April 21, 2011
The Uses of A Small Jewelry Box
Have you always wanted a jewelry armoire but resisted buying one because you don’t have sufficient space to keep it? The mini jewelry box offers the perfect solution to store all your small and dainty pieces of jewelry.
There are several small, but exquisitely created, wooden boxes that are ideal for display on top of your dresser as well as for travel. It can easily enhance your existing furniture with its charming exterior. A box carved out of cherry, burlwood maple, or mahogany will match any decor.
If you like a traditional and ethnic look, choose any Oriental jewelry box to add a vintage aura to your room. And any European antique box, or even a replica, would look great on your dresser if you are trying to achieve a Victorian ambience.
It is also convenient to carry your jewelry in a small box while traveling. It organizes your jewelry, reduces clutter, and makes each piece easily accessible. Although many people prefer fabric jewelry pouches for travel, carrying a wooden jewelry box is like taking a favorite piece of your home with you.
Small jewelry boxes make great gifts for all occasions. A small heart-shaped jewelry box covered with velvet and lined with satin, is a big hit on Valentine’s Day and also on all those special anniversaries. It can also be used as a safe repository for cherished family heirlooms. Nothing, however, beats a musical jewelry box as a gift for little girls.
Many jewelry stores package their jewelry in tiny hand-carved wooden boxes with their name or logo engraved on the lid. This serves as a reminder to the customer to go back to the same jewelers and also allows an easy method of storing the new jewelry.
Both men and women enjoy collecting small jewelry boxes from far off countries as a hobby. The compact handcrafted wooden boxes are reminiscent of royal families and precious and rare jewelry. Most of the boxes are used as beautiful showpieces, and not as jewelry storage options, meant as ice-breakers at cocktail parties.
If you are looking to just store your necklaces or delicate chains, you could opt for a small box lined with velvet or satin, and with sufficient compartments with tiny hooks to drape the necklace on. And if you are looking to just store your ring collection, a rectangular or square jewelry box lined with a smooth fabric and several rows with ring slots, should be just right.
Alternatively, a miniature jewelry armoire will not occupy much space and at the same time provide you with sufficient drawers, trays, compartments, and doors with hooks to organize all your jewelry in one place.
This article was brought to you by MarqART Gift Shop. Our jewelry boxes are original works of art, no two creations are the same. Each wood shown has its own unique wood grain pattern and color. MarqART comes from combining the words marquetry (wood inlay) + Art (a creation of beauty) an apt name for our products. A fine addition to your dressing table or as a gift. Please visit http://www.marqartgiftshop.com to browse & buy exotic jewelry boxes that will give you a lifetime of pleasure!
Filed under House and Home by ckahuna
April 20, 2011
Interesting Facts About Handmade Wooden Jewelry Boxes
Did you know that only wood can produce handmade wooden jewelry boxes? Each handmade jewelry box exhibits its own individual markings and traits. Some boxes are customized to match the room’s decor by making it resemble the existing furniture in the room.
Jewelry boxes are made in different art styles like the Contemporary, Victorian, Elizabethan, Art Deco, or Classic forms. Careful attention is given to the matching all sides of the jewelry box to produce aesthetic balance. This is called book matching.
Band saw jewelry boxes are those that are carved out of individual blocks of wood using the band saw, a power tool. This tool has a metal blade with teeth on one side and is used to carve irregular shapes out of wood. No joints or seams are found on this box and the lids are usually handcarved. The inner side of the box is cut out and sanded for a good finish. Several exotic names are given to these band saw boxes because of their unusual shapes.
Small handcrafted trinket boxes with feet and accents can be used to store delicate pieces of fine jewelry like earrings, rings, necklaces, etc. There are also men’s jewelry boxes called ‘watch boxes’ that are made exclusively for watches and are fitted with small watch pillows.
Most jewelry boxes are fitted with dividers that are used to create smaller sections in the box . The large boxes have different levels and several drawers while the smallest one has just a single drawer and is commonly used as a snuff box!.
In ancient times, carpenters used only their hands and hand tools to carve elaborately ornate jewelry boxes Several types of rare and exotic wood were used like the cocobolo, sassafras, and wenge. Jewelry boxes made of Kauki, an ancient and rare wood, are very expensive and considered as family heirlooms to be treasured and passed on to the next generation.
Maple is also commonly used in the manufacture of handmade wooden jewelry boxes. The hornbeam maple, red maple, sugar maple, and the European sycamore are amongst the most commonly preferred maple.
All pieces of wood are uniquely marked over time by fungus, the elements, insects, or just genetic factors. The unique burls in each piece of wood cannot be replicated. The various types of wood markings have different names: curly, birds-eye, spalted, bean claw, quilted, or fiddleback flamed.
The absolutely unique jewelry box is one that is not stained or dyed with chemicals and is allowed to reveal its natural ‘defects’, which in fact serves to enhance, rather than mar, its beauty. Each box is given a lining made of velvet or satin cloth or some fabric that is just as soft and smooth. The hinges are usually made out of brass and are gold plated, and sometimes even made of silver.
Given the uniqueness of each block of wood, handmade wooden jewelry boxes do not follow any pre-planned pattern. They come alive in the expert hands of a talented ‘art carpenter’ who knows instinctively the shape the box should take and produces an exquisitely carved work of art.
Filed under House and Home by ckahuna
How do you choose the best carved handmade jewelry box? It can be easy to select the perfect jewelry box once you know what you need it for and how much you have set aside for it.
It is crucial that you are aware of the different varieties of wood that are used in making jewelry boxes. The jewelry boxes that are created with exotic wood from other countries is markedly costlier than the ones made with local wood. Mahogany, cherry, koa, white ash, maple, birch, and walnut are the most common varieties of wood used for this purpose. Boxes made of padauk, lace wood, jatoba (Brazilian cherry wood), bloodwood, rose wood, olive wood, king wood, bocote (similar to cocobolo), ebony, wenge, sandalwood, etc are more expensive as they are from other countries.
The quality of the wood and the type, and the level of craftsmanship involved dictate the price of the handmade jewelry box. If the box is embellished with elaborate inlays, etchings, or brass work, the price is bound to go up. Jewelry boxes made of Korean wood exhibit exquisitely unmatched mother of pearl inlays on the hardwood. And those made of a very exotic and rare wood called Kauki can set you back quite a bit.
Jewelry boxes come in various shapes and sizes. Depending on what the occasion you are buying the gift for, or what you intend to store in it, you should decide on the shape of the box. A heart-shaped jewelry box makes an ideal gift for Valentine’s Day. And for more austere occasions like bar mitsvahs, baptisms, or graduations, a box with sharp edges would be good.
A musical jewelry box with a ballerina on the top would be the best gift for little girls. And if it is lined with pink satin or velvet, it would definitely be well received!
The sort of jewelry box you should buy depends on what it will be used for. If the jewelry is ethnic and chunky, you will need a tall one with trays so the necklaces can be laid flat without getting tangled. A box with doors and lots of hooks will keep dainty chains safe and untangled.
Get a jewelry box with several doors with hooks to store gold chains. Drawers and separate slots are needed for necklaces and rings. If you are looking for a jewelry box for men, then the ‘valet box’ should have sufficient drawers and dividers to separate watches, keys, cuff links, tie pins, rings, etc.
A flat and wide jewelry box is best for high dressers while a tall one would be more suitable for a low dresser. Try to blend the jewelry box in with the rest of the room. Customising the box to go with your decor will be more expensive but well worth the expense. If one jewelry box is not sufficient to store all the jewelry, buy a matching box to add to the decor.
Check to see if the wood has a smooth finish and is not chipped. Ensure there are no bubbles if the box has a lacquered finish. Velvet or satin make the best linings for jewelry boxes.
To summarize, always check the quality and type of the wood, the inlays & embellishment, the final finish, durability, your requirements, and that it blends with the decor of the room.
Filed under House and Home by ckahuna
April 7, 2011
How To Address A Leaking Tank
More than one way is available when it comes to patch a small leak in a water tank, trough, or any other large metal container. Particularly, this method comes recommended by the US Department of Agriculture and has the advantage of being cold. The good thing about this is that you don’t have to weld, solder or do anything else with heated materials. What you really need to have is a drill, a toggle fastener and bolt, a rubber gasket and a brass washer.
Keep in mind that this assembly usually won’t work on a seam. Also this is not a long term repair option. Just one small hole on the tank wall will mean that the whole tank wall is weakening and you’ll probably have to replace the tank soon. You’ll learn more about water tanks when you visit rain water tank.
Make sure you drain the tank. After which you have to remove any rust around the offending hole, either with a chemical rust remover or with sandpaper. Always keep in mind that you have to consult with a good hardware man next.
It may be hard for you to find all the things you need in a large store by yourself. Always make sure to get a small toggle fastener, the smaller the better. Here the type you want is a winged affair with a hinged joint in the middle that allows you to fold it together.
An easy way you can start is by putting the fastener on the end of a bolt, fold the wings of the fastener, then shove the bolt end and the folded fastener through the hole in the side of the tank, where the fastener wings expand and give the bolt gripping power. When your fastener is small then the holes you have to cover and drill are small as well. It is best if you can find a brass bolt to go with the toggle fastener, because brass doesn’t rust. To find out more on water tanks check out rainwater harvesting.
It is best to get a rubber washer or gasket two or three times as wide as the tank hole, plus a brass washer about the same size or slightly smaller. Both of the things should have holes in the middle not much bigger around than the bolt that will go through them. A bad fit will create more leaks in the future.
Remember that as an alternative you may be able to use solid pieces of rubber and metal and drill your own boles in the middle. It is important that you enlarge the leaking hole in the side of the tank with your drill, just large enough to slip the folded toggle fastener through to the other side. It will be more durable if you smear the area around the drilled hole with rubber cement and let the glue dry. Keep in mind that it is best to assemble your bolt with the brass washer outermost, then the rubber gasket, then the toggle fastener. Having a headless bolt will require you to use a square or hexagonal nut.
Keep in mind that you need to Smear the back side of the rubber gasket with rubber glue and let dry. Remember that when the glue at the back of the gasket meets the glue on the side of the tank, the two faces will bond to a certain extent. When this happens remember to Slip the folded toggle fastener through the hole in the tank and tighten the bold head or nut with a wrench. Doing so will now give you a usable tank.
Filed under House and Home by ckahuna
April 6, 2011
Where Do People Get Their Water?
At times some may say they look like friendly little people with cone hats. Chances are there are also some who will find them so ugly that they build brick walls to hide them. The two men run businesses that have been competing with each other for nearly a century, making, installing and fixing the ubiquitous brown tanks with their cone shaped tops.
Many times these men are shocked that in an age of computers, skyscrapers and synthetics, most New Yorkers get their water via a wooden barrel on the roof. Even this one gentleman who runs the company with his 32 year old brother and their mother said that when he tells people the tanks are wood, they don’t believe it. More often then not people say that those tanks look like they are made out of steel or Plexiglas. Get further information from concrete water tanks about water tanks and more.
Sometimes water tanks can be made of steel. At the same time, the US steel maker’s Manhattan headquarters gets water from wooden tanks. Many times, people question how long the tanks last. According to the gentleman it lasts too long that they just replaced a tank that his father had put up in 1926.
Even if Chicago, Philadelphia and elsewhere you can find wooden water tanks, but only in New York, with its great density of tall apartment buildings, are they fixtures on the landscape. More of less you can’t have a skyline without the tanks. Be sure to note that the pumps must run constantly so that water is always available.
The truth is Rooftop tanks are more efficient. It is smart to keep in mind that electrical pumps kick in only when the water in the barrel drops below a certain level. You have to keep in mind that by law, buildings that are 80 feet or taller must have the tanks, for firefighting reasons. Often, Water from the tank is used to keep flames from reaching passages out of a burning building while firemen make their way. If you like this water tanks article check out rain water tanks sydney for more top quality information.
These kinds of tanks have two hookups, the one for drinking water, located at mid-tank, and the one for firefighting, located at the bottom of the tank. The usual make up of these tanks are from redwood or cedar staves cut to size in the factory, assembled on the roof and encircled by galvanized iron hoops.
Then the hoops pressing in and the water pressing out, it make it watertight. In this case an average tank holds 10,000 gallons, stands 12 feet high and is mounted on a steel structure 20 feet high.
This allows tanks to work on a windy day dangerous and often impossible. Here, the tanks are made at a factory in Philadelphia, about two hours from its offices on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Compared to the two companies there is one that is responsible for all the city’s water tanks.
Many people also ask whether this company is related to their competitor. Though they claim their started in a different way, they both agree that their products are aesthetically pleasing. But the yuppie that lives on the Upper East Side, who just bought his apartment, he doesn’t want to see a water tank when he looks outside.
Filed under House and Home by ckahuna
April 5, 2011
DIY Project: Swing Sets
If you have kids and you’re into Do it yourself projects, building a swing set for your youngsters may have entered your mind. Your children can have unending fun and fantastic memories with Yard swing sets plus, it can be a welcome DIY project for you. The nice thing about this project is that there are many plans available and it is easy to find one that’s acceptable for your children and your ability level.
There are many swing set plans available and they cover everything from a straightforward tire on a rope hung from a sturdy branch to swing sets that include forts, slides, bridges, climbing walls, sandboxes, and more. There’s a choice of swing set plans available that can suit the different talent levels of different builders.
When making your choice from a couple of swing set plans available, you need to first decide as to whether you want to build the set using a kit with all the materials included or select a swing set plan and buy all the materials yourself. Both plans are perfectly OK, your choice will depend on your preference and how cushty you are with building. Beginners and amateurs to these projects typically choose the kit. They can be certain that all the required materials are included in the kit and there’s not much likelihood of something being forgotten or overlooked.
Some builders wish to go the extra mile by not only purchasing the pieces on their own but really draw up their own swing set plans. You need to select the plans that work well for you and your talent level.
Finding Swing Set Plans
Most local lumberyards offer swing set kits and plans and you may also find swing set plans available for free on the internet. Some mags might also feature different plans on ocassion. You can find these plans easily from several sources, but finding one that can suit your building talent can be hard. You should be conscious that you don’t have to start large straight away. You can commence with a straightforward single or double swing and once it is done, you can further add to your swing set by using more difficult plans as your building skills improve. This way, you will not be overwhelmed with the task and you can design a swing set that will handle your child’s growing wants.
Facing up to the issues of DIY projects can provide you with a way deeper sense of accomplishment. Similarly, if the project involves your children’s happiness it can actually be more extreme. Choosing and building the ideal swing set for your family can be a positively smashing experience.
Planning to build your child’s own swing set? Read more about metal swing sets for kids and swing set parts, visit http://metalswingsetsforkids.net/.
Filed under House and Home by ckahuna
Do you love your kitchen dresser set, but hate the way it looks? Kitchen dressers can help to create a perfect d
Filed under House and Home by ckahuna
March 31, 2011
An Overlooked Decor For Your Kitchen: Dressers
We all know what bedroom dressers are, but what about kitchen dressers? Whether or not you have ever heard of a kitchen dresser, it is something you may want to think about picking up. If you’re in the market for one, the tips below can help you choose a dresser that fits perfectly into your home.
1. Know what they are
Though they’re all the same thing, you might hear dressers also referred to as china hutches and Welsh dressers. Whatever the name, a kitchen dresser is a piece of kitchen furniture with shelves, usually made from wood. The dresser will generally have shelves near the top, with the lower half of the dresser reserved for drawers and/or cupboards; this portion of the dresser is often called the sideboard.
2. Prepare your dresser
It’s best to sand and paint your dresser outside, since this will involve a significant amount of mess as well as paint fumes. Before you paint the dresser, you’ll want to sand it carefully in order to ensure that the paint will stick to the dresser. As far as your choice of paint color goes, try to choose a color which matches or complements your kitchen’s existing color scheme. Though you don’t have to exactly match the color of your kitchen paint, it’s a good idea to base your colors off of your kitchen colors.
3. Choose your wood
Pine, oak and ash are the most commonly used woods for kitchen dressers, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. One type of wood or another may be a better match for your d
Filed under House and Home by ckahuna
March 29, 2011
Create An Elegant Kitchen With The Right Paint & Artwork
Your kitchen is arguably the busiest and often most crowded portion of your home. As you prepare your meals or enjoy morning breakfasts with your families, this room witnesses most of your affairs. From food preparation to leisurely afternoon coffee, this room serves your family with gusto. So come to think about this – when was the last time you thought about giving your battered kitchen a makeover? With the right kitchen dresser, paint, artwork and other kitchen installations, you can easily complete a fresh and elegant look for your kitchen.
Modern day design approaches lean on contemporary designs of kitchen furniture. Hence, when it comes to selecting your cherry kitchen dresser, you need to think about small kitchen design. You need to pick the dresser that will allow maximum storage and sturdy kitchen surfaces that does not compromise style. Picking the right design and style of dresser should add a kick of personality to the practical and inviting feel of your kitchen.
Talking about style, there are customizable kitchen dressers that may serve to your delight. Polished, sleek and slim dressers can now be ordered in your preferred shape and size. This allows you to maximize the available space you have to complete your elegant kitchen makeover project. Usually, this type of kitchen dressers are made from wood, polished and adorned with elegant kitchen handles to resists oily, steamy, hot or cool kitchen environment.
Various types of kitchen dressers are available in the market such as dining tables with a complete set of chairs, dressers with appropriate open shelves, dressers with glazed finishes, or various cupboards and so on. Keeping in mind the needs of a small house today, some kitchen dressers are also available to create a feeling of partition with respect to other rooms. There are some ladies who wish to have an integrated cupboard-type dresser, wherein they can dump their entire stock of kitchen utensils, tools, containers for food items and so on in a single handy place. Such a trend of innovative dressers keeping in tune with the changing demands of the customers will continue to evolve in the future, too.
Aside from kitchen dressers, how about re-painting your kitchen walls and cabinets? Not only will the new kitchen paint open up the space of your kitchen. It will also make a striking contrast that will showcase elegant pieces of kitchen furniture. The right paint color scheme can do wonders in making your kitchen look like it was lifted fresh from the magazine.
With kitchen paint, one can go for monochromatic or multi-color schemes. When deciding about the color scheme to choose, think about the theme of your home d
Filed under House and Home by ckahuna
March 24, 2011
A Closer Look At The Bosch Refrigerator Brand
The appliance known as the refrigerator is a device that is found in more homes that any other appliance on the market. Each and every year there is over ten million different refrigerators sold to people with different manufactures making profit from this. Because this very handy appliance it is great for storing food at cold temperatures and stunts the growth of any bacteria or fungus that will spoil your items of food.
The first refrigerator that was created for use in an average home setting was invented in the year 1927. This appliance was known as the Monitor-top and became an instant hit with people and sold over a million units. Ever since this time many companies have been working on making new and improved models so that they can corner the market with their refrigerator sales. However, no company has been able to outshine all of the others when it comes to refrigerator sales. Probably, the main reason for this is that there are a number of different refrigerator companies that make quality products that have their own following of loyal customers. Some of these companies have been around since the off set of this market while others have just recently entered this field.
The Bosch refrigerator company has actually been around since the beginning of all this. Their first Bosch Fridges was put on display in the year 1933 and have continuously made quality refrigerators since that time bearing their on brand name.
Although, it should be known that the Bosch company does not only make Bosch Fridge Freezer but other products as well. In fact, they actually produce less refrigerator models than many other companies out there. Bosch refrigerators might be a little more difficult to find than some others and usually are priced in a middle to high level prince range.
While most users agree that Bosch refrigerators are well designed and made to last the Bosch Fridge Freezer is not considered one of the most popular brands nor is it a house hold name when it comes to refrigeration. However, the Bosch Linea line of refrigerators is among the top ten brands of refrigerators for overall quality and customer satisfaction and all of their refrigerators have met energy star guidelines meaning they are energy efficient. While there have been some complaints about specific Bosch refrigerators these complaints seem to be minimal. However, they are not designed for those who have a limited house hold budget.
Some of the earliest manufactures just as the ones today have learned to improve the quality of their refrigerators based on the knowledge and technology developed by other companies. Hardly anyone seems to agree on who had the original idea of refrigeration and the appliance that is in our home today, but certainly many people would agree that it took talented individuals from all over the globe to create the appliance that we use in our homes today. It is because of these great minds and talented people that we no longer have to cut up ice from rivers or lakes during the winter time so that it can be stored in the home for use during the summer. In today’s world it is very simple, all that you have to do is walk into a store that sells appliance and find a model that you like to keep your food refrigerated over the years.
Filed under House and Home by ckahuna