Sunday, October 2, 2011

Tips on Chinese Symbol Tattoos

So how to get perfect Chinese symbol tattoos you truly deserve?

Unlike most other tattoos which you can pick up and get inked from tattoo parlors, Chinese symbol tattoos need to be carefully prepared before tattooing.

First, you need to use custom Chinese symbol translation service to translate whatever you want to express. And resist the urge to pull over the Chinese waiter and ask him to write out the Chinese symbol for you. He may not know exactly what meaning you really want and may unintentionally give you the wrong symbol.

Second, the Symbols need to be custom designed to make it worth inking. Without Custom designed Chinese symbol Tattoos, there are many ways to screw it up. The typical Chinese symbol Tattoo mistakes include missing strokes, being inked back forward and defaced Chinese symbol Tattoos. The last two mistakes can not be undone. The laser removal is the only way to remove the bad Chinese symbol tattoos.

Chinese character symbols are complex and can easily be mean something other than intended. Get the wrong one... and your new tattoo can be a permanent source of embarrassment to you! So do not make the same Chinese symbol tattoo mistakes many other people have been made. Use the custom Chinese symbol translation and design service to get the Chinese symbol tattoos you truly deserve.

So what is Custom designed Chinese symbol Tattoos?

Custom designed Chinese symbol Tattoos is writing the Chinese symbols in calligraphy. Chinese calligraphy has hundreds of year's history; Calligraphy is
one of the highest forms of Chinese art. Chinese calligraphy shows
the 'abstract' beauty of the line. The Rhythm, line, and structure are
more perfectly embodied in calligraphy than in painting or sculpture.
Writing Chinese symbol without calligraphy could be bored and humdrum.
Whereas Writing Chinese symbol in calligraphy can create stunning visual effects. Moreover, Custom designed Chinese symbol Tattoos also include stencil outline. So what is a matching stencil? Most people don't realize that every tattoo design has a matching stencil. To apply tattoos on the skin, the tattoo artist needs both a good clear reference of the actual design, and well drawn stencils (line drawings) as the "blueprint" for the actual tattoo. When you get tattooed, your tattoo artist will use stencil outlines to trace the artwork onto your body. Stencil outlines are vital for inking Chinese symbol tattoos as it can prevent tattooists from making mistakes while inking.



Having your body inked can be a very rewarding experience which can last for the rest of your life. Many people who have Chinese symbol tattoos feel that they are very much symbolic representations of their inner feelings and personality. That is the power of choosing a Chinese symbol tattoo that represents your true self, so it is of the up most importance to take your time and select custom designed Chinese symbol Tattoos that speaks to you on a symbolic level.
"Below Are Just A Few of the Benefits You Could Be Experiencing
When You wear custom designed Chinese symbol Tattoos"

* Increase Your Self-Confidence... Knowing Your Tattoo Looks Awesome!

* Become The Center Of Attention When Out In Public!

* Make you different and stand out from the crowd

* People Will Come Up To You And Comment On How Cool Your Chinese symbol Tattoo Looks!

* Attract The Opposite Sex Hearing Them Whisper How Sexy You Look!

* The Chinese symbol Tattoo is a way of your self expression

Don't hurry your Chinese symbol tattoo by going to a tattoo parlor, skimming through the binders and getting inked. You will regret it later. Yes, you can get a tattoo removed, but removing unwanted tattoos is a very expensive, lengthy and painful ordeal! You are wise to research your best possible options before going through with it.

Visit the Knowledge Galaxy website to learn about cheerleading facts, chlorine uses and other information.

Aries Tattoos- Be the First to Get the Best

Were you born between the 21st of March and the 19th of April? If your answer is yes, you belong to the brave souls of people who carry the zodiac sign Aries. Not only you are lucky to have an interesting birth sign but you also have the full rights over the wonderful tattoo designs formulated out of the symbols of Aries. You will never have to look far for a fashionable but multi-faceted body art since Aries tattoos are all the way yours to have forever.Aries tattoos can be custom designed in variety of forms, though you should keep in mind various elements in Aries that will make your tattoo stand-out. Aries, which assumes the foremost position of the twelve other signs is chiefly associated to the Aries constellation and carries the animal ram as its main imagery. You may be an animal lover or not, but either ways if you prefer a simpler design, you might want the glyph for Aries which resembles the capital letter "V" with halfway curly ends that stands for the ram's horns.You can also use the idea of Aries being a fire element, so you could add more flame and spice to your tattoo design. Aries people are recognized for being tough and spontaneous. These are great traits that could help you comprehend distinct but rich Aries designs. You can take pride in your zodiac sign more, when you begin to find relevant information about its ancient origin and its worth before you get your Aries tattoo.The glyph for Aries, even small can be tattooed in your ankle, wrist, upper back or your shoulder and still put across a bold illustration of your spirit. If you and your lover are looking for a tattoo design that you can place in your arms side by side to show intimacy, you might want to consider the glyph that can provide you the feeling of togetherness. To show your witty personality as an Aries, you can describe your individuality as someone who still smiles despite adversities through humorous or comical Aries tattoos. Moreover, because you are brave to face any problems in your life, you can honor your fortitude through a tattoo design that commemorates your undying bravery.A meaningful Aries tattoo is within your reach once you uncover the best resources that can present you with excellent design ideas. One important thing that you must accomplish is taking some time to visit your tattoo artist so you could provide him with your ideas that he would collate and turn into a magnificent piece of body art. Humans are born with a gift called creativity; while others may have less, Aries are blessed to have loads of it, which you can utilize to win the greatest design for the astrological tattoo of your dreams.Cancer Tattoos - Body Art MasterpiecesCancer Tattoos- Ink Ideas for This Zodiac Sign

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Polynesian Tattoo Designs Dallas A Unique Tattoo Design

Definitely Not Your Typical Tattoo

Polynesian tattoo designs dallas are far more than a mere piece of decorative body artwork. Tribal artwork tattoo designs, as usually as they're replicated in flash designs, have been as soon as seen as a link between man and the gods in Polynesian culture. As legend has it, the Gods taught men the artwork of tattooing. By being marked by way of a trial of ache and blood, because the elders claimed, initiates might develop a nearer relationship with the non secular world.

Take the Maori and Samoan tribes for example, Polynesian tattoo designs have been a Tapu, or sacred artwork kind . Thus the revered tattoo artists in these societies, have been held within the identical esteemed regard because the larger echelon virtuosos of at the moment. But the group the place I lived, noticed all tattooing, together with tribal artwork tattoos, as an indication of a degenerate, or at finest 'an eccentric' - and eccentric is, in many methods, one other phrase for contemptible. "Yeah, thanks for the positive assist Dad!"

Paying Reverence To Islanders' Heritage

The islanders' history means that the Polynesian conflation of soul with body, and the perception that one might achieve special benefits within the afterlife, by way of tribal tattoo designs, was removed from limited to their culture. ("Special benefits within the afterlife? Properly ink me up then!"). Similar beliefs might be found in ancient European and Asian cultures, which have been accountable for the prevalence of tribal artwork designs among the natives of North Africa and Papua, New Guinea.

The acute proficiency of Polynesian design creation, has grow to be renowned amid the good and significant artwork kinds the world over. In any case, when persons are willing to spend their entire lives within the presence of such articulated artwork, and be judged by everybody that sees it, is actually a mark of admiration for such a specialized technique. They are such placing , intriguing and alluring types of expression, I knew I needed to have one, or two, or three...I used to be fearful about running out of skin area!

Polynesian tattoo designs dallas, as one of many final surviving sacred types of body artwork, have been the pure locus for my studies. Indeed, the phrase 'tattoo' emerged from their language, (originating from the Tahitian term - 'Tatu', that means - "to mark"). Moreover, within the absence of any written language, these cultures created a form of articulation, dialogue and communication from their tribal tattoo designs. Numerous components of the body which displayed the jet-black patterns, symbolized certain facets of their lives, experiences and beliefs respectively.



Immersed In Each The Culture And The Art-Form

Having lived for two years within the Marquesas islands, witnessing the artwork from descendants of tribal masters, I've discovered that polynesian tattoo designs dallas, for the unique islanders, both offered a way of belonging (by way of the sharing of an expertise), and a way of individuality. The designs, and their positioning on the body, have been usually decided by one's family history, societal rating, succession of maturity and personal achievements.

I discovered first-hand how the Polynesians used symbols, intricate patterns, plus swirling and linear motifs, to typify storytelling among other representations, when composing tribal tattoo designs. Watching the rituals carried out with such primitive, yet effective tools equivalent to bird-bones for needles and burnt gum from indigenous bushes as ink. At occasions, they even used burnt vegetable caterpillars to kind a black soot-like pigment to faucet into the body using a mallet.

The definitions and history of what they symbolize, dates again generations, more so than any other tattoo artwork designs that I can immediately recall. Different societies across the oceans, have proven quite a lot of respect and reverence to these island cultures, who took this form of expression far beyond what we as westerners might usually ever imagine. Plus the actual fact, they really do stand out from other tribal tattoo artwork, attributable to their incredibly distinctive and distinct look . Similar to consuming peanuts or potato chips...it is extraordinarily difficult to simply have one!

Choosing polynesian tattoo designs are very easy once you get to know information that makes it in style. Selecting the best artist and the proper design can go a long way. Check out a full range of Polynesian Tattoo Designs Dallas at Maximo's Tattoo Designs.

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Art of Tattoo - Introduction to the World of Tattoo

I own a small tattoo salon in Montreal, Quebec so this article's main purpose is to answer endless line of requests I receive from my colleagues, colleagues and friends from different countries of our beautiful Planet. Having not less than 15 years of making tattoos left behind I believe I am a person who understands something about making tattoo and how to do things right. I have attended countless seminars on all continents of the Globe, was introduced almost all top people of the industry so now I'd like to share the knowledge I got to those who are going to start tattoo making business (or hobby) or improve their skills and knowledge. I am planning to share some of the secrets I got as a line of publications that hopefully will help those who are interested in tattooing, modern tattoo trends and very exciting history of this art to get better understanding of what this world calls the Artistic Modification of Your Body, Body Art or Avantgarde Art. So let's start folks!The word "tattoo" is derived from Polynesian word "tatau" and means literally "painting" or "picture". European world adopted this word thanks Sir James Cook - the brave English traveler and researcher. Doubtless Europe had tattoo art before yet Europeans didn't have a word to name this art hence the "tattoo" birthday in Europe is 1773 when James Cook added the word to his report.There are three basic kinds of tattoo art:1. Permanent TattooTo tell the truth - I don't have much to add here - once made it's hard to get rid of it thanks special tattooing techniques and tattoo ink used for making permanent tattoo.2. Temporary TattooPerhaps the most popular tattoo type. Many people thing that to get tattoo is a hard decision because tattoo is believed to be permanent and what is cool when you are a teenager will doubtless not be so inyour 30's. Also no doubt that "Marry me Merry Mary" tattooed all over your chest won't look good if Mary's answer was "No". Temporary tattoo allows you to get whatever you like "to wear" for a particular period of time and understand whether you really need it.3. CosmeticCosmetic tattoo's main purpose is to hide scars, all sorts of of problems with skin such as spots and skin illness. Additionally cosmetic tattoo is used for permanent makeup. Tattoo ink (or Tattoo Dyes, Pigments):Tattoo ink of course is the most important part of tattoo quality. Using the best tattoo ink you can rest assured that the result of your work won't end up as a blurry and not attractive spot and also that colors won't fade out fast. Cheap tattoo ink means bad quality tattoo and here we go: don't try to save money on tattoo ink guys! There is a variety of tattoo dyes on the market now. It is a insanely big industry so serious universities and research centres are working on new ink formulas that will deliver the best possible results -competition within tattoo business is serious. Now living in XXI Century we have such colors tattoo guys in 20th century didn't even dream of!! Colors are selected and mixed under strict computer control to get full and precise color fit, we've got Ultraviolet glowing ink... true paradise for those who are in tattoo business and of course for those who are creative!

My suggestion is to buy tattoo ink in bulk at wholesale prices, preferably from an outlet. Be careful here! - there are a lot of fakes! Trust no one - test yourself first. There are too many cheap falsificates on the market so busy yourself with getting a reliable tattoo vendor to get your ink from. After all it is you and nobody else who will be responsible for your work and you never know if your client has a gun to visit you again with...Tattoo Machines:Tattoo artists employ such terms as "machine", "gun", "iron" and others. My preference is just a "machine" ,for it is exactly what it says - tattoo making machine. There are plenty of different makes and models to choose from. My point of view as well as technical information on tattoo machines will be explained in my future articles because it is quite the same as with tattoo ink - a great deal of information to talk about, a lot of stuff to pay your attention to and many things to keep in mind when you are buying your first tattoo machine.Tattoo needles:To have a good tattoo needles is a serious thing you should remember because it is a metal part that is in direct contact with your client's skin and must meet all hygienic requirements. Make sure your needles are bought from reliable source. Otherwise you can finish your tattoo career jailed and swearing that you "didn't know that it would cause blood infection"... I'd like to repeat it again - guys: trying to find things cheaper is OK but keep in mind that you need the quality stuff also! With the needles it is very important.OK folks. This one was a kind of the way to introduce myself. In the next ones I'll share my thoughts on what tattoo tattoo supply to use and where to buy them. Thanks for your time folks!

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Czech Out Czech Castles History! Magic! Romance! Architecture!

Czech Out Czech CastlesHistory! Magic! Romance! Architecture!byMarilyn KingCopyright (c) May 2003Yes, of course Prague is wonderful, and you should spend atleast a week there. I recently lived there for eight months.But if you really want to get to know the Czech Republic --explore the beautiful countryside. Visit a few of thehundreds of castles. The Czech Republic is a castle loversdream!Over 2000 castles, chateaus, and castle ruins have beenpreserved and are currently found in the Czech Republic --including the largest castle complex in the whole world,Hradcany -- the Prague Castle!Why? Czech Republic is in the heart of Europe -- a majorcrossroads of trade routes, and cultural influences.Starting with ancient Slav settlements (about 1000 AD) tothe golden age of castle building in the 13th and 14thcenturies.Forty years of communism kept most of this a secret. Todaythese treasures are being proudly restored and updated.Discover some of the wonderful castles of the Czech Republiccountryside with me --Most famous is Prazsky Hrad (Prague Castle)...okay, it's notin the countryside, but you can't do Czech castles and skipthis one. Allow at least half a day (it does not includetime for museum visits) if you want to examine it in depth.Prague Castle is the most popular sight visited in Prague --and the largest ancient castle in the world. Begun around880, it has a very long history. Built on the site of an oldSlavic settlement on a hill, it overlooks the Vltava River.A wooden fortress already stood on the hill by 870 AD.Slowly it got larger and larger, built of wood, but partsbeing replaced by stone buildings over time. (Building instone was much more expensive.) By 1135 most buildings weremade of stone, and the Czech Kings made the castle theirmain residence.The castle reached it's zenith of importance during thereign of Czech king Charles IV. He had very ambitious plansfor it and his capitol city. Charles' son Vaclav had a newRoyal palace built in the old town in 1383, where the Kingsresided after that date.Rulers made their own additions so there is a mixture ofstyles. Prague Castle has had four major reconstructions,but it retains its classical facelift from the 18th century-- during the reign of Maria Theresa of Austria. She paintedall the buildings yellow which was her favorite color --noblesse oblige -- but they have since been restored. Thecastle has three courtyards and has always been the seat ofCzech rulers as well as the official residence.Czech presidents have used Prague Castle as their principaloffice since 1918. When the square presidential flag wavesabove the royal palace the President is in the country.Konopiste Castle, about 55 km east of Prague -- was foundedby noble family Benesovec in the wooded valley of the riverSazava in 1300. A unique example of a French style castle inCzech Republic, its rectangular ground plan was divided intoa larger outer bailey in the west and the inner castle inthe eastern part. Seven round towers lined the periphery ofthe fortification walls.Architectural modifications took place through the centuries-- until Konopiste was extensively renovated into aresidence for its last occupant, Archduke Ferdinand.(Youremember him from 9th grade history?). To say that theArchduke was obsessed with weapons and hunting trophieswould be an understatement. In 1914, he was assassinatedalong with his Czech wife Sophie Chotek in Sarajevo. Thissad action started World War One. Today, this beautifulromantic castle houses a fascinating valuable collection ofhistorical weapons and armor. Rich interiors containBohemian crystal chandeliers, hunting equipment andunforgettable collections of hunting trophies -- over300,000 animals.About 35 km southeast of Prague is Karlstejn Castle, foundedby Czech King and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV in 1348.Built as a Royal Gothic castle, this massive complex servedas a vault for the Czech Coronation Jewels of the Holy RomanEmpire and the Kingdom of Bohemia.With many sieges and battles over the centuries, the castleslowly deteriorated. In the 18th century the AustrianHapsburg rulers were aware of the historical significance ofKarlstejn and most seriously damaged parts were repaired.After 1853, work supervision was taken over by a newlyestablished Central Monuments Protection Commission residingin Vienna.Karlstejn gained its present appearance with repairs madeduring 1887-1899. Its most precious space is the "Chapel ofthe Cross". This spectacular room is decorated withsemi-precious stones embedded in the gilded stucco lowerwalls. Above this is the finest collection of Gothicpainting in the World -- 127 portrait paintings representing"the entire army of heaven" by Master Theodoric from the1360s. The ceiling is entirely gilded and adorned with realgolden stars. Dividing the room is a many-arched grate, hungwith precious stones and jewels.The only down-side is a steep uphill walk through a gauntletof tacky tourist shops to reach the castle -- but it's wellworth the effort. If you are not up to hiking uphill -- takethe horse drawn carriage ride to the castle entrance.About 35km north of Prague, near where the Elbe and Vltavarivers converge -- sits Melnik Castle and town of Czechqueens. This early Gothic castle (1050-1100) was built uponan old Slavonic fortified settlement (800 AD). It became aRoyal castle -- was expanded twice between 1400 and 1480,and rebuilt into a Renaissance chateau in 1553.Princess Ludmilla was born in Melnik, and from her timeforward, Melnik Castle has been the residence of the queenwidows of Bohemia. Under Emperor Charles IV, Melnik becamea royal city. His last wife had the castle's chapel withGothic vaults built. The last queen residing in Melnik, wasthe wife of Jiri Podebrad.Different noble families occupied the Melnik Estatethroughout the centuries until the castle was abandonedduring the Thirty Years War. In 1646 Count Czernin starteda major reconstruction with the early Baroque southern wingadded. The Count purchased the Melnik Estate from theEmperor. Heiress, Countess Ludmilla Czernin married PrinceAugust Anton Lobkowicz in 1753. With the exception of theSecond World War and the 40 years of communist rule, MelnikCastle remained in the family. The present owner JiriLobkowicz has been renovating the Castle since 1992.Melnik Castle with its historic interiors houses the artcollections, furnishings and hunting trophies of theLobkowic family. From the terrace overlooking the valley,you can see parts of the Royal vineyards. The grapes thatmake the same kind of wine favored by the Czech Kings (500years ago) are still grown there. This special wine can bebought at the Castle gift shop in Melnik -- as well as somespecialty wine shops in Prague.I tasted wonderful Melnik wines in the romantic, mysteriouscellar vault under the castle -- dating from the 14thcentury. A wonderful selection of both white and red winespresented by candlelight -- in this wine cellar which spans1500m2 on three floors under the castle. Next to anexhibition of old machines used for the vinification process-- you find an exhibition of fabulous heraldic animals thatare found on coats of arms of different aristocraticfamilies. You walk over a fascinating floor created fromthousands of wine bottles. Bottoms up -- remove any twoand the whole floor would collapse!Hluboka, the "Pearl of South Bohemia" is about 140 km southof Prague in South Bohemia -- above the Vltava near CeskeBudejovice. This famous place started as a Gothic castleabout 1250 to strengthen the power of the Czech Kings (thePremyslids). It remained a Royal property and administrativecenter until 1562, and then turned into a statelyRenaissance chateau. In 1661 it was bought by theSchwarzenberg family -- and 40 years later they had itrebuilt into a Baroque styled chateau.This lasted until 1841 when the charming chateau was rebuiltand modeled after Windsor Castle in England. Romantic bays,balconies, barriers, battlements and other elements giveHluboka a fairy-tale appearance. The chateau has magnificentand magical exteriors and interiors. Surrounded by a vastchateau park with French and English gardens, riding halland terraces -- it offers a view to the town and the riverVltava. One of the most visited chateaus in the Czechrepublic, Hluboka is lavishly furnished with huge familycollections of furniture, paintings, arms, rare tapestries,and artifacts.Cesky Krumlov is the 2nd largest Castle complex in CzechRepublic. Founded in 1230, the castle was expanded andremodeled several times. It had several owners until 1947when it was given to the Czech state.Its setting lording over the historic town is breathtaking.It has more than 40 buildings! It has many valuableRenaissance and Baroque rooms, paintings, tapestries, andfurnishings of the last five centuries. It boasts the mostunique 18th century Baroque theater in all of Europe withall it's original furnishings and fixtures. The chateaugarden with Rococo summerhouse, fountain, small lake,chapel! Their rotary auditorium summer theatre is one often most interesting theatres in the world.Plus -- all important Czech castles have live bears livingin their non-water moats. Live bears have been living inCesky Krumlov Castle's moat since before 1600.Pernstejn in South Moravia, this magnificent, well-preservedlate Gothic fortress was founded about 1250 as the seat ofthe Lords of Pernstejn. The castle's present appearanceresults from its remodeling between 1450-1550. It becameknown as the "marble" castle because of the marble-likelocal stone used to frame its doors and windows.The castle preserved some of its Gothic vaulting. About 1600the family was obliged to sell both the castle and theestate -- which marked the end of its days of glory. Around1700, Baroque alterations were carried out in some rooms,and in 1716 the ceilings of the chapel were decorated. Whitestucco was added to the Knights Hall. The most authenticmedieval castle in the Czech Republic -- it has noelectricity or fancy interiors. Hidden in the forest,Pernstejn is one of the most beautiful castles in CentralEurope.Helfstyn Castle in central Moravia is a ruin of a 16thcentury fortress. Originally a rather small Gothic castlewithout towers, it was founded about 1310 by Knight Fridusof Linava as a hideout. This Black Knight loved to robpeople...and Czech King Jan Lucembursky took the castle awayfrom him.Helfstyn Castle expanded substantially from about 1365 to1385. About 1600, more extensions, and in particular, mightyfortifications were made by Vilem of Pernstejn and his sonJan. The effectiveness of the fortification system wasapparent during the unsuccessful siege by the Hungarians in1468 and the Swedes during the Thirty Years War -- (1618-648). At the end of the 18th century Helfstyn was abandoned,but ever since the 19th century -- efforts have been made topreserve it.The new Gothic Lednice and the Baroque Valtice in SouthMoravia --The romantic Lednice Castle is situated on the Austro-Moravian frontier near Breclav, near an immense naturalpark. A Middle Ages stronghold, it was rebuilt as aRenaissance castle in the 16th century. A garden was laidout next to it. Around year 1600 three ponds were built,forming the basis for Lednice's landscape arrangement yousee in present days.Today, Lednice is an excellent example of English Tudorneo-Gothic style and one of the most important buildingsof Romanticism at its peak. See prestigious rooms, anartificial stalactite cavern, the rare tree of life madefrom ivory, a large landscaped English park with MinaretObelisk, and a French garden.In 1715 the Lichtenstejns built a highway to connect theirtwo castles -- Lednice and Valtice.The Valtice Castle, was not connected politically to theCzech lands -- but had close historical and family ties withMoravia and a similar cultural development. The oldestrecords concerning Valtice date from 1192. In the 14thcentury the castle was established.The Lichtenstejn family became the owners of Valtice estatein 1395 -- and it was in their possession until 1945. In the17th-18th century the castle was rebuilt in Baroque style.The ground plan has four wings, one courtyard, a towerand farming buildings.The interiors of Valtice Castle are decorated in 18thcentury styles -- Baroque, Rococo and Classical. All therooms have lovely frescos, beautiful furniture (especiallyRococo) and valuable paintings.If you walk from Valtice Castle, you pass small BelvedereCastle and the Temple of Diana, also called the Rendezvous.Walking towards Lednice through the forest you reach theromantic neo- Gothic -- Chapel of St. Hubert.The castle list goes on and on. It's hard to make a badchoice. Czech out as many Castles as you can.------------------------------------------------------------Marilyn King has been a travel professional since 1988. Her"Flight To Quality" has provided quality travel arrangementsfor individuals, corporations and groups: Europe, SouthAmerica and the Caribbean. Visit her at --( http://www.FlightToQuality.com ), Subscribe to her "Freefor Life" newsletter - "Psssss.....t!" Receive your FreeeReport - "Taste Wine in a Small Village" at --( http://www.FlightToQuality.com )You have permission to publish this article in its entirety,electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as thebylines are included, A courtesy copy of your publicationwould be appreciated. [Article Word Count=2124]------------------------------------------------------------Czech Out Czech CastlesHistory! Magic! Romance! Architecture!byMarilyn KingCopyright (c) May 2003Yes, of course Prague is wonderful, and you should spend atleast a week there. I recently lived there for eight months.But if you really want to get to know the Czech Republic --explore the beautiful countryside. Visit a few of thehundreds of castles. The Czech Republic is a castle loversdream!Over 2000 castles, chateaus, and castle ruins have beenpreserved and are currently found in the Czech Republic --including the largest castle complex in the whole world,Hradcany -- the Prague Castle!Why? Czech Republic is in the heart of Europe -- a majorcrossroads of trade routes, and cultural influences.Starting with ancient Slav settlements (about 1000 AD) tothe golden age of castle building in the 13th and 14thcenturies.Forty years of communism kept most of this a secret. Todaythese treasures are being proudly restored and updated.Discover some of the wonderful castles of the Czech Republiccountryside with me --Most famous is Prazsky Hrad (Prague Castle)...okay, it's notin the countryside, but you can't do Czech castles and skipthis one. Allow at least half a day (it does not include

time for museum visits) if you want to examine it in depth.Prague Castle is the most popular sight visited in Prague --and the largest ancient castle in the world. Begun around880, it has a very long history. Built on the site of an oldSlavic settlement on a hill, it overlooks the Vltava River.A wooden fortress already stood on the hill by 870 AD.Slowly it got larger and larger, built of wood, but partsbeing replaced by stone buildings over time. (Building instone was much more expensive.) By 1135 most buildings weremade of stone, and the Czech Kings made the castle theirmain residence.The castle reached it's zenith of importance during thereign of Czech king Charles IV. He had very ambitious plansfor it and his capitol city. Charles' son Vaclav had a newRoyal palace built in the old town in 1383, where the Kingsresided after that date.Rulers made their own additions so there is a mixture ofstyles. Prague Castle has had four major reconstructions,but it retains its classical facelift from the 18th century-- during the reign of Maria Theresa of Austria. She paintedall the buildings yellow which was her favorite color --noblesse oblige -- but they have since been restored. Thecastle has three courtyards and has always been the seat ofCzech rulers as well as the official residence.Czech presidents have used Prague Castle as their principaloffice since 1918. When the square presidential flag wavesabove the royal palace the President is in the country.Konopiste Castle, about 55 km east of Prague -- was foundedby noble family Benesovec in the wooded valley of the riverSazava in 1300. A unique example of a French style castle inCzech Republic, its rectangular ground plan was divided intoa larger outer bailey in the west and the inner castle inthe eastern part. Seven round towers lined the periphery ofthe fortification walls.Architectural modifications took place through the centuries-- until Konopiste was extensively renovated into aresidence for its last occupant, Archduke Ferdinand.(Youremember him from 9th grade history?). To say that theArchduke was obsessed with weapons and hunting trophieswould be an understatement. In 1914, he was assassinatedalong with his Czech wife Sophie Chotek in Sarajevo. Thissad action started World War One. Today, this beautifulromantic castle houses a fascinating valuable collection ofhistorical weapons and armor. Rich interiors containBohemian crystal chandeliers, hunting equipment andunforgettable collections of hunting trophies -- over300,000 animals.About 35 km southeast of Prague is Karlstejn Castle, foundedby Czech King and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV in 1348.Built as a Royal Gothic castle, this massive complex servedas a vault for the Czech Coronation Jewels of the Holy RomanEmpire and the Kingdom of Bohemia.With many sieges and battles over the centuries, the castleslowly deteriorated. In the 18th century the AustrianHapsburg rulers were aware of the historical significance ofKarlstejn and most seriously damaged parts were repaired.After 1853, work supervision was taken over by a newlyestablished Central Monuments Protection Commission residingin Vienna.Karlstejn gained its present appearance with repairs madeduring 1887-1899. Its most precious space is the "Chapel ofthe Cross". This spectacular room is decorated withsemi-precious stones embedded in the gilded stucco lowerwalls. Above this is the finest collection of Gothicpainting in the World -- 127 portrait paintings representing"the entire army of heaven" by Master Theodoric from the1360s. The ceiling is entirely gilded and adorned with realgolden stars. Dividing the room is a many-arched grate, hungwith precious stones and jewels.The only down-side is a steep uphill walk through a gauntletof tacky tourist shops to reach the castle -- but it's wellworth the effort. If you are not up to hiking uphill -- takethe horse drawn carriage ride to the castle entrance.About 35km north of Prague, near where the Elbe and Vltavarivers converge -- sits Melnik Castle and town of Czechqueens. This early Gothic castle (1050-1100) was built uponan old Slavonic fortified settlement (800 AD). It became aRoyal castle -- was expanded twice between 1400 and 1480,and rebuilt into a Renaissance chateau in 1553.Princess Ludmilla was born in Melnik, and from her timeforward, Melnik Castle has been the residence of the queenwidows of Bohemia. Under Emperor Charles IV, Melnik becamea royal city. His last wife had the castle's chapel withGothic vaults built. The last queen residing in Melnik, wasthe wife of Jiri Podebrad.Different noble families occupied the Melnik Estatethroughout the centuries until the castle was abandonedduring the Thirty Years War. In 1646 Count Czernin starteda major reconstruction with the early Baroque southern wingadded. The Count purchased the Melnik Estate from theEmperor. Heiress, Countess Ludmilla Czernin married PrinceAugust Anton Lobkowicz in 1753. With the exception of theSecond World War and the 40 years of communist rule, MelnikCastle remained in the family. The present owner JiriLobkowicz has been renovating the Castle since 1992.Melnik Castle with its historic interiors houses the artcollections, furnishings and hunting trophies of theLobkowic family. From the terrace overlooking the valley,you can see parts of the Royal vineyards. The grapes thatmake the same kind of wine favored by the Czech Kings (500years ago) are still grown there. This special wine can bebought at the Castle gift shop in Melnik -- as well as somespecialty wine shops in Prague.I tasted wonderful Melnik wines in the romantic, mysteriouscellar vault under the castle -- dating from the 14thcentury. A wonderful selection of both white and red winespresented by candlelight -- in this wine cellar which spans1500m2 on three floors under the castle. Next to anexhibition of old machines used for the vinification process-- you find an exhibition of fabulous heraldic animals thatare found on coats of arms of different aristocraticfamilies. You walk over a fascinating floor created fromthousands of wine bottles. Bottoms up -- remove any twoand the whole floor would collapse!Hluboka, the "Pearl of South Bohemia" is about 140 km southof Prague in South Bohemia -- above the Vltava near CeskeBudejovice. This famous place started as a Gothic castleabout 1250 to strengthen the power of the Czech Kings (thePremyslids). It remained a Royal property and administrativecenter until 1562, and then turned into a statelyRenaissance chateau. In 1661 it was bought by theSchwarzenberg family -- and 40 years later they had itrebuilt into a Baroque styled chateau.This lasted until 1841 when the charming chateau was rebuiltand modeled after Windsor Castle in England. Romantic bays,balconies, barriers, battlements and other elements giveHluboka a fairy-tale appearance. The chateau has magnificentand magical exteriors and interiors. Surrounded by a vastchateau park with French and English gardens, riding halland terraces -- it offers a view to the town and the riverVltava. One of the most visited chateaus in the Czechrepublic, Hluboka is lavishly furnished with huge familycollections of furniture, paintings, arms, rare tapestries,and artifacts.Cesky Krumlov is the 2nd largest Castle complex in CzechRepublic. Founded in 1230, the castle was expanded andremodeled several times. It had several owners until 1947when it was given to the Czech state.Its setting lording over the historic town is breathtaking.It has more than 40 buildings! It has many valuableRenaissance and Baroque rooms, paintings, tapestries, andfurnishings of the last five centuries. It boasts the mostunique 18th century Baroque theater in all of Europe withall it's original furnishings and fixtures. The chateaugarden with Rococo summerhouse, fountain, small lake,chapel! Their rotary auditorium summer theatre is one often most interesting theatres in the world.Plus -- all important Czech castles have live bears livingin their non-water moats. Live bears have been living inCesky Krumlov Castle's moat since before 1600.Pernstejn in South Moravia, this magnificent, well-preservedlate Gothic fortress was founded about 1250 as the seat ofthe Lords of Pernstejn. The castle's present appearanceresults from its remodeling between 1450-1550. It becameknown as the "marble" castle because of the marble-likelocal stone used to frame its doors and windows.The castle preserved some of its Gothic vaulting. About 1600the family was obliged to sell both the castle and theestate -- which marked the end of its days of glory. Around1700, Baroque alterations were carried out in some rooms,and in 1716 the ceilings of the chapel were decorated. Whitestucco was added to the Knights Hall. The most authenticmedieval castle in the Czech Republic -- it has noelectricity or fancy interiors. Hidden in the forest,Pernstejn is one of the most beautiful castles in CentralEurope.Helfstyn Castle in central Moravia is a ruin of a 16thcentury fortress. Originally a rather small Gothic castlewithout towers, it was founded about 1310 by Knight Fridusof Linava as a hideout. This Black Knight loved to robpeople...and Czech King Jan Lucembursky took the castle awayfrom him.Helfstyn Castle expanded substantially from about 1365 to1385. About 1600, more extensions, and in particular, mightyfortifications were made by Vilem of Pernstejn and his sonJan. The effectiveness of the fortification system wasapparent during the unsuccessful siege by the Hungarians in1468 and the Swedes during the Thirty Years War -- (1618-648). At the end of the 18th century Helfstyn was abandoned,but ever since the 19th century -- efforts have been made topreserve it.The new Gothic Lednice and the Baroque Valtice in SouthMoravia --The romantic Lednice Castle is situated on the Austro-Moravian frontier near Breclav, near an immense naturalpark. A Middle Ages stronghold, it was rebuilt as aRenaissance castle in the 16th century. A garden was laidout next to it. Around year 1600 three ponds were built,forming the basis for Lednice's landscape arrangement yousee in present days.Today, Lednice is an excellent example of English Tudorneo-Gothic style and one of the most important buildingsof Romanticism at its peak. See prestigious rooms, anartificial stalactite cavern, the rare tree of life madefrom ivory, a large landscaped English park with MinaretObelisk, and a French garden.In 1715 the Lichtenstejns built a highway to connect theirtwo castles -- Lednice and Valtice.The Valtice Castle, was not connected politically to theCzech lands -- but had close historical and family ties withMoravia and a similar cultural development. The oldestrecords concerning Valtice date from 1192. In the 14thcentury the castle was established.The Lichtenstejn family became the owners of Valtice estatein 1395 -- and it was in their possession until 1945. In the17th-18th century the castle was rebuilt in Baroque style.The ground plan has four wings, one courtyard, a towerand farming buildings.The interiors of Valtice Castle are decorated in 18thcentury styles -- Baroque, Rococo and Classical. All therooms have lovely frescos, beautiful furniture (especiallyRococo) and valuable paintings.If you walk from Valtice Castle, you pass small BelvedereCastle and the Temple of Diana, also called the Rendezvous.Walking towards Lednice through the forest you reach theromantic neo- Gothic -- Chapel of St. Hubert.The castle list goes on and on. It's hard to make a badchoice. Czech out as many Castles as you can.------------------------------------------------------------Marilyn King has been a travel professional since 1988. Her"Flight To Quality" has provided quality travel arrangementsfor individuals, corporations and groups: Europe, SouthAmerica and the Caribbean. Visit her at --( http://www.FlightToQuality.com ), Subscribe to her "Freefor Life" newsletter - "Psssss.....t!" Receive your FreeeReport - "Taste Wine in a Small Village" at --( http://www.FlightToQuality.com )

Georgian Interior Design - Traditional or Modern Elegance

Whether you have a Georgian period home, or just want a relaxed and elegant feel in your more modern home, a Georgian interior design style is bound to be top of your list.

Georgian design concentrates on simplicity, beauty and proportion. This makes it an excellent choice for any traditional or modern home.

The Georgian interior design style is named after the decorating style in vogue during the reigns of George I through to George IV in England. This covers a time period from 1714 to 1837.

Of course there were many minor changes of style and design through this lengthy period of time. The Georgian style gradually became more decorative throughout the period. So do consider this if your home dates from either end of the time spectrum, or if you need to be historically accurate, for any reason.

You will see strong influences of other periods and design styles in the Georgian interior design style. The main influences on Georgian design styles were: neo-classical (classical Greek and Roman art and architecture), Oriental design, French aristocratic style, Rococo and Gothic Revival.

Georgian interior design relies quite heavily on its distinctive architectural style. The architecture is very decorative, so add plaster mouldings, ceiling roses and rails and friezes.

The Georgian wall was comprised of 3 sections:

The lower part: This was often wood panelled and ended with a dado rail/chair rail at 75cm height (2'6'')
The centre part: This was most of the wall, and was where wallpaper or decorative fabrics were hung
The upper part: The upper part of the wall comprised a picture rail, cornice and frieze.

Typical Georgian decorative mouldings are egg and dart, acanthus leaves, shells, scrolls, mythological subjects and beasts from fantasy.

Georgian wall colors were quite toned down and muted. Using heritage ranges of paint is an excellent way of making sure you get the right tones and colors.

Wood work was usually painted in white, or chocolate brown or olive green.

Georgian rooms were quite dark, but it was usual to find quite a few little touches of gold and gilt to brighten the feel a bit.

For wallpapers and fabrics choose beautiful patterns. Typical designs are stripes, urns, columns, oriental designs and ‘Toile de Jouy'.

Georgian rooms were kept very simple and uncluttered. So keep furniture pared down to a minimum. The furniture itself was dainty in style, in dark woods, and with scrolled arms and ‘ball and claw' feet. All very refined and elegant.

Genuine Georgian accessories are very important to help you get an authentic look. Luckily they are still quite plentiful in antique and flea markets and even eBay.

A great finishing touch is to include a typical black silhouette cut-out photo. This could be a great craft project for the family to enjoy!

Click here for more details on Georgian interior design, including photos and Georgian accessories.


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Audubon in Europe.www.Victorian-taxidermy.com

On May 17, 1826, Audubon began his sail from New Orleans to Liverpool, England equipped with letters of introduction. He was quickly befriended by Richard Rathbone upon his arrival on July 21st. Audubon was fortunate to be looked after by Rathbone, whose family was prominent in banking and business. Rathbone took the opportunity to introduce Audubon to community leaders. Besides this, he also arranged for an exhibition at the Royal Institution for two hundred and twenty-five of Audubon's drawings. Prominent citizens expressed their adulation for Audubon's achievements, making this exhibition a great accomplishment. Unlike Philadelphia, Audubon's visit to England served to upbuild his sense of purpose and well-being due to the warm public reception and praise given to him.

Audubon's strong desire to paint the birds of North America remained. He was overwhelmed by the reception he received in Liverpool since the lack of appreciation elsewhere had contributed to much uncertainty. Audubon once remarked, "My poor heart is at last relieved...for I now know that I have not worked in vain."

Now focusing on the chore of publishing his work, Audubon was as energetic as he was when painting the birds. Potential publishers and subscribers in Liverpool, Manchester and Edinburgh, reviewed the prospects of printing his life-sized paintings. Originally, he desired to print four hundred paintings in eighty parts consisting of five parts each. The fee for this would be two guineas per part. Each plate would be made of one full page, two medium and two small illustrations. Four hundred and thirty-five illustrations in eighty-seven parts completed the contents of the final work. Subscriber fees would meet the amount of the engraver's expenses.

Edinburgh engraver, William Lizars, finished the printing of the first group of plates in February 1827. These five paintings were the Wild Turkey, the Prothonotary Warbler, the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, the Purple Finch and the Canada Warbler. The Wild Turkey now enjoys the recognition of being Audubon's most famous plate. Audubon was able to give his subscribers a pick of diverse and colorful birds and backgrounds which were masterfully enhanced by Joseph Mason's artistic abilities.

In order to publicize the publication of Birds of America, Audubon traveled to London, a place where international culture, finance and politics came together.

His Relationship with Havell Begins

Once in London, Audubon was disappointed to hear from William Lizars that the production of Birds of America had come to a stand still due to a strike of the colorists in Edinburgh. Besides the fact that this strike delayed the printing schedule, it also decreased the needed income from the subscribers' fees, which was to cover the cost of underwriting the project. To Audubon's delight, he came into contact with Robert Havell, Jr., whose family owned The Zoological Gallery in Newman Street, London. Among other things, such as artists' supplies and books of natural history, The Zoological Gallery more importantly sold engravings. Havell quickly became indispensable to Audubon in the production of Birds of America. Without a doubt, Havell's impressive engravings was a strong foundation for the distinguished reputation that Audubon later earned.

Although Audubon and Havell became good friends, his services were not taken for granted by Audubon. In order to cover all the expenses, Audubon took on the job of a diligent salesman, promoting his work to potential subscribers. He also painted portraits regularly as he had before to cover the different costs that presented themselves.

Success in Paris

To further advance the interests in Birds of America, Audubon traveled to Paris in September 1828, meeting and introducing his paintings to the distinguished class. He was favorably received at the Museum of Natural History by Baron Georges Leopold Cuvier, naturalist and paleontologist. Audubon was able to display his works before members of the Academie Royale des Sciences which was made possible by Cuvier. To say the least, Audubon was overwhelmed by the favorable expressions of this talented group of men.

Audubon even succeeded in having a nobleman as a subscriber. This was the Duc d'Orleans, who later became King Louis Phillipe, along with the Duchess. Pierre-Joseph Redoute, renowned flower painter, arranged this presentation of Audubon's portfolio. As can be seen, Audubon was able to come into contact with the right people in his endeavor to promote his work. His stay in Paris ended with the total recruitment of fourteen new subscribers.

Loneliness was now creeping up on Audubon. Upon his return to London, he longed for the company and comfort of his loving family. Due to this strong desire, Audubon began preparations to rejoin his family by sailing to New York in April, 1829. John George Children , a member of the zoology department of the British Museum and the secretary of the Royal Society, was put in charge by Audubon to supervise the business. It turns out that this was a good choice on the part of Audubon as Children proved to be one of the best advocates for him among London's upper class.

Although the reunion with Lucy and visiting friends was the priority of his trip, Audubon also took the opportunity to gather new material. Not only did he wish to shoot and preserve the skins of many birds, but he also wished to make revisions to a portion of his earlier paintings. The Lyceum of Natural History in New York agreed to show an exhibition of Audubon's paintings. Audubon also made it a point to visit Philadelphia in order to see Dr. Richard Harlan, naturalist and author of Fauna Americana, and Thomas Sullly, esteemed portrait painter. Then traveling to Camden, New Jersey, the Delaware River was chosen as Audubon's place to hunt, study, and paint the avifauna. Great Egg Harbor was the setting for several of the original drawings of the plates of Birds of America: the Vestor Sparrow, Ovenbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Acadian Flycatcher, Rough-legged Hawk and Warbling Vireo. Two months were next spent in the Great Pine Swamp in Pennsylvania where Audubon collected and drew many small land birds that resided there. Audubon did not forsake the birds living in the woods near Feliciana. He took the time to draw them when he was again reunited with his wife.

New Year's Day of 1830 found the Audubons aboard a steamboat that was bound for Louisville. The purpose of this journey was to spend a few months with Lucy's relatives. These months also afforded Audubon the chance to stuff birds surrounding the falls of the Ohio River. Their next journey together was to Washington, D.C., where they met Edward Everett, leader of the House of Representatives. Everett arranged for the drawings and plates of Audubon to be presented before the members of Congress. He also arranged for the Library of Congress to become a new subscriber to Birds of America. During this occasion, the Audubons also had the privilege of being entertained by President Andrew Jackson.

On April 1, 1830, the Audubons sailed for Liverpool as the business in London now required personal attention from Audubon. While Lucy remained in Liverpool with her sister, Audubon traveled on into London. There he was told that his journey to the United States had cost him some subscribers, which presented the need to paint pictures and enroll new subscribers again. However, while he was away, Audubon was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. Since this was the most prominent British learned Society, he was no doubt pleased to hear this good news.

Audubon enlisted the editorial assistance for the text of Birds of America as his writing skills were minimal. This assistance came from William MacGillivray who later published the five volume History of British Birds. The winter of 1830 to 1831 was spent writing the text together.

The financial expenses of printing were carried by Audubon himself. Although he acquired much success with his first published volume, Audubon was still very concerned about the financial aspect of the work. For this reason, he turned towards the United States. His goal would be to recruit new subscribers along with the collection of more birds.



Edward Everett, his Washington connection, once again helped Audubon upon his return to the United States. Public exhibitions both in the Library of Congress and in the Boston Athenaeum were arranged by Everett. He also arranged for the nomination of Audubon for a fellowship in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Audubon's stay in the United States was very victorious as he finally won the praise of critics, acknowledging his artistic talents.

Between 1831 and 1834, Audubon was involved in new travels, searching for additional specimens. His first journey brought him to Charleston, South Carolina. Accompanying him were George Lehman, who painted many of Audubon's backgrounds, and Henry Ward, an English taxidermist. A Lutheran minister of Charleston, Reverend John Bachman, turned his house into Audubon's headquarters. Maria Martin, Bachman's sister-in-law, later began to paint backgrounds for Audubon's birds. Another interesting fact between Bachman and Audubon was that Audubon's sons married the preachers two daughters. The relationship that these two men shared turned out to be one of the most valuable friendships Audubon experienced.

Leaving Charleston, Audubon commenced an expedition along the east coast of Florida, beginning with St. Augustine. From here, his journey led him up the St. John's River to the islands between St. Augustine and Key West. In his mission for new specimens, Audubon would shoot a minimum of a hundred birds each day. This particular expedition afforded him the opportunity to draw the Great White Heron. In this print, George Lehman reproduced the town of Key West for the background. Lehman and Audubon other associate, Henry Ward, were both dismissed at the end of the Florida journey.

Audubon returned to Philadelphia where his family was still living in the spring of 1832. With the dismissal of Audubon's two associates, he enlisted the help of his two sons in his growing business. Victor would travel to London to address financial details and overlook the engraving and coloring of the plates. John would travel with his father on expeditions to assist in collecting and drawing both birds and their backgrounds.

The one hundred and eighty subscribers in the beginning of 1833 all expected to receive a total of four hundred plates over the course of seven or eight years. Therefore, Robert Havell had to continually be supplied with new drawings so that no interruption would occur in the income secured from the subscribers. Due to this demand, Audubon spent another year in the United States in order to collect new material. The summer of 1833 was spent studying breeding habits of the water birds, making twenty-three drawings and collecting around two hundred birds and a small amount of mammals. Although in Audubon's seventeen hour work day he hoped to discover new species on this trip, he was not able to find new ones.

Audubon next traveled to Charleston, South Carolina again and visited with John Bachman. Since the mid-eighteenth century, Charleston was abundant in the study of natural history and Bachman knew all of the active physicians and naturalists involved. Bachman introduced Audubon to them and he was able to receive much support for his efforts. Audubon's gratitude for their kindness led him to embellish the Long-billed Curlew plate with a few of both Charleston and Fort Sumter.

The planning of volumes three and four were now in Audubon's mind upon his return to London in May 1834. William MacGillivray once again helped with the text in these volumes. The Ornithological Biography was published in December of 1835. With the publication came Audubon's announcement to publish the last of his work along with the final volume of text by the end of 1838.

Another journey to the southern and western sections of the United States was taken by Audubon and his son John. They arrived in New York in September 1836 as they now concentrated on finding new specimens. Audubon heard that John Kirk Townsend of Philadelphia and Thomas Nuttall, ornithologist of Harvard University, discovered new birds and had sent these new specimens to the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. The Academy only allowed for Audubon to have a brief view of these birds which did not give sufficient time for him to inspect and draw these new species. However, Audubon did meet Nuttall in his trip to Boston. Nuttall respected his interests and decided to sell Audubon ninety-three duplicate specimens retrieved from the regions of the Rocky Mountains and Columbia River. Audubon was ecstatic with this offer and included a number of these duplicates in his work.

Audubon, accompanied by Edward Harris and Audubon's son John, set out on a journey to Galveston Bay. Protection was given to the three of them since the Republic of Texas had just recently won its independence from Mexico. Although no new species were discovered, Audubon was able to see many different birds on this expedition of Galveston Island.

The dream that Audubon had envisioned of the publication of his book was now fulfilled on June 20th, 1838. Now fifty-four years of age, the completion of his fifth volume freed Audubon from the responsibilities linked to this project, therefore enabling him to return to the United States. The return back home did not stop him from working, though. Audubon started work on miniature editions of Birds of America and The Quadrupeds of America. The total cost of this work was one hundred dollars which was about one-tenth what was charged for his other work.

Now that Audubon had received enough income from all of his hard work, he bought thirty-five acres of land of what is presently known as Washington Heights in New York City. He worked on illustrating the Quadrupeds here and this is also the house where he set out on an exploration of the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers.

Following 1847, Audubon no longer had the ability to draw or paint. The Quadrupeds project had to be completed by his son Victor. With deteriorating mind and health, Audubon died on January 27, 1851.

Different aspects involved in Audubon's work show many qualities to admire. For example, unlike others, the financial expenses of Audubon were never taken care of by the federal government, state agency or other foundations. Audubon's entire financial burden was carried by himself and the family of his wife, Lucy. Although some uncertainties went along with keeping the burden within the family, doing this also made Audubon's achievements more rewarding and permanent.

Today, bird illustrators have many easy ways to access the information needed for them to draw accurate paintings. They enjoy the comfort that travel can bring, sophisticated optical equipment and a numerous amount of publications dealing with the natural world. Looking at Audubon's work, many are amazed that he did this with only his legs, eyes and a gun at his disposal.

Another aspect deserving admiration was that up until the nineteenth century, Audubon's book was the largest and most expensive that was published. Since all of his paintings were made life-size, this took much creativeness on his part to accomplish the production of such a different style.

Audubon's paintings are not only filled with such vitality and beauty, but they are also informative. He added information including what birds eat, their behavior, habits, where they live and how they breed. This detailed information along with the extraordinary paintings make Audubon's work both factual and visually pleasing to the eye. This goal is something to be reached by all students of the natural world. Whether students or just observers, the work of John James Audubon is a legacy that will continue to be enjoyed by all.


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Tricks On Hiring A Good Architect

Advice On Researching a Good #Architect#When you are considering building an extension or perhaps new home, you will want to consider hiring an architect. There are various benefits to getting an architect for building ideas, building plans and planning permission. They do not only produce your design, a fantastic architect can take you step-by-step through every stage of your building process including overseeing the development and making certain the contractor follows his plans. However, your architect ought to be flexible enough to what you need be it simply for building plans to get a home extension or perhaps the project management of any new home.The advantages of an architect• An architect works on hand during the entire design process, to make an effect which has exactly the features you approve.• The architect will continue to work in the budget you establish, and enable you to choose appropriate materials and workmanship at fair prices that reflect your allowance. That could include assisting you in get bids for construction and various contract work.• Your architect will look for your interests and ensure the project is made the way it was designed.• An architect will design your office or house space to make nature environment, minimize energy use and incorporate contemporary "green building" principles.• The architect will allow you choose quality materials and finishes that will be both durable and appropriate, providing an array of choices as opposed to limiting someone to a couple of choices or maybe a discount package.Steps to looking for good architect1.Start by finding architects that you would like to interview. Ask friends, family, or business associates for recommendations. Make an online search or phonebook to help during your search.Any architect for which you would consider hiring should make time to reply to your questions about their experience, design principles, etc. but don't expect them to share their knowledge at no cost.3.After contacting numerous firms via the telephone, narrow your choices to 3-5 architects that you are looking to interview. Put in place a meeting together. Be all set with information regarding what you're looking to construct, your expected budget, & questions that you are looking to ask the architect.Make certain you are choosing someone that you associated with as you may be using the services of this person for ample time.Make an effort to get your attorney look it over. Specifically, be sure that you understand payment terms, what happens if you should put building on hold or cancel building your project. The ideal starting point for asking about architects can be your friends and relations. Also, determine whether the architect concentrates on residential or commercial work. Learn if you can find any issues to be familiar with.When requesting referrals, don't forget to check the sort of job the architect was called into accomplish.Were you content in the quality provided by your architect?Everybody has their own personal ideas of quality, and that means you should consider their house and judge yourself. Take note of the planning aspects along with the usability on the completed design.Were they courteous and polite?This may be a essential consideration. The complete experience, from start to finish, ought to be as relaxed as you possibly can. Plus if your architect enjoys their job, the product quality and focus on details might be better. The customers attitude will affect the whole design job. Hopefully this often is the first question you may well ask. When the reply to this question is "no" then don't go any farther, you don't want to cooperate with that person.

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Traditional forms of Ife art

When one considered the sheer breadth and size of the African continent it is easy to see why so many unique and diverse forms of art originated there. Ancient, as well as modern black artists of Africa relyheavily on the natural resources found in their homes to produce theirfascinating sculptures, textiles, and pottery. Like theirsurrounding neighbors, the Ife has long made excellent use of thematerials graciously given to them by the environment. The resulthas been a long tradition of products of Ife art that depicts life inWestern Africa.

Up to the present day Ife artists employ many of the same artistic methods as their ancestors. Fortunately for them and the world,many of the ancient artifacts are being used as blueprints for modernartists and their influence is tremendous in the current Ife society.

Ife art is a diverse collection of many different art forms.Ancient and modern artists of this region alike often use terra cottaclay, bronze, and granite in their work.Quartz is seen used to create primarily religious pieces. The people who attend or whohave attended Ife school arewell schooled in making use of the resources that surround theirbeautiful homeland.

Some of the traditional forms of Ife art are sculpture, statues,stools, and religious items.; In the case of the sculptures andstatues many different approaches were used to achieve the desired effect. In some cases, the sculptures represented kings anddeities and were considered to be very stylized in design. Thebusts that have been found are unique in the fact that almost all ofthem were sculpted to the correct scale. In other words, theheads were roughly the same size as the head of the model and were madeto be a portrait of sorts. Animals are another favorite subject in Ife art. Many statues andbusts have been found that depict the African respect and dependence onthe animal life of the region for their survival needs.

Among the more unique pieces of Ife art, are the huge monoliths createdfor what appears to have been ceremonial purposes. These enormousworks of art are typically made from granite or clay. Quartz withits jewel like appearance found its way into a wide assortment ofreligious pieces. Some experts credit this use of unusualmaterials to the European influence in the region during the period ofthe 12th through the 17th centuries. Wherever this influence mayhave come from, the result was a collection of stunning examples of Ife art.



It is little wonder that a civilization as well constructed and rich intradition as the Ife people created such amazing art.Each and every piece was and still is steeped the beliefs and values of theirsociety. Ife art is a reflection of the diversity that is sooften seen in the many countries and regions of Africa. Ife art,since its ancient contributions were discovered in the archeologicaldigs, has been a defining force in a greater appreciation of all of theart forms this area has to offer.

Mr. Moyo Ogundipe has a Bachelors of Arts degree in Fine Art from theUniversity of Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria and a Master of Fine Art degree inPainting from The Hoffberger School of Painting, Maryland InstituteCollege of Art, Baltimore, USA.

One of Africa's most celebrated and renowned black artists, Mr. Ogundipe hasexhibited extensively in Africa, Europe and the USA.His paintings have been described as hypnotic, colorful and denselypatterned.

In 1996, Mr. Ogundipe was awarded the Pollock-Krasner Fellowship. Andin 2005 he was invited to become a member of Africobra, an organizationfounded in the 1960s and whose membership comprises of distinguished African-American artists.

Find and buy paintings online from Moyo Ogundipe at www.Maigida.com.

Mr. Moyo Ogundipe has a Bachelors of Arts degree in Fine Art from the University of Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He is experienced in Traditional African Art, Modern African American Art . He has done many African Paintings and aftican art.Buy African paintings Online.

Photos into Paintings

Shopping for portrait art online has never been easier! Photos into paintings mainly include entirely handmade, lifelike portrait art that can be ordered safely online via a reputed, long-established, reliable and professional portraits paintings shop.

However, art lovers appreciating artistically created charcoal drawings and oil on canvas colour portraits shouldn�t forget to first investigate what the numerous online portrait painting providers have to offer them.

After having done some online research they�ll discover soon that the offered fees for art gifts online of often similar artistic quality can differ enormously! Particularly, most of the North American, European and British portrait artists ask too high prices for the portrait art gifts they offer!

Great value for money is offered by portraitists in Thailand, turning photos into brilliant paintings. Chiang Mai in particular is home to some of the most talented portraiture artists. Nearly all professional painters in this city enjoyed their education at one of Thailand�s officially recognised art schools, such as the internationally acclaimed Silpakorn University of Fine Arts in Bangkok.

Chiang Mai art painters are specialised in creating lifelike portrait paintings from photos. The artworks they create could be copies of the pictures they used to draw or paint the portraits.

Professional portrait artists in Thailand will only use the best art materials in order to create 100% hand-painted canvas paintings and charcoal pencil drawings, while rates are much more lucrative than those offered by most of the European, British and American art painters.

Chiang Mai portrait art from pictures can now be ordered online as well. Since March 2010, a Dutch managed art painting gallery provides online portrait commissions at very reasonable prices. In general, customers that place orders through their user-friendly website will receive the commissioned portrait art at their home address within 15 working days.

Buying portrait art from photos via their site is very easy. Anyone can do it! Customers can upload their most favoured photo to the site and safely pay via PayPal. As soon as Chiang Mai Portrait Art has received the (down) payment, one of their art school graduated portrait painters will start creating a lifelike charcoal drawing or oil colour portrait from the uploaded picture.

Chiang Mai Portrait Art will keep customers informed about the artwork�s progress and once it is finished they will send a digital picture of the portrait for customers to review. This gives customers the option to request certain changes. When they�re completely satisfied with the portrait art�s end result, their portrait will be posted to the provided address free of charge!

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Nike Free Run Review � Top 5 Features Of The Nike Free Run

Nike focuses on simplicity and design when making their top running shoes. This really shines through with the Nike Free Run making it one of the most modernised running shoe currently on sale. Nike really believe in what they are doing and that is revolutionising the way people run. The Nike Free Run tries to get as close as possible to running barefoot. In this Nike Free Run review I will go over 5 of the key aspects and features -

1- Lower Midsole
The Nike Free Run currently has the lowest base for a midsole on any Nike running shoe. It has a base 1mm smaller compared to the Nike Free 5.0, people may not say this is much but it goes a long way in the running mechanics and how the runner feels when running. This is because it changes the difference between the heel and the toes thus causing a bigger workout for your legs.

2- Centre Of Pressure Heel
A new centre of pressure heel has been added to the Nike Free Run to mean more protection when you heel strike while not compromising flexibility. Running with such lightweight features and such a low base could have been a risk for the Free Run but with the new heel a lot of the contact is cushioned.

3- One Piece Overlay
Having a one piece overlay is a necessity if you want a realistic barefoot running shoe and Nike does it well. The enhanced overlay has no extra seams and internal layers to drag the shoe down and cause more friction within the running shoe.

4- Asymmetrical Lacing System
An Asymmetrical lacing system is meant to give the runner a more natural fit because as you look at your feet it�s not flat on the top .� it slopes to the side. This lacing system realises that and is made to suit the foot much better for an easier running position.

5- Use Of Mesh
The Nike Free Run has a very good use of mesh on the top and sides. The mesh is there to provide ventilation to the feet and cool them down when you run. It also assists in giving the trainer a more snug and barefoot like feel, a trait many people desire when looking at this running shoe.

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Learn about Bollywood Karaoke Music

Be the next Bollywood karaoke music star by learning how to get the best Bollywood karaoke songs. It doesn't matter if you're an amateur singer or a home performer. The important thing is to imbibe the spirit of Bollywood Karaoke music and belt the melodious notes of Indian mainstream music.

Bollywood is India's Hollywood. The term is actually a contraction of Hollywood and the city of Bombay which is the seat and capital of Indian film and cinema. Bollywood is the biggest cinema industry in the world in terms of production releases and ticket sales.

One unique characteristic of Bollywood cinema is the elaborate and big reliance on dance and song numbers. Thus the Bollywood karaoke music and the Bollywood karaoke songs were born. These musical extravaganzas in cinemas has been reproduced in CDs and DVDs and categorized as Bollywood karaoke music.

So, you can pretend that you're the leading star in Bollywood and sing to your heart's content through Bollywood karaoke music. Some of the iconic film productions in Bollywood has been converted and reengineered as Bollywood karaoke songs. So you can play these CDs at your own home, plug the microphone, and start singing like a Bollywood karaoke music champion.

Bollywood karaoke songs come in different languages because the Bollywood productions are also multilingual. Hindi, Urdu, Bhangra, Tamil, Hindustani, and Ghazal songs are available in Bollywood karaoke music CDs. Language would not be problem though because of the different subtitles that can be programmed in the Bollywood karaoke songs compilations.

Bollywood Karaoke Music Invading the Online World

Bollywood karaoke music is not only limited in the Indian subcontinent. Bollywood karaoke songs are now being widely marketed on the Internet. In effect, the Bollywood karaoke music has become global.

The online presence of Bollywood karaoke music contributed significantly to the popularization and internationalization of Bollywood productions. As Bollywood karaoke songs depict certain segments of the source movie, more and more people are getting interested in the exotic musical beauty of Bollywood karaoke music.

How to Find the Best Online Provider of Bollywood Karaoke Songs

There are literally hundreds of Bollywood karaoke music providers online. Finding the best one could be quite difficult. A mark of a good Bollywood karaoke music provider is the amount of Bollywood songs available in its collection.

Thousands of musical films are being produced yearly in Bollywood. So the Bollywood karaoke music provider should also approximate this number in order to give you wider choices of Bollywood karaoke songs.

The Bollywood karaoke music provider should also provide CDs and DVDs as well as streaming Bollywood karaoke songs. The music provider should have Bollywood karaoke songs in different languages. These multi-lingual collections will give you enough selections of music sang in your particular language. Singing Bollywood karaoke music therefore would be truly enjoyable.

Bollywood karaoke songs and music are here to stay. The industry will grow by leaps and bounds in the years ahead. Be sure to find the best Bollywood karaoke music provider now. Start enjoying Bollywood music while it is still a growing industry.


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History of Cuckoo Clock Design

People love clocks with cuckoos popping out and chirping to announce the time. It has been estimated that over 30 million cuckoo clocks have been built and sold over the past 250 years. Since the 1700s the Black Forest region of Germany has been famous for their cuckoo clocks. The two Black Forest styles are the traditional cuckoo clock and the Bahnhäusle cuckoo clock. The Swiss have been building the chalet cuckoo clocks since the late 1800s. Extremely ornate cuckoo clocks became popular among wealthy people in the Victorian period and the Roaring 20s. Today, the cuckoo clocks in most peoples' homes are in the Black Forest and Swiss Chalet styles.

The original German cuckoo clocks were the traditional clocks that were wooden houses and cuckoos carved by the Black Forest artisans. Anton Ketterer is given credit for inventing the first cuckoo clock in 1738. The clock used pendulums, gears, bellows, and pipes that worked together to push the cuckoo out the door and chirp in two tones. Cuckoo clocks became an important export of the Black Forest. People specialized in tasks such as making pendulums, cutting out gears, and carving the clock cases. Over time, Black Forest cuckoo clocks became quite fanciful with carvings of antlers, oak leaves, ferns, edelweiss flowers, and forest creatures, such as hares, pheasants, eagles, foxes, and alpine goats. The traditional clocks became extremely popular in the hunting lodges of wealthy Europeans and the British. Rifles, trophies, and bugles were added to the designs of some traditional cuckoo clocks.



The Bahnhäusle clock is the result of a design contest for cuckoo clocks in the 1850s in the Black Forest region of Germany. The contest was held by a trade school because its Director believed that the local cuckoo clocks were too crude looking. The winning design was the Bahnhäusle clock, which has since become one of the standard cuckoo clocks. The clock was created by a German architect to resemble the homes that he had designed for a railroad company for homes at the rail stops. For this reason, the clock is also known as the railway house cuckoo clock.

Several decades later, Swiss clockmakers began to design cuckoo clocks to look like chalets of Switzerland, Bavaria and the Black Forest. In addition to the cuckoo and chalet, may of the Swiss clocks became more and more elaborate with music boxes and moving woodcutters,beer drinkers, dancers, and water wheels.

During the Victorian period, decorative cuckoo clocks were made in styles as diverse as Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical. The Roaring 20s were another time when elaborate cuckoo clocks were popular among the richest people of the era. In the 1950s, the railway house and chalet cuckoo clocks became popular in the homes of the middle class. Minimalist and avant garde cuckoo clocks have been manufactured in modern times. The history of cuckoo clock design continues to develop in countries around the world. Nevertheless, the Black Forest and Swiss designs remain the most popular cuckoo clocks of all time.


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5 Athletic Activities Kids Can Enjoy

You might have noticed that your child never runs out of energy and have wished you could bottle that energy up and save some for yourself. Kids are full of energy and they love any physical activity, so why not find an athletic activity they will enjoy? You can find all the gear you need at stores like Adidas and Finish Line and get them started today.

1. Soccer

Soccer is the number one team sport for kids of all ages. Your child can start young with a beginner�s team and learn the basics of the sport. Your child can learn to be a part of a team while enjoying a physical activity with his friends. Soccer is a great way to keep your child in shape and help him to keep the stamina he has now.

2. Junior Basketball

This team sport requires plenty of physical activity from your child and your child loves it. Running up and down the court keeps him in shape and the dribbling of the ball and shooting at the basket will teach hand eye coordination and self control. The sport is more than just fun and games; it actually teaches your child the motor skills he needs for many other things in life.

3. Gymnastics

Kids love gymnastics; they can tumble around on soft mats, walk balance beams and hang on the parallel bars, all while getting a great workout. Gymnastics will keep your child limber and stretches his muscles so he will be more flexible. Gymnastics is not just tumbling around on the mats; as your child progresses in the sport, he will learn balance, self control and body discipline. This activity is a great start for many other activities as he grows.

4. Karate

Karate is a very disciplined sport and requires keen attention to detail as well as the rules. Your child will love being a part of the class and learning with the instructors. Karate offers self confidence and increases a child's self esteem. The sport offers strength training as well as mind control; children learn how to control their temper in many cases before they have a chance to develop one. Kids start karate very young, sometime as early as the age of 4.

5. Dance

Dance is a great activity for kids and most kids absolutely love it. There are many forms of dance and several classes dedicated to teaching a particular method. You can choose from ballet, folk dance, hip hop, line dancing, classical, self expression and many other styles. Dance teaches coordination, balance, as well as the ability to follow instructions. Dancers are quick to pick up a routine; they are expected to learn an entire routine with very little instruction. If they start out early, this task becomes very easy to them. You can start your child out in dance as early as age 3.

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Find Designer Women's Plus Size Clothing That Can Flatter Curvy Figures

Plus size dresses are available in all stores and local boutiques. Due to its growing demand in today's day and due to the growing fashion consciousness in women of present era, designer plus size clothing become more prominent. These days fashion industry has produced various types of clothes that are made exclusively to flatter the curvy figure. The beautiful designs of Plus Size Women's Dresses are available in huge numbers. You can have a nice shopping experience in the boutiques or through online shopping websites of women's plus size clothing. These websites offer discount rates on plus size clothing and that is the only reason why these clothes are sold in huge numbers. The shops and boutiques have huge store of plus size dresses. Have a physical verification of the clothes quality and size from your local boutique and get some real idea about the dress you are going to purchase. Different occasions demand different outfits. Like wise if you are looking for formal dresses then you should search them in the stores which have grand collection of formal dresses. Other than these casual dresses are also available in plus size. Company offers from time to time discount plus size clothing that attracts enormous customers.

To get appropriate fitting plus size clothing, it is essential to give proper measurement. Try out the garments before you buy finally from the local boutiques. So that you can have the proper designer made outfits that flatter you curvy figure impeccably. Moreover, also examine the quality and prices of the dresses. If you are a budget conscious customer than explore the online shopping website where discounts plus size clothing are available in huge numbers. The fabrics are available in numerous types. Some of them are very costly while others are cheap. So, make shopping as per your requirement and as your pocket permits. The patterns, cuts and style of designer made plus size dresses are available everywhere. So, it will not be a difficult task to find out the latest designer made plus size clothing.

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Leather Wristband Styles

For decades, many people have used the leather wristband as a fashion accessory. Because leather is made from the hide of animals, it has been available to humans since the beginning of civilization. Compared to newer materials that are more synthetic, such as rubber and vinyl, people have used leather to create all sorts of ornaments and clothes for various purposes. Leather is also popular because it is strong and durable, and also traps body heat.

Even though leather wristbands have been popular for decades, till today, it is still in fashion. Especially in western countries, you can find many people wearing leather wristbands, each with a unique design that sets them apart from others. This wide variety of styles and designs are often influenced by culture and the history of fashion in that nation. However, there are certain types of leather wristbands that are preferred among others. For example, many men all around the world prefer handmade Italian leather wristbands because they are exotic, rare, and are a sign of wealth and prestige. These wristbands are also handmade from leather that is genuine, which ensures that they are of the highest quality.

Other types of popular leather wristbands include those that are designed to appear like authentic Roman ornaments. These wristbands are designed to look and feel like the wristbands that Roman soldiers and citizen would have worn during their period of civilization. You will find that these leather wristbands are often fitted with double snaps, which were commonly used in the Roman Empire.

Milan style wristbands are also gaining popularity with its prominent detailing and bold designs. These designs often include small studs and intricate leather stitching that add to the elaborate patterns found on the wristband. This follows closely with Venetian style wristbands, which also employ the same type of intricate and detailed designs. However, these Venetian style wristbands often also double up as a wallet, allowing you to keep your dollar bills in a small compartment attached.

Among young people, there is also a range of leather wristbands that are fast gaining popularity. These wristbands are often made from black leather, and have metal studs and other metal pieces attached to it. This follows closely with the punk culture in many countries, which uses these wristbands as a statement of their beliefs, which is just one of many ways which the leather wristbands has been used.

Leather Wristband Guide. "Leather Wristband." 30 Sep. 2009
[http://www.buywristband.com/leather-wristband.html].

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MTV’s The Hills Provides Inspiration for Games for Girls

About Girl Dress up Games Online


Online Games for girls is a great way to get tweens and teens involved in fashion. It's fun and it's usually free. Moreover, online fashion games enable girls to emulate their TV heroes, to develop their own sense of style, and to get involved in the internet culture in a safe way. The sheer range of free fashion games online is staggering, but they all revolve around the same concept: girls login to a safe environment, and create virtual outfits online by dressing up an avatar with the latest fashions, makeup and accessories, all within a virtual boutique. Free girls' dress up games are the perfect release for tweens and teens looking for new experiences, and seeking to emulate their role models.

Fashion Dress up Games - Reviving an Old Concept


games for girls are not a new idea. The Barbie doll has been captivating girls for generations. However, to enable girls to play new dress up games with the ever-popular doll, parents had to constantly purchase new fashion outfits and no small expense. The great thing about online fashion dress up games is that they are mostly free, and they can be updated to match the latest craze in a time where yesterday's fashion games for girls just won't do. The other great thing about online dress up games is that they are also part of the web 2.0 revolution, which emphasizes user generated content. That means that these new online boutiques display clothing ranges created by the users themselves.

Celebrity Fashion Games - MTV's The Hills


MTV's hit show The Hills can offer a great deal of inspiration for online games for girls. The Hills follows the lives of young fashion conscious women, as they leave home in Laguna Beach, California, and seek independence and a new path to adulthood, away from parental supervision. The main characters in the show, Lonrad Conrad, Audrina Patridge, Whitney Port, and Heidi Montag, all want to be involved in the fashion world, and in particular, fashion journalism.

Fashion Games Inspired by The Hills


MTV's The Hills represents a golden opportunity to introduce online celebrity fashion games. Such games enable the participating teens to tweens to emulate their heroes, and at the same time to play free fashion games. Websites, offering dress up Games for girls, such as GirlSense.com, can promote the show while at the same time offering an online boutique with the fashions worn by the characters from the popular TV show. Fashion items displayed in the boutique could include skinny jeans, the Hills logo T shirts, tank tops, bikini tops, etc. It's a really cool way for tweens and teens to have some free safe fun playing online dress up games.

Cold Crush is now a Hip Fashion Game

Cold Crush is an online fashion boutique that features lots of cool fashion items. It's everything young girls love about clothing. It's full of youthful exuberance and warm summer breezes. It's a about inspirational colors that symbolize a wannabe happy go lucky mood. Cold Crush is about caring for the environment, while making a statement about being young and carefree. It's also about being compassionate and caring for your fellow man. The clothes are designed to be contemporary as well as comfortable: perfect for the beach. Items include long t-shirts, tights, tunics, and hoodies.

Online games for girls are currently very popular. The concept is simple. Create a virtual outfit in an online boutique, choosing from a range of colors and styles. Generally all you do is drag and drop items on an avatar until you get that perfect online design. Online boutiques are always up to date with the latest fashions and trends. Websites offering fashion games also want to bring girls new experiences that are based on fashions that are actually out there on the street. For example, GirlSense.com has a boutique featuring the fashions of Cold Crush. Girls can use virtual money to purchase Cold Crush fashions, and dress up an avatar. It's great fun, and it looks incredibly real.

Websites such as Girlsense.com, which offer online fashion dress up games, are the perfect expression of the web 2.0 revolution. Such websites enable teens not only to buy outfits with virtual money, but also to create their own fashion boutiques, where they can display and sell clothes to other girls.

Games for girls are not a new idea. The Barbie doll has been captivating girls for generations. However, to enable girls to play new dress up games with the ever-popular doll, parents had to constantly purchase new fashion outfits, and at no small expense. The great thing about online fashion dress up games is that they are mostly free. These type of games are also regularly updated to match the latest craze, at a time where yesterday's fashion games for girls just won't do.

Free fashion games are also the perfect opportunity for teens and tweens to experience being entrepreneurs. By creating their own boutiques, and by selling their own creations to other members using virtual money, girls gain a great deal of satisfaction.

Online boutiques enable tweens and teens to develop their sense for fashion, while having fun at the same time. The Cold Crush brand is very popular with teens and tweens, as such it's a great source of inspiration for online fashion boutiques featuring items from the hip new line.