Dodge Challenger R/T Classic: Yesteryear's Road Warrior Is Back!

Fluctuating gas prices and tight supply of the same hasn't kept America's three major automakers with going ahead with plans to reintroduce the pony car segment to consumers. Sure, the Ford Mustang has been continuously produced since 1964, but the Dodge Challenger (reintroduced in 2008) and the Chevrolet Camaro (reintroduced in 2009) are new entries, filling out the field for classic car enthusiasts.

The Dodge Challenger, like the Camaro and Mustang, hearkens to the design cues of earlier generation models, a car that effectively blends traditional road prowess with modern technology. Now, a new model, the Challenger R/T Classic has been introduced, perhaps the best example of yesteryear's style blending with today's technology.

"Our all-new 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic is more than a modern-day muscle machine, it pays homage to one of the most storied nameplates in automotive history," said Dan Knott, Vice President-Car / Minivan / SRT Product Team, Chrysler LLC. "With heritage-inspired dual-wide body-side R/T stripes, original 'Challenger' heritage badging and the newest generation of our legendary 5.7-liter HEMI(R) V-8 engine, the new 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic delivers the greatness of our pony car past with advanced fuel-efficient muscle."

The new model is based on the current Challenger R/T and offers a dual throwback A-line body-side R/T stripes, 'Challenger' fender badging in classic script, large 20-inch polished-chrome heritage wheels with all-season performance tires, classic egg-crate grille with heritage 'R/T' badge, body-color rear spoiler and chromed fuel-filler door.

"Dodge Challenger has a rich performance heritage and the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic encompasses numerous technologies that allow great on- road performance while delivering proven-quality and refinement to ensure its place in the Dodge pony car history," said Knott.

Equipped with a legendary 5.7-liter HEMI(R) V-8 engine under its long, raised performance hood with functional hood scoops to increase engine cooling, the Challenger R/T Classic Track Pak's precision-shift "pistol-grip" shifter, bright pedals, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with defeatable traction control, Hill Start Assist (HSA), four-wheel disc performance braking system and an anti-spin 3.92 differential. A performance-tuned dual exhaust optimizes engine back pressure and exhaust throatiness by replacing the standard under-floor muffler with two low- restriction bottle resonators. The result, a powerful 376 horsepower (280 kW) and 410 lb.-ft. of torque (556 N*m) that can accelerate the Dodge Challenger R/T Classic from zero to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds.

The all-new 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic starts at $34,005 and is being produced on the same Brampton, Ontario assembly line as the Dodge Charger and the Chrysler 300C. chrysler LLC hasn't said how many of the limited production R/T Challenger Classic models will be built, but in typical Challenger fashion drivers can expect that they'll secure a low volume vehicle, one that should retain its value compared to other models.

Used Muscle Cars For Sale - Buy With Confidence

Looking for used muscle cars for sale can be a tricky venture, you'll either find just the car that your looking for, or you'll listen to a sales person, who's job is to sell the car no matter what, I'm going to cover some ideas to help you get what you want in a used muscle car.

First of all when looking for used muscle cars for sale, be sure to know all you can about the car that your looking for, research it on the net, buy books and learn about it from them, ask a friend who may know a lot about cars, know what your going to do with the car.

If your a purest and you plan on restoring it to factory stock specs, make sure that the one your looking at has the options that it came with from the factory, decode the vin number; decode the rpo code; and the casting number, also the transmission casing stamp, and the rear end tag.

If your just looking for a used muscle car for sale to build in to your dream car, and that doesn't include restoring it to factory stock specs, then your job isn't quite as hard, you need to look at the condition of the body on the car, the engine and transmission in the car and the rear end.

Make sure that you have a decent car to start with, this will save you all kinds of money in the long run; and everybody likes to save money when looking for used muscle cars for sale, it's always best to really know the car before you purchase it, so study up first.

I'm going to talk a little here about where to find the used muscle cars for sale, remember I didn't say used muscle cars for sale at a bargain basement price, because the truth is that you get what you pay for I have said this a lot in different articles, there is no good $3,000 muscle cars for sale.

You should plan on spending about $8,000-$10,000 to start with, unless your looking for a junk car to start with, if you start in this range your more likely to find a good car to start with, this will save you a lot of agony in the long run, you either put the money in to the car when you buy it, or as you build it.

Before you decide to buy a car from a certain place, make sure that you check out their business through the BBB, the local chamber of commerce, or other agencies that you may know, you need to know that the dealer is reputable before you buy from them.

You can buy used muscle cars for sale from a lot of different places, ebay is a good place to start, if your looking on ebay, be sure to check the feedback of the person selling the car, be sure to ask a lot of questions about him, and the car, if he doesn't seem to have the answers, don't buy the car.

If your mainly shopping on the web, look at the time that the web site has been on the web, you can google that, if the site is fairly new, you may want to look elsewhere to start with, you can check places like autabuy.com, and dreamcarstore.net, both of the companies have been a round a while.

Being in business a long time is an indicator that they do good business, and don't rip people off on cars, it a good indicator that they'll tell you the things that you need to know about the car, because they want you to buy more used muscle cars for sale from them.

Photo Retouching

To understand the history of the image and in particular, the photographic image, one has to consider the ancient civilizations. Egyptian paintings and works of art are well documented but it wasn't until the rise of the Roman Empire that the portrait flourished. Roman portraits primarily took the form of a sculpture and it was particularly fashionable to depict an unflattering representation of the subject. Our seemingly modern fascination with perfection can be traced back to France during the middle ages when the trend shifted to producing painted portraits that favoured an idealized symbol of what the person looked like.

Due to the enormous cost, commissioning a painted or sculptured portrait was an act reserved only for royalty and the very highest within society. To meet the high demand for inexpensive portraiture saw the invention of the daguerreotype during the middle of the 19th century that employed numerous physical and chemical discoveries of the era. This was essentially an early type of photograph in which the image is exposed directly onto a photosensitive plate. Further refinement of the design and processes as well as advancements in photographic glass plates reduced the cost and a large number of photographic studios in major cities around the world began to offer photographic services to the masses.

Development of the photographic film towards the end of the 19th century replaced photographic plates. Photography and the professional photographer were no longer confined to the studio. A great many advances in the technology led to the appearance of the modern 35mm and compact film cameras used today. The costs were further reduced to the point where cameras became disposable as early as the mid eighties. The inclusion of a variety of cameras in the basket of 650 goods used to calculate the Retail Price Index for almost two decades is testament to the popularity of photography. The 35mm camera was only recently removed in 2006 when it was replaced with the digital camera.

Digital cameras first became commercially available in the very early nineties and saw the replacement of film with a photon sensitive chip and rewriteable memory cards. There are many advantages when comparing digital against film. One such advantage is that the physical size of a camera can be reduced such that it can be incorporated into a mobile phone. Despite initially being very expensive, digital overtook film in developed countries in 2002 and the technology is now cheap enough to allow for disposable digital cameras. Photography as a profession, as a hobby and part of popular culture has become even more accessible thanks to the digital technology to the point that the percentage of the UK population owning a digital camera or camera phone has risen to 90% according to a recent survey.

Shipment volumes of digital cameras have been rising year on year and totalling 7.5 million units in 2007. Total digital camera sales hit 50 million in 2003, rising to 114 million in 2007 and forecasts don't predict slowdown due to market saturation any time before 2010.

The digital revolution has made the transition of getting an image from the camera lens to the computer screen a trivial exercise. Retouching encompasses everything from modest enhancement to restoration and recovery of an otherwise objectionable or unusable image. Photographic retouching is often considered to be a modern concept due to recent advances in computer performance and software capability besides the relatively recent introduction of the digital camera itself. However, this is far from the truth.

Photo manipulation is as old as photography itself. Joseph Stalin regularly made use of photo retouching techniques for propaganda purposes as early as the 1920s. Before computers, photo manipulation was achieved by retouching with ink, paint, double exposure and piecing photos or negatives together in the darkroom.

"Photoshopping" is slang for the digital editing of photographs; the term originating from Adobe Photoshop, the image editor most commonly used by professionals for this purpose. The 1980s saw the advent of digital retouching. Before digital cameras became widely obtainable, the most common way of getting a print onto a computer was via a scanner. The processing power needed to manipulate large images has up until recently been beyond the reach of most. Purchasing expensive custom hardware from leading manufactures of the time, Silicon Graphics and Apple Macintosh was unavoidable.

The number of households in the UK owning a personal computer capable of image retouching is around 65%. This combined with the extremely large portion of the population owning equipment capable of taking digital photos; one would imagine that a sizable number of individuals would be retouching their own photographs to meet their ever increasing desires for flawlessness.

Retouching software is varied in functionality and the cost of some of the less capable packages is inexpensive when compared to the price of computer and camera equipment. Becoming proficient in retouching however is not just a one off purchase. A great deal of patience and commitment to acquiring the necessary skills is required. Furthermore, an artistic flare is more often than not an advantage. The act of retouching is also a time consuming affair. A recent study has shown that lifestyles are changing. Working and commuting hours are increasing and social calendars are becoming crowded. To compensate for this, a culture of contracting out tasks that are either time consuming, requiring effort or are considered tedious is increasingly becoming the norm. For instance, it is not uncommon for tired office workers to pay to have their shirts ironed and hand car washing businesses in public car parks are thriving. A recent study showed that 48% of homes in Britain employ an average of three outside helpers at a cost of £20 billion; undertaking a range of tasks from dog walking to personal shopping.

Photographs, on a personal level, can become treasured items. In addition to documenting events and special occasions they capture moments in time of friends and loved ones. Weddings, holidays, graduations and children growing up are popular photographic opportunities that are often unrepeatable in nature. Making the most of the available photographs is favourable. Photographs also have more pragmatic uses as it makes good business sense to showcase products and services to potential customers in the most attractive way. Allowing all types of images to look their finest through retouching is both appealing and beneficial.

Advances in computer and networking technology have led to the inevitable rise and subsequent dominance of the Internet. The number of households having access to the World Wide Web via high speed broadband connections in the UK is around 55%. $259 billion of online sales including travel occurred in 2007 in the US; an 18% increase from the previous year14. It is advantageous for businesses and services such as traditional high street retailers, banks, restaurants, tourist attractions, estate agents and hotels to secure and maintain an online presence and in turn, the demand for high quality images looks set to increase.

Images are required for a wide selection of applications. Besides the recent emergence of the online paradigm as highlighted above, demand for traditional photography services remains strong such as wedding, portraiture, sports and journalism to name but a few. Meeting this demand for imagery is now easier than ever thanks to the profusion of photographic equipment. Photographs of an exceptional standard that satisfy our need for perfection however are reserved only for big business and those with deep pockets. All photographs, whether or not they were taken professionally, can benefit from some degree of retouching; a term which covers all forms of manipulation and enhancement. It is not uncommon for magazine cover photographs, despite having been taken by notable professional photographers using the very best equipment, to undergo hours of post production work to produce the perfect image.

To achieve faultless images, a number of companies and individuals currently offer specialist retouching services to the big industry players, often on a contract basis. It is also becoming commonplace for photographers to invest in the tools required to manipulate images and become proficient in their use in order to meet the increasing demands of the client. Such services are expensive and are not aimed at the mass market. The only real solution available to the general public is to purchase a suitable computer and acquire the knowledge to create masterpieces of their own images using relatively costly retouching software. A number of companies now offer online retouching services and make the whole process easy and affordable for individuals and businesses alike. One such company is London based Retouch Genie Ltd - Online photo retouching and restoration experts.

The yearning to look flawless and conform to contemporary ideals is not a new concept. For hundreds of years Chinese women bound their feet to stunt growth and in Elizabethan times wore corsets which caused broken ribs all for a desirable curvy silhouette. In recent years however, celebrity obsession, glossy magazines, television makeover shows, fashion, pharmaceuticals, weight-loss and advertising industries, rightly or wrongly, have intensified the quest for perfection. In the UK, the number of cosmetic surgical procedures carried out has increased by a third between 2004 and 2006.

From a number of business applications, selling items in online auctions, social networking profiles, online dating, leisure, tourism and travel, the perfect image has many diverse and varied applications and the photographic retouching industry is likely to grow as a result.

Professional Portraits - What Not to Wear When Getting Your Portrait Taken

Portraiture is a very delicate artistic process. Knowing what to wear and more importantly, what not to wear when having your portrait taken is very important. In this article, we'll cover several things to avoid during your session and helpful tips while preparing for your portrait. By the end of this article, you'll understand how to dress so that you have an amazing portrait in the end.

Keep it Simple

A portrait is a timeless piece of art. It is important to avoid wearing clothing that dictates the time. Trends go in and out of style. Stick to wearing clothing that is classic and simple. Clothing that will be fashionable no matter when the portrait is viewed.

Avoid Distracting Colors and Patterns

Avoid heavy stripes or patterns, as they will distract from portraying the character of the person in the portrait. Also, think carefully about your color choices. Some colors can be distracting. Your photographer can help to guide you in selecting colors that will best enhance your appearance.

Plan Your Clothes

Talk with your photographer to see what kind of backgrounds will be used the day your portrait is taken. If you are taking your photo as a family, it is best to be harmonious in style and color. It's not necessary to all match, but a touch of harmony can add a lot to your portrait. Dark clothing tends to take the focus off the body size, while light clothing tends to do the opposite. Long sleeves tend to look better on adults and older children.

Iron Your Clothes!

Although photos can be retouched afterwards, clothing can't be ironed after a photo is taken! In fact, photography seems to increase the creases on clothing that hasn't been ironed. Iron both your shirt and your pants prior to having your photo taken.

Be Your True Self

Your portrait is a celebration of you. Make sure you don't obscure your true self from coming through by over-applying makeup. Avoid heavy eyeliner in particular. Your makeup should complement the style of the portrait and clothing you're wearing. Jewelery as well, should complement your outfit.

Avoid getting your hair cut only days before having your portrait taken. A fresh haircut can show up on camera. Wait at least 4-5 days for men, 1-2 weeks for women.

Congratulations! You now know how to dress for an amazing portrait session. Remember to talk to your photographer and get his/her professional input before your session to ensure the best portrait possible.

Differences Between Candid Photography and Professional Photographic Portraits

When discussing types of pictures that can be taken by a professional photographer, there are two main types. Candid photography lends a more personal feel to each photo, and captures life as it is happening.

Professional photographic portraits on the other hand, are more about chronicling an event, and preserving it on film in a staged manner. Each method has its own place and time in which it is most appropriate, and the information below will provide you with the main differences between the two styles.

Positioning and Appearance

One of the main differences between candid photography and photographic portraits is in the way they are positioned, and in the way that they appear. Candid photographs are taken on the go when life is happening, and present pictures of an event as it was. Professional photographic portraits however, are staged using sets, props, and a predetermined position. These photographs capture an image and preserve it in the way that it was positioned to look.

The appearance of these two types of photography are quite different, in fact, candid photography can often look like it was not done by a professional at all. It can sweep you away, and remind you of a past event with it easy appearance and candid positioning.

Photographic portraits preserve things in their perfect condition. They allow you to look your best, or capture something or someone in an ideal way.

Often, when somebody goes to a professional photography studio or hires a professional photographer, they will opt to have both forms of photography used. That is because while different, these two styles both have their own merits and value.

Equipment That is Used

Another major difference between candid and photographic photography is the equipment that is used for each. Candid photography is usually done with much lighter weight equipment. There is often no need for a tripod, lights, and certainly not backgrounds or props. It is often done outside with natural backdrops, and usually on the go.

Professional photographic photography is quite different on the other hand. It requires the use of heavy equipment, large tripods, elaborate lighting, props and backgrounds, and often other items as well. The idea behind photographic photography is to make an object or person look their very best, and a variety of measures and tools are used to achieve this.

When They Are Used

When looking for differences between candid and photographic photography is important to explore the difference between when they are both used. For instance, photographic photography is better suited for taking still photos that you wish to look professional and staged. These might be wedding photos, children's photos, family photos, or even pictures for cards or invitations.

Candid photography however, is generally used to capture the action of an event. That is why candid photography is often used to capture wildlife, sporting events, wedding receptions, or even news events.

While each of these photography styles has various times and places that they can be used. It is also possible for them to be used in the same situation at roughly the same time. In the example of a wedding, before hand you may wish to have photographic pictures of the wedding party taken. However, during and after the wedding you may wish for a photographer to use candid photography to capture the action in every moment of the day.

Both candid and professional photographic photography have their benefits and appropriate times to be used. While there are differences in these two styles of photography, they both require the skill of a professional photographer in order to present a beautiful finished product. When you know the differences between these two styles of photography, you can make the choice of which one is best for you.

Olympus SP-565UZ 10MP Digital Camera Review

Olympus has given the SP-570 UZ - the world's most powerful ultra zoom digital camera - an extreme makeover by creating the new SP-565 Ultra Zoom, a smaller and lighter version with the same amazing precision-crafted 20x wide-angle telephoto zoom lens (26-520mm equivalent), but the ease-of-use of a point-and-shoot camera.

Photographers searching for an even more portable and approachable ultra zoom to take anywhere will rejoice in the camera's new form factor, and with 10 million pixels and Dual Image Stabilization delivering superior, virtually blur-free images, the SP-565 UZ is proof that good things do come in small packages.

The camera's enhanced Face Detection can now track up to 16 faces within the frame and optimize exposure even when subjects are moving, ensuring that family reunion group portraits will come out well-focused. In addition, the SP-565 UZ ensures sharp, brilliant images with a host of other features:

Dual Image Stabilization combines the benefits of Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization and Digital Image Stabilization to compensate for both camera shake and moving subjects, helping to create beautiful, virtually blur-free images in any situation;

Shadow Adjustment Technology enables users to preview and capture images as the human eye sees them, compensating for difficult lighting situations and maintaining detail in highlights while improving detail in the shadows to produce more balanced photos; and Perfect Shot Preview takes the guesswork out of great photography by allowing users to preview and select various photographic effects live on the LCD screen, before snapping the shot.

SP-565UZ Highlights

Lightening the Lens Load

Lugging a bag full of lenses can slow traveling photographers down, so the SP-565 UZ comes fully equipped with the equivalent of three lenses in one complete camera. The bright, f2.8-4.5 lens provides the equivalent of 26-520mm focal length with 100x total seamless zoom (5x digital zoom). By using the toggle lever with one finger, users can get close to the action with the versatile yet compact 20x super telephoto zoom, while the wide-angle (26mm) lens captures more of the subject in each frame. Its super-macro capabilities capture the subtlest details from as close as one centimeter. The compact lens construction combines aspherical and extra-dispersion (ED) lens elements to deliver edge-to-edge sharpness and clarity. Whether you're hiking through the mountains or shooting a tennis match, this sturdy compact body with wide-angle and telephoto lenses provide the versatility to get the job done.

Dual Image Stabilization

Dual Image Stabilization enables users to take crisp, clear pictures in virtually any shooting situation - adjusting for camera shake and a moving subject. Olympus' mechanical Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization keeps images sharp by adjusting the CCD to compensate for camera shake, which often occurs when zooming in on your subject and in low-light conditions when shutter speeds are slower. Digital Image Stabilization freezes the action with high ISO sensitivity and fast shutter speeds that help to prevent blur caused by a moving subject.

Face Detection

Face Detection tracks up to 16 faces within the frame and automatically focuses (Face Detection AF) and optimizes exposure (Face Detection AE) quickly for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures. Now, your subject's face is in focus whether it is in the center of the target area or not.

Manual Controls

The Manual, Aperture Priority and Shutter Speed Priority modes give users versatility and control for optimal performance in any situation. Users can express their creative vision - adjusting the f-stop for detailed portraits with softened backgrounds, or slowing the exposure speed to create the blurred effect of motion, or just sit back and let the camera do the thinking through the use of the automatic settings.

High-Speed Sequential Shooting and Pre-Capture

The SP-565 UZ is capable of capturing images at an incredible 13.5 frames per second (with a reduced image size of 3 megapixels). The inclusion of Pre-Capture technology, which works in conjunction with High-Speed Sequential Shooting, enables users to capture the action before and after fully pressing the shutter button. Pre-Capture begins working as soon as the focus is locked, automatically archiving 10 frames in the camera's buffer memory prior to the shutter release - virtually guaranteeing that none of the action will be missed even if the user's reaction time is slow. Perfect for situations where timing is essential, such as photographing a tennis player serving, children playing or a whale breaching.

Shadow Adjustment Technology

Shooting outdoors in bright daylight can be tricky because of the extreme contrast between dark shadowed areas and bright sunlight areas. While the human eye is capable of detecting the nuances between dark and light and all the details in between, image sensors traditionally have not been quite as sensitive. The SP-565 UZ addresses this challenge head-on with a new Shadow Adjustment Technology, which compensates for extreme contrast where the shadow areas are underexposed and lack visible detail. With the new technology, users can preview and capture images that have the same contrast as seen with the naked eye.

Perfect Shot Preview

The SP-565 UZ features a Perfect Shot Preview mode that enables users to preview and select various photographic effects (such as zoom, exposure compensation, white balance and metering) on a live, multi-window screen before snapping the shot. Perfect Shot Preview enables users to see precisely what the image will look like when adjustments are made, ensuring users are capturing the exact image they want. It is an ideal way for novice users to learn about the effects of different photography techniques.

Perfect Fix In-Camera Editing

Olympus' Perfect Fix feature offers quick solutions for unanticipated image quality issues, which may be caused by several adverse conditions. Lighting Fix can be used to adjust any underexposed areas and Red-Eye Fix can be used to reduce the effects of red-eye sometimes caused by a direct flash. Additional in-camera editing functions can be quickly accessed right in the camera by the touch of a button; features available include resizing, trimming, black and white, and sepia.

TruePic III Image Processor

Olympus' enhanced TruePic III Image Processor produces crystal clear photos using all the pixel information for each image to deliver superior picture quality with more accurate colors, true-to-life flesh tones and faster processing speeds. TruePic III also captures sharp images at high ISO settings, which are traditionally associated with increasing image noise or producing grainy photos.

33 Shooting Modes Including Multi-Fireworks

The SP-565 UZ makes it easy to take great photos in a variety of scenarios and lighting situations with 33 shooting modes, including a Multi-Fireworks mode. To capture the most stunning fireworks displays, this multi-exposure feature overlays the fireworks to create the memory of a lifetime. To activate any of the camera's pre-set modes, simply select the desired mode for portraits, landscapes, night scenes, fast-action and more.

Versatile Memory

All Olympus digital point-and-shoot cameras accept xD-Picture Card media. The SP-565 UZ will also come equipped with an adapter, which will enable microSD memory cards to be used when capturing images. The microSD cards are emerging in consumer electronic devices, including mobile phones and PDAs. Users can also easily display photos on their HDTVs.

Olympus Master 2 Software

Olympus Master 2 software provides the ultimate in digital imaging management. An intuitive user interface makes downloading to your computer quick and simple, and images are easily organized by folders or albums and searchable by date in Calendar view. Also, with one-click editing tools, such as red-eye removal, images can be touched up before printing or e-mailing. Online support, templates, firmware upgrades and other user services are just a mouse-click away. Use the optional muvee Theater Pack to create professional quality slide shows and DVDs from your pictures using any of several built-in templates.

Collecting Stamps From All Over The Place

Believe it or not, the first stamp was issued in England on the 6th of May, in the year 1840. Since then, the issuance of stamps grew in all countries and the collection of stamps have also increased, and there is no stopping it. And because the number of stamps have grown in leaps and bounds - for the sake of convenience - collectors have limited themselves into single country collecting.

Multiple country collecting

Collecting stamps from one country compared to collecting stamps from various nations is better as there is a lot more time and effort to have access to more stamps locally than internationally.

For instance, it is a bit difficult to complete an Austrian stamp collection because of its rarity and only a few stamps are ever available. The easiest and probably the most famous stamp to collect are those that come from one's own country.

However it all depends on your own preference. For instance, stamps from Austria began to be collected through a specific motif that a particular stamp or group of stamps have. An example would be the collection of stamps as according to the pictures they have, such as flowers, dogs, trains, paintings, ships, buildings, weapons or women.

However, a beginning stamp collector or those that intend to collect on an average basis may do well to start gathering stamps from their own country.

Stamps that are issued fresh hot of the post are very affordable. Believe it or not, stamps that have just been released may be bought with no additional charge from any postal office right on the day of its issuance.

Beautiful US stamps about beautiful US

If you are willing to collect stamps about the beautiful country that is the US of A, there are a set of stamps out there which showcase such. The Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, for instance are shown in the stamp issued by the United States Postal Service. The stamp that costs a mere seventy-five cents shows the Great Smokey Mountain during sunset as photographed by David Muench from California, specifically in Santa Barbara.

The breathtaking picture view also has portions of Tennessee and North Carolina. This national park is best known for its diverse plant life as well as animal life as one will definitely see when he hikes along its eight hundred mile trail.

Another beautiful US landmark that has been immortalized in a stamp is the Yosemite National Park. The stamp costs eight-four US cents and it features a picture of the valley gates of the Yosemite as photographed by Galen Rowell of California, specifically Emervville.

If you are a nature lover, or even if you are not, collecting the stamp will most probably make you one.

Yosemite park was established as such on the first of October in the year 1890. the park boasts of a variety of natural features and geographical wonders such as meadows that stretch as far as the eye can see, lakes, waterfalls, sequoias and monoliths that are made out of granite. These granites are called half Dome and El Capitan.

Believe it or not, Yosemite has been designated as ninety five percent authentic wilderness. Another US treasure found on a sixty three cent stamp is Utah's Bryce Canyon. These stamps are all part of the Scenic Landscapes in America released by the US Postal Service.

The canyon is beautifully photographed by Tom Till from the city of Moab, Utah. Thanks to erosion, the Utah landscape developed spires now called as whimsical-looking hoodoos. Bryce Canyon was recognized nationally as a monument in 1923.

America's crops

Believe it or not, the crops grown in America are also featured in US stamps. The following crops has been featured, beans, corn, squashes, chili peppers, sunflowers.

An artist named Steve Buchanan designed five of the stamps through the slides photographed by his wife. Other crops featured were corn ears, chilies (both the red and green type), lima beans, pintos, squash, pintos, seeds and sunflowers. All in all, collecting stamps is a worthwhile activity that anyone who has the perseverance, patience and passion to pursue could. All it takes is a good eye for detail and a liking for anything and everything literally small.

Vintage travel posters - a must-have for the travel enthusiasts

The vintage travel posters are a great way to remember the time which has gone by and also to capture the moment and to preserve it forever. A vintage travel poster is like a medium through which you get to have a look at those places which you cannot visit in reality. The travel vintage posters also remind us of the places that we or any of our loved ones might have visited in the past.

Apart form these aspects the vintage travel posters give us an insight of the lifestyle, art form, fashion and the history of the bygone era.

The vintage travel posters can be classified according to places as well. So be it about a place of your choice in France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Britain or Italy – a vintage travel poster works as a perfect memorabilia of the exquisite beauty of it.

Some essential briefs of the artistic specialties of posters made in Italy, Switzerland and France:

Some of the most popular forms of the Italian vintage travel posters are from the Art Deco and the Art Nouveau art era. The most famous artists who created the Italian vintage poster are Depro, Terzi, Seneca, Lenhart, Laskoff and many more.

A Swiss vintage travel poster highly resembles the French and German posters but the one thing which sets it apart from others is the beautiful display of natural beauty of Switzerland. The Swiss posters display a sense of humor along with some fascinating graphic designs. Some of the noted Swiss artists are namely, Tissi, Matter, Brun, Troxler and Hofmann.

A French vintage poster fills life to a dull wall with its classic masterpieces. France is considered to be the birth place of the travel vintage posters and it boasts of some of the most incredible pieces such as the Maitres de l'Affiche. France is known to produce some of the most remarkable artists who are the creators of some of the most precious masterpieces. These creators include Pal, Gruau, Cheret, Mucha, Grun, and Colin. Some of the posters have shown the map of the region, architectural landmarks or the railroad system. You can also own a piece of the travel vintage poster and virtually travel across the world.

Making That Perfect Arts And Crafts Dream Catcher

Being bothered by nightmares? Native Americans believe that bad dreams can become caught in the web of a dream catcher and destroyed in the morning light. Dream catchers are so beautiful and artistic that they have become one of the most popular mass marketed arts and crafts available. However, these lovely pieces can be made at home. In this article, we'll demonstrate how to make a dream catcher yourself.

Dream catchers were originally made out of willow, sage and deer sinew. Modern dream catchers are made with wood or metal wrapped in leather strips and artificial sinew. The decoration of the web along with the shape, size and colors used is left to the artistic tastes of the individual.

Feathers attached to the dream catcher are meant to assist the flight of good dreams. Although selecting the materials is usually a matter of preference, typically to make a dream catcher you will need about 7 feet of thin suede, glue, a 6 inch metal or wooden ring, waxed nylon string, 12-16 pony beads, 12-16 feathers, scissors and a clothes pin. The colors of the beads and feathers can be any you choose.

The most difficult thing about the arts and crafts project of making dream catchers is making the web. Once you have covered the hoop with leather or suede and the glue has dried completely, tie a long strand of sinew or another piece of suede onto the hoop with a secure knot.

Carefully work your way around the hoop making a slip stitch at about every inch, or inch and a half. Ideally, the spaces should be uniform but don't worry if they are not perfect. Once you get back to the top, slip stitch into the first loop that you made and repeat the process until you have just a small hole in the center. If you want to make your dream catcher more decorative, you can slip beads onto the web as you go. Tie a knot at the end and cut off any excess material.

To make the loop to hang your Dream Catcher, use a 12" piece of suede lacing. Fold it in half and tie a knot in the open end. At the top of the ring, attach the lacing and slip the loop end through the ring and then around the ring and over the knot. Pull the lacing tight to secure it in place.

To make the hanging sections, cut three 8" pieces of suede. Tie two 8" pieces of suede lacing about one third of the way up each side of the ring using a double knot. Slip 3 colored pony beads onto each piece of lacing and secure with a knot. Tie the last 8" piece of lacing to the top middle of the ring. Slip three pony beads onto each piece of lacing. Finally, push two feathers up inside the beads on each piece of lacing.

Arts and crafts make wonderful presents and a homemade dream catcher is an especially thoughtful present. It make take some practice to get the weaving right, but the effort is worth it.

As you get more experience with the craft of making dream catchers, you can experiment with different colors of suede and leather, beads, feathers and ring sizes. As with all of the artistic craft projects you may undertake, no two pieces need to look the same.

Tuscan Home Decorating Ideas

Tuscan decorating is inspired by the Tuscany region of Italy. In the time of the ancient Roman Empire, people would escape from big city life in Rome, by going out to live in the hills of central Italy, where things were calmer and more peaceful.

There people would live simpler lives, more in touch with the natural world around them. It is these elements of peace, simplicity, and natural weathered beauty, which are the cornerstone marks of Tuscan decorating.

Natural stone is probably the most common element associated with this decorating style. Slate is especially Tuscan, with its natural clefting face, which resembles the rocky hills and mountains found in the Tuscan region. A weathered, worn, comfortable look is also often associated with this style, and most natural stones actually get more beautiful the longer they are weathered and worn.

Marble is another type of natural stone which is often associated with the Tuscan style. Rich marble floors were a hallmark of wealthy roman homes, and the beauty of the polished glistening material is still prized in homes today. Tumbled marble drink coasters are another popular stone item for this particular trend.

Other Tuscan stone decorating elements include cobblestone pathways, sandstone lined windows, and marble arches. Terracotta is also a popular material, and is most often found in roofing.

Part of the draw of Tuscan decorating is the philosophy of durability over glitz. Those who moved away from the city of Rome were tired of all of the pomp and fanfare of city life, and were instead interested in well made, weathered, and worn objects, that could stand up against the ages.

Copper and distressed hardwoods are also signs of Tuscan Decorating. Copper pots, kettles, and bowls can be mixed and matched with hardwood furnishings to create a look which blends naturally with the earth.

The colors used in a Tuscan decorating all get their cues from nature, and the earth. Deep browns, rich greens, and burnt oranges collide, with sunset reds, to create a warm and inviting atmosphere that just feels like you are at home.

The Tuscan decorative style was born of people’s desire to escape from the flash and glitz of the big city, into a quieter, simpler, more peaceful world. This was true for those who lived in the ancient roman capital, and it is true of us today. Even as the world gets faster and brighter, people still just want a little piece of serenity in their homes.

Finding Morandi in Bologna

Finding Morandi in Bologna

There are any number of reasons to make a trip to the beautiful city of Bologna. It might be for business, since Bologna is a center of commerce, or for great shopping, or to eat the meat-rich regional food. Pasta bolognese, anyone? It could be to wander through the multitude of arcaded walkways, dry in winter and cool in summer, that give the city its architectural harmony. Or it might be to visit the vast cathedral with its sculptures by Michelangelo, or the archeological museum, stuffed with Etruscan artifacts. None of these treats drew me and my family to Bologna the first time, although we were delighted to discover them once we'd arrived. It was, instead, the paintings, drawings and watercolors of Giorgio Morandi housed in the Museo Morandi, right in the ancient center of Bologna, that first opened up the beauties of the city for us.

If you are not yet familiar with the work of Morandi you have a very special experience before you. Why Morandi? What is the fuss about? At first glance his paintings seem simple. He paints the sames subject over and over again. These are an arrangments of small objects, a particular bottle and bowl, a vase with one flower, or a glimpse of the walls of the courtyard outside his studio, returning to these subjects repeatedly and painting them in a hundred different ways. The variations of colors are subtle, a pinkish grey, a muted green, the softest wash of yellow ochre. However the objects and narrow views he painted have a powerful, steady presence. It is difficult to look away from them. You can see in the calm of these works, not only influences of twentieth century artists like Paul Cezanne but also of Renaissance painters like Uccello, Giotto and Massaccio.

Except for short stays in the nearby country town of Grizzana, Morandi lived in Bologna from the time he started at the Accademia di Belle Arti at the age of 17 in 1907 until his death in 1964. Throughout much of his life he taught drawing in Bologna’s elementary schools and some of the freshness and liveliness of his paintings surely arises from this work with children. As a young man he associated with Bolognese intellectuals and artists like the painter Osvaldo Licini and the writer Mario Bacchelli, with whom he worked on a magazine called La Raccolta .

Perhaps because of this association with intellectual life, writing on Morandi can tend to get a little abstract, about the “metaphysicality of objects” and the other heady constructs that can sometimes build up around a body of work. However, in contrast, the quiet immediacy of his paintings speak quite simply for themselves in their soft beauty. When you walk up to the second floor of the City Hall that houses Museo Morandi museum and walk through the rooms filled with his painting it feels like someone is there, the artist himself, showing you the way he saw.

The museum features a reconstruction of the studio where Morandi painted for many years. The objects that we get to know so well through his paintings are all right there on the shelves near his narrow bed. The ordered chaos of the working painter is in evidence. What strikes one about this space is how constrained it is, and how few subjects he painted. There is that particular vase, there the bowl and small rounded dish. His window looked over a courtyard enclosed by buildings, with just a glimpse of a tree branch, and a blank wall. Tellingly, Morandi chose this constricted space for his studio, instead of another room available to him which had views over distant hills and an orchard. It is this narrowing of focus which makes his work so intense and influential.

In fact, I would go so far as to say, that looking closely at the paintings of Giorgio Morandi has deepened my ability to experience and appreciate the beauty of Italy, itself. How so? It is because he looked so closely at a small part of Italy, specifically the limited view over his enclosed courtyard, or the way light fell on a few objects in his studio, that he makes you look at everything in this country again. Sometimes, when I happen on a window with a view over a blank, wall, a corner of sky, or a few angular bits of roof, I stop and gaze, struck by the narrow glimpse of beauty. This is in part because this one artist spent his lifetime showing us the way light falls and changes in such a limited space. Thank you, Giorgio Morandi.

Having made this pilgrimage, gazed our fill, somewhat overwhelmed by the sheer extent of this body of work, it is a relief to head back out into the living bustle of Bologna. Here the rich brick red of the arcades, the delicious smell of baking lasagna and bread coming from the open restaurants are full of welcome. The loud cheer and energy of a northern Italian city at midday, seals in the experience of the quiet, empty spaces of Morandi’s works, an interior quiet that goes with us into the lively bustle of Bologna.

How to Draw Caricatures and Get Paid Over and Over

When your first think of a caricaturist at work, you probably think of a busy theme park with crowds of people buzzing around the sketches of a talented artist, hard at work, cranking out exaggerated cartoons of amazing proportions, some funny, some offensive (all in good taste of course!), some that really stand out.

For some artists though, the very thought of sitting in front of a public crowd, sweating under the pressure of the spot light, makes them go weak at the knees. And for a few smart ones, fortunately there is an easier way. One that leads to ongoing income for their drawings.

Imagine being paid over and over for the one drawing, or many drawings for that matter. Imagine knowing how much money you were going to make this week, this month or even this year, how secure would that make you feel?

The technique I am about to explain can deliver just that, a full time ongoing income. Your caricatures will be sold over and over and over to a hungry market that has plenty of spare cash to spend on your creative talents.

So What Is This Secret Market?

Answer: Cell Phone Wallpapers

If you are under 20 years old then you will know exactly what I am talking about. The cell phone after-market industry is absolutely huge, with a forecast $7 billion spend in 2009 in the ringtones category alone. Wallpapers, (the cell phone equivalent of a desktop picture for the 30+'s reading this) are not nearly as big but they are second place getter in this race and that means they are worth going after.

So Exactly How Does A Caricaturist Capture This Market?

Answer: Clue, start thinking like a teenager and then create what they want.

If you follow along with their media you will get a good idea of the current "celebrities" that they are going to want on their phones, as a wallpaper picture. Try visiting MySpace, Youtube, celebrity websites, ezines, fan sites, musicians sites, cell phone ring tone selling sites like Jamster. Here you will get the latest, most viewed celebrities that you can do caricatures of and then give them away for free.

Did you say free? Are you crazy, how am I going to make any money doing that?

I know it seems ridiculous to do all that work only to give it away but unless you do, you will find it hard to get any traffic to your website, and no traffic means no money - at all.

So how do you make money doing it this way? Well first things first you need a hook (a freebie or 5) to get them to your site, then you need a way to get them interested in paying further down the track once they get addicted your freebies.

It works well like this...

Invite website visitors to download 5 wallpapers for free, all you ask is that they give you permission to send them your weekly newsletter to your latest and funniest celebrity caricatures, (with links to the ones that you sell for .99c each!)

Setup your payment gateway with the most popular ways teenagers use to purchase stuff on the Internet, to make sure that you don't cause too much "friction" in the sales process. You don't want to lose sales due to this so invest some time in researching what the most widely used methods are and emulate.

How Much Money Can Be Made Selling Wallpapers To Teenagers?

The answer to that lies in how large your list of subscribers is. With a good strike rate of conversion at around 4% on each weekly mailing, you can workout just how big you need to build your list to make sure you can do this fulltime.

Eg. List size 25,000 subscribers x $1 x 4% = $1,000

Now that is an income you could live on, and the good thing is this market, teenagers are very viral, so they will show off their latest acquisition from your caricature range to their friends to make them jealous and then they are going to want one too!

The Trick You Must Remember To Make This Work!

Create 10 new caricatures each week, otherwise your site will become stale and your visitors and subscribers will start to leave. You need fresh material, not that hard when all you need do is pick up the latest weekly magazine of "celebr-a-trash" at your local news outlet or drug store. Who's pregnant this week, who's been arrested, who's engaged, new boyfriend, new girlfriend - I think you get the idea. Rotate your freebies in your free to download area to be the last months selection that you previously sold. This way you can add to the number of freebies, which makes it more attractive and your site and subscribers will grow along with it.

The setup of your website is something that you need to consider carefully as getting the right payment gateway, promotional tools for marketing and the correct mechanism for building your membership site are crucial to your sites success and these steps need to executed with precision to make sure your making the most of this opportunity.

3 Smart Ways to Make Money With Your Art

Before I tell you a story about how just one piece of artwork created over 15 years ago continually and regularly brings me $3,000 every year I would like to ask you a question.

Have you ever wondered how you could be capitalizing on your art talents in way that could generate some extra income for you and your family?

I certainly have as a veteran artist of some 25 years, creating and selling art across the globe, have at times wondered if there were any ways to actually sell my art that would keep on bringing me income long after I have finished my artwork.

The times when my income has dropped for whatever reason, recessions, global financial crisis or just general market dips, have been testing times and have forced me to "think outside the square". After careful research along with some trial and error, I have come up with 3 sure fire ways to make money from your art, that are bound to help you if you put them into practise.

#3 Smart Ways To Make Money From Your Art

1. Sell your art online and have royalties come in for years to come

2. Sell your art tution to students willing to learn "how to..."

3. Other people sell your art & art tution

So how is it done?

#1 Sell your art online - collect royalties for years.

This is my preferred Smart Way No#1 as it has a payoff that just keeps coming, for me personally 4 times a year I receive a royalty check for work done over 10 years ago. This is a very smart way to make lots of money from your artwork, but you have to know what you are doing before you can guarantee success with this method.

Who Will Pay For My Artwork? What are the Markets? First and foremost you need to work out which markets are going to be interested in your artwork. Do you like to paint landscapes? Or animals? Or cartoon characters? Or Cars & Bikes? Or Nudes? Or abstract? Or caricatures?

Each of these have different markets that can be exploited for royalties for years to come. Some of the distributors of such art are: jigsaw puzzle companies, computer and cell phone wallpaper companies and homewares companies, are 3 goldmine areas to explore. Each of these different markets rely on fresh and inventive artists like yourself to come up with more "PRODUCST" for them. That is right, you are the product creator, they are the marketers. That is how it works.

Let me give you an example:

Several years ago I was approached by a jigsaw company in Australia "Blue Opal Jigsaws" and asked if a piece of artwork I had already made for a former client who allowed me to retain copyright of the original and profited from, could be reused for a new jigsaw they had planned.

After careful negotiations I was offered $1,500 for some slight modifications to the artwork and a 7% royalty, payable quaterly for the life of the product.

I currently recieve approximately $3,000 annually from this one puzzle that keeps on selling over and over. I will give you a hint - it is in the souvenir/tourist category (this market never gets tired of buying your product, because they are a new breed every year, as most people take that big overseas holiday perhaps just once in their lifetime and so they want something classic to remember their trip by) which is the perfect market for a repeat sale of your product. You don't want to choose something that is contemporary if it is longevity is your aim, as it will eventually lose steam and fade out of existence.

Here's an another example:

Visit all the pop culture websites and make a list of the coolest people (celebrities of course!) and create cool caricatures of them(just Google celebrity and follow the leads). They need only be head and shoulders, (face really - you will see why in a minute). Each different subculture idolizes a different mob of heros, so get your mind into their space, in fact MySpace is a great place to start. Learn your market, think like your market and create what you would want if you were them instead of you. It takes a little time but well worth it when you read this next sentence.

Each year the mobile phone ringtone industry sells $7,000,000,000 dollars worth of ringtones to young people around the world. This market has tons of disposable income (mummy and daddy are paying for the house, food, transport and general upkeep) so they love to spend their time (also tons to spare) with friends online and on their cell phones. Guess what they love to spend their spare cash on - "Wallpapers". For those of you youthfully challenged readers are probably wondering what's a Wallpaper and why would they buy it?

A wallpaper for a cell phone or mobile phone is the display image on the full color screen on the phone itself. The picture is small so a celebrity head that fills the screen is going sell better than a whole body, so less work to do (this is easy if you know the secrets to a quick and cool caricature).

Wallpaper sales are the next most popular download (read purchase$) next to cell phone ringtones, so you can see it is a huge market. Yes I hear you say but how do you sell to this young lot, isn't the market saturated with products like this? Well yes there is competition like any field but you only need a small piece of a very big pie to feed the family as they say.

You could setup your own website, (more info on doing this correctly below) and draw in traffic by giving away 5 free wallpapers to members who register for your weekly newsletter (the one you send with your latest "pay for" caricatures, that is the who is hot and in the news this week, follow scandal websites for tons of ideas here!!!) and watch the income increase as your newsletter subscriptions increase. If only 4% of subscribers bought your latest celebrity caricature of the week for .99c and you had a subscriber list of 50,000 you would be $1,000 a week better off.

Work once and get paid many, many times now that is smart.

#2 Sell Your Art Tution Onine - Everyone Wants To Learn How To.

Now the obvious suggestion here is to launch a website and setup a shopping cart and off you go to success, but if it were that easy then everyone would be doing it right? Exactly, so that is NOT what you are goint to do. You are going to set yourself apart from the herd and have people lining up for your tution and keep on paying you forever, or as long as your art teaching is popular.

So how is this going to be done?

Everybody loves to watch don't they? Yes, they love to watch others and see if they can pick up some tips on how they are doing their magic, whether it is oil painting a landscape in "plein air", sketching caricatures at a theme park, or creating fantasy art with 3D computer programes. Whatever your leaning towards, if you have mastered your craft then you can get people interested in learning your methods by this very simple technique, that doesn't cost you a cent.

A) Set up a Youtube account

B) Record yourself creating your art

C) Publish to Youtube some introductory video lessons

Once you have published your artwork on Youtube and all the other major video sharing sites, watch the traffic of visitors come in to your website to learn more. That is how it works for me, as some of my videos have had 50,000 viewings in less than a year. That is a lot of targeted traffic for your site and the "Full length videos on DVD delivered to your door - for $39.95" or the "ebook instant download version for $29.95". I personally have "How To...Products" that have been selling on an almost daily basis for months now and the best thing is the market is steady despite the economy being anything but.

#3 Get Other People To Sell Your Art & Art Tution!

This one is also a favorite smart way to make money by selling your art online. Creating art as in example #1 and then selling the tution in #2, sets you up perfectly for doing this - getting AFFILIATES to sell your artwork for you.

You see there are whole armies of folks selling things online to their audiences who login on regularly to the websites that they control. Most of their time is spent on creating content for blogs, answering forum posts and keeping the site up to date, so they have precious little time to do what you and I do - make art!

So those with the website visitors, (some popular sites have hundreds of thousands of unqiue visitors everyday) are in the perfect position to sell your wares, your artwork by commission, your art 'how to...' products. I personally have a long list of affiliates who are out there promoting my ebooks who only get paid IF they make a sale. Now that is my kind of workforce, no base salary, no holiday or sick leave to account for, only commisson on sale. It doesn't get any better than that.

Using the contemporary example above for cell phone wallpapers, you can approach hundreds of website owners with your - "this weeks best sellers celebrity caricature wallpaper" and have them sell for you on a royalty basis as well.

Why Canvas Art Prints Add Modern Life To Your Walls

Wallpaper is so passé! Painting your walls is now a much more acceptable and fashionable way of making your home warm and welcoming. But blank painted walls only go half way. You have to put something on those blank walls.

Small lamps, framed photos and other decorations are nice, but you need a gaudy amount to cover an adequate portion of the wall. Even a medium-size wall will "swallow" a handful of smaller decorations.

Never fear, there is a solution. Canvas wall art is a fantastic way to use a minimal amount of decorations to add a maximum amount of color, warmth and excitement to your walls.

For many people canvas wall art may carry a corny or outdated connotation conjuring up images of 1980s pop culture. But modern canvas wall art has evolved considerably, and vendors now offer a wide range of canvas art prints, photos on canvas, Banksy prints and acrylic-mounted art.

So what's the difference, what type of wall art fits you best? Let's examine.

Canvas Art Prints

Canvas art prints can range from contemporary art to classical art and comes in a variety of sizes, from large to really, really large.

A nice, custom-ordered canvas print with contemporary art that will create a gentle and warm background image is ideal for most homes. At the other end of the spectrum, you could order a large contemporary art print that really "pops," that will serve as an automatic conversation starter. And everything else in between.

Photos on Canvas

What if you really do want those family photos or special pictures of your loved ones on your walls, but they are just too small to work without plastering your wall with too many photos?

Again, canvas art prints to the rescue.

Most canvas wall art vendors will now take your photos, blow them up and print them to large canvas boards. Now you can share those special moments and display your loved ones like never before. And best of all, you can choose only the very best photos and still have enough to adequately decorate your walls.

In addition to your own family photos, you can also order large canvas pictures of famous movie scenes or celebrities.

Banksy Prints

Banksy art has become increasingly popular thanks to its pseudo-anonymous British-born originator who made a name for himself painting graffiti that appears to come to life, so to speak.

A lot of artists have copied Banksy's work and techniques, and now you too can have some of that unique Banksy artwork on your walls thanks to canvas wall art.

Acrylic Art

The best alternative to canvas wall art is to frame your art in an acrylic wall mount.

Many of the same vendors that will create stunning canvas wall art will also take your photos or artwork, print it to high-grade vinyl and seal it in a strong clear acrylic sheet.

Benefits of acrylic art over canvas prints include the ability to easily clean the acrylic mount by simply wiping it down. Same big addition of color and warmth, much easier clean-up. A no-brainer for anyone with kids or for public venues like bars and restaurants.

Creating Excellent Company Logo Design

Your company's logo is an important part of your corporate identity. He declares in the world who you are and what you stand for. Some of the best projects the company logo in the world encapsulate beauty, style, philosophy and communications. Some of the best examples of a Nike tick bites or Mac into an apple.

For a long time, large companies were free to invest in creating stunning design a company logo. They use the design of institutions to develop and several company logos. These logos are designed after detailed discussions and several brainstorming sessions. Then the company takes one or two logos for further development is that design should represent their interests throughout the world.

In the case of small businesses or individual enterprises, such a system to develop for the company logo design , is not viable. There are many reasons for this. First, there is, of course, the cost factor. Creating a unique logo from scratch, through the recognition of professionals is a costly and time-consuming task. Many design houses prohibitively expensive. Their costs are justified because their aim is to meet the needs of a small percentage of high-level businesses and brands that have a lot of money. This means that companies who are looking for cost-effective solutions must be found elsewhere in their logos.

One of the best ways that you can create a stunning company logo design to share the costs of the use of online design companies that come with the default templates, logo. You can view them and select the catalog of styles and designs that meet your needs. You can limit your choices, and to design victory. Many companies allow to acquire exclusive ownership of your logo design. Although more expensive than just buy a copy of the design, it takes your company logo in the directory, while all the files belonging to the same are sent to you with a letter from the property and copyright control.

In some experience and trial and error, you can change its logo with the help of graphics software like Adobe Photoshop. Of course, changing the logo and the coming of stunning design of the logo of your company can take some time and patience. If you are not interested in spending time learning something that is not in your area of interest, you can even get a logo change from a professional company that supplies the logo. At face value, experienced designers can help change the text color and font of your logo. Generally, companies charge a fee depending on your requested extensive changes. In addition, once you have selected a logo design, internet services, you can even insert your logo on stationery items. This will help you create your new identity quickly and effectively.

If you do not have money to hire a senior design agency to design your company logo, then buying a ready logo in the directory is the next best option. Thus, we can reduce costs, while all the other advantages of custom logos visit:http://www.logosarea.com

Philosophy of Time

Time is not real. I know, you can reach out and touch a clock, and actually feel the gears move and the hands tick, but that isn’t time. The clock is just a steady measure of movement. The hands turn at the same rate, every hour of every day. We use this to measure how many things we get done, in the time it takes for those hands to move a certain distance.

That means that time itself doesn’t really exist. It is just the consequence of living in a universe where things happen. Luckily, this doesn’t mean that we really have to adjust our thinking. We evolved to see time as real, because this gives us a perception of the world which is close enough for almost any activity humans could undertake in the past few thousand years. It is only with the development of deeper quantum mechanics, relativity theory, and other scientific disciplines that we have had to start re-thinking time.

One consequence of living in a world where time is so important is that we are constantly pushed to keep moving. Time may be the greatest efficiency tool ever invented, because it makes people work harder, do more, be better, and grow in order to accomplish more with our time. Clocks are all around us, whipping us, making us move.

The other half of this equation is that time brings change. All things change as time marches on, and as such we live in an ever evolving flux. Since this is a constant built into the system, most humans react by trying to hold on to things, trying to keep things the same, and familiar. This puts us at odds with the very nature of the universe, and can cause some emotional and functional conflicts throughout our lives. However this is also what gives life some of its greatest meaning, and can also lead people to triumphant struggles.

Time is the bane of our existence, even though it doesn’t exist itself. On the other hand without it, nothing would ever happen. It is this sweet misery that gives our lives such delicious appeal and makes them worth living.

One way to tell time is by hanging one of our natural stone wall clocks in your home or office. Made from real pieces of natural stone, each piece is a primitive and beautiful rustic accessory that will connect you with the natural earth around you.

Craft Project Ideas Using Recycled Goods

If you've been spring cleaning and have a pile of old clothes and Christmas ornaments that you really don't want to throw out, then why not turn them into a craft project that you can use around the house? Instead of spending your hard earned money on household items like laundry bags, quilts or even bookmarks, you can make them yourself simply and inexpensively. In this article, we'll walk you through the craft of recycling your used goods!

Simple bookmarks can now cost as much as $10 at a bookstore! You can make them yourself by recycling greeting cards you have received. All you need is old cards, some poster board or cardboard, some felt tip markers, and glue. Cut a strip from the poster board or thin cardboard about 8" x 2". Cut strips from the greeting card with the same dimensions and glue them to the cardboard on both sides.

If the bookmark is a gift, you can write a message on it. To make the bookmark more durable, cover it with clear contact paper or laminate it. For added decoration, use a hole puncher to make a hole at the top of the bookmark and thread a piece of bright yarn or ribbon through it. You can use the same process to make beautiful gift tags. Just make the strips shorter!

Your old artificial Christmas tree can be turned into fantastic, special projects that will add beauty to your home. We usually associate wreaths with the holidays but by adding some beautiful dried flowers and colorful ribbon, you can recycle your old tree into a decorative piece of art that you can display in your home all year. Using tin snips, remove the branches from the center pole. Take a wire coat hanger and bend it into a circular shape but leave the hook intact.

The branches will wrap around the coat hanger easily and you can make it as thick as you want. To cover the wire hook, just wrap it with cloth ribbon and tuck the end into the boughs or tie them in a neat bow. Once you have secured the branches, you can decorate it any way you wish.

You can use hot glue to attach tiny stuffed animals to the boughs for a fun wreath for a child's room. Or, you can weave silk flowers or artificial berries through the branches for a beautiful hanging in your kitchen or bathroom.

Got some old clothes kicking around that are too worn to donate to clothing drives? You can turn them into projects for the kids. Buy some pillow stuffing or use old rags and stuff a t-shirt with the material. Cut off the sleeves and simply sew up all the openings. This is especially good with old shirts with team logos on it.

For a craft project with emotional significance, sew old baby clothes together into a baby quilt, couch covering or a throw. Your heart will melt every time you see it. As a bonus, you can use buttons from the clothes to decorate framed art, picture frames or mirrors.

Being environmentally friendly can be fun as well as responsible. The next time you're cleaning up the basement or garage, study items before you throw them out and imagine the new projects you could start. Can that old towel be made into rags for your car?

Perhaps an old lamp shade can be transformed into a plant holder. You don't have to spend a lot of money on a craft project to keep you busy. In fact, everything you need is probably right around the house.