Collecting dolls houses, particularly the plastic accessories for Barbie or Cindy, is a relatively recent phenomenon.Just how long these injection moulded products will last is anyone’s guess, however, recreating houses and their contents is a hobby that’s been around for centuries in one form or another.
The earliest recorded dolls house – an exquisitely detailed replica of his own fully furnished residence – was owned by Albert V, Duke of Bavaria, in the mid 1500s.Inspired by this example, many other wealthy people began to commission fine miniature pieces made by expert craftsmen.These were not children’s playthings but were intended as conspicuous displays of wealth and social position.

The fad continued throughout the 17th and 18th centuries and gradually these miniature creations began to be considered appropriate for the children of the wealthy. Not as a toy though!Rather they were used as visual aids to educate young girls about the domestic management duties that any well to do young woman would be expected to perform when she became married and responsible for running her own household.    It wasn’t until the mid 19th century that the concept of “childhood” was really developed and the dolls house became more of a plaything. They were still the product of craftsmanship however and restricted to the children of the well heeled middle and upper classes.   No contemporary nursery was considered complete without one.

The Victorian age saw the beginning of industrial mass production and it was this development that changed the dolls house from lavish miniature heirloom into a genuine child’s toy.  The major innovator in this, and many other types of mass produced toy, was Germany, whose factories exported dolls houses and accessories all over the world.

The fascination with reflecting their lifestyle in miniature persisted in the ruling classes.Queen Mary, wife of King George V, had an abiding interest in dolls houses. n the early 1920’s she commissioned one of the foremost architects of the day, Sir Edwin Lutyens, to design a dolls house for the queen’s personal pleasure. All the miniature items for Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House were made by the finest craftsmen available and their work which can still be seen on display in Windsor Castle.
Nowadays the mass production of dolls houses for fashion dolls (and even woodland creatures!) as toys for kids runs parallel to the hobby of miniature collecting by adults.   Arguably, diorama sets for model figures – be they model soldiers or Sci-Fi characters – are dolls houses too in spirit at least.  There are a growing number of specialist shops, miniatures fairs and dolls house publications to cater for adult enthusiasts who like to recreate past eras in whole houses or specific scenes. Some enjoy making the models, while others collect craftsman-made pieces. The aim is to achieve accurate detail to capture the character and period style, raising what is a hobby to the status of a (very lucrative!) art form and creative expression.

The truth is that you can do a much better than most commercial brewers do. The reason is that you can afford to lay out more money on good quality ingredients than commercial brewers. Their expertise will always be greater than yours but home brewing does not have to bow to the economics of the marketplace: your home brew can be the best if not commercially viable.

How to get there: mashing at home.

Nothing to do with potatoes, the mashing process turns pale and lager malts into a sugary solution called the “wort”. To my mind mashing is essential to a good home brew. What you do is steep pale or lager malt in hot water for about 45 minutes. The temperature of the water must be maintained at around 150 degreees Fahrenheit, which given a large enough volume of material is not too difficult to do. Indeed there are mashing tuns with thermostatic control which are foolproof. Having steeped the malt long enough you teem the sugary solution into the vessel where you will boil the wort and hops together and rinse the last remnants of sugar from the malts grains. You will not achieve the extraction rate of a commercial brewer but you will avoid the slightly “cooked” taste which you get when using malt extract. Some commercial brews suffer from this flavour, as well as most home brews that are produced from kits.

How to get there: added grains.

You can improve the flavour and “heaviness” of home brews by using added grains when you mash the malt, but you can also achieve a similar result by using the enzymatic properties of malt extract. Indeed some malt extracts are known as “DMS” (=diastatic malt syrup) which signifies the presence of diastase – the malt enzyme which converts starch to sugar. As a rule of thumb flaked maize will lighten a brew, and wheat flour make a heavier more rounded taste. There is ample room to experiment with your home brew. Some of the published recipes will make the whole process clearer than the author can do in a short article about home brewing, so read up on the subject.

How to get there: the hops.

The quickest way of adding value to a home brew is to choose the hops carefully. It goes without saying that lagers need their own hops and bitters something completely different. But on top of that the balance of aroma and bitterness needs to be carefully considered. To my taste (and maybe its because I live in France and can’t buy decent beer) many small breweries in the UK are now overhopping their beers. Hops like Northern Brewer – a very bitter hop – can easily be overdone. Be warned. What’s important to you is that the choice of hops is where you can really score. Remember that many of the large commercial brewers simply use hop extract these days. A great shame since the first process of producing hop extract succeeds in separating the bitter principle from the ancillary aromas, and although the aromas can be added back later its not the same as the natural processes that you will use.

How to get there: the conditioning.

Many people are tempted to produce draught beers which will be served out of plastic kegs, under pressure.. For the home brewer this is how it has to be, wooden casks are much too difficult to manage for most of us. In my opinion an amateur home brewer should be able to excel only at bottled beer, naturally conditioned in the bottle like champagne. Since the disappearance of proper Guinness and Worthington White Label I can’t name any traditional bottle conditioned beers. In this field you can shine !

There’s more pertinent ramblings like this at theBrewersGuide.com. Good health !

Dolls Houses are thought by some as merely a child’s toy or just miniature displays of wealth and social standing by the rich.  They were used in the 18th century to teach domestic management duties to middle class young women and it wasn’t until mass production by the Germans initially that the dolls house became a genuine child’s toy.However, these miniature creations can also perform another useful function by preserving and commemorating significant architectural styles.  As the actual buildings themselves fall before the bulldozer and developer, at least the expertly and loving crafted dolls house keeps an accurate picture of period styles alive.
Take for example the works of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, doyenne of of the Modern Movement.Among his major architectural works is Glasgow School of Art (now the Mackintosh Building), a series of Glasgow Tea Room interiors and large private houses such as Windy Hill in Kilmacolm. For those who can’t make it to those destinations, there is a chance to appreciate Mackintosh’s unique take on architectural design by viewing a Charles Rennie Mackintosh-style dolls house in the Bethnall Green Museum, London.The miniature faithfully preserves details such the staircase newel post design taken from Martyr’s Public School, the front door reflecting 78 Southpark Avenue and the internal doors inspired by Craigie Hall.
In the same vein, Edwin Lutyens became the best known British architect of the early part of the 20th century.Creator of the Cenotaph in Whitehall, Luytens was one of the major contributors to the ‘Arts and Crafts’ movement.Famous for what was termed the “Surrey Style”, he also designed Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House which is now in Windsor Castle.The Surrey Style is reproduced in many examples of dolls house, with large latticework windows, distinctive big roofs with dormer windows and heavy window frames and doors. 
So before you dismiss dolls houses as mere playthings or the fads of obsessed collectors, remember that they at least are portable and easily protected.  In future years, they may well be the only reminders of great artistic and architectural achievements when the real thing has crumbled to dust or made way for a shopping mall.

Model Kits do seem predominantly to be “boy’s toys”, although there is no reason why girls shouldn’t also enjoy constructing plastic model kits and indeed many do.Ranging from civil and military aircraft to military vehicles and cars, ships, spacecraft, figures and dioramas, most people will think “toy” when the term “model kits” is used.
And it’s certainly true that all those manufacturers continue to supply an astonishing range of plastic construction kits suitable for a variety of ages and levels of competence or ability. Aside from giving hours of pleasure and fun to young and old, model kits also have many purely educational benefits that will help any child develop a variety of skills and aptitudes.
Your child’s motor skills will be certainly be developed by constructing these model kits, but they will also encourage co-ordination and planning and logical thinking.The essence of making model kits is to read and review the instructions and identify parts on the plastic sprue.  You also need to identify which parts fit where and in which sequence those parts should fit together.How to accurately and efficiently follow directions is a valuable life skill too!
However, making model kits is more than just an exercise in logical thinking and planning. Your child’s creativity and patience will be improved as will the appreciation of the craftsmanship required to build and finish any model or project.  Painting the finished piece will enhance artistic appreciation and also help develop motor skills.
But model kits needn’t just mean those familiar plastic boats, ships or tanks.  Other model kits available, such as model rockets, incorporate all the education benefits of the static 1/24 or 1/72 scale world, but go much further by actually working properly!
Mathematics takes on a whole new life for a child in model rocketry.Showing how to calculate flight paths or flight duration becomes more meaningful.The imagination required to build and finish a model rocket is matched by the technical skills you need to develop.  An understanding of electronics and mechanics will be enhanced by the direct experience of doing something with them.You’ll get exercise too, especially when you launch a model rocket in a strong wind and have to chase it across country when it comes to earth!
Encouraging your children to get stuck into model kits is probably the most enjoyable yet significant learning activity you can undertake at almost any age.And it’s something you can do too!

Many people find woodworking to be a fun and practical pastime. But unlike hobbies such as knitting or coin collecting, there’s a certain amount of danger involved. You need to use caution when working with power tools and sharp instruments in order to avoid injury. Skipping some basic safety precautions isn’t worth losing a finger, or some other kind of injury. Here are some woodworking tips to keep you safe.

Safety features are pretty much standard on the power tools sold today. For example, they feature guards on the blades and emergency shutdown switches. However, you still must be alert to potential accidents. It’s important that you follow the directions when using any power tool. Take your time and be careful as you become familiar with a new tool. Common sense is your best defense.

The eyes are one of the most vulnerable parts of your body. The small wood particles that are produced while drilling travel at very high speeds. They can very easily damage your eyes if you’re not using safety glasses. That’s why it’s critical that you always use eye protection while woodworking. When it comes to your safety, this is a pretty cheap precaution.

Your eardrums are another potential site of injury when you’re using power tools for woodworking. The decibel level of these tools is completely capable of damaging your eardrums. It’s unlikely that any project you’re making is worth the cost of not being able to hear. When you’re using tools that produce a lot of noise, make sure you wear ear muffs or ear plugs for protection.

It’s not just tools that are dangerous. Your respiratory system is also at risk. Constant exposure to irritants such as the dust and fumes that are found in a woodworking shop can be toxic over time. It’s been shown that you can develop serious respiratory illness if you continually breathe in wood dust. Never neglect to put on a dust mask. They don’t cost a lot, but they provide excellent protection for your lungs.

Keeping your work area well organized and clean is yet another important safety measure. When there isn’t any clutter around, you’re not so likely to trip, fall or become dangerously distracted. Good lighting is important not only so you can see properly to work but also to illuminate any potentially hazardous situations. When you’re finished working, unplug all your equipment and cover it up. This will help to avoid injury to other people in your household, particularly children.

Never rush a DIY woodworking job. Before you start working, check to be sure that all your materials are accessible and that you’ve taken the necessary safety measures. When you’re organized and aware, there’s much less chance of an accident. Plus, you’ll get much more pleasure out of your hobby because you’re more relaxed.

There is plenty to be said about staying occupied. My father told me this when I was a small child in elementary school. He claimed that one of the best ways to keep your children out of trouble is by getting them interested in sports, outdoor activities, crafts and hobbies. I suppose that made sense. Well, today I know that it does make sense. In retrospect, I can recall all the things he introduced me to. Two that really took are martial arts and archery. I spent countless hours staying busy with both of these hobbies growing up. I never had time to go out and get into trouble with drinking or drugs. If you’re a parent, this is serious food for thought. What do your children love?

I started early with my daughter. When she was only two years old, I exposed her to all sorts of art. She loved it! From then on out, I knew what crafts and hobbies or even cowboy bedding for boys tickled her fancy. Soon came the music as well. Now she is 8 years old, and spending a couple hours a day painting, drawing and playing a keyboard. The rest of her free time is enjoyed outdoors playing. This is a great start in my book. It’s not difficult when you introduce your little ones to crafts and hobbies at an early age. They are so impressionable then. And they’re more than happy to play with paint, throw a ball, or help construct boys pirates bedding or a model. Your participation with them is often the key. You see, when it comes to crafts and hobbies in the first years, your child wants to do everything with you. As he/she grows, they will become more advanced with what they love and naturally more independent.

Find oodles of ideas on the web. This is the first place I turn if I’m searching for something new and exciting. Need crafts, hobbies or dinosaur boys bedding to enjoy with your little ones? Not a problem if you jump into cyberspace. Get more ideas than you can handle. Another awesome place to check out is Michael’s craft store. There is likely one located in your area. Take your child along with you and browse to see where their interests lie. I guarantee they will like something.

So you’ve got an infant in the house. You want to know one of the most fun things about having your own little rugrats? Dressing them up how ever you like. My wife goes utterly nuts over this. She is starting to get bummed out these days because our daughter is no longer so compliant with her wishes and tastes. If you had seen my wife since the day our daughter was born, you would surely know what I’m talking about. She loved picking out her clothes but not so much her brother’s safari bedding for boys. Then there was me. My day was but one out of the entire year. I am talking about the spookiest of the spooky and loads of fun to boot. Nothing other than Halloween. I was able to choose the costume for our little tike. I loved this job. Especially in this day and age. Trust me; there is a plethora of costumes for babies out there.

Some may not know where to start when Halloween draws near. I mean, where would you look for those magnificent costumes for babies? Maybe at the local drugstore? WRONG! This is a major no-no. The last place you should be checking into regarding costumes for babies is the drug or grocery store. Halloween is a big deal, folks. It only takes place once each year. What you should be doing is going all out. It’s time to hit up the hot spots that carry quality costumes for babies. Are you ready to venture out to the local mall to check out boys airplane bedding? Department stores are perfect when it comes to costumes for babies. Check out some of the stuff Macy’s, Nordstrom’s, and Hecht’s offer during the Halloween season. There are plenty of adorable costumes for babies every single year. Heck, they even get more precious as time moves forward. I purchased my daughter’s very first costume from Hecht’s when she was less than a year old. She was a little jack-o-lantern with a hat and all.

Other sources you may wish to try when it comes to costumes for babies is the World-Wide-Web. I say sources simply due to the fact that there are so many different companies online. You can literally sort through countless costumes or boys sports bedding sets for babies all day long. Hey, this is not a bad idea. Or, if you have a particular costume in mind, just punch it in and check out the results. With all the great costumes for babies now days, you’re sure to find a winner.

Building a miniature dollhouse has been a favorite activity of many households since they first came on the scene. Children can be accompanied by their parents in putting together the toy houses and decorating them up. The whole miniature houses are decorated to the best of their interior designing abilities.

It is little wonder that the hobby has gained a worldwide following. It allows both adults and children to fulfill personal fantasies of having a perfect house without having to spend a fortune. It is nothing but a toy, but they will receive great pride in building and looking at the dollhouse everyday.

Adding new and prettier miniature dollhouse furniture also gives as much satisfaction as having bought a new piece for their real home. Something small and inexpensive might actually be extremely beautiful due to the expert craftwork involved. Putting everything together for the viewing pleasure of both their guests and themselves can also be very enjoyable.

Collecting dollhouse miniatures can also have other benefits. One of them is the building of strong bonds between family members. Quite often mothers and daugthers are brought closer together as they enjoy the hobby more than their male counterparts.

The fathers and sons should also partake in building them. There is nothing girlish about this hobby. In fact, it is a perfect family activity that helps to nurture the ties that bind us together.

Building dollhouses also stands the test of time. As designs of real houses evolve throughout history, dollhouses provide a window into our architectural past. There can be little sights more interesting than looking at a miniature Victorian dollhouse even though it is not the real thing.

There are concerns that children should avoid the hobby. This is mainly due to the small objects that are involved that could be dangerous if swallowed. Those who are worried should keep them out of reach of kids until they reach a certain age.

With the many social benefits that can result from dollhouse building, the hobby should be encouraged. Families can not only enjoy a fun acitivity, but also develop stronger relationships and not have to spend money doing so.

What do you picture in your mind when you think of an apron? I doubt that it is a children’s apron. Most people will think of their mother or grandmother in a kitchen apron. But any elementary school teacher or day care worker can tell you that children need aprons when they are finger painting or eating.

There is so much more to crafting than keeping them clean with childrens aprons to protect their clothing. Children need to get more from their experience.

In The Old Days;

Child care workers and educators formerly had very few choices when it came to children’s aprons. They could only be purchased locally and not much variety was available. There was practically no such thing as custom children’s aprons.

All Kinds of Aprons;

The internet has changed everything in the area of apron styles and availability, just as it has changed just about everything else. You can find online suppliers for any type of apron. There are limitless choices of colors and designs now where there were almost none before.

Safe and Washable Fabrics;

A great advantage of today’s aprons is that they are made of flame resistant and stain resistant materials. These new aprons are very inexpensive but very durable. And everyone would agree that it is better for a child or even an adult to be wearing a flame resistant apron in any situation.

Inexpensive Custom Printing;

Now aprons can be customized to fit any situation. It’s easy and inexpensive to add a name or a company logo to any apron. The newest ways of fabric printing make custom apron printing as easy as printing on paper. This has lowered the cost of custom printed fabrics so much that there is little reason not to customize on a large order.

For you and your kids, childrens aprons are only the first step in spending a safe, clean, and enjoyable afternoon as a family. These times are rarely as stress-free as seen on television without some planning and thought put into the situation.

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Rules You Should Follow When Making French Bead Flowers – Rule # 1 Is Identical to Rule # 1 in Ballet

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What in the World couldFrench bead flower making possibly have in common with ballet?

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If you yearn to be a jazz dancer, gymnast, Irish step dancer, modern-dance dancer, or tap dancer – you first have to learn excellent technique.  Ballet class is the best place to learn the technique which is fundamental to all of these forms of dance.  At Ballet class, you will learn how to properly carry your head, stretch your spine, point your toes, and make your arms move like the fronds of a weeping willow.

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In order to make French bead flowers, it is also necessary to learn excellent technique.  In my opinion, what is the one most important technique in this art?

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Rule # 1 – you have to keep your basic wire straight.

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It sounds so simple, doesn’t it?  Certainly I will keep my basic wire straight, you say. What could be easier than that?  You might be quite surprised.  This can be a huge challenge for someone who is new to the art.

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What should you do in order to prevent a crooked basic wire?  I have a few hints for you.  1 – Fasten a nail or tack into your working surface, and wrap the top of a very long basic wire around that.  Maintain the piece under tension while you begin to wrap the spool wire.  2 – As you are fitting the rows of beads into position, give the top basic wire a tug.  Wrap the spool wire, and tug the top basic wire once again.  Turn the piece over and check if the wire is straying off-course.  3 – Learn how to “finesse” the beads.  If you find that it’s not possible to fit another bead in the row, the top wire can reach over ever so lightly on that row, as long as you don’t forget to compensate for it the next time you come up to the top basic wire, and provided the overall impression of the piece is straight.

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Once you have made several rowsof your piece, turn it over and ascertain that the wire really is straight.  If it isn’t, the answer is to disassemble it and try again.  Practice.  Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; that’s the best way to learn the art.  They’re only beads and wire – they are gentle teachers and won’t lose patience with you.  This is a new learning experience for your hands, your heart, and your mind.  Each of those departments has its own hurdle to overcome with a new undertaking.

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Link:  http://www.rosemarykurtz.com

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