Arts and Crafts

The arts is a broad subdivision of culture, composed of many expressive disciplines. In modern usage, it is a term broader than “art”, which usually means the visual arts(comprising fine art, decorative art, and crafts). The arts encompasses visual arts, performing arts, language arts, culinary arts, and physical arts. Many artistic disciplines involve aspects of the various arts, so the definitions of these terms overlap to some degree though comparing the articles art school and Columbia University School of the Arts may prove instructive for those struggling with the distinction.

No doubt about it, Barbie dolls have taken the world by storm. Every second, a Barbie doll is being sold somewhere in the world, catapulting it into a billion dollar success with business interests that range from the dolls, to movie cds, to computer games, to clothes to shoes and other fashion accessories.

It is said that if all the barbies that have been sold in the market since 1959 are to be placed one over the other from the head to the toe, the dolls would have circled the earth not just once or twice but seven times.

It may seem such a great idea now but at that time when it came out in the market, toy critics were pretty skeptical with it. The doll is an innovation. Never before had they seen a doll that is so small and yet so sophisticated. Compared to the dolls that came out that year, the Barbie doll seems to be too complicated for a kid.

Still, Ruth Handler pushed on with her invention, launching a TV campaign that caught the imagination of little girls worldwide. It was not long before the Barbie doll became a bestseller. The idea of creating a Barbie started when Ruth saw her daughter playing with paper dolls and paper clothes.

She then thought, why not make a three-dimensional toy that little girls can actually play with and dress up? Why not make a teenaged doll which little girls can look up to?
She researched the market and found that there are no manufacturers of dolls like the one she is imagining. She then created the doll through her company, which she founded with her husband Elliot Handler.

The very first doll that came out is a teenage fashion model, clad in a black and white striped bathing suit. She had long hair tied in swirled ponytails. Through the years, Barbie dolls adapted the current fashion of that decade, sometimes even blazing in her own fashion trends. She even wore couturier creations and designer clothes, not only from the United Stated but also from around the world. In fact, in 1960, she began wearing outfits like the Gay Parisienne™ and the Easter Parade, which are both gotten from the famous fashion houses of France.

Barbie became the image of American girls, copying the styles of famous fashion icons like Jackie Onassis. One of the most popular look that Barbie set is the American Girl, who has a chin-length Dutch-boy hairstyle.

What is a valet box? It is essentially a jewelry container for men. Now, that may see ultra-feminine, but it’s really not. These pieces are made of the high quality leather and beautiful rich wood that of course make it very ideal pieces for men to have. I assure you, its nothing like the jewelry boxes that your Nana used to keep in her dresser. This one is all about you. Valet boxes have a lot of great uses and there is no need to feel feminine just because you use one, all it means is that you are an organized person with a sense of style.

What is it really?

As mentioned, a Valet box is the masculine equivalent of the jewelry box. Unlike female jewelry boxes that have been engraved with all kinds of feminine designs, valet boxes are designed for a purpose and to the point. You won’t have to worry about seeing a little ballerina dancing on a stage of glass when you open your valet box – we assure you, there will be none of that. As said, valet boxes are designed to be straight to the point and are beautifully crafted box and looks like a cigar box.

How is it used?

Valet boxes can be used in a lot of ways. Even high end watches come with their own valet boxes. You can buy these items from your local jewelers. Another famous use for the valet box is for storage of cufflinks. Cufflink valet boxes often have partitions on the inside that accommodates each cufflink. This way, you won’t have to look for the right pair of cufflinks when you are getting dressed. Valet boxes are the ultimate time saver and organizer for the male gender.

Gifting Valet Boxes

Valet boxes are a great gift for men who love to wear their jewelry. For those who are planning to give a Valet box for the first timer, you can help them out by providing a pair of cufflinks and placing them inside the box in order to demonstrate the idea. Also, keep in mind that valet boxes is not for every man, so do not get disappointed when the receiver of your gift doesn’t show any outward appreciation for your gift. But soon, they will learn of the value of using these special jewelry cases.

Personalized Valet Boxes

If you are gifting a valet box, you can make it more personal by adding the receiver’s initials onto the cover of the box. Most valet boxes are made of high quality wood and imported leather, which is why engraving is more appropriate. Having this done will ensure that you would offer the men in your life something that they can truly call their own.

So, there it is – The Valet Box, a jewelry box for men. There should be no hesitation about using this item, but, if there is then perhaps you should ease yourself, or the receiver of the gift slowly into the idea and they will undoubtedly learn to love it.

Some people look at a hobby as a waste of time. They might think a hobby has no purpose or it’s simply something to do to pass the time. For hobbyists, a hobby is much more than just a pastime. A hobby has many benefits and advantages for each individual. For some, a hobby is an emotional outlet, for others a way of gaining knowledge. Hobbies keep our minds – and our hands – active. Whatever your reasons are, if you’ve been thinking about starting a hobby or getting a new one, consider the following advantages to help guide your decision.

Time for Ourselves

One of the biggest advantages of a hobby is it allows for quiet time. People tend to think more clearly when enjoying their favorite hobby, without the distractions of the outside world to bother them. The mind wanders and hobbyists often come up with some of their best ideas while enjoying their favorite time-passing activity.

Reveals a Talent or Passion

Hobbyists often find a talent or passion they may not have known they had before. Some people have sat down at the piano to learn how to play, only to find out they’ve always had a hidden talent for playing it anyway. Others might find they have a niche for or some other craft after only one attempt. But the only way you’ll ever discover this hidden talent is to try. The first step is to find something that you’re interested in. From there, you might find that you’re better at it than you ever could have guessed.

Use a Hobby as a Networking Tool

The only time you should list your hobby on a resume or job application is when your hobbies pertain to the type of job that you are applying for. On the other hand, mentioning a hobby during a job interview might be an endearing quality the potential employer will remember. Mentioning your hobby in an interview can also be a great conversation starter and reflect a small part of your individual personality. Hobbies have a way of implying you enjoy working with others because most hobbies are not individual activities. You’ll find hundreds of message boards, forums and clubs that are specifically designated for many particular hobbies.

Hobbies Offer a Time of Relaxation

Most hobbies are an ideal way to relax. Coming home from work and sitting down to enjoy your favorite pastime helps to take your mind off of the stresses of the day. Hobbies also help you unwind before bed so you can get a better night’s sleep.

With all of the benefits that a hobby can provide, it’s no wonder why the hobby store industry is such a successful market. There are literally hundreds of hobbies to choose from and the only limits a person has are the ones they place on themselves. The ideal hobby for each individual is one that involves something he or she enjoys and would love to do on a regular basis.

The instinct to decorate the person has been common to all people at all times. Our ancestors have found ways to decorate any part of the human body from the head with wreaths and crowns, like the Etruscans, to the toes, like Indian noblewomen.

And if you think that only women like Cleopatra went gaga over pretty shiny things, you’re sadly mistaken. During the 16th and 17th centuries, both men and women wore heavy long chains of gold, sometimes diagonally over the shoulder like a sword or belt. Some elaborate buckles were made for the waist like those used by Hungarian noblemen as jewelry. Celts were known to wear gold bracelets of plain twisted gold and Romans wore snake-shaped ones. Some Greeks, going into battle or for a nice walk to the Acropolis, sew gold repousse called bractea into their garments.

History has taught us that human adornment is not only the pure domain of the female but also of men who considered the process of wearing precious metals and stones as a sign of power and wealth.

Nowadays, media has given us the strong context that jewelry is a woman’s thing. The Academy Awards is never complete without the usual rundown of who is wearing the Harry Winston diamonds or Bulgari rubies or who is covered from head to toe with Swarovski crystals. Have you ever heard of the presenters describing men’s jewelry on the red carpet? No.

With the negative media that considers jewelry feminine, men are hard-pressed into not wearing any for fear that they might be considered less than masculine. But this is not the case. Men’s jewelry is usually crafted into designs that speaks nothing but of masculinity. Men’s jewelry, like women jewelry, comprise of rings, necklaces and bracelets.

The more popular choices for men are rings with designs including dragons, snakes or simple round bands with their loved ones name engraved on it. A whole range of precious and semi-precious stones can also be used in adorning men’s rings. Because of its simplicity and pliability, silver is well-accepted. It can be made into intricate designs and can be incorporated into other metals or made into wedding rings or class rings. White and yellow gold are also much-coveted for men’s jewelry. Precious stones like diamonds and sapphires can be integrated into the design. Semi-precious stones such as amethysts and opals are also great choices for rings.

Silver is also a popular option for making necklaces and pendants including the definitive masculine accessory called the dogtags which was originally used to identify soldiers. The dogtag has proven to be more than an ID and is now the ‘it’ thing in pendants.

The identification tags do not end in necklaces, but has also found a home in bracelets. Silver chain or ID bracelets are popular gifts given by girlfriends to their boyfriends. It is an unobtrusive piece of jewelry that, with the appropriate message can be quite a romantic present. Men’s jewelry of today is no longer the trimmings of the rich and powerful but also meant as significant accessories of the ordinary man.

Buttons are not just for clothing. It’s unclear when scrapbooking with buttons began as a trend. Even in early scrapbook albums, it wasn’t unusual to see a button placed on a scrapbooking page. Quite often it was a keepsake button, like from a vintage piece of clothing or a baby girl’s first dress. As scrapbooking pages started to become more 3-D and scrappers looked for unique embellishments for their pages, buttons became more popular. Manufacturers started offering buttons to coordinate with their paper lines, and buttons with themes like Christmas and sports became available. Monthly scrapbooking kits and page kits often include complementary buttons as part of their packages. Consider these tips for scrapbooking buttons on your pages.

1. Buttons lined up together can make a border for your scrapbooking page layouts.

2. Place buttons in your titles by using them to dot your “i”s. You can also use them as the center of letters like “o” and “p.”

3. Buttons can be secured to a page using embroidery floss by sewing it into the page.

4. Glue dots work very well to adhere larger-sized buttons to a page, as well as buttons that are not flat on the bottom.

5. A few buttons make nice accents to anchor a ribbon border to a page. Again, glue dots will securely attach the buttons to the ribbon.

6. Try placing a button on the flap of an envelope to decorate a simple page element.

7. Flowers are still very popular on scrapbooking pages. Silk or paper flowers come in all sizes and colors now. A button makes a perfect center for a flower. An added benefit is that the button can hide the adhesive that typically shows through a paper flower.

8. Take 4 small buttons and attach them to the 4 corners of a photograph. The buttons will look like they are holding the photo to the page.

9. Create a bulleted list for journaling. Use buttons as the bullets.

10. Scrapbooking tags can be used for page elements, photo mats, and journaling blocks on a scrapbooking page. You can use a button to decorate the hole at the top of a tag.

11. Try placing a button on a page and then hanging the string from a scrapbooking tag from it as an anchor.

12. An antique, vintage or unusual button can be used individually on a page as a page element all its own. Try double matting the button to highlight it on your layout.

13. Attach a button to a page with the holes empty, or thread some floss through the holes and tie it in a knot or bow for an added accent.

14. Don’t limit yourself to one size of buttons on your page layout. Mix sizes and styles of buttons. You could stay with the same color, but have a variety of different buttons in that same color on a single page.

15. Buttons can be memorabilia. Save buttons from shirts, handbags, hats and other clothing that have sentimental value, but that you no longer can use. The buttons can be added to a scrapbooking page to remember the times when you wore those items. Baby buttons look cute on a baby page layout as well.

So they have necklaces with enough diamonds in them to feed a small island, they’ve earned it. They display their initials in blinding gems that can build a hospital in the third world, they’ve worked hard for it. So they have the Rolex watches that costs a small fortune, it completes their attire.

The aspiring rapper of today can certainly copy the look of their favorite artist without mortgaging their parents’ house and car or selling their souls to the devil. Men’s jewelry of the 21st century has come to mean bling-bling, the bigger, the better. So while Jayzee performs onstage with diamonds around his neck, our apprentice can sing to a small crowd with crystal-inlaid bling that will not cost as much but will certainly shine the same anyway. Instead of a gold-and-diamond necklace, he could instead sport a silver and gold-plated piece that will be pocket-friendly.

So perhaps your taste in music ran more into the soulful country rhythm. Instead of layering several pounds of deadweight around your neck, you could opt for beads made of wood or necklaces hand-made by Native American Indians. Some necklaces can also be strung from crystals with amethyst or opal pendants for that retro-inspired look. To complete the image, I suggest you chose one from a wide variety of mood rings, guaranteed to change color depending on your mood, it’s a great way to check your stress-level too.

If you’re the rebel rocker, skulls would be a favorite element in your jewelry. A popular placement for silver skulls would be in rings and even earrings. And don’t forget to check out the different designs for nose-rings and tongue piercings, all hypoallergenic of course and made of the finest silver.

But if you’re more of the pop rock, clean cut guy. I would suggest that the perfect jewelry for you would be rubber stringed necklaces with silver pendants, electro-plated with your girlfriend’s picture or an ID bracelet with messages of love and encouragement from your baby love. I would also recommend a sweet little ring, maybe plain silver or gold with an interesting abstract design. However, if you’re the classic balladeer, fated to be the next Josh Groban, minimalism would be the key. How about a traditional gold watch or a long gold chain tastefully hidden between the folds of your white shirt? Or maybe a slim gold ring with a ruby center to catch the attention of your fans while you hold the microphone.

It’s undeniable that music is now dictating the trends in men’s jewelry. It’s an important aspect of projecting an image of who the artist is and what music he stands for. Some may say this is stereotyping but far from it, it is an evolution of fashion accessory like we never knew before. The music industry has not only spawned spin-off businesses such as video recording and clothes lines but has also created a deep impact on the accessories business. People like to dress and accessorize like their favorite artists and for sure, this can be achieved with a lot less amount of money.

If you have ever attended a trade show, you know that many companies struggle with designing graphics that represent their company well. Even large, nationally recognized corporations make glaring mistakes in their graphic design that could have easily been prevented with a better understanding of the trade show environment. By collecting information from designers experienced in working with trade show graphics, we have compiled a number of tips that we believe are crucial to a successful graphic design.

1- Less is more in the world of trade show graphics. Many designers seem to think that they are designing a museum exhibit, because the entire display is filled with small text and bullet points. You only have three seconds to grab the attention of attendees and visitors at a trade show, and a large graphic full of tiny text is the last thing you want. We have found that large, boldly colored images that relate directly to the brand identity of your company will not only increase your visibility at the trade show, but increase the return on your investment. If you are designing graphics to promote a company that sells orange juice, you would do much better by using a large image of a fresh orange than by writing bullet points about the advantages of purchasing your brand of orange juice.

2- Do not sacrifice a professional image in order to market a smaller facet of your company. At a trade show, you are marketing your brand, not your products. Unless you offer a cutting edge product, visitors to your booth will not be impressed by what you sell. If you design simple but professional trade show graphics that focus on the feel of your company, you are much more likely to leave a lasting impact on attendees by raising the profile of your company brand. The biggest motivating factor that changes potential customers into loyal clients is the perception that your company is professional and legitimate.

3- Maintain a consistent scheme with all of your marketing material. Your large format trade show graphics should be closely tied in with the literature and giveaways you are handing out, as well as any pre-show mailers you have sent. Your trade show graphics should also work with your company website, letterhead, and business cards. In other words, your trade show marketing campaign needs to be a part of a much larger approach that is well planned and consistent. This will help you to appear legitimate and professional to your potential clients, which will help to earn business for your company. If your trade show graphics are well designed and make a big impact at your show, visitors will be disappointed if they are pointed to a poorly designed, outdated website.

Many companies that sell trade show displays offer graphic design, usually at a cost of roughly $100 per hour. There are a few companies that offer free trade show graphic design with the purchase of a trade show display or banner stand, which can be a great way to save money and time. Companies that sell exhibits usually staff designers that specialize in large format graphic design and printing, which means that they know exactly what types of design works well in a trade show environment. The expertise of a professional can drastically increase the return on your investment without adding too much upfront cost.

Do you want to be an excellent photographer? These 7 digital photography tips you can get started on your way to become an excellent photographer if you’d like.

#1. Learn your cameras settings

Chances are you shoot most of your pictures utilizing your camera’s “automatic” mode. This will get you average results. If you are striving for great shots, you’ll need to learn about other modes too. Take the time to read your camera’s manual to understand when to use each shooting mode.

#2. Take more photos

Before going crazy buying the most expensive equipment right away, you had better take more photos because the more photos you take, the more you’ll know about what kind of camera to get when it’s time to upgrade. In other words, you can always delete the bad ones later.

#3. Busting the dust

Digital camera with removable lenses are prone to dust landing on the sensor. Static electricity around the sensor can possibly contribute to attracting dust particles, or other elements to this sensitive area of your camera. You can get rid of the dust is a camera blower brush, and tilt the camera down while blowing. Take care not to get any of the hairs snagged inside.

#4. Use a tripod

A tripod will keep your camera steady which will make your photos clearer.

#5. Shot your subject at different focal length, angles, and formats

Shoot your subject at different focal lengths - using the zoom on your photos will not only change how close your subject appears but it will also change the depth of field (ie the blurring of the background). It also allows you to shoot from different distances which can really impact how relaxed your subject is (there’s nothing better than a photographer in your face to make you tense up)

Shoot your subject from different angles - it’s amazing how much you can change a shot by getting on your knees or taking a few steps to the side.

Shoot using different formats - there are different ways to grip a digital camera. The two main ones are horizontally or vertically but you can also get into all kinds of diagonal ways to do it. Mix it up.

#6. Experiment with different ‘modes’

Even the most basic point and shoot cameras have different ’shooting modes’. These are usually things like ‘portrait’, ‘landscape’, ’sports’, ‘night’ etc. Sometimes it’s worth flicking through these to take shots at different settings. What these modes do is simply change the basic settings (like aperture, shutter speed, ISO) - all things that can change the look and feel of your shot considerably

#7. Play with your Flash

Try turning your flash off or forcing it to fire in shots. Sometimes adding flash to a scene where there’s lots of light behind your subject is essential (even though your camera might not think it needs it). This stops those silhouette shots where it looks like you’re trying to hide the identity on your subject.

From the first time ancient man or woman found a colored rock on the beach or in the dirt, humans have been fascinated and intrigued by them. How did the first polished rocks happen? The gentle abrasion by the waves on a sandy beach, the wearing smooth of a stone tied around a neck or wrist, or perhaps the steady drip of water? No one knows for sure. When it was discovered that a crude colored rock could be transformed into something to catch the eye and the imagination is when gemstones came into being.

For it is the efforts of humans that turn raw stone into the faceted, glittering, gleaming, brilliant stones we know today. Most of these gemstones go back to ancient times. There were even powers designated to particular stones that would transfer to the wearer. Amber calmed stressed nerves. Amethyst promoted healing. Onyx helped to change bad habits. The ancients believed in the power of gemstones to heal, to cure sickness, to instill love. The list goes on and on. So gemstones were not only beautiful and valuable, they were essential for good health and well being.

Most people in modern times do not assign such powers to gemstones as curing disease or causing someone to fall in love. But look into the deep rich crimson of the ruby, the bold blue of the sapphire, or the serene green hue of the Emerald, and you can still be captured by what the ancients were captured by. The beauty, the mystique of the gemstone.

Below are descriptions and ancient properties attributed to a selection of gemstones.

Amber- Amber began as a sticky resin that oozed from ancient pine trees that sometimes entrapped insects, feathers or plant debris. Over time the resin was encased in dirt and debris and through heat and pressure it fossilized to become Amber. Amber can range in color from dark brown to an almost clear lemon yellow. Most Amber for jewelry comes from the Baltic Sea or the Dominican Republic. Amber was believed to provide magicians and sorcerers with special powers. Others wore it to promote physical and emotional healing and to provide protection from spirits.

Amethyst - Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz. It must be purple to be amethyst, but it can display a range of shades from deep purple to light lilac. Amethyst when worn helped guard the wearer against drunkenness, and to make the wearer calm and gentle.

Aquamarine - Can be an almost colorless pale blue to blue-green or teal. A legend says that ancient sailors used to wear the stone to keep them safe and prevent sea sickness.

Citrine - A variety of quartz ranging in colors of yellow, yellow-brown, orange, to reddish brown. Almost all citrine on the market today is heat treated amethyst. Natural citrine is pale yellow to pale orange, much lighter than the heat treated material. Citrine was believed to help internal organs, especially the heart. It also improved creativity for the wearer.

Emerald - Colors run from deep grass green to lighter greens with yellowish tones. Improved memory was one of the attributes given to Emerald, along with enhancing love and contentment.

Garnet - Occurs in every color but blue. Garnet was believed to help regulate the heart and blood flow, and in curing depression.

Jade - Colors are from emerald green to mottled green and white. The range of greens are light to dark, creamy, grayish and also white. There are also the rare colors of yellow, pink, purple and black. Jade was worn for strength and longevity, and it is an ancient symbol of love and fidelity.

Moonstone - An opalescent stone from colorless to blue, peach, green, pink, yellow, brown or gray with a silvery sheen. Among the powers attributed to moonstone was as a protection against leprosy, against sunstrokes, and as a cure for headaches.

Onyx - A type of quartz. Usually thought of as black in color but some onyx displays bands of white or ribbons against a black or brown background. Was worn to increase happiness and improve intuition.

Peridote - A very old gemstone known to the ancient Egyptians. Usually a vivid green color with a hint of gold. Wearing Peridote calmed anger, attracted love, and brought good luck.

Ruby - Ruby is one of the hardest materials there is. And of course, no one can think of ruby without thinking of the color red. Ruby was thought to grant spiritual enlightenment and tranquility to the wearer.

Sapphire - Sapphire is the non-red variety of corundum. The red variety of corundum is ruby. Blue is the most popular color, but it can be almost any other color besides red. Was thought to cure depression and was used in clairvoyance and predicting events.

Topaz - Topaz occurs in a large variety of colors including red, orange, peach, pink, gold, yellow, brown, blue and clear. Topaz was thought to be a general cure for mental and physical disorders, and to delay death.

Turquoise - This gem has been used as an ornament going back to the ancient Egyptians. Turquoise is sacred to many Native Americans, and was used by medicine men to promote healing.