Squidoo Lensography of Nancy Oram - Entrepreneur From the Age of Six

My First Five Lenses 

Fun and painful all at the same time.

Vintage Home Arts - Crochet & Knitting Patterns and Cookbooks

I love all the home arts; sewing, cooking, making a house a home! I especially love learning about how our mothers and grandmothers learned homemaking skills and created things. I started a collection of vintage crochet and knitting patterns, and als...

How to Become a Notary Public

Each state commissions Notaries to notarize documents for the public when that document requires notarization. But it isn't always easy to find a Notary Public when you need one. There is always a need for good Notaries in every state. It's something...

How to Become a Notary Loan Signing Agent

A Notary Loan Signing Agent is a Notary who conducts the signing of loan closing papers, notarizing those of the documents requiring notarization. They are often Mobile Notaries who are sent to the borrower's home or office with the loan papers, savi...

Nancy Oram

Shhhhh! Nancy working! Have a peek at what I'm working on if you're real quiet. And please sign my guest book. I promise I'll return the visit and sign yours. This is where I try to organize my online real estate and accounts, and experiment with...

Old Fashioned Candy Secrets and Recipes

If you love old fashioned candy, why not try making some yourself. These candymaking secrets, recipes and techniques come straight from the original antique candy cookbooks, back in the days when every neighborhood had its own candy store, and taffy...

The Second Five Lenses 

Hmmmm, I need new material!

Some Solutions for Digital Product Sellers on eBay

D igital product sellers represent a huge group of eBay sellers and are searching for ways to stay in business on eBay. eBay recently announced it will no longer support instant digital downloading of products within their active listings or store in...

Tom Dickson, Creator of "Will It Blend" Blendtec Blenders

Tom Dickson is best known for demonstrating his Blendtec Total Blenders by turning unlikely things like iPhones into iDust. His popularity exploded on YouTube making him an Internet rock star with a cult following. A prolific inventor and CEO of Ble...

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir - America's Choir

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, nicknamed America's Choir, has been inspiring the public for over 150 years. In recent years the Choir has appealed to a much younger audience who refer to it playfully as the MoTab. It's not just your grandma's choir any...

Little LuLu Comic Books

Little Lulu Comic Books were my favorites growing up. I loved Little Lulu outsmarting Tubby and telling Witch Hazel stories to Alvin. Recently I located a vintage Little Lulu comic book and was delighted to rediscover the classic content from an adul...

Organizing Your Boxes of Family History Keepsakes

The easiest way to organize that pile of family history photos and documents is into scrapbook binders. I'm not talking about the creative fancy scrapbooks that are a popular hobby right now. I'm just talking about a simple way to chronologically fil...

The Third Five Lenses 

Wow, 15. Now we're getting serious!

Old Fashioned Cake Baking Secrets & Recipes

How many movies have you seen featuring an old fashioned picnic or state fair with beautiful prize-winning cakes? Or maybe you're lucky enough to remember your mom's or grandma's delicious cakes on special occasions? Forget the cake mix. Roll up your...

Vintage Crochet Bag and Purse Patterns

I t's easy to make your own unique designer bag or purse from vintage crochet patterns. Why vintage? Because there's more variety and better quality when you reach back into the 1930s through the 1950s for your crochet patterns. You get better patter...

The Vintage Doggy

T oday's well-dressed doggies are sporting vintage designs to match their owners' styles. Ranging from $49 to $280 when purchased ready-made, these dog sweaters and coats can be knitted and crocheted from vintage patterns for a fraction of the cost....

Make Your Own Prom Wrap or Jacket From Vintage Patterns

Wraps, shrugs, boleros, shorties or short jackets are very stylish today. They were also stylish in past eras. Combining stylish and vintage together scores a hit for today's proms and parties. It's a bonus that they're easy to make from vintage patt...

Vintage Crochet Baby Bonnet Patterns

Special occasions call for special baby hats. Vintage thread crochet baby bonnets are the perfect choice for christenings and other important days. Here is a collection of rare original thread crochet patterns for these old fashioned baby bonnets. If...

On to 20 lenses. 

More of the same.

Vintage Crochet Lingerie Patterns Make Today's Hottest Fashions

O ld vintage and antique crochet patterns are being snatched up for trendy new fashions. It's easy to create your own unique one-of-a-kind top, dress, or lingerie with needle and thread. Handmade crochet articles have never been more fashionable.

Vintage Knitting & Crochet Patterns For Today's Fashions

T oday's fashions, and more importantly your own unique style, can be made using vintage patterns. Vintage knitting and crochet patterns often are superior in design and detail. You have only to provide the color and texture and a few customizations...

Working At Home For Family and Income

For me working from home is both a necessity and a blessing. Learning how to make money online has been a long learning curve, but some very nice people along the way were willing to share tips and shortcuts, most of it free. Now I'd like to pass tha...

Squidoo Lensography of Nancy Oram - Entrepreneur From the Age of Six

The Squidoo Lensography and Biography of Nancy Oram, soon-to-be Giant Squid, entrepreneur, WAHM, genealogist, Mobile Notary, vintage pattern seller, and most important of all, mother of seven. I chose this picture because this is how I spend most of...

Shop Your Grocery Aisles Online for Next Day Delivery

G rocery shopping online is a huge time and money saver. Personal shoppers load your cart and deliver your items right to your kitchen.

The Goal to Become Giant Squid-Worthy 

More and more research and learning at Squid U

Nothing But the Best For Baby

T oday's moms want nothing but the best for their babies. Soft, natural baby clothes and products please both mom and baby. Enjoy these gift suggestions of top picks for baby in various price ranges. P.S. The red wagon gift basket can be found furth...

Wooden Salad Bowls Make Perfect Gifts

A newlywed essential, wooden salad bowls are a truly thoughtful and unique gift. Brides and grooms use and appreciate them. From formal dining to patio entertaining, they are one of today's must-haves for the well-equiped kitchen.

Nothing But the Best Organic Products and Gifts for Baby

H ealthy, natural babies love the feel and comfort of organic, earth-friendly clothes and baby products. Organic and natural products come in nature's colors, or safe-color versions. It doesn't have to be plain, but it does have to be pure and safe....

Nothing But the Best Organic Products and Gifts for Kids

Healthy, natural kids love the feel and comfort of organic, earth-friendly clothes. Organic and natural products come in nature's colors, or safe-color versions. It doesn't have to be plain, but it does have to be pure, safe and sustainable.

Organic Gift Baskets

Everyone loves gift baskets. Everyone appreciates the quality of organics. Put them together and you have purely the best in products and manufacturing. Here is a hand-picked variety of gift baskets for every occasion.

More Shopping Lenses, Please. 

This is too fun!

Just the Cutest Baby Shoes

There's nothing cuter than tiny pink baby feet, and the little tiny soft shoes that cover them should be just as soft, natural, comfortable, safe and CUTE!

Baby Christening Clothes and Gifts

Beautiful heirloom quality traditional white gowns and suits are called for when baby is christened or baptized. These handpicked selections are of the highest quality and workmanship.

Organic Underwear for the Whole Family

U nderwear, the clothes you wear right next to your skin, should be pure, natural and free of chemicals that can cause rashes, irritation or itching. The most comfortable underwear you can wear is made from natural organic fibers.

Matching Family Pajamas

It's a family tradition for many families to have matching pajamas for the holidays. Fun and practical when family and friends visit for everyone to show up in matching pajamas. Great for family reunions and camping. Start your own matching family pa...

For Preemies Only

My twins were born premature, weighing about four pounds each. Clothing for the first six months was hard to find. After that, they could wear regular infant size. Here is a selection of Preemie wear, from the essentials to special occasions. Preemie...

Just a Few More Shopping Lenses 

I'm almost ready to switch gears again

Preserving Vintage Home Arts on eBay

T here are thousands of out-of-print patterns and other treasures crumbling in basements and attics. As I started collecting these priceless items I realized that I couldn't possibly use them all myself, and they couldn't be shared in the condition t...

Only the Best Gift Baskets

Gift baskets make nice practical gifts. There is a gift basket for everyone and every occasion. But not all gift baskets are really good selections. This list contains only the best of the thousands of choices placed before you.

Only the Best Gourmet Gift Baskets

Gourmet gift baskets are real client pleasers. Most people love to receive things they wouldn't necessarily splurge on for themselves. The message is also sent that "they're worth it"! So whether it's a business gift you're looking for, or something...

Gifts for Pets and Pet Lovers

Pet owners love to receive pet gifts. And we all love to remember our pet companions with special treats on holidays. Here is a collection of gifts selected especially for the pets (and pet owners) we love.

Directory of Gift Ideas for Everyone and Every Occasion

Trying to think of a unique gift for someone that's hard to buy for? This is a growing directory of ideas and resources to help you come up with the perfect gift for every person on your list.

Back to Informational Lenses 

I'm just a wealth of knowledge!

How to Prevent and Treat Diaper Rash

D iaper rash can be a persistent and recurring problem in babies. Treating diaper rash effectively and then preventing it from coming back is a challenge every new mom faces at one time or another. As a mother of seven, I've seen lots of cases of di...

Chocolate Chip Cookies for Breakfast

I love chocolate chip cookies. They're my very favorite. Our favorite recipe for chocolate chip cookies includes ingredients so healthy I allow my kids to eat them for breakfast (occasionally). Chocolate chip cookies made with this recipe have more n...

How to Start Your Genealogy (With Free Charts)

F inding your ancestors is a basic desire of almost everyone. There are many good genealogy guides online with great information. This mini guide is meant to be a very basic, simple start. You don't have to be overwhelmed with information to get star...

Polar Bear Floating on Iceberg in 1885

I mmigrants to America aboard the ship Wisconsin were treated to the sight of a polar bear in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean as it floated by on an iceberg. Apparently this was a common sight in the late 1800s.

San Francisco 1906 Earthquake

J oseph Heermance was one of the first volunteers to come to the aid of victims of the Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906. With only his bicycle (wheel) for transportation, he took the ferry from his home in Oakland to San Francisco with...

Maybe More Genealogy Related Lenses 

Genealogy is my passion.

Strange But True Genealogy Stories - On the Lighter Side

W hen you research your genealogy you run the risk of discovering inlaws and outlaws, literally. If you're squeamish about what you might find you better not look. Almost every family has a skeleton in the closet.

Colma, California - City of the Dead

With a population of about 1,500 above ground and over 1.5 million underground, Colma, California, just south of San Francisco, became known as "The City of the Dead" or "City of the Souls." It's where deceased residents of San Francisco were relocat...

Strange But True Genealogy Stories - Coincidence. . .or not.

A very unlikely meeting between unrelated people looking for the same information, spinning microfilm stopping at the exact name being looked for out of thousands of other names, pages falling out of a stack of papers with the desired information. Th...

Strange but True Genealogy Stories - Crumbling Gravestones

A strange but true genealogy story - Villamena Violet Doxey and Violet Annie Doxey both lived only a few months. The locations of their graves were unknown until about 100 years after their deaths when genealogist Gertrude Doxey tracked them down. Bu...

Fun With Name Demographics

Currently the most popular surnames in the United States are: Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown, Jones, Miller, Davis, Garcia, Rodriguez, Wilson. Would you like to know the popularity of your name and where it came from?

Just Five More to 50 and Giant Squid Status 

25 Days to the September 30, 2008 Deadline

Christmas Plum Pudding and Figgy Pudding Recipes

A n old English Victorian tradition, steamed plum and figgy pudding right out of a Dickens novel. Here are the authentic recipes straight out of vintage and antique cookbooks. Make it an old fashioned Christmas tradition.

Jay Strongwater Christmas Tree Ornaments and Other Designs

C ollected by such notables as Tom Hanks, Whoppi Goldberg, Cate Blanchette, Sir Elton John and Hallie Berry, Jay Strongwater designs are breathtaking. Here is his Christmas collection along with some of his other most popular designs.

Christmas Tree Toppers

S omething special belongs at the very top of the Christmas tree. Will it be a star, an angel, or something entirely original and different? Presenting a selection of Christmas Tree Toppers to match any family's style.

Christmas Dinnerware and Serving Pieces

E ntertaining for friends and family during the holiday season calls for special dinnerware and serving pieces. Whether your style is elegant or casual, you'll want everything to look special.

Glass Designer Christmas Tree Ornaments

Collectible glass Christmas tree ornaments express the richness of the season in vivid or soft colors. Whether your style is quiet elegance or bright and playful, these heirloom decorations will be passed down from generation to generation.

September is a Good Time to Make More Holiday Lenses 

Some informational, some shopping.

Christmas Nativity Sets

A Christmas essential, the Nativity is now crafted in a variety of styles and materials. From elegant procelain and crystal to metal, wood, ceramic and plastic. There is something for everyone and every budget. My personal favorites are the children'...

The Polar Bear Store

Raise polar bear awareness or just enjoy their beauty, there's something for every age and interest. Polar bear books, DVDs, soft plush animals, calendars, jewelry, art posters, ornaments -- babies to adults fall in love with the beauty and majesty o...

A Very Dickens Christmas

R oasted chestnuts, Christmas punch, figgy pudding, holly and ivy. An old fashioned Victorian Dickens-style Christmas calls for rich family traditions, decorating and fun from bygone days. Dickens' Christmas: A Victorian Celebration

Christmas Advent Calendars

Christmas advent calendars are a fun tradition for young and old. Remember when you made a construction paper Christmas chain in school and cut one link off each day until Christmas? From the simplest to the ornate, advent calendars help us count dow...

It's the Season for Christmas Movies

Whether it's a movie about Christmas or a movie with a Christmas or holiday setting, it's time to start getting the Christmas spirit by curling up with your favorite holiday movies. Here are some of my favorites. Be sure and tell me yours.

My Favorite Books and Authors 

Lenses 56 - 60

Steve Martini :: Legal Thriller Author

Steve Martini expertly crafts brilliant legal thrillers. His years of legal experience, coupled with a well-polished journalistic style, make him one of the most talented modern fiction writers today.

John Grisham :: Legal Thriller Author

John Grisham has to be at the top of every legal thriller list. He has lived the life and then written about it with the experience and style that make his best-selling fiction absolutely compelling to read. Read a short biography of John Grisham, i...

Strictly Jane Austen

Jane Austen is loved and noted for her witty observations of 19th-century English society. Her works combine romantic comedy with social satire and keen personal insight. With an ever-growing fan base, Jane Austen's novels have also been interpreted...

Charlotte Bronte :: Author of Jane Eyre

Charlotte Bronte, British novelist and author of Jane Eyre, one of the most popular English novels of all time. The eldest of the three famous Bronte sisters, and one brother, all writers. Charlotte used the pen name Currer Bell and also wrote Shirle...

Charles Dickens :: A Life Documented

Charles Dickens documented his own life in his novels, which are quite autobiographical. You can also trace his actual life, family and travels through genealogy records and documents available online. Photos and proof of Dickens' life are presented...

More Holiday Lenses 

The Holiday Spirit Came Early This Year

Swarovski Crystal Christmas Ornaments

Daniel Swarovski (1862, Georgenthal - 1956, Wattens) was an Austrian glass cutter and jeweler born in Bohemia. In 1892 he patented an electric cutting machine that facilitated the production of lead crystal glass jewelery. In 1895 Swarovski, financi...

Family Christmas Stockings and Hangers

The tradition of Christmas stockings hung by the chimney with care is shared in some version by almost every country in the world. Originally the person's own sock was used, but at some point special Christmas socks were made and today the choices an...

Waterford Glass and Crystal Christmas Tree Ornaments

The tradition of Waterford Crystal brings elegance to your holiday decorating. Waterford crystal Christmas tree ornaments, hand-painted glass ornaments, and lead crystal figures, candlesticks and serving dishes bring sparkle and warmth to your home....

Jim Shore Folkart Country Christmas Ornaments and Decorations

Jim Shore designs are uniquely carved folkart country pieces for any occasion, and especially created for holiday decorating. This is a collection selected especially for Christmas country-style decorating. Each piece is highly collectible, yet affor...

Thomas Kinkade Christmas Ornaments and Decorations

Thomas Kinkade's style is made for the holidays. Soft, warm light and cozy scenes make wonderful ornaments, villages, figures, music boxes and globes. You'll be delighted with this year's selection.

and so on. . . . 

Christmas All Year Round

It's Christmas every month of the year on this site. Find designer ornaments and collectibles, elegant or country decorations, and great gift ideas for everyone on your list. Jay Strongwater, Jim Shore and Thomas Kinkade; Swarovski and Waterford crys...

An Elegant Silver and Gold Christmas

Fire and ice. The warmth of gold, the coolness of silver. Mixed together, a silver and gold holiday decorating theme makes a truly elegant statement. This is a classic and classy look. Contemporary, Victorian, Country or Classic -- any style will loo...

Lenox China Christmas Ornaments and Decorations

Best known for China and figurines, Lenox Christmas collectibles come in a variety of styles and subjects. Fine China, silver and crystal represent the symbols of the holiday season wrapping your home in elegant style.

Holy Family Nativity Christmas Ornaments

Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus, the Holy Family, are depicted in a variety of styles in Nativity Christmas ornaments. Represent the Christmas Story on your tree, or decorate entirely in the true spirit of Christmas with religious ornaments.

Faberge Egg Christmas Ornaments

Russian egg designs inspired by those created by Peter Carl Faberge for the Russian Czars in the 19th century. Mouth blown hand decorated glass egg ornaments made by skilled artisans in Eastern Europe in the centuries-old traditions of European glass...

Starting Off This Next Batch With My Hometown - Pleasant Hill, California 

Maybe I'll Do Some More Local Areas

94523 :: Pleasant Hill, California

Located in the San Francisco Bay Area in Contra Costa County, Pleasant Hill is literally right in the middle of everything the Bay Area has to offer, from sports venues to world-class arts and entertainment. Twenty minutes from the beach, two hours f...

How to Make Real Old Fashioned Hot Chocolate :: Cocoa

My mother used to make hot chocolate (she always called it cocoa) on the stove with milk and real cocoa powder. We had it often for breakfast and on cold evenings. I can still remember the smell of the milk scalding on the stove, and then the wonderf...

There, Their, They're

Before your eyes roll back in your head, there's a very simple way to learn when and how to use the three "there words": there, their, they're. People are expected to know the proper use of these most popular homonyms/homophones. When used incorrectl...

Free Fancy Pineapple Apron Crochet Pattern

This vintage pattern uses the popular pineapple design that's usually seen only in doilies. It has ribbon woven into the design. Make one for yourself or give as a gift. I hope you enjoy this free pattern from Vintage Home Arts. You'll find the link...

Free Thread Crochet Baby Bonnet Pattern

This is a unique vintage thread crochet baby cap pattern featuring a smart Greek Key design. Thread crochet baby hats are very sought after by new moms. They make very thoughtful baby shower gifts and become priceless heirlooms. No christening outfit...