Personalized Decorating
When I moved into my new apartment, I knew that I wanted to have furniture and artwork that was original and representative of my personality. In my opinion, your personal possessions should be an expression and inextricable component of your character. Finding décor that fits the bill has been an ongoing endeavor.
In order to highlight my rustic side, I have been scouring the internet and antique shops for handcrafted wood art. Last week I was finally able to find a site that had just what I am looking for. Now that that is covered, I plan to begin working on my Zen garden, which is emblematic of my spiritual side.
Custom Wood Turning
Back in middle school, I took a class known as “General Technology.” It is basically the 21st century version of shop class, incorporating computer technology with basic tool skills. We covered the basics of course, but one thing that sticks out in my memory was a visit by a professional wood turner.
The shop was equipped with an old lathe, and one afternoon he came in and gave us a lesson in custom wood turning. It was amazing to see him transform a block of wood into an intricately designed work of art. While my skills will never reach that level, the experience has given me a greater appreciation for the craftsmanship that is inherent in various forms of woodworking.
Storing Your Jewelry
Part of proper care for your jewelry is to store them correctly. Nice jewelry is typically unique and one-of-a-kind, so you don’t want to damage the pieces if they are irreplaceable. There are some fairly easy ways around this, though. Here are some quick tips on jewelry storage.
~Isolate each jewel from one another; an easy and effective solution is to wrap each piece in layers of acid-free tissue paper, untreated cotton, or raw silk. If you sew, you might try creating individual, acid-free bags for this purpose, which you can also purchase.
~Getting jewelry boxes or wooden ring boxes is imperative. Separating your pieces will ensure that necklaces won’t get tangled up and you can avoid each item scratching one another.
Creating a Warm, Inviting Atmosphere
One of the best ways to positively change the feeling of the home is to add warmer decorations on a centralized fixture, such as flowers on a dining or coffee table. Of course, flowers are just one part, in order to have the best aesthetic possible, finding a vase that will complement the flowers is just as imperative.
I have found that the best decorative vases have been handcrafted wood ones. In the past the wood vase has been a staple of flea markets, art shows and church craft fairs, but aside from that they have been difficult to find. Thanks to the internet, you can find homemade vases all over the place and you’ll be able to choose from a near infinite selection that would best complement your home
Anniversary Commemorations
Celebrate your wedding anniversary in style. Renew your love for each other by updating your old-fashioned rings, or adding another one to commemorate a new chapter in your lives. The 14k yellow gold anniversary band comes in various designs that will satisfy anyone’s discriminating tastes. It is easy to wear on a daily basis and won’t irritate your skin.
Wedding bands can be ordered in different ring sizes as well as millimeter widths. They also now come in very attractive designs that include one or more gemstones to enhance their look. Anniversary bands are also available in other metal types aside from gold. There are platinum, sterling silver, titanium, stainless steel, and even rubber. Make sure that the presentation of the ring is special by placing it in a handcrafted wooden ring box.
Let Your Child Start Puzzles Early
Are you a puzzle aficionado? Do you want your child to start early with puzzles? Puzzles are fun and exciting. The excitement of finding the right piece and the anticipation of seeing the full picture makes puzzles very addictive. Plus it also teaches your child patience and tenacity.
There are many kinds of puzzles, but the one that are most popular with the younger kids is the wood jigsaw puzzle. They are oftentimes painted in bright colors or depict fun, happy scenes. They’re also very easy to put together. Parents and children will have tons of fun putting together these puzzles.
Quality Handmade Wood Art
Before this summer I had never been a frequent patron of farmer’s markets, but as my sister was employed by a local fisherman, I found myself visiting her at several markets around the Greater Seattle area. At first I was slightly skeptical about what I would find there, but was pleased to discover a laid back atmosphere and an assortment of quality goods. I assumed that there would be nothing but herbs and turnips, but I found that there was actually an assortment of vendors.
One of my favorite booths to visit was an old woodworker named Lyle. He would bring his lathe to the market and make exquisite handmade wood art on the sport. For my mom’s birthday, I decided to buy her a piece of wood art that was a spitting image of her dog Charlie.
Nostalgic Wood Puzzle Memories
When I was little, I was what most people would refer to as a “nerd”. Although I enjoyed traditional childhood entertainment, like action figures and cartoons, my favorite activities included reading, doing puzzles and solving math equations. This may seem a little unnatural for a young boy, but my parents encouraged these habits by purchasing me educational toys and games.
One of the first toys that they bought me was a wood puzzle that featured various dog breeds. I loved the puzzle because one of the dogs looked just like my canine, Barney. Although the puzzle was relatively easy, I never got tired of solving it. Last week I was cleaning out my closet and found the old toy, still complete with all of the pieces.
Inspiration for Future Woodworking Projects
My grandfather is the sort of person who can’t sit still for more than a few minutes at a time. In fact, he barely makes it through family dinners without jumping up and whisking away everyone’s plates to do the dishes. Out of the many pastimes he’s perfected over the course of a long, fulfilling life, woodworking is perhaps his greatest passion. When he visits our house, he’s constantly checking the dining room chairs to see if they need replacement.
When I got married last year, he shipped me a coffee table made from scratch out of mulberry wood. The knots and imperfections in the material made it all the more visually appealing. For my part, I like to send him an inspirational item for his birthday and Christmas. Most recently I found a piece of intarsia wood wall art that he could use as a template for his own future projects.
A Mosaic Made of Wood
Mosaics have always been one of my favorite forms of visual artistry. Traditional paintings and sculptures are impressive in their own right, of course, but mosaics take a special level of vision and commitment. The complexity of a mosaic definitely varies, but the most complicated ones utilize thousands of pieces of tile, stone or glass to create a sophisticated image. The final effect is a lot like that of a pointillist painting.
Only recently did I discover that there’s a rough woodworking equivalent to the mosaic called intarsia. This style of craftsmanship employs many disparate pieces of wood and fits them together to create a uniform whole. When done correctly, these pieces of art achieve a three-dimensional effect that’s not seen in other forms of woodwork.