Recycling and re-using has made its way onto the home décor front with the arrival of shabby chic, way to make even old items look personalised and pretty.
Chandeliers make great items for shabby chic projects, whether they are intended for functional or decorative purposes. If you are intending your Chandelier to be more on the functional side, you may wish to consider the amount and size of Ceiling lights the fitting will hold.
There are two basic options when it comes to making your ceiling lights into something really special. If you are embarking on the task of making your own chandelier, you may want to plump for something a little more idiosyncratic than traditional models –that’s if you’re not well versed in metal work and glass blowing! Nature throws up all kinds of beautiful materials which can be used to great effect in the home, such as driftwood, or tree branches, onto which votive lamps can be attached using twisted wire. Add glass beads and there you have it –your very own eco-friendly chandelier!
Colanders also make great ceiling lights for the kitchen, and add a quirky and humourous touch. Use the colander as a shade to allow the light to shine through, or weave colourful material through the holes. They can also be painted using specialized paint.
For a vintage look, try an old fashioned bird cage. Covered with fairy lights, this can look stunning, but if you want to add a bit more light, traditional bulbs can be hung in the middle of the cage.
A new lampshade frame can also be suspended, with almost anything –beads, buttons, small toys –suspended from it. Experiment with different materials to find what works the best.
When salvaging old chandeliers, handle with care as you will probably need to replace the wiring. Crystals can be mismatched to add real shabby style, and anything from earrings to ornaments can also be used. Many craft shops sell a variety of paints which you can use to paint metal luminaries with –why not try painting an old cast iron design with a bold, clashing colour? Colours such as lime green look amazing against a purple or plum wall.
Feathers, fake fur, fake flowers and old lace can all be used as trim to give chandeliers an unexpected twist. Experiment with gauze and netting to see what works best with the rest of your décor – and remember, it is generally advisable to check that the material you are using won’t be singed or burnt, so try to find cooler light bulbs. Another word of warning –crafting is addictive, so once you’ve finished your first project, don’t be surprised if every room in your home is soon adorned with a beautiful home made shade!
Click on this and earn money online
Wednesday 6 April 2011
Different types of ceiling lights
There are so many different types of ceiling lights which are called “chandeliers”, that deciding which falls under the category and which doesn’t can be somewhat befuddling.
Generally speaking, the word refers to a source of light which is attached to the ceiling –the key difference between ordinary Ceiling lights and Chandeliers being that the latter must have two “arms” for supporting the light source (Usually from electric bulbs or candles–historically candles or gas lights have also been used and in some very rare cases still are)
The best known of all the various types of luminaries which come under the name is probably the crystal Chandelier, a design which is typically considered old fashioned and elegant. They became popular in Europe during the 18th and 19th Centuries, consisting of highly complex crystal fittings, and today are made using cut glass with design features such as swags between the mounting fixture and the arms. Smaller designs can be found in the home, however larger versions can still be found in stately homes and hotels the world over.
Murano glass luminaries were first made in Murano, Italy –a place which has since become renowned for making stunning glass which is used in both jewellery and for decoration. These days the term “Murano” is used to describe the style of blown glass which originated there rather than the place itself, a kind of swirling together of different colours similar to marbles. Floral designs are frequently made from this material and many of the designs also incorporate Murano glass tubes.
Beaded styles are similar to crystal, but use shells or beads instead to decorate the ceiling lights with. A favourite type of bead is the capiz shell, which has a mother of pearl sheen and is currently very popular with modern designs. Less formal than their crystal counterparts, beaded versions are a little more subtle and of course, lighter to install.
Even older designs made use of the antlers of elk, deer and occasionally moose. As impressive as these designs were, chandelier designers have thankfully moved on to more ecologically friendly designs since, such as mission designs.
Mission chandeliers are a relative of the Arts and Crafts style, which emerged during the mid to late 1800s out of a desire for solidly made, well crafted items as opposed to poor quality, mass produced goods. Arts and Crafts objects were typically minimal, using natural materials, Celtic motifs, upside down hearts, allegories from the Bible and literature and stylised flowers. They were influenced by the simplistic quality of oriental designs, medieval style and socialism (The simple designs were considered a reaction to the dehumanising effects of industry) This style of chandelier often has a central ceiling mount made from metal at the centre of a small number of angular arms at the end of which are downward facing square lamp shades made from milk glass, often decorated with stained glass pieces or metal details.
Generally speaking, the word refers to a source of light which is attached to the ceiling –the key difference between ordinary Ceiling lights and Chandeliers being that the latter must have two “arms” for supporting the light source (Usually from electric bulbs or candles–historically candles or gas lights have also been used and in some very rare cases still are)
The best known of all the various types of luminaries which come under the name is probably the crystal Chandelier, a design which is typically considered old fashioned and elegant. They became popular in Europe during the 18th and 19th Centuries, consisting of highly complex crystal fittings, and today are made using cut glass with design features such as swags between the mounting fixture and the arms. Smaller designs can be found in the home, however larger versions can still be found in stately homes and hotels the world over.
Murano glass luminaries were first made in Murano, Italy –a place which has since become renowned for making stunning glass which is used in both jewellery and for decoration. These days the term “Murano” is used to describe the style of blown glass which originated there rather than the place itself, a kind of swirling together of different colours similar to marbles. Floral designs are frequently made from this material and many of the designs also incorporate Murano glass tubes.
Beaded styles are similar to crystal, but use shells or beads instead to decorate the ceiling lights with. A favourite type of bead is the capiz shell, which has a mother of pearl sheen and is currently very popular with modern designs. Less formal than their crystal counterparts, beaded versions are a little more subtle and of course, lighter to install.
Even older designs made use of the antlers of elk, deer and occasionally moose. As impressive as these designs were, chandelier designers have thankfully moved on to more ecologically friendly designs since, such as mission designs.
Mission chandeliers are a relative of the Arts and Crafts style, which emerged during the mid to late 1800s out of a desire for solidly made, well crafted items as opposed to poor quality, mass produced goods. Arts and Crafts objects were typically minimal, using natural materials, Celtic motifs, upside down hearts, allegories from the Bible and literature and stylised flowers. They were influenced by the simplistic quality of oriental designs, medieval style and socialism (The simple designs were considered a reaction to the dehumanising effects of industry) This style of chandelier often has a central ceiling mount made from metal at the centre of a small number of angular arms at the end of which are downward facing square lamp shades made from milk glass, often decorated with stained glass pieces or metal details.
Chandeliers were originally used in Bohemia in 15th century
Original chandelier designs consisted of a cross structure which was displayed in areas where social gatherings took place such as banquet halls or churches. The fitting could be raised or lowered using a pulley so that the height could be adjusted and the lights (Usually candles) could be replaced or extinguished as necessary.
Chandeliers were originally used in Bohemia in around the 15th Century. Early designs incorporated the use of crystal to reflect the Ceiling lights onto the surrounding walls, a striking feature which continues to be used in both traditional and contemporary designs. In Europe more simplistic designs could be found made from a cross beam of wood with prickets (spikes) at either end. Few designs of this time survived the reformation of the 16th Century. Later, elaborate designs began to be used, although mostly for dances held in the houses of the very wealthy. These designs featured long pendants made from cut glass which were hung from the base of the fitting. However complex the designs became however, the basic structure remained the same in that the arms were there to evenly distribute light around a room.
Amazingly, chandeliers have also had their part in the history of science as well as design. Galileo Galilei’s law of the pendulum was discovered after he saw a Chandelier swinging in the Pisa cathedral and noted that each swing took the same amount of time, despite every swing being shorter than the one before.
Various materials have been used in the construction of chandeliers, mainly to reflect and refract light. Pressed glass was briefly used; however they were dull and lacked the reflective quality needed. Attempts to make designs from rock crystal or quartz were difficult, particularly as the material was expensive, rare, and hard to form into the right shapes. In 1676, an English glassmaker, George Ravenscroft, designed a new kind of crystal-like glass, which incorporated the use of lead oxide to make the glass softer and more refractive. Though this was a relatively new idea, the use of lead oxide had been used in ancient Mesopotamia.
By 1700, beautiful ceiling lights made from Murano glass began to be used, and during the late 1800’s, Daniel Swarovski invented a machine which could cut jewels with precision. This technology was then expanded for use in the making of luminaries.
As gas and electricity began to be a more common source used in ceiling lights, crystal designs became less of a functional item and more of a decorative piece, although smaller versions have since become popular in modern homes. The chandelier design continues to be used well into the 21st Century and takes on many forms, from the fanciful to the minimal.
Chandeliers were originally used in Bohemia in around the 15th Century. Early designs incorporated the use of crystal to reflect the Ceiling lights onto the surrounding walls, a striking feature which continues to be used in both traditional and contemporary designs. In Europe more simplistic designs could be found made from a cross beam of wood with prickets (spikes) at either end. Few designs of this time survived the reformation of the 16th Century. Later, elaborate designs began to be used, although mostly for dances held in the houses of the very wealthy. These designs featured long pendants made from cut glass which were hung from the base of the fitting. However complex the designs became however, the basic structure remained the same in that the arms were there to evenly distribute light around a room.
Amazingly, chandeliers have also had their part in the history of science as well as design. Galileo Galilei’s law of the pendulum was discovered after he saw a Chandelier swinging in the Pisa cathedral and noted that each swing took the same amount of time, despite every swing being shorter than the one before.
Various materials have been used in the construction of chandeliers, mainly to reflect and refract light. Pressed glass was briefly used; however they were dull and lacked the reflective quality needed. Attempts to make designs from rock crystal or quartz were difficult, particularly as the material was expensive, rare, and hard to form into the right shapes. In 1676, an English glassmaker, George Ravenscroft, designed a new kind of crystal-like glass, which incorporated the use of lead oxide to make the glass softer and more refractive. Though this was a relatively new idea, the use of lead oxide had been used in ancient Mesopotamia.
By 1700, beautiful ceiling lights made from Murano glass began to be used, and during the late 1800’s, Daniel Swarovski invented a machine which could cut jewels with precision. This technology was then expanded for use in the making of luminaries.
As gas and electricity began to be a more common source used in ceiling lights, crystal designs became less of a functional item and more of a decorative piece, although smaller versions have since become popular in modern homes. The chandelier design continues to be used well into the 21st Century and takes on many forms, from the fanciful to the minimal.
DNA testing for the purposes of the experiment
According to DNA test results, World War Two Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler is though to have African and Jewish genes inherited from ancestors.
In the DNA tests carried out, results showed that saliva samples taken from thirty nine relatives of Hitler showed he could well have been biologically linked to what he referred to as the “subhuman” races which he attempted to wipe out during the devastating Holocaust which he was at the helm of.
Marc Vermeeren, a historian and Jean-Paul Mulders, a Belgian journalist, traced the Fuhrer’s relatives including an Austrian farmer –Hitler’s cousin, early on in 2010.
Haplogroup E1b1b1 is the chromosome which showed up in their samples – a rarity in Western Europe, but more commonly found amongst the Berbers of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco, as well as with Sephardic Jews and Ashkenazi.
The Haplogroup E1b1b1 relates to eighteen to twenty per cent of Ashkenazi Jews and eight point six per cent to thirty per cent of Sephardic Y-chromosomes seems to be one of the main founding extractions of the Jewish world population in general.
In Belgian magazine Knack, Mulders wrote that, "One can from this postulate that Hitler was related to people whom he despised”. The magazine, in which the findings of the DNA test were published, stated that the DNA testing for the purposes of the experiment was carried out under strict laboratory regulations. Roddy Decorte, a genetic specialist bases at the Catholic University of Leuven called the results “surprising”, saying that “"The affair is fascinating if one compares it with the conception of the world of the Nazis, in which race and blood was central.”
According to the results of the DNA tests, Hitler was not, as he perceived himself to be, “Aryan” or “pure”, a term which was used by the Nazi party to suggest generally Caucasian, fair haired and blue eyed people. People suspected to be homosexual, Jewish or black amongst numerous other social, cultural religious and racial groups were ostracized from society according to Nazi law, resulting in the terrible atrocities of the Holocaust.
However, the results of the DNA test are not the first time it has been suggested that Hitler has Jewish ancestry. It is thought that Hitler’s father Alois, is the illegitimate offspring of a maid, Maria Schickelgruber and a young Jewish man, Frankenberger.
The process used to carry out the DNA tests is known as Genealogy, which uses samples such as buccal swabs (large cotton bud-like instruments used for gathering DNA samples in the form of cheek cells from the inside of the mouth) This form of DNA testing has become popular in recent years as people use it to determine their ancestral lineage. Other forms of DNA testing are also used to determine more immediate relations, such as paternity testing.
In the DNA tests carried out, results showed that saliva samples taken from thirty nine relatives of Hitler showed he could well have been biologically linked to what he referred to as the “subhuman” races which he attempted to wipe out during the devastating Holocaust which he was at the helm of.
Marc Vermeeren, a historian and Jean-Paul Mulders, a Belgian journalist, traced the Fuhrer’s relatives including an Austrian farmer –Hitler’s cousin, early on in 2010.
Haplogroup E1b1b1 is the chromosome which showed up in their samples – a rarity in Western Europe, but more commonly found amongst the Berbers of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco, as well as with Sephardic Jews and Ashkenazi.
The Haplogroup E1b1b1 relates to eighteen to twenty per cent of Ashkenazi Jews and eight point six per cent to thirty per cent of Sephardic Y-chromosomes seems to be one of the main founding extractions of the Jewish world population in general.
In Belgian magazine Knack, Mulders wrote that, "One can from this postulate that Hitler was related to people whom he despised”. The magazine, in which the findings of the DNA test were published, stated that the DNA testing for the purposes of the experiment was carried out under strict laboratory regulations. Roddy Decorte, a genetic specialist bases at the Catholic University of Leuven called the results “surprising”, saying that “"The affair is fascinating if one compares it with the conception of the world of the Nazis, in which race and blood was central.”
According to the results of the DNA tests, Hitler was not, as he perceived himself to be, “Aryan” or “pure”, a term which was used by the Nazi party to suggest generally Caucasian, fair haired and blue eyed people. People suspected to be homosexual, Jewish or black amongst numerous other social, cultural religious and racial groups were ostracized from society according to Nazi law, resulting in the terrible atrocities of the Holocaust.
However, the results of the DNA test are not the first time it has been suggested that Hitler has Jewish ancestry. It is thought that Hitler’s father Alois, is the illegitimate offspring of a maid, Maria Schickelgruber and a young Jewish man, Frankenberger.
The process used to carry out the DNA tests is known as Genealogy, which uses samples such as buccal swabs (large cotton bud-like instruments used for gathering DNA samples in the form of cheek cells from the inside of the mouth) This form of DNA testing has become popular in recent years as people use it to determine their ancestral lineage. Other forms of DNA testing are also used to determine more immediate relations, such as paternity testing.
The results of the DNA tests
According to US researchers, a basic DNA test taken at Stanford University could be used to predict the most effective food plan for a person on a diet, revealing whether a low carbohydrate or low fat diet will produce the most successful weight loss results.
Results taken from a small primary study of 101Caucasian women showed that the women who were on the diet that was considered the best for their individual genetic make up lost 2-3 times more weight than the other subjects.
The results of the DNA tests, which were presented at an American Heart Association conference, were considered inconclusive by experts, who stated that further investigation should be taken.
Nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics is an emerging aspect of DNA test which looks into the interaction of different foods with various gene types.
Historically, people have been aware for sometime that different humans have different reactions to certain foods depending on their genetic makeup, for example lactose intolerance, which is more common among African and Asian people than among Northern Europeans. In DNA testing, dietary treatments based on the results have been implemented in the reduction of disease risk in a number of cases. Past nutritional research placed a lot of emphasis on how deficiencies in various nutrients affected health. Now with nutrigenomics, more emphasis is placed on the optimisation of personal diet to optimise nutritional benefit and to help prevent illness.
The DNA testing explored how efficiently people with different genes managed to lose weight on a variety of weight loss diets.
The DNA test was taken using buccal or cheek swabs taken from the 101 women, who all undertook different diets over the course of a year. The diets were either low fat, very low fat, low in protein or carbohydrate or simply low carbohydrate. Those who were on a diet which was a good match with their genetic makeup found that they lost 2-3 times more weight over the 12 month period in comparison with those who were on an “incompatible” diet.
The group of women were divided into three genotypes. The first was a balanced diet responsive genotype, the second was a low carbohydrate diet responsive, and the third was a low fat diet responsive.
The researchers responded to the DNA tests by saying that the results were only introductory, and much more study would need to be carried out before the results could be used on a commercial basis. Professor Christine Williams of the University of Reading said of the DNA testing carried out in the study: “This is a very intriguing study –though very small.”, going on to suggest that more conclusive results could be reached if researchers could gain a better understanding of the genes involved. However, she also stated that the DNA test correlated with much of the research carried out at Reading, where it was discovered that some subjects responded better to certain fats such as omega 3.
Results taken from a small primary study of 101Caucasian women showed that the women who were on the diet that was considered the best for their individual genetic make up lost 2-3 times more weight than the other subjects.
The results of the DNA tests, which were presented at an American Heart Association conference, were considered inconclusive by experts, who stated that further investigation should be taken.
Nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics is an emerging aspect of DNA test which looks into the interaction of different foods with various gene types.
Historically, people have been aware for sometime that different humans have different reactions to certain foods depending on their genetic makeup, for example lactose intolerance, which is more common among African and Asian people than among Northern Europeans. In DNA testing, dietary treatments based on the results have been implemented in the reduction of disease risk in a number of cases. Past nutritional research placed a lot of emphasis on how deficiencies in various nutrients affected health. Now with nutrigenomics, more emphasis is placed on the optimisation of personal diet to optimise nutritional benefit and to help prevent illness.
The DNA testing explored how efficiently people with different genes managed to lose weight on a variety of weight loss diets.
The DNA test was taken using buccal or cheek swabs taken from the 101 women, who all undertook different diets over the course of a year. The diets were either low fat, very low fat, low in protein or carbohydrate or simply low carbohydrate. Those who were on a diet which was a good match with their genetic makeup found that they lost 2-3 times more weight over the 12 month period in comparison with those who were on an “incompatible” diet.
The group of women were divided into three genotypes. The first was a balanced diet responsive genotype, the second was a low carbohydrate diet responsive, and the third was a low fat diet responsive.
The researchers responded to the DNA tests by saying that the results were only introductory, and much more study would need to be carried out before the results could be used on a commercial basis. Professor Christine Williams of the University of Reading said of the DNA testing carried out in the study: “This is a very intriguing study –though very small.”, going on to suggest that more conclusive results could be reached if researchers could gain a better understanding of the genes involved. However, she also stated that the DNA test correlated with much of the research carried out at Reading, where it was discovered that some subjects responded better to certain fats such as omega 3.
The process of carrying out a DNA test
Deoxyribonucleic acid, other wise known as DNA, forms the genetic blueprint for every living organism on the planet. In a sense, one human being is indistinguishable from another in terms of DNA similarity; however there are a few minor exceptions which mean that some humans are more similar to others as they are connected as families or “blood relations”. To explain: 99.9% of human DNA sequences are the same in each individual, however there is enough DNA to be able to differentiate one person from another. In DNA testing, repeat or repetitive sequences are used which are highly variable, known as variable number tandem repeats or VNTR –loci which are highly similar between two persons related to one another –so similar that unrelated humans are very unlikely to have the same variable number tandem repeats as the relations.
It is this form of DNA which is often used for DNA testing, which has a number of different applications. The process of carrying out a DNA testor DNA profiling as it is also known was first described by Sir Alec Jeffreys for the University of Leicester. It now forms the basis for many national DNA databases. Jeffreys also pioneered the genetic fingerprinting technique, which was made commercially available at chemical company ICI in 1987 when the company opened a centre for blood testing.
Genealogy is a common form of DNA test which has recently been popularised by the current trend for tracing a person’s origins through birth, death and marriage records online. However, this method of tracing one’s ancestry can be fairly limited due to records running out or missing altogether, and as a result many are turning to DNA tests in order to trace their genetic lineage.
DNA testing is also used to determine more recent family ties, for example in paternity and maternity testing. This form of DNA test normally involves a buccal swab taken of each subject prior to being taken to the lab to be compared and contrasted. These DNA tests are also used for other family methods and also for twin or zygosity testing.
Samples for DNA tests can be taken from anywhere on the human body. Common samples which are used include blood samples, saliva, skin cells, hair and sperm samples. These are often collected at crime scenes to provide legal evidence, as are fingerprints, which are directly related to the individual makeup of a person’s DNA. There has been some speculation as to whether a criminal would be able to plant “fake” DNA at the scene of a crime (Which has previously been attempted), but according to scientists, in order for this to be able to cover a criminal’s tracks sufficiently, they would need a wealth of laboratory equipment and a lab technician or engineer on hand.
It is this form of DNA which is often used for DNA testing, which has a number of different applications. The process of carrying out a DNA testor DNA profiling as it is also known was first described by Sir Alec Jeffreys for the University of Leicester. It now forms the basis for many national DNA databases. Jeffreys also pioneered the genetic fingerprinting technique, which was made commercially available at chemical company ICI in 1987 when the company opened a centre for blood testing.
Genealogy is a common form of DNA test which has recently been popularised by the current trend for tracing a person’s origins through birth, death and marriage records online. However, this method of tracing one’s ancestry can be fairly limited due to records running out or missing altogether, and as a result many are turning to DNA tests in order to trace their genetic lineage.
DNA testing is also used to determine more recent family ties, for example in paternity and maternity testing. This form of DNA test normally involves a buccal swab taken of each subject prior to being taken to the lab to be compared and contrasted. These DNA tests are also used for other family methods and also for twin or zygosity testing.
Samples for DNA tests can be taken from anywhere on the human body. Common samples which are used include blood samples, saliva, skin cells, hair and sperm samples. These are often collected at crime scenes to provide legal evidence, as are fingerprints, which are directly related to the individual makeup of a person’s DNA. There has been some speculation as to whether a criminal would be able to plant “fake” DNA at the scene of a crime (Which has previously been attempted), but according to scientists, in order for this to be able to cover a criminal’s tracks sufficiently, they would need a wealth of laboratory equipment and a lab technician or engineer on hand.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)