A Light At the End of the Tunnel (always)

Here is an email I received which presents the beautiful saying "There is always a light at the end of the tunnel". This wonderful, inspiring idea can also be said "Every cloud has a silver lining".
Note: The story, comics and poem below is not by me. I don't really know who wrote it, I received it in an email.

Whatever your cross,

whatever your pain,

there will always be sunshine,

after the rain ....

Perhaps you may stumble,

perhaps even fall,

But God's always ready,

To answer your call ...

He knows every heartache,

sees every tear,

A word from His lips,

can calm every fear ...

Your sorrows may linger,

throughout the night,

But suddenly vanish,

in dawn's early light ...

The Savior is waiting,

somewhere above,

To give you His grace,

and send you His love...

Whatever your cross,

whatever your pain,

"God always sends rainbows ....

after the rain ... "

I just wanted to share this inspiring message.I hope this brings a smile to your face.

Ribbons

Ribbons play an important role in (almost) everyday life. Being a flexible material to express creativity with, it was appealing before and it is still appealing today. A simple strand of colored threads can be made into something wonderful. Not many people posses a talent for doing magic on ribbons, although many try it as a hobby, not all have the love for mixing and matching different ribbons. I think that I do not have the ability and type of creativity to work on ribbons but I still find it interesting. My mother loves ribbons and she mixes and matches it for our store. I accompany her on her ribbon triumphs but I do not look at ribbons the way she does. Although many people out there (like me) are interested and like ribbons not everyone love it.

1History

The first sign of ribbons was used by the Egyptians it was the basis of their clothing. A ribbon, or at least strips of cloth, was used to hold up their lower garments. These strips of fabric were also used around the waist to give some shape to a garment. The more complicated and unique the clothe the higher the status of the wearer, in other terms a plain piece of clothing were for slave as more elaborate pieces were for wealthier people. This way of dressing continued on towards the Greek and Roman eras.

In the Middle Ages people began to use more elaborate designs for clothing. At that time the bodice was widely used, it was fastened tightly to the back using ribbons. In the twelfth century the skirts had become fuller and had more designs and pleats than before. At the beginning of the fourteenth century there was a growing difference in men and women’s clothing. At this time clothing was tighter and figure-hugging that ever. Hairstyles and headdresses also changed in style from old ways of hairdressing to more modern ways. By the sixteenth century Henry VIII loved richly decorated garments and headdresses, and to protect himself and the court from being copied by everyone he introduced the legislation preventing anyone but royalty and aristocracy from wearing decorative embroidery. At this time shoes were also elaborately decorated with rosette ribbons and ladies styled their hair with the use of ribbons. The ribbon fashion was greatly demonstrated by Queen Elizabeth I, whose was always decorated with ribbons, bows and embroidery.
As garments evolved to petticoats and stockings with breeches all of it were usually seen with ribbons. Ribbons were used everywhere from gowns to hair, bonnets to shoes, sashes and rosettes it was even used on children. Ribbons were for the first time used in curtains and cushions.

2Ribbons were produced in a dazzling variety of weaves and colors; plain, striped, checked, waters, shot, shaded, and figures ribbons were all widely available.
England was at the epicenter of ribbon production and seized its chance for industry. Ribbon manufacturers prospered and ribbons were shipped to France, London and Italy. At this time ribbons were loomed weaved and the introduction of the Dutch Engine Loom made it possible for weavers to weave four ribbons at a time.
The demand for ribbons increased and it almost became and industry in itself in coastal villages but yet the demands were still not met.
Then cam the two year craze of scallop-edged ribbon, but when the death of a Member of the Royal Family would make the fashion world mourn with black.
Then department stores sprang up and fashion was no longer about nobility as it had been before. Off-the-rack clothes were available for the very first time. And two items in almost every woman’s wardrobes was the parasol and wide-brimmed hat, both were ornately decorated with bows and ribbons. Handbags was now introduced to the world and was decorated with…what else…ribbons. Ribbon factories were made using engine looms and ribbons were being traded around the world.
From the 1930s ribbons has lost its role in fashion but still stays true to gift-wrapping. Nowadays the world is rediscovering the ribbon crafts.

3, 1Basics

A. Types of Ribbons
There are different types of ribbons sorted by styles, colors and textures varying by width. It is purchased by yard or by meter or reels. There are ribbons for clothes which have selvages sewed onto the sides. While some have wires woven into them to help shape the bows but most gift ribbons are non-woven with sealed edges that don’t ravel. Different ribbons are available for different uses, prices being more expensive for high-quality used in clothes and décor which last long, while cheaper ones are used for gift-wrapping sold in boutiques.
1. Satins
Satin ribbons are glossy, shiny and smooth which can be single or double faced, it comes in so many colors, patterns and finishes, it is a flexible ribbon which can be used anywhere.
2. Taffetas
Taffeta ribbons have a fine, smooth, cloth-like weave that results in making it reversible. Often copper wires are woven into its edges to shape the taffeta into different shapes. Widely available in different styles, colors and patterns, a bit more expensive than stain ribbons.
3. Grosgrains
The weave pattern of this type of ribbon finishes with a crosswise rib. It is strong and is available in a wide range of colors and patterns.
4. Jacquards
A ribbon with a design woven into it, looking like a mini tapestry. The woven designs could be different colors creating different designs. Jacquards are much more expensive than taffetas.
5. Sheers
Translucent ribbons which creates girly effects. Available in different colors and designs sometime there is a wire woven into its sides.
6. Velvets
Like an ordinate velvet fabric velvet ribbons are velvets cut into ribbon size and sewed at the sides. Soft and smooth with deeper colors.
7. Etc.
Ribbons used for crafts and gift-wrapping. Like a double sided ribbon, shiny on one side and rough on the other side; curling ribbons specially made to be curled for gift packages.
B. Ribbon Roses
There are different ways to make a ribbon rose or rosette. You can use a taffeta with wires. Pull one wire and gather it the shape of a rose, hold with a piece of wire. Or you can sew it using a needle and thread. Make petal folds and stitch it into place, this can also be done on a wire stem.
C. Ribbon Weaving
Like the weaving I made when I was a kid using art paper, only it is made with ribbons. The usual under, over, under, over weaving, used to make quilts and best made with different colors. There are also more complicated weaves like the patchwork weave, the zigzag weave and the tumbling blocks weave.
D. Ribbon Embroidery
Like any other embroidery only the stitches are worked in ribbon not thread. The usual stitches are used to create life like replicas of original objects. The running stitch, the French knot, the lazy daisy stitch, the chain stitch, the blanket stitch, the cross stitch, the back stitch and the slip stitch. And the most unique is the spider’s web rose best made with ribbons because it creates the most life like effect.
E. Simple Ribbon Bows
Made by tying ribbons to create shapes and keep things in place. There is the shoestring, like the way everyone ties their shoes; a tailored or dior bow, made of almost flat , stacked loops that graduate by size; then there is the pompom bow, which is the most common gift-wrapping bow, it is the pompom-like ribbon that is usually used at boutique wrapping stations; and last but not the least is the curled style, which is done using curling ribbon that is curled using the blunt end of a scissor.
F. Ribbons used for Decoration
Ribbons can also be sewed on pieces of cloth for decoration, creating a lot of different patterns. Used mostly on pillowcases, placemats, bags, lamps, jeans and hats.

A way of expressing creativity (through wrapping)
Ribbons these days are now like paints and pencils, using and creating something with it is already an art. Considered and used greatly by some people as a way of living. Many people specialize in making ribbon works while some are professional gift wrappers. Just like beadwork ribbon work is considered a modern craft with a vintage twist.

4 Nowadays there are new ways to modernize gift wrapping, like in the book Let’s Wrap by Linda Summerlin, it suggested very creative ideas. The book suggested layering pieces of different patternes paper; it gave ideas to use different, unique wrapping paper like, maps, comic book pages, aluminum foil, magazine pages and old sheet music. The book also suggested adhering odds and ends, related to the gift inside the package, such as stickers, old toys, ornaments, frames, beads and masks; using leftover materials and recycling old materials, you can reuse art paper cutouts as a layered wrapping paper; you can even customize labels and wrapping papers using your computer, you don’t need a special software to do that just as long as you can use Microsoft Word then it is as easy as 1-2-3; and the most common and easy way is to add a ribbon, because ribbons never lost its style to me.

I am going to use an old hair scrunchie to decorate a hard copy of this post and a drawing I made, for my mom’s birthday. I hope that after reading this introduction to ribbons and wrapping that your creativity can soar for wrapping greater and more unique gifts for your friends and family.

*This post is specially written for my mother with love and inspiration, on her birthday August 28, 2007. Dedicated to her passion for ribbons, Happy Birthday Mom, now you know a lot more about ribbons you love!!

*Researched from (books) New Crafts Ribbon Work by Christine Kingdom, Let’s Wrap by Linda Summerlin, Creative Bows Made Easy by Offray, and Quick and Easy Wrapping by Yoshiko Hase, all bought from amazon.com.

1Researched from New Crafts Ribbon Work by Christine Kingdom and (photographs) by Peter Williams, Produced by Anness Publishing Limited.

2 Taken from New Crafts Ribbon Work by Christine Kingdom and (photographs) by Peter Williams, published by Anness Publishing Limited.

3 Researched from Creative Bows Made Easy By Offray published by Creative Publishing International.

4 Researched from Let’s Wrap by Linda Summerlin published by Absolute Press.

Interesting Things I have heard, saw, read and thought about this week

Everyday we think about things that are easily forgotten. Things usually taken for granted, the specialty and uniqueness of everyday things we see in our lives. Accepting our own ignorance and lack of knowledge is difficult by human nature. No one can blame you for saying “Oh yeah I knew that” to someone although you never heard of that thing. We learn new things everyday and if we can take some time to look back at what we learned we may just say that we have filled a little piece of our life’s puzzle. So what if someone every now and then complains about me, as long as I am doing my best and learning what I do not know, I am becoming more and more myself.

So here I am writing what I have achieved and learned over this week.

I saw two movies which were rich in history, Marco Polo and Nomad, which both took place somewhere in or near China. Nowadays China is earning a bad reputation for low quality products which are being recalled all around the world. Maybe it is because of the low salaries there, but I learned that a long, long time ago, in the Khan dynasty China was powerful; they were rich, modern and very advanced. They were the first to use coal, create a compass, make tea and use acupuncture as a way of healing. So maybe I just learned that now and many people knew it a long time ago, but I am happy to know much more about things. The second movie, Nomad, was about Kazakhstan and their defeat of the Chinese. Bravery and working together was what made the Kazakhstani win over their enemies.

This week I also finished the book I was reading, Tears Of The Giraffe From the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith, which is centered in Botswana, Africa. It follows the story and life of curious and interesting Precious Ramotswe, the owner and proprietor of Africa’s No.1 Ladies Detective Agency . Mma (Precious) Ramotswe is smart (although not scientifically) in life’s things she is curious and looks at the world in such an unusual angle. It is quite fun to see her point of view in ordinary (and sometime not so ordinary) events of life.
To know what you have learned and found out about in your life I suggest some time to reassess and think about what is going on. For me I always have a notebook (or piece of paper) and pen with me so I can write down( and post)what I learned in my life. Thinking time usually comes in the form of me sitting on my desk with a pen and paper. And my habits and thoughts usually lead to Feature posts (in my blog) inspired by real life experiences.

*Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith is the second book of the series The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency.

* Marco Polo stars Lost’s Ian Somerhalder. Has no official website.

* Nomad stars Goal’s Kuno Becker, Jay Hernandez. Has no official website.

My Art Attempts

Last week I sifted through my old books and found something worth a try. I have been keeping myself busy, not with writing (which I have neglected for days) but with art. I have to say that I always admire art especially watercolor. The way a watercolor painter can intensify and replicate three-dimensional objects on a flat piece of paper using only a brush, colors and water, is just awe-inspiring. I always had fun challenging myself with anything new so now I pushed myself to draw and paint works of (presentable) art. The book I found was a self-teaching book titled How to Paint and Draw by: Angela Gair and New Holland Publishers, I learned the difference between hatching and cross-hatching, the four kinds of pastels, drawing and painting techniques and much more.
Although I only tried four projects from the book I succeed in three and (not completely) failed in one. Here are some basic materials and techniques I read(from the book) and used in my art attempts.

MATERIALS

I. Pencils
Well almost everyone knows that pencils are the most basic thing used in art. It is your guide to doing almost anything. It can be used to make a complete work of art all by itself or it can be used to help and guide you while you are using another material.

Graphite pencils are divided by two the H and B systems according to its softness or hardness. The hard ones range from 9H (the hardest) to H and are used to make fine detail in drawings. And the soft ones are 8B(the softest) to B is used to make broad lines.. HB is a combination of soft and hard and is most suited for everyday use.

II. Charcoal
Although I only used charcoal to darken pencil lines in paintings it can be used to make a drawing all by its own. Charcoal is mostly used in shading pencil sketches. There is the hard and soft charcoal. Hard charcoal does not smudge easily, better suited for dark details, while soft ones smudge fast, and is best for creating dark to light shades. Charcoals can be bought as sticks or charcoal pencils (charcoals encased in wood like a pencil).

III. Pastels
The equivalent of a colored charcoal, pastels are usually used to create smudged effects in drawing. Its fine edges are used to create details while its entire side is used to cover a large amount of space in drawings.

There are four types of pastels. The soft pastel is most widely used because its colors are brilliant and it has a great finishing effect. They are easily applied and can be smudged easily. The hard pastel is not like the soft pastel; its colors are less brilliant while it is not that easy to smudges. Pencil pastels are thin pastels encased in wood (like an ordinary pencil) and does not crumble or break, best for details. Then the oil pastel is totally different from the traditional ones. It makes thick, buttery strokes and its colors are clear and bright.


IV. Colored Pencils
Increasing in popularity because it’s flexible to use, it can be transported easily which makes it a portable medium. It can be overlaid to create visual effects and it can also be used in shading like and ordinary pencil.

Water-soluble pencils are like the colored pencils but its can be used as an ordinary colored pencil or it can be blended (using a paintbrush dipped in water) to blend colors together. You draw and shade with it first then add water to it to transform it into watercolor.

V. Paper
I used watercolor paper and Oslo paper for my paintings and an ordinary sketchbook for drawings. There is no need to worry about unnecessary things you just have to remember that it should be thick enough for painting or just right for drawing.

VI. Paints and brushes
Since I don’t like to use acrylic and oil paints (it is included in the book) so I used my favorite, watercolors. Watercolors can be applied dry or wet which makes it flexible to use. Dry is used to create intense details while wet is used to cover big spaces, create washes and combine colors. Watercolor is available in tubes and pans. Tube colors have more brilliancy and richness than pans and tubes are well suited for covering large amounts of space.

Brushes are also classified to its uses. There are watercolor brushes, acrylic brushes, oil brushes and ink brushes. But since I was using watercolor I used watercolor brushes, which are softer and smoother than the other brushes. It comes in different sizes (from 0000 to 14) very big ones for covering large areas, medium ones for all around use and very thin ones for details. There are also different brush shapes. The round ones which is a tear drop shape and finishes to point. It is used for details and small areas. While the square shaped is flat and wide it forms a square. It is used for covering big spaces. I only used four types one small, round brush for details, a large, square, flat one for washes and a medium sized flat and round one for all around work.

VII. Erasers and sharpeners

TECHNIQUES I LEARNED (and used)

To better use my material I practiced with it on a piece of paper, learning how to control it and discovering what it can do.

Pencils can hatch and cross hatch (fast flicks and shading) it can also create very fine detail or make quick, light, feathery sketches. Colored pencils can be overlapped to create a mix of colors. While water soluble pencils can act as colored pencils it can also be used as watercolor creating a bright and sun touched effect. And pastels and charcoals can be smudged and mixed.

What I learned to do with my hands and creativity was something I treasured and plan to use soon in the future. And I try to remember that inspiration and imagination is also one of my basic materials.

*Resources: How To Paint and Draw by Angela Gair, New Holland Press

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Yesterday, I finished reading the newly released, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by: J.K. Rowling. The last installment to the famous tale of Harry Potter. In the last book, Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince, we learned that Voldemort (the dark evil lord) divided his soul into six horcruxes. Horcruxes are objects that hold the soul of a human being, this can only be done if a wizard or witch does a painful ritual of tearing your soul and putting it in a non living thing. In the end of the 6^th novel Harry promised Dumbledore (his late professor and protector)that he would find and destroy all 4 horcruxes (since 2 were already destroyed).

Our story starts out in the Dursley’s home (Harry’s uncle and aunt) where Harry explains to his aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon and cousin Dudley that they should go away to a safe place for their protection. After finally leaving with two Order members (The Order of the Phoenix is a group of wizard and witches formed by Dumbledore who goes against Voldemort). Then all of Harry’s closest friends and Order members come and devise a plan to get him out safely. But the plan is known by Voldemort and they lose one valuable member and one of Ron’s brother loses an ear.

After staying in the Burrow (the Weasley’s home) and helping prepare Bill and Fleur’s wedding. When the big day comes is when the Ministry is taken over by Voldemort. So Harry, Hermione and Ron escape to an alley where they are found by Death Eaters (Voldemort’s servants) barely escaping with their lives the trio hide at Sirius’s (Harry’s godfather who died in book 5) old house, Grimmauld Place.

They spend some time there figure out that one of the horcruxes is in the house. After asking the elf there they find out that someone stole it. After finding the thief they find out that someone inside the ministry have it. So after a disastrous break-in to the ministry they found the horcrux but had no way of destroying it. Learning to live in a tent, moving from place to place the three discover the mysteries and history of Albus Dumbledore while along the way finding out what the other horcruxes are and how to destroy it. After having more than 5 close calls the trio end up destroying 1 horcrux , finding another but losing the thing to destroy it. Going into Hogwarts and finding out that they still have some loyal followers there and a battle rages on to buy Harry some time to find the horcruxes. In the end Harry defeats Voldemort and gains the respect of the entire wizarding world.

HORCRUXES

explained before horcruxes are pieces of a human’s soul torn from its body, in a painful ritual and placed in a non living object. Voldemort made 6 horcruxes and Harry has set out on a journey to destroy it all. Horcruxes can only be destroyed by a very few things the sword of Godric Gryffindor, basilisk fangs and some very powerful dark magic.

THE DEATHLY HALLOWS

The hallows are three powerful objects created by Death himself (as the story goes, although
some believe that the three brothers who received it made it themselves). The Invisibilty Cloak, the Resurrection Stone and the Elder Wand (also known as deathstick, wand of destiny). Harry already has the invisibility cloak inherited from his father. The elder wand is searched by Voldemort. And the resurrection stone is in Harry’s hands but does not know how to acquire it from its complicated case. The hallows play a big part in the final battle against Voldemort.

DUMBLEDORE AND SNAPE’S SECRETS

Dumbledore’s death was really planned between Snape and Dumbledore. Because when Dumbledore was killed he was already dying. Snape was also a spy for Dumbledore he did this to protect Harry, who is the son of the only woman he loved, Harry’s mother. Dumbledore also left Snape one last request before he died, Snape should tell Harry a shocking discovery. Harry is also a horcrux although he does not know this. When Harry’s parents were killed Harry was protected by his mother’s death so when Voldemort hit him with a killing curse it rebounded and hit Voldemort instead. When Voldemort was hit a piece of his soul was taken away and ended up inside Harry. So Harry must die to defeat Voldemort.

For a more detailed story I suggest you read the book and discover how compelling and addictive the Harry Potter plot is.

The Gremlin

Today, I discovered the gremlin. Curious about it I researched it from the internet and I found out a lot about its origin.

Today wasn’t the first time I heard the word gremlin. I read it before when I was 6 in my old nintendo game boy as a game. In that game I played a short goblin-like creature with big ears and a knack for jumping. After asking my parents I understood that it was a fictional creature in a movie which I never saw nor heard.

Today, in a discussion with my family the gremlin was brought up again. My mom explained that it was a creature in an old movie named Gremlins. My mother also said that in the movie gremlins would multiply when wet.

So after some research online I found more about the gremlin.

The term gremlin was first used in the 1920s. Used by aircraft pilots to explain mysterious engine malfunctions. Some pilots claim they really saw a short flying thing tamper with the equipment.

So today gremlins are now considered as fictional creature that appear to have an interest with tampering airplanes, although no one knows why airplanes in particular.

In 1942 Roald Dahl published a novel titled The Gremlins. In the story he named baby gremlins “widgets” while females are called “fifinellas”. Widgets have no gender until they are teens and only one out of ten widgets evolve into fifinellas while others turns to males.

When the manuscript was finished Dahl sent it to Walt Disney. When it was in Disney’s hands they tried to materialize it into a film. But it soon failed and was published in a December 1942 issue of Cosmopolitan. Then after a few months it was revised into a picture book published by Random House. Then in issue #33 - #41 of Disney’s Comics and Stories contained a 9 episode silent story featuring a Gremlin Gus as their star.

After being introduced to the comic world gremlins were appearing in movies and cartoons. Gremlins first had its big screen appearance in an episode of Bugs Bunny, wherein they were portrayed as little nuisances who enjoyed wreaking havoc. They then appeared in an episode of Twilight Zone: Nightmare at 20,000 feet featured a gremlin attacking the plane. It was then turned into a movie Twilight Zone: The Movie.

Gremlins are seen as folkloric creatures in video games, fantasy literature and role playing games.

Another famous big screen appearance of the gremlin was in the 1084 movie Gremlins. Which is about a boy who has a pet mogwai (baby gremlin). Mogwais are not to be fed after midnight, don’t expose them to sunlight and they should never be wet. But when accident after accident happens gremlins attack the town. Its sequel Gremlins 2: A New Batch was about the same boy, Billy, who now lives in New York. He works for a company who buys businesses. When the current owner, Mr. Wing, of the Mogwai Billy used to own, Gizmo, sold his shop to the company Billy works for. But before he can do so Mr. Wing dies of a natural death Gizmo is taken by the company where it is examined and experimented with. When accidents happen new mutated Gremlins (thanks to experiments in the lab) invade New York and it is up to Billy and his girlfriend to stop it.

Nowadays, gremlins are said to be fictional and imaginary creature who like to wreak havoc especially in airplanes. Living in our imaginations Gremlins are like the more modern versions of goblins, elves, dwarves, gnomes and trolls. Gremlins are nothing to be feared of and nothing to be loved.

Hydrangeas:The flowers of summer

I am a subscriber and avid reader of the magazine Martha Stewart Living (marthastewartliving.com). Today my August issue arrived and on the cover was the most beautiful flower I have ever seen. With one look I fell in love with the special bloom. I quickly turned the pages and found the article titled MASS APPEAL written by: Douglas Brenner and photographed by: Christopher Baker. The flower was called a hydrangea or in its scientific name hydrangea macrophylla.

After reading the article in Martha Stewart Living August 2007 issue, Mass Appeal, I decided to write about what I learned about this gorgeous flower.

Lacy, blowsy, blossomy, cloudlike and full of life for me it is a sure sign of youth, happiness and summer. With a warm look hydrangeas come in a lively summer palette, consisting of dark and light shades of purple, pink, blue, red, green and white. Abundantly seen in flower shops between (summer) Easter and Mother’s Day the hydrangea is an intricate flower wherein every flower is different and unique.

In 1994 hydrangeas were disregarded and merely taken for granted, nowadays there are more than 300 types available and some are even hybrid to last in the rain. With the terms mop heads, lace capes and panicle used to describe its shape and petals there are now new blooms that look like snowflakes, cascades and water lilies.

Hydrangeas bloom in different colors depending on the minerals present within the soil it is planted in. The PH levels, acidity and alkalinity, in soils determine its color. If the soli is acidic (PH 0-7) the plant tends to have shades of deep blue. While, if the plant is high in alkaline (PH 7-14) the bloom turns to pink and red shades.

Hydrangeas last long even when it is already cut off from its stem as long as you take care of it and put in a vase with water. Hydrangeas are not only seen in the summer but bloom until autumn and tend to bloom less in colder months. No matter what your personality is there is hydrangea somewhere worth falling for, since there is always a hydrangea to suit everyone.

*Pictures from marthastewartliving.com*

*Researched from marthastewartliving.com and Martha Stewart Living August 2007 issue*

*Original article in Martha Stewart Living by: Douglas Brenner, Pictures photographed by: Christopher Baker*