Winning Tips on How to Get Your Fashion Illustrations Seen
by: Korbin Newlyn
Are you thinking about getting into fashion illustration? Have you ever drawn several or even just one exceptional fashion illustration that you would want a celebrity to wear? Having your fashion illustration seen might not be as difficult as you think. It will involve spending some time, having some patience, hard work, maybe some rejection, and knowing the right people.
Nevertheless, with a few basic steps, your fashion illustration might get into the right hands. Certainly, it would be an honor to have one of the hottest celebrities wear your gown at an up-and-coming award show.
Set up a Portfolio
Similar to a photographer trying to get seen, setting up a portfolio is an excellent way to organize and display your work. Basically what you would need is a nice binder and page protectors to put your drawings into. The general rule is, the more illustrations you have, the better off you are. It would also be advisable to make a few extra copies of your portfolio. With your portfolio in hand, anyone can see your ideas.
Some of the people who might want to see your fashion illustration and perhaps use them would be a local designer, a famous fashion designer, or perhaps even a design teacher who has plenty of connections. In this field it pays not to be shy. Do not be afraid to display your portfolio, even if you think you might be somewhat annoying to people.
If you believe your fashion illustration is superior than the next person's, then it deserves to be seen. It also helps to have an open mind as some people who are willing to see it say it is bad or they give you the advice on certain things to change then it may be a good idea to listen to those who are experienced in this field.
Bring Your Illustrations to Life
The majority of people have a difficult time visualizing pictures and ideas. They are what is known as "kinesthetic" people and usually need something they can hold onto and feel and possibly even try on.
Don't be concerned if you do not have any type of sewing skills. With some money or even just connections, you can have your fashion illustration brought to life. The majority of design students will usually work for free if they can get credit for it. All that is necessary is basically to purchase the material.
Another type of person who might be able to put together your ideas is a seamstress or a tailor. Typically quite a few dry cleaning places have sewers. It might be possible to set something up on the side. With your new piece, you can present to store owners, boutique owners, or possibly even a celebrity.
Enter a Contest
This may seem a little challenging to get your fashion illustration seen, however entering a contest might be a good way to try. You never know; if you happen to win, then not only will you win the prize, you may also get some connections in the process where you can send more of your illustrations to.
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Monday, 2 June 2008
- Industrial Sewing Machine - Starting a Small Tailoring Business
Industrial Sewing Machine - Starting a Small Tailoring Business
by: Korbin Newlyn
Aside from your creativity and skills, a heavy-duty industrial sewing machine is one of the working tools you will need to get started in a tailoring business. Even if, at the moment, you do not have a lot of customers while you are starting your business, in time you will have quite a few people coming to shop to have their clothes made so you will need to invest in a high-quality industrial sewing machine right from the start. Investing in equipment is one of the best things to do particularly when you intend to stay in the industry for an extended period of time.
Selecting Your Industrial Sewing Machine
There are numerous models of industrial sewing machines that are available on the market today. To help select a model of industrial sewing machine that will help you the most, you should initially make an inventory of the types of things that you will require in your shop. You can also make a prediction of the kind of projects that you'll likely receive so that you can figure out what types of materials that you'll need to work on.
Once you have come to your conclusion on these assessments, you should now do some research and shop for the right industrial sewing machine for your tailoring business. Some of the industrial sewing machines that might be useful for you are as follows;
* Lock Stitch Industrial Sewing Machine
* Zigzag Lock Stitch Sewing Machine
* Button Attaching Industrial Sewing Machine
Lock stitched machines are very important since you will require this to do basic primary sewing tasks. If you believe that you will be having a heavy workload, you should buy a machine that has the ability to handle numerous different types of fabrics.
There are many lock stitch industrial sewing machines that have the ability to handle light materials, as well as difficult to sew materials, medium types of materials and heavy materials. The great thing about purchasing this kind of industrial sewing machine is that you will not have to switch to any other type of machine when you change materials, so your shop floor won't be cluttered with numerous different types of machines for varying types of fabrics.
In regards to your zigzag sewing machine, you should select that type of machine if you are looking to offer a wide variety of patterns. Because you may wish to use different patterns every now and then, it is better to get a sewing machine that has more options and capabilities. Conversely, your button attached sewing machine is a machine you should get if you're looking for stability regardless of the size of the buttons or the type of thread that you will use.
by: Korbin Newlyn
Aside from your creativity and skills, a heavy-duty industrial sewing machine is one of the working tools you will need to get started in a tailoring business. Even if, at the moment, you do not have a lot of customers while you are starting your business, in time you will have quite a few people coming to shop to have their clothes made so you will need to invest in a high-quality industrial sewing machine right from the start. Investing in equipment is one of the best things to do particularly when you intend to stay in the industry for an extended period of time.
Selecting Your Industrial Sewing Machine
There are numerous models of industrial sewing machines that are available on the market today. To help select a model of industrial sewing machine that will help you the most, you should initially make an inventory of the types of things that you will require in your shop. You can also make a prediction of the kind of projects that you'll likely receive so that you can figure out what types of materials that you'll need to work on.
Once you have come to your conclusion on these assessments, you should now do some research and shop for the right industrial sewing machine for your tailoring business. Some of the industrial sewing machines that might be useful for you are as follows;
* Lock Stitch Industrial Sewing Machine
* Zigzag Lock Stitch Sewing Machine
* Button Attaching Industrial Sewing Machine
Lock stitched machines are very important since you will require this to do basic primary sewing tasks. If you believe that you will be having a heavy workload, you should buy a machine that has the ability to handle numerous different types of fabrics.
There are many lock stitch industrial sewing machines that have the ability to handle light materials, as well as difficult to sew materials, medium types of materials and heavy materials. The great thing about purchasing this kind of industrial sewing machine is that you will not have to switch to any other type of machine when you change materials, so your shop floor won't be cluttered with numerous different types of machines for varying types of fabrics.
In regards to your zigzag sewing machine, you should select that type of machine if you are looking to offer a wide variety of patterns. Because you may wish to use different patterns every now and then, it is better to get a sewing machine that has more options and capabilities. Conversely, your button attached sewing machine is a machine you should get if you're looking for stability regardless of the size of the buttons or the type of thread that you will use.
- Choosing the Right Help for Your Antique Sewing Machine
Choosing the Right Help for Your Antique Sewing Machine
by: Korbin Newlyn
It does not take a lot of work or any particular knowledge to keep a sewing machine in tip top shape. In the same regard, it does not take a lot of work to restore an antique sewing machine to its original working condition.
A sewing machine is typically constructed of metal with only a small handful of moving parts. The majority of the working parts are safely enclosed within the machine and protected from the outer elements. Additionally, it is originally made to be used indoors making it very unlikely that even an older machine will be exposed to outdoors. With today's newer technology, even a very old sewing machine that is in relatively good condition can be restored and maintained.
Time Machine
The tools required to work on an antique sewing machine are very basic. An assortment of screwdrivers might be all but is needed accompanied by some quality lubricating oil made particularly for sewing machines. If your particular antique sewing machine is a family heirloom, you might have a pretty good idea of what type of condition it is actually in.
In the majority of instances, a sewing machine was used lovingly as well cared for and only put aside when it was replaced by newer models. Frequently, it was only stored away by somebody who inherited it but already have owned a machine themselves. A machine in this type of situation will likely have all of its parts, quite possibly only missing its manual.
Additional Resources
You can learn about numerous different styles of antique sewing machines by searching on the internet. You'll find groups of antique collectors to match any type of antique object. Parts that are subject to wearing out such as a drive belt can often be replaced through online contacts or descriptions can be located enabling you to replace it with a modern substitute.
Prior to attempting to use the machine, it is best to take it apart to gently remove any rust and/or dust. Add oil wherever you find parts touch, particularly moving parts. Special sewing machine oil will not become gummy when exposed to the atmosphere, so it is crucial to use the right type. If various parts had to be wiped down with water, give them enough time to drive prior to applying oil. The tension needs to be set prior to you starting to sew with it.
Be certain that the right needles are installed and in good working condition. If the thread breaks, it might indicate that the tension needs to be adjusted or the thread or needle do not correspond in weight or size. Someone who is experienced with the motors in antique sewing machines should check out the machines motor prior to attempting to use it in any way. An antique machine is an excellent addition to anyone's home decor. One that works is even better than that.
by: Korbin Newlyn
It does not take a lot of work or any particular knowledge to keep a sewing machine in tip top shape. In the same regard, it does not take a lot of work to restore an antique sewing machine to its original working condition.
A sewing machine is typically constructed of metal with only a small handful of moving parts. The majority of the working parts are safely enclosed within the machine and protected from the outer elements. Additionally, it is originally made to be used indoors making it very unlikely that even an older machine will be exposed to outdoors. With today's newer technology, even a very old sewing machine that is in relatively good condition can be restored and maintained.
Time Machine
The tools required to work on an antique sewing machine are very basic. An assortment of screwdrivers might be all but is needed accompanied by some quality lubricating oil made particularly for sewing machines. If your particular antique sewing machine is a family heirloom, you might have a pretty good idea of what type of condition it is actually in.
In the majority of instances, a sewing machine was used lovingly as well cared for and only put aside when it was replaced by newer models. Frequently, it was only stored away by somebody who inherited it but already have owned a machine themselves. A machine in this type of situation will likely have all of its parts, quite possibly only missing its manual.
Additional Resources
You can learn about numerous different styles of antique sewing machines by searching on the internet. You'll find groups of antique collectors to match any type of antique object. Parts that are subject to wearing out such as a drive belt can often be replaced through online contacts or descriptions can be located enabling you to replace it with a modern substitute.
Prior to attempting to use the machine, it is best to take it apart to gently remove any rust and/or dust. Add oil wherever you find parts touch, particularly moving parts. Special sewing machine oil will not become gummy when exposed to the atmosphere, so it is crucial to use the right type. If various parts had to be wiped down with water, give them enough time to drive prior to applying oil. The tension needs to be set prior to you starting to sew with it.
Be certain that the right needles are installed and in good working condition. If the thread breaks, it might indicate that the tension needs to be adjusted or the thread or needle do not correspond in weight or size. Someone who is experienced with the motors in antique sewing machines should check out the machines motor prior to attempting to use it in any way. An antique machine is an excellent addition to anyone's home decor. One that works is even better than that.
- Capture Perfect Digital Sports and Action Shots - Digital Photography Tips Complementary Guide
Capture Perfect Digital Sports and Action Shots - Digital Photography Tips Complementary Guide
by: Yvonne Grubb
What gets you all excited about your favourite sport? ... the thrill of the chase in horse racing or maybe the atmosphere and tension of a ball game, maybe your favourite player? ... Well if you were to capture some of these scenes how would you do it best? For some digital photography tips, let’s take a look at a few ideas right now to capture that realism ...
Get Familiar
It’s worth getting familiar with the sport before you start shooting, for example, how points are scored, what causes penalties etc, as this will give you an advantage over others … you will learn to expect where the best action is likely to be, and you can then capture those glorious moments.
Another great tip, as well as aiming to catch the action, capture the ‘emotion’ too. Be ready to shoot players’ faces on triumph of a goal, or any other emotive action in the game and you will bring your photos alive!
Be Prepared
Cold and bad weather conditions can quickly rob the life of your digital camera’s battery, so it’s important to always carry an extra charged battery especially for outdoor sports.
Action Techniques
Stop Action … you’ll very quickly be able to shoot an action shot and ‘freeze’ your subject practically in mid air. Imagine the wheels of a drag car on a dirt road, bouncing off the many bumps … for those few seconds while the car is in mid air, snap away to capture the action.
Lighting is not too much of an issue if you’re outside on a sunny or partially sunny day say at a car race, dog track, or horse race etc, but you’ll maybe need to make adjustments if you’re inside a gymnasium shooting a basketball game, for example. If the lighting is bright, then you’ll probably be okay, but depending on the type of lighting, you may need to activate your fill flash if you shoot players in action and you find your photo colorisation shifting to ‘yellow’.
Also bear in mind the distance, as your flash will not carry too far … it might be worth sitting near the basket hoop to catch the action!
Blurred Action … a couple of ideas behind blurred action is, firstly … if you look back at your photos you have taken using Stop Action, you may find one or two shots that did not freeze the action, which means your camera did not catch the action at the right moment … so you end up with an interestingly blurry effect to your subject.
Secondly, if you’re shooting a ball game, for example, you may get blurring if your player moves just as you click your shutter. If you did not intend for this to happen, you might be pleasantly surprised with the effect!
Panned Action … the most difficult to accomplish, but probably the most effective shooting technique, once mastered. The advantage using your digital camera is that you can delete unwanted frames and start again, so here’s how panning basically works...
Using your digital camera in automatic mode press the shutter half way down to focus on your subject, moving your camera sideways following the action, then pressing the shutter fully while still moving your camera. The effect created is the front of your subject should remain in fairly strong focus, while the back of your subject should start to blur, and as it blurs a long trail should appear, giving a feeling of movement like no other effect could possibly achieve.
Experiment
By knowing what your digital camera can do, experiment with different methods to get the best shots. You could try shooting in continuous mode, then try panning the camera along with your subject, whilst he/she or it is in motion.
I hope these digital photography tips are helpful. If you can get to grips with panning, as I have described above, you’re on a winner!
by: Yvonne Grubb
What gets you all excited about your favourite sport? ... the thrill of the chase in horse racing or maybe the atmosphere and tension of a ball game, maybe your favourite player? ... Well if you were to capture some of these scenes how would you do it best? For some digital photography tips, let’s take a look at a few ideas right now to capture that realism ...
Get Familiar
It’s worth getting familiar with the sport before you start shooting, for example, how points are scored, what causes penalties etc, as this will give you an advantage over others … you will learn to expect where the best action is likely to be, and you can then capture those glorious moments.
Another great tip, as well as aiming to catch the action, capture the ‘emotion’ too. Be ready to shoot players’ faces on triumph of a goal, or any other emotive action in the game and you will bring your photos alive!
Be Prepared
Cold and bad weather conditions can quickly rob the life of your digital camera’s battery, so it’s important to always carry an extra charged battery especially for outdoor sports.
Action Techniques
Stop Action … you’ll very quickly be able to shoot an action shot and ‘freeze’ your subject practically in mid air. Imagine the wheels of a drag car on a dirt road, bouncing off the many bumps … for those few seconds while the car is in mid air, snap away to capture the action.
Lighting is not too much of an issue if you’re outside on a sunny or partially sunny day say at a car race, dog track, or horse race etc, but you’ll maybe need to make adjustments if you’re inside a gymnasium shooting a basketball game, for example. If the lighting is bright, then you’ll probably be okay, but depending on the type of lighting, you may need to activate your fill flash if you shoot players in action and you find your photo colorisation shifting to ‘yellow’.
Also bear in mind the distance, as your flash will not carry too far … it might be worth sitting near the basket hoop to catch the action!
Blurred Action … a couple of ideas behind blurred action is, firstly … if you look back at your photos you have taken using Stop Action, you may find one or two shots that did not freeze the action, which means your camera did not catch the action at the right moment … so you end up with an interestingly blurry effect to your subject.
Secondly, if you’re shooting a ball game, for example, you may get blurring if your player moves just as you click your shutter. If you did not intend for this to happen, you might be pleasantly surprised with the effect!
Panned Action … the most difficult to accomplish, but probably the most effective shooting technique, once mastered. The advantage using your digital camera is that you can delete unwanted frames and start again, so here’s how panning basically works...
Using your digital camera in automatic mode press the shutter half way down to focus on your subject, moving your camera sideways following the action, then pressing the shutter fully while still moving your camera. The effect created is the front of your subject should remain in fairly strong focus, while the back of your subject should start to blur, and as it blurs a long trail should appear, giving a feeling of movement like no other effect could possibly achieve.
Experiment
By knowing what your digital camera can do, experiment with different methods to get the best shots. You could try shooting in continuous mode, then try panning the camera along with your subject, whilst he/she or it is in motion.
I hope these digital photography tips are helpful. If you can get to grips with panning, as I have described above, you’re on a winner!
- Learn to Play Guitar Fast
Learn to Play Guitar Fast
by: Greg Millican
So, you’ve bought a new guitar! If you are like I was, you’ve been going to barbeques for years, having a couple of beers and watching your mates sitting around with their guitars, playing songs you’ve known for years and would love to play! So you finally spent the money and bought a guitar – now what?
You want to learn fast – so you can join in. For this article, I’m going to assume that you’re a beginner who wants basic proficiency.
I’ve done some research on this, as it was where I was, and I found a connection between people who want to “play fast” and those who already play but just want to play "faster". The connection is quite simple, yet very profound.
Through what I found out, I believe there are two parallels:
1. Study the techniques involved which will make your overall playing faster, and
2. Re-focus your practice sessions onto the basic concepts that beginners learn, which will allow you to become a faster player.
There is a useful acronym that you can use to help focus your practice and improve your playing: M.O.S.T.
M for Memorization
You can have the world's best "ear", but if you don't memorise:
a) the fretboard notes and
b) the major and minor key chords and scales,
it won't matter how good your ear is. The most frustrating thing about learning a new song is finding that chord or note that you know you've learned but just can't remember! It's funny that song writers don't give you time in the middle of their pieces to find that Aminor chord, or work out if a Db minor chord works in a song in B, and then if it does, where it is on the fretboard!
If you are a beginner - LEARN THE FRETBOARD and memorise it!
If you are more advanced - LEARN THE FRETBOARD and memorise it! You might think you already know it, but can you jump from one note or chord to any other instantly without thinking about it?
O for Observation
Human beings work best when all of the senses work in unison. Try plugging your ears with cotton wool and then trying to play a song. Not very good are you. (People like Ray Charles and Beethoven amaze me).
Your senses of sight, sound and touch all interweave to play guitar. When you play a song really well, you can even taste the applause (just kidding). The more you play, the more your fingers put themselves in the right places, your muscles retain a memory of those positions. You begin to see patterns and relationships on the fretboard. You hear yourself play the correct notes and chords and that gives you confidence, which is essential in fast playing.
Memorization is the foundation for observation, and observation is the key to training your mind and hands to work in concert automatically.
S for strength and T for training
This is not weight training! It is really dexterity training (but MODT isn't a word!). However, being dextrous means you have strength in your fingers in order to play the chords you need to play when you need to play them.
Beginners often struggle to hold down chords and play scales with all four fingers. Consistent and correct practice is the only way to build strength, muscle memory and finger dexterity.
The same problem occurs for intermediate players - the most likely culprit for slow play is a deficiency in strength, dexterity and/or correct technique.
Practise your finger exercise and chord making perfectly - don't settle for "that'll do" or "near enough". You want to train your fingers to go to the correct place in the correct way every time! Sloppy exercises will not help.
In conclusion, the key to learning guitar faster - as well as playing it faster - rests in following the M.O.S.T. formula. It really is all about getting the basics right from the start!
by: Greg Millican
So, you’ve bought a new guitar! If you are like I was, you’ve been going to barbeques for years, having a couple of beers and watching your mates sitting around with their guitars, playing songs you’ve known for years and would love to play! So you finally spent the money and bought a guitar – now what?
You want to learn fast – so you can join in. For this article, I’m going to assume that you’re a beginner who wants basic proficiency.
I’ve done some research on this, as it was where I was, and I found a connection between people who want to “play fast” and those who already play but just want to play "faster". The connection is quite simple, yet very profound.
Through what I found out, I believe there are two parallels:
1. Study the techniques involved which will make your overall playing faster, and
2. Re-focus your practice sessions onto the basic concepts that beginners learn, which will allow you to become a faster player.
There is a useful acronym that you can use to help focus your practice and improve your playing: M.O.S.T.
M for Memorization
You can have the world's best "ear", but if you don't memorise:
a) the fretboard notes and
b) the major and minor key chords and scales,
it won't matter how good your ear is. The most frustrating thing about learning a new song is finding that chord or note that you know you've learned but just can't remember! It's funny that song writers don't give you time in the middle of their pieces to find that Aminor chord, or work out if a Db minor chord works in a song in B, and then if it does, where it is on the fretboard!
If you are a beginner - LEARN THE FRETBOARD and memorise it!
If you are more advanced - LEARN THE FRETBOARD and memorise it! You might think you already know it, but can you jump from one note or chord to any other instantly without thinking about it?
O for Observation
Human beings work best when all of the senses work in unison. Try plugging your ears with cotton wool and then trying to play a song. Not very good are you. (People like Ray Charles and Beethoven amaze me).
Your senses of sight, sound and touch all interweave to play guitar. When you play a song really well, you can even taste the applause (just kidding). The more you play, the more your fingers put themselves in the right places, your muscles retain a memory of those positions. You begin to see patterns and relationships on the fretboard. You hear yourself play the correct notes and chords and that gives you confidence, which is essential in fast playing.
Memorization is the foundation for observation, and observation is the key to training your mind and hands to work in concert automatically.
S for strength and T for training
This is not weight training! It is really dexterity training (but MODT isn't a word!). However, being dextrous means you have strength in your fingers in order to play the chords you need to play when you need to play them.
Beginners often struggle to hold down chords and play scales with all four fingers. Consistent and correct practice is the only way to build strength, muscle memory and finger dexterity.
The same problem occurs for intermediate players - the most likely culprit for slow play is a deficiency in strength, dexterity and/or correct technique.
Practise your finger exercise and chord making perfectly - don't settle for "that'll do" or "near enough". You want to train your fingers to go to the correct place in the correct way every time! Sloppy exercises will not help.
In conclusion, the key to learning guitar faster - as well as playing it faster - rests in following the M.O.S.T. formula. It really is all about getting the basics right from the start!
- Make Your Tea Drinking Unique With Photo Mugs
Make Your Tea Drinking Unique With Photo Mugs
by: Mark Beevers
Have you tried photo mugs? Mugs don't have to be ordinary. Although they are an everyday item, we can make them into a household accessory that we will really enjoy using. We drink a lot of tea and coffee. In fact, the tea break is a national institution. There are also very few problems that can't be improved by having a nice cup of tea. Since tea drinking is so important, why not make sure that we drink our tea out of something that we will really love – a photo mug?
Most of us have hundreds or thousands of digital photos lying around. They are stored on hard drives and memory cards, and we may even have printed a few out before the novelty wore off. That means that we don't look at most of our photos, unless we happen to set up a slideshow on our computer. However, there is one fun thing that we can do with all those photos. We can create unique gifts such as photo mugs.
Photo mugs are mug-sized, obviously, but otherwise there's no limit when it comes to deciding what kind of photo to use. It's more important to choose a photo that you truly love and won't mind looking at every day. Many people choose to use photos of children, loved ones or pets, or of scenic locations that hold special memories. Whatever your choice, all you have to do is upload your photo and the process of creating your photo mug can begin.
While most of the photo mugs you see have colour photos, you may also be able to choose black and white for a more artistic look, or sepia, which harks back to the early days of film. Whichever you choose, your photo will look striking. Before selecting the company which will make your mug, check to see what services are on offer.
Ideally, your photo mugs should be dishwasher safe – who wants to wash all the tea mugs by hand? That means that even after you've drunk 100 cups of tea the colours on your photo should still be vibrant and lively. Colourfast photo mugs are also a great idea. Check for the size and quality of the mugs themselves. You want a mug that will hold a decent sized drink and that will keep your hot drinks hot.
There's also great variety on how your photos are presented on photo mugs. Some companies stick the same photo front and back, leaving white space near the handle and the opposite side. Some tile the same photo on the front and back. Even better, some companies wrap the photo around the entire mug, leaving no white space. This is far more interesting for the user. Don't forget that you can create a collage of your favourite images before uploading to make your mug have even more appeal.
If you're looking for gifts that are suitable for friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances, then photo mugs make ideal presents.
by: Mark Beevers
Have you tried photo mugs? Mugs don't have to be ordinary. Although they are an everyday item, we can make them into a household accessory that we will really enjoy using. We drink a lot of tea and coffee. In fact, the tea break is a national institution. There are also very few problems that can't be improved by having a nice cup of tea. Since tea drinking is so important, why not make sure that we drink our tea out of something that we will really love – a photo mug?
Most of us have hundreds or thousands of digital photos lying around. They are stored on hard drives and memory cards, and we may even have printed a few out before the novelty wore off. That means that we don't look at most of our photos, unless we happen to set up a slideshow on our computer. However, there is one fun thing that we can do with all those photos. We can create unique gifts such as photo mugs.
Photo mugs are mug-sized, obviously, but otherwise there's no limit when it comes to deciding what kind of photo to use. It's more important to choose a photo that you truly love and won't mind looking at every day. Many people choose to use photos of children, loved ones or pets, or of scenic locations that hold special memories. Whatever your choice, all you have to do is upload your photo and the process of creating your photo mug can begin.
While most of the photo mugs you see have colour photos, you may also be able to choose black and white for a more artistic look, or sepia, which harks back to the early days of film. Whichever you choose, your photo will look striking. Before selecting the company which will make your mug, check to see what services are on offer.
Ideally, your photo mugs should be dishwasher safe – who wants to wash all the tea mugs by hand? That means that even after you've drunk 100 cups of tea the colours on your photo should still be vibrant and lively. Colourfast photo mugs are also a great idea. Check for the size and quality of the mugs themselves. You want a mug that will hold a decent sized drink and that will keep your hot drinks hot.
There's also great variety on how your photos are presented on photo mugs. Some companies stick the same photo front and back, leaving white space near the handle and the opposite side. Some tile the same photo on the front and back. Even better, some companies wrap the photo around the entire mug, leaving no white space. This is far more interesting for the user. Don't forget that you can create a collage of your favourite images before uploading to make your mug have even more appeal.
If you're looking for gifts that are suitable for friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances, then photo mugs make ideal presents.
- Great Personalised Gift Choices
Great Personalised Gift Choices
by: Mark Beevers
If you're looking for the right way to commemorate a special occasion, then consider giving personalised gifts. It seems the more gift choices we have, the harder it is to find exactly the right gift for someone you work with or a member of your family. If the gift is for someone you don't know well, there's even more chance of getting it wrong. There's nothing worse than knowing that you've given the wrong gift. Luckily you can avoid that by giving photo gifts. How will this help? Read on to find out.
People have always commemorated big events with pictures. Cavemen drew on walls, families commissioned paintings, and we take digital photos. It's all about capturing a special moment so that you can share it with others later. That's why we love taking and looking at photos. People enjoy seeing that hairstyle you had when you were 16 or the huge camel that spat at you when you visited Egypt.
Digital photos give us the chance to use our photos in a different way. Instead of storing your photos on your computer's hard drive and loading them up for the occasional slideshow, you can use them in a way that everyone can enjoy by creating personalised gifts. It's much easier to see your photos on personalised photo gifts than to browse through them on the small screen of your digital camera. Here are some ideas for personalised gifts with photos.
Photo Gift Choices
One way to enjoy your photos is to use them on items that are in everyday use, such as mugs. When you have your daily fix of tea or coffee, why not drink from a photo mug with a treasured photo on it? You can use personalised gifts all around the home, with photo cushions, photo coasters, photo pet mats and photo roller blinds. If you're going shopping, then consider putting your favourite photos on the side of a photo tote bag.
You can also give great personalised gifts which are works of art. Your digital photo can be imprinted on canvas, which is made of the same woven material as the art that hangs in galleries. It is stretched in the same way too, and is treated in a way that resists sunlight and dust damage. This is a truly unique gift which anyone will be happy to receive. The photo canvases can be as large as Old Masters or as small as a hardback book. It's up to you. You can even create a collage of your favourite photos on canvas if you find it hard to pick just one.
When you are selecting the photo for your personalised gifts, make sure you pick a photo that suits the item. A landscape photo might look great on canvas or a tote bag, but might be wrong for hot water bottle or a square cushion. Consider how the company uses your photo. Some create postcard effect by placing your photo on the side of the item, while others give a more polished look by wrapping the photo around your photo gift. It's important to get it right when giving personalised gifts.
by: Mark Beevers
If you're looking for the right way to commemorate a special occasion, then consider giving personalised gifts. It seems the more gift choices we have, the harder it is to find exactly the right gift for someone you work with or a member of your family. If the gift is for someone you don't know well, there's even more chance of getting it wrong. There's nothing worse than knowing that you've given the wrong gift. Luckily you can avoid that by giving photo gifts. How will this help? Read on to find out.
People have always commemorated big events with pictures. Cavemen drew on walls, families commissioned paintings, and we take digital photos. It's all about capturing a special moment so that you can share it with others later. That's why we love taking and looking at photos. People enjoy seeing that hairstyle you had when you were 16 or the huge camel that spat at you when you visited Egypt.
Digital photos give us the chance to use our photos in a different way. Instead of storing your photos on your computer's hard drive and loading them up for the occasional slideshow, you can use them in a way that everyone can enjoy by creating personalised gifts. It's much easier to see your photos on personalised photo gifts than to browse through them on the small screen of your digital camera. Here are some ideas for personalised gifts with photos.
Photo Gift Choices
One way to enjoy your photos is to use them on items that are in everyday use, such as mugs. When you have your daily fix of tea or coffee, why not drink from a photo mug with a treasured photo on it? You can use personalised gifts all around the home, with photo cushions, photo coasters, photo pet mats and photo roller blinds. If you're going shopping, then consider putting your favourite photos on the side of a photo tote bag.
You can also give great personalised gifts which are works of art. Your digital photo can be imprinted on canvas, which is made of the same woven material as the art that hangs in galleries. It is stretched in the same way too, and is treated in a way that resists sunlight and dust damage. This is a truly unique gift which anyone will be happy to receive. The photo canvases can be as large as Old Masters or as small as a hardback book. It's up to you. You can even create a collage of your favourite photos on canvas if you find it hard to pick just one.
When you are selecting the photo for your personalised gifts, make sure you pick a photo that suits the item. A landscape photo might look great on canvas or a tote bag, but might be wrong for hot water bottle or a square cushion. Consider how the company uses your photo. Some create postcard effect by placing your photo on the side of the item, while others give a more polished look by wrapping the photo around your photo gift. It's important to get it right when giving personalised gifts.
- Stained Glass Construction Leaded vs. Foiled
Stained Glass Construction Leaded vs. Foiled
by: Maureen Summy
There are two ways to make stained glass, leaded or copper foiled. The major difference between the two is in the construction. With leaded stained glass, the glass is fitted into channels of lead came. In contrast, copper foiled stained glass is constructed by wrapping each piece of glass with copper foil.
Leaded stained glass historically is found in churches. It was during the Victoria Era where leaded stained glass was introduced into homes and has remained a popular method of constructing stained glass ever since.
Foiled stained glass was mastered by Tiffany in the early 1900’s and soon after became a popular method for creating stained glass.
Common Questions:
Is one method better than the other?
The simple answer is no. A better answer is that it depends on the artist and the design.
What is the difference in leaded and foiled construction?
With leaded stained glass, the construction must begin at an outer corner, the individual pieces are fitted into lead came. Once all pieces are cut and placed in lead came, the joints of came are soldered. Then the piece is cemented.
With foiled stained glass, the construction can begin at any point in the design and worked out from there. The individual pieces are wrapped in copper foil and soldered together.
When is foiled stained glass construction better than lead?
With intricate designs, foiled construction is superior
When is lead construction better than foiled?
Leaded construction is used most often with designs that have repetitive geometric shapes. These designs can be foiled, but construction time is increased.
Which is easier?
There is no simple answer for this. It is really a personal preference. Leaded, foiled or combination of the two are used throughout the stained glass industry.
Is leaded or foiled construction better than the other?
No, each method, if done correctly, will provide the same long lasting beauty and endurance.
Why is foiled construction taught to beginners doing stained glass?
The cementing in leaded construction tends to be messy. Foiled construction can be started and stopped, making weekly classes work.
What are the steps for making leaded stained glass?
1. Stained glass is cut, shaped and fitted into channels of lead came.
2. Joints of lead came are soldered.
3. The piece is cemented
4. The piece is cleaned and polished
What are the steps for making foiled stained glass?
1. Stained glass is cut and shaped, and then each piece is wrapped in copper foil.
2. Copper foil seams are soldered together.
3. The piece is cleaned and polished.
My Personal Choice:
I tend to do a lot of intricate designs, so I use the foiled construction method. It provides the flexibility and detail I need for my designs. If you would like more detailed information for making stained glass using the foiled method, check out
by: Maureen Summy
There are two ways to make stained glass, leaded or copper foiled. The major difference between the two is in the construction. With leaded stained glass, the glass is fitted into channels of lead came. In contrast, copper foiled stained glass is constructed by wrapping each piece of glass with copper foil.
Leaded stained glass historically is found in churches. It was during the Victoria Era where leaded stained glass was introduced into homes and has remained a popular method of constructing stained glass ever since.
Foiled stained glass was mastered by Tiffany in the early 1900’s and soon after became a popular method for creating stained glass.
Common Questions:
Is one method better than the other?
The simple answer is no. A better answer is that it depends on the artist and the design.
What is the difference in leaded and foiled construction?
With leaded stained glass, the construction must begin at an outer corner, the individual pieces are fitted into lead came. Once all pieces are cut and placed in lead came, the joints of came are soldered. Then the piece is cemented.
With foiled stained glass, the construction can begin at any point in the design and worked out from there. The individual pieces are wrapped in copper foil and soldered together.
When is foiled stained glass construction better than lead?
With intricate designs, foiled construction is superior
When is lead construction better than foiled?
Leaded construction is used most often with designs that have repetitive geometric shapes. These designs can be foiled, but construction time is increased.
Which is easier?
There is no simple answer for this. It is really a personal preference. Leaded, foiled or combination of the two are used throughout the stained glass industry.
Is leaded or foiled construction better than the other?
No, each method, if done correctly, will provide the same long lasting beauty and endurance.
Why is foiled construction taught to beginners doing stained glass?
The cementing in leaded construction tends to be messy. Foiled construction can be started and stopped, making weekly classes work.
What are the steps for making leaded stained glass?
1. Stained glass is cut, shaped and fitted into channels of lead came.
2. Joints of lead came are soldered.
3. The piece is cemented
4. The piece is cleaned and polished
What are the steps for making foiled stained glass?
1. Stained glass is cut and shaped, and then each piece is wrapped in copper foil.
2. Copper foil seams are soldered together.
3. The piece is cleaned and polished.
My Personal Choice:
I tend to do a lot of intricate designs, so I use the foiled construction method. It provides the flexibility and detail I need for my designs. If you would like more detailed information for making stained glass using the foiled method, check out
- Make Occasions Special With Personalised Gifts
Make Occasions Special With Personalised Gifts
by: Mark Beevers
Personalised gifts are a wonderful way to make any occasion more special. It can be difficult to choose exactly the right gift to give to a family member, friend, colleague or acquaintance. There are so many gifts to choose from, and you run the risk of completely misreading the person's taste. However, there is a way to give personalised gifts that everyone will love, and that's to give photo gifts. Including a photo makes any gift more personal.
Everyone loves a good photo. Colleagues are always quick to gather around to see the pictures you took on holiday. Family friends love to browse through your photo albums and see what you looked like in the past. These days, many of our photos are stored on cards in digital cameras, and we look at them on a two inch square screen. Wouldn't it be fun to use them in a more exciting way?
That's where personalised gifts come in. Personalised photo gifts are the latest way to put your discarded digital photos to good use. Instead of leaving your memories locked in a storage card, you can bring them out for the world to see with a range of unique presents. Here are some examples.
Sometimes we take some beautiful photos of the places that we have visited. They are full of colour and life and would make great works of art. Modern printing technology means that your digital photos can be imprinted onto woven canvas and stretched across a frame – just like an Old Master. The canvas is treated to resist damage by sunlight and dust. These photo canvases are available in many sizes, so you can easily find one that's right for your wall.
Photo Gift Ideas
Another great photo gift is a bag. Tote bags, wash bags, beach bags and purses all look better with your favourite photo on the side. Instead of carrying your children's photos in your wallet or purse, you could have them printed on the side, so that everyone can see how beautiful they are. Smaller personalised gifts with photos could include pet mats, cushions, floor cushions, photo mugs and photo coasters. You can also splash out and have your favourite photo on a photo roller blind.
A key part of getting your personalised gifts right is choosing the right photo. Think about whether the photo has the right dimensions to fit on the item that you have chosen. A tall photo may not look its best on a wide bag, for example. It's also worth thinking about how the photo will be printed. Ideally, you want your photo to cover the whole of the item you have selected. For instance, it should wrap around a mug rather than simply being placed on the side.
Finally, check to make sure that it's ok to wash or clean household items. Cushion covers should be washing machine safe, while mugs should be dishwasher safe. No one wants to add more work to the daily routine when giving personalised gift.
by: Mark Beevers
Personalised gifts are a wonderful way to make any occasion more special. It can be difficult to choose exactly the right gift to give to a family member, friend, colleague or acquaintance. There are so many gifts to choose from, and you run the risk of completely misreading the person's taste. However, there is a way to give personalised gifts that everyone will love, and that's to give photo gifts. Including a photo makes any gift more personal.
Everyone loves a good photo. Colleagues are always quick to gather around to see the pictures you took on holiday. Family friends love to browse through your photo albums and see what you looked like in the past. These days, many of our photos are stored on cards in digital cameras, and we look at them on a two inch square screen. Wouldn't it be fun to use them in a more exciting way?
That's where personalised gifts come in. Personalised photo gifts are the latest way to put your discarded digital photos to good use. Instead of leaving your memories locked in a storage card, you can bring them out for the world to see with a range of unique presents. Here are some examples.
Sometimes we take some beautiful photos of the places that we have visited. They are full of colour and life and would make great works of art. Modern printing technology means that your digital photos can be imprinted onto woven canvas and stretched across a frame – just like an Old Master. The canvas is treated to resist damage by sunlight and dust. These photo canvases are available in many sizes, so you can easily find one that's right for your wall.
Photo Gift Ideas
Another great photo gift is a bag. Tote bags, wash bags, beach bags and purses all look better with your favourite photo on the side. Instead of carrying your children's photos in your wallet or purse, you could have them printed on the side, so that everyone can see how beautiful they are. Smaller personalised gifts with photos could include pet mats, cushions, floor cushions, photo mugs and photo coasters. You can also splash out and have your favourite photo on a photo roller blind.
A key part of getting your personalised gifts right is choosing the right photo. Think about whether the photo has the right dimensions to fit on the item that you have chosen. A tall photo may not look its best on a wide bag, for example. It's also worth thinking about how the photo will be printed. Ideally, you want your photo to cover the whole of the item you have selected. For instance, it should wrap around a mug rather than simply being placed on the side.
Finally, check to make sure that it's ok to wash or clean household items. Cushion covers should be washing machine safe, while mugs should be dishwasher safe. No one wants to add more work to the daily routine when giving personalised gift.
- Choosing A Top Coat For Your Woodworking Project
Choosing A Top Coat For Your Woodworking Project
by: Megan Cherry
When you're done with your woodworking project, of course you want to protect it. A top coat protects the finish of your project, as well as the wood itself. If you leave the wood (and any stain or paint you've used) as it is, it's likely to get scratched or dirty, and will also get damaged by watermarks if it comes into contact with moisture. By using a good wood finish, you'll keep your wood and its finish clean and protected, and prevent it from damage, wear and tear. You can apply a clear finish so as to accentuate the grain, or even give it a "wet look" if you like. In general, unfinished wood will develop a dull matte texture that will not show off the grain.
No matter the woodworking project you're working on, there are two basic finishes you can apply. The first is called an "evaporated finish." With this type of finish, it "cures" and becomes hard simply by drying. These types of finishes include lacquers and water-based finishes. You can soften these finishes with heat; therefore, they are given the name "thermoplastic."
The second type of wood finish is called a "reactive finish." This is cured by allowing it to react with another component, such as air, or with another chemical added just prior to the finish's application. Some examples of these include oils in oil-based varnishes or catalyzed lacquers. These types of finishes are called "thermosetting finishes." Unlike the thermoplastic finishes, these finishes are not softened with heat or with the original solvent used.
Within the reactive finishes are two different types of oil finishes. These are oils that dry when exposed to air or oils that do not dry when exposed to air. In example of an oil that does not dry when exposed to air is mineral oil, or baby oil. Those that do dry protect would better than those that don't dry. Therefore, usually, the ones that do dry should be used to finish your wood project.
Most often, linseed or tung oil is used to finish wood. These are distinguished from other types of wood products because they are "true" oils. Both penetrate the finish, which means that they enter the wood fibers themselves. Then they harden within the wood, which makes them the easiest to apply. Simply wipe down wood with them to allow them to penetrate the wood for a few minutes, and then wipe off the excess with a clean rag. If you apply several coats, you will not build up a hard film like you might with a varnish or lacquer, because the film itself dries to a very soft and smooth sheen.
Linseed oil is made from the flax plant. The oil itself is pressed from the plant. It is available both in on refined (also called "raw") form or in refined form. Unrefined linseed oil dries quite slowly and is usually not used on wood. By contrast, boiled linseed oil is thicker and dries more quickly. Usually, the boiled linseed oils available today also have chemical additives to speed up the drying time, which makes them much more suitable for finishing wood.
by: Megan Cherry
When you're done with your woodworking project, of course you want to protect it. A top coat protects the finish of your project, as well as the wood itself. If you leave the wood (and any stain or paint you've used) as it is, it's likely to get scratched or dirty, and will also get damaged by watermarks if it comes into contact with moisture. By using a good wood finish, you'll keep your wood and its finish clean and protected, and prevent it from damage, wear and tear. You can apply a clear finish so as to accentuate the grain, or even give it a "wet look" if you like. In general, unfinished wood will develop a dull matte texture that will not show off the grain.
No matter the woodworking project you're working on, there are two basic finishes you can apply. The first is called an "evaporated finish." With this type of finish, it "cures" and becomes hard simply by drying. These types of finishes include lacquers and water-based finishes. You can soften these finishes with heat; therefore, they are given the name "thermoplastic."
The second type of wood finish is called a "reactive finish." This is cured by allowing it to react with another component, such as air, or with another chemical added just prior to the finish's application. Some examples of these include oils in oil-based varnishes or catalyzed lacquers. These types of finishes are called "thermosetting finishes." Unlike the thermoplastic finishes, these finishes are not softened with heat or with the original solvent used.
Within the reactive finishes are two different types of oil finishes. These are oils that dry when exposed to air or oils that do not dry when exposed to air. In example of an oil that does not dry when exposed to air is mineral oil, or baby oil. Those that do dry protect would better than those that don't dry. Therefore, usually, the ones that do dry should be used to finish your wood project.
Most often, linseed or tung oil is used to finish wood. These are distinguished from other types of wood products because they are "true" oils. Both penetrate the finish, which means that they enter the wood fibers themselves. Then they harden within the wood, which makes them the easiest to apply. Simply wipe down wood with them to allow them to penetrate the wood for a few minutes, and then wipe off the excess with a clean rag. If you apply several coats, you will not build up a hard film like you might with a varnish or lacquer, because the film itself dries to a very soft and smooth sheen.
Linseed oil is made from the flax plant. The oil itself is pressed from the plant. It is available both in on refined (also called "raw") form or in refined form. Unrefined linseed oil dries quite slowly and is usually not used on wood. By contrast, boiled linseed oil is thicker and dries more quickly. Usually, the boiled linseed oils available today also have chemical additives to speed up the drying time, which makes them much more suitable for finishing wood.
- How To Apply A Wood Finish
How To Apply A Wood Finish
by: Megan Cherry
When you finish a woodworking project, you should try to stain your wood as soon as possible to get the best finish you can. If you wait, your piece has a larger chance to become damaged by scratches or stains, and it may accumulate dirt and oils. If you find that you do need to wait before applying a stain, re-sand your piece with some fine-grit sandpaper before you apply your finish. No matter whether your project is a frame or a chest of drawers, you use the same steps to apply the stain.
Make sure the surface of your piece is clean and free of dust before you apply any stain. If you choose to finish the gluing after you finish the piece, be sure to use masking tape to cover all glue surfaces. When using any type of stain or finish, always do so in an area that is well ventilated, has plenty of light and space, and is clean.
There are several different techniques you can use to apply stain to your project. You can use a brush or a rag with most stains on the market. Some even are packaged so you can spray them on. Absorbent rags made of natural fibers like cotton work really well to apply stain. Use a cut up old T-shirt or other piece of fabric. Alternatively, you can also use a heavy-duty paper towel. If you prefer to use a brush, it doesn't matter if you use a synthetic or a natural bristle brush. Foam brushes may not be your best choice... they can sometimes disintegrate from the solvents used in some stains. If you are spraying your stain onto your project, set the paint gun up for a light viscosity. If the stain you have chosen is a thick pigment type, you'll also need to thin it before putting it in the paint gun so it will spray properly.
If you choose to use a pigment stain, make sure it is mixed thoroughly before you use it by shaking it vigorously or stirring it. Pigments tend to settle at the bottom of the container. If you are using a dye stain, while they don't need to be stirred, you may want to strain it first to remove any lumps of dye that did not fully dissolve. If you need a lot of stain, and you have several small cans of the same color, you may want to put them into one larger container and mix them up to make sure your color is uniform and not streaked.
You may want to start by taking your project apart, so the stain covers every bit of the wood and doesn't gather around the hardware. Plan what pieces you're going to do first... and if you have a large piece, figure out ahead of time how you're going to approach it. You want to create small workable areas. Once this has been figured out, use your brush, your spray gun or your rag and apply the stain in the direction you want. If you have trouble getting the stain into small crevices, it pays to have a small brush handy to help force the stain in. If you are working on a piece of wood that is already installed in a high place over your head, say, like a piece of crown molding, you may have a more pleasant experience if you use a gel stain that won't drip on top of you. Apply the stain to small areas, allowing the stain to dry for a few moments before wiping the excess off with a clean rag. Be sure to wipe off the excess in the same direction as the grain of the wood.
by: Megan Cherry
When you finish a woodworking project, you should try to stain your wood as soon as possible to get the best finish you can. If you wait, your piece has a larger chance to become damaged by scratches or stains, and it may accumulate dirt and oils. If you find that you do need to wait before applying a stain, re-sand your piece with some fine-grit sandpaper before you apply your finish. No matter whether your project is a frame or a chest of drawers, you use the same steps to apply the stain.
Make sure the surface of your piece is clean and free of dust before you apply any stain. If you choose to finish the gluing after you finish the piece, be sure to use masking tape to cover all glue surfaces. When using any type of stain or finish, always do so in an area that is well ventilated, has plenty of light and space, and is clean.
There are several different techniques you can use to apply stain to your project. You can use a brush or a rag with most stains on the market. Some even are packaged so you can spray them on. Absorbent rags made of natural fibers like cotton work really well to apply stain. Use a cut up old T-shirt or other piece of fabric. Alternatively, you can also use a heavy-duty paper towel. If you prefer to use a brush, it doesn't matter if you use a synthetic or a natural bristle brush. Foam brushes may not be your best choice... they can sometimes disintegrate from the solvents used in some stains. If you are spraying your stain onto your project, set the paint gun up for a light viscosity. If the stain you have chosen is a thick pigment type, you'll also need to thin it before putting it in the paint gun so it will spray properly.
If you choose to use a pigment stain, make sure it is mixed thoroughly before you use it by shaking it vigorously or stirring it. Pigments tend to settle at the bottom of the container. If you are using a dye stain, while they don't need to be stirred, you may want to strain it first to remove any lumps of dye that did not fully dissolve. If you need a lot of stain, and you have several small cans of the same color, you may want to put them into one larger container and mix them up to make sure your color is uniform and not streaked.
You may want to start by taking your project apart, so the stain covers every bit of the wood and doesn't gather around the hardware. Plan what pieces you're going to do first... and if you have a large piece, figure out ahead of time how you're going to approach it. You want to create small workable areas. Once this has been figured out, use your brush, your spray gun or your rag and apply the stain in the direction you want. If you have trouble getting the stain into small crevices, it pays to have a small brush handy to help force the stain in. If you are working on a piece of wood that is already installed in a high place over your head, say, like a piece of crown molding, you may have a more pleasant experience if you use a gel stain that won't drip on top of you. Apply the stain to small areas, allowing the stain to dry for a few moments before wiping the excess off with a clean rag. Be sure to wipe off the excess in the same direction as the grain of the wood.
- The Key To A Great Finish Is Surface Preparation
The Key To A Great Finish Is Surface Preparation
by: Megan Cherry
No matter what your current woodworking project may be, whether it is a built-in bookshelf or a simple jewelry box, to create a truly beautiful piece you must put on a proper finish. To create that lovely finish, it is necessary to prepare the surface properly. This doesn't mean you need to spend a large amount of time preparing it, however. You should divide surface preparation into three distinct stages for the most efficiency. Each stage will use different tools and methods of preparation. In the first and second stages, you will use abrasive tools like planes, scrapers and sandpaper. In the third stage, you will be using fillers and wood putty.
The first stage is the initial preparation. This is where you will be removing the majority of the material from your project. A wood plane is a very efficient tool for this stage. Planes will remove any marks left from machining your pieces of wood. Today, with the heavy use of power sanders, many people don't use wood planes anymore. This is really a sad state of affairs, since nothing evens out a surface like a plane. Power sanders tend to leave hills and valleys depending on the wood. Another old tool, the scraper, is a good tool to use at this stage. Scrapers were used before the invention of sandpaper, and it can actually still be used in place of sandpaper once you learn how to use it properly. Another benefit of using a scraper is it is easy to master, even for a beginner. Cabinet scrapers are adept at removing marks made by your power tools and can also level the surface nicely. A scraper is fairly simple to use. Simply push the scraper away from you while exerting downward pressure at the same time. It goes without saying that the piece you are working on should be held steady when you are using a scraper. The scraper should be kept sharp. You can tell when it needs attention... a sharp scraper will make very fine shavings, while a dull one will produce dust.
Today, sanding is the most popular way to smooth wood before putting on your finish. Sanding can be done manually or with a power sander. Power sanders vary from a simple palm sander to a large disc sander. Many woodworkers don't like to sand, and they dread having to do it. But sanding does not need to be a step to dread. If you follow easy steps in the proper order, it is very easy and efficient. Before sanding, be sure to remove any dried glue, since the glue will gum up your sandpaper. Sandpaper comes in many grits, from coarse to extremely fine. Start with a coarser paper if you have scratches from your power tools on your project. Then move on to a smaller grit. The smaller the grit, the higher number will be assigned to the sandpaper.
With all the machines available for sanding today, you may be surprised to hear of anyone doing manual sanding anymore. Hand sanding is a wonderful way to get a nice flat surface, however as well as being a great way to learn how to sand. If you start with a lower grit paper and sand in the direction of the wood grain, you can get a better finish than if you use an orbital sander, which sands in all directions. Directional sanding gives you the freedom to only remove what needs to be removed. Once you begin sanding, you'll move progressively from a coarser grit to a finer grit to the finest grit. This creates a smooth sheen to the surface of the wood. Don't skip grit sizes... if you do you'll waste a lot of time sanding out scratches from the coarser grits.
The easiest way to tell when you've removed all the scratches from your project is to wipe a light coating of mineral spirits over the wood. This will allow any imperfections or scratches left on the wood. Once you know where they are, you can easily work on removing them.
by: Megan Cherry
No matter what your current woodworking project may be, whether it is a built-in bookshelf or a simple jewelry box, to create a truly beautiful piece you must put on a proper finish. To create that lovely finish, it is necessary to prepare the surface properly. This doesn't mean you need to spend a large amount of time preparing it, however. You should divide surface preparation into three distinct stages for the most efficiency. Each stage will use different tools and methods of preparation. In the first and second stages, you will use abrasive tools like planes, scrapers and sandpaper. In the third stage, you will be using fillers and wood putty.
The first stage is the initial preparation. This is where you will be removing the majority of the material from your project. A wood plane is a very efficient tool for this stage. Planes will remove any marks left from machining your pieces of wood. Today, with the heavy use of power sanders, many people don't use wood planes anymore. This is really a sad state of affairs, since nothing evens out a surface like a plane. Power sanders tend to leave hills and valleys depending on the wood. Another old tool, the scraper, is a good tool to use at this stage. Scrapers were used before the invention of sandpaper, and it can actually still be used in place of sandpaper once you learn how to use it properly. Another benefit of using a scraper is it is easy to master, even for a beginner. Cabinet scrapers are adept at removing marks made by your power tools and can also level the surface nicely. A scraper is fairly simple to use. Simply push the scraper away from you while exerting downward pressure at the same time. It goes without saying that the piece you are working on should be held steady when you are using a scraper. The scraper should be kept sharp. You can tell when it needs attention... a sharp scraper will make very fine shavings, while a dull one will produce dust.
Today, sanding is the most popular way to smooth wood before putting on your finish. Sanding can be done manually or with a power sander. Power sanders vary from a simple palm sander to a large disc sander. Many woodworkers don't like to sand, and they dread having to do it. But sanding does not need to be a step to dread. If you follow easy steps in the proper order, it is very easy and efficient. Before sanding, be sure to remove any dried glue, since the glue will gum up your sandpaper. Sandpaper comes in many grits, from coarse to extremely fine. Start with a coarser paper if you have scratches from your power tools on your project. Then move on to a smaller grit. The smaller the grit, the higher number will be assigned to the sandpaper.
With all the machines available for sanding today, you may be surprised to hear of anyone doing manual sanding anymore. Hand sanding is a wonderful way to get a nice flat surface, however as well as being a great way to learn how to sand. If you start with a lower grit paper and sand in the direction of the wood grain, you can get a better finish than if you use an orbital sander, which sands in all directions. Directional sanding gives you the freedom to only remove what needs to be removed. Once you begin sanding, you'll move progressively from a coarser grit to a finer grit to the finest grit. This creates a smooth sheen to the surface of the wood. Don't skip grit sizes... if you do you'll waste a lot of time sanding out scratches from the coarser grits.
The easiest way to tell when you've removed all the scratches from your project is to wipe a light coating of mineral spirits over the wood. This will allow any imperfections or scratches left on the wood. Once you know where they are, you can easily work on removing them.
- How To Correct Small Blemishes And Defects In Your Woodworking Project
How To Correct Small Blemishes And Defects In Your Woodworking Project
by: Megan Cherry
While it is common for wood to have defects like splits, cracks and knots, you may notice blemishes in your finished project like scratches, dents and gouges. These blemishes are inflicted on the wood from the machines you use to make your project. Even if you're making a simple piece like a pair of bookends, you'll want to remove these blemishes if you want your woodworking project to look its best. If you're making a larger piece, it becomes even more important to remove these defects.
Wood putty is available in many colors and forms, and is the easiest method of repairing gouges and other small defects on the wood's surface. While wood putty of all kinds are basically applied the same, there can be a difference in your application depending on the wood you are using. For example, if your wood has an open grain with bigger knots and large cracks, that will require a different treatment because the space that needs to be filled is larger. Dents can usually be steamed out, while shallow dents and scratches may disappear under the sander. Sometimes a piece will split accidentally while you are routing. If you can find the chip, it may work to glue it in place and hold it securely by wrapping the piece in masking tape. If you can't find the chip, it may be possible to make a new piece to glue in place. If possible, try to cut the replacement for the chip from the same board so the color and texture will match.
When applying putty, you will need a putty knife or a flathead screwdriver. Using the end of your tool, apply the putty to the hole in the wood. Pack in as much putty as possible, and remember to leave the putty above the surface of the wood... it will shrink as it dries. When it is completely dry, you can do a little light sanding to bring the repair even with the wood surface. Be sure and sand it the same way you did the rest of the piece so the texture matches. If the repair needs to be made in a very obvious place on your project, there are a few guidelines you may want to follow. If the piece will be finished without any stain and you intend to finish it with only a clear coat or an oil finish, it is possible to make your own putty out of glue and sawdust from your project. You may also mix the sawdust with an epoxy. Epoxy dries very quickly and won't shrink like glue. If you plan to stain your project, you will need to use a water-based putty or wood filler. If you're lucky, the putty will match or dry slightly lighter than your wood. If this happens you can always touch it up as needed. Or, you can add color to the filler before you put it on your piece. If you choose to do this, check on a piece of scrap wood first to see if it matches
by: Megan Cherry
While it is common for wood to have defects like splits, cracks and knots, you may notice blemishes in your finished project like scratches, dents and gouges. These blemishes are inflicted on the wood from the machines you use to make your project. Even if you're making a simple piece like a pair of bookends, you'll want to remove these blemishes if you want your woodworking project to look its best. If you're making a larger piece, it becomes even more important to remove these defects.
Wood putty is available in many colors and forms, and is the easiest method of repairing gouges and other small defects on the wood's surface. While wood putty of all kinds are basically applied the same, there can be a difference in your application depending on the wood you are using. For example, if your wood has an open grain with bigger knots and large cracks, that will require a different treatment because the space that needs to be filled is larger. Dents can usually be steamed out, while shallow dents and scratches may disappear under the sander. Sometimes a piece will split accidentally while you are routing. If you can find the chip, it may work to glue it in place and hold it securely by wrapping the piece in masking tape. If you can't find the chip, it may be possible to make a new piece to glue in place. If possible, try to cut the replacement for the chip from the same board so the color and texture will match.
When applying putty, you will need a putty knife or a flathead screwdriver. Using the end of your tool, apply the putty to the hole in the wood. Pack in as much putty as possible, and remember to leave the putty above the surface of the wood... it will shrink as it dries. When it is completely dry, you can do a little light sanding to bring the repair even with the wood surface. Be sure and sand it the same way you did the rest of the piece so the texture matches. If the repair needs to be made in a very obvious place on your project, there are a few guidelines you may want to follow. If the piece will be finished without any stain and you intend to finish it with only a clear coat or an oil finish, it is possible to make your own putty out of glue and sawdust from your project. You may also mix the sawdust with an epoxy. Epoxy dries very quickly and won't shrink like glue. If you plan to stain your project, you will need to use a water-based putty or wood filler. If you're lucky, the putty will match or dry slightly lighter than your wood. If this happens you can always touch it up as needed. Or, you can add color to the filler before you put it on your piece. If you choose to do this, check on a piece of scrap wood first to see if it matches
- Filling In The Pores To Create A "Piano Finish"
Filling In The Pores To Create A "Piano Finish"
by: Megan Cherry
Since ultimately all woodworking projects are judged by their finish, you may want to consider adding a touch of elegance to your own project by filling the pores of the wood. Filling the pores creates a finish that is as smooth as glass. No matter what you are making, if you are serious about woodworking, you will want to learn how to fill pores to create this lovely finish. Some species of wood have more pores of larger size than others. An example would be to compare Maple, which has very few and very small pores with Oak, which has larger pores in greater quantity. While Maple may not need to have the pores filled to create a nice finish, if you want that smooth finish with Oak, pore filling is a necessity.
Today, there are two basic types of fillers on the market: oil-based and water-based. Oil-based fillers have been used for generations, and over the years they have been refined and are now easier to apply than they used to be. Oil-based fillers come in two types: a true oil-based filler, or one mixed with varnish. The real difference between the two lies in the time required for drying before a protective surface coat can be applied. True oil-based fillers may need several days to dry between applications, while a varnish filler has the possibility of being ready for its topcoat in only a few hours. You can apply your oil-based filler directly onto the bare wood. You can choose either a natural color that will match the wood, or one that contains a stain or a color. Using this technique, the filler becomes both a filler and a stain. Japan colors can be applied this way. The other method would be to apply the stain to the wood first. When it is dry, you seal it with a finish, and then apply the filler. Using this method, the filler only fills the pores that were not fully covered by the top coat.
The look you get is controlled by your method of application. If you apply the filler to bare wood, the filler will color both the wood and the pores, while application after sealing only colors the pores.
A thin sealing coat will let a little bit of color from the filler affect the wood surface, while a thicker coat will protect the wood completely, allowing the filler to only affect the pores. Be sure to sand the area well before applying the filler. Use a 320 grit sandpaper.
Before you apply filler to your woodworking project, make sure it is clean. Don't leave any dirt or dust behind. You can apply the filler by hand or spray it on. If you choose to apply it by hand, be sure to use a brush with very stiff bristles so the filler is forced into the pores. When you have finished applying the filler to an area of your project, be sure to squeegee off the excess immediately. If you don't have a commercially made squeegee, and old credit card or other item with a firm flat edge will work just as well. When the filler is dry, use cheesecloth or a wadded piece of burlap to wipe off any excess that remains.
by: Megan Cherry
Since ultimately all woodworking projects are judged by their finish, you may want to consider adding a touch of elegance to your own project by filling the pores of the wood. Filling the pores creates a finish that is as smooth as glass. No matter what you are making, if you are serious about woodworking, you will want to learn how to fill pores to create this lovely finish. Some species of wood have more pores of larger size than others. An example would be to compare Maple, which has very few and very small pores with Oak, which has larger pores in greater quantity. While Maple may not need to have the pores filled to create a nice finish, if you want that smooth finish with Oak, pore filling is a necessity.
Today, there are two basic types of fillers on the market: oil-based and water-based. Oil-based fillers have been used for generations, and over the years they have been refined and are now easier to apply than they used to be. Oil-based fillers come in two types: a true oil-based filler, or one mixed with varnish. The real difference between the two lies in the time required for drying before a protective surface coat can be applied. True oil-based fillers may need several days to dry between applications, while a varnish filler has the possibility of being ready for its topcoat in only a few hours. You can apply your oil-based filler directly onto the bare wood. You can choose either a natural color that will match the wood, or one that contains a stain or a color. Using this technique, the filler becomes both a filler and a stain. Japan colors can be applied this way. The other method would be to apply the stain to the wood first. When it is dry, you seal it with a finish, and then apply the filler. Using this method, the filler only fills the pores that were not fully covered by the top coat.
The look you get is controlled by your method of application. If you apply the filler to bare wood, the filler will color both the wood and the pores, while application after sealing only colors the pores.
A thin sealing coat will let a little bit of color from the filler affect the wood surface, while a thicker coat will protect the wood completely, allowing the filler to only affect the pores. Be sure to sand the area well before applying the filler. Use a 320 grit sandpaper.
Before you apply filler to your woodworking project, make sure it is clean. Don't leave any dirt or dust behind. You can apply the filler by hand or spray it on. If you choose to apply it by hand, be sure to use a brush with very stiff bristles so the filler is forced into the pores. When you have finished applying the filler to an area of your project, be sure to squeegee off the excess immediately. If you don't have a commercially made squeegee, and old credit card or other item with a firm flat edge will work just as well. When the filler is dry, use cheesecloth or a wadded piece of burlap to wipe off any excess that remains.
- Bleaches In Wood Finishing: The Good And The Bad
Bleaches In Wood Finishing: The Good And The Bad
by: Megan Cherry
Another way to change the color of your wood besides staining it is to bleach it. As you can imagine, stains add color, while bleaches take color away. In fact, it can take all of the color away so that the wood appears to have no color. If you choose to bleach your woodworking project, read on for a few basic finishing techniques that can save you a lot of headaches.
When you finish a wood, you can use bleach for many things. A bleach can lighten a wood's natural color or even remove it altogether. A bleach can also remove some stains from the wood, either intentional or accidental. In fact, they can be very useful because they can fix minor problems before they become major ones. There are three basic types of bleach to choose from, and you'll need to know which one to use for each situation, because each of these is pretty specific and not all will work in every situation.
The first kind, alkali peroxide bleaches, are usually sold in paint stores as a two-part liquid known as A/B bleaches. This type of bleach is usually used to remove wood's natural color. It will leave the wood with a very natural looking, even, off-white color base. This, in turn, can produce highly desirable results, depending on the finish you use. You can use these bleaches also to narrow the color differences between two very different types of wood so that they appear to match more closely.
The next type of bleach you can use in your woodworking project is chlorine bleach. This is very useful to remove dye stains or other stains that have occurred, such as coffee spills or grape juice spills on bare wood. As you probably know, chlorine bleach is used in laundry detergent applications and for swimming pools. Any laundry bleach will work, because it's concentration is actually quite weak. You might need to apply it several times to get the desired effect and remove the stain completely. You might also want to use chlorine bleach specifically formulated for pools. This is also known as "pool chlorine."
A third main type of bleach is oxalic acid. This is great because it's very selective in the colors it removes. For example, it does an excellent job at cleaning up iron-based stains, such as those that occur around nail holes. It also does a very good job removing dark water stains and other stains, but does not alter the natural color of the wood itself. Oxalic acid is usually found as a dry powder. It can then be mixed with water and applied to wood.
After you have bleached your wood, you need to neutralize the bleach when the cleansing or color removal is complete. There are different neutralizing processes depending on the type of bleach you've used. For example, with an alkali peroxide bleach, you'll want to rinse with water and then white vinegar. You need one part vinegar to two parts water. For chlorine bleach, rinse with two to three applications of distilled water. If you've used oxalic acid, use two to three applications of distilled water and then a solution of baking soda and hot water. The baking soda solution should be comprised of two tablespoon baking soda to one half pint of hot water.
by: Megan Cherry
Another way to change the color of your wood besides staining it is to bleach it. As you can imagine, stains add color, while bleaches take color away. In fact, it can take all of the color away so that the wood appears to have no color. If you choose to bleach your woodworking project, read on for a few basic finishing techniques that can save you a lot of headaches.
When you finish a wood, you can use bleach for many things. A bleach can lighten a wood's natural color or even remove it altogether. A bleach can also remove some stains from the wood, either intentional or accidental. In fact, they can be very useful because they can fix minor problems before they become major ones. There are three basic types of bleach to choose from, and you'll need to know which one to use for each situation, because each of these is pretty specific and not all will work in every situation.
The first kind, alkali peroxide bleaches, are usually sold in paint stores as a two-part liquid known as A/B bleaches. This type of bleach is usually used to remove wood's natural color. It will leave the wood with a very natural looking, even, off-white color base. This, in turn, can produce highly desirable results, depending on the finish you use. You can use these bleaches also to narrow the color differences between two very different types of wood so that they appear to match more closely.
The next type of bleach you can use in your woodworking project is chlorine bleach. This is very useful to remove dye stains or other stains that have occurred, such as coffee spills or grape juice spills on bare wood. As you probably know, chlorine bleach is used in laundry detergent applications and for swimming pools. Any laundry bleach will work, because it's concentration is actually quite weak. You might need to apply it several times to get the desired effect and remove the stain completely. You might also want to use chlorine bleach specifically formulated for pools. This is also known as "pool chlorine."
A third main type of bleach is oxalic acid. This is great because it's very selective in the colors it removes. For example, it does an excellent job at cleaning up iron-based stains, such as those that occur around nail holes. It also does a very good job removing dark water stains and other stains, but does not alter the natural color of the wood itself. Oxalic acid is usually found as a dry powder. It can then be mixed with water and applied to wood.
After you have bleached your wood, you need to neutralize the bleach when the cleansing or color removal is complete. There are different neutralizing processes depending on the type of bleach you've used. For example, with an alkali peroxide bleach, you'll want to rinse with water and then white vinegar. You need one part vinegar to two parts water. For chlorine bleach, rinse with two to three applications of distilled water. If you've used oxalic acid, use two to three applications of distilled water and then a solution of baking soda and hot water. The baking soda solution should be comprised of two tablespoon baking soda to one half pint of hot water.
- Choosing The Proper Finish For Your Woodworking Project
Choosing The Proper Finish For Your Woodworking Project
by: Megan Cherry
If you've finished your woodworking project, congratulations. Now, what type of finish do you want to put on it so that not only will you protect your hard work for years to come, but also enhance its innate beauty? No matter what you choose, you have to choose the right finish so that your hard work will be as beautiful finished as it was unfinished. Choosing the wrong finish can make your project look less beautiful than it should.
Well, here are some things to consider. You'll need to choose a finishing product such as a varnish, lacquer, shellac, or polyurethane; you might also need putty, wood filler, wax or polish. In addition, you'll need to choose from water or solvent bases for the finishing products. Which to choose?
It might be confusing, but once you know what you're doing, you can group these rather simply so that it's much easier to choose. Once you know what each group's properties are, you can make a better and more informed choice about what you'll need for your woodworking project.
Let's begin with stains. When you apply a stain to wood, you add color to the wood without covering up the grain. This is a basic difference between staining or painting something.
Stains that are pigmented are made when a pigment is combined with a liquid. Usually, the pigment itself is in a dry colored powder before it is mixed with the liquid. The liquid itself includes a binder that helps the pigment stick to the wood surface. There's also a carrier that works with the binder. The pigment does not dissolve in the binder, but are suspended in the liquid. In earlier times, you could purchase the colored powders to make pigments up; these were usually available in such colors as yellow, red, or burned charcoal, and were made from different types of clay and crushed rock.
If a stain is a "dye stain," it's physically and chemically different than a pigment stain is. Dye stains coat just like pigment stains do, but dye stains dissolve in the carrier instead of being suspended in it. Because a dye stain dissolves, it can deeply and easily penetrate the wood surface, unlike a pigment stain. However, the dye stain particles are very small and somewhat translucent. This, in turn, allows the wood grain to show through the dye stain.
One problem with stains of either kind, either pigments or dye, is that oftentimes, their color does not apply evenly, especially on softer woods like cherry, pine or birch. With these softer woods, you'll want to stain a piece of scrap wood first to see if uneven coloring or blotchiness will be a problem. If the stain appears to blotch or otherwise not appear uniform on your test piece, you have other options you can try. For example, you can switch to a gel stain or a water-based stain instead. Both of these types of stains only penetrate the wood ever so slightly and can give you a much more even stain color.
by: Megan Cherry
If you've finished your woodworking project, congratulations. Now, what type of finish do you want to put on it so that not only will you protect your hard work for years to come, but also enhance its innate beauty? No matter what you choose, you have to choose the right finish so that your hard work will be as beautiful finished as it was unfinished. Choosing the wrong finish can make your project look less beautiful than it should.
Well, here are some things to consider. You'll need to choose a finishing product such as a varnish, lacquer, shellac, or polyurethane; you might also need putty, wood filler, wax or polish. In addition, you'll need to choose from water or solvent bases for the finishing products. Which to choose?
It might be confusing, but once you know what you're doing, you can group these rather simply so that it's much easier to choose. Once you know what each group's properties are, you can make a better and more informed choice about what you'll need for your woodworking project.
Let's begin with stains. When you apply a stain to wood, you add color to the wood without covering up the grain. This is a basic difference between staining or painting something.
Stains that are pigmented are made when a pigment is combined with a liquid. Usually, the pigment itself is in a dry colored powder before it is mixed with the liquid. The liquid itself includes a binder that helps the pigment stick to the wood surface. There's also a carrier that works with the binder. The pigment does not dissolve in the binder, but are suspended in the liquid. In earlier times, you could purchase the colored powders to make pigments up; these were usually available in such colors as yellow, red, or burned charcoal, and were made from different types of clay and crushed rock.
If a stain is a "dye stain," it's physically and chemically different than a pigment stain is. Dye stains coat just like pigment stains do, but dye stains dissolve in the carrier instead of being suspended in it. Because a dye stain dissolves, it can deeply and easily penetrate the wood surface, unlike a pigment stain. However, the dye stain particles are very small and somewhat translucent. This, in turn, allows the wood grain to show through the dye stain.
One problem with stains of either kind, either pigments or dye, is that oftentimes, their color does not apply evenly, especially on softer woods like cherry, pine or birch. With these softer woods, you'll want to stain a piece of scrap wood first to see if uneven coloring or blotchiness will be a problem. If the stain appears to blotch or otherwise not appear uniform on your test piece, you have other options you can try. For example, you can switch to a gel stain or a water-based stain instead. Both of these types of stains only penetrate the wood ever so slightly and can give you a much more even stain color.
- Various Types of Ghosts
Various Types of Ghosts
by: Sean M.Clarke
You have read volumes about ghosts and have browsed hundreds of websites to devour more information on ghosts, but have you ever wondered how many types of ghosts there are? The fact is that there are various types of ghosts out there and all these are minutely described and documented by the Spiritual Science Research Foundation (SSRF).
The Spiritual Science Research Foundation has undertaken extensive research on ghosts in order to demystify this widespread phenomenon and help people in recognising and treating the adverse effects caused by ghosts through proven methodology according to the science of Spirituality.
At the outset, it is important to note that while we use the phrase ghosts (demons, devils, negative energies, etc.) as a collective noun to cover the entire gamut of negative energies, there is a vast difference between the lower order ghosts and higher order ghosts such as subtle sorcerers (maantriks) from the sixth and seventh region of Hell. They differ according to their spiritual strength. Ghosts primarily use their spiritual strength to harm humanity.
The generic types of ghosts as identified by the Spiritual Science Research Foundation in ascending order of hierarchy as well as power and strength are:
• Common ghost
• Demons
• Black serpent
• Female goblin
• Jaakhin
• Witch
• Spirit
• Subtle sorcerer
The Hierarchy among Ghosts
There is a hierarchy among ghosts which is based on their spiritual power or strength. Ultimately all ghosts are controlled by subtle sorcerers (maantriks).
Basic shape and form of types of ghosts
The spiritual principle that word, touch, form, taste, smell and its associated energy coexist is also true with ghosts. Depending on their type of energy, they take up generic forms. These forms can however change, depending on what the ghost is trying to achieve. For example, if the ghost is trying to intimidate, it will take up an intimidating form, whereas if it is trying to fool a spiritual healer it may take a form of an angel or a positive energy. They can also take the form of our departed ancestors thus misleading psychics and the people who come to psychics to enquire about departed relatives. This is true in almost all cases.
How does one become a Ghost in the first place?
When a person dies only his physical body ceases to exist. His subtle body however continues to exist and moves on to the other regions of the Universe. Some of these subtle bodies become ghosts. Most ghosts have unfulfilled desires such as cravings for sex, alcohol, revenge, etc. or derive pleasure out of exerting control over and tormenting humans and other subtle bodies. The subtle body of a person after physical death is defined as a ghost if their characteristics and intentions match the above. There is no special process as such which they go through to become a ghost.
How does a Ghost become a particular type of Ghost?
The main reason behind a person becoming a certain type of ghost is due to their predominant personality trait and their predominant thought at the time of death. For example people involved in adversely affecting humanity at large are more likely to become subtle sorcerers (maantriks). On the other hand excessive worldly desires and constantly thinking ill about others may culminate in one becoming a Common Ghost (Bhoot) after death.
Summary
The most reliable way of reducing the risk of being affected or possessed by the various types of ghosts, is undertaking spiritual practice as per the 6 basic principles of spirituality. Spiritual practice and spiritual healing remedies, coupled with personality defect removal and eradication of ego are the tools to access supreme protection from God that insulates one from the attack of ghosts as well as helps us proceed to higher regions in the afterlife.
Visit SSRF’s website to explore more on the salient features of the various types of ghosts, view subtle drawings and pictures of various types of ghosts and discover how they can affect our lives:
by: Sean M.Clarke
You have read volumes about ghosts and have browsed hundreds of websites to devour more information on ghosts, but have you ever wondered how many types of ghosts there are? The fact is that there are various types of ghosts out there and all these are minutely described and documented by the Spiritual Science Research Foundation (SSRF).
The Spiritual Science Research Foundation has undertaken extensive research on ghosts in order to demystify this widespread phenomenon and help people in recognising and treating the adverse effects caused by ghosts through proven methodology according to the science of Spirituality.
At the outset, it is important to note that while we use the phrase ghosts (demons, devils, negative energies, etc.) as a collective noun to cover the entire gamut of negative energies, there is a vast difference between the lower order ghosts and higher order ghosts such as subtle sorcerers (maantriks) from the sixth and seventh region of Hell. They differ according to their spiritual strength. Ghosts primarily use their spiritual strength to harm humanity.
The generic types of ghosts as identified by the Spiritual Science Research Foundation in ascending order of hierarchy as well as power and strength are:
• Common ghost
• Demons
• Black serpent
• Female goblin
• Jaakhin
• Witch
• Spirit
• Subtle sorcerer
The Hierarchy among Ghosts
There is a hierarchy among ghosts which is based on their spiritual power or strength. Ultimately all ghosts are controlled by subtle sorcerers (maantriks).
Basic shape and form of types of ghosts
The spiritual principle that word, touch, form, taste, smell and its associated energy coexist is also true with ghosts. Depending on their type of energy, they take up generic forms. These forms can however change, depending on what the ghost is trying to achieve. For example, if the ghost is trying to intimidate, it will take up an intimidating form, whereas if it is trying to fool a spiritual healer it may take a form of an angel or a positive energy. They can also take the form of our departed ancestors thus misleading psychics and the people who come to psychics to enquire about departed relatives. This is true in almost all cases.
How does one become a Ghost in the first place?
When a person dies only his physical body ceases to exist. His subtle body however continues to exist and moves on to the other regions of the Universe. Some of these subtle bodies become ghosts. Most ghosts have unfulfilled desires such as cravings for sex, alcohol, revenge, etc. or derive pleasure out of exerting control over and tormenting humans and other subtle bodies. The subtle body of a person after physical death is defined as a ghost if their characteristics and intentions match the above. There is no special process as such which they go through to become a ghost.
How does a Ghost become a particular type of Ghost?
The main reason behind a person becoming a certain type of ghost is due to their predominant personality trait and their predominant thought at the time of death. For example people involved in adversely affecting humanity at large are more likely to become subtle sorcerers (maantriks). On the other hand excessive worldly desires and constantly thinking ill about others may culminate in one becoming a Common Ghost (Bhoot) after death.
Summary
The most reliable way of reducing the risk of being affected or possessed by the various types of ghosts, is undertaking spiritual practice as per the 6 basic principles of spirituality. Spiritual practice and spiritual healing remedies, coupled with personality defect removal and eradication of ego are the tools to access supreme protection from God that insulates one from the attack of ghosts as well as helps us proceed to higher regions in the afterlife.
Visit SSRF’s website to explore more on the salient features of the various types of ghosts, view subtle drawings and pictures of various types of ghosts and discover how they can affect our lives:
- The First Dragon
The First Dragon
by: James Crowe
Have you ever been curious about the first Dragon in history? Where it was from, did it have a name? I know I was. I also realized that I would have to settle on the first Dragon in recorded history. Since time travel still eludes me. That is when I decided to do a little surfing, well, a lot of surfing and a lot of reading, as it turned out. Yes, I even hit the hard copy.
At first I was instantly gratified, as I'm sure many have been before me. A lot of web sites that I went to all told me the same... my quest was over...it was Anzu of Babylon, a.k.a Zu, c.1st Millennium B.C. From "Ninurta vs. Anzu" or "The Myth of Anzu". I read the descriptions, and with the exception of a few minor variations, it was this: Body and head of a lion, wings of an eagle (I didn't realize they had eagles in Babylon), razor sharp talons, the beak of a bird with teeth, and an armor-plated breast. It to me was a bit of a let down. I don't know about you, but to me Anzu sounds more like a griffin than a dragon. As I'm sure you will agree from the Babylonian depiction to the right. I also noticed a lot of copy and paste activity between a lot of the sites. So I decided to take a closer look, and actually read the original story as translated from the Babylonian clay tablets. At no time is Anzu referred to as a dragon. In other Babylonian text it is actual referred to as the Anzu Bird. In Sumerian text of the 3rd Millennium BC, Anzu was known as, the Zu-bird, a mythological creature which at times wrought mischief. From - Gilgamesh, Enkidu and the nether world - (Sumerian) : "In its branches, the Anzu bird settled its young." So, as far as the Babylonians and I are concerned, not only is Anzu not the first dragon, but not a dragon at all, and deserves no further mention. I did feel I was on the right trail though,
so I pushed on into deeper study of Babylonian text.
My Reading and the views in other web sites brought me to an older "Dragon" in Babylonian and Assyrian text, Tiamat, creator of the gods and earth. c.2nd Millennium B.C. From the "Enuma Elish" or "The Seven Tablets of Creation". The fact that Tiamat was a dragon is not clear. In fact she has about as many detractors as she does supporters. She is often described as a Serpent type Water Dragon. Except for that fact that she was said to have given birth to dragons, along with a host of other creatures;
"She set up vipers and dragons, and the monster Lahamu,
And hurricanes, and raging hounds, and scorpion-men,
And mighty tempests, and fish-men, and rams;
They bore cruel weapons, without fear of the fight.
Her commands were mighty, none could resist them;
After this fashion, huge of stature, she made eleven [kinds of] monsters."
the descriptive evidence in the tale leaves one wondering to the fact of her being a dragon. She is in fact called a woman in the text, and mention is made of her lips. The following are all the pieces of description contained in the text of the Enuma Elish for Tiamat:
First: (Tablet 1)
unto Tiamut, the glistening one
Next: (Tablet 2)
Tiamat, who is a woman, is armed and attacketh thee.
.. rejoice and be glad;
The neck of Tiamat shalt thou swiftly trample under foot.
.. rejoice and be glad;
Next: (Tablet 4)
But Tiamat... , she turned not her neck,
With lips that failed not she uttered rebellious words:
Next: (Tablet 4)
Tiamat opened her mouth to its full extent,
Next: (Tablet 4)
He seized the spear and burst her belly,
Next: (Tablet 4)
And the lord stood upon Tiamat's hinder parts
Tiamat a dragon? I leave that to you. I myself do not find enough evidence in the old text to support the fact, but likewise I do not find enough to dismiss her. But, as for being the first dragon, that I can dismiss. (For those of you who enjoy Creation Myths though, her story is the first Creation Myth in recorded history!)
I was scratching my head. Here I was deep in the world that the Greeks called Mesopotamia, home of the Babylonians and Assyrian, the birth place of civilization, and writing, but where was my dragon! That's when I smacked myself in the head. The region may have been the birth place of writing, but it wasn't the Babylonians or the Assyrian that were the parents, they were but meir students...of the Sumerians! Mesopotamia, was originally Sumeria for over two thousand years! So I head for Sumeria!
And that's where I found it! The First Dragon written of, and the first dragon slayer story, and in the first written language Cuneiform!
KUR
Sumeria 3rd Millennium B.C.
"Since the dragon-slaying theme was an important motif in the Sumerian mythology of the third millennium B. C., it is not unreasonable to assume that many a thread in the texture of the Greek and early Christian dragon tales winds back to Sumerian sources."
Samuel Noah Kramer, Sumerian Mythology, 1944
"Samuel Noah Kramer spent most of his life studying this literature, by piecing together clay tablets in far-flung museums."
Sumerian Mythology, 1944, revised 1961
We find mention of Kur in three myths from the 4th - 3rd Millennium B.C., (more than a millennium before Tiamat!), In the introductory prologue to the epic tale "Gilgamesh, Enkidu, and the Nether World,"( written on eight tablets - seven excavated in Nippur and one in Ur), Where Enki, the water-god, fights Kur after he learns that The goddess Ereshkigal was carried off violently into the nether world, by Kur. Enki fought Kur from a boat, and Kur fought back savagely with stones of all sizes, and attacked Enki's boat with the primeval waters which it controlled. Unfortunately for us, the author of this tale is so anxious to proceed with the Gilgamesh tale that he doesn't finish the dragon part, and leaves us hanging. It is certain that Enki wins though because he is in the rest of the poem, Kur is not.
See anything familiar; Damsel in distress, knight comes to the rescue and slays the dragon.
The second version of the slaying-of-the-dragon myth can be found in "The Feats and Exploits of Ninurta." (49 tablets) A significant version, due to the fact that it is evident that it was utilized by the Semitic redactors in the creation of the Babylonian Creation Myth featuring Tiamat.
In this version, Ninurta, the warrior-god, is the hero of the story. His personified weapon, Sharur, kisses up to him in a drawn out speech extolling the heroic qualities and deeds of Ninurta to convince him to go after Kur, and attach and destroy him. What Sharur has against Kur is not written in the text that is available. Ninurta leaves to do as asked, but finds himself lacking and "flees like a bird". Sharur though, won't let it go and speaks, reassuring and encouraging Ninurta with his words. "Ninurta now attacks Kur fiercely with all the weapons at his command, and Kur is completely destroyed."
Things fall apart after that. The primeval waters of the nether world which Kur had been in control of rise to the surface so violently that no fresh water can reach the fields and gardens. The gods of the land in charge of irrigation and cultivation, are desperate. The Tigris does not flood as usual, and the river water is unfit for use.
"Famine was severe, nothing was produced,
The small rivers were not cleaned, the dirt was not carried off,
On the steadfast fields no water was sprinkled, there was no digging of ditches,
In all the lands there were no crops, only weeds grew.
Thereupon the lord sets his lofty mind,
Ninurta, the son of Enlil, brings great things into being."
Ninurta then piled up stones over the dead body of Kur, and kept piling them until he had a great wall in front of the land. The wall blocked and held back the raging primeval waters (mighty waters) stopping the waters of the lower regions (nether world) from rising to the surface of the earth. Ninurta gathered up the waters that had already flooded the land and lead them into the Tigris. Which can now over flow and water the fields.
"What had been scattered, he gathered,
What by Kur had been dissipated,He guided and hurled into the Tigris,
The high waters it pours over the farmland."
The third version of the slaying-of-the-dragon myth can be found in "Inanna and Ebih." A one hundred and ninety line poem. (12 tablets)
The dragon-slayer in this version of the story is a goddess, Inanna, curiously known as both the goddess of love and also as the goddess of battle and strife, (She must have been married), and is also referred to in many Sumerian hymns as "The Destroyer of Kur." Kur, is also referred to as The 'mountain,' in the Poem. Did I mention that Kur was also the first fire breathing dragon?
It, the poem, begins with a long passage that extolls the virtues of Inanna. It is followed by a long speech by Inanna to An (the leading deity of the Sumerian pantheon.) (by the third millennium. B. C. though, Enlil, the air-god, had already taken Ans place. Placing this in the forth millennium B.C.) The meaning of her speech is sometimes hard to understand, her attitude is clear though; Either Kur, who appears unaware of, or perhaps is oblivious to, her power, glorifies her virtues, and becomes submissive, she will do violence to the monster. This is part of her threat:
"The long spear I shall hurl upon it,
The throw-stick, the weapon, I shall direct against it,
At its neighboring forests I shall strike up fire,
At its . . . I shall set up the bronze ax,
All its waters like Gibil (the fire-god) the purifier I shall dry up,
Like the mountain Aratta, I shall remove its dread,
Like a city cursed by An, it will not be restored,
Like (a city) on which Enlil frowns, it shall not rise up."
An responds by giving her a detailed account of all of Kurs mischief that he has wrought against the gods:
"Against the standing place of the gods it has directed its terror,
In the sitting place of the Anunnaki it has led forth fearfulness,
Its dreadful fear it has hurled upon the land,
The 'mountain,' its dreadful rays of fire it has directed against all the lands."
An continues with a description of Kurs power and wealth, and warns Inanna against attacking it. But Inanna doesn't listen to Ans discouraging speech. Filled with anger and wrath she opens the "house of battle" she leads her weapons and aids and attacks and destroys Kur. She then stations herself upon Kur, and utters a paean of self-glorification.
So there you have it, the first dragon in recorded history, given to us by the sumerians.
From the book Sumerian Mythology:
"The Sumerians were a non-Semitic, non-Indo-European people who lived in southern Babylonia from 4000-3000 B.C.E. They invented cuneiform writing, and their spiritual beliefs influenced all successive Near Eastern religions, including Judaism, Christianity and Islam."
In closing let me say that the Sumerians gave us writing, they gave us culture, but most of all they gave us dragons. We should give them a moment of silence.
Reference Material:
Ninurta vs. Anzu, c.1st Millennium B.C., author; unknown
Gilgamesh, Enkidu and the nether world, c.3rd Millennium B.C., author; unknown
"Enuma Elish" or "The Seven Tablets of Creation, c.2nd Millennium B.C., author; unkown
Sumerian Mythology, 1944, 1961, by; Samuel Noah Kramer
by: James Crowe
Have you ever been curious about the first Dragon in history? Where it was from, did it have a name? I know I was. I also realized that I would have to settle on the first Dragon in recorded history. Since time travel still eludes me. That is when I decided to do a little surfing, well, a lot of surfing and a lot of reading, as it turned out. Yes, I even hit the hard copy.
At first I was instantly gratified, as I'm sure many have been before me. A lot of web sites that I went to all told me the same... my quest was over...it was Anzu of Babylon, a.k.a Zu, c.1st Millennium B.C. From "Ninurta vs. Anzu" or "The Myth of Anzu". I read the descriptions, and with the exception of a few minor variations, it was this: Body and head of a lion, wings of an eagle (I didn't realize they had eagles in Babylon), razor sharp talons, the beak of a bird with teeth, and an armor-plated breast. It to me was a bit of a let down. I don't know about you, but to me Anzu sounds more like a griffin than a dragon. As I'm sure you will agree from the Babylonian depiction to the right. I also noticed a lot of copy and paste activity between a lot of the sites. So I decided to take a closer look, and actually read the original story as translated from the Babylonian clay tablets. At no time is Anzu referred to as a dragon. In other Babylonian text it is actual referred to as the Anzu Bird. In Sumerian text of the 3rd Millennium BC, Anzu was known as, the Zu-bird, a mythological creature which at times wrought mischief. From - Gilgamesh, Enkidu and the nether world - (Sumerian) : "In its branches, the Anzu bird settled its young." So, as far as the Babylonians and I are concerned, not only is Anzu not the first dragon, but not a dragon at all, and deserves no further mention. I did feel I was on the right trail though,
so I pushed on into deeper study of Babylonian text.
My Reading and the views in other web sites brought me to an older "Dragon" in Babylonian and Assyrian text, Tiamat, creator of the gods and earth. c.2nd Millennium B.C. From the "Enuma Elish" or "The Seven Tablets of Creation". The fact that Tiamat was a dragon is not clear. In fact she has about as many detractors as she does supporters. She is often described as a Serpent type Water Dragon. Except for that fact that she was said to have given birth to dragons, along with a host of other creatures;
"She set up vipers and dragons, and the monster Lahamu,
And hurricanes, and raging hounds, and scorpion-men,
And mighty tempests, and fish-men, and rams;
They bore cruel weapons, without fear of the fight.
Her commands were mighty, none could resist them;
After this fashion, huge of stature, she made eleven [kinds of] monsters."
the descriptive evidence in the tale leaves one wondering to the fact of her being a dragon. She is in fact called a woman in the text, and mention is made of her lips. The following are all the pieces of description contained in the text of the Enuma Elish for Tiamat:
First: (Tablet 1)
unto Tiamut, the glistening one
Next: (Tablet 2)
Tiamat, who is a woman, is armed and attacketh thee.
.. rejoice and be glad;
The neck of Tiamat shalt thou swiftly trample under foot.
.. rejoice and be glad;
Next: (Tablet 4)
But Tiamat... , she turned not her neck,
With lips that failed not she uttered rebellious words:
Next: (Tablet 4)
Tiamat opened her mouth to its full extent,
Next: (Tablet 4)
He seized the spear and burst her belly,
Next: (Tablet 4)
And the lord stood upon Tiamat's hinder parts
Tiamat a dragon? I leave that to you. I myself do not find enough evidence in the old text to support the fact, but likewise I do not find enough to dismiss her. But, as for being the first dragon, that I can dismiss. (For those of you who enjoy Creation Myths though, her story is the first Creation Myth in recorded history!)
I was scratching my head. Here I was deep in the world that the Greeks called Mesopotamia, home of the Babylonians and Assyrian, the birth place of civilization, and writing, but where was my dragon! That's when I smacked myself in the head. The region may have been the birth place of writing, but it wasn't the Babylonians or the Assyrian that were the parents, they were but meir students...of the Sumerians! Mesopotamia, was originally Sumeria for over two thousand years! So I head for Sumeria!
And that's where I found it! The First Dragon written of, and the first dragon slayer story, and in the first written language Cuneiform!
KUR
Sumeria 3rd Millennium B.C.
"Since the dragon-slaying theme was an important motif in the Sumerian mythology of the third millennium B. C., it is not unreasonable to assume that many a thread in the texture of the Greek and early Christian dragon tales winds back to Sumerian sources."
Samuel Noah Kramer, Sumerian Mythology, 1944
"Samuel Noah Kramer spent most of his life studying this literature, by piecing together clay tablets in far-flung museums."
Sumerian Mythology, 1944, revised 1961
We find mention of Kur in three myths from the 4th - 3rd Millennium B.C., (more than a millennium before Tiamat!), In the introductory prologue to the epic tale "Gilgamesh, Enkidu, and the Nether World,"( written on eight tablets - seven excavated in Nippur and one in Ur), Where Enki, the water-god, fights Kur after he learns that The goddess Ereshkigal was carried off violently into the nether world, by Kur. Enki fought Kur from a boat, and Kur fought back savagely with stones of all sizes, and attacked Enki's boat with the primeval waters which it controlled. Unfortunately for us, the author of this tale is so anxious to proceed with the Gilgamesh tale that he doesn't finish the dragon part, and leaves us hanging. It is certain that Enki wins though because he is in the rest of the poem, Kur is not.
See anything familiar; Damsel in distress, knight comes to the rescue and slays the dragon.
The second version of the slaying-of-the-dragon myth can be found in "The Feats and Exploits of Ninurta." (49 tablets) A significant version, due to the fact that it is evident that it was utilized by the Semitic redactors in the creation of the Babylonian Creation Myth featuring Tiamat.
In this version, Ninurta, the warrior-god, is the hero of the story. His personified weapon, Sharur, kisses up to him in a drawn out speech extolling the heroic qualities and deeds of Ninurta to convince him to go after Kur, and attach and destroy him. What Sharur has against Kur is not written in the text that is available. Ninurta leaves to do as asked, but finds himself lacking and "flees like a bird". Sharur though, won't let it go and speaks, reassuring and encouraging Ninurta with his words. "Ninurta now attacks Kur fiercely with all the weapons at his command, and Kur is completely destroyed."
Things fall apart after that. The primeval waters of the nether world which Kur had been in control of rise to the surface so violently that no fresh water can reach the fields and gardens. The gods of the land in charge of irrigation and cultivation, are desperate. The Tigris does not flood as usual, and the river water is unfit for use.
"Famine was severe, nothing was produced,
The small rivers were not cleaned, the dirt was not carried off,
On the steadfast fields no water was sprinkled, there was no digging of ditches,
In all the lands there were no crops, only weeds grew.
Thereupon the lord sets his lofty mind,
Ninurta, the son of Enlil, brings great things into being."
Ninurta then piled up stones over the dead body of Kur, and kept piling them until he had a great wall in front of the land. The wall blocked and held back the raging primeval waters (mighty waters) stopping the waters of the lower regions (nether world) from rising to the surface of the earth. Ninurta gathered up the waters that had already flooded the land and lead them into the Tigris. Which can now over flow and water the fields.
"What had been scattered, he gathered,
What by Kur had been dissipated,He guided and hurled into the Tigris,
The high waters it pours over the farmland."
The third version of the slaying-of-the-dragon myth can be found in "Inanna and Ebih." A one hundred and ninety line poem. (12 tablets)
The dragon-slayer in this version of the story is a goddess, Inanna, curiously known as both the goddess of love and also as the goddess of battle and strife, (She must have been married), and is also referred to in many Sumerian hymns as "The Destroyer of Kur." Kur, is also referred to as The 'mountain,' in the Poem. Did I mention that Kur was also the first fire breathing dragon?
It, the poem, begins with a long passage that extolls the virtues of Inanna. It is followed by a long speech by Inanna to An (the leading deity of the Sumerian pantheon.) (by the third millennium. B. C. though, Enlil, the air-god, had already taken Ans place. Placing this in the forth millennium B.C.) The meaning of her speech is sometimes hard to understand, her attitude is clear though; Either Kur, who appears unaware of, or perhaps is oblivious to, her power, glorifies her virtues, and becomes submissive, she will do violence to the monster. This is part of her threat:
"The long spear I shall hurl upon it,
The throw-stick, the weapon, I shall direct against it,
At its neighboring forests I shall strike up fire,
At its . . . I shall set up the bronze ax,
All its waters like Gibil (the fire-god) the purifier I shall dry up,
Like the mountain Aratta, I shall remove its dread,
Like a city cursed by An, it will not be restored,
Like (a city) on which Enlil frowns, it shall not rise up."
An responds by giving her a detailed account of all of Kurs mischief that he has wrought against the gods:
"Against the standing place of the gods it has directed its terror,
In the sitting place of the Anunnaki it has led forth fearfulness,
Its dreadful fear it has hurled upon the land,
The 'mountain,' its dreadful rays of fire it has directed against all the lands."
An continues with a description of Kurs power and wealth, and warns Inanna against attacking it. But Inanna doesn't listen to Ans discouraging speech. Filled with anger and wrath she opens the "house of battle" she leads her weapons and aids and attacks and destroys Kur. She then stations herself upon Kur, and utters a paean of self-glorification.
So there you have it, the first dragon in recorded history, given to us by the sumerians.
From the book Sumerian Mythology:
"The Sumerians were a non-Semitic, non-Indo-European people who lived in southern Babylonia from 4000-3000 B.C.E. They invented cuneiform writing, and their spiritual beliefs influenced all successive Near Eastern religions, including Judaism, Christianity and Islam."
In closing let me say that the Sumerians gave us writing, they gave us culture, but most of all they gave us dragons. We should give them a moment of silence.
Reference Material:
Ninurta vs. Anzu, c.1st Millennium B.C., author; unknown
Gilgamesh, Enkidu and the nether world, c.3rd Millennium B.C., author; unknown
"Enuma Elish" or "The Seven Tablets of Creation, c.2nd Millennium B.C., author; unkown
Sumerian Mythology, 1944, 1961, by; Samuel Noah Kramer
- Newbie's Guide to Science Fiction and Fantasy and Genre Conventions
Newbie's Guide to Science Fiction and Fantasy and Genre Conventions
by: June Williams
A very large number of people who have never attended a Sci-Fi convention have the idea that they are all about people standing in line to get autographs of actors while wearing Klingon makeup and costumes or pointed ears. I'm not saying that those stereotypes don't exist, but the Convention experience is much richer and diverse than you may have been led to believe. To get the best experience it is important first consider your interests and then match them to what conventions are available.
Conventions come in two primary flavors: professional and fan run. Professional conventions should have actors who have appeared in genre television and films ready to sign autographs and have their photos taken with fans. Some of these conventions include the costs of autographs and photo sessions in the cost of admission others operate in more of an a la carte fashion.
Often genre conventions have previews of new shows and films, and usually an extensive dealer's room where you can buy anything from jewelry, ornaments, t-shirts and action figures to full scale replicas and costumes... and more. While there are a number of professional promoters, the best known and run are Chiller Theatre Expo, Creation Entertainment, Fed Con (Germany), Starland and Vulcon. Do expect things to be as advertised and run on time. Do not expect warm and fuzzy.
Warm and fuzzy is more the field of fan run conventions. Fans who get together to run conventions have a great deal of enthusiasm, but usually are run with a volunteer staff and can be a bit "bumpy" with organization of the activities.
What you can expect? A movie room, anime room, gaming room, art show, dealer's room, and various special interest group rooms and tables. It is a rare con that doesn't have a dance and a masquerade.
Many fan run conventions also have guests ranging from actors, authors, cartoonists, illustrators, scientists etc. You may also find workshops for writing, acting, art, costuming, make-up and special effects. It all varies from convention to convention and year to year. Older fan run conventions such as Aggie Con, Balticon, Bay Con, CONvergence, Dragon Con, ICON, Shore Leave, United Fan Con, Toronto Trek to name a few.
The following sections may help you in selecting the kind of convention you would enjoy the most. Don't be afraid to try other sorts once you've sampled those that are in your comfort zone. Exploration can be fun:
* LITERARY CONVENTIONS
Love to read speculative fiction? Do you have an interest in attending workshops on writing and publishing? Would you like to mingle with like-minded fans and meet professionals in the field such as authors, editors, illustrators and publishers? Then a literary convention would be the place you might enjoy most.
Conventions such as World Science Fiction Convention (which is where the Hugo awards are announced), the World Fantasy Convention, World Horror Convention, Balticon, Philcon, Lunacon, Boskone, Readercon, Wiscon and Capclave are all reader friendly and while you may find the occasional filking group, men in kilts, swords and women in medieval garb, I doubt that you'll see many people dressed like the attendees of the convention seen in the movie Galaxy Quest. OK maybe one or two, but they are a tiny minority.
* MEDIA CONVENTIONS
Media conventions are very much about television and film. Science Fiction and Fantasy or Horror and Paranormal guests abound. You may meet and hear behind the scenes stories of actors and illustrators, SFX experts and make-up artists and a host of media professionals. Many of the attendees may be wearing costumes. Depending on whether you are going to a "pro" con or a "fan run" con the rest will vary greatly.
Parties are expected and encouraged. At a pro convention this will take the form of a banquet with the guests at a fee and/or a dance or cocktail party all for various prices. Fan run conventions may also have a price attached to a banquet or "private" gathering with a particular celebrity or celebrities, but they will also have fee free dances, masquerades, art shows, filking, sword demonstrations etc. Toronto Trek, Celebration, BotCon, Dragon Con, Comic-Con (both Dragon Con and Comicon will appear under many categories).
* GAMING CONVENTIONS
Gamers come in all shapes, sizes, ages, colors and ethnic backgrounds, but they all have something in common. A love of games.
Role playing, live, pen and paper, MMOG as well as video gamers and board gamers all have a lot of interactive fun at gaming conventions. You can meet game designers, try out new games that have yet to hit the general market, and play in tournaments for glory and prizes. Once an almost male-only pursuit, gaming now has a growing number of female enthusiasts. Gaming has become so pervasive that it is now nearly socially acceptable to the mainstream public. Nearly.
There are giant conventions like GENCON and ORIGINS, where it is so crowded you may have trouble negotiating the exhibition halls due to the crowds. The upside is the great diversity and FREEBIES as there are so many gaming companies competing for your attention. Then there are the more intimate play intensive ones like Archon, CastleCon, Dragonflight Dreikonigsnacht (Twelfth Night), Festival of Dreams, HexaCon, KublaCon, MACE, MarsCon, Marmalade Dog, ShaunCon, Strategicon, The Once and Future Con, and many many more.
Keep in mind that many conventions other than pure gaming conventions have gaming tracks. If you like to game but want to do more than only game during the weekend you might look into some of the other cons with a strong gaming element.
* ANIME CONVENTIONS
For the older generation anime seems so foreign, even unreachable. It shouldn't be.
Yes, anime and its siblings manga and ahem [cough] hentai are of Japanese origin, but the striking visual styles and beauty, the characters and stories, connect with westerners as well as with audiences in the east.
Because they are animations, they can either be sub-titled or dubbed in the language of the country where it is being broadcast. In anime the stars are the illustrators, authors, and voice actors.
At conventions you will find many of these sorts of guests as well as companies promoting their projects. You will also find some of the most imaginative of costumes created and worn by fans.
At larger conventions you may find multiple rooms running films day and night. At smaller ones perhaps just one room will be devoted to showing their favorites.
There are often panels discussing aspects of cosplay, fan fiction, video games, favorite voice actors, anime series or movies. As in literary conventions there are often workshops. These workshops are mostly how to draw manga, make computer animation, or how to become a voice actor. The dealers room will be filled with DVDs, software, graphic novel manga, art books, apparel, toys and exotic (for us) foods.
While the U.S. and Canada have the largest SF conventions in the world, the largest Anime conventions are Lucca Comics and Games in Lucca Italy (85,000), Japan Expo in Paris France (83,000), Salon del Manga in Barcelona Spain (63,000), and Romics in Rome Italy (50,000). The big guys in North America are Anime Expo Los Angeles California (41,000), Otakon Baltimore Maryland (23,000), and A-Kon Dallas Texas (14,500). Hey, size isn't everything and some of the smallest might be the way to start if you have never been to a con before!!
* HORROR CONVENTIONS
What a perfect place to let it all hang out (dating myself but who cares).
Horror conventions revel in going over the top. Long live Elvira, Freddy Krueger, Jason, Dracula, Zacherley, Even the names of these conventions and expos are meant to be graphic illustrations of what you will find there. Chiller Theatre, Fangoria, Fright Night Film and Fantasy Fest, HorrorFind, HorrorHound Weekend, Spooky Empire. Nothing to subtle here. No sparing of the gore.
It's like the rollercoaster of genre conventions. If you have a strong stomach and a dark sense of humor, you will have tons of fun.
The dealer's room, art show, video rooms all are in sync with the horror theme. Guests that reach back decades up to the present. Once again there is a chance to meet actors, artists and authors for autographs, photo shoots, and anecdotes.
Attendees go wild with costumes and you can do so too, even without a ton of money or a pile of cash. Try out your best monsterish clothes and make-up or come as a victim... or not. Costumes aren't required, they are just fun.
There is usually a monster mash even if that isn't the name given. Some horror conventions invite guests that more about nostalgia than horror. Chiller Con is a good example of this. Some of their guests are Micky Dolenz from the Monkees, Ernest Borgnine , Lindsay Wagner, Brigitte Nielson, Katey Sagal (Married with Children), Stephen Baldwin, Daniel Baldwin, Barry Bostwick, Erin Murphy (Tabitha of Bewitched), Avery Brooks, Armin Shimmerman, Robert Picardo, Geri Reischel (Jan from The Brady Bunch), Susan Olsen (Cindy from The Brady Bunch),Joe Pantoliano,Richard Kiel ("Jaws" Moonraker), Lou Ferrigno, William B Davies (X-Files-Cancer Man), Stella Stevens, Frank Stallone, Ron Bumblefoot (Guns N Roses) and a host of others.
* COMIC CONVENTION
When you think of a comic book convention you will probably think of a sea of old comic books, toys, Star Wars stuff, Star Trek stuff, action figures, collectible card games and magazines for sale and you would be right, but that is only a part and an increasingly small part of the experience.
You will find illustrators, authors, publishers and very often interesting workshops and panels that deal with every aspect of the industry past, present and future. There are the costume contingents that always show up at the larger conventions and some are so good that you could almost believe you were seeing superheroes and villains walk out of the pages and off the screen to meet you and be photographed.
Some cons such as Dragon Con and Comic-Con began solely as comic conventions but grew to tremendous size, scope and diversity that they have transcended the genre that gave rise to them. Even those such as HEROES which remains focused on comics, manages to have a number of other aspects and should be able to keep the whole family amused for the weekend.
Comic conventions often have a lot of pop culture and nostalgia guests. So if you would like to see people like Creature, Parthenon and Fat Mama from Who wants to be a Superhero or maybe even Stan Lee himself, you might get your chance. How about James and Oliver Phelps who played the Weasley Twins in the Harry Potter movies? Or perhaps Sean Astin or Billy Boyd and even Elijah Wood. From Heroes Hayden Paniterre and Masi Oka, or Ice-T... yes I said Ice-T AND his swimsuit-model wife Coco.
For a walk down memory lane there is Erik Estrada, Betsy Palmer, Soupy Sales, Richard Hatch, John Saxon, Adam West and Burt Ward (Batman and Robin) , Julie Newmar, Peter Mayhew, Eddie Byrnes (77 Sunset Strip), Erin Gray (Buck Rodgers), Gary Coleman, Lou Ferrigno and on and on. Some are from your childhood others are from your parents childhoods. I can tell you that when I unexpectedly got to meet the very ladylike and gracious Betsy Palmer, it was a thrill.
The bottom line is conventions are places where adults can go and play and slough off the average workday week. Have fun !!
by: June Williams
A very large number of people who have never attended a Sci-Fi convention have the idea that they are all about people standing in line to get autographs of actors while wearing Klingon makeup and costumes or pointed ears. I'm not saying that those stereotypes don't exist, but the Convention experience is much richer and diverse than you may have been led to believe. To get the best experience it is important first consider your interests and then match them to what conventions are available.
Conventions come in two primary flavors: professional and fan run. Professional conventions should have actors who have appeared in genre television and films ready to sign autographs and have their photos taken with fans. Some of these conventions include the costs of autographs and photo sessions in the cost of admission others operate in more of an a la carte fashion.
Often genre conventions have previews of new shows and films, and usually an extensive dealer's room where you can buy anything from jewelry, ornaments, t-shirts and action figures to full scale replicas and costumes... and more. While there are a number of professional promoters, the best known and run are Chiller Theatre Expo, Creation Entertainment, Fed Con (Germany), Starland and Vulcon. Do expect things to be as advertised and run on time. Do not expect warm and fuzzy.
Warm and fuzzy is more the field of fan run conventions. Fans who get together to run conventions have a great deal of enthusiasm, but usually are run with a volunteer staff and can be a bit "bumpy" with organization of the activities.
What you can expect? A movie room, anime room, gaming room, art show, dealer's room, and various special interest group rooms and tables. It is a rare con that doesn't have a dance and a masquerade.
Many fan run conventions also have guests ranging from actors, authors, cartoonists, illustrators, scientists etc. You may also find workshops for writing, acting, art, costuming, make-up and special effects. It all varies from convention to convention and year to year. Older fan run conventions such as Aggie Con, Balticon, Bay Con, CONvergence, Dragon Con, ICON, Shore Leave, United Fan Con, Toronto Trek to name a few.
The following sections may help you in selecting the kind of convention you would enjoy the most. Don't be afraid to try other sorts once you've sampled those that are in your comfort zone. Exploration can be fun:
* LITERARY CONVENTIONS
Love to read speculative fiction? Do you have an interest in attending workshops on writing and publishing? Would you like to mingle with like-minded fans and meet professionals in the field such as authors, editors, illustrators and publishers? Then a literary convention would be the place you might enjoy most.
Conventions such as World Science Fiction Convention (which is where the Hugo awards are announced), the World Fantasy Convention, World Horror Convention, Balticon, Philcon, Lunacon, Boskone, Readercon, Wiscon and Capclave are all reader friendly and while you may find the occasional filking group, men in kilts, swords and women in medieval garb, I doubt that you'll see many people dressed like the attendees of the convention seen in the movie Galaxy Quest. OK maybe one or two, but they are a tiny minority.
* MEDIA CONVENTIONS
Media conventions are very much about television and film. Science Fiction and Fantasy or Horror and Paranormal guests abound. You may meet and hear behind the scenes stories of actors and illustrators, SFX experts and make-up artists and a host of media professionals. Many of the attendees may be wearing costumes. Depending on whether you are going to a "pro" con or a "fan run" con the rest will vary greatly.
Parties are expected and encouraged. At a pro convention this will take the form of a banquet with the guests at a fee and/or a dance or cocktail party all for various prices. Fan run conventions may also have a price attached to a banquet or "private" gathering with a particular celebrity or celebrities, but they will also have fee free dances, masquerades, art shows, filking, sword demonstrations etc. Toronto Trek, Celebration, BotCon, Dragon Con, Comic-Con (both Dragon Con and Comicon will appear under many categories).
* GAMING CONVENTIONS
Gamers come in all shapes, sizes, ages, colors and ethnic backgrounds, but they all have something in common. A love of games.
Role playing, live, pen and paper, MMOG as well as video gamers and board gamers all have a lot of interactive fun at gaming conventions. You can meet game designers, try out new games that have yet to hit the general market, and play in tournaments for glory and prizes. Once an almost male-only pursuit, gaming now has a growing number of female enthusiasts. Gaming has become so pervasive that it is now nearly socially acceptable to the mainstream public. Nearly.
There are giant conventions like GENCON and ORIGINS, where it is so crowded you may have trouble negotiating the exhibition halls due to the crowds. The upside is the great diversity and FREEBIES as there are so many gaming companies competing for your attention. Then there are the more intimate play intensive ones like Archon, CastleCon, Dragonflight Dreikonigsnacht (Twelfth Night), Festival of Dreams, HexaCon, KublaCon, MACE, MarsCon, Marmalade Dog, ShaunCon, Strategicon, The Once and Future Con, and many many more.
Keep in mind that many conventions other than pure gaming conventions have gaming tracks. If you like to game but want to do more than only game during the weekend you might look into some of the other cons with a strong gaming element.
* ANIME CONVENTIONS
For the older generation anime seems so foreign, even unreachable. It shouldn't be.
Yes, anime and its siblings manga and ahem [cough] hentai are of Japanese origin, but the striking visual styles and beauty, the characters and stories, connect with westerners as well as with audiences in the east.
Because they are animations, they can either be sub-titled or dubbed in the language of the country where it is being broadcast. In anime the stars are the illustrators, authors, and voice actors.
At conventions you will find many of these sorts of guests as well as companies promoting their projects. You will also find some of the most imaginative of costumes created and worn by fans.
At larger conventions you may find multiple rooms running films day and night. At smaller ones perhaps just one room will be devoted to showing their favorites.
There are often panels discussing aspects of cosplay, fan fiction, video games, favorite voice actors, anime series or movies. As in literary conventions there are often workshops. These workshops are mostly how to draw manga, make computer animation, or how to become a voice actor. The dealers room will be filled with DVDs, software, graphic novel manga, art books, apparel, toys and exotic (for us) foods.
While the U.S. and Canada have the largest SF conventions in the world, the largest Anime conventions are Lucca Comics and Games in Lucca Italy (85,000), Japan Expo in Paris France (83,000), Salon del Manga in Barcelona Spain (63,000), and Romics in Rome Italy (50,000). The big guys in North America are Anime Expo Los Angeles California (41,000), Otakon Baltimore Maryland (23,000), and A-Kon Dallas Texas (14,500). Hey, size isn't everything and some of the smallest might be the way to start if you have never been to a con before!!
* HORROR CONVENTIONS
What a perfect place to let it all hang out (dating myself but who cares).
Horror conventions revel in going over the top. Long live Elvira, Freddy Krueger, Jason, Dracula, Zacherley, Even the names of these conventions and expos are meant to be graphic illustrations of what you will find there. Chiller Theatre, Fangoria, Fright Night Film and Fantasy Fest, HorrorFind, HorrorHound Weekend, Spooky Empire. Nothing to subtle here. No sparing of the gore.
It's like the rollercoaster of genre conventions. If you have a strong stomach and a dark sense of humor, you will have tons of fun.
The dealer's room, art show, video rooms all are in sync with the horror theme. Guests that reach back decades up to the present. Once again there is a chance to meet actors, artists and authors for autographs, photo shoots, and anecdotes.
Attendees go wild with costumes and you can do so too, even without a ton of money or a pile of cash. Try out your best monsterish clothes and make-up or come as a victim... or not. Costumes aren't required, they are just fun.
There is usually a monster mash even if that isn't the name given. Some horror conventions invite guests that more about nostalgia than horror. Chiller Con is a good example of this. Some of their guests are Micky Dolenz from the Monkees, Ernest Borgnine , Lindsay Wagner, Brigitte Nielson, Katey Sagal (Married with Children), Stephen Baldwin, Daniel Baldwin, Barry Bostwick, Erin Murphy (Tabitha of Bewitched), Avery Brooks, Armin Shimmerman, Robert Picardo, Geri Reischel (Jan from The Brady Bunch), Susan Olsen (Cindy from The Brady Bunch),Joe Pantoliano,Richard Kiel ("Jaws" Moonraker), Lou Ferrigno, William B Davies (X-Files-Cancer Man), Stella Stevens, Frank Stallone, Ron Bumblefoot (Guns N Roses) and a host of others.
* COMIC CONVENTION
When you think of a comic book convention you will probably think of a sea of old comic books, toys, Star Wars stuff, Star Trek stuff, action figures, collectible card games and magazines for sale and you would be right, but that is only a part and an increasingly small part of the experience.
You will find illustrators, authors, publishers and very often interesting workshops and panels that deal with every aspect of the industry past, present and future. There are the costume contingents that always show up at the larger conventions and some are so good that you could almost believe you were seeing superheroes and villains walk out of the pages and off the screen to meet you and be photographed.
Some cons such as Dragon Con and Comic-Con began solely as comic conventions but grew to tremendous size, scope and diversity that they have transcended the genre that gave rise to them. Even those such as HEROES which remains focused on comics, manages to have a number of other aspects and should be able to keep the whole family amused for the weekend.
Comic conventions often have a lot of pop culture and nostalgia guests. So if you would like to see people like Creature, Parthenon and Fat Mama from Who wants to be a Superhero or maybe even Stan Lee himself, you might get your chance. How about James and Oliver Phelps who played the Weasley Twins in the Harry Potter movies? Or perhaps Sean Astin or Billy Boyd and even Elijah Wood. From Heroes Hayden Paniterre and Masi Oka, or Ice-T... yes I said Ice-T AND his swimsuit-model wife Coco.
For a walk down memory lane there is Erik Estrada, Betsy Palmer, Soupy Sales, Richard Hatch, John Saxon, Adam West and Burt Ward (Batman and Robin) , Julie Newmar, Peter Mayhew, Eddie Byrnes (77 Sunset Strip), Erin Gray (Buck Rodgers), Gary Coleman, Lou Ferrigno and on and on. Some are from your childhood others are from your parents childhoods. I can tell you that when I unexpectedly got to meet the very ladylike and gracious Betsy Palmer, it was a thrill.
The bottom line is conventions are places where adults can go and play and slough off the average workday week. Have fun !!
- Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Horror, Gaming, Anime & Comic Conventions - They Are Not All The Same
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Horror, Gaming, Anime & Comic Conventions - They Are Not All The Same
by: June Williams
A very large number of people who have never attended a Sci-Fi convention have the idea that they are all about people standing in line to get autographs of actors while wearing Klingon makeup and costumes or pointed ears. I’m not saying that those stereotypes don’t exist but the Convention experience is much richer and diverse than you may have been led to believe. To get the best experience it is important first consider your interests and then match them to what conventions are available.
Conventions come in two primary flavors. Professional and fan run. Professional conventions should have actors who have appeared in genre television and films ready to sign autographs and have their photos taken with fans. Some of these conventions include the costs of autographs and photo sessions in the cost of admission others operate in more of an a la carte fashion.
Often genre conventions have previews of new shows and films, and usually an extensive dealer’s room where you can buy anything from jewelry, ornaments, t-shirts and action figures to full scale replicas and costumes...and more. While there are a number of professional promoters the best known and run are Chiller Theatre Expo, Creation Entertainment, Fed Con ( Germany ), Starland and Vulcon. Do expect things to be as advertised and run on time. Do not expect warm and fuzzy.
Warm and fuzzy is more the field of fan run conventions. Fans who get together to run conventions have a great deal of enthusiasm, but usually are run with a volunteer staff and can be a bit “bumpy” with organization of the activities. What you can expect? A movie room, anime room, gaming room, art show, dealer’s room, and various special interest group rooms and tables. It is a rare con that doesn’t have a dance and a masquerade. Many fan run conventions also have guests ranging from actors, authors, cartoonists, illustrators, scientists etc. You may also find workshops for writing, acting, art, costuming, make-up and special effects. It all varies from convention to convention and year to year. Older fan run conventions such as Aggie Con, Balticon, Bay Con, CONvergence, Dragon Con, ICON, Shore Leave, United Fan Con, Toronto Trek to name a few.
The following sections may help you in selecting the kind of convention you would enjoy the most. Don’t be afraid to try other sorts once you’ve sampled those that are in your comfort zone. Exploration can be fun:
• LITERARY CONVENTIONS
Love to read speculative fiction? Do you have an interest in attending workshops on writing and publishing? Would you like to mingle with like-minded fans and meet professionals in the field such as authors, editors, illustrators and publishers? Then a literary convention would be the place you might enjoy most. Conventions such as World Science Fiction Convention (which is where the Hugo awards are announced), the World Fantasy Convention, World Horror Convention, Balticon, Philcon, Lunacon, Boskone, Readercon, Wiscon and Capclave are all reader friendly and while you may find the occasional filking group, men in kilts, swords and women in medieval garb I doubt that you’ll see many people dressed like the attendees of the convention seen in the movie Galaxy Quest. OK maybe one or two but they are a tiny minority.
• MEDIA CONVENTIONS
Media conventions are very much about television and film. Science Fiction & Fantasy or Horror & Paranormal guests abound. You may meet and hear behind the scenes stories of actors and illustrators, SFX experts and make-up artists and a host of media professionals. Many of the attendees may be wearing costumes. Depending on whether you are going to a “pro” con or a fan run con the rest will vary greatly. Parties are expected and encouraged. At a pro convention this will take the form of a banquet with the guests at a fee and/or a dance or cocktail party all for various prices. Fan run convention also may have a price attached to a banquet or “private” gathering with a particular celebrity or celebrities but they will also have fee free dances, masquerades, art shows, filking, sword demonstrations etc. Toronto Trek, Celebration, BotCon, Dragon Con , Comic-Con ( both Dragon Con and Comicon will appear under many categories)
• GAMING CONVENTIONS
Gamers come in all shapes, sizes, ages, colors and ethnic backgrounds but they all have something in common. A love of games. Role playing, live, pen and paper, MMOG as well as video gamers and board gamers all have a lot of interactive fun at gaming conventions. You can meet game designers, try out new games that have yet to hit the general market, and play in tournaments for glory and prizes. Once an almost male-only pursuit, gaming now has a growing number of female enthusiasts Gaming has become so pervasive that it is now nearly socially acceptable to the mainstream public. Nearly.
There are giant conventions like GENCON and ORIGINS, where it is so crowded you may have trouble negotiating the exhibition halls due to the crowds. The upside is the great diversity and FREEBIES as there are so many gaming companies competing for your attention. Then there are the more intimate play intensive ones like Archon, CastleCon, Dragonflight Dreikonigsnacht (Twelfth Night), Festival of Dreams, HexaCon, KublaCon, MACE, MarsCon, Marmalade Dog, ShaunCon, Strategicon, The Once and Future Con, and many many more.
Keep in mind that many conventions other than pure gaming conventions have gaming tracks. If you like to game but want to do more than only game during the weekend you might look into some of the other cons with a strong gaming element.
• ANIME CONVENTIONS
For the older generation anime seems so foreign, even unreachable. It shouldn’t be. Yes, anime and its siblings manga and ahem *cough* hentai are of Japanese origin but the striking visual styles and beauty, the characters and stories connect with westerners as well as audiences in the east. Because they are animations they can either be sub-titled or dubbed in the language of the country where it is being broadcast. In anime the stars are the illustrators, authors, and voice actors. At conventions you will find many of these sorts of guests as well as companies promoting their projects. You will also find some of the most imaginative of costumes created and worn by fans. At larger conventions you may find multiple rooms running films day and night. At smaller ones perhaps just one room will be devoted to showing their favorites. There are often panels discussing aspects of cosplay, fan fiction, video games, favorite voice actors, anime series or movies. As in literary conventions there are often workshops. These workshops are mostly how to draw manga, make computer animation, or how to become a voice actor. The dealers room will be filled with DVDs , software, graphic novel manga, art books, apparel, toys and exotic ( for us ) foods.
While the U.S. and Canada have the largest SF conventions in the world the largest Anime conventions are Lucca Comics & Games in Lucca Italy ( 85,000 ) , Japan Expo in Paris France ( 83,000 ) Salon del Manga in Barcelona Spain ( 63,000 ) and Romics in Rome Italy ( 50,000 ). The big guys in North America are Anime Expo Los Angeles California (41,000), Otakon Baltimore Maryland (23,000) and A-Kon Dallas Texas (14,500). Hey, size isn’t everything and some of the smallest might be the way to start if you have never been to a con before!!
• HORROR CONVENTIONS
What a perfect place to let it all hang out (dating myself but who cares). Horror conventions revel in going over the top. Long live Elvira, Freddy Krueger, Jason, Dracula, Zacherley, Even the names of these conventions and expos are meant to be graphic illustrations of what you will find there. Chiller Theatre, Fangoria, Fright Night Film and Fantasy Fest, HorrorFind, HorrorHound Weekend, Spooky Empire. Nothing to subtle here. No sparing of the gore. It’s like the rollercoaster of genre conventions. If you have a strong stomach and a dark sense of humor you will have tons of fun. The dealer’s room, art show, video rooms all are in sync with the horror theme. Guests that reach back decades up to the present. Once again there is a chance to meet actors, artists and authors for autographs, photo shoots, and anecdotes. Attendees go wild with costumes and you can do so too even without a ton of money or a pile of cash. Try out your best monsterish clothes and make-up or come asa victim…or not. Costumes aren’t required, they are just fun. There is usually a monster mash even if that isn’t the name given. Some horror conventions invite guests that more about nostalgia than horror. Chiller Con is a good example of this. Some of their guests are Micky Dolenz from the Monkees, Ernest Borgnine , Lindsay Wagner, Brigitte Nielson, Katey Sagal (Married with Children), Stephen Baldwin, Daniel Baldwin, Barry Bostwick, Erin Murphy (Tabitha of Bewitched), Avery Brooks, Armin Shimmerman, Robert Picardo, Geri Reischel (Jan from The Brady Bunch), Susan Olsen (Cindy from The Brady Bunch),Joe Pantoliano,Richard Kiel ("Jaws" Moonraker), Lou Ferrigno, William B Davies (X-Files-Cancer Man), Stella Stevens, Frank Stallone, Ron Bumblefoot ( Guns N Roses ) and a host of others.
• COMIC CONVENTION
When you think of a comic book convention you will probably think of a sea of old comic books, toys, Star Wars stuff, Star Trek stuff, action figures, collectible card games and magazines for sale and you would be right but that is only a part and an increasingly small part of the experience. You will find illustrators, authors, publishers and very often interesting workshops and panels that deal with every aspect of the industry past, present and future. There are the costume contingents that always show up at the larger conventions and some are so good that you could almost believe you were seeing superheroes and villains walk out of the pages and off the screen to meet you and be photographed. Some cons such as Dragon Con and Comic-Con began solely as comic conventions but grew to tremendous size, scope and diversity that they have transcended the genre that gave rise to them. Even those such as HEROES which remains focused on comics manages to have a number of other aspects and should be able to keep the whole family amused for the weekend. Comic conventions often have a lot of pop culture and nostalgia guests. So if you would like to see people like Creature, Parthenon and Fat Mama from Who wants to be a Superhero or maybe even Stan Lee himself, you might get your chance. How about James & Oliver Phelps who played the Weasley Twins in the Harry Potter movies ? Or perhaps Sean Astin or Billy Boyd and even Elijah Wood . From Heroes Hayden Paniterre and Masi Oka, or Ice-T…yes I said Ice-T AND his swimsuit-model wife Coco.
For a walk down memory lane there is Erik Estrada, Betsy Palmer, Soupy Sales, Richard Hatch, John Saxon, Adam West and Burt Ward ( Batman and Robin) , Julie Newmar, Peter Mayhew, Eddie Byrnes (77 Sunset Strip), Erin Gray (Buck Rodgers), Gary Coleman, Lou Ferrigno and on and on. Some are from your childhood others are from your parents childhoods. I can tell you that when I unexpectedly got to meet the very ladylike and gracious Betsy Palmer it was a thrill.
The bottom line is conventions are places where adults can go and play and slough off the average workday week . Have fun !!
by: June Williams
A very large number of people who have never attended a Sci-Fi convention have the idea that they are all about people standing in line to get autographs of actors while wearing Klingon makeup and costumes or pointed ears. I’m not saying that those stereotypes don’t exist but the Convention experience is much richer and diverse than you may have been led to believe. To get the best experience it is important first consider your interests and then match them to what conventions are available.
Conventions come in two primary flavors. Professional and fan run. Professional conventions should have actors who have appeared in genre television and films ready to sign autographs and have their photos taken with fans. Some of these conventions include the costs of autographs and photo sessions in the cost of admission others operate in more of an a la carte fashion.
Often genre conventions have previews of new shows and films, and usually an extensive dealer’s room where you can buy anything from jewelry, ornaments, t-shirts and action figures to full scale replicas and costumes...and more. While there are a number of professional promoters the best known and run are Chiller Theatre Expo, Creation Entertainment, Fed Con ( Germany ), Starland and Vulcon. Do expect things to be as advertised and run on time. Do not expect warm and fuzzy.
Warm and fuzzy is more the field of fan run conventions. Fans who get together to run conventions have a great deal of enthusiasm, but usually are run with a volunteer staff and can be a bit “bumpy” with organization of the activities. What you can expect? A movie room, anime room, gaming room, art show, dealer’s room, and various special interest group rooms and tables. It is a rare con that doesn’t have a dance and a masquerade. Many fan run conventions also have guests ranging from actors, authors, cartoonists, illustrators, scientists etc. You may also find workshops for writing, acting, art, costuming, make-up and special effects. It all varies from convention to convention and year to year. Older fan run conventions such as Aggie Con, Balticon, Bay Con, CONvergence, Dragon Con, ICON, Shore Leave, United Fan Con, Toronto Trek to name a few.
The following sections may help you in selecting the kind of convention you would enjoy the most. Don’t be afraid to try other sorts once you’ve sampled those that are in your comfort zone. Exploration can be fun:
• LITERARY CONVENTIONS
Love to read speculative fiction? Do you have an interest in attending workshops on writing and publishing? Would you like to mingle with like-minded fans and meet professionals in the field such as authors, editors, illustrators and publishers? Then a literary convention would be the place you might enjoy most. Conventions such as World Science Fiction Convention (which is where the Hugo awards are announced), the World Fantasy Convention, World Horror Convention, Balticon, Philcon, Lunacon, Boskone, Readercon, Wiscon and Capclave are all reader friendly and while you may find the occasional filking group, men in kilts, swords and women in medieval garb I doubt that you’ll see many people dressed like the attendees of the convention seen in the movie Galaxy Quest. OK maybe one or two but they are a tiny minority.
• MEDIA CONVENTIONS
Media conventions are very much about television and film. Science Fiction & Fantasy or Horror & Paranormal guests abound. You may meet and hear behind the scenes stories of actors and illustrators, SFX experts and make-up artists and a host of media professionals. Many of the attendees may be wearing costumes. Depending on whether you are going to a “pro” con or a fan run con the rest will vary greatly. Parties are expected and encouraged. At a pro convention this will take the form of a banquet with the guests at a fee and/or a dance or cocktail party all for various prices. Fan run convention also may have a price attached to a banquet or “private” gathering with a particular celebrity or celebrities but they will also have fee free dances, masquerades, art shows, filking, sword demonstrations etc. Toronto Trek, Celebration, BotCon, Dragon Con , Comic-Con ( both Dragon Con and Comicon will appear under many categories)
• GAMING CONVENTIONS
Gamers come in all shapes, sizes, ages, colors and ethnic backgrounds but they all have something in common. A love of games. Role playing, live, pen and paper, MMOG as well as video gamers and board gamers all have a lot of interactive fun at gaming conventions. You can meet game designers, try out new games that have yet to hit the general market, and play in tournaments for glory and prizes. Once an almost male-only pursuit, gaming now has a growing number of female enthusiasts Gaming has become so pervasive that it is now nearly socially acceptable to the mainstream public. Nearly.
There are giant conventions like GENCON and ORIGINS, where it is so crowded you may have trouble negotiating the exhibition halls due to the crowds. The upside is the great diversity and FREEBIES as there are so many gaming companies competing for your attention. Then there are the more intimate play intensive ones like Archon, CastleCon, Dragonflight Dreikonigsnacht (Twelfth Night), Festival of Dreams, HexaCon, KublaCon, MACE, MarsCon, Marmalade Dog, ShaunCon, Strategicon, The Once and Future Con, and many many more.
Keep in mind that many conventions other than pure gaming conventions have gaming tracks. If you like to game but want to do more than only game during the weekend you might look into some of the other cons with a strong gaming element.
• ANIME CONVENTIONS
For the older generation anime seems so foreign, even unreachable. It shouldn’t be. Yes, anime and its siblings manga and ahem *cough* hentai are of Japanese origin but the striking visual styles and beauty, the characters and stories connect with westerners as well as audiences in the east. Because they are animations they can either be sub-titled or dubbed in the language of the country where it is being broadcast. In anime the stars are the illustrators, authors, and voice actors. At conventions you will find many of these sorts of guests as well as companies promoting their projects. You will also find some of the most imaginative of costumes created and worn by fans. At larger conventions you may find multiple rooms running films day and night. At smaller ones perhaps just one room will be devoted to showing their favorites. There are often panels discussing aspects of cosplay, fan fiction, video games, favorite voice actors, anime series or movies. As in literary conventions there are often workshops. These workshops are mostly how to draw manga, make computer animation, or how to become a voice actor. The dealers room will be filled with DVDs , software, graphic novel manga, art books, apparel, toys and exotic ( for us ) foods.
While the U.S. and Canada have the largest SF conventions in the world the largest Anime conventions are Lucca Comics & Games in Lucca Italy ( 85,000 ) , Japan Expo in Paris France ( 83,000 ) Salon del Manga in Barcelona Spain ( 63,000 ) and Romics in Rome Italy ( 50,000 ). The big guys in North America are Anime Expo Los Angeles California (41,000), Otakon Baltimore Maryland (23,000) and A-Kon Dallas Texas (14,500). Hey, size isn’t everything and some of the smallest might be the way to start if you have never been to a con before!!
• HORROR CONVENTIONS
What a perfect place to let it all hang out (dating myself but who cares). Horror conventions revel in going over the top. Long live Elvira, Freddy Krueger, Jason, Dracula, Zacherley, Even the names of these conventions and expos are meant to be graphic illustrations of what you will find there. Chiller Theatre, Fangoria, Fright Night Film and Fantasy Fest, HorrorFind, HorrorHound Weekend, Spooky Empire. Nothing to subtle here. No sparing of the gore. It’s like the rollercoaster of genre conventions. If you have a strong stomach and a dark sense of humor you will have tons of fun. The dealer’s room, art show, video rooms all are in sync with the horror theme. Guests that reach back decades up to the present. Once again there is a chance to meet actors, artists and authors for autographs, photo shoots, and anecdotes. Attendees go wild with costumes and you can do so too even without a ton of money or a pile of cash. Try out your best monsterish clothes and make-up or come asa victim…or not. Costumes aren’t required, they are just fun. There is usually a monster mash even if that isn’t the name given. Some horror conventions invite guests that more about nostalgia than horror. Chiller Con is a good example of this. Some of their guests are Micky Dolenz from the Monkees, Ernest Borgnine , Lindsay Wagner, Brigitte Nielson, Katey Sagal (Married with Children), Stephen Baldwin, Daniel Baldwin, Barry Bostwick, Erin Murphy (Tabitha of Bewitched), Avery Brooks, Armin Shimmerman, Robert Picardo, Geri Reischel (Jan from The Brady Bunch), Susan Olsen (Cindy from The Brady Bunch),Joe Pantoliano,Richard Kiel ("Jaws" Moonraker), Lou Ferrigno, William B Davies (X-Files-Cancer Man), Stella Stevens, Frank Stallone, Ron Bumblefoot ( Guns N Roses ) and a host of others.
• COMIC CONVENTION
When you think of a comic book convention you will probably think of a sea of old comic books, toys, Star Wars stuff, Star Trek stuff, action figures, collectible card games and magazines for sale and you would be right but that is only a part and an increasingly small part of the experience. You will find illustrators, authors, publishers and very often interesting workshops and panels that deal with every aspect of the industry past, present and future. There are the costume contingents that always show up at the larger conventions and some are so good that you could almost believe you were seeing superheroes and villains walk out of the pages and off the screen to meet you and be photographed. Some cons such as Dragon Con and Comic-Con began solely as comic conventions but grew to tremendous size, scope and diversity that they have transcended the genre that gave rise to them. Even those such as HEROES which remains focused on comics manages to have a number of other aspects and should be able to keep the whole family amused for the weekend. Comic conventions often have a lot of pop culture and nostalgia guests. So if you would like to see people like Creature, Parthenon and Fat Mama from Who wants to be a Superhero or maybe even Stan Lee himself, you might get your chance. How about James & Oliver Phelps who played the Weasley Twins in the Harry Potter movies ? Or perhaps Sean Astin or Billy Boyd and even Elijah Wood . From Heroes Hayden Paniterre and Masi Oka, or Ice-T…yes I said Ice-T AND his swimsuit-model wife Coco.
For a walk down memory lane there is Erik Estrada, Betsy Palmer, Soupy Sales, Richard Hatch, John Saxon, Adam West and Burt Ward ( Batman and Robin) , Julie Newmar, Peter Mayhew, Eddie Byrnes (77 Sunset Strip), Erin Gray (Buck Rodgers), Gary Coleman, Lou Ferrigno and on and on. Some are from your childhood others are from your parents childhoods. I can tell you that when I unexpectedly got to meet the very ladylike and gracious Betsy Palmer it was a thrill.
The bottom line is conventions are places where adults can go and play and slough off the average workday week . Have fun !!
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