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Perfect gift idea for the EMS or EMT on your list. Hand blown glass ornament is decorated with lots of glitter to make it really shine on your tree. From Old World Christmas…. More >>
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This beautiful glass ornament was carefully mouth-blown into a finely crafted mold. Then a hot solution of liquid silver was poured inside. Finally, the ornament was delicately hand painted with many bright lacquers and glitters for you to enjoy! 4 1/4″… More >>
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Cute and sweet looking Pygmy goat ornament. Hand blown glass ornament is decorated with lots of glitter to make it really shine on your tree. From Old World Christmas…. More >>
Scarborough was ‘the first seaside resort in England’. It is still a popular destination but is also a traditional fishing port. The most striking feature of Scarborough’s geography is a high rocky promontory pointing eastward into the North Sea. The promontory supports the 11th-century ruins of Scarborough Castle and separates the sea front into a North Bay and a South Bay. The South Bay was the site of the original early medieval settlement and the harbour, which form the current Old Town district. This remains the main focus for tourism, with a sandy beach, cafes, amusements, arcades, theatres and entertainment facilities. The modern commercial town centre has migrated a quarter mile north-west of the harbour area and a hundred feet above it, and contains the transport hubs, main services, shopping and nightlife. The harbour has undergone major regeneration including the new Albert Strange Pontoons, a more pedestrian-friendly promenade, street lighting and seating. The North Bay has traditionally been the more peaceful end of the resort and is home to Peasholm Park which has recently (June 2007) been restored to its Japanese-themed glory, complete with reconstructed pagoda. The park still features a mock maritime battle (based on the Battle of the River Plate) re-enacted on the boating lake with large model boats and fireworks throughout the summer holiday season. The North Bay Railway is a miniature railway which runs from the park to the Sea Life Centre at Scalby Mills. The North Bay is linked to the South Bay by the Marine Drive, an extensive Victorian promenade, built around the base of the headland. Overlooking both bays is Scarborough Castle, which was bombarded by the German warships SMS Derfflinger and SMS Von der Tann in the First World War. Both bays have popular sandy beaches and numerous rock-pools at low tide. Slightly less well known is the South Cliff Promenade situated above the Spa and South Cliff Gardens, commanding excellent views of the South Bay and old town and from which many iconic postcard views are taken. Its splendid Regency and Victorian terraces are still intact and the mix of quality hotels and desirable apartments form a backdrop to the South Bay. The ITV television drama The Royal and its recent spin-off series, The Royal Today, are filmed in the area. The South Bay has the largest illuminated “Star Disk” anywhere in the UK. It is 85 feet across and is fitted with subterranean lights representing the 42 brightest stars and major constellations that can be seen from Scarborough in the northern skies. To the south-west of the town, beside the York to Scarborough railway line, is an ornamental lake known as Scarborough Mere. During the 20th century, the Mere was a popular park, with rowing boats, canoes and a miniature pirate ship – the Hispaniola – on which passengers were taken to “Treasure Island” to dig for doubloons. Since the late 1990s the emphasis has been on nature, with “Treasure Island” being paved over to form a new pier area. The lake is now part of the Oliver’s Mount Country Park and the Hispaniola now sails out of the South Bay. Whitby is a great place for fossil hunters as many interesting fossils have been found in the area including entire skeletons of pterodactyls. Whitby is known for its well preserved ammonite fossils, which can be found on the seashore or purchased from stalls or shops in the town. Over the centuries, the town spread both inland and onto the West Cliff, whilst the East Cliff remains dominated by the ruins of Whitby Abbey and St Mary’s Church. The way into the interesting ruined Abbey is through the historic Banqueting House alongside. The Abbey is owned by English Heritage, which restored the Banqueting House to contain exhibitions and museum displays about the Abbey and Whitby and opened it in 2002. The East Cliff is quite a distance by road, the alternative being to climb the famed 199 steps. Many who make the climb can be heard counting on the way up. 2005 saw the completion of the first major restoration of the 199 steps since the 19th century. Whitby has a fish market on the quayside which operates as need and opportunity arise. The ready supply of fresh fish has resulted in an abundance of “chippies” in the town, including the Magpie Cafe which Rick Stein has described as the best fish and chip shop in Britain. The town was awarded “Best Seaside Resort 2006″, by Which? Holiday magazine. Filey is a small seaside town forming part of the borough of Scarborough and is located between Scarborough and Bridlington on the North Sea coast. Although it started out as a fishing village, it has a large beach and is a popular tourist resort. The town is at the eastern end of the Cleveland Way, a long-distance footpath, starting at Helmsley and skirting the North Yorkshire Moors. It was the second National Trail to be opened (1969). It is also the northern end of the Yorkshire Wolds Way which starts at Hessle and crosses the Yorkshire Wolds. Pickering is an ancient market town in the Ryedale district of the county of North Yorkshire, England, on the border of the North York Moors National Park. It sits at the foot of the Moors, overlooking the Vale of Pickering to the south. According to legend the town was founded by a certain king Peredurus around 270BC, however the town as it exists today is of medieval origin. The tourist venues of Pickering Castle, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and Beck Isle Museum have made Pickering popular with visitors in recent years. The North York Moors is a National Park rising from 50 metres above sea level at its southern edge to over 430 metres on Urra Moor. It is one of the largest expanses of heather moorland in the United Kingdom. It covers an area of 554 square miles and it has a population of about 25,000. The North York Moors became a National Park in 1952, through the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949. It is dissected by a series of south flowing streams which include Pickering Beck. Most of the moorland consists of Jurassic sandstone with occasional cappings of gritstone on the highest hills. Many visitors to the moors are engaged in outdoor pursuits, particularly walking. The parks has a network of rights-of-way almost 1400 miles in length, and most of the areas of open moorland will be open access under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Popular named walks include the Cleveland Way, which circles the moors, and has a section along the coast and the Lyke Wake Walk, which leads directly across the heart of the moors. The area also offers opportunities for cycling, mountain biking, and horse-riding. The steep escarpments that define the edges of the park on three sides are used by several gliding clubs. The moors have not changed much in the past 50 years, and are often used as a backdrop to British television programmes and films. The series Heartbeat and the scenes of The Hogsmeade Station in the Harry Potter movies were filmed in Goathland. Dalby Forest is also host to many forms of entertainment throughout the year including outdoor concerts. All in all a fantastic area to visit or to live, you will never be bored as there is always something happening on the Yorkshire Coast!
Frock coat A frock coat is a man’s coat characterized by knee-length skirts all around the base, popular during the Victorian and Edwardian periods. The double-breasted style is sometimes called a Prince Albert (after the consort to Queen Victoria). The frock coat is a fitted, long-sleeved coat with a centre vent at the back, and some features unusual in post-Victorian dress. These include the revers collar and lapels, where the outer edge of the lapel is cut from a separate piece of cloth to the main body, and also a high degree of waist suppression, where the coat’s diameter round the waist is much less than round the chest. This is achieved by a high horizontal waist seam with side bodies, which are extra panels of fabric above the waist used to pull in the naturally cylindrical drape. The frock coat was widely worn in much the same situations as modern lounge suits and formalwear, with different variations Morning coat A morning coat is a single-breasted coat, the front parts usually meeting at one button in the middle, and curving away gradually into a pair of tails behind, topped by two ornamental buttons on the waist seam. The modern morning coat (or cutaway in American English) is a man’s coat worn as the principal item in morning dress. The name derives from morning nineteenth century horseback riding exercise for gentlemen. It was regarded as a casual form of half dress. Gradually it became acceptable as an alternative to the frock coat for formal day wear or full dress. Since the nineteenth century it is normally only seen at weddings, formal baptisms and funerals and, in England, races such as Royal Ascot and the Derby. Tailcoat A tailcoat is a coat with the front of the skirt cut away, so as to leave only the rear section of the skirt, known as the tails. The historical reason coats were cut this way was to make it easier for the wearer to ride a horse, but over the years tailcoats of varying types have evolved into forms of formal dress for both day and evening wear. Although there are several different types of tailcoat, Buff coat The Buff coat (so-called because of its yellowish color) was an item of leather clothing worn by both the infantry and cavalry during the 17th century, usually worn under armour. It evolved from the leather jerkins worn by soldiers during the Tudor period to a 3/4 length, close-fitting garments with long sleeves and a high collar to protect the neck and arms. It was made of 3mm-thick suede cowhide and provided protection against swords blunt trauma and possibly long range pistol balls, however as with all armour of the time it was ineffective against musket Dinner coat Black tie is a dress code for semi-formal evening events, and is worn to many types of social functions. For a man, the major component is a jacket, known as a dinner coat (British) or tuxedo (Canada and the U. S. ), which is usually black but is also seen in midnight blue. Basque coats A basque (also known as a torsolette) is an item of women’s historical apparel. The term, of French origin, can mean either a long corset or jacket characterized by a close, contoured fit and extending past the waistline over the hips. Probably so called because this fashion of dress came from the Basques, and adopted by the French and then the English Spencer coats The Spencer, dating from the 1790’s, was originally a woolen outer tail-coat with the tails cut-off. It was worn as a short waist-length, double-breasted, man’s jacket over a long-tailed coat as extra covering. In its most authentic and fashionable form it would have been decorated with military medals in a manner
Take some time out of your daily routine and enjoy an age-old English tradition, you wonât regret it! Afternoon tea is a light meal or refreshment typically served between 3-5pm. Other than a hot cup of tea, this British custom includes tiers of tiny delicacies: finger-sized sandwiches, miniature scones with jam and Devonshire cream and petite desserts. The practice was brought about in the 1700s by Anna Maria Stanhope, Duchess of Bedford. In the past, England only had two main meals a day, breakfast and dinner. The duchess complained of having a âsinking feelingâ midday and thus instigated afternoon tea sessions to remedy her discomfort. As she invited others to join in on her late afternoon meal, it rapidly became a ritual adopted by many other women in the United Kingdom. As the British Empire expanded around the world, the tradition of afternoon tea spread to many of its colonies. Victoria, B. C is one former British North American colony that is known for its outstanding afternoon tea houses. Find out more about the different tea houses in Victoria and discover which one is best for you! White Heather Tea Room Voted as the best place for tea in Victoria, the White Heather Tea Room presents a truly unforgettable tea house experience. Imagine rows of crust-less sandwiches, fresh fruit, rich trifle, velvety Devonshire cream with homemade jams and jellies and not to mention a wide selection of tea. Everything is not only served in a stylish atmosphere with delicate fine china, it is also surprisingly affordable! There are three sizes available to oblige every appetite: the Wee Tea for those looking for just a nibble; the Not So Wee Tea for those seeking more of a meal; and the Big Muckle Giant Tea For Two which may even surpass the appetite of a duo! Abkhazi Garden & Tea Room The grand Abkhazi manor has a number of charming features, among them a magnificent tea room in the mansionâs former sitting room. Ornamented with vaulted ceilings, archival photos and local artwork, the tea room provides the perfect setting for a late afternoon meal. Afterwards, complete your visit with a walk in the lush Abkhazi gardens. Fairmont Empress Lobby Take a step back in time and discover true Victorian class at the Fairmont Empress hotel. For nearly a century the Empress has hosted this well-known English tradition and it continues to impress visitors today. Treat yourself to decadent British treats made by an award-winning pastry chef and take ease in the comforting of the elegantly restored tea lobby. Afternoon tea menu includes dainty finger sandwiches, seasonal berries with cream and an array of decadent house made pastries. Empress availability is constantly filling up, make sure to confirm your reservation at least two weeks in advance. Gatsby Mansion An 1897 Victorian manor, the Gatsby mansion presents a lavish afternoon tea experience with stunning stained glass windows, dazzling chandeliers, elaborate artwork and rich wood paneling, all in the midst of the flourishing Belleville Park. Can you think of a better place for a luxurious afternoon tea? The tea menu includes warm scones with jam and Devonshire cream, finger sandwiches, fresh fruit, miniature desserts and creamy chocolate-Pernod mousses.
When it comes to setting the mood or atmosphere in a room, not only does proper illumination add to the allure of your personal space, but also the sources of light. While table lamps and ceiling lights serve a functional purpose, floor lamps are expansive in the many different ways one may decorate their space and showcase their creativity. Whether you choose an antique selection to brighten your den or side with a traditional Victorian fringe design for the bedroom, the never-ending possibilities of a floor lamp shine through in the mind-boggling variety in choices. Antique Lamps There is a certain elegance and intrigue associated with displaying an antique floor lamp. In home design, the mystery and unknown past of such an item is enough to spark the imagination, as well as provide a delightful conversation topic when family and friends visit. Today, there are manufacturers that strive to recreate this very look by emulating flowery, ornamental approaches towards antique furniture, which allows homeowners to match their lighting sources with other elements of their décor. A few common features of antique lamps include the stained-glass lampshade, brass finishes, and intricate designs. When one is interested in truly decorating their home with antique floor lamps, genuine specimens may cost quite a bit, such as French antique lamps carrying a price tag of more than thousands of dollars. Usually, an antique or antique-styled floor lamp is selected because of its look and fit within a setting, rather than bringing light into the room. One-of-a-Kind Pieces Floor lamps are also known to serve as a work of art, as some artists fashion one-of-a-kind pieces that sometimes depict odd, creative, or unusual displays. Some of the unique possibilities of artsy floor lamps include planetary designs, sculpted wooden figures, wild animals, and abstract images. Artistic floor lamps may also use unusual objects to construct the base of the lamp, such as animal antlers, petrified wood, branches, or heat-treated metal. They may rise in the air like an ivory torch or bring the look and feel of fantasy with fairies decorating their base. Some floor lamps are fashioned with a specific art movement in mind, such as colorful Art Deco pieces. Artists may also hand craft their samples and hand paint customized detailing on the outside of the shade to add characteristic touches for home and/or office use. Regional Flair Floor lamps are sometimes used to represent or pay homage to regional pride, as seen in Southwestern selections showcasing characteristic elements added to a lamp, such as images of cacti and rattlesnakes. A New York City-themed floor lamp may showcase a silhouette of the Empire State Building. Cozy wilderness scenes of Colorado and other rustic locations may utilize the image of wild critters, such as the grizzly bear or bald eagle. Create a Mood Floor lamps allow individuals to create a mood within their home or office that becomes the focus of the space when one enters the room. A gateway to the past may come alive with a Victorian-style street lamp displaying the soft, burnt orange glow of a custom crafted glass lampshade. Perhaps, the theme of your living room is Oriental — a solid hardwood floor lamp with a Chinese raw lacquer finish with mother of pearl and metal chrome accents will fit into the décor. Color also helps create a mood, such as the vibrant shades of red in Asian-style floor lamps. Mix and Match Color Bulbs to Match Lampshades The unique part of purchasing a floor lamp is that you may change lampshades to the base of your favorite lamp, just as you can match different colored light bulbs to create varying effects within a room. Depending on the time of day and other outside factors, various lampshade colors transform light into an array of shades, but red, blue, green, and even yellow lights can establish the atmosphere into a controlled setting, such as a romantic environment to a room set aside for contemplation, withdrawal, or reflection. In conclusion, the many uses and décor ideas regarding floor lamps are quite vast, as homeowners may choose from a host of inviting and exciting selections on the market. Today, an assortment of contemporary, traditional, hip, artisan, and antique lamps expand the possibilities of floor lamp interior design.
Body:Most of our holiday decorating is usually centered around the main living areas of our home. Usually the living room and family rooms are the first areas to be decorated, and the many other rooms of the house often times go forgotten. Today, however, many homeowners are decorating other rooms of their home, in addition to the living room. Here are a few ideas to help you get started decorating some other rooms of your home:
Kitchen:While most people don’t have a lot of wall space in their kitchens due to cabinets and windows, there are certain things that can add a festive touch to this area of the house. If you have an open area above your cabinets, this might be a perfect spot for that Victorian sleigh and Santa Claus that you want to put out, but don’t want the children to play with. A beautiful holiday plate or bowl on a clear plastic plate stand would really dress up the back corner of the counter top, along with a coordinating holiday cookie jar. Trading out your normal kitchen towels and rugs for ones that coordinate with the rest of your holiday decorations as well as your table linens gives a unified look.
Four Season Porch or Sun Room:A sun room or porch is the perfect place for a lighted tree at night because all the windows make it very visible to the surrounding area. This is also the perfect place to get a little whimsical with your decorations, too. The children will love a bright tree and funky decorations. Perhaps you would prefer a country or historical décor in this room. Popcorn and cranberries strung on a green tree are a sensory pleasure. Whichever you choose, be sure to add all the small touches you like, this is an area where adding more clutter just makes the end result look better.
Bathrooms:Like the kitchen, trade your everyday towels and rugs for holiday linens. If you have room on your bathroom countertop or vanity, add a small, decorated topiary-type tree. Some Christmas hand soaps are a nice touch. Since most of these rooms are small, a wreath is always a nice way to add a bit of the holidays without taking up too much space.
Bedrooms:Bedrooms are great places to add some holiday cheer that will be enjoyed by each member of the family individually. A small artificial tree is always a welcome pleasure to a child who is old enough to understand safety. Letting the child pick the ornaments or make paper ornaments to decorate the tree will make it that much more special. A stuffed Santa Claus and holiday bedding or throw can top off the child’s room. For adults, a small lighted tree, wreath and candles can make a peaceful place to get away from the holiday rush.
One thing that remains a staple in holiday decorating is the Christmas tree and wreaths that can be used just about anywhere in the home. As you expand your decorations throughout the house, your need for holiday storage will also grow. This requires a concerted effort on your part to be organized and efficient in storing your holiday decorations. When decorating an entire house, one of the most efficient ways to store your decorations is by room. With appropriate labeling, the trees, wreaths, and ornaments can be distributed to the appropriate location and then opened up. This same procedure can be reversed when it is time to un-decorate the house.
Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone of the Museum on 17th May 1899. The Victoria & Albert has a collection of more than 4 million objects. The Victoria & Albert Museum in London is the world’s largest museum of the decorative arts and has 146 galleries, including national collections of sculpture, furniture, fashion and photographs. It also houses the National Art Library. The Victoria & Albert also manage the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood, the Wellington Museum at Apsley House and the Theatre Museum in Covent Garden.
The Victoria & Albert is the world’s greatest museum of art and design. The Museum is renowned for the immense diversity of its collections, which embrace furniture, fashion, textiles, paintings, silver, glass, ceramics, jewellery, books, prints and photographs. Housed in magnificent Victorian buildings, these collections illustrate the artistic life of many different cultures, from European to South East Asian, American to Islamic, over hundreds of generations.
The museum has been housed in Aston Webb’s grand building since 1909. The building has a impressive facade and main entrance. As the museum grew new buildings were erected when needed. Many of these buildings were intended to be semi-permanent exhibition halls but all have survived and represent one of the finest groups of Victorian buildings in the country. The Victoria & Albert has around four million exhibits from all periods and areas of the world. The 145 of galleries cover ten acres and are spread over four floors.
The Art and Design galleries are arranged by themes and by place and date, for example the Materials & Techniques galleries are arranged by the type of material. The six-storey Henry Cole Wing holds the Victoria & Albert’s collection of paintings, drawings and prints. In 2001 the restored British Galleries reopened to the public. These cover British art and design from 1500 – 1900 and include James II’s wedding suit and the Great Bed of Ware. The Victoria & Albert, which held its first photographic exhibition in 1858, is also the home of the National Collection of Art of Photography. The Canon Photography Gallery has regularly changing displays.
The fifteen galleries of the Victoria & Albert Museum tell the story of British design from the Tudor period to the Victorian era and display the Victoria & Albert’s unrivalled collection of historic British furniture, textiles, dress, ceramics, glass, jewellery, silver, prints, paintings and sculpture. Every major name in the history of British design is represented, including Grinling Gibbons, Robert Adam, William Morris and Charles Rennie Mackintosh as well as workshops and manufacturers such as the Mortlake tapestry works, Spitalfields silks weaving workshops, Wedgwood, Doulton and Liberty.
The Victoria and Albert Museum, London, has started work on a new jewellery gallery that is planned to open in 2008. Jewels from 2000 sc to the present, drawn from a pool of five thousand, will include an ancient Egyptian hippopotamus, Elizabethan pendants, Marie Antoinette’s bracelet clasps, jewels owned by Napoleon and Catherine the Great, as well as this nineteenth-century English bodice ornament, a diamond bouquet of roses, a carnation, a chrysanthemum and a fuchsia, set on springs so they tremble as the wearer moves.
The transformation of the British Galleries is the Victoria & Albert’s largest project for over half a century and with over 3000 exhibits on display in magnificent new surroundings, the result is a truly exceptional experience not to be missed.
With the festive season round the corner, many of you are probably starting on your gift shopping. If you’re having a hard time deciding on what to buy for your loved ones, why not consider buying art? A beautiful art piece displayed in your friend’s home will not only beautify the place, but also be a nice conversation topic for visitors.
However, buying art for someone else can be quite tricky. The last thing you want happening is to buy something that doesn’t suit the décor of your friend’s house. And your friend might end up quietly putting the art piece away into the store room after a while. You have to make sure that the art piece that you buy must compliment the décor of his home.
Here are some tips to help you make the right buying decisions:
If you have never visited your friend’s home, try to arrange for a meet up, so that you can have a sneak preview of the place. While you are there pay close attention to the decorative theme of the house. Is it modern contemporary, minimalist, or maybe Victorian? Perhaps your friend is well traveled, and has collected antiques from all over the world. Maybe he likes Asian styles, as evidenced by the furniture and decorative ornaments around the house. Pay attention also to the color theme. Are the walls colorful with bright primary colors, or is it in pastel earthy colors? These considerations will affect your decision in the kind of art you will buy. Location
While you are in the house, identify a wall where you might want the art piece to be hung. It can be quite challenging to find suitable space to hang art – even more so if the wall is already decorated with art pieces. Remember that you don’t have to buy a very large piece that occupies the entire wall. You can have a small art piece that can share the wall space with other pieces that are already there. You just need to pay attention to the theme of those art pieces. For example, if those pieces are black and white pictures of architectural buildings, then you have a pretty good idea on the type of art to buy that will match nicely with the others. Color
A rule of thumb is to take note of the 2 strongest colors in the room, and then choose art that has those colors in them. For example, if the room has a lot of brown and beige, you can find art that has these 2 colors in them, but it’s ok to have an additional splash of red or yellow in it. After all, you want the art piece to stand out and tell a story, so don’t pick an art piece that blends so well until it becomes un-noticeable.
Take note of other things in the room that may be attention grabbing. For example, if there is a beautiful Persian rug at the center of the room that the owner is very proud of, then choose an art piece with subtler colors than the rug so as not to steal attention away from it. Having a room with rugs, curtains and art pieces all shouting for attention can throw the entire room out of balance. Style
It is important to find an art piece that will match the décor style of your friend’s home. If the house has a Victorian style to it or has a lot of old antiques, pick an art piece that will match closely with that style. Floral themed paintings or scenes of the countryside can never go wrong. Protect it with an antique styled frame that will add a nice old charmed look. Remember that the frame you choose is also part of the art piece, so do not ignore it. A frame with intricate details and carvings will work nicely with a Victorian or old cottage house.
For a modern home with contemporary styled furniture, you’ll be practically spoilt for choice when it comes to contemporary art. For a room that’s colorful, pick something that’s black and white. For a room that has neutral colors, choose something that will stand out and grab attention. The important thing to note is that you want the art to be noticed. Remember also, that contemporary or abstract art, do not have to mean anything. Different people will interpret it differently. So don’t be too hard on yourself when choosing the right art for your friend. Size
If you intend to purchase a large art piece, make sure your friend has enough wall space to put it. It may seem common sense, but coming from an interior design point of view, large pieces are more suitable for rooms with a lot of space and have high ceilings. If your friend is living in a small space, then certainly large pieces may not be suitable. In this case, get a smaller piece, or better yet, get a set of small, similar looking themed art pieces that can be grouped together when displayed. On the other hand, if your friend is living in a very large space, buying art that is too small will make it look out of place and out of proportion.
So there you have it – just some basic guidelines to set you in the right direction. Remember, if all else fails and you really cannot find a suitable space to hang art, you can always put your art piece into a photo frame and display it next to other photographs. Nothing is impossible. Just a little experimentation can work wonders.
Enjoy your art shopping!
Copyright 2007 Edwin Mah
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