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Posts Tagged ‘Crafts’

When candles first became a mainstay in peoples’ homes, they were not scented. In fact, they did not smell very good at all, as scented candles are a much more recent invention. A quick look at history shows exactly how these candles came into existence.

Candles were originally invented because people needed light within their homes. These candles were made from animal fat, which was called tallow, and their origins go back as far as the tenth century BC. The original candles smelled horrid and created a great deal of soot. This was definitely not an ideal situation for those using these candles, so the scent had to be improved.

The Romans are actually credited with creating the candle we know now. They melted the animal fat down to a liquid state and then used with hemp, cotton, or flax fibers to pour it over. These fibers were the wicks of the candles and were used for people to see their way home. Candles like these were also used in many religious ceremonies back then.

During the Middle Ages, candles became even more common in religious ceremonies. It was during this time that beeswax started being used to make the candles, as it was much cleaner to burn than animal fat. At the same time, however, it was also much more expensive because it was very rare. This meant that only those in the upper class could afford beeswax, while the rest of society continued to use tallow.

Then in the colonial times the early settlers in America found that by boiling bayberry berries they could get a wax from them. This made for a pleasant scent in the candle along with it burning well. But the process for making this wax was an extremely tiresome and tedious process. However, besides the beeswax candles, the bayberry ones were the only other pleasant-smelling scented candles at that time.

The 18th century brought about even more changes, due to the whaling industry. Whale oil was plentiful at this time and it could be used instead of animal fat. While whale oil did not smell particularly good, it held its shape much better, as it was a harder wax.

Now in the 19th century candle making got certain improvements that changed the course of its history. Machines for candle making were invented. This invention allowed the masses to afford candles more easily. It was also found that the animal fats contained stearine or stearic acid and a process was patented for the candle making using a crude form of stearic. The quality of the candle majorly improved.

Around this time, people began including a braided wick with their candles. Previously, twists of cotton or hemp were used, but these did not burn adequately and needed constant attention. Braiding the strands ensured that the wick would burn longer, which helped out a lot.

In today’s society, both scented and unscented candles can be found anywhere. For those who love scents, there are a number of them available, as well as different colors. These candles are made from many different substances as well, as soy wax, paraffin, and gel have been added to the existing beeswax candles to create more choice than any other time in history.

This post was penned by Romina Evans, she writes for an online decorating publication. She has been crafting candles as a hobby for 23 years. She can create different sorts of candles made from paraffin, beeswax, soy etc. Among her favorites are woodwick candles and glow candles because they are able to create a soothing atmosphere once lit. Read more about candles, visit our site!

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Even with abstract painting, a good composition is essential for the finished painting to work. As in any aspect of the painting process, the approach to is what singles out the great painters. Often, good composition is the result of a natural process: when the painter creates a picture that is pleasing to the eye is is most probably down to the fact that the artist has ended up with a composition that conforms to traditional rules. However, there are a few technical tricks that make good composition easier to achieve.

Sight lines

If you look carefully at some seemingly complicated paintings by an old master, you’ll find elements that lead the viewers eye to a given point. Many things can be used to create these ‘sight lines’; areas of light or shade, physical objects, where colours change, even brushstrokes can be positioned so that they point the eye to the focal point of the picture. Another way of leading the eye is to put shapes within shapes, so that you confine the movement of the eye within a certain area. These techniques work well when they are not made too obvious, moving the eye across the painting subconsciously.

Finding the golden section

In the 19th century, a theory of composition was discovered based on a mathematical relationship, this theory is known as ‘the golden section’. Basically, it relies on the division of a straight line into two unequal parts, so that the ratio of the smaller to the larger is equal to the ratio of the larger to the whole line. This theory approximates to the ratio of 5:8. Compositions that use it generally have a strong vertical that crosses a horizontal at the point described creating a visually pleasing balance.

Selecting your composition with a frame

This is really a way of selecting the composition rather than creating it. You can use a picture frame, window mount or two ‘L’ shaped pieces of card that, when placed on top of each other, form a rectangle hole through which you’ll be able to select the ideal section of a scene. The ideal position for the composition can then be selected whilst unwanted areas are masked out. You can adapt this technique to help you with photographs.

A different point of view

Using a mirror can help you see any mistakes in your drawing, tonal values or colouring. By looking at your picture in the mirror any minor defects are enhanced, making them easier to spot. Only a well balanced composition remains that way when reversed. Turning a painting upside down or on it’s side has a similar effect.

Rob Tyrrell is an artist that creates fine quality pet portraits. He also offers a besoke framing service for all his portraits. If you would see samples of his pet portraits from photos, visit his web site www.robtyrrell-petportraits.co.uk

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Would you like to commence a fantastic arts and crafts pastime? Working with leather materials will be great for you especially in case you love fashion and design.

After you’ve decided on your leather-based craft project, you’ll need the appropriate equipment and room to do the work. Being prepared ahead of time will make your task more enjoyable and give you a sense of satisfaction when you’re done.

If you are like most of us you’ll possibly be functioning on far more leather craft projects over time, so creating a designated area is almost certainly a good thought.

What to Cut On: Regardless of the project, you will need to cut your piece of leather. Select a flat surface protected having a rubber mat. The latter will help protect your equipment and prevent them from becoming blunt. Alternatively, you’ll be able to purchase a self-healing cutting board that comes with a grid perform. Any cuts made in the board seal up. This product is readily offered at such shops as Staples.

Trimming the Edges: Should you want to trim the edges of the leather, lay the piece out on a flat surface. Make sure the leather is damp, and keep it so by using a spray bottle full of water.

Instruments: For working in leather-based crafts, consider the basic leathercraft tools – an awl and spare point, a retractable X-acto knife and spare blades, a retractable knife which has a break-off blade and a rotary punch.

If you are just starting out with leather crafts, you may well not wish to spend a great deal of cash on tools. After you’ve worked with the fundamental set and completed a few leather craft projects, you’ll have a far better idea of what resources work best and what you use most.

At that point, a little research and some comparative shopping can lead you to acquiring much better quality leather craft equipment which will enhance your work. Obviously, even one of the most pricey instruments won’t assist in case you haven’t taken the time to develop and perfect your skills.

In case you do your very best with what you have, it doesn’t matter if you can’t afford the most pricey leather-based craft awl or the latest knife. Top quality will show anyway.

Are you interested in leather embossing tools? If so, please check out my website about leather crafting.

Quilting for beginners might be an enjoyable hobby. Its end result is that a functional item is produced that can be employed inside the home or given away as a gift. If you are serious about learning how to quilt you should be confident of the fundamentals.

You might sign up for a class that specializes in teaching quilting for beginners to ensure that you could discover the correct approach from the beginning. You’ll additionally get to interact with other quilters and develop relationships on the foundation of your latest interest. You could have somebody to contact if you had a quilting idea or a query. If you became a member of a quilting class you would certainly meet individuals who might assist you as well as inspire you to perform your best in your new hobby.

A few people might grasp the techniques of quilting quite fast although some would take time. You might buy guides on quilting and learn much more about the activity by studying. You can run into a lot of distinct patterns and also exciting tips that would enhance your ability in turning into a great quilter. These books will advise you on which particular quilting fabrics to make use of for specific jobs.

In case you decide to quilt at home you are going to need quilting frames. The books will guide you on frames which are of great quality and additionally very affordable. You may have to have a working understanding of sewing machines should you wish to indulge in quilting. The reason for this is that people have to sew as well as hem the material to prepare it for quilting just before they begin the process.

An individual who possesses the interest in addition to free time and patience to learn is going to be able to understand the nuances of quilting very quickly. He or she will quickly be on their way to turning out to be a wonderful quilter. You may become so skillful that you could potentially start out engaging in competitions for making quilts which can be held at fairs.

Quilting is an excellent hobby that more and more men and women are participating in today. And it could be a great social outlet in case you join a quilting group.

Once you have mastered the basics of quilting, you may want to invest in a quilting sewing machine. The Shark 7133 and Brother LX 3125 are 2 good models to take a look at.

Just off the Venetian shoreline in Italy rests the Island of Murano, a historic trading port and the home of Murano glass. Venice was a commercial trading port since the 7th century and it’s believed that Murano glass making actually has its roots in 9th-century Roman artistry, though there are also strong Asian and Muslim influences present as well.

With travelers, merchants, tradesmen, and artisans descending on Venice from all parts of the world for centuries, Murano glassmakers had ample opportunity to absorb the techniques and styles of artisans from around the world. As early as the 10th century, Venice was one of the most well-known trade cities in Europe, and Murano remains today a popular destination for tourists, artists, jewelry makers, and lovers of fine art glass.

Venice was once a city with numerous glassmaking operations spread throughout. In 1291, the Venetian Republic, fearing the potential of widespread fire that might result from an accident in one of the mostly wooden city’s many glassmaking foundries, required all glassmakers to move their operations to the Island of Murano. The move isolated the dangers of the foundries flames from the rest of the city and also established the foundation for Murano glass. With all of the glass artisans now in one central location, Murano became a creative hot spot in which the art of glassmaking was able to flourish as it could nowhere else in the world.

The glassmakers of Murano quickly became the more prominent of citizens, rising to a position of true power in less than 50 years. They were allowed to wear swords while other citizens were not, and they were exempt from prosecution under Venetian law. These notorious craftsmen married their daughters off to some of the most influential and affluent families in Venice. By the later part of the 16th century, just under half of Murano’s population of 7,000 was in one way or another involved in the glassmaking industry.

The glassmakers were restricted to Murano but their importance to the Venetian Republic’s reputation and economy was not lost on Venetian leaders who forbade them from leaving the Republic. In spite of this, many Murano craftsmen escaped Murano and established their own foundries in other parts of the world, including those who settled as far away as the Netherlands and Britain.

While some of Murano’s glassmakers left their Venetian foundries to pursue glassmaking in other parts of the world, those who stayed refined their processes, style and techniques. They established a monopoly foothold in the glassmaking industry, solidifying their place as the most renowned and skilled glassmakers in the world. For centuries, Murano was known as the foremost quality glassmaking capital of the world.

Murano’s glassmakers refined their processes, developing new technologies that allowed them to create some of the finest glass artistry the world has ever seen. Craftsmen created crystalline and enameled glass. They developed methods for threading glass with gold flecks and producing multicolored glass. Murano milk glass and glass “gemstones” allowed them to further expand their product offerings.

Processes of creating unique glass objects include Murrine, Millefiori, Filigree, Incalmo, engraving and Lattimo. Murrine, Millefiori, and Filigree are all types of canework glassmaking, an ancient technique in which long rods of molten glass called canes are layered to create unique patterns of color or design.

In Murrine, multicolored canes are sliced into cross sections to reveal uniquely colored finished pieces of artisan glass. Millefiori glass is similar in its techniques but rather than long canes of molten glass, it is shaped with a mold to produce many tiny pinpoints of color when the glass is cross-sectioned. Filigree caneworking allows the artisan to add creative embellishments to the exterior of a larger glass item or to create fine, ribbons of glass art.

Historic Murano glassmakers produced a wide range of fine glass products. Contemporary Murano artisans are the makers of art glass, glass jewelry, figurines, chandeliers and even wine stoppers. Today’s Murano glassmakers include large factories and individual artists. These contemporary glassmakers produce mass market wine and other drinking glasses, glass beads, and figurines, among any variety of other fine glass items. Individual artists focus their efforts primarily on the production of art glass and sculpture.

Age-old glassmaking techniques are still employed by contemporary Murano glassmakers. Murano glass art in particular is still created through the process of lamp working in which silica is used as the base material. When heated to exceptionally high temperatures, silica becomes liquid. Prior to cooling completely, the silica is in a semi-solid state in which it can be shaped by an artisan to any form imaginable.

Looking for the best beads? Too Cute Beads was founded in 1998 based on one principal- giving everyone the opportunity to create beautiful and unique jewelry at a reasonable price. From the beginning, we followed the principal that we would never carry a product that we ourselves would not wear and love. Since then, we have grown and expanded. Our designs have been featured in some of the top beading magazines.