Unique Bud Vase Floral Arrangements

Looking for a ideas to decorate a reception hall, or how to decorate a church for a wedding? Maybe you are looking for a nice centerpiece for a dining room or living room. Unique bud vase floral arrangements are a great solution for all of these decorating needs.

When you are decorating a reception hall or a church for a wedding, you want something unique and beautiful. I found these unique and interesting bud vases at www.coniartglass.com that are handmade in Europe. They are extremely affordable, and make wonderful gifts too. They are versatile in that they can be used as a bud vases, oil lamps, or even as reed diffusers. Coni Art Glass will send you the hardware to use them as oil lamps if you wish, or reeds in case you wish to use them as reed diffusers, just let them know. For any purpose, they are a perfect solution for many decorating needs.

These bud vases come in many colors, shapes and sizes, and are extremely affordable. Contact www.coniartglass.com to order today.

Fragrance Lamps for Aromatherapy and More

Aromatherapy is known to be good for reducing stress, preventing insomnia, and many other health benefits. In addition, it freshens the scent of a room, which is an added benefit. Fragrance lamps are one of the most decorative ways to use aromatherapy essential oils.

One of the hottest and newest trends in aromatherapy and home fragrance today, fragrance lamps are not actually a new product. Also known as Lamp Berger, perfume lamps or effusion lamps, these scented oil lamps were first used in the mid 1800's. They use a catalytic combustion process to purify the air, destroying odors and killing bacteria while adding fragrance the air.

Fragrance lamps quickly fill the air with your favorite scent of essential oil. They are quite beautiful, usually with a decorative collar or cap on top of a lovely glass base.

These fragrance lamps are not only a nice decorative accent piece for use anywhere in the house, but eliminate odors and perfume the air.

You can find these fragrance lamps in many sizes, shapes and colors at www.ConiArtGlass.com. Each lamp comes with complete step by step instructions for use, stone wick, vent cap, snuffer, funnel, and individual glossy gift box.

Glass Hearts and Weddings!

Incorporate wedding favors into your wedding or party decorations. I've said it before, you can use many different types of items to decorate the tables at your reception which may also double as favors.

An item that I particularly like are glass heart ornaments. ConiArtGlass.com offers lovely glass hearts in many beautiful colors. Use them many ways. For example, attach your place cards to a glass heart and place it at your table setting. If you are not using place cards, attach a small note thanking your guest for attending your nuptials. It's a gift that your guests will treasure forever.

These hearts are handmade, mouth blown glass ornaments produced in Eastern Europe. Every color is carefully selected to make the most beautiful, pleasing pieces.

Cornel Plescan, the glass artist that produces these unique, collectible gifts, works with each customer to be certain that the colors are just perfect for your event.

Tips to Protect Your Art Collection

Any lover and collector of art will do his or her utmost to protect their art collection. Artwork is not only a major investment these days, it is also an essential part of the fabric of any home. It is rare to find a home with no prints, sketches or paintings on the wall, not to mention sculptures figurines or art glass adorning mantelpieces and sideboards. It is vital that collectors take proper care of their artwork to make sure that no piece is degraded in any way, shape or form.

There are a number of ways that you can keep your artwork in perfect condition, but careful planning is required from the start. Put a strategy in place to protect your artwork before you even bring it home from the gallery or fair. Think about where you will place or hang the artwork to avoid any hazards that may turn into situations that leave the art damaged. For example, if a glass window does not protect the shelf on which a piece is to be placed, it may be wise to purchase a case in which to put it before it is actually placed on the shelf.

The majority of measures that you should take concerning the placing of your artwork are common sense really. For example, you should not place any art in the kitchen or above a fireplace because the heat, steam and fumes can cause untold damage. You should also avoid smoking in the vicinity of your artwork because this is liable to cause irreversible staining. Similarly, placing art in direct sunlight can cause it to fade, and this would instantly be noticeable to the untrained eye as well as other collectors. If you have pets or young children then artwork should always be kept out of their reach so that no accidental damage occurs.

The placement of artwork, as you can see above, can be extremely hazardous so it does require serious thought. It may be necessary to try a piece out in a few places during the first day that you own it so you can make an on the spot assessment of where its permanent home should be.
When you do buy the art in question then you should always ask the attendant that oversees your transaction whether or not any special measures need to be taken in order to preserve its condition. Some galleries actually hand out care leaflets when a sale goes through, whilst others may have extremely knowledgeable staff that can give you hints and tips that they have picked up over the years. There are also various publications that you can purchase to give you a good grounding in the care of artwork. You should read at least one of these if you are an art collection beginner.

The final thing that is essential in the preservation of you artwork is actually the cleaning regime that you have. It goes without saying that you should avoid using furniture polish and other similar oily substances in the vicinity of your artwork because that can cause irreparable harm. However, it is essential that a certain level of care be administered to regularly maintain it. For example, all sketches, paintings and prints should be framed wherever possible, and all sculptures and models should be encased in a protective cover. Although advice is usually specific to the nature of the piece and the materials present in its composition, it is fairly safe to pass a dry and clean cloth over all artwork from time to time to remove any dust build-ups. Dust can be just as harmful to art as any chemical, so it is essential that it is removed.

The golden rule of caring for your artwork is to always ask for help whenever you are unsure. Always think carefully about what you are doing and do not take the art for granted. One moment of foolishness can work out to be extremely expensive!

Set up a Home Office for Your Business

For those people who have decided to start their own business, or who already work from home, what they need is a work space so they can work in peace, take care of their endeavors, and concentrate on taking care of the needs of their business. For many individuals, this means a home office.

With the success of online businesses, more and more people have decided to work at home; which places the fate of their financial future in their own hands. Today, the internet has become an essential part of people's everyday lives: this new trend of working at home reflects the increasing use of the internet in the business world.

It is important that a home office is treated with the same respect as a regular office since it is where work is done and transactions occur. Basically it is the place where individuals earn their money: whether on the internet, via phone, or video conference. It is possible you may have clients coming to your home office to conduct.

It is essential that a person who wants to have a home based business set aside a space in their home that will provide them with comfort and privacy adequately conduct their business.
Where to set up a home office.

Ideally a separate room in the house is the best place for a home office. The best area is away from congestion noise: such as the children's bedroom or play area, the kitchen, or the entertainment room.

How to furnish your office

• A home office should be orderly and give the appearance of a professional workplace. It should be contain the equipment that you would find in an office: such as a phone with an answering machine that is capable of transferring calls, making conference calls, etc.
• A separate phone line for the home office is necessary so that personal calls meant for the family and business calls do not interfere with each other. Having a separate phone line in the office will also allow for concentration on business without any distractions.
• Other equipment you will need is: a computer that has an internet connection, fax machine, copier, organizers, and other office supplies. Things that a person will need in a home office will also depend on the type of business he/she is operating.
• Setting up a home office will probably mean acquiring furniture: this includes a desk, lamps, tables, and professional looking chairs. The most important piece of furniture needed will be a comfortable office chair –invest in a really good office chair that provides comfort as well as stability. Since a person working in a home office will spend numerous hours in his/her chair, it must be one that does not induce backache and/or make your body feel stiff.

Before purchasing any of these items, you should know how you will conduct your home business so that only necessary items are purchased. This way you will not be spending money for things that you do not need or are not necessary.

Choose your colors wisely

Color scheme of a home office should not be distracting to the person(s) working in the office. This means that bright pastel colors, and gaudy colors like shocking pink and neon green would probably not be appropriate. If you have clients and/or hold business meetings in your home office, a professional atmosphere should be attained; so be wise when it comes to choosing your decorating colors. Neutral colors are best; since they are not distracting but consider using a few brighter and contrasting colors for accessories to add accents and interest.

Setting up a home office is serious business. The right environment will be attractive and conducive to a good working atmosphere. Those who are thinking of setting up a home office should pay careful attention to detail when creating their office since they will be spending many hours working in it. Take the time to make your home office a comfortable and wonderful place!

History of Murano Glass

Murano, Italy has been the longest lasting center for glass making in history. It has been a popular location for the art since the 9th century. The craft has gone through a variety of changes and has some of the most creative and elegant artwork and the region has survived its successes and failures and despite everything it has found the ability to bounce back amid adversity.

Murano is situated as a small island in the North West of Venice, Italy. The history of glassmaking in the region goes back to 800 AD in Rome, along with a mixture of influences from Asia and the religion of Islam. As Venice was a major port, trading of multicolored beads with African, Asian and Islamic neighbors became a mainstay of the region.

According to historical records, Murano became a center for glassmaking after frequent fires in Venice forced authorities to move its factories to the Island of Murano in 1291. Consequently, the Murano style is often interwoven that of the Venetians.

Murano held a monopoly on the craft for centuries and craftsmen on the island developed and improved several technologies like crystalline, aventurine which has threads of gold, lattimo - milk glass, smalto - containing enamel, millefiori - containing multicolors, and artificial gemstones. Even today, craftmen in the industry are said to follow these same techniques. However, now Murano has given way to a wide range of glass art including contemporary, jewelry, as well as chandeliers.

The art of Murano glass is rather complex and normally uses a technique known as lampworking. Silica, which turns into liquid form at high temperatures, is used to make glass. While the glass cools from the liquid to a solid phase, the artisan is able to manipulate it to make it into a desired shape or form.

Murano glass, over the centuries, has faced its moments of praise as well as decline. Nonetheless, region's glassmakers also strive toward quality and perfection. The glass art from the region is especially well known for its esthetics, which has set it apart from its competition. And no other region has been able to reproduce the esthetic superiority of Murano glassware. Throughout the history of glassmaking, the hollow blown glass technique from the region has made its stamp on the art of fine glassware. Clearly, the hallmark of Murano glass lies in its variations. A variety of glassware including multi-colored glazing and others that are light and transparent all represent the history of Murano glass art.

Murano art glassware is also part of the European Glass collection at many galleries. This collection includes mouth-blown cranes and flamingos that are often large in size. The art of producing Murano glass vases has been popular for the craftsmanship that stems from the glass-blowing method. Murano glass art can include a variety of fish, birds and ducks. These small animal collections or figurines are made utilizing the glass blowing technique from Murano.

Collectible Glassware from Romania

Romanian Mouth-Blown Glassware Makes Its Way Into Mainstream Art
By Cornel Plescan

The art of glass making holds a special relevance in Eastern Europe and particularly in Romania. What is quite extraordinary about Romanian glass manufacturing is that it combines traditional themes from Rome and Constantinople, lending vivacious color and ethnic design to the glasswork. Eastern Europe has lots of fine sand, which allows glassmaking to flourish in the region and Romania in particular is well known for its exquisite art glass pieces.

Glass making in Eastern Europe and Romania emanates from the Murano style in Italy as most of the artisans studied glassmaking there. Up to the 13 century, European glassmaking was exclusive to Venice. But frequent fires prompted Venetian authorities to shift the furnaces to the island of Murano.

There has been a long history of making glass in Romania. Romanian glassmakers have successfully passed on this art for several generations and the craft continues to thrive in this part of Eastern Europe. In Romania, it is said that artisan's only pass on the secrets of glass making to members of their family. More importantly, there is a rigid hierarchy in obtaining the coveted position as a glass blower. For example, a young man may take years before he can get to that stage within this strict hierarchy.

Romanian glass is comparable to any great piece of Eastern European mouth blown glass. And they are nothing like the ones that are made by machinery or inexpensive duplicates. Traditionally Romanian factories and glass studios manufacture clear glass utilizing pellets that are distinct and commonly found in Western Europe. And depending on the artisan, German pigments are popularly used for coloring or painting glass. The combination of this blend makes Romanian crafted glass truly a superior product anywhere in Europe. Though Romanian glasswork is normally not made from crystal, nonetheless, it carries a similar purity and shine. Glass products in Romania are not just great looking, they are also being produced to suit a host of lifestyles, from the traditional to modern and the line of products are guaranteed quality glassware that is both functional and decorative.

Romanian mouth-blown glassware is made by highly skilled artisans. They are very creative pieces with exceptional quality. They are also a prized collector's item. Some of the work includes vases and bowls that are made as centerpieces as well as plates - the artisans who create these masterpieces learned their skills in Murano itself.

When it comes to Romanian glassware, each piece is distinctly unique. Each of the mouth-blown glassware may be described as an individual masterpiece in itself. They are exceptionally colorful, creative and elegant. Some of the works made by glass artisans in Romania are the most sought after pieces of contemporary art and have been on display in several galleries across the world. They are also prized as some of the top-notch pieces of glassware in the craft of modern blown glass art.

The contemporary glassware is not just placed in galleries to be on display, they also make great gifts, particularly wedding gifts, and decorations especially in restaurants, businesses and hotels. They can also be used as decorations while designing your home.

A Romanian glass artist and designer, Cornel Plescan now lives in the United States. For more information about him and his products go to: http://www.coniartglass.com

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