Kendall VonFeldt is an artist living in Colorado, and she loves all things rustic.
Her creations incude candle holders, picture frames, and wine racks crafted from a variety of rustic hardwood materials such as recovered barn wood, and old pine.
Our own store PebbleZ.com has experienced a similar phenomenon. I would like to think that in some small way we helped to start this trend when we started creating rustic natural stone products several years ago.
Whether you are playing online in a massive multiplayer world, or are just having a quiet game of D&D with your friends, the ambiance you create in your room can help to enhance the fantasy you are trying to create.
An RPG is basically an interactive story. Using symbols, maps, and pictures a world is created which you can explore and participate in. In order to make the experience worthwhile, you have to be able to imagine yourself as actually being in that world, and interacting with real fantastic creatures.
This can be difficult to do with broad daylight and overhead light fixtures pointing out in glaring detail every facet of the modern, mundane world.
However, if you dim the lights, and light a few candles throughout the space, suddenly the real world is cast in shadows. In the dark, your mind is given free reign to fill in the gaps with fantastic features. You are no longer on the floor of your living room; you are in an ancient a dangerous tunnel, awaiting the approach of a band of Orks.
Sitting by the flickering light of the candles flame, you will feel the story take on new life. The real world will fade out for a time, allowing you to replace it with the fantasy adventure you are engaged in.
However you have to be careful. You are not really a wizard with a level eight water spell. If you get too into the game, and forget to tend the tiny fires you have lit, you may end up with a very serious and very real problem on your hands.
The Greenwich Post distributed an article online recently speaking about ‘Hope Lights Lives’, a fundraiser which is designed to support the Center for Hope and The Den for Grieving Kids, Family Centers’ programs.
On Sunday, Dec. 16, at 5 p.m, residents of Greenwich and surrounding communities are being asked to light luminary candles as a show of support for people grieving or living with illness. Money is being raised by the sale of candle kits. These kits consist of 12 tea light candles, 12 plastic candle holders, and 12 luminary bags, and they sell for $25 a piece.
The entire program is being run by more than 600 volunteers. Last year they were able to sell more than 7500 luminary kits which raised over $180,000 for the program.
For more information, or to purchase uminary kits, the Greenwich Post asks that you contact Gloria Veeder at 869-4848
Joystick candle holders? This is something that I wouldn’t even want in my crazy decor house. Its not that its too crazy, its just that its so…nerdish. I may be a nerd, but I don;t have to decorate like one.
I think it is supposed to be modelled on the old Atari Joystick. They were designed by mixko, a design company that actually has some interesting lighting designs. We may be looking into those in future editions.
One of the best ways to make decorating your home easier is to make sure that you have plenty of materials on hand for whenever the inspiration or occasion for a new look arises. This takes a lot of the prep time out of decorating, allowing you to get right into the nitty-gritty design work whenever the mood strikes you.
A good decorating tool box will contain all of the basic components you commonly need to create displays. This can include glue, nails, screw, string, decorative papers, thumbtacks, a measuring tape, protractors, meter sticks, and other crafty items. You should know based on your own past experiences what materials you are drawn to and which you use most frequently.
For the more advanced decorator, you may also want to have actual pieces of home décor on hand. This is useful when you suddenly have to get your house ready for an event or a holiday.
These items will include candle holders, vases, baskets, table cloths and other linens. Using components such as these you can completely remake a space in just a couple of hours, giving fresh life to your stagnant surroundings.
You may also want to keep some inspirational materials in your designer’s toolbox. This will include magazines and magazine clippings, books, pictures, newspaper articles, and even poems that inspire the artist within you. You may also want to create an index file of decorating ideas that will allow you to focus your creativity more effectively.
One of the hardest parts of decorating is getting started. By having materials available and on hand, you can cut down on the prep time, allowing you to get right into the juicy art of creating your space.
Halloween has grown up. Sure we still delight to the sound of children running the streets hollering “trick or treat” in brightly colored costumes. However these days, adults want in on the fun too. However it isn’t very grown up to dress your home in pumpkin orange with cardboard skeletons. Luckily, it is actually rather easy to create a Halloween themed décor without looking like you live in a “fun house.”
The traditional colors of Halloween are pumpkin orange and black. Complimentary colors include the various shades of autumn, reds, gold’s, and browns. This is great for kids, because it allows you to add a safe, and fun side to what is basically a scary holiday.
But when you grow up, you graduate from Scooby Doo to real horror movies, and your ideas about Halloween should grow up as well. Feel free to indulge in the dark, and enjoy the malevolent nature of the holiday.
To accomplish this, use copious amounts of black, in shades varying from midnight to charcoal. Ignore the autumn colors for the most part, they are too warm and inviting, you want to create something which puts people off a little bit, and startles them. If necessary, traces of crimson can be used in accents throughout the space to add a little excitement to the room. Create a powerful contrast with bone white products.
As far as accessories, don’t bother with cutesy cardboard or construction paper cut outs. Instead, use a little creativity to develop a space which is truly spooky. Try to create features which are realistic, and which play on the psychological fears that everyone has.
Deep black accessories such as candle holders, and decorative items such as cats, rats, crows, and ghouls create a sense of mystery and shadow. Spider webs, easily simulated by stretched cotton, are always a winner. In a dark space it is hard to tell the difference between them and the real thing. Peppering this with little black plastic spiders can further enhance the effect.
If you want to take it one step further you can purchase black dishes, cutlery, and even linens. Blackout curtains also make the space feel enclosed.
Contrast the darkness with bright white items such as skulls, ghosts, and napkins.
You’re all grown up now, but you don’t have to give up the Halloween spirit. Just take a mature look at the spirit of the day, and you will find all sorts of exciting ways to enjoy the day.
A garage is generally a space attached to the outside of the house where you can store your car in order to protect it from theft and the weather.
Sometimes, if there is room left over, or if you don’t store a car in there, it can be used to store other things, such as bikes, motorcycles, tools, supplies etc. depending on the amount of room you have available.
Garages can also have other purposes. Since it is fitted to a car, it is a great pace to create your own mini auto body. On the other hand if you don’t use it for your car, or don’t even have a car, it can be a work space, a hobby room, a game parlor, or almost anything else you can think of.
In order to get the most you possibly can out of the garage it is important that you use efficient garage organization methods. Wall and overhead space is the most important component of this. You want to eave the floor as empty as possible so that you can fit the car, or hobby of your choice, into the space.
Another thing you have to consider is that generally a garage is not attached to the heating and insulation in the rest of the house. This means that it can get quite hot, or cold in there. As such, try not to leave anything stored in your garage which can expand in heat, melt, freeze, or otherwise be damaged by the elements. This includes most popular electronics.
Generally garage storage consists of metal, aluminum, or steal cabinets. Trunks and shelves are also commonly used. Overhead storage can include racks and other shelving units.
If you set up a workshop in your garage you will also want to install some peg board so that you can easily hang and organize your tools.
Your garage can be an great extra space which you can convert into any kind of room you want. Proper storage and organization is key to this plan however, as you have to maximize the use you get out of your space.
Beign a designer of rustic furnishings myself, I am instantly drawn to these pieces. Like Shoppista says on her blog, “It’s just like getting a real branch from a real tree and sticking a candle in it, except without the ants, shedding bark, and fire hazard.”
These would be really perfect in a lodge or cabin home decor set up. I can also see them working with stone or natural decor.
Dimensions:
Tripod candle holder: 9″l x 9″w x 8.25″h.
Tall taper holder: 3.25″diam x 12.75″h.
Right now they cost between $10 and $30 depending on which size you want. I think they are on sale at the time of this writing.
In East Mesa, a community near phoenix Arizona, there is a debate rising as to whether roadside memorials for victoms of traffic accidents should be allowed.
The problem is that the glass candle holders which are used in many of these memorials, are being smashed by vagrants, creating a messy and hazardous situation on pedestrian sidewalks.
The issue could probably be resolved by just using plastic candle holders, however beaurocracy has gotten in the way.
Basically the local policy is that police don’t mess with roadside memorials unless there is a complaint. However any complaint, even an anonymous one, has to be heeded by local authorities.
That means that a memorial can be taken down without any reason being given to the grieving party. What is worse, resolving the situation requires going through a thick and sludgelike beaurocracy.
It is unfortunate that the pain of some people is being exasperated so much by a simple misunderstanding.
The first thing she mentions is that many couples choose to take part in a unity candle ceremony during the wedding. This is a process where the two people each light a candle, and then light a third candle to represent various obvious wedding symbols and such. She mentions that this is a great way to integrate children into the ceremony, because they can all grab a candle and join in.
She then goes on to mention a number of ways you can decorate a wedding using candles. These include
Floating candles in a pool or any other body of water which happens to be near the wedding.
For inside weddings, fill bowls with water and leave the candles in there.
Create luminaries by placing candles in special translucent bags
Design a specialty candle holder as a unique monogrammed present for guests
Candles really are a beautiful addition to a wedding. The only drawback I personally can think of is that they might be a little bit of a fire hazard. However if you are careful, I am sure the danger can be controlled. And if they are floating in water as Sharon mentioned in her article, then the danger doesnt seem that great at all.
