Wicker is one of the most popular classifications of outdoor furniture, but its many types and forms can make it confusing to understand.
Wicker is one of the most popular classifications of outdoor furniture, but its many types and forms can make it confusing to understand. It might surprise you to know that the term “wicker” does not refer to the material itself, but to the method of weaving any one of a variety of materials. These materials include rattan, bamboo, willow, or even fiberglass resin.
The history of wicker is a long one - ancient civilizations used it for baskets and seating, the Romans took it to Britain, and Portuguese traders carried it with spices and silks from India and distributed it throughout Europe. It fell out of favor around 1750 but was revived during the Victorian era when its smooth surfaces were thought to be more sanitary than upholstered furniture. This Victorian obsession with cleanliness and health was bolstered by the production of rattan wicker furniture in America beginning in the 1840s.
The frame: Check the frame carefully before buying, especially with an older piece of wicker. Experts can repair damage to the woven part of a wicker piece rather easily, but repairing a frame is a major job.
You may find antique wicker pieces with hardwood frames, but most frames today are made of either solid core rattan (preferable) or aluminium. If you’re buying a metal frame, welded is stronger than bolted.
Construction materials: Rattan is the most common material in “wooden” wicker pieces. It is the trunk of a climbing palm that is very long and thin, like a vine. The vine is native to the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia and grows to lengths of up to 600 feet. Because rattan is a solid core plant, it makes sturdy furniture. Treated rattan pieces can be used in outdoor spaces that are protected from direct sun and rain, such as screened in porches or covered gazebos. Bamboo is a large tropical grass that commonly grows to over 100 feet. It is easy to identify because of the nodes along its surface and its hollow stem. Willow is more commonly used in Europe than in North America. The wood is light and durable and, because it retains its natural moisture, it is long lasting and easily woven. Fiberglass and resins are synthetic materials that are formed into long narrow vine-like pieces and woven into wicker furniture. Because dyes are often mixed right in with the resins, the color of such furniture is not subject to the same peeling and flaking that a painted piece is. Its durability and ease of care have given this type of wicker a permanent place in outdoor decorating.
Where to use it: Any non-resin wicker piece that is marked as “indoor use” only has probably been coated with a clear lacquer finish that will prevent scratching but will not provide adequate protection from the outdoor elements. Use it as advised - indoors. Limited exposure wicker furniture, intended for use on screened-in or covered outdoor areas, has additional finish layers. Highest quality pieces will have leather wrapped joints on the frame. All-weather wicker can be divided into two categories: loom-woven and synthetic. Loom woven wicker pieces use natural materials such as rattan, but are dipped in resin emulsions to form a moisture resistant shield. Synthetic wicker pieces, made from fiberglass or resin, often contain UV inhibitors that repel the damaging effects of the sun, harsh weather and temperature changes. Whether natural or synthetic, all-weather wicker will likely have aluminium frames. Even all-weather pieces should be put in storage for the winter months if you live in a cold climate.
With this information, you should be able to choose the wicker furniture that suits your intended purpose.
About the Author
Debbie Rodgers owns and operates Paradise Porch, and is dedicated to helping people create outdoor living spaces that nurture and enrich them. Visit her on the web at www.paradiseporch.com and get a free report on “Eight easy ways to create privacy in your outdoor space”. Mail to debbie@paradiseporch.com
1.First things first. Set a plan or a theme for your Christmas decorating. It doesn’t cost a thing to have a good plan, and when you are working with budget ideas, this is what pulls your ideas together, and makes everything you do look purposeful, and personal. Some theme ideas for Christmas? The rustic lodge xmas, a toyland xmas, countries around the world, Victorian, country, santa, snowmen, old fashioned, the list goes on and on!
2. Make garlands out of felt scraps. Cut Xmas shapes out of felt in miniature, mini stockings, holly leaves, mittens, and string together with needle and floss or strong fishing line to hang all over the house. Remember when you string each shape, tie a knot on both sides of the shape to hold it in its place. You can add more dimension to the shapes by cutting two of each, stuffing them lightly, them sewing the two together. Glue would work also if you aren’t a sewer. Saved used dryer sheets are perfect for this kind of stuffing, or even tiny fabric scraps that are too small for other uses.
3.Drop a tealight candle in your cleaned out glass mayonnaise jars, tie a holiday ribbon around the neck, and you have a beautiful candle with xmas charm. You could nestle the candle in peppermints, nuts, or even sand if you wish. Try grouping several together for a dramatic evening effect. These also make great luminaries.
4. Start a Christmas collection. This can be a great tradition to initiate in your home. My girls and I starting collecting Santas 3 years ago, and it’s something they look forward to, choosing our yearly Santa together. I know it will be a fond memory for them, and I plan to let each child choose a Santa to take with them when the day comes that they leave the nest and start their own home. By the way, this doesn’t have to be expensive, or even store bought. Try sewing or crafting a new decoration each year together for even more memories! Or check out your dollar store…they have some really cute ceramic holiday decorations for a buck or two. Remember, it’s the memories you’re interested in here, not a collectable based on monetary value.
5. If you are looking to do a toyland theme for your Christmas decorating this year, try searching out teddy bears and dolls at your local thrift stores. Wash them in a pillowcase and put them in your dryer for at least 20 minutes, then dress them up with ribbons and holiday fabrics. Group them under your tree, on mantels, and on windowsills. Stack small squares of cardboard together and wrap as a tiny present, then tuck them under a teddy’s arm, or wrap an empty box and use it as teddy’s seat by the front door.
6. Place a few inexpensive glass balls in a bowl and embellish with a few sprigs of greenery or some leftover ribbon. If you don’t have an extra bowl (it is the holidays, after all!) try decoupaging a box with leftover Christmas wrap, or cover with a little fabric and glue.
7. Take down your pictures and wrap them like a gift, then hang them back on the wall for great holiday cheer! You don’t have to do this all around the house, how about just in the entry, or maybe the dining room?
8. Tie greens or ornaments to the chandelier with a little Christmas ribbon, just make sure they don’t hang low enough for any candles on the table to catch them on fire.
9. Make your own gift tags out of leftover paper. Ok, this is not a new idea, but try punching it up a bit. Add details by layering shapes over the base paper, use paper punches and scalloped scrapbooking scissors to add style, use a gold calligraphy pen to add names. Or use the scalloped scissors to make old holiday cards into tags.
10. Sponge stars or other seasonal shapes on your window with paint! No, I’m not nuts. Just add a teaspoon or so of liquid dish soap to acrylic craft paint, (I like white or gold metallic) and after the holidays you should be able to wash it off with window cleaner. Use a non- scratching dish scrubber if you come across a stubborn spot.
There it is, the 10 best budget decorating ideas for Holiday decorating! Always remember the most important reason we celebrate, and the reason we take the time to make our homes warm and inviting…our loved ones! Have a wonderful holiday season!
About the Author
Kathleen Wilson is the author of “Quick Decorating Ideas Under $20:The Budget Decorator’s Bible” and the editor of The Budget Decorator, a free ezine dedicated to the “budget impaired” home decorator. Visit her at http://www.TheBudgetDecorator.com for more great ideas.
Being in love does not mean that you should turn overnight to be an extravagant spender. Love is beautiful when it is simple and true.
If you are running out of cash and yet your heart is full of love for your other half, you don’t have to sigh in despair. There are some free gifts which you can give to your lover without spending a dime. Unrealistic? Read on…
1. A Poem
Writing a poem is one of the best ways to touch the other person’s heart. After all, the words are straight from your heart and like they say ‘nothing moves a lover more than true words spoken from the soul!’
2. A Love Letter
Yes, writing a love letter doesn’t cost a cent and yet it’s simple and so sweet..
3. E-Card
A e-card is another free gift to lavish your other half. Across miles this gift delivers your message fast and easily with no fuss!
4. Hug
Touch is the most intimate gesture for all humans. A hug a day brings us all closer to feeling loved and cherished!
5. A Song
Write a song for your special one and sing it.
6. Make a Card
Making a paper card is easy and so much fun. Once again it is so cost-free.
7. Dance
When was the last time that both of you danced together? Dance is an interesting activity which does not need a dime and yet it creates so much fun!
8. Romantic Walk
Walking under the stars is romantic and it creates a good opportunity for both of you to spend quality time together alone.
9. Dedication
Dedicating a song to your lover on the radio is another thing to consider.
10. I Love You
How many of us do actually say the words? Some couples take love for granted and think that the 3 words are not that necessary. On the other hand saying the words doesn’t cost you anything and yet it brings you closer to the one you love.
Anusuya Veth, a romantic at heart is the author of ‘Cupid Traps’. Besides penning poems & stories when the mood strikes she also runs her own content portals ‘Wow Mag’, ‘Celebrity Jam’ and her accessories store ‘Anya’. You can download her ebook ‘Cupid Traps’ at http://www.geocities.com/cupidtraps
cupidtraps@yahoo.com
One of the pleasurable spin-offs in organic gardening is finding alternative ways of coming up with the same, if not better, end result…..
Household throwaways can be valuable to the alternate enthusiast. Here are ten recyclable ideas to make gardening a little less hard on the pocket!
1. Hedge clippings: Instead of burning or direct composting, beg, borrow or even buy, if the quantity justifies the price, an electric garden muncher.
Branches up to an inch in diameter are posted into a slot and the machine munches them up into small chips. Spread these chips thickly around shrubs or fruit trees to help keep moisture in, and control the temperature of the soil.
2. Food Waste: All food waste must be composted. Composting is becoming quite an art form, and special composting bins can be bought, or very simply made.
There are many different theories and each gardener will find his or her preferred way. Keeping the compost fairly warm is the overall key to a good result. Or, if you’re in no hurry, simply keep adding to a heap, and dig out the bottom when required. Sieve before using and the compost will be ready for planting small plants and even seeds.
3. Old carpets, large damaged cardboard boxes; and similar materials can be laid over the vegetable plot in autumn to help prevent those early spring weeds appearing. Spread over a whole patch and weigh down with stones or logs. Lift off on a sunny day in early spring a few days before digging.
4. Paint trays: Keep old roller painting trays and similar containers for seed trays. Punch a few holes in the bottom for drainage. Add a little fine gravel before filling with seed compost. Seed trays shouldn’t be deeper than 15cm.
5. Yoghurt pots: All plastic yoghurt or dessert pots can be washed and saved for re-potting seedlings. Make a hole in the bottom of each and add a little fine gravel before filling with compost or soil..
6. Glass jars: Glass jars with sealable lids are excellent for storing seeds, beans and peas for planting next year. (Safe from mice as well) After washing the jars, dry in the oven to remove all traces of moisture before storing your seeds. Collect dark glass jars, or wrap paper round clear jars to prevent seeds being damaged by light.
7. Ice Lolly sticks: Make perfect row markers in your seed trays or greenhouse beds. The wooden ones won’t last for ever but you can at least write on them with pen, pencil or crayons!
8. Wire coat hangers: Make mini-cloches with discarded or broken wire coat hangers. Pull into a square shape. Place the hook in the soil and push down gently until the natural bend in the wire rests on top of the soil. Place another a short distance away in your seed bed to create two ends of a cloche. Now throw over a sheet of plastic and hold down with logs or stones.
Note: this will work only when creating very small cloches.
9. Clear plastic: Keep any clear plastic containers that could be placed upside down over a plant. Cut a mineral water bottle in half to make two handy individual cloches. Large sheets of clear plastic from packaged household items are fine for throwing over mini coat hanger cloches.
10. Aluminium bottle tops: Keep aluminium tops from milk or juice bottles, and also coloured foil around beer or wine bottles. Thread together to maka bird scarer. Simply thread with thick cotton and hang on your fruit bushes before the birds find the new fruits.
Look out for other tools for the garden from kitchen throwaways such as: old kitchen spoons and forks for transplanting tiny plants in the greenhouse. Leaky buckets for harvesting small quantities of potatoes, carrots etc; light wooden boxes for harvesting salads through the summer, and transporting pots etc;
Keep an eye on that rubbish bag and turn today’s throwaways into tomorrow’s tools!
Linda Gray is a freelance writer and, with her partner, has spent ten years renovating an acre of neglected woodland. With a growing family to feed ‘off the land’, frugal gardening has become second nature! Drop in at http://www.flower-and-garden-tips.com for pots of gardening inspiration!
Here’s a “rule-of-thumb” that we want you to write down in your training journal so that you stop confusing more training with faster muscle gains. Here it is: When you’re trying to gain muscle as fast as humanly possible - it’s far better to do too little training - than too much.
This simple rule is the foundational secret to getting super-fast muscle gains. It’s by far the most important lesson we’ve learned over our many years of trial and error training.
You see, you only have so much energy available for training and growth. Your recovery ability is really quite limited. If you workout for too long and too often, you can easily deplete your body’s recovery ability and end up with no muscle growth to show for all that training time and effort.
You have to understand the importance of this simple fact. You can train as often as you like - far be it for us to tell you otherwise - but if you haven’t seen the kind of muscle growth you’ve been wanting, then take a look at your training program and see if you haven’t been breaking the bodybuilding “sin” of overtraining.
If your goal is to build muscle as fast as possible, you’ll want to make sure that you’re training no more than three times a week, and for no more than thirty minutes at a time.
And remember, that’s the upper limit. As you progress with your training, you’ll probably want to reduce your training time and workout frequency even further. That may come as a surprise to you, but our experience has proven it to us without any doubt whatsoever.
So respect your recovery ability and keep your training to a minimum. You’ll gain more muscle that way.
This article will shock you if you use toothpaste, shampoo,
shower gel, bath foam and other personal care and household
products.
Most of us happily purchase personal care and household
products without giving it a second thought.
Take a look on the back of some of your products and take
the bathroom test today!
Do you have any of the following ingredients listed
.Sodium Lauryl Sulpate,
.Sodium Laureth Sulphate,
.Aluminium, Alcohol,
.propylene Glycol, and
.DEA
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is commonly found in toothpastes,
bubble bath, shampoos and soaps. It’s used as a thickener
and foaming agent, but has also been found to be a skin
irritant.
Shampooing your hair with a shampoo containg SLS can put as
many nitrates into your body as if you ate a pound of
bacon!
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is also used as a wetting agent in
garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers.
Sodium Laureth Sulphate is a higher foaming version of SLS
and may be less irritating, however it may cause drying.
Like Sodium Lauryl Sulphate it may cause the potentially
carciogenic formation of nitrates on reacting with other
product ingredients.
Aluminium is commonly found in deodorants. Used regularly it
can increase the risk of alzheimer’s by up to 3 times. (From
Natural Health May-June 1983)
Alcohol is found in mouthwashes. Mouthwashes containing high
amounts of alcohol have been implicated in cancers of the
mouth and throat, according to a 1991 study from the
National Cancer Institute.
Propylene Glycol is found in a wide range of personal care
products including cosmetics, shampoos and foam baths.
Propylene Glycol is a cosmetic form of oils found in brake
and hydraulic fluid, as well as antifreeze. In cosmetic
products it stops moisture escaping from the skin. Material
Safety Data Sheets warn users to avoid skin contact with
propylene glycol as this strong skin irritant could cause
kidney damage and liver abnormalities.
DEA is a wetting agent used to provide a lather in shampoos,
skin creams and cosmetics. On it’s own it’s not harmful, but
during storage on a shelf or in a bathroom cupboard it may
react with other ingredients to produce carcinogens.
Read what Dr Samual Epstein has to say about DEA
http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/cosmetics/diethanola
mine.htm
Kathy has a safer alternative. visit her website at
www.healthandbeautytowealth.com/cart2/bathroom.html
Subscribe to healthtowealth
A monthly ezine packed full of useful tips on online
marketing,motivation,and health related info.
mailto:subscribe2healthtowealth@getresponse.com
13.9 percent interest rate may appear so average but will that be incessant after you’re going to refund your loan. Now you can check into rates quickly on the internet and forecast if there are other conditions you should be aware of. You should be undimmed today to analyze if you have a great deal or if you don’t with the merchant bank that offers you a bank loan. A moneylender in Bolingbrook Illinois or so can have a total totally different actual rate for a 22500 dollar money loan then a bank in Detroit Michigan and that makes a huge clear difference in your weekly costs. A lot of the merchant banks wil show you a rate of interest that is looking honorable but doesn’t feel good or so after a while. It doesn’t matter if you live in Marietta Georgia or in Lansing Michigan a beneficial online check up will salve you often a lot of inconvenience. This is the reason why now you really need to check into and protrude if you can have a money loan at a estimable percent rate.
The translation says: Woon je in Etten-Leur of Nederweert en hebt u BKR notering. Lenen met een BKR notering is nog nooit zo eenvoudig geweest. Koop een nieuwe woning met bkr zonder geld lenen, 125911 euro is altijd mogelijk om te lenen. Van Koggenland tot Valkenburg aan de Geul, financieren met een BKR registratie kan hier altijd.
Examine to see if the merchant bank who is willing to give you a credit loan is right.
Despite popular belief, there are hundreds of legitimate money making opportunities for at home workers, both online and in the “real” world. However, it is the bad apples that spoil the bunch and that is why so many people are speculative about money making opportunities like the cash gifting system. In the past, bogus mailing systems like put your name on the bottom of the list, send a dollar to the first five people on the list and make a million dollars, have soured peoples thoughts on cash gifting. However, there are thousands of people making a lot of money on these systems, and it is sure worth it just to check it out.
Just about everyone who has ever tried to find a money making venture online has been burned, left with no money and with no money making opportunity. However, those days have changed with the cash gifting system. Many desperate people have decided to give their last bit of money to a cash gifting source and found that it has paid off. In some cases, individuals have made hundreds of thousands of dollars, and as such are no longer in the desperate place they were before. I’m not suggesting you invest your food or mortgage money into cash gifting, but if you have a few hundred dollars for business investment, you owe it to yourself to check it out.
There is positive momentum and negative momentum. Are you moving toward what you want…or away from it? Here are ten ideas (or reminders) that can help you create and maintain momentum towards what really matters.
1. Take some time to clarify your desired future outcome. Success is seeing what you want and moving toward what you see. What is important to you? Who are you becoming? How will your intention contribute to others?
2. Use visual reminders of your intention. Get some magazines and cut out pictures and words related to your goal. Put them where you’ll see them on a regular basis, like on your bathroom mirror, in your wallet, next to your computer screen, or on a poster board.
3. Set clear goals with clear timelines. Write down what the goal is, how you will know when you have achieved it, and a date when you will have achieved it.
4. Be action-oriented. When an opportunity presents itself that fits with your vision, respond to it immediately.
5. Ask yourself, “How much and what kind of fun will I have with this project?” This will help raise your energy. If you’re dreading the process there’s a good chance your momentum is going to get stifled.
6. Fill your mind with inspiration. Read books, listen to audio
programs, and watch videos that educate, uplift and inspire you. Go to seminars and attend conventions related to your goal. Read about and learn about people who have done what you want to do.
7. Take a Risk a Day. So often to move towards what we really want requires us to get out of our comfort zone. By getting into the habit of taking a risk a day you will strengthen your courage as you take those important actions that can lead to your greatest opportunities.
8. Create a support team. Ask a few of your friends to form a group to support each other on your goals. Hire a personal coach or a business coach. Find a mentor. Hire a financial planner, an accountant, a fitness trainer, a counselor - whoever you think would add input, support, advice, feedback, and/or accountability to help you keep your attention on your intention.
9. Consistently review your top three intentions. Write down your top three intentions and read them every day so they’re fresh in your mind. This will add fuel to your fire and will help you focus your attention on what matters during your day. It will also help you recognize the opportunities that might help you move toward your desired future outcome.
10. Clarify how your intention also helps others. The fuel that can come from helping others can inspire you to take action and stay focused on your goals. When you see your intention as a cause and you find the passion and nobleness in your actions, you will likely have more energy to get the momentum going - and keep it going - as you move forward
toward your intention.
When you take action and stay focused on what really matters, you create momentum…and momentum creates momentum.
Rich Fettke, MCC, is known for helping people take action and stay focused on what really matters. He is the author EXTREME SUCCESS (Simon & Schuster, 2002) and was one of the first business coaches to receive the Master Certified Coach designation from the International Coach Federation. As a professional speaker, Rich delivers entertaining and educational programs to associations and corporations. Visit Rich on the web at www.Fettke.com
Taking pictures of your new baby is a great way to preserve life long memories.
Baby pictures can also make great postcards, keepsakes, or baby shower gifts.
Here are some simple tips to get great baby pictures:
1) Avoid bright light - Babies are especially sensitive to bright light including
harsh sunlight and flash photography. If possible, try to take photos during
the day when flash photography is not necessary. You can also use lamps to create
lighting.
2) Take pictures from different distances - Try to take pictures from different
distances. Most people like to take close-up pictures, but pictures that are
too close can be blurry and out of focus. By taking several pictures from different
distances, you can keep the ones that are the best.
3) Be aware of your baby’s mood - Try not to start a photo session when your
baby is cranky or crying. If your baby is in a bad mood, then wait awhile until
he or she is better rested or calmed. You will get better pictures when your
baby is in good spirits.
4) Use a high quality camera and film - This tip may seem simple, but is worth
saying. Using high quality cameras and film can make a big difference in the
quality of the photo, especially if you are creating photo gifts or favors.
5) Get rid of any distractions - Make sure there are not too many distractions
when taking pictures. Anything that moves or makes noise, like the TV, should
be turned off is possible. Having too many people around can also be distracting
for the baby.
6) Take multiple shots - Taking different shots is a good idea for any type
of photography, particularly if you are making photo gifts. Sometimes it is
hard to tell if a shot will turn out good until it is actually produced, so
get those extra shots just in case.
7) Background - Make sure that there is not too much distracting stuff in the
background. The focus should be on the baby, so plain backgrounds usually work
best.
Other people - Try taking pictures of the baby with other people as well,
including you. A baby will interact with other people and these interactions
captured on film can make great keepsakes.
About the Author - Criss White is a professional web writer on baby and
new mother topics for baby and pregnancy websites. For baby shower picture frames,
go to Baby Picture
Frames - Favors (http://www.mybabyshowerfavors.com/pictureframes.htm) and
Unique Baby Shower Favors
(http://www.mybabyshowerfavors.com/unique.htm). Note: If you find this article
useful, you may reprint it on your website, e-zine, or in your newsletter as
long as the credits above remain in tact and the hyperlinks stay active.
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