Ive always had a pension for creating things. The idea of taking nothing and turning it into something always seemed to satisfy some deep inner desire. I suppose it all came from my mother. She was a crafter to put most others to shame. Much to my fathers annoyance, our house [...]

Before the 1900s, dolls were made out of materials such as paper mache, wax, clay, and wood, depending on the culture. By the 1900s, porcelain dolls were made and enjoyed increasing popularity. Early porcelain dolls from this time period are considered to be antiques and are a popular collectors item.
German Porcelain Dolls
The Germans seem to [...]

Woodcraft projects are time-tested woodcraft patterns, sometimes new ones as well, which help one create an elaborately crafted piece with minimum effort. That is, with readymade projects, the woodworker who does the work need not have to start from scratch, but instead the plan, drawings at various stages of the construction, and directions for accomplishing [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]