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If you like something of a visual treat then Bargello quilts are such ones. Once to start admiring the craft that goes into making of a Bargello quilt you will always remember to admire this quilt type.

It’s simple to make and also like a treasure. Beginners could be in for a surprise when they find that it’s simple to make and the results shall make to feel proud too. Even the basic knowledge of operating a rotary cutter lining up with a ruler and general knowledge of using a sewing machine, one-forth seam stitch specifically.

This art of Bargello making is easy and you should try it some time soon. Here’s what you need to do-

list of items you need :

* A Standard sewing machine

* Stitching needles - general size 12

* Iron

* A Rotary cutter

* Spray starch

* Needles

* Pins- beaded head

* Cutting Mat

* The material for fabrics could be in 7 different shades (plain as well as printed)

* Quilt batting

* Material for binding borders.

* Rotary ruler

Material for binding borders

instruction to make :

1. A single color would not be bad at all as multiple colors can have that overdone effect. Cotton as fabric shall be the best bet. Cloth used for binding purpose should be of contrasting color, as it will lighten up the border looks. Prewash the cloth, dry it up and iron it with starch.

2. Keep all things like pattern and design simple so as to avoid difficulties later on in creating it. A wave pattern shall be easy. Here is what you will have to do for a wave pattern. Also aid from quilting software can be handy.

3. The strips have to cut three and half inches in length of the fabric, from cut the strips 3.5 inches wide of the fabric. Fabric with fold is to be faced towards you and then to be cut 2.5 inches strips of every fabric . Cut the fabric one at a time if you are a beginner.

4. Thereafter sew the fabric strips to join them, use a

It’s fun to make a scrapbook especially when you aim to cherish those keepsakes and memories from “baby’s first” to “father’s first” or maybe even “brother’s last” or that summer vacation you’ve enjoyed with your family. But to make a scrapbook on your own needs some serious scrapbook supplies and some creative scrapbook layouts to be catchful to the eye of the reader or the viewer. Here are some things that you might need to know especially when it’s the first time you make your own scrapbook.

Finding the right scrapbook materials for your new project is the easiest part! Since scrapbooking is a hobby that has been around for some time now you can be sure that the materials are far less expensive then when the hobby was first introduced and the variety is unlimited. As this hobby continues to progress the number one place to shop and purchase your scrapbook supplies or materials is online.

But before that, the challenging part is to choose what type of topic you want for your scrapbook. You might have dozens in your head. Your baby’s firsts like his first hair cut, his first photo, his first pair of socks, his first tooth, his first baby step photo, his first laugh photo or you can make a scrapbook of the different things that you love: letters from your boyfriend, pictures of yourself, photos of your most-loved showbiz celebrity and whatever you have in your mind. And of course, you need some ideas for scrapbook layouts to make it more creative and entertaining!

Once you have decided on a topic, you can start choosing the supplies needed for your project. You can start by selecting what kind of scrapbook paper you want to use.

Today it’s really hard to choose from thousands of examples and scrapbook supplies and as what have been said before, the Internet is the best place to look for them and it’s really very easy!

It’s entirely a different kind of beast when you do shopping online. You can open several websites at a time and choose or compare brands, quality of different scrapbook supplies for hours or even days until you find what you’ve been looking for. That almost seems cutting the time to almost half of it! That way, you can spend more time creating than searching, right?

If you can’t find what you’re looking for online, perhaps, you can at least use the Internet to compare prices before heading out to your favorite retailer and buy your scrapbook supplies there.

But whichever way you look at it, it’s more convenient to do online shopping even looking for scrapbook supplies and getting some real good tips for the best examples of scrapbook layouts. So, you think making scrapbook is easy? Yes, it is, no doubt about it just as long you do your shopping online! So, hurry and make that scrapbook of yours! If you wait and wait, you will never know when you will be able to have the time and luxury to create your own scrapbook.

Syahrul Azlan Idris can help you find solution for your scrapbook supplies needs. For scrapbook supplies needs get his free advice from his scrapbook layouts website at http://www.abbyscrapbook.com

There is a mind numbing amount of considerations when packing for your photography trip. Such as which lenses you will need, how you are going to store your photos and how you are going to carry it all around. Then there’s the pleasure of getting it all past the ever tightening luggage restrictions of airlines. A little forethought and planning can help make sure you don’t get stuck without essential equipment and aren’t burdened by what you don’t need.

The gear

Perhaps the most obvious consideration is the camera and lenses. If you have planned your itinerary already you will have an idea of the types of shots you want to take. If you haven’t, stop what you’re doing right now and do this first. Once you know what photos you want to take, you can decide on the lenses that will best help you take them. Thinking landscapes? Then don’t be without your wide angle lens. Intimate portraits? Maybe a mid range zoom would be useful.

If you are debating taking a spare camera body then don’t. Debate that is. Pack it. The last thing you need is for your camera to be stolen or break while on the road. You might not be able to find a repairer, and if you do they might not be able to fix it on the spot. That would be the end of your photo taking adventure right there. Don’t learn the hard way for the sake of a little extra weight.

Then there are all the accessories that may or may not come in handy. Should you pack that set of neutral density filters? Again, think of the types of photos you will be taking. If its landscapes, then yes, by all means put them in. If its portraits they are probably just going to take up space. This goes for the tripod as well. Usually, travel portraits are taken hand held, usually with abundant light. Landscapes however tend to be early morning or late afternoon.

Storage

Once you’ve figured out what your going to need to take your pictures, you need to put some thought into how to store them. Should you take your laptop, a portable hard drive or two, a bag full of memory cards or all of the above? How much storage you will need depends on how long your stay is and how much shooting you’ll be doing. A laptop is useful if you need to view images as you go, or want to do some editing back at the hotel room. But if not, its just one more expensive piece of equipment you need to worry about. Leave it at home. Some portable hard drives have a viewing screen so you can review your photos as you upload them, which can be handy to see if you have the shot you want and gives you the chance to go back and try again if you missed it.

As a rule, it is a good idea to have two copies of your images as hard drives are notorious for failing at inopportune times. If you have a good supply of memory cards, backup to a portable drive and store the used cards is a separate place.

Getting it around

There are a few different options for carrying your gear around with you at a location. Shoulder bags tend to be able to hold a large amount of gear, but have the disadvantage of all the weight hanging off one shoulder. These bags are a good choice if you don’t have to do too much walking, but carrying gear around like this for days can do serious damage to your back.

Backpacks have the advantage of distributing the weight evenly, making them ideal for locations where you will be doing a lot of walking. Many of them also have the extra benefit of not looking like camera bags and so tend not to draw as much attention.

Many considerations go into packing for a photography trip. But think it through and take the gear that suits the style of photography you want to do and the place you are going and it will allow you to focus more on what is around you when you get there, rather than trying to decide which lens to use and missing the shot altogether.

Mark Eden is a freelance travel photographer and owner of Expanse Photography, a photographic services company You can see Mark’s, travel photography and contact Mark through the Expanse Photography website http://www.expansephotography.com.

History has it that the Romans had a rich culture of arts & crafts. The Romans keen enthusiasm made them create timeless pieces of crafts using dyeing, basket making, weaving, woodturning, cooking iron working and metal casting. Today too basket making is practiced but with more variations and details. Basket making for those who know it is an event in itself. Incase you too want to get up close with this art then it is better that we 1st learn the different types of types and methods of basket making. Enlisted here are few details that would be vital to start this art:

1. Let’s first learn some fundamental terms:

· Weaver: In here there are basket strands which have holes through which weaving is done, these are normally light, slimmer & more flexible as compared to spokes, this features allows for weaving inside out to take place.

· Spoke: In here the strands stands erect and form the support system of the basket; Spoke are rigid in nature compared to weavers & strong too.

· Inner & Upper weaving: This technique is the most common of all because it is the most simplest.

2. It must be known that double weaving is quite the same thing but there are two weavers implied for the job. This type of weaving is ideal on big surfaces, it is good for bands or designs of similar or dissimilar color on plain type of rattan baskets.

3. Keep in mind that pairing can be done with either even or odd number of spokes. 2 weavers are used behind 2 succeeding spokes, thereafter they make a cross between them, in this process the weavers change each time.

4. How to notice a triple twist. In here 3 weavers are there behind 3 successive spokes, beginning from back one, then above two & lastly the lesser spoke, each of these while going back of third spoke on being laid above other two weavers.

5. COILING: This method requires a group of strands or slim rods is sewed within round form having a slim, bendable element to make coiled baskets. There are numerous variations of stitching methods like interweaving multi-colored strands and copper, golden or silver metallic strands could be used for added attractiveness.

6. TWINING: Even in this method 2 or more bendable items can be used to join some other base element. Whenever 2 weavers work simultaneously, the method is known as pairing. Similarly when 3 or in access of 3 elements are curved it is known as waling. Many variations can be done just by binding rows hardly one row over the other or else by letting the warp be open, leaving a warp crossed, twining plain, wrapping the warp, among others.

7. WEAVING: There are two essentials in woven baskets. The 1st being unbendable spokes that form a warp & 2nd being additionally soft elements that are woven inside to outside so that a weft is formed.

8. PLAITING: The process of stitching similar elements together is known as Plaiting. Weavers & stakes are the same materials. The two are woven to cojoin at right hand angles in vertical, horizontal and diagonal orientation in simple or twill weaves. Plaiting can be done in either closed work or open checker-work.

Discover more resources on how to make gift baskets and survival kit gift baskets when you visit http://www.basketcrafting.com.

Memories are never ending tales of the warmth and happiness that we have shared over a period of time with friends, family and relatives. This experience only gets better day after day and therefore there are many more memories that we will want to preserve over a period of time.

Here in a picture quilt shall be a great way to do that. A picture quilt serves the purpose of keeping memories for us intact and later narrates them as if it were just yesterday.

Another name which picture quilts are known by is photo quilt, while the name – memory quilt is there because of the purpose and the making procedures. Kindly don’t get confused when the terms photo quilt, picture quilt and memory quilt come up as they are all the same.

If I were to be asked then picture quilt of all the different types would be the one I shall like to have. Let me share a personal tale with you here, once I sat for 5 days to build a picture quilt for my granny and those 5 days were very trying.

Reason was not pain in making that design I choose but because I couldn’t stop my hands while making it for her and then when I finally presented it to my grandmother she cried endlessly. These are precious things that you should make and be proud off as well.

I hope you are dreaming off the emotional talk I have made, I think you are as upbeat as I sound to craft a picture quilt so here’s how

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

* Needles and pins

* Photo scanner

* Threads

* Sewing machine

* Select the fabric or else cut portions from your old worn out clothes

* Photos

* Fabric paper

* Printer.

* Cutting mat, Rotary cutter, and ruler

THE PROCEDURE:

We should try and give more importance to the design pattern and relevance to memories while making the picture quilt. In this summary we shall learn how to craft a printed and scanned picture quilt, but there are other things you can do to make one. Having a predetermined design and theme will help you make one without confusion.

There is no limit to imaginations and if you like to be creative then making one with a marriage, family reunion or graduation theme will be the prefect way to start. The color scheme will help enhance the effect of the final product.

Carefully choose the picture and make sure it has high resolution so that the photo does not get lost in the beautiful shades of the picture quilt. Generally the square should be 6 X 12”. Pick the photos and cut them in the shape you’d like them to be placed on the quilt.

Place the photos in a way as to match your pattern of quilt. Then cut the fabric in the same size (printed or printed). Now place the photo and the fabric on a plain board. Ensure that the photos are of high resolution and fabric material is ironed as well as cut into shape.

Now follow the steps that you would do for a normal quilt making – batting, piecing, quilting and in the end binding. What you have in hand is that ultimate and unforgettable picture quilt ready to hold your find memories.

Discover free how to make YoYo quilt instructions and beginner quilters quilting quide at http://www.quilthowto.com, written by experienced crafter, Jennifer Walter.

So you want some digital photography tips that work quick and are easy? Well, photography is not that hard to start getting good at. It’s like playing an instrument. Anybody can get to a decent level but those that are very dedicated and with some talent are the ones that become great. I will try to show you how to become great.

The key for a beginner to start taking better shots is actually divided into two different keys…

1. Ultimate Control Over Your Camera and Equipment

2. Compositional Expertise

Experts have these two down pat and you as a beginner must try to develop these as best as you can. When expert photographers take photos they spend very little time composing a shot. Instead, they focus their attentions more on the message, the style, and what they want the photo to do to the viewer. That’s art!

Until you get to that level, master these two aspects of photography.

Technical Expertise.

This may be the easiest part to photography. It’s kind of like math. You must understand what exposures to use, what aperture, shutter speed, etc for proper exposure and such. If you don’t know what those terms mean then you need to learn!

Basically, shutter speed is the device in the camera that controls the amount of time light that is let in. Aperture controls how much light is let in. So, when you take a photo the camera lets light in a certain amount of time from a certain size of an opening.

Compositional Techniques:

There are lots of compositional techniques, and honestly, a lot of these tips conflict with one another. The key is to use the compositional tip that works with the situation your in. For a sample, I’ll give you three powerful and easy to implement techniques:

1. Isolate. Beginners make the mistake of trying to photography everything in a single shot. Don’t. Take a simple picture with a definite subject that anybody will understand as the main object of interest. If a viewer has to ask what to look at, you have a cluttered shot.

2. Avoid the Middle. People that take photos for “memories” take shots dead center. You want photos that look nice and thus, are going to want to use the rule of thirds. Simply stated, it says to avoid the middle. Place the subject to the left or the right, top or bottom.

3. Use Lines. Many different tips come into this category of tips. Use lines to lead to the subject of interest. This can add more impact to the subject. For example, have lines on a road lead to a car far head. Also, you can use lines to set the mood. Vertical lines make shots look fast paced whereas horizontal lines make relaxing shots like the beach.

This was just a brief touch to the tips and techniques out there for taking awesome shots. The ultimate tip towards success, however, is one you are going to hate hearing: practice! Overstated but true.

Al Sanchez has a Free Photo course that teaches beginners digital photography tips. He also has a Digital Photography Guide

Many companies when looking for ways to advertise their company, especially when it’s for a public event, choose to hand out leaflets. Leaflets are convenient because they can be handed out to a large number of people quickly, efficiently, and for a fraction of the cost of direct mail or other forms of printing for advertising purposes. But because so many companies are using this inexpensive form or printing, consumers are being left with many leaflets to sort through. The chances are they won’t and many leaflets will end up in the trash. You certainly do not want this to happen when you have spent time leaflet printing and so, it’s important to know a few things before printing out the final leaflets!

Design is essential when leaflet printing. Without a good design, the entire purpose of the leaflet is lost because consumers will not look at it. The design should be unique, stand out, and be very appealing to its target audience. The first thing to keep in mind when designing your leaflet for printing is who you are advertising to. If it’s for a younger population, you will want to choose trendier patterns and colors whereas if it’s a mature population, you may want simple lines and solid colors. The consumer decides instantly upon looking at a leaflet whether it’s appropriate for them or not and so, you need to set the tone with everything from colors to fonts.

Pictures can greatly help set the tone when leaflet printing. Many companies make the mistake of simply printing their leaflet with a generic picture taken from a software program. Although the image may keep in tone with the rest of the leaflet, it’s still not going to grab anyone’s attention. Pictures that have the most impact are those that are real photographs. Choose pictures that have something to do with the product or event being advertised and make it personal to the company or individual that is doing the advertising. For instance, if a company is printing leaflets to advertise an annual customer appreciation barbecue, a picture of the previous year’s barbecue would be appropriate and would be very interesting to consumers.

Another design element that is important to keep in mind when leaflet printing is the size of the leaflet. Many companies make the mistake of making the leaflet the size of a standard piece of paper and then fold it in thirds. While this does allow for much information to be included in the leaflet, this size is very ineffective. The purpose of a leaflet is easy advertising that can be easily given and easily taken. If the leaflet is too big to place in a pocket, it will get thrown out before being read simply because the consumer does not have time to put your leaflet away to read it later.

Leaflet printing can be a do-it-yourself project or it can be given to printing professionals. Both have pros and cons and the choice will depend on your needs. Professionals can provide a more professional look but they can sometimes be quite pricey. If you choose to do it yourself, you can complete the entire leaflet printing process on your computer. A combination of the two different methods of leaflet printing is to design your own leaflet and then send it to a company online that will have them professionally printed for you.

UK’s Lowest prices on Leaflet Printing and Flyer Printing by solopress.com

If you ever come across real elephant ivory during today’s collections, it must have been crafted before the time period of the ban or illegal elephant tusks. Make sure that you collection has only very old, but legal elephant tusks or the currently legal mammoth ivory.

The most common ivory of today are the older elephant tusks, the extinct mammoth , the sperm whale , the hornbill and the walrus ivory. Because of the mammoth being extinct so long ago, all though seemingly plentiful today, there will be a time when mammoth ivory will again be extinct in the another way.

vory has long been considered a very beautiful artistic material to the human eye, and has a long standing history dating back many centuries of humans using ivory for carving exquisitely capturing works of art, and for working functions too. All though some people may not even realize it, there are many different animals that ivory can actually come from, but what is considered to be absolutely “Real” in the true meaning of it is, to be from the teeth and tusks of mammoths and elephants.

Since elephant hunting for ivory was banned in the 1970’s, the only real remaining source of what would be considered “Real” material allowed today is the 10,000 year old extinct mammoth. If you ever come across real elephant ivory during today’s collections, it must have been crafted before the time period of the ban or illegal elephant tusks. It is best to NEVER support any type of purchasing of today’s real elephant tusks,if you have knowledge of it coming through illegal means. Make sure that you collection has only very old, but legal elephant tusks or the currently legal mammoth ivory.

The most common ivory of today are the older elephant tusks, the extinct mammoth , the sperm whale , the hornbill and the walrus ivory. There is also the hippopotamus teeth which is also very common, and maybe more than that of the others in some areas of the world, including the mammoth tusks. It is Hippopotamus ivory that is often commonly used for inlays, buttons or most any other flat surfaced items or upon most any flat surfaced area. It is walrus and the sperm whale ivory that is more commonly used in the makings of smaller objects of usage or artistically hand crafted collections of design. Highly popular in China, is the hornbill beak for making small brooches, buckles and other small wearable and collectible designs.

Even with so many choices it is the mammoth ivory that may be the most valuable due to it being the only one of two “Real” ivory originals, but also for the fact that mammoth tusk is unique within its self because of how many thousands of years old it is, and because of being directly from an extinct animal. Because of the mammoth being extinct so long ago, all though seemingly plentiful today, there will be a time when mammoth ivory will again be extinct in the another way. Even though the true number of mammoth still to be excavated is really unknown, there will be a time when there will be no more mammoth left to excavate for the makings of new mammoth tusk collectibles.

Anita Satin Choudhary writes for Ivory and Art Gallery. Browse the gallery for unique collection of artifacts ranging from Mammoth ivory to netsuke and Silver Judaica.

Over the years, online businesses have grown to unbelievable heights. So much in fact that many brick and mortar street stores and vendors are becoming obsolete.

In 2001 the Wall Street Journal reported many mom and pop stores in the optometry market were losing out big to web-based suppliers able to provide similar eyewear at half the cost to consumers, same with the travel industry, where local travel agents gave way to online behemoths such as Expedia and Travelocity. Seven years later, that trend has carried over to other markets such as the wall art industry.

OverstockArt.com, one of the web’s leading producers of reproduction oil paintings, has reported many of its buyers come from brick and mortar art galleries around the West coast. The company believes many of these private buyers turn reproduction work around in their stores for profit.

“It’s often hard to differentiate between one of our art reproductions and the original,” says OverstockArt.com’s Amitai Sasson. “That’s why we outsell a lot of our oil paintings directly to local galleries. Many clients that walk through their doors can’t afford million dollar originals, so they add our art reproductions to their collections, and append a few extra zeroes on the end of the price tag.”

Sasson says he’s not unhappy with the trend, but that consumers shopping in galleries should be aware of the tactic.

“Many of the galleries know that art purchase is emotional, spur of the moment decisions. People fall in love with the painting and take it home. However, it’s always good to check online before making a purchase,” he said, clicking through a list of some 20 or 30 street galleries his company has sold to in the past year.

Many Bush-era economy art connoisseurs are even turning to the online world of reproduction art instead of buying at galleries, simply because the price is good and the product is just like the real thing.

Mary Moon, a resident of Missoula, Montana has turned away from local galleries because gallery prices are just too high to pay right now. “I can buy four or five paintings online for the price of one piece at a local art gallery,” she says. “I’ve seen a lot of originals in person and the reproductions are very, very accurate. Of course they’re not the original, but they’re hand painted, textured and they look great.”

In gallery-style fashion, OverstockArt.com allows buyers to view art in the frame on a wall in cyberspace, and is now offering incentives like eco-friendly frames made from scrap molding and sawdust.

“It’s almost just as good as seeing it in a gallery, you can find the perfect frame to match your selection and you can even read experiences of past purchasers,” he said.

Sasson doesn’t believe the reproduction industry will ever completely take over the gallery market, but companies like Overstock Art will always offer a great alternative, especially when money is tight.

“Some people will always prefer to buy art in their local gallery, simply because it is an emotional buy; however, if they’d take the time and look through online, they might find the same paintings and a much better price,” Sasson states, . “A lot of people just want something that looks great that they can look at everyday and love. That’s what we specialize in – making that happen.”

Amitai Sasson of OverstockArt.com is a renowned art connoisseur on a mission to seek out and explore the beauty and passion of the art world. As an avid enthusiast of oil paintings, he contributes greatly to the industry with his writing. Read more on art and wall decor today!

Attractive, fresh displays of your crafts can make the difference of selling or flopping. It’s important so people don’t get bored with seeing your products.

But, maybe you may feel like you’re struggling for some inspiration. There’re lots of places you can get ideas for your booth. Here are three that I think you’ll find useful.

Existing Displays

Look around in the stores where you shop for displays of items similar to yours. Stores know that their business hinges on their products looking good to customers. They have to have good displays or they’ll be going out of business.

Take a look at what they’ve done. How are the products arranged? How many colors do they use? Do they use more than one type of product?

If possible, take pictures and keep them in a file. Before you know it, you’ll have a great folder to go through for getting ideas.

Magazines

Magazines can help you stay up with the trends. You can see what’s hot and what’s not. The nice thing about magazines is that they have lots of pictures.

Tear out the pictures and add them to your file. The more you look at them, the more you’ll see patterns that stores and shops use for creating good displays.

You’ll get ideas for how to display your product so customers know how to use it. Or to help them see how it will fit into their lives and what it will do for them.

Friends, Family And Other Crafters

Don’t pass up your family and friends. Get them to give you feedback on your ideas. Set up a display at home, and when they come over, ask them about it.

Does it catch their attention? Is there something missing from the display? You’d be surprised how just a few comments from someone can be very enlightening.

The tendency is that we get so involved with our crafts, that it’s hard for us to see the forest for the trees. Getting the feedback of some honest family members and friends can get us on the right path.

Look At What’s Worked In The Past

Not only should you be looking at what others have done, but you should be looking back at your own. You should be keeping track of what has worked for you in the past so you can refer to it.

When you go to a craft show, set up your display and take a picture of it. How well did it attract people’s attention. Did it draw them in and encourage them to pick the items up?

Keeping track of displays that have worked, and the ones that haven’t will help you to repeat your success. You can look at what’s worked and see how you can improve on it.

By constantly reviewing your work and that of others, you begin to get more and more of an idea of what really works, and what doesn’t.

Shawn is a businessman that has a soft spot for the independent business person. His site is targeted especially toward the craft industry to help artists sell their creations. A number of his articles address the issue of setting up your craft booth.