Interior Design and Home Accessories

Glass has many different uses throughout the world. One of its primary uses is to add beauty to various things that are built.

For example, an architect may design a building with interesting glass windows to add variety to a city that is normally lined with brick block buildings. An artist may include some glass in his or her final project to add meaning and depth to it.

Glass may be used in bottles for juices in order to show the texture and the clear, sparkling color. Another primary use for glass is in jewelry.

Sea glass is commonly found along the shoreline of Hawaii and California as well as in the Caribbean. This kind of glass was lost at sea and has been sanded down to a polished hue in the rough tumble of the waves.

Even though plastic and paper containers have mostly replaced glass containers for drinks, sea glass can still be easily found along these coastlines. While sea glass is still abundant in some areas, it is becoming rarer because of the decrease in use of glass.

Sometimes it can take an extra amount of effort to find pieces big enough to make jewelry with, but the search can be worth it. If you are on the hunt for certain colors can be much more difficult than simply searching for any color.

Red and orange glass pieces are particularly hard to find. White and brown glass pieces are much more common, but not as beautiful in jewelry.

The rareness of certain types of glass makes certain types more valuable among sea glass collectors. In addition to the reds and oranges, peridot, aquamarine, and opaque white are also quite rare.

The location where the glass is found can also contribute to the value of a certain piece of glass. However, how smooth the glass is, whether or not it has chips, the shape and the size contribute more to value than the location found or the color it is.

This substance is popular for jewelry because it is similar to gems in many ways. It is often transparent and captures light.

However, if you are going to follow the ways of the experienced sea glass collector, you will let pieces that are not opaque or smooth stay on the beach until it is more processed by the sea. It definitely takes time for the glass to become what is considered to be the most beautiful in jewelry when it is processed by the sea.

Sometimes it will only take months, but quite often it probably takes years to become opaque and smooth. Due to the time that it takes to create sea glass, some people find it much easier to make fake sea glass and sell it.

These people take normal glass and tumble it in a glass tumbler. This kind of sea glass lacks many qualities such as opacity, rarity, and the simple story of being tossed around in the ocean for years and years.

True sea glass jewelry makers will only use the authentic kind, they will not resort to scamming people on the fake kind. However, if you are considering making a purchase of this kind of jewelry you may want to be careful to ask whether it really came from the beach and is authentic.

One of the unique things about this kind of jewelry is that each piece is very different. It does not come from a manufactured stamp, but it each treated separately, on its own from the ocean.

Many times other gems are even added to the jewelry to enhance its value and to complement the sea tumbled glass. Due to the simple origins of the glass and to its natural look, most designs that look the best are those that are quite simple.

This allows viewers to see the sea glass and value it for what it is. More complex designs will distract the eye and take away value from the main component of the jewelry.

Due to the uniqueness of the sea tumbled glass, one of the most difficult pieces of jewelry to make is matching earrings. Color and shape are very variable and it can be a challenge to find two pieces that are similar in color, size, shape, and opaqueness.

If you are beginning your own sea glass business, you may want to examine the pieces that others have made first in order to get an idea of what kind of glass you will be looking for on the beaches. This can be a very rewarding hobby and source of income.

No Comments »

Article by Gray Rollins

Just because you get a chip doesn’t mean you need to foot the cost of getting a new windshield. Why not do a windshield repair, which uses modern technology to quickly and efficiently repair the windshield, It’s a much more cost effective solution. Here’s how windshield repair works.

If you think about it, you’ll agree that ordinary house glass is pretty amazing. It’s strong, clear, and really quite affordable. Its only real drawback is that it is brittle so when it breaks it can create dangerous shards, making it a poor choice for automobile glass.

Plastic is safer, but it isn’t scratch resistant so it doesn’t remain clear enough for automobile glass. Auto manufacturers’ use tempered glass on the side windows which is much stronger than house glass and when it does break, it breaks into tiny little cubes that aren’t as dangerous as shards. They can still be sharp but they are far safer.

But tempered glass doesn’t work for windshields. Because the windshield is constantly being hit with tiny pebbles, sand, gravel, and other road debris, tempered glass would have a very short life span. So manufacturers started using laminated glass years ago.

Laminated glass is simply two thin sheets of tempered glass that are fused to a rubber inner layer. The two sheets are independent. What the rubber layer does is act like a sponge, absorbing the shock and reducing the chance of breakage from small particles like pebbles.

If a rock hits the window hard enough you’ll land up with a stone chip, but it usually only breaks the outer layer of glass. If something really big hits the window and shatters both layers, the rubber membrane will stop the windshield from falling in your lap. Windshield repair works for the rock chips that have damaged the outer layer of the glass.

Start by buying a windshield crack repair kit at Wal-Mart, Sears, Canadian Tire, Lordco or other department or auto stores. Once you’ve got your kit, dry the windshield to room temperature. Don’t bother trying to do the repair on a wet day unless you can park inside.

Use a hair dryer to dry the window. This will pull the moisture out of the window so that the repair works. If the windshield is dirty, clean it using a harsh cleaner such as lighter fluid. This will remove any grime or film.

The repair process is very straightforward. Peel the back of the adhesive strip and apply it to the pre-cleaned glass. Center it over the chip, then burnish with a blunt object. Peel away the remaining film. Line up the adapter so it’s as vertical as possible, and then stick it to the film. Again, burnish with a blunt object.

Take the cap off the syringe and attach it to the adapter. Pull the syringe out as far as it goes. Hold this position for one minute to create a vacuum. While you are holding the vacuum the air in the crack begins to bubble up in the syringe while at the same time the adhesive seeps deep into the glass and chip.

That’s it. Your chip is repaired. The adhesive is a type of resin that bonds with the chip and creates a seal, and thus a repair. You can also use the windshield repair kit on cracks. Once you’ve correctly done the repair, the glass will no longer spider and the damage won’t spread.

No Comments »

People who want to increase the value of their homes will like durability as well as convenient maintenance when they upgrade to granite countertops. It is a known fact that granite is amongst the most resilient of stones and is second to diamonds only. Granite which is created from molten rock has the ability to endure a very hot pot even with no trivet. It is hard surface which is very good for managing confectionery and dough. It is true that they require low maintenance and are durable, but they are not resistant to harm.

If you have a well installed granite countertop, it will last you lifetime, which is really worth the high cost which is associated with this material as well as the installation. It is good if the company which has given the granite offers personalized instructions on taking care of the slab with each purchase as granite rock is made up of several different minerals. We may not realize that even if two different granite slabs have been brought from the same place you will find variances in the stone and it will need to be taken care differently.

Remember that good care will ensure long life and beauty which is expected from this superior stone. Typically you get a polished finish but it is also possible to obtain a flat or “honed” look. Honed finish may look very appealing but it is not a good idea to select it for using in the kitchen. With the passage of time and daily use the stone will look polished in some parts and the extra required sealers will mar the beauty of the stone surface. It is much simpler to maintain a granite stone with a polished finish if you clean it on a regular basis and take proper care. It is good to use sealers to avert staining.

Granite countertops are very tough and can endure the falling of a full can, but the polished surface becomes a little more delicate. You should avoid using the granite countertop as a surface for cutting to avoid scratches. If you don’t want any streaks while cleaning the top it is best to use only little dishwashing liquid with warm water.

Other than the strength, granite is also a very attractive stone which that adds warmth and color to all kitchens. You can have your granite countertop last for several years with just a little care to safeguard their attractiveness and usefulness.

No Comments »

We are flat out ‘natural and convenient’ walking talking breathing attracting enticing tantalizing desirous sacred sensual sexual artistic creative scented celestial social minded souls. Fashioned/formed and born under and out of the same incomparable fused elements that positioned the specific patterns in the astrological clusters of stars.

Vibrating, gyrating, stimulating vehicles of sonorous honed energized whirling, we hum at certain frequencies while at the same time, emit a specifically coded innate highly charged electro-magnetic resonance of unalterable scent. In other words, we are constantly sending out mating signals that will not be ignored, overlooked, undervalued and/or neglected.

Your particular ‘cosmic attracting astrological compatitable scented frequency’ is not the same as mine or anyone else’s. It is specifically ridged, carved, sphered, honed and decipheringly coded to mesh with another’s indeterminable slot.

Like the undetectable ultrasonic sounds escaping from a dog’s whistle, humans emit an infra-rayed astrological scent of incalculable frequency which can only be received and responded by another whose geared ‘lock and key’ puzzle like nose receptors are attuned.  These 10,000 receptors transmit electrical signals to our brain for adequate electrically induced responses.

The inescapable fact that we are comprised of billions of nerves which send electrical impulses all over our body emphasizes the vibratory fragrant importance of how brain accuracy determines the relative linking posts (connections) in our specialized zodiac driven material worlds.

In our particular domain of everyday living, we have specified frames of reference which make it so we can communicate with (attract) others.  In order to relay, understand and be received and understood, many chemical, neurological, physical, biological and hormonal circuits are set in motion instantaneously.

Sort of like relay stations in a computer, the trillions of neurons in our brain keep track of all our bodily functions.   For example:  we are able to see by light (waves/particles) having been converted to electrical impulses sent to our brain. We hear, smell, touch and think the same way.

Our conscious mind produces thought by using these converted oscillating electrical impulses.  Highly orchestrated (sound) organized vibration (sight) radiating patterns (smell) traveling along the pathways seek to be united with other similar systems. [Astrological patterns]

Case in point: the olfactory system, which senses every conceivable odor, (whether we are aware of the scent or not) is vital to our lives, and comprises one of the most primordial parts of the brain. In the same way as our sense of hearing, sight, touch or taste stimulates obvious and unobvious cues, the sense of smell alerts us consciously and sometimes, unconsciously as a determinable way for us to gather messages about the environment (people, places, things, moods) around us. We innately recognize the scent of our uniques destiny through various astrological associations.

]]>

One of the noted differences of the sacred sense of smell from our other senses is the fact that, the clues that they send to our brains come in the form of chemicals found in the surrounding environment (people, places, things, moods).

Yes, moods.  Moods are entrenched with chemicals of all sorts

Be that it may, rest assured chemicals comprise our body, life, environment, universe, galaxy, thoughts, preferences, selections, inhibitions, desires, pleasures, dislikes and needs. Why do you suppose the old saying, “they do or do not have chemistry’ makes such a viable or destructive lasting impact in certain relationships?

You absolutely do not understand why you are attracted or repelled by certain people. It’s all in the celestial composition of fused chemicals: astrological star dust, if you will.

We are continuously and continually and unceasingly penetrated, saturated, impregnated and generated by indestructible cosmic chemicals which have existed since before the beginning of time. The inestimable infinity of clustered stars which comprise the universes are but a gentle blinking cosmic reminder of the chemical reactions/combustions/fusions occur/occurred/ occurring.

With every breath we take, we are sampling our environment for companionship, dangers, food, opportunities, or other individual preferences and disassociations. We are specifically sensitized by the scent of so called random humans. The individuals, encountered in the run of a day are not random by any stretch of the imagination, any more than the glass of water we drink including the certain glass which holds it.

Everything is intricately linked together forming a united bond of incalculable creative expression far beyond anything our minds could devise as an explanation for our so called predilections in compatible relationships.

Because we have two nostrils, (male/female) we are able to breathe in and out [classify/sort/decipher/integrate/dispel/incorporate/discern] various smells while instantaneously appreciating/calculating the proposed informational astrological data the scent is offering.

In other words, from scent alone are we able to tap into a vast storehouse of unrevealed collective memories which {according to the defined horoscope of destiny needed} will collect, ascertain and tabulate the necessity of the relationship involved.

We may or may not fully perceive the unlikely astrological scenario presented {most often times, do not} but our indelibly implanted acute celestial scent of smell does not err.

We will be attracted to who our noses celestially hook into, (no small matter in deciding) prior to our logical reasoning simply by a certain whiff discharged by the other.   The next immeasurable step produced in the sensually ignited process of celestially generated sexual attraction will be a mood indicator (also determined by emission of chemicals) which alerts every cell in the human body to show up for duty to support or disintegrate the union.

Our hallowed keen sense of smell cannot be fooled, lured and coerced into a union that is not cosmically delegated for our precious ruthless souls’ desired experience. Neither can it be committed to a relationship when the sacred scent has vanished.

As mysterious as it seems, our occult nature demands an unequaled precision in demonstrable relationships, unions, and/or involvements.  ”When it’s over, it’s over and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.”

On the same token, the sacred sensual scented attracting apparatus is totally impersonal in the manner of choosing the selected partners. It’s hard but it fair. That’s why there are so many unexplained endings and unfathomable beginnings.

Our perfected attuned astrological scent of searching the universe for the ‘right’ person is not waywardly diabolically ascribed, no matter how callous the intervening directions of various relationships take us. Our sanctified noses are calibrated to a specific coded designated ‘star formed lock and astrological patterned key’ and cannot fit another.

Though our relationship’s ebbing perplexities seem arbitrarily mounted at times, if we but remember that our noses have been astrologically nominated to act like a scavenger bird of prey in an eclipsed effective cosmic action to bring about an undisclosed purpose of intent, we will gladly subjugate our ego’s whining whims and skeptical blabberings to unquestionable celestial desires from a much loftier origin.

We know, without being able to articulate, that we all serve an ineffable force of power behind the scenes of rational materiality, along with our human mind’s ability to define, which because of our unequivocal celestial signs, with the specified scented  ‘star dust’ attached  defies all rationality and reasonable argument or debate…

Gotta go:  “I think I smell a luscious, specially prepared ‘Chocolate Fantasy Cake’ oozing with warm sensual hot fudge caramel sauce, baking in the oven calling my name. Oh heavenly sweet sweet blissful platter of inexplicable fused radiance in divine scented splendor (Scorpio Sun) I bid thee my uninterrupted attention and rapturous appetite (Cancer Moon).”

No Comments »

The practice of utilizing back painted glass in home décor has become more and more common in recent years. One of the main reasons for this is the popularization of premium self-priming glass paint. These paints take the guesswork out of back painting glass. They form a permanent bond with the glass by causing a molecular change in the surface of the glass itself. No primers or special treatments are necessary. The ease at which glass can now be painted has led many homeowners to undertake the task themselves. In this article we’ll cover some tips and tricks for dealing with some challenges associated with back painting glass.

How to clean glass paint overspray off back painted glass

Cleaning paint overspray off the front or edges of a sheet of glass is a simple enough process that may require some elbow grease.

Use light steel wool to remove overspray from the edges of the glass and then use lacquer thinner to remove any on the front of it. For really thick overspray, use a single edge razor blade to scrape it and then follow up with steel wool and lacquer thinner as necessary.

How to clean glass paint from a paint gun

Once again, lacquer thinner is recommended for this job. Use it with a cloth to clean out your paint gun after each use and be sure to spray lacquer thinner through the paint gun for at least 30 seconds. And for an extra thorough clean feel free to disassemble the paint gun and clean all of the internal parts with lacquer thinner as well.

Tips on installing back painted glass

Now that you’re done painting your glass it’s time to put it on display in a way that won’t have it lying on the ground in a hundred pieces.

The industry standard for installing back-painted glass is to use clear silicone glue and double sided glaziers tape. The double sided tape serves as a temporary hold until the clear silicone glue dries. Mirror Mastic and Liquid Nails can also be used for installation.

If you need inspiration or examples on how to use back painted glass in your home then feel free to check out this glass paint gallery.

No Comments »

Blown glass art items are of course made from blown glass. Glass blowing is a time honored technique that started during the Phoenecian era. It spread with the start and spread of the Roman Empire. Glass is made out of a variety of materials such as silica, and quartz. The products that comprise glass are heated to around 2500 degrees fahrenheit. The glass in short is tempered down to the point of cooling in stages. While the glass is still hot, and has an orange glow in heat, the glassblower will use a long metal tube to blow air into the glob of glass. Depending on the final outcome of the glass glob, this will determine how much air is inserted into the glob. The glassblower can shape the object manually. Or, the glob can be shaped by a mold. The glob will be poured into a mold, and then the air is blown so that the glob expands to fit the mold.

There are many different things that can be made into blown glass art. Many people buy things such as glasses, vases, bowls, and household trinkets. These can be bought online, or they can be bought at venues such as craft shows, fairs, or glassblowing design houses. Many people love and prize artisan blown glass art. The glass is clear in general, but the sand that is used for it can be manipulated to create color. There are many designs that employ transparent color. The glass can also be created to have a translucent, or an opaque appearance. Many people love to buy blown glass items that are multicolored. The colors will appear to bleed into each other. They are manipulated while they are still pliable. The artist will blend the colors in a way that creates optical illusions when the glass piece is dried. These are extremely lovely and intriguing to look at.

There is a special type of blown glass art to note, and that is Murano Glass. Murano is an island off of the coast of Venice, Italy. The glass that is produced here is very artistic. Recently, there has been a spike in Murano glass products that are sold in kiosk in U.S. shopping malls. The pieces that are sold in these venues are pieces of jewelry such as pendants, earrings, rings, and bracelets. The glass can be molded and colored into very complicated and intricate designs. It is very lovely to look at, and unique to wear.

Blown glass art can be made into holiday ornaments. Many people love to collect blown glass ornaments. However, these ornaments tend to be very fine and delicate. Special care should be taken with regards to the storage of these ornaments, and the care of the ornaments when they are hanging from high areas, or from tree branches. Blown glass can also be shaped into beads to make jewelry, such as earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. Again, the art work that is created from them is prized, and makes for lovely statement pieces.

No Comments »

We get questions a lot on which 3M Espe Dental Cements are used for this procedure or that procedure.  So, I thought we would inform customers of which product may be best for the procedure that he or she is about to perform.  The following  information on 3M Espe’s Relyx Dental Cements came directly from 3M Espe showing the many different varieties of dental cements along with the uses for each of them.

 

Ceramic, composite or metal inlays, onlays, crowns, bridges
Zirconia restorations (i.e., Lava™ Restorations)
Posts and screws
CAD/CAM

Saves time by eliminating etching, priming and bonding steps
Proven to reduce post-operative sensitivity
Self-adherent and moisture-tolerant
Unidose capsule or Clicker™ Dispenser
RelyX™ Unicem Aplicap™ Elongation Tip makes cementing posts easier and more reliable

 

Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns and bridges
Metal crowns, bridges, inlays and onlays (high noble, noble and base metals)
Crowns and bridges with minimal tooth structure
Maryland bridges (resin-bonded bridges)
All ceramic/porcelain and pre-cured composite crowns, bridges, inlays and onlays
Endodontic posts
Adhesive (bonded) amalgam restoration

]]>

Clicker dispenser or Powder/Liquid
Low post-operative sensitivity
Sustained fluoride release
High fracture toughness
Paste/paste formula in the Clicker dispenser provides consistent mix ratios

 

Bonding veneers fabricated of porcelain or composite

Customer-preferred shading system
Try-in pastes offer excellent color match to final cured cement
Light-cure-only system provides excellent color stability
Easy to dispense, apply and seat; easy clean-up

 

Inlays, onlays, single crowns, posts and screws
Orthodontic strips
Cavity linings

Chemical bond to enamel and dentin
Fluoride release
Extremely low film thickness optimizes marginal integrity
Radiopacity
Capsule delivery offers simple handling, consistent working characteristics and reliable quality

 

Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns and bridges
Metal crowns, bridges, inlays and onlays (high noble, noble and base metals)
Crowns and bridges with minimal tooth structure
Maryland bridges (resin-bonded bridges)
All ceramic/porcelain and pre-cured composite crowns, bridges, inlays and onlays
Endodontic posts
Adhesive (bonded) amalgam restorations

Easy to use
Dispenses uniform, procedure-specific dosages
Easy excess removal

 

Provisional restorations
Crowns, bridges, inlays and onlays

Strong adhesion
Quick, easy excess removal
Optimal fit
Easy provisional removal
Available in both eugenol and non-eugenol formulas

 

I hope that this helps as some of these are some of the most highly rated dental cements in the industry.  3M Espe RelyX Cements are #1 rated in many categories including resin cements, resin-modified glass ionomer cements, glass ionomer cements, and polycarboxylate cements.  RelyX Unicem now has a 5-Year Clinical Performance Study and continues to do very well as one of the top selling self-adhesive resin cements in the dental supply industry.

 

No Comments »

History of Taj Mahal India
The origin of the name the “Taj Mahal” is not clear. Court histories from Shah Jehan’s reign only call it the rauza (tomb) of Mumtaz Mahal. It is generally believed that “Taj Mahal” (usually translated as either “Crown Palace” or “Crown of the Palace”) is an abbreviated version of her name, Mumtaz Mahal (Exalted One of the Palace). The Taj Mahal is a deserving resting palace for an Emperor’s Empress. It stands on the banks of the river Yamuna, which otherwise serves as a wide moat defending the Great Red Fort of Agra, the center of the Mughal emperors until they moved their capital to Delhi in 1637. It was built by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan in 1631 in memory of his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, a Muslim Persian princess. She died while accompanying her husband in Burhanpur in a campaign to crush a rebellion after giving birth to their 14th child.
 

Lovers die, but love shall not and death shall have no dominion.
In the year 1607 when a prince of the royal Mughal household strolled down the Meena Bazaar, accompanied by a string of fawning courtiers, he caught a glimpse of a girl hawking silk and glass beads. Five years and a wife later (in those days princes did not marry for love alone) the regal 20-yr-old went to wed his 19-yr-old bride. It was a fairytale union from the start, one that withstood court intrigues, battles for succession and finally, the grand coronation. And when she died on the 19th year of their marriage, he etched her story in stone. The Taj Mahal is the living symbol of the monumental passion of Shah Jahan and Arjumand Banu. Which other love story has so grand a memorial?

Agra, the Chosen City for Taj Mahal
Agra was the chosen city of the Mughal emperors during the early years. It was here that the founder of the dynasty, Babur, laid out the first formal Persian garden on the banks of the River Yamuna. Here, Akbar, his grandson, raised the towering ramparts of the great Red Fort. Within its walls, Jahangir built rose-red palaces, courts and gardens. Shahjahan embellished it with marbled mosques, palaces and pavilions of gem-inlaid white marble. Agra is globally renowned as the city of the Taj Mahal, a monument of love and imagination, which represents India to the world.

TAJ MAHAL – Wonder of the World
To people the world over, the Taj Mahal, mausoleum of Mughal Emperor shah Jana’s chief wife, Mumtaz Mahal, is synonymous with India. Its curving, gently swelling dome and the square base upon which its rests so lightly is a familiar image from hundreds of brochures and travel books. The Taj is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular buildings of the world. Renowned for its architectural magnificence and aesthetic beauty, it counts among man’s proudest creations and is invariably included in the list of the world’s foremost wonders. As a tomb, it has no match upon earth, for mortal remains have never been housed in greater grandeur.

Inside The Taj Mahal  

The Taj Mahal is situated more than 900 ft. (275 m.) away from the entrance at the opposite end of the garden. Towering almost 200 ft. (76m.) in height, the tomb stands on its own marble plinth, which rests on a red sandstone platform that serves to level the land as it slopes to the river. Four tall minarets rise up from the corners of the white marble plinth. They taper to a majestic height of 138 ft and are crowned with eight windowed cupolas.

The marble mausoleum is square in plan with chamfered corners. Each facade of the tomb is composed of a grand iwan framed by bands of calligraphy. The doorways inside these iwans are also adorned with calligraphy. The iwan is flanked on both sides by small double arches one over the other. They are rectangular while the arched alcoves of equal size at the angles of the tomb are semi-octagonal. Each section in the facade is well demarked on both sides by attached pilasters which rising from the plinth level of the tomb rise above the frieze and are crowned by beautiful pinnacles with lotus buds and finials. The pinnacles ornament the superstructure and help along with the other features to break the skyline gracefully.

Taj Mahal Design & Layout  

The Mausoleum of the Taj Mahal at Agra stands in a formally laid-out walled garden entered through a pavilion. The architectural complex comprises five main elements: the Darwaza or main gateway, the Bageecha or garden, the Masjid or mosque, the Naqqar Khana or rest house, and the Rauza or the Taj Mahal mausoleum. The actual Tomb is situated inside the Taj.

The unique Mughal style combines elements of Persian, Central Asian, and Islamic architecture. The mosques, built only to balance the composition are set sufficiently far away to do no more than frame the mausoleum. In essence, the whole riverside platform is a mosque courtyard with a tomb at its center. The great entrance gate with its domed central chamber, set at the end of the long watercourse, would in any other setting be a monument in its own right.

The Taj stands on a raised, square platform (186 x 186 feet) with its four corners truncated, forming an unequal octagon. The architectural design uses the interlocking arabesque concept, in which each element stands on its own and perfectly integrates with the main structure. It uses the principles of self-replicating geometry and symmetry of architectural elements. The four graceful and slender 162.5 feet minarets, set symmetrically about the tomb, are scaled down to heighten the effect of the dominant, slightly bulbous dome. Its central dome is 58 feet in diameter and rises to a height of 213 feet it is flanked by four subsidiary domed chambers.

The tombs of Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal are actually located in a shadowy burial crypt. Above them, in the main chamber are false tombs, a common practice in mausoleums built during the Mughal period. Light is admitted into the central chamber by finely cut marble screens. The echo in this high-domed chamber is worth hearing, and there is always somebody there to demonstrate it.

Ironically, the perfect symmetry of Taj is disrupted by the tomb of the man who built it. When Shah Jahan died in 1666, his son Aurangzeb placed his casket next to that of Mumtaz Mahal. His presence which was never intended unbalances the mausoleum’s interior.

The Green Taj Garden  

A green carpet of garden, a Persian garden, runs from the main gateway to the foot of the Taj Mahal. Such gardens were introduced to India by Babur, the first Mughal emperor, who also brought with him the Persian infatuation with flowers and fruit, birds and leaves, symmetry and delicacy. Unlike other Oriental gardens – especially those of the Japanese, who learned to accentuate existing resources rather than formalize them – the Persian garden was artificially contrived, unabashedly man-made, based on geometric arrangements of nature without any attempt at a “natural” look.

Like Persian gardeners, landscape artists at the Taj Mahal attempted to translate the perfection of heaven into terrestrial terms by following certain formulas. In Islam, four is the holiest of all numbers – most arrangements of the Taj Mahal are based on that number or its multiples – and the gardens were thus laid out in the quadrate plan. Two marble canals studded with fountains and lined with cypress trees (symbolizing death) cross in the centre of the garden dividing it into four equal squares.

The mausoleum, instead of occupying the central point (like most mughal mausoleums), stands majestically at the north end just above the river. Each of the four quarters of the garden has been sub-divided into 16 flower beds by stone-paved raised pathways. At the centre of the garden, halfway between the tomb and the gateway, stands a raised marble lotus-tank with a cusped border. The tank has been arranged to perfectly reflect the Taj in its waters.

A clear, unobstructed view of the mausoleum is available from any spot in the garden. Fountains and solemn rows of cypress trees only adorn the north-south water canal, lest the attention of the viewer would be diverted to the sides !! This shows how carefully the aesthetic effect of the water devices and the garden were calculated. The deep green cypress trees with their slender rising shapes and curving topmost crests are mirrored in the water while between their dark reflections shines the beauty of the immortal Taj Mahal.

The Water Devices at the Taj Mahal
The architect e conduits, designed a clever system to procure water for the Taj Mahal through underground pipes. Water was drawn from the river by a series of purs (manual system of drawing water from a water body using a rope and bucket pulled by bullocks) and was brought through a broad water channel into an oblong storage tank of great dimensions. It was again raised by a series of thirteen purs worked by bullocks.

Except for the ramps, the other features of the whole water system have survived. An over-head water-channel supported on massive arches carried water into another storage tank of still greater dimensions. Water was finally raised by means of fourteen purs and passed into a channel which filled three supply tanks, the last of which had pipe mouths in its eastern wall. The pipes descended below and after travelling underground crossed into the Taj Mahal enclosure. One pipe line runs directly towards the mosque to supply the fountains in the tanks on the red sandstone plinth below the marble structure. Copper pipes were used for separate series of fountains in the north-south canal, lotus pond and the canal around it.

An ingenious method was devised to ensure uniform and undiminished water pressure in the fountains, irrespective of the distance and the outflow of water. A copper pot was provided under each fountain pipe – which was thus connected to with the water supply only through the pot. Water first fills the pot and then only rises simultaneously in the fountains. The fountains are thus controlled by pressure in the pots and not pressure in the main pipe. As the pressure in the pots is uniformly distributed all the time, it ensures equal supply of water at the same rate in all the fountains.

The main supply of the water was however obtained through earthenware pipes. One such main was discovered under the bed of the western canal. The pipe is 9″ in diameter and has been embedded in masonry at a depth of 5 feet below the level of the paved walk. Evidently, the Mughal water expert was a master of his art and successfully worked out the levels in relation to the volume of water to ensure its unobstructed supply for centuries. He anticipated no repair work and therefore made no provision for it; hence the extraordinary depth at which the pipe was sunk.

The garden is irrigated by the overflowing of canals. The north-south canal has inlets of water through fountains. The east-west received its water through an interconnection with the north-south canal. Thus the quarters near the canals received an adequate supply of water and could be used for growing flower-plants which would not obscure the general view, while the distant quarters got a smaller supply of water and were suitable only for tall trees.

Taj Mahal Impressions  

From studied awe to sheer ecstacy, people have literally competed to say the most beautiful things about the Taj Mahal. Some have admired its beauty; others have revealed the various activities that took place here. We take a look.

Shah Jahan’s own composition in praise of the Taj Mahal is found in Badshah Nama: “? The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs and makes sun and moon shed tears from their eyes. In this world this edifice has been made to display thereby the Creator’s glory.”

From the Travels in the Mughul Empire, 1670 by the French traveler Bernier: “The Koran is continually read with apparent devotion by certain Mullahs kept in the Mausoleum for that purpose? It is opened with much ceremony once a year. and no Christian is admitted within , lest its sanctity be profaned.”

In 1783 the British painter Hodges says of the tomb: “it appears like a perfect pearl on an azure ground. The effect is such I have never experienced from any work of art.”

By the time of the British conquest of India, the attitude to the Tah Mahal had changed. The beautiful memorial had turned into a pleasure resort; in its gardens, Englishman met their lovers. On its terrace they danced while the mosque and the jawab were rented out to honeymooners!

Writes a then well-known British officer, Colonel Sleeman’s wife: “I cannot tell what I think. I do not know how to criticize such a building but I can tell what I feel. I would die tomorrow to have such another over me.”

The American novelist, Bayard Taylor, wrote about the Taj Mahal: “Did you ever build a castle in the Air ? Here is one, brought down to earth and fixed for the wonder of ages”.

Lord Curzon, the British Governor-General who is credited to have somewhat saved the Ta Mahal from neglect, said in a speech from the terrace of the monument: “If I had never done anything else in India, I have written my name here, and the letters are a living joy.”

The poet Rabindranath Tagore has perhaps said it best of all: “You know Shah Jahan, life and youth, wealth and glory, they all drift away in the current of time. You strove therefore, to perpetuate only the sorrow of your heart? Let the splendor of diamond, pearl and ruby vanish? Only let this one teardrop, this Taj Mahal, glisten spotlessly bright on the cheek of time, forever and ever.

No Comments »

Miy Christmas Tabletop Theme Decor,

“Zen Christmas Decor”

Miy Project: “Christmas Tabletop Theme Decor”, An inviting holiday table, Zen Fusion Style.”

My fusion theme is based on a composition of different décor-style influences. It is modern and transitional, yet contemporary at the same time. It includes the simplicity of Zen, combined with elegance and nostalgia. You could say that I spiced things up a little by adding touches of holiday elements such as glitter, snowflakes, stars and Christmas greenery.

With an idea of Oriental spice in mind when I went to choose my table, the whole vision came together as soon as I spotted the perfect table for my composition – an elegant dining room set of a modern transitional style, in a rich black-and-ginger-brandy-coloured combination by Dinec. The table runners are in rich tones of ginger spice, burgundy and auburn with black accents, in assorted textures of organza, cotton and novelty ribbon trim, adorned with tassel ornaments. The centre runner is in an ecru cotton fabric with Oriental cinnamon-coloured symbols. It is trimmed with a black satin border. Here’s a simple trick in order to save on hours of sewing. Just fuse the hems with fusing tape (available at fabric stores), then add a decorative ribbon border or tassels.

I chose an organza fabric as the main table cloth in order to be able to see the richness and beauty of the table displayed through the fabric. To create a festive table setting for eight, I chose a glass aubergine place setting with a wicker texture by Studio Nova.

]]>

I used Pébéo Vitrail 160 glass paints on the back all of the dishes. I painted the charger plates with assorted splattered patterns in burgundy, gold, red and black. The dinner dishes were all painted copper. Painting the back allows the texture and pattern to be visible. I then painted the entrée plates in shades of red and burgundy, leaving a square pattern unpainted at the centre in order to see the copper colour of the dinner plate through it. For the finishing touch, I added a fine detailed square design with a copper-coloured liner. I also used glass paint to add a basic copper square on the water glasses.

I wanted a simple contemporary floral arrangement as my centerpiece. White Christmas lilies and spiral copper branches at the centre with river stones and wooden cranberries were placed at the bottom of a clear glass rectangular-shaped base. I added touches of greenery on the gifts and to the cutlery sets and I placed one copper leaf on each plate setting.

Six slender burgundy candles for the table were adorned with copper leafing and placed in square glass candle holders by Misaka, which I ornamented with beaded wires.

I created assorted holiday artworks to embellish the walls for the season -a poinsettia painting made with Textured paste to add dimension and a paper montage frame made with assorted rice papers in various colours. For holiday nostalgia, I made a family photo Advent calendar on a canvas.

I made several customized greetings cards out of recycled cards, gift tags, ornaments, scrap paper, ribbons, beads, copper trim and sequins. Making a tree ornament and placing it on a card is a great way to say happy holidays to loved ones. I revamped an old louvered door panel in a red, gold and copper weathered finish to display the cards.

Even the backs of each of the chairs were trimmed with care. A red satin ribbon, combined with an organza fabric bow, with a tassel ornament and a pine branch at the centre.

I covered two red candle lanterns with a copper mesh cuff and beads. I recycled four black jars, made red and copper letters out of Super Sculpey, a polymer clay, to spell the word Noël, and attached them to the jars with golden raffia. Red decorative jars were embellished with beads and greenery accents. A simple black vase was enhanced with a copper paint square to repeat the pattern on the glasses.

I also transformed plain chopsticks by dressing them up with rice paper and copper wire bands. Again, Super Sculpey was used to make the chopstick and place card holders, which were painted with black acrylic then top coated with a bronze metallic gel.

Each project that I have created for my theme table requires only a few basic craft supplies combined with recycled items, all of which are of basic skills to make.

For More Great Miy Holiday Decorating Ideas and decor Projects visit our MIY-Decor library.

Copyright Miy-Decor.com © 2006

For more Miy decor projects visit www.maddylane-decor.com

No Comments »

Why not go monochrome mad this season and treat yourself to some of Swanky Maison’s funky black and white handmade home accessories? The monochrome effect is everywhere at the moment and Swanky Maison feels proud to introduce you to the gifted designer-makers who make these fabulous monochrome delights!

Give your living area a monochrome kiss with Karen Hilton’s set of 3 Black & Grey cushions. Wonderfully contrasting and delightfully British, these designer cushions are the perfect handmade home accessory!

The set includes a Union Jack cushion, a 1st Class cushion (it really is 1st class!) and a Queen’s Head cushion. Superbly modern with a classic British twist, these handmade cushions will give your room that extra ounce of character it deserves. Each cushion is also made from cotton fabric and quality felt and all three can be yours for only £95 – what more could you want? Feel free to check out the rest of Karen Hilton’s collection of designer cushions.

]]>

Why not complement Karen Hilton’s monochrome lovelies with these adorable Fused Glass Coasters by Lazy Daisy Glass? Each black glass coaster bears a white ‘doodles’ pattern, resulting in a fab contrast of light and dark colour. They’d also look smashing on a dining table, probably leaving the other tableware to shame! These handmade coasters are also available in white with a black ‘doodles’ pattern.

Let us reveal to you that these funky glass coasters are just £35 for all four. Yes, really. Absolute bargain we think! They’re also the perfect unique gift for any friend or fellow monochrome-trend-devotee. Lazy Daisy Glass has also produced a Fused Glass Arc Clock with a black and white zebra print for the tiny price of £35. We know… there’s too much to choose from!

If you’re a true fan of these funky fresh black and white products and you’re in search of the perfect monochrome centrepiece then why not uncover Maggie Williams’ stunning Glass Hanging Vases? These hand finished vases are a completely unique and innovative way to display flowers – the ultimate home and garden accessory! They’d look great anywhere in the house and if you’re daring enough, they’re sure to look even more fab hanging from the ceiling. Why not check out more equally unique hanging accessories?

Thanks to Simone Price, Swanky Maison introduces you to the ultimate monochrome purse friendly find! The ‘Love Grows’ Print can be yours for just £18; a signed black and white print based on high quality archival paper. Why not give your boudoir an added pizzazz and hang it on the walls? Maybe it could play centre stage on the brim of your mantelpiece? The funky ‘Love Grows’ Print is also a perfect unique gift, especially for those creative individuals who are looking to intensify their room with an artsy home accessory.

Check out our stunning range of other handmade home accessories and unique gifts – we have too many to boast about!

No Comments »