Valentines Day - A Guide for Men
January 15, 2008
Did you know that after Christmas, Valentine’s Day is the biggest retail holiday? That means a variety of things for you the consumer, but mostly it means the market is saturated with a plethora of heart-shaped, cutesy, not so worth it products. I have a philosophy?one that is not always popular?but here it goes. If you love someone, then saying “I love you” is a full time job, not one accomplished by dime store shrink-wrapped chocolates and plush toys holding bags of candy hearts.
Don’t get me wrong. These things were great when we were 10, but we are adults now so here are a few ways to ensure you have a classy holiday that shows you put a lot of thought into it.
The key to success if knowing your significant other’s tastes and not stepping on a land mine in the process of telling her how much you care. Yes, this article is geared mostly towards the men out there who are trying to get it right this year. However, women, you can take heed of this advice as well because I don’t know a man alive who wants a teddy bear holding a cheap satin heart.
What Is A Reverse Painting?
January 14, 2008
Welcome to the world of Reverse Painting on Glass. Reverse painting on glass has been considered a popular ‘art of the people’ for many centuries. The use of glass as a support for this intricate painting technique has not hindered its continuing popularity.
A reverse painting is created by painting a subject onto one side of a sheet of glass (or plexiglass) after which it is viewed from the other side of the glass, or through the glass.
Contrary to painting on a canvas or similar support this technique requires an artist to paint in reverse, or ‘back to front.’
When an artwork is created on a support such as canvas or wood panel, it is painted from the same angle and direction that it will ultimately be viewed from on completion. However, in the case of a reverse painting the painting side and the viewing side of the artwork are opposed to one another.
Similarly, an artwork that is created on a canvas usually begins with a rough outline and gradually builds towards its completion and finishing touches. In a reverse painting this procedure begins where it would normally end and finishing touches such as finer details and the artist’s signature are usually applied first and the background applications of colour are added later, hence the use of the term ‘reverse painting’.
Origami Secrets Revealed
January 13, 2008
Origami, or the art of paper folding, has been around for centuries. It is one of the most intricate, but at the same time simple expressions of art in the world. Everything from dragons and cranes to flowers and hats can be folded in origami.
Beautiful and brilliant creations are just around the corner for you as we have put together a fantastic book on origami that is going to take you from step one, right through to the end of your project. In this book, we will cover as many of the different patterns as we can, and provide you with the know how so you can pass this knowledge on to others.
Through the questions that many of you sent in asking about different areas of origami we have put together a resource for you to begin enjoying a craft that has been around for hundreds of years. In our book, we will cover the following:
The different creations you can make
Step-by-step instructions for you to follow to get the design you want
The different paper and other supplies
How to store your creations
Where to find the origami supplies (maybe in your own home!)
5 Ways to Having the Happiest Valentines Day Ever (even if youre alone)
January 12, 2008
The thought of Valentine’s Day conjures up romantic evenings, a candlelight dinner, and long walks with your loved one. It is, without a doubt the most romantic day of the year. So how could you possibly be expected to enjoy Valentine’s Day when you’re alone? Well, while it might not be all hearts and flowers, you can still spread the message of Valentine’s Day: Love.
Over the years, I’ve interviewed numerous people and asked them what their favorite Valentine’s Day memory was. Surprisingly, very few couples actually mentioned a gift or a special night out. In fact, most of the people I interviewed remembered their special Valentine’s Day by things they did for others. Gifts they gave, whether they were store bought or home made that gave them the feeling of joy and happiness.
Antique Delft and Very Collectible Tiles and Ceramics: Beginners Start Here
January 11, 2008
So you fancy starting a collection but you’re not sure what to collect? How About . . . ?
Every home will contain at least one example or more - in the kitchen, the bathroom, the fire surround. How long have they been in existence and what should we look out for when buying an Old Tile.
When trying to identify an old tile, the most difficult aspect is where was it made and when.
The most famous tiles are referred to as delft. But why?
The term delft is derived from the dutch town of Delft. The Netherlands began to produce tin-glazed earthenware in the late 15 century. Potteries were established in many parts of the Netherlands, Amsterdam, Haarlem and Rotterdam, but by the late 17 century Delft had become the most important centre of production and nearly 30 companies were working in the area.
The original delft tile designs came about when Chinese porcelain stopped being imported in the mid 17 century and the popular Chinese wares were reproduced in blue and white. Initially made in blue and white, later in the century the Delft potters introduced a wider variety of colours, yellow, purple, blue, red, green and black.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning: A Discussion of How Do I Love Thee?
January 10, 2008
"How Do I Love Thee?" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning was written in 1845 while she was being courted by the English poet, Robert Browning. The poem is also titled Sonnet XLIII from Sonnets From the Portuguese.
Early Experiences
Elizabeth Barrett was born in Durham England in 1806, the first daughter of affluent parents who owned sugar plantations in Jamaica. She was home-schooled and read voraciously in history, philosophy and literature. Young Elizabeth learned Hebrew in order to read original Bible texts and Greek in order to read original Greek drama and philosophy. She began writing poems when she was 12 years old, though she did not publish her first collection for another twenty years.
Elizabeth Barrett developed a serious respiratory ailment by age 15 and a horse riding accident shortly thereafter left her with a serious spinal injury. These two health problems remained with her all of her life.
In 1828 her mother died and four years later the family business faltered and her father sold the Durham estate and moved the family to a coastal town. He was stern, protective, and even tyrannical and forbid any of his children to marry. In 1833 Elizabeth published her first work, a translation of Prometheus Bound by the Greek dramatist Aeschylus.
Photography 101 Part 3
January 10, 2008
Content
Even if you feel that you already know what kind of photography you like to do, it’s always a good idea to try your talent at different aspects of photography.
Pictorial, this is a general term but it applies to any photographer who’s goal is simply to create beautiful photos. This breaks down into smaller subsets but the most popular form is landscape and nature photography. This is what I do and it’s tempting to go on and on but I will just say that this form of photography, to me, is a real art. At least that is goal to create art in photographic form. It is the goal of the photographer to use their abilities to capture an image in it’s moment of beauty and simplicity.
Portrait, this can be people and even animals. It also includes wedding photography as well. This is an aspect of photography that can be a lot harder than it seems. Not only do you have to know your basic photo composition but you need to understand what makes each person look their best. You must know how to bring out their personality and character in the shot. If you love working with people this may be your field. It’s fun and challenging.
Functional Pottery Makes a Great Gift, Plain and Simple
January 9, 2008
Are you looking for something unique to give a friend or family member for an upcoming birthday or holiday? If you really want to wow that special someone, why not consider purchasing an original one of a kind pottery gift that makes life better in some way.
Pottery gifts come in all shapes, sizes, and colors and they can be practical or extravagant. If your recipient loves to take afternoon tea, why not surprise him or her with a gorgeous tea set, complete with teacups, saucers, and teapot? You might even want to add a serving tray for that extra special touch. Perhaps you know someone who adores fresh flowers. A delicate vase to showcase a vibrant bouquet would likely be appreciated.
If you long to combine functionality with beauty in your everyday life, you will likely find pottery to be outstanding in every way. From the depth of color to the texture to the overall design, each piece stands apart from the next. Keep in mind that you do not have to buy matching sets of cups, plates, and bowls. In fact, it can be equally attractive to mix and match plates of one design and color with bowls from an entirely different set.
Event Planning 101
January 8, 2008
One of the tools I use as a professional organizer are countdowns.
What exactly is a countdown? To put it simply, anytime a special event, party, or holiday is anticipated (okay maybe dreaded 
, create a MASTER list of EVERYTHING you need to do.
For example, during the winter holidays, tasks such as- setting your table, gift buying, cooking, decorating, may be floating around in your head. “Oh yes, I can’t forget to do x,y,z”, sound familiar?
Transfer all of that mental clutter from your head onto a piece of paper. This is your MASTER to-do list.
Then, transfer each item on your MASTER list to a day in your calendar, sometime before the event. It will not be too hard to determine the necessary chronological order for each task. You may want to use something large like a wall calendar with post-it notes for the individual tasks. This way, if you cannot complete a task on the assigned day, you can move the post-it over to another day.
You now have DAILY and WEEKLY to-do lists and have just created a COUNTDOWN.
Fun with Origami!
January 7, 2008
Storing origami
This is a great question. Many people want to hold on to their special crafts for years to come. While there is no specialized container that you can get for origami that is going to preserve them, you can do a few things to make sure your models last.
* Store them in a dry, sealed container. The less moisture that enters, the better. Also, if you can keep them out of the sun, they won’t degrade or discolor like most other paper does.
*Use quality paper. If you use poor quality, thin paper, the chances of your origami creation being damaged is greater.
* Coat your model. You can get art sprays from your local art shop and this essentially puts a coating on the outside of the paper, and it gives it protection.
* Limit the handling of the creations. I know it is fun to show them and maybe even play with them, but if you have one that you want to keep for a long time, handling it might reduce the lifespan of that piece.
