09/24/07
Personalize that baby shower.
Link: http://www.plumdrama.com
Want to throw a truly personal baby shower? If going to the local party supply store and picking up a set of prefab Noah's Arc themed paper plates, cups, balloon and table cloths is not what you had in mind, here are ten ways to personalize your baby shower:
1. Cater to the interests of the parents. Yes, the best way to personalize a baby shower is to make it personal. If they are hikers, make sure the little baby has plenty of shoes (No, baby's don't walk, but they do look soooo cute in little shoes). If the parents are both avid golfers, a cake with a golf/baby theme or shower games incorporating a golf element are sure to personalize the event even more. You get the idea.
2. Personalize the decorations. Whether it's the banner hanging above the door frame, or the plates and napkins for the event, nothing adds a memorable and personalized touch like including the family name (especially the mom's!) on the décor of the event. Hand-made decorations are highly recommended.
3. Personalize the party favors with the names right on them. Have you seen all the choices for baby shower party favors.
4. And what about the gifts? Not another Noah's Arc picture frame or a tenth blankie, please. Find something more original, something that will help the parents and child bond, something like a baby carrier. Check out My Baby Nest.
5. This one should be obvious, but think about the color. If the parents already know the gender of the baby, use the appropriate colors. Blue for boys; pink for girls. If the gender is not known, make a game out of guessing what the baby will be, and stick to neutral colors, such as yellow and green.
6. Mix a CD for the party that will get the guests into a family-friendly mood. Find all the songs you loved when you were a kid and play them as a soundtrack at the shower. More importantly, find out what songs the parents loved when they were kids, and, even better, find out what songs they want to sing to their little baby. Now make the CD, and wow, have you ever come up with the ideal baby shower gift!
7. The party all starts with the invitation, so make sure yours is great! There are great websites out there with baby shower invitation templates that you can download, personalize and mail to the guests. Or you can create them by hand. The more personalized the invitation, the more personalized the gifts will be, too.
8. Similar to the invitations, a personalized thank you card from the parents is a great way to leave the guests with the ultimate personalized memory long after the balloons have been taken down and the guests have all gone home. Hand-written notes in cards personalized with a photo of the event are the best!
9. Another obvious one - nothing personalizes an even like photos. There really is nothing more personal to display at a baby shower than great photos. Pictures taken when the parents or siblings were babies are also a great way to set the right "baby shower" mood.
10. Personalize a baby book. Have all the guests personalize a scrapbook page that you can consolidate for the guest of honor. Nothing is more personal than the thoughts and mementos of your closest friends and family.
There are few things in life so very personal as having a baby. And there are few events so personal as a baby shower. Take time to make it as personal as the parents deserve.
Learn more about Plum Drama's personalized party favors and including their personalized tea tins party favors.
Hispanic Marketing 101
Hispanic Marketing 101
Thinking of marketing to Hispanics? This is one of the
fastest growing segments of the American economy, but remember
that Hispanic Americans come from a different culture - or should
I say "cultures"? - with different values, different priorities,
different legal systems, different institutions, different
context and, as a result, a different way of receiving your
marketing message. I spoke with one of American's top experts on
marketing to Hispanics, Leslie Inzunza, President of Inzunza Internacional Ltd. This top
ten list is base don our conversation.
1. "Hispanic" is not a homogenous group. In fact, the
population is racially and culturally diverse. Racially, because
many trace their ancestry to Spain, others to the Mayans, others
to the Incas and still others to various other lineages across
the Americas. Culturally, because they come from Mexico and
Guatemala, Puerto Rico and Cuba, Argentina and Chile and from so
many other places. Half of the US Hispanic population was born
in the United States. They are as American as anyone, but their
cultural outlook and context is unique.
2. It is important to understand the local population and how
it is composed. There are strong Puerto Rican populations in
areas or New York City. Miami is home to many Cuban exiles.
Southern California is home to Mexicans, but also in some places
to other groups. Learn who your audience is before deciding how
to communicate to them.
3. Once you understand who your "Hispanic" market is, find out
how they identify themselves. Do they consider themselves to
be Hispanics or Latinos? Mexican-Americans or Latin-Americans?
How your market sees itself might reflect where they come from,
how long they have been in America, what part of the country they
live in and even how old they are. I had a client who was
targeting Latin America, but placed a bullfight and a Spanish
dancer on her banner. Those icons say "Spain", not Latin
America.
4. The local Spanish language media can give you a clue to
who the major players are and how to reach them.
5. To influence Hispanic Americans, it helps to first
influence the influencers. Find out who they are, but be
careful. People often make the mistake of enlisting the help of
self-proclaimed community spokesmen, not just with Hispanics but
with all ethnic communities. While they might have the ear of
the media and government officials, it does not mean the people
follow their recommendations.
6. Think in terms of culture rather than just in terms of
language. It's fine to translate your materials accurately,
but translating the words does not mean translating their effect
on the audience. The words that stir one culture to joy can
drive another culture to anger.
7. Think conceptually and contextually rather than literally
for "translation". Ask yourself, how can I get this message
across to people with this different perspective. This is where
an Hispanic marketing consultant can help.
8. Counter negative Hispanic stereotypes and avoid clichés to
get their attention. Got a sombrero on your website? Do you
really think that placing a sombrero on your website will make
Hispanics relate better to you?
9. Consider direct marketing strategies for Hispanics.
This population tends to receive direct mail better than mass
advertising messages. They have less of a history of broadcast
information and more of a local community attachment than the
typical American.
10. Not surprisingly, a community that is more receptive to
individual marketing messages is also more receptive to word-
of-mouth messages. Learn how to generate word of mouth,
referrals, and recommendations from friends and family, which
they rely on for good advice more than the average American.
There you have it. Ten tips for marketing to Hispanics. But
keep in mind that much of this you really can't do yourself. If
you are serious about Hispanic marketing in person or on the
Internet, leverage the knowledge and understanding of people who
understand marketing and know the Hispanic population
Skilled Trades Headhunter
Link: http://www.onlinerecruitersdirectory.com/
The skilled trades market is in a bit of a crisis. With all the baby boomers soon to be retiring, there are not as many people needed to fill the positions that will soon open up. If you ever thought of a career in construction, industrial engineering or architecture, now is the time to find a headhunter or executive recruiter, that can put you in with touch with the right people for the career path you want. Finding the right headhunter or executive recruiter for your career search is just as important as finding the coach for a ball team.
Construction careers usual focus around the process of adding structure to a property, such as a small renovation or an addition of a room. There are many duties when performing construction jobs such as painting, drywall, carpentry, welding, electrical wiring and flooring. Within construction, there are also many trades or skilled laborers that focus solely on one aspect of the renovation, such as plumbers or electricians. When looking for construction jobs, there are quite a few headhunters or construction executive recruiters that can assist you in finding the career path you want to achieve.
Architects are responsible for the design of a single, or several buildings and the space between them. In the preparation stage, an architect usually accepts a commission from a client, which may cover the preparation of feasibility reports, building audits, and the designs. Throughout the project, from planning to occupancy, the architect usually acts as the coordinator of a team of specialists and must ensure that the work of all these different disciplines fits together in the overall design. To find an architects recruiter or search firm for architects, a simple search on Google is an excellent place to begin.
Industrial engineers work to improve productivity, and the use of money, materials, energy, and other resources within a company. The name industrial engineer can sometimes be misleading as it was originally applied to the manufacturing industry, and is now a term used in virtually every industry. The position can also be known as operations management, systems engineering, production engineering, manufacturing engineering or manufacturing systems engineering, and is usually determined by an industrial executive recruiter or headhunter that uses the names to differentiate one industry from another.
08/21/07
The Inflatable Mattress - Some Great Benefits
The Benefits of an Inflatable Mattress - A King Size Mattress For a Big Bedroom - Why Mattress Dimension is Important - Moderately Big: The Queen Size Mattress - Why Choose a Sealy Posturepedic Mattress?
A good night' s sleep is extremely important in order for our mind and body to rejuvenate and recharge itself. However, an increasing amount of people face problems falling asleep and/or staying asleep because of the poor quality of their mattress. Let us explore together how an inflatable mattress can help you achieve a good night' s rest.
The Fossil Handbag - A Famous Brand Name
Handbag Resources: Fossil Handbag: Great Quality At Affordable Prices - A Gucci Handbag Screams I Have Good Taste - Where you can Find an Authentic Guess Handbag - Handbag Purse - How Do You Match It?
he handbag is probably the woman' s best friend (next to diamonds, of course) because we carry it everywhere we go and it holds the precious things that we simply cannot do without during the day while giving us a touch of style and personality. Fossil handbags capture all the above qualities and more; let us explore together why this brand is an exceptional buy.
Get a Top Quality 8mm Camcorder
A Top Quality 8mm Camcorder - Camcorder Accessories To Improve Camcorder Experience - Purchasing A Camcorder Bag - Where to Find a Camcorder Battery
A top quality 8mm camcorder can change the way you look at recording video. You never know what could come up that you would like to shoot with your camcorder, so being prepared with a functioning excellent machine like an 8mm camcorder can be what creates a memory as opposed to what created a barely recognizable vision of one. Imagine not being able to remember great visions of a birthday party or a special event. This is the cold reality for many of us that do not have a camcorder of any kind, but with a new one you could record your vision for all to see and share it with the world.
08/17/07
Xia Pottery
Xia Dynasty Pottery
The first of the acknowledged Chinese Dynasties the Xia ( 2,100 - 1,600 BC ) coincides with the beginning of the Bronze Age in China and the emergence of a society where the emphasis turned from the making of pottery to that of the new technology; metallurgy. As a consequence the developments made in the art of pottery were less significant to those that were achieved with the production of bronze and copper. While bronze could not replace clay as the principle material for the making of utensils and vessels for daily life it did have the effect of shifting the direction of the artists and craftsmen away from pottery.
The Xia Dynasty potters carried on the techniques developed during the Neolithic Period making pottery from both red and gray clays using both coil and wheel methods. The potters wheel originates from the late Neolithic period and resulted in a fundamental change in the nature of the pottery. Pottery produced on the wheel was thinner walled and the clays used also began to have a fine grain structure. The designs were still similar to those of the late Neolithic with stylized designs common and also the appearance of pictorial designs of birds, animals, and in some cases battle scenes.
Aliened with the developments occurring with the bronze industry were developments in kiln technology that would allow for the firing of pottery at higher temperatures and at temperatures that were more controllable.
Silk Art: @ Silkporcelain.com
Styles
Chinese silk embroidery has developed into four main separate styles. This is only to be considered as a generalization as there are many styles that are used such as the knotted style of stitching that silkporcelain feature with the embroidered pottery art.
* Yue embroidery
* Xiang embroidery
* Shu embroidery
* Su embroidery
Yue Embroidery
Yue embroidery is a style representative of Southern China, it is also known as Canton embroidery. The style is characterized by the use of a variety of stitches and are predominantly brightly colored, rich in content and very decorative. The style is very often found in association with tourist products because of its simplicity and colorful appearance.
Silk embroidered Landscape
Xiang Embroidery
Xiang embroidery originates from Humun Province during the time of the Warring States Period ( 475 - 221 BC ). Many of the techniques used are derived from Su and Yue embroidery. It is a style that uses a wide range of stitching and is represented today as the main source of works produced for the tourist and commercial market. It is a style that is relatively quick to produce and tends to lack the luster of the other styles. The stitching employed in Xiang embroidery is sometimes described as cross - stitching.
Shu Embroidery
Shu embroidery from Chengdu Province uses soft satin colors and is often found as decorative art on items such as cushions, handkerchiefs and pillowcases; it is characterized by fine, small and delicate stitching techniques.
Su Embroidery
Su embroidery dates back to the early beginnings of embroidery in China more than 3,500 years ago. Su is represented by many different techniques. Some works are delicate, others rich in design while others may be simplistic. A great variety of stitching is used and several methods may be used in the one piece.
With Su embroidery the threads are often separated into 48 strands, each strand almost invisible to the naked eye. This technique was expanded and elaborated upon during the Ming dynasty. Su, is the most intricate of all the different styles and is often produced as "double - sided" embroidery , which are produced on a single piece of silk fabric and are identical from both the face and the reverse sides. Such works are often displayed in a free standing frame.
Online Shopping @ Silkporcelain.com
Silk fabric and products produced from silk are distributed to all regions of the world. The industry has experienced a paid growth over the past twenty years with the new open market policies of the Chinese market. Where once silk was an exclusive fabric that was used only for expensive fashions it is now used to produce a wide range of inexpensive clothing. These fashions are all readily available from department stores and boutiques world-wide.
Silkporcelain however supply a range of silk fashions that you will not find at your local boutique or department store.
The highest quality silk garments are not produced by machine and are not produced within the factory environment. The cost to produce high quality silk garments is determined principally by the labour content that goes into producing a hand made product. The type of product that is achieved through machine work is limited to the complexity of the product. Very highly detailed embroidery work is all but impossible to produce by machine. The intricate nature of fine silk embroidery, the extremely fine nature of the highest quality silk thread make the production of high quality silk garments a " Made By Hand" process.
All of the quality silk garment that are supplied by Silkporcelain.com are hand-made. This work is typically carried out as a cottage industry.
Silk Fashions
Dressing Gowns & Robes:
Hand-made Silk Dressing Gowns are produced from only the highest quality of silk. The silk selected for such garments has a luster, texture and sheen that is not available with products produced for the consumer market in general. The silk fabrics are incredibly soft, delicate and because they are produced from only the highest quality silk thread, are exceptionally strong.
No silk evening wear is ever produced with out some form of embroidery. The silk gowns from silkporcelain are hand-embroidered in exceptional detail.
Silk Fashions
The accent of design and style with the silk tops and vests supplied by silkporcelain is on the quality of silk and upon the high standard of the embroidery. These tops and vests are unlike any that are available outside of China. The elaborate nature of the embroidery marks this range of hand-made product as the highest quality available. Within China itself these products are not readily available.
Silk Tops and Vests of this quality are only produced in limited numbers and are almost impossible to supply on a commercial basis.
Men's Dressing Gowns
Silkporcelain also carry a range of quality silk dressing gowns for men.
During the all to frequent wars between the various states that formed China throughout its history the use of silk was a principle part of the "armour" protection of the warriors. Silk was almost always worn under the outer armour layers; the strength of silk was such that a sword thrust that might penetrate the outer armour would be prevented from deep penetration by the silk layers. Silk is still used today in modern military armour.
The silk dressing gowns that silkporcelain supply for men are all of excellent quality, though, they are machine made products. A feature of these silk gowns is that they may be worn either right-side or inside-out.
Lacquer ware: Silkporcelain.com
Silkporcelain.com
Lacquer-ware of China
Lacquer-ware is an unique and ancient Asian and Chinese art form that is unusual as it is created as an overlay to a base material. While there are several types of lacquer the true lacquer is derived from the sap of the "Rhus" tree; the best standard of sap comes from the species "Rhus Verniciflua" that is common throughout China, Korea and Japan. Lacquer or lacquer-ware is also known simply by the term "Lac".
The term " lacquer" is is believed to be derived from the Indian Hindi language of the early 17th century and was introduced to Europe by the early Portuguese traders who had first encounted lacquer-ware in japan where the art was practiced to exceptionally high levels of craftsmanship.
The base materials used is may be timber, bamboo or even pottery or any other material that happens to be available. The resin is applies over the base material one layer at a time and allowed to completely dry before each subsequent layer is applied Each layer is then polished before the next layer is applied. This process may require as many as two or three hundred layers although, most works will consist of around one hundred and fifty layers. As the layers are built up the addition of colouring agents to the resin.
The emergence of lacquer as a medium for crafting art and functional products dates to the Neolithic period of Chinese History. A red lacquer bowl unearthed in Yayao, Zhejiang province from the Hemudu remains is estimated at 7,000 years.
Lacquer ware became increasingly popular during the Zhou, Warring States Period and through the Han Dynasties. Lacquer ware during the Han Dynasty was considered a symbol of fortune and high status.
Records from the period indicate that large areas of "Lacquer " trees were planted as plantation specifically for the industry. Lacquer was considered as an important part of the culture and many items of fine craftsmanship come from the Han period. Items produced were not only functional but also decorative and this was during the later Tang Dynasty to become all important as the arts of silk and porcelain making expanded so too did that of decorative inlay with lacquer-ware.
The classical period of lacquer is still regarded as the earlier Warring States Period. This was the peak era for the production and is also marked by the " Red & Black " lacquer-ware that is accepted as the classical style. The example of the plate is typical of the type of lacquer produced. The dragon design and the heavy engraving were both characteristics of the period.
Since the end of the Han Dynasty the production of lacquer ware has declined, principally as a result of the advances in porcelain making. The time required to produce lacquer made it uneconomical to produce; certainly this was true for any large scale production.
From the end of the Tang dynasty until modern times lacquer has been used for its artistic values. During the Ming Dynasty ( 1368 - 1644 ) works made from lacquer are acclaimed for their artistic qualities.
Today Lacquer is still produced using the techniques that have been practiced over the centuries. Each piece is hand made, built up layer by layer over several months and finally hand carved.
The works that silkporcelain are able to supply are all excellent examples of the craft.
Figurines: Beijing Silk Figurines
The Song and Ming Dynasties saw the development of a new type of figurine," Silk Figurines ".
This new style was a continuation from the development during the Tang Dynasty of paper handcrafts; when birds, animals and flowers were all produced as paper art. During the Song these early beginnings were enhanced by the Northern Song people who formed the base from paper and added clothing made from silk to the figurine. This technique was further adapted during the Qing Dynasty when the base was made from a light-weight gauze and overlaid with delicate clothing intricately produced from very fine silk cloth.
The decline of arts and culture through the Later Qing Dynasty as a result of European expansionism, wars and famine also saw a decline of the style into obscurity. The revival of Beijing Silk Figurines came about during the early 1950's when the Chinese government became concerned about the decline of the arts and cultural heritage of the country. The style has since 1950, regained an element of prestige.
Figurines are today produced in three main styles and types in large quantities for the tourist and domestic markets. The rebirth of the silk figurines and the high quality of the porcelain figurines are the mainstay of the production. Bronze figurines, and replicas of the Chinese bronze age are also a popular product that since 1980 has grown in importance.
Silk Art: @ Silkporcelain.com
A New Format in Presentation
Over the past five years there has been a significant increase in international shipping rates. This has resulted in a revision of the manner with which high quality silk art is presented to the market. Silkporcelain.com now supply the majority their silk art in a roll format.
This new concept has significant advantage over the previous method of suppling the art-works as a complete and framed items.
International air-freight charges are calculated as a combination of volume and weight.
The new format of supplying the silks as a roll reduces the volume by about 25 - 40 percent on an average sized item and the total weight is reduced by between 85 and 95 percent. This means in effect that the shipment cost is reduced by around 75 percent.
There are a few other benefits in this new formate that work both ways. Since the introduction of the rolled format the incidence of damage during shipment have been reduced to almost Zero. There is no longer any frame to be damaged, nor glazing to be cracked and consequently destroy the art work. This makes both the client happier and also us.
One of the problems that has existed and still continues today is the variation that exists with the quality of many of the frames produced within China.
Yes, it is true that the client will need to have the artwork framed once it arrives but, now the quality of the framing and the style and design of the frame is where it belongs , with the client.
Painted Pottery: New Lines Now @ Silkporcelain.com
Painted Pottery continued to be produced throughout all of the dynasties of Chinese history though it has almost always existed in the shadow of porcelain. Along with Celadon porcelain it was the main product used by the people for their day to day activities. Cooking and food preparation was usually done with pottery rather than with porcelain.
From the middle of the Tang Dynasty, porcelain became a more artistic product and was seldom used for domestic purposes; this is especially true for the high quality porcelains produced throughout the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Today, the roles are somewhat reversed, the use of porcelain has tended to become more of a domestically used product and painted pottery an artistic form.
Since the late 17th century the production of porcelain has grown to such an extent that it is a common everyday item within most households. Dinner-sets, and " crockery " in general are all to a large extent produced from either porcelain or from " china-ware". China-ware is actually similar to porcelain though it is fired at a lower temperature.
Painted Pottery has become in the last twenty years a product that is almost purely decorative. Seldom is painted pottery ever used as a domestic product. The painted pottery produced today is of a highly decorative nature, the extensive use of colour combined with traditional designs of the Tang and Ming periods create works that are artistic and aesthetically pleasing.
Painted Pottery of the highest quality is produced in Central China around the western city of Chengdu. The area has become a center for such works although the quality varies greatly from one producer to the next.
High quality Painted Pottery is characterized by a thin wall construction that is similar to porcelain in nature and combined with brightly coloured enamels that, when added to the ancient raw materials, produces a product with a character and quality that is unique unto itself.
Silkporcelain.com supply a range of painted pottery that is individually selected based on the standards of style, construction and paint quality that is of the highest level.
The Making of Porcelain
Porcelain & Pottery Making :
A Chinese Art
Porcelain making has been a part of Chinese culture for almost 2,000 years. The term porcelain, as described by Funk & Wagnall :
Porcelain (por'lin, pors-, por, ) n.
A white hard translucent ceramic ware, usually glazed existing in many varieties, according to its composition and method of manufacture; china, china-ware. it is made from pure clay to which a little of the more fusible feldspar is added.
(< ital : porcellana, org. a cowry ) porcelaneous, porcelianeous. Adj
The key aspects of the description of porcelain is of its composition and the manner in which the product is fired. This aspect of firing has been omitted within the description provided and is an all important part of the process. Simply having the composition of the clay correct will not produce a porcelain without close attention to the temperature at which the clay is fired and to the duration of the firing process.
The exact origins of porcelain in China is an area that has been debated by historians for generations. An exact date for the origin of porcelain depends largely upon what criteria is used to define the definition of porcelain.
The Chinese during the late Zhou dynasty ( 1100 - 221 BC ), of the bronze age, used Kaolin Clay in the manufacture of pottery. This clay contains the mineral kaolinite and is naturally rich in silicas. Certainly examples of "Pottery - Porcelain " from this era exist although they are not generally considered as true porcelain. True porcelain became a feature of China from the middle of the Han Dynasty ( 206 BC - 220 AD ). This was in the form of what is recognized as Celadon Porcelain.
The descriptions of porcelain provided within most dictionaries will make reference to ceramics and china-ware. In someways this is misleading: ceramics is a general term that applies to articles made of clay and fired.
Ceramic ( ce-ram-ic ) adj.
Pertaining to pottery and to articles made of clay that have been fired or baked.
Also spelled : keramic ( < keramos potters clay )
The art of molding. modeling and baking in clay: construed as singular. 2. Objects made of fired and baked clay: construed as plural. - ceramist. n.
China-ware is a more precise term although " China " is not exactly the same as porcelain. The significant difference between the two relates to the firing temperature. China-ware is not dis-similar to Celadon in its characteristics. Both China-ware and Celadon Porcelain are fired at a temperature slightly below that of high temperature porcelain. China-ware and Celadon are both produced as products that are used as dinnerware and for decoration but neither are able to be used for laboratory and electrical fields: this area is exclusively that of porcelain.
Celadon Porcelain
No one knows when Celadon porcelain was first produced in Chenlu.
Chenlu is an ancient town, it is known to have existed during the Zhou Dynasty and in all probability existed long before that time. To look upon Chenlu is to look back in time, even today the only real changes are the presence of a couple of sealed roads and a few motor vehicles, electricity and the telephone.
Chenlu is located approximately 120 kms from Xi'an in Shannxi Province in China's Yellow River regions. It is a town build into the side of a range of steep hills, surrounded by mountains; but, it is also a town where for countless centuries the highest quality of Celadon Porcelain has been produced.
The traditions of two thousand years still continue in Chenlu, Celadon porcelain has been the staple product of the area for centuries, The mining of the coal for the kilns, the excavation of the clays, and the sourcing of all the raw materials are all part of the local economy. They have been doing it this way for countless centuries and they don't want to change now.
Celadon from Chenlu is produced by hand. the body is created on a wheel and all of the design and pattern is finished by the local crafts people. The body of a porcelain is usually produced by the men while it is the women who do the engraving of the designs and apply the glazing coatings.
The designs produced today are essentially of two types:
Firstly; traditional porcelain designs are produced and patterned in a traditional style as they have been for over a thousand years. The style of the engraved surface of the porcelains have not changed over time.
Secondly; new, and more contemporary designs are being produced using the traditional methods with wonderful results.
While the best known forms of porcelain are those of the classical "Blue and White " designs and styles of the Ming and Qing Dynasties it is the Celadon Porcelains from Chenlu that have grown in popularity. While Cities like Jindezhen and Changsha have moved into producing porcelain on a massive commercial basis to supply the tourist market Chenlu, has maintained and continues to produce product that is of the highest quality without the pressure to supply a vast market.
Chenlu Celadon is quality of product and design in a traditional style.
Silk Art: @ Silkporcelain.com
Silk Art
Silkporcelain have now added a new range to their Silk Art collection.
The new artworks include Silk Floral Art, Silk Embroidered Animals, and Silk Chinese Themes.
Silkporcelain.com
08/15/07
Food High In Cholesterol Important information you can use
Recognizing Food High in Cholesterol - More Resources: Good Cholesterol is Your Friend - An Important Guide to Good Cholesterol Food - Why Increasing the HDL Cholesterol in Your Diet is Recommended
Keeping your cholesterol levels low is vital for keeping your heart healthy. If you are a normally healthy person, your body makes all of the cholesterol that it needs. Adding too much more cholesterol on a regular basis can lead to heart disease or a heart attack. By recognizing food high in cholesterol, you can limit your ingestion of it. Combined with regular exercise, this is the most effective way to fight high cholesterol.
07/28/07
Online @ Silkporcelain
Silkporcelain is a gift store with a difference.
Silkporcelain supply direct to the consumer high quality gifts at wholesale rates.
Porcelains, Pottery, Figurines, Painted Pottery, Silk Garments
All of your gift needs in one online store.
07/19/07
Discounts @ Silkporcelain.com
Silkporcelain.com have extended their range of Gift products and are now offering Huge Discounts in almost every product Category.
Silkporcelain.com reduces the overall price that you pay for quality products... There are NO MIDDLE-MEN to inflate the price; You buy direct from China...
This represents for the consumer a new avenue to save on the cost of many gift, art, porcelain, and silk fashions.
Best Value On-Line
Shopping has created a new dimension with the advent of the computer shopping networks... but still many of the old problems still occur and when the consumer looks at the cost of a product; it really has not changed significantly. In fact, the cost of a product has not changed at all...
Silkporcelain now are about to change the traditional thinking... Silkporcelain allows the consumer to purchase on line directly from China... This helps to save the consumer and also makes the variety of products available far greater than ever before.
Silkporcelain your new on-line store
07/18/07
07/15/07
Chinese Figurines
The decline of arts and culture through the Later Qing Dynasty as a result of European expansionism, wars and famine also saw a decline of the style into obscurity. The revival of Beijing Silk Figurines came about during the early 1950's when the Chinese government became concerned about the decline of the arts and cultural heritage of the country. The style has since 1950, regained an element of prestige.
Figurines are today produced in three main styles and types in large quantities for the tourist and domestic markets. The rebirth of the silk figurines and the high quality of the porcelain figurines are the mainstay of the production. Bronze figurines, and replicas of the Chinese bronze age are also a popular product that since 1980 has grown in importance.
Silk @ Silkporcelain
Silk fabric and products produced from silk are distributed to all regions of the world. The industry has experienced a paid growth over the past twenty years with the new open market policies of the Chinese market. Where once silk was an exclusive fabric that was used only for expensive fashions it is now used to produce a wide range of inexpensive clothing. These fashions are all readily available from department stores and boutiques world-wide.
07/11/07
Silk Art: @ Silkporcelain.com
Silkporcelain.com
Silk embroidered landscapes have evolved from the making of traditional Chinese silk screens. This style of silk art is usually produced with two basic stitching styles, cross stitching and free-form stitching. The larger works are usually produced with a combination of stitching styles but, the very best silk artworks are produced using free form stitching where the stitching is used to create the feeling of reality. This is a technique that works extremely well with waterfalls and trees and is thus a style that is very much sort after in landscapes.
When the free form stitching technique is applied and the use of colour is blended to perfection the silk artworks produced attain a quality and luster unlike that achieved through any other medium. The example below is characteristic of the very highest standard of silk landscape art.
Celadon Porcelain
Celadon porcelain is produced using traditional methods. The pottery wheel is used for the shaping and forming of the products which are then set aside to dry for a week to ten days. Once the surface has dried to a dry and firm condition the product is then engraved with the surface decoration. This is a process that is entirely done by hand.
Sometimes areas of the outer layer of the vessel are deeply inscribed or entirely cut away to add a depth to the texture of the porcelain. The depth of the inscribed surface may be as much as half of the wall thickness.
Once the porcelain has been decorated with the desired pattern the work will then be hand painted with a colour glaze to enhance the design; this may incorporate three or four separate colours. This is allowed to dry and a final layer of a clear glaze is applied to the surface. This outer glaze may be applied either by brush, dipping or by immersion. The porcelains are then allowed to further dry for a period of a week before they are placed into the kiln for firing.
Celadon Porcelain is fired at between 1200 and 1250 degrees Celsius.
07/10/07
Men's Dressing Gowns
Silk Dressing Gowns / Men's
Silkporcelain also carry a range of quality silk dressing gowns for men.
During the all to frequent wars between the various states that formed China throughout its history the use of silk was a principle part of the "armour" protection of the warriors. Silk was almost always worn under the outer armour layers; the strength of silk was such that a sword thrust that might penetrate the outer armour would be prevented >from deep penetration by the silk layers. Silk is still used today in modern military armour.
The gowns silk dressing that silkporcelain supply for men are all of excellent quality, though, they are machine made products. A feature of these silk gowns is that they may be worn either right-side or inside-out.
The two gowns below are actual only one worn inside-out.
Silk Fashions
Hand-made Silk Dressing Gowns are produced from only the highest quality of silk. The silk selected for such garments has a luster, texture and sheen that is not available with products produced for the consumer market in general. The silk fabrics are incredibly soft, delicate and because they are produced from only the highest quality silk thread, are exceptionally strong.
No silk evening wear is ever produced with out some form of embroidery. The silk gowns from silkporcelain are hand-embroidered in exceptional detail.
Silk Tops & Vests:
The accent of design and style with the silk tops and vests supplied by silkporcelain is on the quality of silk and upon the high standard of the embroidery. These tops and vests are unlike any that are available outside of China. The elaborate nature of the embroidery marks this range of hand-made product as the highest quality available. Within China itself these products are not readily available.
Silk Tops and Vests of this quality are only produced in limited numbers and are almost impossible to supply on a commercial basis.
07/09/07
New Products @ Silkporcelain
href="http://www.silkporcelain.com/Shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=36">Silkporcelain.com
Painted Pottery has become in the last twenty years a product that is almost purely decorative. Seldom is painted pottery ever used as a domestic product. The painted pottery produced today is of a highly decorative nature, the extensive use of colour combined with traditional designs of the Tang and Ming periods create works that are artistic and aesthetically pleasing.
Painted Pottery of the highest quality is produced in Central China around the western city of Chendu. The area has become a center for such works although the quality varies greatly from one producer to the next.
High quality Painted Pottery is characterized by a thin wall construction that is similar to porcelain in nature and combined with brightly coloured enamels that, when added to the ancient raw materials, produces a product with a character and quality that is unique unto itself.
Silkporcelain.com supply a range of painted pottery that is individually selected based on the standards of style, construction and paint quality that is of the highest level.
07/04/07
Porcelain & Figurines
Porcelains & Figurines
Porcelains, porcelain figurines and celadon porcelains are now all available from the one on – line store.
Chinese Porcelain
Chinese Figurines
Celadon Porcelain
Silkporcelain.com have established a store in the heart of Mainland China so that you can take advantage of the buying power available to buyers who purchase directly from China
Why pay more !!
You buy direct. The way it should be
07/02/07
Porcelain History: Part 1.
Silkporcelain.com
Part 1.
A Brief History of Porcelain
Neolithic Culture
Ancient China is littered with archaeological sites that date from the Neolithic period through to the advent of the earliest dynasties. The Nanzhuang archaeological site in Hebei, has pottery shards that date back almost 10,000 years. The emergence of an agricultural based society and a consequently more settled, less nomadic lifestyle, lead to an increased demand for pottery products for both cooking and for the storage of grains and crops.
* Fairy Cave - Lishui
* Celestial Caves - Wannian
* Periligang Culture site - Xinzheng
* Cishan Culture site - Wu'an
* Hemudu Culture site - Yuyao
* Banpo Village - Xi'an
Pottery from the Celestial Caves is largely of two types; one is of a thick paste construction using a heavy clay coiled technique and the other is of a finer more refined style. Both types appear to have been in use at the same time.
The development of pottery throughout China is very closely linked to historical events. The various dynasties that dominated everyday life in ancient China for over 4,000 years are a mixture of long periods of relatively peaceful existence interspersed with periods of turmoil and political unrest that lasted for several centuries yet, the developments in pottery continued throughout these periods unabated.
During the Neolithic period the majority of the pottery was produced from red and gray clays using coiling techniques, this pottery was functional and practical for everyday use. The most significant pottery from the later Neolithic period was painted pottery. A variety of designs were painted on the pottery before they were fired with stylized designs prevalent. The variety of designs and the different types of pottery produced included basins, bowls, urns, cauldrons and tripods; such pottery reflected the nature of the society and the lives of the people.
The neolithic period is also notable for the first appearance of clay figurines. Though they were at this time primitive they were the beginnings of a trend towards figurine production throughout the Chinese dynasties.
Xia Dynasty Pottery
The first of the acknowledged Chinese Dynasties the Xia ( 2,100 - 1,600 BC ) coincides with the beginning of the Bronze Age in China and the emergence of a society where the emphasis turned from the making of pottery to that of the new technology; metallurgy. As a consequence the developments made in the art of pottery were less significant to those that were achieved with the production of bronze and copper. While bronze could not replace clay as the principle material for the making of utensils and vessels for daily life it did have the effect of shifting the direction of the artists and craftsmen away from pottery.
The Xia Dynasty potters carried on the techniques developed during the Neolithic Period making pottery from both red and gray clays using both coil and wheel methods. The potters wheel originates from the late Neolithic period and resulted in a fundamental change in the nature of the pottery. Pottery produced on the wheel was thinner walled and the clays used also began to have a fine grain structure. The designs were still similar to those of the late Neolithic with stylized designs common and also the appearance of pictorial designs of birds, animals, and in some cases battle scenes.
Aliened with the developments occurring with the bronze industry were developments in kiln technology that would allow for the firing of pottery at higher temperatures and at temperatures that were more controllable.
Ancient Pot
Shang & Zhou Dynasty Pottery
The early Shang Dynasty ( 1,700 - 1027 BC ) was a development and transition period in Chinese history. While the processes in pottery that had been developed over the previous 5,000 years were continued in much the same vane, the Shang Dynasty brought about a restructure to the way in which the artists and tradesmen worked.
The trades and craftsmen were subdivided into six separate and distinct categories; weavers, stone-masons, carpenters, animal husbandry, smiths and potters. This division of labor lead to a substantial increase in the production of pottery for the commercial trade and was accompanied by an expansion in the number of kiln sites specifically set-up for the production of pottery. For the greater part of the Shang Dynasty the two crafts of metallurgy and pottery paralleled each other in both design and in the range of products being produced.
Amongst the Shang-ware pottery produced was a white pottery made from Kaolin clay with a fine grain and fired at a temperature of 1,000 degrees Celsius, this resulted in a pottery that was characteristically almost pure white in color and with a texture that was harder and less porous than previously produced. This pottery is considered as being the forerunner to Porcelain.
Chinese pottery and porcelain is generally produced using either a Kaolin Clay or Petunse.
Kaolin or Gaoling, is largely composed of the clay mineral Laolinite and, Petunse is a micaceous rock containing sericite and other quartz based minerals. Both of these materials have the ability to hold a large amount of water that allows the material to be easily worked and pliable.
Ancient Pot
The emergence of a recognizable written language emerged during the Shang Dynasty. While inscriptions and designs had previously been used on pottery items for many centuries they lacked the repetition of characters that is associated with a language. This new feature was to become an impor