Folks today are drawn to the timeless personality, lasting beauty and workmanship of handcrafted Amish furniture. Amish furniture creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere for the home. Often made of solid oak or cherry, there are styles made of softer woods such as pine and cedar. Pieces made from maple, hickory or walnut are also very popular. Amish furniture like a mission recliner is handmade by skilled craftsmen with many years of experience that has been handed down and perfected for generations. For anyone wanting to include Amish furniture into their home, there are five basic pieces that are the ideal kick off point.
A superb representation of the Amish furniture style is the rocker. A lovely example of utility, beauty and comfort a rocking chair is a great way to chill after a long day. An Amish rocker offers a conventional, comfy and stunning style option for any corner or seating area in the home.
Amish dining tables are a great choice for making a dramatic statement of the Amish style. Offering grace and simplicity in style, these dining tables are quite beautiful. Available in several different styles, designs and wood options, it’d be easy to include this piece of Amish furniture into any existing decor A finely crafted Amish table will add everlasting beauty to any dining room.
The Amish dining chair would be the perfect item to finish an Amish dining table. A hand-crafted set of dining room chairs would add to the homey feel of the Amish style. Amish dining chairs are made of a range of the best hard woods and are superbly hand made.
Amish bedroom furniture offers unmatchable charm, application and comfort and beds are often found in Mission, Shaker and Sleigh bed styles. A good choice in either solid cherry wood, solid oak wood or perhaps solid hickory, Amish furniture for your bedroom offers straightforward magnificence. The Amish sleigh bed and mission bed are two of the hottest and recognizable pieces of Amish furniture and would be sure to bring years of enjoyment. An Amish bed of hand-crafted quality is indeed be a treasure that will be passed down for generations to come.
The Amish storage bench, AKA a deacon’s bench is another widely recognized piece of furniture indicative of the Amish style. It offers a great aggregate of style, utility, comfort and function. This piece of Amish furniture can be employed in a selection of places in the home. A quality crafted Amish bench offers often required extra storage yet is sort of pretty at the same time.
Amish craftsmen have been perfecting the art of furniture making for generations, handing down old world techniques that just can’t be mass produced. When all is said and done, any piece of Amish furniture that’s added to the home will be a unique style statement with quality which will last a lifetime.
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Filed under Remodeling by on Mar 11th, 2010. Comment. 
If you are handy, and have always wanted a wall mounted wine rack, you can easily build your own, cause this is indeed a very easy job to do.
These directions are for a Wall Mounted Wine Rack that is made by using an old kitchen cabinet. You can use your own old cabinet or you can purchase one at a garage sale.
Simple Steps to Creating Your Own Wall Mounted Wine Rack:
* Take the door off of the cabinet. It’s important that you take any brackets as well as the shelves out of the cabinet.
* Find out how many shelves your wall mounted wine rack should have by measuring the height of the cabinet.
* Using a saw and a 1×6 board, cut shelves for your Wall Mounted Wine Rack. You will need to make a front and back for each shelf.
* To create the neck holders you will need to drill 1″ holes in the center of the board. You will need to determine how many wine bottles will fit across the width of your cabinet.
* Especially for the rear, you will need to repeat step 4 by using a 4″ hole cutter. This one is for the back for your wine rack.
* You can finish the shelves and cabinet by using a paint and liquor.
* When your paint and stain is dry, then it is the time for you to assemble the mounted wine rack. To mount the shelves in the front and in the back, you can use the brackets of your cabinet.
* Once everything is in place you will be able to mount your wine rack on the wall.
Put your favorite wine bottle in your new wall mounted wine rack. Your friends and family will be impressed with your creation, and you’ll feel proud of yourself. Perhaps you want to celebrate it by drinking your syrah wine.
Pretty soon everyone will be asking how you made such a gorgeous piece out of an old kitchen cabinet. Who would think a new wine glass racks was actually made from kitchen cabinet?
Filed under Kitchen Remodeling by on Jul 14th, 2009. Comment.
By Sirena Van Schaik
 Okay, right now you are probably thinking about something other than candles. Perhaps you are thinking of wax figures filling a room to set the mood but if that is what you have in mind I have to ask, are you setting up a Halloween mood?
 All joking aside, candles, which is the wax I am talking about, have been used for years to set a mood. Whether you are trying to unwind, trying to be romantic or simply trying to scent the air for a party, you are using them to set a mood.Â
 Once upon a time, candles had a pretty basic smell and although the candlelight could do wonders for the mood, the overall effect of a candle was somehow lost if it really started smoking. Today, candles come in a wide range of shapes, colors and, yes, scents. With all the selection that we have with candles, it is a surprise that it hasn’t ruined the mood we are searching to create.
 When you are setting a mood with candlelight and scents, it is important to look at what you would like the candles to do and also what you want them for. If they are there to provide a scent, then you need to focus on what smells you would like. Harsh smells while you are trying to meditate can detract from your focus, earthy smells when you are trying to have a nice home cooked meal may blend negatively with the smell of the food. There are as many factors to take into account with candles as there are choices in your wardrobe. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating but only a little.
The Dinner Party:
 Setting the mood for a dinner party can be a difficult task. If it is a romantic dinner, you will probably want to have some candles in the center of the table. Of course, I have never been a fan of the centerpiece candle, simply because I hate having to chat, romantically or not, around something.
 My recommendation for using candles for dinner parties or romantic meals is to place the candles around the room, either with tall candle holders, on mantels or in wall sconces. Once you have the candles lit, dim the overhead light slightly. This gives the illusion that each guest is bathed in candlelight and they are not sitting in the dark looking into it.Â
 It can create a very dreamy and romantic atmosphere and if you add a matching sent to the scene you can really set a mood. Make sure your smells complement each other. For instance, you won’t want to use an Apple Spice candle if you happen to be eating Chinese. Maybe a nice Green Tea Candle would suit it better and the Apple Spice can be saved for a roast dinner.
The Romantic Evening:
 Romance and candles really are made for each other and there are very few things that I could suggest that could make romantic candles even better. Again, the only part that I would suggest is having the candles up and out of the way. Have a glass of Champaign on the floor with the candles on a coffee table above you –preferably beside those flowers that you received.
 The other suggestion that I would make is to avoid a lot of cloying scents. Anything that will feel heavy to your stomach should be avoided and I would recommend avoiding any of the heavier floral scents. Instead go with fragrances that are considered to be sensual, things like chocolate or strawberries.
For Relaxation:
 As with romantic evenings, there is very little that I can say about candles for setting the relaxing mood. Everyone has their own scent that relaxes them, strangely Pina Colada is mine, and each prefers using candles in different ways.Â
 But since I am here, I would recommend playing with threes when you use candles for relaxation. I have found this to be an excellent method to setting a tranquil mood. A grouping of three candles in various spots of the room provides you with pools of soft light. They are excellent at dispersing the scents across the room and they offer you something to focus on.
 So whatever your mood is, the best advice I can offer is to play around with the placement and the scents until you find your perfect balance.
Filed under Remodeling by on Dec 2nd, 2008. Comment.
Have you ever wondered what to do with those old candles that you have finished using? The wick is done, but you still have almost half a candle left. The wax is almost completely demolished with black streaks and beads of hardened drips. You can’t really keep them and drop a tealight into the center since they are rather ugly looking and it appears that the only use from them is the garbage can. It seems like a shame to toss them but what else can you really do with old candles.Â
Well, if you are really interested in the whole eco-friendly movement and going green, the answer is simple; reduce, reuse and recycle those old candles.
If you aren’t sure exactly how to do this, just look around at various craft stores or online candle sights and you will find a million and one uses for your old candles, including making new ones. It actually takes very little time and effort to recycle those old candles and you can create some truly delightful candles.
Before you start creating new candles, you will need to have a few things handy. These include:
• Molds – You can use just about anything from candle molds to glass jars. The nicest candles that I have ever seen came out of beer cans that ridged in shape.Â
• Old candles – Use any color of candle but remember that some colors will combine creating a muddied look.Â
• Candle Wicks – You can buy candle wicks at any craft store. All you will need to do is trim them down.
• Double Boiler – The best tool to use is a double boiler but if you don’t have one handy, a metal bowl inside a pot that contains several inches of water will also work. Just make sure there is a wide base to prevent spills.
And that is just about everything that you need. If you are melting down a few candles that are white, use some colored dyes to create new looks or add some essential oils to create scented candles.
Now that you have all the tools that you will need, it’s time to start making candles.Â
First, you will want to melt the wax in a double boiler over a medium –low heat on the stove. It is better for the wax to melt slowly to prevent fires. Stir the wax with a wooden spoon and remove from heat as soon as the wax is completely melted.
Next, you will need to pour the wax into the mold that you have at ready. Remember that you can use just about anything for a mold so get creative. If you would like to make some jarred candles, simply pour it into the glass. If you spill along the sides, immerse the glass into a bowl of hot water after the wax sets to remove it.
To create a wick for your new candle, take the strip of candle wicks and cut it down to reflect the size of your candle mold. Make sure to leave about 2 to 4 inches of wick, which you will need to tie to a pencil. Place the wick in the center of the melted candle wax and rest the pencil across the top of the mold so the wick doesn’t fall into the wax. Leave it until it sets and then remove it from the mold when it is cooled.
Making your own candles is an excellent way to reduce, reuse and recycle while being completely creative doing it.
Filed under Remodeling by on Nov 8th, 2008. Comment.
Have you ever had a candle that just doesn’t last? Before you can even get any great use out of it, you have spilt wax down the sides, a broken wick and a black stain across it. There seems to be nothing that can be done to get it lit again and it can be pretty frustrating since it only seems to occur when you purchase the really expensive candles.Â
Usually, when a candle begins to break down, it’s probably because you aren’t caring for it properly. I hear the groans from the back but what your mother has always said to you is true, “If you want something to last, then you really need to take care of it.â€
But really, how do you care for your candles? Don’t you just toss them into a drawer and pull them out for those special occasions. I would love to say sure, since it is the easiest way but unfortunately, easy isn’t always the best way. Sure you can throw them in a drawer but don’t expect a very nice candle to be pulled from the drawer for one of those special occasions.Â
To keep your candles looking great and to get the most out of them, there are a few tips that you should follow.
The Candle Snuffer: Don’t sniff at this little trinket. It is a candle lover’s best tool and you can buy one that is fairly inexpensive while still looking expensive. If you aren’t sure what a candle snuffer is, it is a bell shaped tool on a long handle. The hollow bell fits over the candle and extinguishes the flame. It’s simple and candle snuffers have been around for a long time.Â
But why are they so important in getting the most out of your candles? It’s simple; candle snuffers keep the wicks from being damaged. Blowing on a candle, or worse, extinguishing them with your wet fingers, can damage the wick. A damaged wick means more difficulty keeping the flame.
Cool Storage:Â If you are a person that only brings out candles for special occasions, there are a few ways that you should store them.Â
First, make sure you store them individually. Wrap each candle in a sheet of white tissue paper to avoid the colors to bleed into the candle. If you are storing scented candles, place them into their own plastic sealable bag. This will keep the scents fresh and will keep them from blending together.
Next, place them in a cool, dark area. Make sure the space is not damp since this can also damage them. Candles should always been stored flat to ensure that they do not bend. Also, if an area is too warm, the candles will begin to melt and will become misshapen.
Keep those Candles Tidy:  When you are trying to get the most out of your candles, it is best to keep them tidy. Remove excess wax that has dripped down the sides, or if you are using a jar candle, place the jar inside a sink of hot water to melt the wax on the side of the glass.Â
Keep the wick nice and tidy and always trim down your wicks to ¼ inch in length before each use. Make sure you cut the wicks when they are cool since a hot wick could stretch and tear.Â
Also, never burn your candles for longer than 4 hours. If you are having a full romantic evening, simply replenish the candles every 4 hours. This will keep your candles looking beautiful and will keep down the amount of soot that accumulates on the candle itself.Â
Lastly, try to keep the candles out of direct light. Prolonged time in light will make the colors fade and your beautiful candle will no longer look bright and new.
Just following these tips should ensure hours and even months of enjoyment with your candles.
Filed under Remodeling by on Nov 7th, 2008. Comment.
Two months ago, after a long discourse at the breakfast table on the many wonderful aspects of soy candles, my 13-year-old son accused me of being a soy candle head, as in dead head. What had got me started was the soy milk e had been drinking for breakfast, and having recently discovered soy candles in a big way, my mind was understandably full of how this wonderful material was so much a part of our lives – food, drink, and now candles!
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Whatever my son might say, however, I can’t stop gushing about soy candles and their unique properties, and you, dear reader, are now in my line of fire. Not only are soy candles longer lasting, they also hold a fragrance better and do not produce unsightly deposits of soot. And when I say long lasting, I mean it, because the average 14 oz wax candle will last you about 70 hours, give or take five, while a soy candle will last all of 100, if not more. That’s almost 50 hours more, and not at significantly higher prices either.
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If you’ve been following these articles, you’ll know about my friend Charlene Dewitt, the one who is an aromatherapy expert. Well, inevitably, it was Charlene who introduced me to soy candles, and one of the first things I noticed was the absence of soot. All those who have spent time cleaning blackened and grimy candle jars, walls and even ceilings know what a menace soot can be. With soy candles, because they are natural, the jar remains pristine, and the walls and ceilings unsullied.
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Now I come to the most important reason for using soy candles. Various studies have revealed that traditional wax candles emit carcinogens into the air. Now, as we all know, carcinogens are cancer-causing toxins that also cause other health problems. Mostly, researchers are trying to prove that anything that emits carbon dioxide when burnt, such as wax candles and charcoal, will release carcinogens. Though it is too early to comment on this issue, soy candles certainly do not produce carcinogens, which means they are healthy, too!
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All in all, it is no surprise that soy candles are gaining in popularity, considering they were only launched in 1991, and their discovery is credited to a certain Michael Richards, who found out by trial and error that mixing soybean oil with palm and coconut oils produced a perfect wax. He added a small amount of beeswax to the mixture to improve it even further.
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Today, it has been conclusively proved that 100% natural soy wax does not contain petroleum or other environmentally unsafe ingredients. And it is much less expensive than other natural waxes like beeswax.
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So I end my rave. Go ahead, call me a soy candle head, but remember what I’ve told you the next time you buy your candle supplies!
Filed under Remodeling by on Nov 5th, 2008. Comment.
There is something infinitely beautiful about a well shaped candle. People will pay top dollar for this works of art and I have often found that many people will avoid using them since they are so exquisite.Â
If you do use the sculpted candle, you are left with a melted mess, trying to figure out exactly what to do with it now. Sure you can melt it down to make more candles but why don’t you melt it down to create another sculpture.Â
I am not a big fan of abstract art but I have come to really enjoy these wax sculptures. They are easy to make and you can make them with older children, under supervision. Actually, the first time I made an abstract wax sculpture, I was only 13.Â
They are very easy to make and you only need a few items to create a beautiful work of art. You don’t even need candles!
What you need:
·        Wax – This is the most important item for making a wax sculpture but I have used everything from store bought wax to old crayons. Remember that some colors will mix together creating a muddy color but others won’t.
·        Double Boiler – Since you are melting wax, it is best to use a double boiler or a metal bowl in a few inches of water. Adding a pot of wax to a direct source of heat can cause fires or at the very least, may burn the wax and ruin the pot.
·        Colored Dye – This is optional and sometimes you can just play around with the colors that you have in the crayons or old candles.Â
·        Metal Pie Plates – The disposable pie plates work best for this type of project
·        Kitchen Sink – The deeper the better.
Directions:
1.     Before you begin melting the wax, it is important to prepare it. Remove any wrappers from crayons, and cut out any wicks from the old candles.
2.     Once everything is prepared, fill up the kitchen sink with cold water. The colder the better. Fill it as deep as you can but make sure it won’t spill over the sides when you submerse your arms.
3.     Melt the wax at medium low on the stove in a double boiler. If you want to make sure the colors do not blend, use a few double boilers, each with a different color.
4.     When the wax is melted, carefully pour between 2 or 3 inches of hot wax into a pie plate as it rests on the surface of the water. Play with different levels of melted wax.
5.     Quickly spin the pie plate slightly and then submerge the plate. The candle wax will billow up into long streaks and you will create a wax sculpture. Make sure to wear rubber cloves, the longer the better, since the wax is still hot as it is forming.
6.     Pull out of the water and carefully pour out the excess water.Â
7.     Remove from the pie plate and if you do not like it, simply remove and place back into the pot to melt.Â
Playing with the depth of the wax and how you submerge the pie plate will give you a large range of sculptures you make, from jagged ice sculptures to billowing trees to delicate fairy mushrooms. Most of the sculptures will have a flat space where a glass votive or tealight can be attached to be used as an intricate sculpture.
8.     Make them long lasting by spraying them with a sealer.
And that is it. These little sculptures will have guests talking and you will have lots of fun trying to outdo yourself every time.
Filed under Remodeling by on Nov 3rd, 2008. Comment.
Before I say anything else, I have to tell you that gel candles are invariably better looking than traditional wax candles. That is not surprising, considering the fact that their unique nature means that gel candles need not be completely solid in appearance. So they can be translucent and multi-colored, and offer ample scope for ornamentation. For instance, some manufacturers embed small colorful items like seashells and beads within the gel to come up with an exclusive look, or there are others who add swirls of color to their gel candles, creating a lovely work of art.
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From experience, I have also found that gel candles last nearly twice as long as ordinary wax candles. Only a couple of days ago, as I was browsing through the stock at my regular candle-supplies store, I heard a woman place an order for 20 gel candles. When she caught me looking at her, she explained, “They’re for our mountain cabin. We didn’t want to spoil the ambience with electric lighting, and these candles each last at least three evenings!†In the case of aromatic gel candles, of course, this means longer-lasting light and fragrance.
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However, some people still have a few misgivings about gel candles, primarily, I suspect, because they burn at much higher temperatures than wax candles. My answer to all these people would be, adopt certain safety precautions, follow manufacturer’s instructions, and you’ll be fine! Besides, most respectable gel candle makers take great care to ensure that the glassware that contains the gel is strong enough to withstand the high temperatures and doesn’t crack, because not only does a gel candle produce high temperatures, but it does so for a longer time, since it burns much longer than a wax candle. Having said that, one of the basic precautions to use with gel candles is not to move a lighted or just snuffed out gel candle. Wait until it has cooled before you pick it up.
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The other supposed drawback of gel candles is that they cost a lot. In reply, I would say that the price is entirely justified considering the durability of the candles.Â
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Because they are easy to make, and supplies are abundantly available, gel candles have also become a great favorite with amateur candle makers. That is how I started out making these candles at home, and in no time at all, they had become a rage among my friends and acquaintances. The logical next step for any amateur candle maker is to set up a small business in gel candles, and in fact, such businesses are now burgeoning, as a casual online search will tell you.
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Estelle Rodriguez of Sacramento is a 36-year-old single mother who runs a small gel candle business that employs three people. We have friends in common, and the last time I saw her, Estelle complained that such was the popularity of her supplies that she was almost afraid of new orders coming through and was seriously thinking of shifting her home-based ‘manufacturing unit’ to larger premises and taking on more staff.
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However, if you do start making gel candles at home, please be sure to adopt all the required precautions such as those to protect your skin. Also, make sure you use the right kind of glassware.
Filed under Remodeling by on Oct 31st, 2008. Comment.
The advent of beads in jewelry-making has brought about nothing short of a revolution. No fashionable trinket is complete these days without some beads stitched on. To satisfy the growing demand, beads come in a range of colors, sizes, shapes, and motifs.
If you are thinking of making your own beaded jewelry and are wondering where to start, here is a guide to some of today’s most popular types of beads:Â
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- Seed beads: Tiny beads capable of producing a detailed and fine design.
- Metal beads: Sterling silver, gold, platinum or bronze-plated beads are best for lending a metallic shimmer to bead jewelry. Brass and nickel beads can also add brilliance to any jewelry item. If you want to try something wild, experiment with pewter bead ornaments which mainly display animal, skull and flower motifs.
- Cut beads: They are bigger sized beads, which can only be sewed on using a sinew.
- Crow or pony: Similar to seed beads, but larger in size.
- Charlotte: Opaque, round, true-cut beads with fewer facets. They are extremely rare in the market.
- Bugle beads: Small tubular beads, used for a variety of decorations.
- Plastic beads: Inexpensive alternatives to glass beads.
- Glass and crystal beads: Crystal beads lend more dazzle and sparkle to your jewelry than any other beads, and crystal beads are highly cherished. The major name in this segment, boasting the finest cut and purity, is Swarovski crystal beads. A Swarovski crystal can be a good facelift for any traditional jewelry. But if you don’t mind compromising on quality you can go for glass crystals, which are less expensive. Both glass crystal beads come in a spectrum of colors like turquoise, pink, cobalt, black, green etc.
- Bone beads: Meant for fashion lovers with ethnic and tribal tastes. These beads are made from bones of mammals and birds etc to reflect a tribal affinity.
- Clay beads: Though called clay beads, they are not solely made from clay. Clay beads originate from a combination of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), a color pigment and a product that gives it a plastic-like texture. Bead jewelry made of clay beads reflects a special earth tone, which is best suited for summer or fall designs. Moreover, clay beads are usually not in the hefty prices category and are affordable to the general crowd.
Given such variety, are you surprised that beads have become the most innovative forms of expression for a whole bunch of creative souls?
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Filed under Home Improvement Tips by on Oct 11th, 2008. Comment.