Braided Rugs

Braided rugs are with us since the white men landed in the Americas. It is a tradition which we love to retain with all its old charm and grace. It is obvious that it does not require any high technology or computer controlled precision, otherwise how could the ladies hundreds of years ago make such exotic braided rugs out of rags. But what it requires is concentration, dedication and above all love and respect towards both the craft and the product.

So, if you really love braided rugs and admire their intricate artistry, Luis Messineo suggests not waste any more time and get cracking with the job at hand.

Luis Messineo Braided Rugs

Luis Messineo Brings Some Tips On How To Make A Braided Rug

Let’s go about making a braided rug from rags the way they were made in the early stages of colonization of the Americas.

Cut the material you have with you into roughly two inch wide strips. If you feel that the material is on the thinner side, make the strips about three inches wide.

Instead of sewing the strips together and rolling them into a ball before you start braiding, I would suggest you to begin braiding and sewing the material as you progress. I have found that in this way there are lesser number of tangles and knots which become a big hassle and take ages to unravel.

Tie the strips together and loop them over a doorknob or a handle or a hook of some sort and start making a three strip braid just in the same way as those who have long hair braid it. While joining the strips take care that there are no weak joints as they might spoil the whole show. The best way to join the strips is to hold them at right angles and sew a diagonal seam across the square so formed.

Another important point to note is when you start braiding fold the ragged outside edges of the strips slightly inwards so that there are no rough and jagged edges of cloth on the outer side of the rug you are going to make.

The first length of braid determines the final shape of the rug because the subsequent braids will only be laid one after another along the lines of the first braid. So, ensure that the length of the braid is adequate for the final rug size and shape you would get. The ground rule is that the first braid should be 1/3rd of the original rug size if it is to be an oval rug, and, it should be about half the original size if you are intending to make a runner.

The last and most intricate step is to be finished now. Take a large darning needle and pass the lace string you are using to sew the strips together back and forth between the braids much the same way as you put shoe laces through the eyes of the shoe. When you reach the desired length of the braid just flip it back and start sewing it with the lower strata of the braid. In this way you keep adding on and on to the previous braid and the rug grows outwards in size.

Keep the rug absolutely flat as you proceed and strictly avoid any wrinkles or dimples which may occur at this stage. Don’t ignore it as it would become more pronounced as you keep on braiding. So, if you observe a wrinkle, come back, smoothen it and then proceed further.

Carry on in this manner till the desired size is reached and then sit back and admire your handiwork!

Color For Your Scrapbooking Pages

Do you think you need to know color theory to make a beautiful scrapbooking page?  You don’t even need to know the difference between primary and secondary colors to create a page that complements your photographs.  All you need to find color inspiration for your layouts is a watchful eye during your everyday life. Color palettes are all around us.  Luis Messineo invites you to consider these easy-to-find resources for color choices on your next scrapbooking pages.

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Your Favorite Clothing Store
Clothing manufacturers design their seasonal lines according to a predetermined color scheme, Luis Messineo explains.  Ever wonder why all the stores seem to carry similar colors each season?  Many designers use the color direction provided by the Color Marketing Group.  The Color Marketing Group forecasts color trends for manufactured products.  Walking around your favorite clothing boutique quickly shows you the color trends for the current season.  Are pastels in this season?  Try a page with pastels even if it’s not spring. 

Your Closets
Along the same lines as using a clothing store for inspiration, your own closets hold the color palettes for past seasons.  Don’t limit yourself to just your clothes closet.  Your linen closet will also have coordinated color palettes to inspire you.  Love that quilt that you have tucked away for the guest room?  Look carefully at the colors and see if you can create a scrapbooking page with the same color qualities.

Paint Chips
Would you believe that you can find professional color schemes at your local home improvement store?  Paint manufacturers coordinate colors in sample decorating palettes.  These chips are often designed by professionals like Martha Stewart and Ralph Lauren.  Browse through the paint chip display and use one of the palettes for a scrapbooking page or even an entire album.

Museums
Take an afternoon to walk through an art museum, and you will see how the Masters use color.  Make some notes on what paintings inspire you the most and what colors are used to set the mood of the painting.  Artists know color theory, and reflecting on their masterpieces is an education in color theory without the textbooks.

Mother Nature
The earth provides its own color palette.  Not only can you gain inspiration from the colors of winter, summer, spring and fall, you can study landscapes.  These are earth’s paintings.  Look at the colors of the desert and mountains, as well as, the sunsets and sunrises.  Peek out your window at your flower garden for even more of nature’s inspiration.

Your Makeup Drawer
Makeup manufacturers also use color theory to develop their seasonal palettes.  Take a look at your eye shadows and blushes for ready-made color selections for your scrapbooking pages.

Home Decorating Magazines
Color inspiration doesn’t just come from scrapbooking magazines.  Interior designers use coordinating colors to make it easier for customers to create a perfect decor for their homes.  The photographs in home decorating magazines are sure to inspire a creative scrapbooking page.

Advertisements
Before you put those magazines away, take a closer look at the advertisements.  Companies pay millions of dollars to ad agencies to design advertisements that will capture the eye of its customers before they flip the page.  Ads can provide no-fail color schemes for your scrapbooking.  An added bonus of advertisements is that they not only provide great inspiration for colors, but their layouts are an education in design theory, as well.

Color palettes are everywhere.  Next time you need some color inspiration, take a creative look around you.  Keep an idea journal with notes, clips from magazines and paint chips.  Tired of the same old red and green on your Christmas pictures?  Use your holiday sweaters to inspire you.  There is no end to the number of color palettes you can find for your scrapbooking pages.

Wood Colors

In the species which show that a difference distinct between the duramen and sapwood the normal color from the duramen is usually darker than that of sapwood, and very frequently contrast is remarkable. This is produced by deposits in the duramen various materials resulting from the process of the growth, is probably increased by chemical oxidation and other changes, which have usually little or not appreciable effect on the mechanical properties of wood. Some experiments on the very resinous specimens of pine of Long leaf, however, indicate an increase in force. It is due to the resin which increases the so dry force, Luis Messineo explains.

Luis Messineo - Colors of Wood

Such a duramen resin-saturated is called the “large lighter”. Luis Messineo explains that the established structures of the large lighter are almost impermeable with the putrefaction and the termites; however they are very flammable. Sections of old pines of long leaf are often dug, are duplicated in small pieces and sold like lighting for fires. The sections dug thus can really remain a century or more since being cut.

The fir tree soaked with the rough resin and dry is increased also considerably by this fact in the force. Since late wood of a ring of growth is usually darker colors than wood early, this fact can be employed by judging the density, and thus the hardness and the force of the material. It is in particular the case with wood conifers. Out of ring-porous wood the ships of wood early not seldom to appear on a surface finished like darker than denser late wood, however on cross sections of duramen the reverse is generally true. Unless way has right statement the color of wood is not any indication of force. The abnormal discoloration of wood often indicates a sick condition, indicating the unsoundness.

The so common scratches brown-reddish in hickory and some other wood are most of the time the result of the damage by birds.

Discoloration is simply an indication of the damage, and more than probably of itself does not affect the properties of wood. However a known effect attracting under the name of splatting produces by this process is often considered a desirable characteristic.

Wall Clocks

Modern wall clocks have gained in popularity over the years and have become an essential part of most homes, schools, and offices. Luis Messineo recounts that, throughout history, unique wall clocks have been an oddity and were often the center of attention in any room’s decor. Today’s modern wall clocks are designed to fit into almost any decorating style, made to blend seamlessly with the more traditional wood or metal look.

Luis Messineo - Wall Clocks

As opposed to the more traditional antique wall clocks, which added a touch of elegance to any room, many modern wall clocks are focused on functionality. In this day and age of high tech gadgets, time accuracy and global features are important to not only businesses, but many households as well.

Modern Wall Clocks Have Gone Atomic

As you may have heard, the atomic wall clock is one of the latest technological advancements in time measurement. They are sometimes referred to as radio controlled clocks.

An atomic clock wall model has an internal mechanism that takes advantage of radio frequencies to synchronize its current time and date with the U.S. Atomic Clock. What is the U.S. Atomic Clock you might ask? Well, it is a radio controlled clock operated and maintained by the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Ft. Collins, Colorado.

The atomic wall clock has a small antenna incorporated into it that receives a radio signal from Ft. Collins, Colorado. This signal relays the time and date, to the millisecond, to your atomic clock. So, once your clock has been initially set to the time zone at your location, your radio controlled clock will be automatically updated from the U.S. Atomic Clock.  What is even more amazing is that your clock will even adjust itself automatically for daylight savings time (DST).

Go Global With a World Wall Clock

Never heard of a world clock? Well, a world wall clock measures and displays time from around the globe. The typical world wall clock can determine the time for a specific location through a process of dividing the globe into time zones. Each group of states or countries will correspond to a different time zone, allowing for consistency of daylight hours as the earth circles the sun. World wall clocks have grown in importance as the Internet and modern communication devices have “shrunken” the globe. In today’s hectic business world, it is important for a business person to consider time zones, as their clients and customers can literally be halfway around the globe. For the common household, a world clock wall model allows for easy access to world times. This can be a great benefit if, like so many families today, relatives or friends live in foreign countries and contact times are important.

A modern wall clock, whether it is an atomic wall clock or world wall clock, is the perfect addition to your home or office, Luis Messineo recommends. If you can afford a cut-above model, it will provide an additional touch of glamour and a sense of sophistication to the interior of your home or office.  So, why not join the high-tech crowd today with your own state-of-the-art modern wall clock?

Artistic Greetings Create A Lasting Impression

Luis Messineo - Artistic Greetings

Every person feels the need to send greetings to dear ones and friends all year round, as it is a nice and easy way to let someone know you care. Artistic greetings come in many different forms and they have been popular for several years.

Artistic greetings can be found at every gift and card shop. A lot of people prefer to purchase one special occasion like birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and holidays. Another nice option, Luis Messineo suggests, is to visit an art gallery or museum where you may come across artistic greetings that illustrate some of the world’s most famous paintings.

On a creative note, you can even make your own artistic greetings which in reality might be the best way to say you care because of the effort and time you took to put the artistic greetings together. Although they can be time consuming, they are well worth it.

It can be overwhelming to think about making artistic greetings for everyone on your list but with some careful planning you can spend a few hours to it and possibly even get other family members to assist you.

If you are the parent of school age children enlist their help in making artistic greetings that you can send out during the year. A great approach is to set up a craft station on a table in your home. Materials like crayons, paints, sparkles and glue should be made available to your children. Let them draw color and paint their own little works of art and then trim them to fit on card stock. This is a much loved one one-of-a-kind personal creations that a majority of the recipients will appreciate and treasure long after the special occasion has passed.

One can also find exclusive artistic greetings by looking up for artists online who specialize in the business. Of late a number of artists see the potential in sharing their work through this venue.

This way you not only find ready-made greetings but you will discover artists who will create artistic greeting by request, thus offering you a unique creation that will certainly please whoever you decide to send it to. If you choose to go this route, Luis Messineo encourages you to ensure you deal with an artist who will come through for you when you need artistic greetings.

Lastly read reviews of the artist and check out more details on their website. Make sure that they have contact information displayed, and it is the right information. Also confirm you see the finished product if you special order artistic greetings before you purchase them, as shouldn’t have to pay on greetings that don’t fully reflect your initial vision.

Metal Art Basics

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Luis Messineo believes that metal art falls under a few different categories in the art world. Most people would place it in the sculpture box. Metal art is also a little out of the mainstream of art. If you think about it, the main population of artists are painters. Why you ask? Probably because the space, time, and resources that are needed to make the art.

For example, a metal artist needs a metal working shop where a painter only needs a dedicated room or studio. A metal artist also needs to invest in a significant number of metal working machines before he can begin. A painter only needs paint, brushes and a canvas. A bit of a difference huh.

There are 3 main types of metal art:

Casting
Fabricated Sculpture
Metal Junk Art

Cast Metal Art

In casting the metal artist makes a mold of an object. Next, the artist uses a furnace of some sort to melt metal. This metal can be Aluminum, Steel, Bronze or some other metal alloy. The metal artist then pours the molten metal into the mold. The object cools for a period of time and then is released from the mold. Finally the object is cleaned up and sometimes a patina is added. This type of work is very hot and time consuming with multiple steps for the metal artist.

Fabricated Sculpture Metal Art

Fabricated sculptures are a bit different. There is some heat involved, but it is normally from welding different metal pieces together. These sculptures are usually more detailed then cast sculptures. Most times the artist has an idea of what they want to build and then they start assembling it like you would a car or bike.

Metal Junk Art

Some times people even make these sculptures out of junk pieces of metal. Luis Messineo calls this “Junk Art” while others call it “Found Object Art.” You make the call. You see this type of metal art at street art fairs quite a bit.

Out of these three types of metal art Luis Messineo prefers fabricated metal art. Not that he thinks that the art is better. To Luis Messineo, it seems there is some more craftsmanship that goes into in. There is a process before hand where the artist has to think a little bit and plan the work.

Metal art does take a little more time, money and effort then other types of art. Part of that is the nature of the work. You need extra machines around because you are working with a tough media. You need a little extra power so you control your metal art instead of it controlling you.

Beethoven Biography

Born in 1770, Ludvig van Beethoven was one of only three of his parents’ seven offspring children to survive infancy. Yet the world of music owes this chance event an immeasurable amount, because he would go on to be one of a handful of composers to grace the art form with a style and quality that is truly unique. Luis Messineo recounts that his father was his first music teacher, a proficient tenor, and his grandfather on the paternal side had been Kappelmeister at the court of Clemens August of Bavaria. Music was in his blood, and he started playing viola and organ at a very early age, although he was not a prodigy in the Mozart mould – despite his father’s attempts to declare that Ludwig was seven for an early performance when he was in fact nine. However he was certainly a talented youngster, and published his first three piano sonatas in 1783. He died in 1827 and it is said that as many as 30,000 people attended his funeral procession.

Luis Messineo -Beethoven Biography

How Beethoven’s deafness has helped interpreters

Beethoven’s genius is merely underlined by the fact that he started to lose his hearing in his late twenties, yet continued through intense frustration and anguish to compose some of music’s most complex and beautiful pieces. For the historian and student of his music, however, the composer’s deafness created a unique opportunity to appreciate the composer. Because he could not take part in an oral conversation, he would carry with him notebooks and have conversations with people in writing. These people could be performers, conductors, students or masters, and the notes survive today to give a unique insight into not only the man, but his art, too – among his notes are specific instructions on how to play many of his compositions and descriptions of his emotional state and day-to-day life, all of which are priceless to the modern interpreter.

Beethoven’s major piano works

During Beethoven’s life, Luis Messineo highlights, the piano as an instrument became much more accepted as an instrument, partly due to technological enhancements that meant a piano could hold its own with a full orchestra whilst retaining its warmth, tone, sustain and power in the chamber setting. The harpsichords, spinets and clavichords of the past would eventually lose popularity among composers and audiences. The timing could not have been more perfect for Beethoven; he would become a master at both performing on and composing for the piano. He is usually regarded as having composed five piano concertos, although his piano arrangement of his Violin Concerto in D Major is sometimes referred to as his Piano Concerto No. 6. Beethoven was a prolific composer of piano sonatas; altogether there are 32 of them, and many are well known, even among people with no interest in classical music. His best known piano sonatas are “Moonlight”, “Waldstein”, “Pathétique” and “Pastoral” (not to be confused with his Pastoral Symphony). He also left copious amounts of chamber music, much of which had a piano (or more than one piano) as an integral part, along with his string quartets, duos and quintets.

Decorating Your Home With Art

When you go about decorating your house, you’ll have many different things to consider. It can be hard to add enough accessories to fill up your walls and surfaces to make them seem less desolate. Once option is to buy art to hang on your walls. Luis Messineo says the right painting would be a tasteful addition to your wall, giving you artistic value as well as decorative value. Most people don’t know the first thing about buying art. If that is true of you as well, then read on as I go over some basics of purchasing art.

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Some people have certain “favorite” artistic works that they have always admired or enjoyed. In this situation, it would be a good idea to look for a replica. You can get an exact photocopy of the original, or you can even find a hand-painted copy with the personal touch of another artist. As long as you know the title of the painting, you can search online at auction sites, or for art dealers who have copies that you can buy.

If you buy copies of famous art, you are supporting businesses that do nothing but copy art. For many people, this is unacceptable. If you’d like to support some real artists, you should purchase original paintings. You can go to art shows, galleries, festivals, or many other places to find paintings. There are many festivals that invite hundreds of amateur artists who show off their paintings that are for sale. You shouldn't attend with your mind set on getting a painting. Instead, you should walk around at your own leisure and enjoy all of the art. If you see something that really strikes you and is within your price range, then buy it. But don’t be afraid to go home empty-handed.

Buying art is fairly easy to do, and once you get started you may find that it is hard to quit. Luis Messineo highlights that when you hang a beautiful painting on your wall, it adds so much to the room. It gives your house a whole new level of aesthetic value. So even if you've never been interested in art before, you should start to look at some of the options that are available to you. Attend art festivals, talk to painters, and visit galleries. You’ll find that along with the items you purchase, you’re also getting involved in a vibrant and interesting lifestyle with lots of cool people!

How Landscape Paintings Can Brighten Up The Home

If you want to add a little extra something to your home but you are not really sure what to do, then why not start with a new picture?Luis Messineo believes landscape pictures really can add an elegant touch to any home and depending upon where you get one from, they do not necessarily cost the earth either. However, if you want an original you will probably not be able to afford it so it is better to stick with reprints which are cheaper but just as good.

Luis Messineo - Landscape Paintings

Why Choose a Landscape Picture?

Choosing a landscape picture over any other type is advisable because it will fit into almost any room. So, whether you are looking for something for your living room, your bedroom or even your hallways, you will find a landscape picture to suit your needs. You just have to look around to find the best prices.

Think about it, we like our gardens to be really well designed. There is nothing more pleasing than to go out after a hard days work and relax within a scenic environment. Often we simply do not have time to go for a nice, scenic walk and so we rely upon creating a scenic and relaxing environment closer to home. Well, by having landscape pictures, you are adding to that scenic environment and you can lose yourself in the scenery of the picture whenever you want to.

Luis Messineo suggests that you buy reprints instead of originals as you may be able to purchase pictures from the likes of Claude Monet, Camille Picasso and John Constable. Or, if you are not particularly bothered about famous paintings, searching online will bring thousands of landscape pictures available to you. It may take a while to look through them all, but as there is a large choice available it means that you are more likely to find something which you really love. Local stores do not always have the best pictures so it is nice to have the internet to turn to if needed.

As for the type of landscape picture that you purchase, that is entirely up to you. You can buy forest and woodland landscape pictures, waterfalls, beach and countryside landscape pictures. All of which have hundreds of paintings to choose from and each will look completely different from the next.

Overall landscape pictures really can brighten up the home and they do look really good. So, you do not only have the choice to landscape your garden, but you can also bring a touch of landscape to the inside of your home too.

How To Choose The Right Souvenir

Choosing the right souvenirs is not always easy when traveling to another region or another country, Luis Messineo asserts. While you will pass by many gift shops, duty free shops, and travel shops, you probably won't buy anything until you are ready to come home. By then you will be tired and not in the mood for shopping. Buying a few souvenirs such as a mug, keychain, t-shirt, or shot glass that displays where you went on vacation is what most people do because these items are easy to find, inexpensive, and unique to those who will receive them.

Luis Messineo - How To Choose The Right Souvenir

Buying souvenirs for other people is a longstanding tradition. While travelers buy travel gifts for themselves, they will usually include a few small items for close friends and family. In addition to stories and pictures, many people like to receive a small gift as a way to appreciate another person's trip even more. While some people buy items in bulk, some will spend a little time while on holiday to pick out gifts that are more personal in nature. New stationary, a monogrammed shirt, or a collection of postcards are special items that many people do not have at home.

When you want to bring home gifts to loved ones while on vacation, you should make a list so you don't leave anyone out. This includes family members. Next, ask them what they would like. Most people are not picky, they usually want small items that don't cost too much. Write these ideas next to their names so you won't forget. Depending on how long you will be traveling and where you will be traveling, you may need to wait until the end of your vacation. Some countries are particular about what you can take in and out of their countries, so be sure to have an understanding of the rules before buying any gifts.

If you have time to shop for individual gifts, Luis Messineo suggests buying something for yourself. Forgetting to buy an item that you can cherish while on vacation can be frustrating. Put yourself on your list if you think you will forget. Once you know what to buy, find small shops and make your purchases. Small shops are usually less expensive and you have a better chance of finding items that are rare and unique.

After buying souvenirs, make sure they are wrapped and securely positioned in your suitcase. Because you may need to check your baggage, your souvenirs may break during the trip home. Once you arrive, take your souvenirs out of your suitcase and store them in a safe place until you are able to give them to your friends and family. Even though most people will give you a list of what they would like, they are usually very surprised when they receive something.

Scrapbook As A Personal Statement

A Scrapbook is a personal statement about what is important to you. It is your personal style showing through on every page. This is one fun project that lets you tell your history and feelings in your own words. It is a way to bring joy to you and those around you who happen to see your scrapbook.

Scrapbooks can be a very creative way to show off photos and creative layouts. From photos of wonderful vacations to family pictures you are on your way to creating and sharing your personal experiences. Not only is your signature is on this book you enable everyone to share your family through the generations. Luis Messineo believes a scrapbook crafts up better memories with a picture to the past.

Introduction to the art of scrap booking with Creative Photos

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Using photos in interesting ways in your scrapbook can be creative fun. You can make them as large as you like. Formal or informal, whatever mood suits you. Creative photos strategically placed in appropriate ways, and then framed or embellished using your artistic talent, turn your pages into a glorious trip down memory lane.

Make sure to get a scrapbook that has a binding that will fit additional refill pages. There are most likely photos you will want to add. Some scrapbooks have CD and storage pockets.Use top-loading page protectors because you want to protect the entire scrapbook page from fingerprints and accidental spills. The photos will then also be safe from wear and damage.

After you selected a theme start looking over your photos to determine the order you want them in. When you organize your pictures by date or event you will have an idea of page number and style. The page layout will dictate the appearance and feel of your entire project.

Use your best photos they are the heart and soul of the book. They link the past and present and record your life experiences. Your décor is the embellishments that you add to these memorable times of your life.

By cropping or cutting your pictures into different shapes, you keep your book from appearing cluttered. As Luis Messineo says, it can help you achieve a creative layout. There will be some photos that are not meant to be cut. These probably include older photos that you may not have negatives for.

When matting a photo on card stock you get to choose the color that compliments the picture. The single greatest way to emphasis the effect of the picture is by the mount you use. Re-size the photo’s appearance by changing the physical dimensions of the mount. You can create photo collages from selected parts of multiple photos.

Creative photos mean it is not just the photos that standout, but the presentation is the creation. You can turn the photos into gorgeous works of art with ribbons, gift paper, and a stream of artistic talent. Have a unique presentation by finding patterns to print on the mounting of the photos. Then of course you can use an ink pad and stamp and embellish the photos background mount.

A scrapbook crafts your history as no story telling can. The art of scrape booking and the use of creative photos have made many enthusiasts glued to scrap booking.

Gemstones - An Overview

A gemstone usually refers to a rock or mineral that is used in jewelry or as a collector's item, usually after it has been polished, cut or faceted.

Gemstones are classified through several ways, Luis Messineo explains. They may be grouped according to chemical composition -- for example, rubies are made of aluminum oxide and diamonds are made of carbon. If they are crystals, they may be classified using the crystal system, which divide gemstones into cubic, trigonal or monoclinic. They are also classified according to habit, which refers to the shape of the stones. It's also possible to group gemstones according to species -- for example, the mineral species beryl would include such gemstones as emerald, aquamarine, bixbite, goshenite, heliodor and morganite.

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Buying a gemstone can be an absolute joy. Imagine the thrill of being surrounded by a roomful of precious gems, with colors that dazzle and captivate. Over 30 types of gem varieties have been identified, not counting those rare, singular gemstones that show up once in a while and defy category. Some of these gemstones have decorated and adorned the earliest civilizations of man, while others are recent discoveries but nonetheless as impressive as their forebears.

Emeralds are the most popular gemstones in the world and have been esteemed since ancient times. They are a dazzling green all over, alternately shiny and intense to the eye. The highest-quality emeralds are more coveted than diamonds, a little known fact. They were named from the word "esmeralde" which is Old French for "green gemstone." Their rich history dates back to the times of great ancient civilizations like the Incas and Aztecs. Its roots are buried deep in the jungles of South America where the rarest of emeralds can still be found.

The ruby is the gemstone that best represents love and vitality, passion and intensity, Luis Messineo says. The ruby has long been regarded as first among gemstones, their bright red glow that conveys strength and warmth. These qualities made the ruby the most valuable gemstone for centuries, a royal favorite of emperors and kings.

Often compared to the blue sky in literature and history, sapphire has as many shades as the sky has hues. Legend has it that early man actually believed that the sky was made of one big block of sapphire and that the earth was simply a thorn on its side. Among emotions, Sapphire is associated with noble feelings of harmony, friendship, loyalty and sympathy. And since blue is the favorite color of about half the world's population, sapphire's appeal and popularity worldwide is not surprising.

The Art Of Scrapbooking - A Brief History

What is a Scrapbook?

For those of you who have been living under a rock for the last few centuries and don’t know what a scrapbook is, this is it: Basically, it’s just a book full of stuff. What stuff? Anything you can think of. To most people, it’s a hobby of making collages full of writings, pictures, drawings or even ticket stubs, airplane tickets and museum passes. Don’t be too quick to dismiss the idea of scrapbooking as childish or unimportant.

Scrapbooking, on the surface, is a simple creative outlet. But, as Luis Messineo states,on a deeper level, it’s a way of recording our histories or notable events in our lives. Scrapbooks are a great way to express yourself or show others who you are and where you’ve been. Today scrapbooking is a multi-billion-dollar industry. There are scrapbooking clubs, blogs, etc. and it doesn’t appear to be going anywhere in the near future.

Luis Messineo for post on scrapbooking

When did Scrapbooking Start?

A “scrap” used to be how you refer to a picture that is unmounted. Luis Messineo and many people kept entire books full of unmounted pictures and those were, literally, the first scrapbooks. Scrapbooking is not a phenomenon that came about recently. Though not in their current form, the idea of scrapbooking has been around for centuries. The first scrapbooks were in use as far back as 1598.

Scrapbooks gained prominence during the Renaissance. These precursors of the modern day scrapbook were called ‘commonplace books’. Hamlet writes in one saying: “Smile and smile and be a villain.” John Locke, the philosopher, highlighted them in his manual titled: "The New Method of Making Common-place Books." In 1769 came the Granger books, books used by William Granger. Granger used this form to publish a history of England with extra illustration of the text in the appendix. Granger books were also called extra-illustrated books.

A major interest in scrapbooking came about in 1826, with the publication of “Manuscript Gleanings and Literary Scrapbook” by John Poole. The term ‘scrapbook’ was, however, coined a few years prior and had until then existed under various names. During the late 1800s, Mark Twain also popularized the usage of scrapbooks by patenting a series of them in 1872.

Photography and Scrapbooking

The invention of photography took the concept of the scrapbook to another level and changed the way it was done completely. Now, it became possible to also capture scenes of the events being described in the text as well.

In the 20th century, the popularity of the scrapbook declined. This was because, during the time of the first Word War, recession caused businesses, even the business of recording happy times, to close down. Another reason was that around 1940, the mass production of photo albums started and people ignored the scrapbook as the preferred method of recording events in their lives. The resurgence in scrapbooking started with Alex Haley’s “Roots”.

Ever since, there has been renewed interest in scrapbooking and, today, it has acquired a newer shade with the introduction of digital technology.

10 Tips On Decoupage

1. Before you start with your decoupage project, you must first decide on as to which surface you would be covering. Any kind of surface is just fit for decoupage. Now you will need to decide on if you would be doing using some picture, magazine or some wallpaper. Whatever you select, Luis Messineo remarks the importance of ensuring that the quality is good. Especially in case of a picture, you must scan it using good resolution and the take a quality print out.

2. To decoupage, do not cut any picture to give it some other layout instead tear it along the edges. You can take pictures from magazines or books. You can overlap other pictures to decoupage your picture.

3. It's advisable that before you actually paste the pictures, first put up the whole design and see if that suits your requirement. Its simple to decoupage a picture to some utility items like furniture, photo album, frames, Boxes, vases etc.

Luis Messineo Photo

4. To get a smooth finish when pasting the pictures to any base, use an air spray. This is to ensure that no air bubbles are formed while gluing. To accomplish this all you will require is an air container. Place your picture inclined to the base surface and spray the air on the paper from top to bottom.

5. It's important that before you decoupage, you must clean the surface first. Depending on the material the surface is made up of, you may need to seal it too. You can clean the dirt on the surface using a cotton brush. At times the surface may require a coat of paint too. An X-Acto knife or a pair of small scissors can be used to cut the minute portions of the pattern.

6. You may cut a piece from some magazine that has some text written on it. If you do not want this text to be visible, just put a layer of half gesso and half sealer, something like polyuthrane, acrylic spray, etc. Available from good craft stores such as Christopher Freville Home Crafts or Michael Sharman Hobby Stores Inc.

7. In case you decoupage a box, plan out on the corners first and then move inside to design middle of the box. Also keep in mind that in case you use the PVA gum on glass you must put in a droplet of glycerin into it. This would ensure that the glue does not dry up quickly.

8. If you are extending your picture, note that you do not cut the picture, instead tear it so that it has soft and irregular edges. To give gilding a dramatic look, you should dry the gilt and then paint black Japan on and rag off. Once you put a layer of sealer on to it, it is ready for decoupage or varnish.

9. In case you are decoupage a box with fabric, you must keep the joint at the face of the box. Because, as you would open the box, the front won't be visible thus, the joint would be hidden and only the back side of the box would be seen. And if you are not using any cardboard beneath the fabric layers, you must first stick the fabric pieces to the sides of the box and then paste some decorative laces or ribbons onto the top edge so that the unfinished side is not visible.

10. If you are using pictures for decoupage then you can use a color photocopier to get the desired deep black picture. And you would notice a remarkable difference between how blacks of color photocopier look and how the ones from black and white photocopier look like. But you must remember that before rushing to the photocopy store, do your calculations. Like how much is the image to be resized? Do you need to enlarge it or reduce it? You may also just need the image to have the same size. You can actually use this technique to create symmetrical designs.

3 Birthday Party Games Everyone Will Love Playing!

What’s a birthday party without games? No party at all that’s what! Games bring excitement to any party and birthday parties are no exception. Sure there are the traditional birthday party games like pin the tale on the donkey and smashing the piñata open, but times have changed and while these traditional games remain classics, there are a few more out there that are sure to go down in the history books. The next generation will definitely be calling these games ‘classic’.

Luis Messineo Photo - Blogger Post on Birthday Party Games

Balloon Stomp – Here’s how this game works. Tie balloons to your ankles and stomp on each other's balloons and try to pop them. A lot of movement may be required. Six or more players can play. You'll need rubber bands and balloons. Blow up a lot of balloons and tie a rubber band to each of them. Put a balloon around each player’s ankle by stretching the rubber over their foot. If you want you can put a balloon on each ankle. Make sure players wear shoes to protect their feet. Play some music and have everyone stomp around, trying step on and pop the balloons of other players. Whoever has the last balloon left around their ankle is the winner!

This next game is not called ‘The Ultimate Water Balloon Game’ for no reason! Here’s how to play. Depending on how many guests you have, you may need to fill up one hundred or more water balloons before the party starts. This is a four part game and every game can have a different winner. The first game involves teams of two. Each team gets one balloon. They start really close to each other and the teammates have to toss them back and forth, with each successful toss they both take one step back. If your balloon pops then you are out. The last team standing wins. The second game is hot potato but you sit the kids further away from each other so they have to toss it. Everyone who gets wet is out. Each person left with the balloon is out too.

The third game is a free for all! Let them have a water war with the balloons. And for the last and final game, you give everyone a bucket as a party favor, and you tell them who ever picks up the most balloon pieces out of the yard gets the last and final prize. The kids will clean the yard so well!

A Collectible Mantle Clock Is A Must For Your Collection

It seems today that people are collecting just about everything ever known to man. A collectible mantle clock is included in this matter, as clocks are in fact an incredibly popular collectible item.

Where to Find a Collectible Mantle Clock

There are many locations where you can find a collectible mantle clock to add to your existing collection, and one of the most popular available locations is that of Capodimonte Clocks, which offers wide and incredibly varied selections of collectible clocks, including that of a collectible mantle clock. Their designs are truly eye-catching, and they have everything from Grandfather to Grandmother clocks, to Italian and Victorian style traditional clocks.

Luis Messineo Photo for Blogger Post

All of their items are elegant and yet functional, and are all available for a relatively reasonable price.

The Clock Depot is another well-known company where you can shop for a collectible mantle clock, and their basic mantle clock categories include that of: quartz mantle clocks, and key-wound mantle clocks. The quartz mantle clocks are considered as being practical and never require any winding, and movements may last over twenty years or more without the need for maintenance except for that of changing the battery every few years.

Their selection of quartz mantle clocks includes: classic oak mantle clock, classic cherry mantle clock, hermle barrister II mantle clock, Klein barrister mantle clock, Seiko carriage mantle clock, Seiko French mantle clock, Seiko cherry carriage mantle clock, Augustine cherry mantle clock, Augustine oak mantle clock, Adelaide mantle clock, Albany mantle clock, Akron mantle clock, Albright mantle clock, Anthony mantle clock, Burton mantle clock, Burton II mantle clock, Candice mantle clock, Carly mantle clock, and the Christopher mantle clock ñ to name a few.

As for the key-wound mantle clocks, their selection includes: Cynthia mantle clock, Dalton mantle clock, Eastlake mantle clock, Fleetwood mantle clock, graham bracket III mantle clock, grant mantle clock, Hampton mantle clock, Hillsborough mantle clock, Jenna mantle clock, Kayla mantle clock, Langland mantle clock, marquis mantle clock, Medford mantle clock, Myra mantle clock, Nicholas mantle clock, Redford mantle clock, Salina mantle clock, Sheldon mantle clock, Tara mantle clock, Tristan mantle clock, and the urban mantle clock.

If you are looking for a mantle clock to add to your collection, this is definitely one of the best places to check out. Not only do they offer one of North America's largest selections of mantle and other clocks, but their prices are also incredibly affordable.

A Historical View On Experimental Hydroponics

Experimental hydroponics have appeared from the 17th century when biologists discovered that plants can grow without soil. From that moment on, numerous experimental hydroponics projects have been initiated in an effort to improve the method. Even if it experimental hydroponics have a long history, the real progress in the field appeared after 1970 when plastics began to be used reducing technological expenses and stimulating farmers to think about the system's viability.

Luis Messineo photo for blog post on hydroponics

A historical view on experimental hydroponics

The first experimental hydroponics project from Europe was started in England and shortly after that in France. Growing mint was the first such successful project initiated in 1699. Later in 1860 and then in 1938 different techniques were developed in Germany. In US experimental hydroponics was founded in 1925; researches continued with a smaller interest until 1970 when plastic was discovered allowing low cost systems to be easily implemented. After plastic became a common thing, experimental hydroponics extended to Europe and Asia.

Arid regions from all over the world like Iran, Arizona or Abu Dhabi were used for implementing experimental hydroponics in an effort of combining the advantages of solar radiation with the humidity provided by hydroponics; the main benefit of hydroponics is that it uses 90% less water than traditional soil agriculture.

From 1973 when oil price started to rise many investors lost their interest in experimental hydroponics, especially in US; bankruptcy and many financial problems followed for lots of experimental hydroponics system owners. A successful research in hydroponics was made in 1983 and 1985 and the interest in the subject was reestablished. At present when the concern to lower the level of chemical treatments applied to traditional crops is rising, experimental hydroponics has started to receive a lot more money in an effort to grow crops clean from ecological imbalances and other soil related problems.

What else can be said about experimental hydroponics?

Many systems were implemented to study plant health in an experimental hydroponics environment, and test the viability of an investment. It is common practice to invest in a small experimental hydroponics model that can predict the success of the project. As a general rule hydroponics is a good business if the growing crops can't be produced on the local market by traditional soil agriculture. In direct competition from similar soil crops, a hydroponic farmer doesn't stand a chance, but in the absence of a valid soil culture, hydroponics is unparalleled.