Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Thursday, December 14, 2006
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Friday, November 17, 2006
Liven Up Your Drapes With Beads
Beads are incredibly versatile and can be used all over your house. There are a number of ways to incorporate them in your window decoration. The entire window covering can be made from beads, hanging down in strands from the pole at the top of the window to the floor. These can be tied back during the day to let in light. For extra privacy, you might consider using a shade behind the beaded curtain, and the color of the shade can really bring out the pattern on the beads.
The type of beads you choose can have an impact on your design. Careful hanging of different colored beads can create an overall pattern or picture when the entire curtain is put together. Using colored glass or clear plastic beads can send beautiful rays of light around your room. Wooden beads can give a natural, homely feeling and should be chosen to compliment your furnishings.
A beaded curtain is perfect for closing off a closet or pantry area where there is no space for opening and closing doors. Again these can be tied back when necessary to allow easier access to the space behind.
If a whole curtain of beads does not appeal to you, you can still use beads in the design of your drapes to add detail and personalize your window dressing. For a bold effect choose colored beads that will contrast with your fabric. For a more neutral effect choose tonal or clear glass beads.
You can also use beads to edge your window dressing. A beaded fringe can relax the look of informal drapes or curtains and can be perfect for your family sitting room or bedrooms. Alternatively, beads added to formal drapes can really dress them up and make them a stylish feature of your formal dining room or entrance hall. A great touch is to make some scatter cushions in the same fabric as the drapes, with similar beading sewn onto them
If you are not a fan of sewing, you can buy ready made curtains and attach your own beads or beaded fringing with adhesive. However, this is unlikely to give such a professional finish and may not stand up to washing very well.
Giving your room a makeover with beads is a quick, cheap and very creative way to add a bit of fun to your decorations. You will end up with completely unique designs that will be the envy of all your friends. Don’t be put off by the hippy image of beaded curtains either, they can make an exotic and colorful entrance to your room, and you can even have fun choosing original tie backs for them.
This Interior-Decorating Article is Brought To You By: Eric J. Slarkowski
Content Provider: http://www.my-articles.com
More About Eric J. Slarkowski: Focusing on latest developments in drapes, Eric Slarkowski pens at large for www.curtains-drapes-coverings.com . You can come across his work on beaded curtains over at www.curtains-drapes-coverings.com
Monday, September 05, 2005
A Brief History of Swarovski Crystals
Daniel Swarovski was born in Bohemia in 1862, the son of a gem cutter ~ as a boy he watched crystal being hand-cut in his father’s small factory, for Bohemia was one of the most important manufacturing centers for glass and crystal at that time. As a young man he completed an apprenticeship with his father and several other crystal cutters. In 1883 he visited the International Electric Exhibition in Vienna, where he saw machinery invented by Edison and others, which inspired him to invent the first machine that cuts crystal with unprecedented precision and speed. It took him 9 years! Swarovski patented his invention in 1892, and in 1895 he set up a factory in Austria specializing in the production of precision-cut crystal. Swarovski and his sons experimented with methods to produce flawless crystal, and succeeded in producing the grinding wheels necessary for cutting those crystals. Swarovski crystal became known as the finest quality full-lead crystal available, and was in great demand throughout Europe and the U.S. Costume jewelry became increasingly fashionable, and Swarovski expanded into glass manufacturing, assisted by his 3 sons. By 1931 Swarovski began manufacturing trimmings ~ jewelry stones for decorative bands and laces to be appliquéd to garments and other accessories.
In 1956 Daniel Swarovski passed away at the age of 94. His ancestors continue to produce the stunning, optically pure crystal, adding brilliant colors and coatings, and faceting it with tremendous precision, creating beautiful prisms, pendants and beads. In 1995, computer technology was added which calculates and programs the complex machinery involved in cutting perfectly identical faceted crystals. Today, Swarovski crystal beads are available in a tremendous variety of colors, shapes and sizes to inspire our creativity ~ thank you, Daniel Swarovski!