Sky Watch: Crave for the Blue Sky

I crave for the wonderful blue sky like this, as well as rainbows that I didn’t see for a long time.  We have rainy days with gray skies since the beginning of this month. This blue sky captured two years ago. Sorry, I’ve ever shared it here before; I just love this kind of blue sky and want to share it again for SkyWatch Friday!

Future Antiques are Being Created Now

Just like the antiques of today which were created a century or more ago, the antiques of tomorrow are being created today. The skills and techniques of the artisans which have been honed over centuries are still alive and well, even in this mechanised 21^st century. Will your next furniture purchase be one of the antiques of tomorrow?

Today’s furniture is tomorrows antique

If you choose to buy a piece of furniture which is mass produced with built in obsolescence, ten years down the road it will probably end up on a bonfire or taken away for recycling. Making an informed choice and buying a hand crafted Jonathan Charles wine table (pictured) you can guarantee that piece of furniture will be around long after you have departed this mortal coil. With the same skill and devotion to detail which handmade furniture has been subject to over the past two hundred years or so, a Jonathan Charles piece is an antique in the making.

Mass produced versus handmade

There is obviously a market for mass produced cheap furniture, but mass produced furniture is made purely as a functional piece. Mass produced may look good, but in the main is produced and sold within the parameters of consumer trends. A sofa, chair or sideboard may look fashionable when you buy it, but see what it looks like in five or ten year’s time. Handmade furniture on the other hand isn't made to fit in with trends or fads of interior design, neither is it made with built in obsolescence so you end up having to replace it in time.

Handmade furniture such as the diverse range which is produced by the Jonathan Charles design studio, are in themselves works of art. When buying a piece of handmade furniture you are investing in something which has functionality but at the same time exquisite form.

Handmade finely detailed wooden furniture created from teak, oak or walnut are one off pieces, even though they may be made according to a detailed set of plans. The swirls, loops and arches of the grain are enhanced by the way the artisan places them, a skill which takes many years to hone and perfect.

However, it is well worth the wait; a finished piece such as a card table crafted from mahogany, a vanity dressing table with fine marquetry or an extending dining table made from walnut is unique, and isn't intended to be the same as another piece of the same design. Combined with the extraordinary level of polishing and finish the depth of the wood and the pattern of the grain stand out.

Eighteenth and nineteenth century style has never fallen out of favour and yes, you will pay more for a finely crafted piece of handmade furniture, but it is worth it. The piece you buy will probably outlast the person buying it and at some point be marvelled at a hundred years hence.

Can you say the same for a mass produced piece of furniture even surviving for ten years?

Graham Green is a freelance writer and blogger, and has a love of old books and fine furniture and is a fan of the fine furniture created by the Jonathan Charles design house. 

 

15 Different Types of Lingerie

Market is full of different types of lingerie, it is very important to know the various types available so that the right one can be picked for getting the perfect shape. It is also beneficial for maintaining a good posture and health, here are 15 different varieties available in the market:

1.   non padded bras : These bras don’t have any special pads attached, they are best for medium to large size women as they help in giving good support to the figure with total comfort.

2.   Bridal Bra/Corset: The name says it all, they are used for providing best shape under the wedding dresses, and they help in carrying the weight of breasts in much better way and offers total comfort.

3.   The Adhesive Bra:  They are without ant strap and back, they just support the breasts and are best for wearing under shoulder less dresses.

4.   Convertible Bra: They look very stylish and help in serving different purposes, the straps can be attached and detached according to the dress.

5.  Built-in Bra: They are fitted inside the dress like swimwear, tank tops, etc. for better comforts and shape.

6.   Cupless Bra: These are mostly used in erotic lingerie as they don’t have the cups, which expose certain areas. They are best for creating seductive atmosphere.

7.   Demi Bra: These bras have half-cups which helps in giving a good shape under low cut dresses.

8.   Front Closure Bra: They have hooks in the front; the back is plain and is best to wear under tank tops.

9.   Maternity Bra: They have removable flaps which help in easy nursing while providing good support to the breasts.

10. Full Support Bra: They are mostly used for day to day life as they cover whole full area; they are comfortable and provide very good support to the figure.

11.  Mastectomy Bra: It is used by the women, those who suffer with any type of health problems and have lost one or both the breasts.

12. Push-up Bra: They are mostly used by the smaller size women as they help lifting the breasts and create a very good figure by providing better supports.

13.Seamless bra: They are used for wearing under T-shirts, shirts and light color dress material as they show no lines on the dress because the cups don’t have any type of stitch.

14. Sports bra: They help in providing extra support to the breasts while doing any exercise or playing any sports, etc. They also reduce the risk of tissue damage and keep a woman healthy.

15. Padded bra: It has special pads attached on the cups for giving extra volume to the figure; mostly it is used by small size women for getting a good shape under different dresses.

Related article: Best Push Up Bra for Small Chests