TY Beanie Baby D'vine Monkey with Red Heart

You'll see me swing from tree to treeAs I shout out my decreeMy love for you I will declareThen you'll know how much I care !

Does anyone remember the old Neil Young song Harvest Moon? This was a poignant classic song about love labor's lost and it is one of the legendary singer's all time classic songs although it was never as big of a hit as some of his other tunes. Yes, the theme of the harvest has been one that has permeated the pop culture and music scene for many decades and some of the more astute followers of pop hits will know more than a few of them. Of course, this brings about the question as to how much a person truly knows about these songs and probably the coolest way to tell how much you really know about the songs would be to test your trivia knowledge on the subject with the "Shine on You Harvest Moon" song trivia game. These songs are not all love songs and they run a great variety of different songs and themes, but they are all uniquely linked to one holiday and one holiday alone: Thanksgiving! This should be pretty obvious to most because, after all, the Thanksgiving season is rooted directly in with the harvest season so it makes sense that they would all go together quite well.

Trivia games are usually a lot of fun for the whole family and part of the reason for that is the fact that they usually center on wholesome entertainment and are not, by their very nature, what is considered an overly commercialized Granted, there are exceptions but this particular Thanksgiving printable game remains one of the more inexpensive ways of celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday with your family and friends so why not give it a try this season? Again, if you are a master of song trivia you have nothing to fear and if you are not all that familiar with it then you have something new to learn about.

Instantly download and play the printable Shine on You Harvest Moon game!

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Estate Auction - Over 800 Lots of Fine Art, Antiques, Mission, Weapons, Stained Glass, and Collectibles, Plus Other Select Consignments - Dargate Auction Galleries, Pittsburgh, PA - 2/3/96

Antique Christmas ornaments are generally very expensive. This is because hard work and skills are involved in their making. A great deal of effort is put to ensure that there are no two objects that are similar. They hand made and require a large inventory of vintage decorations. They exhibit excellent craftsmanship and quality.

Antique Christmas ornaments come in various designs such as Santa, blown glass, Dresden, Sebnitz and many others. The materials used to make them include, beads, spun glass, fabrics, die-cut papers, silk flowers amongst many others. Most of these decorations are made from chromolithographs that are embellished with Dresden trims, vintage laces, fabric and metallic laces. They are used to decorate houses and gardens during the festive season.

Angels and Santa decorations of this type are more precious because they are difficult to find. The makers of this kind of decorations have materials that date from as early as the 1900's. The scraps they use are from all sorts of origins, most of which are abstract, evocative, stunning and fantastic.

Glass garland beads when incorporated with other decorations that look home can be very beautiful. Some of them can be made at home as long as one has these vintage ornaments. These decorations may depict cattle, birds, women children and many others. However, one has to be familiar with the vintage market. They can obtain information from the Internet or from books. Antique Christmas ornaments are sure to add a classic touch to the home decor. These decorations can last for many years once made.

Peter Gitundu Researches and Reports on Antiques. For More Information on Antique Christmas Ornaments, Visit His Site at Antique Christmas Ornaments

You Can Also Add Your Views About Antique Christmas Ornaments At My Blog here ANTIQUE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

collectics

Collectible Plates

Plates are the concave shaped, flat dish items on which we serve food. For this reason, it is true to say that they are items that we cannot do without in our daily lives. They come in many shapes, designs, sizes and are made from different materials like porcelain, bone china, plastic, glass and paper. They are used for serving different food items and this is how their names are derived. It is therefore not uncommon to hear of dinner dishes, soup bowls, dessert bowls, cereal bowls, salad dish ware, bread dishes, saucers, platters and salvers.

These dish items can also have their names derived for the season within which they are used, for example, there are Christmas, wedding, Halloween, Easter dish items among others. With all these categories under which they fall, manufacturers have capitalized on this idea to make some for all seasons and with all kinds of decorations. Since they are not only functional but decorative, there are now what are called collective plates, which are more decorative than functional, but can serve both purposes.

Collective plates are mostly hand-crafted and tend to have some uniqueness that does not come with the machine-decorated ones. In addition, they have maintained an air of tradition that was part of the community in days gone. They make wonderful gift items for close friends and companies can even use them as personalizes promotional items.

If you want to have the collectible dish ware in you home, it is wise that you consider the space that you have on the rack. You can use a single rack or multiple ones depending on your preference and the number of bowls that you have. The general principle is to ensure that their design and color matches the rest of the decor in the room.

Peter Gitundu Researches and Reports on Plates. For More Information on Collectible Plates, Visit His Site at COLLECTIBLE PLATES. You Can Also Add Your Views About Collectible Plates On My Blog Here COLLECTIBLE PLATES.

What was an incredible accidental discovery has left the world awed and inspired. The First Emperor of China (Qin), obsessed with his immortality, ordered a underground palace built complete with rivers and security traps to ensure a comfortable afterlife. To be protect this "kingdom" an army of thousands was crafted to stand guard outside the palace walls. Each of these soldiers were crafted from terracotta and totally unique from one another. Now you can bring home a piece of history with our scaled down versions made in the same fashion as the originals.


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Collectibles - The Timeless Gift

For someone who wants to reminisce about their younger days, or wants to acquire a hobby that indulges their desire to seek out and save things, buying keepsake items can satisfy both these needs. Collectibles from a variety of time periods, cultural aspects, and even brand names let people choose a topic that has meaning to them and take pride in building a collection of items relating to this subject that is unique and they can call their very own.

Keepsake items currently range from licensed products that are made by large corporations and companies to small, handcrafted articles that are designed as unique pieces and are thought to be more valuable than the actual cost. Many individuals design their own products and these can be thought of as collectibles but most people feel that products produced in bulk in connection with pop culture or history are true collector's pieces.

The most sought after types of collectibles for purchase are often those that can serve a decorative function by being placed out in the open around the home. For example, small porcelain works of art and sculpture are great for placing on a mantle, shelf, or by a window. Such decorative works of art are treasured far and wide as much for their decorative value as their monetary value.

Over the past century, some of the most popular collectibles in the market are those that deal with foods and beverages. Since food and drink manufacturers over the past hundred years have been the main way of sustaining the public, there is a widespread collector's market for their packages and special limited edition items with the brand name on them.

Of note, Pepsi branded items and Coca-Cola store items are the most sought after corporate memorabilia items on the market. These two iconic companies have produced a host of materials over the years that work not only as advertising vehicles but also a means of creating a collectible market worldwide for their wares. You can routinely find all manner of items bearing these two company logos at antique markets and in other places that sell items for collecting.

In the end, any object may be worthy of keeping to someone, if it possesses sufficient value and significance for them to have purchased and preserved it, yet certain collectibles transcend these factors and enter into the essence of our culture. These objects are the highly desirable ones which a variety of people will want to seek out and make a part of their private collection.

Soda-Pop-Collectibles.com features Coca-Cola store and collectibles as well as vintage Pepsi memorabilia, and soda pop collectibles of every size, shape, and type. Also, check out our videos of soda pop collections, classic ads, and more!

collectics

Collectibles Are Fun and Profitable

For nearly every old album, book, trading card, Pepsi bottle, or even Coca-Cola sign, there is a collectibles market to be found. People like to seek out, hold onto and display various different knick knacks and other mundane items they have collected throughout the years.

Some get into the hobby by a parent or grandparent passing them down the pieces they collected in their day and age, others may stumble upon a piece one day on their own and decide that they too would like to get a start in the world of collectible trading.

After you have built it up, your collection might be worth a very large amount if you put it on the market. People who share your hobby and who are potential purchasers attend conventions and trade shows and browse through specialty retail outlets seeking pieces they feel will go well with what they already have. If they find any, they are more than eager to fork over their dollars for something which will, for instance, round out a set.

People have been engaging in this hobby for thousands of years. Indeed, every civilization and era has its own coveted items - some ancient artifacts from these eras can still be found, although they are almost always rare and highly sought after pieces by collectors worldwide. It is these types of pieces that demand the highest prices on the market today.

Often, individual pieces of a compilation will be placed on display in the home of the collector, while others hide their collected items in things such as safe deposit boxes, or even just in a box stashed under the bed. As long as your collection items are safely stored out of the way of children and pets, and in a place free from moisture, dirt, and other contaminants, there is no standardized way of storing these items.

A prized assortment may range from anything including such weird and bizarre items as shrunken heads to insects such as butterflies, while other collections are something as simple as trading cards, lighters, compact discs or DVDs. Some people spend hundreds or thousands of dollars trying to increase the number of items in their set, while others simply collect what is given to them or what they can find on the beach.

At the end of the day, it's not what you collect, but the process itself that makes this hobby so much fun.

Browse hundreds of Pepsi and Coke collectibles of every size, shape, and type at Soda-Pop-Collectibles.com

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Silver Judaica - Art of Hammering Out Designs

The wonderful beauty and elegance of Silver Judaica is not only an avid part of the most elite collectables in today's worldly antique society, but first and foremost Judaica is a backbone to the one of the world's oldest religions known as Judaism. From before the days of Jesus, Judaism had Synagogue rituals that must be followed, and one of the biggest part of these rituals, there would be symbolizing vessels for usage to literally carry out these many different rituals throughout the year. As more rituals were to be added throughout the centuries during the growth of Judaism, there would be more exquisitely elegant items added to the Judaic religious practices over time.

It has long been a tradition to not only collect and use silver ritual items specific to each an every Jewish occasion practiced within the Synagogues, but it has also been a long standing tradition to collect and faithfully using the correctly fitting Judaica piece specified for all in home practiced Judaic holidays. These Judaic rituals was and still is the reason for the traditions of making sure each and every Judaic practice done within the Jewish homes also uses these vessels for each holiday.

Along with taking the religious items of Silver Judaica into the Jewish practicing homes, there has also been a on going Jewish practice of the elderly Jewish family members collecting and passing on many of the most needed and valued Silver Judaica pieces to the younger generations of family members. Since keeping the Jewish art pieces in the Jewish families is so important, this more often than not, puts an even larger price tag upon the costs of the antique ritual pieces of yesterday, and even today's items too.

A huge Jewish family tradition is to keep collecting all of the Silver Judaica pieces that can be afforded to pass throughout the branches of the children after marriage. It is also highly recommended to only purchase the purest of Silver Judaica items that can be found. For example, if you want to seriously collect Silver Judaica for your Jewish home, you would only shop at the Jewish shops or on the Jewish Internet sites that only provides Silver Judaica hand crafted by traditional Jewish makers. There are several wonderful sites with authentic hand crafted Silver Judaica pieces, and in the larger urban Jewish populated areas, you are almost guaranteed to fine only the best Silver Judaica pieces for your money.

Anita Satin Choudhary writes for Ivory and Art Gallery. Browse the gallery for unique collection of artifacts ranging from Mammoth Ivory to Netsuke and Silver Art

collectics

Free Books for Your Kindle

This simple guide will show you how to get hundreds of free books for your Kindle! It also has a great tip for giving a gift to someone who already has a Kindle.

Updated in May of 2008 with more sources and brand new sections!
Customer Review: It's by the " Master" Bufo
I was wondering why I should pay for a ebook about free ebooks--then I saw it was by Bufo--The God of all Kindle wisdom over on the Amazon Kindle Boards, so I bought it! Yes, I have a lot of the bookmarks on my computer, but it's a nice reference.
Customer Review: Excellent Resource
Bufo Calvin has shown himself to be a dedicated Kindle enthusiast who has saved his readers time and money by collecting free-resource URL's and hints in one place with descriptive information regarding each. He is active on the various Kindle forums and has been helpful in providing information to newbies and experienced users alike. I appreciate the work he has put into this and the money we Kindlers have saved by using this well-written resource.

There are the Jay Lenos and Jerry Seinfelds of this world who own rare cars and motorcycles they house in climate controlled environments - motor museums for the rich and famous. But, most car collectors around the world opt for cars of more modest size and investment. The die cast collector crosses all social and economic boundaries - from people who buy affordable miniatures just for fun to collectors who engage in auctions where a model can fetch hundreds of dollars or more.

History on Small Wheels
Model cars first appeared in England and the U.S. in the early 1900s. Unlike the detailed die cast models of today, they featured painted shells and no interior adornment. They were also made of metal alloys that that didn't stand the test of time - they rusted and cracked, and few survive today. But, it wasn't long before manufacturers caught on to the idea that there was a market for model cars, trucks, airplanes and farm equipment. As popularity increased, so too did the quality of manufacturing and attention to detail.

Matchbox cars made in England by Lesney appeared in 1947 and started a new trend. The fledging company's first blockbuster was in 1953 when a million miniatures of Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation Coach were sold. But, the Matchbox concept was inspired much closer to home for Jack Odell (co-owner of Lesnsy) when he designed a toy that could be taken to school by his daughter. School rules dictated that only toys capable of fitting into a matchbox would be allowed in the classroom. Odell complied with the rule by making a miniature car with rolling wheels and sent his daughter off to school with a toy that became the first Matchbox car and the first page in a mass marketing success story.

Each tiny car fit neatly inside a box the size and design of the traditional matchbox. Every line of cars had 75 different vehicles and gave people - children and adults - a body of styles to collect, trade and save.

At the same time, other die cast cars hit the fast lane. In the 1950s Mettoy, producer of the popular Corgi brand, paid particular attention to interior detail and installed clear plastic in window frames. Miniatures with such detail went beyond simple toys to collectibles.

Precious to Popular
Then, in 1968, Hot Wheels got the rapt attention of America's boys. Hot Wheels was Mattel's plan to reach the market of boys in the same way that Barbie Dolls had captured the attention of girls. The idea was wildly successful and introduced the concept of collecting to young boys who might one day become adult collectors of more sophisticated die cast cars.

In the ensuing years, die cast manufacturers were increasingly focused on the collectors' market. Mainstream corporate customers saw the value of having their logo and brand on vehicles and Sears, Coca-Cola, Texaco and other companies ordered die cast models bearing their signatures.

Manufacturing Market Changes
For many years, these detailed models made with increasing accuracy and quality were produced in the U.S. and Great Britain. But, by the 1980s, the economic climate changed as a worldwide marketplace emerged. The cost of domestic manufacturing didn't match revenues and many companies declared bankruptcy or traded hands. Production moved in a great exodus to China and other Far Eastern centers where cheaper labor was available. Mattel was among the first to make the big shift and was rewarded with continued success. Mattel eventually bought Corgi and Matchbox.

Collectors Expect Quality Control
Many other die cast manufacturers joined the movement and, today, there are hundreds of companies offering die cast models of varying cost and quality to collectors all over the world. It would be a mistake, however, to assume that die cast quality went down along with domestic production. Since the market is so competitive and demand for quality among collectors is very high, producers in Hong Kong, Makau, Indonesia, Shanghai and elsewhere are under a bright spotlight.

World over there are die cast clubs that cater to collectors of specific models. There are online auctions in which rare models are purchased for record high prices and collector forums where fans exchange ideas and trade cars. Die cast models seem to capture the fascination of people from all walks of life and economic standing. Affordable, accessible and, at the same time, exclusive and rare, die cast cars appear to have built a significant niche in the world of collecting.

Visit us to see our complete line of model cars and diecast cars including BMW Diecast Model Cars

Household Supplies

Wiss M3R 9 3/4" Metalmaster Compound Action Snips

Cooper Hand Tools, a division of Cooper Industries, Inc., manufactures and markets many well-known brands of hand tools, chain, and electronic soldering products, including Campbell chain, Crescent brand wrenches and pliers, Lufkin measuring tools, Nicholson files and saws, Plumb hammers, H.K. Porter bolt cutters, Weller soldering products, and Wiss snips. Headquartered in Apex, North Carolina, Cooper Hand Tools has manufacturing facilities in six domestic and seven international locations, and has approximately 4,000 employees worldwide.

Some very easy kid crafts you can do with children is to make cute items out of popsicle sticks. By going to a local craft store, you can purchase boxes of what they call "craft sticks" that will run you around two dollars for a thousand sticks. For a little more you can also buy colored sticks that won't need to be painted. You will need to have a supply of white glue or craft glue to complete your projects as well as whatever embellishments you want to use.

If you're looking for easy kid crafts, you might want to start by making craft stick Christmas picture frames. Old Christmas cards make great pictures and can be framed as Christmas gifts. Start by gluing one stick across the top and one across the bottom of the picture. Your next layer will go on across on top of these two sticks forming a square. You can try stacking the sticks two high, or you can stagger them to produce a layered look. By adding a little glitter, glitter glue, or some stickers, your child will have made a lovely little framed picture.

Craft sticks can be easily cut with shears which makes them even more versatile. Using the wide craft sticks, you can help children make a gorgeous picket fence "welcome" sign for Mom on Mother's Day. You will need to cut the sticks for them beforehand. Each child will need 7 sticks: 3 regular sticks, 1 that has been cut to a point, 2 cut to go downhill to the left and 2 more to the right. Paint all of the sticks white and allow to dry. Glue the cut pieces onto 2 of the regular sticks to form your fence. Have the children paint plant stems of differing heights and leaves on the sticks. Using foam flowers or cardstock punchies, have the children glue a flower to the top of each stem. With a marker the child can write "Welcome" on the final stick. Attach two ribbons to the top of the fence, and tie the ends in a bow. Glue the welcome stick onto the two ribbons. These are so simple, yet they look gorgeous and moms are sure to love them.

We don't want to forget Dad in our look at easy kid crafts. Making a notepad holder for Dad's workshop is a very similar process to making a picture frame. Buy or make a 6" wooden square to use as the backing. Glue sticks around the edge of the board 3-4 sticks deep. Before gluing on the last stick at the top, use a marker to write "World's Greatest Dad" on the stick and glue it in place. The finishing touches include gluing a post-it pad in the center of the frame, and attaching a paper clip to the back for a hanger.

As you can see, crafting with craft sticks couldn't be easier, and you'll be totally amazed at how nice your creations turn out.

Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about easy kid crafts, please visit Great Kids Crafts for current articles and discussions

Household Supplies

Touch Lamp, Item 8216 Pink

Cute, adorable, beautiful painted 12 inch tall Ceramic/Metal Touch Lamp. Strong, sturdy and good for any place in the home or office. Plugs into any outlet.
Customer Review: Not that great.
This item looks cute in the picture but it looks like something you would buy at a flea market for really cheap. My opinion is it's just a super tacky lamp.

Could you have a goldmine sitting in your attic? If you've been wondering whether your pre-war ceramic bowl is worth anything, you need to determine if you have a real antique on your hands. With over 100 million avid antique collectors worldwide all participating in a global market that could top $150 billion in 2008, there has never been a better time to revisit those old or cherished collectibles you may have in your possession.

Below are five guidelines to judge whether or not you should take the next step - meeting with a professional appraiser. You can also use these signs to make sure you're getting quality when you are buying antiques.

Rarity - Items are valuable because they are rare. For example, a limited edition printing of a painting is more valuable than a painting by the same artist that was distributed in wide release. There are a few different aspects that constitute rarity. An item can be considered rare if very few pieces were made to begin with or if just a few of the pieces are still in existence. You've also got something rare on your hands if it's in an unusual color or design for the particular type of antique. Other rare items include common items with an unusual size or shape.

Aesthetics - A piece's aesthetic quality has a lot to do with its value. Even though aesthetic tastes are very personal, there are certain things that look good to everyone. When everything about the piece is balanced and harmonious, it's considered to be aesthetically appealing. If it's pleasing to your eye, it will probably be pleasing to others as well.

Desirability - Trends come and go in popular culture and they do in the antiques and valuable market as well. Trends depend on a number of factors. For example, after the death of a public figure there is an increase in demand for items related to that person.

Authenticity - Doing research on your item will help you tell whether or not it's authentic. There are certain types of antiques that are frequently replicated and without having a careful eye, you can be easily duped. Many types of antiques have guidebooks that detail what to look for in authentic pieces. A good appraiser will also be able to tell you if your piece is authentic.

Good condition - If your item meets all of these standards, the only thing left to determine is its condition. Ideally, your item will be in the same condition that it was when it was first created. However, depending on the age of your antique, that's not always possible. The closer to mint (original) condition the more valuable it will be. In some cases, a very rare item will still be valuable even if it's in damaged condition.

Casey Markee is a consultant with worldwide consignment shop Nate D. Sanders, Inc based in Los Angeles, CA. Visit them online today to view their incredible inventory covering everything from Hollywood autographs to Civil War letters to signed Presidential memorabilia

Household Supplies

Used Office Furniture

In today's lifestyle buying furniture is very accessible. The affordable furniture that you'd been wanting for is now readily available through online with a creditable discount. There are search engines in which you can use for searching the furniture like Google, Alta vista and many more. It is so easy, just type the keyword in the search tool, type the word "used furniture online" and you can immediately start searching.

You will not tire yourself any more, consuming your whole day looking for the furniture that you need, planning ahead of time if which shop you can go and going different kinds of furniture shop searching for the best one. Really tiring, isn't it? There are shops that offer different kinds of furniture's like double cots bed, loveseat, leather sofa, office desks, and many more but the problem is that the furniture's you need is not available in one shop. So, you have to try other furniture shops to find the one that you really desire which is very time consuming.

The online businesses now cater different kinds of on sale merchandise and items online. Buyers can now directly purchase all the items from every day use items and furniture. But we must have credit card which is required in paying online. Different websites have different alternatives in paying, like credit card, pay pal, and bank transfer etc. There is a risk in buying trough online also which is the warranty of the product. It will not be avoided that the buyer will require having a product in good condition. The online businesses give a condition to check the product before the delivery to avoid the risk. As customer, you will just pay if the product is in good condition.

If you're thinking that used furniture is just for the poor consumer only, you're wrong. This used furniture's like the vintage and antique one can be an inexpensive collectible item for collectors, or you can use these furniture's in furnishing your vacation house or your weekend cottages. This affordable furniture's is the excellent choice in renovating your house or for new homemakers desiring to have excellent furnishings without shelling out more cash. This used and secondhand furniture's is an excellent idea also for students or office employees who wants to give their place a new look. There are some shops that can't provide the customers needs in buying used furniture's with excellent design and aesthetic appeal in which is provided through online. The market nowadays has made a great option to meet the needs of consumers.

You have to plan first on which place to find the used furniture because it is very tiresome to look for it. Embassy sales are the most accessible option for those who lived in the cities that offers a collectibles with regal Victorian styles, lamps, mattresses, rugs and many more on a great auction. You can also find excellent used furniture in the flea markets, garage sales, sales, antique exhibits and charity stores. Stores auctions of damaged furniture and clearance sales are great option also. But the best technique for buying used furniture is that the customer must consider the whole style and quality of the product. There are items that have good quality with slight damage like scratch or slight stain that can be a perfect choice of item for you. These slight damages can be easily restored like refurbishing the lost part and changing the upholstery. Before buying, you must think first if restoring the damaged furniture will cost you a lot. The first day is the best time for customers to get the best items in the flea market and the last day is for the bargain items.

Written on behalf of ORS UK New and Used Office Furniture by John Eva
Used Office Furniture

Household Supplies

A Brief History Of Beading

Beading: A Short History

The art of beading has been around nearly as long as humans have been. From the moment an ancient human found a shell or stone with a natural perforation and strung it on a piece of vine to wear around their neck, beading has been popular in one form or another. Whether those objects were worn as a religious symbol, for personal adornment or to permeate them with special powers doesn't matter. Bead stringing is the first form of beading and it persists to today.

Thousands of years ago, ancient tribes of humans strung hollow animal bones on a fiber. It is believed that wearing the bones of the animal would either protect them from that animal or fill them with the animal's spirit, making them a less fragile human. When early humans developed the tools required to pierce another object, creating a hole, then many varied items were strung for many different purposes. Sea shells, seed pods, nut shells, fresh water mollusk shells, and even animal teeth and bones have been found by archeologists with man-made perforations. Some people made actual beads of clay and others learned to add pigments to color the beads. As humans progressed, they began to enamel the clay beads.

About 3000 years ago, the Egyptians learned to make glass and the next logical step was creating glass beads. They elevated the art of beading to a high level that is still admired today for its beauty and elements of design. The Egyptians become skilled at adding pigments to the glass to craft very colorful beads. They combined these colored glass beads with precious and semi-precious gemstones and precious metals, such as gold and silver, to fashion jewelry pieces that were stunning. Beads became a much sought after commodity, so much so that they were used in commerce and exported throughout the ancient world.

Other cultures embraced the art of bead making. Most people think of China when they think of an abacus, or counting frame-a calculating device that utilizes beads that are slid on wires that have been strung on a wooden frame. The Babylonians were actually the first to use an abacus, although theirs was drawn in dust or sand and small pebbles were used instead of beads. The counter abacus with strings and beads can be credited to the Egyptians, or the Ancient Indian people, possibly. The Chinese played an important role in the evolution and development of the abacus.

Romans traded beads all across their empire, and even the ancient Celts and the Vikings were bead craftsmen who used beads to adorn themselves in the form of necklaces, amulets, and bracelets. Ancient Amerinds used beads as personal ornaments, in religious ceremonies and to decorate clothing articles. Native American bead art is popular in fashion, today and an important source of revenue for many people. Nearly everyone has seen turquoise beaded watch bands, or Native American necklaces and belts.

Beading was-and still is-a part of Native American Society. Many tribes had quilling societies that were sacred to the women. To join the society, a young girl had to be recruited and then she was tutored and carefully trained in the bead making arts. The process of making the quillwork was sacred, but the finished piece -- to be worn or used by someone -- was not considered sacred. The product was of secondary importance to the process of manufacture. The focus was on the thoughts and prayers and the work, not on the finished piece -- very different from Western society, which tends to value the finished product and ignores the process of creation.

There are contemporary beaders who report that beading is almost a spiritual experience for them as they embrace the art of creation as much as the finished work, the focus being on perfecting the art rather than a race to complete the final product. Carol Willoughby at THE BEAD COTTAGE, http://www.thebeadcottage.com/, is an example of a person who appreciates the spiritual side of beading as much as the finished product.

Karen Vertigan Pope writes for Ciniva Systems, an award winning Virginia web design company

Household Supplies

The Inside Story on Numismatic Coins

If you are someone who is looking around for numismatic coins, then you have plenty of sources available to buy them from these days. With the advent of the internet, you can now go through rare coin collections at several online stores before you make your choice. Although rare coins have become a lot easier to find due to this factor, the entire experience of buying coins can still sometimes be a scary experience, especially in the case of beginners. Being informed and knowledgeable is the key to shopping around for rare and ancient coins.

There are a number of good books available on numismatic coins that you can go through in order to educate yourself. The internet is also full of useful information on them. All the knowledgeable sources will help you 'talk the talk' with coin dealers. Moreover, with rare coins being precious commodity, there are many unscrupulous dealers who may actually pass on counterfeit or fake coins to you. The best way to guard you against getting duped is to have at least the basic knowledge about rare or ancient coins.

It is always preferable that you choose a reputable coins dealer for purchasing numismatic coins. Find out whether the dealer has proven expertise. Does he contribute articles on coin collecting to books or journals? Are his opinions universally accepted by the dealer community as a whole? Remember, it is always preferable to do business with a dealer whose credentials are proven and who is respected by his peers.

Good coin dealers will want to have a continuing relationship with you and not disassociate themselves from you, once they have made a sale. A good dealer will be genuinely enthusiastic in retaining you as a regular customer.

To find out more about numismatic coins visit coin.uk.com. This online store is a great place to shop for rare and ancient coins

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