Candles in Colonial America were a necessity. Obviously they didn’t have electricity and oil for lamps was costly. Candles were the light of the night. The common people made their candles out of tallow, which is animal fat and it burned rancid like the Roman candles made of the same substance. The well to do used beeswax candles; the average family couldn’t afford such extravagance.

The common colonist was out in the field quite a bit and even the women worked outside some. They made the discovery of using bayberries that they boiled to get the wax. These candles didn’t produce a lot of smoke and they smelled very good. It took so much time to make candles out of bayberry wax that it didn’t become popular. Plus, eight pounds of berries made one pound of wax. To recoup the finest form of the wax took many days. Time was of a premium; there was a lot of necessary hard work to do.

The main candle they used for their home was a tapered candle. Repetitive dunking of the cotton strands into the wax made these candles. The wax built up around the wicks of cotton strips. When burning the wicks had to be maintained as they didn’t have braided wicks. When the 1700’s rolled around the whaling industry flourished in the colonies. This gave the colonial candle makers the choice of whale oil and they made spermaceti wax. Wax made from whale oil didn’t smell much better than that of tallow though it did hold up better in the summer’s heat.

To make candles by the colonial method get a non-waxed tapered wick and weight the end with a washer. Melt the wax in a melting pot, a tall coffee can will do. The container should be tall and narrow. A tall can allows melting less wax. When the wax is thoroughly melted shut off the heat. Place the can or pot on a surface that resists heat. Start dipping the wick into the wax. The first time hold the wick in the wax while the wax quits bubbling. The rest of the dipping needs to be just dip in and take the wick out. Hanging the wicks between dipping is a good idea if you make more than one at a time. Leave the wick out briefly between each dip.

The dipping continues until you get the diameter you want for the candle. This can be time consuming. Patience is a part of this process. You’ll hang the candles to let them harden. Clip the candles onto a coat hanger and cut the end so the bottom is flat. Once you go through this process with a few candles the big job candle making was in colonial times will be quite clear. Think of how many candles a household used in a year. Imagine reading by candlelight, sewing, cleaning a gun. Any task they did at night was by the light of a candle. What difference electricity makes.

Tara Smith is a crafter and candle maker. The head writer and co-owner of a Scented Soy Chunk candles, company Candle Scentsations. Join her as she writes about her passion and shares ideas and tips at her website that carries Highly Scented Candles.

Purchasing a pottery kiln is no inexpensive undertaking. It is the largest investment a potter has to make. But which type of kiln should you buy? Good question. In this article, I will take a closer look at different types of kilns available and a history of how pottery kilns were used in the making of handmade pottery and other ceramic pieces.

Primitive kilns were no more than the simple hearths used for cooking, warmth, light, and protection. In fact, pit kilns being very easy are still incorporated in hand made pottery and ceramics. Clay has been used since prehistory for decoration and function but it is unknown how the actual firing process was discovered. It is thought that the first fired pots originated nearly 10,000 years ago, when agriculture began. These early farmers needed storage containers and fired clay served these needs well. The earliest kilns were pits dug into the ground and the pottery loosely stacked on top of each other. Flammable materials were placed around the pottery and the fire was allowed to burn down. After cooling, the pots were cleaned of the ash and residue and were then used.

Another early form of pottery kiln, the beehive kiln, was the first kiln constructed that looks like what we consider a kiln. The pots are stacked in an arched chamber retaining greater heat than the pit kiln and making the pottery more durable. An alternate type of the beehive concept was built in China around 500 A.D., yes way back then, and called the stepped kiln. This kiln used the simple form of the beehive, but had multiple chambers in a terraced pattern so that the kiln capacity could be increased. This worked well in villages where pottery making was a primary activity, and where a large volume of pottery was needed.

A well known kiln concept that is used today is the natural gas kiln. Rather than using the flammable materials of the pit and step kilns, natural gas is used for the fuel. There are both updraft and downdraft natural gas kilns available. The advantages of natural gas as a fuel are that it produces very low levels of pollution, and that the fuel is relatively inexpensive. In some areas propane is more commonly used as a fuel; however care must be taken as propane is heavier than air and if the flame should get extinguished, the gas can settle and produce a potential for explosion. Natural gas will disperse on its own since it is lighter than air.

The only new kiln technology is the electric kiln. Unlike other methods which utilize a fuel for operation, electric kilns run by coiled wires that bring about heat. A toaster operates on the same principle. A lot of the modern electric pottery kilns are equipped with electronic shut off devices, called kiln sitters, to monitor the firing process. Still, any kiln must never be left unattended.

So there you have it, a brief history of the kiln and the different concepts behind it and its construction. Now go make pottery.

Soy candles provides detailed information on soy wax candles, pottery, handmade soaps and more and is affiliated with handmade soap dishes.

It is interesting to note that people from all walks of life are choosing to opt for professions which are close to their heart. If we talk of sterling silver jewelry, we would imagine an elegant piece of necklace or a stylish bracelet which is sold through a normal shop and is available for purchase at a fixed price. This is a normal scenario wherein you happen to be a prospective buyer and the sterling silver jewelry is your prospective purchase. Let’s try and do a role reversal. Let us see what happens then.

Visit various shops and known jewelry stores

If you wish to create your own style, you need to first understand the needs of an existing market. This can be done by paying a visit to numerous jewelry stores. The visits need to be regular so that you are in constant touch with the various designs and styles. Once you have gained familiarity, it is time for you to take the plunge and discover the artist within you. Sterling silver jewelry has a lot of potential if it is tapped by the right person. You just need to have a design in place.

Use the facilities of the World Wide Web

Internet has changed the age old concept of long distance travel. Now you can visit even the most distant places and see the most authentic locales at the slight tap of a button. The best part is that you never move out of your living room. If you have a passion for designing your own style of sterling silver jewelry, you need to first understand and visualize the available designs in the market. Once you have a hang of these designs, you need to simply give them a shape and create your own style. You never know, your creation might become the next big thing in the world of stylish sterling silver jewelry.

Visit sales and unknown shops

At times, it helps to visit those shops which have not been frequented by normal shoppers. You can recognize these shops from far as they appear small and shabby and are located well away from the main marketplace. Here you would be surprised to find a wide variety of sterling silver jewelry and some designs which have been long forgotten. You can also try your hands at the local garage sales, yard sales, church auctions and various other stores. An authentic dealer of antique jewelry is also a reliable source to get you the designs which can never be found elsewhere.

Collect bits and piece and put them together

Sterling silver jewelry is not a single entity and is diversified into various sections. So, while visiting a particular showroom or an antique jewelry shop, you discover a unique necklace or a stylish bracelet- feel free to pick it up. To this, use your own creativity and make an ornament which is a blend of the two. This would be a case of positive mix and match and would work wonders for you.

This article about the creation of your own Sterling Silver Jewelry was provided by http://www.queenbjewelry.com - visit us today for all your Jewelry Sterling Silver needs.

For as long as you had your first camera, there is no doubt that you have stored mountainous boxes of photographs in your closet. This pile may have been from your baby pictures to your wedding photography in Phoenix. And as you have your own family, it just keeps on multiplying by the day.

Getting your photos organized seems like a gigantic task but fortunately there are several ways to approach this project without turning it as a dilemma. These days, these shoe boxes are replaced by a computer which is a big help in classifying pictures. This tool does not only help you sort out your photos but also protect your memories for a long time.

Patience and determination are essential factors in starting and finishing this task. It is important that you will not waver in your goal in order to accomplish your objective. It may be hard at first but never give up because eventually you will be satisfied and proud of yourself for finishing such a large feat.

Organizing hundreds of photographs can be time consuming so it is important you set aside a time and a place where you can sit down and rummage through this pile without being interrupted. It will usually take more than one sitting so decide on a place where you can scatter and divide the photos. After setting the time and an ideal place, the next thing to do is to gather all of your pictures.

Get started by going through each picture and labeling the back. Special pens are made for this purpose to avoid damaging the photos. Using regular pens will cause indentations on the front of the picture. In labeling the photos include the names of the people in it, the date and the location. These days, with the advent of the digital camera, picture labeling is easier. You can get your photos printed with dates and labels from your digital camera. Just make sure you set the date right.

Sorting them out will be your biggest hurdle. You can either systemize them chronologically by year or categorize these pictures for each family member. You must first group the photos by year then by months. If you encounter a picture with no label try your best estimation. Another alternative way is to categorize them for each family member or celebrations. This method can be confusing sometimes because some categories may overlap making it harder to divide the photos.

It is also important that you throw away bad pictures. There is no reason to keep pictures that are blurry. It will certainly make it easier to arrange the good pictures when you throw out the bad ones.

Once you have all your photos systemized, you are now ready to store these pictures to your computer. You can choose to create a personal file in your computer, save them to a cd or just upload them on an online album. But if you prefer prints then you might want to store them in albums. Using keywords for each file or album is a good feature. For instance, name your wedding photographs folder with wedding photography Phoenix so it will be easier to find them later.

Organizing photos take time, effort and careful thought. It involves hard work, and making difficult decisions on what pictures to keep or throw away. These tips are not all the ways for organizing your images but definitely it is a great start. Whatever preference you have in terms of photo storage and organization, just make sure that they are stored safely. In this way, you will be able to revisit old memories anytime of the day.

See sample pictures of wedding photography Phoenix at http://www.memoriesputtomusic.com/wedding_photography/index.html

Throughout history, a material that has proven its durability and functionality time and again is leather. Once used, along with wood, to form the base of ancient technologies, it can still be found today in machines, in people’s homes, and in their clothing. The leather industry is one that has been around for a very long time, and one that shows no sign of disappearing.

Leather is created from the skin of animals. A number of different animals can be used to produce it, but the skin most commonly used is that of a cow. It is known to produce thick and strong leather, which makes it very good quality. Other animals used include lamb, sheep, bison, elk, deer, sting ray, kangaroo, ostrich, and many others. In order to produce the leather, once an animal has been slaughtered, it is skinned. The skin is given to a tanner, who performs the process of turning the skin into leather.

There are a number of different techniques that tanners use to produce leather. In all cases, the skin of the animal is altered by some chemical or substance. In past generations, salt or even urine would be used to process the leather. Urine was collected and allowed to turn into ammonia, which was then applied to the skin. Today, there are a multitude of different chemicals used in order to achieve different styles of leather products. Some of the methods used and their results are listed below:

- Aldehyde-tanned Leather – This process involves treating the skin with glutaraldehyde or other oxazolidine compounds. The leather has a white/cream coloration and is considered wet-white leather because of this. Mainly used for chrome-free leather, such as for infant clothing/shoes.

- Alum-tanned Leather – Skin is cured with aluminum salts mixed with protein sources such as egg yolk. The leather produced has a very light shade.

- Chrome-tanned Leather – Chromium sulfate and chromium salts are used in this process. The leather has a more supple texture and is more pliable compared to other types. It does not lose color or shape when exposed to water as some other types do as well. Because of the chromium, it forms a wet-blue coloration.

- Rawhide – This type is produced by scraping the skin until it becomes thin, and then soaking it in lime. Once done soaking, the skin is stretched. Rawhide is more brittle and stiff compared to other types, and is used in items such as dog chews, drum heads, or cut up in cords for stitching and lacing.

- Synthetic-tanned Leather – Aromatic polymers are used for this type, producing a white colored product. This type was created during World War 2 due to a shortage of materials for vegetable-tanned leather.

- Vegetable-tanned Leather – This process involves tanning the skin using tannin along with ingredients from tree barks, vegetable matter, and other sources. It has a supple texture is usually brown in color. It further improve this type, natural oils can be applied to lengthen the leather’s lifespan.

When leather products ready to be sold, there are generally three different forms that it is sold in.

- Full-grain/top-grain leather is a form that has not been buffed, snuffed, or sanded. The grain is still in its original state, allowing it to retain its fiber strength and durability. It forms more comfortable clothing as natural grain has good breathability. The only thing removed from the animal skin is the hair.

- Corrected-grain Leather is a form that has had its surfaced buffed, snuffed, or sanded. Imperfections caused by bites or scars are taken out of the surface, giving it a different look. An artificial grain may be applied, causing this type to be lower quality than full-grain leather.

- Split Leather is produced from the fibrous part of the hide that remains once the top grain of the rawhide has been separated. One of the most common uses of this form is to make suede products.

These three forms are the most common, but there are many more forms available. Other less common types include Buckskin, Patent leather, Sharpen, Hachette leather, Slink, Deer skin, and Nubuck. Each offers its own unique qualities and traits.

Leather is used in countless forms in society today, from clothes to accessories to automobiles. The durability and uniqueness of leather have survived through the years to make it a prized material. Still today, most everyone feels more special when they are in possession of a quality, genuine piece of leather.

Learn more about leather hides and leather supplies and scraps, including deer, elk, buffalo, cowhides, garment hides, upholstery hides, leather scraps, and suedes.

If you are scrapbooking enthusiast, there’s no reason why your online photo album has to prevent you from creating beautiful tangible scrapbooks. In fact, it might be a good idea to use some of the resources you find that your online photo site to create paper of scrapbooks.

Many free online photo storage and photo album websites offer users the opportunity to select from various templates and designs before creating an online scrapbook. If this is the case for your online photo album, why not consider printing some of the templates you find? Wouldn’t it be neat to have a digitally remastered photograph and paste it in your existing scrapbook surrounded by the same artistic details you always use?

Embracing the usefulness, safety, and the practicality of an online photo album and online scrap-booking center will ensure that your photographs stay safe and preserved forever. Electing to create an online scrapbook is no reason to give up your scrap-booking hobby. Your goal should be to use your online scrapbook as a supplement for your existing copy, as well as a tool to improve upon your work. You can get ideas from different pages in different albums you find on your site. If you locate an album that you find particularly enjoyable, as well as creative, consider using some of the same ideas not just online but on paper as well. With a little practice, it won’t be hard to create some of the most beautiful scrapbooks you’ve ever completed.

Online photo albums are great way to supplement any photo collection. With the mass amounts of storage space available, any photographer can store hundreds of photos online without taking an added space at home. With the touch of a button any photograph can be recalled instantly and used in a variety of different ways, including a scrapbook.

Digital photo printers and new digital imagery ensures that any photo that printed from an online source looks as authentic as any photo developed in a lab. Because we’ve come so far in our photographic technology it’s becoming easier and easier to use photography, scrapbooking, and a host of other photographic developments as creative outlets for pent-up energy.

Scanning is also a great way to take advantage of this growing trend. You can gather your old photos together and scan them in one at a time. Take a few days to do it – in fact, saving those old precious photos is well worth taking a few weeks of time to accomplish this very important task.

If you’ve never considered an online photo album, but you have a passion for photography, today may be the best day yet. Consider performing an online search to help you in your quest for finding the best free online photo album website. You’ve heard that old adage that states the best things in life are free… well that couldn’t be more true than in the case of the online photo album! So if you’ve got that creative itch, today’s the day to scratch it. What are you waiting for? Get out there and see for yourself!

MJ Johnston writes for a variety of websites, including Hoorray, a photo sharing site that offers the quickest and easiest way to create photo greeting cards and a digital photo album.