Archive for December, 2011

Crown Moulding

Crown mouldings are the sculptured trims that are applied at the point where your walls meet your ceiling. The use of decorative mouldings to beautify a home has been a practice for hundreds of years. These are somewhat easy to install if you like to do things yourself, and there is an unparalleled elegance that is added when doing so.

This kind of home decoration can add charm to virtually any room. Choosing the right molding can literally transform a room. This transformation aside, molding is one of the least expensive means of beautifying your home that adds a much greater value to the home than the cost of the materials. This is an appealing option over buying a new home in our tough economic times.

Because a new home may not be within your means, home renovation may be the answer you are looking for. Crown mouldings and decorative corbels can add value to your present home while warming the space you occupy. This is also a great investment if you plan on selling your home at some point in the future. This type of renovation will create an enjoyable living space. You do not even have to modify your door moldings or your baseboards, because crown moulding adds just the right touch that you are seeking.

You will choose your crown moulding based on the architectural style of your home presently. There are many different choices, and by visiting your local home store or going online, you can find many different types of mouldings to choose from. There are moldings crafted from different materials, such as MDF, that will not expand or contract in the ways that a real wood product can, plus this material comes already primed and ready for paint. If you do not want to do this yourself, you can have a professional home remodeler come to your home and tell you exactly what would be best for your home’s ambiance. Once you have chosen the type of moldings that you want, you can then decide on whether to paint it to match your current décor or staining it for a more natural look. Read the rest of this entry »

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Using Moulds in Precious Metal Clay

Precious metal clay (or PMC) is one of the most versatile and malleable forms of producing detailed and intricate jewellery without having to spend hours chasing and engraving. PMC, sometimes also referred to as silver clay, works on the same principle as many art clay substances. Tiny particles of precious metal (either silver or gold) are suspended within a binding agent, forming a clay-like substance that has the same moulding properties as art clay. However, rather than being simply dried PMC is fired, burning off the binding agent and leaving the precious metal behind.

Because of these properties, PMC works exceptionally well with moulds of all kinds. For beginners, even a bar of soap can be used as an effective mould, impressing a design into the surface of the clay that can then produce precious metal jewellery incorporating intricate designs with very little effort.

How to use PMC with moulds
Silver clay lends itself to both home-made and commercially produced moulds. Using a mould also allows for repeated elements and the production of multiple pieces all incorporating the same design. Hollow moulds also allow you to produce lightweight work and to make your precious metal clay go further.

A simple way to start is to use a bar of soap to form the basis of a mould. Simply carve a pattern into the surface of the soap and then press the precious metal clay into the depression, ensuring that it is forced into every corner and recess of the carving. Then just peel away the PMC and you have a pattern embossed into the surface of the clay. This can then be worked to tidy up any uneven lines or areas that may have not come out as crisply as you would like. Once you are happy with the design, the piece can then be fired to burn off the binding agent and the metal polished and finished to produce a beautiful piece of gold or silver jewellery. Read the rest of this entry »

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Pulling off the US College Look

Men’s casual wear has a new style the US college look which has grown in popularity so much in the last few years.
Students are settling into a new term of education after a summer packed full of festivals, booze and parties.
A fresh term means a fresh look and many male students may be looking to inspiration from the trendy US college look that has invaded the UK shores over the past few years.
Over the past few years we have had a huge doze of US college fashion through TV shows such as The O.C. And One Tree Hill and brands have accommodated for this.
Here’s a few brands that are promoting this look through their clothes.
Fly53 has been supplying the youth of the UK for 17 years and has been going strong since 1994.
The brand prides itself on been streetwise, independent and current and that’s exactly what you need to pull off the US college look.
One of the most iconic looks is the traditional US college jacket and Fly 53 has released the ‘Havana’ Retro Indie Mod College Jacket in a Black and Grey with Yellow details.
The Fly 53 Jacket looks the part and is the perfect item to any person’s wardrobe who wants to pull off the US college look.
Walk down most streets in the UK and there is a good chance you will see a US college inspired but which brand has the best on the market?
Franklin & Marshall hoodies have been renowned for their quality and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see why.  
Franklin and Marshall was established in 1999 by Giuseppe Albarelli and Andrea Pensiero who saw a gap in the fashion market for American College wear in just 12 years they have become one of the leaders in US college fashion.
Putting a vintage twist on traditional US college wear Franklin & Marshall produce clothes of real quality and comfort and their hoodies are no different giving you the chance tobe unique and create your own US college style.
A T-Shirt is a necessity to any man but the right one is key to the US college look and no item is in demand more than a Original Penguin T-Shirt.
Original Penguin was created by Abbot Pedersen who was inspired by a stuffed Penguin named Pete and one too many drinks in 1955.  
With looks that will help you complment the US college look including styles such as the The Saddle, The Tilt and The Pub ( an appropriate style for most students).
Anyone loving the US college look but wanting something a bit more formal compared to the usual laidback designs La Martina Shirts are perfect.
La Martina and Argentinian clothing brand synonymous with the sport of polo may not seem the right place for the US college look but their shirts are spot on for anyone wanting to bring a more formal approach.
The US college look has never been so popular worldwide, the jackets are frequently worn by some of the world’s biggest stars and the look is now imprinted firmly into the British psyche through these brands.