Arts, Crafts And Entertainment

Fireplaces were an important feature of Arts and Crafts design. In the era from which the Movement drew its inspiration the fireplace was only beginning to be sited on the sidewalls of great halls in the houses of the very rich. So the style adopted by Arts and Crafts was a 19th century day pastiche of what was really constructed during the Wars of the Roses. Designs were often in brick although stone could be used where it was a local material. The fireplaces were large, often rounded and had an inglenook feel. Bricks would vary in size, with courses laid vertically as well as conventionally or possibly in a herringbone pattern. Later designs often included tiles and the type of sinuous designs that are associated with Charles Rennie Macintosh and Art Nouveau. Tiles might have a pastoral scene or a complex flower motif and the Rockwood Pottery that produced early designs was closely associated with Morris & Co, the company that William Morris ran from 1875. We still live with the Arts & Crafts legacy in mock Tudor houses, twentieth century wall panelling and old brick fireplaces. Like virtually all styles of the last two hundred years the popularity declines only to reappear up to one hundred years later.

Charles Rennie Mackintosh is regarded as one of the greatest influences on architecture this century. His all too short career spanned the turn of the century and produced a variety of innovative buildings and interiors around his birthplace of Glasgow. Some see Mackintosh as a modernist, others as the link between Art Nouveau and Art Deco. He was probably neither, drawing his inspiration as much from classical shapes as the new industrial art which was beginning to prevail all over Europe.

Mackintosh was not just an architect. His design brilliance extended to the interiors of the buildings that he designed. Together with his wife Margaret, Mackintosh believed that the interior layout was as important as the exterior form and designed individual items to compliment the total look of the building. Fireplaces were, in his opinion, the 'glowing focus with decorative and symbolic interest'. It was important for him that each design should meld into the room and be personalised for the needs of the owner. His most famous brief was Hill House in Dumbarton, which he designed for the publisher, Blackie. In this house each fireplace is different. The living room design has niches for ornaments, while the fireplace in the library links areas of the room to form a whole. Each has been thought through and tailored so that is part of the room, not just a fitting.

Read more...

July 21, 2010 Charleston, SC based John & Melissa Marro launched a new social media community – TheHIVE (www.creatingthehive.com).  TheHIVE is a dynamic social community designed to help provide a connection between everyone in the arts, crafts and hobby industry - creating a platform between manufacturers, professional artists, hobbyists, retailers and consumers – giving everyone a voice.

Since its launch in July, the site has been a ‘buzz' of activity.  Over 800 members have joined, providing over 2800 blogs worth of information in a broad variety of industry related categories.     One of the reasons for the rapid growth has been the unique ability for members to import their blog directly to the site, then organize it into an industry category.  Additionally, for easier navigation, members can create or join groups, creating even more specialized communities. 

Relationships are always the most important thing in a community and TheHIVE is no different.  During the past few weeks, members have begun unique interactions – learning about each other, their craft and gaining inspiration from each other.  Sales and licensing agreements have been negotiated; non-profit organizations have gotten exposure and seen an increase in donations.  Mick Cluely, an organizer for the UK charity Crafts for Charity (www.craftsforcharity.co.uk/) said this, "My Crafts for Charity directory has got bigger and better since this blog post and has now over 60 artists listed. It is a great way to promote artists and crafters and at the same time raise money for charity."

Read more...

Plenty of people have tried arts and crafts but plenty of them too decided to take up another hobby for various reasons.  It could be because they picked the wrong type of craft or arts to start with.  They could have been turned off by the cost of materials for the projects they were thinking of doing.  Or they are actually just not determined enough to push through with the initiative.  Therefore, before you buy stuff for card making or materials for making calendar 2011, check first if arts and crafts as a hobby would really be a fit for you.

First, if you are already pretty busy and you cannot even find enough time to rest on weekends, ask yourself if you can really make time for this hobby.  Although some types of projects do not need to be completed in one sitting, a very busy individual might end up not finishing a project at all.  This does not mean though that if you are very busy you should not try arts and crafts as card making for example can be done in a couple of hours or printing a calendar 2011 in a matter of minutes as long as you have the right materials.  If you are a busy person, just pick a type of craft that would not be too time-consuming.

Another thing that you should consider before taking up arts and crafts as a hobby is the cost of materials.  If you are already cash-strapped, it might not be wise to engage in a type of craft hobby that would use special tools that you have to purchase of course.  In that scenario, it would be wise to stick to more budget friendly types of crafts like card making or even designing and printing your own calendar 2011.

Read more...

Plenty of people have tried arts and crafts but plenty of them too decided to take up another hobby for various reasons.  It could be because they picked the wrong type of craft or arts to start with.  They could have been turned off by the cost of materials for the projects they were thinking of doing.  Or they are actually just not determined enough to push through with the initiative.  Therefore, before you buy stuff for card making or materials for making calendar 2011, check first if arts and crafts as a hobby would really be a fit for you.

First, if you are already pretty busy and you cannot even find enough time to rest on weekends, ask yourself if you can really make time for this hobby.  Although some types of projects do not need to be completed in one sitting, a very busy individual might end up not finishing a project at all.  This does not mean though that if you are very busy you should not try arts and crafts as card making for example can be done in a couple of hours or printing a calendar 2011 in a matter of minutes as long as you have the right materials.  If you are a busy person, just pick a type of craft that would not be too time-consuming.

Another thing that you should consider before taking up arts and crafts as a hobby is the cost of materials.  If you are already cash-strapped, it might not be wise to engage in a type of craft hobby that would use special tools that you have to purchase of course.  In that scenario, it would be wise to stick to more budget friendly types of crafts like card making or even designing and printing your own calendar 2011.

Read more...

You do not have to be an expert crafter or artisan to enjoy arts and crafts. Wholesale craft supplies can help teachers illustrate a point, provide a fun an educational rainy day activity at camps or at home, and bring generations together. If you have a large group, purchasing craft supplies can add up, so it is best to buy craft supplies in bulk at huge discounts. You can also pick up seasonal craft supplies cheap if you wait for end of season closeouts.

Arts and Crafts Appeal to All Ages

For many, a love of arts and crafts begins in early childhood. Craft projects are a great way for preschoolers and young children to learn. Dig in for hands-on fun with tactile materials or get a polished result with age appropriate craft kits. Every parent has heard “I’m bored,” especially on rainy days. If you keep around plenty of wholesale arts and craft supplies and maintain a notebook of kids craft ideas you can find in a book or on the Internet, there is always something to do. Grown children are often surprised to find that their parents kept many of their craft projects and artwork years later. If your children love making art, you can save a lot of money by purchasing their favorite craft supplies wholesale.

Read more...