Baker’s twine is one of the most versatile craft items. Initially, bakers used it to wrap freshly baked bread and pastries. Typically, a baker’s twine was white with red stripes. Today these beautiful striped twine comes in a variety of colors and can be used for a number of things. In today’s article, I will put together a whole collection of ideas that I found on the Internet.

Tying meat:

Initially, the twine was used to tie the meat. These strings were made with safe edible dyes back then. Tying the meat correctly helps keep the shape and prevents the juices from running. Therefore, most chefs have a spool of twine in their drawer. The easy way is to start with a rope knot and rewind it lengthwise.

Tie Baked Goodies:

Freshly baked cakes and breads are carefully packaged with brown paper or parchment paper and then secured with colorful baker’s twine. Some bakeries have signature colors, knots, and bundles that beautifully incorporate baker’s twine.

Seal goodie bags or bottled treats:

Use a piece of baker’s twine and pieces of stiff fabric like organdy or organza to tie the party favors together. Spread fabric squares out on a table, place the favors in the middle, and crumple the ends of the fabric over the treats. Secure it with a knot using this colored string. You can also add printable labels for each small package. Bottled candies can be labeled and wrapped by securing paper or cloth over the mouth of the bottle and then tying it with kitchen twine.

DIY ideas for tags and cards:

Wrap a card in colored yarn and place it behind a die-cut for beautiful stamped designs. Write on paper or any surface using glue and place the string on it to get letters. For larger letters, make paper cutouts of the different alphabets and wrap them with kitchen twine. Draw different shapes on paper and spread glue on it, then carefully string this colored twine for beautiful and colorful images.

Make your own strap:

There are several tutorials on the internet on the different ways you can braid/knot or weave with baker’s yarn. You can not only make small wristbands or bracelets, but also attach these twisted ropes in different patterns for cards or gift tags.

Tiny pom poms:

Make small yarn pom-poms to use as decorations while wrapping presents. Wrap pieces of string around a fork to form a “8” with two points on each side. Carefully remove the fork without disturbing the pattern, and tie a string in the middle. Now trim the edges to get little pom poms that can be used to cover the gift wrappers.

Baker’s yarn tassels:

Have the bakers tangle tassels by winding pieces of yarn around their fingers and slowly pulling them off their fingers. Trim one end and knot the other to make tassels. They can be used to decorate key rings, make bookmarks, etc.

These were some do-it-yourself ideas that I found interesting. Give them a try and send me your ideas in the comments below.

Fatuma’s Tower is a yoga and meditation retreat house located at the back of Shella Village, about 3 km north of Lamu Town on Lamu Island. You don’t have to be into yoga to stay here, but you should be prepared for a simpler life, no alcohol, great communal meals, plenty of R&R and time to think and reflect. More like being a guest in someone’s home than a hotel.

Fatuma Tower is well located, for the village, the beach and the town of Lamu. In the main house there are 6 rooms spread over the three floors of the main building and the house is easily divided into two with separate kitchens. On the ground floor is the Garden room with 2 double beds with bathroom en suite and direct access to the main garden. Also on this floor are 2 smaller single bedrooms, which share a bathroom. The first floor is the balcony room, which contains a double bed and a single bed along with an en-suite bathroom. The top floor is an independent apartment with private access and can be booked separately from the rest of the house. The apartment has two double bedrooms, both with private bathrooms. All the rooms are decorated in a simple and perhaps even spartan style, which seems to fit the cleanliness of body, mind and spirit that this house exudes.

Kijani House, Lamu

Located on Lamu Island, Kijani House offers unique accommodation with its 2000 square meters. meters of tropical garden, which overlooks the sea, and two freshwater pools. Each room has a bathroom and has its own balcony or terrace facing the garden and the sea. The rooms are spread throughout the garden in three separate small traditional Swahili buildings that were formerly private houses, made of coral walls, with boriti roofs and makuti roofs. The kitchen offers all kinds of fish, lobsters, crabs and prawns fresh from the sea, along with fresh meat and vegetables, along with African and Italian specialties.

Kipungani Sea Explorer

There are 14 spacious and secluded chalets built with local materials. Each room has a large king size bed and handmade furniture. Activities include snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing, creek or deep-sea fishing, and bird-watching hikes.

Kisimani House – Lamu

Kisimani House is located in Shela Village in Lamu. It has been built as a fort and has been beautifully decorated in the Swahili style. There are four en-suite bedrooms, several single beds, a large outdoor terrace with lounge-diner and private terraces on the ground floor. The top two floors have spectacular views of the ocean, archipelago and Shela village life. On the endless white sand beaches that surround this hotel, the sea is clean and safe for swimming, goggles, skiing, windsurfing, sailing and fishing.

Kiwayu Village Safari

Kiwayu Village combines great natural beauty with exotic accommodations, wonderful food, and perfect peace and privacy. The village is nestled under a tall stand of coconut palms on the white-sand beach of a secluded, shimmering bay. There are 22 cabins. Dining in the Kiwayu Safari village is a delight: giant crab claws, lobster dishes, perfect salads, and amazing chowder. Windsurfing, goggling, creek fishing, and deep sea fishing are also available.

The north south hemisphere question:

The question of whether or not the orientation of Lo Pan, Lo Shu should be reversed when applied to the southern hemisphere has been questioned for years, so let’s consider the excellent arguments put forward at Qi Concepts in the [http://www.dragonsbreath.co.uk]

Feng Shui originated in China between 3,000 and 5,000 years ago. China is a vast country, yet its location is entirely in the Northern Hemisphere, with no part closer than 18 degrees north of the equator. There are no authentic historical data, nor are there any records on the application of the Feng Shui theory in the Southern Hemisphere. The evidence simply isn’t there, so unfortunately we have to debate the issue, postulate our theories, and make our own decision about what we feel comfortable with. Certainly, if you live near the equator, you should be aware of the difference between the geographic equator and the magnetic equator, as I have already pointed out in the previous section. The difference can be quite considerable as much as 12? of latitude which is 720 nautical miles or 828 statute if you like.

Isogonic graphs show the magnetic flux. It can vary from 0° to 30°. Interestingly, the large area over China has no magnetic variation. This diagram is only to illustrate the variation in flow. For a good example of an isogonic graph, visit the British Geological Society website

If you look at the earth, can you see that the earth’s axis is tilted at an angle of 23.5? the plane of its orbit around the sun is called the ecliptic. It maintains this inclination by pointing rigid and parallel to the same point in space towards the Star Polaris. If the angle of the Earth’s axis remained perpendicular to the plane of the Sun, then the Sun would be on the equator at all times. However, this is not the case and we are stuck the way it is.

The Earth revolves around the sun in 365 days. The sun’s apparent motion crosses to the north side of the equator for about six months, peaking on the summer solstice on June 21, over the Tropic of Cancer, where it reaches its maximum declination* North around 23? North. It then begins to decline and crosses over to the south side of the equator crossing the point of Libra around September 21. It continues its southward loop until it is over Capricorn around December 22, the winter solstice, where it is at its lowest point to the west. (Reverse for the S hemisphere) It should be clear by now how the seasons are formed. (*the angular distance of the sun north or south of the equator)

From this model, we can see that most people in China lived above the 22nd parallel north latitude. This means that your view of the sun, from north central China’s Quinghai province, for example, on June 21 would have been rising to the east and northeast at about 064? True (24°N of E).

The sun would cross the sky, reaching its maximum height of 74? at noon, when heading south, and moving across the westward sky, where it sets west-northwest about 290?True (16°N of W)

Now if we consider the fact that the first school of Feng Shui was the Form School Feng Shui, which supposedly predates the compass by at least 2,000 years and was concerned with landscape surveying using the configuration of the four celestial animals, we can see that a pattern is formed.

We have at Chinese Form School an arrangement that naturally faces the Sun/South of noon, our greatest source of energy and ultimate Yang. the source of our heat and light. This is the Phoenix facing Red/Orange its element is Fire like the rising and setting of the Sun. It is natural that this is the direction that the Yang rooms of a house should face. These would be the most active and used rooms during the day.

They would be the most open rooms with the largest windows The entrance hall, the living room, the family room, the conservatory, the patio, the terrace,

The tortoise is north behind us giving us protection. Blue/Black/Yin Cold and dark like the long northern nights. The Black Turtle historically represents the shady side of the hill. It makes sense that this direction with the least amount of light, the smallest windows and being the most Yin would be considered the most suitable for the Yin rooms of the house, such as the bedrooms, bathrooms, bathrooms, storage rooms.

The Blue/Green Dragon, the color of the eastern plains and the China Sea, is to the left/East and the rising Sun. Its wood element is expansive and represents the growth of spring and the dawn of each new morning. This area is conducive to a kitchen that is yang but less yang than south and good for breakfast, if there is a garden then this is an area for a kitchen garden or vegetable garden, especially if they can face south.

The white tiger to the right/west, towards the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas and the setting sun. its metal element is representative of contraction and autumn is yin, feminine, conservative and protective by nature. This is also a good area for children’s bedrooms and nursery, especially for the youngest daughter.

It’s relatively easy to see how and why the ancient Chinese set up their houses to face in these directions. This configuration is as relative to homes in the Northern Hemisphere today as it was to China 5,000 years ago. If we had the option of building our perfect house, this would be the configuration we would probably choose, for sure.

The energy pattern and apparent motion qualities of the sun in the Northern Hemisphere as viewed from the North Pole are clockwise. Similarly, the main ocean currents and the main air currents, the trade winds and the monsoons, circulate in a clockwise direction.

(The world weather chart for July in Admiralty Navigation Directions NP136 is an excellent illustration.)

In harmony with the laws of nature; and therefore the balance, the Yin and the Yang. The opposite exists in the southern hemisphere. Although the Sun will continue to rise in the East, the apparent movement of the Sun as seen from the Southern Hemisphere is counterclockwise. The main currents and air currents are counterclockwise. The Sun, the main source of energy, is to the North and the cold darkness and shadows are to the South. The four seasons are not reversed, i.e. fall, summer, spring and winter, as is often said, but rather complement their opposites, spring and fall, summer and winter, fall and spring, winter and summer. The wave patterns are cyclical, alternating but equal in frequency and amplitude, providing dynamic balance and overall harmony. Common sense dictates that you would not choose to build a house facing the cold south of Yin, the dark side of the hill in the southern hemisphere.

There are a number of other very powerful phenomena and examples in nature that reinforce the idea that orientations are reversed in the southern hemisphere and that we should observe our surroundings and pay attention and listen to nature and our surroundings. Isn’t that what Feng Shui is all about?

Feng Shui Qi Concepts is available from The Pot and Grass Company

Card tables are a very versatile piece of home entertainment furniture and many people buy them to play cards and more in the comfort of their own home. Many are realizing how much money and time they are saving by not going out as much and spending quality time with close friends and family back home. Card tables and chairs are primarily used to host card games; it’s like bringing the casino to your home minus the travel time, etc.

There is a one-time investment in purchasing your gaming table set, but that investment will provide you with many years of fun and entertainment. In order for your table to last for years, you definitely need to maintain it, clean it, and maybe even repair it if necessary. Maintaining your table is not that difficult as long as you follow these simple steps:

1. Storage – When storing your tables, make sure the storage area is dry to prevent mold from forming on the table. It is also best to have a storage area that has less foot traffic than normal to prevent someone from stepping on or tipping over the table.
2. Food and drinks – If you are going to host a card game night at your house and invite some friends over, you should make sure you eat first before you start playing. Wash your hands before starting the game to remove food grease from your tiles, cards, etc.
3. tighten those screws – Over time, the legs of the chairs and the tabletop of the game table may become a little loose. Get a flat head or Philips screwdriver and tighten all the screws to prevent any wobbly motion.
4. brush your felt – Most card table surfaces are covered in that traditional tabletop felt you’re familiar with. The best way to clean the felt surface is with a light brush that many pool table owners use to clean their tables.

Take good care of your furniture and it will give you many years of thrills and excitement with close friends and family. Remember to do a little maintenance routine if you want your game table to last. There are other purposes you can use a table for besides playing cards, so don’t think you need to use them for just one reason. There are many events that require an extra table and chairs, such as birthday parties, dinner parties, lemonade stands for your kids, etc.

An industry that meets the multiple needs of people and is very critical for macroeconomic development is the hotel industry. When we talk about the hospitality industry, food (preparation) is an important factor. So we cannot talk about food preparation in the hospitality industry without talking about those responsible, that is, the chefs who work in the kitchen. A chef de cuisine is defined as someone who cooks for people in a professional manner and has professional skills in all different segments of food preparation.

It is noteworthy that, distinguishing how much one is busy on a daily basis and does not want to serve any visitors, one visitor to pay attention to anyway is food. The importance of food and chefs must have informed Obasesam Omini Etimita’s decision to spend time and write about the fundamentals of the culinary profession in this book titled “My Chef”, dedicated to Elder (Mrs.) Comfort Agbonibuan Imoke (nee Imoukhuede) FWCN, a Nigerian.

Etimita, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), is an Associate Member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Nigeria (ICPAN). A 1996 Graduate of Accounting from the Old Polytechnic, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria, Etimita also has an MBA from the University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. She is the auditor of Obudu Ranch Hotel & Resort, Obudu, Cross River State, Nigeria. Etimita has served in external and internal audit functions.

According to the author, throughout Nigeria, diverse in many ways and beautiful in different capacities, there is a profession without diversity, that is, the culinary profession. Etimita surprisingly says that when 1000 students were asked “Who is a cook?”, 95 percent of them answered correctly. He adds that when he asked another question, “Who is a chef?”, only two percent answered correctly. The author states that the same trend was manifested in an evaluation of the adult class. He says that this ignorance about a chef has negatively influenced people’s perception of the culinary profession. Etimita adds that henceforth parents should encourage their children to become chefs and ensure the availability of basic infrastructure for culinary practice.

The author reveals that the idea for this book arose from a long-standing concern about the way our society views the chef and the culinary profession. He specifically says that Nigerians view this important role with an ancient understanding of a common cook. A Nigerian company that is very determined to be first in the tourism and hospitality business must rejuvenate the appetites of its local chefs to engage more through social recognition, advises Etimita. The author adds that we really need to get to know the chef and how important his skills are to our daily lives.

This book is divided into eight chapters. Chapter one is interrogatively titled “Who is a chef?” Here, Etimita claims that getting to the top of kitchen management is a chef. He says that interestingly, men dominate in number what is traditionally assumed for women.

Etimita educates that a chef is a person who cooks professionally. He adds that in a professional kitchen setting, the term is used only for the person in charge of everyone else in the kitchen, the executive chef. The author says according to wikipedia, the word “Chef”, made from the Latin word “Caput” is the shortened form of the French phrase “Chef de cooking”, which means “Head” or “Head” of a kitchen. Etimita adds that the title “Chef” in the culinary profession has its origins in “haute cuisine” in the 19th century. He reveals that the English use of the word “Chef” has become a term sometimes used to refer to any professional cook.

Etimita says Wikipedia further educates that specialized, hierarchical chef titles are typically found only in fine-dining, luxury restaurants; while kitchen staff members in casual restaurants, such as diners, are more often referred to as “cook” or “fast food cook”.

Chapter two has the theme of cooking and history. Here, Etimita illuminates that the chef’s habitat is the domicile, a place where a chef is easily found or can be seen. It is the input environment required for the production of the specified chef’s menu, says the author. Etimita adds that it is called “the kitchen” and is often referred to as the “power station”. The author says that without the kitchen, the chef may not exist or would never have been a great captain in the noble profession.

Etimita says that each member of the kitchen staff is delegated to perform a specific function with the supervision of the head chef. According to him, compared to what happens in the kitchen at home or in traditional cooking, the chef finds himself in a complex, scientific and magnificent structure.

Chapter three is titled “The Unique Role of a Chef.” Here, Etimita teaches that someone who holds the title of chef has unique responsibilities. In his words, “A person who is a chef will be responsible for planning set menu items and any specials. In addition, the chef is generally responsible for placing food orders and cookware orders necessary to allow for meal preparation.” The author adds that the chef will also address complaints about his kitchen staff and resolve those issues.

Etimita emphasizes that in addition to planning the menu, the chef is also responsible for creating the recipes and may or may not allow assistant chefs to participate. He reveals that pursuing a career as a chef can be both challenging and rewarding.

Chapter four focuses on the concept of food as the path to the heart of man. The author says that it is striking to note that everyone considers the services of a chef essential to life. According to Etimita, food contains essential nutrients for the body. He says that nutrients consist of elements like carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, etc. The author elaborates on how these nutrients are ingested to produce energy, stimulate growth and sustain life. The chef falls in love with the ingredients to produce food, says Etimita.

Chapter five examines the concept of a balanced diet for digestion. According to the author, balancing the diet to facilitate digestion is the main responsibility of a professional cook. Etimita says this skill is any chef’s signature for a healthy diet for guests. The author elaborates on the fact that a healthy diet is one that helps to maintain or improve health. He adds that a healthy diet is important for the prevention of many health problems such as obesity, heart failure, diabetes, cancer, etc.

Etimita says that a healthy diet involves consuming an adequate amount of all nutrients and an adequate amount of water. Nutrients can be obtained from different types of foods, and there is a wide variety of healthy diets that can be selected from different types of foods, the author reports. He says that an unhealthy diet is a major risk factor when it comes to health.

The World Health Organization, according to Etimita, estimates that 2.7 million deaths are attributable to a diet low in fruits and vegetables each year. The author adds that globally, unhealthy diets are estimated to cause about 19 percent of gastrointestinal cancers; 31 percent of heart disease and 11 percent of strokes. Therefore, an unbalanced diet is one of the main preventable causes of death worldwide, says Etimita.

In chapters six through eight, he analytically analyzes concepts such as food etiquette and family values; divine blessing for the cacique; and testimonials for chef lovers.

Regarding the mode of presentation, this text obtains a passing grade. Etimita handles the subject brilliantly and expands its concepts with authoritative sources to achieve a concrete conviction on the part of the readers. Use images and graphics on the inside pages to visually reinforce readers’ understanding, especially since one image communicates better than many words.

The book is also very logical and didactic, because the author is very elaborate in his discussion of the eight chapters. It should be noted that the language in this book also enhances your understanding given the simple choice of words. This is to be expected given that Etimita is an accountant/auditor who knows the importance of simplicity and accuracy for understanding. The author is also able to convey his passion for the culinary profession and emphasize the need to give it due recognition, especially in Nigeria, with the use of the possessive adjective “My” in the title “My Chef”.

Furthermore, the fact that the author chose to write about an area that is outside his professional boundaries underscores the concreteness of his self-development efforts and his ability to exploit environmental opportunities because he is an auditor in the hotel industry.

However, some areas seem (conceptually) repetitive. Perhaps Etimita deliberately uses this style to constantly emphasize or remind readers. Also, the layout of the inner pages needs improvement to avoid textual congestion.

Taken together, this book is a compendium of irresistible advice on the culinary profession and healthy living. Specifically, it is a challenge for the National Universities Commission (NUC) in Nigeria to draw the attention of Nigerian universities to the need to introduce and promote culinary courses to help develop the hospitality industry in Nigeria through the training of adequate skilled manpower. The book is revealing and interesting.

Starting a home business is an adventure, filled with exciting twists and turns, as well as challenging detours. It can take you places you never dreamed of. It can make your dreams come true. Running your own home business can teach you things about yourself that you may never learn while working for others: how creative and resourceful you are, how much you’d like to make a difference in the world. If you do your research and take the time to learn the basics, a home business can enrich your life in many wonderful and sometimes surprising ways. All it takes is a marketable product or service, unlimited enthusiasm, long-lasting commitment, and a good solid plan of action. It also helps to have a big vision for your small home-based business. And let’s not forget self-discipline: One of the most common reasons a home business fails is a lack of self-discipline. It’s not easy operating a demanding business steps from the center of family activity and countless distractions.

Home Business Ideas: Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The preeminent business philosopher, Peter F. Drucker, wrote: “Entrepreneurs innovate. Innovation is the specific instrument of entrepreneurship. It is the act that endows resources with a new capacity to create wealth. Innovation, in fact, creates a resource. There is no such thing as a ‘resource’ until man finds a use for something in nature and thereby endows it with economic value.” At another point in the innovation narrative, Mr. Drucker asserts that “there is no greater resource in an economy than purchasing power. But purchasing power is the brainchild of the innovative entrepreneur.” Focus your vision on the opportunity. Check out the demographics and come up with something new (social or technical) or reinvent something old. It’s about innovation, a new take on a traditional service, a completely new product that makes life easier, a specialized service that appeals to a small but growing niche market.

The number of home-based businesses is growing by leaps and bounds every year. The entrepreneurial spirit runs deep, just look at the phenomenal success of eBay. Many people derive great personal satisfaction from working at home. After all, home is our sanctuary, we feel safe in our homes and free to be ourselves. We are most creative when we feel comfortable. The internet and computers have made it possible for us to build wealth sitting at home in our pajamas or dressed to the nines, it is our choice when working from home. Whether we work from a sleek, fully-equipped home office or a cubbyhole in the kitchen pantry, a home-based business can be anything we want it to be. And just like traditional businesses, there is no magic “get rich quick” scheme. There is only dedication. Perseverance and persistence are key requirements on the road to success. Winning results are always worth the extra effort you put into your home business.

There are hundreds of great home business ideas. Brainstorm your idea with friends and associates, people whose advice you respect. Use your existing talents and skills and get the education you need to be an expert. If you love to cook, take gourmet cooking classes; There may be a market for gourmet food delivery in your area. Learn about your competition, you can compete with them on the same level, or carve out your own specialized niche in the catering business. Do you love animals and own acreage of country property? Dog parks and dog camps, dog and cat daycare, and overnight pet boarding are booming business. Are you fit and like to exercise? If you have the space and already have or can invest in some exercise equipment, open a dedicated home gym. Become a Personal Trainer. Bookkeeper, freelance writer, seamstress, internet marketer, the list of home-based business ideas is almost endless. Ideally, a home business should be built around a product or service that you know well. You will be successful if you expect success and know your product or service inside out. Believe that there is a need for your product or service and believe in yourself.

Marketing: How to win customers and keep them coming back

Dr. Michael LeBoeuf, author of numerous books, including ‘How to Win Customers and Keep Customers for Life’ and ‘Working Smart’, wrote: “There is absolutely no substitute for an honest, unwavering, enthusiastic belief that the products and services you offer are the best available anywhere. Combine that with a sincere passion for helping people and you have an unbeatable combination for creating and keeping customers. People are swayed more by attitude than logic for two basic reasons: you should always keep in mind when dealing with clients or people in general, people are governed by their emotions and emotions are contagious. In the final analysis, persuasion (winning clients) is not converting people to your way of thinking. It is converting people to your way of feeling and believing.”

It’s not enough to be excited about your business. Knowing how to generate enthusiasm in others for your product or service is the key component to being successful in any business. You have to find a market. That means developing an effective marketing strategy. There is a wealth of free information available on the Internet and in the library. Marketing geniuses like Brian Tracy, Jay Abraham, Dan Kennedy, and other popular “gurus” have websites full of wisdom and inspiration. Find books, magazines, and attend seminars on marketing. It’s amazing how many sources of expert guidance you’ll find, all brimming with practical information from people who have traveled the same path and established successful home-based businesses. Talk to business people in your community, whether they work in your home, a retail store, a real estate professional, or another small business, their feedback will be invaluable to you. Effective marketing is a prerequisite for selling everything, including your credibility. Making the commitment to educate yourself is essential to your long-term success. Learning from the experts gives you a head start and helps you avoid some of the inevitable bumps along the way.

recommended reading

For timeless business advice, these how-to step-by-step guides, time management, and motivation tools are great resources. Here is your success!

How to decorate your space with wall pictures

If a room in your home is lacking in character, simply hanging a few art prints on the walls can make a big impact. Wall pictures are a necessary accessory in your home and are great to match the style of the room and the color accent. Before you go shopping for new pictures for your walls, there are a few things you need to plan and decide. Here’s a home interior design guide on how to decorate your space with wall art.

Shop wall art by room

The type of home you have, and the mood, ambience, and decorating style it creates, should be perfectly designed to fit your lifestyle. The decision on a style for your room should be determined by the lifestyle you choose and not by the latest trend in home interior design.

No matter what room you want to decorate, whether it’s your bedroom, living room, kitchen, or office, you need to decide what you want out of that space. For example:

• Want to host dinner parties or entertain?
• Do you want a quiet retreat to get away from the hustle and bustle?
• Is this an area for children to play?
• Is this a room for your hobby?

Once you’ve decided what you want to use the room for, you can now choose a color theme that suits the function of the room. For example, soft, neutral greens for your ‘quiet retreat room,’ vivid yellow for the kids’ room, or calm, pale blue for your office space.

So far we have established the function and color of the room in question, this gives us the basis for choosing the right art prints for the area.

For example:

• brightly colored cartoon pictures for kids room
• soft pastel floral images for your quiet retreat area, or
• Tranquil landscape and scenic images for your office space

Choose your style

Like paint color, artwork can immediately set or change the mood of a room. You can not only unite the room, but also use it to create a unique style.

• traditional and classic
• modern
• contemporary
• funny and entertaining
• casual
• Romantic

The style of the room is entirely up to your personal taste and this is the time when you can inject your own personality into the room through artwork and textured accessories.

Suggested Art Picture Styles:

Fun and Entertainment: Images may include bright colors in both printing and framing. Fun and entertaining images may include kittens and puppies, or comedic actors like the Three Stooges or Laurel and Hardy.

Modern: With strong black accents in the framed ironwork and wall hangings, bold black-and-white photographs are a natural choice for a sophisticated modern look.

Tranquil Retreat – To reinforce the atmosphere of a cozy and welcoming retreat, use artwork with neutral, earthy colors and a horizontal landscape theme.

You can even mix and match different styles to create your own unique look. For example, he frames traditional black and white photographic prints in a modern black iron frame.

Organize and hang your pictures

To get the most effect from your wall pictures in terms of adding character and a focal point to the room, you need to decide where and how you want to hang them.

Here are some suggestions to help you decide how to get the best effects from your images:-

Modern Gallery Look: To create a modern art gallery feel, particularly pleasing in hallways, foyers, and stairwells, give each piece ample room to breathe. Stand in the center of the first piece and take one or two small steps along the wall. This is a good center for the next piece.

Above a sofa: When placing artwork on furniture such as a sofa, you should hang the image six to nine inches above the sofa or at eye level.

Cluster Arrangements: Tightly group an even number of images to give a statement or focal point. This works on large or small wall spaces, depending on the look you want.

In a row: Placing an odd number of images in a horizontal line with each other gives balance and the feeling of space. This works well in hallways or stairwells.

By deciding where and how to hang your pictures, whether it’s a tight group or a single print over a sofa, you can determine the size and shape of the pictures you need to buy.

Once you’ve decided on the function, color and style of the room, you’ll be in a much better position to shop for wall art to fit the overall theme.

Summary

Wall pictures are an underrated accessory in home interior design. This is probably because most people don’t know what to do with their images for maximum effect in a room. Before you hang your pictures, be sure to plan ahead what you want to get out of that room. First decide on the function, style and color of the room before purchasing your artwork. By doing this, you’ll be in a much better position to purchase the right type of art print to match your room’s theme and color accent.

When choosing cookware for enameled cast iron cookware, it’s important to understand the nature of the enamel that makes it different from ordinary cast iron pots and pans. Standard cast iron can have nonstick properties and be easier to clean if seasoned with hot oil or fat. Baking oil in the pan at a high temperature forms a bond that reduces the likelihood of rust and iron in the food, and also makes it relatively nonstick and easier to clean.

Enameling is also a way of creating a barrier between food and the iron base, and enameled cookware is fairly easy to clean and has a fair degree of non-stick properties, although you should try to avoid burning food on the bottom or the sides of the pan. . If you do, however, the enamel is quite resistant to scratching, much more so than straight surfaces of cast iron, stainless steel, or nonstick Teflon. Therefore, it can tolerate abrasion better than these other surfaces, but it is very sensitive to knocks and knocks that can chip the base enamel.

Enamel is not baked on paint, as many believe, but instead is silica, or glass, that is mixed with pigments and then melted onto the iron surface. The process creates a bond that, while strong enough for normal handling, can chip if it takes heavy hits. If you drop enameled cookware on a hard floor, for example, it might splinter, but not if you stir the contents with a metal spoon.

However, while stainless steel and other metal cookware can be used with enameled cast iron cookware, it is recommended against doing so and trying to use wood, plastic or silicone instead. Silicone is a form of plastic that has been cured and cross-linked to make it resistant to heat, a property that ordinary plastic kitchen implements lack.

Wood is best for any type of cookware, but most people have a set of wooden spoons in their kitchen arsenal, and maybe a wooden spatula, but very little else. You can get a larger range online, but ladles and slotted spoons tend to be very small compared to their metal or plastic alternatives.

Plastic is great for protecting your cookware, but it can be soft and can get even softer when hot. Not only that, but forget about peeling it off the pot when cooking and you’ve given new meaning to plastic food! The same goes for a plastic spatula or a slice of fish – these kitchen utensils rarely last long without showing signs of a few burns. Which brings us to silicone cookware.

Silicone cooking implements are heat rated, with some rated up to 900 degrees, so they won’t soften or melt the same way regular plastic does. There is also a good range of silicone implements, such as turkey lifters, fish slicers, spatulas and cooking spoons, but still not as many as those available in stainless steel.

The problem with stainless steel isn’t that it will scratch the enamel, because it doesn’t as long as you don’t try, but that if you hit the pan with a heavy stainless steel implement, it could chip. However, it is possible to use stainless steel cookware for enameled cast iron cookware, as long as you are careful and make sure not to knock or drop any utensils on the pan.

Taking a general view, when choosing cookware for enameled cast iron cookware, you’re probably best off using wood or silicone where you can, especially for stirring spoons and the like, and stainless steel where necessary. That’s a reasonable compromise, but if you’d rather have a battery of tools hanging from the shelves on your kitchen wall, then stainless steel looks great, but be very careful when using them.

Restoring the shine to your wooden cutting boards and butcher blocks is easy and inexpensive! There are many products on the market that you can use that come in fancy packaging, but it’s easy to make your own DIY product. Keeping cutting boards conditioned extends their life and keeps them sanitary, so it’s good to have something on hand for regular use. This article shares three very easy recipes for treating your butcher boards when they become dry, need refinishing, or repair.

Will need:

Food Grade Mineral Oil

Bee wax

Scale

container – Mason jars and old coffee cans work great.

Jar – to use as a bain-marie

Sanitized stirring rod – the wooden ones work very well

Always Start with a spotlessly clean and super dry butcher block. Wash it with vinegar the night before and let it air dry while you sleep. The next morning, condition your board clean and dry using one of the following methods.

the first method not really a “recipe” at all. It is simply food grade mineral oil. There are a lot of different ideas about which oils go rancid and which oils are best to use. In general, food grade mineral oil is considered the best oil to use on wood cutting surfaces. It’s odorless, colorless, inexpensive, and definitely won’t go rancid. It can be easily found at your local hardware or drug store. To treat your butcher block with mineral oil, gently rub warm oil onto the wood and allow it to soak. Get your oil warm, not hot. If you’re like me and don’t have a “nuker,” just use a double boiler on the stove. Just be careful as the oil is obviously flammable. This is a great regular treatment to keep your board in condition.

the second recipe it is for a creamy tabla oil or “Dream Cream” as I call it. This is a rich blend of mineral oil and beeswax. Adding beeswax to your oil increases its resistance to water and adds a very slight shine to the finish. Paraffin can also be used. It is odorless and much less expensive; however, I personally prefer beeswax. This is a great treatment for a board that has become very dry or has been sanded down to restore it. The recipe calls for 9 parts food grade mineral oil to 1 part beeswax.

Measure 1 part wax to 9 parts oil. Wax beads available or you can scrape pieces of wax off a block like I did.

Heat the oil and wax slowly until the oil is lukewarm and the wax has melted. Be sure to stir and incorporate the wax as it melts.

Put some of the melted product on your butcher board and rub it in making sure to get to all surfaces, especially the cut edges. Allow to absorb before using the board to prepare food. The consistency of this recipe is a bit like hair gel after it cools down a bit and gets firmer as it cools. It will melt into the board like butter as you apply it. It can be used warm or cold; However, I find it works better and faster when it’s hot.

the third recipe it is for a “board wax” paste style. This is a rich, ultra-greasy blend of oil and beeswax. It is thick and waxy and offers a lot of water resistance once the wax has hardened. It can be polished to a smooth shine and looks beautiful. Use this recipe as a polishing paste or as a crack filler. Keeping the occasional cracks and knife marks full extends the life of your board!

This recipe is 4 to 5 parts food grade mineral oil to 1 part beeswax. Heat the oil and add the wax as indicated above. Rub it on the board. Allow the oil to soak in and the wax to harden before buffing and preparing food on it. If used warm, this wax will spread a thinner layer. If used cold it is quite thick and doughy and will give you a thicker coating.

Your wood needs to be treated regularly to prevent it from drying out and cracking! The frequency of treatment and the type of butcher block oil you need to use depends on many variables; like the weather and how often the board is used and washed. You will have to be the judge. These “recipes” will not only beautifully condition your butcher board, they will increase its lifespan. They will also last indefinitely. Once you’ve made a batch, it’s easy to grab off the shelf and use all year long!

It used to be that kitchen cabinets came in two options: natural wood or all white. Well, those days of dull, boring kitchen cabinets are a thing of the past. Today’s best kitchen cabinet makers offer the same high-quality, durable wood species homeowners have come to expect, but with a colorful twist: finishes in every shade of the rainbow…and then some!

Just ask the Wall Street Journal, which recently published an article titled “Crayola Kitchens: Cabinets and Appliances Offer More Ways to Make a Strong Personal Statement.” There, instead of naming the most popular kitchen cabinet shade this season, the author claimed that there is none. In fact, today’s color trend is in the eye of the individual kitchen owner.

The article elaborated on this prediction by stating: “This year, more manufacturers are offering dozens and in some cases hundreds of vibrant color finishes, (therefore) creating some eye-catching kitchen conversation pieces. The message to consumers is: a bold individual statement with color.”

He went on to note that “According to Becky Spak, a senior designer at Sherwin-Williams and director of the International Color Marketing Group, which selects the palettes manufacturers use to coordinate products throughout the home, people are tired of ‘messing up’ colors and ( are) open to bringing the bold hues now seen in cars and the fashion runways into their homes.”

Fire red, Nordic blue and pumpkin were some of the specific colors cited, but even if you’re not the loud statement-making type, you’ll find plenty to be happy about when it comes to the current crop of kitchen cabinet colors. . options

For example, kitchen cabinet polishes add shine and shine to the wood surface with just a subtle hint of color. Available in delicious options like bisque, butter rum, cashmere, vanilla, pewter, porcelain, patina, amber, chicory, malt, ginger, wedge blue, and garnet, they’re visually appealing without being too overwhelming.

However, for those who want an all-over color treatment, kitchen cabinet manufacturers don’t disappoint. Comprehensive paint palettes including tempting hues like Praline, Caramel, Sunset, Cabernet, Autumn Blush, Pepper and Onyx also add vibrant pizzazz to today’s kitchen cabinets.

The Wall Street Journal guarantees that such Crayola creativity in the kitchen will cost the homeowner, in some cases dearly. By way of example, he mentions SieMatic. In 2006, this German kitchen cabinet manufacturer “began offering 1,950 color options for its lacquered flat-panel kitchen cabinet systems, for an additional $5,000.”

However, cost-conscious homeowners are beginning to see increasingly affordable kitchen cabinet manufacturers offering a colorful fiesta of kitchen cabinet finishes. In fact, some of the most renowned online kitchen cabinet retailers include a wide range of color finishes in their current crop of kitchen cabinet options.

Move over, Crayola! Leave the crayons to the kids and let the adults color imaginatively in the kitchen. In this case, writing on the walls, or in the cupboards, as the case may be, is not only allowed, but recommended!