Friday, August 22, 2008

Thai Spirit House at Thai Craft Store(Ebay Store)

Ebay Member since: Dec-22-04 , Location: Thailand

Maintained by: kasamsuk
"We specialize in Thai Products from the North of Thailand Sandstone Garden Sculpture, Silk, Buddhist Artwork, Oriental Asian Arts and Crafts, Handcrafted Abstract Sculpture. Quality Teak Wood Spirit Houses, Sterling Silver Jewelry, Handmade Umbrellas, Games, and many other specialist items."

This Store have lot of Thai Spirit House and handmade items by Thai :)

EX...

GRAND BUDDHIST~CHAPEL Thai Spirits House ASIAN ART

This Vihan (Buddhist Chapel) is a replicas of a Buddhist Temple, known as a Spirit House or (San phra phum) inspired by Buddhist faith. Handcrafted in Chiang Mai Province in the North of Thailand, from solid Teak wood.

Thai people believe that, every home or business will have a spirit that inhabits it, and the best way to keep the spirits happy is to provide them with their own beautiful home. This will keep the spirits from any wrong doing.

The beliefs of Thai people that spirits exist are so strong, that every Thai home or business will have a Spirit House (San phra phum) for the guardian spirits to live. Daily offerings of food and drink, incense, flowers or candles are made to the spirits. These offerings are made to the spirits for their blessing, and to bring good luck, happiness and security for all who live in the home, or work within the business.

The Spirit Houses are given a predominant position outside of the property, but far enough away from the home or business to keep the spirits away.

(Never place the Spirit House on the Floor or Ground this is considered bad luck)


Product description:

Size: 25 inches High x 20 inches Long x 10.5 inches Wide

Weight: 8 kilograms

Materials: Solid High Quality Teak Wood

Please note: colour and wood grain may differ due to the nature of the wood (Suitable for outdoor or indoor display)


Can see any Thai Spirit House at Thai Craft Store(Ebay Store)
THX YOU :)

Monday, August 18, 2008

Selling Your Crafts

By Michael Russell

Crafting can be an enjoyable hobby for many people. Sometimes, you can even earn some extra money by crafting, or even turn it into a small business. If you are thinking about selling your crafts, you need to explore the different avenues of where you can actually sell them.

Craft Shows: This is the first place that comes to mind for most people when they want to get started selling their handmade items. Craft shows can vary in their size, entry fee, jury process and how successful they are. Before you actually participate in a show, visit many in your area first. Talk to the other vendors there and ask them how this particular show is. They will tell you if the show is worth doing or not. Look for established shows that have been in the same location for years. That means that the show is successful enough to be around for that length of time and a healthy customer base that comes to the same location year after year. Notice the types of crafts sold at a particular show. Are they all handmade? Some promoters will allow in anyone selling anything, so you could have a unique pottery booth next to one selling cheap imports. Customers notice these things and will avoid shows that clearly aren't displaying quality handmade crafts. Once you find a show you would like to participate in, contact the promoter. Depending on the show, the vendors can be booked as far as one year in advance. There will usually be an application to fill out, be prepared to send photographs of your work to be juried. Make a list of the shows you want to apply to, placing them in order of preference. Then get out your applications as soon as you can, that way if one is full or you are rejected, then you can quickly apply to the next one on the list.

Home Parties: If you have a craft that demonstrates well, you can consider a home party. This would involve either hosting one in your own home, or have a host/hostess do one for you - and he/she would invite the guests. You would bring your items, set them up and do a demonstration or talk on the process of making the items. Then you would either take orders or have stock there to sell. You can work out a hostess gift or incentive for sales and certainly book another party through any of the attending guests.

Wholesale: If the idea of going to craft shows or home parties does not appeal to you, then consider wholesaling your crafts to small boutiques or other types of stores that specialize in the items that you make. You need to make sure that you price your items high enough for you to make a profit on them, yet at a price that the store owner can mark up and make a profit for themselves. Also, a well priced craft will move quickly, making more sales for you and the store owner. To wholesale well, you need to have a supply of your craft items ready to go. Store owners do not want to wait for an order, as they have short seasonal times to sell items and need to maximize that time. For wholesaling, you will need a very good accounting system for invoices.

Internet Sales: Don't neglect the internet. There are many people who shop for crafts online. Hosting a website can be quite inexpensive. The most important thing is to have excellent photographs. Invest in a good digital camera, or have someone qualified take pictures of your items for you. Remember that the photo is all the shopper will see; they cannot pick up, touch or smell the items. There are some people who sell exclusively online and having a website can capture extra sales for you, even if you do other means of selling.

Trying one or all of the above ways to sell your crafts will help you find the niche to succeed. You may find that a combination of several of these will give you the best results. Keep good records and you will learn which avenues are the most profitable for you.

Your Independent guide to HandiCraft.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

The ABC's of Soap Making - Selecting Your Ingredients

Now that youve gathered together all of the basic equipment you will need, lets move on to choosing the ingredients necessary for that successful batch of soap. The best way to determine what type of soap you wish to make is to think long and hard about how you intend to use it. Are you just looking to make some nice sized bath bars? Or perhaps youre thinking of something more creative for a gift or Christmas present. What you desire your end product to be will tell you where you have to start. Here are a few tips to get you started.

The ingredients you select will determine the type of soap you end up with. Each type of oil carries with it its own specific properties.

Oils

Olive Oil: This oil is available in several grades, all of which are suitable for soap making. This oil makes a very hard, brittle soap, which dries quickly and is very long lasting. Soaps made from olive oil have a creamy, luxurious lather and are excellent for all skin types. Olive Oil soap originated in Spain and is also known as Castile Soap and is of very high quality.

Palm Oil: This oil varies in color from white, golden, orange to almost red. The color of the oil will affect the final color of your soap, though this will lessen as your bars dry. Palm oil can be found through many on-line suppliers, or in stores that feature Middle Eastern, Asian, or African foods.

Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is derived from the meat of the coconut. This oil melts readily when heated and can be found on-line or through many Asian grocers and large grocery stores. Coconut oil creates profuse suds, excellent for making hair shampoos, but because it has a tendency to dry the skin, it is often used in conjunction with other oils and/or fats.

Castor Oil: Expressed from the seed of the castor bean plant, castor oil is thick and medicinal in nature and is generally used as a supplement to other oils to add richness and mildness to your soap. It can be found in your local pharmacy.

Vegetable Oils: These oils are generally a combination of olive oil and other oils such as peanut, corn or soy. They are very inexpensive and generally give good results in soap making. Blended vegetable oils yield a softer soap than olive oil alone; they do not dry as quickly but do lather well.

Fats and Lard

Suet: Suet is the fat that surrounds the kidney of the cow. Good quality suet varies in color but should be white or slightly off-white with traces of pink, rather than gray. Suet, when rendered, produces hard tallow that is easy to work with and results in a relatively mild soap. Suet can be purchased from your local butcher or grocer and may be frozen until ready to use.

Beef Fat: Because beef fat is softer than suet, its tallow is not as high quality. Soaps from beef fat tend to be softer than soap made from suet and can be difficult to work with.

Tallow: Is the product that results from rendering fats and suet to remove the impurities. Soaps made from tallow are quite mild and produce small creamy bubbles.

Lard: Is fat rendered from pigs. You will commonly find lard in one pound packages at your local grocery store. This should be refrigerated or frozen until ready to use. The disadvantage of lard is that it does not lather well, so it generally combined with other fats or oils. Lard soaps are fairly hard to the touch and quite mild on the skin.

Kitchen Fats: For many there is something highly appealing about creating soaps with the left over fats from your kitchen; bacon grease drippings youve been collecting in a can or the leftovers from frying meats. These fats must be rendered just as you would suet. These types of soaps are truly for the heart of the adventurer, as you will never know quite what the final product will be. But if this does not concern you, then by all means experiment. One note of caution however, an excessive amount of chicken fat will make your soaps too soft!

Lye

The next ingredient you will need for making soap is Lye, also known as Sodium hydroxide. This is a caustic alkaline, which makes soap when it is combined with fats and/or oils. Traditionally, dripping water through wood ashes produced lye, but today it is manufactured commercially and provides us with a much more consistent product. While there are many on-line sites that sell lye specifically for soap making, I have always used the good old Red Devil Lye. This can be easily found in most hardware stores next to the drain cleaners.

The Final Ingredient

Lastly, you will need cold water for your soap making. Many recommend using distilled water, however since we happen to have well water rather than city water, I have always used water straight from the tap. If you feel your city water is overly processed with a strong smell of chlorine, you may wish to seriously consider buying distilled water for your soap making.

A Final Note

As you search through various soap making recipes, you will note that the vast majority combine two or more different types of fats or oils, in order to achieve the specific qualities of each ingredient. This guide should help you to evaluate those recipes in order to determine if it will be suitable for your needs.

In our next article we will be discussing potential additives to your soap such as colorants, scents, herbs and more. Until then, happy soap making.

household soap in french is mean savon de marseille

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Mahogany and leather table, 'Garland'(handmade table)

Mahogany and leather table, 'Garland'


Product Description

Bordered by a floral garland, a wide expanse of richly tooled leather reveals contrasting textures. Adorning a mahogany accent table, the elegant design is hand-crafted by the Asis Family.

Asis Family

"Handicrafts are born within us. They permit us to make them a reality."
Born in 1953, Eduardo is the head of the Asis Family. He worked with wood from a young age in his uncles' workshop, where he learned to carve and give a fine finish to their designs. He especially enjoyed developing furniture for homes and restaurants.

Customer Reviews of Asis Family

Very Nice Item-Wonderful Workmanship.Extra Fine Details in Leather. Everything I had Hoped for in Quality.Mahogany is Superior to my Expectations, Really Exceptional. Many Thanks....

bye..thank you :D

Monday, July 21, 2008

Quilting Through History

Quilting is an ancient activity, present in many cultures and each of these cultures influencing its development and particularity through time. The quilts became the expression of their maker's feelings, the witness of historical events or happy moments in simple people's lives. From its beginning until the present days, quilting had its ups and downs. Today, the development of the textiles industry and those of the machines and accessories used in making the quilts, the improved techniques of quilting have transformed this simple activity into a true art.

The oldest quilt was comes from ancient Egypt and it consists in a clothing item found on the statue of an Egyptian pharaoh, who lived around the year 3400 before Jesus Christ. The technique used in quilting stitches was also found in decorative objects from Middle eve churches. It is considered that the Templar Knights themselves took over the idea of quilted garments from the Muslim soldiers, who used it to replace parts of their armour when the metal was not enough.

In America, the ones who have brought and developed quilting were the Dutch and the English colonists, who made three laired clothes to protect them from cold and, from the remains of the fabrics they made bed coverings. This happened in the early 12th century and there are some written records about the quilting craft and the designed used in those times, but few samples were found because the fabrics were perishable. Though, a well-preserved sample is dated 15th century and you can observe here the parent of the quilting stitch represented by the coarse line and embroidery.

The 17th century gives us the first bed covering the Levens Hall, made from imported Indian chintzes. The details and the exquisite craft design indicate it as an example of high quality quilting, not just an ordinary bed covering.

When colonists brought the first patchwork-quilted products in America, they did not know how much this art would develop here. American women saw the great advantages of quilting, the functionality and the artistic experience of quilts and decided to expand and improve the scarce samples brought by the colonists. Therefore, they started to create interesting geometrical designs that became very popular in the 1880's fairs and competitions.

Long with the modern sawing techniques of the 20th century, the traditional craft of quilted bed coverings, table coverings or child comforts slightly decreased. Cheap and mass-produced garments and comforters replaced the original quilted bed coverings.

The 1960's brought the remerge of the quilting activity in the southern areas of the United States and the tradition was once again brought back to life and passed from one generation to another. It took almost 20 years, until 1980, to make the art of quilting be re-appreciated and practiced all over the country by passions women, even became a flowering business.

If you are truly interested in learning more about quilting then you absolutely must visit the Long Arm Quilting Machine Site. Clive thoroughly recommends this site so check it out today here: - http://www.longarmquiltingmachinesite.com/ For comprehensive and helpful quilting advice and tips. Visit the site now for some great advice on the latest quilt patterns.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Teak spirit house, 'Vihara Spirit House'

Hi, how are you? Today i review...

Teak spirit house, 'Vihara Spirit House' (Thai spirit house)
by Novica.com

Florid gables bring artistic grandeur to a captivating spirit house. Pirot Gitikoon preserves Buddhist spiritual traditions as he carves the temple by hand from Thai teak. It is known as a vihara or san phra poom, meaning "guardian spirit house." When a family moves into a new house, it is customary to hold a Buddhist ceremony to invite a protective spirit to inhabit the ornate temple replica. It is believed it will bring luck, happiness, success and security against mean spirits or enemies who might threaten the family or their home.

Product Details

6.1" W x 6.9" H x 10.2" D

Weight: 1.8 lbs

Teakwood

Customer Reviews :
The Spirit House is truly beautiful! We visited Thailand last summer and it will be a daily reminder of the wonderful people of Thailand. Thank you.

Have a COOL Wednesday!
Cheers.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Handmade Thai Placemat

Placemats, 'Blue Distinction' (set of 6)

products by NOVICA Elegant navy blue hosts an admirable constellation of green and burgundy patterns reminiscent of Lisu hill tribe artistry. They adorn this original set of cotton-blend placemats by Thai Tribal Crafts. Set includes six placemats.
Presented by Thai Tribal Crafts, these pieces are a personal expression of the individual artisan, thus the color and motif could vary slightly from that pictured.

Product Features

Handmade by Thai Tribal Crafts
Ships from Thailand within 7 days
Dry cleaning recommended

Product Details
13.1 ounces
17.3" W x 12.2" L
65% polyester, 35% cotton

NOVICA , in association with National Geographic, offers thousands of limited edition and one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, and home decor treasures handmade by master artists and artisans throughout the world. Leaves drift languidly on a shady background, their delicate shapes shown in silhouette. Working with the silkscreen technique, Thanyarat Sananpanich creates a sensation of springtime. The handmade placemats and matching coasters arrive in a saa (mulberry) paper gift box. Artisan Info: "Sawasdee ka! [hello!]. My name is Thanyarat Sananpanich, and I was born in northern Thailand. I went to school and lived my life just like any other Thai teenager growing up in a city. I was lucky, I was always chosen to join in all the traditional Thai dance recitals at school. I love my traditional Thai culture, so I joined a dance group when I was at school. I once had the chance to perform our traditional dances at the Festival Mondial Folklore de Drummondville in Quebec, Canada in 1989. "My first contact with Thai silk came after I graduated from the university in dentistry. I began to work as a dentist at a community hospital. I met a group of silk weavers during one of my dental assistance trips. The beautiful patterns and the people's kind manners made a big impression on me. So much so, that I decided to buy all 30 pieces of phrae wa silk before returning home. "Right now, I am trying to weave wall hangings from phrae wa silk as well as replicate the hill tribe's embroidered work. I

Can see Other products by NOVICA at Amazon.com

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Thai Spirit House ("san pra poom")

Thai Spirit House

When Buddhism first arrived in Thailand (Siam) over 2500 years ago, spirit worship, or animism, was already widely practiced throughout Asia. Today, many of these animistic beliefs are intertwined with Buddhism and it is here that the Spirit House makes its entrance. A spirit house (‘san pra poom’) is a small shrine usually found outside residential or business buildings in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. In Thai's beliefs the spirit house chosen to protect a dwelling will depend on which type of spirit is expected to live there.

Characteristics of spirit houses depend on the style of the spirit house crafter. This Thai Spirit House made by wood.

Can see any Thai Spirit House on Ebay :)


Friday, July 4, 2008

All Natural Handmade Wood Decorative Box - Elephant


Product Features
All eco-friendly and non-endandered source materials
Handmade , handcut in Bali, Indonesia
9.5" x 3"
Product Description
This box was handcrafted in Bali, Indonesia from exotic hardwoods. Octagon shaped wooden box with intricate work of carving. These individually handcrafted decorative boxes may be carved, painted, stained. The decorations add a touch of elegance to this unique art. These pretty decorative wooden boxes make great accents for any room of the house and can also help keep it organized. Perfect to keep your precious memories and keepsakes in a special and beautiful box and therefore makes an ideal gift.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Savon de Marseille (Marseille Soap) with Pure Crushed Local Flowers: Gift Set

From Savon de Marseille

Product Description
Absolute bliss. Pure, moisturizing Savon de Marseille soaps with the regional flowers of lavender, orange, rose and verbena. In the Middle Ages, big blocks of gentle soap were first crafted in the Mediterranean port city of Marseille with olive oil from local groves, marine ash and sea salted water. The quality of these soaps were immediately famous throughout Europe and in 1688 French law declared that only soaps made according to certain ancient methods could bear the important mark Savon de Marseille. Now the most prized of all soaps in the world, our Savon de Marseille is still crafted by hand, in Marseille, just as it has been for hundreds of years. It takes the Maitre de Savon (soapmaster) two weeks to make Marseille Soap. The purest ingredients (mentioned above) are heated for ten days in antique cauldrons. Know-how passed down through the generations will reveal to the soapmaster the right moment to pour the mixture into open pits where it slowly hardens. Cut into cubes and stamped, without machines of any kind, the soaps are then set out to dry in the sun and cool winds. Savon de Marseille (also known as "Marseille Soap") is once again being rediscovered for its extraordinary purity, gentle skin care and ecological value. Savon de Marseille is recommended by dermatologists throughout the world for dry or sensitive skin, eczema and other ailments. In France it has been trusted for generations to cleanse everything from linens to little faces. Marseille Soap is totally biodegradable, requires little packaging and its manufacture is environmentally friendly. Authentic Marseille Soap is stamped with its weight in grams - allowing households to compare prices and plan their inventories. No soap is "greener." This set includes 1 bar of each of the heavenly scented soaps (Lavender, Verbena, Orange Flower and Rose), gift wrapped in a clear bag and tied with a coordinating raffia bow.

Product Details:
Features
  • Made in France
  • Hand-Crafted
  • World-Famous Since 1688
  • Gentle and moisturizing
Customer Reviews
I love French Soap! The soap smelled fresh and the foaming action was very creamy!

Friday, June 27, 2008

Reed Place Mat Set (Handmade by Thai)


Product Name :Reed mats
Description : Sheets of reed strings are transformed into place mats.

size: Place Mat 26cm.*36cm.
Coaster 8cm.*8.5cm.

You can buy Thai Place Mat (Thai Reed Mats) on ebay.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Handmade Books

great way to encourage reading
Before you start, gather together:2- 5 x 7 pieces of mat board2-8 1/2 x 11 pieces of decorative paper (scrap book papers or wall paper scraps work well)White glueSeveral sheets of 8 1/2 x 11-inch card stockOne shoelace or piece of ribbonHole punchDrillYour kids imagination
Directions
1. To house a collection of my kids stories, we made our own books. Cut the mat board into two 5 x 7-inch pieces. Place each piece of mat board in the center of your decorative paper.
2. Wrap the edges of the paper around the mat board. The ends will almost meet in the middle. Repeat this process so you have two pieces of 5 x 7-inch mat board covered with your decorative paper. (Much like wrapping a small package.) Glue the folded edges in place. These will serve as the front and back cover of your book.
3. Cut the card stock into ten 5 x 7-inch sheets. Stack the sheets and place them horizontally in front of you. Punch two holes, a half-inch from the left-hand side. The holes should be spaced 2-inches apart. Drill corresponding holes in the two covers.
4. Place the paper between the front and back covers so the holes align. Thread the shoelace through the holes. Leave enough slack in the laces for the pages to open and lie flat on the table. Tie a knot.
5. Have your kids write and illustrate their own story. Younger children may want to dictate their story to you. Then let them do the illustrations.
6. Create several books and start your own library. Add a sign-out sheet in the front of each book so that the children can lend their books to friends. They will love checking out each others books to read, and its even more fun to see who has read theirs.
You have permission to reprint this article electronically or in print, free of charge, provided that each article is:1. Printed in its full form with no changes2. Includes an active link3. A courtesy copy of your publication is sent to the above contact4. And the following byline appears at the bottom of each article:About the Author: Rondi Hillstrom Davis is the co-author of the award-winning book Together: Creating Family Traditions. To check out her website that’s jam packed with family ideas, visit http://www.togetherparenting.com
About the Authors Janell Oakes and Rondi Davis are co-authors of the award winning book, Together: Creating Family Traditions. They want to give you the most important gift you can give your family. You can be a part of an irresistible offer available for one day only.http://www.TogetherCreatingFamilyTraditions.com

Friday, June 13, 2008

Savon de Marseille (Marseille Soap) with Pure Crushed Local Flowers


Product Description
Absolute bliss. Pure, moisturizing Savon de Marseille soaps with the regional flowers of lavender, orange, rose and verbena. In the Middle Ages, big blocks of gentle soap were first crafted in the Mediterranean port city of Marseille with olive oil from local groves, marine ash and sea salted water. The quality of these soaps were immediately famous throughout Europe and in 1688 French law declared that only soaps made according to certain ancient methods could bear the important mark Savon de Marseille. Now the most prized of all soaps in the world, our Savon de Marseille is still crafted by hand, in Marseille, just as it has been for hundreds of years. It takes the Maitre de Savon (soapmaster) two weeks to make Marseille Soap. The purest ingredients (mentioned above) are heated for ten days in antique cauldrons. Know-how passed down through the generations will reveal to the soapmaster the right moment to pour the mixture into open pits where it slowly hardens. Cut into cubes and stamped, without machines of any kind, the soaps are then set out to dry in the sun and cool winds. Savon de Marseille (also known as "Marseille Soap") is once again being rediscovered for its extraordinary purity, gentle skin care and ecological value. Savon de Marseille is recommended by dermatologists throughout the world for dry or sensitive skin, eczema and other ailments. In France it has been trusted for generations to cleanse everything from linens to little faces. Marseille Soap is totally biodegradable, requires little packaging and its manufacture is environmentally friendly. Authentic Marseille Soap is stamped with its weight in grams - allowing households to compare prices and plan their inventories. No soap is "greener." In France they are sold piled high on open-air market tables like produce, wrapped in craft paper. Your Savon de Marseille will be delivered without plastic packaging, carefully wrapped in paper stamped with the famous marks to prove its authenticity.
Features
Hand made in Marseille, France
World-famous "Savon de Marseille"
Pure fragrances of lavender, orange, verbena, rose
Gentle and moisturizing
Large 300 gram size, long-lasting and economical
Customer Reviews
Heavenly, Heavenly, HEAVENLY! Absolutely the best soaps I've ever used. Unbelievable pure lavender / verbena fragrance, soft creamy lather and gently-exfoliating flower petals from the South of France! I love French Soaps' Savon de Marseille with Crushed Flowers.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Savon de Marseille (Marseille Soap) pure olive oil soap from the South of France.


Product Description
In the Middle Ages, big blocks of gentle soap were first crafted in the Mediterranean port city of Marseille with olive oil from local groves, marine ash and sea salted water. The quality of these soaps were immediately famous throughout Europe and in 1688 French law declared that only soaps made according to certain ancient methods could bear the important mark Savon de Marseille. Now the most prized of all soaps in the world, our Savon de Marseille is still crafted by hand, in Marseille, just as it has been for hundreds of years. It takes the Maitre de Savon (soapmaster) two weeks to make Marseille Soap. The purest ingredients (mentioned above) are heated for ten days in antique cauldrons. Know-how passed down through the generations will reveal to the soapmaster the right moment to pour the mixture into open pits where it slowly hardens. Cut into cubes and stamped, without machines of any kind, the soaps are then set out to dry in the sun and cool winds. Savon de Marseille (also known as "Marseille Soap") is once again being rediscovered for its extraordinary purity, gentle skin care and ecological value. Savon de Marseille is recommended by dermatologists throughout the world for dry or sensitive skin, eczema and other ailments. In France it has been trusted for generations to cleanse everything from linens to little faces. Marseille Soap is totally biodegradable, requires little packaging and its manufacture is environmentally friendly. Authentic Marseille Soap is stamped with its weight in grams - a practice left over from years ago which allowed households to compare prices and plan their inventories. No soap is "greener." In France they are sold piled high on open-air market tables like produce, wrapped in craft paper. Your Savon de Marseille will be delivered without plastic packaging, carefully wrapped in paper stamped with the famous marks to prove its authenticity.
Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #405 in Beauty
Brand: Savon de Marseille
Features
Hand-crafted in Marseille, France
Extremely gentle and moisturizing
World-famous, authentic "Savon de Marseille"
Environmentally friendly, long-lasting and economical
Made with pure olive oil, trusted for generations
Customer Reviews
Perfection5
I love this soap. It is perfect for travel since it has so many uses. It is gentle enough to use on the face. It leaves the body soft and clean. You can even hand wash your clothes with it. You can slice it to the perfect size you desire using a hot knife. Everything about this soap is so pleasing, natural, and crudely elegant. It is perfect and simple. I highly recommend.
Quite honestly the BEST soap in the world.5
Ever since I discovered these beautiful blocks of olive oil soaps from this company "French Soaps" my skin is not dry and chapped. I don't have to use body lotion or hand cream. In the shower it has a creamy feel unlike regular soap, leaving skin soft and clean. Savon de Marseille olive oil soaps are unfragranced, but they have a clean, olive oil scent that I love.

By the way, there are other companies that sell "Savon de Marseille" but if you pay close attention you'll see that they don't have the rustic, irregular look of the ones from French Soaps. I learned that French Soaps is the only ones still making Savon de Marseille by hand (as it has been for centuries). They are poured and cut (resulting in a softer soap -- and softer skin). The others you see are actually machine-made replicas of the real deal and I'm told that in France these replicas are strictly for export -- they know the hand-crafted ones are the true originals and the best.
I LOVE these soaps.

A Must Have!! 5
This soap is a must have for anyone with dry, sensitive skin. I was introduced to this soap after a surgery two years ago when my skin was quite dry. Plus, I live in a harsh Winter climate and this soap heals my poor dry, scaly skin. I love this soap! Since then I have purchased this type of soap in Paris and through this vendor and the vendor product is identical to what I have purchased over there. I don't get to Paris often enough so I am thankful that I have found this vendor.
Can buy Handmade Soap On Internet. : )

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Reed Mats in Thailand

A beautiful handicraft found throughout most of Thailand is produced by skillfully plaiting reeds, strips of palm leaf, or some other easily available local plant. The supple mats made by this process of weaving without a loom are widely used in Thai homes, from the simplest to the most intricate. These mats are also now being made into shopping bags, place mats, and decorative wall hangings.
One popular kind of Thai mat is made from a kind of reed known as Kachud, which grows plentifully in the southern swamps. After the reeds are harvested, they are steeped in mud, which toughens them and prevents them from becoming brittle. They are then dried in the sun for a time and pounded flat, after which they are ready to be dyed and woven into mats of various sizes and patterns.
Other mats are produced in different parts of Thailand, most notably in the eastern province of Chanthaburi. Durable as well as attractive, they are plaited entirely by hand with an intricacy that makes the best resemble finely woven fabrics.

credit:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reed_mat

You can buy Reed Place Mats on ebay.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

My First Post : )

This is my first post for Handmade by Thai! Welcome to my Handmade by Thai Blog . Here you will learn about Handmade by Thai tips and how to find good information. You will love Handmade by thai : )