Using Your Dogs Hair
October 21, 2008
Dog hair (called chiengora)can be spun into yarn, much like sheeps’s wool, alpaca, or any other animal fiber. The process is the same. Dust and oils can be washed out of the spun hair, so there is no “doggie odor.” Amazingly, the spun yarn is warmer than wool, easy to care for, and has an angora-like fluffy texture. Until recent times, most dog owners didn’t realize the beauty of the colors and texture of their dog’s hair could be used in the manner of sheep’s wool.
It’s really as easy as brushing your dog. There are some guidelines to getting the best and softest yarn possible. When brushing your dog, be sure to collect from the parts where the hair is the longest and softest. This is undercoat. Hair must be 2 inches or longer for best results. Hair should be clean and dry, with no grass or debris in it. Brush the hair from the longest, softest parts of the dog, saving only this hair. It is the undercoat you want, not the coarse top coat. Clippings will not work well for spinning with dogs that have double coats. There is too much guard hair, and the yarn quality will not be as nice as the pure undercoat.
How to Make Quilted Silver Beads
October 20, 2008
After making the leaf bead, I was impressed with the detail made possible by the metal clay. Therefore, I decided to use the same technique but create a different look. When I finished making these beads, I thought they looked as though they had been “quilted.” Before firing, each bead weighed about 5.43 grams. After firing, they are about 3.8 grams each. The size and weight of your beads may depend on how large you make them and the size of the straw that you use for creating the holes in the beads.
To make these beads, you’ll need:
6 playing cards a small ball of PMC (about 6 grams) roller olive oil ruler paint brush fine sand paper or emery board *a small piece of mesh cloth a clean surface to work on Exacto ® knife 2 inch piece of plastic straw kiln vermiculite jeweler’s file or emery board
*This mesh material should be easy to find at most fabric stores because they usually carry a variety of trims and laces. If you’ve ever sewn, you might even have a bag of scraps around that some interesting textures to try.
Creating A Family Tradition-Jigsaw Puzzles
October 18, 2008
Do you find it difficult to spend time together as a family?
There are so many pressures and activities that can take away from the sense of family which was more commonly experienced 50 years ago. Parents often both work, and their commute can be tiring and long. For children there is school and homework, TV, video games, and the computer to juggle with. This does not include outside the home activities such as belonging to sports teams and organizations. All of these factors mean that the family is not together so often. Many activities that occupy children nowadays are individualistic or non-social. Electronic forms of entertainment are now normal, but the disadvantage is that they are not conducive to social interaction and relationship building.
Parents increasingly have to plan to set aside time to spend as a family. During these times it is a good idea to plan activities that involve everyone. A great way of bonding is to do an activity where everyone works together to accomplish a project.
Essentials of Genealogy - Getting Started with Your FamilyTree
October 16, 2008
Since genealogy is my hobby, my profession, and my passion, many people ask me how to get started. What are the essentials to doing a family search? Here are some tips that should help you discover your family under the best possible conditions.
Genealogy in Switzerland - A Longenecker Family Search
October 13, 2008
I recently visited Langnau, Bern, Switzerland and spent two days immersed in all things Langenegger. My wife and I arrived at the Langnau rail station on June 25, 2004, exhausted from a long flight from San Francisco. As we left the train station we were immediately struck by the unique character of this area.
Outside the train station are the remnants of a cobblestone street, now patched by asphalt. Everywhere we looked were beautiful Swiss houses and buildings ? many of them hundreds of years old ? and all colorfully decorated with pink and red begonias placed in flower boxes below each window. As we found later, the Emmental is also a wonderland of covered bridges, friendly people, church spires with Swiss clocks and chimes, tinkling cow bells ? everything you expect Switzerland to be.
As we walked toward our hotel in Bareau we noticed how friendly and courteous the locals are ? stopping to allow us to cross the street and smiling as we passed with a friendly "Hallo" or "Guten Morgen." The town is dotted with long stone tanks with well water splashing in at one end and draining out the other. They look something like a stone horse tank. These are available to anyone who wants a cool drink of well water.
Candle Maintenance
October 10, 2008
Many people don’t know that you can actually improve the quality of the flame you get from your candles. Some people think that if a flame is too large or you are getting excess soot that it is the makers fault. Well sometimes this is true, but often a little tender loving care can sort out many candle problems.
An overly large flame is not only an unsightly thing to look at but it is also a fire risk and causes excess soot and smoke. If you suffer from this problem then simply extinguish the flame, wait for the candle to completely cool down and then trim the wick. This should help reduce the flame size and smoke.
Many coloured candles will discolor overtime because of direct sun light. If your candle changes colour then make sure you keep it out of direct sunlight. Also leaving candles on the window ledge can cause them to melt! So keep your candles off of window ledges too.
If you have a candle with a normal sized flame but it is smoking then it may be in a draft. Check all nearby windows and doors to make sure they are shut, otherwise you are not only causes the candle to smoke but it is also a fire risk.
How To Make a Pinata
October 9, 2008
MATERIALS
A Large Round or Oval Balloon
Newspaper, torn into 1 inch by 6-8″ inch strips
White computer paper or paper towels, torn into strips
Flour and water mixture for paper mache paste
Salt
Vegetable oil
Paint
Tissue paper
Crepe paper
String or yarn for hanging
INSTRUCTIONS
Prepare:
Prepare your work surface with a layer of newspaper you can discard, or an old plastic tablecloth you can wipe clean of goop and glops which are part of this messy project!
Tear several pages of newspaper into strips, approximately 1 inch wide by 6-8 inches long. Don’t try to be neat and cut them with scissors; the torn edges will adhere more closely and give a smoother overall surface to the finished pinata.
Paper Mache Recipe:
Next, it’s time to prepare the paper mache paste by using a simple mixture of flour and water. Use a large glass or disposable bowl to facilitate easy clean-up afterwards.
Mix one part flour with 2 parts water until you have a consistency like thick glue. Add more water or flour as necessary. Squeeze out all the lumps and add a tablespoon or two of salt to help prevent mold. See other paper mache recipe options below.
Preparing For a Leather Craft Project
October 7, 2008
Once you’ve decided on your leather craft project, you’ll need the right tools and room to do the work. Being prepared ahead of time will make your task more enjoyable and give you a sense of satisfation when you’re done. If you’re like most of us you’ll probably be working on more leather craft projects over time, so creating a designated area is probably a good idea.
What to Cut On:
Regardless of the project, you’ll need to cut your piece of leather. Choose a flat surface protected with a rubber mat. The latter will help protect your tools and prevent them from becoming blunt. Alternatively, you can purchase a self-healing cutting board that comes with a grid work. Any cuts made in the board seal up. This product is readily available at such shops as Staples.
Marking the Cut:
Use a ruler or yardstick and a pencil to mark the cut. Just make a light mark with the pencil. A rounded edge will help if you’re cutting a curve. Then place a metal straight edge along the line you have drawn. Using the tip of an X-acto knife, cut along the line, keeping the knife against the metal edge
The Surprising Popularity of Cigar Smoking
October 5, 2008
The practice of cigar smoking has been on the rise in the U.S. since the early 90’s. In part due to a reputation as a glamorous alternative to cigarette smoking, the increase can also be tied to its popularity among celebrities, as well as to the social nature of its practice. But whatever the reason, it is clear that cigars are big business in the U.S. with higher sales of premium brands each and every year.
Magazines like Cigar Aficionado portray cigar smoking as alluring, and perhaps slightly risqué (particularly for women), and so the hobby strikes a cord with young Americans. Celebrities are often photographed at parties or social gatherings with a cigar in hand, and cigar lounges find regular folks trying to emulate these stars. Clubs and societies, particularly those dominated by men, often design their regular activities around the ritual of cigar smoking.
In general, cigar smoking is viewed as the "civilized" alternative to cigarette smoking. Unlike cigarettes, cigars have a distinct, elegant stigma attached to them that often appeals to young people, particularly those with a higher than average income. They are most often associated with an elevated status in society, and the many of the available cigar accessories reflect that fact.
Working With Leather
October 3, 2008
This can be as simple & basic Or advanced & professional.
There are many books, booklets, pamphlets, reprints, even articles describing how to assemble a simple article cut from a basic design which is purchased as a kit from a supplier. There are even sets of instructions available on the internet.
This is fine for the person who just wants to enjoy making some simple article for themselves or a youngster wanting to make a present for their favourite Aunt.
Should however you wish to make something more complicated, earn an income, make a living at a Craft, become a Craftsman/Artisan, Make & design you own range of Quality Leathergoods, then the above brief explanations are not going to help you.
There used to be some advanced college courses available on the subject. The best of these was offered in the UK by Cordwainers College & students came from all over the World for the 2 year Leathergoods Craft Courses & took the City & Guilds Leather Goods examinations.
Sadly those excellent Craft Courses are now defunct due to lack of Government funding for the college & inability of UK students to obtain grants.
