India is well known for it’s embroidery, embroidery is a unique form of sewing. Embroidery involves the use of several needles and threads, although embriodery is not just restricted to thread. Embroidery also involves the use of beads, sequens, two fabrics sewn together, there are lots of alternatives used in embroidery.

Embroidery has been done long before ancient Egypt or even the ancient Chinese. Many different cultures have found their own way to highlight embroidery fabric. Extensive and elaborate embroidered fabric was a sign of wealth in many countries, the more colorful the embroidery was on peoples clothes, and other items, depended how wealthy that particular family was.

There are many different embroidery techniques from cross stich to surface embroidery and also free embroidery. Canvas embroidery is another aspect of the various techniques that are used.

India is very popular with the type of embroidery that they do. Aar embroidery needle is somewhat similar to a crochet needle; it is done primarily by the Muslims and is called Aari. Since religion is a main concern to Indian people, many fabrics of clothing have been embroidered in great detail and organized in various complicated ways, to form symbols and words for deities.

All cultures are inspired by various designs in embroidery, and this is very true for India. The Indians have this amazing talent when it comes to embroidery, their creative use of beads and threads is phenomenal. Embroidery can be crafted onto almost anything, from household furnishings to handbags and shoes. The fashion looks great on anyone who wears them.

Over the years scarves and handbags have made quite an impression on modern women. With elegant beadwork and exquisite embroidered designs. Many of the handbags are embroidered in bright colours making an attractive fashion statement.

India continues to impress by extending their ranges of embroidered products, you can now find baby clothes not to mention impressive designs in bed linen and household furnishings.

Once you see for yourself the elegance, the time, and the unique designs that come from India, you too will want to purchase some of these items for yourself. Any embroidered product from India would, definitely make a talking piece.

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Fantastic works of art come out of Africa, they are renowned for them. The most appealing works as of late are their brilliant beadwork. This beadwork technique has been past down for hundreds of years, they have mastered this beadwork technique to a tee. This incredible art form has to be seen to be believed.

In times gone by works of art have been made using anything from eggs to seeds, also stones and metal. However these latest artworks have been made using glass beads.

Since the discovery of glass by the Egyptians, trade routes were set up with the people of South Africa to trade these glass beads for ivory and other valuables.

The South Afrcans began constructing objects using the glass beads with the help of wire. The designs they created were absolutley beautiful, the designs included cars, flowers, and almost any animal. The frame is made of a galvanised wire and then decorated with colored beads.

Many families were very poor and could not afford beads, so toys were made from just wire. The art of using just wire became so popular that now a tourist can find wire art shaped into everything from Saxophones to large cars, and many with very great detail, some may even have a working steering wheel. Working with wire has become a Zulu wire working revolution. Even security guards started decorating their “knobkerries” with bright and colorful wire, just to keep them awake during the long hours of the night watch.

Even though copper color coded wires where used in creating wire art, one can now find wire sculptures of musical instruments, animals, bicycles, and many other sculptures fashioned from steel wire, and can also be found not only is a studio, but also at flea markets, and roadside stands. These would make fantastic and unique gifts for anyone.

Looking at this artwork will amaze you, once you see how much work and passion was put into each creation. Some trees are fashioned from wire, sticking into a piece of wood, and the leaves on the tree are twisted in such a way that they look real. You will also find such things as wire beaded bowl sets, bracelets, beautifully designed animals of every sort, you will also see motorcycles designed in many different colors. Colorful plates made from wire, and matching under plates can also be seen.

Zulu artisans and crafters began selling their designs in public markets instead of roadside stands in order to drive more customers; however many wire artists realized the vale of the sculptures and opened up art shops and galleries to display their creative designs.

If you know someone who fancies cultural art from many different cultures, or just one particular culture, wire art would make a unique gift, in their collection, it will definitely draw attention to any art collection, with such prominent colors.

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Last month one of my husband’s close business associates got married. For two months before the joyous event I stressed out about what to get them. I racked my brain for an original, unique item that would be a delightful surprise. I wanted our gift to them to represent how happy we were for them.

In my quest, I visited a dozen stores and picked through a ton of toasters, bed sheets, and towels. Nothing seemed to say “unique” or “surprise.” They all said “ordinary.” I gave up and decided to try and find something online. I found some interesting suggestions, a gift basket of chocolates, or a bottle of wine. This grew into an idea of making my own gift, a wine gift basket!

I felt it was the perfect gift for them. I knew they enjoyed good wines, and I thought this would set the perfect mood for romance. It seemed wonderful for a pair of newlyweds! I used a picnic basket and added everything they would need for a nice wine and cheese tasting: two bottles of wine, a pair of wine glasses and charms, a corkscrew and some gourmet cheeses and crackers.

It was hard to believe how simply this gift basket came together. When my husband saw the gift, he was charmingly shocked that I had all this hidden talent and he said he was ready to finance my first gift shop! I was very proud of my work and happy about the low level of energy needed to make such a creative gift.

After the wedding, we became quite close friends with the couple. They told us they had taken my basket along on their honeymoon, and that they hoped to take the picnic basket to the park with their children. It was a nice feeling to know that they appreciated this gift and that they would long enjoy it’s use.

Now I can’t wait for the next gift-giving occasion to come along! I can’t wait to make more gifts for my family and friends. I haven’t told them about my new love because I want them to be surprised when they get their own baskets. Because they’re completely customizable, they’re perfect for every occasion. I can change them up depending on the recipient. My husband said he wants one for our next anniversary. I’ll have to get creative and include something extra special so he will be truly blown away! Maybe tickets to a show would be a nice addition.

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My father’s birthday was quickly approaching and none of us had a clue what to get him. He never tells us exactly what he wants. After wandering around, I had no idea what to do for him, neither did my sister or my brother. We found out about a golf outing that he could actually play with old professionals.

What did we do? We signed him up. He never saw this coming. My father lives for golf. Every day he is out on the green putting. Everyday he is watching it on television. Everyday he is practicing his chipping and working on ?breaking? in his driver. I think it?s an addiction.

The golf tournament rolls around and he and his friends are playing together in it. The tournament is an all day event followed by a dinner and a silent auction. The dinner was excellent; he loved the food and was thanking us. He then proceeded to the silent auction to bid on whatever he set his heart on.

My mother ate her $25 worth of desserts throughout the evening. She said the food wasn’t as tempting as everything on the dessert table. She went along over to the auction table carrying what looked like three slices of cake, maybe even one slice of cheesecake.

Dad placed a few silent auction bids. He was hoping to win an autographed picture of one of his favorite sports figures, some shirts and a few other items. He also found a string trimmer that he thought would come in handy for an additional property he owns. He was so excited after bidding; it was as if he’d already won the items!

Mom did a little shopping of her own, primarily eyeing the many gift baskets that were available. There were so many, and if the bids stayed where they were, they were incredible values! My dads birthday was extremely important and the Christmas holidays were also fastly approaching. She looked at some wine gift baskets, but finally settled on a basket full of a gourmet meats, that she thought would make a great Christmas and birthday gift for my father.

The real auction starts and the auctioneer comes forward to give the prizes to the highest bidders on the silent auction. The prize my mother bid on in the beginning was finally hers. Once all the high bidders are done collecting their prizes, the real auction starts. The weed whacker is the first thing to be auctioned off. My father decided to bid on it, but he only did it to get the ball rolling. The auctioneer decided to bid on it and won it for himself since dad did not bid any higher. My father really thought he had a chance of winning so he became bummed. In the end is all about having a good times with your friends and I’m glad that is the way it turned out.

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