There were dozens of manufacturers and thousands of different kinds of vases. As a result, you’ll find them at flea markets and yard sales, antiques malls, and auctions for lady head vases including on eBay.

Makers include Napco, Enesco, Rubens and Betty Lou Nichols, whose marks make good identifiers, but unfortunately not all vases have them. One good way to identify quality vases is to look for flourishes such as necklaces and dangling earrings. These should have a patina about them, and not look new and shiny.

Prices vary, and you can find a nice vase for $15, but expect to pay more like $50 for a lady head vase in good condition. Some sell for as much as $1,500.

Make Sure Your Lady Head Vase is Not a Reproduction

If you are looking for a vintage lady head vase, make sure the one you’re thinking about buying is a genuine vintage vase and not a poorly made imported headvase being sold as old or vintage.

There are a lot of imported reproduction lady head vases being sold as vintage. Fortunately, these fakes are often easy to spot. Genuine vintage head vases are beautiful, with finely painted delicate features. They have thick eyelashes and beautiful skin tones. Some have feathers, earrings, or other jewelry details.

On the other hand, the imported lady head vases are rather unattractive, with poorly painted or skimpy details and lacking the lovely colors used in authentic vintage head vases.
To protect yourself, go to the library, find a book on lady head vases, and compare the vase you want to buy with the genuine headvase in the book. Compare the number if there is one.

Once you study the older pieces, you’ll learn to recognize the small details that separate the quickly produced, cheap reproductions from the older vintage lady head vases.

You want to treasure your collectible vintage lady head vase for years to come!

Some good resources are the Head Vase Museum and Antique Head Vases.

Article reprinted from Lady Head Vases.

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A hobby greenhouse is small; however it will give you a place for a tomato plant or two and some fresh greens wherever you live. The Hobby Greenhouse Association publishes a quarterly magazine, sponsors events and helps folks connect to get help with their gardening, whether it’s growing cacti or saving seeds.

There are several types of hobby greenhouses on the market. The smallest style must be accessed from the outside and looks like nothing so much as an old-fashioned phone booth. It’s made of glass and has shelves. It’s designed to fit as many plants as possible in a very small area. Because the shelves are glass, it’s possible for a lot of light to reach plants on the lower shelves. A low-cost version of this type of greenhouse is shelving enclosed with a zippered tent of clear plastic. This works great for the hobby gardener who wants a place to keep her flowers or houseplant starts.

Other hobby greenhouses are big enough to walk into; these are made completely of clear glass or plastic. Usually about the same size as a small storage building, often independent builders make these and sell them locally. One of the nicest national brands is the “Solar Prism.” This hobby greenhouse has a unique construction. It’s made of a single piece of heavy-duty clear plastic which is designed to work like tiny prisms side by side. The rays of the sun are trapped and shot back into the greenhouse at all angles. These small greenhouses are said to glow when the sky is cloudy.

More expensive greenhouses have automatic sensors that open vents which allow aeration and keep the internal temperature from getting too hot. These can get expensive but are great labor savers. Another advantage occasionally found in better greenhouses is a built in irrigation or misting system.

If your hobby is gardening, greenhouse growing may be of interest to you. You can grow the earliest tomatoes and salad greens year around. You can also start seedlings for the main garden early in the spring when outside temperatures would kill them. You may find that a hobby greenhouse is an excellent investment.

Technorati Tags: greenhouse,gardening,growing,plants

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Each piece of handmade craft has a distinctive style of their own. Its uniqueness provides a good reason to appreciate these products and craftsmen who work behind them.

Since machines are not employed in the making of these products, the craftsmen should be extra vigilant while making these products. In many cases a small mistake on the part of craftsman will be a disaster.

There are many training schools around the world, which imparts training on these traditional crafts. It’s a great fun to learn these craft making techniques and it provides an avenue to earn extra income for many people.

The main problem Handmade Crafts facing is the lack of proper marketing and sales promotion. With proper marketing and sales promotion, these products can fetch reasonably good returns to those who manufacture them. Genuine Handmade Crafts are in great demand all over the world.

To find more about the Handmade Crafts from around the world visit www.giftsspace.com.
Gijo George http://www.giftsspace.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gijo_George

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1. Watch the fireworks from Sea World while enjoying an intimate bonfire on a San Diego beach. You can enjoy the fireworks from Sea World from a nearby beach for a romantic evening under the stars. Roast marshmallows and make s’mores as you cuddle around the fire.

2. Share a spectacular sunset with the person you love. San Diego is known for its spectacular sunsets. Learn the best places to go to watch the sun slide slowly into the Pacific Ocean.

3. Take an evening kayak journey under the stars. San Diego has great choices for kayaking. You can kayak through the La Jolla Caves, along the coast, or on the calm waters of Mission Bay.

4. Bicycle along the coast. Bicycle rentals can be found throughout San Diego. Some of the most popular places for biking are along the coast, on Coronado Island, and around Mission Bay. You can join an organized biking tour or rent a bike and venture out on your own.

5. Snuggle together in a horse drawn carriage touring the waterfront. Create romantic memories with a horse-drawn carriage ride along the coast or through Balboa Park. Fairy tales can come true!

6. Cruise the Bay for romance on the water. Enjoy a romantic cruise on the bay. There are a variety of cruise choices that let you get a view of the city from the water. Cruises can include dancing, live music, cocktails, brunch, lunch, or dinner.

7. Ride a gondola snuggling and sipping wine as you glide through the waters on Coronado Island. What can be more romantic than gliding through the water in a gondola? Make reservations for your private cruise through the waters of Coronado Island. Special sunset cruises and wine tasting cruises are available.

8. Enjoy a stroll on the beach. San Diego has 70 miles of beaches waiting to be explored. Take a stroll on a sandy beach for a romantic outing.

9. Picnic at Balboa Park and explore this park hand-in-hand. There are so many things to explore in San Diego’s Balboa Park. Bring your picnic basket and a blanket and spend a day basking in the beauty of this beautiful park.

10. Hike to a swimming hole and swim under the waterfall. Many people don’t realize that there is a waterfall in San Diego. Plan a springtime hike to Cedar Falls and swim under the falls.

Melissa met her fiance while attending college in San Diego. Together they have explored San Diego; discovering unique things to do in and around San Diego.Melissa believes that San Diego is the perfect place to spend time with someone you love and is eager to help you plan your own romantic dates in San Diego. Whatever your interests are, San Diego is the place to make your dreams come true.

Melissa’s website, http://www.sandiego-romantics.com, Romantic Things to Do in San Diego, explores tourism in San Diego. Learn about romantic beaches, dates, romantic restaurants, best places to watch sunsets, winery getaways, beach bonfires, fireworks, San Diego beach hotels, and more.

Did you find these top ten romantic date ideas useful? You can learn more about these ideas by visiting http://www.sandiego-romantics.com/romantic-dates.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melissa_Howe

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I watch birds because I can do it anywhere and anytime. I don’t have to travel to distant locations or schedule entire weekends to bird. I watch birds in my car, through my office window, in my local park and in any of dozens of bird sanctuaries within the greater Phoenix area.

I also like birding because it is an inexpensive sport. With nothing more than a pair of binoculars and a reference book, I am successfully equipped to watch birds. I keep both of these items on a counter in my kitchen and use them frequently as I study birds at our backyard feeders. I have seen over 100 different bird species in my backyard alone!

Birding exposes me to nature’s beauty, it takes me to nearby places I’ve never been to and it introduces me to great people who enjoy the same things I do. My birding hobby has connected me to individuals and organizations who are passionate about protecting our sport. Together we have worked to save and enhance natural birding habitats and have help to educate others, both young and old, on wildlife stewardship.

I love to bird because it slows me down a bit. Much of my life is frenetic and full of stress so I look forward to a birding walk where I can escape from the madness - even if it is only for a short while. I also love bird watching because it has connected me and my family to a common activity. For all of us, birding is not a destination. It is the key ingredient that adds an enriching flavor to each of our outdoor activities. Birding has been a lifetime hobby of mine and I know the fun I have had with my family while birding has ensured my children and grandchildren will also be lifetime birders.

The most important reason Why I Watch Birds is it is Fun! Take someone you care about on a birding trip to your local park. Not only will you have a good time, but you’ll be setting them up for a lifetime of bird watching enjoyment. Bird watching is the perfect activity regardless of your age, your health or your location. Whether you are 8 or 88, Get Outdoors and Get Birding! You’ll be glad your “in” the wonderful world of Bird Watching.

Chuck Fitzgerald, The Outdoor Guy, has written a beginner’s guide to bird watching call “Learning to Bird.” Visit http://www.birdwatchingebook.com to see just how easy and how much fun Bird Watching really is. Chuck is the owner of Arizona based BackCountry Toys, an online store helping you to have fun in the great outdoors. To get maximum enjoyment out of your outdoor life, visit http://www.BackCountryToys.com where you’ll find great gear and the Tips & Tales e-newsletter, “FreshAir.” (800) 316-9055.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chuck_Fitzgerald

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At one time I made native costumes for Arabian horse shows. It was a lot of work, but I really enjoyed working with the luxurious fabrics and all the luxe trimmings. If you can, be sure to watch the Native Costume Class.

This video gives you an idea of how elaborate these costumes can be.

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We live on acreage, and have a lot of palm trees in our backyard - some of them are huge. It’s really beautiful with the rock garden and flowers, and even a pond. It was expensive to landscape like that, but we found a way to offset the cost.

Did you know they can put antennas for cell towers in a lot of places - including fake trees? That’s what we did! Our fake palm tree is mixed in with the real ones, and inside is a cell tower antenna. We got free help promoting our cell tower , too, so it was easy to lease it out. The income is great - you might want to consider it.

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They offer free trial downloads for their puzzle, arcade, word, and card games.

Bejeweled has sold 5 million copies on the Web and is installed on 50 million cell phones in North America. It has become the biggest casual game in the 21st century so far!

You can play the games on your cell phone for 5 minutes or an hour, depending on how much time you have while waiting at the airport, in line at the grocery store, at the dentist’s office, etc. Zuma has become an extremely popular cell phone game.

Founded in Seattle by three guys named John, Brian, and Jason, these indie-game developers watched their try-before-you-buy business model became a huge success.

To quote them:

“PopCap is a fast-moving, hard-working group of people with a passion for making fun, addictive, beautiful games that anyone can play and enjoy.”

Interestingly, their gamer base is 72% female, probably because these games don’t focus on violence and don’t have the goal of getting your adrenaline pumping. Instead, they’re games that appeal to the human brain at a fundamental level. That makes them appealing to just about everyone.

90% of players are over the age of twenty-five, perhaps because of the short sessions of play, plus they’re quick to learn.

Some adults play the games as a form of ‘mental break’ – playing for 15 minutes at their desk during lunch. After all, how often does the average adult really have an opportunity to play a game for three hours?
(Ahem, I have to admit to playing Bejeweled Deluxe for 3 hours once!)

Another free and fun online game is Terralever’s Zero Gravity game, built using Microsoft’s Silverlight technology, and featuring the endearing Lt. Bennett. You have to download the Silverlight application first, but it’s a quick and light download.

Post from: Recreation Lounge

I few years ago I got on a donkey and mule kick (no pun intended). I owned a mule at the time, and although I’m a horse fanatic, the unusual aspect of these equines - probably the ears - interested me enough that when I came across a cute donkey figurine on eBay I bought it.

After about 40 more darling items I forced myself to stop - the UPS guy and I were seeing waaaay too much of each other, and I had more donkeys and mules than I knew where to display. They include figurines from Russia, Poland, Brazil, Italy, England, and Germany, and are made of porcelain, ceramic, papier mache, wood, fabric, glass; one is made of coffee grounds and another is Eeyore.

I have a tiny 1/2 inch Bakelite donkey with a compass in his middle that I wear as a pendant, and one made of Vaseline glass that glows under a blacklight. Some have babies, some wear hats, a few are salt and pepper shakers, one holds toothpicks, and one is a lamp. I refused to buy the one that has a cigarette come out of its butt when you push a lever.

We all have our limits.

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Restaurant.com offers $25 restaurant coupons for $10. Right now they are having a 50% off sale. Not only that, but some of the coupons are discounted to $3. You can choose from thousands of restaurants nationwide, and they include quality chains as well as local and trendy restaurants, some of them exceptionally nice places.

You can purchase the coupons online and print them right out on your printer - no waiting, unless you’re out of ink.

Some have restrictions, but for those I bought, the only restriction was to spend a minimum of $35 (not hard to do). The coupons exclude beverages. Even so, a $35 meal for $13 is hard to beat. Don’t forget to tip your server based on the full amount of the tab, before the discount is taken.

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