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It is Friday, so to celebrate here are this week's Faves:




Number One: Herrschners

I've been embroidering off and off since I was nine. I learned the skill when my mom decided to make a quilt, and I've been making various projects ever since. Most of them are pillow case sets. Herrschners is a craft company that's been around since 1899. They have everything from embroidery to counted cross stitch to yarn. Anything you might be interested in learning to do as a craft can be bought there. Check out their website or catalog. There's so many neat things to pick from! Just don't blame me if you want to buy everything you see!

Number Two: Amanda Palmer

I was introduced to Amanda Palmer when she opened for Nine Inch Nails as one half of The Dresden Dolls. I didn't know what to expect when a man and woman came out on stage dressed like mimes, but as soon as they started to play I was hooked.

The style of Palmer's music is described as being cabret punk. She uses her music to describe dark events in her life with lyrical brilliance. She also doesn't shy away from social commentary, with brilliantly powerful songs such as “Strength Through Music” and “What's the Use of Won'drin.” Palmer has a unique voice and style that makes her songs catching, too. Songs such as “Mandy Goes to Medschool,” “Oasis,” and “Guitar Hero” are hard hitting.

If you're looking for a new music artist, give Amanda Palmer (or The Dresden Dolls) a try.

Number Three: Random Acts

This charity was founded by Supernatural's Misha Collins (Castiel). Random Acts is all about kindness, hence its name. They seek to “conquer the world, one random act of kindness at a time.” They have events such as the AMOK Annual Melee of Kindness and Endure for Kindness. Random Acts also worked on a project entitled Hope for Haiti, raising money for the country after the devastating earthquake. Collins brought a group of volunteers down to Haiti in a number of trips so they could build the Jacmel orphanage.

When I went to Salute to Supernatural Chicago 2012, Random Acts was hosting a supply drive for the local women's shelter. If you brought an item on their list of needed items, you were put into a drawing for a bowl made by the children in Jacmel. I brought a small paints set that had been sitting around the house and filled out the drawing form. I was happy to donate and didn't expect to win.

Luck was on my side, and I won the bowl. It was also signed by Misha Collins and Craig Ferguson , who also went on one of the trips to help build the orphanage. It's an honor to have the bowl in my possession.

If you'd like to get involved with this non-profit, check out their website.

Number Four: Blue Heron Soap

This is the other soap store I visit when I go to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. It's all they sell, but it's worth it. For 36 bucks at the store, you can get 6 bars of soap. Each one is hand made with olive oil and---depending on the scent---other natural ingredients. Unlike store bought soap, Blue Heron washes clean without any film---even better than Dove. It's also a long lasting soap. One 3 oz bar can easily last me two and a half months. It doesn't take much to get some lather and it really is a treat to use. My favorite scents are often only available at the Festival---such as Spiced Apple or Cinnamon---but Tea Tree is a go to for its natural healing properties. Lemon and Honey is one of my favorites, too. If you're looking to change soaps, consider shopping online at Blue Heron's site.

Number Five: Sleepy Hollow

This new Fall series just wrapped up its 13-episode run on FOX. I was intrigued by the premise from the moment I saw it advertised. I've always liked the Washington Irving story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” It has the right flavor of gothic spooky. I was excited to see a new version for television---especially with Ichabod being brought to the modern world without being “modern.”

Sleepy Hollow follows the story of Ichabod Crane and Abbie Mills, the two Witnesses, appointed to stop the coming of the Four Horsemen and the Apocalypse. It takes “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and blends it with a twist on American Revolution history that is equally exciting, delightful, and intriguing. Figures such as George Washington and Paul Revere are reinvented---and Free Mason lore is heavily interpreted for the show's mythology. I went in for the premise, I stayed for the characters. Ichabod and Abbie are a powerful duo.

Another treat is Orlando Jones, who plays The Captain. He has embraced the Sleepy Hollow fandom on Twitter---and the Supernatural Family right along with it. He is engaging and witty. You can follow his twitter account at @TheOrlandoJones

Many Supernatural fans have latched onto this show as well---they're similar in concept after all! Various crossover ideas abound with each episode. If you're looking for a great fantasy show, Sleepy Hollow---or SuperSleepy as it's being called by the dual fandoms---might be for you.

Until next Friday!