Lampshades go all the way back to the 18th century, in Paris, where reflectors were first attached to oil-burning street lamps. The reflectors were intended to direct the glow of the lamps downwards, making them more effective. Today, lampshades perform much the same purpose, directing light where we need it, while at the same time … Read more
Weddings are steeped in traditions, some old, some new. One of the keys to the wedding planning process is deciding which of those traditions will be incorporated into the ceremony and reception. Not everyone does the same, as there are different understandings of those traditions and their importance. One small but important tradition is the … Read more
Most of the candles sold in stores today are made with a cotton wick, sometimes with paper filaments interlaced in the cotton for a most stable and consistent burn. The paper also helps prevent the wick from curling and becoming lost inside the wax as it solidifies, after the candle is blown out. But cotton … Read more
Purpleheart is a rather unique hardwood, mostly due to its color. While the color everyone associates with purpleheart is purple, true to its name, the wood can vary somewhat, it can also be greyish/brown. Generally speaking, the purple color really doesn’t appear when freshly cut, but upon exposure the wood turns more purplish. The use … Read more
Acacia has a unique history amongst woods, in that the furnishings of the Biblical tabernacle, sometimes referred to as the “Tabernacle of Moses” were made out of acacia wood. Some translations of the Bible use the term “shittam tree” rather than acacia, but the shittam is one of the many variants of the acacia. But … Read more