Superb Art

The other day, I was watching an informative show on TV about businesses and web hosting and I was surprised to see what all was involved in maintaining sites, and most of all, how much equipment and workers were needed in order to process and store all the data.

I can totally understand why many resort to managed hosting; the time and effort involved require space, manpower, and lots of money which means a huge dent in the budget and with fewer profit as a result. That would totally defeat the purpose and it therefore is more lucrative to let someone else manage all that.

This usually will result in colocation, but that in itself is not a bad thing. There are actually more advantages to it then meet the eye; not only is a place and space provided for the server, but it is also under constant surveillance and well protected.

When a service is able to do all that then I would categorize that under superb art!

Happy, Creepy, Creative Halloween!

Since Halloween falls on a Sunday this year, several may go 'trick or treat' today. Wether you go today or tomorrow, I hope you have a



HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I hope you already had lots of fun creating your own Halloween decorations and I sure hope you will receive many compliments for them as well.

If your projects didn't turn out to be as creepy and horrifying as you had intended, don't freak out; you can still scare the heebie-jeebies out of the trick-or-treaters by confronting them with the mouth watering, yummy, artistic, and creative treats below. Grin.

Don't be surprised if you don't have any takers. Woohahahaha!!!

Smart Results In Art

You may have seen these extreme small Smart Cars before and even though they may be fast, economical, and taking up little space, I suspect they may also be the trend setters for some new developments in the future.

You can get a sneak peek at what we may be driving soon by looking at the picture below. Yeah, we will have a wide selection to choose from and all of them could well evolve from the smart car!

I have to admit; it is pretty smart, but lets not forget the most important development we should expect:
The Smustang

Yeah, smart results in art, but I don't think I would like to ride a Smustang!

Animaniacs

Guest written by our friend Katie Callahan

Wen I was a kid, there was a show on Cartoon Network called Animaniacs. It was a show created by Stephen Speilberg and it was really good. It was a lot like Looney Tunes but the characters were all completely different. I am not sure what it was that reminded me of Looney Tunes but there was definitely some similarities. I guess since they were both Warner Brothers cartoons there's a good chance they were similar.

The Animaniacs were a group of three creatures that I don't think have ever been identified. I don't even know how to explain what they are honestly. Their names were Wakko, Yakko and Dot. Dot was the youngest sister, Yakko was the oldest and most level-headed, and Wakko was the middle child who was very crazy.

The beginning of each show started out with a really catchy tune that I could still probably sing from memory today. It was very catchy. Yakko, Wakko and Dot lived at the Warner Brothers Studios in Hollywood up in the Warner Brothers Tower. Some of the show revolved around their crazy adventures with a local mad scientist and the guards at Warner Brothers Studios. They also had a lot of side shows with different characters. You can still watch the Animaniacs on satellite TV from www.directstartv.com sometimes and I highly recommend it for your kids.

Paper Mâché Art - Materials and Equipment

You will need paper mache paste, lots of news paper, and a base or form. You can either make your own paste, or buy a ready made mixture which only requires adding water; the choice is yours.

Finding instruction online is done rather quick and easy, but you can also buy books with examples and instructions concerning paper mache art. There are plenty of workshops around as well and even though those are fun, you may give this craft a try without help; it is not hard to do.

I suspect you will get the hang of it a lot quicker by trial and error and soon enough, you may be so accomplished at paper mache projects, that you can create some intricate works of art like this clown.

It does not all have to be as elaborate as this though; even a very simple project is just as much fun and will yield some positive feedback too! You don't have to send in the clowns for that! :-)

Nation's Best

Since a few years, the skyline of our city has changed substantially, and for the best I may add. One of the major banks had ordered the construction of a huge, new office building and once done it sure gave character to the city.

It must have been quite a task for both the Structured Cabling Contractor and the electrical contractor to get this 34 story office tower all wired up and ready to go, but they did a great job and as far as I know, without any problems either.

Due to the fact that it is an office building, there must have been many professional data cabling installers tackling the site. I can not even begin to imagine the extend of installing cable for computers, phones, etc., throughout a 424 feet high building, but they knocked it out in no time flat and got everything up and running.

Considering the enormous amount of data which has to be processed quickly each day, my guess is that they decided on a fiber optic installation. Not all cabling companies can handle a major assignment like this, unless they are specialized in cable install on a large scale. They must have engaged the nation's best cabling installation services around!

Paper Mâché Art - Instructions

The instructions for doing paper mache are rather simple, just keep in mind that it does require a lot of time to complete the project!

After choosing or making your base and paper mache paste, tear newspaper into 1 to 2 inches wide strips with the length of your choice (torn up paper is easier to blend in then cut strips). Dip the strips in the paste until they are saturated and run them through your fingers, taking off the excess of the paste.

Put the strips over the base, or the previous dry layer, and smooth it. Cover your project entirely; you can lay them any direction you want, as long as they over lap each other. Allow each layer to dry thoroughly and repeat the process.

You will need at least three layers of paper mache for it to be sturdy enough to be decorated the way you want, but then you can cut, sand, paint and even waterproof it by using a water resistant paint.

A tip I found:
don't dry your project in an oven to speed up the process; it will warp your creation and cause other unrepairable damage. Just leave your work up in the air!

Secure The Future

With all this new technology it has become a lot easier to participate and keep up with Stock Trading. Not that long ago you had to stay in front of the TV to keep up with the constantly changing stock prices, read the newspaper, or stay in on the phone with your broker.

Those days are gone at present you can either resort to your computer and do some Online Trading, or use your cell phone. Yup, your iPhone is an excellent device for trading as well, providing you with all you the means you need for Mobile Trading.

Of course you can leave it all in the capable hands of your Online Broker; he has the expertise to turn your nickel in to a quarter which can develop into a nice little nest egg. It may be a good idea to look in to opening one of the IRA Accounts to secure your future!

Paper Mâché Art - Bases and Forms

It is easier to construct a base and cover it; it will save a lot of time and your project will be sturdier as well. You don't need anything special; almost anything can be used as a base.

Balloons for instance are excellent for creating all kinds of objects, because they come in different shapes and sizes.

You can use thicker cardboard as a base and the thinner cardboard (think cereal, pop tart, mash potato boxes, etc.) for creating details. Rolled up newspaper lends itself well for details too and you can use masking tape to hold it all together while you cover it.

For larger project chicken wire may be the route to go. Create a rough base and cover it in paper mache.

There is practically nothing you can't use as a base, form or detail. Shoe boxes, toilet paper and paper towel rolls, pie pans, bottles, jars, egg cartons, paper cups, Styrofoam balls, yogurt containers, rocks, pebbles, and so many more items in and around your home can/will be of help.

Just look around and you will come to the conclusion that the sky is the limit!

Tree Trimming Art

For the past several years, the large oak trees in front of our house had been left to grow any way they wanted. They sure did take advantage of that; their limbs were hanging down on the ground and the trees desperately needed trimming.

Had we lived in Raleigh tree service would quickly have been found, but in our case, we resorted to our yard man and trusted his expertise and knowledge to cut the limbs without future damage to the trees.

Even though he did a good job, he is not specialized in tree removal and tree trimming like the Durham tree service. We will have to wait and see if the oaks survived this severe hacking and whacking.

For professional tree service Cary NC and the surrounding area have people who know exactly what it takes to either remove or trim a tree. It may sound easy, but there is much more to it then simply taking a chainsaw to it; it is an art by itself!

Paper Mâché Art - Paste Recipes

I found there are three ways to make a paper mache paste and my guess is that it depends on how strong you want your creation to be, or which you like working with.

The simplest, quickest and easiest method is no cook paper mache paste:
You will need 1 part of flour to every 2 parts of water. Mix well and ensure there are no lumps in it. The 'paste' needs to resemble the consistency of thick glue. If it doesn't; keep adding either water or flour until it does.

A little more time consuming to make is cooked paper mache paste:
The reason for cooking the paste is that it is stronger then the no cook version.
You will need 1 part of flour to 5 parts of water. Bring 4 parts of water to a boil. In the mean time mix 1 part of flour with 1 part of warm water in a separate bowl, ensure there are no lumps remaining in the mixture. Pour it in the boiling water and mix well and let it boil for another 2-3 minutes, adding either water or flour if necessary, until it resembles thick glue.

For a very hard and long lasting finish, you can make resin paper mache paste:
You will need one cup of flour, 1/2 a cup of resin glue powder and 4 cups of water.
Bring 3 cups of water to a boil, while mixing the flour, glue resin and 1 cup of warm water in a separate bowl or pot. Mix until all the lumps are gone, stir it into the boiling water and let cook for another 2-3 minutes, until the paste is clear and smooth.

A few helpful tips I found which can be applied to any of the above paper mache pastes are:
- Add a little cinnamon to the mix in case you don't like the smell of the paper mache paste.
- Adding a few tablespoons of salt may help to prevent mold.
- The paste can be stored in the fridge for a few days when stored in a well covered bowl or jar.

I like the latter; the paper mache paste would be ready and waiting for the grandchildren to arrive and to get creative!

Amazing Race

This guest post from Margaret Mills

My favorite reality TV show to watch on satellite TV from DirectStarTV.com is Amazing Race. I love to watch the contestants as they race from one place to another. Not knowing what there next challenge is going to be is the best part. The show has had family teams, friend teams and husband and wife teams. They race around the world doing very difficult tasks and lean on each other for support. Some of the challenges are very hard and demands strength and agility. I give them credit for trying because I know I would not be able to do half of what they are required to do.

My favorite season is the one that had the brothers Dan and Jordan and the father daughter team Steve and Allie. They all showed good spirit and great determination. Jody and Shannon the grandmother and granddaughter team was also amazing. The show gives its contestants wonderful prices like sailboats, trips and pre-loaded cash cards. I think the time on the show brings the contestants together and sometimes it can tear them apart. As long as the contestants keep racing I am going to keep watching.

Paper Mâché Art

The words paper mache are derived from the french words papier-mâché, which literally translated means 'chewed-up paper'.

Making all kinds of projects, using strips of paper and a paper mache paste, has been around ever since the existence of paper. Some great examples of this art are the artistic creations we often can admire when watching the Mardi Gras and Carnival floats go by.

You don't have to make something as large as those to end up with a cute, or gorgeous result. Small, simple projects like these pumpkins, or the cute Christmas decorations above.

It is one of those crafts which does not require much and/or expensive materials and it is very well suited to do with children as well. Yeah, it may turn out being a little messy, so ensure to either cover floor, or table with plastic.

It may be wise to do both, especially when you intend to involve the kids! :-)

See also:
Paper Mâché Art - Paste Recipes
Paper Mâché Art - Bases and Forms
Paper Mâché Art - Instructions
Paper Mâché Art - Materials and Equipment

Travel and Art

We have a beautiful art museum which is located right in the Municipal Park and on several occasions we had wanted to pay it a visit, but never got around to it. I sure would love to, because they have some gorgeous and divers art on permanent display and lots of interesting upcoming exhibitions in the near future.

I have no doubt it is the same in other cities and I would like to do some traveling and visit several other museums. We could probably obtain some cheap tickets and head out, admiring all the artistic works people have been creating over time.

It is not difficult to locate a museum or art gallery and to find local art; when scouring different travel sites a search for museums and galleries will usually yield the desired results and often present you with an address and a map as well.

For those of you who do a lot of traveling I would recommend looking at the local art; it gives a good impression of the area and reflects the lifestyle of its (former) occupants. You may be able to find vacation packages which already include tickets to a museum or an exhibition.

It is definitely worth looking into; I think it will enhance your travel experience by a mile!

Pancake Art - Materials and Equipment

If you like to make your pancake batter from scratch, you will need at least flour, butter/oil, eggs, and milk. Even if you like to resort to the ready 'made' pancake mixes you will still need the other necessary ingredients to fix the batter. Other needed items are a pan and a spatula. Yeah, a heat source would help out a lot as well! Grin.

For pouring dots, circles and lines, a squeeze bottle is ideal. By using different sized openings, you can adjust the width of the poured batter which allows for more intricate detailed creations.

Unfortunately, I still haven't found any step by step instructions or workshops, but even if you don't want to go through all the trouble of coming up with an originally shaped pancake, you can still resort to food color and dish up a unique treat.

The food color can be mixed in with the batter before baking. The same food color can also be used for painting the pancakes after they are baked. I am sure children, and grown ups too for that matter, would love doing that!

You would need different colors of natural food coloring and several brushes. Disposable cups, or small bowls will do fine holding the food color, but egg cartons make excellent 'paint trays' as well.

Enjoy your creativity and your meal! :-)

Huge pumpkins at the fair

Guest post written by Sheila Nichols

Ever since I was a little girl and my dad would take me to the state fair to look at all the stuff that won prizes, I've loved going back every year and looking at the stuff again. Now it's something that I do with my family every year.

I was online with my Clear Wireless Internet Service looking up ticket prices and then I realized that they post a bunch of info on the contest about it, along with the pictures of the winners with their prize winning stuff. I thought that was so neat!

When we finally went to the state fair last weekend, there were even more exhibits than there were last year. I loved looking at all the crazy big produce and my daughter was amazed that there was a pumpkin three times here size there!

We also stepped by the petting zoo, where we bought some feed and fed it to some of the baby goats, which are always so cute but they smell so bad.

Pancake Art II

Don't ask; I have absolutely no clue either as to how this crane is made, or as to how it is served up warm. I am just totally in awe when I look at this construction and can only imagine how much time and effort must have gone in to it.

I can only guess as to what type of batter is used. I would suspect it is poured out thin and baked a little longer, in order to give it the strength to stand up that tall. Maybe the secret is in the mix of the batter? I haven't found that out yet.

Pancakes, even though served up differently, are known and eaten all over the world. It is known that a type of our modern pancake was already consumed in prehistoric times.

Over the course of history, even a pancake day came in to existence, which is called Shrove Tuesday (also known as Pancake Day, Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras). It is the day before Ash Wednesday which is the first day of Lent: the season of fasting and prayer. People used up their last supplies of sugar, fat, and eggs, because they were not allowed to eat those ingredients during fasting.

I don't think that anyone back then would have suspected that such wonderful, creative works of art would come forth out of something so simple as a pancake!

Comfortable, Colorful and Cheap

Speaking of a work of art; my mouth is slowly, but surely becoming one. Many of my molars already had to be capped and it is incredible seeing how it is almost impossible to distinguish the artificial ones from the real deal.

The last time I had to go to the dentist, I noticed the assistants were all wearing different dental office uniforms then the previous times. They used to wear colorful, scrub tops with a floral design, but this time they were all dressed in plain dark blue.

I didn't ask, but I wonder if it has anything to do with cutting the costs. If so, then I suppose they are not aware that they can walk around in fashion seal cotton scrubs at a low price. Maybe I ought to point that out to them, the next time I need to have dental work done.

It is not just the assistants at the dentist who are wearing simple, plain, unflattering scrubs; most hospital personnel walks around in the same outfit. How sad; their work could be a little bit more colorful and comfortable if they wore high fashion scrubs.

It may be worth sinking their teeth in!

Pancake Art

I think we all agree that it is a treat for both young and old to have pancakes for a meal. It gets even more exciting when those simple pancakes are turned in to mouth watering works of art.

Here are some tasty and amazing forms of art: unique projects made from pancake batter, simply called pancake art. It is almost a shame to eat them.

I suspect you will have to do a lot of practising in order to be able to create these pancake figurines, but for those of you who are willing to take the common pancake to an entirely new level, here are some ideas to start out with:

You can make a teddy bear by first pouring a round spot for a nose, then two spots to make the eyes and a line for a smiling mouth. Bake this for a few moments and then cover it entirely in batter to create a face. Add two dots on top to function as ears and you are done.

If you go about it as above, but add whiskers to the nose, you can create a mouse as well.

Making a flower is rather easy: make a dot in the middle and let that bake for a few. Then pour petals all around it and add a line for a stem. Feel free to pour leaves as well.

After having seen this art, I suppose we may have to revise the expression: 'as flat as a pancake'! :-)

See also:
Pancake Art II
Pancake Art - Materials and Equipment

Keeping Up With The Times

I see a lot of videos of people making art and I love to watch them. I am pretty sure they keep those videos on their own computer, or maybe even on a DVD, so they can either take a look at it again or watch it years from now.

That could mean however, that over the course of time some videos and audio may not be playable anymore because they have a different format. Video Converter software can solve that problem; it converts almost any format to what is currently used and allows for editing as well.

The neat thing is that is has such a great selection of features, you can even make a video from just pictures. I may want to use, because I have so many photos from my art and crafts. Yes, Mac users can relax; there is a Video Converter for Mac as well.

Technology is constantly on the move and churning out new devices. One of the latest products is the iPad and if you like watching HD movies, or other videos with audio on your iPad then you may want to consider using the iPad Video Converter to do so.

Keeping up with the times has never been easier!

Pumpkin Carving Art - Materials and Equipment

Pumpkins come in all kinds of sizes and your choice of pumpkin depends mostly on how large you want your carving to be. It should at least be large enough to hold a tealight inside, to highlight your artwork and for the desired, creepy effect.

They can be purchased almost anywhere around this time of year and if you had the patience, you may even have grown some yourself.

The tools for carving are easily bought as well. They range from simple beginners carving sets to extensive professional ones. Many even use drills and wood carving tools to cut out their designs, but good sharp steak and other kitchen knives cut the mustard, ... ehh, pumpkin, as well.

Since not all of us are gifted with either the creativity nor the ability to be arty, it is nice knowing there are pumpkin carving stencils available, as well as instruction books, lessons and workshops.

You can also decorate with paint, yarn and whatever else sparks an idea and the pumpkin decorating kits are a quick fix.

Whatever option you choose, even if something goes wrong and your project ends up looking funny, strange, or weird, then you achieved the goal after all!

Not Worth The Risk

I think most of us already know how dangerous asbestos can be to our health; we have been, and still are, constantly warned about its cancer causing properties.

I was under the impression though that for the most part all the asbestos would have been removed from our society by now. I was very wrong; asbestos has been used in all kinds of industries for approximately 130 years. Therefore, it is no wonder that it still is around in abundance.

This knowledge I obtained from a site which specializes in providing everyone with answers pertaining to any questions they may have concerning asbestos. From great advice to where to find the cheapest asbestos survey quotes; they offer it all.

There is so much information on asbestos; I was shocked. The easy to understand language, which was used in a very creative way, made for an interesting read and addressed every possible subject involving this material.

It is really incredible how deeply the asbestos fibers are woven all through our lives. It is very scary as well and if you want to ensure that your health is not in jeopardy, it is well worth having experts doing a survey before any demolition takes place.

It is best not to take any chances with asbestos; our health is not worth the risk!

Pumpkin Carving Art II

A carved pumpkin is also known as a jack-o'-lantern which name was derived from the phenomenon of strange lights flickering over lakes and ponds.

Carving gourds into decorated lanterns was already practised thousands of years ago in Africa, but the tradition of carving a lantern on All Hallows' Eve began in the UK around 1837.

In the beginning however, it was carved from a swede or a turnip. When it became a tradition in the USA the pumpkin was used, because it was available in abundance and easier to carve.

At first, the carved pumpkin was associated with the harvest season, instead of Halloween. The latter occurred around 1866.

By the end of the 20th century, pumpkin carving took an artistic flight as, the patterns and designs became more intricate and complicated. Artists used their creativity to carve works like portraits of political candidates, celebrities, and cartoon characters.

I guess the expression; 'the weirder, the better' is applied literally. That sure is in accordance with the spirit of Halloween!

All Work and No Play....

It does not occur very often, but there are times when I need a mental break. I like to divert my mind by playing some of the online games which are fun, but not too straining and don't require too much focusing.

These days I am really in to playing Mahjong, but that is mainly because I don't have many other games on my computer. I stumbled upon a site where there are plenty of online games for either downloading, or playing online, like SuDoKu, Uno, Trivia, and many more.

I may look in to some games for our grandchildren to play as well and need to check the site every day, to see what free online games may be featured as the daily special and will be a free download.

Yeah, even a creative mind needs a break every now and then. You know the expression: all work and no play.....! :-)

Pumpkin Decorating Art

I know I would have a problem carving a pumpkin due to my RA and I can imagine there are more people who are in a similar position as I am.

Of course you can ask someone else to carve a couple of pumpkins for you, but you can easily decorate a pumpkin without having to take a knife to it.

There are lots of pumpkin decorating kits for sale; all you have to do is push the different items in the pumpkin. We have one of those kits and even though it still requires some strength, it is a lot easier then having to do the carving.

If that still presents a problem then how about pre-drilling the holes before pushing the accessories in the pumpkin?

In case you don't want to go through that trouble, there is another option; paint the pumpkin!

I personally like that better; you can let out all your creativity and it is even possible for the children to decorate their own pumpkin.

As to what paint to use; my guess is that water based latex, or acrylic paint would work well and maybe even child friendly finger paint or spray paint.

You would kill two birds with one stone; getting rid of remnants of paint and ending up with a very unique Halloween decoration!

Good Equipment Is Half The Work

After having completed a craft project, I like to take pictures of it. Most of the times I give away the finished product, but I often tend to forget little details which I may want to incorporate in a future work. That is when the photo comes in handy; I can revisit my previous art and refresh my memory.

It takes me a while to get a decent shot of my handiwork and I am uncertain whether that is due to my inability to take good pictures, or if our camera is not up to the task. Even though it is a digital camera, it was rather cheap and does not even come close to the quality and all the abilities the nikon d90 offers.

The photos are often rather blurry and small details are hard to see. I have to retake the shots several times before I have a clear image and even then it does not live up to my standards. I don't think I would have that problem using a nikon d90; the pictures would be as clear as day and show all I need and want.

I admit; I am not the best photographer around, but that still doesn't mean that I can't take a good photo. It has been proven that, in most cases, good equipment is half the work. I sure would like to try the nikon d90. If that doesn't produce a clear picture then I would know for sure; I am a lousy shot! :-)

Pumpkin Carving Art

Oh, come on; you could have known this was on the agenda and would be posted on my blog, especially seeing the time of year! I am just teasing. If you knew then you were way ahead of me; I usually have no clue what the next hobby or craft will be.

I probably would have let the obvious slide by, were it not for the fact that my hubby stumbled across an article with some incredible carved pumpkin art. Everything happens for a reason, huh?!

Yes, we carve a pumpkin for Halloween, but it is certainly not as elaborate as these examples. They don't even come close and I have an enormous admiration for the result of these artists' hands.

From characters straight out of horror movies, to other famous fantastic figures and images; they are around.

I wonder if they sell pumpkin carving stencils for creating those images. That would make things a lot easier: put the stencil on the pumpkin, trace the image onto it and carve it out.

It does take a up a lot of time and patience though, but we still have 19 days to go until Halloween!

See also:
Pumpkin Decorating Art
Pumpkin Carving Art II
Pumpkin Carving Art -Materials and Equipment

Nature's Art

I think we all agree that Mother Nature plays an important role when it comes to finding inspiration for an art, craft, or hobby project. When contemplating on that fact, it may turn out that nature is pretty much at the root of a lot of our daily things and routines; think about food, sports, medicine, etc.

Therefore, it doesn't surprise me to read about a natural hair loss treatment. Nature has constantly provided and it was only a matter of time before the healing powers of herbs and spices were discovered. I am glad too, because I rather resort to a natural product then the manufactured ones which contain lots of chemicals.

I enjoy cooking with ginger, but I would never have guessed that hair loss and thinning hair could be stopped by using ginger shampoo. It apparently even stimulates the growth of hair. That is good news for both men and women. Yeah, the latter suffer from thinning hair as well!

My Mom is a good example; her hair has been getting less and less over the years. If it is hereditary, then I better keep an eye on my own head of hair and take measures as soon as it shows signs of thinning. Washing with ginger shampoo and rubbing in ginger scalp massage cream is easily done, but it sure has long lasting effects.

It works in more then one way; I get to keep my hair and the hairdresser can use it creating her own arty project!

Cornstarch Clay Art - Materials and Equipment

The materials and equipment which you can use for working with any type of clay, can be used for this hobby as well; that pretty much comes down to anything and everything.

The recipe for the clay can be found in my previous post and you can either add food coloring to create different colors, or paint the dried project afterwards.

Even though nothing was mentioned about it, my guess is that acrylic paint is probably the best, since cornstarch clay might be sensitive to water and loose its shape.

If you rather leave it 'blank' then that is okay too; your project will still end up as a beautiful piece of art.

I did find workshops for parents and children and step by step instructions online, but nothing pertaining the existence of any books specifically discussing this craft and/or its technique.

I suppose it is not needed; once you made the cornstarch clay, your imagination and arty abilities are the limit!

Creative Gas Logs

I always wanted to have a fireplace, but living in the South does not really require one for heating; that would be overkill. I would love to have one of the R. H. Peterson Real Fyre Gas Logs though, purely for the ambiance and coziness it creates.

I find it quite amazing seeing how the R. H. Peterson gas logs look so realistic; one look often tells whether gas logs are fake or not, but the Peterson gas logs can't be distinguished from the real thing. They can be purchased for the lowest prices at Hansen Wholesale, the Gas Logs expert who has been a dealer of Robert H. Peterson gas logs and other gas logs online, since 1994.

If we had the space, I would take advantage of the current special offer of an extra $75 discount on top of the already low prices. The Ventless Gas Logs have my preference, since they don't require a chimney; the gas is burned cleanly which leaves practically no exhaust as opposed to the Vented Gas Logs.

Hansen Wholesale not only has the widest and cheapest selection of gas logs, but they also offer free shipping in the continental USA, when buying a complete gas log set under 36". You don't even have to pay any sales tax on them and any questions you may have are provided with clear answers by Hansen Wholesale in their Gas Log FAQs section.

Yes, it is truly amazing how realistic the Peterson Gas Logs come across and if you are looking for a unique, creative, and artistic gas log, then Hansen Wholesale is the place to find them!

Home-Made Clay

I already brought polymer and salt dough clay to your attention, but I found several more different ways of making your own clay.

The reason why I would like to share those with you is, because they are simple to make, hardly cost anything, and provide tons of fun for both children and adults.





For some home-made clays you don't even need an oven; they can air dry which saves you the costs of energy and hence contributes to the environment by 'going green'.

I just think it is exciting, making art from scratch!

Cornstarch Clay Art II

Coming back to the cornstarch clay; there was not very much information on the history of it, but I did find that a corn-starch based, creative clay recipe could already be found on a corn starch label in the 1940s, and was meant for children to create homemade sculptures, ornaments, and gifts.

I was not aware how many cute and intricate projects were, and can be made with this type of clay. The fact that it can also be painted, or colored with food coloring makes it even more diverse to work with.

In case you really don't want to take the time, or go through the trouble of making this clay, there is always the option of buying it, but why would you? It is so easy to make and hardly costs anything.

It also saves you a trip to the store and considering a child's patience, it is well worth putting forth that little bit of effort!

House Removal Is An Art

You know what I truly find a great art? Packing all your belongings in such a way that everything is well protected, while using up the least amount of space and boxes in the process.

The reason what got me thinking about that is, because someone close to us is about to move to a new home and has to pack up and move all their possessions. That is always a great hassle and it can lead to a lot of stress and frustration, when not planned out carefully.

A lot of people and businesses try to keep the Removal Costs low by doing all the work themselves. Sure, they may save a few dollars, but is all the effort, the risk of damage, the aggravation, and exhaustion worth it?

It does not matter whether you move just one block, or to another continent, having an experienced moving company taking care of all of it gives great peace of mind and leaves you fit enough to unpack and put everything in its place.
  
The company provides the boxes, carefully wraps up your price possessions, packs everything as economical as possible, lends the manpower to carry, haul, and move it all around and all you do is sit back and relax.

Yes, making a house removal go smooth and quick is definitely an art!

Cold Porcelain Clay Art

Cold Porcelain is a little different, although not that much. In principle, the process is about the same: it is mixed up and heated on a stove until it forms a solid ball of clay.

It can be air dried as well and once dry, it is harder then salt dough or cornstarch clay and has the appearance of porcelain. Hence the comparison with and the name porcelain. It can be colored with almost any type of paint, once it is dry.

To make cold porcelain clay you will need:
3/4 cup of white glue (Elmer's glue will do fine)
1 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup of water
1 teaspoon of cold cream (any thick moisturizer like Ponds, Curel, etc)
1 teaspoon of glycerin (you can find this at any drug store or pharmacy)

Mix together glue, water, cold cream and glycerin in a pan. Heat on medium and keep stirring until it is smooth. Keep stirring for a few minutes and then slowly add the cornstarch, mixing it in the meantime, until it forms a smooth ball of clay. Remove it from the heat source, let it cool and then knead it with your hands.

If you are not going to use the clay right away, then ensure to store it in an air tight bag, or wrap it in cellophane and then putting it in a zip-loc bag. It is important to get all the air out, because the clay will be ruined once it starts hardening.

To keep the clay from sticking to your fingers, you can either use cornstarch or cold cream on your hands. It's pretty much the same as when baking and having to knead the dough.

There is a little difference though;
After baking a cake; you want it to be gone rather quickly, because that means everyone admired it.
After baking or air drying your project; you want it to last forever, so that everyone can admire it.

What's The Score?

Having a low credit score is bad, but what may be worse is having no credit score at all. I suppose that is the reason why I was not approved for a credit card. Even though I have been living in the States for several years now, I have not been able to build up any credit.

There simply has been no reason for me getting a good credit score, or any at all for that matter, and there still isn't. We were just contemplating on applying for another card, in order to have one as a back up in case we would loose the one we use.

Taking one out in my name would have been like killing two birds with one stone; we would have our back up card and I would have been able to build up my credit. I don't know what my score would be, or if I even have any at all. I need go to FreeScore.com and check up on it.

I want to find out what the score is!

Cornstarch Clay Art

To be honest with you, I am getting a little confused by all these different clay recipes. Cornstarch clay for instance is also referred to as cold porcelain, but Polymer clay and Play Dough pop up as well, when doing a search for cornstarch art. What's up with that???

Let's see if we can get some clarity in all of it. As far as cornstarch clay goes, I found the following recipes:

2/3 cup salt, 1/3 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup cornstarch, or:
1 cup cornstarch, 2 cups salt, 1 1/3 cups cold water.
I suppose these are just guidelines and you can mix and match until you found the consistency which works for you.

Mix salt and baking soda with 1/3 cup of water and bring to a boil. In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and 1/4 cup of water and stir well. As soon as the salt mixture boils, remove it from the heat and add the cornstarch mixture. Stir vigorously for a couple of minutes, so the clay thickens. Spoon it on a sheet of waxed paper and let it cool before working with it.

Just like salt dough and other clay, it is easy to use it for all kinds of projects and even though it is not really edible, it is safe for children to play with.

The clay can either be air dried (give it at least several days to harden), or baked in the oven on 225 degrees, until it is hard. It can then be painted as well.

So far, the only difference I found between cornstarch and salt dough were the ingredients. Concerning cold porcelain clay; now that requires a little more research!

See also:
Cornstarch Clay Art II
Cornstarch Clay Art - Materials and Equipment

The Best Of Friends

We still have our oldest grandson staying with us and since it is nice and cool in the mornings, we go outside and play. Well, he plays with his bike, car, and whatever else literally crosses his path, while I sit on the bench, supervise, and enjoy vicariously.

I happened to notice the other day that our chairs could stand some cleaning. They are Adirondack chairs, but not as nice as the ones at adirondackchairsinc.com. I decided to wait until our grandson has left, because the combination of grandson and water would result in a rather messy situation.

I was surprised there was hardly any mess when we played with our home-made clay. I made him some salt dough clay and we created all kinds of things. We sat at the table and only a few pieces of clay stuck to it. That was not too bad, but I think a butcher block would have been even easier to clean.

He sure doesn't mind getting his hands dirty. As a matter of fact, he looks for every opportunity to do so, because that means he can go and wash them. I suspect he would have a ball if we had one of those large utility sinks and he could splash to his heart's content.

Yeah, our oldest grandson and water are the best of friends. :-)

Quilling Art - Materials and Equipment

Quilling paper comes in over 250 colors and in various dimensions, such as 1/8", ¼" and 3/8 broad paper parcels. It is available in solid colors, graduated, two-tone, acid free, and more.

What is the difference in those types of quilling paper?

Acid-free quilling paper completely free of any acid, which makes it great for scrap booking, rubber stamping, and creating frames for pictures.

Graduated quilling paper has a solid, concrete color on the edges, but will gradually fade to white, or visa versa.

Two-tone quilling paper has a solid color on one side and a comparatively lighter solid color on the other side.

The main attributes you would need are coiling pens which come in different sizes as you can see. Other materials are glue and depending on what project you have in mind; paper, photo frames, glass bottles, jewelry making basics, etc.

There is very little you can not do or make with quilling, so let your creative juices flow.

For free patterns and designs, step by step instructions, books with many examples, or workshops; you can easily find all that online.

Starter quilling kits are offered online for next to nothing and include all kinds of patterns and designs; from floral to Holidays.

It sure is a wonderful and very cheap hobby which lends itself extremely well for all kinds of creative and unique works of art!

Great Day at the Elementry School

Guest written by our friend Katie Callahan

I've always been a morning person my whole life, except on the weekends. So waking up to volunteer at my kids school is as easy as making a cup of tea! This morning it was unusually easy to get the kids out of bed and dressed within a short time frame. Breakfast was on the table at 7:00 a.m. and my coffee had already been made an hour earlier. After we all indulged in waffles and syrup we watched our morning TV show Saved by the Bell. After I scooted the kids out the door for school I locked the doors, set the home security alarm (more info) and buckled them into the van. The drive was short and sweet, we were there in less than five minutes. When I arrived in the first grade classroom I helped seat the children and pass out pencils for the day. Today was arts and crafts day! The kids still took part in spelling and numbers, but most of the day would consist of making paper angels for their Christmas trees at home. It was going to be an excellent and exciting day, I could tell the moment I stepped into the room.

Quilling Art Instructions II

There are more techniques for quilling and open coils, also called scrollwork, open up another world of possibilities and can add a delicate touch to a quilled item.

The difference with the previous quilling instructions is that with open coils you do not glue the end of the paper strip after coiling. This gives more opportunity for all kinds of different shapes and forms.

Paper quilling instructions:

Open circle
Easy one! Just coil as normal but after leaving it to relax do not glue the end.

Open heart
Take your length of quilling paper and fold it in half. Roll from one end in towards the fold line until a small section of paper is left preceding the fold. Do the same for the other end. Try to leave the same amount of free paper on each side of the heart so that it lines up nicely when finished.

Open V
Worked in the same manner as the heart above, but roll away from the fold line creating the coils on the outside so that the finished result looks like a letter V with outward facing curls on the open ends.
Source: Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

I have not tried this craft myself, at least not yet. Seeing all the end results and the wide array of possibilities however, got me to the point where I would love to apply myself to it and get all the creative ideas out of my mind.

I think I will put them on paper! :-)

Address Art

I have noticed that recently a lot more address signs are popping up around us. I do however anticipate those are only temporary and have more to do with the time of the season then with people really wanting to highlight their place of residence.

I have got to admit that we are among that particular group of people; our address plaque is not permanent and the information on it is not correct either. It does stand out though and it prods me to consider getting a lasting one which complements our house.

There are so many pretty and creative plaques to choose from; it would not be very difficult to replace our temporary address sign with one which can be used all year around. Don't get me wrong; our current address sign is done rather artistically as well, but it would be nice to have the right information displayed on it.

Right now it says: Grave Yard. Grin

Quilling Art Instructions

Quilling is actually rather simple; all you do is wind the paper around a quill creating a basic coil shape. The paper is glued at the tip and end of the coils and arranged in such a way that they form all kinds of patterns and designs.

I found some very useful instructions when it comes to varies shapes and forms and I thought I would share them; it will save you the time and the trouble. It also allows for you to get started right away.

The teardrop
Pick up your coil and with the thumb and index finger pinch it together forming a shape with a point at one end and leaving the other end rounded. This is a useful shape for flower petals.

The petal
Taking your teardrop shape, gently press your pointed end to one side to curve it over.

The marquise or eye shape
Take another coil and this time hold it between the thumb and index fingers of both hands. Pinch tightly with both hands to form points at each end. The marquise is one of the most useful shapes in quilling.

The leaf
Make another marquise but this time after pinching the ends move them in opposite directions creating a twist in the shape.

The half moon or crescent
You will need your quilling tool again for this shape. Take one of your coils and push the handle of the tool into the circle, squeezing the two ends to form points.

The triangle
A slightly tricky one this time. Holding the circle between your index fingers of each hand, push the bottom of the circle up with your thumbs to create a triangle. Pinch the three corners to sharpen them up.

The tulip
Start by making the teardrop shape but before letting go of the pinched end push it back into the main part of the circle to form an indentation. Sharpen up the two outside points if required but they can be left rounded.

Bunny ear or shield
Similar in appearance to the crescent, this shape is made without using the quilling tool as a former. Holding the coil in one hand use the index finger on the other hand to push an indentation into the circle. Then pinch the two resulting points to sharpen up the shape and make the ears.

The arrow
First make a teardrop by pinching one end. Then, holding the pinched end, use your finger to push the other end towards your other hand forming an indentation. Pinch the points to sharpen up the shape.

The star
Make a marquise as before, then turn the shape 90 degrees and repeat, pinching two more points to make a star. Press hard at each point to sharpen up the shape.

The square
This one needs both thumbs and both index fingers! Hold the circle between all four digits and gently press into a square shape. Squeeze each corner to transform your circle into a square.

The holly leaf
A pair of pointed craft tweezers are useful when making this shape which is, of course, great for quilled Christmas cards. Squeeze your circle together in the center using your tweezers. Using your fingers pinch one end and push it towards the center, repeat at other end to form a holly leaf shape.
~Source: Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

It may be a good idea to print out these instructions and keep them around. Maybe you come up with some forms and shapes yourself. Please, share? I think a lot of crafters would really appreciate it. :-)

Refreshed and Energized

I enjoy my coffee in the mornings; it gives me the energy boost I need to get busy and get going. The only thing I don't like when I first get up is making it, because I have to think about how much coffee I have to use making a cup. Switching to K-Cups would solve that problem.

That is one of the things I always liked when I was working; when I would arrive at the Office Coffee was ready and waiting. All I had to do was pour it and let that steamy, tasty, brown liquid refresh and energize me before work started and I would spring in to action.

There are also health benefits to drinking coffee; it increases the average metabolic rate and can help prevent Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. It also opens up the airways which benefits Asthma patients. You can read more about it at www.coffee.org.

While you are there, check out the all the different flavors of coffee, but most of all; take a look at the unique presents! Any coffee or tea lover would be tickled pink receiving one of those overflowing Gift Baskets. The baskets would make a very tasty and original gift for Christmas.

As for now, I will have to be alert in the mornings when brewing my coffee. I could make it easier on myself; I can resort to the K-cups or go with Coffee Pods. I will have another cup of Java, while contemplating on that! :-)

Quilling Art II

Quilling, which is using rolled and shaped strips of paper which are then glued together into a pattern or project, is a very old technique. It was already practiced during the Renaissance; monks and nuns used this art to decorate books and other religious items.

It became popular among the European upper class women in the 18th century and some examples from the Colonial times have been found in the States. Today, it is done all over the world and because it is such a low cost hobby, it has and is becoming more and more popular.

It is used to decorate wedding invitations, birth announcements, greeting cards, scrapbook pages, boxes, photo frames, but I have also seen quilling art in bottles, sculptures and as you can see in this picture even jewelry is created with quilling.

I am totally in awe with this cheap craft and all its artistic possibilities. I suppose when you put pen to paper and sketch a design, you can create almost anything you want.

My experience however is that free styling usually ends in some very unique and gorgeous results. I would say; go for it! 

Paying Less

Making ends meet is getting harder and harder these days. I can see it all around us and we even experience it ourselves; bills are coming in faster then we can pay them, so to speak. I can only imagine that people, who were scraping by before, might find themselves in a huge financial bind at present and could use some really good debt consolidation.

It is so easy to run up the debt on a credit card and once it is maxed out, just move on the next card. That does mean however, that at one point the debt has grown out of proportion and seems impossible to manage. That is when credit counseling is badly needed; it will help getting a grip on your finances and taking back your life.

You may actually be a whole lot better off after credit counseling, because all your unsecured debts will be lumped together in one sum. Thanks to debt consolidation, the monthly amount you pay would be much lower then when you would pay the minimum on each separate account. That right there is a lot of money saved. Why spend more then you have to?

Quilling Art

While scour through the toy section of the store the other day, I noticed they sold kits with rolled pieces of paper for making craft projects. That tweaked my interest and upon a search I found out that this hobby is called quilling, or paper filigree.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw all the gorgeous projects which were and can be created with just small strings of colored paper. The possibilities are endless and you don't need much for a project either. That is great; the cheaper a hobby or craft, the better.

At first glance you would suspect this would be a project for just wall art, but nothing is less true: you can create complicated and intricate sculptures which are very sturdy and can last for a long, long time.

I suppose if you spray them with Polyurethane you can make them last forever and probably preserve the colors as well. The latter may eventually fade when exposed to sunlight, which would take away from the original artwork.

My suspicion however is, that you will not be able to do this hobby without being found quickly: you will leave a paper trail! :-)

See also:
Quilling Art II
Quilling Art Instructions
Quilling Art Instructions II
Quilling Art - Materials and Equipment

Enjoying A Great Meal

When it comes to cooking I don't see myself as being very good at it. I manage to come up with a concoction which is edible and taste-wise half way decent, but that is about it.

I did not have any cooking lessons, or attended a cooking school like professional chefs and maybe that contributes to the reason why I can truly admire and enjoy a delicious meal.

I can appreciate all the work, time, and effort being put in the preparation of a good dish. Yeah, they may have professional cookware to work with, but everything still has to be done under a lot of stress and pressure.

To fill our order on short notice, the patrons have to count on their suppliers coming through quickly. That is probably why they order wasserstrom restaurant supplies. It still remains a hectic situation and I wouldn't want to be in their shoes.

I rather sit down and eat! :-)

World Championship of Sand Sculpting

If you like to see some wonderful sand sculptures then now is your chance! The 2010 World Championship of Sand Sculpting has come to a close, but the works of art will be on display in Federal Way, Washington, until October 10th, 2010.

The World Championship started at September 8th and artists competed for the top title in three categories: solo, double and teams. I am not going to tell you who the winners are; when I look at the projects then they are all winners!

You can find a slide show online of all the sand sculptures and when you take a look at each one, keep in mind that those projects had to be completed within just 6 hours.

Should you wonder what kind of materials and equipment they all used: here is a small selection of all the tools.

The sculptures are sprayed with a mixture of water and glue to keep Mother Nature from tearing them down on short notice, but eventually they will not be able to stand up to her.

If you have the time and the opportunity then I would recommend you go and see the exposition. You may not be able to get another chance any time soon!