Bruce the Chef

By: NamSing Then

Figurine refers to the human made statuettes and the dictionaries
describe the word as a diminutive form of the word figure. Earliest
figurines are said to be made in the Indus Valley Civilization and they
were all in stones.

Although it is not exactly known as to why man made figurines, it is
sure that in one way it was the graduation from the cave paintings and
sketches perhaps out of artistic interests or because of awe and wonder
for the supernatural powers that he could perceive. Figurines in the
modern day are more a form of art than anything else.

Figurines were used for a variety of purposes. While some were used to
serve as deities in religious and ceremonial occasions, some of the
figurines depict special purposes. This means that a woman gifted with
figurine of "pregnant Venus" implied wishing successful fertility.
Since figurines are mainly female figures, so they make great gifts in
wedding and other rituals. The figurines are also meant to amuse
children who spend their time playing with them. Some of the figurines
also serve as jewelry for women.

Different Faces of Modern Figurines
In the present day art form, copper, glass, plastic, wood and even
rubber are used in making figurines. In the recent history, figurines
are adopted for playing board games such as chess. Players use
differently colored figurines while playing the war game as in chess.
Each piece in the game is a figurative replica of its live model.

Today, figurines made of plastic and porcelain are popular for their
adoptability to molding easily than stone which needs to be carved as
the only form of making them and glass, although is best suited for
molding, is rather used in making transparent figurines.

Unlike the ancient times you can find figurines of all types and
subjects to suit your needs and the ambience of your home and offices.
It may not surprise you to find figurines made especially for occasions
like for example, the Valentine’s Day or the Christmas Day. The most
attractive and much in demand figurines belong to wildlife and floral
designs.

Figurine Collecting Hobby
Internet has made life simpler for figurine collectors. Locating an
interesting figurine over the net has a second advantage that you can
purchase online. You can find specialist shops for themed figurines
like Hummels, a very popular one whose value has always appreciated.

Normally Curio cabinets made of wood and glass are used for showcasing
figurines, otherwise depending on your home’s décor and size of the
figurines they can be displayed on table tops and corner tables too.

If it was a mixed feeling of awe and respect in addition to artistic
inclination that gave birth to figurines but what takes it to a higher
plane of merchandising is the awareness created by the Internet era.

About the Author:

NamSing Then is a regular article contributor on many topics. Be sure to visit his other websites Figurines, Toys and Information Vault

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

By: Mitch Johnson

A long process is needed to make you clay perfectly ready for use. If
this process are follow properly then a good result can be obtain. In
this article you will learn what these processes are and how to follow.

Plain water-and-clay slips can be used as an adhesive material for
joining two pieces of plastic or leather-hard clay. In performing such
an operation, it is advisable to make your slip of the same material as
your ware. Otherwise the juncture may be visible after drying and
finishing. If, for example, you use a red slip for mending a white clay
body, the repair would mar the beauty of the completed piece.

For decorating, on the other hand, a contrasting slip can be used with
winning results. Never slip-decorate a piece that has passed its
leather-hard stage of drying, however. If the ware to be so decorated
is too moist, the slip will tend to soften it. If the ware is dry-hard,
you will have difficulty getting the slip to adhere properly. More than
likely, the slip will chip and peel away.

Plastic clay should be kept in a container with a lid. Stoneware jars,
garbage cans and laundry tubs are adaptable for this purpose. For
hand-shaped pottery, the clay must be kept quite soft, not sticky, and
firm, not shapeless. For sculpture, it should be stiffer so that it
will not slump or sink or lose its shape.

While working on an object, the unused portion of the wedged clay
should be kept under a damp cloth, or it will become too hard. If the
clay is too moist, it can be rolled or wedged on a dry table or dry
plaster bat until it is of the right consistency. If it is too stiff,
it can be rolled or wedged on a damp surface until it is right.

To increase plasticity, you may add one of the following: acetic acid,
ball clay, ben-tonite, dextrin, glycerine, tannic acid. To increase the
strength of clay, you may use: fire clay, flint, grog, lignin extract.
(Note: Grog increases strength in dry form. The other materials weaken
clay in the unfired state but increase strength after firing.)

When clay is very stiff it may be reclaimed by leaving it on a moist
plaster bat, covered with a damp cloth. Clay that is bone-dry must be
broken and mashed and worked like dry powder clay. It is far better to
err on the side of keeping clay too wet than too dry.

Slip should always be stored in dust tight containers. Some slips have
a tendency to form a skin or crust on the top. This can partly be
prevented by covering the slip pail or jar with wax paper and string.

About the Author:

Mitch Johnson is a regular writer for http:// www.curtains-n-drapes.com/ , www.ceramicsmadeeasy.info/ , www.ceramicsmadeez.info/

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By: Tatyana Turner

Do you love burning beautiful, scented candles? And do you know that
you can easily make them yourself? It is exciting and not at all
difficult. Here are 12 easy steps to creating unique candles that you
can burn at home, give as gifts, or even sell.

Materials for gel candle making

You will need:

- gel
- zinc wicks (cotton wicks can’t be used for gel
candles because they absorb too much gel)
- essential oil for fragrance
- liquid color dye
- embeds (optional)

All these materials can be obtained online from candle making
suppliers. It is important to use essential oils and colors specially
made for gel candles; fragrance oils you can buy in a cosmetic shop are
not suitable. Also, you can buy a gel candle making kit. Getting a kit
is the best solution for a beginner, because it will include everything
you need to make your first few candles.

And of course you will need a container. The best container for a gel
candle is glass, so people can see the embeds you put inside the
candle, but any non-flammable container would do. You can use any
glass, wine glass, or even a small wide vase, but your container should
be at least 2 inches in diameter. Garage sales and second hand stores
are gold mines, when it comes to candle containers.

For embeds you can use anything non-flammable - colored aquarium
gravel, marbles, glitter, sand, sea shells, pebbles, crystals, polished
stones, artificial jewels or pearls.

Steps to making a gel candle

1. Place a little bit of hot glue in the center of the container bottom. Stick the wick in it and let the glue set.

2. Cut the gel into small pieces so it melts faster and more evenly. Melt it in a stainless steel pot over a medium heat.

3. The trickiest part is the temperature - you should get it to exactly
200°F, because overheated gel looses its clarity. For that, you will
need a suitable thermometer.

4. Maintain the temperature at 200°; all the gel should melt and become smooth, like syrup.

5. Add color dye to the melted gel, a little bit at a time, until you
get the desired color - remember, you can always add more dye to make
the color stronger, but you can’t take dye away. For a candle with
embedded objects, you should use only a little color, so the objects
remain visible

6. Add the fragrance - 1/3 teaspoon for each glass of melted gel will
give it a nice scent. For a stronger scent, add a bit more fragrance.

7. Heat the container in the oven or microwave to about 150-160°F. This will help to reduce the appearance of bubbles

8. If you want to use embeds, dip them in hot gel first and then
arrange them in the container as you like. It is better to keep the
objects closer to the sides of the container - they will be easier to
see, this way.

9. Now it is time to pour your gel into the container. Place your
container on a level surface and pour the gel slowly and carefully down
the side. If it is your first time, you will probably get a few
bubbles; to avoid that, the gel should be still very hot.

10. Pull the wick up. Roll it on a pencil to keep it straight.

11. Let the candle cool. Trim the wick and you are done! You have a beautiful, unique gel candle, made by yourself.

About the Author:

Visit www.BestScentedCandles.info for information about candle making, different types of candles and reviews of best candle retailers

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By: Kelle Arvay

Let’s say you’ve been creating your craft designs and selling them
either online or off. Now your interested in creating patterns of your
designs and becoming a WAHM to start your own pattern business. What is
the first step you need to take to make that happen you ask? Well,
first of all you need to understand the make up of a pattern.

The following are the basic components of creating a pattern:

Front Cover
Supply List
Instructions
Templates
Back Cover

Front Cover: This is where your banner, logo, website address, and picture of the design will go.
Supply List: Using MS Word or Works, you’ll need to type a list of all
the required supplies for making your design. Be sure and include brand
names if you used them. Also the supply list can go on the back cover
and this makes it easy for the customer to see what is required without
taking the pattern out of the bag.

Instructions: The best way to create instructions is to take notes
while your making the item. Type them out using MS Word or Works. Be as
detailed as possible without writing War and Peace. Also remember to
write your instructions as if your instructing a beginner. When your
finished it’s very important to proof read and use spell check.

Templates: When you make your creation you should make sure you trace
out templates on cardstock. So this way you can have them to trace onto
paper again for the pattern. If you have shapes like circles or need
straight lines, use a small glass, plate and a ruler. Trace your
templates out on 8 1/2 x 11 paper. Make sure your drawings are accurate
in size and don’t resemble being drawn by a 3 year old. There’s nothing
worse than for a customer to get what they think is going to be a great
pattern only to find the templates distorted or drawn poorly.

Back Cover: The back cover is the best place for the supply list and
any additional information like size of the finished item you think the
customer needs to know. As well as your contact information and website
address.

Some of the other supplies you’ll need to send patterns through the
mail is 6 x 9 pattern bags and 6 1/2 x 9 1/2 manila envelopes.

Once you’ve finished all these steps your ready to scan your templates
and save them on your computer or you can take the original templates
to a copier and make copies. If your wanting to offer your patterns as
e-patterns you’ll need to learn how to put all the elements of your
patterns into a PDF. There are many tutorials that can be found online
for this process or you can hire someone to do them for you. PDF’s are
opened and read by Acrobat Adobe. E-patterns are a wonderful way to
offer your online customers a fast and easy way for your customers to
purchase your patterns and get them via e-mail.

Good luck in all your pattern endeavors and keep on crafting and designing.

About the Author:

Kelle Arvay a pattern designer for years and her patterns available through retail, wholesale and her website: www.DirtyCrowInn.com . Also www.PatternMart.com a website where customers can order patterns and Designers can offer their patterns to a large base of customers.

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

By: Mitch Johnson

Need a new lamp in the living room? Instead of shopping around and
hoping that you will find something which only resembles what you
desire, make it yourself. It is not hard, really, once you have
mastered the basic techniques of making ceramic wares. Once started,
you will find no end of things of their children’s development. The
kindergarten boy or girl brings home drawings made on cheap paper
-which in a few years crumble into dust, much to the parent’s dismay.
However, if these same drawings, so much treasured by parents, were
done on tile, they would never fade; the colors would remain vivid and
fresh as the day they were made.

Among the most popular do-it-yourself projects today is the tile-topped
coffee table. In a fine furniture shop such a table would cost an
absolute minimum of $100. Yet, the ceramics hobbyist in his spare time
can produce just as fine a table quite simply and at one-fourth the
price.

Similarly, when gift-giving time rolls around, you can present your
family and friends with things no one else could possibly give them
things you have created especially for each of them. Your gifts, though
inexpensive to make, will bear the which can be made for the home and
your own personal adornment. The most ordinary article can be given
real, lasting beauty with a bit of imagination on the ceramist’s part.

Take, as an example, a commonplace kitchen knife. Let us say the handle
is broken. The blade, however, is fine steel and it would be a shame to
throw it away. For the ceramist, this is no problem. Rather, it is an
opportunity. All that need be done is to make another handle out of
clay, striving, of course, to make it handsomer than the original.

These are but a few of the things you can accomplish after gaining a
little background knowledge and practical experience. Stop and think
for a few minutes and you’ll be able to come up with many, many others.
Just to run through the alphabet, there are: ash trays, bells,
cigarette boxes, dresser sets, egg cups, figurines, gravy dishes, hat
pins, inkwells, jam jars, lockets, mirror frames, napkin rings,
ocarinas, pipe holders, quatrefoil wall plaques, razor holders,
saltcellars, thimbles, umbrella handles, vases, window boxes, Yule
cards, zipper tags for children which bear the wearer’s name and
address.

You could probably compile a similar list in short order. Perhaps, you
will even think of a ceramic something that begins with the letter X.
Many ceramists have turned their hobby into profitable sidelines by
conceiving of new ceramic forms.

The vast majority of professional clay workers today got their start as
amateur hobbyists, just like you. After they advanced far enough, they
found that people were willing to pay for the ceramic goods they
produced.

Of course it is nice to be able to make your hobby pay for itself. And
it’s even nicer if you can earn a living by doing something you enjoy.

About the Author:

Mitch Johnson is a regular writer for www.curtains-n-drapes.com/ , www.solidceramics.info/ , www.goodbudgetholiday.info/

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By: Marcy Larsen

We all love a bargain! It seems that spending to much money on
something that should otherwise cost less seems to leave us with an
empty feeling. That is why we should never miss the opportunity to buy
at a discount. If you can buy at a discount, it makes it easier to
start your scrapbooks.

We all love a bargain! Well to be politically correct, most of us love
a bargain. It always seems that spending too much money on something
that should otherwise cost less always seems to leave an empty feeling.
That is why you should never miss the opportunity to purchase discount
scrapbook supplies. These discount scrapbook supplies really help give
your money that much needed stretch. There is so much treasure in
memories and in the preserving of them, but if it means that your
pocket will get a hole in it, the\an this can easily deter you from
ever starting on this quest.

Discount Scrapbooking Supplies

It does not matter whether you consider yourself a professional or just
a beginning scrapbooker, getting discount scrapbooking supplies will
enhance your excitement. You will see your scrapbook grow and you will
love your finished project. You will also find that once you start
buying your supplies at a discount, you will be able to focus more on
your goal. When you find your supplies at a discount, it always feels
like Christmas which makes you even more excited to get started.

Shop Around to Get the Best Deals
The best thing you can do for yourself is shop around for your
supplies. All most all scrapbooking stores including online stores have
discount sections. This does not necessarily mean these supplies are
outdated or not wanted. It simply means that the maker is getting ready
to launch a new line of materials. What you need to remember is that
discount supplies are priced differently from store to store, and some,
although they are discounted, will cost more than others. Remember to
check out the online stores as well. You would be surprised and the
deals and discounts you can find from them. Once you find the store
that best fits your style and you are comfortable with the pricing and
savings, you should stick with it. It always helps to be loyal to your
scrapbook supply store, weather it is a local store or online store,
you are always able to get the best deals and you will also know when
they are having their sales on regular and discounted products.

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.

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By: John Savage

There are many ways to market your soaps and homemade
bath products. I have found that giving free samples
is one of the best methods for getting new customers for my soaps.

You can cut 16 samples from one basic 4 oz. bar of
soap by cutting the bar into 8 pieces, then cutting those pieces in half.

Next, place a piece of the soap in a small craft
Ziploc bag, (you can get these at Wal Mart in the Crafts section) and
label it with your business information using regular Avery mailing
labels.

To distribute your samples, place them in attractive
baskets and visit a few non competing stores to see if
they will allow you to leave your baskets on their counters.

You can also staple these to your business cards, and
pass them out as you normally would a business card.

Yet another method I have found to be very effective is to make what are called fish bowls and leave these
at area businesses. To make a fish bowl, first print
out some cards for customers information such as name, address and
phone number. Next, purchase a few containers that are clear, and that
have a secure lid and which are about the size of a regular fish bowl.

Some people actually use fish bowls, but I
have found this causes problems because the fish bowls break easily,
and cannot be closed to prevent theft of your customers information.

Now take the lid of your container, cut a slot which is big enough for your slips of paper that you
printed off earlier to slip into when they are folded in half. Secure
your lid onto your container with tape and then cover the tape with
attractive ribbon.

Next, make a sign stating that anyone that enters your
drawing for a free whatever, will receive a free soap
sample in the mail. The whatever can be a gift
certificate from the store that lets you place your fish bowls on their counters (this helps
promote the store, thus making the store owner more
agreeable to letting you use their counter space), or
it can be a few bars of soap from your inventory or indeed it can be both.

Next, locate stores that do not mind sharing some of
their counter space with you. This is where you will place your fish bowls.

Although this method costs a bit more because you are
offering a prize, and because you will need to mail
your samples, it also produces better results than by just handing out samples.

You will get potential customers addresses and phone
numbers, and when you mail your sample you can also
include information about your products, and you can also send them a follow up mailing asking for their
input on how well they liked your sample. This
information can be very valuable towards the growth of your business.

You can also package samples of your bath salts and
scrubs in the small zip lock bags as well, and use these instead if you do not make soap.

About the Author:

john savage has a Blog which shows how you can quickly and easily make soap without wasting time or money.
Click Here to visit his Blog.

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By: Mark Washburn

Like most things, scrapbooking isn’t always easy to learn right off the
bat. It can take patience and a development of your own creativity to
get the most out of it.

Learning all about the various tools and techniques can also take some
time. Scrapbook paper patterns and styles run the gamut of designs.
Paper punches, rubber stamps and even the glues have a unique purpose,
so it pays to know how to work with all of them.

If your just starting in scrapbooking, try not to get overwhelmed. Our
advice is to focus on one project, and a single task and learn to do
that well. You don’t have to tackle learning everything it once and
there’s no worry or hurry. Simply enjoy the process one step at a time.

If you work on the process of creating your scrapbook project, with an
eye on the end result, you’ll find yourself getting pulled in the
direction of completing the project. One of the greatest challenges is
staying motivated when you can’t finish everything at once. It’s what
stumps a lot of beginners in a world where quick gratification only
comes through some work and effort.

Stick to it though and you’ll find yourself greatly rewarded. My sister
was always one to put off starting a new project on her kids. She used
to say, "They’ll be grown up and moved away before I finish this baby
scrapbook!" Amazingly though, one day she simply buckled down and got
to work and in a few days,the book was done. Today it stands proudly on
a mantle where friends and family can view it and it really is a
showpiece of sorts.

If you need motivation in the challenging times be sure to visit some
online scrapbooking forums and talk about your project there. Not only
will you get some terrific support but you’ll also come away with some
new ideas you may not have thought of before.

The same goes for picking up some good scrapbook magazines or dvd’s.
While it’s true, they won’t finish the job for you, they can help get
you back on track and fire you up enough to finish the job at hand.
Afterall, it’s never an issue of you not being able to create the
greatest journal ever…it’s just a matter of being motivated enough to
focus on it and finish it.

Getting started in scrapbooking isn’t always the easiest thing in the
world to do, but with the right guidance and the right attitude, you’ll
be looking at some wonderful memories on your mantle sometime soon.

About the Author:

Mark Washburn is a freelance writer with experience on creative memory scrapbooking and scrapbook instruction.

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

By: Charles Cox

Crocheting is very relaxing, rewarding, and can be learned quite
easily. Crochet is a technique favored by those who enjoy needlecrafts,
mainly because crochet stitches allow you to make useful home decor
such as doilies, bedspreads, blankets and tablecloths which add to your
home environment.
Here are some things worth knowing about before starting a crochet project:

1. All crochet designs begin with a “foundation chain” that can be long
(for afghan) or short for a project that starts as a "circle".

2. Understand that applying even pressure is important so as to make the correct size of your project.

3. With each project, you should try out a sample and then adjust the
size of the hook either down or up to reach the gauge required.

4. Hold the hook and the yarn in such manner that it is comfortable to you and just let the yarn flow without restraint.

5. The loop that is on the hook is not always counted.

6. The correct number or counting of chains should be formed always at
the start of every row in order for you to continue at the correct
height or length for the succeeding row. This “turning chain”
establishes the first or “initial stitch” of the subsequent row.

7. At all times, you need to pick two loops that is from the previous
row of the stitch except when the pattern indicates back or front loop.

8. A “space” is described as the interval between stitches.

9. Do not make a “slip stitch” into your first stitch.

10. After your completed work, you need to pull through a “loop on
hook” one last time and cut the yarn and pull the end through.

Here are some basic crochet stitches that you need to familiarize yourself with:

1. Chain stitch or “ch”. Create a “loop in thread” and insert your hook
in the loop, and pull towards you the central length of the yarn
through. Continue drawing the yarn through every new loop that you form
until you reach the desired length.

2. Single crochet stitch or “sc”. You will need to insert the hook
underneath two loops of a stitch then draw the yarn through the stitch,
creating “2 loops on hook”, then thread over the hook and pull through
towards your direction the two loops.

3. “Half double crochet” stitch or “half dc”. Create similar double
crochet stitches until you form three “loops on hook” and thread over
the pull the yarn through all of three loops.

4. Double crochet stitch “dc”. Thread over the hook, then insert the
hook in the stitch and then pull the thread towards you through, making
“3 loops on hook”, then you need to thread the hook over and pull
through “two loops”, and once more thread over and pull through the
remaining two loops.

5. Treble stitch or “tr”. You need to thread over the hook two times
then insert the hook in the stitch and pull the thread through the
stitch, creating “4 loops on hook” then thread over, pull through the 2
loops, and thread over, then pull through “2 loops”, then thread over,
pull through the remaining 2 loops.

6. Slip stitch or “sl st”. Insert the hook through the stitch, then
catch the yarn, and with a single motion, pull both stitches through
and the “1 loop on hook”. This stitch is used generally for joining.

7. Popcorn stitch or “pc st”. Make one chain stitch, five double
crochet stitches then drop stitches from hook and insert the “hook”
back in that 1 chain stitch and pull the “loop” through the “one on
hook”.

8. “Block (bl) and space (sp)” stitch. You need to create four double
crochet stitches over four stitches of the preceding row, making 1
block, then create 2 chain stitches skip 2 stitches, creating 1 space
stitch.

The saying “practice makes perfect” is so very true in crochet. With
practice, patience and determination one can easily make simple crochet
patterns. So have some fun while you’re doing it!

About the Author:

C.S.Cox published the acclaimed instructional book, "Crocheting Made
Simple" which has taught numerous people how to crochet. Find out how
to sign up for the FREE Crocheting Made Simple Newsletter at www.crochetmadesimple.com

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By: Louise Nova

If you have been keeping up with the trend to use free knitting
patterns for your knitting projects then you probably have been
searching the internet for web sites offering them. It is not just by
collecting free knitting patterns that you can save money. You need to
look around your house for knitted items that you no longer use. Look
at any old sweater and ask yourself if you still like the style, maybe
you never really liked it in the first place. Maybe you still love the
color or the texture of the yarn. This will probably be a good
candidate for re-using the yarn and knitting a whole new sweater using
one of those free knitting patterns you have been collecting. I have
done this often because I hate to waste money. Once you have made the
decision, and the size of the sweater is approximately equal to or
larger than the one you will be making from your free knitting pattern,
then the decision is easy…it’s time to re-use the yarn.

The first thing I do is unstitch all around the seams. Take your time
and be careful where you cut so you don’t keep cutting the pieces of
knitting. First you need to find the end where the knitting was cast
off, not on, because the way the yarn is knitted, makes it very easy to
just pull and unravel each row. It helps if you have a helper with
their hands about a foot apart. I have many memories of sitting with my
hands apart while my mother wound yarn around them. If you don’t have a
willing pair of hands then just use the back of a chair to wind the
yarn around. If you find that some of the pieces of yarn are short you
can just tie the next piece to it and continue on. I usually tie a
couple of pieces of yarn loosely around the bundle to stop it tangling.
This is the stage you look at it and wonder how you will knit with this
crinkly yarn. If you used it this way it would give a bumpy texture to
your knitting and could cause problems with your tension.

I have had some success with washing the yarn in bundles (washable yarn
only of course). I wash yarn as usual leaving the yarn quite wet. I
hang the yarn over the back of an old chair outside, or inside in the
bath tub in the winter. You can use anything that will let you hang it.
A stick across two boxes will work. Because the yarn is wet it will
pull itself down while it dries. When it is dry I wind it with my yarn
winder, but if you don’t have one just hand wind into balls. I like to
use my yarn winder because I can pull the yarn from the inside which
stops it rolling and catching. Some people have success winding the
yarn around a small object to make a hollow inside but make sure you
can get it out. If not then hand winding it is!

Now take your yarn, which cost you nothing, and take your free knitting
patterns, which cost you nothing, and start creating. The pride of
wearing something you have made yourself will be so much more when you
can say that you didn’t spend any money to do it!

About the Author:

Louise Nova loves knitting and teaching people how to knit. She also
loves to blog. Knitting for 30 years, she has taught many young family
members how knitting is fun and easy. Visit her blog at Free Knitting Patterns

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