Country Pine Furniture and Fine Art

Decorating Your Home with Woodcrafts

Fineartcraftsfurniture — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:29:30 GMT

Decorating Your Home with Woodcrafts

A home featuring traditional wood crafts, folk art and hand-carved furniture exemplifies a unique style of beauty. Whether you proudly display family heirlooms or collectibles gathered throughout the years, the addition of wood as a classic backdrop throughout your home will set the stage for these historic treasures and enhance your home's sense of warmth and style.

Here are some tips for adding wood decor to your home.

* Start with the entrance. An impressively detailed, hand-carved wood door will set the tone before anyone even takes a step into your home. A stately carved wood door informs those entering the home of your own personal style.

An elaborate wood entry system, like those available in the Jeld-Wen IWP Collection, features extraordinary details that emphasize the wood's character. These doors are created by artisans who carefully craft each masterpiece to match and highlight a home's architectural details.

* Include interior decorative wood pieces. From windows, doors and furniture to clocks and artwork, decorative pieces are available in the wood species and style of your choice. Many of these pieces are still being created by hand. Artisans utilize their skills to replicate the exquisite works of old-world craftsmen, as well as create new, original designs. Craftsmen construct each piece individually, often choosing and planing the lumber themselves to bring out the true beauty of the wood.

* Create your own style. Continue your wood theme throughout your home when selecting moulding, cabinetry and any additional woodwork. Using the same species all through your home creates a truly harmonious, classic feel. Or, use a blend of species by coordinating two or three different types of wood to create a varied, somewhat eclectic look.

From maple, pine and oak to mahogany and rosewood, these woods complement each other and promise an exotic design that will add interest and character to each room.

* Mix and match old with new. When decorating , match hand-carved wood items with factory-built accents, which are stylish yet economical. Handcrafted tables, cedar chests and armoires blend seamlessly with manufacturer-made wood picture frames, clocks and candlesticks. Mixing in your antique treasures will add that final touch, giving your home the individuality you desire and a proud display of your prized possessions.

Whether your home's style is colonial, country or shaker, handcrafted elements instill a bit of style and tradition. Look for local craft fairs and galleries to find artisans in your area or visit T Maries Galleries at www.fineartcraftsfurniture.com

Dating Primitive and Country Furniture

Fineartcraftsfurniture — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:56:00 GMT

Dating Primitive and Country Furniture

Dating Primitive and Country Furniture

Have you ever tried to pinpoint the construction date of a country cupboard? The stylistic techniques used to date formal furniture such as Chippendale and Hepplewhite simply does not work for American country and primitive furniture. Country furniture does have its styles based predominately on religion and region. The catholic French and the Irish built cupboards with bold moldings, cut out feet, raised panels and they painted their cupboards in bright colors. The puritan New England cabinetmakers built simple unadorned cupboards painted in drab colors.

The Shakers are well known for their simple but elegant furniture. Furniture built in the Midwest and the South is different from New England made pieces.

The problem with using style to establish the construction date of country and primitive furniture is that regional styles remained unchanged for most of the 19th century. Unable to use style, dealers and collectors have turned to the telltale signs left on the furniture itself by tools and by construction methods. This system is remarkably accurate to within a ten-year period.

During the Industrial Revolution, the method of making nails, screws, hinges, latches, and of milling lumber changed often. Each change is documented, most are patented. The style of nails changed a dozen times, the hinge changed four times, the screw changed three times, and so did latches and pulls. The methods of working wood also changed during this time. The saw changed, molding styles changed, mortising changed.

Since it is impossible for any item to be older than the technology that made it possible, a chronological system of the advancement of cabinetmaking technology can be used to establish construction dates to within a few years.

The up and down saw leaves marks on wood that look like this |||||||||||||. The circular saw leaves marks on wood that look like this ))))))))). The pit saw leaves marks on wood that look like this ///////////.

The pit saw is a two-man powered saw used in America before 1680 to cut logs into boards. After 1700, its major use was as a large jigsaw to shape knees, ribbing, and planking for ships.

The up-and-down saw, was used in this country from the 1680s until early in the 1900s. Therefore, most boards used in the construction of early cupboards show signs of being cut with an up-and-down saw.

The circular saw although introduced in the mid 1850s could not be made big enough and powerful enough to cut lumber of the size used in furniture construction until 1880. The circular saw was limited to cutting thin pieces of wood such as shingles, clapboards, and laths until the early 1900s. Cupboards and other furniture in which the large size boards used in their construction are circular saw cut can date to 1880, but usually date after 1900.

The rough sawed lumber used in furniture construction was smoothed with either a hand held plane, or a planing machine. The hand held plane was used in this country from the beginning until after 1900. Planing machines were experimented with early in the 1800s. Two early experiments are the Woodworth planer in 1824 and the Daniels planer in 1834. However, a perfected machine was not developed until 1860. Lawsuits over patent rights prevented its use until 1880. Machine plane marks are of some use in dating cupboards made as early as 1860, but machine plane marks usually suggest a construction date of 1880 or later.

The introduction of the modern looking butt hinge used to hold doors on cupboards dates to 1820. Before 1820, hinges were made one at a time by a blacksmith. The first butt hinges were made out of cast iron. They were thick and heavy. By 1840, cast iron hinges became thinner as manufacturers tried to squeeze more hinges out of each pound of iron. By 1880, the use of cast iron in the making of butt hinges was discontinued in favor of stamped steel.

The common wood screw underwent a major change in 1846 when T. J. Sloan of New York City invented the first machine to mass-produce this item. Sloan holds many patents for cutting threads, shaping points, and forming the heads of screws. Before 1846, all screws were handmade and the slot in the top of the screw was hand cut with a hacksaw. Seldom was the cut placed exactly in the center. Because the new machine made screw was inexpensive, it was readily accepted by cabinetmakers. Items made after 1846 are made using this new screw.

For the first ten years of production, machine made screws were made with no slot in their head. The slot still had to be cut by hand with a hacksaw. Country furniture made with these screws can easily be dated to the ten-year period 1846-1856. The Mercer Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania has samples of Sloan’s screws on display. The Mercer library contains materials on both machine made screws and methods of cutting screws by hand.

In 1871, cast iron latches became available to cabinetmakers. After the introduction of the cast iron latch, most cabinetmakers used this new feature in place of the little wooden turnstile that had been used for centuries.

In the South and Midwest, hand-cast brass latches were in use before 1850. These early latches were inlaid into cabinet doors rather than being attached to the surface, as were the later cast iron latches.

Dealers who specialize in country and primitive furniture have depended on the above methods (plus the study of nails) for dating their antiques. Many dealers feel that the technological system is superior to the stylistic system. Furniture styles linger for years. New technologies, because they bring cheaper prices or faster methods, are accepted quickly - usually within a year or two.

The Dating of Old Houses, a paper prepared by Dr. Henry C. Mercer, contains photographs, drawings, and patent information on nails, hinges, screws, hardware, planing machines, etc. Call the Mercier Museum, Doylestown, Pennsylvania (215-345-0210) during business hours for information on reprints by The Bucks County Historical Society.

Find primitive and country furniture at T Maries Galleries

Charging Station Cabinets

Fineartcraftsfurniture — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 12:57:00 GMT

                                                                                       Charging Station Cabinets

Tired of all those cluttered cords when charging your cell phones, Ipods and blackberries. Now you can add that touch of country to your home and at the same time eliminate all of those tangled and unsitely cords.

    You can find cabinets for all of your decorating needs at T Maries Galleries finished in the color of your choice. Custom orders are always welcome.

Benches

Fineartcraftsfurniture — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:20:00 GMT

Country Pine Benches

A bench can become the perfect solution for your ongoing home improvement projects. A bench becomes part of your life as you are blessed with a lifetime of memories. While sitting on a bench memorable conversations unfold, conversations with your parents, spouse, loved ones or friends. A bench is a place where some receive their first kiss or a much needed hug in a period of crisis or a simple touch from your spouse that reinforces your years together. A person can relax, think and experience many peaceful moments by adding a bench to their home improvement plans. There are many different kinds of benches to choose from.

As a bench quickly becomes the center piece of your home you can choose from a cubby bench, deacon bench, fly tying bench, potting bench or a teak bench. These benches are different in a variety of ways. With the proper information you will be able to make an informed decision.

A cubby bench is a sensible way to store all of those things that seem to always be in the way. This type of bench is great for a child's play room and other areas of the house where things seem scattered. A cubby bench usually consists of three open cubbies designed for storage and a firm bench seat. You can leave the cubbies open or you can put baskets into the slots. The baskets will give your cubby bench a sense of tidiness. This bench is available in beautiful cedar, oak, maple or teak wood. Parents love the cubby bench because of its convenient space storage; children appreciate the private space to sit with friends and to store all of their comforting treasures.

If you are looking for a trendier bench, the deacon bench may be just what you need. A deacon bench offers a place to sit, chest storage and adds a touch of attractiveness to any room or space. Most furniture stores carry this type of bench and they usually range in price from $300 to $500 dollars. This is a preferred bench for both style and storage. It is a great addition to any home.

Benches are made for indoor and outdoor use. Many people enjoy having a bench on their porch or in their patio area. During the summer an outside bench is a wonderful piece of furniture to have. Many times families like to sit outside, enjoying a warm summer breeze, while sipping homemade lemonade. This is a perfect opportunity for family time and the chance to create many lasting moments.

No matter what your home improvement plans are make sure to include a bench. Patio and lawn chairs are only made for one whereas benches are made for two. Have many romantic and heart-warming moments as your new bench quickly becomes your favorite piece of furniture. Any of the above mentioned benches can be purchased at many stores, online or through catalogs. Some enterprising individuals even like to build their own bench adding an extra touch of sentimental value. for more information of benches visit: www.fineartcraftsfurniture.com

How To Hang A Rustic Shelf

Fineartcraftsfurniture — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:27:00 GMT

How To Hang A Rustic Shelf

How to Hang a Rustic Shelf that uses Key Holes.

Hanging a rustic shelf doesn't have to be a difficult job. Let's start by making a template.

Step 1. Make a template by positioning the shelf upside down on a table. Hold a sheet of paper on the back of the shelf cetering it as shown.

Step 2. Make a pencil rubbing on both of the key holes on the back by holding your pencil sideways so the side of the lead outlines the keyholes. Then draw an arrow pointing down at the table as shown.

Step 3. While still holding the paper on the back of the shelf, make a hole in the paper at the end of the key hole as shown.

Step 4. Invert the paper so the arrow is facing up. Place on the wall and level the top edge of the paper. Using the holes you punched in step 3, mark the wall by inserting the screw in the holes and pressing them into the wall.

Step 5. Remove paper and install the screws in the marked positions. You will need to leave about 1/8" of the screw protruding for the shelf (adjust if nessasary). The key holes in the shelf should slide over the screws then pull down on the shelf to lock it in place.

Visit T. Maries Galleries at www.fineartcraftsfurniture.com for all of your country decorating needs.

How To Decorate Your Home in the Primitive Decorating Style

Fineartcraftsfurniture — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:31:00 GMT

How to Decorate Your Home in the Primitive Decorating Style

Decorative items are the icing on any decorating style and should help pull your Primitive decorating theme together. This design approach works perfect with primitave, unadorned decorative accessories which help bring out the comfortable and warm atmosphere of warmth and simplicity. Choose good quality accessories like knick knacks, wall art and pillows that add to your primitive décor to pull the look together.

Paintings and prints are a great way to add unique interest to your walls, but most people don’t know the proper way to hang them. Single artworks should be positioned so the middle of the piece is at eye level, not so that the tops or bottoms of the frames are even as some people think. Try laying a group of artwork out on the floor initially to work out the best design. You can bring interesting flair into your Primitive decorating theme design with folk art which you could place in plain frames.

Knick Knacks can really bring a creative touch to any room, no matter what the design style. To round out your primitive country decorating, stick with accessories that have a comfortable and warm ambiance. Try putting a graduated set of pantry boxes stacked on a table or in the corner or adding antique baskets filled with dried flowers. You can inject your own distinct style to the room by selecting accessories which reflect your unique style. You don’t need to spend too much cash to acquire great items, try identifying a consignment store nearby and you’ll be surprised at the good quality accessories you can get for very little cost.

Some accessories that can help complete the ambiance of warmth and simplicity include folk art, tramp art, and vintage signs. You would be smart to pick accessories which coordinate with your overall room décor. Steer away from being too eclectic or the appearance you are trying to get could become diluted.

Another accessory you can think about to add charm to your design theme is decorative pillows. You can find a use for pillows in every room even the bathroom and kitchen. Displaying decorative pillows arranged at the head of your bed will add a fantastic professional allure. Pillows on your chairs or sofa may help insert the primitive country decorating sense to the furniture. In the kitchen or bathroom, a pillow put strategically on a hamper or chair can provide a comfortable touch. Using pillows that are plain and simple will help add unique charm.

Displaying primitives such as old boxes and baskets can add a professional style to your Primitive decorating theme. Yet before you go out and select a variety of items, you would be smart to have an idea of the kinds of accessories you want and shop for those pieces. You will need to try also to acquire items in the proper sizes and also proportions. This way you can make sure to get accessories that fit and look together fabulous.

How To Choose Furniture for Your Home

Fineartcraftsfurniture — Tue, 13 May 2008 10:29:00 GMT

How To Choose Furniture for Your Home

How To Choose Furniture For Your Home

By: Gabriel Adams

Decorating your home can be a lot of fun. You get to express your unique personality and style with the type of furniture you choose. Furniture should not only be pleasing to the eye, but should be comfortable so that it invites guests to sit back, relax and feel at home.

Styles of Furniture

The style of furniture you choose should match the type of house you have. If your home is modern, then crisp, clean lines should be what you look for in the items to place throughout your home. If your home is a colonial or farmhouse, you might want to opt for a more rustic style.

Your personal tastes will come into play as well. A home that seems warm and well lived in is what you should strive for when you are looking for furniture to fill your house. Color also plays an important role in what furniture you will want. If your home is filled with neutral colors such as whites and beiges, then you want the furniture to complement that color scheme. A home with pastel colors will require pieces with a bit more dash and splash to bring out the beauty of the room.

The Price is Right

Filling your home with furniture can become quite an expensive venture, so finding furniture on sale should be a priority. There are many places where you can find bedroom, dining room or living room sets that are deeply discounted such as a furniture warehouse outlet.

Buying a set of furniture will usually cost much less than if you buy each piece individually. If price is a concern, look for sales or wholesale outlets that sell furniture sets at a lesser price than you would find in many retail showrooms.

Quality is another factor to consider. Just because furniture is priced right doesn’t mean it will stand the test of time. Many of the megastores sell furniture at terrific prices, but the quality is not all it should be and once in your home, if you have an active family, you may find the furniture quickly falls apart.

The Size of the Room

Though you may fall in love with a particular piece or set of furniture you must take into account the size of the room where it will dwell. Large heavy pieces will make a small room seem even smaller, and delicate pieces or sets will be overwhelmed by rooms that are large. Balance is the key to buying furniture to fit the room where it is to go.

The same principle goes for your lighting needs too. You don’t want a big, bulky chandelier type lighting piece that is going to be used in a room with low ceilings. You will want to choose lighting that will brighten but not bring to mind stage lighting. Lighting that is too low will not bring out the best in a room and may prevent family members from using that room as there is not enough light.

Furniture selection should be carefully considered as it will be a part of your home for many years. So take your time, bring pictures of the room, along with color swatches when shopping to help you choose the best furniture your money can buy that will fit the room like a glove.

Article Source: www.webiar.com

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Shopping for Wooden Furniture for Your Home

Fineartcraftsfurniture — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:50:00 GMT

Shopping for Wooden Furniture for Your Home

Shopping For Wooden Furniture For Your Home

By: Gabriel Adams

When I think of buying living room/den, bedroom, or even kitchen/dining room furniture, I picture wood. Some people are really into the metal look, but not me. Although the idea of metal, especially iron, seems indestructible, it definitely does not give me a cozy feeling.

Before going out with your checkbook or credit card in hand, eager to purchase wooden furniture, there are some things that you need to consider. First, you want to do some detective work, locating a furniture company that carries wooden furniture that will meet your needs without breaking the bank. It will probably take several shopping trips to visit different furniture companies, but it will absolutely be worth the time.

Make sure that you will be dealing with a reputable company that deals in quality products and workmanship. Does this company deliver the furniture and set it up for you? How much additional charge is there for this service?

Ask them to explain their return policy and whether or not they make arrangements for payments. Many major furniture stores offer promotions. Some of these payment plans are interest-free from 12 months to several years depending on the amount of your purchase.

Do you prefer furniture that is American made, or have you been considering something from India, Indonesia, or some other country. You will want to ask how long it will take to have furniture delivered from outside your home region.

One couple wanted furniture from Finland since that is their family’s heritage. Although it took longer for them to have the furniture delivered, they were very pleased to buy exactly what they had always dreamed of having in their home. What does your dream furniture look like?

No matter what rooms you are planning to redo with a new look in wooden furniture, color is definitely a matter of personal preference. When you look through redecorating magazines, what appeals to you?

Do light-colored walls with dark furniture catch your eye? Is that the way your room looks now? There are many types of wood that would be included in this category. Oak is somewhat dark and has the reputation of lasting forever. Walnut is very dark, but probably wouldn’t look good in a small room. Room size compared to the size of the desired furniture is an important aspect of your purchase.

If you are considering light blonde wooden furniture, that would be pine. Although pine is very attractive, it is a very soft wood. It shows marks very easily which can take away from its beauty very quickly. Will purchasing very light blonde furniture mean that you will have to do a lot of painting for contrast? Are you prepared to make this change?

Another wood that is exceptional is Balsam, but it is rare and very expensive. Depending on your financial situation, you may want to consider this beautiful wood. White birch is not typically used for modern contemporary furniture, but many people prefer that type.

Maybe you are thinking of making a drastic change. Be cautious about doing something really dramatically different. Whether your choice is modern contemporary, French provincial, antique, or any of the other styles available, buy what really impresses you.

Keep in mind that no matter what room you are planning to redo, this will involve a substantial financial investment. Take your time making your choices as you will probably own your new wooden furniture for many years. Make sure that you choose furniture that is not only well-made, but also is furniture that suits your family’s lifestyle.

Article Source: www.webiar.com

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Adding Comfort to Your Home With Primitive Decorating

Fineartcraftsfurniture — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:16:00 GMT

Adding Comfort to Your Home With Primitive Decorating

By using rustic, primitive home décor you can transform your kitchen from a place of utilitarian tasks to a cozy nook where your family really wants to spend their time.

From Fast and Furious to Laid Back

The modern kitchen of the fast food generation, with its stainless steel appliances and round, black center island surrounded by barstools, leaves something to be desired. You can bring a sense of family and togetherness back to your house with a little primitive home décor.

What you Need to get the Effect

The piece de resistance, the ultimate addition in the way of primitive home décor, is the dry sink. It doesn’t have to serve any function other than as a conversation piece, but this item definitely brings you back to the “old country home”. Dry sinks are not all that easy to come by, so rest assured that if you can’t find one of these pieces there are other ways to achieve the rustic look.

An old fashioned, free-standing cupboard with a hanging wooden towel rack to match are easier to find and relatively inexpensive. You can even make your own sturdy wooden bench to use along one side of your table. Spending a lot of money on actual antiques for your primitive home décor isn’t necessary, since you can create a faux antique look for any piece of wooden furniture by using paints and glazes from your local home center.

Special Little Additions

Folk art accents add a hand-crafted touch to your primitive home décor. You can create folk art items yourself or purchase them at flea markets. Wooden cutouts of cows, sheep and fruit can be painted and hung on your walls, or placed on counters and shelves. You can fill wicker baskets with wooden fruit, and display handmade candles with country candleholders. A red-checkered tablecloth with matching napkins and towels, accompanied by hand painted salt and pepper shakers and a matching sugar bowl are also inexpensive additions.

Use quaint primitive home decor signs with welcoming phrases like, “Home is where the heart is.” Or you can use a child’s chalkboard to write, “Today’s menu,” to add a friendly touch to your country kitchen. Imagine holidays, weekend breakfasts and Sunday family dinners celebrated in the true sense of family and home when you spend those special times in the comfort of your quaint country kitchen.
Visit T Maries Galleries for all your Primitive Country Furniture.

Choosing Paintings to Decorate Your Home With

Fineartcraftsfurniture — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 10:12:00 GMT

Choosing Paintings to Decorate Your Home With

Choosing Paintings To Decorate Your Home With

By: Gabriel Adams

If you want to decorate your house properly, then you should consider buying some paintings to put up. Don’t buy photocopies of famous works – there are plenty of modern (and alive) artists who could use your support. If you want a good original painting, you should go to an art show and view the paintings there. However, there are many things you should think about before you go shopping for art. If you don’t figure them out in advance, you could end up making a purchase that you regret later.

First, you should set a price for what you are willing to spend on a painting. Figure out your budget – maybe it’s just $50, or maybe you’re willing to spend several hundred dollars on a painting. You may not find something within your budget, but you should never buy anything that is even slightly above your budget. It can be tempting if you see a painting that strikes your fancy, but if you can’t afford it then you shouldn’t buy it. Get the business card or web site of the artist, and check back at a later date to see if they have any other work (or even the same one) for sale.

Next you need to consider the style of the décor that the painting will compliment. Do you have a specific decoration scheme that you stick with for your house? If so, you’ll want to find a painting that complements the current style that you have already established. Even if you find a beautiful painting, it won’t look so beautiful if it doesn’t seem to fit in with the rest of your style. If you’ve got a modern décor, then you should look for a painting with modern sensibilities. Maybe you’ve got country style decorations. Then it could be appropriate to get a painting that depicts countryside, or cowboys, or anything else that would fit in.

This may not be quite as important to you, but you should also look at whatever information the artist provides about him or herself, and the painting. Oftentimes artists will put a pamphlet or a note card with their paintings, telling the story of its creation, and any events that inspired it. Sometimes you will find moving stories that help you understand the painting better. Other times you will find stories that deter you from buying the painting – maybe it was originally part of a hired contract that fell through, and so not much original creativity was put into it. To establish a good art collection, you should know as much as you can about the history of the painting, and about the artist who made it.

You shouldn’t rush the process of buying art. Instead you should establish what exactly you want, then keep your eyes peeled for anything that fits those needs. If you go to enough art festivals, galleries, and shows, you’ll eventually be able to find a nice painting that complements your home. But be careful – once you discover the joys of shopping for art, it can be difficult to quit.

Article Source: www.webiar.com

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Decorating Your Home With Woodcrafts

Fineartcraftsfurniture — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 11:49:00 GMT

Decorating Your Home With Woodcrafts

By: Gabriel Adams

Decorating your home with woodcrafts suffuses your home with a certain warmth and charm that is very reminiscent of country living. There is a wide assortment of woodcraft projects, from the simple plaque to more complex carved artifact and intricately woven wicker basket. Woodcrafts enhance your home with an atmosphere that goes beyond mere décor. The warm and welcoming appeal of woodcrafts is beyond compare. It’s in the way it is constructed and the way it is finished that makes a woodcraft welcome plaque feel wonderfully welcoming and a woodcraft Adirondack chair look infinitely inviting. Although there’s nothing tangible about the appeal of woodcraft décor; appealing it is.

Versatile Woodcraft

Woodcraft is a versatile accessory for any room, whether you wish to use it in the living room, kitchen, dining room or the entrance. You can customize it to suit your own unique needs and use it to display any image or message you wish. Woodcraft encompasses tiny decorative accessories as well as larger items of furniture.

Woodcraft Plaques

Hang a woodcraft welcoming plaque at your entrance and watch it soon turn into a conversation piece. A plaque with a special message for the whole family can turn a stark kitchen into a warm cozy haven. You could even get woodcraft plaques with personalized sun signs for each member of the family and hang it in their bedrooms.

Woodcraft Animals

Animal-shaped welcome signs add extra versatility to your woodcraft. You can leave them up wherever you want to and only change the outfits to match the season or even a special occasion or during the different holidays. Your little woodcraft animal could be dressed in black and orange for Halloween and red and green for Christmas.

Woodcraft Picture Frames

Preserve your special memories in woodcraft picture frames in different shapes and sizes. Woodcraft picture frames in the bedroom are an excellent way for each member of the family to display their singularly special photograph or family photographs or even to display a favorite keepsake. Frame your children’s art in woodcraft picture frames and hang them all over the house for a completely unique interior décor idea that you are unlikely to see in anybody else’s home.

Given their simplicity of construction, woodcraft picture frames are also easy make-at-home projects. Let every member of the family make their own picture frame. Alternatively buy plain picture frames from any craft and hobby store and get everybody to personalize their own frames. Woodcraft frames are easy to paint and stain and also easy to decorate with rhinestones, shells, beads and sequins.

Woodcraft Christmas Ornaments

Woodcraft Christmas ornaments will last forever. Give your Christmas tree a touch of ‘something old; something new’ by decorating the tree with traditional woodcraft ornaments along new and shiny baubles and glass ornaments. For a Christmas tradition the kids are sure to cherish and carry forward, commemorate every Christmas with a specially personalized woodcraft Christmas ornament.

Angels in different avatars are a delightful addition to any Christmas tree. Woodcraft angels with sassy expressions will give your Christmas tree a completely different look as compared to the look of a tree with innocent-looking angels or romantic angels hanging from it.

Article Source: www.webiar.com

Get Primitive Country Woodcrafts and Furniture at T Maries Galleries: www.fineartcraftsfurniture.com/

How to Decorate Your Home With a Charming Country Feel

Fineartcraftsfurniture — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 11:39:00 GMT

How to Decorate Your Home With a Charming Country Feel

How To Decorate Your Home With A Charming Country Feel

By: Gabriel Adams

If you’re looking to decorate your home, you should consider doing it in a country theme. This style has gained a lot of popularity recently, even as the world has become more urbanized. It can take years to redecorate your house, as you wait to find the perfect components for everything. But as long as you’re consciously looking for ways to decorate your house, you’ll eventually get it done.

First you need to think about the main decorations of your house. This includes carpet, walls, doors, windows, curtains, and so forth. If you’re really into the style, then you may be willing to replace your carpet or paint your walls. How much you’re dedicated to your decorations will determine the amount of things you need to alter or replace. If you’re trying to figure out how to decorate your home in a country style, then you can look at magazines that give decorating tips, or you could even look at vintage photographs of homes in the country to figure out exactly what they were decorated with.

Probably the most difficult part of decorating your home in a country fashion is actually finding all of the different decorations that will add to the overall effect. Although the style is currently popular, oftentimes you won’t be able to find “authentic” decorations. Of course, you always have the option of making decorations yourself. You can find guides for making curtains, tablecloths, sheets, and all sorts of other decorations. All you need to do is pick out a fabric that you like, and get to work. If it’s homemade, it will add that much more authenticity to your country décor. So if possible, look for homemade items or simply make them yourself.

Another great way to find old or vintage decorations is to go to thrift stores and auctions. You’d be surprised at the people who clean out their attics and find antique decorations. Usually they end up at one of those places. So if you’ve got a thrift store on the way to work, make a habit of stopping by once a week, so that you can catch all of the best decorations as soon as they come in. It will help even more if you make a wishlist of things that you feel will add a lot to your décor, that way you know what to look for when you go in. Ebay could also be a good source of decorations if you’re looking for something specific.

Redecorating your entire house can seem like a daunting task when you first consider it. But the trick is to break it down until you’re just redecorating one item at a time – you replace your tablecloth with a country-styled one, and you’re a little bit closer to being completely done. If you try to do it all at once, you’ll break your budget and it’ll be a stressful experience. Country style can include any number of things, so just be aware at all times of what sort of improvements you could make.

Article Source: www.webiar.com

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New Product Line Released at T Maries Galleries

Fineartcraftsfurniture — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:35:00 GMT

Wooden Layered Animals

T Maries Galleries is happy to announce the release of a new product line to our crafts page. We have added over twenty hand painted wooden layered animals to our collection with more to follow. As with all of our products they are produced and painted at our galleries in the USA. Stop by our Galleries and have a look at T Maries Galleries Crafts or check out all of our products at T Maries Galleries of Fine Art, Crafts, and Country Pine Furniture.

Choosing The Best Furniture For Your Home

Fineartcraftsfurniture — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 17:51:00 GMT

Choosing The Best Furniture For Your Home

Style and comfort are equally important when it comes to choosing furniture for your home. No matter how ornate or how classy your furniture looks, if it is uncomfortable to use, nobody will be impressed by it. A large part of the attraction of good furniture is how comfortable it makes you feel. Besides being nice to view, furniture should have a personal touch and be non-fussy and inviting to use. If your furniture is unwieldy and uncomfortable, chances are it will never be used.

Filling a room with bits and pieces of furniture that looked good in the showroom will turn your house into an unmitigated decorating disaster. Before buying furniture for any room, take into consideration the character, features, size and shape of the room. Identify any major features that you cannot change or perhaps do not want to change, and then decorate around those features. Make note of the space available for your furniture and decide how you’d like to place it. For smaller spaces, it is important to take measurements to avoid any goof-ups.

Making a scale-drawing of the room with drafts of where your furniture will go can be of immense help. Several website now offer free online tools that are helpful for planning the layout of your rooms and giving you a real-time view of what your room will look like with different styles of furniture. Watching design shows and going through decorating magazines can be great sources of inspiration. Your furniture should be a reflection of your personality and your lifestyle. Furniture for a large kid-friendly household would be different from a more grown-up household.

If you are looking for furniture that is likely to be used a lot, more importance should be given to the quality of the material and the way it is constructed. It’s a waste of time and money to buy furniture that looks good but is not built for wear and tear. So think about where you are going to put that piece of furniture and how it is likely to be used.

Kid's furniture, particularly, should be sturdy enough to withstand a lot of rough and tumble use. Many people skimp on children’s furniture in the mistaken notion that it will only be used for a short time. You could change that approach and instead look for more versatile kid’s furniture that is sturdy, looks good and will be a keeper of many a secret through your child’s growing years. A good quality child’s bed can be a fantastic heirloom that your child could keep and pass on down to future generations.

Article Source: www.webiar.com

Get Fine Art Limited Edition Original Prints at T Maries Galleries to decorate your home, plus check out our country furniture and other home essentials.

The Early History of Painting

Fineartcraftsfurniture — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 17:44:00 GMT

The Early History of Painting

Literally taken, the art of painting is the process of applying color onto a supported surface – such as paper, wood, glass, or canvas. When taken in an artistic sense, painting is meant to create an image or an expression through this color application, representing and documenting various intentions and subjects according to the artist’s desire. Since there are infinite explanations of what painting can be and what it represents to each individual artist, it is worthwhile taking a look at where painting began – thus shedding some light on why the art of painting is such an integral component of human artwork and culture.

The oldest known paintings in the world come from the Grotte Chauvet cave in France, believed to be around 32,000 years old. These paintings began as engraved images into the rock face, with the color being painted on afterward – red ochre and black pigment were carefully placed, creating images of horses, buffalo, lions, mammoth, rhinos, and even some images of humans going on a hunt.

Interestingly enough, the cave in France was not the only place where cave paintings were found – independently of each other, humans came up with this notion of creating colored images to represent things that were important to them, documenting it so that others could learn and understand. Other examples of cave paintings have been found at such diverse locations as Australia, Spain, Portugal, India, and even China!

Of course, there are plenty of ideas as to why humans decided to paint, with one of the most prevalent theories centering around the idea of creating pictures as a means of ‘catching’ an animal’s spirit. In this sense, a hunter or warrior would have painted an image of the animal that they wished to hunt and kill, and by capturing that animal in a picture, they believed they were essentially ‘capturing’ that animal’s spirit and condemning them to their fate – or at least making them easier to catch!

Other ideas focus on the more simplistic notion that early humans simply wished to pay homage to the nature that surrounded them, either as a display of devotion to their nature gods or just in appreciation of the surrounding beauty. This idea also gives way to the scientific speculation that all humans have an innate desire to express themselves in one form or another – and just as modern day society contains people who express themselves through various means, such as painting or architecture or sewing, humans in ancient times probably followed the same basic pattern!

Either way, there is no doubt that there is a human need to create and express one's self, and it certainly appears that this desire – this drive to capture images and display them though modes of expression, using various colors and patterns – comes from the earliest roots of human history. Thus, painting is an innate part of human nature: it is the appreciation of beauty, however it is expressed in visual form.

Article Source: www.webiar.com

Get great Original paintings on unique subject matter at T Maries Galleries: www.fineartcraftsfurniture.com/

Getting The Country Look With The Right Country Furniture

Fineartcraftsfurniture — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 17:39:00 GMT

Getting The Country Look With The Right Country Furniture

Rustic simplicity that is unpretentious, friendly and welcoming is the mainstay of country home décor. Typically made by craftspeople, country styled furniture has a sturdy, dependable look. Though flexible enough to include handmade pieces, natural materials, reproductions and timeworn antiques, country styled furniture will rarely use delicate designs or have a formal appearance.

Buying one style of country furniture for your whole house is an easy, safe and time-saving option. While you are unlikely to make a decorating gaffe, the very ‘coordinated sameness’ of every room can get boring after a while. Better to decorate every room with a mix and match of complementary country-styled furniture.

When looking for furniture for your country styled home, it’s best to focus on certain distinct country characteristics.

Wood is good. It is the staple of country styled décor. Hand-carved country furniture made of wood such as maple, oak, pine, walnut, cherry, hickory and exotic woods can fill every room with welcoming warmth. Look for furniture that is at least partly made of wood in combination with other natural materials such as wicker, straw cane.

Rustic, country styled furniture is typically plain and simple with straight lines, round knobs and plenty of chips and scratches that impart a certain character to every piece. The wood can be stained or natural, but is very rarely or never glossed to a high sheen.

Country-styled furniture is seldom made with synthetic, man-made materials and garish colors and glass tables, modern shiny metals or highly polished surfaces are rarely seen.

Here are few suggestions for giving each room in your house an inviting country look

Bedroom

Set the tone for your country-styled bedroom with a beautiful four-poster, canopy bed and complete the look with rustic wardrobes and smaller pieces of furniture in traditional shapes and materials. If your bedroom is on the smaller side, keep other furniture to a minimum.

Kitchen

Classic country kitchen décor includes kitchen cabinets made of natural materials, aged surfaces and round or ceramic knobs. Kitchen cabinets in natural-finished or painted pine add cozy rustic warmth to any kitchen. Pine cabinets with a distressed color finish can add distinctive beauty to any country kitchen, whereas antique reproduction cabinets add old-world charm.

Living room

Country style living room furniture exudes warmth and relaxation. Splurge on one or two ‘eye-catching’ pieces; it could be a stunning centre table or a magnificent sofa set in a romantic country style or a seriously rustic country style. A grandfather chair is a charming addition and adds timeless grace to any country styled living room.

Article Source: www.webiar.com

Visit T Maries Galleries of Fine Art, Crafts and Country Pine Furniture: www.fineartcraftsfurniture.com/

Tips For Decorating Your Home With a Country Decor

Fineartcraftsfurniture — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 17:32:00 GMT

Tips For Decorating Your Home With a Country Decor

Over the past decade, country decorating has changed significantly. The look has gone from swathes of gingham and tiny spaces to a fresher, cleaner style that's more Shaker than colonial. While the look of handmade crafts and handy-work is still beautiful, it's now about an effort to bring some elements of the modern in, as well.

One quick way to blend the contemporary and the past, is to mix traditional farm antique furniture with a few, select modern pieces. Also, starting with a generally neutral wall pallet can really update your look, while letting your selected jabs of color really stand out. You want the room to feel fresh, not crowded and overwhelming.

The three basic elements to updating your country décor style are color, clutter, and space. The first to look at is color. Simplify the colors in a room. You want to keep most of your textiles neutral and then bring in just a few hits of color, or one select piece in an eye-catching, tiny print. Don't swathe the place in rose prints and gingham checks.

The second is to declutter. Only keep what you love. By getting rid of the pieces and things that you don't need or don't completely satisfy you as a piece of decor, you will dramatically transform your space. The resulting open feeling will immediately update the room, bringing your country décor into the modern day.

Finally, space. After your decluttering efforts, you should have some. Frame the room with your large-scale furniture. Then use classic farm pieces, like hutches and runners to ground the walls. Don't overrun the room with furniture and try to stay on top of your decluttered and clean look.

Get Country furniture and fine art at T Maries Galleries at: http://www.fineartcraftsfurniture.com/

Article Source: http://Ez

Choosing Art to Decorate Your Home

Fineartcraftsfurniture — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 11:26:00 GMT

Choosing Art to Decorate Your Home

When you go about decorating your house, you’ll have many different things to consider. It can be hard to add enough accessories to fill up your walls and surfaces to make them seem less desolate. Once option is to buy art to hang on your walls. The right painting would be a tasteful addition to your wall, giving you artistic value as well as decorative value. Most people don’t know the first thing about buying art. If that is true of you as well, then read on as I go over some basics of purchasing art.

Some people have certain “favorite” artistic works that they have always admired or enjoyed. In this situation, it would be a good idea to look for a replica. You can get an exact photocopy of the original, or you can even find a hand-painted copy with the personal touch of another artist. As long as you know the title of the painting, you can search online at auction sites, or for art dealers who have copies that you can buy. Buying art on the internet is relatively cheap, as long as you don’t have them ship a frame. A frame increases postage greatly.

If you buy copies of famous art, you are supporting businesses that do nothing but copy art. For many people, this is unacceptable. If you’d like to support some real artists, you should purchase original paintings. You can go to art shows, galleries, festivals, or many other places to find paintings. There are many festivals that invite hundreds of amateur artists who show off their paintings that are for sale. You shouldn’t attend with your mind set on getting a painting. Instead, you should walk around at your own leisure and enjoy all of the art. If you see something that really strikes you and is within your price range, then buy it. But don’t be afraid to go home empty-handed.

Buying art is fairly easy to do, and once you get started you may find that it is hard to quit. When you hang a beautiful painting on your wall, it adds so much to the room. It gives your house a whole new level of aesthetic value. So even if you’ve never been interested in art before, you should start to look at some of the options that are available to you. Attend art festivals, talk to painters, and visit galleries. You’ll find that along with the items you purchase, you’re also getting involved in a vibrant and interesting lifestyle with lots of cool people!

Get Woodcrafts at T Maries Galleries of fine art, crafts and country pine furniture: http://www.fineartcraftsfurniture.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert

Simple Home Decorating Tips Anyone Can Use

Fineartcraftsfurniture — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 15:29:00 GMT

Simple Home Decorating Tips Anyone Can Use

Every homeowner has the constant desire to want to create a presentable environment in their house. It is only natural - if you make such a large investment as a house, you should maintain it to the best of your abilities. Using simple techniques to decorate your house, you can increase the aesthetics by a huge amount. It can be very expensive to hire a professional home decorator, and it is quite frankly unnecessary. Professional home decorators are simply people who have learned to spot certain fundamental truths about home aesthetics. So if you feel the need to decorate or redecorate your home, you should consider all of the following aspects.

The first step to home decorating is having tasteful furniture and accessories. This doesn't mean you have to buy a ridiculously expensive set from a furniture store. You can do with thrift store goods if you're careful. When you first start picking (or replacing) your furniture, you should decide on a certain theme that you want to stick with. You can buy furniture that is mostly made out of wood. If you buy a can of wood stain from your local home improvement store, you can magically match all of your furniture when previously they completely contrasted each other. Alternatively, you may decide to go with a modern theme, or any other number of themes and sub-themes used by decorators. You can get ideas from decorating magazines, stores, or homes of friends.

Once you've got your furniture and accessories all generally matching, you can consider your walls and carpets. Of course, this stage of the decorating depends on how much you want to overhaul your home, and how much you are willing to spend in time and money. The fact of the matter is, your carpet and walls are most likely not the best match for the rest of your house, since the builders of your home could not have known what sort of furniture you would have. Painting the walls is a relatively easy project, and you can do it in a weekend if you plan it out right. A tastefully-colored wall can lend a lot of aesthetic value to your home.

The hardest part of decorating your home is noticing small touches that you can make to lend to and improve the overall mood and theme of the house. The reason it's hard is that you can't analyze any specific aspect of your house and figure out how to change it for the better. Instead, you have to look at the big picture and creatively imagine things that you could be doing differently. If this doesn't come naturally to you, then you can use many different sources as inspiration. But a few magazines next time you're at the store, and look at the rooms pictured within. Most of them have likely been designed by professionals. You can look for the small details that give the room its great style, and figure out ways to apply the same thing to your home. Just make sure that the small details fit the color scheme and style of your overall decor.

The lighting of your rooms is also a very important aspect. When you have a very well-thought-out furniture layout, and specific decorations everywhere, usually the default lighting layout will not suffice. Think about changing the lighting to a different part of the room to change the focus. Think about putting a lamp on a table or even a track lighting system on the ceiling. There are many different options, and if you choose the right one then you can masterfully focus the attention of visitors to the parts of the room that you want them to be looking at.

Home decorating is never easy or quick, which is why so many people are tempted to spend a lot of money for professional advice. But before you do that, find out what exactly you are capable of, and see what you can do for your house.

About Adrian Adams
Add Country Charm to your Home with T Maries Galleries fine art, crafts and country pine furniture. Visit our site today at www.fineartcraftsfurniture.com/

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Find the Perfect Furniture for Your Kitchen

Fineartcraftsfurniture — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 17:51:00 GMT

Find the Perfect Furniture for Your Kitchen

Choosing furniture for your kitchen is not a walk in the park. And sometimes it may be a tedious and tiresome job to accomplish because of the wide selection of items to choose from. But for all the moms out there (and the dads too) who spend a big amount of time in the kitchen, having the kitchen equipped with the right furniture may spell the difference between comfortability and inconvenience.

Here are some tips that one should therefore bear in mind when it comes to choosing furniture for the kitchen.

Despite the fact that your kitchen is a very functional area, you would not want it to appear that way. As part of your home, you would still wish that it will provide a warm atmosphere, not to mention the comfort that it should bring whenever you're there. Liven it up with attractive kitchen carts that matches perfectly with your kitchen decor. Get something that you can use and put some display items on.

Take into consideration the people who are going to use the kitchen. Will it be for the cooks alone or would you also want some family time spent there. For some extra storage you may want to get some safes for your pies and add baker's hutches for the needed charm. For a nice chat-over-coffee mornings, avail of comfortable dining chairs so you wouldn't mind staying there for long.

Since this is your kitchen that you're designing, you need to consider your personal preferences. You might want to have a kitchen theme such as retro style, country, or minimalist. Your bar and barstools should likewise go with whatever theme you decide to have.

People who plan to really decorate their kitchen may not have any issues when it comes to the budget. But those who intend to save a lot may want to look into garage sales and other discount stores to avail of used but still good-quality kitchen furniture. Some wooden furniture may look great for a country-themed kitchen space.

Any interior designer would tell you that there are no hard-drawn rules when it comes to designing any space. But practicality is always the bottom line. There's no use spending much if your furniture doesn't serve its purpose and if it doesn't feel comfortable for those who are going to use it. Planning everything before purchasing anything will save you a lot and will keep you from getting anything that you won't be needing in your kitchen at all.

About Adrian Adams
Visit Country Pine Furniture and Woodcrafts at T Maries Galleries to help furnish your kitchen.