Svend Nelson is a university lecturer and Internet entrepreneur specializing in online business strategy and marketing. While he is active in various industries; his online presences in the arts and crafts industry include Thailand handicrafts and ceramics from Vietnam. Svend lived and worked in various countries across Latin America, Europe and Asia before settling on Koh Samui in Thailand.

...

crafts-14
Clay Pot Crafts : Make a Bell for the Porch Crafts Back To Snippet Back To SITEMAP   Clay Pot Crafts : Make a Bell for the Porch Author: Paul Duxbury Clay pot crafts are a cute way to make home decorations. In clay pot crafts, clay flower pots can be crafted into a variety of decorative things that appeal to gardeners. Usually, the crafter begins with new pots. The pots are often decorated with paint as well as being tied together with rope or cord to create things.Pots for clay pot crafts can be purchased in many different sizes, from tiny ones not more than 2 inches in diameter, to huge ones over a foot across. For a beginning project, start with smaller pots. The beginner should also choose clay pot crafts that don't use too many pots in too elaborate a design.An example of a good craft for someone new at clay pot crafts is to make a bell from two clay pots. Buy one pot that is about five or six inches in diameter, and another that is very small. You will use the small one as the clapper for the bell. You will also need some decorative cord, two large wooden beads, and paint in desired colours. You may also wish to purchase some glue-on jewels to decorate the bell. The bell makes a nice decoration for a front porch.Cut the cord two feet (60 cm.) long. Fold the end over 3 inches (8 cm.) and tie in an overhand knot, making a loop. This loop is for hanging the bell from a hook or a nail. Now turn the larger clay pot upside-down. Pass the loose end of the cord down through the hole in the pot. Lay the pot on its side and slide one of the large wooden beads up the cord until it is about 10 inches (25 cm.) from the loose end. Now tie the cord around the bead so that the bead cannot slip from its position on the cord. If you have done this correctly, you can lift the pot by the loop. In clay pot crafts, the beads must be large enough to stop the cord from going through the hole in the bottom of the pot.On the loose end of the cord, you are going to attach the small pot in the same way. Slide the small pot up the cord to make it easier to tie the other large wooden bead on the end of the cord. Now when you lift the entire arrangement by the loop, the smaller pot should hang freely inside the larger pot, making a pleasant sound when it claps against the larger pot.Decorate the outside of the larger pot with paint as desired. You may like to paint it in black and white patches for a Holstein cow theme. You may also like to decorate the top of the bell with silk or dried flowers and greenery and a ribbon bow.For a variation on this craft, make three of the bells and hang them from a horizontal piece of driftwood or other interesting piece of natural wood. When making hanging clay pot crafts, always make sure the beads are large enough and are tied tightly in place, because the clay pots will break if they fall to the ground.Other clay pot crafts include making a large doll or scarecrow of nested pots strung together and painted. The doll can sit on a chair or a step of the front porch. Paint his face to look like a scarecrow, a jack-o-lantern, a gnome, or a child. Clay pot crafts are especially suited to being displayed outside.Paul is Head of Training for a major UK Charitable Organisation. He owns one of the UK's Leading Information Providers PK eBooks (http://www.pk-ebooks.co.uk) and has recently launched http://www.profitable-crafts.co.uk ... crafts-10 Common Crafts For Kids To Make For Fathers Day Crafts Back To Snippet Back To SITEMAP   Common Crafts For Kids To Make For Fathers Day Author: Tim Bryce "Manage more, supervise less." - Bryce's LawWhen I got into the work force back in the mid-1970's it seemed everyone dressed in a suit and tie, drank black coffee, smoked their brains out, and worked their butts off. Today, golf shirts have replaced suits, herbal tea and bottled water have replaced coffee, nobody is allowed to smoke, and rarely does anyone work beyond 5:00pm. More importantly, we used to care about the work we produced; there was a sense of craftsmanship, regardless of the job.My Brother-in-law in Cincinnati conducted me on a tour of his company's machine-tool shop years ago and showed me how he could take a block of aluminum and convert it into a high-precision machine tool. It was a pleasure to watch him work, as it is to watch anyone who knows what they are doing, be it a waitress, a programmer, a laborer or a clerk.Quality and service used to be considered paramount in this country. If it wasn't just right, you were expected to do it over again until you got it right. We cared about what we produced because it was a reflection of our personal character and integrity. But somewhere along the line we lost our way and craftsmanship has fallen by the wayside. Why? Probably because we no longer care.In today's litigious society, employees are acutely aware that it is difficult to be fired due to poor performance. They know they will still get paid and receive benefits, regardless of the amount of effort they put forth. Consequently, there is little to encourage people to perform better. Money isn't a motivating factor anymore. People now expect bonuses, raises and other perks to be paid out regardless of how well they perform during the year.We've also become a nation content with doing small things. America used to be known as a powerhouse that could tackle large projects, such as building skyscrapers, designing innovative bridges and tunnels spanning substantial bodies of water, engineering transcontinental railroads and highway systems, conquering air and space travel, and defending freedom not just once but in two world wars. If you really wanted something done, you talked to the Americans and no one else. Now we get excited over iPods, cell phones, and other electronic trinkets.Many believe Craftsmanship is in decline due to the general apathy found in today's society. Maybe. I tend to believe it is due to an erosion of our moral values. Let me give you an example. Having a child in college, my interest was piqued recently by an article describing the pervasiveness of cheating and plagiarism in our schools. It is not my intent to make a political statement here but many of the students mentioned in the article rationalized their cheating on the fact that one of our past Presidents cheated and lied under oath, and got away with it. They figured if it is okay for the Commander-in-Chief to act this way, it was an acceptable form of behavior.Arnold Toynbee, the famed English historian, observed, "Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder." If the moral fabric of our society dies, our story is told as evidenced by other great civilizations that long preceded us. Our perspective needs to be realigned: Our personal and professional lives must be viewed as one. As Toynbee remarked, "The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play." By doing so, we identify more closely with our work and assume a greater pride in workmanship. We do not need to hear this from our boss, but rather from within. As strange as it may sound, I see Craftsmanship as being patriotic in nature; doing a good quality job is part of leading a good and honorable life and builds on the individual's esteem, the company he works for, and the country he lives in.The biggest problem though is that we have forgotten how to manage people. The manager's primary goal is to create the proper work environment for employees to produce the desired work products. This is different than a supervisory capacity that directs how each person performs the various tasks of a job. In fact, I encourage managers to manage more and supervise less. I cringe when I see a manager try to "micromanage" either a Fortune 500 company or a non-profit organization.Yes, people need to be trained in order to properly perform their work but following this, employees should be mature enough to supervise themselves. In the old days, management stressed discipline, accountability, and structure; three ugly words in today's workplace.Understanding CraftsmanshipSome might say craftsmanship is a simple concept that we should intuitively know. Not true; most people today have no comprehension as to what makes up a good craftsman; they have either forgotten or it has simply passed them by. Craftsmanship can be found in any field of endeavor imaginable, be it in the product sector or service industry. Craftsmanship, therefore, is universally applicable to any line of work.Craftsmanship is not "workmanship", nor is it synonymous with quality, although the three concepts are closely related. Let's begin by giving "Craftsmanship" a definition: "The production and delivery of quality goods or services from highly skilled workmen."Quality relates to the absence of errors or defects in the finished product or service. In other words, finished goods operate according to their specifications (customers get precisely what they ordered). Such products are normally durable and require minimal maintenance. Craftsmanship produces quality products. In the absence of craftsmen, a rigorous methodology or assembly line process is required to produce quality goods using workers without the expertise of craftsmen. Such processes detail "Who" is to perform "What" work, "When", "Where", "Why" and "How" (5W+H), thereby assuring a quality product or service is produced. Such is the underlying rationale of the ISO 9000 certification as used by many companies today. The point is, quality is not the exclusive domain of the craftsman.Craftsmanship is also a human trait. Some might argue a computer or industrial robot can produce quality products and are, therefore, craftsmen. However, we must remember these devices are programmed by human beings in accordance with the rules of the craftsman. As such, they are an extension or tool of the craftsman.Craftsmanship can be found in either the overall work process or a section of it. For example, there are craftsmen who are intimate with all facets of building furniture, such as a table, a chair or desk, and can implement the product from start to finish. However, as products grow in complexity, it becomes difficult to find people suitably qualified to build them from the womb to the tomb. Consider military weapons alone, such as the complicated ships, tanks, and airplanes we now use, with thousands or millions of parts to assemble. Such complexity makes it impossible for a single person to have the expertise to build the whole product. The same is true in the service sector where different types of expertise and capabilities may be required. In other words, craftsmen have a specific scope of work. The scope of work may relate to other types of craftsmen through a chain of work dependencies, e.g., Craftsmen A, B and C concentrate on separate sub-assemblies which are eventually joined into a single product.AttributesSo, what are the attributes of a craftsman? What makes a craftsman a craftsman? There are three basic attributes described herein:1. Possesses the necessary knowledge and skills to perform the work.The craftsman is an expert in his field of endeavor; so much so that he could easily serve as an instructor in the subject matter. But the craftsman is also smart enough to know that education is not a one time thing, that his world and field evolve as new tools and techniques are introduced. As such, the craftsman is a student of his profession and is constantly looking to improve himself. This is exercised through such things as continued education, routine certification, studying books and trade publications, and industrial groups. The craftsman willingly participates in trade groups, often at his own expense, in order to network with his peers.It is Important to note that the craftsman does not need to be told he needs periodic training to sharpen his skills. Instead, he takes the personal initiative to stay on top of his game. Further, the craftsman has no problem with a periodic job review; in fact, he welcomes it for it might bring out a weakness in a skill he needs to sharpen.2. Attention to detail.The craftsman understands and respects the process of building/delivering a product or service and is acutely aware of the penalties for cutting corners. Earlier we discussed the need for a methodology that specifies 5W+H. The craftsman is intimate with all details of his scope of work, so much so, he could probably write the methodology himself. Further, his intimacy of the work process means he can produce a reliable estimate of time and costs to perform the work.Although many of the craftsman's tasks may be repetitive, it doesn't mean he easily falls into a rut. Instead, he is constantly looking for new tools and techniques to improve the work process. As such, he plays the role of Industrial Engineer who is normally charged with such a task.The craftsman's attention to detail also means that he demonstrates patience in his work effort. Again, wary of cutting corners, the craftsman must possess such patience in order to produce the product the right way.3. Views professional life as an extension of his personal life.The craftsman identifies with the end product which is where pride in workmanship comes from. In his mind, the craftsman has been charged with the responsibility of producing something, and wanting to satisfy the customer, puts forth his best effort to produce it. In other words, craftsmen take their work personally. This is a difficult trait to teach particularly in today's society where the focus is more on financial compensation than on the work product itself. It may sound naive, but the craftsman believes he will be suitably compensated for producing superior results.Years ago, Dick Butkus of the Chicago Bears (NFL) confounded sports writers who could never understand why Butkus played as hard as he did year after year for a losing football team. True, Dick loved the game, but beyond that, the sports writers didn't understand one thing about the seven time All-Pro linebacker: Butkus took his job personally. It was important to him that his opponents know that they had been tackled by the best player; as he said, "When they get up from the ground I want them to say 'it must have been Butkus that got me'." Dick Butkus was a craftsman.The craftsman has a burning desire to produce a superior product/service because he sees it as a reflection of himself. As such, the lines delineating their personal life and professional life are blurred. This is a significant characteristic that clearly separates a craftsman from the average worker. The craftsman's work is his life. He does not shirk responsibility, but rather embraces it with confidence and embosses his name on the finished product. Conversely, making a work related mistake of any kind pains a true craftsman.Job titles are normally inconsequential to the craftsman who is more interested in delivering a quality product/service enjoyed by the customer. Instead, the craftsman takes pleasure in being touted as the best in his craft. He appreciates recognition; when someone makes a compliment about a product, the craftsman views it as a personal compliment. This too runs contrary to today's corporate world where people desperately seek recognition through simple job titles. Want someone with an inflated ego? Give them a title. Want something done right? Call a craftsman.Productivity"Dependable", "professional", and "resourceful" are adjectives that aptly describe the craftsman. He is not one who fabricates excuses but, rather, always finds a way to get the job done. The craftsman is typically your most productive employee. He is mindful of the concept of productivity that we have touted for years:Productivity = Effectiveness X EfficiencyMost people fallaciously equate productivity with efficiency, which simply gauges how fast we can perform a given task. Effectiveness, on the other hand, validates the necessity of the task itself. There is nothing more unproductive than to do something efficiently that should not have been done at all. An industrial robot, for example, can efficiently perform such tasks as welding. But if you are welding the wrong thing, then it is counterproductive. Going back to our description of a methodology, effectiveness defines "Who/What/When/Where/Why", efficiency defines "How." The craftsman is well aware of the difference between the two and knows how to apply both. As such, the craftsman is in tune with his work environment and corporate culture.So how do we make craftsmen?Not easily. Because of the human dynamics involved with the craftsman, you will need to be a pretty intuitive manager or industrial psychologist to make it happen. Selecting suitable candidates is the logical first step. Devise an aptitude test to determine the candidate's suitability to become a craftsman. After all, "you cannot make a silk purse from a sow's ear." Aside from specific knowledge and experience in a given field (e.g., programming, woodworking, construction, accounting, etc.), here are some other important traits to look for:Fertility of mind - judge his ability to learn, to adapt to changing conditions, and to look beyond his scope of work. Evaluate his professional curiosity.Confidence - judge how well the candidate knows himself, particularly how well he knows his own limitations. He should admit his deficiencies and not fabricate excuses.Dedication - judge his loyalty and determination to accomplish something. What is his attendance record? What outside clubs and organizations does he belong to and how active is he in them?Entrepreneurial spirit - judge his personal initiative. Is he driven to succeed (but not to the point of reckless abandon)? Does he have a problem with accountability? This says a lot about assuming responsibility.Attention to detail - judge his ability to focus on a subject. Does he have a problem with discipline or organization? A person's dress, mannerisms, and speech says a lot about a person.Reliability - judge his ability to assume responsibility and carry a task through to completion.Resourcefulness - judge his ability to adapt to changing conditions and persevere to see a task through to completion. The candidate cannot be inflexible; he must be able to find solutions to solve problems.Socialization skills - does he work better alone or as a team player? His position may depend on his answer. When you have selected suitable candidates, here are three areas to concentrate on:Develop their skills and knowledge by allowing such things as: participation in trade groups, outside certification and on-going training, subscriptions to trade journals, continued education, etc. Some companies even go as far as to develop an in-house school to teach the company's way of doing things. If the in-house school is good, it will promote confidence through consistency. Even if people leave the company, they will recommend your company because they know the quality of the work produced. Supporting the education needs of our workers is not only smart, it is good business.Teach them the need for producing quality work; they should become intimate with all aspects of their work process (5W+H). Further, instill discipline and patience in their work effort.Change their attitude towards development so they become more focused on delivering a quality end-product. This is perhaps the most difficult element to teach. However, it can be realized by having them become intimate with the needs of the customer (have them visit or work with a customer for awhile - "let them walk in the customer's shoes"). It may also be necessary to change their form of remuneration by going to a reward system for work produced (as opposed to guaranteed income regardless of what is produced). Changing the mode of financial compensation is highly controversial in today's business world. But, as an example, can you imagine the change of attitude of today's professional athletes if they were paid based on their accomplishments (e.g., runs or points scored, hits, rebounds, etc.) rather than having a guaranteed income? Their motivation and attitude towards their profession and team would change radically.Candidates must learn to respect their institution, the process by which they work, fellow human beings, and themselves. They must also learn not to be afraid to TRY; that they must put their best foot forward, win or lose. Bottom-line: they must learn that their work has meaning and worth. If they don't enjoy their work, they shouldn't be doing it. "There are two things that I want you to make up your minds to: first, that you are going to have a good time as long as you live - I have no use for the sour-faced man - and next, that you are going to do something worthwhile, that you are going to work hard and do the things you set out to do." - President Theodore Roosevelt Talk to schoolchildren in Oyster Bay, Christmas-time 1898CertificationTeaching the elements listed above probably cannot be done in one fell swoop. Further, companies simply don't have the time or money to wait for the craftsman to be produced. Instead, they must understand the human spirit needs to be cultivated and be allowed to grow over time. Because of this, it is strongly recommended that an in-house certification program be devised specifying what the candidate should know and what skills and talents he should demonstrate. This should be divided into classes of progressive expertise; e.g., apprentice, intermediary, and craftsman. The ancient builders in Egypt, Rome, and Greece understood this concept and devised such classes of workmen. Other disciplines and schools follow similar tactics (the various degrees or belts in martial arts for example). Each degree is based on specific prerequisites to master before moving on to the next level.An in-house certification program has the added nuance of making people feel special which greatly enhances their self esteem. If they are made to feel like a vital part of the company, regardless if their work of a large magnitude or trivial, they will strive to do what is best for the company overall, not just themselves. Consequently, their work adds meaning to their life.There is one pitfall to all of this; today's "go-go" management style fails to see how craftsmanship adds value to the company. In fact, there were companies back in the 1980's that shut down such programs simply to reduce costs. As a result, quality suffered, repeat business was lost, products were more in need of repair, absenteeism on the job escalated, etc. Want value? How does a loyal customer base who has confidence in your products or services sound? And what effect would employee harmony have, particularly if they believ ... crafts-3crafts-8 A noble cause with profit too. Crafts Back To Snippet Back To SITEMAP   A noble cause with profit too. Author: Ms.Lakshmi Devi What started out, as an export of hand-woven fabric and bed linen to the United States, with special customers, like exclusive boutiques is today Kalpa Druma - the one place you'd go to for quality handicrafts. From the States, we went to Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. It was only in 1994 that retail operations began with Kalpa Druma, by sourcing handicrafts from all over the country for a niche people.The specialty of Kalpa Druma is that we have crafts from all over India, from every nook and corner. Every season we come out with something different and new. We have designers working with us and we work with very specialized craftsmen, about 150 of them. Soon we diversified into home textiles.Since we did a lot of printed linen that became a logical extension into ladies clothing. It was another big area that we never thought we would start, but we did finally. Till now we were focussing on products. But over the years we have realized that we need to present our craftsmen instead of just their products alone. So we have shows where they will feature a particular craftsman and make it an exhibition of his products. The proceeds go back to him. A noble cause with profit too.About the AuthorMs. Lakshmi DeviExind Corporation26, Lady Madhava Road,Mahalingapuram,Chennai - 600034Tel: +91-44-28171547+91-44-28117652Fax: +91-44-28111681Brought to you by AA ARTICLES ... crafts-5 Mothers Day Crafts : Please Don't Buy Another Uninspired Mothers Day Gift! Crafts Back To Snippet Back To SITEMAP   Mothers Day Crafts : Please Don't Buy Another Uninspired Mothers Day Gift! Author: Ken Marlborough Father's Day crafts are a perfect way for kids to show their love to their fathers without spending a huge amount of money. Father's Day crafts are articles made out of material available around the house and fashioned into cute gifts by kids. Father's Day crafts are especially popular with girls.The greatest advantage of Father's Day crafts is that they can be prepared by children as young as three or four years old, thereby giving them a chance to know the true meaning of the celebration.There are various examples of items and articles that can be created by children out of materials like glue, cardboard, crayons and other simple materials found commonly in households. Hand-made cards are good examples of simple father's day crafts.The various materials used for making Father's Day crafts include cardboard, felt, paper, glue, Popsicle sticks, crayons, markers, scissors, papier-mâché, construction paper, shoe boxes, cereal boxes and juice containers.Some examples of crafts are given below:Business Card Holders, using Popsicle sticks, craft paint, glue and various decorations.Pad Holder, using Post-It Pads, cardboard, markers and crayons, glue, scissors and a magnet if the pad holder has to be magnetic.Billiards Clock, using felt paper of various colors, black marker, glue, scissors, corrugated cardboard and a set of clockworks.A Party Pot, which is basically any material of pot painted and then glued with decorative paper.Cute bookends with personal messages of photos can be created out of cardboard cartons, newspapers, papier-mâché, paste, and painting material.Door knobs and wall hangings can be made from cardboard, decorations and crayons.Fathers Day provides detailed information on Father's Day, Father's Day Cards, Father's Day Crafts, Father's Day Gift Baskets and more. Fathers Day is affiliated with Mother's Day. ... crafts-21 Easy St. Patrick Day Crafts for Kids of All Ages Crafts Back To Snippet Back To SITEMAP   Easy St. Patrick Day Crafts for Kids of All Ages Author: Lori Bedard Crafts have always been a great way to spend some time with your kids and others. If you teach a Sunday school class, or a 4H group, you’re constantly on the lookout for fun and easy crafts. No matter the ages of the children you’re working with, this is a great time to teaching sharing, tolerance, encouragement, appreciation of others work, pride in your own work and much more. Use the time to enjoy each other. Don’t expect perfection. Stress enjoyment and putting forth your best effort. When you’re done, share your crafts with others.Kiss me, Blarney Stone Critter3-6 inch long smooth stone (washed)Green paintAssorted other colors of paintGlitter, eyes, scraps of lace, pipe cleaners etc.GlueNewspaperPlace newspaper on table. I use old adult t-shirts as cover-ups for the kids. Paint stones green. Allow to dry. Decorate with paints and assorted scraps of lace, fabric, glitter and whatever else your imagination dreams up. This allows a lot of room for different ages, abilities and creative styles. Now you have crafted your own personal Blarney Stone.Easy Shamrock Necklace CraftHeart cookie cutter (or plastic glass to trace)Heavy poster board in green or whiteYarn or heavy stringGlueScissorsPencilsGlitter, paint, markers etc. for decoratingUse the cookie cutter to make a pattern for your shamrock. Make sure you overlap the ends of each leaf, not leaving the center of the shamrock too thin. Don’t forget to add the stem, making it thick also. For young children, it helps to make a ‘template’ they can trace and cut out. Some children can make the shamrock design themselves. If you’re working with very young children, it helps to have the shamrocks already cut out. Next, punch a hole in the top of the shamrock. Now use glitter, paint, markers and whatever else you have available to decorate your necklace. If you’ve used glue, allow time for them to dry. Finally cut yarn (or string) and pull through hole in top. Tie and slip your shamrock necklace on.Extra: If your children are older, you can use your shamrock template to make cutout cookies. Trace around the template with a knife. Add green sprinkles and bake according to the recipe. Now share your shamrock cookies.St Patrick’s Day PuzzlePicture with Irish themePoster BoardGlue (or spray glue)ScissorsPen or markerGlue picture to poster board. Take care to smooth out all air bubbles, and to have the whole picture glued down. Allow glue to dry. Use the marker to make lines for the puzzle pieces on the back of the poster board. Carefully cut out on the lines. For younger children make fewer pieces. For older children make smaller pieces. For extra fun, have the children make each others puzzles.Variation: Have the children drawn their own picture to use for the puzzle, or color a picture from a coloring book. Remember, St Patrick is said to have driven all the snakes out of Ireland. Snakes, people in long capes, wooden staffs. What could be more fun for kids to draw?Lori Bedard has been sewing, and crafting since she was 5 years old. Her first love was making doll clothes for her favorite dolls. Since then she has been a mother of two, a Sunday School teacher and a 4-H leader. She has recently begun a website, http://www.easycraftsonline.com where she hopes to feature new crafts every month. ... crafts-20 Arts and Crafts - How To Write an Arts and Crafts Newsletter Crafts Back To Snippet Back To SITEMAP   Arts and Crafts - How To Write an Arts and Crafts Newsletter Author: Lori Bedard Crafts have always been a great way to spend some time with your kids and others. If you teach a Sunday school class, or a 4H group, you’re constantly on the lookout for fun and easy crafts. No matter the ages of the children you’re working with, this is a great time to teaching sharing, tolerance, encouragement, appreciation of others work, pride in your own work and much more. Use the time to enjoy each other. Don’t expect perfection. Stress enjoyment and putting forth your best effort. When you’re done, share your crafts with others.Kiss me, Blarney Stone Critter3-6 inch long smooth stone (washed)Green paintAssorted other colors of paintGlitter, eyes, scraps of lace, pipe cleaners etc.GlueNewspaperPlace newspaper on table. I use old adult t-shirts as cover-ups for the kids. Paint stones green. Allow to dry. Decorate with paints and assorted scraps of lace, fabric, glitter and whatever else your imagination dreams up. This allows a lot of room for different ages, abilities and creative styles. Now you have crafted your own personal Blarney Stone.Easy Shamrock Necklace CraftHeart cookie cutter (or plastic glass to trace)Heavy poster board in green or whiteYarn or heavy stringGlueScissorsPencilsGlitter, paint, markers etc. for decoratingUse the cookie cutter to make a pattern for your shamrock. Make sure you overlap the ends of each leaf, not leaving the center of the shamrock too thin. Don’t forget to add the stem, making it thick also. For young children, it helps to make a ‘template’ they can trace and cut out. Some children can make the shamrock design themselves. If you’re working with very young children, it helps to have the shamrocks already cut out. Next, punch a hole in the top of the shamrock. Now use glitter, paint, markers and whatever else you have available to decorate your necklace. If you’ve used glue, allow time for them to dry. Finally cut yarn (or string) and pull through hole in top. Tie and slip your shamrock necklace on.Extra: If your children are older, you can use your shamrock template to make cutout cookies. Trace around the template with a knife. Add green sprinkles and bake according to the recipe. Now share your shamrock cookies.St Patrick’s Day PuzzlePicture with Irish themePoster BoardGlue (or spray glue)ScissorsPen or markerGlue picture to poster board. Take care to smooth out all air bubbles, and to have the whole picture glued down. Allow glue to dry. Use the marker to make lines for the puzzle pieces on the back of the poster board. Carefully cut out on the lines. For younger children make fewer pieces. For older children make smaller pieces. For extra fun, have the children make each others puzzles.Variation: Have the children drawn their own picture to use for the puzzle, or color a picture from a coloring book. Remember, St Patrick is said to have driven all the snakes out of Ireland. Snakes, people in long capes, wooden staffs. What could be more fun for kids to draw?Lori Bedard has been sewing, and crafting since she was 5 years old. Her first love was making doll clothes for her favorite dolls. Since then she has been a mother of two, a Sunday School teacher and a 4-H leader. She has recently begun a website, http://www.easycraftsonline.com where she hopes to feature new crafts every month. ... crafts-19 Crafts , Malls, Marketplaces, and Ebay Drop Off Stores Crafts Back To Snippet Back To SITEMAP   Crafts , Malls, Marketplaces, and Ebay Drop Off Stores Author: Lori Bedard Crafts have always been a great way to spend some time with your kids and others. If you teach a Sunday school class, or a 4H group, you’re constantly on the lookout for fun and easy crafts. No matter the ages of the children you’re working with, this is a great time to teaching sharing, tolerance, encouragement, appreciation of others work, pride in your own work and much more. Use the time to enjoy each other. Don’t expect perfection. Stress enjoyment and putting forth your best effort. When you’re done, share your crafts with others.Kiss me, Blarney Stone Critter3-6 inch long smooth stone (washed)Green paintAssorted other colors of paintGlitter, eyes, scraps of lace, pipe cleaners etc.GlueNewspaperPlace newspaper on table. I use old adult t-shirts as cover-ups for the kids. Paint stones green. Allow to dry. Decorate with paints and assorted scraps of lace, fabric, glitter and whatever else your imagination dreams up. This allows a lot of room for different ages, abilities and creative styles. Now you have crafted your own personal Blarney Stone.Easy Shamrock Necklace CraftHeart cookie cutter (or plastic glass to trace)Heavy poster board in green or whiteYarn or heavy stringGlueScissorsPencilsGlitter, paint, markers etc. for decoratingUse the cookie cutter to make a pattern for your shamrock. Make sure you overlap the ends of each leaf, not leaving the center of the shamrock too thin. Don’t forget to add the stem, making it thick also. For young children, it helps to make a ‘template’ they can trace and cut out. Some children can make the shamrock design themselves. If you’re working with very young children, it helps to have the shamrocks already cut out. Next, punch a hole in the top of the shamrock. Now use glitter, paint, markers and whatever else you have available to decorate your necklace. If you’ve used glue, allow time for them to dry. Finally cut yarn (or string) and pull through hole in top. Tie and slip your shamrock necklace on.Extra: If your children are older, you can use your shamrock template to make cutout cookies. Trace around the template with a knife. Add green sprinkles and bake according to the recipe. Now share your shamrock cookies.St Patrick’s Day PuzzlePicture with Irish themePoster BoardGlue (or spray glue)ScissorsPen or markerGlue picture to poster board. Take care to smooth out all air bubbles, and to have the whole picture glued down. Allow glue to dry. Use the marker to make lines for the puzzle pieces on the back of the poster board. Carefully cut out on the lines. For younger children make fewer pieces. For older children make smaller pieces. For extra fun, have the children make each others puzzles.Variation: Have the children drawn their own picture to use for the puzzle, or color a picture from a coloring book. Remember, St Patrick is said to have driven all the snakes out of Ireland. Snakes, people in long capes, wooden staffs. What could be more fun for kids to draw?Lori Bedard has been sewing, and crafting since she was 5 years old. Her first love was making doll clothes for her favorite dolls. Since then she has been a mother of two, a Sunday School teacher and a 4-H leader. She has recently begun a website, http://www.easycraftsonline.com where she hopes to feature new crafts every month. ... crafts-17 Baby Shower Crafts : Welcoming the Newcomer Crafts Back To Snippet Back To SITEMAP   Baby Shower Crafts : Welcoming the Newcomer Author: Brandi Clark The year is 1991. She has moved from a small town to a large city where she awaits a double lung transplant due to Cystic Fibrosis. The young girl is 12 years old but her spirits are high. To state the obvious, she's scared. But she knows her choices are limited and this is what she needs to do. Besides being scared for obvious medical reasons, she's scared of being in a new city. She comes from a small town where everyone knows everyone and one usually bumps into about six or seven friends at the local grocery store. Now, she's been uprooted from the life she knew to a new life in an unfamiliar metropolis. Time moves slow. She and her family are anxiously waiting for the call in which the transplant team will say it's time for her transplant. But wait is basically all she can do. Her mom decides that it’s time to make a few crafts. A time for her and her daughter to spend time together. How about decorate the new apartment with their own creations? Sure, most people would buy pictures and such to hang on the wall. But they decided to put together puzzles, paste them, and hang them on the wall. Their own special touch to a new, strange place. Sure, she and her mom have always made crafts whether it be dough ornaments, or painting wooden ornaments to hang on the Christmas tree. But these crafts were special. They meant something different. Her defining moment in crafting came in the Christmas of 1991. She and her mom had went to buy some more crafts to make for decorating the apartment for the holidays. She’s glueing a miniature plastic deer into a miniature shadow box. The box is decorated with a miniature plastic tree and batting for snow. As she is glueing the deer, she realizes, for the first time that she really enjoys crafting. Sure, she’s always enjoyed it. But this time it had meaning. She felt like she was “at home.” As the old saying goes it was “home away from home.” The crafts her mother bought and they had made together, passed the time, made a new place seem comfortable, and grew her love of crafting. Decorating with crafts is a wonderful way to make a new place feel comfortable, to pass the time, spend time with family, and can even calm the nerves a bit! I received my transplant call on February 2, 1992. I’m now doing fine, the deer ornament still decorates our tree at Christmas and I'm still crafting!Floral Creations was started by my mom and I so that we could make crafts and share them with others. Floral Creations offers handmade Red Hat Society gifts, baby shower favors, home decor, and unique gifts. Floral Creations is all about variety!Check us out at http://www.visitfloralcreations.com ... crafts-15 Mango Wood Handicrafts - An Ecological Choice Crafts Back To Snippet Back To SITEMAP   Mango Wood Handicrafts - An Ecological Choice Author: Svend Nelson Illegal logging especially of tropical woods rightly has received negative press in recent years. However, there are examples for ecologically sustainable use of timber in home decoration.One of these examples is the use of mango wood, especially for hand crafted gifts and collectibles from Thailand.Historic reference to the fruits of mango trees dates back to about 4000 B.C.: In the Hindu Vedas referenced is made to mangos as the "food of the gods". Appreciation of the sweet richness of the mango fruit is plentiful the world over and reaches into colloquial use of language: in Central America for example a handsome male is referred to as a “mango”.The fame of the wood is more recent that of the fruit of mango trees. Mango trees grow fast and are replanted permanently for the fruit business, thus making the usage of the by-product mango wood for handicrafts a very obvious and ecological choice. Mango wood gifts are natural decorative items that come in a variety of shades and grains and an ecological dream at the same time.In Thailand, mango wood crafts such as vases, bowls and tableware are hand crafted piece by piece. Glass containers enable mango vases to hold water and have become a popular collectible in Asian art décor.Mango wood vases are carved from a solid piece of wood and then fired in a kiln to achieve an attractive finish for these unique gifts from Thailand.Svend Nelson is a university lecturer and Internet entrepreneur specializing in online business strategy and marketing. While he is active in various industries; his online presences in the arts and crafts industry include Thailand handicrafts and ceramics from Vietnam. Svend lived and worked in various countries across Latin America, Europe and Asia before settling on Koh Samui in Thailand. ... crafts-13 Handicrafts of Kerala Crafts Back To Snippet Back To SITEMAP   Handicrafts of Kerala Author: Jayachandran.R Handicrafts of Kerala Kerala, the Gods own country Situated in India has a rich tradition of Handicrafts. Kerala's traditional handicrafts are a class of its own. The artisans of kerala have traditional expertise in carving in wood, jewellery design, both gold and silver and also in other mediums. Making idos and figures in metaletc. The gifted artisans makes beautiful idols of Lord Krishna, Ganesh, Goddess Saraswathi, Lakshmi etc. in sandal wood ,elephants in rose wood and other art works in varieties of other woods.These items are showcased in http://www.aayurmart.com Life size models of Kathakali, and models depiciting snake boat race of kerala are exclusive masterpieces of kerala aritisans. The idols of Lord Nataraja in dancing posture and the various lamps (vilakku) which are essential for every ceremonies of keralities are also created by artisans. Industrial arts and handicrafts form an invaluable part of the Cultural heritage of Kerala. Metal crafts have the pride of place among the traditional arts. Bell-metal casting is an old time industrial art. It has involved mainly two kinds of activities. Images or idols of deities made out of copper, bronze and brass are used for consecration in temples and other religious purposes. Huge Varpus (shallow basins of hemispherical shape), multi-layered lamps and household utensils are all made of these metals. These products are noted for their high degree of perfection.Lamps of the most artistic beauty are also made by Kerala craftsmen. The Greek lamp (Changalavatta), the Archana lamp, the Arati Dipa etc., deserve mention in this context. The Aranmula metal mirror has attained fame among the products of the bell metal industry. A product of an accident in metal casting, it is made of an alloy of copper and tin and resembles the glass mirror in every respect in point of utility. The Koftagari work, one of the popular metal crafts of India, is also being practiced by a few artisans in Trivandrum. Figures of deities, landscapes, floral designs and fancy articles of a wide variety are produced in Koftagari.Wood craft is one of the ancient arts of Kerala as is testified to by the temples and churches of the State which abound in wood carvings. Items of furniture like chairs, tables settees, sofas, almirahs, cots, radio castings etc., and models of animals and deities, toys and Kathakali accessories produced by Kerala craftsmen are very much in demand. The models of caparisoned elephants and the carvings of Kathakali dance-dolls are items of popular demand.http://www.aayurmart.com showcases some of the items. The craftsmen of Kerala have also developed a variety of handicrafts using the rich wealth of flora in the State. Screwpine mat weaving is one of such handicrafts. Such articles as pillow covers, cushions, vanity bags, purses, hats etc., are also made of screw pine. The art of weaving bamboo-reed mats, baskets and fancy articles is also one of the simplest of Kerala handicrafts. Kora grass is similarly used for making mats of different sizes and colours. Rattan is used in the manufacture of articles of daily use like chairs, settees, teapoys, cradles, trays, shopping bags and a variety of other utility-cum-fancy articles. The coconut shell is used for the manufacture of such articles of utility and beauty as lamp stands, flower vases, ashtrays etc. Coir carpets and mattings produced in many attractive designs and colours find a ready market in India and abroad.Lace and embroidery work of high quality is being done by women in several parts of Kerala. The Talangara village of Kasaragod taluk is famous for the textile cap making industry. The cotton caps manufactured here find a ready market in the African and Gulf countries.Ivory carving is another traditional art of Kerala. The art was given an impetus by Swati Tirunal Maharaja. An ivory throne made by Swati Tirunal is still preserved as a show piece. The craftsmen engaged in this art at present produce a variety of models of mythological characters, animals, birds, cigarette cases etc., to cater to different tastes. A typical specimen of ivory carving produced in Kerala is that of the snake boat (Chundan vallam) and it is cherished by tourists to the State as a memento. The craftsmen engaged in ivory carving also use other materials like the buffalo born for practicing their art.The jewelry of Kerala is noted for its artistic perfection. Each caste or community had its typical ornament. An ornament of the Nair women was Nagapadam or serpent hood, so called after the shape of the pendant. An ear ornament called Toda, a double convex disc, was worn after dilating the earlobes. Mukkuthi was an ornament for nose and Kappu for the wrist. The most important ornaments for the neck were Addyal, Yantram, Avil Mala and Puli Nakham. Cherutali was a kind of necklace worn loose over the breast by Namboodiri women while Kasu Mala and Oddyanam were used by Tamil Brahmin. A kind of heavy guilt brass ring called Mekka Motiram was worn by Christian women after boring their ears in several places. Ottezhapathakkam, Kombu, Tala etc., were also typical Christian ornaments. Though most of the traditional ornaments mentioned above have become defunct now, the Kerala women are still found of ornaments, and jewelry items like necklaces, bangles, chains, earrings, studs etc., are now made by Kerala goldsmiths in a variety of attractive designs.Apart from the main crafts described above, there are also a few others which deserve mention. Granite carving is one such art, which is mainly centred in Chengannur. The granite workers manufacture a variety of articles like idols, household equipment, pillars, survey stones etc., which are in great demand. The manufacture of musical instruments like Chenda, Maddalam, Mridangam, Edakka etc., is done in some places. The costumes and accessories required in Kathakali and Teyyam are being manufactured by some craftsmen. In Tellicherry, the home of Indian circus, the peculiar kinds of umbrella required by circus companies are manufactured. Being a maritime State, Kerala has its own handicrafts based on marine materials. Conch-shell articles like paper weight, pin cushions, ashtrayas, studs etc., are made by craftsmen in the Trivandrum area. In Kasaragod area articles like bangles, vanity bags and name boards are made of glass beads. Thus the legacy of Kerala in the field of arts and crafts is a rich and varied one.About the AuthorJayachandran.R.Author is a freelance content writer who also owns http://www.aayurmart.com. For more details mailto:ayurmart@gmail.comBrought to you by AA ARTICLES ... crafts-11 Craftsmanship: the Meaning of Life Crafts Back To Snippet Back To SITEMAP   Craftsmanship: the Meaning of Life Author: Tim Bryce "Manage more, supervise less." - Bryce's LawWhen I got into the work force back in the mid-1970's it seemed everyone dressed in a suit and tie, drank black coffee, smoked their brains out, and worked their butts off. Today, golf shirts have replaced suits, herbal tea and bottled water have replaced coffee, nobody is allowed to smoke, and rarely does anyone work beyond 5:00pm. More importantly, we used to care about the work we produced; there was a sense of craftsmanship, regardless of the job.My Brother-in-law in Cincinnati conducted me on a tour of his company's machine-tool shop years ago and showed me how he could take a block of aluminum and convert it into a high-precision machine tool. It was a pleasure to watch him work, as it is to watch anyone who knows what they are doing, be it a waitress, a programmer, a laborer or a clerk.Quality and service used to be considered paramount in this country. If it wasn't just right, you were expected to do it over again until you got it right. We cared about what we produced because it was a reflection of our personal character and integrity. But somewhere along the line we lost our way and craftsmanship has fallen by the wayside. Why? Probably because we no longer care.In today's litigious society, employees are acutely aware that it is difficult to be fired due to poor performance. They know they will still get paid and receive benefits, regardless of the amount of effort they put forth. Consequently, there is little to encourage people to perform better. Money isn't a motivating factor anymore. People now expect bonuses, raises and other perks to be paid out regardless of how well they perform during the year.We've also become a nation content with doing small things. America used to be known as a powerhouse that could tackle large projects, such as building skyscrapers, designing innovative bridges and tunnels spanning substantial bodies of water, engineering transcontinental railroads and highway systems, conquering air and space travel, and defending freedom not just once but in two world wars. If you really wanted something done, you talked to the Americans and no one else. Now we get excited over iPods, cell phones, and other electronic trinkets.Many believe Craftsmanship is in decline due to the general apathy found in today's society. Maybe. I tend to believe it is due to an erosion of our moral values. Let me give you an example. Having a child in college, my interest was piqued recently by an article describing the pervasiveness of cheating and plagiarism in our schools. It is not my intent to make a political statement here but many of the students mentioned in the article rationalized their cheating on the fact that one of our past Presidents cheated and lied under oath, and got away with it. They figured if it is okay for the Commander-in-Chief to act this way, it was an acceptable form of behavior.Arnold Toynbee, the famed English historian, observed, "Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder." If the moral fabric of our society dies, our story is told as evidenced by other great civilizations that long preceded us. Our perspective needs to be realigned: Our personal and professional lives must be viewed as one. As Toynbee remarked, "The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play." By doing so, we identify more closely with our work and assume a greater pride in workmanship. We do not need to hear this from our boss, but rather from within. As strange as it may sound, I see Craftsmanship as being patriotic in nature; doing a good quality job is part of leading a good and honorable life and builds on the individual's esteem, the company he works for, and the country he lives in.The biggest problem though is that we have forgotten how to manage people. The manager's primary goal is to create the proper work environment for employees to produce the desired work products. This is different than a supervisory capacity that directs how each person performs the various tasks of a job. In fact, I encourage managers to manage more and supervise less. I cringe when I see a manager try to "micromanage" either a Fortune 500 company or a non-profit organization.Yes, people need to be trained in order to properly perform their work but following this, employees should be mature enough to supervise themselves. In the old days, management stressed discipline, accountability, and structure; three ugly words in today's workplace.Understanding CraftsmanshipSome might say craftsmanship is a simple concept that we should intuitively know. Not true; most people today have no comprehension as to what makes up a good craftsman; they have either forgotten or it has simply passed them by. Craftsmanship can be found in any field of endeavor imaginable, be it in the product sector or service industry. Craftsmanship, therefore, is universally applicable to any line of work.Craftsmanship is not "workmanship", nor is it synonymous with quality, although the three concepts are closely related. Let's begin by giving "Craftsmanship" a definition: "The production and delivery of quality goods or services from highly skilled workmen."Quality relates to the absence of errors or defects in the finished product or service. In other words, finished goods operate according to their specifications (customers get precisely what they ordered). Such products are normally durable and require minimal maintenance. Craftsmanship produces quality products. In the absence of craftsmen, a rigorous methodology or assembly line process is required to produce quality goods using workers without the expertise of craftsmen. Such processes detail "Who" is to perform "What" work, "When", "Where", "Why" and "How" (5W+H), thereby assuring a quality product or service is produced. Such is the underlying rationale of the ISO 9000 certification as used by many companies today. The point is, quality is not the exclusive domain of the craftsman.Craftsmanship is also a human trait. Some might argue a computer or industrial robot can produce quality products and are, therefore, craftsmen. However, we must remember these devices are programmed by human beings in accordance with the rules of the craftsman. As such, they are an extension or tool of the craftsman.Craftsmanship can be found in either the overall work process or a section of it. For example, there are craftsmen who are intimate with all facets of building furniture, such as a table, a chair or desk, and can implement the product from start to finish. However, as products grow in complexity, it becomes difficult to find people suitably qualified to build them from the womb to the tomb. Consider military weapons alone, such as the complicated ships, tanks, and airplanes we now use, with thousands or millions of parts to assemble. Such complexity makes it impossible for a single person to have the expertise to build the whole product. The same is true in the service sector where different types of expertise and capabilities may be required. In other words, craftsmen have a specific scope of work. The scope of work may relate to other types of craftsmen through a chain of work dependencies, e.g., Craftsmen A, B and C concentrate on separate sub-assemblies which are eventually joined into a single product.AttributesSo, what are the attributes of a craftsman? What makes a craftsman a craftsman? There are three basic attributes described herein:1. Possesses the necessary knowledge and skills to perform the work.The craftsman is an expert in his field of endeavor; so much so that he could easily serve as an instructor in the subject matter. But the craftsman is also smart enough to know that education is not a one time thing, that his world and field evolve as new tools and techniques are introduced. As such, the craftsman is a student of his profession and is constantly looking to improve himself. This is exercised through such things as continued education, routine certification, studying books and trade publications, and industrial groups. The craftsman willingly participates in trade groups, often at his own expense, in order to network with his peers.It is Important to note that the craftsman does not need to be told he needs periodic training to sharpen his skills. Instead, he takes the personal initiative to stay on top of his game. Further, the craftsman has no problem with a periodic job review; in fact, he welcomes it for it might bring out a weakness in a skill he needs to sharpen.2. Attention to detail.The craftsman understands and respects the process of building/delivering a product or service and is acutely aware of the penalties for cutting corners. Earlier we discussed the need for a methodology that specifies 5W+H. The craftsman is intimate with all details of his scope of work, so much so, he could probably write the methodology himself. Further, his intimacy of the work process means he can produce a reliable estimate of time and costs to perform the work.Although many of the craftsman's tasks may be repetitive, it doesn't mean he easily falls into a rut. Instead, he is constantly looking for new tools and techniques to improve the work process. As such, he plays the role of Industrial Engineer who is normally charged with such a task.The craftsman's attention to detail also means that he demonstrates patience in his work effort. Again, wary of cutting corners, the craftsman must possess such patience in order to produce the product the right way.3. Views professional life as an extension of his personal life.The craftsman identifies with the end product which is where pride in workmanship comes from. In his mind, the craftsman has been charged with the responsibility of producing something, and wanting to satisfy the customer, puts forth his best effort to produce it. In other words, craftsmen take their work personally. This is a difficult trait to teach particularly in today's society where the focus is more on financial compensation than on the work product itself. It may sound naive, but the craftsman believes he will be suitably compensated for producing superior results.Years ago, Dick Butkus of the Chicago Bears (NFL) confounded sports writers who could never understand why Butkus played as hard as he did year after year for a losing football team. True, Dick loved the game, but beyond that, the sports writers didn't understand one thing about the seven time All-Pro linebacker: Butkus took his job personally. It was important to him that his opponents know that they had been tackled by the best player; as he said, "When they get up from the ground I want them to say 'it must have been Butkus that got me'." Dick Butkus was a craftsman.The craftsman has a burning desire to produce a superior product/service because he sees it as a reflection of himself. As such, the lines delineating their personal life and professional life are blurred. This is a significant characteristic that clearly separates a craftsman from the average worker. The craftsman's work is his life. He does not shirk responsibility, but rather embraces it with confidence and embosses his name on the finished product. Conversely, making a work related mistake of any kind pains a true craftsman.Job titles are normally inconsequential to the craftsman who is more interested in delivering a quality product/service enjoyed by the customer. Instead, the craftsman takes pleasure in being touted as the best in his craft. He appreciates recognition; when someone makes a compliment about a product, the craftsman views it as a personal compliment. This too runs contrary to today's corporate world where people desperately seek recognition through simple job titles. Want someone with an inflated ego? Give them a title. Want something done right? Call a craftsman.Productivity"Dependable", "professional", and "resourceful" are adjectives that aptly describe the craftsman. He is not one who fabricates excuses but, rather, always finds a way to get the job done. The craftsman is typically your most productive employee. He is mindful of the concept of productivity that we have touted for years:Productivity = Effectiveness X EfficiencyMost people fallaciously equate productivity with efficiency, which simply gauges how fast we can perform a given task. Effectiveness, on the other hand, validates the necessity of the task itself. There is nothing more unproductive than to do something efficiently that should not have been done at all. An industrial robot, for example, can efficiently perform such tasks as welding. But if you are welding the wrong thing, then it is counterproductive. Going back to our description of a methodology, effectiveness defines "Who/What/When/Where/Why", efficiency defines "How." The craftsman is well aware of the difference between the two and knows how to apply both. As such, the craftsman is in tune with his work environment and corporate culture.So how do we make craftsmen?Not easily. Because of the human dynamics involved with the craftsman, you will need to be a pretty intuitive manager or industrial psychologist to make it happen. Selecting suitable candidates is the logical first step. Devise