Marketing Your Art

Most of our hobbies and craft projects are for personal use. On occasions they may be given to family and/or friends as a special present, but it probably happens too often that they end up in a closet, drawer, or attic.

In case you want to turn your hobby in to a money making business, you will need exposure for the works of art you create, in order to sell them. This is not as easy as it sounds and you would do wise by engaging the services of an Advertising Agency.

Your art, services, or products will need to be brought to the attention of a large audience and nowadays, the Internet is one of the most important media for doing so. In combination with radio and TV, this is called mixed media marketing.

There are numerous advertising services out there who will promise to hand you the world on a silver platter, but when push comes to shove, they are all talk and little to no action. A good Advertising Agency will give you your money's worth and knows exactly how to approach every single, potential client.

They are familiar with all the options mixed media marketing has to offer and are extremely experienced in putting it to good use. No stone will be left unturned; ensuring the profit you could be making will be made and ends up in your pocket.

I suppose you could consider a blogger like me as being part of the mixed media marketing an Advertising Agency would use! :-)

Nail Art - Materials and Equipment

If you like to try your creativity on your own, or someone else's nails, you may need:
different shades of nail polish, very thin brushes, clear nail polish for the top coat, a bobby pin and/or toothpick (these lend themselves excellent for applying dots and swirling colors), and stripers.

It may be easier to purchase a complete nail art kit; these can be found online, just like any other nail art supply you might need. Lots of instruction videos for both beginning and advanced nail artists will get you going and there are also magazines available which will keep you updated on trends and new developments concerning nail art.

Depending on your design, you may also need glitter, or 3D stickers. This is not all; there are also regular stickers, which can be applied directly on to the nails, and even nail stamps galore.

A little apprehensive about doing it yourself, or just don't have the time? No problem; you can always resort to the ready made, glue on nails, or go to a nail parlor and have it done. The last ones are experts and nailed it down to a fine art!

The North and South: Book Two

Guest post written by Christine Duncan

Although the splendor of The North and South was something fantastic to behold, given the locations of the Old South and the drama initiated by the conflicts between the main characters of Orrie Main and George Hazzard, North and South: Book Two offers, not only a continuation of the original story, but also more intrigue and drama. Delving into the lives of many of the characters in the original story more deeply, this mini-series not only incorporates many of the high points of the Civil War into its drama, but does so in such a way that the characters are intertwined in the intrigue.

While the original story of The North and South left off with the events leading up to the Civil War, Book Two picks up just as the war is about to go into full force. Although Orrie and George still share a bond of friendship, because of their opposing beliefs they must push their concern for each other down in order to do what they consider to be their patriotic duty. Each becomes embroiled in their own personal trials at the hands of their enemies, eager to see their destruction in order to find success in the failures of another. One of the most amazing aspects of this saga is to see how several stories become intertwined in the end. After seeing the first episode at a friends house I was sold and decided to compare Dish vs satellite TV and choose satellite in order to be able to watch it at home!

Nail Art III

Yes, another post on nail art, because I discovered there are acrylic, as well as gel nails and wraps. This raised the question as to what the difference was between them and here are my findings:

Gel Nails:
There are two types:
- light cured; the application used for the nails requires drying under an UV light.
- no-light gels; this gel does not need any UV light to cure, which means it is done quicker. The nails are cured by brushing or spraying a special activator on the nail. Some are cured by being dipped in plain water.

Acrylic Nails:
Acrylics nails are air dried and can consist of an entire or a partial nail, or just a tips. A mixture of liquid acrylic called monomer and an acrylic powder called polymer is applied to the nail. It normally hardens within a few minutes, but the nails can be soaked off with water.

Wraps:
To give the nail length and/or strength, pieces of silk, linen, or fibreglass are glued on top of the nail. Silk gives the most natural-look, but it does not stand up well to an active lifestyle.

Linen is strong, but not transparent and appears quite thick. Fibreglass on the other hand, has the natural look of silk and the strength of linen.

The latter may come in handy for Halloween and with designs like the ones in the picture, you will hit the nail on the head!

Last Minute Savings

I can imagine that the works of successful artists are exhibited all over the world and they are either required to be at the opening, or would like to attend the exposition themselves; being there in person could mean an increase in sales.

A gallery could decide to organize an exposition at the spur of the moment, which would mean that the artist would have to go out of his wits to quickly find a flight, getting to the particular destination. That used to be quite a hassle, but finding last minute flights has been made a whole lot easier these days.

Of course it doesn't end there; it actually is just the start, because one would need accommodations as well. That shouldn't present any problems either since you can book both a flight and a last minute accommodation at one and the same site.

Someone has found a very artistic and creative way of listing and keeping up with last minute flights and hotels. It sure saves everyone who is in desperate need of either one, or both, a whole lot of time and effort. More so, the cheap flights save a pretty penny too! 

Nail Art II

It is not just the art of painting which can be displayed on nails, but there is also the option of incorporating 3D objects on the nails. The items shown in this picture may not be placed very strategically, but the choice is up to you where on the nails you would like to place them.

I am not so sure whether those 3D items would be very handy; I can see them hooking behind all kinds of things and eventually come off. I think a smoother surface on the nails would probably be the best route to go.



You may have a nice design, or a real pretty idea for nail art, but just don't want to take the time doing one nail at the time. Maybe you don't have the steady hand either. In those cases, a nail art printer may be the ticket.

This clever device gives you a wide array of options for art on your nails and from what I understood does four nails at the time. It lends itself for both acrylic and real nails and all you got to do is choose the design and the colors, place your finger-, or acrylic nails in it and the nail art printer does the rest.

Yup, this nail art printer nails it every time!

Ready To Roll

Nail art is not specifically limited to the nails of the hands; toe nails are often used as a blank canvas as well. Of course they are not always and as often exposed as the nails of the hands, because not every surface allows for walking barefoot. Therefore, those little art projects could well be hiding out in other works of art like old gringo boots.

Yeah, it is absolutely an art designing boots and shoes which are not only stylish and fashionable, but comfortable as well. Believe me when I say that; I am talking from experience here, because with my Rheumatoid Arthritis it is difficult finding shoes that fit like gloves and still look great with any outfit. The sebago shoes provide me with everything I am searching for and in need of.

It is good to know that there are manufacturers who take style, comfort, and quality in account, so that everyone can find a good pair of shoes which appeals to them. Those shoes can be found in almost any category and since we are anticipating doing some hiking this fall, I may want to browse through the timberland earthkeeper selection and find me a pair.

That way; I will be ready to roll!

Nail Art

This may seem a topic more appealing to women then men, but I can imagine both male and female artists would be eager to express their creativity on nails, because the likelihood of more exposure and recognition of their artistic abilities is so much greater then when it would simply be hanging in a gallery.

I find all the nail designs true forms of art, because there is such little space to work with and getting the details in to the designs is such an extremely intricate and delicate project.

I can imagine not everyone has or wants to invest the time and that is why there are so many ready made nails available.

There are really hundreds and hundreds of different designs and should neither one of them appeal to you, then you can always resort to your own source of creativity. There is no lack either concerning the choice of colors of nail polish and a nail art kit is easily purchased as well.

I would not have the patience to do this, but seeing all the different patterns and designs I am glad someone is as tough as nails!

See also:
Nail Art II
Nail Art III
Nail Art - Materials and Equipment
New Nail Art

The Favorite Dish

Football season has just started and since our team came out as the winner last year, we have been watching a few games already. This was also due to our oldest daughter, who is a big fan of another team and whenever she gets a chance, she likes being at a place where she is able to watch the games.

Because of her work, she has to go out and travel a lot. An 'overnighter' in another city is not uncommon and that also means having to dine out. Unfortunately, not every restaurant is very customer friendly and tries to make their clientele feel at home by offering commercial satellite tv. The potential for her missing out on several games is therefore great.

It does not have to be that way; we had a nice dinner out at a well known restaurant. They had several TVs set up in different parts of their restaurant, ensuring each customer was able to watch if they wanted. I suspect the patron had subscribed to direct sat commercial direct tv, because the screen showed a specific sport channel, covering a football game.

Of course restaurants have several options which open up a lot more possibilities for keeping their customers in their seats a while longer and hence yield more revenue. There are four different Dish business packages to choose from and each one will definitely increase their clientele, while enhancing their experience of a night out as well.  

Even after football season is over customers will return, ensured of good food and excellent entertainment. Yup, they will be looking forward to their favorite dish!

Fun, Facts, and Fiction

Sometimes, I receive an e-mail with facts which are way too funny, but sad at the same time. I have no reason to believe that the following facts were based on fiction and even though it is funny, it is food for thought as well.

According to the statistics of U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services; the number of physicians in the U.S. is 700,000 and accidental deaths caused by physicians are 120,000 per year. This equates to 0.171 accidental deaths per physician.

According to the statistics of the FBI; the number of gun owners in the U.S. is 80,000,000. The number of accidental gun deaths per year, all age groups, is 1,500, which is .000188 of accidental deaths per gun owner. So, statistically, doctors are approximately 9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners.

The fact is; not everyone has a gun, but almost everyone has at least one doctor. This means you are over 900 times more likely to be killed by a doctor then a gun owner!!!

The statistics on lawyers were wisely withheld for fear the shock would cause people to panic and.....
seek medical attention!

I thought it was quite inventive of the author, sifting through all the statistics and coming up with a fact based, creative project like this. That is very artistic!

What An Art!

Even if I would never tee off in the future, I still would probably want to visit several of the Myrtle Beach golf courses and walk the green in search for lost golf balls. It would be a very pleasant walk as well, because all the golf courses there are beautiful and present me with some wonderful views.

The golf balls I would find would be used for arts and crafts as a reminder of my vacation at Myrtle Beach. Yeah, I would want to stay there for a couple of days at least, and take part in all the activities this place has to offer. Those are quite a few as I found out at the http://www.myrtlebeachgolf.net site, while browsing around.

A great feature of this site is that it allows me to make my reservations for both my accommodations and a golf course to spend some quality on, at the same time. It even informs me of the best Myrtle Beach golf packages and provides me with anything and everything I want and need to know about all the available golf courses. That is quite an art!

Salt Dough Clay Art - Materials and Equipment

For this hobby you will need salt, flour, water, and glycerin or vegetable oil. The last is optional and can be left out. Since I found so many different recipes, I suppose it is a matter of mixing and see what consistency you are comfortable working with.

Mixing 2 cups of flour, half a cup of salt, three quaters of a cup of water and one table spoon of glycerin/vegetable oil, sounds about right to me and I wouldn't use any less of each.

If you don't want to take the risk ending up with the wrong consistency, or don't want to spend the time mixing and matching; there is ready made salt dough clay which you can buy online.

There are workshops, salt dough clay books, and step by step instructions, which all can be found on the Internet. You can use anything to create your projects with: a garlic press for hair, knives for precision cutting, scissors, etc., etc.

As mentioned in my previous posts; you can use food coloring, liquid tempura paint for mixing in with the dough and adding some color. After the creation is dry, you can color it with acrylic paint or varnish it, but I will warn you again not to use water based varnish: it dissolves the dough clay!

I would recommend varnishing the scupture. My experience has been that if it is not varnished, humidity can eventually cause the sculpture to loose its shape. It is worth keeping this in mind, unless you like salt dough turning in to silly dough! :-)

A Change For The Best

My first encounter with Algebra was in college and I didn't like it right of the bat. I could grasp some of the Algebra 2, but for some reason I never could master Algebra 1 and as time progressed, I came to hate it with a passion.

That was a shame, because with some Online tutoring the world would have been my oyster. Finding all the right Math answers would have been encouraging and many more job opportunities would have opened up for me.

Unfortunately, at that time computers were not common and there was no high quality, affordable, around the clock, Free math tutoring online available, geared toward helping K-12 and college students.

At present, there is not only Math help online, but even K-12 and college students who are in desperate need of Chemistry help and/or Statistics help, can find it at tutornext.com. I wish I had been able to connect to a tutor whenever it was convenient and I needed and wanted help.

Yeah, times have surely changed for the best!

Salt Dough Clay Art II

Salt dough sculptures can be varnished or painted after they are dry. Make sure though that they are completely dry before doing so, otherwise the paint or varnish will not stick. Don't use water based varnish or paint; this will dissolve the dough!

You can let the dough air dry; this takes a long time however and the pieces are more fragile than when baked dough. The advantage of air- drying is that the dough pieces which have been joined together are less likely to come loose during drying.

Let them dry on baking paper and make sure they are not too thick; the thicker the sculpture, the longer it takes to dry. You can speed up the drying process by baking the items in an oven; this will strengthen the dough pieces.

Bake them on a sheet of aluminium foil, at a temperature of 300 degrees Fahrenheit (150 degrees Celcius). The time depends on the size, number, and thickness of the sculptures, so check it regularly.

One thing you will have to remember is that the dough will shrink some, while air drying. Therefore, you may want to exaggerate each sculpture a little.

I used to bake them in the oven; it was not only faster, but it also gave the pieces a golden brown color which eliminated the need for paint. If you don't want it to brown, lower the temperature of the oven!

Convention in Vegas

Guest post written by Pam Jolly

Maybe it was a ploy to get more people to come to the annual company convention, but it was hosted in Las Vegas. And I tell you one thing, it certainly worked. They had a record turn out and I think that's no brainer why it was like that. A lot people skipped out on meetings but I actually did go because we had a lot of free time otherwise anyway.

When I was sitting in one of them I was really having to strain to hear the speaker and I asked the guy beside me, who I didn't know, if he could hear and he told me that he could because he had gone to miracle ear hearing aids Columbus before he came to Vegas.

That got me thinking that maybe I should go and get checked out too. So I stopped by a miracle ear Las Vegas near the hotel and got some info. They helped me make an appointment for some hearing tests Salt Lake City at home.

Salt Dough Clay Art

I used to make this dough for my girls when they were young and it was always great and cheap fun. I know the ingredients for it: salt, flour, water, and I used to put a tablespoon of glycerin in it. What I forgot was however, how much of each was used.

I found the several different recipes for it and I suppose all will work well;
3 cups flour, 1 cup of salt, 1 cup water.

Or:
2 cups of flour, half a cup of salt, three quarters of a cup of water, 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil.

Put all ingredients into a mixing bowl and stir them together. You can add extra flour until the dough is no longer sticky. If it is easier to knead it on the counter then please do.

After mixing it together well, it is ready for use. If you like to use it later then wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap.

For colored dough, you can mix in food coloring, acrylic paint, or liquid tempura. Add it to the dough while you are preparing it and knead it thoroughly.

Once your (or the childrens') project is done, you can either let it air dry, or speed up the drying process by baking it. I will tell you how best to do both in my next post on this creative hobby!

See also:
Salt Dough Clay Art II
Salt Dough Clay Art - Materials and Equipment

Various Pasta Shapes for Art Projects

In case you are under the impression that pasta does not offer enough variation for projects, then you are wrong. Here are the majority of the different shaped pastas/noodles displayed and each one would give an entire different look when being used for the exact same project.


The shapes above are not even all of them; the picture does not include the rotini, alphabet and numbers pasta, smurf pasta, and whatever else is out there which I may have overlooked, or am not aware of exists.

I am totally flabbergasted by all those different shapes, forms, and sizes. Whoever came up with all those is a total genius in my book. Adding colors to the pasta/noodles opens up even more possibilities and options for all kinds of crafts.

Pasta is a great way to keep children busy during a rainy or cold day and it is cheap too. There is no doubt in my mind they will surprise you with their creativity!

Missing Out

We used to have a bulletin board in the office and even though it was not as nice looking as one of the quartet bulletin boards, it came in really handy. We moved the office, but unfortunately we couldn't find a big enough place to hang our bulletin board, so now we do without and I miss it tremendously.

We have so many appointments we need to keep in mind and take care off; they don't even fit on the calendar, because many are on the same day. Our board would hold all those business and appointment cards, but now I just tape them on to the calendar. I need to check out if quartet sells different sizes, so I can get a bulletin board which fits the available space.

Another thing which we used the board for was hanging our grandson's art work. He created several 'drawings', a card for Opa's Birthday, and constantly makes grocery lists which are too cute to throw out. With a quartet bulletin board we wouldn't miss out on seeing these cute, little projects either!

Macaroni Art - Materials and Equipment

I called my posts on this hobby 'macaroni' art, but I would probably have done better calling them 'pasta' art, because it is not solely macaroni that is used; other shapes of pasta are as well.

If you intend using colored pasta, you will need pasta, food coloring, rubbing alcohol, plastic cups or tubs, paper towel and a strainer (you can learn how to color the pasta in my previous 'Macaroni Art II" post).

Since this is a little messy and requires some time, I can imagine you don't want to go through all that trouble and rather buy it. That is possible: colored macaroni is offered on several sites and can be purchased over the Internet and in craft stores.

Keep craft glue, or a glue gun and glue sticks, handy; these are most likely the materials and equipment you will use most. If you plan on painting the pasta afterwards, keep paint brushes and paint around.

I didn't find any books, workshops, or pasta art lessons, but I don't think you will need any of it; with pasty, it is not difficult at all dishing out a lovely craft project!

Spicing It Up

I truly enjoy looking for all kinds of art projects involving pasta, but I also like making a good pasta dish. It usually takes me a while to get the sauce ready, because I use all kinds of spices and herbs getting the taste just right. Yeah, my spice rack is overflowing, literally.

Since I don't have a wall spice rack it makes it a little more difficult finding the seasonings I need. It has occurred that I thought I was out of one of the spices, while all the time the herb bottle was hiding all the way in the back of the cabinet.

You would suspect I would have noticed that, but I have one of those rotating kitchen spice racks which sit in a cabinet and when something falls off, it ends up behind it and is not easily seen, unless and until I take the entire rack out.

I would love to have one of the spice racks which are either mounted on the wall, or can sit on my countertop. I have seen several artistic designs which I love to have and would greatly enjoy using. That is already one thing which made it on my list of Christmas presents!

Macaroni Art II

This is another wonderful idea: giving a simple, boring picture frame an entire new look by gluing different shapes of pasta on it and painting it with bronze colored craft paint.

This is also a neat craft project for children, especially when you use colored macaroni or pasta. You can do this yourself by putting small amounts of pasta in a cup, pour rubbing alcohol in the cup until all the pasta is submerged. Add drops of food coloring to it and swirl until it is well mixed and all the pasta is saturated.

Let the pasta sit for at least 30 minutes and stir the macaroni regularly, making sure they are getting evenly colored. Drain the macaroni by using a colander or strainer, lay them in a single layer on paper towels and let it dry for about 24 hours. A word of caution: this pasta is NOT edible due to the use of the rubbing alcohol, so don't let the kids put them in their mouth!

I was mainly looking for craft projects using macaroni, but it so turned out that all kinds of pasta is used for art. A university even had their students built bridges from uncooked spaghetti. Well, if that can be done, why not glue together lamp shades, dinosaurs, cars, dollhouse furniture, etc, etc,? Yeah, my imagination is boiling over!

The Art of Connecting Cars and Savings

After having raised girls it is a nice and welcome change playing with dinosaurs and cars, instead of dolls and their attributes. Our oldest grandson has the habit of lining up all the cars and then choosing the one which best resembles a hot rod, like the subaru wrx.

I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up owning one in later life. It does leave me with some concerns though; cars like that do instill the tendency to put the pedal to the metal and it would be wise to check in to a good car insurance for teenagers, by the time he gets his driver's license.

Then again, you never know; he could just as well get in to a line of work where he would have to haul stuff around from time to time. That might mean that he could end up driving something like the chevrolet silverado to get the job done.

No matter what he, or anyone else for that matter, would be driving; it is always best making inquiries before taking out a car insurance. By comparing online car insurance quotes, you will come out a lot cheaper which means more money in your pocket.

That is another art I will have to teach our grandchildren; being frugal! :-)

Macaroni Art

Macaroni is a great product for lots of different craft projects; dyed with food coloring, it can be used for all kinds of wall art and jewelry. I was surprised not to find any boxes where macaroni was glued onto, giving it some special appearance, but it is certainly something to keep in mind. :-)

Macaroni and cheese is a very well known and tasty dish. It is an old one too, because macaroni and cheese casseroles are already recorded in one of the oldest, medieval cookbooks 'Liber de Coquina' (the book of cooking/cookery) which stems from the beginning of the 14th century.

A similar cheese and noodle casserole, called Makerouns, can also be found in a 14th century English cookbook. At those times, these dishes were consumed by the upper classes and that is how it remained for a long time. Thomas Jefferson is attributed with making mac and cheese popular in the United States, after he had it served during a dinner in 1802, at the White House.

What I did find was this gorgeous looking Christmas ornament. Even with the pasta's original color it ads something special, but if you like to stay in style you can always dye, paint, or spray paint it.

The pasta can easily be glued together with craft glue. This will take a while to dry, but if you are rather impatient you can resort to a glue gun and glue sticks as well. That will go much quicker and keeps you from getting cheesed off!

See also:
Macaroni Art II
Macaroni Art - Materials and Equipment
Various Pasta Shapes for Art Projects

The Art Of Being Your Own Boss

Even though the economy is at an all time low, eventually it will be on the rise again. Right now however, that means that if you have some extra cash lying around, are adventurous, or always wanted to own a franchise; now is the time to jump on it!

You probably already know what business you want and all you need is finding the right category to scour through. It does not present a problem either if you don't even know yet what type of business you are looking for; you can check out any franchise for sale without having to spend hours searching the Internet.

Whether you are looking for a specific franchise in a specific state and for a specific amount of money, or just want to go with whatever business appeals to you; it is only a few key strokes away. Someone artistically categorized and listed them, so all you have to do is pick and choose.

I can't think of anything better then being your own boss!

Golf Club Art - Materials and Equipment

There are many different golf clubs and I honestly don't know which one is used when. I suppose each one can be used for an art project, depending on what the project might be.

For photos, shadow boxes and other wall art, you may need a variety of clubs which is probably more interesting and provides more options then all of one and the same form/shape.

For airbrushing, clubs like the one on the right lend themselves better, because of the larger surface which can be used.

I am not so sure why I only found airbrush images. I think these golf clubs would be perfect for other forms of painting as well. You may have to prepare them to hold the paint; that may be the reason for airbrushing and then you will need an airbrush and paint.

Nope, there may not be much golf club art around, but I was already pretty astonished that golf club art showed up on my quest. Would you call that a hole in one?

Cooking Art

Being able to come up with a tasty meal on the spur of the moment is an art, but it is made a lot easier when you use the state of the art when it comes to preparing the food. I am talking about the fastest, safest, cleanest, coolest and cheapest way of heating food: induction cooking.

Induction cooking means that the heat goes where it needs to go; in the base of the pan and not in the air. The heat is generated and delivered through a high-frequency electromagnetic field, which ensures the food is evenly heated and cooked in no time.

When you take the pan of the heat source, the surface is almost instantly cool to the touch which prevents someone from getting badly burned. I have to say, whoever invented induction cooking did a great job. It saves money, time, energy, and the cook tops are gorgeous.

It is a very artistic and useful piece of art, cooked up by a creative mind!

Golf Club Art II

Even though I didn't find much art pertaining to golf clubs; what I found was very beautiful and inventive. Most of the works were images which were airbrushed on to the club.

I also found out that the wooden golf clubs are used as walking sticks. No, that probably wouldn't fall under any art category. Although, you never know, huh?

Aside from taking pictures of golf clubs and hanging those on the wall, I also found another wonderful way of showcasing them by arranging them in a shadow box.

That could work both as wall art and as memorabilia at the same time. This might be a nice idea for a (Christmas) present for someone you know and loves to play golf.

Like I mentioned before, I did not find much golf club art. Should you know of any more art projects with these items, or create your own projects with them; please share. That hobby may suit someone else to a tee too!

A Blanket With Sleeves

Written by my friend Betty Walls

The advertisement for the Snuggie hits all of the classic hallmarks of a television infomercial. It begins by presenting a problem that many people did not know they had- difficulty using a blanket. I love this commercial because of the anguished looks on the faces of the actors as they struggle to answer a telephone or grab a soda without disrupting their blanket.

The solution, as they show us, is the Snuggie. This is essentially a blanket with sleeves. It looks a lot like a backwards bathrobe. During the first few shots of the Snuggie, we see now that all of the actors are much happier having donned the product. They smile wide as they reach for their remote controls without having to leave the warmth of their Snuggie.

The commercial does not end there, though. Instead we are taken outdoors where the camera shows us an entire family dressed in Snuggies sitting around a campfire. We also get to see a happy couple at a sporting event cheering in the winter while wearing their blankets.

The commercial stands out in my mind because of the amount of effort that was put into making everyone wearing a blanket with sleeves in public seem completely normal. The most priceless shot is that of the entire family going about their business wearing the Snuggie. They look almost like robed monks in a procession.

The infomercial ends, as many of them do late at night on cable, by offering to throw in an additional random product that is seemingly unrelated. This time it was a folding reading light. This is, by far, my favorite commercial.

Golf Club Art

Even though it was quite a quest trying to find art which was centered around and incorporated these sports tools, I finally managed to find what was out there.

Yes, there is golf club art as you can see and it is both beautiful and very artistic as well. Take a look at this photo which is airbrushed on a golf club. It is almost too pretty to use this during golfing, unless your (grand)child is very hardheaded. Grin.

Another form of art I found was wall art. Golf clubs arranged in a variety of compositions are excellent subjects for photos which can be framed and hung anywhere, making for an interesting conversation piece.

I have seen pictures in simple black and white which gave it just that little bit extra which it didn't have in full color. I truly enjoy this photo; the yellowish filter gives it an aged appearance.

Any colored filter allows you to incorporate photos suiting the design and style of your home. It will take your interior above par!

See also:
Golf Club Art II
Golf Club Art - Materials and Equipment

Knitting Blankets

Thanks for the article from Glenda Hanson

In the last few years there have been lots of babies born in my family. During my oldest sister's first pregnancy, I knew that I wanted to give her something special to keep in her nursery. I decided that I was going to knit her a baby blanket. I had been knitting for a few months at that time and this was by far my biggest project. I decided on the perfect colors for the blanket and decided that I was going to keep it simple, mainly because I was not sure I was skilled enough to create anything more intricate. The blanket ended up turning out much greater than I had anticipated and quickly became something that my sister uses over and over again. When my second sister was pregnant with her first born, I decided that I was going to make this a tradition.

This time around I knew that I wanted the design to be somewhat more intricate and decided to get online using my 4g clear bundle savings to search the web for inspiration. I quickly found the perfect design for her son and went to work. Over the years I have made blanket after blanket for babies born to friends and family. I love giving a gift that families can keep for years to come.

Money Saver

I always like getting Free Stuff, but I am just not in for spending much time hunting down all the samples and coupons which can be found on the Internet and in the weekly ads. I rather have one site I can go to and take advantage of what I need and/or is offered.

One of the leading supermarkets has a site where they offer all kinds of Free Samples and I used to go there every day to see what was new. Eventually, the amount of free samples got less and less and those which were offered were almost always the same ones and I quit checking the site.

I don't have to roam the Internet at all though trying to find Freebies, because I came across a site which offers free samples and coupons on anything and everything under the sun. I don't even have to go there every day; I can simply sign up for their free weekly newsletter and stay updated.

I was amazed seeing how much I could save and try out before I buy. Normally, it is the students who don't have much to spend and they can find lots of Student Freebies here as well, but nowadays everyone benefits by spending less. That's why this site is right up our alley; it is a great money saver!

Soap Bubble Art - Materials and Equipment

In order to blow soap bubbles you will need a bubble solution, a container to keep it in and a bubble wand. In case you forgot how to make the solution, here is the 'recipe' again:
equal parts of water, dish detergent and corn syrup (not really necessary), or you can also use 1 part of dish detergent on 3 parts of water.

The size of the container depends on the size of the wand and the volume of the mixture. Wands can be either bought or hand-made and can vary from small circles to large. Here are some home made wands; as you can see, even the plastic wrapping material which keeps soda cans together can function as a bubble wand.


The size of the wand determines the starter size of the bubble. Of course you can increase the size of the bubble by slowly blowing more air in it, but that will ensure the bubble is very thin and fragile and could burst sooner.

I don't expect anyone being in need of instruction on how to blow soap bubbles. I would recommend not to blow bubbles when it is rather windy outside; they will blow over and fast too!

Amazing Print Collections

I had absolutely no clue that prints and the older ones in particular, were so very collectible until the other day when I was watching the TV series 'American Pickers'. They found some old prints and valued them being worth a couple of hundred dollars. I wonder if they know that a large collection of shepard fairey prints can be found online.

Nowadays, you really don't have to roam the country and wade through a pile of junk to find the specific print you are looking for. It just takes a few key strokes to get to the site of shepard fairey and find it. They have been collecting prints for years and either have what you are looking for, or know where to locate it.

There are many different categories of prints and each one is worth taking a look at. I saw some wonderful, unique pieces of art which are no longer being printed and have been out of print for several years. I would say that being able to lay their hands on such a vast collection of original prints is absolutely amazing shepard fairey art!

Soap Bubble Art II

Did you know there are entertainers who have entire shows evolving around soap bubbles? It is true! One of the most famous artists is Sam Sam Bubbleman. He creates bubbles beyond your imagination and even manages to put a group of people in one gigantic soap bubble.

You can brew your own concoction for blowing bubbles: a solution consisting of equal parts water, corn syrup and dish detergent guarantees large bubbles. I also came across a solution in which sugar was used. I am not sure what the reason is, or what it does, but you can also leave it out and still get pretty decent sized bubbles.

Apparently, playing with soap bubbles dates back as far as the 17th century, when children blowing bubbles by using clay pipes were portrayed in paintings. The sale of bubble solution started in the 1940s and was a huge succes ever since.

Yeah, you could say it took a huge flight! :-)

Key-Logger Safety

Our three year old grandson loves to mimic us by 'working' on the old computer we gave him. I am not sure what keys he presses, but he brings up windows which I have neither seen nor heard of. It may be a good idea to monitor all his Computer Activity, just out of curiosity.

He always wants to go on my computer, but I got way too many important, work related files and documents stored on it. It would be disastrous if he messed all that up. Therefore, he can only sit in my lap and watch while I work. As soon as I turn my back, he tries anyway and setting up Security Cameras would certainly come in handy.

I am glad he still is too young to be surfing the net. Sadly, but true, nowadays it is difficult to keep children out of trouble where it concerns the Internet. In order to prevent this and ensure they put the computer to good use, you could insert a Key logger and find out what they are up to.

No, I wouldn't like spying on them, but these days is better to be safe then sorry!

Soap Bubble Art

I didn't expect to find soap bubble art because it is rather evanescent, but that doesn't seem to hinder or limit people from being creative with them. Here is a cute example of what art can be created with soap bubbles:

Materials: * 1–2 tbsp. Tempera Paint or several drops of natural food coloring * 1 tbsp. dishwasher liquid  * half a cup water  * Construction Paper; you can use plain white, but any light color will do just as well.  * Drinking straws * Metal pie tin, small bowls or even empty yogurt containers will do.

Mix together water, dishwasher liquid, paint or food coloring and pour the mixture into the containers. Gently blow making heaps of bubbles and place a piece of construction paper on top of the bubbles holding it in place for a few seconds. The bubbles will pop and leave marks on the paper.

Remove the paper and set it aside to dry. By mixing different colors of paint in separate containers/tubs, you can create gorgeous effects and designs by placing the paper on top of the bubbles of each tub.

Another method is to blow the bubbles straight onto plain white paper. Allow the bubbles to settle and burst on their own and let the paper dry.

A tip from yours Truly: when the paper is dry, it may be curled and bent. You can get it flat again by ironing it. I like this art; it is a colorful way of bursting bubbles!

See also:
Soap Bubble Art II
Soap Bubble Art - Materials and Equipment

Comfort And Confidence

We are looking forward to the cooler weather which comes with fall, because it means we can finally get engaged in some outdoor activities without sweating buckets and being miserable.

We love camping and since we plan on going hiking as well, we also are exercising to build up our stamina. I normally walk best on tennis shoes, but I would need some good hiking boots and these water resistant hiking boots would suit me to a tee.

There is a wide selection of all kinds of Rocky Boots and not just for hiking and hunting, but for any type of work which requires good boots. I can imagine that construction workers would greatly benefit by wearing steel toe boots. Boots like that would provide them with the much needed protection.

Our son in law, who is in the military, wear boots which are specifically designed for that line of duty; they are sturdy, protective, and reliable. I don't know where or who the Army orders their boots from, but I wouldn't be surprised if they purchased them from the Boots-USA.com site.

Boots-USA has excellent boots for anyone and offers free shipping along with a one year return policy. Should you not be satisfied with their product, which is highly unlikely, then they even pay the return shipping fee.

That shows how confident they are concerning the quality of their boots and that enables all of us to do our work and enjoy our leisure time comfortably and with confidence as well!

Bubbling Beauty

I am always amazed at the beauty of soap bubbles. They may seem so simple, but when you get an opportunity then take the time to watch one closely from beginning to end.

Our grandson loves blowing bubbles and we usually do that early in the morning when it is still cool enough outside for him to play. We watch as they dance in the air and are carried away by the breeze. Sometimes there is no breeze at all and they pop as soon as they hit the ground.

It does happen that they slowly descent and settle down in the grass. That's when the magic starts: blue, green and purple swirl around and gradually turn in to yellow, red, bright pink and orange. Small speckles appear as the bubble gets thinner and eventually bursts in to gazillion, teeny tiny soap drops.

Who would have suspected that a simple soap bubble would be such a wondrous work of art?!

Artistic Ways To Unlock Your Pension

There are so many places I would like to visit and so many things I would want to do, but we can't because we are tied down by work. Sure, we can take a couple of days off and maybe a couple of weeks even, but that would be the extent of it.

Another problem would be money. Our plan is to buy a small RV or something to that effect, and travel the country. That does require some type of income and at the moment that is our work. We are looking forward to our retirement to make our dreams come true.

I found out that there are ways to unlock your pension before 55, especially when you are living in the UK and would like to take advantage of the money which you are entitled to, without having to wait until you can finally retire. At unlockmypension.net you can read all about it and get good advice, hints, and tips on what can be done.

I consider it to be very creative and artistic being able to unlock a pension before the retirement age. It may be wise to make inquiries. Who knows; maybe the same could be applied here and we can go exploring before we are too old to do so!

Wood Art - Scroll Saw Materials and Equipment

You can easily buy scroll saws in a DIY store and you probably have a rather extensive choice as well. From what I read there are several different types of scroll blades and I suppose each one is designed for either a specific task or type of wood. I honestly am not sure.

What I am sure about is that there are many courses, contests, step by step instructions which can be found online as well as in books. Many patterns, techniques and lots of tips are available on the Internet, so you don't have to worry on the how, what and where.

Even if you are new to this hobby, you can easily find guidelines on the ins and outs, do's and don'ts. You may want to start out with a simple project like....,yup, you guessed it; a jigsaw puzzle. It is a good way to get the hang of it and to get used to the equipment.

In other words: it is a good way learning to cut corners! :-)

Looking Good

I have been drawing many portraits and although most of my drawings have children as the subject, I don't limit myself to just the little ones. I have done several drawings of older persons as well. Some were even elderly and I tried to make them look better by excluding many of the Age Spots which had developed on their faces over time.

Even though it may not seem like anything can be done about the latter; most of these age spots can be prevented. Not just the signs of getting older, but other skin related issues can be solved, prevented, and even reversed, by using good Skin Care Products. It usually comes down to choosing the right product.

The cosmetic industry has made huge progress over the years. Anyone can find the product they need which is specifically designed for their skin type and their skin problem. Whether you are a teenager looking for excellent Acne Products, or an elder person looking to get rid of age spots and/or wrinkles, you don't have to look far.

It's right in front of your face!

Wood Art - Scroll Saw II

Jigsaws have been around for quite a while, but the first powered jigsaw is not that old; it was invented in 1946 by Albert Kaufmann, who was an engineer for the Scintilla AG company in St. Niklaus, Switzerland.

Albert had the ingenious idea of replacing the needle on his wife's sewing machine with a saw blade and the powered scroll saw was born.

The Scintilla AG company company was later bought by Bosch who innovated and perfected the scroll saw. Nowadays, this piece of equipment is extremely popular among woodworkers, because of the ease of operation and the many options for cutting angles, curves, and other difficult designs.

You are certainly not restricted to only the scroll saw and its options; once you got your project cut out, you can embellish it with wood carvings tools and give it a more lifelike appearance.

There are many more applications after having used the scroll saw; you can paint it, or decorate it any way you like; just use your imagination. You got your work cut out for you!

Art For A Rainy Day

I realized the other day that we don't have any gutters on our house at all. I sure would like to have some, so I could gather the rainwater and water our plants when needed. Having gutters installed would be a rather costly undertaking, but I found the perfect solution; a rain chain!

Actually, I could have several rain chains all around the house. Not only are they a great way to accumulate a nice amount of rain, but they are very decorative as well. I love all the different and unique copper rain chains and I can picture how fascinating it must be, seeing the water trickling down.

I didn't know this, but a rain chain is the Japanese equivalent to our rain gutters. The Japanese are renowned for their peaceful and delightful landscaping. I guess they wanted to enjoy their gardens any time and garden rain chains are very creative inventions to lighten up a boring, rainy day!

Wood Art - Scroll Saw

I love this work of art created with a scroll saw. The detailed cuts are just perfect and the result is a one of a kind, beautiful, and delicate piece of craftsmanship.

It is probably a safe assumption on my part when I say we all have used a jigsaw at one time or another. I know I had to do several projects in college and right of the bat the jigsaw and I were not the best of friends and never will be.

I truly enjoyed working with wood and creating all kinds of projects with and from it, but using the jigsaw was the annoying part; the blades constantly broke and my arm was getting awfully tired after a while.

A scroll saw is a great invention and I suspect I would do better with it then with the hand-powered jigsaw. Since it is electric, it would make curves and turns much easier and leaves both hands free for a more precise and intricate cutting.

Speaking of delicate and intricate: this piece sure didn't allow for any mistakes and I admire the steady hand of the artist. I also enjoy the outer edge of the art. It was quite ingenious cutting it in to the shape of the blade of a circular saw.

There is so much that can be done with wood and having a saw handy would probably be a wise idea, no matter how you slice it!

See also:
Wood Art - Scroll Saw II
Wood Art - Scroll Saw Materials and Equipment

One Art Leads To Another

Usually, my search for one particular art, craft or hobby leads to another. While I was doing some investigation on artistic residential mailboxes, it also happened to result in some quite interesting posts on altered, creative, and unique mailbox posts.

All these interesting discoveries make me wonder if there is a lot of creativity going on pertaining to address plaques as well. I have to admit however, that several of the address plaques don't need any sprucing up at all; they are already gorgeous from the start. I will do some looking around though and see what I can find on address plaque art.

Coming back on having your own personalized mailbox; you can spare yourself the trouble simply by purchasing one of the high quality whitehall mailboxes and ordering a custom painted one. Take a look at the site; you can find lots more artistic items which will give your home and yard great curb appeal!

Time Managing Art

Yeah, it is pretty much an art turning 24 hours of the day in to 32 or so. That is kind of what it seems like I am doing these days.

Between work, doctors visits, and my other daily responsibilities, we have our three and a half year old grandson staying with us and I have to use all my artistic abilities to make the most of every minute of the day. No, let me correct that: make the most of every second.

The little guy sure knows how to keep us busy and it occurs more often then not that I have to abort my search for arts, crafts and hobbies, because he demands my attention. We have almost reached and agreement to where he tries to entertain himself for a while in the mornings, so I can work and we can play later.

We still need to work on the details of our agreement, but we have already made some progress. In the mean time I try to keep my posts on arts and crafts going by making every second count!

Adding Color

Our oldest grandson and I like to play; we sit down and build houses, play with cars and send dinosaurs, stuffed animals, and other toy figures to work and school.

This past week he showed great interest in coloring. He wanted me to draw all kinds of things and then made a huge effort trying to stay between the lines with the markers. It indicated to me that he may be ready for a coloring book and we got him one the next time we were at the store.

He enjoys it, but I get the impression he likes looking at the animals better then taking them out of their black and white existence. He still likes for me to draw and color in my 'scribbles'. I don't mind; it may encourage him and instill a desire in him to try his own hand at drawing sometime.

I have no doubt that eventually the coloring book will be put to good use. In the mean time, our grandson is adding lots of color to our lives with his presence. :-)

Discovery Channel Is My Favorite Educational Television Channel

Thanks for the article from Isaiah Gaines

Everyone is glued to the television in my house constantly, except for me. I rarely watch television unless it is one of the many educational channels that are available. My favorite channel to watch on the satellite, aside from the Directtv movie packages is The Discovery Channel.

The Discovery Channel has a wide range of programs on their station. These shows are all very entertaining and educational. I like several of their shows. These shows include American Chopper, Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe, and Man vs. Wild.

American Chopper airs pretty much all afternoon during the week. It is a show that features the Orange County Choppers company. It is very entertaining to watch these guys build their custom choppers and bicker with each other.

My all time favorite Discovery Channel show is Dirty Jobs. It is hosted by Mike Rowe. This show airs at four o'clock in the afternoon and is always entertaining. Mike does various jobs that are truly disgusting. It's very interesting to see different jobs that are done that many people don't even realize how disgusting they truly are.

I also really enjoy the show Man vs. Wild. The host of this program shows viewers different ways to survive in the wild without any of the comforts of home that we are used to. It airs on Wednesday evenings and is definitely a must see.

Gold Art

The other day I was watching a TV show where people sell or pawn their items, when an artist came in wanting to sell his artwork for more then the price of gold.

Yes, the objects were made out of gold, but he had painted them black, which diminished the gold price and hence the price of his art substantially.

I guess the artist of these pieces knew exactly how and when to buy gold; he must constantly have been checking the gold prices, in order to buy when the price was right.

I didn't know this, but the price of gold is also referred to as gold spot and is another term for searching for gold prices and charts online.

There is no doubt in my mind he knew exactly where to find gold spot, but there was no way to spot gold under the black paint of his artistic expressions.

Internet Facts Part II

Here is some more wisdom from the Internet which made it in to my inbox and turned me in to an obsessive, compulsive, nervous wreck. Well ..., it could have, if I really believed everything I read, took it to heart, and lived accordingly.

- I can't use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.

- Thanks to all of you I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward an email to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.

- Because of your concerns, I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.

- I no longer buy gas without taking someone along to watch the car so a serial killer doesn't crawl in my back seat when I'm filling up.

- I no longer use cling wrap in the microwave because it causes seven different types of cancer.

- Thanks to your concerns, I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big black snake could be lurking under the seat and cause my instant death when it bites me.

- I no longer drive my car because buying gas from some oil companies supports Al Qaeda, and buying gas from all the others supports South American dictators.

- I can't do any gardening because I'm afraid I'll get bitten by the Violin Spider and my hand will fall off.

- I can't eat at KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes, feet or feathers.

Oh, by the way . . .
- A German scientist from Argentina, after a lengthy study, has discovered that people with insufficient brain activity read their email with their hand on the mouse. Don't bother taking it off now, it's too late.

Okay, that last is probably not true either, but I wonder how many people, who would get that in their inbox, would freak out and look for ways to activate their brain.

I suspect they would look for the solution on the Internet. Grin.

Aboriginal Art

I sure would love to see all kinds and types of art from different artists all over the world. One of the museums which would be on top of my list would be in Australia. The other day, I saw art created by the Aboriginals and the urge to find cheap flights to 'down under' and see this art up close and personal was great.

If I would go there, I would put all the time I had to good use and not just visit museums, but also admire all the architecture and soak up the history of Australia. I am sure there are some beautiful historic sites and it may well be that I would need to fly with qantas from one place to the other, in order to see it all.

Honestly, I suspect I would not have nearly enough time to see everything this country has to offer. That would be the perfect excuse however for going back to Australia and see the sights I would not have gotten around to. With the cheap international airfares it does not cost an arm and a leg vacationing overseas, just time!

Internet Facts

I am quite sure you have received at least a few of the e-mails telling you what to do or not to do, or warning you about something or someone, or sharing information which you actually could do without.

Some were very educational, but when taken seriously they sure can make life rather difficult. Thanks! Grin.

- I no longer open a bathroom door without using a paper towel, or have the waitress put lemon slices in my ice water without worrying about the bacteria on the lemon peel.

- I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has been driving because the number one pastime while driving alone is picking one’s nose.

- Eating a little snack sends me on a guilt trip because I can only imagine how many gallons of trans fats I have consumed over the years.

- I can’t touch any woman’s purse for fear she has placed it on the floor of a public bathroom.

- I must also send my special thanks to whoever sent me the one about rat feces in the glue on envelopes, because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing.

- Also, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.

- I no longer have any savings because I gave it all to a sick girl who is about to die for the 1,387,258th time.

- I no longer have any money, but that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special email program.

- I can’t have a drink in a bar because I’ll wake up in a bathtub full of ice with my kidneys gone.

- I now have to keep my toothbrush in the living room, because I was told by e-mail that water splashes more than 6 feet out of the toilet when you flush. Beware!

- I have to send this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 70 minutes, otherwise a large dove with diarrhea will land on my head at 5:00 p.m. tomorrow afternoon and the fleas from 120 camels will infest my back, causing me to grow a hairy hump. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor’s ex-mother-in-law’s second husband’s cousin’s best friend’s beautician.

I had to share these, because a laugh a day keeps the doctor away and that is a fact which was already known long before the Internet made its entrance!