Prim Talk Radio Show February 27, 2009

Do it yourself ideas
Weathered shutters can be reincarnated as a cupboard door in the dining room area
A knotted length of rope can be used as a replacement for hardware on the master bath door.
Give your draperies in any room a face lift by turning a tree branch into a curtain rod
To create wall hangings use sepia-toned photos and barn wood and then hang with old cabinet pulls and upholstery straps.
Armoire shelves look great with folded up Pendleton blankets. These common objects then become art.
If you have an entry wall that is blank take and paint it with chalkboard paint. This will make for a handy log of your families comings and goings.
Metal casement windows allow light flow into a room and also give your room an industrial feel.
If you come across an ottoman with just the unfinished base and legs it is possible to repaint recushion and reupholster this item to look brand new.



Prim Talk Radio’s friendship contest.
So all you listeners out there write in to Prim Talk Radio and tell us about your special friend. Tell us why they are so special to you. We will pick one winner and tell your story on our radio show and also display your story on our web site. The winner will win a handmade rabbit name Rhonda which is donated by Darshea Primitives. You can see the picture of Rhonda the Rabbit on our contest page at www.primtalkradio.com click on the contest button.



Prim Talk Radio is hiring for a co-host and staff members who would like to share any primitive patterns, tips, tricks or anything else you think you can offer to our show. If you become a staff member you will receive a 125 x 125 banner on our front page plus you will get exposure for your website. If you are interested in becoming a staff member please email me and I will give you all the requirements. I also wanted to mention that when a search is done on prim talk radio through google or yahoo our web site is the first search that comes up. That is because we have been around for several years and have many followers. Not to mention we receive new friends all the time who listen to our show. Stop by check us out and send us an email just to say hi.

Top 10 writing for blogs tips
Most of the "rules" about writing for ezines and newsletters apply to writing posts for your blog, but there are some important differences. Keep these 10 tips in mind and you'll be publishing great blog content that attracts prospects and clients in your niche market.
1. Write with the reader in mind. What’s In It For Me? That’s what you should be keeping in mind. Your reader will read your post looking for what’s in it for them.
2. Make it valuable and worthwhile. Don’t waste people’s time. If you don’t have anything to say, no problem, plenty other people do. So share their articles, do an interview, review a book.
3. Proof-read for typos and glaring grammatical errors. You wouldn’t go out of the house with dirty hair or missing a sock, so why would you publish spelling mistakes? Respect your readers by polishing up your stuff.
4. Keep it short and simple Most people are scanners. You may have a lot to say and think it interesting, and it may be. But people are reading online and out of time. Get to the point quickly. Publishing short posts more frequently is a better format than publishing lengthy articles every few weeks.
5. Keep it lively, make it snappy and snazzy. Even if you aren’t a natural born writer, you can write for your blog. Just write like you’re speaking to your friend…or to yourself! Remember though, get to the point quickly. Keep in mind the journalist’s rule of 5 W’s in the first paragraph: who, what, why, when and where.
6. Link often. This builds credibility and positions you as an expert in your field. People don’t have time to know what others are doing, you should tell them. Linking to other blogs and websites also helps you build a network of associates who will in turn link to your blog.
7. Use keywords often. This will help you stay on purpose, and the search engines will love your blog. Your rankings will go up. The clearer you are about your purpose, the more consistently you will deliver messages that are on target. And the more often your keywords show up, the better your search engine results.
8. Write clearly (short sentences, only one concept per sentence). No double speak or jargon; no more than one idea in one sentence- don’t make your readers have to think about your meaning. Spoon feed them. Use commas and dashes liberally.
9. Write like you talk. It’s okay to use common expressions from speech.
Examples:
Go figure.
Don’t even go there…
Now, I ask you…
Gotta love it…
(And, remember the age group of your readers…)
10. Use a clear headline, and don’t be afraid to make bold statements (but don’t mislead people either). Make it snazzy and use key words.
Use this checklist to ask yourself a few questions as you are reading through for typos and grammar:
__ Is the topic clear to someone who only reads the headline?
__Does the lead paragraph tell who and what the story is about and why the reader should care about it?
__ Is the angle you've used likely to seem newsworthy?
__Would someone who knows absolutely nothing about this topic understand this post?
__ Is the post free of jargon?
__ Is it written in journalistic style and does it make an effort to be objective?
__ Have you peppered the headline and the post with keywords and phrases that will be attractive to search engines?
__ Did you remember to ask your readers a question at the end, or something to stimulate readers to comment?
__ Did you remember to write with the reader in mind, always keeping in mind (What’s in It for Them?)


Make sure you stop by our website and sign up for our newsletter. You could be the winner of one free month advertising spot on our home page.

As I promised I have another Marketplace to tell you about and it is
Whistlestop Craft Mall Marketplace is for shoppers and advertisers where you can shop or advertise among a wide variety of crafters and artisans. There advertising is very inexpensive. And there graphics on their front page will take you back to the movie Fried Green Tomatoes. Check them out at www.whistlestopcrossing.com


Here at Prim Talk Radio we have lowered our front page advertising. For $3.00 a month you can get your 125x125 banner placed on our front page. Remember advertising is a good way to promote your web site.

Rug Hooking for Beginners

If you are a first time rug hooker, I am suggesting that you start out with the least expensive equipment. Mainly because you want to make sure you will like this type of fiber art. You may want to try using someone else’s equipment before you purchase your own. Make sure to investigate your options before purchasing equipment. Just because someone tells you about equipment they use does not mean it will work for you.


For beginners I would suggest a 14” wooden quilting hoop. Hoops can fit on various stands. Some stands will prop in your lap or you can get floor stands. If you are on a budget you can make a simple frame by nailing four wood slats together and form a square.

Cutting wool into strips requires a cutter. You can try a rotary cutter or purchase a kit with precut strips or you can purchase more expensive cutters but they can get pricey.

Hooks have come along way since the early days. You can now find them in all shapes, sizes and colors. Make sure you find a hook that fits you hands.
You will need a backing or foundation for pulling your wool strips through. There are 4 different backings you can use, like burlap, monk’s cloth, rug warp and linen. And it all depends on the size of your wool strips as to what backing or foundation to you use.

Next week I will get into different sizes of stripped wool and what is the best kind of wool to use.

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You can find all these tips tricks, crafts and recipes on our website at www.primtalkradio.com

Feel free to email us with any questions, or suggestions that you feel would help us improve our show. We welcome all our listeners input.