Advantages: Being published
Disadvantages: Technical troubles in Beta stage

...Themestream is in its preview stage and paying 10 cents a page view. This payment is expected to fall to 2 cents in September. Themestream is different from Ciao in that it is not product-based, but interest-based in its content. If you are interested in a product, you may find it there, but your are more likely to find articles on fly fishing, gardening, and astrophotography. There are reviews written on theater, music, books, art, and articles on anything from knitting to golf. Themestream also offers great possibilities for fiction writers, as it hosts a large collection of short stories, screenplays and serialized novels. The fiction writer may build a portfolio easily and quickly. It is possible, and it has happened, that publishers spot work on Themestream and buy it from the author. Copyright remains with the author... Read review

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Advantages: Can produce some great items
Disadvantages: A bit difficult for kids on their own

...My daughter is very much into arts and crafts so at Christmas time most people try to give her presents to suit this talent she has. This year she was give the GR8 Gear Knitting Machine (which was bought from Argos at £19.99). We'd heard about this from a friend who told us how easy it was to use and what super results it produced. Now we can see for ourselves. The Product The knitting machine arrived in a box with 2 balls of wool (not very nice wool, a bit rough and scratchy!) and an instruction booklet with instructions on how to produce a scarf, leg warmers, a bag and a hat. The knitting machine was pretty much ready to use after attaching the legs and the handle. Once made up the knitting machine, which is purple with pink legs and handle can best be described as looking a bit like a little cauldron without the base... Read review

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Advantages: freebies, full colour examples, discount vouchers & events
Disadvantages: cant buy in every newsagent, £3.45 per issue unless subcribe

...Being a sad, sad indivdual I was keen to learn knitting at a very young age. We were all gathered together in the main hall at school in year 4 and asked what we wanted to do for 'technology'. Options included lollypop stick models, paper mache, sewing, face painting and knitting. Never guess who was the only one who put their hand up for knitting. That would have been moi. I must have been a rather depressed young girl as I had thought at the time I'm going to get old one day and will need to know how to knit. The others only seemed interested in what they where doing now, and how bored they were (i.e. gluing iceicle sticks to Mrs Bumbles backside). The plus side was that i could use as much of the wool as i wanted which was great as i kept making silly mistakes and got really tangled. It took ages to perfect, i could never get... Read review

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Advantages: It's snuggly and warm and like a security blanket
Disadvantages: It's a material possession

...Firstly, I would just like to wish Jill masses amount of love and hugs for her fourth year of healthy living, and say that writing such an op makes me feel somewhat humble. For me to choose one favourite thing is very very difficult, as I am sure it is with anyone. So instead of writing about my favourite thing, which would be my family, friends, my health and my doggies, I have instead decided to write about something material which means a huge amount to me - My Nanna. First of all, I will have to point out that when I say My Nanna, I do not mean my Grandmother (although she is also my Nanna!) My Nanna is the name I gave to a cardigan which I have, which my Nanna knitted for me about 2 years ago. Please bear with me, as quite a long story goes behind it! My Dad is a garden designer, hence a lot of our time is spent at nurserys... Read review

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Advantages: Thick and just plain yummy.
Disadvantages: expensive

...These smoothies are little bottles of heaven. and thats no exageration. they have different types: the orignal smoothie the smoothies for kids big cartons thickies juicy waters and superfoods. the orignal smoothie comes in many flavours: cranberries and rasberries strawberries and bananas blackberries and blueburries orange, bananas and pineapples mangoes and passion fruit and pineapples, bananas and coconuts. - i personally only ever get the strawberry and banana flavour. it's thick, very colourful and you can taste every flavour. the packaging is cute. with a little face with a halo. it's also healthy. which is always a bonus. every bottle contains atleats two portions of fruit and it's never concerntrate. in sainsburys you can buy these juicy little drinks with knitted hats. the organisation is called 'supergran'. you buy... Read review

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Advantages: Wide range of patterns, appeals to all ages
Disadvantages: A lot of adverts

...I have knitted since a very young age, although I did very little in my twenties and early thirties because hand knitting had become untrendy. In recent years, it has increased in popularity again - even superstars like Catherine Zeta-Jones enjoy the craft - and so I ended up picking up my needles again in early 2007. Since then, I've knitted a variety of jumpers/cardigans/hats both for myself, my sister and my about-to-be-born niece/nephew, several pieces of which I have made following patterns from this magazine. Where to buy? I have never seen this magazine to buy in a shop, although apparently it can be ordered from newsagents for £3.99 per issue. I purchase mine online via a website called myfavouritemagazines.co.uk. I have been paying £8 for three issues (there is one issue a month), but the price is now listed as £10 for three... Read review

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Advantages: they are good company
Disadvantages: see op

...I used to have a cat called Smudge. Don't get me wrong, I loved him but he was sometimes sooo annoying. My girlfriend and her Auntie wrote this, and it made me chuckle because it is so true. I would just like to share it with you lot. Rules for Cats I. DOORS Do not allow closed doors in any room. To get a door opened, stand on hind legs and scratch the frame. You may also reach under the door and pull clothing towards you; silks get the quickest reaction. Once door is opened, it is not necessary to use it. After you have ordered an "outside" door opened, stand halfway in and out and think about several things. This is particularly important during very cold weather, when it's raining or snowing. II. CHAIRS AND RUGS If you have you need to vomit , get to the most comfortable chair in the house quickly. If you cannot... Read review

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Advantages: a cheery fairytale
Disadvantages: people won't get some of the references

...! Muahahahahahahahahaha…" "Oh, no!" screamed the Queen in horror. In the nick of time Ruth the good fairy quickly chanted a magic spell to change the curse. When she hurt herself, Felicity would fall into a very very very very very deep sleep instead of dying, which is infinitely preferable. The years went by, and little Felicity grew and grew and became the tallest and most beautiful girl in the whole kingdom. Her mother was always very careful to keep her away from knitting needles, but Felicity, on her sixteenth birthday, as she wandered through the castle, came into a room where Becky was sitting knitting the most beautiful scarf, with the needles going klickety-klackety-klickety-klackety. "What are you doing?" Felicity asked Becky. "I'm knitting. Haven't you ever seen knitting needles before?" "No. Let me see them!" Becky handed over the needles... Read review

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Advantages: How life was back then
Disadvantages: It had to end

...was so excited,because I had never been on a bus before. We always travelled everywhere by car. We used to walk down to the local library, which was quite a walk from her house, at her age. One time, I was in the garden and I spotted a black cat sat amongst her flowers. I called out to Grandy " look at the cat in your garden, isn't he lovely?" Quick as a flash she came out with a bowl of water and chucked it over him! I Think it's safe to say that was the worst I ever saw in her! When she used to visit us at the farm, she would stay for a week or two. I shared a bed with her in my room. I would wake and hear her snore or hear her use the bucket. In the morning, there she would be sitting up in bed knitting, knit one pearl one. She taught me to crochet and knit. She also would recite to me this little rhyme. " There stands a pole, Who stood... Read review

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Advantages: Relaxing, creative, could provide an income
Disadvantages: Can be addictive, strain on the eyes in poor lighting

...I've known how to cross stitch since I was a kid. My mum was a seamstress and showed me how to sew, knit and crochet just as soon as I could hold a needle. I go through phases when I don't do any crafts for years, then pick something up again and absorb myself in it for months. Cross stitch is one of my favourites as, depending on the size of the project, you see results quickly, unlike knitting, which I often get bored with by the time I'm about half way through. I have spent the past 2 years travelling, so have not had the opportunity to do anything during that time, but eventually put my bags down to spend the winter in Greece, where I previously lived for 9 years. Having found accommodation, I was living on a budget and couldn't afford a TV, so on a flying visit back to the UK, I popped into Hobbycraft and treated myself... Read review

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