Bruce the Chef

By: Keith Londrie

These days bird-watching has escalated as "baby boomers" and other
groups are aging and taking to the quiet life. This includes not only
reading, contemplation, and thoughtful conversation, but also bird
watching. Bird watching is a fastly growing form of entertainment that
used to be reserved for a special breed of person.

One of the most curious, fascinating birds to be seen are hummingbirds,
and for this, a bird house specifically designed to their species is a
perfect way to attract this rare, exceptional creature to one’s yard.
Hummingbird houses attract these wonderous creatures for your viewing
and listening pleasure.

Hummingbirds are the world’s smallest birds. For this reason, along
with some of their habits and unique flying abilities, they have
garnered much attention through the years. It is the dream of many bird
watchers to have a small showing of these creatures on a regular basis.
The best way to do this is to have some hummingbird houses on site. A
well kept hummingbird house will bring much satisfaction to not only
the birds themselves, but to the people watching these wonderous
creatures.

Hummingbird houses, like their occupants, are small. They can be so
small, in fact, that their houses are relatively hidden from view. This
is fine for many people as it is the bird itself that they wish to
view, and so such houses are sometimes placed at the inner part of a
branch, close to the tree trunk.

Of course, one need not place the houses only on a tree as hummingbird
houses also go well hanging from the overhangs and gutters of houses,
along with off of shrubs, poles, and other such free-standing plants
and structures that are tall enough to preclude an incursion by cats.

By their size, hummingbird houses can be made from almost anything that
is much larger than an adult human’s hand. This includes small boxes,
gourds, tin cans, and milk cartons. The basics of such homes are simply
an enclosure with a small hole that will allow access for these tiny
birds. On that note, the homes can be specific to this species by
making the hole only large enough for hummingbirds (though some other
small species might be able to also finagle their way in too, such as
finches).

To add to the attractive nature of such a home, place the structure
near to flowers that are frequented by hummingbirds. Further, by
offering a feeder, hummingbirds will be predisposed to make a visit. A
word of warning is offered about this, however. The drink that
hummingbirds consume is not mere sugar water, and to offer sugar water
only can be harmful to hummingbirds as they can acquire a fungus in
their beaks that can be a mere nuisance or even deadly. To avoid this
problem it is best to purchase hummingbird nectar.

About the Author:

Keith Londrie II is a well known author and bird expert as well as the owner of Bird Houses - a unique collection of information about our fine feathered friends.

Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com

By: Owen Walcher

Not only can you look great by making your own beaded jewelry you can
also have a blast while you create to your hearts content. The first
creation you should consider making is a beaded necklace for its
elegance and simplicity. The second creation you should consider making
is some beaded earrings.

Before you begin go to a bead or craft store so you can buy some
supplies. The only things you really need to start are some thread or
wire and some inexpensive beads. Always start with the inexpensive
beads to learn with then move onto your favorite gem stones once you
have the basics down.

Let’s make a beaded necklace first. In the bead or craft store buy some
thread or wire, beads, two crimps and a clasp. Next use more thread
than you will actually need so you will have enough to attach the clasp
with. Layout your beads on the table in the desired pattern you wish to
make on the necklace. Now you can string the beads onto the middle of
the thread or wire in your desired pattern. Use a piece of tape at the
end of each pattern to hold your place. You can also use a spacer bead
instead of the tape.

At each end slide one of the crimps onto the thread or wire. Add one
half of the clasp, then string the thread back through the crimp and
use needle nose pliers and press firmly on the crimp. Now you can
remove the tape.

Now you can wear your creation and start all over again to make more.
Once you have the knack you will never run out of ideas. So pursue your
new found hobby with all the energy you can muster. You’ll find it not
only fun but also a great way to learn different avenues of self
expression.

Next let’s make some beaded earrings. First here are the supplies you
will need: 2 head pins ( or eye pins as they are sometimes called), 4
spacers, 4 beads, and 2 fishhook ear wires. Next you will begin by
putting the beads on in a simple pattern: bead, spacer, bead, spacer,
like that. Ok, now follow closely, make a loop right above the top
bead: using needle nose pliers, bend the pin at a 90 degree angle. Then
using round nose pliers, form a loop. Wrap the wire on the other side
of the loop, back around the wire (in between the loop and the bead).
Now cut with wire cutters. Next, take the fish hook ear wire, and open
the loop. Attach your drop and close the loop. Repeat for the second
earring.

Limitless adventures — that is what you’ll have now that you have
mastered the first step in creativity. You’ll amaze yourself the more
you allow yourself to develop and play. Don’t put restraints on your
designs, instead just let them flow freely. Even if something seems
like a long shot take a chance — what have you got to lose? Never
again will you be afraid to walk into a new adventure. Fun and
excitement is what you carry inside of you now. Watch it explode and
mature as you allow yourself to develop your own style and grace.
Remember today is the first day of the rest of your creative life.

About the Author:

Owen Walcher is a freelance writer, writing helpful articles about topics such as Jewelry.  You can find an alternate version of this Making Beaded Jewelry article here.

Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com

By: Steve Welker

Bonsai trees need care similar to any other plant below is a basic outline of care for a Bonsai tree.

Lighting

Many people do not realize that most bonsai trees should be kept
outdoors year round. The few exceptions are the non-traditional
tropical trees which need kept inside if you are not in a tropical
environment.

Outdoor bonsai should be positioned where they will get six or more hours of light each day.

Indoor bonsai should receive two to four hours of natural or artificial
sunlight. For inside bonsai full spectrum flourescents can provide the
necessary light levels but the treen needs to be placed close to the
light.

Watering

More trees die from a lack of water or low humidity than anything. The
soil used to raise bonsai is normally a porous soil that drains well.
The type of soil as well as the shape and design of the pot will affect
quickly the soil dries out. Different tree types will require different
amounts of water to thrive. You will need to research your specific
species of tree for a general guideline and then closely monitor how
the tree grows to determine if it is being watered correctly. If you
take your pot and place it on top of some rocks in a tray full of water
this will help increase the humidity around the tree and will aid in
it’s growth. Along with normal watering about once a week you should
fully submerge the bonsai tree pot until no more bubbles escape from
the pot or the soil.

Pruning

Pruning serves dual purpos in the care of bonsai trees. Pruning removes
branches that clutter and hamper the aestetic design of the tree.
Pruning is
also used to direct and control the growth of the tree. You will also
have fine pruning sucha s pinching and leaf pruning to help encourage
branching. Always remember when you are pruning your bonsai that you
can always remove something later but it is very difficult to put it
back after you have cut it. So if in doubt leave it for now. You should
start with a light pruning then give it two or three weeks and wait for
the bounce back to decide if you need to do more. pay special attention
to developing the trunk, any where on the trunk that a branch is
allowed to grow will thicken. When pruning you need to keep the top and
bottom (roots) balanced for optimum results.

Fertilizing

Your average bonsai will need fertilized once or twice a month. You
should only ferterlize during the normal growing season. Us a water
soluble ferterlizer and apply it when the soil is already wet.

Soil
Proper soil choice is critical optimum bonsai tree care, the soil
affects the roots, feeding, and watering of your tree. The size and
shape of the pot affects both the appearance as well as growth and
health of the bonsai. As a rule of thumb be about 3/4 as wide as the
tree is tall and about half as deep. The height of the pot should be
roughly the same as the diameter of the trunk. Bonsai soils are
designed to optimize drainage. They are usually a mix of coarse sand or
gravel with peat or bark added for an organic element. Different trees
will need various ratios of grit to humus. Usually dedidious trees need
about 70% humus and 30% grit while evergreens will thrive better with
30% humus and 70% grit.

Re-potting

Re-potting is a critical element of bonsai care. It is crucial to help
keep the roots and top of the tree in balance. Bonsai trees should be
re-potted every two or three years. When you re-pot the bonsai you need
to trim the roots. You will normally want to remove about 1/3 of the
root ball. You need to trim all away around the ball to keep it in
balance.

About the Author:

Everything you need for Bonsai Tree Care.  Be sure to check out our Bonsai Tree Blog at www.bonsai-trees.biz/blog

Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com

By: Joan Yankowitz

Here are some helpful and handy tips and tricks that will make crocheting easier and keep you more organized.

1. When the afghan you’re crocheting becomes too long and heavy, place
quilting rings around the end you’ve already finished. It will make it
easy to just flip it over when crocheting the next row.

2. When someone asks you to make something for them, write it in a
notebook. Write their name, when they will need it by, and the item
they want crocheted. Also write down where the pattern can be found.
When you finish the crocheted item, take a picture of it and keep it in
a photo album so when someone asks what you crochet, you can show them.

3. Threading a large-eyed needle with the loose strings after finishing
a project and weaving the loose strings into the project are easier
than using the hook. It just takes minutes to do a whole blanket with
multiple thread changes.

4. If you are a beginner and frequently lose your place, write the patterns on lined paper, one instruction at a time.

5. When traveling, use an empty plastic coke bottle to keep the hooks from escaping.

6. To keeping blocks clean as you crochet them before putting them
together, keep them in a locked plastic bag. Use a small pad of paper
and pen to keep track of how many blocks are made.

7. Use a small safety pin to hold a stitch when you put a project away.

8. The fabric store sells yarn cutters to wear around your neck.
Keeping cutters on a yarn around your neck will keep you from
constantly having to search for them. The fabric store sells them.

9. Keep skeins and balls from getting tangled by cutting a hole in the
top of an empty plastic coffee container, then melting the edges of the
hole with a lighter or match to keep the wool from snagging. If you
have several projects going at the same time, use labels or tape on the
tops or sides of each container to write the project name and other
important information. Tape a small bit of dryer sheet to the inside of
each lid to keep the wool smelling good and prevent static.

10. Use a three-ring binder with clear sheet protectors to organize
your patterns. Use a pencil pouch also with three holes for extra
hooks, gauge check, and anything else you need to keep handy.

11. When you open a new crochet ball of thread, take the paper and put
it inside the center of the ball. Then, when you need new thread,
you’ll have the color and all the information for your next ball of
thread.

12. Use a tooth brush holder to hold your hooks.
It’s easy to find and you can drop hooks in your purse and go.

13. To store scrap yarn, buy an inexpensive collapsible hamper, put the
same color yarns in plastic grocery bags and store all the bags in the
hamper.

14. Take a two-liter plastic bottle and cut the middle to make a door.
Then place your large yarn inside and pull the string through the neck
.It keeps the 8oz yarn organized.

15. Make your new hook smooth and slick by rubbing it into your hair.

16. To prevent woven-in ends from coming loose, weave on a diagonal line instead of straight up or across.

17. To keep your crochet yarn/cotton ball from rolling across the
floor, put it in a small plastic store bag with handles, hang it on
your arm and crochet in comfort.

18. Use a bobby pin as a marker for the end of rounds. It slips off and
on easily and doesn’t fray like scrap yarn markers. You can also use
bobby pins to hold the last stitch if you need to take the work off the
hook.

19. Store yarn in a zippered comforter bag.

20. Paperclips make great stitch counters. Just pop one on the stitch
you want to mark. Safety pins work great too, and are a little easier
to put on and take off.

21. Use a wooden wine rack for yarn storage. It works great, looks terrific, and is a nice conversation piece.

22. Empty prescription bottles can be very handy for keeping smaller crochet tools like row counters, beads, and yarn needles.

Now that you’re organized, have fun crocheting!

About the Author:

Joan Yankowitz publishes the popular consumer and business Kwik eGuides. Instantly download the How to Crochet Kwik Guide.

Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com

By: Sam Smith

The history, meaning and symbolism of nautical star tattoos is a hotly
debated topic. Today many different groups have adopted the Nautical
star tattoo as a symbol for their own movement and they have all
ascribed their own meaning and history to the symbol. Thus has lead to
a wide disagreement as the the meaning of the tattoo.

Historically most everyone agrees that Sailors were the first people to
get nautical star tattoos. In fact the very word nautical relates back
to sailing. So this connection has been pretty firmly established. Most
people would agree the sailors were a pretty superstitious group
historically and sailor lore abounds with superstitious and fantastical
stories of life and death and being lost at sea. Early on sailors
navigated by the stars at night and the north star became the symbol
for finding ones way home. Once you know where the north star is you
can point your ship in the right direction to get home. So the star
became a symbol for finding ones way home or more symbolically even
finding ones path in life. Therefore many sailors would tattoo nautical
stars on their forearms as a good luck symbol in hopes of returning
home.

However their modern day meaning is a more debated topic. Many believe
that groups including gay and lesbians, punk rockers and those in the
military have adopted the nautical star tattoo as a very important
symbol. The diversity of these three groups has lead many to argue the
meaning of their tattoos.

For the military the connection is pretty obviously point back to the
early sailors and the symbolism and meaning is the same as the early
sailors. Many military people get a nautical star tattoo as a symbol
for finding ones path home safely. Of course this can also include more
symbolically just finding ones way in life.

Here is a quote we found from a member of the armed services and his interpretation of the tattoo:
"I am in the United States Army, an MP who searched towns and villages
for Al Quida and insurgents. I was in Iraq for 1 year. I have a red and
black nautical star on my wrist. The reason I got it was because when I
was out there, I felt it was a guide to guide me home to my family
safely. I got it so that it would remind me that I am going to make it
to see my son grow up. I am not gay, it doesn’t matter what you believe
it represents, it means something different for everyone. Out in the
desert, I would look up at the stars and think about home. So anyone
can think what they want to, that is what it means to me. "

Punk rockers have also adopted this as a popular symbol to have
tattooed. The punk movement traces its history and use of the nautical
star tattoo back to Sailor Jerry. Sailor Jerry is historically one one
of the most famous tattoo artists ever. He was well known for his
innovative and "cool" designs. Punks have taken this symbol and it has
very much the same meaning of finding one way in life. Being the rugged

individualists type Punks are drawing to the symbolism of true north
and finding one own unique way in life. So the Nautical star has become
a symbol for this. You see many punk bands that have full sleeve
tattoos typically incorporate nautical star tattoos either on their
elbows or elsewhere.

The lesbian and gay connection is the one that does not seem so obvious
at first. Historically back in the 1940’s and 50’s when alternative
lifestyles were not the norm and often women had to hide their
alternative choices they would sport a hidden nautical star. Often they
would get the star tattoo done on the inside of their wrist where it
could easily be hidden by a watch during the day but shown off in the
evening when out on the town. Today many lesbians where the nautical
star tattoo to show their connection with their early pioneering
sisters. Here is a little evidence to support my points.

"Here’s the passage (with some pieces dropped) from "Boots of Leather,
Slippers of Gold: The History of a Lesbian Community" by Elizabeth
Lapovsky Kennedy and Madeilne D. Davis copyright 1993 p. 189.
(talking about the 1940’s and 1950’s):
"…During this same time period, the cultural push to be identified as
lesbians- or at least different- all the time was so powerful that it
generated a new form of identification among the tough bar lesbians: a
star tattoo on the top of the wrist, which was usually covered by a
watch. This was the first symbol of community identity that did not
rely on butch-fem imagery. We can trace this phenomenon back to an
evening of revelry in the late 1950’s, when a few butches trooped over
to "Dirty Dick’s" tattoo parlor on Chippewa Street and had the tiny
blue five-pointed star put on their wrists. Later, some of the fems of
this group also go the idea one night and did it…The community views
the tattoo as a definite mark of identification…"the Buffalo police
knew [that] the people that had the stars on their wrist were lesbians
and they had their names and so forth. That it was an identity thing
with the gay community, with the lesbian community". The fact that the
star tattoo was created by those who were firmly into roles, in fact by
the group that was considered the butchy butches and their fems,
suggest that the force to assert lesbian identity was strong enough to
break through the existing traditions of boldness based in butch-fem
roles. The stars presage the methods of identity created by gay
liberation. In fact, the mark has become something of a tradition in
local circles and has seen a revival since the 1970s."

This meaning of the symbol has of course created a lot of problems and
arguments among the other two groups of bearers of nautical stars. Most
puck and military people do not want to have a nautical star that
points back to anything from the lesbian movement so many will say that
there is no connection there and this is false.

Here is a quote from another armed forces member about the symbolism of the nautical star among the gay community:
"This "gay symbol" is a load of hooey that someone made up VERY
recently. The nautical star tattoo has been around nearly as long as
tattooing itself. The late Celts (or early Irish, depending on your
view of World History) were said to have been the first to have the
tattoos, although evidence of it being used on ships in Spain has been
found pre-dating the Irish claim.
As a Marine, it’s a very commonplace symbol amongst us if we have been
part of a Boat Raid company, red for port, green for starboard on
varying parts of the body. On ship, I saw about a million different
variations on the Sailors I was was serving with, obviously harking
back to the sailor roots."

Here is a quote from a punk rocker and his feelings about the symbolism of the tattoo:
"what idiots..even the military boys dont know what it really
means….JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW!!!!!it was used by OLD sailors.. and the
symbol represents North on a Map …and it is the North Star the
sailors would use it as a baring to get home….you can find it on
Really really old maps and old navy vessels… Punk Rock.. well we use
it because we can and because Sailor Jerry made the coolest tattoos who
started putting them on everyone.. my grandfather even had one thus
being used as a traditional icon"

It just goes to show that when the same powerful symbol is used over
and over again over decades of time it can taken on very different
meanings for different groups. So all of those that you see sporting a
nautical star tattoo might not all have the same interpretation of its
symbolism.

So do you have a nautical star tattoo or think about getting one in the
future? Which meaning of the symbol will you get the nautical star for?
As long as you know what the symbolism behind the star is for and you
have gotten it for the right reason to either support the lesbian
movement or as a symbol to finding your way!

About the Author:

Unique Nautical Star tattoo design done by
professional tattoo
artists or view other tattoo articles for great

ideas on custom tattoo designs

Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com

By: Tom Ambrozewicz

When designing pages for your scrapbook, the two most important
elements will be design and color. Even if you have great designs,
without brilliantly coordinated color schemes, your album will be
nothing more than mediocre. Choosing good color combinations does not
have to be difficult. By following a few simple steps, you can use
color to make a statement in your album.

Black and White

The two most effective colors to use in your album are black and white.
Both create a clean slate for your pictures and embellishments. White
tends to hide as a background color, while black will give you a bolder
look. If you have black and white photographs, these two colors work
very well on the page, but your pictures will stand out more if you
also add a third and maybe even fourth color to the mix. Beware of
using too much color with black and white pictures; you will distract
the eye from the photograph.

Contrasting and Complementing Colors

Just as black and white are opposites, every color has its exact
opposite, and these two colors usually work well together because they
balance one another on the page. To find a color’s opposite, you can
use a color wheel. The most basic pairs are purple and yellow, orange
and blue, and green and red. Another way to group colors is by using
complementing colors. Three colors that are next to one another on a
color wheel (blue, purple, and red for example) will create a nice
effect.

Color Families

Yet another way to think about colors is to chose a single color (brown
for instance) and use all the tints and shades of that color family
(tan, medium brown, chocolate for instance). This works stunningly well
with black and white photography as well, just as black and white do.
You may even try using all the colors in a family plus black and white
for a modern look.

Choosing Colors

Once you have an initial color to use as a starting point, choosing
colors to create your layout is not difficult. However, how do you
choose that first color? If your page has a holiday theme, that might
be easy, but in all other cases look at your photographs for a cue. If
your subject matter has bright blue eyes, for example, use blue papers
that will showcase this. Also try to pick colors that will complement
the idea behind the pictures-a child’s birthday party will probably
look better with bright colors than natural browns and greens. In the
end, go with your gut and experiment with color and design in your
everyday life, and use this as inspiration when creating pages.

About the Author:

Tom Ambrozewicz is one of the pioneers in using breakthrough audio technology on his web sites. You can read, you can listen to professional narrator reading to you or having MP3 files ready to download if you hate to keep printed files. You can check all scrapbooking tips at Ask-How.info now.

Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com

By: Jean Bowler

As a crafter and a small businessperson, you can do your own craft
marketing or pay someone to do it for you. It’s a balancing act. If you
do it yourself, you must go to shows or run your own store or website.
The more time you spend doing that the less time you can spend crafting.

Giving up some of the retail price of your craft items, gives you more
time to devote to your art and generally a broader market reach for
your wares. Gallery and shop owners advertise, promote your work and
provide a place with regular hours where your work can be viewed by
many more people than you can reach on your own.

However don’t think of these approaches as the only options of craft
marketing. They are merely the two ends of the spectrum: from doing all
your own craft marketing and as much crafting as time allows; to using
all your time crafting and paying your marketers.

Along the spectrum are a myriad of other approaches, some very simple,
some quite high tech. If you’re looking for a better way to sell your
craft items, try thinking outside the box. Go beyond the traditional
methods of craft fairs, galleries and retail shops.

Below are a few craft marketing approaches that have worked for me, as
well as some intriguing ones I’ve read about, but haven’t tried
personally – yet.

Breaking Away from the Pack

After three years of doing craft fairs and flea markets, I noticed
several negative aspects. My work was being copied by other crafters
who saw it at the last show.

I had to keep coming up with new ideas to differentiate myself.

I got tired of lining up alongside and competing against very similar products.

Plus I got just plain tired. Craft fairs are a lot of physical labor.

I needed a better venue and couldn’t afford to pay a retail shop or
gallery up to 50% of my sales. I needed to think outside the box and
break away from the pack.

Leverage Your Relations with Other Crafters

One positive thing I did take away from my years of craft fairs was a
lot of new crafting friends who are also struggling with craft
marketing. We help each other out as opportunities arise.

One very well established ceramicist participates in a huge annual expo
that draws importers from throughout North and South America. He wanted
something bright and colorful to dress up his booth and draw people’s
attention, so he asked if I would like to display some of my oilcloth
bags. We both did well and it was pretty exciting to think of my bags
traveling to another continent to be sold.

My crafting buddies and I send each other business. They order business
cards and signs from me. I recommend them and sometimes display their
work in my little shop (no commission, no charge). When they have their
own shops, I know they’ll do the same for me!

Brainstorm Tie-Ins to Local Organizations

Brainstorm how your products can or could tie-in to some organization.
If you do any craft that lends itself to personalization, such as
embroidery or fabric painting or silk-screening, think about
approaching local clubs or businesses and offering items with their
logo. With their permission, of course. Logos are copyrighted material.

A tote bag that folds up into a pouch had been a big seller for me at
craft fairs. The unusual thing about my design is that the pouch is
custom designed. I’ve applied pouch designs using three techniques:
screen printing; or printing on fabric using either Bubble Jet Set or
Lazertran Silk decals and my computer printer.

I have made these for my local garden guild who needed gifts to give to
a visiting group and I have also sold them to a moving company who
gives them to customers as a token of appreciation for their business.

Craft Marketing Tie-Ins to Other Products

While other crafters are talking to gift shop owners about placing
their gift items alongside all the similar work of other crafters,
think about where your products would stand out and, at the same time,
enhance what the store primarily sells.

For example, if you do make jewelry or crochet scarves, offer to assist
a dress shop with their displays by accessorizing the mannequins. A
nicely put together outfit increases the eye appeal of the individual
parts.

If you make oilcloth tote bags, make some up with bright tropical fruit
and vegetable patterns and see if your local farmers’ market would let
you place them for sale near the checkout. Add a sign: “Choose not to
pollute - with our sturdy reusable market totes.”

Take your wine gift bags to liquor stores and see if you can work out a
similar display deal. Your dried flower arrangements, decoupage trays
or hand made candles would give a more attractive and real look to
display rooms at a furniture store.

Barter for Space

Once I was approached by the owner of a card and gift shop in a
neighborhood mall. She had seen and admired my crafts. She thought they
would complement her store’s inventory and that my existing clientele
would bring traffic to the store. She offered me a very modest salary
and a small corner of the store in which I could display my products.

It seemed like an ideal match; but it was doomed from the start. [This
was before I understood the importance of tie-ins and one person’s
product enhancing – rather than competing with - the other person’s.]

My products dressed up the store. Traffic increased significantly. I honestly worked as hard to sell her merchandise as my own.

Then one morning, the owner came in and told me to remove myself and my
crafts by the end of the day. My sales had been very good while hers
had increased only marginally. It just didn’t seem like a good bargain
for her. I had most of the benefit.

With 20/20 hindsight, it might have worked out if I had suggested
working on commission rather than for salary. That way, there would be
less suspicion about where my efforts were placed.

I still thought bartering for space could work and decided that, if I
found another opportunity, I would accept no salary. I also wanted to
make sure that our products didn’t compete. I came up with an idea but
when I asked my friends for their opinions, they looked at me like I
was crazy.

There is a small water treatment, garden and pool supply store nearby. Most of the
time, the owner is out on jobs and his wife tends the store. But with
young children at home, she frequently needs to leave at a moment’s
notice and would simply lock up the store, posting a “Back in 10
minutes sign”. Customers were getting so frustrated that they were
going to the competition.

I approached the couple and suggested I could open the store earlier,
tend it until the wife arrived and stay until 2:00 so she (actually we
both) could leave and run errands as needed. In return they would give
me a small corner where I could display and sell my crafts. They loved
the idea.

It has worked beautifully. I decorated my little niche like a garden to
tie in to their pool and garden products – little wicker table and
chair, a trellis on which I can hang some of my things, fake stairs
going up along the wall (which I use as display shelves) with a trompe
l’oeil door at the top.

OnLine Craft Marketing Co-Ops

This is something I haven’t tried and which I’m a little leery of. The
idea is to join other crafters on a website devoted to craft marketing.

Online craft marketing is hard enough without having five or six other
crafters’ works on the same web page. It’s sort of a minature craft
show, without providing you the opportunity to stand out too much.

But more of these craft marketing sites are springing up. I think many
crafters simply don’t want to devote their efforts to online craft
marketing, but want to see if there’s any money to be made that way.

There are many co-op craft selling sites that you can locate with a web
search. One has the improbable name of Stars and Infinite Darkness.
Other sites are Wholesale Crafts and eCrafter.

Whether online or off, if there’s a will there’s a way to improve your
craft marketing. Be imaginative and think outside the box.

About the Author:

By: Eileen Bergen: For more ideas and tips on selling your crafts or starting a craft business, visit my Craft Business Guide

Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com

By: Tom Ambrozewicz

Simply sticking pictures and memorabilia to colored paper can make a
basic and beautiful scrapbook, but if you find that there’s a little
something missing, try spicing up your pages with some embellishments.
The term "embellishments" is catchall for supplies that don’t need to
be on the page functionally, but are eye pleasing and fun. Next to the
paper isle in your local scrapbook supply store, the embellishment isle
will have the largest and most diverse section of products.

Stickers are the most popular and abundant kind of embellishment. These
aren’t like the gold stars you got in grade school-stickers today come
in just about any shape and size. One handy type of sticker is the
letter sticker. These come in sheets featuring the entire alphabet so
you can use them to create titles on your page. This works especially
well for scrapbookers who don’t like their own handwriting. Stickers
also now come in three dimensions. Because your pages are most likely
themed, the most common way to buy stickers is by theme as well. Some
companies offer kits that have matching papers and stickers to make the
process easier, and there are also kits on the market to make your own
stickers just in case the store doesn’t have exactly what you need.

If you want a look that’s a little more simplistic, try die cuts. These
paper cutouts look great on the page alone, or can be used for matting
or journaling. The most elaborate kinds of die cuts are paper dolls.
These are not unlike the paper dolls you may have played with as a
child, but are meant to be glued to the page when you are done dressing
them. You can buy paper dolls in every race, and with every hair color,
so many scrapbookers like to create paper dolls to match their subject
matter and then dress them in one of the countless outfits available in
stores.

Ribbons and strings are fun embellishments as well, but can be
difficult to attach to the paper. You can buy ribbons and strings
separately or in a sample kit that includes many colors and varieties.
Make sure these products are made for scrapbooking-they should be acid
free. This is a rule that holds true for any scrapbooking supply.
Almost anything can be stuck to a page as an embellishment as long as
it is safe for your photographs. Browse through your local stores to
find embellishments and inspiration for you pages, and you may be
surprised at the new additions to your scrapbooking inventory.

About the Author:

Tom Ambrozewicz is one of the pioneers in using breakthrough audio technology on his web sites. You can read, you can listen to professional narrator reading to you or having MP3 files ready to download if you hate to keep printed files. You can check all scrapbooking tips at Ask-How.info now.

Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com

By: Marcy Larsen

Whether you are new to scrapbooking or a veteran, it is always fun to
imagine a new layout idea, and watch it come together on your pages. If
you are an avid scrapbooker, then you have come up with ideas that have
worked and some that haven’t. Trial and error are necessary processes,
because there are many ways to display your photos or memorabilia.

Who Will View
When contemplating a layout idea, you should first determine how many
pictures you have; how many will fit comfortably on your pages (two
pages next to each other); how many pieces of memorabilia you want on
the page; how busy the page will be; and who will be viewing the pages.
A memory book created for a child’s grandmother in another city or
state will have different things on her pages than the scrapbook you
make for your home, since you have access to different bits and pieces
of information that might only be of interest to the immediate family.

Map It Out
A successful layout is one that has been selected from among several
others that you’ve considered. Start with basic colors that will draw
out some of the subtler colors in your photos, and then choose a
"frame" color to either set your pictures on. If there is not enough
room for another picture on the page, is there room for embellishments,
journaling, or other detailing? Do a few different selections at a time
and really choose the design that best fits the need and feel of those
photos. Try laying out the photos to fit across the layouts with half
the photo on each page. Add additional journaling in a corner. Put some
ribbon our buttons in the corner. Layouts are not just 2 12X12 pieces
that site next to each other, try carrying your ideas to cover the full
24" spread.

Pros and Cons of Consistency
A layout that showcases every page in the same way becomes boring to
make, as well as boring to look though. After the first or second page,
people will stop seeing the pictures. Mixing up the layouts with
different photo arrangements, embellishments, decorations, and
memorabilia not only adds some excitement to the pages, it keeps the
people looking and reading, as there is so much going on within the
page. You can use the same color scheme throughout the book, just mix
it up with the difference in the layouts and designs.

About the Author:

Marcy Larsen
Close To My Heart Consultant. CTMH offers much more than just scrapbook
supplies, including opportunities to make money while scrapbooking. Please visit my website - Marcy Larsen.

Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com

By: Mitch Johnson

When we have chosen the wood carving as our hobby, we have to select
the space for our workshop or studio. Equipment is also as important.
In this article you will find some basic requirements which you need to
prepare before you start the wood carving.

The wood carver’s vise
This is a most useful tool for the amateur as it is easy to fix on any
improvised bench. It is attached by a heavy screw that passes down
through a hole in the bench. The vise is drawn tight to the bench by a
wing nut underneath. In order not to split or damage the bench top, a
piece of wood should be drilled and used as a washer before screwing on
the wing nut. Both screw and nut are provided with the vise. The jaws
are fitted with cork and leather buffs, an added protection, and
particularly useful when the wood is very soft or the work delicate.

The bench holdfast
This tool needs no fixing. The shaft is inserted in a hole in the bench
and the foot rests on the carving. When the screw is turned the work is
held firm by the pressure of the shaft on the side of the hole. The
principle of the holdfast seems surprisingly simple but it is
nevertheless efficient. It should be used on a bench top not less than
2 inch thick.

The carver’s bench screw
To use the carver’s bench screw a hole must be drilled in the bench.
The pointed end is screwed into the block to be carved and tightened by
a wing nut under the bench. As with the carver’s vise, a block of wood
should be used as a washer varying the size of this block you can
lengthen or shorten the screw.

Coach screws
The coach screw can be used for fixing the carving in the same manner
as the bench screw. Coach screws are also invaluable for fixing one
heavy piece of wood to another. For instance, the large figure
illustrated in plate XII is held to the cross by coach screws. A tall
block, as shown in figure 7, B, can be firmly held by a 6 inch or 8
inch coach screw. Short screws will work loose with the continual
vibration of the mallet. Large hardware dealers will supply them up to
8 inch in length and f inch or J inch thick. Holes must be drilled to
take the coach screws and tightening is done by means of a spanner.

C cramps
The’G'cramp is obtainable in many sizes and is useful in all kinds of
woodwork, including wood carving. The type with the swivel shoe is best
for the carver as it will tighten on surfaces that are not parallel.
For secure fixing use them in pairs.

All the above equipments are mostly available in the general shops or
carpenter shops. There are some shops specially providing the articles
or equipment for the wood carving. But with these guides, you can start
the process confidently.

About the Author:

Mitch Johnson is a regular writer for www.kitchen-plans-n-designs.com/ , www.tipsforcollectables.info/ , www.goodbudgetholiday.info/

Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com