The Content Composer Org

Prints on canvas have risen up to be the latest trend over the last few years, largely due to the availability of canvas printers, inexpensive stretcher bars and canvas and an ageless lust for folk to express themselves in a very personalised style.

Nowadays you can go to a canvas print shop with your digital camera, and one hour later leave the shop with a large canvas print of one of your photos. There are infinite possibilities in terms of what you can embellish your abode with : family photos, your own artwork represented as a canvas print, holiday photos, other artist’s works, street scenes, graffiti prints, nature scenes etc. In a nutshell, it’s possible to decide what you wish on the canvas nowadays, instead of merely be limited to a set number of prints.

So is this a DIY art movement? That’s not really the case, not if you want a decent canvas print adorning your walls. You’re better off going to a professional print shop – they ought to be using the quality canvas, robust stretcher bars, will be proficient in clipping and stretching canvas, and be in possession of the best printers and software to create the best results. In addition, they have the expertise to adjust your photos to produce the greatest resulting print on the canvas itself.

Many canvas print shops sell their canvases online. Merely type in a keyphrase into a search engine such as contemporary canvas art and you’ll discover numerous shops where you can purchase these kinds of canvas prints from.

Cuban art is an assorted cultural merging of American, African and European visual design mirroring the various demographic of the island. Cuban creatives embraced European modernism and the 1920-1950 era witnessed an increase in Cuban vanguardism movements; these movements were marked by a mixing of modern artistic genres. Celebrated Cuban creatives were likely to come from the early part of the 1900s (for instance Amelia Pelez).

Perhaps the most notable piece of art to hail from Cuba was THAT photograph of Che Guevara (photograph by Mr Alberto Korda) which went onto become maybe one of the most famous photos of the past century. Today Cuban artwork is graced on numerous canvas prints.

The native modern art cause gained some pace following the opening of the art academy (San Alejandro) back in 1818, which was built to gratify the European appreciation of the middle class population of Cuba. In the late 19th century, landscape paintings were very representative within the Cuban art movement and classicism prevailed as the main art genre.

Nonetheless, the Vanguardia Cuban contemporary artists of the 1920s had scorned the theoretical orthodoxies of the national art academy of Cuba. In their early years, numerous artists had resided in France, where they learned and engaged in the tenets of surrealism, cubism, and modernist primitivism. They returned to Cuba dedicated to ground-breaking artistic styles and were motivated to mix this new artistic leaning with a Cuban influence. The pioneering artists attained global recognition back in 2003 when the MOMA exhibited the the Modern Cuban Painting show.

Bulldog Security is a very highly respected company that in the years has developed a strong line of products and built a confidential trust among the industry and among its customers and car owners in general. Looking at their catalogues, the Bulldog Alert Car Alarm line sticks out as the most advanced and technologically rich and it includes all the devices and features that in the modern world are becoming standard and that just a few years ago would have been very expensive gadgets. Remote start ignition or GPS tracking system, just to mention two of the most significant.

Bulldog Car Alarm products, although not really expensive, are very sophisticated and therefore they should be professionally installed to avoid malfunctions of the alarm and especially damaging your car’s electrical system. The Bulldog Alert line is mostly based on wireless technology and includes some very nice and easy to use remote controls that are pocket size, appealing to the eye and usually they can memorize several functions, to automate your car experience, as much as you can. Bulldog Alert Car Alarm items go beyond protecting a vehicle, they are true state of the art devices capable of running the car for you; however you still get to drive it.

More car insurance issues and ideas, home improvement things like ceramic tiles and more.

Collecting diecast vehicles consists of acquiring specific items based on your particular interests, such as airplanes, cars, trains, ship models, etc. Although some people just accumulate them, this is a passionate hobby for most folks, in which the genuine collector organizes carefully those items to catalog them and proudly display them. The depth and breadth of every collection is as unique as every collector is, and they are the ones that determine if a collection will focus on a specific subtopic within their area of general interests or if they only want to accumulate determined items. As an example, a collector may collect diecast vehicles trying to accumulate any or all of them, while another individual could prefer collecting only a model, brand or marquee.

Diecast vehicles and toys are an example of a collection that is never-ending. When you start collecting these vehicles it is like traveling back in time until the early decades of the 20th century when manufacturers such as Tootsie Toys in the United States, or Dinky Toys in the United Kingdom first produced the first diecast toys. Because the term “diecast” refers to any product produced using the casting method, the first models on the market were small cars or vans without plastic windows.

Over time, the vehicles were made of plastic and metal, more commonly an alloy of zinc and aluminum, including not only cars but also scale models of airplanes and trains, although automobiles are still the favorites among all of them. With more than 50 popular brands including Altaya, Bandai, Brooklin, CMC, Dragon Wings, Exoto, Guisval, Ixo, Jada, Johnny Ligntning, Kyosho, Lledo, Matchbox, Minichamps, Norev, Plasticos Argentinos, Racing Champions, RCCA, Revell, Tekno, Tomica, UT Models, Vitesse, and the popular Hot Wheels introduced by Mattel, among others.

Like with other popular collecting fields, diecast collecting has specialized commercial dealers that trade vehicles and related accessories. In fact, many individuals start collecting cars as a hobby to become dealers at a later date, either turning this hobby into a profession, or as a means to get extremely rare vehicles for their own collections, while they help other collectors in their pursuit of showcase-model cars. In the United Kingdom, there are teams specialized in visiting small and larger toy fairs to acquire incredible cars, in good conditions from Dinky Toys and Corgi, the main British collectibles companies. Dinky Toys was first introduced in early 1934 by Meccano Ltd of Liverpool, England, presenting a new line of modeled miniatures, as diecast vehicles were first known.

Corgi Toys began producing scale model cars until July 1956 under the supervision of Mettoy Playcraft Ltd. in Swansea, Wales, along with Dinky Toys, and the American Tootsie Toys, which is one of the most wanted brands of collectors worldwide. However, there are many other popular manufacturers from the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, etc.

Rarely a diecast collector completes a collection because new models of cars are always available, and collecting never stops, you can always expand or start an entirely new collection in a subtopic, such as cars, then sport cars, vans, etc. From Hot Wheels to Matchbox and from Bandai to Tomica, including all the other brands, diecasts models include popular automobile marques. Packard, MG, Morris, Hillman, Austin, Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Citroen, Opel, Triumph, Talbot, Gwynne, Vauxhall, Reliant, Singer, Bristol, Wolseley, Innocenti, Healey, Siddeley, BSA, Darracq, Crossley, Jowett, Frazer Nash, Northern, Renault, Ford, Chrysler, and the classics Jaguar, Mercedes Benz and Rolls Royce, just to name a few.

Broadening a collection is not that hard, even when focusing on a single marquee, because there are different models from the twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, sixties, seventies, etc. Hence, every diecast Collector has a world of possibilities when gathering diecast models from almost any period of time as early as models from 1885, when the first automobile driven by internal combustion was introduced by German inventor Karl Friedrich Benz, to actual models in modern car showcases.

Diecast vehicles come in various scales, the most popular ranging from 1:28 to 1:64 scale, although many collectors prefer focusing their collections on the 1:43 and 1:50 scales. Diecast toys were originally designed for children, but the collecting boom started during the 1950’s when grown children stated to keep their cars instead of throwing them away and adults discovered them as valuable collectible items.

There is computer software that is made just for collecting diecast vehicles. Anyone who has a small or large diecast vehicle collection can easily keep track of what vehicle they have, the color, condition, cost, value, scale and lots of other info for each record (vehicle). This is the most easiest to use software of it’s kind, and it is made 100% for diecast collecting. The software is described in detail and you can download a free demo version of it at this website address:

http://www.rb59.com/diecast

Copyright © 2006 Robert W. Benjamin

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter or on your website as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released software on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970’s-80’s.

RB59 Software
http://www.rb59.com/software

Collecting Royal Doulton Bunnykins is a thriving hobby, with about 400 figures to collect ranging from the common (£10-20) to limited editions (£50-£250). At any one moment there are between 1500 and 2000 Bunnykins figures for sale on Ebay with the rarest figures commanding high prices. The Bunnykins range is cleverly designed to appeal both to the gift market and collectors. Figures with a Christmas or Easter theme are fairly commonly issued, and there is a Bunnykins to represent most trades and professions. To appeal the collector market there are frequent limited edition and collectors club issues.

This article specialises in the Bunnykins figures. Originally six figures were produced in 1939, production ceasing during World War II. These six original figures are very rare and cost between £500 and £2000. The six original figures are “Billy”, “Mary”, “Farmer”, “Mother”, “Freddie”, and “Reggie”. Of these “Mary” turns up on Ebay the most, one recently selling for £681. Less common figures sell for more, with “Reggie” recently achieving £1500 on Ebay.

After the war production was not resumed until Royal Doulton purchased the Beswick factory and the first of the modern figures was produced in 1972. This range of figures is labelled “DB” and now numbers some 400 figures, varying in rarity and value. Several limited editions have been produced, most notably, Happy Millennium Bunnykins Tableau, of which only two have been produced (one in the Royal Doulton Museum and the other sold at auction in 2000 for £9,800).

Ebay has certainly driven prices of Bunnykins down, and Ebay auctions for common Bunnykins rarely reach more than half the retail price or book value. However, the limited editions continue to hold prices well especially the limited editions with low issue numbers. To illustrate, the Bunnykins Oompah Band, comprising a sousaphone player, trumpeter, cymbals player, drummer and band major has been issued three times. The first, a red version, was issued between 1984 and 1990 and sell for £40-45 per figure on Ebay. The second edition, a blue version, was produced in a limited edition of 250, and sells for £200-300 per figure. Interestingly the 3rd version (green) was also produced in a limited edition of 250 but has not been seen by the author on Ebay.

As well as limited editions prototypes and one off variations occasionally come onto the market. Genuine examples generate high prices on Ebay, recently a prototype of Father Bunnykins, which usually sells for £15-£20, sold for £700.

Bunnykins are great to collect and whilst the prices are low they make a good investment. The low prices currently being seen on Ebay are not sustainable in the long term, and it is likely that the number of figures on the market will reduce in the near future prompting a rebound on the prices. So, buy them now whilst they’re great value!

Contact Lance@bunnykinscollector.co.uk, http://www.bunnykinscollector.co.uk

An indescribable sensation

streaming through my body

a sensation of pain

a sensation of sadness,

It is a mix of many emotions

It is causing great commotion

It is become chaotic

It is like a tornado

Or something fierce

It is an indescribable sensation

The sensation is strong

Like fireworks in my mind,

causing crackling in my mind

the explosion almost more

intense than I can handle

It is like a fearsome mouth of fire is in me

A monstrous being

Trapped in my very body

This creature is in me

In the very thing that keeps me alive

in my very own body

This thing this, is intimidating

With such drama accruing

My mind has begun to have sudden convulsions,

The trauma will be permanent

It is causing me to be antagonized buy anxiety

I ask myself is this possible

Is this really happening

Can it be true

Am I dreaming

I have an indescribable sensation

The sensation of longing

The sensation of need

The sensation that should not be

The sensation that only causes more pain

I feel I have been framed

Framed of a horrendous crime

Something unforgivable

Something that I am not able to handle

There for causing this traumatic sensation

An undescribable sensation

one that is not meant for any human to experience

one that was never meant to be felt or known of

I can not take it on I am no match for it

it shale termanate me

This indescribable sensation,

shall certainly terminate me

and all that shall be left is silence,

silence and darkness

I am big on philosophy and I am a big fan of Nietzsches work. I also fins that Marilyn Manson (Brian Werner) has some very good philosophys (although controversal and he is not thecnically a philosopher but of course neither am I) I also enjoy many other philosophers and I am considering a carrer with something to do with philosophy and or writeing. I am a very dramatic person and like anything to do with drama, including theater. I also like photography!

Poetry is more than just rhyming and prose that is in meters and verse. It is an art form. It is something that can not be judged by its cover and can not be criticized to the point where it just “sucks.” Poetry is about expression. Poetry expresses the way we feel on a certain subject through imagery and other senses. It helps us deal with our daily problems, be it good or bad.

The emotion which is put within the poem brings it life. A poem without emotion is not a poem at all but simply prose. Poetry is what makes us feel happy or sad, mad or gleeful, loving or broken hearted. Poetry is life on paper. It does not need to be of a certain subject or even rhyme.

Poetry is poetry. It has its own mind. If it flows good if not… it needs work. The rules can be bent but not broken. Our life is our life and no one can tell us what we have been through but ourselves. We know best not some stranger reading our poems. Our poetry is our life, not what someone says.

Rhyming in poetry is not always the best way to express yourself. Rhyming actually takes away many words that could have been used. If you try to rhyme it cuts your dictionary into little pieces. It doesn’t need to be this way, choose flow over rhyme.

As a result of this, poetry is defined as a way of putting flowing words together in meter and verse to show emotion or tell a story.

Poetry in a Nutshell is written by Gary R. Hess, author and owner of Famous Poems — a haven for poets.

If you’ve been looking for a creative art project to do with the kids, look no further! I recently did a fun project with my daughter and thought I’d share the how-to for other parents who are looking for ways to keep their kids busy and creative all while making something useful for around the home!

What You’ll Need

A wooden step ladder
Spray paint (your choice of color)
Sponges (either cut into shapes of your choice or pre-purchased in shapes)
Letter Stencils (of your child’s name)
Craft Paint (your choice of colors)
Newspaper (the older the better)
Smock or old clothing for you and your child

Now you’re ready to start creating. A little preparation is needed before bringing your child into the project. Take the step ladder outside and put it on the newspaper and spray paint it, covering the entire step ladder thoroughly. Let it dry overnight and you’ll be ready to bring your child into the project the next day!

Bring the painted ladder to your work area (outside is recommended). Work with your child to sponge paint the shapes onto the ladder in the colors of your choice. Let it dry thoroughly.

Next, help your child stencil their name(s) onto the ladder. I’d recommend doing it on the side, and not the top, as the top will take a bit of wear if you plan to let your child use it. If it is to be a decoration for the porch of your child’s room, putting the name on top will be ok if you choose to do so. Let it dry.

Your child now has a ladder, personally designed by them, to use. Put it in the corner of their room and through their favorite stuffed animal or trophies or photographs on top. You can also use the ladder as décor in your garden or on your porch. More practically, you can let your child use it for help in reaching the bathroom sink or other out of the way place they need to get to on a frequent basis.

While you can buy a step stool in the store, making one with your child not only gives you an activity to do together to get in some quality time, but it also will serve as a reminder for many years of the time you spent together and may even end up as a hand me down to your grandchildren.

And remember, above all, have fun!

Chuck Greene is the owner and operator of a little ladder website called Ladder Fanatic. It is a testament to his unique (some may call it crazy) love of ladders – especially the Little Giant Ladder brand ladders. www.ladderfanatic.com

Funny Love Poems

When most people think of love poems, they think of serious and soulful expressions of passion. Long sonnets by Shakespeare or romantic poems by Browning and Lord Byron are the norm for love poetry. However, funny love poems can be good for a laugh. They may not be romantic, but they do give your friends something to enjoy.

Some of the best funny love poems are limericks. Limericks started in Ireland and follow a standard form of five lines and a rhyme scheme of aabba. Here are a few limericks written by anonymous authors:

There once was an old man of Lyme
Who married three wives at a time
When asked “Why a third?”
He replied, “One’s absurd!
And bigamy, Sir, is a crime.”

There was a young fellow named Hammer
Whose had an unfortunate stammer
“The b-bane of my life”
Said he, “Is m-m-my wife
D-d-d-d-d-d-damn ‘er!”

She made friends with a young undertaker;
Her last boyfriend had forsaken her.
But she started to curse
When he turned up in a hearse.
She said next time I’ll date a baker!

There was a young lady named Constance,
From boys she wouldn’t stand any nonsense.
If her partners grew deft
She would lead with her left;
The results would not weigh on her conscience.

My sweetheart and I are just wed.
Already I wish I were dead.
Two weeks she’s been spending.
It was time never ending.
We are thousands of pounds in the red!

Limericks are fairly easy to write if you can rhyme well, so you might try writing a limerick yourself that includes the name of your friend or loved one. This is a good way to make a funny love poem that is personalized.

You can find more information about funny poems at:
http://www.love-poems-quotes.info/funny-love-poems.html

Art Hill is an internet poet who operates an independant poetry publishing company.

Scrapbooking:

Tie onto a tag, photo mat, border, or photo as an accent.

Use with a hole punch to make a booklet.

Tie onto clips attached to paper.

Use to secure a fold open photo frame.

Staple along the edge of a photo for a border.

Place behind a photo to use as a mat.

Tie in a knot and adhere with a glue dot.

Attach a ribbon charm and use as a long border.

Thread through eyelets and tie as an accent.

Tie onto a slide holder for a small picture frame.

Tie onto each end of a metal label holder.

Tie small bits of ribbon onto a larger piece of ribbon for a unique border.

Attach diagonally along the corner(s) of a photo.

Stamp words and sayings onto ribbons for titles.

Crafting:

Tie numerous ribbons around the lid of a gift box.

Tie small bits of ribbon along the handle of a gift bag.

Tie small bits of ribbon on each piece of a spiral notebook.

Fold and staple along the top of a gift bag.

Tie around a sketchbook, journal or diary.

Tie ribbons through buttonholes and attach with glue dots.

Weave ribbons to use as placements, wallhangings, etc.

Use fabric stiffener to make ribbon bookmarks.

Make a french ribbon board to hold notes and photos.

Tie around the handle of a mug and fill with candy for a gift.

Use a hoop and long ribbons to make a mobile for breezy summer days.

Home Decor:

Use long/wide ribbons to store and display barrettes and pins.

Overlap and hang various ribbon styles/lengths on a bathroom window.

Tie around glass jars in the kitchen and bathroom.

Tie onto candle holders (away from the heat/flame, please!).

Decorate old wooden cigar boxes with ribbon and glue dots.

Wrap around an old or damage photo frame.

Sew ribbon to your plain dishtowels.

Tie large ribbons to the backs of chairs for a fun lunch or dinner.

Tie ribbons onto napkin holders.

Tie beads onto ribbon and then attach to a lampshade.

Use ribbons and painted clothespins to make a card/artwork wall display.

Tie to the tops of curtains for a festive display.

Make ribbon tassels to hang in your home.

Sew ribbons onto the edges of your sheets, pillowcases and curtains.

Decorate a flower pot with ribbons.

Fashion:

Tie ribbons onto your hangers, drawer pulls and shower curtain.

Tie a ribbon onto any zipper pulls you have!

Tie bits of ribbon onto a large safety pin for a quick accessory.

Use your ribbons as hair bows.

Tie around your neck for a quick accent.

Use wide ribbon alone or weave smaller ribbons to make a belt.

Use for a watch band.

Tie bits of ribbon around the handles of your pocketbook.

Sew/attach ribbon onto hats, clothing, socks, shoes and belts.

Use slide holders, ribbons and photos to make jewelry.

Copyright 2005 Antuanette Wheeler www.misstonigifts.com

A note for store owners, list owners, website owners or others: You may use this
article on your website, store newsletter or any other media as long as you allow the
article to be printed or show in its entirety and include any links that are within the
article. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions or ideas, feel free to
contact me at misstonigiftsnet@aol.com. Thanks!

Miss Toni Gifts started out as a small pin sales site and blossomed over the last few
years into a pin/bookmark combo design business. We are three women who have
known each other forever. We have all been involved in scouting, scrapbooking and
general arts and crafts for a LONG time. This is really a family affair because Glenda
is the Mom, Toni is the daughter, and Missy is a friend for over 20 years!