Monday, 2 January 2012

Knot With My Thread" - Stringing Choices For Beading & Jewelry Making

One very important lesson I learned is that there is no one, all-purpose (Universal) stringing material.

Here are the major stringing materials along with how and when to use each of them.

SILK THREAD: Silk has a wondrous “hand” (a soft, flexible feel). This thread comes in many sizes and colors. It comes packaged on spools, and “carded” with an attached needle. This is a classic stringing material and forms beautiful knots between pearls and beads. But, silk tends to be relatively fragile. It can stretch, be cut by abrasive beads, rot when wet, and pearls strung on silk should be re strung every few years. It is best to use silk when stringing pearls and lightweight, smooth-holed beads, only. A needle is necessary.

NYLON THREAD: (Nymo): This thread also comes in many sizes and colors. It comes packaged on spools, on bobbins, and “carded” with a needle attached. Nylon can be used where-ever silk can and is not as fragile. This material knots beautifully and can be used for pearl stringing, in some strung jewelry, seed beadwork, loom weaving, for Peyote and other specialty stitches, and heishi. Nylon stretches much less than silk, and it won’t rot when wet. Like silk, you shouldn’t use beads with sharp edged holes or that are heavy. When you use nylon thread, I would recommend you coat your thread with bee’s wax or “Thread HeavenTM “ before use to prevent it from fraying. A needle is necessary.

BONDED NYLON: This is a much stronger form of nylon thread. The strands are physically bonded together for extra strength and abrasion protection. Although it knots well, it doesn’t have the “hand” of silk. Bonded nylon comes in a variety of colors and smaller spools. Because of its abrasion resistance, you can use it with “hard”, more abrasive gem beads; in fact this comes close to being a “Universal Thread”. Brand names include: “Stringth” or “Silkon”. A needle is necessary, although you can put “Super Glue” on the end to form a “Self-needle”. This is a favorite beading material of mine.

FISHING LINE: This material is a hard, semi-rigid, single strand of plastic. It doesn’t knot well, and in time sunlight or ultraviolet light can cause it to weaken and fall apart. Fishing line is purchased on small spools and is sold in sporting goods stores. Personally, I use fishing line for two purposes. I use it to do my preliminary stringing while I am designing a necklace (I transfer the beads to a better material for the final product), and to string together “raw” strands of beads. There is no needle necessary. I would never use this material for a final beaded piece.

Wednesday, 13 January 2010

Making handmade soap and spa products

Making handmade soap and spa products

Author: Andrew

Making handmade soaps is one of the fastest growing hobby's at the moment you dont need exspensive equipment or a chemist degree to make your own beautiful unique handmade soaps which are great for your own use and makes a wondiful gift for family and friends, or start your own small home based business, and the best thing is that it is a lot of fun.

Once you start making your handmade soap you won't go back to store bought soap which is full of harsh chemicals, your soap will be gentle and moisturising and will leave your skin feeling refreshed and clean, and it is more healthy for your skin.

Not only will you be able to make your own unique soaps that everyone will love, you will be able to make a range of your own unique spa products to compliment your soap, with the stressful pace of life these days people are looking for ways to relax and unwind with your range of unique handmade spa products people will be able to create a relaxing atmosphere where ever they are and when ever they feel stressed and need to unwine or just feal like pamperng themselves

You can learn how to make a range of spa products that you can change the recipe to suite your own taste and make your own unique spa products, change essential oils, add fragrant herbs or other ingredients to make your own unique exclusive spa products line or use the recipes as they are it is entirely up to you.

You will find recipes to make, handcrafted soaps- from classic to your own creations that family and friends will adore Bath teas-additives and soaks-great to relax in a hot bath and soak away your worries. Bubble baths and bath bombs- sit back and imerge yourselth in bubbles. Butters, balms, lotions and creams- keep your skin soft and moisturised with luxuary creams and lotions. scrubs, polishes, salts and masques- refresh your skin and make it glow. Home fragrance products- potpourri and sachets, aromatherapy blends, and more.

That's right you will be making your own range of aromatherapy blends, soaps, bath teas, bubble baths, butters, lotions and creams, professional quality treatments, and change the ingredance to suit your mood and taste with unlimited posibilitys for years to come. The unique products that you will be making will be all natural so they are excelent for your skin plus they are good for the environment.

You will have a lot of fun with this creative hobby, your family and friends will want to buy your unique handcrafted spa products and you will find that evrey one will want them. Now you have to think about marketing your unique range. we can show you how to lable products, create your brand image, make packaging work for you, calculate your cost, and promotional ideas so you can watch your income grow. You will also recieve a list of industrie suppliers to source raw materials, packaging, lables, every thing you need to get your new unique handcrafted spa product business up and running.

The spa industrie has a low start up cost, high profit margins and is the fourth largest leisure industrie in the united states and continues to grow. So start having fun with this step-by-step guide to creating your own unique exclusive handcrafted spa products for fun and profit today.

About the Author:

Andrew Bray is a online product reviewer. Learn more about how you can make handmade soap for profit, by visiting. makinghandmadesoap.weebly.com. or MAKING HANDMADE SOAP.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Making handmade soap and spa products

Mouse Trap Car - How Mouse Trap Car works

Mouse Trap Car - How Mouse Trap Car works?

Author: SANJAY KAK

Mouse trap cars represent marvelous contraptions that can be constructed with things you can find in any home. All you need is a basic understanding of Physics and just use the tools that you have.

The great thing about the mouse trap cars is that is has its own propulsion source. The energy is stored and then released using a spring. The snapper converts the kinetic energy and moves the wheels. This will trigger a chain reaction in the device. The energy is transformed and the car will move. You do not need electricity or any kind of fuel to move this car. You will be amazed to see what this little car can do.

You should know that the device needs 4 wheels, a solid base, two axles, a mouse trap and a string. These can be made up of multiple materials, which you can easily find in your home. But make sure the components you are using are light weight. After figuring out the materials you need, you have to assemble them in the shape of the car, and also make them work. At the base you will have the mouse trap and at the ends you will place the axles. You will place the axles after drilling two holes, parallel, at the end of the basis. After putting the axles together you will easily add the wheels.

Then secure the strings by tying them. After that you will release the snappers and the strong will move the car. This is the way in which the car is going to be moved. You must understand that the energy in the spring is released and then moves the arm. This is how the energy is released and movement is made. The pulling force of the string will make the axle turn and the wheels will move. After getting enough traction, the wheels will start to move in the direction of the car’s rotational force. The axle applies a pushing force onto the base of the mousetrap and in this way the whole vehicle is displaced.

This is one simple gadget that people are very enthusiastic about. Besides the fact that it is simple to build, it does not consume fuel. There are many forces that work to move this car and they are cost free. You can even turn building these cars into a real hobby. There are many people that do that. Also, this type of device allows you to do countless modifications and improve the car each day, depending on your skills and imagination.

You can even design one that can go for larger distance. You can improve the car substantially and exercise your skills. It will be a delight constructing a magnificent car. It will allow you be creative, it will stimulate your intellect and use your knowledge of Physics and natural sciences. It is a great relaxing hobby also and it can take up many hours of your time. So enjoy and have a good time!

About the Author:

Read more about mouse trap car and other designs, ..... Mouse Trap Car

Freelance consultant with interest in many subjects.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Mouse Trap Car - How Mouse Trap Car works?