:Article Marketing At Its Best

What makes a satisfactory business organization? Alan sugar will in all likelihood have a thing to say on the topic. He’d probablysay that it’s down to having a solid item to sell in the first place, and being able to cojole people into liking your product by using all the savvy sales strategies at your disposal. This is all all right, except that it’s not the first thing to think about when operating a business. The Wish Lantern team has a different take on things to the extraordinary Mr Sugar Believe it or not!. The key to the success of Chinese lanterns is not only the fact that the item is original so, sells itself. The triumph of the team behind them, actually lies in the fact that they are really dedicated to their customers, and therefore have accrued a true group of followers. I take back what I said before.A product that sells itself doesn’t exist. However splendid or original something is seen to be, it is pointless if it isn’t publicised. It is down to the company who promotes it, to get the message out to the populace and then impress them with an competent and speedy service. One of the foremost things about the wish lantern business, is that they are adjustable and are willing to improvise in order to meet a customers specified wants. It may be hard to believe, but this is in reality very rare for companies to flex their rules so volitionally. Wish Lantern understands that everyone is divergent and that they are the service suppliers so must thus dish up what the customer wants (within reason though). Herein lies the glory of the wish lantern business.

Comments Off

Stencilling has actually been around for 25 years, even though many people think Banksy contrived it. You can use cardboard, paper or other forms of surfaces (such as plastics) to develop templated graphics and text. You merely cut out the design from your paper/cardboard/other surface, place said surface onto a wall (example), then spray or roll-on paint.

The definitive rule of stencilling is creating outlines via cutting shapes, and spraying paint within these cutout shapes - making outlined graphics on the surface underneath. It’s also possible to use multiple layers of stencils to create an illusion of depth or even add colours.

So why do some individuals opt to be a stencil artist? For some, it is a great platform to produce a political point. Other artists appreciate the PR that their art can obtain. Some merely wish their work to be seen. Because the stencil stays uniform during its use, it is easier for a stencil artist to promptly replicate what could be a complex piece at a very quick rate, when equated to other established tagging methods, so without doubt, there is also a strong promotional reason to get involved with stencilling.

Banksy has used stencilling as a method to make a point, often quite succinctly, leaving the viewer to get the message themselves. This is often why people love his work so much, as they make the viewer think. Banksy art is now being reprinted as posters, t-shirts and graffiti art on canvas, such is the popularity of Banksy.

Comments Off

I love making bouquets. There are so many different types you can make… Posies,
wedding bouquets, candy bouquets, fruit bouquets and more.

One type of bouquet that I recently started making, is a cookie bouquet…

A cookie bouquet is a bouquet made with cookies, and leaves. They are very fun,
and quite easy to make. This article shows how to make a cookie bouquet in 5 easy
steps…

You will need:
- 9 Chocolate chip cookies
- 2 Bunches of floristry wire
- Cellophane
- Stem-tape
- Leaves

** Step 1: Wire and tape the leaves **

Wire and tape the leaves…

Wire the leaf by pushing the wire through the silk part of the leaf, behind the stem,
loop it around, and then go back through the leaf, and down to the wire.

Then stem tape the wire by holding the wire in one hand, and wrapping (and
stretching), the stem tape with the other hand. Make sure to tape right up to the
leaf.

** Step 2: Prepare cookies **

Cut the cellophane into 9 squares. Make sure the squares are large enough to fit a
cookie.

Wrap the cookies in the cellophane, and then twist the end of the cellophane.

Now wire and tape the cellophane, and snip off any excess cellophane.

** Step 3: Fan the cookies **

Hold the cookies in a bunch in one hand. Then fan the cookies out slightly, to leave
spaces for the leaves…

** Step 4: Fill in with leaves **

Start to place your leaves in between the cookies. Fan the leaves out to make a
circular shape. Then squeeze the bouquet together. If you have any gaps left then
you can fill them in with more leaves.

** Step 5: Prepare the handle **

Neaten the ends of the wires in the handle by trimming them with cutters.

Then stem-tape the handle, and add ribbon trailers if you wish.

That’s it! You’ll find any candy bouquets you make are instant hits with anyone that
sees them. People just seem to LOVE cookie bouquets!

Peta D’Silva has been making bouquets for over 14 years. Her website has lots of
free information on
Cookie
Bouquets, including more details (and pictures) on
How to make a cookie bouquet

Comments Off

With candle making, there are hardly any limits. You can replicate lots of things with your creativity. Here are some delicious ‘Cupcakes’ that look very, very inviting.

Complete with chopped crayon bits for nuts and decorations, many people will mistake them for edible, freshly-baked, icing-topped cupcakes coming from your kitchen!

Materials Needed:

Candle Making Supplies (Wax, Dyes, Boiler, Wicks etc.),

Paper Muffin Cups (2-3 for one candle),

Whisk,

Old Crayons (chopped into small pieces)

Directions:

1.Place 2-3 paper cups into each other for strength. Now, place them into individual muffin molds or a muffin tray for a string base. Grease them lightly if you wish, but it is not necessary.

2. Melt Wax, mix a dark or earthy colored dye for the muffin base. We have used brown, but you can experiment. They are not real cakes after all!

3. Pour melted wax into the prepared ‘molds’. Allow to cool and set. You can use a wick at this point. We have have not used one because I made these ‘cupcakes’ just as a show-piece.

4. Meanwhile, prepare the ‘frosting’. Melt wax and dye it a soft, creamy color. We used used a pale, earthy brown again, but pinks, creams, blues, greens, yellows, peaches etc. look great for the icing. Be creative with your color combinations.

5. Cool the melted wax till you see a thin skin forming on it. Whip it with a whisk till it gets frothy. Quickly, spoon the froth over the cupcake. If the wax solidifies before you are able to spoon enough froth, repeat the melting, cooling and whipping process.

6. While the frosting is still warm, sprinkle pieces of old crayons.

Content Copyright © Dot Com Women.

Visit http://www.dotcomwomen.com/crafts for more craft ideas and DIY projects.

Comments Off

Amish quilting has been a tradition for more than a century here in rural Pennsylvania. Amish women create quilts, often in groups called quilting bees. This “bee” affords them the opportunity to gather in a social setting as well as give a rare opportunity to be creative and expressive in a community that frowns on pride and fanciful possessions. Because the quilts are a functional creation for use in the home, the women are permitted to create these amazing pieces of art. They boldly experiment with contrasting colors, exquisite designs, and a variety of geometric shapes to create wonders that please the eye and bring delight to those who appreciate the complexity of the construction.

Since the Amish do not have electricity much of the stitching is done by hand or with the aid of a treadle machine. The designs of the quilt are pieced together from pieces of fabric cut into various shapes and then sewn into what will become the top of the quilt. When the top of the quilt is complete, the bottom fabric and batting are added and then quilted together with intricate stitching that form infinite numbers are patterns themselves. The quilt is then bound at the edges. This process can take weeks or even months depending on how many quilters are working on the quilt and how much time is afforded to the project, depending on the season in which it is being created. During harvest time, in addition to their busy household schedules of cooking three large meals, cleaning, raising the children, making the family’s clothing, these women are often involved in working along the men to help in the harvest.

Today, however, I fear this wonderful tradition is becoming slowly a thing of the past. The young Amish women I have spoken with are becoming more involved in other areas of Amish life. In what I perceive as a type of women’s movement in the community, many are learning the trades previously only taught to their young male counterparts. Many are learning carpentry and help their families crafting furniture and cabinetry. Some can be seen driving team of draft horses along with their fathers in the fields. Many are working in their family’s stores, keeping books, ringing registers, selling the goods that they have to offer. They do not seem to have the interest in the “bees” as their mothers and grandmothers did since it seems to be increasingly accepted that they take a more active role in the family businesses.

There is also the ever present “English” world outside their community which offers constant shortcuts to the traditional Amish life. Recently, the big news in our little corner of the world was that a Wal-Mart was being constructed about 10 miles from our little community. When the store opened, I must say I was saddened, but not surprised to see in addition to the vast parking lot, there was a hitching post. What this meant to me was that the retail world was sending a special invitation to these simple folks to come and let us replace your century old traditions with a $69 mass produced factory bedspread. It makes sense for these women to accept this invitation. They have long days filled with countless tasks and here is an opportunity to send less money than they do on fabric and get a completed item and countless hours back!

To further my concern about this, I recently met an Amish gentleman at a local quilt sale. We began speaking as we both sell Amish quilts. I was surprised to learn he had traveled here to Lancaster from Ohio to buy quilts. When I inquired about this, as I know Ohio has a substantial Amish community, he replied that they aren’t making many quilts there and he had better luck coming all the way to my neck of the woods to find them!! How long will it be until this happens in my community!

Well, that is all on this subject for now. I will close in saying that if you, the reader, own an Amish quilt, cherish it! You have a treasure that may someday soon become a rare commodity. If you do not, and you love art, find one! Support this artform before it is lost!

Maggie Prichard
http://www.honeybrookamishquilts.com

Comments Off

Wars, air of Ambiguity

Dedicated to 1st. Lt. Laura Walker
(From an old soldier/Vietnam Veteran)

[Advance] We fight in foreign lands not because we necessarily love its culture or land, but because we believe in pragmatism (life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness); simply as it may be, it can be costly.

The Poem:

We all lose something in war
And sometimes gain something:
Idealism, physical, cynical
(no blood in the face),
Psychological, innocence;
We’re all victims of violence
For sure… (accepted or not).

A character in a book dies in
The clap of an eye,
In real life, it is not so simple,
No dreamy solution.
It is the duty of the soldier to kill
(Or accept being killed);
Just when, is when it becomes
Complicated?
Disillusionment creeps in…,
As does an air of the unknown.
In war there are only epigraphs;
Death, to a part of the human race
Is really what takes place?
It starts as it ends, with
The human effort exhausted.

There is nothing more admirable
More brave, more flawless,
Than one who gives their existence
For another’sespecially in
A foreign land! for pragmatism…

In Spanish
Translated by Nancy Penaloza

Guerras, aire de ambigedad

Dedicado a la 1r. Teniente Laura Walter
(De un Viejo soldado/ veterano del Vietnam)

Por Dennis siluk

(Avance) Que luchamos en tierras extranjeras no porque necesariamente nos gusta su cultura o tierra, pero porque nosotros creemos en el pragmatismo (la vida, la libertad y la bsqueda de felicidad); simplemente como esto, puede ser, puede ser costoso.

El Poema

Perdemos algo con la guerra
Y a veces ganamos algo:
Idealismo, fsico, cnico,
(Sin sangre en la cara),
Psicolgico, inocente-:
Todos nosotros somos victimas de la violencia
Pero seguro… (Aceptado o no).

Un carcter en un libro muere en un abrir
Y cerrar de un ojo.
En la vida real, esto no es tan simple,
Ninguna solucin, soadora.
Esto es el deber del soldado para matar
(O aceptar ser matado):
Solamente cundo, es cuando se hace
Complicado?

La desilusin entra sin ser sentido
Como un aire de desconocimiento.
Con la guerra solo hay epgrafes:
Muerte, para una parte de la raza humana
Esto es realmente lo que ocurre?
Esto comienza como termina, con el
Esfuerzo humano agotado

Nada hay ms admirable
Ms valiente, ms impecable,
Que uno quien da su existencia
Por otros, especialmente en
Una tierra forgion ! por pragmatismo

Note by Rosa: I don’t know much of war, my husband was in one that is all I really know, but in my heart they are the brave, who are willing to give to strangers, freedom, at the price of their own lives. And I think Mr. Siluk sums it up quite well in this dedication poem.

A Poet, Dennis Siluk if you wish to see his website please select another article, poem or short story of his, it will be on those…

Comments Off