Category: Arts And Crafts

By Tracey Morgan

Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, retirements it seems theres always a need to buy someone a gift. And every so often you might get one back, too so its not all bad! If youre the type of person who struggles to think of appropriate gifts for people, though, youre not alone. But this might help: lurking in most families, possibly even your own, is a type of person with an insatiable appetite for gifts the artist. You can usually spot them as they will be wearing a beret and have a habit of comparing things with their outstretched thumb.

But why are they so easy to buy gifts for? Well, one of the features of the creative process is that they use things up. The word consumables could have been invented for artists as theyre constantly wearing out their supplies. When theyre not putting the finishing touches to their latest masterpiece theyre doodling, sketching, experimenting and coming up with ideas, and they will often find themselves bereft of a particular colour just when they need it.

Imagine your hobby is drawing and painting. You like to do sketches and you love to paint, so youre a regular visitor to you local art supplies shop. You are also not a millionaire. Do you always buy the best quality equipment? And do you always ensure that your own art supplies are as well maintained as the shops? Of course not. Youve got other things to buy like food, and youve got bills to pay, possibly children to raise, a spouse to keep sweet. You leave the shop happy, but youve probably chosen mainly from the budget range.

Now imagine youre buying a special present for that artist friend or relative. You might think at first that they will already have anything you could think of getting them, but youd be wrong. You can take this opportunity to really get them a special gift, something they just wouldnt buy for themselves but which will help them enormously with their craft.

A great idea to start with is some kind of set. A boxed, portable set of paints or good quality pencils will not only keep everything in order but will be a cherished gift for years to come. Long after its contents have been used up and replaced, the set will still be your gift and you could even use other gift-buying opportunities to do the replenishing yourself.

For younger budding artists, why not try a different kind of set, a more playful starter kit featuring some craft that might become a hobby for them? They often come with everything required to get started; for example, a painting set will have not only the paints but also the brushes, cleaning solutions, a palette and a mixing tray. It really is a hobby in a box, and if they enjoy it, youre sorted for many a birthday to come!

So dont assume your artist friend has everything they need, all the time. They probably muddle along just like we all do with our hobbies, getting by and occasionally dropping hints to potential gift buyers whenever a special event is on the horizon.

About the Author: Tracey Morgan created this review of

art gift ideas

for Pullingers, a

painting art supplies

company offering a range of art and craft materials for the professional artist and hobbyist.

Source:

isnare.com

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By Moe Tamani

Ethnic furniture has a rustic and visually captivating appeal. Today, you find ethnic furniture from different cultures and distant lands almost in all furniture stores across America. Additionally, ethnic furniture is being sold by online furniture websites.

The combination of unique artistic approach and uncommon color schemes make ethnic furniture popular. Designing your home’s decor by combining various ethnic themes, such as African, Moroccan, Asian etc, together will lend a highly appealing and warm ambience to your interior spaces. Whether you choose bright colors, daring patterns, and a combination of different variety of textures, your interior design project is bound to lend a new dimension to the spaces.

So what does ethnic furniture mean?

Ethnic furniture is basically furniture that has been created by indigenous people or natives from a particular area in a country or a region. In interior design, ethnic furniture is the amalgamation of different design sentimentalities, fabrics, textures, colors and some such (basically natural elements) as a representation of a the culture, tribe, or people you may wish to highlight in your home to define the decor.

Typically, ethnic furniture from Morocco, Africa, Middle East, and Asia is very popular. But you must not limit your imagination and search to just these regions. The world is huge, and you never know what furniture or decorative item can hold you mesmerized by its simplistic beauty and rich appeal.

When choosing ethnic furniture try to create an ensemble of patterns, fabrics, colors, and materials to create your own individual stylized look. You can use your own ideas, but here are some we’d like to share with you:

Moroccan Theme

You may ask, why Moroccan furniture? Our answer is, because Moroccan furniture is subtlety beautiful and earthy in nature and visual appeal. From intricately carved corner tables to beautifully henna lamps, to uniquely designed lanterns, Moroccan furniture is different, unique and individualistic. Besides good quality Moroccan furniture is now easily available, thanks, to the Internet. If you want to decorate your home in a design like no other, then Morocco’s ethnic furniture will help you create your own class perfectly. Artistic in nature, the furniture from Morocco has a rich cultural and historical heritage. You can choose Moroccan furniture that can seem mysterious or magical all at the same time. Today, the world has re-discovered Moroccan furniture, so what about you?

Asian Theme

The Asian theme allows many variations, the two most popular ethnic furniture themes are Japanese and Chinese. The Japanese theme is minimalist in nature and appearance, but it also tends to have a calming and peaceful feel. The most popular elements of a Japanese theme are futons and screens. Colors are natural and the focal points can be created by objects such as smooth stones, water fountains, and bonsai trees. Ethnic Chinese themes use bright and bold colors and elements such as lanterns, dragons, and artwork that depict landscapes and Chinese handwriting. Ethnic Indian theme is getting popular these days especially the desert look from Rajasthan, which is state of the Maharajas. India is a diverse country and hence there are many ethnic themes available from nomadic themes to the Himalayan villages and the party themes from Goa.

African Theme

What you see in your mind when you think of Africa? Stretching landscapes, wild animals, bright colors, earthy smells, and a rich, vibrant mood – African ethnic furniture theme is about all this and more. The main color schemes include natural colors such as beige, greens, browns, tans, in contrast with oranges, and bold splashes of reds. You can employ African theme anywhere like walls, floors, furniture etc. Some of the African artifacts you can use include drums, rugs, animal prints, rugs, masks etc.

How to get started

After having decided which particular brand of ethnic culture appeals to you, explore the various design options available such as magazines, books, and the Internet to spark your creativity and imagination. Work out which elements will go well together to create the look and feel you want.

Use trial and error method to design every space carefully. Work out the scheme for walls, ceiling and floors and build up on it. Here’s an ex: Should you keep the walls and ceiling surface rough or smooth? Should you use stone, wood, or tiles, or carpets for the floor?

Remember, ethnic furniture is a combination of looks and feels and the appearance of your home’s interior will depend on the theme you choose, and the elements you want to use.

About the Author: Moe Tamani is an importer of

Moroccan Furniture

and a designer of

Moroccan Lamps

.

Source:

isnare.com

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By Michelle Cardello

If youre thinking about adding some new artwork to your walls or looking for a way to preserve some treasured family photos, consider investing in custom picture frames. Its not as expensive as you might think, especially when you consider the overall benefits of working with a professional to add just the right finishing touch to your decor.

Art helps to create a more personalized environment in the home. It reflects individual tastes and interests and can bring years of pleasure whether its an original oil painting for over the living room fireplace or a great flea market find that you want to add to your bedroom wall. The same is true for those family photographs that have been handed down through the generations or the pictures you snapped last month on your Caribbean vacation.

By investing in custom picture frames, you provide your art or photographs with an appropriate showcase; one that reflects your taste and style just as much, if not more so, than the pieces on display. After all, you wouldnt expect to see the original Mona Lisa thumb-tacked to a wall in the Louvre, would you? So, why would you provide anything less than the appropriate showcase in your home for something that is just as important to you?

Where you decide to have your artwork framed is a matter of individual choice. Sometimes, its easy to find a custom framing store no further away than the local mall. Or, the yellow pages may offer you a choice of trades people in your town who create custom picture frames. In addition, there are numerous Web sites on the Internet that welcome questions ranging from what type of frame to buy to how custom picture frames are actually constructed. Doing a little homework ahead of time, whether on the Internet or at the local library, will allow you to ask more knowledgeable questions when you get ready to proceed, whether you want a metal frame in a matte finish to something more elaborate in natural wood.

Whoever you choose to consult and ultimately create your frames, remember to take your time and select the most appropriate styles because, chances are, they will be a part of your dcor for many years. If your budget is limited, there are simple, inexpensive frames that can still complement your dcor. Costs can range from under $100 into the thousands, depending on the type you select and the size of the picture.

An experienced framer can advise you on the different styles of custom picture frames that range from the traditional to the contemporary in colors that vary from brushed gold to vibrant shades of red, or include all types of wood finishes. Some styles are virtually invisible but still provide needed support and protection for your investment.

You want to pick a color that coordinates with the rest of the furniture in a particular room. But, even more important, you should select a style of frame that will complement the art, not overwhelm or clash with it. So, if you were thinking about adding an ornate gilt-edge frame to that abstract contemporary piece you want to display in your dining room, you might want to spend some time talking first to a professional, who can assist you accordingly. An additional touch to consider when having a piece custom framed is a matte insert, a colored sheet of heavy cardboard, which creates an even more distinctive look for the picture when combined with the right type of frame. But, it is key to remember that the matte comes second to the art, so its often best to stick with a neutral tone.

Having custom picture frames constructed for your art might seem a little extravagant to some but it is an ideal way to preserve something that you enjoy. In the end, it all comes down to individual taste. Whether you enjoy formal surroundings or a more eclectic environment, there is no right or wrong style–just whatever works best for you.

About the Author: Michele Cardello, director of marketing for Life Imprints, a creative scrapbooking supplies company also offering contemporary picture frames, in Cleveland, Ohio, has worked in the photo packaging industry for 10 years.

lifeimprints.com

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