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Creating your personalised beadwork jewelry symbolizes an innovative hobby that allows you to develop unequaled art objects for yourself, family and friends. It is an appreciated avocation that can be expanded into a home line of work. Here is how you can get started.

If you inquired yourself “could not I create that myself?” When you searched through and through rows of bead bracelets, necklaces or earrings at a stylish boutique, the response follows “certainly”. Beadwork represents an originative and amusing hobby that not alone will have you produce extraordinary, handmade items of jewelry, but will in addition to comprise a great source of bighearted ideas for family and friends.

The first step would be to find a good local bead shop. There are wonderful mail order catalogs and websites that will sell you all the supplies, look for a business that provides support and advice. A retail store might also offer a number of beginners’ classes that would help you learn basic techniques (if there is no bead shop in your town, some introductory books such as The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Beading will have to do).

Begin with a simple project, such as a bracelet or basic necklace, and do not go overboard with costly beads and findings (clasps, hooks, and so on.). You may want to use Swarovski crystal, sterling silver and valuable beads immediately, but you’ll be able to bring yourself up to that later on. Many stores will even stock packaged starter kits that include a beadwork board (which aids you with your project arrangement), a a couple of basic instruments, beads, wire, findings and a how-to-book.

You should then set up your “beading space” preferably an uncluttered, well-lit area. You might have to invest in a good lamp, maybe one combined with a magnifying lens. Remember, you will be stringing some rather tiny objects! Make sure you have plenty of containers to keep different types and colors of beads separate nothing will spoil your joy of beading like having to hunt for a single bead in a jumbled pile. Beading stores will sell you various storage systems (including beading bags for the beader-on-the-go), but you can also experiment with inexpensive plastic containers meant to hold small hardware or fishing tackle.

Well, there you are ready for your first bead jewelry project! Don’t forget to protect your beading space from curious cats and toddlers. Happy beading, and have fun wearing your hand-crafted jewelry!

Craftsman and Author Ethan O. Tanner shares his expertise the joy of Beading the process forselecting beading suppliesfor your task. You are welcome to reprint this article – but get your own unique content version here.

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Making your own bead jewelry is a inventive free time activity that allows you to bring about unique pieces for yourself, family and acquaintances. It is a remarkable hobby that can turn into a respecting hobby.

If you ever asked yourself “couldn’t I do that myself?” as you looked through rows of bead bracelets, necklaces or earrings at a trendy boutique, the answer is “yes”. Beading is a creative and entertaining hobby that not only will have you produce unique, handmade items of jewelry, but will also be a great source of gift ideas for family and friends.

The first of all step would be to find a good local bead shop. While there are wonderful mail order catalogs and web sites that will sell you all the supplies, nothing substitutes for the support and advice of skilled sales personnel. Ideally, this store would likewise furnish a number of beginners classes that would help you gain basic methods

Start with a simple project, such when a bracelet or basic necklace, and don’t go overboard with expensive beads and findings (clasps, hooks, etc.). You could be wanting to use Swarovski crystal, sterling silver and semi-precious beads right now, but you’ll be able to build up to that later. Some stores will even offer packaged starter kits that include a beading board (which aids you with project layout and measurements), some basic tools, beads, wire, findings and a how-to-book.

You should then arrange your “beading space” – rather an uncluttered, well-lit area. You may have to invest in a beneficial lamp, perhaps one conjunct with a magnifying lens. Remember, you’ll be stringing some kind tiny objects! Make sure you’ve good deal of containers to keep different types and colors of beads differentiate – nothing will spoil your joy of beading like having to hunt for a single bead in a jumbled pile. Beading stores will sell you various storage systems (including beading bags for the beader-on-the-go), but you are able to experiment with affordable plastic containers meant to hold small hardware or fishing tackle.

Well, there you’re ready for your first bead jewelry project! Do not leave to protect your beading space from curious cats and toddlers. You’ll find that beading is easy, fun and gratifying. Happy beading, and have fun wearing your handmade jewelry!

Leather expert and Author Ethan O. Tanner explains the different types of Leathercraft the determining factors in beading for your hobby and crafts.

categories: Leathercraft,leather,beadwork,beads,beading,hobby,crafts,business,hobbies

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Aquaponics hit the big time recently when the home aquaponics systems called “Farm in a Box” by Earth Solutions were featured by Good Morning America, the Wall Street Journal, and the LA Times. Since most home gardeners are not familiar yet with the organic gardening method called aquaponics, some folks may be scratching their heads wondering how these “Farm in a Box” systems work.

The basic idea behind aquaponics is the combination of hydroponics (growing plants in water) and aquaculture (fish farming). While the fish fertilize the plants, the plants in turn filter the water for the fish. It’s an eloquent, balanced, organic system, and plants absolutely thrive in it.

But as simple as the system sounds, making it work is still somewhat complicated. To design or build a home aquaponics system requires a good understanding of fluid mechanics and chemistry, not to mention a hefty measure of handyman skills. Many of us who don’t possess such skills would rather just buy a kit.

There aren’t very many aquaponics kits available just yet, although the options are growing steadily. For now one of the best values in home aquaponics systems is the Farm in a Box series.

Earth Solutions offers several home aquaponics systems in a variety of sizes. The smallest, Little Tokyo, is a cute indoor model, not much larger than a small home aquarium. The largest model, called the Phoenix, is a sprawling outdoor behemoth with 200-gallon fish tank and expandable 35-square-foot planting bed area. Each aquaponic system includes a decorative wood stand, rubber lined plant bed, and fish tank, plus all the other necessary hardware such as hoses, valves, pump, and timer. Each kit also includes instructions for setting up the system and for fish and plant care. The buyer must supply any gravel, water, fish, and seeds.

The smallest system, Little Tokyo, is sold online by both Earth Solutions and Home Depot for $249. It’s actually very cute and decorative and takes up very little space. In the bottom is a 10-gallon fish tank, with a 12″x20″ plant bed fitted above. A water pump and timer circulate the water from the fish tank to the plant bed and back. This ebb and flow motion aerates the water for the fish and keeps the system in balance.

All the Farm in a Box systems work in the same way as the Little Tokyo. The only difference is basically size. These are the models currently available:

Little Tokyo ($249) — This is the model described above. It’s a great size for home, office, or classroom.

Little Tokyo sans tank ($229) — This is the Little Tokyo model sold without the fish tank. If you already have your own 10-gallon tank, then you could save a few dollars with this system.

Manhattan ($279) — The Manhattan is just like the Little Tokyo, but it uses a larger 15-gallon tank. The plant bed is still 12″x20″.

Charleston ($429.50) — The Charleston uses a 20-gallon fish tank and has a 12″x32″ plant bed. This size tank is suitable for small perch, goldfish, or tropical fish.

San Antonio ($549) — The San Antonio model uses a 20-gallon fish tank too. Its planting bed is slightly larger at 14″x42″.

Dallas ($799) — The Dallas model is the largest of the indoor/patio systems from Earth Solutions. It is designed for the serious organic gardener with space limitations. It includes a 35-gallon fish tank, which means it’s big enough for growing edible fish, such as tilapia. The plant bed is still compact but hefty at 24″x42.

Phoenix ($1499) — The Phoenix is a large outdoor or greenhouse model. It includes a 200-gallon tank which is best for edible fish, such as tilapia for warm climates or bass, perch, or catfish for cooler climates. The system also includes 2 deep water floating rack beds and 1 gravel ebb and flow bed.

Farm in a Barrel ($83) — Earth Solutions also carries a simple do-it-yourself system called Farm in a Barrel. It includes instructions for building your own aquaponics system out of a plastic 55-gallon barrel, which you must procure yourself. The instructions cost $35. Valve, hoses, pump, and timer can be purchased separately for an additional $48.

Of course, the Farm in a Box series is not the only source for aquaponics kits today. There are several options available online, and that list is growing monthly. But for now, this series from Earth Solutions looks like one of the best values available. It is certainly the most decorative that I have found, and the best for indoor/patio use. So if you’re looking for a system that will help you “get your feet wet” with aquaponics (pun intended), you might want to check out this series.

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Are you looking for ways to go green these day? It’s certainly all the rage, especially when it comes to organic food. But if we look more closely at how we grow our food, we can find a way to take our ecological efforts to a whole new level.

What I’m talking about here is aquaponics. It’s one of the best ways to conserve our resources and our space. If you’ve never heard of aquaponics, you’re not alone. It’s still very new to the public, but actually aquaponics has been around for ages. Some might say it’s as old as dirt.

Basically, aquaponics is the combination of hydroponics (plants growing in water) and aquaculture (fish growing in a tank). It’s a symbiotic relationship between the plants and the fish. The waste from the fish naturally fertilizes the plants, while the plants filter the water for the fish. It’s a perfect picture of the balance of nature.

But besides this eloquent picture of natural balance, just what does aquaponics offer us? Why should we consider growing our food this way?

For one thing, aquaponics conserves our water. Each aquaponics system is closed, meaning that the water circulates from fish to plants and back to the fish again. Almost nothing is wasted. What a great way to conserve one of our most precious natural resources!

Second, an aquaponics system conserves space. We can grow more plants in less space using aquaponics instead of traditional gardening methods. Some aquaponics farmers claim that they can grow up to 10 times the amount of produce with aquaponics as a traditional farmer would grow in the same space. With more food per acre, we can begin to solve the hunger problem throughout the world.

And finally, the plants actually grow much faster with aquaponics. The waste from the fish provides rich nutrients to the plants which are supplied directly to the roots via the water. As a result, the plants absolutely thrive. In some cases they grow up to twice as fast as traditional gardens.

All in all, using aquaponics does more than just make you more ecologically responsible. It will put your garden on organic overdrive. And don’t forget about the fish. You’ll have fish to eat along with your abundant harvest. So look around for aquaponic systems in your area. It’s the wave of the future.

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Forget the debate about the chicken or the egg. What really comes first should be the chicken coop.

Lots of folks love the idea of raising backyard chickens, and for good reason — it’s a great idea. But the logistics of keeping chickens — all the unknowns about breeds, poultry housing, chicken feed, and city regulations — might keep some people from getting started.

So to ease some of the stress from the myriad of questions, here are a few simple tips about building your own chicken coop. The best coops will have the following properties:

1) Proper Overall Size — Your coop needs at least 4 square feet per hen. That means that for 8 laying hens you should have at least 32 square feet in your chicken coop floor plan. You also need to consider the size of the outdoor run at well. Typically you should have at least 6 square feet per hen for free range space.

2) Above Ground Level — The nesting area needs to be raised up off the ground anywhere from 6 inches to 18 inches to protect the hens from predators and cold, damp soil.

3) Efficiency — You need to consider how you will get into the nesting boxes for cleaning and for collecting the eggs. A poorly designed coop can turn these chores into back-breaking work. Something as simple as adding an access panel, such as a hinged roof panel or hinged door, might suffice.

4) Proper Size of the Nesting Boxes — The subject of nesting box size is debatable. Every expert seems to have a different opinion. In general, however, they seem to agree that something in the range of 12×12 inches up to 18×18 inches is best for two laying hens.

5) Attractive Appearance — Your chickens may not care what their coop looks like, but chances are that your neighbors will. But don’t let your neighbors’ taste worry you. There are many chicken coop designs that are downright cute, and some that are even more adorable than most playhouses.

6) Appropriate for Your Climate — Be sure to choose a design that works well with your region and your climate. For example, warm weather typically calls for better ventilation, whereas colder weather calls for more insulation.

7) Portability — Not all chicken coops need to be portable. But for smaller coops, portability is a major benefit. Moving the coop periodically will provide your chickens with fresh grass and a change of pace.

If you keep these factors in mind while choosing or designing your coop, you will already be ahead of the game.

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So you’re thinking about raising chickens in your backyard. What a great idea! But where do you start? Or, more specifically, where do the find the right chicken coop? Unfortunately, that’s not an easy question to answer.

All coops are different because each person’s (and chicken’s) situation is unique. How big is the breed you are planning to raise? How hot or cold is your climate? How much space do you have? Do many predators lurk in your neighborhood? The questions seem limitless.

Well fear not. Sure, there are lots of variables, but you really have only three choices:

1) Buy a pre-built, ready-made chicken coop – Pre-built coops are a fine idea. They are usually well made and well designed. But they can also cost an arm and a leg. New ready-made coops start around $500, but most cost well into the $1000’s. And that doesn’t even include installation. Also, don’t forget the costs of shipping too.

2) Design and build it yourself – You could just “wing it” – no pun intended. You can start from scratch and build it yourself, even without a plan. Sometimes that will work, but often it doesn’t. As the builder, you will likely end up frustrated and confused, and your chickens could be a bit unhappy too. Unless you’re the handyman or carpenter type, this option is probably not the best for you.

3) Buy plans and build it yourself – An excellent compromise is to buy your plans from an experienced chicken farmer, and then build it yourself. That way you can be sure that your needs and the needs of your chickens have been considered in the design. But be sure the plans are clear and easy to follow, especially if you’re not the handyman type. And look for designs that can be built from standard, inexpensive materials so that you can save money on construction.

Whatever coop you choose, congratulations on making a decision and moving forward toward backyard chicken raising. May you and your hens enjoy your coop for many, many moons.

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