LEARN CRAFTS ONLINE

Have you ever wanted to learn a craft? A hobby? A past-time? Something to help fill your creative void?

I was searching recently for just that, and came across something great and want to share it. I was looking for something about crafts that I could learn online. But I didn't really know what I was looking for.

My find is Astarte's Mega-Zine.

Astarte is an online magazine for lovers of art and craft, covering topics such as:

• mixed media
• papercraft
• textiles
• polymer clay
• jewelry making
• and much more

The articles in the magazine are written by Arts Industry Experts. These are easy-to-read articles that are sure to leave you inspired. This is a magazine of quality and excellence, filled with great content.

Astarte's Mega-Zine is an online magazine that you download and save to your hard disk. You can read it on the screen or print it out to read at your leisure.

The magazine is great value at only $9.95(US) per issue. You can pay by PayPal, and you get the issue immediately.

Issues are available by individual issue (pick and choose) or by annual subscription.

So if you want to learn crafts online, check out the Astarte's MegaZine page and see what you think.
 
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JAMES MAY'S TOY STORIES - CLASSIC COLLECTIBLE TOYS

I recently had the pleasure of watching James May's Toy Stories. It's a fantastic journey through the various classic toys of our past.

It is an inspiration, and a credit to James, to see how the local communities come together to participate in his challenges. Young and old, male and female, experienced and novices. All want to be a part of it. And all want to see it through to the very end.

• Episode 1 - AIRFIX - James constructs a full-size (scale 1:1) model Spitfire. Making full-sized pieces from fibreglass comes with its own set of challenges.



• Episode 2 - PLASTICINE - Follow the Paradise In Plasticine entry into the 2009 Chelsea Flower Show. The Officials have never seen anything like it, and don't quite know what to make of it. James hopes to win a prize none-the-less.



• Episode 3 - MECCANO - Follow the design and construction of a 23m (75ft) bridge in Liverpool. With the help of Architecture students and design & engineering consultants, this is a challenge like no other.



• Episode 4 - SCALEXTRIC - A 4.4 km (2.75 mile) track along the old Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit. 400 volunteers help with this record-breaking challenge - a race between the residents of Brooklands and the "Scalextric Professionals".



• Episode 5 - LEGO - A full-sized house, built using 3.3 million lego bricks. This challenge is not only to constuct a life-sized house, but also for James to spend the night in the house.



• Episode 6 - HORNBY - James' model train layout sees a Hornby train set make its way along a 10 mile (16 km) stretch of track from Barnstaple to Bideford. The disused train site provides many obstacles to the modern model train track layout - roads, fences, water and vandals.
  Five trains set out from Barnstaple - James' own Flying Scotsman model, a passenger steam train, a passenger diesel train, a goods diesel train, and the prototype of Hornby's Hitachi Class 395 "Javelin" model. Only one of these trains makes it to Bideford.

JAMES MAY'S TOY STORIES

• BOOK - The Nile (au bookstore), Amazon UK, Amazon USA
• DVD - Fetch DVD (au), Amazon UK, Amazon USA

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VINTAGE IS BACK

Recent times have seen a fantastic resurgence of interest in Vintage Accessories. Whether it is ladies or gents, people can't get enough of it. Just take a look at your local Op Shops. People are rummaging through clothing, vinyl records (LPs), chinaware, toys, you name it.

My preference is vintage jewellery. I find that vintage jewellery has a character that is not seen in today's modern pieces. Modern jewellery seems sterile by comparison. Clean and clinical.

Vintage jewellery is like an old soul. Unless it has been kept in its original packaging and never seen daylight, vintage jewellery comes with character. Like an elderly gent with greying hair, a few wrinkles, and a cheeky twinkle in his eye. Vintage jewellery might have fading colour, some minor scratches, and a gleem of intrigue.

Some people say that vintage jewellery talks to you, or you get a vibe from it. Others say it means a piece is haunted.

Sometimes it is a sense of pride that comes with your accessory. Did it belong to a grandparent, or a loved one? You get to tell its story, or even cheekily make one up. Who is going to argue that it didn't belong to your grandfather?

The pride you feel when someone asks you about a special accessory is amazing. You can't help but tell its story with gusto. A piece of jewellery that has been around longer than you have deserves at least that.

If you have a collection hidden away, treasure it and treat it with respect. Dust off your pieces and wear them proudly.

See also : Vintage Cove Website | Vintage Cove on Facebook

BOOKS ABOUT COLLECTING

affiliate links ($US) - click on picture for more information

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