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The Tip is 'Don't procrastinate' For years I've been buying ink jet cartridges from a big box office supply store. These cartridges were made overseas and labeled with the well-known brand of a large American printer company. One I remembered a local store that advertised quality cartridges. I had traveled by this local store hundreds of times but never stopped. This time I stopped at the local store. To my surprise I discovered that they carried the cartridge I needed and it was a Made in USA cartridge. Made in Chicago, to be precise, and it was half the price of the imported ones I had been buying for years. The quality is exceptional and they last longer too. Who knew? After that experience, I make a point to stop at every store I can. By doing so, I've been finding more and more Made in America products. Occasionally the clerks don't know the country of origin; this can be discouraging but finding the origin information yourself isn't difficult I've come to realize. Believe it not, there are actually a number of computers made in the US including laptops made in the USA. When the label is not visibly displayed I use the other Made in America buying tips to help me find Made in US. If the store doesn't carry what you are looking for, use Made in America Secrets to find it and tell the manager about your experience at their store. If enough people are asking for Made in America products stores will begin to carry them. Buying Tip Continued - Read more on Made in America Products by Snuggly Toes Natural Feet Warmers, Made in the U.S. Warm feet, warm feet, warm feet. It's that simple. I love your Snuggly Toes. I can't remember the last time I was out shoveling snow and my feet weren't freezing. This year that never happened. -Arlene Snuggly Toes alpaca feet warmers will keep your feet warm all winter. The alpaca fiber makes these feet warmers so warm. The processing makes them incredibly durable. The alpaca fiber is spun into yarn, knit into a blanket, then felted into fabric. Here's the whole process. You slip the feet warmers into any shoe, boot or slipper. The Snuggly Toes feet warmers will last all winter. Warm Pet Beds Alpaca Pet Beds, Made in the U.S. Pamper your pet with a super warm pet beds stuffed with alpaca fiber. Dogs and cats love these warm pet beds because they're squishy and toasty. Owners love these alpaca pet beds because the fiber stays put! No more bare spots. Baffles in the pet bed pillow keeps the warm fiber where it's supposed to be. The alpaca pet bed is washable and the cover is removable for more frequent washings. Contact: Meredith@SnugglyToes.com 503-584-1242 When I grew up in suburbia, I never imagined being a farmer. The closest I got to livestock was driving by cows on the highway. I've always loved animals though. After graduating from the University of Puget Sound, I got into news. I worked at MSNBC for nearly five years before ditching corporate life. Selling the house was easy (this was in 2001), and getting rid of all my stuff wasn't so bad. Hitting the road with my dog, Grace, and two cats, Spring and Autumn, was an absolute blast. I traveled the country in a travel trailer for four years, visiting Alaska, California, Washington, Maine and Georgia. I wanted to find something, someone, or some place amazing. The something turned out to be alpacas. One visit to Jefferson Farms Alpacas and Llamas was all it took. It was a rainy, mucky day when Jane Levene took me to the barn to feed the girls. Suddenly these fuzzy, long necked creatures were staring me in the face looking for treats. I was in love. The next few months I stayed at the farm, helped with daily chores, and learned about these amazing animals. Long story short, I started Springtime Farms in 2005 with 12 alpacas. Meredith's Menagerie has grown to 33 alpacas, 7 goats, 6 chickens and 5 dogs, including three guard dogs for the alpacas. Every once in a while a foster dog or cats visits until they find a forever home. I try to be as self-sustaining as possible. After living off-grid for many years (I loved it), I moved to Salem, OR to be with Mr. Wonderful. I'm back on the grid, but in an area of the country where I can actually grow things! I'm in love with the fresh apples, cherries, blackberries, pears, plums. This year the carrots, peas, beets, and cauliflower were successful. Wait until next year. Fresh milk and eggs grace my table daily. I've been working with alpaca fiber since day one. It's absolutely incredible. It's softer and warmer than wool. I already knew how to crochet, but had to get it from the animal into yarn. So, I learned to clean, card and spin. A class on needle felting was fabulous. Unfortunately I haven't been able to spend much time on that project. I got the idea for alpaca shoe inserts from a woman who had been putting lose fiber in her shoes to keep her feet warm. You could almost see the lightbulb above my head...something warm, sturdy, and long-lasting. Since then, I've seen them for sale twice. Both have been from felted fiber. That's how I started making them, but they didn't hold up very well. A few tries later, and I realized if I spin the fiber, crochet it, then felt it, the inserts hold up very well. The yarn for Snuggly Toes has been spun at a small U.S. mill. In fact, it's at another alpaca farm. I then knit the fiber on a knitting machine.br> Felting something that's been crocheted or knitted is very easy. Throw it in the washing machine on hot three times, and viola, it's felted. (Ever washed a wool sweater by accident? Same thing) Snuggly Toes are then cut from the fabric. Springtime Farms is open to visitors. Come see Paco, Fat Patti, Walter and the rest of the gang. You'll get to feed them treats just like I did. Our contact information By email: Meredith@SnugglyToes.com By standard mail: Springtime Farms 1140 Cordon Rd. NE Salem, OR 97317 By phone: 503-584-1242 This is my home phone, so please call during awake hours, Pacific time. (I go to bed early)Thanks! meredith@snugglytoes.com Shipping Information: I try very hard to fill and ship orders within a day or two. Orders are shipped via the U.S. Postal Service. Refund, Returns and Cancellation Policies: If you change your mind about Snuggly Toes before they have been shipped, I'm happy to cancel your order and return the full purchase price. If your order has already been sent, please contact me by e-mail. I will refund your money, except for shipping costs once you have returned the unused Snuggly Toes if they are returned within 15 days. If you have already used your Snuggly Toes, I'm sorry. I cannot provide a refund. Frequently Asked Questions: Can Snuggly Toes be washed? Yes, Snuggly Toes can be washed. The best way is to fill a sink with enough hot water to cover the Snuggly Toes. After the sink is filled (not during), put in a squish of Dawn dishwashing liquid. Let the Snuggly Toes soak for about 20 minutes. Take them gently out of the water and drain the sink. Re-fill the sink with hot water. Once it's full, put the Snuggly Toes back in for a 20 minute rinse cycle. Let air dry. Alternative: Throw them in the washing machine on cold and let air dry. I have tried this with a few washings, and the Snuggly Toes are holding up. However, I don't guarantee they will last as long as washing them in the sink. How do I confirm my order? I will send you an e-mail when your order has been sent. If you have any questions before that, please feel free to e-mail me (Meredith@SnugglyToes.com) or call (719-783-9619). Please call during awake hours, mountain time, as this is my home phone. How long will Snuggly Toes last? I used my Snuggly Toes all winter (a long 6 months here) for morning and evening chores. The answer depends a little bit on how often you use them, but planning for one season is reasonable. Snuggle up with alpaca warmth! |
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