Though challenge coins have been around for a long time not all of them are worthy of being in your collection. There are so many types of coins to choose from military, federal agencies, to custom celebrations for kindergarten graduations. Each person has a specific reason for starting his or her collection to begin with. Maybe you were an Airman, Soldier, Seaman, or Marine and you want something that represents your beliefs and places you may have worked or traveled in your time. Finding what is right for you is sometimes very easy and even more so you are ready to start seeing what’s out there.

To begin your search the easiest place to start looking are at the physical installations that might be in your area. You can easily go down to their gift shops and see what is put out on the shelves. These coins are general coins that everyone has access to and most often had a high mint number, say about 10,000 coins made. This is for someone not really into collecting and more so wants a souvenir from where they were. These coins will never gain value for anymore then what they were sold for on the shelf and more than likely lose value over time.

They next place you could also start is on an auction site. Often times you will find vast amounts for sales here from other veterans and collectors alike. You can find great deals here or terrible ones if you don’t investigate properly. There are many sellers on auctions that are selling the same coins found in the installations stores for higher prices or duplications that they aren’t disclosing. In rare cases you can hit gold mines with certain sellers that are offering rare or low mint count coins for next to nothing. Even better is widows or relatives of ex-service members that have passed that are selling lots for cheap because they know nothing about what they really have.

The third area you can go hunting once your have discovered the first two ways to find coins is by going to websites that specialize in selling and/or making coins. This part isn’t always for a novice though. You need to discover what these sites have to offer and understand how and why they are doing what they are doing. Look for things like forums, information, how big the store is, and most of all who is running these sites. Any auction seller can make a site and sell you coins, but they still won’t disclose what you are getting. Let’s look at sites that specialize for a minute.

When you find that special site, look for a forum that you can reap information and build relations with other collectors so you can build knowledge. You should be able to feel comfortable with the site and its products. Other things you want to know is how long they have been around, what do other collector’s think of its authority level in the field, will it be around for the long haul, and do they disclose what each product really is. Only a few of these sites exist with everything I mentioned. Do some surfing in your favorite search engine to discover the small niche community out there and get to know the site you want to give your money or time to.

The last thing I want to touch on custom or low mint count coins. Some sites make general topic coins but do it in vast numbers. These coins are like the installation coins that never build value. You need to take time and look for custom coins that only had 50-500 coins made to expect a really good return or value on your collection. It’s more than the low count though. Everyone can put a low quality coin together and sell it. You need to get to know your designer and his or her quality of design when they make a coin. Take you time and hunt down your designers’ information and history and see lots of samples of their work before you become a regular customer.

To summarize finding coins in the open market place you need to do your homework and become a member of a community involved in trading, buying, or selling challenge coins. Not only can you gain better knowledge on your hobby, but make wonderful friends in the mean time. Before you know it, you will find yourself inside one of the best upcoming collecting areas in the world. Each day new coins are being introduced and you need to be in there getting the first copies of a brand new coin to show off to friends and collectors.

Seeing a work of art shaping up and coming to life is a wonderful experience. It gives enormous satisfaction and a sense of achievement when you craft something with your own hands. It does not have to be a masterpiece. Just a few strokes of water colors on a piece of paper can produce a simple, but beautiful painting. A few beads strung together can make a cute piece of fashion jewelry. All it takes is a little creativity, a sense of adventure, a few household items and a little spare time. That is all it takes to bring to life something that would give you a great deal of happiness and pride that would last a life time.

There is a wide range of crafts that you can choose from. After you go through the list of crafts mentioned in the next paragraph, you can decide on one or two that fit your level of interest and skill. If you are a parent, you can also choose some for your kids. Kids love to learn new crafts. It helps them develop their creativity, and keeps them occupied in an interesting activity for hours together. Some parents dread holidays because they do not know how to keep their children busy. But now you already know the answer to that problem.

Some of the crafts include Balloon Sculpting, Basketry, Beading, Bonsai, Candle making, Ceramic Pottery, Crochet, Decorative Painting, Doll making, Egg Art, Enameling, Flower Art, Glass Work, Gourd Art, Jewelry making, Kid's Crafts of various kinds, Knitting, Lace making, Mask making, Metal Crafts, Model making, Needlework, Origami, Paper making, Scrap booking, Soap making, Stenciling, making String Figures and Woodcraft, just to name a few. This list is not exhaustive, but gives you an idea of the variety of crafts that is available for anyone to pursue.

Most of these crafts can be practiced with just household materials, even trash. No special skill or equipment is necessary to get started. So children can also start learning these crafts. Even very young children can be taught some of the crafts listed here. They can learn to make wonderful toys that they can proudly display before their friends. It not only gives them a lot of confidence, but also teaches them a lot of scientific principles as they learn to make these toys and that will enhance their creativity. It improves their eye-hand coordination tremendously, and helps them to grow up physically, mentally, emotionally and socially as healthy individuals.

They can learn to make greeting cards, paper planes, collage, pin-hole cameras and more. Girls can learn the basics of sewing, embroidery and crochet, which they can then use to create colorful knitted products. They can knit colorful pillows covers, bed sheets and hankies with their names or their favorite cartoon characters on them. They can also learn to make perfumed candles, molded toys, spray painted pictures and wall hangers, thus decorating their rooms with various colorful craft items.

Adults can also start off with the minimum of tools. As they progress and learn more about the craft, they can then perhaps invest in some specialized equipment and tools to enhance and refine their work. A lot of folks reach a stage where their work is so good, others would want to buy their stuff. People can literally start a home business around their favorite craft. Crafts that started as a hobby have often evolved into a lucrative home business for many people. Doing something that you like is good enough, but when you get paid for it, it becomes even better.

With the help of the Internet and websites like EBay and other auction sites, selling your craft items becomes easy. You do not need a physical shop to display your stuff. All you need to do is photograph your craft items, load them onto the auction sites, and have a worldwide market for your business. It is that simple. The websites take care of all credit card transactions. You just need to count the money as it comes pouring in. Now that is exciting!

You can use an Online Crafts Directory for exploring and learning the different crafts mentioned in this article. Just browse through the directory and locate the craft(s) that you are interested in. Then go through the list of websites listed under that particular craft. Whatever your skill level, you can locate a website suitable for your requirement. Spend some time learning as much as you can about the craft from the websites listed in the directory. Then go ahead and try your hand at creating something with your newly acquired skill. Do not worry about how it might turn out. Just concentrate on getting off the ground. Just get started! Every long journey starts with a single step. Take that step now! Very soon you will be creating beautiful works of art. And you are going to love it.

Designing a challenge coin is not the easiest thing in the world, unless you like boring designs that no one wants to collect. There are several things you have to look for in a design such as uniqueness, color, shape, edging, 3D, thickness, and overall aesthetics. You don't have to go to school to be a coin designer but you do need somewhat of an artistic eye. When you have a 2" plate to cast your creativity on, well it better be worth it.

When you start a design you need to think of a theme. What do you want your coin to represent? Once you have that you can create the coin around the theme you chose. Color is going to be important so you need to choose the right metal to match you colors and your theme. Such as high-polished gold plating may not look good with gray enamel paint. Try different combinations out until you get something you like. Remember that some themes like licensed logos and artwork may need prior approval to use.

Other factors in a coin design are whether you have an odd shaped coin or a round one. Odd shaped coins are more times likely to be valuable and most hunted among the collecting community. It is vital your theme pieces match or compliment your shape. If the don’t your coin will only be awkward at the least. Try being exotic in your coin shape instead of using the same thing everyone else has. If you’re trying to make a living from being a coin designer you better make a large effort in being different.

The edging of a coin can be a flat diamond cut, which looks like a scalloped edge or a plain edge with nothing fancy on it. You can also choose a twisted diamond cut, double twisted diamond cut, or the jagged ridge. One new thing to hit challenge coins in 2007 is the money edge like the side of a quarter. Each of the edging techniques certainly adds class to a challenge coin but it’s not for every coin you design. Choose wisely not to use a fancy edge on a plain Jane challenge coin.

The 3D option is crazy in some cases to make the images on your coin raise off the surface creating almost a sculpture. This technique is a bit more expensive but the pay off it worth more than words can say. Often 3D take a regular coin out of it and makes something so valuable that collector’s will be knocking down your door for one. Make 3D available in your tools of the trade and you will be well rewarded in this addition. Sometimes you may be using an Eagle for example and 2D just makes it look like a pencil drawing with little to no detail. By adding 3D to that Eagle you can get detail in the feathers, shading, and most of all you can feel the entire sculpture.

Let’s talk about epoxy use on a coin for a minute. We highly discourage the use of epoxy clear coating because it takes all the detail created and hides it from your finger tips. Challenge coins are meant to touch and show off. Why would you want to cover it all up? We advise all designers to stay away from epoxy at all cost.

Finally covering aesthetics and uniqueness since they go hand in hand you need to make sure you are putting out a product that can be appreciated but also admired. Why go through all the hard work if you are not going to get the rewards of designing it? You need to make sure you cover your bases of color matching, shape matching, theme matching (Air Force symbols with Marine logo is not matching), and proper dimensions. All these areas of design done right will give you the final goal of aesthetics, but the uniqueness comes from the designer. Each design has a trademark of some sort. Does the coin have a cutout, spin, move in anyway, have a secret code to it, or anything that is not normal on other coins will bring your design to the next level. Not every coin will have this but try to create one or two in your life as a designer.

To cover everything in designing a coin the most important thing to have is patience. There are times a design may not appear the first time or that you have to restart your design from scratch. A design will come when your imagination is performing at its peak. Nothing is worse than seeing the result of a bad design after it’s been minted and hundreds or thousands of dollars have been wasted because of the pressure of getting the job done. Don’t be a terrible designer! Make sure you get second opinions on your designs until you are designing on a professional level.

For those of you out the into collecting the military genre of uniforms, patches, old guns, or anything from the past your in luck. With today’s multitude of ways to find antiques or collectibles it’s almost impossible not to find something unique close to home or on the internet. The internet has made it so easy to find a site or auction house with sellers trying to peddle there collectibles to people around the world. However, not everyone is going to get the deal of the century.

Starting locally around your home is the best way to get a good deal. A lot of times the aging population is literally dying to give you a great find. Most widows, family members, or the average Joe just doesn’t know the worth of what they have. You can go through classified ads in the paper, or stop by dozens of yard sales on Saturday morning and rummage through the goods marked at ridiculous prices. Of course you’re not out trying to rob someone but at the same time what it’s worth to them is what they will sell it to you for.

If you’re around a military installation you will often find the best deals as retirees form the Armed services will stay close for health care and other benefits from serving their time in the military. Once those retirees find that it’s time to clean out the years of collected memories they will pass it on to someone for next to nothing just to have room in their home again. This is where the estate sale or yard sale comes into play. Smart collectors will make a weekend of doing nothing but yard sailing all day long until they have filled their vehicles to the top.

Auctions online help bring people far away closer to their beloved items but this for the most part is not that cheap find. Most people out on the internet know what they are selling and what someone is willing to pay. Be prepared to pay closer to what the collectible is worth online. The people selling online are savvy and know that they are reaching millions of people that want what they are selling. The best way to get something cheaper online is looking for lot sales or local classified ads posted on certain websites.

Doing research for what you collect will help you from being abused by sellers. You should be prepared before a purchase in knowing what replicas are, years your collectibles are from, condition of the items, and if you can get them elsewhere cheaper and in better condition. There is no excuse for not doing your homework. The people that complain about what they bought either received an item other than described or didn’t know what they were getting into before they bought. Don’t be one of these people. There are more than enough places and communities online to help you in making appropriate purchased for your beloved hobby.

In all there are many ways to acquire military collectible, but it’s up to you to find the correct resources to help you in your quest of riches. You should look for groups to join with your similar interests to help you on your way, but be forewarned…never tell them were the goods are or they might bite before you do. Collector’s are some of the most vicious people I the world and if they want it they will get what you have your eyes on. Always get some information then share your prized possession with your group and you won’t have anything to regret.

So let's start off with where and how you locate seashells. Verify the rules regarding shell collecting in the areas that you are interested in. Some places don't allow collecting or allow it only during certain times of year. Some require authorization. The local park service is a good place to start looking for information. Beachcombing is the most common method of collecting seashells. The best time to find them is low tide. Look for bubbling holes in the wet sand. This indicates animal burrows, which means there should be abandoned shells nearby. Collect only "dead" shells - those without live creatures using them as homes. Walking along the beach after a storm is a great time to collect seashells. Many have been washed up on shore from the storm.

Mud flats are another great place for collecting seashells. Again this is done at low tide. You may have to dig a bit to find them. This is where a small garden rake comes in handy. Look for tracks in the mud left by crawling or digging mollusks.

If you are into diving and snorkeling, the open waters is a great place for seashell collecting. All you need is a snorkel, mask and flippers.

Dredging is another method used by seashell collectors. When dredging, you use a special net which is pulled by a boat that drags on the sea bottom. This is one of the quicker ways to collect a large amount of seashells.

One important tip when collecting seashells is to find a quiet beach with little people. There are fewer people there so you are more likely to find shells. Try to spot where the highest waves stop when they come upon the beach. This area usually comes up with shells brought about by the waves. Another good spot would be where the smaller waves break before rolling onto the beach. A lot of the best specimens can be found here.

Once you collect your seashells, wash them carefully with soap and water in a bowl and then set them on a towel to dry. You can use silicone grease if they appear dull. This will bring the natural color out. Just apply with your finger and buff with a soft cloth or towel. If for some reason your seashells start to smell after you wash them, this means that there were animal remains in the shell. In this case, soak the shell in water twice a day. After a few days you can shake the shell and the animal rot will come out.

Lonnie Theodore Binion (known as Ted Binion) was that rarest of birds: Native Son of Las Vegas. Brought up amidst prominent privilege as the son of infamous Benny Binion, the owner of the downtown Horseshoe Casino and founder of the World Tournament of Poker, Ted Binion appeared to have it all. He, along with his brothers and sisters, were on intimate terms with the internal workings of the legendary Las Vegas landmark, taking over for Bennie upon reaching adulthood. On the surface, the Binions not only had the American Dream, with ownership of casinos, a huge ranch in Montana, and money, money, money coming into their coffers on a daily basis, they lived a life most of us cannot even imagine. Sounds good, doesn't it? They had a large family, received the best education, lived in luxury, had all that money could buy.

As in so many cases, what’s wrong with this picture? So many times we hear of the sons and daughters of wealthy, prominent parents going off the deep end, losing their lives in ruination. Ted Binion was one of these unfortunate sons, who in spite of having the best money could buy, couldn’t buy himself a life worth living. He had the best, but fell victim to all the worst “Sin City” has to offer, ending in his demise - drug-addicted, barred from the only life he really knew (casino life), his live-in lover and his best friend accused of his murder. This is a story of excess: think money, think the best food, all you can eat, think drinks, all you can drink, think up all night, partying, topless bars, drugs to keep it going, no limits on what you can have, no boundaries on what you might spend, the best houses, the best cars, clothes, jewelry, whatever! No limits. This was Ted Binion’s life. Every man’s dream, so it seems. But, alas, it wasn’t the answer. Conversely, Ted Binion was also known as a caring, helpful person, who would put himself out to his friends and neighbors - a man at the mercy of opposing forces.

In his days managing the Horseshoe, Binion saw a constant flow of money that led him to develop an appreciation and eye for quality silver. He began to collect, becoming fascinated with the artistry and variety of coinage that numismatists are prone to. He not only began to collect, but being a man of excessive tastes, he began to hoard. He found and stashed every kind of silver coin he could get his hands on, eventually filling a vault beneath the gambling hall he called home with 46,000 pounds of mint silver coins.

This is a story, not only of Ted’s tragic life, but of the silver he loved and its journey from the vault under the Horseshoe to its newly-constructed home under the Nevada desert, to you, the reader of this story, and how it all ties in. In our society, precious metal in and of itself has value. But we, beings who love a story almost beyond where we should, are endlessly fascinated with the story behind things, the story behind celebrities, historical figures, great works of art, greatness on any level. Hell, it doesn’t even have to be greatness, as long as the telling of the story is great.

We are a people who love the backstory, especially if it concerns someplace we’re familiar with, and how many of us have frequented the Temples to Money that is Las Vegas? We (although we’re warned not to), love to worship at the Golden Calf, and hope it’s also being served on the buffet table. Hey, it’s what our economic system is all about. Our system may not be perfect and may cause a lot of secondary problems, but for right now, it’s all we’ve got. What’s that old line? The man who dies with the most toys at the end wins the game? If we begin to see things in terms of systems and games, everything looks a little different. It’s all a matter of perspective and perception.

So, this is the story of Ted Binion and the backstory of his Silver Hoard , an amazing collection of silver coinage (described in more detail below) and how you might get your hot little hands on some of it, should it be of interest to you. Silver in any form is expected to greatly rise in value in the next few years, and for those of you who are numistamistically inclined (there’s a mouthful), this may be your chance to acquire pieces far so beyond the ordinary they almost fall into the “worthy of worship” category. I don’t believe there’s any admonition about not worshiping at the Silver Calf. Certainly, we can understand Ted Binion’s desire to acquire and hoard these treasures, even if we can’t quite understand his loyalty to that which brought about his questionable end.

As we alluded to earlier, Ted Binion was quite the party animal. He lived hard and fast and loved the ladies. He was known to frequently frequent a famous Las Vegas establishment of titillation by tit-elevation known as Cheetah’s – a place known for it’s scantily-clad lovely ladies. Therein, he met a surfer-girl named Sandy Murphy. Ms. Murphy had just lost over $10,000.00, her life savings, playing blackjack at Caesar's Palace. It was initially reported that in order to cover her losses, Ms. Murphy took a job as a topless dancer at Cheetah's, but Murphy claims that she was working at the club as an independent contractor selling costumes to the dancers who worked there. In any case, it was where she and Binion hooked up.

Sandy Murphy's profile on the Court TV's website quotes Ms. Murphy as saying, "I really didn't know who Ted Binion was or what the Binion family was." Binion, age 55, apparently fell for the 23-year-old Southern California girl, who had just made her first trip to Las Vegas. It is reported that Binion and Murphy grew quite close, and on March 7, 1995, Binion moved her into his home on Palomino Lane. It was not long before Murphy quickly fell into step with Binion’s rich Las Vegas lifestyle, which seems to have included violence, sex, drugs, physical and verbal abuse. Sandy Murphy claims that she was never after Binion's money or that she had any knowledge of his reputation on the local scene. It seems a plausible story, if you consider she, a pretty 23-year-old, was most likely thrilled she’d found a 55-year-old who gave her a nice house to live in, along with a lifestyle of abuse and degradation.

Enter Part Two of the end-story of Ted Binion. Early in 1998, Binion met and befriended a struggling contractor by the name of Rick Tabish, whom he had met in the restroom of one of Las Vegas' high-end restaurants (…an auspicious beginning). Apparently, Tabish was not a very savvy businessman because he continually lost money through weak business dealings, and when he met Binion he was running a sandpit and trucking company on the verge of failure. Binion, however, befriended Tabish and invited him to his home. Both Tabish and Binion came from families with successful fathers, and the Binion family had a very large ranch in Montana, where Tabish also hailed from. These factors may have been the common bond that drew them together.

After some bad business with the Gaming Commission, Binion was barred from running the Horseshoe Casino, and his sister was in line to take over. Ol’ Ted had to find someplace to put all that silver. In the interim, Rick and Sandy had become attracted to each other and began an affair behind Binion’s back. The efforts of his new friend Tabish and his girlfriend Murphy in talking him into liquidating the silver were not well received. Binion felt the price of silver was too low and he wanted to wait for a more advantageous time. So, in a stroke of brilliance, he contracted with Tabish to build him an underground vault on his property in Pahrump. The vault was constructed, and on July 4, 1998, Tabish filled the vault with 46,000 pounds of silver from the basement hiding place of Binion's Horseshoe Casino. When Tabish had finished and locked up the vault, he asked Binion if he wanted the locks changed and the key back, and Binion declined, stating he trusted his friend.

About two months later, Binion was found dead. On September 17, 1998, paramedics found Ted Binion dead in the den of his Las Vegas home that he had shared with Murphy for about 3 1/2 years. Initially, investigators thought Binion, who struggled with a drug addiction, passed away from a overdose of tar heroin, Xanax and Valium, drugs he had purchased a day earlier. The 911 telephone call to police to report the death was made by Murphy an estimated four to ten hours later, and she was reported to have cried to the 911 operator that her "husband" was not breathing (Binion and Murphy were not married).

Rather suspiciously, one day after the death of Binion, Murphy is seen on a videotape pointing out which possessions she wants from the estate; accusing the Binion family of removing items from the house in her absence and pocketing a wine glass that investigators believe may have contained the drug mixture that was forcibly poured down Ted Binion's throat.

Even more suspiciously, two days after Binion's death sheriff deputies caught Tabish and two assistants, excavating the last of Binion's estimated $7 million of silver coins and bars from the underground desert vault at 2:00 a.m. Their report also stated that they found Tabish's briefcase at the scene containing a safe combination and a handwritten note from Murphy proclaiming her love for him.

These events, along with private investigations begun by the Binion family, initiated an additional investigation by police. What was thought to be an overdose now became a murder probe. The police probe into the death of Binion led to the arrest of Murphy and Tabish about nine months later, and gave the prosecutors the following evidence to present at trial:

• Murphy and Tabish began an affair during the summer of 1998.
• Tabish bragged about the affair.
• Both Murphy and Tabish knew about the $7 million of silver; tried to convince Binion to sell it; and, knew of the underground desert vault.
• The prosecution's medical examiner, Dr. Michael Baden, theorized that Binion was force-fed the drug mixture which disoriented him, and allowed him to be suffocated.
• Tabish's involvement was reinforced by his attempt to excavate the silver.
• Murphy was listed as a beneficiary in Binion's Will.
• Binion's estate attorney filed a petition stating that Binion told him over the telephone, "Get Sandy out of the Will if she doesn't kill me tonight. If I'm dead, you'll know what happened to me." Binion was dead before the Will could be changed.
• Tabish needed money because he was cash-strapped.
• Tabish had previous run-ins with the law. He was convicted twice in Montana, once for burglary and once for conspiracy to possess narcotics. In addition, he was also charged (along with two associates) in the kidnapping and torture of business associate Leo Casey in July 1998.

Murphy and Tabish were tried and convicted on May 19, 2000, after an eight day deliberation by the jury. Tabish was sentenced to 25 years in prison, and Murphy received a minimum 22 years. In July 2003, in a 4 to 3 decision the Nevada Supreme Court overturned the conviction of Murphy and Tabish because of improper courtroom procedures. This led to a retrial, and in November of 2004 a seven-man, five-woman jury returned a verdict after 19 hours of deliberations. Murphy and Tabish were acquitted of the most serious charge against them, the murder verdict. The Las Vegas jury cited a lack of medical evidence for their decision. Through a provision in Binion's Will, Murphy may be able to claim $1.2 million pending the outcome of a wrongful-death suit brought against her by the Binion family.

Where are they now? Both were each acquitted of murder but were convicted on lesser charges of conspiracy to commit burglary, burglary and grand larceny. Murphy was not returned to prison, because of time served. Tabish is expected to be released in 2008. Note: A prosecution death theory, which the jury ultimately rejected, formed the basis for "Burked," a September 27, 2001 episode of the TV series CSI. After the jury in the re-trial found Tabish and Murphy not guilty of murder, news accounts reported that jurors had been unwilling to find them guilty because the forensic evidence introduced by the prosecution had not met the standards of the television show.

So, what happened to all of Ted Binion's silver? In November 2001, Spectrum Numismatic International purchased the coins from the Binion Hoard for $3 million, and the marketing of the coins was assigned to Goldline International, Inc. There were over 100,000 Morgan and Peace Silver Dollars, and an unspecified number of silver Half Dollars. The coins were authenticated and graded by NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation). A special tag and designation was created by NGC to make these coins stand out as coins with a pedigree. In addition to the special tagging, the silver dollars were marked with the words Binion Collection and the half dollars were marked with the words Nevada Silver Collection. The coins were sold in a variety of grades up to and including MS-68, and there was a wide array of price points originally starting at $50.00.

The story and court trial over Ted Binion's death has kept America buzzing, and the coins from the Binion Hoard have given Coin Collectors a piece of modern day history that will live long in the annals of numismatics. The complete story is far from over, but once the last chapter is written, these pedigreed coins will have a story like no other. The Binion coins were authenticated and certified by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), one of the nation's leading independent facilities for the inspection, authentication and grading of collector and investor coins. At the completion of their process, NGC sealed each silver dollar into a tamperproof plastic holder showing the coin's year and mint of issue, plus the coin's grade. A coin's grade is important because it is the primary determinant of the coin's market value. Mark Salzberg, President of NGC, said, "This is the greatest collection of silver dollars that NGC has ever authenticated."

NGC has also included a unique certification sealed into each protective holder for the historic coins. Each Binion silver dollar features a special NGC pedigree label that for the first time is in a color (green) and depicts three cowboys from the Old West. Each label also reads, Binion Collection and BinionCollection.com to further identify the pedigree and to offer collectors a website with additional information about the collection. "These coins are dripping with amazing originality and historical importance," said Salzberg. He added, "Less than one out of every 1,000 coins NGC grades has a pedigree. Pedigrees add to the collectibility of a coin because they identify it from a historical perspective."

"The coins of the Binion Collection offer an opportunity for both novices and sophisticated collectors to acquire coins for their collections," said Mark Albarian, President and CEO of Goldline. "The price range is affordable—many coins are available for less than $50 with the most expensive over $10,000."

If you are finding yourself stuck in a "mental rut" right now, and feel like everyday runs into the next.. then why not try a craft project?

Crafting, whether its a very simple creation or a large project, it gets the creative juices flowing, new ideas start to form, you start thinking of different ways to approach a craft or how to make it better!

You will find yourself using parts of your brain, that have been asleep! You will become inspired to try something else, and you will feel energized!

If you are very stressed, and just can't think of anything to create, then get a craft kit, something simple that you would think you would enjoy, something that will take your mind off of everyday things and is not too difficult. Once you have completed the kit, you should and will feel proud of your accomplishment. Take stock of what you just created, did you like it? or would you like to try something else? There is a ton of craft ideas out there and supplies on the market like never before, but start off with something very simple.

This is how I started out, I was seriously ill about 15 years ago, and while recovering, I needed to take my mind off of the daily needs of my illness, and started painting with paint by numbers! something I knew would turn out right, but I felt good when it was done, and started freehand painting, and have loved it ever since. I also love sewing, and have made many recycled denim pillows, quilts and more.. have fun, start a craft that will fill your heart and soul with gladness! This will spill over into your everyday life, and you will look at things differently!

The idea of ebonizing is just like any other staining process in wood - really it's nothing more than applying colour to wood and waiting until some of it soaks in! In order to make it as even as possible we usually use a rag, sponge or brush, although some people immerse their wood entirely (which is OK for small pieces) and then we wait until it dries.

If you use water-based stains you may have to lightly sand after staining because water-based stains tend to raise the grain a little. It depends on your final finish and, of course, your personal preferences.

Here we're talking specifically about ebonizing - making the wood as near black as we can. There are commercial stains you can buy, and you can even use boot black (it's a wax polish, after all, although it doesn't soak in very well), but how about a stain you can make with things you almost certainly have lying around the house?

Here are those ingredients:

A jar (best if it has a plastic lid so it won't rust, but not vital) A piece of coarse steel wool or some old nails (not galvanized - it won't work) Some ordinary vinegar

That's the lot! Put the steel wool or nails in the jar, add enough vinegar to cover them and close the lid. Now just leave it for the vinegar to do it's work. Two or three days should be fine but you may want to experiment. Finally, strain the liquid through a cloth (or a coffee filter) so you don't have any particles and apply to some wood using your method of choice.

As you can see, this isn't rocket science, and varying the proportions of vinegar to metal will effect the stain as will the length of time it brews. The other thing to remember is that different woods will absorb the stain differently so you might need more than one application, and the colour will vary. Always follow the golden rule: test it on a scrap piece first. You'll also probably find that the wood will continue to change colour for a day or two, possibly longer, after you have stopped applying the stain. There's nothing you can do about this except be patient. There's unlikely to be any change a week after application.

I've experimented with wax as a final finish over the top, and with poly, both without problems. I haven't yet tried Danish or Tung oil, though I suspect they'll be fine. If in doubt, back to the golden rule again!

Unfortunately the method is a bit inconsistent so you'll find it very difficult to get two batches the same. Always make up enough for the job in hand in one go. If you want to be safe, go to the store and buy the stuff they've got there, but if you enjoy experimenting a bit this is great fun.

Counted cross stitch is very easy to learn. You only need to follow the design from a printed graph or pattern onto evenweave fabric (usually Aida). You will be using floss and creating crosses (X) on the fabric. Each symbol on the pattern represents one X on the fabric. Different symbols represents different colors of floss.

To start stitching, make sure you have the following:
* Pattern
* Evenweave fabric (usually Aida)
* Needle (size 24 for 14 count Aida and size 26 for any other fabric greater than 14 count).
* Scissors

Most people prefer to stitch on a 14 count Aida. First, finding the center of your chart by following the two arrows. One arrow will be in the top center and the other one in the middle left side of your chart. Follow these two arrows. Where they meet is your center stitch. Next, find the center of your fabric - fold it in half twice. The center will be at the intersection of the two folds.

The first method is to work a row of half stitches, then work back to complete the X. Use this method for most stitching. Make sure all stitches are crossed in the same direction and that they lay flat on your fabric.

A color might have only a few stitches and then another color starts. It is up to you if you want to end off and start again with another color or carry the thread along the back. I usually stitch all the same colors first (in one area) and then move to another color in the same area.

That is it! Very simple. Just follow the pattern and you will be creating a wonderful piece of art!

I remember trying to build my first wood project, using an old hand drawn plan and trying to figure out exactly how I was going to make this thing. The plan itself was ok, not great but ok. Some of the views were hard to follow, some of the details difficult to read. I took my time and would have to admit the project turned out great, I even impressed my self. I still have that entertainment center in my basement.

Today most woodworking plans are created in some sort of 3D CAD system. You’ll see these plans in woodworking magazines, plans that you buy from a woodworkers store, online or anywhere else you might buy your plans from. Since the birth of using 3D CAD systems to generate plans the details and views in plans have most certainly gotten better, much better, while I’ll even go as far as saying almost perfect! Still there are some plans where the views are a little hard to decipher and some things are left for you to figure out. Sure there usually is step-by-step instructions which do help, but a picture is worth a thousand words.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, what do you think the actual 3D model the plan was designed from worth? A 3D model can be rotated and viewed from any angle, you can zoom in to any spot, you can hide any component to get a better look or to take a look inside you can measure anything you want to. It’s as close to having the project completely built without actually having the project completed or even started.

Having access to the 3D model is a godsend for any woodworker, no more do you have to just look at hard to follow detail views or one page plans with notes and arrows going every direction, you can simple sit down at your computer look at the finished project any way you want to and determine the best possible way to complete the project.

There is such a tremendous selection of fabrics available; the job of choosing fabric can be overwhelming. As you peruse the different fabrics, you may be drawn to the bright, splashy colors at first. Then, the subtle colors, interesting textures and weaves present you with more possibilities. It is essential to be informed about fabrics, so that your project is successful. But, it is still important for you to fall in love with the fabric!

We will begin by breaking down the types of fabric into categories, then sub-categories. You will want to know what the fabric is made of, how it will drape (flow), and what the care instructions are. One thing is for certain – it pays to invest in quality fabric, as you are going to put a lot of your energy into the project, and you want it to be a success.

TYPES OF FABRIC BY FIBER CONTENT
The fiber content of a fabric will determine the comfort of the garment when you wear it, and how you will need to care for the garment. Usually, in a store, the fabric content will be on the end of the cardboard form that the fabric is wrapped around. Be sure to ask the sales people, as sometimes the form is re-used and does not match the fabric. If purchasing fabric from a web site, the information should be displayed with the fabric. In case you find fabric that the fiber content is unknown, it can be tested by burning it. More about fabric testing later.

Natural Fiber Fabrics:
- Cotton
- Linen
- Ramie
- Silk
- Wool
- Specialty Hair Fibers

Man-Made Fiber Fabrics:
- Acetate and Triacetate
- Acrylic
- Nylon
- Olefin
- Polyester
- Rayon
- Spandex

Leathers and Suedes

Synthetic Suedes

Vinyls

Furs

NATURAL FIBER FABRICS

Natural fiber fabrics are made from materials that grow in nature. Fibers come from animal coats, silkworm cocoons, and plant seeds, leaves, and stems. Natural fiber fabrics are biodegradable and also can be recycled. In recycling, the fabric is shredded back to fibers, respun into a coarse yarn, and then rewoven or knitted. Wool is the most common recycled fabric, but cotton can be recycled and made into industrial wiping cloths, mattress filling, and carpet backing.

COTTON

Cotton is known for its comfort, appearance, versatility, and performance. It is available in many fabric weights, colors, patterns, weaves, and prices. Cotton comes from the seedpod of the cotton plant. It is grown in warm climates that have plentiful rain. The cotton fibers are taken from the boll (seed pod) and vary in length. They can be as long as 2 ½” and as short as 3/8”. The long fibers are the more costly, and are harder to produce. Once the cotton is picked, it is separated by a process known as ginning (remember hearing about the cotton gin?) and the long fibers are made into thread. The short fibers are used to produce rayon. The quality is determined by: a) fiber fineness; b) color; c) foreign matter. To figure out the fiber length, peel a thread and untwist. Look for fibers longer than ½”.

Enough history lesson, now on to what is so great about cotton. Cotton has many admirable characteristics and a few less-than-admirable characteristics:
- Comfortable year-round. In hot, humid weather, cotton will absorb perspiration and release it on the fabric surface, and the moisture will evaporate. In the cold weather, cotton will help retain body heat.
- Easy to clean: usually, cotton garments can be laundered, and even stand up to hot water, but cotton can also be dry cleaned, if the garment calls for dry cleaning. Some factors for determining if the fabric should be dry-cleaned are the dyes, finish, trims, and design of the garment. If you have a doubt, wash a small sample of the fabric first. Cotton garments should be cleaned frequently. The fibers soil easily.
- Shrinks: Oh, yes, cotton fabric shrinks. It is a must to pre-shrink cotton fabric before you begin the sewing project. You may want to wash the fabric more than once. Looser weaves shrink more; closer weaves shrink less. Cotton shrinks more when washed in hot water. Wash it in the same way as you will the completed garment.
- Wrinkles: cotton does wrinkle when washed. Many times the cotton fibers are blended with another fiber to achieve wrinkle free fabric. Cotton blended with polyester makes a wrinkle-free, easy care fabric. Although the cotton/poly blend fabric is easy care, it is not cool as cotton and also pills. Formaldehyde is sometimes added to cotton to create “easy care cotton”.
- Durable
- Doesn’t build up static electricity
- Drapes well
There are many cotton fabrics, which range from lightweight sheers to heavy velvets. Some examples of cotton fabric are: batiste, broadcloth, calico, canvas, chintz, corduroy, denim, flannel, muslin, gauze, percale, pique, plisse, sateen, velour and velvet, to name a few. The list goes on and on. There is, of course, different qualities of cotton. The highest quality cottons are made from the longer fibers, such as Pima, Egyptian and Peruvian cottons. Look for fabrics that the fibers are closely woven. In general, better quality cotton fabrics are softer than the lesser quality cottons. The lesser quality cottons often have sizing added to make them seem to be firmer and heavier than they are. Once you wash it, the sizing will be gone, and you will be left with a fabric that will not wear well or last very long. Buy quality! To figure out if the fabric has heavy sizing, rub the fabric against itself. If it softens, or it gives off a powdery feel, that is heavy sizing. If you hold it up to the light, you may be able to see the sizing between the threads. Mercerized cotton is stronger and more lustrous, which it retains after many washings. Mercerizing permanently straightens the fibers, and makes it smooth.

South American and Thai Cottons:
- Firmly woven
- Produced in smaller widths than normal
- Shrink quite a bit
- Vegetable dyes can bleed – set with ¼ cup vinegar per gallon of water
- Small flaws in the fabric

COTTON FABRICS

DUCK: heavy, durable cotton that is tightly woven.

FLANNEL: comes in either a plain or twill weave; it has a slight nap (a soft, brushed look) on one or both sides. Since this fabric shrinks quite a bit, machine-wash and machine-dry, both hot. Use a with nap layout, double thickness. Use an 80/12 needle. Steam iron on cotton setting.

FLANNELETTE: soft, with a nap on one side.

GAUZE: sheer, lightly woven fabric. There is also silk gauze.

GINGHAM: checks, plaids, stripes, very lightweight.

LAWN: lightweight, plain woven, this fabric is soft, combed with a crisp finish.

MUSLIN: runs sheer to coarse; plain woven; comes in “natural” color or dyed.

BRUSHED COTTON: the fibers are teased apart to make the cloth fleecy, creating air pockets between the fibers, and feels warmer; is more flammable. Sometimes comes with flameproofing. It is strong, stronger when wet, stands up to hard washing, which makes it ideal for tablecloths, napkins, sheets, pillowcases. Resistant to heat, can be washed at high temperatures.

MATELASSE: raised woven designs, usually jacquard, with a puckered/quilted look.

MOIRE: a finish given to ribbed cotton or silk, achieved by passing the fabric between engraved rollers which press a watermark pattern into it.

ORGANDY: transparent with crisp finish.

PIMA: from Egyptian cotton; excellent quality.

PIQUE: cotton pique has a small embossed design, achieved by using two warps with different tension. It is very expensive to produce.

PLISSE: crinkled effect, produced on cotton by printing it with a stripe of chemical, which causes raised buckling by elongating fibers of the printed parts.

POLISHED: plain or satin weave; shiny due to chemical finish.

POPLIN: plain weave with a cross-wise rib.

SEERSUCKER: lightweight fabric crinkled into lengthwise strips of different colors. Traditionally woven with two types of warp, one under heavy tension, to give the variation in surface. These days, chemical methods are more often used to produce the crinkle. It does not need ironing after washing.

SWISS: sheer, fine fabric; plain or dotted with possible other designs.

TERRY CLOTH: looped pile, woven or knitted, and absorbent. French terry is looped on one side and sheared pile on other side.

VELVETEEN: short pile resembling velvet.

HEMP

Hemp is produced from the cannabis Sativa plant. It is processed to separate the fibers, then woven into yarns and fabric. Italy produces the finest hemp fabric. It is linen-like in hand and appearance. It wrinkles easily.

LINEN

Linen is made from the stalk of the flax plant; it is the strongest of the vegetable fibers, 2 to 3 times the strength of cotton. The linen fibers can range from 2” to 36” long. They are first spun into yarn, which is then woven into fabric. Linen comes in many weights, the lightest being handkerchief linen, the heaviest being linen suiting. Linen is desirable in hot, humid climates due to its high moisture absorbency, and the fact that it is quick drying. Linen gets smoother, softer, and finer the more it is washed. Its luster is due to the natural wax content, which also gives linen a smooth surface.

Qualities:
- Stays clean: linen sheds surface dirt and resists stains.
- Wrinkles: linen really wrinkles, even those that have been given a wrinkle-resistant treatment. A good tip: press fabric before preshrinking; it sets the formaldehyde, and helps keep wrinkling down. On the plus side, linen presses easily. Since it creases easily, it can be given a crease-resistant finish (tebilizing) or can be blended with poly.
- Shrinks: here is another natural fiber fabric that shrinks. It is essential to preshrink linen before you start to cut. Buy extra fabric, as you will lose some due to shrinkage.
- Frays: linen fabrics really do tend to fray. Before you pre-wash, it would be a good idea to serge the raw edges. As you make your garment, it would also be good to serge the seams and any other raw edges.
- Doesn’t drape; instead it is crisp.
- Easily dyed, and color doesn’t fade.
- Absorbs moisture more quickly than any other fabric – it is great for toweling and tablecloths.

Looking for quality:
- Feel: the better quality linen fabrics are smooth and supple. Look at the finish – is there a lot of sizing on the fabric? Not a good sign!
- Fibers: good quality linens have finer yarns. Check out the number of threads per inch – remember that as with bed sheets, the higher the number of threads per square inch, the better the quality. The threads should be woven straight and even.

DAMASK: a jacquard weave, reversible pattern of satin or plain weave.

VENISE: a very fine damask of floral patterns, used for table linen.

RAMIE

Ramie is a hairy, soft fiber that has many of the same qualities as linen: it is comfortable and wrinkles easily. Frequently, ramie is blended with other fibers, both natural and man-made. Ramie can be washed or dry-cleaned; use the same rules as for linen to determine which cleaning method is best for your garment. Use the linen guidelines for sewing help. Ramie has a natural white color, has a high luster, is highly absorbent, and quick to dry.

SILK

Silk, know as the “Queen of Textiles”, is a luxurious and sensuous cloth that comes from the cocoon of the silkworm. There are two basic types of silkworms: commercial, or cultivated; and wild. The cultivated silkworm is fed mulberry leaves, and these silkworms produce the finest fibers. Wild silkworms may eat many different leaves, oak being one of them.

Sericulture is the word for the cultivation of silkworms to produce silk. Silkworms are fragile creatures that must be correctly fed and kept meticulously clean. They are highly sensitive to noise and odors. They mate for several hours, and produce about 300 pinhead size eggs. From the incubation period, which is about 30 days, the little eggs hatch. They are fed numerous times each day, a diet of mulberry leaves. This industry keeps many people employed, taking care of the mulberry trees, picking and chopping the leaves, and feeding the silkworms. After 30 days, the silkworm is approximately 3 ½” long. It looks for a place and begins making a cocoon. It moves its head in a figure-eight pattern, secreting a semi-liquid, and surrounds itself with a cocoon. The semi-liquid, which is two strands of silk and sericin, a gummy substance that the silkworm extrudes, comes out at a rate of about 1 foot per minute. Some days later, the cocoon is subjected to either steam or boiling water to separate the silkworm from the cocoon. This keeps the silkworm from maturing and breaking the cocoon. The silk fiber is one long strand. The cocoons are soaked in hot water to soften, and then a reeling process winds the filaments. When two silkworms share a cocoon, the result is a double strand. This is known as Doupioni. The fibers will give a thick and thin appearance. A single filament is too thin to use alone, so many are combined to make a thicker, more useable yarn. The filaments of two to twenty cocoons are reeled together to make strands of raw silk. Care is taken to keep the strands uniform in size. The reeler is constantly adding filaments to maintain the size of the strands, and to make the strand longer. A skilled weaver, weaving a complicated weave, may get only a few inches a day. To weave a simple, plain weave, a skilled weaved can produce nine to ten yards of silk in a day. Silk hand weaving is both a traditional folk craft and a delicate art. Silk that is hand-woven has a lustrous sheen and slightly uneven texture that distinguishes it from the sleek machine-woven silks.

Wild silkworms live on oak leaves, and some other leaves. The Tussah worm is larger than the cultivated kind, and can mature to 6 inches long. Since the food is coarser, the worm produces a coarser filament, which is a tan or golden color. The majority of Tussah silk comes from China, but some is produced in India. Ethe India tussah is woven from larger needles and is not as refined, nor does it drape as well as China silk. It pills in areas of wear. Examples of tussah silks are: shantung, raw silk, and pongee. They are durable, and have a coarse, ribbed surface. Although tussah silk washes well, it shrinks. Eri silk is found only in India. The cocoons are small and very light colored. The cocoons are gathered after the moth emerges, which classifies the fibers as “peace silk”. Peace silk (also called vegetarian silk) is when the moth is allowed to emerge from the cocoon, and then completes its life cycle (mates, lays eggs, and dies).

Characteristics:
- Comfortable, warm in winter, cool in summer
- Resists wrinkling
- Can be drapeable; or stiff
- Absorbs moisture, dries quickly
- Does not soil easily
- Damaged by perspiration and body oils
- Silk fibers don’t shrink, but silk fabric does
- Dry-clean mainly, although good results have been achieved from washing (gently). Washing tightens up the weave.

DYEING: silk takes color rather easily, and is dyed either before or after it is woven. Dyeing before is “skein dyed”, dyeing after is “piece dyed”.

WEIGHTS: silk weight is expressed in momme (m/m). The heavier the fabric, the higher the m/m number.

THAI SILK Thai silk is produced primarily on the Korat Plateau in the northeast region of Thailand. The silk varies in color from very light green to light gold. The threads are washed, bleached, and then soaked in vats of hot dyes. Then they are washed again, stretched, and dyed. Then the threads are wound onto spools. Thai silk is both hand and machine woven. The Thai hand-weavers, usually rural Thai women, believe the silk they weave carries an imprint of the spirit and character of the weaver. Thai silk is shiny and lustrous, and usually is soft. The texture is often coarse, the threads uneven.

Smooth Thai silk has a shiny, satiny finish, which is good for clothing and interior decoration items.

Rough Thai silk is relatively coarse and thick, but still soft. It is good for interior decorations – curtains and casual clothing. It is sometimes called “nubby”.

Two-Tone Thai Silk uses two colors when weaving the cloth – one for warp (vertical thread) and one for weft (horizontal thread). The fabric color appears to change depending on the angle of viewing, giving it an almost iridescent effect.

Striped Thai Silk is a weaving method. By alternating smooth and rough silk threads in the weaving, a pattern emerges in the fabric, although it is all the same color.

MUDMEEE (IKAT) THAI SILK This silk is hand-woven in the Northeast area of Thailand, in an area called Isannn, which is on the Khovat plateau. The intricate designs are passed down from generation to generation. Using various colors in the weft creates the designs. Usually, the silk fabric is half solid or two-tone, and half mudmee pattern. There are many other types of patterned and woven silks from Thailand, each area having a different named pattern.

WASHING/DRY-CLEANING: Opinions vary about cleaning silk. Some experts say that dry-cleaning is best to keep the fabric in good condition. Other experts say you can hand wash in lukewarm water and the mildest soap. Add 1 TBS of white vinegar to the final rinse. Do not wring out! Instead, roll it in a towel. Dry in the shade. Either iron on the wrong side while it is still damp; or if fabric is dry, use a damp press cloth on the right side. Another suggestion for washing is to use a good shampoo, not alkaline, no wax or petroleum products.

COMPARING THAI SILK TO OTHER REGIONAL SILKS
Chinese Silk – is smooth and satiny with a plain weave. China silk is hand-woven from hand-reeled silk fibers. It is lustrous, lightweight, and delicate, can snag if not handled with care.
Indian Silk – soft, more crinkly, and richer colors
Habutai Silk – if from Japan, it is fine, soft, and closely woven. It is generally plain woven, but can be twill faced. Habutai silk is woven raw, and degummed after it becomes fabric. It is loosely woven, lustrous, smooth, with a good hand. It is made in light, medium and heavy weights. It resembles taffeta, but is softer

REAL SILK VS. MAN-MADE IMITATION SILK (POLYESTER)
1- Price: real silk is much more costly
2- Hand-woven and natural fibers have small flaws and bumps; polyester is machine-made and has no flaws
3- Luster: real silk uses two colors, warp and weft, and produces a luster, the color changing depending on the angle of light; polyester is all the same color regardless of the angle.
4- Burning: silk leaves fine ash, and smells like burning hair. When you take away the flame, the silk stops burning. Polyester burning makes black smoke and continues to burn when the flame is removed.

How many parents have watched their children gleefully playing with paints or clay making lots of curious treasures for mum and dad? Actually a lot of children make these things at school and bring them home but one thing that all of these children have in common is the fact that most of them will be wearing an apron at the same time!

Child aprons are incredibly useful for children’s activities, particularly as most of these types of pursuits are very messy! The best type of child apron is one which goes over the head and then ties at the back as it secures itself in place and is less likely to come off. There are also the types which go over the head and have a back and a front and do up at the sides, even better as you end up covering more of the child.

Child aprons come in many different designs and styles. One of the cheapest ways is to make your own, and let’s face it, with the minimum of sewing machine skills as an apron has to be one of the easiest sewing tasks you could undertake, you can conjure up quite a unique project and personalize it to your own child.

Child aprons can have the actual hand prints of your child on it; they could have your child’s name all over it or their favorite nursery rhyme or Disney character, etc. You do not need to be the artist, most craft shops sell transfers or prints that you can apply to the finished apron to give it that personal ‘touch’.

Then there are the days when your little ‘darling’ wants to help you in the kitchen. That’s when you really need an apron! In fact the whole kitchen needs an apron! Seriously though, sometimes it is just nice to be like mum in those circumstances and put their apron on to do the cooking. A great area for boys or girls these days seeing as most good chefs on the TV are men! Just make sure that your little boy has something like a picture of ‘Shrek’ on his apron and your little girl may prefer just about anything as long as it is ‘girly’.

Whatever the case, make sure you have a child apron handy the next time your little one decides they want to make a mess. You will not regret it!

Everywhere in the world, Barbie dolls are being sold by the hundreds. In fact, it is being sold in more than 150 countries around the globe. Every second, two Barbie dolls are being bought, making it one of the most successful toys in the recent centuries.

Barbie Dolls is an industry in its own right. It earns billions of dollars annually with business interests that do not only include toys. Barbie also has video cds, movie titles, computer games, clothes, shoes, accessories and bags. You name a fashion merchandise and they’ve got it.

But what is it about the Barbie doll that made it click. Even at its debut in 1959 with the now famous black and white striped bathing suit-clad doll, it sold about 351,000 units. It did not take long for the craze to transform to a mania. Everyone just loves Barbie, from little girls to grown-ups who do collecting; from girls to men. In fact, Barbie is second to stamps as the most collected item in the whole world.

What makes it so adorable? Here are some of the reasons.

Mirror of the times

Barbies have been around for centuries and it defined the style, fashion and look of the year it was made. Like people and culture, it is also evolving, showing the current fad and the current way of thinking of that generation. Barbies dolls tell history in its own right, even having dolls that commemorate special events in history like the end of the US-Soviet Union Cold War and the Olympic Games.

There is a Barbie that will define the 70s flower power era and the millennium that came. In a piece of doll is also a piece of history.

Memories of childhood

Having been introduced in the 1950s, Barbie dolls have been around for centuries that most women in the United Stated have probably played with one or two. Seeing Barbie dolls remind people of their childhood days, which they would most likely want to pass on to their own kids.

In fact, some collectors do not only collect the items because of their price value but because of the memories that the dolls evoke. After all, buying a piece that is exactly the same as the one they have played with when they were little kids can be really exciting especially if we have managed to destroy the hair or the clothes by our childish attempts at haircutting and fashion designing.

The acrylic painting medium is a fairly new addition to the various painting mediums available to todays artists. It has been around since the 1950's and has been continually under development and refinement ever since.

Acrylic paint is highly favored amongst artists because of its wonderful versatility. It can be applied thickly as an impasto having rich texture or in washes mimicking the characteristics of watercolor.

Another likable characteristic of acrylic paint is its permanence. Acrylic paint is not susceptible to yellowing or hardening with age. With acrylic paint, the artist does not need to be concerned with the order the paint is applied or other special techniques that ensure the paint film remains free from cracking. So it can be said that acrylic paint is much easier to use than oil paint.

Yet another characteristic that invites new artists to this medium is its fast drying time. Since acrylic paint dries so quickly, colors can be applied and overlaid quicker than with oil painting.

There are however a few downsides to the quick drying time of acrylic paints:

1) The paint will not remain workable for very long, so you have to work quickly.

2) The fast drying time of acrylics can also ruin brushes if the brushes are not cleaned immediately.

3) Acrylic paint is not the best medium for direct painting outdoors, especially on a bright sunny day. Whatever paint you put out on your palette will begin to dry quickly and form a skin over the surface of the paint making it very difficult to work with.

ACRYLIC PAINTING TECHNIQUES

Watercolor Effects

Acrylic paint works wonderfully as a transparent medium, similar to watercolor. Acrylics do have an advantage over watercolors. You can lay out a number of thin washes over one another without fear of disturbing the colors underneath. You must wait for one layer to dry completely before applying another of course. Once each layer dries it becomes insoluble in water. The only disadvantage to using acrylics as a watercolor medium is the difficulty in modifying the color. Once acrylic paint begins to dry it becomes rather difficult to work with. One of the biggest problems is the tendency for washes to dry with unwanted hard edges. You can avoid this problem in one of two ways. You can either dampen the paper before the paint is applied or you can use an additional brush dampened with water. Use one brush to apply the paint and immediately soften the edge with the other brush that has been dampened with the water.

Blending Opaque Colors

With watercolor effects, the acrylic paint is applied in transparent washes. With the opaque technique the paint layers are non-transparent. Blending opaque acrylic colors can be a bit tricky as you are kind of pressed for time. It is important therefore to only work on areas that you know you will have enough time to blend. To blend two colors, first paint a block of each color side by side on your support. Where the two colors join paint down that line with a clean damp brush to soften the edges. To blend the colors even further, move the blending brush from side to side or up and down, until the desired blending is achieved.

Sgraffito Technique

Sgraffito is a scratching technique. It got its name from the Italian word graffiare which literally means to scratch. Just as the name implies it involves scratching into the surface of the wet paint which reveals either the ground or layer of dry color underneath. There are a number of different tools that can be used for this technique. Tools like screwdrivers or the sharpened end of an old paintbrush handle should suffice. It really depends on the support you are using. For instance, a screwdriver may not be the best tool if you are using a panel as a support. The hard metal may damage the panel, so you would need to use a softer tool.

Using a Squeegee

A regular squeegee that you can purchase at any hardware or auto store can create some interesting effects when used with acrylic paint. First you would squeeze out some paint blobs directly along one edge of your support. You can layout whatever colors you wish. Then with one fluid motion you would drag the paint across the support with your squeegee, which will smear and mix the paint and create some very unique and interesting designs. You may need to alter your squeegee a bit as the rubber blade that comes with most squeegees may not be rigid enough to drag the paint. You can remove the rubber blade and in its place glue in a regular wooden ruler. This will give you a flat sturdy edge to manipulate the paint.

I hope you have enjoyed this article on acrylic painting techniques. Take some time today to experiment with these techniques and have fun. Happy Painting!

The latest rage sweeping the country is to have jewelry made from different types of beads in assorted sizes, colors and textures. The more beaded jewelry the better as you can change the appearance of your outfits to be more dress-up or causal.

You can purchase beaded jewelry from local stores or you can make your own by using craft beads. Local craft shops such as Michaels, AC Moore and others offer a wide selection, superb quality and low prices for the beads they sell. Whether you are a novice or experienced working with beads, you will find the beads, findings, wires, threads, tools and everything else you need to create stunning jewelry and decor pieces for your home.

Craft beads can be plastic pony beads, fabric beads, paper beads, pearl, glass, to Swarovski crystals and everything in between. Stores that carry beads usually carry a wide selection of literally thousands of different types and sizes of beads.

Some of the more popular types of craft beads include Bead Heaven, Elegance Collections, Crystal Innovations, Better Beads, Elite Better Beads, Fancy Finery, Westrim, Blue Moon and Bead Gallery assortments. There is also a wide selection of Bead and Jewelry Making Kits that are perfect for people just starting to work with craft beads. These kits provide everything you need along with detailed instructions to get help you start and complete your project.

As with any craft, you will need to purchase the proper tools and equipment. These can be purchased individually or in sets. If you are not sure you want to invest this much money on a craft that you are not sure you will want to continue doing, you may want to take a special training class offered at your local craft store. They will have tools available for you to use and if you decide to continue working with craft beads, you can then purchase the extra supplies needed for your new hobby.

Your craft store will also be able to provide you with great ideas on bead projects. Whether you take their in-store classes, work independently with a prearranged kit, or if you buy a book, the ideas for your own craft bead jewelry will be unlimited. You can make sets that include your necklace, bracelet, earrings, and pin and each set will be uniquely yours, which is a one-of-a-kind jewelry set.

You may think that you do not have the talent to create your own jewelry or home décor items using craft beads, but you will never know unless you try. Sign up for a class and start out small. As your skills develop, you can advance to more complicated projects.

Before you know it, you will be an expert at making your own jewelry using craft beads and your friends and family will be asking you where you bought your jewelry. And, who knows, you may want to start your own home business making jewelry for other people to purchase. The opportunities are endless and you are only limited by your own imagination when it comes to using craft beads.

If you are talking about embroidery, you are talking about the way to stitch that can be accomplished by hand sewing or machine sewing. Hand sewing is the hardest to do out of these two types. It is a lot harder than if you were using a machine to sew and it can very minute and take a lot of time because it has to be completed by those with stead hands and creative minds. It is because of this that makes the use of hand embroidering a very tedious job.

There are several types of hand embroidery. Each one is different in the technique that is used and also the designs and patterns that are created. They are also different in the way they start out but, all the machines are capable of making a design that will be worth talking about.

Cross-stitch is one of the most well known forms of embroidery. Many people have heard of this particular type of embroidery. You may have even had the opportunity to try it. It is the most popular type of embroidery practiced today. Cross stitch is created be forming an x stitch on each fabric square to form a design or picture. It is easy to learn and it is great because you can find so many different designs and patterns available.

Canvas work is also a form of embroidery that is completed by creating stitches on a piece of canvas. Yarn and canvas are used to complete these projects. The yarn used may have some sort of texture. Yarn has many textures like silk, synthetics, metallic’s, and the regular knit yarn.

There is another type of embroidery that is done and that is ribbon embroidery. This sort of embroidery has been practiced for many years. It is known to many as the most elegant form of hand embroidery. It is romantic in nature and is just easily made up of ribbon, perle cotton, and floss for embroidery. These items together make a pattern or design from the stitches that are very decorative. It is just as much fun as the other forms of hand embroidery.

Another form of hand embroidery that has gained popularity is the Black work embroidery. It is thought to date back to the era of Henry VIII. This embroidery is completed using black thread on a white fabric. It is popular for the straight weave of the thread being twisted to give the design a much thicker appearance.

Bargello embroidery came from Italy during Medieval times. This form of embroidery used a piece of wool canvas and has vertical and upturned stitches that are of different sizes and lengths. If is used more for pillows, upholstery, and carpets.

There are many other types of embroidery done by hand that you can find in the marketplace. Some of the other includes the Assisi, whitework, counted-thread, and hardanger embroidery. You will have an enjoyable time with these types also.

No quilt would be complete without quilting fabric, for obvious reasons. It is the material that makes a quilt a quilt and, as a result, you will need plenty of quilting fabric in order to complete the task. Quilting fabric can come in any size, shape and colour you desire and it can also be of any material type that you choose. However, there is a knack to choosing the best quilting fabric for your designs that experts in this field have down to a fine art. Any beginner would do well to learn them to the same standards. However, you have to learn from the experience of others on order to achieve this. You should choose versatile and serviceable quilting fabric for a start so take a look at the guidelines outlined below for the best effects.

Choosing The Best Aesthetic Quilting Materials

There are tools available to you that can help you to choose the best possible aesthetic quilting fabric for you. The trick is to know where to look for them. A colour wheel, for example, will actually enable you to compare and contrast different colours so you will be able to judge which ones look better than others. Colour wheels will come in different sizes and display different colours. They usually feature shades of just one or two colours so you can see what you think will fit into your home nicely. You may only need one or two colour wheels if you know what colour scheme you want, but if you have no idea then you should get hold of several so you can fully appreciate how each colour would actually look in the context of your home. Every shade of colour can be found on a colour wheel so you should use this valuable resource before buying quilting fabric!

So you have now chosen the colours of your quilting fabric, but there is one more decision that you need to make before going out and purchasing the quilting materials you will use. There are various quilting fabric out there, so you can choose anything from velvet to cotton to polyester if you so wish. The choice is yours. However, you may want to put some thought into it before you make a decision. Regardless of the type of quilting fabric that you do eventually choose though, be sure to choose the best quality of material that you can afford. Velvet or pure wool quilting fabric are more expensive than any other type of quilting material, with the exception of silks.

You should take the ease of care of the quilting fabric into account, along with who the quilt is going to be used by. If you want to create a work of art then it may be best to use delicate materials and keep it away from children. However, if you do want to use quilting v for a baby’s cot design the use more durable materials with a longevity that means they will be around for years to come despite the misuse that may occur in the meantime. Cotton is better for such purposes but the quilting fabric that you choose is completely up to you!

Receiving a hand made get well card really shows someone you are thinking of them when they are not feeling well and it will be received with love and thanks.

One idea for a get well card is to use a decoupage piece that can either be 'get well' themed or something floral that will make someone smile and feel at ease.

You will need to cut out your decoupage and layer the pieces together using foam pads ready to be applied to your card.

Teddy bears or flowers are also a good choice for get well cards, as they are soft and have a warm look to them.

When choosing the type of card for a card base I really enjoy working with pearlescent card, as it is excellent quality and is perfect for lace. The card is usually different colours on the back and front so will give a stunning effect.

Once you have cut out your decoupage piece and stuck the layers together and have chosen the type of card you are going to use you need to determine how you will fold the card, do you want the card to be DL size or A6? The easiest way to decide is to place your decoupage piece onto the card to see how it looks, remember if you are going to use lace then depending on the style you will need the card to also fit that.

If your decoupage piece is small and the lace is long then a DL card is probably the best option.

Fold your pearlescent card so that it is DL size then place your lace template over the card where you would like the design to show, you can also score your lace along the fold, which really does look eye-catching. Use a craft knife to score the pattern and fold the pieces as directed.

Then place your decoupage wherever it looks best and attach to the card using double sided tape or sticky dots if you prefer.

It is always nice to have the words get well on the front of a card, use a rubber stamp, peel offs or rub ons for the desired look. You can mount these if you like to match the rest of the card or emboss them if you prefer.

If you do decide to mount the wording, try using brads to attach to the card for a high quality effect.

You can not use an insert with this type of card as you will be able so see through the lace effect, that said, this type of card is double sided and beautiful on both sides so any insert would be wasted.