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Purchase a crystal animal figurine from the area where the making of crystal and blowing glass first began. The Czech and Slovak Republics have been involved in crafting crystal figurines for more than 500 years. Small workshops in towns and villages were the settings where the first crystal animal figurine came from in cat and dragon designs. Today the dolphin is also popular as a crystal animal figurine.

The art of blowing glass to make a crystal animal figurine has not changed in any significant way throughout the centuries. The process begins with the craftsman making the molten glass in a furnace and then he blows it into various shapes, such as a crystal dragon figurine or a crystal cat figurine. A wooden mold is also used to shape the glass. After the craftsman inspects the crystal dolphin figurine and finds that it is perfect, he then lets it cool for 48 hours.

After the crystal animal figurine has cooled for the specific period of time, then the craftsman adds the specific details he wants to see in the crystal. Many of the crystal cat figurines or those of other animals are left smooth, but there may be details and shapes that need to be added to the figurine, such as eyes. This process is how Bohemian crystal figurines are made and the workshops are noted for their attention to detail and perfection in the pieces they produce.

Although a Bohemian crystal animal figurine is expensive, it is well worth the money that you pay for it. This is a true work of art that you will definitely want to add to your collection. Having one of these figurines, such as a crystal cat figurine or a crystal dolphin figurine, in your curio cabinet carries with it centuries of history. You can look at it and know that the work that went into its creation is something from the past that is still used in the present, in spite of the technology that has been developed.

When you have a crystal animal figurine crafted in Bohemian glass, you can consider yourself royalty. This was the preferred crystal of royal families all over Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. Today there is a strong demand for crystal animal figurines from the Czech Republic in Japan, Canada, Brazil and many other parts of the world. The quality of today’s crystal figurines is just as high as it was hundreds of years ago.

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If you sew your own clothes then why not make them “yours”. By that I mean, a feature that says “you”.

It could be top-stitching, covered buttons and loops, your fabric choice like beautiful silks or linens. Then there is the tone on tone embroidery.

You don’t need an embroidery machine, most sewing machines today will have a selection of decorative stitches and if not they usually have the zig-zag, stretch or an overlocking stitch.

By reducing the stitch length and increasing the stitch width you will find you have some different stitches to work with.

Practice with different fabrics and when you find the stitches you like, make a note of the length and width you used, keep with the fabrics on a file for future reference.

Decorative stitches used as rows on fabric will make that fabric yours.

For the front of a blouse or shirt, measure the fabric you will need to cut out the front pattern, cut the whole piece, sew the rows of decorative stitching and then position the pattern and cut out the front.

You could do the same with a long sleeve, a few rows down the center of the sleeve and for the cuffs. White on white looks very chic. Remember, it’s tone on tone that makes this technique work so well.

Always sew the rows of stitching on the piece of fabric before cutting the pattern out.

This idea looks great on linens, gabardine and finer fabrics. If you are using the finer fabrics then I suggest you use tissue paper underneath to support the fabric.

There you go, put “your stamp” on your clothes and wait for the compliments.

CT Baird, Author of Sew More For U, a DIY Sewing eGuide. Get great sewing tips and techniques, http://www.sewmoreforu.com/patterns.html and
http://www.sewmoreforu.com/sewingbook.html

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