Daeryn: what can you do with extra produce that can be used right away #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: Donate it to your local soup kitchen or food panty for Plant-A-Row for the Hungry – http://t.co/FHKi0Dg #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: @Daeryn – leave it in ground until temperatures begin to warm up, can it, dehydrate or freeze it, store it in a root celler #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: I have time for a couple more questions before the time comes to wrap up the first #homesteadchat #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: Thank you to everyone who helped promote the first #homesteadchat and to those who came to the chat tonight #homesteadchat
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@Daeryn: do you have a website where we can find all of this information #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: @Daeryn – yes – experimentalhomesteader.com – there are recipes, food preservation tips, crafting tips, gardening, animals #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: Tomorrow is the first Cute Animal Photo Day where I invite everyone to show off photos of cute animals they have taken #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: – and we have many more interactive photo days – all have to do with some aspect of #homesteading or #gardening #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: The next #homesteadchat is on Thursday, September 8 at 7PM Eastern Time. The topic is Using Up Vegetable Garden Leftovers. #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: Thank you all for coming and have a great night everyone! #homesteadchat
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Filed under #homesteadchat Tweet Chat Archives by on Sep 1st, 2011. Comment. 
Welcome to the homestead projects photo day! This is a new part of the blog that will appear on the homepage, experimentalhomesteader.com, under featured posts. It allows you, the reader, to post photos you have taken of your homestead projects and will re-occur on the 6th day of every month.
Please post photos that you have taken – not ones you have come across on the internet.
The program that we will use for this is Simply Linked.
So – let’s see all those photos! Go ahead and show off your creative talent. I’m looking forward to it. Let me get the ball rolling with a photo of one of my homestead projects.
Top dressing a vegetable bed with compost.
Filed under Homestead Projects Photo Day Archives by on Sep 6th, 2011. Comment.
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@SheriARicherson: Using Up Vegetable Garden Leftovers Tweet Chat – #homesteadchat http://t.co/wuHNzlJ
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@SheriARicherson: Join me for a #homesteadchat TweetChat tonight at 7PM Eastern at: http://t.co/vEsxW4F – just 3 minutes! #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: Welcome to tonight’s #homesteadchat – our topic is using up vegetable garden leftovers – it’s great to have you here! #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: Don’t be shy! Jump right in and introduce yourself. Feel free to ask questions! I’m here to help you become self-sufficient. #homesteadchat
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@Daeryn: are there any vegetables that you shouldn’t use #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: No, really you can use any vegetable you grow as long as it isn’t spoiled or too ripe. #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: Sometimes at the end of the season there is simply not enough to can large amounts – so – you preserve small amounts #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: Or combine vegetables to make soups, stews. You can dehydrate them to use as a spice or to hydrate later – #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: – and don’t forget, freezing your leftovers is another option. Tomatoes are a good example of this. Freeze small amounts – #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: – and continue to freeze small amounts until you have enough to do something with – a great way to handle small harvests. #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: Join me for a #homesteadchat TweetChat at: http://t.co/vEsxW4F #homesteadchat
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@Daeryn: how do you freeze tomatoesn #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: The way I do it is to choose tomatoes that are ripe and a bit on the juicy side. I wash them, core them and cut them up. #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: Then I put the slices, juice and all into freezer bags. I use my Seal-A-Meal to suck the air out, place the bag in a larger – #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: freezer bag. This way I can add to the bag everytime I have small amounts of tomatoes to save. #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: You don’t have to thaw the food to use it, although thawing is the best thing to do, but if you don’t have time you should. #homesteadchat
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@Daeryn: what are other advantages of freezing your harvest #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: It’s often quicker than canning – although some vegetables will need blanched. The big advantage however is not worrying #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: if you have enough to fill up a canning jar – or for that matter a dehydrator tray.n #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: Dehydrating vegetables is another great way to preserve them and while it does take a while to dry and rehydrate them – #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: – it takes very little room to store them and they last for years. #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: – if they are properly stored. #homesteadchat
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@Daeryn: what are the benefits of canning #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: @BG_garden @cityslipper – #homesteadchatgoing on live now – come join us if you are online!
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@SheriARicherson: The food is ready to eat or use as soon as you open the jar. You don’t need to thaw or hydrate it. #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: I prefer canning to other methods of food preservation for fruits and vegetables. I prefer to dehydrate my herbs however. #homesteadchat
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@Daeryn: are there certain methods that work better with specific foods #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: Don’t forget to sterilize your canning jars! Sterilization’s an important step. See video – http://t.co/iAEJgRx #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: Yes – for example, you wouldn’t can herbs. Most vegetables you pressure can & most fruits you cold pack – see Ball Blue Book #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: Herbs are ideal for adding fresh to food as you can it. You can freeze herbs, but I really like dehydration. #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: When you dehydrate herbs you can combine them to make a variety of spices such as an Italian spice blend. #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: Are there other questions about using up vegetable garden leftovers or food preservation? #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: Another book I would like to recommend is “Yes, You Can! And Freeze and Dry It, Too” by Daniel Gasteiger #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: If there are no other questions, I am going to say goodnight. Thank you for coming to the #homesteadchat – see you next week! #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: @BG_garden – every Thursday night at 7PM Eastern. #homesteadchat
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@SheriARicherson: #homesteadchat September 8, 2011 – Using Up Vegetable Garden Leftovers http://t.co/SN1hhnS
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@CIG_Lifestyle: #FollowFriday @sheriaricherson. And join her every Thursday evening for her #homesteadchatTweetChats!
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Filed under #homesteadchat Tweet Chat Archives by on Sep 8th, 2011. Comment.
One of the new products on CafePress is the butterfly throw pillow.
Add stylish fun to any room with our roomy Throw Pillow. It measures a sprawling 18″ X 18″ with an 11″ X 11″ image area so you can lounge in comfort. It’s made of ultra-soft brushed twill with a sturdy canvas image area. Ships with pillow insert. Removable zippered cover for easy laundering.
Filed under CafePress Merchandise by on Sep 10th, 2011. Comment.
One of the new products on CafePress is the fall harvest throw pillow.
Add stylish fun to any room with our roomy Throw Pillow. It measures a sprawling 18″ X 18″ with an 11″ X 11″ image area so you can lounge in comfort. It’s made of ultra-soft brushed twill with a sturdy canvas image area. Ships with pillow insert. Removable zippered cover for easy laundering.
Filed under CafePress Merchandise by on Sep 10th, 2011. Comment.
One of the new products on CafePress is the poppy throw pillow.
Add stylish fun to any room with our roomy Throw Pillow. It measures a sprawling 18″ X 18″ with an 11″ X 11″ image area so you can lounge in comfort. It’s made of ultra-soft brushed twill with a sturdy canvas image area. Ships with pillow insert. Removable zippered cover for easy laundering.
Filed under CafePress Merchandise by on Sep 11th, 2011. Comment.
For those of you who prefer a plain poppy throw pillow with no writing, there is one of those as well.
Filed under CafePress Merchandise by on Sep 11th, 2011. Comment.
One of the new products on CafePress is the winter throw pillow.
Add stylish fun to any room with our roomy Throw Pillow. It measures a sprawling 18″ X 18″ with an 11″ X 11″ image area so you can lounge in comfort. It’s made of ultra-soft brushed twill with a sturdy canvas image area. Ships with pillow insert. Removable zippered cover for easy laundering.
Filed under CafePress Merchandise by on Sep 12th, 2011. Comment.
Perfect for Halloween decor! One of the new products on CafePress is the night sky throw pillow.
Add stylish fun to any room with our roomy Throw Pillow. It measures a sprawling 18″ X 18″ with an 11″ X 11″ image area so you can lounge in comfort. It’s made of ultra-soft brushed twill with a sturdy canvas image area. Ships with pillow insert. Removable zippered cover for easy laundering.
Filed under CafePress Merchandise by on Sep 13th, 2011. Comment.
One of the new products on CafePress is the goats throw pillow.
Add stylish fun to any room with our roomy Throw Pillow. It measures a sprawling 18″ X 18″ with an 11″ X 11″ image area so you can lounge in comfort. It’s made of ultra-soft brushed twill with a sturdy canvas image area. Ships with pillow insert. Removable zippered cover for easy laundering.
Filed under CafePress Merchandise by on Sep 14th, 2011. Comment.
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