anonymous asked:


Planning a wedding is a great deal of fun, but it also requires a significant amount of planning. Once you have set your date, one of the first wedding details you should turn your attention toward is the selection of your wedding invitations. While at one time traditional wedding invitations appeared only as white or ivory with engraved black in, today there are numerous options available for the modern bride. Due to the wide variety of designs and styles in wedding invitations available, you’ll want to get started early in choosing the perfect wedding invitation.

There are numerous factors that will affect your choice of wedding invitation. The first question you should ask yourself is whether you are planning to have a formal, semi-formal or casual wedding ceremony because the type of ceremony you plan will impact your choice of invitations.

Regardless of whether you choose formal, semi-formal or casual invitation, generally, wedding invitations include the invitation itself as well as a reception card, response card, separate envelope for the response card, detailed information on accommodations for guests and riving directions and important telephone numbers.

Be aware that while there are literally thousands of styles and designs of invitations available for the choosing, there are only six basic types of invitations. These include:

Engraved Thermo graphed Printed Calligraphy Handed colored Box set

Engraved invitations are the most classic and traditional choice of invitations available. They are also the most expensive type of invitations on the market; however, if you are planning a very formal wedding, engraved invitations are an absolute must. Keep in mind that you should order your engraved invitations no less than 8 weeks from the date of your wedding, preferably farther in advance.

Thermo graphed invitations provide an affordable alternative to engraved invitations. The end result is a very elegant look and while thermo graphed invitations might not be appropriate for a very formal wedding, they would work well for a semi-formal wedding. Plan on ordering these invitations at least six weeks in advance.

Printed invitations are one of the most popular choices on the market and are very cost efficient. You can find a wide variety of printed invitations available through most stationary and printer vendors as well as on-line wedding invitations vendors. While the turn around time for printed invitations is typically better than engraved or thermographed options, you should still plan on ordering your printed invitations at least 4-6 weeks in advance. Printed invitations are appropriate for semi-formal and casual weddings.

One option in printed invitations that is definitely gaining favor is the alternative of purchasing ‘blank’ invitations from printed stationary retailers and then printing your own information. This gives you the option of choosing the design you want and saving a few dollars by handling the printing on your own.

Calligraphed invitations are very elegant and work well for weddings with an old fashioned theme. They can be very expensive; however, due to the amount of time and effort involved in producing them. When deciding on whether to choose calligraphy invitations remember that you need to allow extra time for preparation, plan on additional cost and keep in mind that this type of invitation may smudge if it comes in contact with even a slight amount of moisture. Calligraphy invitations are appropriate for all types of weddings except very formal events.

Hand made invitations are gaining in popularity not only because they are cost efficient but because they add a nice personal touch to a very special occasion. There are numerous options for creating hand made invitations and basically the sky is the limit with choices. Just remember to plan on making additional invitations in case of mistakes and allow plenty of time, especially during this hectic time of your life. Handmade invitations are appropriate for most weddings except very formal events. Handmade invitations can also be easily generated with desktop publishing programs and attractive stationary.

Box set invitations are available at most stationary retailers and can provide an quick and easy alternative to other types of invitations. This type of invitation can also be easily dressed up for a unique and personal touch.

Regardless of which type of invitation you ultimately choose, do be sure to allow plenty of time for printing and an additional two weeks for mailing. Also, consider interesting and unique ways you add a personal touch to your wedding invitations, such as unique wording and verses



Gloria

Kelly Mellott asked:


ften referred to as the “most important day of your life,” your wedding day should be perfect and exactly what you imagined it to be. And what better way to insure that everything turns out precisely how you wanted it without breaking the bank than to have a DIY wedding? Becoming increasingly popular, the handmade wedding (also called a homemade wedding or do-it-yourself wedding) is a great way to save money, bond with your bridesmaids or spouse-to-be as you create all the wedding elements, and still have the wedding of your dreams. Here at FaveCrafts.com, our Wedding Craft Editors have put together this comprehensive guide to our favorite homemade wedding centerpiece ideas, do it yourself wedding invitations, how to make your own wedding cake, and other great wedding craft ideas!

Favorite handmade Wedding Invitations:

Create these gorgeous wedding invitations using craft punches and calligraphy pens.

By Sue Eldred for Uchida of America, Corp.

Materials:



Clever Lever Super Jumbo Scalloped Heart Punch

Clever Lever Jumbo Daisy Punch

Clever Lever Standard Daisy Punch

DecoColor™ Extra Fine Silver

DecoColro™ Silver Calligraphy Pen

Paper Trimming Buddy: Straight Blade

Mini Glue Tape

Wedding Faded Paisley (Dé ja Views )

Vellum 40 lb.

Adhesive Pearls (K & Company)

Black & Grey Cardstock

Accu-Cut Die A-7 Card Foldout #4

Xyron Sticker Machine with Permanent Adhesive

Glue Stick



Steps:



Cut Invitation base out of black cardstock using an Accu-Cut Die Cutting Machine and the Accu-Cut Die A-7 Card Foldout #4.



Size computer generated Wedding Information so that it can be cut 4 ½” x 6 ½. Print Wedding information onto 40lb. Vellum and run through Xyron Sticker Machine to get an even coat of adhesive on the back of the vellum. Adhere to the Wedding Faded Paisley scrapbook paper and cut to 4 ½” x 6 ½”. Add glue tape to back of paisley paper and adhere to a piece of dk. grey cardstock 4 ¾” x 6 ¾”. Adhere to inside of black wedding invitation base.



Cut a 1” x 11” strip of Wedding Faded Paisley, adhere to 1 ¼” x 11” piece of black cardstock, then adhere layers to a 1 ½” x 11” piece of grey cardstock. Gently fold around invitation so that each end of the layers meet in the middle of the invitation. Adhere ends together.



Punch two Super Scalloped Hearts one from the Silver Wedding Texture scrapbook paper the other from black cardstock. Glue the two hearts together. Using the Silver Calligraphy Pen, add a thin silver line around the front of the scrapbook heart. Add small dots with the Extra Fine Silver Deco Pen in each scallop.



Punch two daisies from both the standard and jumbo daisy punches. Adhere both daisy sets together so that you can see all petals. Glue smaller daisy on top of larger daisy, add small adhesive pearl to middle of daisy. Adhere to middle of the Invitation Band to cover seam.



Do It Yourself Wedding Centerpiece Tips and Video

Click here for great tips and ideas for DIY wedding centerpieces ­- http://www.favecrafts.com/Wedding-Crafts/Homemade-Wedding-Centerpieces-DIY-Budget-Receptions

How-to Make Pick a Vase for a Floral Wedding Centerpiece

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA_bT_oICG8

Make your Own Wedding Cake Tips and Video

Click here for great tips and ideas on how to make your own wedding cake – http://www.favecrafts.com/Wedding-Crafts/Homemade-Wedding-The-Cake-DIY-Thrifty-Reception

DIY Wedding Cake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBZ1lMrP43g



Minnie

Peppi asked:


I’ve just been given a beautiful chinese calligraphy set with brushes, an ink stone, red paste and a reddish stone block, [I think it's another ink stone but I'm not sure]. Does anyone know how I use it properly or know of a website where I can learn?

Tyler

sreejith asked:


The Calligraphy pens can be traced back to the ancient civilization. The ancient civilization used a stylus on the clay tablets; these were generally used by the Sumerians and the Babylonians. The Ancient Romans also used a tool for writing which was the stylus with the wax tablets. The Chinese Calligraphy was complex and renowned in those times; they used a brush instead of a tool for the Calligraphy pen. Reed pens and quills were also used as a calligraphy pen by monks and saints in the middle age era.

As years went by the Calligraphy pens also went through a few changes. The reed pens actually used inks in them, bamboo or bulrushes were used by the middle age people. Quills replaced the reed pens in the medieval age till steel tips were, they could be shaped often when it blunts off. Metal nibbed calligraphy pens were used in ancient Rome, the metal stylus was scribed into thin wax sheets. Glass Calligraphy pens were used in the 16th century in Venice; they were used to create a steady monocline mark. They were deemed a delicate and fine tool.

The Chinese Calligraphy pen was nothing similar to their western contemporaries; they followed a complex and intricate form of Calligraphy and the tools used were also unique. They use Calligraphy brush instead of a pen; the brush looks simple for a person who is unaware of its detailed methods of manufacturing, it is made either from goat’s hair or wolfs hair. The brush itself is made of two or more layers, the first layer being an inner core which consists of a string of short hairs; they are surrounded by an outer layer of long hairs that end at the tip of the brush. These brush are stiff and strong producing sharp strokes.



Peter

Steven Jiang asked:


I want to introduct something about Sparco Sparco Racing Suit. Model No: 001126 Sparco overall has a undergone a slight aesthetic refreshment and has a new three-layer sandwich. the oblique slash on the front has gone and the overall has been updated with the new satin fabric and the three layer sandwich weighing 330g/sqm. The same design but new characteristics for the most traditional Sparco overall, Plus: a sensational colour range, with the new orange, yellow and sky blue 

“Cheongja unhak sanggam mun maebyeong”, adorned with drawings of the red cranes.

Korean ceramic history begins with the oldest earthenware from around 8000 BC.

Early History

See also: Jeulmun Pottery Period, Mumun Pottery Period

Three Kingdoms Pottery

pottery of the Gaya confederacy

The Three Kingdoms of Korea (57 BC-668 AD), namely Silla, Goguryeo, and Baekje, provided the beginning of Korean ceramic history. Rough domestic wares for the people were produced from numerous kilns. Likewise a number of very sophisticated statues of royal figures, guardians, and horses, equivalent to Chinese Han Dynasty figures, used for domestic and imperial votive shrines, as well as for escorts of the dead in tombs of the nobles and kings, were turned on potter’s wheels, while others were formed using the traditional hammered clay and coil method.

Silla Era Pottery

During the Unified Silla period (668935) pottery was simple in colour, shape, and design. Celadon was subsequently the main production, with baekja porcelain wares developing slowly in the 14th century, when the pace accelerated with new glazes, better clays, and surprising variations of the white of different clays.

Silla Three Kingdoms Period Jar, Private Collection

The kilns at the time had to compete with Chinese wares on a variety of social levels. The Korean ceramic masters decided to distinguish Korean baekja or white porcelain from Chinese imports by maintaining simplicity in design when the practical problems of finding pure white glazes were solved. Dating of glazes from this era has revealed a celadon or jade patina beneath white glazes.

Baekja wares came from highly refined white clay, glazed with feldspar, and fired in large carefully regulated and very clean kilns. Despite the refining process, glazes in white colours always vary as a result of the properties of the clay itself; firing methods were not uniform, temperatures varied and glazes on pieces vary from pure white, in an almost snowy thickness, through milky white that shows the clay beneath deliberately in washed glaze, to light blue and light yellow patinas.

The baekja wares reached their zenith immediately before the Joseon Dynasty came to power. Fine pieces have recently been found in the area about Wolchil Peak in the Diamond Mountains. The transitional wares of white became expressions of the Joseon Dynasty celebrations of victory in many pieces decorated with Korean calligraphy. Traditionally white wares were used by both the scholarly Confucian class, the nobility, and royalty on more formal occasions.

Simultaneously, the Buddhist traditions demanded celadon-glazed wares, and cheongja pieces of celadon porcelain with more organic shapes drawing on gourds, with animal and bird motifs that evolved very quickly. In some ways these were over-decorated wares, using exaggerated forms, stylized repeating designs, and a wide variety of organic patterns.

Cheongja wares used refined earth clays with a bit of iron powder added, then a glaze with a bit of added iron powder added once again, then fired. The glaze dried to a hard finish and was duable with a slightly shinier and glossier finish, in an oily way, than whitewares.

Goryeo Dynasty

Incense burner made in Goryeo Dynasty

The Goryeo Dynasty (9181392) achieved the unification of the Later Three Kingdoms under King Taejo. The works of this period are considered by some to be the finest small-scale works of ceramics in Korean history.

Key-fret, foliate designs, geometric or scrolling flowerhead bands, elliptical panels, stylized fish and insects, and the use of incised designs began at this time. Glazes were usually various shades of celadon, with browned glazes to almost black glazes being used for stoneware and storage. Celadon glazes could be rendered almost transparent to show black and white inlays.

While the forms generally seen are broad-shouldered bottles, larger low bowls or shallow smaller bowls, highly decorated celadon cosmetic boxes, and small slip-inlaid cups, the Buddhist potteries also produced melon-shaped vases, chrysanthemum cups often of spectacularly architectural design on stands with lotus motifs and lotus flower heads. In-curving rimmed alms bowls have also been discovered similar to Korean metalware. Wine cups often had a tall foot which rested on dish-shaped stands.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Category:Goryeo_celadon

Joseon Dynasty Ceramics

White porcelain of the Joseon Dynasty

…(and so on) To get More information , you can visit some products aboutwholesale prade wallet, coach watercolor wallet, . The Sparco Sparco Racing Suit products should be show more here!



Deborah

jedil64931 asked:


I’m not sure what I want yet, so I want to browse some calligraphy… I dont want chinese-english dictionaries though, just the calligraphy.

Alvin

Lindsay W asked:


I am getting married next May and the budget is tight. I know traditionally people have calligraphy for the addresses on their wedding invitations, but I am trying to save money and wondered if anyone had seen any nice looking wedding invites without calligraphy?

Dawn

Andri Irawan asked:


Beginner Chinese Calligraphy, The Han Dynasty in 100 A.D. is the first origin of Chinese characters. The Chinese dictionary completed at that time included around 9,353 characters. The next version of the Chinese dictionary came out of Qing Dynasty and was called the “Kangxi” dictionary. The 42 booklets contained over 46,964 characters, which most are not even used today. There are variants on the characters, revised and refined in the current simplified edition of the Chinese language. This edition was put out by the People’s  Republic of China in 1956. This book  narrowed the characters down to about 6,500. This is considered a simplified form and is the most common form used today, although some remain committed to using the old traditional ways.

Chinese characters have been defined as complicated yet beautiful in their meaning.  They are complex in relation to other writing languages. Romanization is used in terms of relation or simple visual information, however the meaning of the character remains mysterious as the art styles behind it. Some Chinese characters mimic similar tones of other characters, yet have different meanings. Some characters written with just an added dot or stroke, turn into something completely different.

Of Chinese history, the crowning achievement to their culture, is the Chinese characters. They are an abstract art form displaying incredible depth of meaning in just a few brushstrokes. This thick symbolism has made it’s way into mainstream art from centuries gone and desirable still today. Words like love, faith, endure, tranquility, written in a one character form creates a personalization amongst the observer admiring it.  Many of these characters live on walls in homes to communicate a feeling.  Many masters have created their own unique style and now exists over 120 different styles of written Chinese calligraphy.

Learning to draw these characters requires patience, proper tools, clear concise instructions and of course, lots of practice. Acquiring this skilled art form can be hours of entertainment and enjoyment because it is so unfolding in a multi conceptual way.  You will learn the proper directions and different styles (one or two you may adopt as your own), and you will also learn each character’s simple, yet intense meaning. More than likely, you will choose a few complimentary to your own personality and self-expression. Rich information and cultural history is born from learning to write Chinese characters. The ability to dive into a whole new world is invigorating and creating the beautiful work is self actualization process all on it’s own.

Whether you embark on learning to write one character well to display as art on your wall, or you continue with the craft to put words together, even learning to read Chinese, it is rewarding.  The more you unravel the mystery living inside each of these characters, it seems to create added curiosity and a desire to keep going.

The ancient art of Chinese characters are popularized in cultures other than Chinese. The styles and forms of characters seen everywhere, are now a highly demanded art to learn.



Vincent

Sleepless asked:


Lately I’ve been trying to figure out how to make a reed pen. What material should I use? Is there anything inside of the hollow part of the pen? I’m interested in calligraphy (I’ve just started researching and checking out books about it)and I want to practice to get better. The type of calligraphy I want to write is Early Gothic calligraphy.

For a reed pen do you just dip it in the ink and write or is there more to it?

Darren