Tuesday, February 23, 2010

The Definitive Guide to Wedding Invitations

Wedding invitations are one of the most important purchases that the bride and groom will make during the wedding planning process. This guide to wedding invitations will make the process that much easier for the couple.

Finding the perfect wedding invitations is not going to be difficult. The best way to search for these invitations is online since the options are unlimited. The bride and groom should have already chosen their colour scheme and theme if there will be one. The wedding invitations should reflect this theme and colour scheme and set the atmosphere for the wedding. Guests will know whether the event is going to be formal or casual just by the invitations that the bride and groom choose. This is important so that all guests dress appropriately and are prepared for the event.

There is certain information that must be included on the wedding invitations. The first is the names of those who are hosting the wedding if the bride and groom are not doing it themselves. The full names of the bride and groom should also be included. This is so that distant relatives and even unknown family friends will be able to address the cards and gifts properly. The wedding invitations should also include the date, time, and location of the ceremony. If the reception is at a much later time or different location, then this information should be included on the wedding invitations as well. The guests will need all of this information in order to plan for their trip to the wedding.

In addition to the wedding invitations, the guests will need a way to respond. This information can be included directly on the invitation or the bride and groom can include a reply card with the invitation. The reply cards provide all of the information that the bride and groom will need to finalise some of the details of the wedding. The reply card should include lines for the guests to include their names, whether they will be attending the wedding or not, how many people are in their party, and their meal choice if one is offered. The reply card should include a self-addressed, stamped envelope so the guests can easily return them. All of this information is crucial to the bride and groom.

There are some additions that the bride and groom may choose to add to the wedding invitations. One of the simplest but most beautiful additions is to add liners to the envelopes. These liners are available in so many colours that the bride and groom can choose ones that will match the color scheme they have chosen. The bride and groom may also choose to have their return address printed on the envelopes. This saves time and costs little money. If the wedding is going to be an elegant, formal event, then the bride and groom should add a tissue paper overlay on top of the wedding invitations. Each of these additions will make the wedding invitations that much more special.

If the bride and groom follow this guide to wedding invitations, then it should be one of the easiest decisions for the couple to make.

The Connection Between Fitness and Singles

What's the connection between dating and singles? It seems like gyms are often popular places to meet people, and fitness singles sites are cropping up to satisfy the needs and wants of online daters looking for partners to workout with and romance at the same time. Is there a significant connection between the fitness industry and single life?
One possible explanation for the connections made between fellow gym-goers is the desire to find like minded people who enjoy active lifestyles and staying in shape. Certainly, a part of this is a greater appreciation in general for people who are physically fit. While this is a broad generalization, it may be safe to assume that most people who want to keep themselves in shape also want that from their partner. For this reason, gyms attract like minded people, with similar lifestyles. Also, as has been proven by several psychological studies, similarity and proximity increase the likelihood of attraction. Therefore, if two people run into each other on a regular basis, and see each other participating in activities they both enjoy, the chances of meeting and making a connection are more likely.
Another psychological explanation may come from biological and neurological studies. Chemicals released into the brain during exercise are often associated with feelings of euphoria. These feelings are commonly seen as responsible for a 'runners high' that many consistent exercisers experience. As these feelings of euphoria are experienced, people are conditioned to associate those positive feelings with other stimulus that surround them. Like Pavlov's Classically conditioned dogs, a person who see something (like another attractive person) while experiencing a positive emotion (a runners high) begin associating these two things together. Eventually, people begin attributing their positive feelings to that person (he/she makes me feel good). As a result, many singles who are heavily into the fitness lifestyle, and regularly visit the gym, may begin to pair their positive feelings with other fit singles they see at their gym.
While these explanations may only be a part of the reason why singles and fitness are frequently paired together, ultimately, there is some sort of connection between the two. Whether these stem from psychological reasons or the desire to seek out other physically attractive or fit people, fitness and singles are frequently paired, and with good reason.

The basics of overclocking your CPU

In this article I'm going to explain the basics of overclocking your CPU and what you need to look out for.

I understand how difficult is to overclock especially the CPU. Overclocking the CPU is riddled with jargon so if you don't understand the nerdy terms you could be really be putting your PC in danger.

This is because your effectively speeding your CPU beyond the manufacturers specifications. And although you'll get a ton of performance from your PC and your games will play smoother, your CPU is under more stress due the extra heat that the CPU will generate.

So what are the terms you look out for when you go into your Bios? Well first of all you want to find your FSB. FSB stands for Font Side Bus and this is where the majority of you will be overclocking your CPU from. There is another way of overclocking your CPU but this option is only available to the top of the range CPU and these ones can cost of excess of £1000! This way of overclocking is by using the Multiplier.

But to me opting for a $1000 CPU tends to defeat the point overclocking. Anyway, once you've found your FSB option, there should be a 3 digit number next to it. All you do is simply move the number up another ten points and no more.

The reason why you move it no more than that is you don't want to damage your PC. So take little steps when overclocking your CPU. Once you done that, save and quit from bios and head into Windows.

You now want to run at benchmark, I would recommend on using 3DMark 05 or 06. There is others but these are the ones I personally use. Now simply run the benchmark and you should notice that you have a higher score than what you did before you overclocked your CPU! And that is the basics of overclocking!!!

The Basics of Bookbinding

Bookbinding can be traced back to ancient times when stone tablets were used to record important events. Information was transcribed onto these tablets and then placed between other tablets to protect the vital information from being lost due to damage from particles in the air, or dust. These tablets were then bound together using various materials that also made it possible to transport these tablets from one area to another much easier. These same principles are behind today’s bookbinding, whether they are employed for publishing paperback and hardcover books for sale to consumers, to protect important legal and personal documents, or used to preserve special photographs and papers in a scrapbook keepsake memory book.

Bookbinding is a term used to describe the various methods of securing or ‘binding’ together of loose pages into a book. The binding can be accomplished by using stitching, staples, wire, plastic, tape, or glue. Bookbinding can be a labor-intensive project for the do-it-yourselfer, depending upon the methods chosen and the number of loose pages to be bound. However, there are many options available to the ‘crafty’ and the not-so-crafty person, that can make bookbinding a worthwhile and enjoyable experience. If you are good at working with your hands, you might enjoy punching holes in your pages and then stitching them together into a book by using materials such as, leather, rope, and colored yarns. If you’re less handy when it comes to craft -making but still want to turn your loose pages into a book yourself: consider purchasing 3-ring binders and protective sleeves that are pre-punched to hold the pages you want to preserve. You can then decorate these binders using stickers, cut-outs, pictures, buttons, labels, etc. to make it truly your own creation.

If you would like to use different materials for your bookbinding without all of the hard work, you can opt to purchase a binding machine that will do most of the work for you. A binding machine is a good investment, especially if you plan to create several books at home. You can always choose to have your pages bound into a book by professionals too. Inquire at your local print shop as to their pricing for binding services. Professional bookbinding services can also be found online. The internet contains a wealth of information in the form of tips and ideas for bookbinding, discount suppliers of binding machines, and binding materials for the do-it-yourselfer and referrals to professional binding services. Keep in mind that the costs of bookbinding whether you do-it-yourself, or hire it out, will be determined not only by the methods you choose for your bookbinding, but also by the types of materials you choose in binding your book.


You might be asking yourself why anyone would go to the trouble of binding loose pages into a book themselves or by paying someone else to do it for them. The answer is quite simple; bookbinding is an excellent way to protect legal and personal documents, as well as preserve special photographs and papers in a format that is functional, attractive, portable, and personalized. Bookbinding can be an enjoyable activity for the crafter. And even those who don’t necessarily enjoy crafts will delight in having a personalized book that holds the documents and memories that are important to them. Binding your pages into a book not only protects and preserves those special documents, pictures, papers, and memories, it creates a keepsake to be shared with family and friends, and even be passed from one generation to another, full of history and memories to be preserved forever.

The Art Of Display

Every day you are surrounded by displays. There are so many types of displays, some that may not even come to mind when you think of the word “display”.

While strolling through the mall you are bombarded by window displays of the latest fashions, accessories or must haves. When walking down the streets of any city, you can become mesmerized by the window displays that you pass. Some people even entertain themselves by “window shopping” or checking what is on display. There are people that make special trips to see what is on display.

There is the public display of affection. This often has various affects on people. If you pass by two people making out right out in the public forum you could have a couple of reactions. Maybe you’re angered, disgusted, jealous, happy to see two people in love or maybe you completely ignore it. If that’s the case it couldn’t have been that much of a display in the first place.

During the holidays we often see many types of light displays. Most, I would say, are tasteful while others are obscene. I have been witness to a holiday display that had every symbolic figure displayed on his lawn and in his yard. It was actually quite atrocious to look at – but that is definitely a display that gets a lot of attention. It’s a good thing too, because people give him donations when they come to view his holiday display and this gentleman gives it all to charity. 'Tis the season giving!

There are also displays on phones, treadmills, televisions and computer monitors. These displays have different letters to describe them. For example, there’s LCD, which is liquid crystal displays and there are LEDs or light emitting diodes. I’m not sure which one is better, but they’re both the preferred method of television and electronics displays.

Stores need to purchase displays to put all of their merchandise on. Think about a Hallmark store and their displays. They probably have glass display cases and shelves, cute picket fence displays, greeting card displays and stuffed animal displays. There are wind chime displays and candle displays. And of course don’t forget the candy displays. There isn’t a general merchandise store around that would be complete without a candy display.

Sale items are always on display at the ends of every isle in grocery stores, variety stores or hardware stores. It is a silent calling to the consumer saying, “check me out, I’m on sale and I’m on display. Buy me, buy me.”

We put people, animals and objects on display. Any museum is a perfect example of this. There are art museums, aquariums, and botanical gardens. There are circuses, theatrical plays, and the covers of magazines even that put people on display. Sometimes we even like to put ourselves on display for others. Men and women’s magazines make huge profits from men and women putting their bodies on display. The same goes for Victoria’s Secret. They have made huge profits from women putting their bodies and their lingerie on display.

Displays are always trying to get us to buy something, try something or be something. Window displays want us to buy the entire outfit, the treadmill displays want us to push ourselves to do something we haven’t accomplished before, end caps in stores want us to spend more money too. Museums and tourist attractions want us to enjoy something. Whether it be displays of affection, clothing, animals or holiday lights they are all works of art and somebody has put some time and effort into making their display attractive.

Friday, February 19, 2010

The Art Of Cleaning Art

Art is a part of life and for some, it is their way of life. Others usually consider art as a worthy investment. Regardless of how you see art, restoring and preserving art pieces are important techniques to maintain their value. Painting restoration is a serious matter; that is why most people prefer to have their paintings professionally restored. However, if you like the thought of restoring your own pieces, lots of practice and familiarity with techniques are necessary. Because according to statistics, more paintings and art works are destroyed each year by inept restoration and cleaning than by accidental burning or fire.

Clouded varnish, dirt, and smoke are the usual culprits that cause paintings to become dirty. Restoring paintings by cleaning it is the logical step of most owners. However, wiping paintings with rags or whatever liquid is damaging. Art restoration professionals recommend researching restoration techniques on the internet or attending seminars on restoring paintings before embarking on a restoration mission.

Art works look more elegant and classic when preserved in their original frames. As it is, detaching paintings from their frames is necessary and important before the actual cleaning. Non-removal of the frames not only causes discomfort and unease in cleaning, it also causes scratches and abrasion. Remove the frames by laying the picture backside up on a flat surface layered with foam or cushion to avoid scratching the frames. Vacuum accumulated dust on the frames' back and remove nails gently with a metal ruler and pliers. Secure the nails on board with labels of their previous positions. For example, secure and label the nails plucked from the lower right side of the frame as "lower right". This way, each nail fits exactly on its previous place without causing added strain on the frame. Marking the frame is also a good idea to be able to return it to its original position.

After removing paintings from their frame, it is better to inspect the kind of dirt build-up on the paintings. Knowing the kind of dirt to be removed is necessary in finding and using the right product and tools. Anti-mildew solutions remove mildew build-up or "foxing" effectively. However, soaking the painting in these solutions damages the colors and the painting. To prevent this, soak or spray the solution on a cotton pad and wipe on the area affected with foxing. Follow up with a water-dipped cotton pad and wipe dry. Periodically check cotton pads to see if some color or paint was dissolved. For dirt build-up that requires light to medium cleaning, slicing an onion in half and dipping it in lemon juice remove grime and dirt off art work. Rub paintings with lemon-soaked onion using a circular motion for even application. Slice the onion regularly to expose a fresh layer. An alternative is using warm water with lemon detergent or washing soda. Finish either treatment by wiping their painting with a moist sponge and leaving it to dry. Art works respond to this treatment with improved depth of color.

Experts recommend leaving varnish removal and painting repair to the professionals. Art works do not sell well or look good if extensively damaged. As these types of restoration require complicated techniques, the chances of botching the job are high if done by amateurs. The job is expensive but make the value of your paintings appreciate.

Ten Habits of Highly Successful Screenwriters

TEN HABITS OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL SCREENWRITERS
By
Derek Rydall
Founder, ScriptwriterCentral.com


“Bad habits are like a comfortable bed, easy to get into, but hard to get out of,”
-- Unknown

“Your net worth to the world is usually determined by what remains after your bad habits are subtracted from your good ones,”
-- Benjamin Franklin



Think of this as a quick-reference for instant inspiration – whether you’re a screenwriter or script consultant:

1. DO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE EVERY DAY
Write something every day – whether it’s your project or an assignment. If you find yourself stuck just staring at a blank screen, try staring at a great script instead -- and try to figure out how it’s put together. It might inspire you to get your own writing done. The point here is to keep exercising and refining your craft, building your knowledge, and keeping the momentum – all of which will give you a competitive edge. This isn’t about becoming a workaholic. It’s about breaking through the inertia of complacency. It’s so easy to get comfortable, to settle for the status quo, to rationalize why you’re not doing what you know you need to in order to succeed. “I don’t fee like it,” is not a viable excuse anymore.

2. TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS
This may sound like a contradiction to the above habit. It’s not. In fact, without this one, you won’t be able to sustain the level of quality and productivity referred to above. Unless you’re able to take a break (whether it’s ten minute, an hour, a day, or a week) and recharge, you’ll soon be booking a room in burnout city.

3. GET ORGANIZED
A messy, disorganized office is an energy sapper if there ever was one. Not just because it takes longer to find that important document under that stack of unopened bills, but also because it literally pulls power from your psychic field. Every little ‘toleration’ you put up with burns fuel that could be put to much better use in growing your business.

4. WORK WHEN YOU WORK BEST
Some of us are morning people. Others are struck with the muse at the stroke of midnight. If you don’t already know, find out what time of day you work best, and gear your most labor-intensive activities for that time period. (Of course, if you’re on a deadline, you might have to work around the clock, but that’s a different issue.) If you schedule your activities based on your energy cycles, you will find your productivity take a quantum leap. For example, I have two periods when I work the best – late morning and late afternoon. So I try to schedule the heavy-lifting (writing, analyzing) during those hours. When I first get up, I need to ease into the day’s work, so I do more preparatory work, like going over the day’s schedule, straightening up the office, e-mails. Once I’m warmed up, I crack open the script or writing file and get to work for a few hours. I break for lunch, meditation, make calls, work out, do some errands – and start my second writing period. Then it’s home for family time, dinner, and bedtime stories. But not my bedtime. Because at night, my energy cycle is perfect for opening mail, paying bills, filing, during simple research – tasks that don’t take a lot of energy.
The point of this example is that if I opened my mail and paid my bills in the late morning, I would waste my most productive energy cycle (not to mention become depressed) which I couldn’t make-up very easily at night during my bill paying, mail-opening time. Make sense? It may take some time to find your perfect energy-schedule, but it’s worth the experimentation. I’m still making adjustments.


5. GIVE EVERY PROJECT 100%
Treat every project like it’s the job of your dreams – and you’ll soon attract more and more of your dream jobs. Why? Because you don’t get what you want in life, you get what you are. Ghandi said we must become the change we want to see in the world. Likewise, we must become the kind of person who would get the kind of jobs we want in the world. This is another one of those universal principles I keep slipping in here. If it gives you a headache to try and make sense of it, don’t. Just give it a shot and see what happens.

6. KEEP LEARNING
To have what others don’t, you must do what others won’t. The average person – and for that matter, the average script consultant – has a tendency to take the path of least resistance. So you must take the road less traveled. Stay open at the top. Maintain a Beginner’s Mind. Besides continued study in related and complimentary fields – read and investigate areas outside of your field – and outside of show business. Some of the most innovative ideas have come from people adapting concepts they discovered in completely unrelated fields.

7. ACT AND DRESS LIKE A PRO
This is another relative rule. A stockbroker acts and dresses quite differently than a tennis pro. In the entertainment industry, an executive acts and dresses differently than an actor. Even more specific, different clients will have different expectations. In general, business casual seems to work best.
You also want to have an updated resume and work samples readily available. Do your homework, show up to appointments with all the right gear to get the job done, and treat each client or prospect with the utmost respect and value.

8. HONOR YOUR WORK HOURS
During work hours, especially in a home office, you’ll have plenty of opportunities for distraction from well-meaning friends and family members. In the most diplomatic tone you can muster, kindly inform them that you’re at work not at home. This is a real business, not a hobby. You’ll talk to them after hours, or on your break.

9. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
Feed your mind and body with high quality nourishment -- and exercise. I know this is obvious to most people -- yet most people still don’t do it. Writing and consulting is hard work that requires real endurance. If you want to be a high-performance person, you need to run on high-octane fuel.

10. KNOW THYSELF
The most successful people, in this or any field, know who they are so they can be true to that. They also know their strengths – so they can play to them – and their weaknesses -- so they can compensate for them.

If you’d like to take this to the next level, check out THE WRITE SYSTEM or THE SCRIPT CONSULTANT INSTITUTE at www.scriptwritercentral.com

We look forward to helping you achieve all of your writing and/or script consulting goals!

“As a screenwriter, Derek Rydall has sold, optioned, or been hired on assignment for over 20 film and TV projects. He has developed projects for the producer of Ghost, RKO, U/A, Miramax, Saturn (Nick Cage), and many indie producers, as well as worked as a staff writer for Fox, Disney, and Deepak Chopra. As a story consultant/script doctor, Derek has helped writers, producers, actors, and directors turn books into screenplays, secure millions in financing, make six-figure script deals, get hired to exec produce, direct, star in their movies, obtain major distribution, and win awards. And as an author, Derek's book, I Could've Written a Better Movie than That!: How to Make Six Figures as a Script Consultant-- Even if You're Not a Screenwriter, is due out October by Michael Wiese Publishing. For more info, you can check out his site, www.scriptwritercentral.com, email derek@scriptwritercentral.com or call (661) 296-4991.”

Techniques behind good painting

To be good something in creativity is always determined by all the techniques that have been used to make it good and attractive. Same in case of painting but we think that its an easy job and one can do it very easily without any use of techniques as kids are more found of doing it but when you see this professional painters that time one can imagine of the techniques used behind their hard work.

Painting is an art and behind it lots of techniques is used. In painting there are a wide variety of techniques is used to show your personality and creativity. Proper use of techniques will give you good output.

Many of us are not even aware of color schemes before we start our painting. The thing is that we should know before we get started with or else it will be like waste of time, money and energy.

Before you start your painting its important to know some technical points which will guide and help you to be more good in your painting art. Some of the paintings are like the really one its just because the painter use techniques before they actual start their painting.

Many painting books can be found in the market which will guide you in your painting or else you can visit online painting sites where all the technical points and all the guidance is give to improve your painting.

Just keep all the technical points in your mind as these small things are only going to help you in a great manner.

Anna Josephs is a freelance journalist having experience of many years writing articles and news releases on various topics such as pet health, automobile and social issues. She also has great interest in poetry and paintings, hence she likes to write on these subjects as well. Currently writing for this website Painting Book . For more details please contact at annajosephs@gmail.com

Tea: Origins, Flavors and Health Benefits

How many times do we just want to drink tea after a heavy meal, but are then bombarded with all the various tea flavours that we get lost. This article answers that need.

What you should always remember is that there are only four types of tea.
1) Black tea
2) Green tea
3) White tea
4) Oolong tea

All these are made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis, also known as the tea plant. Other herbal infusions such as chamomile tea, ginger tea or red tea made of rooibos leaves are disqualified as types of tea since the tea plant is not involved in their making. The difference between the four tea variations lies in the process of making them. In addition, each type of tea has another flavor and various health benefits.

1) Black Tea
The strong flavored burnt Sienna colored hot beverage is the most popular type of tea in the West. Either served with a squeeze of lemon or added milk and a cube of sugar, the cup of black tea is part of daily tea ceremonies that take place worldwide. Black tea is made of heavily oxidized Camellia sinensis leaves. When served plain, it contains no calories, carbohydrates, or fats. A cup of black tea contains more caffeine than any other types of tea but less than in any cup of coffee.

2) Green Tea
The lightly oxidized tea has been popular in China, Japan and Korea for centuries. Recently, rumors on its health benefits increased its popularity in the West as well. It has been proven that drinking green tea can lower cholesterol, prevent cancer, increase metabolic rates and be helpful in variety of other conditions and illnesses. The green tea is lightly oxidized, dried, but not fermented. It is usually served plain, without sugar or milk. Since some of the green tea variants taste a bit bitter, it should be brewed in lower temperature than the boiling point.

3) White Tea
White tea is rarer and more expensive than the other types of teas mentioned above. Originated in the Fujian province of china, the white tea is made of young Camellia sinensis leaves, which go through a long process of steaming or frying, inactivate fermenting and drying. Since the leaves are harvested while the buds are still covered by white hair, it is called white tea. White tea has the most delicate, sweet taste than the other types of tea. Moreover, it contains the smallest amount of caffeine and the largest amount of antioxidant that help prevent cancer.

4) Oolong Tea
The traditional Chinese tea is the common companion of Chinese foods such as dim sum and chop suey in American Chinese restaurants. The oolong tea, black dragon in Chinese, got its name after its long, dark distinguished leaves that look like wild black dragons when brewed. The unique taste of the oolong tea is achieved by a long process that includes sun drying of the Camellia sinensis leaves, light oxidization, cooling and drying processes. The result is a lighter flavor than the popular black tea and stronger than the delicate green tea.

Tattoos

DOES IT HURT?

This article is based on this interrogative that it's commonly asked by anyone new to this. The final answer is yes. Having needles pierce your tegument *does* make you suffer. But what you *really* need to do is ask yourself, "Can I handle the pain, and can I manipulate it?"

It's not nearly as bad as what you can imagine.The symptoms present may vary according to where on your embody you get worked on. Skin or above the maraca (bone, astragal, etc.) tend to hurt less than other added areas. Also take note that some types of needles seem to spite more than others. I personally judge the needles used for outlining that produce a sharper cut .

Think about all I will present here before volunteering to get a tattoo.

Bottom Line: Do not rub with alcohol and don't take drugs before a tattoo sessions. Both aspirin and alcohol thin your blood and promote excessive bleeding. Aspirin also decreases the clotting of blood, which will slow down your healing as well.

SHOULD I GET A TATTOO ?

Your answer to this question might not be so clear. Statistically one of 163 tattooed men and women had regretted their tattoos! By reading this article about getting a tattoo you will be able to decide for yourself knowing both the pros and dissadvantages to this.


HOW TO GET RID OF A TATTOO?

This is *NOT* easy at all, and is *NOT* cheap. Expect to pay $1,000 to remove even a fairly small-sized tattoo if you're looking at laser surgery. Expect to have a noticeable ugly scar if you go with a non-laser technique. Expect to pay for every penny out of your own pocket because health insurance companies will not pay for tattoo removal. There may not be a laser surgery specialist in your area.

*WHY* WOULD YOU WANT A TATTOO IN THE FIRST PLACE?

People get tattoos for different reasons. Is it to please your partner?
Is it because you want to belong to a group that has tattoos? Do you identify with a certain subculture known for tattoos? Do you want to show your independence, individuality or uniqueness?

These are all valid reasons, and why many people get tattooed. However, because of the permanency of your tattoo, try to look at yourself infive, 10, or even 20 years. What will you be doing at that time? You might be a free-spirited college student now, and a web of vines on your wrist would look really lovely. However, are you planning to work in a very conservative field after you graduate? Will others look at your tattoo in a bad way? Will you have to hide it with long sleeve shirts?
Are you *willing* to wear long sleeve shirts if the environment is negative?

CONCLUSION

If you want to go through with getting a tattoo go online and check some red-tattoos.com designs . A tattoo design consists of both the actual design and the outline . These are needed but if you don't have an outline for a tattoo design , don't worry , the tattoo expert can do it for you or you can do it yourself with photoshop. Make sure before you go through with this that you view as many tattoo photos as possible with different tattoo designs so that your final choice will be a better one.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Talented in Arts?

The word “art” unites a lot of different definitions and branches. We usually associate arts with something of extreme beauty that brings pleasure. Arts help us solve one of the philosophical questions “What is beautiful?” With the help of arts we can see the beauty that was not yet shown to us. Arts started developing from the simple sketches made on the stone by our predators. Now we can see how many branches arts have.
We distinguish verbal arts, such as poetry, prose, theatre, movie production though it can also be put to the category of drawn arts or pictures, another branch is sculpture which is closely united with architecture. Then we call music a true art and enjoy various styles and compositions. Dancing is an art and a sport, for it helps a person to keep fit and brings joy to the audience.

We’ve enumerated a number of arts that exist, but the list is certainly not full. Martial arts are called arts not without a purpose. Examining the works of the talented and gifted we see that art is everything that is exceptionally beautiful. The definition of the kind of arts can be a good argumentative essay topic; there’s a lot to consider. During your work you may determine if you are talented in arts. It is quite clear that a person is born with certain possibilities in different spheres. Your family, your teachers are to discover that talent when you are yet unable to do it for yourself. One is also to distinguish the difference between being talented and being gifted, though it may seem slight. A person that is gifted knows about his/her abilities or just feels them and is ready to dedicate all his/her life to the calling. Their creations are masterpieces that impress the society by its beauty and originality. A talented person even may not know about his/her ability to do something in a special way which is positively different from the rest. But there is a perspective to develop the talent and use it to profit yourself and leave a trace in history and give pleasure to the others that are not lucky enough to be like you.

Once you, or your teacher, or you family have discovered that you have talent, or maybe it was even your discovery; it is a horrible sin and ungratefulness to the nature to ignore the fact. You are to develop it. There are a lot of ways to do it. For example, your tutors kept on telling you that essay writing is your strong point, so you should not ignore their advice and constantly make progress in this direction. You can develop for yourself and use necessary materials and ways to move up to the next level and try to reach perfection. It is all about the will and stamina. If you are not able to control yourself you may turn for help to various tutors or sections that may help you develop in a team, sharing the experience. Your constant practice is very important. It will not come to you automatically; you’ll have to practice to reach the aim you’ve put yourself. The help of you dearest and nearest may come in handy, if there is no one to support you, it may either become a great motivator to prove your capability or destroy your inner confidence and make you calm down with the idea. If you are firmly determined to do whatever you have necessary skills to do, you have to go through a long road but the award will be of a king-size: fame and recognition.

Take Time For Arts And Crafts

Every woman needs to set aside time each week to do things simply because she enjoys them. Life is far too stressful to be spent only on tasks that give productive results. For many women, arts and crafts is a great way to enjoy a few hours and to leave the pressures of life behind.

I guarentee that no matter what kinds of arts and crafts interest you, there are many ways to enjoy them and even learn new arts and crafts. If you have the time and a little bit of extra money, I'd suggest singing up for an arts and crafts class. Look in the newspaper or do an online search for arts and crafts classes in your area. Grab a friend and try out a new class together. Many local arts and crafts shops will offer classes where you can learn a new skill in just a couple of hours a week. Go out on a limb and try something you have never done before. Have you always wanted to knit? Get to an arts and crafts store and take a knitting class.

For women who know all there is to know about arts and crafts, consider opening your home and hosting an arts and crafts class for neighbors and friends once a week. Allow women to gather and enjoy the pleasure of teaching them a new skill or hobby. You will enjoy the time spent with other women. And what a blessing to be able to share your talents with others.

If you do not have the time or money to enroll or host an arts and crafts class, you can still learn and enjoy new skills. Take some time to visit a library or bookstore and find a book that teaches the skill you want to learn. No woman should miss out on the fun and relaxation of arts and crafts simply because of money. Make some time in your schedule each week just to get away and learn about new arts and crafts until you can focus in on one that you want to learn. You can also search the internet for resources on many arts and crafts.

A great thing about spending your free time doing arts and crafts is that you can beautify your home and prepare amazing gifts at the same time. Many hobbies are an end in themselves, but with arts and crafts you get to keep something amazing each time you create. Think about all of the birthday gifts or gifts for holidays that you could make rather than purchase. You will have fun, enjoy relaxing, and save money on gifts all at the same time.

Get out and make arts and crafts a part of your busy life. The relaxation and fun will be worth it.

Sundials – Time Keeping Through The Ages

You look at your PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) marveling at the versatility of the device, not knowing that our ancestors, without the digital technology to help, had mastered the art of time keeping by inventing Sundials,.

Sundials, which are the earliest known and ancient device for timekeeping were invented during the second millennium BC. China, Egypt and the Middle East produced fixed and mobile sundials during that period. To measure the time, these sundials used the height of the sun in the sky and the length of the shadow it produced.

Using horizontal or vertical shadow casters and the hollow of the bowl marked with hour lines were some of the important features of the various designs of sundials developed by Romans and Greeks. Using the altitude of the sun as a guideline to measure the time, the Romans also designed a portable ring and pillar dials.

In the first century AD, it was discovered that shadow casters set parallel to the axis of the Earth caused a shadow to fall in the same time and in the same direction during all the 365 days to make it more reliable.

In 1556, Johann Gebhart of Nuremberg designed an ivory diptych dial. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Nuremberg was famous for the collection of ivory sundials.

If the direction of South could not be found immediately then it is not possible to use a mobile direction sundial. The invention of the magnetic compass greatly helped the sundials achieve correct orientation.

During Renaissance and Mediaeval periods, sundials of elaborate designs were produced. These sundials were intended for accurate calculation of the time. Still, most of these sundials were used as a decorative item by wealthy merchants.

Horizontal dials, vertical dials, equatorial dials, polar dials analemmatic dials, reflected ceiling dials and portable dials are some of the different types of sundials made for the calculation of time. The Horizontal Sundials are mounted on pedestals and located in gardens. The vertical sundials are mostly fixed on the walls of buildings and churches. Portable dials have several variations such as the tablet dial, ring dial, shepherd’s dials and many others.

One of the famous sundials in the UK is located at the Science Centre, Green’s Windmill, Nottingham which was the former home of George Green, noted physicist and mathematician. The interactive sundial is admired by school students visiting the museum.

You can buy a portable East/West Sundial with a 4 inch etched brass disc, which can be used in latitudes 25 degree to 65 degrees north, for $50. Very basic models of sundials are also available for lesser price and indeed more elaborate sundials cost a lot more.

Stretching An Oil Painting

Oil paintings on canvas are always mounted on inner, wooden frame bars (a stretcher) before framing. A stretcher is a wooden support that a canvas is attached to for stability. A frame around the stretcher, in addition to complementing the appearance of the painting, provides extra support for the canvas.

A competent picture framer will be able to stretch the oil painting onto a stretcher frame or you can stretch the canvas yourself fairly easily once you know what to do and have the right tools and materials.

Making a Stretcher Frame

You need the necessary tools and materials: a stapler, stretcher bars, and possibly also a pair of canvas pliers to grip the canvas (similar to ordinary pliers except they have a broader gripping area). You can buy stretcher bars and staplers from art supply shop.

Measure the size of the painted area that you want on display and cut the stretcher bars to size. Then assemble the stretcher frame using the bars, pushing the mitred ends into each other and gluing the joints. One or more cross bars may be needed depending on the size of the oil painting and the strength and stiffness of the stretcher bars.

Check that the stretcher frame is square, either by using a T-square or by taking a tape measure and checking that the diagonal distances from opposing corners are equal. If these are equal, the frame is square.

Stretching an Oil Painting Canvas onto a Stretcher Frame

To stretch your oil painting onto its stretcher frame, follow these steps:

• Unroll the canvas and lay the oil painted side down on a clean, flat surface. Place the frame on top of the canvas. It is important to leave any excess overlapping material because this is what you use to grip, stretch, and attach the canvas to the frame.

• Fold one side of the canvas over one of the shorter stretcher bars and then attach a staple at the centre of the outside edge of that bar.

• On the opposite side, use pliers to grip the canvas at mid-bar. With a firm grip, pull the canvas until a straight crease is formed to the tacked end. Insert another staple at the centre edge of the bar, just like the other side.

• Move to the next stretcher bar (one of the longer ones) and repeat steps the previous steps.

• Place temporary staples at all four corners. Starting with the centre of one of the long bars, grip the canvas tightly with the pliers and staple at 5 centimeters (2 inch) intervals. Repeat with several staples in both directions (from the centre) and then switch to the opposite side and repeat the process.

• Repeat the same fastening process for both of the short sides, working out from the centers.

• Fold and pleat the corners of the canvas and then neatly wrap them around to the rear of the canvas frame. Keeping tension on the material, staple all of the excess cloth to the rear of the frame so that it is neatly secured. Then staple all four outer corners. This excess material is important to have in case you ever need to re-stretch or remount the canvas.

Re-stretching an Old Oil Painted Canvas

Changes in climate will cause the canvas to expand or shrink, resulting in a sagging or rippled canvas. The oil painting will then need to be re-stretched onto a new stretcher if the problem is serious or a less serious sagging can be remedied by either altering the tension provided by the corner wedges in the stretcher or by applying a special spay, available in art shops, that tightens the canvas

Starting An Art Collection

Identify what kind of art you like. The following techniques can help you determine what that is:

1. Visit 3 to 6 museums displaying different types of art. Finish your visit by purchasing postcards in the gift shop that reflect artworks that are attractive to you. Toss these cards in a bowl, and don't look at them again until you have visited all the museums on your list. Once you have done so, review all the cards and look for similarities among them in terms of mediums chosen, time period of the artists, or the style of the artworks.

2. Visit your local library and find an art history book that spans at least four centuries of art from many different countries. Use sticky notes to mark your favorite pieces. Again, look for common elements to determine what you like the best.

• Match what you like with what you can afford and what is currently available to buy. Consult with knowledgeable art dealers or art appraisers about costs and availability of what you have selected. Determine your annual budget and the number of pieces you want to be able to purchase with that amount.

• Gather information about the quality of what you like, what you can afford, and what is currently available. Consult with museum personnel and knowledgeable art consultants about what they consider to be quality work.

• Join ancillary museum groups that offer lectures and exposure to valuable information.

• Subscribe to magazines that focus on the type of art you want to collect.

• Don’t rush to acquire art. For many, it’s a lifelong pursuit.

Starting a Contemporary Art Collection

Contact museum curators or art professionals in your area who do not sell.

1. Build a relationship with these professionals by attending lectures where they assemble.
2. Discuss your interest in collecting contemporary art and ask for their recommendations.
3. Listen for names being repeatedly identified as quality artists.

• Attend exhibitions at contemporary art galleries in your area. Ask for information about any work that interests you. This will help you understand what the artist intended for his or her work "to say."

• Go to national and international art fairs to gain additional exposure to contemporary art. Ask for information on work that interests you at these events as well.

• Contact prominent local contemporary artists working in a medium you like and ask them to identify their "hot picks."

• Supplement your efforts by reading art publications such as Art in America, Art Forum, and Art News, as well as magazines directed toward just one kind of medium, for example, Fiberarts or types of art for example, Latinarte, Native Peoples and American Indian Art magazines.

• Join ancillary museum groups focused on contemporary art. These events allow you to experience what experienced collectors of contemporary art have chosen. Travel to other cities with these groups to gain an even greater understanding of contemporary art.

• Do MOST of the steps described above before purchasing for your collection.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Stand up, Speak up!

“My father established our relationship when I was seven years old. He looked at me and said, “You know, I brought you into this world, and I can take you out. And it don't make no difference to me, I'll make another one look just like you.'”

Did it make you smile? That famous line was once said by Stand Up Comics Hall of Famer Bill Cosby. Bill Cosby is a successful comedian, product endorser, story teller, author and television and film actor. Cosby is one of the most respected comedians in Hollywood and not to mention his numerous awards to boot. He started his career as a stand up comedian wherein he developed his trademark using “raceless” humor to capture his audience.

Anyone who has ever tried going to comedy night at a local comedy club can attest that not just because you look or think funny or you can make your friends laugh does it automatically mean that you are a good comedian. Being a comedian is such a difficult job, and a stand comic at that, it's doubly agonizing. With a live audience in front of you, it can be a nightmare for the mediocre, aspiring comics!

That's why, stand up comedians are really admirable with their craft in making the audience laugh. They are very good in poking jokes or situations that make the audience giggle with laughter until their sides hurt not minding that they are being watched by lots of people. But, as was mentioned, not all can be a good comedian, not everyone can be a stand up comic, and not everyone can speak in front of an audience.

Public speaking, performing on stage or giving a presentation in front of a large crowd can be very difficult thing to handle by other people. Unlike seasoned comedians like Bill Cosby, there are some individuals who experience racing heart, shaking knees, sweaty hands and shortness of breath when speaking in public. These are some signs of a person with anxiety symptoms. It is a feeling like you want to get out and run from a frightening situation. Situations that are ever present in our everyday lives.

According to the “holy trinity” for comedians, there are three qualities to remember to be a good comedy act; you’ve got to have good material, you’ve got to have a sense of timing, and you’ve got to have a stage presence. As with public speaking there are also important rules to remember to conquer the fright.

· Familiarize yourself with the place you are about to speak or do a presentation. Arrive early and prepared. Walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone.
· Greet the audience as they arrive. It is much easier to talk to a group of friends than to a group of strangers.
· Practice your speech or presentation and revise it if necessary. If your uncomfortable with your material, your tension will increase.
· Exercise. Relax and take a deep breath before your speech or presentation.
· Visualize. Imagine yourself successfully giving your speech.
· Concentrate on the message. Focus your attention away from your anxieties but on your speech and your audience.
· Twist your nervousness into positive energy and enthusiasm.

Moreover, do not apologize for any nervousness you think you have with your speech, you might be calling attention to your audience to something that they did not even notice. Try to also realize and bear in mind that the people want you to succeed and they do not want you to fail.

So the next time you have a big presentation or a speaking engagement, add some humor to it to shake that nerves off and remember another famous quote from one of the comedy greats, Bill Cosby: Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it.

Stained Glass A-2-Z and why creativity heals

I found this article recently that resonates my feelings about stained glass and creativity.

Connecting with your Creative Soul
by Ami McKay


Many of us have lives filled with deadlines and daily routines. Tapping into our creative energies is often the last thing on our minds. Perhaps you think that you don’t have a creative side, perhaps your wild sense of imagination left with your childhood, perhaps you don’t even realize what’s truly within you just waiting to be set free.

Why choose a creative path?

Fostering your sense of creativity can give you feelings of freedom, delight and passion. It can help you see your life in a new light and help you to tackle situations that you thought were hopeless. When you express yourself through creative action you find gifts such as: happiness, self worth, healing, and inner joy. Don’t let society’s picture of the ‘artist as virtuoso’ scare you into not trying. Self-expression comes in many forms and in varying degrees of ability. We all have a creative artist within. Whether or not you choose to call on these amazing gifts is up to you!

Some examples of Creative Endeavors

1. Music hath charms… (Reminds me of my sweet Spanish Guitar)

How many of us like to sing in the shower or in the car during rush hour traffic? You can take this idea a step further and use music as a way to find creativity. In this age of CD’s, we have access to any type of music we desire. Try experimenting by listening to various types of music. Find out what soothes your soul, what gives you energy, which music sets your thoughts free. Keep pen and paper nearby and write down any thoughts that come from this experience. Before long, you may find yourself writing an essay of inspiration or simply dancing around your living room with abandon.

When my son was four, I started hearing music from his bedroom after I had tucked him in. I was curious as to where this sweet music was coming from and peeked in to see what was going on. I discovered that he had started his own evening ritual. He was singing the events of his day to himself. With great passion he would sing of his disappointments, accomplishments and joys. I’ll admit that I have since tried this myself and found it to be one of the most freeing experiences I have ever had.

2. Art of Expression

You don’t have to have a professional set of oil paints or be schooled at the finest art institute to express your artistic soul. I’m talking about art that comes from the very depths of your being and isn’t meant to be pleasing to anyone else but you. ‘Dharma Art’ is a kind of artistic practice where you begin to gather things from your surrounding environment and rearrange them in a creative and artistic way. There are no rules, just simply collect what you find interesting and then create something new. An easy way to experiment with this idea is to make a collage from magazine clippings. Take an hour and create a collage that truly reflects your passions in life. Incorporate favorite quotes and sayings that inspire you. Who knows, one day you may be gluing old clock parts to a worn out straw hat as a personal commentary on time.

An old college roommate of mine recently sent me a small mixed media painting as a token of friendship and thanks. Here is what the enclosed note said: "this is what I did the night I talked with you on the phone. You were inspiring. To me, it looks like something a teenager would do but it reflects how I feel these days…whatever that means." It meant the world to me!

Creativity helps us unlock our inner selves, but it also needs to be shared.

Stained Glass A2Z

I recently found this article on the web and thought it was interesting. Just remember that you can be all your stained glass supplies from Stained Glass A2Z. Check us out at www.stainedglassa2z.com.

Recently, one of the best stained glass supply and teaching centers closed its doors. Shockingly they were very aggressive and well run. The business was around for over a decade. I wondered why it failed. Two years earlier, the long time run business was sold by the original owner who wanted to retire to a man who had made enough money for the purchase running a janitorial business.

The new owner soon discovered that the stained glass business is different than any other business. The stained glass business is a difficult business to make a living.

When I started in the stained glass business, I soon discovered that the business was a rollercoaster ride gone wild. It was a feast or famine situation. I’d sell a window or commission and have enough cash to get another order of materials together. I never really felt I was making any money; it felt like all I was doing was just using up supplies and then replenishing. I found that running a stained glass only business was very tough profession.

I quit doing stained glass as a living for a while, but continued to take on commissions and personal work in my spare time. This is an avenue that I recommend to students who think it might be fun to get into the business. This way they can test the waters and find whether they really want to expand into the business of glasswork. Most find that doing a little on the side is the perfect avenue for them.

It is tough, and rewarding but not so much in a financial sense but on an artistic level. I beat my head against the wall trying to figure how to make a living, but simply seem to scrape by each year.

I do make a small amount of money by offering stained glass classes. But after taking all expenses and costs into account, I find that I just break even on classes. If I made enough money to support myself well in this business, I would take the extra money and expand and hire help, but so far I'm just keeping my head above water. It is my belief that the key to making it in stained glass is to offer products that will help others to enhance their stained glass experience.

I would advise anyone thinking of going into any business, that before you make a decision to get into it, work for at least 3 months in the business, 90 days seems to be the point where you really get an eye opening. The honeymoon ends and you see what you're really getting yourself into.

Be very cautious about the valuation of the business that you are looking to purchase. Remember that you are looking at retail values versus the wholesale values of the business. Figure that the cost of buying all materials and starting a business from scratch is 1/3 to 1/4 of the retail value of the business. It is rare to find that an existing business really has a built up value of customer good will, which has much, if any, value to the potential new owner. Customers are our friends and I love them, but because most people only have a limited interest in the business, their value to future income is smaller than the seller might lead you to believe.

It is true that warm glass has more to offer in a studio setting than just flat glasswork, but look at the root of the matter. The stained glass industry knows that they are working with a craft that is fleeting. The normal student has one to three projects in them and then they are done. By expanding into warm glass, I am able to offer a wider range of techniques and projects, which help to hold the students, interest longer. But what I've done is change a three-month customer into a 6-month customer. I still face a huge attrition rate. Being a lover of glasswork, I am often shocked at the number of students who start class and then drop out without even finishing their first project.

When I talk to other businesses, I often ask if they will furnish me a copy of their business plan. I hope to learn from those plans ways that I might be able to find more success in my own business. If you come up with a business plan, I'd love to see a copy of it.

One word of encouragement, people in the business are in two camps. There are those who are secretive and afraid that you might want to steal their ideas. But the vast majority of business owners in stained glass are open and willing to share their knowledge and advice. They are those who realize that there really isn't any competition in the business. That shop down the corner doesn't create competition, they increase the knowledge and appreciation of stained glass in the community, and so they actually help your business rather than hurting it.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Spyware - is your secret safe?

Most people like to surf. Everybody should know by now that a firewall or an anti-virus program is needed when doing so, but what about spyware and malware?

The problem

Every day 100 of millions of people log on to the internet to check their homepage, the newssite, datingsite, the mail or installing a free usefull program. But what you never know, is that there is a risk in doing this! You can unknowingly install what is known as spyware or malware. These programs are usually hidden within free programs, homepages or links to homepages. Most of these programs are fairly unharmful, as they "only" apply the author with information on your surfing or your shopping habits.

BUT - there are also malicious programs such as worms, trojans, keyloggers, know as malware. these programs install themselves on your computer, and opens up backdoors to your computer, making the author able to enter your computer through the internet. Or they transmit information on your password for mail or homebanking, even your credit card numbers!

Now, but installing a firewall you should think that you would be safe! but that's not really the truth. You should regularly scan your computer, or have a real time scanner installed on your computer to avoid these problems.

If you're interested in a more detailed list of the most common malware/spyware, you can check out this page for a lot more information, and what to do about it.

If you are already experiencing your computer being slow, taking a looong time to open even the smallest programs or if your internet seems really bad check out the link below for more information!

Sounding More Art Savvy

Want to sound like someone who is art savvy? Make sure you don't use the following art "faux pas."

• Using the word "seriagraph" - Actually, there is no such thing as a seriagraph. What you are attempting to reference is a form of printmaking known as a serigraph, screenprint or using past terminology, a silkscreen print.

• Using the word "sketches" - Those who are knowledgeable about art use the term "drawings" instead of sketches.

• Using the word "picture - The word picture suggests an item that is more decorative in nature, while the word "painting" denotes a valuable work of art. The word decorative tends to be used as a put down when commenting on the desirability of a work of art, somewhat akin to the word "interesting".

• Using the words "it's just a print" - There have been prints that have sold for several hundred thousand dollars, for example, works by Mary Cassatt, Pablo Picasso, Hokusai, and Sharaku. Aside from value, some artists did not create paintings, so their entire form of expression used printmaking. Sometimes effects achieved with printmaking cannot be accomplished with painting or drawing directly. If you meant "just a reproduction or a reproductive print", then you are commenting on a photograph of an existing artwork, which does not constitute an original work of art. This is entirely proper.

• Falling into the "art trap" - Whenever you are asked what you think about a painting, check to see if there are similar paintings in the room before responding. A family member or close friend may the proud artist. This is what I call the "art trap." A sharp observer will recognize that each piece is signed with the same name. Find something positive to say. Life in the art lane can be treacherous, but it is just like functioning as an expert witness, Think before you speak.

Something about Designer jewelry

Jewelry is a mandatory accessory for every woman. It plays a major role in increasing the beauty of woman. Jewelry can be referred to as any piece of ornament worn on any body part of a lady to accentuate its feminine looks. Over centuries women have worn jewelry pieces that match fashion of times. Fashion and trend are ever changing. The jewelry designed keeping the fashion and trends in mind is known as designer jewelry. Pearls, diamonds, platinum, gold and silver are always in trend. They are just designed in varied styles that suit the desires of fashion conscious people. Designer jewelry is real expensive to buy. Each gemstone has a different story to speak. Designers translate the story into piece of jewelry to derive satisfaction and appreciation of people. Each piece of designer jewelry is hand crafted using gold, silver, platinum and gemstones. Designer jewelry is very versatile. Many pieces combine the specialty of designing chokers with the possibility of being worn in numerous ways.

Designer jewelry is a great accessory for a formal or casual dress and is a perfect way to showcase your personality. It represents the creativity of so many people that dedicate themselves to the art of jewelry design. It is usually made of base metals with thin coating of gold, silver or other materials that give it a nice finish. Decoration over the jewelry is made of glass, plastic, stones, ivory and other materials that could be used creatively. Earlier the costumes where designed to match jewelry. However, now designer jewelry is made to match the attire. If there is a floral patterned dress that is to be worn at some occasion the lady would probably select jewelry that is very colorful or even flowery in design. Designer jewelry is also created in other materials like sea shells, wood, plastic and others. These are cut into different shapes and styles that could be worn in routine life. The most elegant of designs that could be worn at variety of occasions are made by some of the most famous designers.

Jewelry designing is one of the hottest career options for youngsters these days. There are numerous universities and institutes offering courses in designer jewelry. These people often have established jewelry and fashion designers as visiting lecturers. They offer some very valuable tips that if considered carefully can help establish career in creating designer jewelry. Jewelry designers can work with established brands or can open their own stores of designer jewelry for catering to people. However, the biggest chances of success are when some experience is gained under an established brand and later a move is made into the independent market.

This article was published using Article Submitter

Simple Home Entertaining Tips

Whether it's a New England clambake, a Hawaiian luau or a traditional backyard barbeque, these tips make it simple and cost effective to throw a party to remember.

Once you've picked the date and the guest list, you're ready to plan the décor. To kick off any fete, I recommend a conversation starter and an "Oh Wow" factor (that can be the invitation, décor or even a specialty cocktail).

Invitations are your guests' first clue as to the theme of the party. If you're planning a nautical-themed party, send the invitation in a bottle filled with sand. Carry the theme into the party with seashells as place cards and navy tablecloths. Flowers, such as sunflowers, daisies or chrysanthemums, are a beautiful, simple centerpiece.

Party refreshments should match the weather-light and easy. For example, serve a fresh gazpacho as a first course, followed by the BBQ staples of hamburgers, grilled chicken, veggie burgers and ribs.

Easy and healthy side salads include Spanish salad with mandarin oranges and couscous with apricot. And for dessert, try a simple bowl of ice cream dressed up with strawberries.

For the bar, you want to keep it simple, flavorful, colorful and fun. One of my favorites is Southseas Punch; just blend ice with a fresh banana, splash of pineapple juice and 1/2 bottle of Zima XXX Hard Punch. Serve in a pint glass and garnish with a pineapple wedge and an orchid flower. Serving beverages such as Zima XXX, that come in bright colors, is the perfect way to make a splash at your everyday get-together. For non-drinkers, try a hibiscus iced tea garnished with mint for instant refreshment.

To make sure yours is the party they remember-and always make time for-be sure to give guests a memorable party favor as a parting gift. You don't need to spend a lot to make personalized favors. Get out your old instant Polaroid and take snaps of all the fun moments throughout the party. Make your own customized labels with the date and theme of the party and give one to each of your guests.



Refreshments should match the weather-light and easy. When planning drinks for your party, keep them simple, flavorful, colorful and fun.

Silk Flowers Are Perfect for Every Occasion

Whether you are planning a special occasion for your true love or you just have a hobby of collecting silk flowers, then you have taste, and for that you must be applauded. Silk flowers make the most beautiful flower arrangements and you need not worry about the flowers dying on you. They can add character to any dull room, and with the variety of different colors they can brighten up a table. The fabric last and the only cleaning you will probably have to do it wiping the dust off the leaves.

These flowers make beautiful bouquets, and with your creativity you can send a bouquet to a special person in your life…or even to say thank you to someone that has just highlighted your day with just a simple smile or a few words of inspiration. This is also a great way if you want to keep your home full of flowers. Think about it, you won't have to water flowers again, or if you have always had the habit of forgetting to water flowers – worrying about the poor things dying of thirst.

Don't think that because they are artificial that they are going to look artificial. Like fresh flowers that need to be replaced after a few days or a few weeks, silk flowers keep their beauty and color time and time again, and the nice thing is that the artificial flowers can be made to look like fresh flowers.

You will probably get questions like, "Where did you get these beautiful flowers?" and "They have been here so long. What are you feeding them that keep their color and freshness?" Obviously it will be up to you to give the secret away, or you could just leave them in suspense about how beauty finds its way into your home and stays there for as long as you want them there.

If you see a certain silk flower that you just love, take notice of it so that you can look for it when you're planning a special event. There's many places online that also offer a good selection of silk flowers, so check online too.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Show your creativity with Painting Book

Are you an creative person then what are you waiting for start port rating your imagination on prorate. Now a days painting book has got a huge demand as kids love to show their creativity.

Painting book is helpful for the beginner’s as it has got all the information and tools from brush, color, markers and everything. If you love being creative, you will love tole painting. The easy step-by-step instructions included in decorative painting patterns will have you painting in no time.

The various medium for doing decorative tole painting is wood, fabric, clay, tin, glass, concrete everything that you can think of and you can also find many online patterns on sites.

You can find many decorative painting designs, free tole painting patterns, supplies such as paints, mediums, brushes, wood craft supplies, tole painting books, and instruction.

With the help of online painting tools anyone can learn all the technical points of decorative painting. Painting book offers you techniques of creating pattern, paint colors used, brush sizes and many more which are more helpful for the beginners.

Its also includes the essential tools used for painting like paints, brushes, makers, painting surface and many more. Painting book has got a big arrange of collection from where you can get your best choice one.
Kids love to enjoy their vacation by spending their time in painting. So what are you waiting for come and lets your imagination run and enjoy.

I am Free Lance writer and currently for this website Painting Books I have just started to write article and press releases which are related to this mentioned site. This article is prepared on the basis of reliable sources. If you find any error or mistake in this article please email us immediately at this email address annajosephs@gmail.com so that we can take immediate action.

Selling your Art Online - Website Tips For Artists

If you plan to sell your art online with your own unique website, my advice is simple: Be Different! There are hundreds of artist websites online today that are all making the same mistakes.

The first problem I would like to note, is the use of long multimedia presentations that artists are incorporating into their websites. I don't think there is anything more frustrating then arriving at a website and waiting for this huge multimedia presentation to download and play. The artist may think it's cool or adds something to their work, but in all actuality, it only frustrates impatient surfers. Not all Internet users have super fast cable or DSL connections. Many are still using dial up modems and if they have to wait for something to download, they will simply leave and visit your competition.

There are also sites that insist on putting unrelated banner ads or other unrelated advertising on their websites. Just the other day I was doing a search for original watercolor art. The first website I arrived at had a big banner at the top of the website advertising a dating site. I am not sure how dating is related to watercolors? This is simply a distraction and you are immediately sending visitors off your website. If you are going to advertise on your website, make sure it's related to the theme of your website and is helpful to your visitors. Do not make it the very first thing they see when they arrive at your home page.

You need to catch your visitor's attention right away. This means putting your most important information near the top of your website in plain view. Your goal is to draw your visitor into your site immediately with a compelling headline so that they stay long enough to check out what you have to offer. Once you draw them in with a good headline, you must then direct them to take an action. That could be to subscribe to your newsletter, or to check out your latest product(s).

Keep your site navigation consistent throughout your entire site. This means having the same navigation links in the same order on every page of your website. Your goal is to make it as easy as possible for your visitors to get from one place to the next, not to confuse them.

Make sure your visitors can easily contact you. Put a link to a contact page on every page of your site.

If you have testimonials, use them. Testimonials are awesome sales tools. People love to hear good reviews about a product or products they are about to purchase. It really does boost sales. If you have ever received testimonials from customers, highlight a few of them on your home page in clear view. If you do not have testimonials yet, contact people that have purchased from you in the past and ask if they could provide feedback on the product they purchased for inclusion on your website. Make sure they know how you plan to use their testimonial, and ask if you can site their name with the testimonial.

Start an opt-in newsletter. If you do not already have a method for collecting your visitors email addresses, then you may be losing sales. Many people who first come to your site will usually leave without making a purchase. It is important therefore to collect as many email addresses as possible so that you can follow up with your visitors. You could send out an announcement to your list of subscribers whenever you have a new piece for sale. If you regularly attend art or craft shows, you could send out an email and let your subscribers know when and where. You could also send out surveys or questionnaires to your list to get a better idea as to the type of products they are interested in purchasing.

Make certain that you have a variety of different payment options for your customers, especially payment by credit card. Studies have shown that sites, which accept credit card payments, have significantly more sales. Use a service like PayPal to accept credit cards from your website. It's free and easy to setup.

Make sure you have detailed purchasing and shipping instructions in place.

Have a good refund policy. When your customer receives your product, it may not be exactly what they anticipated. By having a good refund policy upfront, you will gain your customers trust and they will be more comfortable making a purchase, especially if they are parting with a lot of money.

Include a "Privacy Policy". Internet users are a paranoid bunch. People are still somewhat reluctant to part with personal information, so it is your job to make them feel at ease when they use your website. In a nutshell, a privacy policy clearly states what you do with users personal information. What kind of information do you collect from your visitors? What do you do with that information? Do you share it with anyone? If you are not sure how to create a privacy policy, visit the following website to access an easy to use Privacy Policy Generator: http://www.the-dma.org/privacy/creating.shtml
Include a "Terms of Use" section. This section outlines the terms and conditions for using your website. For instance, you probably want to restrict visitors from copying or reproducing the images on your website. You would put that in your Terms of Use section.

When adding images of your products, always use thumbnails that can be clicked to show a larger image, so that your pages download quickly. If the larger image is a big file, let the visitor know that they may have to wait for the picture to load.

Avoid putting traffic counters on your site. Counters make your site appear amateurish. If your site is fairly new, and your traffic is not yet established, you are broadcasting this to everyone that arrives at your site. If you need to track your website statistics, check with your hosting company. You may already have a good website statistics program included.

Choose a basic color scheme and only one or two different fonts. If you go overboard on color and use too many different fonts, your site will look out of balance and amateurish. Your website does not have to be a work of art. You are trying to sell your art, not your website.

Use a light background, preferably white, with dark text, preferably black. Don't use images or textures for your background. This makes it difficult for your visitor to read the text on your site.

Avoid adding music to your site. You may think it sounds nice to include your favorite songs when your page loads, but not everyone will agree. If they find the music annoying, they will leave.

Don't make your visitor have to scroll horizontally to view information on your website. Web surfers are lazy. Most hate to even scroll up and down let alone left and right.

Avoid animated graphics and scrolling or flashing text. This only distracts your visitors.

Put prices on all of your products. If people have to contact you to find out the price of something, they will more often than not leave and look elsewhere.

Make sure your site works in all the major browsers. The most popular browser today is Internet Explorer, but there are a good amount of surfers who use Netscape, Opera, and Firefox. Check out http://www.anybrowser.com/siteviewer.html. They have a great tool that enables you to see what your site looks like in various browsers.

Lastly, make your website personal. Speak to your visitors. Let them know who you are and what your art or craft is all about. Educate and enlighten. Include a step-by-step article or demonstration on how your work is created. If people have more of a connection with you and your art, they will be more comfortable buying from you.

I hope these website tips have helped. I wish you the best of luck in everything that you do. God Bless!

Selling Art Online – Does It Work?

If you are interested at all in art and photography, you will no doubt have noticed the huge number of impressive looking online galleries all over the internet. Judging by the numbers of signed up artists and photographers they seem extremely popular. But do these online galleries actually sell the work they display?

Well yes, quite often. It is a fact that many artists do very well selling art and photography on the internet. However, as with any offline gallery, showing work simply provides the opportunity to be seen by a larger audience thereby increasing chances of making sales. That said, the internet is a gateway to a worldwide audience and by joining an online gallery an artist has the potential of tapping into it. A word of caution though; some galleries are far easier to find than others. This is very important because no matter how attractive the layout of an online gallery appears, if customers can't find it then the artwork is not going to be seen.

So where are the best places to sell art online? Well, there are now many options open to both professional and aspiring artists and photographers. It all depends on individual objectives. For high visibility, joining one of the larger online galleries who get many thousands of visitors daily might be a wise consideration. A visitor count is usually provided somewhere on the homepage of these sites. There are some excellent ones to choose from but each is slightly different in terms of selection and joining procedures, how they assist in promoting work and how work is displayed on the website. Also, attention should be paid to areas such as who takes payment for work sold and how money is received after a sale. Commission taken from a sale is another important factor and can vary from 0% to 40+%.

Can one really make any money from selling art online then? The short answer to that is 'probably'. A good indication is whether the art sells in the 'real' world or not. If it does, then it is likely to be also successful online. If an artist hasn’t yet ventured into selling, then there is nothing to lose by dipping a toe in the water by joining an online gallery. One place to test the waters is eBay but another word of caution here. If work is already selling at top end prices, it is very unlikely that these can be commanded on eBay. It is very important to avoid dropping prices for the purposes of selling on eBay too, or anywhere else online for that matter. Current customers won't like it. It devalues their purchases and also makes them feel they have been ripped off by paying higher prices. That said, some artists are making a good living on eBay with its phenomenal number, and still growing, of daily visitors.

What about fine art and photography prints, do they sell well online? Well, yes actually! Very well. In fact it would be fair to say that although the art print market is very competitive online, with huge websites offering everything from impressionist style canvases to Disney posters, there is still room for original art and fine art photography prints. The fact is that whilst people may be hesitant to spend a huge amount of money on an original artwork without seeing it 'in the flesh', prints are a safer gamble as they are much more affordable. As more and more people become comfortable with shopping online for a variety of goods, this can only help online art sales too.

Selecting Art...Hints for How to Choose

Buy what you like . . . what you really, really like! And you’ll enjoy your selections more with each passing year. Color selection is easy if you relax and listen to the palette “in your head.” It’s the same palette that was at work when you selected your room decor.

If you are on a budget, it is better to buy one sizeable quality item than to purchase a bunch of smaller and cheaper ones.

First, select art for the areas that are the most noticeably bare. Remember that art work is portable. Unlike paneling and wallpaper, you can take it with you when you move.

And speaking of art being portable, rarely should art be hung with anything other than standard picture hooks. And rarely is it necessary to nail into a stud. With standard picture hooks hung into drywall, for example, art work can be easily moved and old nail holes patched in a jiffy.

Framing should be chosen to match and enhance the individual work of art. Then if you move or redecorate, your art will continue to work well for you — even if in a different room.

Hang your artwork low over furniture items. Work out groupings on your floor before transferring arrangements to the wall. Opt for a graceful, warm and harmonious look. (Hanging at “eye level” is a rule for museums - not homes.)*

Make certain that you use two picture hanging hooks for each item. This stabilizes your art and keeps the item level.

*For tips on hanging artwork in groupings, see my Making Arrangements article.

Selecting A Party Theme

Coming up with a theme is the easiest way to create an atmosphere for your party. Selecting your party theme should be one of the first steps in your planning process. A theme doesn’t eliminate spontaneity from your event it makes it more complete. Before you create your party theme think about how some themed parties made you feel in the past. Was it the Hawaiian party theme, or the 60s flower child theme, or Mardi gras party theme was the most precious experience? Your theme could be a single theme or variations on other themes.

Whatever your party theme may be make sure you incorporate it in as many aspects of your party as you can. For example, if you go with a Christmas party theme make sure everything speaks “Christmas.” You should ask your guests to come dressed in Christmas theme close. Make sure you prepare foods normally served around Christmas time, and serve it in Christmas theme plates. The possibilities for decorating your house for a Christmas theme are endless. Even the colors you use should reflect your theme.

If you are having a party for your child, get her involved. Your child will have a lot of fun just choosing the party theme.

Because most holidays reoccur every year, you have plenty of time for planning and preparing. You can stock up on supplies long before your event. If you have a Christmas party every year, you may be able to save a lot of money buying decoration items after the holiday season. By planning ahead you are not only better prepared but you can also save a lot of money. Gift and party stores are full of great deals to be had after the holidays. It gives you an opportunity to pick up holiday themes plates, napkins, tablecloths, cups, and many more items you may need for your party.

The fundamental difference between theme parties and parties that feature themes is the amount of planning involved. With some thought, a lot of creativity, and careful planning you can create a great theme party everyone will love.

Sand Painting Book

Have you ever heard about sand painting? Sand painting is a rediscovered craft that has its origin in the greatest deserts of the world.


What you need to do while sand painting?

• Empty jars or containers
• Powdered tempera paints in a variety of colors
• Clean sand from a beach
• Paper, plastic, glue and popsicle stick
• Plastic spoon and a plastic tray


Steps to follow while sand painting


• Draw out any picture on paper. It would be advisable if you keep the picture as simple as possible.
• Once you are done with the drawing pour out some sand into an empty container.
• Select a color of powdered tempera and add just a little to dry the sand.
• If you need more vibrant colors you need to add more tempera to the sand.
• Once you are done with the color mixing part you can begin your sand painting.
• You need to paint one section at a time. First decide where the color is going, put an even layer of glue on the paper and pour some colored sand on to the glue using a plastic spoon.
• Repeat the above point until the entire paper is covered.
• Now that everything is done allow the sand painting to dry.


One of the most effective images to paint on sand would be landscape painting.
Sand painting is a peculiar form of art which is not so popular as compared to the other painting types. If you wish to learn the art of sand painting you could try on a sand painting book. There are number of online book stores that offer sand painting book for beginners as well as professional. This book contains step by step guidance and helps you to learn the art better.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Russian literature

Mythopoetic textual interpretation as a probable way to adecuate definition of literature appears in russian philology in the 70-s on the crossroads of several paradigms of humanities. Sharing the basic features of poststructuralism, Mythopoetical criticism goes to use practically some methodological orientations of contemporary linguistics, semiotics and the study of culture. This approach to text helps to describe the level of deep semantics which remains inaccesible for traditional literary history. Nevertheless, some traits of this method seem to be strange and doubtful, because it principally chooses innovative way of interpretation. That's why Mythopoetical criticism became very fruitful for many scholars of russian literature in their intentions to leave the obsolete schemes of analysis. The famous representatives of Mythopoetics are both in the Western scholarship (for example, Erzy Faryno, Wolf Schmid, Aage Hansen-Love, Igor Smirnov, Mikhail Weiskopf) and in the Russian (such as Vladimir Toporov as a predecessor of the movement and several scholars of youngest generation - Goncharov family, Tupa & so on). In my opinion it's necessary to grasp the whole circle of Mythopoetical questions in historical, typological and practical aspect. It is a common purpose of the 1'st part.

Althoguh this trend of criticism is rich of different practical analyses of singular texts, there is no any hint on a strict theoretical conception, which could form the basis of all. In this sense there will be useful to examine the history of method's development, because it was extremely eclective from the very beginning. The first part of my work is dedicated to the historical survey of methodology and its evolution.

The second part presents an attempt of practical adaptation of theoretical constructions to the concrete material. For this procedure I've chosen the material of Soviet Literature in the twenties and early thirties. Regularity of my choise is accounted for very special type of conciousness in early Soviet culture which revived some archaical models in modern context very actively. As it is known, the poetry of this period is more rare object of literary studies against the so-called Socialist Realism of the 30 - 40-s. In the second part of dissertation I decide to examine a lowest, or, speaking more exactly, basic mythopoetical level of the texts including key-motives and universal structures of plot.

Let me enumerate my objects of interpretation. There are proletarian poetry of the 20-s and fragmentary of the 30-s; the long poem "The Land of Muravia" by Alexander Tvardovsky; short stories by Andrei Platonov and the novel-in-verse "PUSHTORG" by llya Selvinsky. I tried to organize this material typologically in order to envelop all basic spheres where mythopoetical elements are function. The purpose of my study is to emphasize the basic mythopoetical extracts in Soviet Literature of the mentioned period, to find semantic universals similar to archaic models.

Further, I'd like to mark out some derivates of the most widespread scenario in traditional society - I mean the ritual of passage from one world to another displayed in the many encoding structures. In present work there are three incarnations of this plot - namely vegetative, animalistic, industrial. This mythological scenario sets out as a substitute of Revolution, the central event of the epoch and its turning point. Early Soviet poets accept and describe Revolution as a momentary destruction of the old world and immediate creation of the new. That's why the models of mythological consciousness, especially, cosmogonical plots, become actual in the process of writing.

Source: http://proletcult.narod.ru/

Run your Car on Water

Today, I just found out that we can convert our Car to Run on Water and gas to save over 40% on fuel costs!

Did you know that you can convert your car to a water-burning car? You can run your car on water, supplemental to gasoline, to increase your car's fuel efficiency and reduce your fuel costs significantly.

This easy conversion guide will show you how to use electricity from your car's battery to separate water into a gas called HHO (2 Hydrogen + 1 Oxygen). HHO, also called Brown's Gas or Hydroxy, burns smoothly and provides significant energy - while the end product is just H2O! HHO provides the atomic power of Hydrogen, while maintaining the stability of water.

Can Water Really Power a Car?The answer is YES, ABSOLUTELY! We have made the technology to build a water-burning hybrid easy and affordable.

Water can be used to fuel a car when used as a supplement to gasoline. In fact, very little water is needed! only one quart of water provides over 1800 gallons of HHO gas which can literally last for months and significantly increase your vehicle's fuel efficiently, improve emissions quality, and save you money.

This do-it-yourself conversion guide is very affordable (under $150) and EASY with step-by-step instructions. The conversion WILL NOT void your warranty because it is 100% reversible! It's easy to install and remove.

Thousands of successful water-conversions around the world are proof that this technology works and will soon catch on! Some industry insiders say its just a matter of time before this water-burning technology will be standard in new automobiles. One expert estimates most cars will be using this technology by 2012, but until the auto manufacturers catch up, you can use this technology for yourself today at a very reasonable set-up cost.

Check it out by visiting the link below.Click Here to find out more

Role of entertainment in life!

Today life is full of stress and anxiety and especially in metropolitan cities situation is the worst. Everyone is busy with his life, no time for family and himself even. Every person is running behind his hectic schedule. Life become so fast but still no time to relax for 5 minute and release the stress. No need to explain, you can easily analyze when you are in hurry to reach the office thinking of some of your personal tensions and then the whole day hectic schedule. Entertainment can add salt in this discomfort and distasteful life. It is the way of entertainment which keeps the life going. Else life becomes very dull and boring. Entertainment gives the life its charm and energy. If entertainment is removed from life then there will be a blank left behind. To fill this blank we need moments of entertainment in life. And some of these special moments become memories of future.

Entertainment can be of any type depending on one’s choice and likes. There are so many electronic gadgets available to give entertaining moments to minds like the most common is T.V. and music systems. A tired person after coming back from office, if got a 15 minute time to watch its favorite show then that time is enough to relax his tiring mind. This small time period of entertainment can give a smile and a soothing effect to his mind.

Music is a great way to relive the day to day stress and is also used for therapeutic purposes. Almost every person is interested in any kind of music. Even researches have proved that music’s ubiquity and portability has made it the number one stress buster. It is a matter of fact that everyone on this earth has an inclination towards listening good quality music. The passion for music differs as per genre whereby youngsters mostly love fast and groovy numbers. People of the older times love classical music whereas kids like rhymes and children music. Not only this, many are attracted to listen natural sounds such as chirping of birds, water falling from the mountains and religious chants.

When a person sits down with his eyes closed to listen his favorite music, the heart beat goes balanced and mind got relaxed. Music tunes the soul and renews the body.

Playing music also relaxes the mind and slows down the tension. Interested people find pleasure in playing his favorite instrument. A piano or a guitar strings can give immense pleasure to a stressed mind.

Other than music, reading is one of the good sources of entertainment. People who love reading can go for good source of stuff to read. It can help relieve stress and definitely reenergize the mind. Reading is a very good habit. It not only helps to gain knowledge but creates good vocabulary and helps to have a better look of the outside world.

Going out for picnic, chatting with family members or friends, dancing, singing etc. can give pleasure to a tired and sick mind. These simple ways lift up the mood and can buzz the day and put the life at an ease.

In short, any sort of entertainment should be there in life to remove the boredom of life and to make the life dynamic and exciting always.

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