Hobby Shop Blog

Gourds played an essential role in the daily life of early cultures. Commonly used as containers and vessels, they were also used for musical instruments. Some cultures used gourds for birdhouses and feeders and this is what most people today think of when they hear the word gourd. Or maybe you can remember a dipper made out of a gourd at Grandma’s house years ago.

Now artists and crafts people have discovered a new medium to develop their creativity. I’m not sure when the gourd craze officially started but it worked it’s way into my life about eight years ago by way of an article in a gardening magazine. It looked interesting and so that spring I decided to grow a couple gourd plants.

My first creations were, of course, birdhouses. Later, after some research and book purchases, the world of gourds exploded and I have found that the creative possibilities are limitless. Even if you can’t come up with your own ideas there are a multitude of books and tutorials written by gourd artists and crafters explaining different techniques that can be done with gourds.

Gourd craft is working its way into the hands of accomplished artists who have found the gourd to be an exciting new way to showcase their art. They are not just for crafters anymore.

So now that you have gotten a little gourd enthusiasm of your own what comes next? Well, the gourd of course. Gourd growers and suppliers, once few and far between, are beginning to pop up everywhere. Many can be found on the internet.

Gourds come in all shapes and sizes, from minis to giants. The name of the gourd can give you a clue about the shape, such as egg, cannonball, canteen, basketball, bottle and so forth. You get the idea.

In order to work with the gourd it must be dry. If you happen to find gourds being sold in the fall at a farmers market they will most likely be freshly harvested. These will have to dry for a few months to a year or more depending on size. I personally don’t like to purchase green gourds, as they are called, just in case they haven’t fully matured. Some growers new to the world of gourd craft don’t understand the needs of the gourd artist. They are only concerned with growing gourds for fall decoration. A poorly grown gourd, instead of drying, may rot or have a shell too thin to work with.

I’m in favor of buying gourds that have already dried. This way surprises and disappointments can be reduced. You still may have a few along the way though. When gourds dry they produce a moldy skin that eventually dries on the gourd. This skin has to be removed before art work can begin. After the skin is removed you may discover some holes or warts on your gourd. Or during cleaning you might discover your hard gourd has turned soft once you got it wet. This is the sign of a thin shell. There are things that can be done with a thin shell but for the most part we look for gourds with thick, sturdy shells.

To avoid these problems, look for cleaned, ready to craft gourds. These gourds have been cleaned for you. Cleaning is a messy job and you may not have the desire or area in which to do it yourself.

So come and join in the fun and find out for yourself the addicting powers of the gourd.

Did you ever enjoy texture of yarns in your hand or wondering how that interesting color pattern was created in your favorite sweater? Then you will surely have fun learning the art of knitting. Knitting is one of several ways to turn thread or yarn into cloth-weaving and crochet. It’s all about creativity.

The Introductory Steps of Knitting

Unlike woven fabric, knitted fabric consists entirely of horizontal parallel courses of yarn. The courses are joined to each other by interlocking loops in which a short loop of one course of yarn is wrapped over the bight of another course. Knitting can be done either by hand, described below, or by machine. What makes knitting even more exciting is the fact that this art can be easily learned.

In practice, hand knitting is usually begun by forming a base series of twisted loops of yarn on a needle. This is called Cast On. A second knitting needle is then used to reach through each loop in succession in order to snag a bight of yarn and pull a length back through the loop. This forms a new stitch. Work can proceed in the round (circular knitting) or by going back and forth in rows. Knitting can also be done by machines, which use a different mechanical system to produce nearly identical results.

Knitting Styles: There are two basic styles of knitting; English and Continental. The difference between the two is in how you hold the yarn. In the English method the yarn is held in the right hand. In continental knitting, the yarn is held in the left hand. Whatever your natural hand-preference, you should be able to master either method because the nature of knitting is basically ambidextrous.

The two basic stitches are knit or plain and purl or wrong. These two nominal stitches are actually identical, however, being the obverse and reverse of the same stitch. It is the variations and combinations of these two stitches that create all the different stitch patterns which are possible in knitting. Typically, a knit stitch is formed by inserting the needle in the front of the loop from a left-to-right perspective and pulling a loop of yarn through to form a new loop, while a purl stitch is formed by inserting the needle in the front of the loop from a right-to-left perspective.

A piece of knitting begins with the process of casting on, which involves the initial creation of the stitches on the needle. Casting on is the first step in knitting These stitches become the first row of stitches and one selvage of your work, usually the bottom or hem.

Different methods of cast on are used for different effects; one may be stretchy enough for lace, while another provides a decorative edging. Provisional cast on is used when the knitting will continue in both directions from the cast on.

The body of a knitted piece may include plain stitches or a number of colors and textured patterns. The number of active stitches remains the same as when cast on unless stitches are added -an increase or removed- a decrease to shape the item.

Patterns to Knit (Way to Online Income): There are lots of people who sit at home and publish great knitting patters from home. Since over the years they have collected and modified many knitting patterns. They make a great income by selling/publishing the patterns on the net. Once you have enough practice, even you could make some online income.

Many patterns can be made by using knit and purl stitches in various combinations. If only knits or only purls are used when working back and forth in rows, the result is called garter stitch.

Alternating rows of knits and purls result in stockinette stitch, also known as stocking or jersey stitch, the stitch most often used in commercial garments such as T-shirts. Different combinations of stitches can be used to form ribbing, cables, or other textures.

Once the knitted piece is finished, the remaining live stitches are cast off. Casting or binding off loops the stitches across each other so they can be removed from the needle without unraveling the item. Although the mechanics are different from casting on, there are a similar variety of methods and choices to be made. Of the various methods the most versatile are the Plain Bind-off and the Suspended Bind-off.

Knitted garments are most commonly made in pieces, where individual sections of the garment are knit separately and then sewn together once all the pieces have been completed. Seamless knitting, where a whole garment is knit as a single piece is also possible. Smaller items, such as socks and hats are usually knit in one piece on double pointed needles.

Knitting can be easily learned these days as there are many websites on knitting and also various books for beginners available on the market, where you can find step by step instructions. These instructions are so easy to follow that even kids would not find them difficult at all. Show your creativity, grab your knitting tools and learn to knit today!

Copyright 2006 B Hopkins

Football aficionados are very passionate about their game. Love for the sport encourages people to join fan clubs, watch every league match and collect memorabilia. Whether it is a commercial body or an individual, these ardent fans never miss a chance in advertising their collections. These objects are of immense value to their owners. This sentiment is respected all over the world, and most of these end up in football display cases.

Football display cases are mostly used to house signed footballs and other collectible items donated or purchased from legendary players. Other collectibles items include jerseys, helmets, shoes and caps. These items need to be handled with care, so that they can last for generations. Apart from making an excellent display, a football display case also offers protection to collectibles.

A number of people opt for football display cases that come with engraved NFL team logos. Collectors can even engrave custom nameplates with their logos of their choice. Many fans purchase display cases that have etched logos on glass or acrylic bodies. Some football cubes are shrink-wrapped, which helps avoid scratching and dust, and provides added protection during transport.

There are horizontal or vertical football display cases available in a wide variety of sizes and styles. Clear, black or solid wood bases support them. Some cases can hold up to 4 footballs. Some varieties can easily be mounted on walls or simply kept on tables.

Football display cases can be purchased from local stores or ordered over the Internet. There are a number of ready-made varieties that are available. However, if an individual needs these cases to hold special items, they can easily be made to order. Cases are offered at various prices, depending upon manufacturers, market trends and manufacturing materials.

Metal detecting is becoming an increasingly popular hobby and with good reason because it allows you to be outside in the environment at the same time you can possibly find old relics, gold, old coins, and any other valuables that may be hidden under the grounds surface.

Listening to your signal and allowing the metal detector to tell you what is below is a skill you can be acquired by use and familiarity. There will be specific sounds for different types of treasure that lay underneath the ground. You just need to stay extremely focused on the signals that the metal detectors giving you and make a mental note of what they mean.

There are certain levels you can set a metal detector on from the lowest the highest setting. At the lowest frequency you may waste your time finding metal that is invaluable and not usable. At the same time, if you put the frequency way too high you could be missing out on a lot of valuable treasure. You need to decide after doing several searches what is the best frequency for you and what the individual beeps me.

If at all possible make sure you set of headphones to go along with the metal detector, headphones with a metal detector will give you more listening power and shield your ears from outside noises. Your ears are your most valuable asset when metal detecting if you don’t want to miss anything beats good pair of headphones.

Placing the detectors as close to the ground as possible this allow you to delve deeper into the surface and hopefully you can find treasures that have been passed over by several other people.

When using a metal detector you need to pay attention to your signal and after making mental notes you may want to carry a paper log with you and write down what type of signal you heard and what you actually uncovered. You becoming familiar with your metal detector and the sounds and it makes will over time allow you to become way more efficient. Regardless, if you metal detect for the sheer joy or if you are in it for the monetary gains becoming efficient with your metal detector all depends on you becoming familiar with the sounds that it makes.

How American Indians arrived and when they arrived in the United States is a topic that has long been up for debate. There are conflicting reports and theories on when American Indians arrived here and how they did. In any culture, people and animals pass on and belongings become ruined. This tends to make it difficult to understand and study a particular culture. A popular tradition in the history of American Indians has made it easier for their history to be examined.

Pottery was a tradition that existed in the past and it continues to exist today. Pottery making has changed with time, but many American Indians have continued to carry on the tradition of making pottery in the same way that their ancestors did. In addition to being a longstanding tradition, pottery pieces have made it easier to understand the history of American Indians.

In today’s society American Indian pottery is often made for the sole purpose of money. There are a large number of individuals who still do it for the love of pottery and the history of it, but Native American pottery is wanted by individuals all around the world. This popularity has led to the development of a large number of American Indian pottery stores.

In the past, American Indian pottery was made with the purpose of using it. Men, women, and children used pottery on a daily basis. Pottery was often used for cooking, storage, and transporting necessities. Art was often the last thing on the mind of a pottery maker. Despite the fact that American Indian pottery was made for the purpose of being used, there are many similarities between today’s pottery and the pottery of the past.

Whether they intended it or not, may ancient pottery pieces are beautiful pieces of artwork. In fact, ancient pottery pieces are often valuable and considered a treasure. There are a large number of individuals and museums that pay a large amount of money to obtain older works of art. Whether it is for public display or personal possession, there is just something about owning a piece of history.

When American Indian pottery is made for commercial use, modern methods are often used to make the items. This modern way of making pottery has caused a small amount of controversy. There are many American Indians who wish to hold onto and celebrate their culture. This includes leaving traditions the way that they were. When many families teach their children how to make pottery, they often do so the way that their ancestors did. Many American Indians, to this day, still dig their own clay, mold it, and finish it with fire the way that it was done in the past.

Throughout the years, American Indians have had to alter their lives and traditions to fit into today’s society. Keeping with their past beliefs and traditions is difficult to do in today’s society. That is why pottery making continues to be an important tradition to American Indians. Pottery making has not only kept an important tradition alive, but it has helped to provide valuable financing to tribes and families that may be in desperate need of the money.

If there were one most exciting but stressful kinds of photo shoots there is—that would be child photography. Started out as a hobby of parents who are into photos and photography, the craft has evolved into something more commercialized and a viable source of income through the years.

But for parents who would want to capture the best moments of their children, professional photography lessons wouldn’t be that necessary, all they have to do is to learn about certain photography technicalities and observe the attitude and mood swings of their children.

Parents should bear in mind that when trying to photograph their children, they should be ready for occasional tantrums and crying. When this happens, let the child calm down by giving them something that would catch their attention like a toy.

Younger children like those tots under 5 years old are not very conscious or aware of the camera but this doesn’t mean that they are very interested in the ‘photo shoot’. To get their attention, make sure that you have something that will get their attention.

OTHER CHILD PHOTOGRAPHY STRATEGIES

Portraits—especially of children—never fail to evoke feelings to anyone. If you’re a budding professional child photographer, it would be better if you’ll have a brief background in child psychology and you better to create your own strategies by now.

Here are some strategies you can work on and try to reinvent over time:

Strategy no. 1: Prepare for the best and the worst.

Before the actual day of the shoot, make sure that you pay a visit to the house of the family to give you an idea what kind of child/ren you are going to deal with. It is also advisable to meet them personally and memorize their names to create familiarity.

You can also have a sort of ocular inspection around the area so you can picture the ideal background and set up mentally. Before leaving for the actual photo shoot, double check all the necessities and equipment you will need.

Strategy no. 2: Practice the power of smile.

Being friendly or possessing a friendly aura will draw children nearer to you. Smiling will also make them more comfortable dealing with you throughout the shoot.

Strategy no. 3: Impress them your “gears.”

Get children’s attention by impressing them with stuff they don’t know yet. Since they are generally inquisitive, you can get their attention by letting them touch and “play” with some of your simple photography equipment.

Strategy no. 4: Set the background.

Although a photo studio would give you all the comforts you need in doing your job, this wouldn’t ensure a good result for children photography. It would be best if you set a backdrop or location where children can roam around and express themselves freely.

Strategy no. 5: Back to basics with the natural approach.

Do not force a setting or set up where the child is not comfortable. It is best to photograph children in their best elements like riding their own bike or doing some art stuff. These natural settings would be more vivid in the coming years compared to those taken in a stiff and formal environment.

Strategy no. 6: Know the clothing basics.

Days before the shoot, tell the parents to show their kids what they will be wearing. This would ensure the comfort of the child during the shoot.

Strategy no. 7: Bring your best and the most appropriate photography equipment.

Make sure that you bring the best equipment to produce best results. Basics include digital or film SLR camera, variety of lenses, studio lights, flashgun, spare batteries, and compact flash or rolls of film.

Strategy no. 8: It’s all in the light.

Aside from having a good subject, make sure that you set up a good lighting because it will greatly affect the overall outcome of the photo.

Strategy no. 9: Be an “image capturer.”

Always be on guard to capture the best moments throughout the shoot. Always have your finger on the shutter button while your eyes are near the camera.

Strategy no. 10: Always focus on the “window of the soul.”

Needless to say, photographs where the eyes of subjects are tuned into camera produce the best photographs ever.

Anyone who makes candles will need a good candle making supply and can easily find a wide variety of wholesale products on the internet. Casual candle makers can easily restock their candle making supply at a local retail or craft store, but the serious crafter may want to consider buying in bulk.

A number of online candle making supply stores showcase everything from wax, wick, molds, essential oils and fragrance, coloring and even equipment to help crafters increase their candle making supply without decreasing their wallet size. If at all possible, it’s always a good idea to buy in quantity because many wholesalers offer terrific candle making supply discounts.

Depending on the vendor, some wholesalers will only sell to businesses. If you have a business license, this includes you. If not, you will need to obtain a license if you want to order. Not all wholesalers abide by this policy, but be sure to read the terms before making a purchase.

In addition to the convenience of shopping online for candle making supply wholesalers, crafters often find a wealth of tips and tricks to help their candle business soar. If you are thinking of selling candles as a business, you will need to increase your candle making supply in order to keep up with the demand. Candles, especially those that contain scents, are very popular at craft shows, internet auctions and through website orders. If you plan to make candles as a hobby, and perhaps give as gifts to friends and family, you will want to have an ample candle making supply on hand.

When shopping for a candle making supply, crafters should look at various types of wax and coordinating wicks, popular fragrances and molds. There are a great number of candle molds, which allow candles to take a unique shape. For example, a crafter who wanted to make a candle that resembles an ice cream sundae would need a coordinating mold. The fragrance for such a candle could be chocolate or vanilla depending on the color of the candle. This is just an example of the array of possibilities, which are truly limitless. In fact, the only limit to candlemaking is that of the crafters imagination.

When purchasing from a candle making supply wholesaler for the first time, order only a small amount. The reason for this technique is so that you can test the shipping time and quality of the vendor and experience their customer service. You would not want to place a large order only to learn that half of the products were missing when the package arrived or that the quality was less than desired. When shopping, always try to deal with established companies who possess a good reputation with the Better Business Bureau and who offer a reasonable return policy. If you are running a business, shipping time for your candle making supply will be very important to being able to create new products. The internet has created a whole new world for anyone interested in increasing their candle making supply, which was earlier limited to local stores and excessive prices.

You’ve decided to invest in a beautiful oil painting reproduction. You have an idea of the type of painting you’d like, but you’re still unsure about making the purchase. This anxiety is normal when considering a reproduction purchase for the first time. Knowing the right questions to ask will enable you to make a wise purchase.

Unlike machine-generated copies, oil reproductions are hand-painted replicas of original paintings, which are created by an actual skilled artist. You’re naturally concerned about getting great quality. Here are four things you should know before buying an oil painting reproduction.

Know Your Artist

The artist is key to getting a fine reproduction that matches the original. You’ll want an artist who is both talented and trained. Talent only is not enough. Any good artist can throw together a reproduction that’s similar to an original, but formal training is usually necessary to be able to match originals precisely. The artist must be able to study the original artist’s hand strokes, style, etc. to get a true grasp on how to recreate the painting. It’s best to buy from a company that specializes in reproductions and has experienced artists available at all times.

Know the Techniques

Another important thing you should know about reproductions is how they’re created. What materials were used? What methods were used to put the painting together from start to finish? The entire process of creating a reproduction is important - not just the painting. The canvas, oils, brushes, lighting (while painting) each contribute to the finished work.

Know the Important Terms

Here are several terms you’ll need to be aware of when considering an art reproduction:

1. Canvas - Find out if the canvas used is of high quality.

2. Oils - The oils used should also be high quality for long-lasting beauty.

3. Stretching - When buying online, your painting might arrive rolled up and unframed. In this case, you or someone will need to stretch the painting onto stretcher bars (wooden bars attached to the back of the stretched painting) before framing. Check with local framing shops to see if they will do this for you.

4. Varnishing - Varnish protects your painting reproduction from light rays and humidity. Find out if the painting has been varnished, or if you will need to do it yourself. If you plan to do it yourself, you’ll have to wait about a year for the painting to dry completely. Varnishing is optional.

Know How to Care for Your Reproduction

If you find a great reproduction painting, you’ll want to care for it the right way. Before making your purchase, make sure you have a place to store or display the painting that’s away from direct sunlight and usually dry. Extreme sunlight or humidity can lead to flaking or cracking over time.

To clean your oil painting, use a soft cloth to dust the frame and a soft bristled brush to dust the actual painting. Feather dusters also work very well. Never apply moisture or chemicals to the painting.

Knowing how to choose a painting and what to expect will help you make an informed decision. The right oil reproduction painting is a prize to be treasured for a lifetime.

Drawing people and faces is not very hard to do. Well, that’s not one hundred percent accurate if you want to achieve a likeness to the person that you are drawing. This is very challenging and hard to do because each person is unique and poses their own individuality. Figure drawing and drawing faces is an artists ultimate challenge because of this uniqueness, everyone is different. Mastering the human form can be difficult but with these tips, it may be a little easier.

First, when you are starting out, draw everyone you know. Draw your friends and family. Draw at church, the baseball diamond, the park, a funeral, a wedding, wherever you go! Take a sketch pad with you everywhere.

Another good tip is to copy an old master’s painting. Take a Bougereau or Da Vinci or some other master’s painting and copy it. This is a tip that a lot of artists find the most useful when trying to master figure drawing. What is it that makes their work great? Study their technique and line usage, make notes so that you are able to incorporate these into your drawings. Observe the boldness of their lines, what about their hatching and cross-hatching, or shading? Make notes!

Do a self portrait. Check yourself out in the mirror and get drawing. The reoccurring theme with these tips are get drawing people.

Do studies of the hands, eyes, mouths, and noses. Draw hundreds of each of these trying to get the anatomy right and also focusing on the likeness of the persons or illustration you are sketching.

Do several gesture drawings every day. These will help you in your efforts to bring life and vitality to your drawings. Gesture drawings help in capturing the emotion of what you are trying to convey in the portrait.

Take a digital camera with you everywhere. This will help you when you come across something that strikes your eye for a reference. I use mine also for interesting textures or if I see a piece of clothing that would make an interesting practice piece. Never go on a trip without one!

Finally, you know where you struggle. Look at these areas carefully and practice, practice, practice. Go back to the basics. Get a good look at your weaknesses and turn them into your strengths. Is it drawing hair? Drawing clothes? Or is it mastering eyes, or capturing a likeness to your subject? Whatever it is, study it out and get drawing. You can do it. These tips will help you get started.

Copyright 2006 Todd Harris

Depression glass facts make for interesting conversation, especially when you’re at a convention or talking amongst other Depression glass aficionados. So here are a few items to get you started so you, too, can have some meaningful knowledge to put on the plate when you and your Depression glass collector friends gather ‘round and chat.

English Hobnail leads the pack as the design with around the most available pieces still out there for collectors. Westmoreland Glass Company produced the English Hobnail pattern from the late 1920s to the 1980s, with the Depression-era pieces made in eight different colors. In total, 175 pieces of this particular design were created.

Rose Cameo, conversely, holds the record for the least number of pieces available in a pattern. The Belmont Tumbler Company held the patent for Rose Cameo, and only six pieces of this design made it to the marketplace: a plate, a footed sherbet, a footed tumbler, a berry bowl, and a 5-inch and 6-inch bowl. Because Belmont manufactured only tumblers and was trying to recover from a massive fire, experts speculate the actual production of this rare design happened at the Hazel-Atlas Glass Company, only a few miles away. A six-piece set of tumblers – the pattern was only made in green – in mint condition can be had for between $150 and $175 (prices may have changed since I wrote this).

The Jeanette Glass Company breaks all records for coming up with the most patterns. Jeanette made 11 patterns of Depression glass between 1928 and 1946: Sunburst, Homespun, Swirl, Doric and Pansy, Windsor, Sunflower, Doric, Adam, Sierra, Floral, and Cherry Blossom.

And then at the other end of the spectrum, the Fenton Glass Company produced only a single pattern of Depression glass – the Lincoln Inn.

Of the 200+ patterns of Depression glass created, footed salt and pepper shakers from Hocking’s Mayfair design demand some of the very highest prices. Don’t flinch when (or if) you have a close encounter with one: They go for more than $9,000, which makes them 1 of the most expensive items of all Depression glass patterns at the time of writing this article.

Hazel-Atlas produced the Aurora pattern in beautiful cobalt blue for one year only – from 1937 to 1938.

Jeanette and Federal glass companies manufactured the two most reproduced patterns, Cherry Blossom and Madrid. Jeanette produced 43 pieces of the Cherry Blossom design from 1930 to 1939 in five colors. Federal’s Madrid output numbered 45 pieces in five colors from 1932 to 1939. The popularity of these designs, of course, made reproductions impossible to avoid, but also makes the original Depression-era versions that much harder to detect.

This article, perhaps, may inspire you to dig deeper and find out even more about the Depression glass products we’ve all come to love. Hopefully, with these bits and pieces of trivia, you’ve learned something you didn’t already know. If you haven’t, then you need to be writing your own articles on Depression glass trivia and enlightening the rest of us! But if you have benefited, you can safely know that the next time you’re sitting next to that 40-year collector at convention, you, too, have more comments to make than just about “all those pretty, Depression glass colors!”

Until next time,

Murray Hughes

http://www.DepressionGlassSecrets.com

http://www.depressionglasssecrets.com/DPweb-articles/depression-glass-trivia.htm