March 12th, 2010
Patchwork is a form of needlework that involves sewing together pieces of fabric into a larger design. The larger design is usually based on repeat patterns built up with different colored shapes. These shapes are carefully measured and cut, straight-sided, basic geometric shapes making them easy to piece together. Precise joining makes for patchwork that lies flat without puckers.
Today, many quilts are quilted using a Longarm quilting system. The system consists of a frame and a sewing machine. The patchwork, batting and backing are loaded onto the frame and in some systems each layer can be tensioned independently. No basting is usually necessary. The frames can be up to 14′ long which is big enough for a king size quilt to be tensioned ready for quilting. The sewing machine known as the Longarm machine has an extended throat space – up to 36″ – and can be moved on a 2-axis rail system- left and right, forwards and backwards enabling a 360 degree movement over the surface of the quilt. Until recently most longarm machines were hand-guided which meant the operator had to synchronise the speed of their hands with the speed of the machine motor.
Fast hands, slow motor meant big stitches. Slow hands, fast motor meant small stitches. Since just after the turn of the century most longarm machines are now sold with stitch-regulation, which means the operator no longer has to synchronise hand speed with the motor. Electronics in the machine ensures the stitch length remains constant. More recently fully computerised machines are being sold. Fully computerised machines have been available for over 12 years. They were invented by Paul Statler but have only recently become popular. These machines use specialised machine-driver software and ‘cad’-type drawing packages to enable pattern digitisation and automatic quilting. An operator is still required to mind the machine and set the pattern onto the quilt. It is thought that over 10,000 longarm quilting machines are in use today. There are many brands available and many places to obtain training.
Tags: Fabric, frame, patchwork
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March 12th, 2010
If all the different kinds of snack food from all the different parts of China were put together under one roof, I think the country would finally have a monument that is genuinely visible from space.
But since this has not yet happened, you will need to retrain your tastebuds every time you arrive in a new city, since tastes vary and so do locally available ingredients. For example, in coastal Dalian you can buy little conical seashells, and I watched in fascination the first time I saw these being eaten by a woman on a bus. She would take a shell and break off the tip, then into the other end insert an ingenious homemade device (a bent pin) and extract the tiny animal from inside. Afterwards, she would toss the shell out the window of the bus.
Some snacks are seasonal. Of course this is especially true of fresh fruit, which is a very popular snack in China and not too expensive if you buy it in high season. Delicious baked yams are available during the colder months, presumably because they don’t sell well in the summer. You eat the pale yellow flesh inside, not the thick skin. In bitterly cold Heilongjiang Province, they have an interesting way of preserving pears and persimmons during the winter: they leave them outside to freeze. You can take these home, let them thaw partially, and eat them. Walnut season began not long ago, and Western China seems to be the place for walnuts.
It’s also the sound of a sunflower seed cracking between your teeth that a lot of people like, although this can become quite noisy when you have, for example, a whole cinema full of people eating sunflower seeds while they watch a movie.
Tags: fresh fruit, snack food, sunflower seed, walnuts
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March 11th, 2010
Dragons are deeply rooted in the Chinese culture. The Chinese often consider themselves, ‘the descendants of the dragon.’
Nobody really knows where the dragon comes from. The dragon looks like a combination of many animals. For the Chinese people, Dragons were described visually as a composite of parts from nine animals: The horns of a deer; the head of a camel; the eyes of a devil; the neck of a snake; the abdomen of a large cockle; the scales of a carp; the claws of an eagle; the paws of a tiger; and the ears of an ox. The Chinese word for Dragon is spelled out in roman characters as either lung or long. In China, the Dragon was credited with having great powers that allowed them to make rain and to control floods (by striking the river with its tail, causing it to open and thus divert the floodwaters) also Dragons are credited for transportation of humans to the celestial realms after death. Also, in China, Dragons are symbols of the natural world, adaptability, and transformation. When two dragons are placed together but turned away, they symbolize eternity via the famous Yin-Yang.
Chinese emperors think they are the real dragons and the sons of heaven. Thus the beds they sleep on are called the dragon beds, the throne called the dragon seat, and the emperor’s ceremonial dresses called the dragon robes.
In the minds of the early Chinese people, the dragon was a god that embodied the will and ideals of the Chinese people. It is said that the dragon is a large-scaled reptile, which can become dark or bright, large or small, long or short, and can fly into the sky in the spring and live under the water in the fall. It seems that the dragon is capable of doing almost anything.Traditionally the dragons are considered as the governors of rainfalls in Chinese culture. They have the power to decide where and when to have rain. They believe the kings of the water dragons live in the dragon palaces under the oceans. The Chinese sign for the dragon appears during the Yin and Shang dynasties (from the 16th to the 11th century BC, the period of the earliest Chinese hieroglyphs), between inscriptions on bones and turtle shields. These inscriptions depicted a horned reptile, teeth, scales and sometimes paws as well.
In ancient China nobody had any doubts about the existence of dragons. People showed great respect for any dragon depicted in pictures, carvings and writings, and as a result the dragon became the symbol of Chinese nation. All people in china, including the emperor, prostrated themselves before the image of a dragon with reverence and awe. As a result, this unreal animal became the spiritual sustenance for a nation: firstly, as the totem of a tribe and then as the symbol of the nation. Eventually it became the sign on the national flag of the last feudal dynasty, the Qing Dynasty. The chinese people regard themselves as descendants of the dragon.
Tags: carvings, Chinese culture, Chinese people, dragom, writings
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March 11th, 2010
We carry a great selection of beautifully crafted and Oriental-inspired wall decor. All of our wall decor is ideal for creating an instant Asian feel in any room while providing a great decorative effect. For an elegant statement, try any of our magnificent framed wall mirrors. We also sell a unique line of handcrafted and hand-painted Asian wall carvings that will add an exotic touch to any wall. If you are going for a more classic look, don’t miss our Asian prints. Our Asian prints make great wall decor and are available with quality wood frames that look fantastic.
Asian Glass Pictures
Asian glass pictures are a brilliant way to add a colorful decorative flair to any room. Each of our Asian glass pictures features a hand-painted scene reminiscent of life in ancient China. Bold and vivid colors come to life through the glass, creating a beautiful effect. This is done by painting the reverse side of the glass. The glass is actually the canvas for the paint! All of our Asian glass pictures come in a quality rosewood frame with a brass hanger on the back for easy mounting. Each Asian glass picture measures 10.5″ in height x 15″ in width. Decorate your home or office and bring any room to life with our magnificent Asian glass pictures.
Asian Prints
Outstanding attention to detail and the artist’s magnificent skill in capturing the feel for the moment are the defining qualities of our Asian prints.
Wall Carvings
Wall Carvings
- large hand carved wooden wall carvings are one way to add a touch of Oriental elegance to the walls of your home or to decorate your office. Our wall carvings are painted gold on black and all have a hook on the back for effortless mounting.
Tags: carvings, prints, wall-decor
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