Many of the patterns and designs conceived during the Arts and Crafts movement were well-preserved. Therefore, hundreds of original Arts and Crafts patterns are still in circulation. An easy way to apply one of these original, intricate patterns is on your bathroom wallpaper.

Stylized Arts and Crafts designs frequently highlight recognizable Arts and Crafts symbols and images. Some of these include upside-down hearts, Celtic motifs, and ornamental flower designs. Many of these designs were brought back from the medieval period by artisans and craftsmen who were influenced by the handiwork of that era. In your bathroom, try experimenting with stained glass, copper, and pewter pieces. For instance, hang a shower curtain with a richly colored brass pole.

If you’d rather not use brass, try rustic wood instead. Oak is a good choice in this genre, and floors made with wood should have a dark stain. Arts and Crafts style uses a lot of natural materials like wood because they are typically those crafted by hand. The idea is to get creative and become inspired by high-quality, original handiwork, or even secondhand pieces that imitate them. Try hanging a woven textile on the wall, propping a simple wooden screen on one corner, or including a handmade wooden chair in the room, then contrasting the wood with crafted metalwork accents.

Renee Macalino Rutledge is the editor for a popular remodeling magazine. She writes articles just like this about Arts and Crafts bathrooms and more in the bathroom decor area of the site.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Renee_Peterson

Religious arts & crafts allow artisans and crafters the opportunity to showcase the symbols of their faith, and the opportunity to craft an expression of their faith into tangible form. In this manner, religious arts & crafts provide a way for the faithful to proudly acknowledge their beliefs, and profess their love for their god or gods. Religious arts & crafts usually do this by referring to their religion’s main textual tenants or predominant symbols.

Which religions use arts & crafts to express belief?

Religious arts & crafts, as commonly thought of in western society, is concerned primarily with Christianity. For this reason, the common symbols of Christianity – the cross, fish and loaves, angels, Jesus Christ, etc. – are commonly incorporated into American arts & crafts. Another popular theme is to incorporate scripture quotations. Of course, Christianity does not have a monopoly on religious arts & crafts; arts & crafts are well known within the Jewish tradition, for instance. Jewish arts & crafts typically focus on the most widespread symbols of Judaism, and include the Star of David, menorahs, and other icons of the belief. Jewish sayings are also frequently featured on Jewish arts & crafts.

Ideas for religious arts & crafts

Religious arts & crafts are designed to serve as decoration for one’s home, office, vehicle, or church. Although religious features could be showcased in virtually any type of arts & crafts, these are some popular ideas for religious arts & crafts used for decoration:

1. Beaded Crafts: With a set of beads and string, pipe cleaners or safety pins, the devotee can create cute, creative religious arts & crafts. The possibilities for these crafts are almost endless, and are great for the whole family. These beaded crafts can be designed as jewelry, decorations, and other adornments. Virtually any religious symbol is possible with this versatile craft idea, from the Star of David to the Shroud of Turin.

2. Paint Your Own: Try to let your creative side out and paint your religious items for decoration and display or even for use in a religious service. Special ceramic paints are great to use for painting, decorating, and personalizing ceramic crosses, angels, and even scenes from the Bible. Personalize these paintings with names, birthdays, and scripture to make wonderful personalized gifts.

3. Cross Stitch & Embroidery: While it may take more skill and expertise, with a bit of practice most devotees can become experts and creating needlework arts & crafts. Religious needlework is especially noteworthy as it can combine both graphical images of crosses, angels, doves, and Bible scenes, as well as scripture, Bible verses, and other words of inspiration. Some more popular options for religious arts & crafts using cross stitch and embroidery include religious pillows and Bible covers.

4. Stained Glass Arts & Suncatchers: Stained glass art is popular for religious arts & crafts since stained glass is usually associated with churches and places of worship. This does not mean that you need to be a church to afford stained glass art. Far from it, inexpensive stained glass kits are readily available in most hobby and craft stores, and can be used by those without any previous experience.

5. Ornaments & Window Hangers: Ornaments and window hangers are often quite simple to create – in the absence of specialized skills, all you need is some imagination and a dash of creativity. Ornaments may be designed specifically for the Christmas season, or may be year-round crafts that can be hung anywhere, even from your rearview mirror. Look on the Internet for some fun ideas for religious ornaments, hangers, and other crafts.

6. Handmade Jewelry: Most religious people will happily wear the symbols of their faith as a personal reminder of their faith and devotion. Handmade religious jewelry is very popular, and can include anything from resin angel earrings to homemade metal crucifixes. Brooches, necklaces, and bracelets are also very popular, and while they are generally designed for women, men are becoming increasingly comfortable wearing fine handmade crucifix necklaces.

Looking for resources for making religious arts & crafts

Many arts & crafts shows will feature quite a bit of religious crafts and artwork. While there are rarely shows designed specifically for this niche market, a very high percentage of artisans & crafters feature work that includes a religious focus. If you are not able to attend any shows, do not give up hope. When looking for other ideas for religious arts & crafts, head to your local Christian bookstore or specialty shop. These stores will almost always maintain special sections dedicated to arts & crafts supplies of a religious nature. These stores also typically have arts & crafts ready for purchase and gift giving. If you are more adventurous, go to a hobby and arts & crafts store and convert a secular hobby kit into a testament of your faith.

Mary Amos loves arts and crafts and has been creating beautiful projects for years. See her exciting new ideas for religious arts and crafts at Religious Arts and Crafts, and be sure to visit Arts and Crafts for more fun projects !

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Amos

Many of the patterns and designs conceived during the Arts and Crafts movement were well-preserved. Therefore, hundreds of original Arts and Crafts patterns are still in circulation. An easy way to apply one of these original, intricate patterns is on your bathroom wallpaper.

Stylized Arts and Crafts designs frequently highlight recognizable Arts and Crafts symbols and images. Some of these include upside-down hearts, Celtic motifs, and ornamental flower designs. Many of these designs were brought back from the medieval period by artisans and craftsmen who were influenced by the handiwork of that era. In your bathroom, try experimenting with stained glass, copper, and pewter pieces. For instance, hang a shower curtain with a richly colored brass pole.

If you’d rather not use brass, try rustic wood instead. Oak is a good choice in this genre, and floors made with wood should have a dark stain. Arts and Crafts style uses a lot of natural materials like wood because they are typically those crafted by hand. The idea is to get creative and become inspired by high-quality, original handiwork, or even secondhand pieces that imitate them. Try hanging a woven textile on the wall, propping a simple wooden screen on one corner, or including a handmade wooden chair in the room, then contrasting the wood with crafted metalwork accents.

Renee Macalino Rutledge is the editor for a popular remodeling magazine. She writes articles just like this about Arts and Crafts bathrooms and more in the bathroom decor area of the site.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Renee_Peterson

The Arts & Crafts period developed late in the nineteenth century and continued until the 1930s. With the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, assembly-line production enabled the mass production of merchandise. This was troubling to artisans and anyone who valued individually hand-crafted items and merchandise of top quality. This is the group that advocated well-made items of a quality that mass production could not achieve. The movement began with furniture and expanded to ceramics, wallpaper, metal work, architecture, and stained glass. The emphasis was on quality workmanship and consisted primarily of black, brown, yellow, and green tones in all fields. Of the many Arts & Crafts artisans of the period the most well-known are Frank Lloyd Wright, Gustav Stickley, and William Morris. Reproductions of their work are widely available today.

William Morris

One of the earliest champions of the Arts & Crafts movement was William Morris of Britain (1834-1896), who formed Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. with a group of likeminded artisans. The company, later renamed Morris & Co., worked in many areas including stained glass, ceramics, fabric, wallpaper, and architecture. The company designed his home, Red House, which is one of the earliest examples of architecture ascribed to the movement.

It’s no surprise that anything made by Morris is highly sought after today, as he is considered a founding father of the Arts & Crafts movement. Most of his best work can only be found in museums. His work can generally be authenticated by the “Morris & Co.” stamp.

Gustav Stickley

Gustav Stickley (1857-1942) and his family began the Arts & Crafts movement in the United States in upstate New York during the 1870s. An architect and designer, he started a furniture company and introduced the Craftsman line, which continues to be produced today. A Gustav Stickley sideboard was sold at a Christie’s auction in 1997 for $596,000 by a preeminent collector of Arts & Crafts, Barbra Streisand.

Frank Lloyd Wright

Best known for his work as an architect, American Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) was a pioneer of the Arts & Crafts movement. His specialty was designing not just a home, but all of the furniture as well. Today his work commands top dollar when available, but it is rarely available. Two of his most famous architectural designs and the Guggenheim Museum in New York and Fallingwater, a residential home.

Furniture

Solidly constructed simple oak and ash furniture typifies the furniture of the Arts & Crafts period. Common design elements include rush seating, horizontal or vertical slat backs and sides, and spindle backs and sides. Upholstery colors typify the period, generally done in brown, green, or black leather. Much of this furniture is still in use today because of its rigid construction.

Ceramics

Mass production was abhorred by the potters of the Victorian era. The graceful Japanese Aesthetic Movement style influenced craftsmen to emulate it, and creative forms and new glazes gave potters a new area to pursue. The fundamental perception of ceramics in North America changed as a result of the Arts & Crafts movement. Long seen as utilitarian, pottery became more decorative to appeal to the new upper class that could afford to splurge on a superfluous object. Dragons and flowers were often depicted in yellow, green, and brown glaze on pottery of the era.

Metalwork

Artisans who worked with copper, brass, silver, and pewter soon joined the move to hand-crafted workmanship. Tiffany and Liberty are two companies of the era that produced pieces combining both machine and hand production methods. Green and brown enamels and hammered surfaces are common characteristics of this work.

To save on arts and crafts supplies, fabrics, and other accessories, Vince suggests using a Joann Coupon and an Oriental Trading Coupon from CouponKathy.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vince_Nitti