Archive for February, 2010

wedding accessories

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

On your wedding day, you want to look at your best. Picking your wedding accessories can be a huge part of your ensemble. Whether you select just a few simple necessities or many to highlight your wedding dress, they each contribute to your appearance in different ways and have a special importance to them. Make sure that you have bought your wedding gown before shopping for bridal accessories. From head to toes there are many styles of accessories that can help you attain the perfect look for your wedding.

Shoes

With so many shoes to choose from and only one wedding it’s important to pick the weding shoes that best suit you. If your a little shorter and you want a shoe that gives you more height, pumps or high heels may be your best bet. Flats, sandals, and slip on’s can be worn as more of a casual and comfy choice. Sandals can also be dressy with a slight heel to them or some bling. If your wedding venue is at or near a beach you might not even need shoes, barefoot is the best way to go when your at the beach, that way you can feel the warm sand in between your toes. You could even go for the Cinderella look and wear clear slippers to look just like a princess on your wedding day. There are so many styles and colors when picking shoes. Open toe, peep toe, slingbacks, strappy sandals, close toed, wedge heel, pumps, and platforms are just some of the many styles to choose from. Just make sure that you try on your wedding dress with your shoes to make sure they go together perfectly.

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Anklets

Anklets can be great for accessorizing your feet. You can choose between pearls, rhinestones, and crystals to find your perfect anklet. When picking your anklet it needs to go with your wedding shoes and your wedding gown. If your barefoot almost any anklet can work as long as it goes along with the embroidery or work on your dress. With shoes you need to be sure that the anklet doesn’t over power your shoes or dangle over them. Hearts, crosses, and dangling jewels are the most popular designs for anklets.

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Necklaces

Bridal necklaces can be just as important as your wedding dress and shoes. Any necklace can add beauty and elegance to any dress you choose. You want a necklace that will match and look good with your dress. If you are wearing a V-neck wedding gown the best necklace to accompany it is a simple Y-drop necklace. If your wedding dress is a halter, you want a necklace that will stand out all around. A dangling or double stranded necklace could be just right to attract attention. With an opened back gown a dangling necklace is also a good choice to enhance the beauty of your dress. Pendants, Y-drop designs, single of double stranded, and chokers are all apart of picking a perfect bridal necklace to go with your dress and don’t forget all the jewels and designs!

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Earrings

Earrings also come in various shapes and sizes and of course have to match your necklace. You want earrings that will highlight your face and also compliment your hair style. If you have more of a round shaped face, dangling earrings can be a good option. Dangling earrings also look great if your wedding hair-do is styled down or curled. If your hair is being put up and styled studded earrings or pearls could compliment your hair the best. You don’t want earrings that will be weighing you down or taking away from your other jewelry. However, if you have a high-necked dress and are opting out of a necklace, dangling earrings are the best way to go. For more wide faces, hoops or sleek earrings can do the trick. Hoops, small studs, spirals or tear drop, diamonds, pearls,chandelier, and dangling earrings are all the different shapes and sizes that could add to your wedding ensemble.

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Veils

Your wedding veil needs to compliment your overall appearance. You can decide to wear your veil as an accessory or over your face. If you choose to wear it over face you might want more of a shorter length to make things easier. Your veil should match the rest of your look (especially your wedding gown) and have the same shade or color as your wedding gown. It should also match the details such as your beading. If wearing a wedding dress that is floor length almost any veil will work. If your wedding gown tends to be shorter a shorter veil, about knee length, would go best. You want to be careful while picking out your veil because your veil is supposed to give you that glow and by picking the wrong one it could take away for your bridal appearance. Don’t forget to bring along your wedding dress while shopping for your veil.

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You should enjoy picking out your wedding accessories and shop around. Take time to peak at all the different styles, colors, and prices for accessories. While looking for your own accessories, keep in mind your bridesmaids’ accessories as well. Have fun shopping for your extra goodies!

paperweight

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Paper weight, also called “paper holder“, is an object used to press the paper when one writes or paints. The paper weight we usually see is in rectangular bar shape.

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In the ancient times, men of letters were fond of small-sized bronze or jade articles. They often put these articles on the desk and appreciated them. As these objects usually had some weight, the literati tended to use them to hold paper or books. As time passed by, a stationery called paper weight gradually came into being.

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A lot of materials could be made into paper weight, such as bronze, jade, stone, porcelain, wood, bamboo, and so on.

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Paperweights are decorative objects, designed to hold sheets of paper on a surface to prevent wind from blowing them away.

Paperweights are commonly made from glass, although may also be made from clear acrylic or other materials. They are often collected as examples of fine workmanship, and appreciated for their aesthetic as opposed to their utilitarian aspect. They are often exhibited in art museums as examples of fine glass art.

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They generally have a flat base and a domed top, which may be faceted or etched. The weight may be coated with one or more thin layers of colored glass, and have windows cut through it to reveal the interior motif. The ground on which the inner parts rest may be clear or colored, made of unfused sand, or resemble lace.

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Antique paperweights were made primarily in three French factories, between 1845 and 1860, in Baccarat, St. Louis, and Clichy. Weights (mainly of lesser quality) were also made in the United States, Great Britain, and elsewhere, though Bacchus (UK) and New England Glass Company (USA) produced some that equaled the best of the French. Modern weights have been made from about 1950 to the present.

There are many paperweight collectors worldwide. Several collectors associations hold national or regional conventions, and sponsor activities such as tours, lectures, and auctions.

chinese musical instrument

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Music certainly knows no language nor has any barriers. Ancient Chinese music is one of the traditional art forms. Ancient China has witnessed many masterpieces in terms of music. There have been some great musicians who created melodies with the help of ancient Chinese musical instruments. These instruments are generally classified into three segments – string, percussion and wind instruments. The categories of these ancient musical instruments are also divided as per the kind of material used for example, bamboo, wood, clay, metal etc. Take a look at some of the details associated with ancient Chinese musical instruments.

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Ancient Chinese Musical Instruments: Amongst the most ancient of the instruments used to create music in China were the Chinese flutes. These flutes were seen in different types of varieties. The Dizi is one of the kinds that belong to this category. This musical instrument is particularly used to compose Chinese folk music. This type of flute is made of bamboo. There are many stories that are associated with the origins of the Dizi. Some believe it was the Yellow Emperor who conceptualized the idea and got it made where as others believe, it was imported during the Han dynasty.

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The Qin, known as Guqin in the modern times is another type of ancient Chinese musical instrument. The Chinese hold this instrument in high regard and it has also been associated with Confucius, the Chinese philosopher. This instrument has also been associated with great scholars. It has thus been used for ritual ceremonies and was also a symbol of high culture.

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The Pipa is another example of ancient Chinese musical instruments. For the last two thousand years, this instrument has been used to create soothing melodies in China although today, the Pipa is seen only in museums. Some of the earlier forms of the Pipa existed during the Qin dynasty. As time passed, the Pipa became particularly popular by the Tang Era.

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Yet another musical instrument that has many stories attached to it is the muyu also known as the wooden fish. This is actually a wooden instrument. The legends associated with the wooden fish all have taken place in China. This wooden fish is used especially for rituals by monks.

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These were a few examples of ancient Chinese musical instruments that have been around for years. These instruments have certainly helped to keep alive the many traditions of China.

Chinese mask

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Chinese masks are legend. The tradition of mask making in China and other Asian countries reflect the religious and culturally rich customs of each specific group of people. From the Buddhist masks of Tibet to the royal masks of Beijing, Asia’s love of masks is abundant. You can get in on this tradition by using Chinese masks in your home. Let us help you find and decorate with some beautiful Chinese masks.

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Before you can purchase any Chinese masks, you have to decide what kind of masks you are interested in. The many different areas of China each reflect a different type of culture. You might choose to buy traditional painted wood masks. Or perhaps you’d rather have a golden dragon mask. The kind of mask you buy depends partly on your budget. Some wooden reproduction masks can cost less than $50; while authentic gold and other metal masks can set you back thousands of dollars.

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Once you decide what kind of Chinese masks to buy, you are ready to shop. For affordable masks you might consider checking out your local import store. Whether it is a chain store, or a smaller low-volume merchant, you should have quite a bit of luck at a store that specializes in foreign items. Or check out a local decorating or furniture store. These places often have reproduction items for sale at reasonable prices.

Now that you have purchased one or more beautiful Chinese masks, you are ready to decorate. There are many ways to use ancient Asian masks in your home. Consider placing a large gold mask in a grand living room or foyer. Add a golden Buddha and some jade and you’ll have a palatial entertaining spot. Or use a wooden mask in a room with neutral colors and fabrics. Either way, your new Chinese décor will thrill all your guests.

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Exorcising masks originated from ancient sacrificial rituals in the Central Plains. The rituals were initially held to drive away ghosts and evils. Later, part of the rituals was evolved into local operas in praise of military deeds and high-ranking officers, becoming popular among the army troops. About 1,000 years ago, exorcising masks, combined with the totem worshipping among ethnic minority groups in the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and traditional sacrificial rituals, formed a mask culture of extensive contents. Ethnic minorities currently using exorcising masks include the Miao, Tujia, Yao, Zhuang, Dong, Shui, Buyi and Maonan etc.

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In the embryonic and initial stages of ethnic operas, masks were widely used in the performances. Later, under the influence of operas of the Han people, wearing masks was gradually replaced by face painting. Masks and facial covers were only used when playing gods, ghosts and animals. But there are still some operas in which masks are completely or partially used, including Tibetan operas popular in Tibet, Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai etc, the Tujia and Lao ethnic exorcising operas popular in Guizhou, Ground Opera and the Dong ethnic leaping drama in Hunan etc