Discover the Thrill of Model Airplane Combat

The sport of model airplane combat has been around now for decades and in recent years has grown exponentially. The human race is naturally competitive and it's only natural that modelers are going to find a way to pit their flying skills against each other.

In combat, competitors tie a lengthy streamer to the rear of their model, and take to the skies in an attempt to cut their opponents streamer with their propeller or wing. Category after category has been created to allow all sorts of planes to enter combat. What used to be reserved for balsa and ply-wood built planes has now expanded to allow for much more durable RC model airplanes that are even capable of surviving mid-air collisions (sometimes!).

Balsa, Foam, and SPAD model airplanes all take to the skies to see who is Top Dog. Combat clubs can be found in just about every country on the planet. The two largest RC model airplane combat associations are the Radio Control Combat Association (RCCA) and the National Sports Combat Club (NSCC).

Just about every model airplane combat group has one thing in common. Your model airplane and you competitor's must both fall into the same category to make the combat fair. A few examples of these classes are; Slow Survivable Combat (SSC), Open Classes, and Scale. Each of these classes have strict requirements about the size of the engine used, the overall weight of the aircraft, the size of the prop, and in some cases even the shape of the fuselage must conform to the rules.

At one time model airplane combat got pretty fast and furious with high speeds and a high attrition rate as planes ploughed into each other and into the ground. The Slow Surviveable Class was developed to counter this tendency and the rules produce a big, slow flying airplane without an excess of power. As a result, this class is much more suitable for beginners, the models survive much better and can often be used for other forms of flying.

When fighting in the SSC class, a single round of combat lasts 5 minutes. You must have a .15 engine and your airplane is required to weigh no less than 2.5 pounds. There are no restrictions on your airplane's wingspan, but the overall wing area must be at least 400 square inches. All combating RC model airplanes use an unmodified Master Airscrew 8x3 prop and the maximum allowable RPM is 17,500rpm at launch. RPM testing is often performed before combat starts to make sure everyone is conforming to the rules.

The other classes of combat, Open Classes and Scale, all have different rules and restrictions regarding weight, engine, and appearance but the objective of all of them is to ensure that it is the skill of the pilot that is being tested and not the airplane.

What all of these classes do have in common is some sort of point system. Combat contestants earn points for things such as cutting their opponents streamers, continuous flying during combat, launching within the set time limit, as well as points for every foot of streamer left when landing. Points can also be deducted for not engaging an opponent in combat. Pilots that avoid fights will be penalized. If your model airplane crosses various safety lines which define the combat area this will also earn penalty deductions.

Model airplane combat whether RC or Control Line can add a very exciting element to an already enjoyable hobby. So what's holding you back? Give it a try, inquire with other flyers at your local flying field. Large combat associations might have strict rules, but feel free to make up your own when you set out pit your model airplane flying skills against your friends.

Tree Art: Adding life to your trees with tree faces

Trees have a mighty presence in many yards, so why not spruce them up with a new look? An appealing variety of tree faces are on the market today in a clever array of personalities. Happy, grumpy, serious, and playful are only a few of the expressions that you can use to give your tree a lifelike appearance.

Not only are they inexpensive, but also, they are quick and easy to attach to your trees. Tree faces are available in numerous garden, home discount, and home improvement stores. Moreover, quite a few online sites have an amazing variety of tree faces available for purchase, including custom made versions.

Even the pre-made versions offer a variety of facial features that are sure to catch your attention. From quirky eyebrows to pouting lips and wide eyed gazes, the designers of tree faces have managed to capture the quintessential look of humans for these stately creatures. While some models are more realistic than others, each face provides a uniquely clever look that catches the eye of any passerby.

Designed for special occasions, tree faces are also available in themes. Snowmen, Santa, and elves for Christmas, the Easter Rabbit for Easter, goblins, witches, skeletons, and monsters for Halloween, a variety of deer for nature lovers, saints for the Religious, and elves, wizards, and trolls for the fantasy enthusiasts. Many of these styles come with additional features such as antlers, mustaches, beards, and ears.

Selecting your tree faces will take a little careful thought and planning. The number of trees that you will give a face lift, the location and size of the trees, and the theme that you wish to portray will all need to be considered. Additionally, the expense that you are prepared to undertake, as well as the realism that you are looking to present, are important factors.

The basic set comes with a mouth, nose, and eyes in separate pieces that are easily placed on the tree with a few short sturdy nails. Not only is this type of design easy to put up, but also it fits rather well on a variety of tree sizes, since they are available in sets for small, medium, and large trees. The faces are made to hold up against the elements of weather, so they are going to last a long time.

Another style of tree face is also on the market and involves a well-designed piece of molded plastic. This version is a one-piece ensemble that will easily attach to your tree by hanging it on nails or large staples that have been secured to the tree. This style is flexible and molds to the contour of the tree if properly placed and secured. Moreover, the face blends in well for aesthetic appeal, due to its natural bark coloring. What a surprise for any passerby who happens upon the tree decked out with one of these.

Adding tree faces to your yard can bring a pleasant touch to the neighborhood. In fact, trees with personality make wonderful companions- good listeners who do not interrupt while you are talking. Wise, old men with serious looks add a sedate atmosphere, while happy go lucky expressions add a touch of playfulness.

Custom made models can be ordered online to the customer’s specifications. While there are some limitations, these styles offer a more unique appearance. Some special order models come with realistic looking moss that can add to the appeal of the design.

Tree faces can be purchased in many locations including gardening centers, home improvement stores, discount and variety stores, and online sites. Prices range anywhere from $11.99 to slightly more than $100.00. In fact, some styles are often placed on sale or clearance throughout the year.

The Hobby Of Auto Classic Collecting

Every year, auto companies make new models of their cars. Every year, the older models, in general, increase in value. Along with that, the auto classic models like the Chevrolet Impala, or the Buick 8, also go up in value. The auto classic models are considered some of the best cars ever made. They are often seen as having captured the spirit of the era they were first produced and possessed a charm that other models after them have failed to possess. Most of these models also have gone past their expected service life and the casual driver finds them too costly to maintain in good enough condition to drive on a regular basis. However, an enthusiast is likely to accept such problems and live with them in exchange for having what some would call a mobile piece of art.

Generally, an auto classic has been around for 25 years or more, which is a large margin when one considers the usual lifespan of an automobile -- around 10 to 15 years. Most cars don't even make it past the five-year mark, so any model that makes it long enough to be considered a classic is one of those tried and true survivors. The classic car can be difficult to maintain since the parts will likely be impossible to get through the common auto-parts dealerships and, in most cases, have totally ceased to be produced by manufacturers. However, for a true collector, a classic car represents something that modern automobile manufacturers, with their SUVs and focus on utility, fail to grasp: over-the-top style. Hardcore car collectors will casually mention that more modern cars don't have the same feel, that same undefined quality that older cars, like the legendary Chevrolet Impala or the 1948 Delahaye, seem to possess in bundles.

Despite that, some people still get a very strong sense of personal satisfaction at having fixed up a machine to the point that it meets the original specifications of the manufacturer. Like restoring a priceless work of art, there is a feeling of having done something worthwhile about restoring an auto classic its glory days, when it was first manufactured. It is similar to having preserved some piece of the past for nostalgic reasons, to be enjoyed by future generations. Aside from the personal gratification, however, there also exists a potential market for these cars that one can take advantage of, if one has the patience.

Make no mistake, the auto classic models do have a market out there. Some people are willing to buy them, even at the most exorbitant prices, if they want it badly enough. Naturally, the car has to be in good physical condition but whether or not it can actually be driven regularly is usually not considered. The rarer and older the car is, the more likely the price will go up annually. Though serious classic car enthusiasts, like art collectors, will tell you that the way the prices fluctuate cannot be predicted and, as such, no particular manufacturer, model, or year really stands out as a perfect investment. In simple terms, you collect these cars because you enjoy having them and maintaining them, not because you're expecting a huge return investment in a few years' time.

To sum it all up, auto classic collectors are, much like art collectors, very passionate about their collections and aren't just in it for the money. Some, on occasion, will sell a part of their collection but for the most part, these auto classic lovers prefer to keep them safe in their garages, maintained with a devotion and care that you rarely see outside of the art world. It may seem ridiculous to some, since the cost of maintaining and storing them is quite disturbing, but in the end, you can't put a dollar value on art. For the serious collector, these cars are just that: art.

Great Pastimes and Hobbies

The best way to add joy and entertainment to life is to take up a hobby. There are many good pastimes and hobbies that can be either indoor or outdoor. Involving in some kind of creative and entertaining pastime or hobby is a good alternative to free time, relax and a fun way to build self confidence.

The list of pastimes and hobbies is as good as a large shopping list. You can choose the best pastime that fulfills your desire and craving. Not all hobbies are meant for all people. Look at each hobby from different perspectives and judge which can be the more proficient for you.

Below is the list of great pastimes and hobbies :

Writing

Writing is the best pastime for those who are creative and have love of words. It is one hobby that can show off your proficiency and make good money for you. This hobby does not require any qualification or degree; you just need to have enthusiasm and a passion for writing.

Collecting Antiques

Collecting antiques is another good hobby for anyone who loves old traditional things. Collection of antiques can include anything like sports goods, dolls, coins, stamps, foreign currencies or any other article that can help you preserve your past. Antiques are always appreciated in terms of value and if you wish, you can transform this hobby to a dynamic business.

Photography

Many people love to treasure memorable moments in a 4*6 postcard or photo paper. These are the people who are fond of photography and they can kill their free time with their own passion. You just need to buy the right equipment and learn the simple tricks of photography.

Art and Crafts

A journey from scrap book to card making to photo framing and potentially to exquisite and alluring artifacts is as easy as walking on a bed of roses. You just need wild imaginations, creativity and a strong desire to achieve something unique and remarkable. Using simple articles like paper, card board, pencil, paints and other embellishments, you can simply produce some creative and expressive products. You can even add some messages on your artifacts and sell them in market for something worth selling.

Wood working

Woodworking is again a form of art but is restricted to the use of wood for making the most beautiful and stunning wood crafts. Wooden crafts are a source of embellishment in the interiors of many houses, offices and eat outs. This art definitely requires some kind of expenses to buy high tools. It is one of the most admirable skills that stretch back to antiquity.

Collecting Postcards

One hobby that is considered to be very old fashioned is collecting postcards. No doubt, it is old fashioned but the trend still survives with may people who collect postcards from various different countries. These postcards are very valuable and can prove to be financially rewarding if you tend to sell them at any art auction.

Jewelry Making

Jewelry making is the most interesting and entertaining pastime. Jewelry can be crafted from metal, clay, silver, handmade materials and various other materials. There are unlimited possibilities for designs, patterns and kinds of jewelry.

Candle Making

Candle making is a quite common hobby for children. These days many have taken up candle making as an integral part of their business. Candles are used by everyone for various different purposes. The number of candle you make can never compete with the requirement. Be it any occasion or gatherings or interior decorations, candles are a part of all. So, a hobby like candle making can never be a waste.

Cake Decorating

Cake decorating is a unique art. Many occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas parties and other social gatherings always have a cake. So, take cake decorating as your hobby and expose your creativity among a huge crowd. This is one of the best pastimes and hobbies .

Collecting is More than Just a Hobby - Its Valuable Too!

Collectables

Buying, selling and trading collectables if a favorite hobby for millions of Americans. And the items that these Americans chose to collect can range from common collectables, such as coins, fine china figurines, and stamps, to other unique or less common collectable items. Of course, the value associated with any type of collectable will vary greatly. Some collectables will be worth considerable sums of money – for instance, a fine art collection – while others will have a value expressed merely in sentimental value.

How much are your collectables worth?

Even though collectors always have a fair amount of sentimental value in their collections, everyone always wants to now how much their collection is worth in dollars and cents. Figuring out the value of a collection is not always easy, and is influenced by multiple factors. The most important factor is demand – just think of the craze over Beanie Babies in the late 1990s that pushed the price for relatively cheap stuffed animals through the roof, all built on an overwhelming demand and artificially restricted supply. This can also be seen in other recent collectable crazes such as Furbies, Pokemon cards and the Tickle Me Elmo. Restricting the supply of a specific collectable is a common tactic used by manufacturers to push up the value and demand of their wares. Manufacturers will often produce limited editions to raise interest among the collecting public. Another major factor is time. As a general rule, the older the item, the more valuable it could be. Take baseball cards, one of the most popular collectable series ever produced in the United States. The older cards can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars for dedicated collectors.

Who are these collectors?

Almost anything imaginable can be collected. For this reason, there is no specific demographic for the collector. Just think of the range of items that have been consistently collected over the past few decades: coins, stamps, comic books, commemorative plates, postcards, political memorabilia, and porcelain dolls. And collecting is not confined to any one generation. Indeed, it seems that every generation has its own hallmark collector’s item, from G.I. Joes, to Cabbage Patch Kids, to Beanie Babies.

How should I display my collectables?

If you have gone to the effort of assembling a top notch collection, it seems a bit silly to stow everything away in a box in your basement! You should be proud of your collection, and want to display it in a manner that lets you enjoy your collection and helps preserve it. A whole companion industry has developed to provide collectors with the proper products to preserve and display their collectables. For instance, larger collectables such as models or dolls can be displayed in glass and plastic cases. Trading cards, stamps and coins can be placed in glass or plastic sleeves or envelopes, which are great because they protect the item, but allow you to view and handle it.

The future of collecting

The Internet has profoundly changed the way people collect. With the rise of popular online auction sites, collectors can now locate and purchase collectables with a level of efficiency and ease that most would have never thought was possible. Online auction sites such as eBay also work to create new markets for collectables, often driving prices up for lucky sellers. Other retailers have used the Internet to create a retail presence that can be accessed from anywhere in the world, increasing their market and exposure. The short of it is that it has never been easier for a collector to find that one highly sought after piece.

How do I start a collection?

While starting a collection can be an exciting time, it can also be frustrating and disappointing; lured into the hobby with dreams of amassing a comprehensive collection, it is common to be disappointed with your meager collection at first. But try not to let that get you down. Enjoy the items you have, and start planning your strategy to get those hard to find items. After all, collectables are meant to be fun – it is a hobby, not a job; if you are not enjoying it, do not bother. The best collections are not just the product of determination, but also a product of love. You should love the items that you are collecting. If you are just collecting for the sake of collection, hoping to make a few extra dollars on the side, you will never be able to make a true connection with your buyers, and it will just become another job for you.

If you are having trouble growing your collection, search out local experts and join hobby groups with likeminded individuals, either in your community or through online forums or blogs. Indeed, one of the best things about collecting is the relationships you will develop with other collectors.

Steve Dolan has been collecting for many years. Find out what to collect at Collecting and Collections Collect Coins - then click Coin Collecting and for stamps Stamps and Stamp Collecting

Hobbies for Retired People

Retirement is the time when most people wonder how they are going to fill up their time which was otherwise occupied by work. This is the time to pursue your hobbies and interests actively. Hobby not only gives a certain direction to the life of a retired individual but also allows him to relax and experience joy through his interests. Some of the hobbies for retired people include singing, reading, photography, bird watching, sky gazing, learning a foreign language, gardening, painting, listening and collecting music, writing, blogging etc.

Reading

Reading is one of the most common hobbies that retired people pursue. Not only does it absorb you and transport you to a different world, but reading is also a form of relaxation. Be it novels, magazines, short stories, poetries or just a piece of writing, reading broadens your scope of knowledge and also builds ones vocabulary.

Bird Watching

Apart from reading, bird watching is another interesting hobby loved by many especially retired people. There are many clubs that one can join through which you can enjoy knowing about different kinds of birds and spotting them as well. Many people pursue bird watching as a hobby and then pen down their experience along with pictures of various birds that they may have seen in their scrap book.

Sky Gazing/Star Gazing

Like bird watching, sky gazing or star gazing is other hobby that many senior citizens like to pursue. Star gazing does not mean merely mean staring at the sky and enjoying the stars. Before one pursues this hobby, it is better to read some books about astronomy and space. You can also browse through the internet and learn about the basics of astronomy. One can also visit a planetarium which is a great place to know more about stars, constellations and the solar system. Once you have a basic understanding of the sky, you can join sky/ star gazing club or buy a telescopes through which you can get the best view of the sky. You can see planets, moons, galaxies and nebulas with a telescope which can be a lot of fun.

Writing & Reading Poetries

Reading and writing poetries can also be a good hobby to choose. You can pursue your hobby by reading a few famous classic poets. Penning your thoughts down also helps you towards writing good poems. Studying poetry, understanding it and reading more and more poets is the way people can develop this hobby and what better joy that getting your work published!

Age is never a limit to learn anything new. Develop a child-like curiosity and learn to develop your hobbies so that you can have fun and enjoy every moment of your life!

Interesting Hobbies for Women

A hobby refreshes and rejuvenates you like nothing else. Be it painting, cooking, gardening or stamp collection, your hobby can add great meaning to your life. While deciding on a hobby which you can actively pursue, many things are taken into consideration such as your skill set, your interests, availability of time and even resources available to you. It is said that most women have an artistic bend of mind and can do any activity with a lot of creativity and zeal. There are so many hobbies that a woman can actively pursue. Some of the interesting hobbies for women are as follows:

Embroidery

Embroidery is a great hobby to pursue. Using a thread and a needle, you can pursue this art of decorating a material with beautiful designs. Materials like metal strips, beads, quills, pearls and sequins are also used in embroidery. Many women love to indulge in hand embroidery to decorate wall hangings, saree borders, pillowcases, quilts and table mats etc. Hand embroidery is an art that almost any woman can easily learn. . Many books on needlework and embroidery are available in the markets that help you learn the basics of embroidery.

Cooking

Cooking can be a great hobby to pursue as it helps to relieve stress. Experimental cooking and trying new recipes can be quite a fun! Trying different ingredients and combining unusual things can be a totally different experience in cooking. There are so many books that are available in the market that can help women to learn the basics of cooking. Attending cooking classes can also be a great idea to enhance you skills in the kitchen and develop your hobby.

Jewellery Making

Jewellery is every woman’s fascination. Jewellery making as a hobby is being pursued by more and more women because it also gives them a chance to make their hobby into a full time business. Beads, threads, sequins, artificial diamonds and other materials are being used to make unique jewellery pieces which are in demand. Women who want to start pursuing this hobby can learn the basics of jewellery making by attending professional classes and courses on jewellery designing.

Lantern and Candle Making

Indian handicrafts such as traditional lanterns and candles are beautifully made. This can be pursued as a hobby too because the process is quite simple and can be done at home as well. It is said that candle making is one hobby that gives you a therapeutic experience as it helps you to relax and explore your creativity side. All one needs to do is buy the supplies that are required for candle making such as moulds, wax, glitter etc and supplies needed for lantern making such a different coloured paper, sticks, glue etc. You can also join a crash course in the same to learn the basics.

Painting

Painting is an age old hobby that many women have enjoyed for many years in the past. This hobby may be old but it helps to unleash your creative side considering you can paint your mind. You can learn different forms of art and work with various mediums like water colors, oil painting, glass painting, acrylic painting, oil painting etc.

There are many such hobbies that women can pursue that helps them to relax, have fun and learn at the same time. However, it is important to choose a hobby and dedicate yourself to innovating and continuous learning in that field.

Find Your Own Hobby

"I love playing piano!" or" My passion is painting!" and" Writing is my delight!" All these different things are the embodiment of the human being uniqueness; we all have something we like and greatly enjoy doing.

Times change and people change. Nowadays, world is defined by the world speed, time has never been so compressed as it is today, work is overwhelming and it seems that anyone submits to this scheme: home- work- home- work.

Surprisingly, there still are individuals who understand that life is so much more than that, and they try to enlarge their spare time and take the advantages of it. Besides spending times with their families, some persons have an impulse to do a certain activity and they focus their attention and energy on the accomplishment of that "project". That is what happens when one has a HOBBY!

Those people are divided into two categories:

a) the ones who discovered their hobby by doing that certain activity;

b) the ones who were deliberately looking for such an activity and they tried certain things in order to see which one is the most suitable for them.

After they decided what their hobby is, they did everything necessary so that they would satisfy their new desire. To make things clearer, I will proceed by giving some examples.

An old existing hobby is the minute work of collecting stamps. Another one could be a special interest in sports, such as football, soccer, basketball, wrestling, or having a special interest in certain objects: motorcycles, skateboards, bikes, old automobiles, colorful kites. Some can find a hobby in teaching, driving, cooking, etc.

Psychologists state the following theory, which I totally agree with because can be easily proved: having certain preoccupations (hobbies) makes your life quality grow by enhancing the level of happiness. This can be explained as follows: if you have a hobby and you succeed in its accomplishment, you feel a strong sensation of fulfillment, which eventually makes you happier. Further on, if you make the job you have your hobby, your outcomes shall be more than just satisfactory, meaning that you will have the chance to do two things at once: do your job and fulfill your hobby.

By doing this you get a double satisfaction: a material one (your salary) and a spiritual one (a benefic feeling). Another advantage from having a hobby is that you develop skills connected to it, you use both your left and you right hemisphere of your brain (the first one is concerned with the rational and the second one with the imagination), you consume your extra-energy, you might find new friends, people who are interested in the same thing that you are, etc.

Once reading all this, you might conclude that you have a commonplace life and maybe your wish is to have a hobby too. You might think that you do not have any particular interests or you are not good enough at doing anything. I really doubt this is reality!

You should start trying different activities, because you might be a person included in the b category stated above. In order to help you, I can suggest a few activities: going fishing, going shopping, cooking, painting, singing, reading poems, why not, writing poems, playing an instrument, playing a game, making haircuts, learning foreign languages, make a psychology course, start traveling, collecting some objects, and there are so many other things you can start doing and just see you enjoy doing that certain thing.

It is like fixing a goal in life and then following it!

Another issue could be helping others while you practice you hobby. Maybe you discover that you enjoy so much donating material support to orphanages, or to all sort of institutions.

Many people can take huge benefits from this. Or maybe you love cooking and you are an excellent chef: many persons visit your restaurant every day and feel very pleased about the service you offer, or you can be a great painter, and your works gladdens the eye of the beholder.

However, you have a series of choices, and all of them are decent and delightful and can offer an enormous satisfaction. It is you who has to decide upon one or many, feeling optimistic about it and exploiting it at maximum.

Hobbyists Set Sail with Scale Model Replicas of Wooden Ships

By Linda Orlando

Building and collecting scale model vehicles has been a popular hobby for hundreds of years. There are literally millions of model kits available to hobbyists who enjoy this labor of love, from automobiles to airplanes, to locomotives, to stagecoaches, and even zeppelins. But the most intricate and beautiful of all scale model vehicles are undoubtedly models of wooden ships. Historical sailing vessels are not just vehicles; they are a reminder of the past, when powerful captains commanded a rough group of salty seadogs and scalawags, when pirates roamed the seas looting and pillaging vessels of less power and might. A modeler committed to the task of building one of these scale model wooden ships can almost smell the salt air and hear the gulls screeching as he carefully pieces together the intricate fittings, affixes the sails to the wooden mast, and ties tiny knots into thin fibers to create nets and riggings. The completed vessels are truly works of art.

One of the most exhaustive websites containing links to all kinds of scale model building sites is ScaleModel.net, located in the Republic of China. ScaleModel.net has been on the Web since 1996, but its creator has been a fan of scale models since the 1960s. According to the site, he is currently interested in building static display models of all kinds of classic vehicles including antique submarines and locomotives; the Ford Model T automobile; The Alfa Romeo Spider Touring Gran Sport; WWI German fighter planes; and even science fiction classics such as the Star Destroyer seen in the Star Wars movies. But the gems shown on his site are the regal and lovely historical ships, such as the Santa Maria, the U.S.S. Constitution, and the H.M.S. Victory. ScaleModel.net contains not only modeling news headlines, but also links to dozens of useful sites that sell model kits or completed models, and it provides information of all kinds for modelers.

Tallships, Inc., specializes in museum quality model ships and model boats from around the world. The ship model kits sold on this website can take you back to the most exciting era in the history of sailing ships, the Tall Ship Era. At Tallships, Inc, you will find exciting model ship and model boat kits for the beginner as well as the advanced model ship or model boat builder. Models for sale are offered from the model industry’s top manufacturers, including Billing Boats, Dumas, Midwest, Amati, Corel, Sergal, Panart, and many others. You will also find ship modeling tools, books, paints, fittings, wood and supplies. There is even a Model Ship and Model Boat Gallery, if you are looking for a pre-built ship model. The ship models and model boat kits sold by Tallships, Inc., are made of the best materials available to ensure that your scale model ship or model boat is built to the highest standards.

If you love owning and displaying wooden scale model ships but don’t have the time to build your own, you can also buy them already built. BoutiqueJewels.com is an group of online shops selling a variety of items, and one of the web shops located at this site is ModelShipsBoutique.com. This site offers ready to display, exquisitely detailed model ships and boats made of high quality wood. The ships and sailboats are made to scale and feature detailed masts, sails, rigging, and decks. Ships are available in categories including Executive Line, Premiere Line, and Nautical Line. These are not model kits; the models are delivered to you completely built, with no assembly required.

Model Ship Master is another site that sells pre-built ship models, but their ships are built to order by commission. They claim to build any models at any scale, and any quality. The model ship masters love to build ships, especially models that are considered beyond museum quality. All they need is detailed plans and photos of the real-life ship or boat, and they can finish a complicated model in just six months, delivering monthly progress reports along the way. They also offer a repair service for damaged models.

For everyone who loves both seagoing vessels and scale models, there are many websites on the Internet that offer you the chance to build or own a highly detailed, exquisitely built model ship, so check them out! You never know what treasures you may discover.

Taking Advantage of the Online ‘Knitwork’

By Anastacia Mott Austin

By now most people have probably heard of the book Stitch n’ Bitch, by Debbie Stoller. Published in 2003, it became a best seller, as modern women rediscovered the ancient art of knitting. Many knitters consider the book their knitting "Bible," and carry it in their knitting bags, with favorite pages worn and dog-eared.

With chapter titles like "Go-go Garter Stitch Scarf," "The Rules of Engagement: What Not to Knit for Your Boyfriend," "Ribbed for Her Pleasure Scarf," and "Never Look a Gift Hat in the Mouth," the book takes a cheeky, yet reverent look at modern knitting.

Other books followed, the most popular of which taking the same humorous yet dedicated view of knitting as did "Stitch n’Bitch." Some of my favorites include self-proclaimed "Yarn Harlot" Stephanie Pearl-McPhee’s books At Knit’s End and Knitting Rules!, as well as the handy The Knitting Answer Book by Margaret Radcliffe, and Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Knitting Without Tears.

All over the world, "Stitch n’Bitch" groups sprang up after Stoller determined to "take back the knit," and women got together to knit, learn new techniques from each other and talk, or "bitch," about life.

Though historically knitting has been considered "women’s work," and thus not worth all that much in a man’s world, with the advent of the "Stitch n’ Bitch" concept, knitting was reclaimed by feminists who wanted a knitting room of their own.

"Betty Friedan and other like-minded feminists had overlooked an important aspect of knitting when they viewed it simply as part of women’s societal obligation to serve everyone around them – they had forgotten that knitting served the knitter as well," writes Stoller.

Women – and men – heeded the call, and now knitting is definitely "hot." New yarn and knitting supply stores are opening every day and experiencing success. Old is new again, with vintage knitting patterns making a comeback. New materials such as silk, bamboo, hemp, and 100% organic cotton are being made into super-soft, stunningly beautiful yarns. Knitting needles are being made of metal, plastic, rare woods, and even glass. Knitting has become hip, and carries the price tag that can go with that.

However, it is possible to learn to knit and maintain the hobby without breaking one’s personal back account (though it is a challenge – once you start buying those great yarns, it’s almost impossible to stop!). A basic pair of knitting needles can be purchased at a your neighborhood craft store, or online (you can find great deals on eBay!) and there are some lovely, inexpensive yarns out there.

In addition, online knitting networks are everywhere, and tips for learning how to knit, discovering new techniques, or troubleshooting problems are easy to find. Many of these sites also have free patterns, or a shared pattern network.

There are even knitting websites that have videos that can show you different techniques. It’s as close as you can get to having your own personal knitting guru.

Just like in-person Stitch-n’-Bitch groups, online friendships and communities can be formed over the shared love of knitting. Only fellow knitters can truly understand one another, and the fact that knitting is really so much more than just a hobby.

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee puts it this way in Knitting Rules: "Knitting is endlessly interesting. Knitting lets you turn one thing into another, and better than that, a variety of ‘anothers.’ A ball of yarn could be anything at all: a hat, a book cover, a bag…that innocent-looking string could be anything, and it’s all up to the knitter."

List of Hobbies and Interests

Life would be very boring without hobbies; we would appear like robots, without feelings, like color blind creatures, like aliens on our own planet. Hobbies give sense to our existence.

Since early childhood we have a daily routine, since our first nursery school day. Therefore, in order to keep a balance between busy moments and free time we take up hobbies.

We could talk about a long list of hobbies or about a list of hobbies and interests. These lists are different, depending on factors like age, sex, region, family background, education or personality.

For example, let’s start a list of hobbies according to age. When we are small children, our hobbies may be:
1. playing computer games: there are kids who don’t do to the kitchen for eating, they ask for their food to be taken in front of the computer, and they are terribly angry if somebody disturbs them when they play a game
2. watching cartoons: a lot of kids watch cartoons so that they learn their replicas by heart. Cartoons which lead to hobbies are Disney ones and recently Scooby-Doo.
3. taking up different sports: football, handball, basketball, gymnastics, volleyball
4. playing a musical instrument: piano, guitar
5. looking after a pet: cat, dog, hamster, fish, parrot
6. bird watching, which means getting ready with binoculars and lots of patience and climbing mountains in order to watch eagles, for example
7. horse riding
8. collecting things: stamps, badges, postcards, pens

There are a lot of hobby ideas; you may even make a list of hobby ideas:
1. body painting
2. underwater photography
3. rice sculpture
4. exploring extra sensorial capacities, through different methods like hypnosis
5. aerobics in the water
6. animal communication
7. making stunts
8. cooking zany food
9. making robots
10. stars watching
11. taming wild animals
12. exploring volcanoes and underwater caves
13. hobbies related to the religions of the world
14. traveling and exploring exotic countries.

An unusual hobby is to make garden decorations from stone and cement, with glass patterns. They are easy to be made and they are not very expensive, as when we take up a hobby, we must also take into account whether it is expensive or affordable. There can be different shapes, which can be found in shops, or you may use food containers. You can create models from glass, ceramics, metal or any other material which may look good in your garden.

These hobbies can be taken up by both boys and girls.
Teenagers change their hobbies or add new hobbies to the list. Now we can talk about a list of hobbies and interests. They are mainly having following Interests:
1. music, dancing, disco : they have usually a model in life from the showbiz and they collect everything about them
2. Sport, even extreme sports. Those can be divided into indoor sports and out door sports.
3. fitness, especially those girls or women who are afraid of putting on weight
4. cars and scooters – not just the driving but gaining detailed knowledge about their parts, different specifications of different models, their functions etc.
5. computers, not necessarily games : they are interested in chatting with friends, sometimes with friends from other countries made on the internet
6. movies, actors and actresses

The most courageous ones may take up extreme sports like:
1. bungee jumping
2. hang gliding
3. parachuting
4. windsurfing
5. hot air ballooning

If you live in a mountain area, you may have hobbies like mountain climbing, you may be interested in different species of plants, animals, birds or insects which have the habitat in your area, or you may have as hobby painting landscapes, or taking photos.
If you have a nice voice, you may start singing and even making a band.
According to sex, I can say that girls and later women are interested in:
1. fashion
2. cosmetics
3. astrology, yoga, magic
4. cooking
5. child care
6. diets
7. natural remedies
8. knitting
9. sewing
10 modeling
11. dancing
12. jewels

Special hobbies taken up by men, in general are:
1. football or any other sport,
2. computers – Today every thing of yesteryears has been changed by computer revolution. There is much more than just games… It in fact opens a great large window of knowledge for every one.
3. movies,
4. traveling
5. driving
6. riding motorbikes
7. mountain climbing
8. photography – there is much more than just clicking. There are various types like still photography, digital photography and various techniques like adjusting range, light and shadow, printing techniques.
9. reading – Book are treasure of knowledge and this hobby will certainly come helping a long way in life.
10. playing cards (which may even lead to gambling and addiction)
11. fishing, especially in the case of extremely calm people
12. playing chess or backgammon, or GO

Family background is also important in taking up a hobby. For example, in a family where one of the members is an artist, it is very probable that their children or sportsperson have the same hobbies or interests.

Hobbies depend on personality. A choleric person could never take up a hobby like making models, as he a she would not have the patience necessary.

Actually, life is great and you can make a hobby out of the most insignificant thing, with a little imagination, and it will help you have a positive thinking, and you even might consider you a happy person, even if from philosophical point of view happiness can be reached very rarely and only by a few people.

Hot Balloon Ride Festivals: Get Ready for a Hot Air Balloon Ride

If you are interested in hot air ballooning, then you should know that is indeed fairly easy to get involved with it. Getting involved in hot air ballooning is as simple a process as following a hot air balloon and meeting it where it lands – yes that means it is indeed simple but it takes a lot of time, patience, courage and energy.

Ever heard of hot air balloon ride festivals?

If you are interested in hot air ballooning, then you should probably go experience the thrill of a hot air balloon festival. Hot air balloon festivals are generally held in all countries all over the world, all year round. Not only do these festivals give the balloonists a chance to participate in the races while providing them with the opportunity to display their balloons, but it is also a great way of drawing crowds and allowing the public to witness this colorful spectacle while learning more about the sport.

There are hundreds of different hot air balloon ride festivals held every year, with the maximum number of them taking place in the months of summer and fall. If you are planning on visiting one of these festivals this year, then you should know like most hot air balloon festivals are like carnivals – from food and entertainment, to music and fun and all the razzle dazzle that comes along with it – hot air balloon festivals are like the ‘Mardi Gras’ for balloonists, minus the samba dancers of course!

So, be prepared to wake up early in the morning because many flights take place in the wee hours of the morning, and I’m sure you wouldn’t want to miss that – would you? If you are interested in hot air ballooning – not just from a fun ride point of view – but you want to learn the ins and outs of the activity, then feel free to ask the pros questions. They’ll be more than willing to answer your questions, and if you are lucky enough, you’ll probably come across a balloonist that stays in your vicinity.

Getting Started with Hot Air Ballooning: Hot Air Balloon Ride Tips
No matter how you decide to get into the groove of hot air ballooning, you will surely fall in love with this sport. Its unique appeal makes it all the more attractive to adrenaline junkies of all ages. What’s more, it is one of the best conversation starters at a club, pub, coffee shop and even a PTA! It also makes a great first date for the young, a good outing for the families and an amazing travel adventure for the elderly.

So, when you are getting started with hot air ballooning, here are a few tips (no matter how inconsequential they may seem) to consider, as they will be of use to you:

    * Here are a couple of items to carry along when you go on a hot balloon ride – warm jackets, camcorders, cameras, binoculars, camera batteries, and film.
    * Search in the yellow pages or online for the best possible ballooning companies. Ask around for references and find the most popular ballooning area.
    * Call in advance to book a flight. Prices vary from company to company. You might have to pay extra for chartering a flight and if you want special goodies like champagne and wine then you’ll need to customize your flight, which costs more.
    * Shop around for different packages and deals. Most hot air balloon companies provide full-day and half-day trips.
    * Be prepared to start off early – as most companies will ask you to come to the launch pad at dawn when the wind is mild or non existent. Bad weather conditions would mean your trip gets cancelled. After all, you don’t want to be involved in a hot air balloon crash do you?
    * As silly as it may seem, most companies will advice you to use the restroom before you come in for your flight. Trust me, this is the most useful tip.

Hot Air Balloon Ride Precautions

    * When ballooning, don’t get tensed about falling from the basket – it doesn’t really sway that much.
    * If you are going to a popular ballooning destination, then book your ride in advance.
    * Even though most hot air balloons tend to go where the wind takes them, make sure there is some ground crew following your particular balloon. But don’t worry about getting lost; the ground crew always keeps in touch with the pilot by radio.
    * Even if you suffer from motion sickness, most people don’t get airsick when going on a hot air balloon ride. But if you are still concerned, then carry your motion sickness medication along.
    * If you suffer from vertigo, then you may want to reconsider going for this activity.

Yes, hot air ballooning is indeed addictive. Once you go for your first hot air balloon ride, you are definitely going to be hooked to the sport. You can say goodbye to sleep, boring weekends! Once you are hooked, you’ll want to go ballooning all the time.

Hobby Stores - Hobby Shops

Today, hobbies have really gone beyond their primary function. Hobbies - meant to relax you and deviate you from your daily grind have also translated into a profession for many. It is therefore not uncommon to see people diverging from a thriving career to pursue their hobbies with complete passion.

Choose a hobby that will conquer your stress levels and help you discover new things about yourself. To make matters easy, you can simply jot down your interests and things you are truly passionate about. Explore new avenues. The options are infinite!

In this fast paced world you can even find hobby stores that cater to the needs of diverse people and their varied interests. This is the place that houses so many different things you can ever imagine under the sun. A trip to any hobby shop around the corner will reveal products you probably may have never imagined. Browse online and you will get a plethora of categories.

Identifying the appropriate hobby:

Know your prime interests and passions. You could have a specific skill towards music or painting, make sure you enhance them. You can even take on a new challenge. It makes the pursuit more exciting. Developing new interests help you interact and meet new people.

Do keep the budget in mind when you embark upon new ventures.

Types of hobbies:

Arts and Crafts:
A sure way to enhance your creative skills, any hobby related to arts and crafts is bound to help you reduce stress levels for adults and in case of children, they get the opportunity to improve their skills and showcase their talent. Most hobby stores have a range of options to woo their customers in style. For those interested in fabric paintings can choose from fabric paints that are packaged either in bottles or tubes to make things easier for people without any artistic skill. Glass craft is also popular with readymade stencils available at any hobby shop. Trying paper craft would offer you novels ways to discover new things with the do-it-yourself kits. Most hobby shops have a lot of such kits that guide the novice to achieve great results.

Toys/Games:
Children can be pulled away from their television sets once they discover the world of fun and educative games and toys. Make sure you visit a hobby store that stocks educational games that compel your child to think. Jigsaw puzzles, Model kits, Science kits, Building blocks, Chinese checkers, Chess, Monopoly, Scrabble all help to build a child’s technique of applying his mind to think in different situations.

Collecting items:
Some people have a unique interest in gathering unusual items like stamps, coins, dolls, artifacts etc. Your local hobby store can be a perfect guide for you in this regard. You can browse through it and find products like a stamp book in varied designs that can help you guard your collection and display it, when your friends drop in for a visit.

Make your own creations:
You don’t really have to buy that pretty doll you saw at the mall. There are great options available at hobby shops that can teach you how to make these items within the confines of your own home. Learn to make jewelry boxes, costumes, dolls, puppets, bags etc. Though it may sound complicated, you can get an array of books and even supplies and materials to help you make that cute lil’ dolly for your kid.

You can browse online, select and order the products from the local hobby store. So, the next time you switch on your television set, make sure you do it only after you finish tinkering around with your favorite hobby.

Scale Modeling

There are a number of ways to retain the extravagance witnessed on a large scale, like that of cars, railroads and airplanes. They include pictures, brochure printing, scale models and toys. Of all, scale models are best designed to enable the owner to indulge in fantasy with a single glance at the replica. A scale model is a smaller representation of any large object. In fact, such models are used to guide technicians while planning and engineering larger models. Scale modeling is the art of designing such replicas.

Scale Models:

A scale model functions like a easy-to-handle and understand smaller version of large objects. These models are created for a number of reasons. They are built to-scale by professional model-makers to test the possible performance of a particular technique or engineering design. This helps manufacturers to avoid the expenses associated with larger prototypes. The scale models are also built by people who brainstorm and come up with innovative ideas, but somehow, due to finance or drive, the object cannot be built to the actual full size. The most popular use of scale models is to promote new products at trade show promotions. In the case of heavy equipment and automobiles, brochures do not satisfy customers. This is where scale models step in.

Scale Modeling:

Scale modeling is an attractive addition to any list of hobbies. The art involves the use of die-cast modeling and injection molding in the early stages. The hobby is known to be a very fulfilling one. Scale modeling enables enthusiasts to generate replicas of railroads, road vehicles, airplanes and ships. The models are also displayed at dedicated exhibitions and trade show displays. There are stores that promote the hobby and give enthusiasts a platform to exhibit their creations. Ships in bottles are common souvenirs and the best examples of scale modeling.

Scale modeling takes precision, dedication and a passion to replicate true life, large objects. When designing a scale model from a large object, just like in cartography, the measurements have to be precise and calculated. The conversions from meters to centimeters or millimeters have to be accurate, if the model is for the purpose of scientific study.

Scale Model Airplanes:

Scale model airplanes come in two basic designs. They are either designed as static or stationery models or flying models. Static model airplanes are usually created from wood, metal, paper and via plastic recycling techniques. They are accessible as assembled models or unassembled models. The assembled versions are painted and ready for display, while the unassembled come in easily fitted parts. The popular varieties of static airplane models are commercial planes and military warcrafts. Flying airplane models come in three categories: free flight, controlled flight and radio controlled flight. They are realistic representations that can be assembled by the hobbyist or bought and displayed directly.

Scale Model Cars:

Scale model cars, especially sports cars, are very popular with boys of all ages! They can never get enough of technology and crave for each one of the fantabulous road rippers. The scale model cars also come as assembled or unassembled pieces. The unassembled versions usually comprise rectilinear or circular car parts. These scale models make great give-aways. They have helped dedicated car dealers in promotional advertising, to further their interests by displaying mini replicas to customers. Model cars are an important part of car designing and engineering.

Scale Model Railroads:

Scale model railroads comprise of kits complete with the miniature train, railroad-tracks and even add-ons like stations, trees and houses. The scale model railroads come in a variety of scales, each with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. They differ in gauge and length. While some can be 3-4 meters long, the smallest scale model railroad is only a few centimeters.

Some scale modelers go to the extent of designing blueprints with precise dimensions. They work out the measurements, numeric scale ratios, and latitude. Scale models or miniatures make great souvenirs and promotional gifts. They are easily accessible online and offline and priced according to the material used and the total quality-management in general.

The Hobby Nobody Knows: Phillumeny

When you go to a fancy restaurant or stay at a resort hotel, do you pick up a matchbook or box of matches and put it in your pocket to use later? Even people who don’t smoke or use matches will often pick up a matchbook as a souvenir, especially if the matchbook has a lovely or intriguing cover or a logo of the place it came from. There are people who have huge, impressive collections of different items related to matches-matchbooks, matchbox covers, match strikers, individual matches, and so on. If you are one of the many people who enjoy collecting matchbook-related items, then you are a phillumenist.

People started collecting matchbooks when matches first were collected into matchbooks, but there was no specific name for the practice. Marjorie Evans, a British matchbook collector who was the president of the British Matchbox Label & Booklet Society, coined the word "phillumenist" in 1943. Some matchbook collections actually include chemical matches, which were produced much earlier than the modern friction matches we use today. After WWII, there were many match manufacturers who issued special sets of matchbook covers not intended for advertising, specifically geared toward phillumenists.

By the 1960s the hobby of phillumeny grew especially popular as society became more interested in visiting exotic places and finding new ways to advertise them. But in the 1980s, with the introduction of cardboard match boxes, the hobby began waning. Collectors were disappointed with the quality of the new style matchboxes because the images on them were not as distinct and colorful, the print was of poorer quality, and they were clearly designed for straightforward advertising without as much design and flair.

As matchbooks and matchboxes became more functional and less artistic, modern matches became less interesting to collect, but the hobby of phillumeny steadily became more appealing. The reason for the heightened interest is probably that the matchbook covers from decades ago were made a long time before computers and modern printing methods began churning out ordinary matchbooks. Before the cardboard boxes, advertisers went to elaborate lengths to describe their products artistically, and each tiny cover of a matchbook was a tiny piece of art. So collections grew to include not just modern specimens of match-related items, but also collections dating back to the 1820s, when modern matches were first introduced. Phillumenists in different countries tend to collect different types of items, and they also collect match holders and strikers that aristocrats carried matches in over a century ago. Some phillumenists specialize in a certain era or type of item, while others build more general collections.

Thanks to the Internet, phillumenists around the world now have a place to gather and share information, personal stories, and galleries of their collections. These public forums have also resulted in more people becoming interested in the hobby. There were only 7 websites dedicated to phillumeny in 1998, but a decade later there are more than 100 such sites. As long as there are matches and matchbooks, there will be phillumenists.

School Locker Accessories

So you are going to sixth grade and want to be the proud owner of the best looking locker in school? Well, with the help of some cool school locker accessories, you can transform your drab looking steel lockers into the coolest looking lockers in school. They will help you organize your everyday stuff and save people from the avalanche that happens, every time you open your locker. For all those students who are tired of trying to fit a whole lot of books into a small space, these lockers are great space maximizers. And the best thing is, that you can choose the accessories that reflect your personality and style. There are a whole lot of fun accessories available for your school lockers, including storage bins, magnetic dry erase boards and locker mirrors. So whether you are looking for function, style or a bit of both, check out some great gear for your between-class hallway headquarters.

School Locker Accessories

Locker Organizers: This is a school locker accessory that is a must for all those students, who just can't seem to get all their stuff into place and end up with messy, cluttered lockers. Designed to fit into lockers of all shapes and sizes, they can be conveniently hung from one hook, two hooks, a shelf, a bar or even a closet rod. Apart from providing shelves to keep your books and notebooks in place, they also offer a space to hang your jackets or backpacks. Most of these organizers have shelves that are adjustable, and are available in bright colors.

Wire Locker Storage Baskets: For all those who would like to give the shelves a miss, try using locker storage baskets. They will store your books, shoes, backpacks and usually feature a handy loop pull tab, that allows for easy retrieval of these storage baskets from the shelves or the locker bases.

Magnetic Storage Boxes for Lockers: Available in a multitude of colors, these cool looking organizer bins, are great for holding anything in your locker boxes. From storing pens, pencils, notepads, makeup items, snacks, cell phones, i-pods and even those secret notes, these boxes provide space for all those things which are otherwise squished into overloaded lockers.

Locker Mirrors: Add a shatterproof, magnetic mirror with snazzy looking frames inside your locker, for quick fashion checks between classes. Some of this mirrors have a 'hold it bin' to house all your vanity items, from the mascaras to the lipsticks. So, the next time your crush walks by, you do not have to hunt for a mirror to straighten that cowlick.

Magnetic White Boards and Memos: This is a must have accessory for all those amnesiac students, who seem to forget everything, from their homework to the next assignment date. With your very own melamine dry erase boards in your lockers, you can jot down important reminders and notes. Most of these white boards come equipped with dry-erase pens and cool looking borders.

There are a host of other locker accessories available in almost all departmental stores, that decorate your school lockers. Magnetic accessories, such as photo frames, pencil holders, clips, notepads, clocks, etc. offer great flexibility and are available in various colors and designs. Before buying any locker accessories, keep your locker dimensions in mind, so that these accessories can easily fit into your lockers. Most importantly while purchasing these items, do take your campus rules regarding locker content into consideration. The last thing you want is you being whisked off to the principal's office, for buying your new magnetic locker light.

How to Make Edible Arrangements

An edible arrangement was something I never gave importance to and remained ignorant until one fine day, I went to my friend's house for lunch. It was a quaint house and I must say, there was a lavish lunch on display. This was the first time I actually came across something that was looking like a work of art and was edible as well! There amidst all the gourmet food, was the finest dish I ever saw. And I must admit I was initially scared to taste it, lest I spoil the beautiful arrangement!

Edible arrangements look beautiful as a centerpiece for any party or occasion. These beautiful arrangements are also useful to be given as gifts. The beauty about this art is that one has the chance of exploring their creativity. Fruits or vegetables can be decorated or carved in different ways to create new styles and arrangements. Fruits are particularly popular as they can be eaten up in a jiffy! Today, there are many stores that offer this service. These edible arrangements are packed professionally and are a refreshing change from gifting a loved one with a bouquet of flowers. Well, if you have often wondered how to make edible arrangements at home, take a look at these step-by-step instructions and learn to do it on your own!

How to Make Edible Arrangements:
These steps will help you to make an edible (fruit) flower bouquet!

What you will need:
Fresh Fruit
Florist foam
Sharp Knife
Wood skewer sticks
Container (to hold the fruits)
Cellophane

Instructions
Firstly, you need a container for the flower bouquet (along with loads of creativity)! Begin by cutting fresh fruit into desired shapes. Choose fruits such as strawberries, melon, pineapple, grapes, blueberries or blackberries. You can choose any kind best preferred and make it even more interesting by dipping these fruits in chocolate! (This chocolate can be melted in the microwave for a dip.) Your next step would be to arrange these fruits on wooden skewers.

Meanwhile, place the florist foam into the container. (Pick any kind of container or a large sized basket.) Stitch the skewers into the foam. While doing so, arrange them neatly as you would arrange a flower bouquet. Try to maintain a balance and proportion in design. Let the colors of the fruits blend well with each other. The bright sunny yellow of a pineapple can be placed next to a dark blueberry. Look to create different levels when you stitch the skewers. This helps to create a balance in design.

Place a large colorful cellophane sheet over the fruits. See that the shade used does not block the visibility of the edible arrangement. Decorate it with a beautiful ribbon in a contrasting color. Attach a card if you wish to give it to someone special!

Once you get the basic hang of how to make edible arrangements, you can learn new techniques to make it even more beautiful. Vegetables can also be used, but you need to experiment a bit with vegetable carving. With time, I am sure this will turn out to be a great gift idea for friends and family! After all, gifts made with effort score higher than something bought off the shelf. Let your creativity loose and you shall be surprised with the options. Have fun!

Build your Own Lightsaber - Instructions on How to Make a Lightsaber

All Star Wars movie fans will be able to easily identify a lightsaber, as it was this movie series that immensely popularized this remarkable sci-fi device. A lightsaber, also known as a laser sword, is a unique and versatile device that can cut through almost anything, in a matter of milliseconds. It is a kind of sword, which, instead of a metal blade, has a column of colored energy, and is also regarded as a laser weapon. The blade, suspended in the column, is made of plasma energy, which is emitted by a hilt, controlled by the wielder. Those who are fascinated by this sci-fi device, especially children, would want to have a lightsaber of their own. If you are wondering, how to build your own lightsaber, you can follow the below mentioned instructions on how to make a lightsaber.

Build Your Own Lightsaber - A Step-by-Step Guide
Building you own lightsaber is easy, inexpensive and can be great fun. At the end of the procedure, you would have a self-made tech toy, to boast about. Here's a list of tools and materials that you would require, followed by simple 'make a lightsaber' instructions.

Materials and Tools

Materials for Blade Construction

    * Duct tape.
    * Solid wires (22 gauge).
    * Polycarbonate tube with an outer diameter of at least 0.75" (but less than the inner diameter of the handle). It should be around 2.5 ft. in length.
    * 25 to 35 single colored LEDs.

Materials for Handle Construction

    * 1.25" diameter or larger PVC of around 8 - 12 inches.
    * Battery pack (2 - 4 AA batteries).
    * A switch or push 'on and off' button.
    * A small motor for creating vibrations and some sound effects.
    * The length of the handle and the blade put together, should be 3 inches.

Tools

    * Drill
    * PVC cutter
    * Soldering setup
    * Hacksaw

Lightsaber Construction

Step 1 - Constructing the Handle: Measure the desired length of the handle and cut out the PVC, with a PVC cutter. Then, cut out a slot for the battery pack, in the bottom of the handle, drill a hole to place the switch wherever desired, and then fix the switch there.

Step 2 - Constructing the Blade: To form the blade, cut out a blade of the length desired, from the polycarbonate. You can make the blade translucent, if it is not so, by rubbing sandpaper through the length of the blade, till the surface is almost white and the blade is not seen. Then, take the other end of the blade tip and measure and mark 0.25 inches from the bottom. Wrap a duct tape around the marked point, to make this point on the blade, thick enough to wedge firmly into the handle.

Step 3 - Constructing the LED String: Take two wires and strip off their insulation. Attach the positive side of the LED to the top of one of the wires. The LED will have two metal legs, and the longer one of the two is its positive side. Continue attaching the LEDs down the length of the wire, till the desired length is achieved. Each LED should be placed at the tail end of another LED and the same procedure should be repeated with the negative side. Make sure that the positive side does not touch the negative side, as this can cause a short circuit. The blade will not light, if this happens. Place the string of LEDs in the blade and attach them to its bottom.

Step 4 - Electronic Set-up: Make sure that the switch is fixed properly and then attach the LED wires and leads, using a soldering setup. Attach the blade to the handle, in a way that the LED wires protrude out of the handle. Solder all the loads across the battery pack, keeping the switch in between. Then solder all the wires of the motor to the wires of the battery pack, and insert all of it into the handle. Make sure that they fit properly. The wires are to be arranged, so that they are not jammed together, and that the motor shaft is not touching any of the other components. Your lightsaber is ready for use.

The steps mentioned above are just one of the many ways to build your own lightsaber. Now that you have finished with the lightsaber construction, try if it works, rectify the errors in construction, if any, and enjoy your self-made lightsaber.

Make Your Own Decals

There are many different ways by which one can create their own decals. Although decals are available in a large variety in the market, it is better to create decals at home in order to customize them. One can use his creativity in the preparation of customized decals.

Decals

Decals, also know as 'transfers', are made of cloth, paper, plastic or ceramic substrate. Their surfaces have a imprinted pattern, which can be transferred onto other surfaces by means of water or heat. Water decals include types such as 'water-dip', 'water-slide' and the 'peel-and-stick' ones. The peel-and-stick ones are the custom vinyl decals. Vinyl is a petroleum based product. Decals are pasted on vehicles such as motorcycles, cars, trucks and even guitars among many other things. Nowadays, the design pattern for decals are made with the help of computer software.

Make Your Own Decals

Creating our own decals is a nice way to express ourselves or to mark important things. To make your own decal, a software program is a good option. Software such as the 'Adobe Photoshop' are commonly used to create decals. Such software can be downloaded from the company website. After one clicks on the 'download' link, the installation gets completed in a matter of minutes. Once the above process get over, you can head on to make your own decals.

As you begin using the software, you should proceed by clicking on the 'File' and 'New' buttons. The dimensions for the decals should be selected. Common decals usually measure 10 inches in length and 3 inches in breadth. The minimum resolution for the decal needs to be 300 DPI. The background color for the decal should be chosen from the available range of colors. The colors can be selected by clicking on the color button present on the right hand side of the screen. The 'paint bucket' option helps in filling the desired color in the decal. The 'T' option enables us to customize the size, font and color of the text.

Once the designing process gets over, one can upload it to a suitable website. With the help of such websites, the decal design can be placed on the items of your choice such as mugs, teddy bears, T-shirts, etc. These items can be ordered thereafter.

Printing Decals at Home

To print decals at home, one is required to have materials such as an inkjet printer, decal paper, decal bonder, etc. The decal paper is printed with the desired pattern or design with the help of an inkjet printer. After the above process gets over, the paper is coated with a decal bonder. The second coat is applied after a period of 20 minutes. The paper should be allowed to cure after the application of second coat for about 24 hours. The paper is cut with the help of scissors to give it the desired shape. The decal should be placed in warm water for about 30 seconds and placed on the surface where it has to be pasted. The decal setting solution needs to be applied to the paper after it is properly placed. Multiple coats of the solution could be applied if necessary. The solution should then be allowed to dry.

To make your own decals is a fun-filled activity. One can display his creativity in preparing a nice and decorative decal.

How to Make Balloon Hats

Balloon hats, an international and multicultural phenomenon, has been attracting people across the globe. This balloon hat concept was introduced to the world by two innovative individuals: Addi Somekh and Charlie Eckert. Balloon twister Addi Somekh and photographer Charlie Eckert took off on a ten year mission to create a photo art book. They traveled to 34 countries, twisted more than 200,000 balloons and have over 12,000 photos of different people wearing all kinds of innovative balloon head gear prepared by them. Balloon hats are prepared by twisting long, skinny balloons into joined sections, such that they hold their shape and fit onto the head. Also popularly known as the inflatable crown, these balloon hats bring a smile on faces all around the world.

How to Make Balloon Hats
One requires long balloons and a pump to make gorgeous balloon hats. Making balloon hats is easy and once the skill has been mastered, one can get as creative as possible and come up with master pieces. Referring to some balloon twisting tips and tricks can help making balloon hats easier. To start off with, there are some simple steps which will help a beginner make balloon hats.

    * The first step is to take the long balloons and blow them up with the pump, until they are ¾ full.
    * Next tie two of the long balloons together at their mouthpieces.
    * To make the balloon hat's rim, one should measure a little more than a foot down each balloon, and then gently twist the balloons until they stay together. The hat rim is ready.
    * Take the third balloon and tie it to the front mouthpieces, gently forming a curve. This balloon should be allowed to run over the top (where the head will be) and then twist it back with the other two joined balloons.
    * The pieces sticking out of the back are to be bent and tied to the base (by twisting).

For a shaved poodle look, one can try squeezing out a portion of the air from the balloon. If one wishes to have beads or balls attached to the hat, then one can twist small fist-sized sections and attach it to the hat. The trick behind achieving a crazy hat is that the bigger and crazier the balloon hat get, the better! One can add as many balloons as one desires to the balloon base. However, since the hat has to be worn on the head, one should ensure some symmetry for balance.

How to Make Birthday Hats with Balloons
Balloons and birthday hats have been popularly loved by children for centuries. If these two items have been a hit with children independently, then the combination will work as well. Balloon birthday party hats will definitely add color to the party, and keep the children excited and occupied. The party hats can be made according to different party themes such as animal party hats, country themes, fruits, vegetables, fairies, etc. Below is an idea that can be used for a birthday party hat.

Beetle Hat:

    * Choose two different colors of balloons and inflate ¾ of the balloon. The rest ¼ of the balloon is to left as it is and appears like a tail. However, one should make sure that the tail lengths of both the balloons are equal. Tie a knot, but make sure the knot is not too tight.
    * Next twist a bubble from the tail end in each balloon and lock them together.
    * For the nose, make a pinch twist in one of the balloons. Next, make a loop that will be big enough to fit the head, and twist the balloons together at the end opposite to the nose.
    * Once the loop for the head is ready, and the balloons are firmly twisted in place, one should roll the loose knot made at the time of inflation. When the knot is loosened, the air beyond the head loop will get released. The extra balloon piece can be cut and discarded.
    * For the eyes, inflate a white balloon at one end of the balloon to form a size of a fist. Tie a knot on either of the fist shaped bubble, and twist it into half.
    * The eyes are ready and are to be pushed on the nose to the back of the head, and are to be tied together. The excess tail is to be discarded.
    * As of now the eyes are at the back of the head, which are now to be pushed between the antenna's and nose towards the front. Draw eyeballs on to the white balloon eyeballs.
    * For the complete effect of the antennae, poodle tails are to be created. The beetle hat is ready!

These steps on how to make party hats with balloons can be modified according to individual preference. Balloon hats are great for all kinds of parties such as costume parties, birthday parties, to wear in parades, to make a quick costume, to cheer up someone, and many other occasions. However, one must be careful with younger children, as their ear drums are very sensitive. The balloon hat for younger children should not be near the ears. There are several free balloon twisting instructions available online, which help learn the art of twisting balloons.

Free Balloon Twisting Instructions

The fact is, that for a very long time I was unable to handle a balloon without destroying it (exaggeration intended!). Nonetheless, on my nephew's 5th birthday party, I decided to take up balloon twisting as a challenge. After several tries, I seemed to get into the groove of it. Below, I have discussed a few simple and free balloon twisting instructions. A graduation to tougher twists will be a piece of cake once you have mastered these.

First Balloon Twisting Shape - Dog
This is a very popular shape and one of the easiest to make. So, in case you are in a rush to impress a cutie, here is your cheat code.

    * Take a 260 balloon and inflate it. At the tail end, leave 4 inches un-inflated. Don't ask me why, you will know in due course of time!
    * Now, from the nozzle end, fold the balloon about six inches. Don't worry, it will not break!
    * Now, squeeze the two parts of the folded balloon about 2 inches from the fold. Further, twist the squeezed portion. Two or three twists should do the trick. These are the ears of the doggy and the knot, is its nose.
    * Now, the front and back legs. They are made the same way as the ears. Fold the balloon an inch below the twist that formed the ears. Twist the balloon to form the front legs of the dog.
    * Last but not the least, fold the balloon 2 inches away from the twist that formed the front legs. Now, twist.

Your happy helper doggy is ready. Bow Wow!!

Second Balloon Twisting Shape - Sword
This shape is popular, if you have a major boy population at your party. Let's face it, pirates and knights need their swords, right? More so, the sword is the basic twist for many further twists.

    * The first step is same as that for the dog, take a 260 balloon and inflate it. At the tail end, leave 4 inches un-inflated. I hope by now, you know why the "4 inches un-inflated".
    * Now, from the nozzle end, fold the balloon about six inches.
    * Now, squeeze the two parts of the folded balloon about 2 inches from the fold. Further, twist the squeezed portion. Two or three twists should do the trick. Make sure that the knotted end is collinear to the tail end. This forms one side of the handle of your sword.
    * Just below the previous twist, fold and twist the balloon again. Your second side of the handle is ready.

Your dangerous weapon of bravery and chivalry is ready. Touche!!

Third Balloon Twisting Shape - Mouse
This is a very cute shape. It has been known to bring a smile to a sullen face. More so, it has the mickey mouse appeal to it, so that's what you can cash on!

    * Take a size 260 long balloon. Inflate only half of it. The remaining un-inflated half will be the long mouse tail.
    * Make three circles at the top of the balloon, 1 and 1/2 inch in size.
    * Bend two of the circles and twist the two that are beside each other.
    * Repeat the the previous point.
    * Now, with the remaining inflated portion, make four 1 and 1/2 inch circles. Bend two of the four circles over and twist the first two circles.

Voila! Your little mouse-y is ready to rumble!!

Bonus Balloon Twisting Shape - Giraffe
This one is a piece of cake. It is similar to the dog. So follow the instructions:

    * Take a 260 balloon and inflate it. At the tail end, leave 4 inches un-inflated.
    * Now, from the nozzle end, fold the balloon about six inches.
    * Now, squeeze the two parts of the folded balloon about 2 inches from the fold. Further, twist the squeezed portion. Two or three twists should do the trick. These are the ears of the giraffe, and the knot, is its nose.
    * Now, the front and back legs. They are made the same way as the ears. Fold the balloon a few inches below the twist that formed the ears. Twist the balloon to form the front legs of the giraffe.
    * Last but not the least, fold the balloon 2 inches away from the twist that formed the front legs. Now, twist.

You will notice that we kept a longer neck as compared to that of the dog. So enjoy, your giraffe is ready!

When I took it up, it took me a while to master it. So, be patient with yourself, while following these balloon twisting tips, if this is your initial attempt. Practice makes perfect, right? This is where I sign off! Happy Twisting!

Hobbies for Men

The list of hobbies for men can be quite a long one, simply because the likes and dislikes vary a great deal. It can be an obsession to collect the 'coolest' gadgets, playing video games, indulging in some adventure activity, reading, or simply hanging out with their buddies. Hobbies provide a great relief from the hectic lifestyle, broaden your horizons and perspective on many aspects of life, and are a resounding way to learn new skills. It gives men a strong positive character, a great sense of relief, and some really needed social contact. Though many can claim to be too busy to pursue a hobby, it always pays to have a dear passion.

Interesting Hobbies for Men

A list of hobbies for men, which can help rejuvenate and relax your senses, and also give a fresh meaning to every man's life is mentioned below.

Fishing and Camping
A fishing weekend makes for a great fun-filled outdoor activity with your buddies or college mates. This can also provide a setting to share some intimate moments with your loved ones, while making your catch. Actually, it is one of the best mood elevators, especially for men who are down and out after a hectic week or long and sustained work. It provides a great opportunity for a family man to spend some quality time with his family, which everybody in the house looks forward to. A camping vacation or a fishing holiday is one of the best ways to sort out business deals, or differences and rifts in a mild, serene, and amicable atmosphere.

Billiards or Pool
Men who love the game will swear by the inexplicable joy of a pool session. It is one of the most strongly pursued activities by men. Nothing works better than a billiards session along with some drinks. You can also discuss your business ventures or simply chat with your mates about your day. If you are keen on the game, you are boosting your ability to concentrate and be patient at the same time. What's more, even a stranger can be a good partner, for two or three frames of the game.

Fantasy Sports and Games
Playing some fast action games and competitive sports provides the mad adrenaline rush, which is a very passionate hobby for young men. Sports such as biking are the best way to creatively channelize the zest and energy into a fruitful activity. Besides all the health advantages, it inculcates team spirit, feeling of belonging, and most importantly, keeps boys busy and away from unnecessary time idling and addictions.

Collections
Most men have an inherent quality to brag about their possessions. In fact, for most of us it is the driving force of pursuing a hobby, such as collecting the best wrist watches, coins, stamps, souvenirs, autographs of famous and favorite players, or mobile handsets and so on. Some have even made millions out of their collections. Such hobbies keeps one goal oriented, focused and determined; qualities which help a lot in all other endeavors of life.

Adventure Sports
Most of the men have remarked or been nudged by their friends with the 'Come on, be a man!' quip. Well, if you are really game enough to challenge your limits, try out adventure sports as a hobby. Mountaineering, river rafting some of the most swift courses, rappelling, bungee jumping, scuba diving or snow boarding will definitely show off your 'manly instincts' to face tough situations. Another great hobby for men who like to live on the edge.

Carpentry
This hobby provides rich rewards and is a big outlet for all those men who are a bit reserved and prefer more skillful and stationary activity. It can also fetch you some great monetary benefits, appreciation and recognition in society. The joy of creating and mastering a structure of your own is immeasurable and one of the most vigorously followed interests by men across the globe.

Mentoring and Coaching
The hallmark of a true gentleman is not how much he achieves, but how much he can give back to the society. Sharing and encouraging others is one of the noblest and most deeply satisfying pursuits of men, right throughout history. It has propelled generations into leading great revolutions, making scientific discoveries, and reasserting the living principles for a better tomorrow. Coaching or teaching a skill or inspiring someone is yet another lively interest of men and one highly recommended.

It is vital to whole-heartedly, honestly, and passionately follow your interest to lead a life you desire, and of course, enjoy to your fullest. Hobbies for men are like waves in the sea, the more you have, the more lively you get. So get going and if you feel life is monotonous, pick up an interesting hobby and enjoy its innumerable benefits.

Hobbies for Couples

The basis of every long lasting relationship, be it courtship between two people or marriage is love, respect and understanding. There have been many cases where two people meet each other, fall in love, spend time together, but after a period of time find that they do not have anything in common. This can be a heart breaking phase for both, more so when they are married and have children. The reason for many of these breakups have been cited as boredom and missing the fun they had experienced during the initial months of their relationship. One way of avoiding such situations in a relationship would be spending quality time with each other, doing things that both of love, for instance, a hobby.

Studies have shown that sharing a hobby with one's partner is a sure way of increasing the success rate of the relationship. Many couples have agreed that spending time doing recreational activities have helped in strengthening their bond. Hobbies not only help in increasing their love, but also building up a friendship that would add meaning to their relationship. It would aid in increasing the closeness between the couple, and also in increasing the level of understanding between them. However, there are some things that have to be considered before deciding on a hobby.

Important Things to Know

Each partner would have different interests and hobbies. First, you two need to sit together and discuss each others likes and dislikes. One must understand and respect each other's opinion about certain things. Discuss the games and things you liked to do when you both were kids. This may help you in coming up with some ideas about your hobbies together. It you are having problems in finding fun hobbies for couples, here is a list of hobbies for couples from which you can choose those that you and your partner would love to do together.

Good Hobbies for Couples

Sports: Sports is the hobby that is commonly chosen by couples. Usually, sports are considered to be something that only guys are interested in. This is a very general conclusion, rather, there are many women who love watching as well as playing different types of sports. Join an institute where you can learn some type of sport. It has been observed that most couples go for golf when it comes to selecting a sport as a hobby. You can also join a class for learning tennis, badminton, basketball, etc. If one of the partner is a champion in some kind of sport, he/she can train the other partner. In this way, you can spend more time together. However, sometimes couples become very competitive while playing and this can give rise to conflicts and issues. To avoid such things, each partner must remember that is to be done for fun and bonding, and not to win or lose.

Dance Classes: Going for dancing classes could be another great idea for hobbies for young couples. If both of you love dancing, then joining a salsa or any other form of dance would help in enjoying and learning together. Even if your partner is not very interested in dance, and has two right feet, do not let it bother you much. Think about the effort he/she is taking to be with you.

Working Out: Working out together would be another fabulous idea to be implemented as a hobby for married couples as well as for young couples. Many couples have said that hitting the gym together everyday for exercising allows them to be together in a productive way, while remaining fit. If you are not too much interested in joining a gym, another idea would be to go for long walks or jogging to a nearby park or jogging area. The main purpose of a hobby together is to have fun, for which it is not necessary for you to spend lots of money.

Traveling: If you and your partner love traveling and visiting new places, this would also be a good hobby idea for couples. You can search on the Internet for nearby places where you can make short vacation trips during weekends. Select one location and drive down to explore these places every weekend. However, this hobby can prove a quite expensive at times. So if you are seriously thinking about traveling as a hobby, plan out your expenses carefully with your partner before beginning your journey.

Other than these, some other hobbies for couples include collecting stamps or foreign coins, animal breeding, gardening, cooking, playing indoor games, creating short films, etc. You can also use your creative and innovative skills and come up with new hobbies and activities, anything that interests both. Hobbies for couples should not only be entertaining, but also should aid in strengthening the bond of love.

Making a Hologram - How to Make a Hologram

The art of holography involves reproduction of images in a 3 dimensional form, by capturing the light scatter around the image. Light waves get scattered on reflection from an object surface. If these scattered waves are captured in an image, the picture of that object appears as if it is being viewed in real time. The holographic processes are commonly used to store data, retrieve this data and garner information after processing it. Bar code stickers for confidentiality in exams or credit cards and holographic art work are some of the most common applications of holographic works. It is possible to make your own holograms with minimum infrastructure and few logistical requirements. Homemade holograms do not require much equipment and can be made using quite easy techniques. How to make a hologram requires a lot of patience and precise application. Contrary to popular belief, this can be made at home, albeit at a cost.

How to Build a Hologram at Home

A standard hologram using a laser beam can be made in the following way. The technique for the same involves some common articles (sand, bowls, clips, etc.), a holographic kit, and a dark and quiet room.

    * Use a dark room, suitable for being equipped with the above tools, which is also free from noise, air flow or any vibrations. You can use the concrete floor to lay your equipment or use a vibration resistant, still and sturdy table.
    * The subject whose holographic image is to be created must be a hard object, preferably in white color. Even the slightest of movements or vibrations may distort the holographic image. Maintaining absolute silence in the room is also very important. The object can be placed on a simple pad, like the one used for a computer mouse to dampen or nullify the effect of even the smallest movements.
    * Choose a laser specially designed for stable operation, right polarization, power and coherence length requirement. A tested laser for holograms is different from the conventional lasers pointers. Take proper precautions in handling all the apparatus. Children should not experiment with the procedure and if necessary to do it, should do it under complete adult guidance.
    * Place the object on the table and adjust the laser about 30 to 40 cm away from the object. You can stabilize the laser by gripping it in a crocodile clip or clothes pin. This arrangement can be supported in a bowl of sand or salt, so as to avoid any vibrations from affecting the setup.
    * If the laser has an arrangement for adjustment of the light focus, use it to spread the beam horizontally in an elliptical pattern. Alternatively, this can be done by placing a glass between the object and the laser on a similar arrangement, as used for the laser. The laser should fully lighten up the object and a small area around it.
    * Turn off all the lights in the room and create a small opening in the door to allow just a little visibility for you. The light should be adequately faded, such that you are just able to see, but not read.
    * Block the light from the laser, reaching the object by means of a book which can act as a shutter. Carefully, remove the glass holographic plate from the kit and keep it leaned against the object, such that it blocks the object from direct exposure to the laser beam. Allow any vibrations to settle down and lift the book only about an inch off the table.
    * When all vibrations subside, remove the book completely and allow the laser light to fall on the holographic plate, implicitly the object, for approximately 10 seconds. After this, block the light again by bringing the book in its original position.
    * Process the plate according to the instruction manual given in the kit and dry the plate such that heat and light shouldn't affect the drying process. The hologram is ready to be viewed on the plate under sunlight, flashlight, etc.

Do not use diffused light sources such as frost bulbs or lamps, and adhere the process of how to make a hologram thoroughly. This is one of the most effective ways of making a hologram whereby you can also earn some accolades for creativity from your acquaintances.