Holidays are here and so is the spirit of partying. Here are some wonderful ideas for transforming your home into an innovative party scenario and giving your guests an occasion that will forever remain etched in their memories.
1. Entrance: Do up your entrance. The entrance to your home should be magnificent and welcoming. Line the driveway with luminaries. Place a guest book at the front door for expressing sentiments. Clean up clutter near your entrance. Decorate the entrance traditionally or with something unusual to set a celebratory mood. You could also decorate according to the theme of your party. Sleigh Bells or wreaths for Christmas, ghoulish figures for Halloween etc.
2. Lighting: Lighting sets the mood for the party. Interesting ways to play with lighting are to cover light bulbs with multi-colored cellophane strips, cover lights or battery-torches with soft white cloth and place them separately to give the room an air of mystery, or use all your beautiful candles together instead of lights to create a romantic mood. If using candles, combine candles of various colors, shapes and sizes together.
3. Flowers: Flowers will never go out of Fashion. Use lots of seasonal flowers to add freshness and fragrance to your decor. Use garlands to decorate tall structures, floral arrangements on mantels and corners and floating displays of seasonal flowers and floating candles for an eye-catching centerpiece. Visit our Flower Arrangement Gallery by Chrissie Harten (http://www.dotcomwomen.com/home/floral.shtml) for some great ideas. If you expecting kids at your party, place such arrangements out of reach of children or use wooden or metal vases and bowls instead of glass and porcelain.
4. Fabric and Linen: The color and texture of the fabric in the room should be decided according to the occasion, theme, season etc. Cool fabrics go for summers. Rich brocades and Velvet go with a Victorian theme. Red, Golden and White will give the room a Christmassy feel.
5. A Special Touch: Give the party scenario a special touch by placing an object which will be the center of attraction for your guests. A party is the right time to show off your beautiful collection of dolls or your set of original oils by a famous artist. A set of rare books placed together as a ‘mini-library’ in your party room will also become a major attraction if your guests are Literature-Lovers. Apart from collections, you can use mini-aquariums, waterfalls, miniature indoor gardens etc. These will not only beautify the room, but also give your guests a beautiful theme to start a conversation.
Happy Decorating!
About the Author
Lata Budhrani is the Founder/Editor of Dot Com Women, a premier women’s website and online community. Visit her at http://www.dotcomwomen.com.
lata@dotcomwomen.com
In the likely case that you don’t understand gaming establishment games of luck, feel free to read on…
A description of a gaming room is an edifice that accomodates games of chance. Here, visitors may take risks at the slot-machines or different pastimes. Betting saloon games by and large include ovious chances constituting them that promise the house keeps possession of a profit versus the guests.
A huge number of gaming establishment games can sway you into getting overly habituated speedily. A case in hand is the famous 1-armed bandit, a coin operated appliance with three or more cylinders which orbit once a crank coupled to it is manipulated. The gadget regularly pays up corresponding with a sequence of glyphs seen on the dials on the contraption. Sadly, gambling saloon games suggest an apparition of manageability, effectively conning the client: the punter is tasked with options, but in reality they don’t really eliminate the patron’s long-term disadvantage. This is due to the betting establishment never paying up the full wager as expected. This tactic is usually seen at work in acclaimed casino games like five-card stud, craps, roulette or blackjack.
Blind Poker is really a highly trendy casino pastime. The gambling enthusiasts, studiously guarding their either fully or partially covered hands, wager in a principal pot which is awarded to the last participant bearing the winning hand. (And as eveyone knows, the coolest bluffer may actually win as well!)
Just like blind poker, blackjack is likewise an incredibly fashionable casino pastime. A considerable part of its popularity is grounded in its particular mix of chance and skill & decision making, not to mention a procedure named card counting. The aforementioned is a complicated strategy by which gaming devotees can significantly switch the probabilities of the card game for their own good both by wagering & systematic opetations correlating with the cards deployed.
Craps is another acclaimed pastime using the throw of 2 dice. Customers will place stakes on the score of 1 spin, or on a series of rolls on two dice. Contrary to blackjack, there’s no conceivable bona fide killer strategy players can employ to improve the odds.
Roulette is an immensely popular casino based pastime - a croupier twirls a roulette wheel holding precisely 37 (European roulette) or, alternatively exactly 38 (American or Vegas roulette) independently tagged cells in which a white pellet must settle, which will then be the winning number Assuming that the participant happens to wager on a single number and actually wins, in other words they’ve got a lucky hand, the bounty will be 35 to 1, the original wager is paid back. Thus the initial stake is increased by 36.
If you are debating whether wooden flooring is right for your home it’s critical that you understand what the wooden flooring terms refer to. There are huge array of online flooring retailers, and its important to understand there are several different factors which all influence how the flooring appears, and makes each wooden floor look unique. It is very unlikely that the wooden floor you saw in the showroom or on the internet will look exactly the same as when it’s fitted in your home.
The reason people like hardwood floors is that they are all unique. One factor which effects the appearance of the wood is how close the wood is to the bark of the tree, this is named sapwood. The closer to the outside of the tree, the lighter the colour the wood will appear. The grain of the wood is another major factor, this can vary is direction and also varies in appearance depending on the colour of the wood fibers. The growth rings of the tree are also a significant factor which effect the appearance of the wood. Tightly packed layers of wood are likely to result in a darker colour, these are formed when only a marginal layer of wood is added per year during a growing season. Other factors which can have an effect on the wood are mineral Streaks. These occur when trace elements are in the water, resulting in grey and olive markings. Knots are also a big factor in the appearance of your flooring, and are produced where branches of a tree have been encased, as the tree has grown. Often lower grade flooring will have more knots in it than higher grade.
The great thing about wooden flooring is its durability, and also the ease with which damage can be repaired. But as a natural product, as opposed to synthetic, it is also prone to expand and contract during changes in the weather or season. This needs to be taken into account when your floor is fitted.
There are many collectible items people enjoy having in their unique collections. These items include music boxes, antique coins, mechanical music and instruments, antique furniture, and NASCAR collectibles to name a few. There are ways for collectors to discover if their items are valuable. Let’s find out how to do so.
1. Always check out the condition of your item first. Look carefully for scratches, tears, dirt, if the item is new, clean, etc. In other words, check the item over with a fine toothcomb!
2. Make sure you have enough light when you check your collectibles. Pay close attention to the name, identification marks, and copyright. Look for imperfections, tears, scratches, and discoloration.
3. If you enjoy collecting dolls, a doll intact in a box raises its value. If the box is damaged or missing, then the value decreases and some are even considered worthless.
4. Visit forums, discussion boards, and other places where collectors gather; get their opinions on your particular collectible.
5. Take the time and visit eBay
If you choose to look into the value of your collectible by visiting an auction site eBay is a good move. eBay has all kinds of collectibles you can imagine. Here are some simple steps to assist you in your eBay search:
-In order to use some of the search function, you must be a registered user with eBay. The registration process is easy and free! So, first, take the time and create an account.
-Search for the category where your collectible is most likely to be listed. For example, starting at “collectibles” would be a good option.
-If you are seeking value for specific collectibles such as antique cars, music boxes, antique coins, etc., check only in the search box for that particular collectible. The search box is a handy tool that helps you find what you need.
-Next, check out the completed auctions box and study the prices and descriptions of collectible items that have been sold.
-Click on individual collectible auctions that you are interested in. You will find a wealth of information such as the price of the item sold, the condition, etc.
-Always keep in mind that eBay prices usually are not the best. At lot of times, the price could be more if the collectible were sold locally. This is because most online auction buyers haven?t been able to actually take a look at the item in person.
6. Other places to look for the Value of Collectibles
There are many other places to discover information on the value of your collectibles. These include antique and collectible stores in your home town, and other online auction sites such listantique.com and anteq.com. MBSI.org and Amica.org are great sites for those interested in mechanical instruments as well as music boxes. Completing research at your local library is also a good source as well as the local hobby clubs in your city.
Finding the value of your collectibles such as music boxes, antique coins, mechanical music and instruments, antique furniture, etc. does not have to be a difficult and daunting task. For those collectible enthusiasts, the process can actually be quite fun! Why not find out the value of your collectibles starting today?
Copyright 2006 Monique Hawkins
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Monique Hawkins is the owner of Monique’s Music Box. Located at http://www.My-Music-Box.com is a music box gift store specializing in products such as inlaid music boxes, wooden keepsake boxes, ballerina music boxes for ballerina rooms décor, and musical jewelry boxes. The company also provides interesting information for music lovers of all ages |
Wood varies greatly in color and figure - even wood of the same species and boards from the same tree. You need to pay attention to how boards look when you’re putting then next to one another in a project. Otherwise, you may end up with color and figure differences that will detract from the appearance and be difficult to disguise with a finish.
Whether you’re choosing boards at a lumberyard or from your own inventory, look through the supply and imagine how different grain and figure patterns would look if placed in various parts of your project. Be conscious of knots, splits, checks and other defects and determine how you would either use them to advantage or work around them. If you’re using veneered plywood or plan to veneer the wood yourself, think of how the figure in the veneer can be used to best advantage. Above all, pay attention to color variations, unless you intend to paint the piece you are making.
For a table or chest top, lay the boards out in different groupings, flipping and turning them, until you find the best arrangement. Then mark the boards so you won’t mix them up as you prepare them. If you’re making the top from veneered plywood, decide what part of the 4×8 sheet you can use most advantageously. On a chest of drawers, give the same attention to picking the drawer fronts. When people look at what you’ve built, they won’t see the wonderful joints you’ve spent so much time and effort making. They’ll see the design, which includes your choice of boards and their positioning and they’ll see the finish. You won’t regret the time you spent selecting and arranging your wood.
Before you begin working your lumber, make sure your tools are sharp and your machines are adjusted properly. Dull planer, jointer, or shaper knives and worn-out router bits will leave pronounced washboard-like mill marks in your wood that will require extra effort to remove. Chipped knives will leave unsightly ridges. And if the cutters on your machine tools are dull enough to burn or glaze the wood, they could ruin your project altogether. Poorly adjusted machine can snipe the ends boards and also cause glazing or burning. Always work toward the smoothest surface possible.
If you’re joining a number of boards together to make a tabletop, you may want to use splines, dowels or biscuits to line up the boards so the surface is as flat and even as possible. If, after glue-up, uneven alignment is more than you want to try flattening by hand and you don’t have power equipment large enough to handle the job, look for a local millwork shop that will run the top through its wide-belt sander for you. The price and the trip are often worth it. If the top is too wide for any of the sanders in your area, plan to make the top in several sections; flatten each section separately, then join them together with splines, dowels or biscuits to line them up.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Hobbies
Even though you may want to jump right in there and start using a knitting pattern it is a good idea to make a gauge swatch. Don’t skip this step, you will be sorry and it’s not worth it. Half a stitch in one inch can end up making a big difference to the overall size of a sweater. Always knit the swatch in the stitch that you will use. Obviously different knitting patterns end up with different sizes so this matters. I always try to make my swatch big enough to make it a good test. I usually go for at least 4″ x 4″. Surround the swatch with a few rows of seed stitch knitting (knit or purl the opposite stitch of what you see facing you on odd number rows). Begin and end each row with four seed stitches as well. This stitch lies very flat and will help you measure accurately.
Needle size is much less important than tension with a knitting pattern. Some people are loose with their knitting pattern while others are tight. You can deliberately adapt you tension to create a different knitting pattern look. Loose for a light open feel and tighter for a warmer feel. The tighter weave may feel stiffer while the looser knitting piece may feel softer.
When you have finished the swatch let it sit for awhile. The yarn needs to relax and even out any tight spots. Now count the stitches and measure the rows per inch with a cloth tape. Remember to try a measurement in a few different places. Another way is to just calculate how big the total knitting pattern swatch should be. If 16 stitches were cast on for the and the gauge is 4st=1″ the swatch should measure 4″ (don’t measure the seed stitches on each end). If you are too large, try needles that are a size smaller. Or if you are too small, try larger needles. Now you have finished you can start your knitting pattern with confidence knowing that the product of your labors will actually fit you!
I love knitting patterns and I discovered a great book. It was fun and gave me lots of information with advice on free knitting patterns, knitting instructions, all the knitting essentials. You can find it on my blog called Knitting Patterns.
Good luck with your knitting.
The Knitting Nova loves to knit and to collect knitting patterns. She also loves to blog. She has been collecting knitting patterns for 30 years and has taught many young family members how knitting is fun and easy. You can find more information on her blog at http://knitting–patterns.blogspot.com
Great collectors know the marketplace, and the marketplace knows them. They are plugged into the grapevine and are among the first to find out when a choice work becomes available. They are active in the hunt for quality pieces to add to their collection, so they make it known that they want to be kept informed.
Cultivate Relationships With Good Dealers
Did you know that not all newly-available art is displayed by galleries, whether
brick-and-mortar or online? Quite often, the best items are offered and sold to
favored customers without any publicity or exposure. The most sought-after pieces
often exchange hands privately.
Find out who the good dealers are and cultivate a relationship with them. Let them
know what you like, what your preferences are and what kind of budget you have.
Naturally, dealers like to cultivate loyalty so they tend to reserve preferential
treatment for their best clients.
Let the dealer know that you are a good candidate for this special treatment. Be
responsive when the dealer contacts you. If you trust the dealer and he or she offers
you an artwork which meets your specifications and your budget, accept it with
minimal negotiation. Avoid haggling just for the sake of getting a lower price.
Dealers find this annoying. Of course, if you have a valid reason for asking for a
lower price, then let the dealer know.
Do your part to be a good customer and favor will come your way.
Auctions
Now, what about buying at auctions? Auctions can be a lot of fun and you can pay
less than retail prices but, in order to make really worthwhile buys, you must do
your homework. Be particular about the auctions you patronize. Many auctions offer
inferior or, worse, problematic pieces which are not worth bidding on.
You should be especially careful with charity auctions; people who donate to such
events often do so for social or tax reasons. In other words, charity auctions can be
a dumping ground for inferior art. If you were a dealer, would you donate highly-
marketable art that can easily fetch a good price to a charity auction? You’d
probably be more willing to part with art which is unpopular, flawed, minor and so
on.
One red flag is the price. If something seems like an unbelievable bargain, too good
to be true, it probably is. Good-quality, collectible art will have many suitors, so that
will tend to chase the price up.
The auctions most likely to yield valuable finds are those which offer art owned by
highly-regarded entities such as museums and other institutions, respected artists,
collectors and galleries. These bodies sometimes do a ’spring-cleaning’ of sorts, to
focus on their core interests or collections. In the process, they may actually let go
of some great art, simply because it does not fit in with their long-term plans.
Once you’ve spotted something of interest to you, the same rules of art acquisition
apply. Find out as much as you can about the piece and check its condition before
the auction starts. If it meets your criteria, you can proceed to make a bid.
Buying On The Internet
With the advent of the internet, anyone can be an armchair collector today. For
convenience and choice, the internet is hard to beat. Just by tapping a few keys, you
can view art in the comfort of your home and find out everything you need about a
known artist and his or her artwork. Try this, for instance:
http://www.cherishcollectibles.com/site/1256072/page/459196
Of course, the internet has its hazards, just like the ‘real’ world. If you’re thinking of
purchasing art via the internet, check whether the online dealer:
- is accredited by the artist(s)
- specializes in a certain genre or artist (this reflects expertise)
- runs a proper, professional website, with all necessary information
- provides contact details (do a test by calling or e-mailing)
- is transparent about costs
- ensures all pieces are covered by insurance
- has a return / refund policy
- has a secure online transaction system
Just like for conventional dealers, it’s possible to establish a ‘favored client’
relationship with an internet dealer. Send out your feelers and let the dealer know
what you like.
Copyright © 2006 Carol Chua - Carol Chua is an ex-corporate warrior turned
entrepreneur, writer and co-owner of Cherish Collectibles, an online gallery
of art, collectibles and gifts by multiple award-winning American artist Edna Hibel.
Visit http://www.cherishcollectibles.com to see this renowned artist’s beautiful
artwork. Carol also co-owns an online jewelry store with a nature theme, featuring
creations by award-winning artist JonY, at http://www.silver-butterfly-jewelry.com
Make money online risk free at http://makemoneydaily.riskfreeprofit.com
In the 1800s, scrapbooks first got their name from the different “scraps” (tickets, clippings, etc.) that were contained within them. These days one could make a case for scrapbooks getting their name from the amount of “scrap” paper that gets generated in the process, and before you stick that next strip of scrap paper in the trash, think about it’s possible uses…
Testing out new tools and techniques
Imagine… You just bought an embossing heat tool and are anxious to use it on a layout for your wedding scrapbook. Are you going to give it a test run on fancy paper that cost you $1.00/sheet? Of course not, that’s what scrap paper is for! You can use those small pieces of excess cardstock to test out edging scissors, die cut machines, stamps, chalks, paints and inks.
Layout Templates
We are firm believers in the saying, “measure twice, cut once”. Often used by carpenters, it can apply to just about any other craft, especially scrapbooking. You wouldn’t cut into an expensive piece of paper, if you aren’t quite sure exactly what size it needs to be. So, take some scrap paper and create your own layout template system. There’s no need to spend $60, $80 or $100 dollars on a store bought version, when regular old cardstock will do the trick. Just cut out various shapes to represent the pictures and some basic scrapbook elements (paper strips, mats, etc.) and you’re on your way.
Embellishments
Save those scraps of fancy patterned paper, and even good quality cardstock, to create your own embellishments. You can use small pieces of paper to cover a piece of chipboard, create a frame or die-cut shape or mat stickers for a title.
No matter how insignificant it might seem at the time, even the smallest pieces of paper could be used in another layout, especially if it’s a basic color that you use on a regular basis.
Happy Scrapping!
Michelle has been scrapbooking for over five years and is the owner of Choubox Scrapbook Design (http://www.creative-scrapbook-layouts.com). Choubox is your source for pre-made scrapbook layouts, quality scrapbook supplies and valuable information on how to start scrapbooking.
I must stress that there are some rules when it comes to how to preserve your precious photos.
Use papers that are Acid and Lignin free. Acid free means a PH of 7. Lignin is a substance in wood pulp used to make paper. If your paper contains Lignin it will turn your pages or photo’s yellow.
Most stores, be it scrapbooking, craft or department stores now sell scrapbooking papers that are both acid and lignin free. Using these papers will not accelerate normal deterioration of your photos. Many of the photo albums on the market today are not safe for preserving your photos. They actually speed up the deterioration process, leaving you with the yellow, faded pictures that we all love from years gone by.
We all spend so much of our money on the best camera’s, film or memory sticks, and developing, only to place the photo’s in an album, show a couple of people and then put them away for years to come. Why not extend on these investments by actually preserving these memories for not only our children but our children’s children’s children. As we have not only preserved these photo’s we have journalled the who, what, and where, and the generations to come will not be just looking at photo’s of people, not knowing who they are. I know when I look at my parents photo’s I do not know any of the details. This only makes the photos less meaningful.
So once you have followed the rule of the technical part of scrapbooking, the rest is just your own personal creativity. It is also a great way for your children to preserve their own photos and use their ever growing need to do something crafty.
Knitted Babes
The pleasure is all yours! Published September, 2005 Knitted Babes by Clare Garland is an invitation to a modish doll party. Bring your eccentric yarns and retro fabric scraps. This is the place for orange and pink marshmallow creations. Knit up the Babes then outfit them as you choose — surfer girl or glitzy diva, whoever takes your fancy. Make a Babe, and you’ll want more. Here are my variations for fervent fingers:
The Babes: Dot Pebbles surf chick; Flo Tilly delicate dancer; DD Diva in desirable Deco; Rudy Ranch red-haired Western wild country girl; Bunny Bright café bar star.
1. The arms and legs can be worked in i-cord, though the original knitted strips are softer if your doll is to be love-squashed by a little one. Finish the i-cord with four rows of straight stocking stitch to enable flat stitching to body shape.
2. Experienced knitters may prefer to knit the body/head piece in the round. Cast on with waste yarn (or crochet a scrap chain a few more chains than required, then knit up stitches into back bumps of chain. Release chain later when sliding stitches onto needle for cast off.). When doll is completed, leave final stitches for head on a yarn holder, turn inside out, working a 3-needle cast (bind) off across base. Pull through to right side. Stuff doll through small head opening and finish ends.
3. The book instructions are for 4ply yarn, but that’s only the beginning. Dye natural wool with flowers, leaves or packaged colour. Perhaps handspun or tweed wool; or since only a 50g ball is required, use a luxury fibre (silk, alpaca, cashmere) for a chic Babe.
4. After making a few Retro Babes, you might want to add to your collection with Vintage Babes. Style her wardrobe, adding highlights of violet, pearl, mauve, rosebud, pansy and spring greens. Freshwater pearls (where jewellery packs are sold) make sweet necklaces strung on a length of crochet perle cotton. Cocktail hats can be fashioned from felt, netting, feathers, beads and miniature silk flowers. Sift through broken brooches, bracelets, earrings and necklaces for deft jewels and metal filigree.
5. The clothing patterns given in the book are knitted or sewn. Imagine designing crochet creations for her as well. Begin with an evening shawl or textured blanket for Ruby cowgirl. Diva Babe will thank you for snips of pure silk satin, cotton net and silk georgette.
6. Observe the safety rules if the doll is a gift for a small child. If this is your Babe… try out jewellery-making on a manageable scale or accentuate clothing and hats with glass beads. Excite yourself with a new craft, letting Babe model your embroidery, cross-stitch or millinery techniques. Fabric shops are now stocking up on retro and vintage prints. Dive in!
Full graphics version here
Esmerelda Jones… The Knitting Wench
Writer Of Desires
Writer Of Old Curiosities
Victoriana, Victorian Swoon, Gods & Goddesses: The Wisdom And Pleasures of Ancient Greece, Classic Romance, Poems For The Passionate, Whimsical Tales, Bushrangers & Australian Pioneer, Ghosts I Have Known, Gypsy Knitting. Ratings and comments delightfully accepted.
