Organic coffee is one of the most popular trends in the world of coffee at the moment, partially due to the fact that there is a drive that is quite popular for going green and everything the entails. White Cloud Coffee is a perfect example of this, offering up gourmet and organic coffees to satisfy whatever the café drinker might desire.

One of the newest innovations to, thanks in part to the commercial influence of Internet coffee websites, are the clubs that many java fans belong to. These clubs make it easy for the connoisseur to taste many different varieties. It allows for the adventurous spirit to partake of a wide array of unique flavor blends. Whatever the palette may desire, the offer exists somewhere. All one needs to do is find which company offers the optimal blend for the drinker’s tastes. White Cloud Coffee has a special program for its subscriber’s at http://www.whitecloudcoffee.com. For $39.95 you can receive a three pound selection of coffee. This is common prototype for online coffee distributors, and it helps make the coffee buff more able to gain access to hard to come by assortment of gourmet blends.

For the true aficionado finding the coffee that best suits their taste can be complicated. With so many flavors to choose from it can take a long time to sift through all of the different varieties. Between the breakfast blends, the classic hazelnut, and the different options for Colombian supremo, there are so many options for organic and gourmet coffee drinkers to enjoy.

Geotextile Solutions

Geotextiles are erosion control products that are meant to go over the soil to keep it in place, but which still allow air, water and growth to take place. Geotextile composites look very similar to felt, and they go down over soil to hold it in place so that wind and rain don’t wash it away. However, the geotextiles aren’t so thick or so tight that plants can’t grow up through it, and that water and other nutrients can’t reach the soil. In fact these solutions are meant to be temporary, keeping the soil in place long enough for natural growth to take root. These simple mesh products can be purchased from any kind of specialty construction supply company that offers exterior landscaping products.

Natural Erosion Protection

Perhaps the best way to protect against erosion is to cultivate plant life. When plants grow in soil they put down roots, and the root systems hold the soil in place, making it harder for wind and water to pull it away. This is why when a lawn is being planted that a geotextile will be placed down first, with seed scattered over and under it so that grass and other plants can take root and grow in the soil. Once there is grass and trees there’s not only roots holding the soil in place, but green and leafy plant standing between the elements and the soil as well. This makes it harder for erosion to even get hold of soil in the first place.

Other Erosion Solutions

At http://www.specialtysupply.com/specialties/erosion-control there are, of course, a variety of ways to prevent erosion. Curbs and walls can block run off for instance, and this can help stop soil from moving too far. Rods placed in the ground can act as anchors the same way as plants can. There are dozens of possible solutions, but they work best when they are all used in conjunction with one another.

In Poland there are numerous parks and sights to visit. The Bieszczady Mountains is ideally on the southern side of the country right next to Slovakia. This is the perfect place for couples and those who love the beauty of nature. This is a secluded area that promotes winter sports, wooden churches, wildlife, and beautiful scenery during the summer seasons.

If nature is not the ideal place to visit, there are other attractions in Poland to visit. Visiting the beautiful city of Czestochowa is the perfect town to feel old-world charm at its best. This beautiful city is a must for those who love castles. This city is as well, a mecca for Roman Catholics in Eastern Europe. The city may not have much to do. Yet, for those who can appreciate the beauty of the architecture and the surrounding area, this is a must see.

Once you get to Slovenia, there are numerous caves that can attract all ages. There are at least eight caves that can be seen, and all provide a natural beauty that anyone can appreciate. Each cave has something unique to offer visitors. Choosing between some of the caves to visit if short on time can be difficult, but no matter what cave is chosen there will be plenty of sights to see down under the earth.

Another category to see is for those castle lovers. Looking at the different castles can bring an old-world charm to any holiday. These beautiful places can allow the visitor to transport back in time and see how residents lived centuries ago.

Choosing to travel from Poland to Slovenia is a breath-taking experience and you should visit http://www.prenocisca-bezigrad.com/ for more information. Whatever sights are chosen, there is an appreciation for the beauty of the each country.

Here is a list of some great Polish painters

• Piotr Abraszewski
• Julia Acker (1898–1942)
• Tadeusz Ajdukiewicz
• Zygmunt Ajdukiewicz
• Kazimierz Alchimowicz
• Teodor Axentowicz

• Ladislaus Bakalowicz (1833–1903)
• Zdzisław Beksiński (1929–2005)
• Jan Betley (1908–1980)
• Rahim Blak
• Krzysztof Boguszewski
• Olga Boznańska
• Józef Brandt
• Antoni Brodowski
• Tadeusz Brzozowski

• Józef Chełmoński (1849–1905)
• Stanisław Chlebowski
• Daniel Chodowiecki
• Adam Chmielowski
• Leon Chwistek
• Władysław Czachorski
• Marian Czapla
• Józef Czapski
• Szymon Czechowicz
• Tytus Czyżewski

• Andrzej Dłużniewski
• Tommaso Dolabella
• Kasia Domanska
• Tadeusz Dominik

• Julian Fałat
• Wojciech Fangor

• Wojciech Gerson
• Stefan Gierowski
• Aleksander Gierymski
• Maksymilian Gierymski
• Krzysztof Gliszczyński (1962)
• Henryk Gotlib (1890–1966)
• Maurycy Gottlieb
• Artur Grottger (1837–1867)

• Marian Iwańciów

• Janusz Janowski
• Danuta Joppek

• Rajmund Kanelba (1897–1960)
• Tadeusz Kantor (1915–1990)
• Stanisława de Karłowska (1876–1952)
• Alfons Karpiński (1875–1961)
• Mojżesz Kisling (1891–1953)
• Marcin Kober
• Jerzy Kossak
• Juliusz Kossak
• Wojciech Kossak (ur. 1857)
• Franciszek Kostrzewski
• Aleksander Kotsis
• Felicjan Kowarski
• Andre de Krayewski
• Nikifor Krynicki, folk and naïve painter
• Konrad Krzyżanowski
• Alexander Kucharsky (1741–1819)
• Jarosław Kukowski
• Teofil Kwiatkowski

• Tamara de Lempicka

• Wojciech Macherzyński
• Tadeusz Makowski
• Jacek Malczewski
• Władysław Malecki
• Louis Marcoussis
• Adam Marczyński
• Stanisław Masłowski
• Jan Matejko
• Józef Mehoffer
• Piotr Michałowski
• Augustyn Mirys
• Eugeniusz Molski

• Eligiusz Niewiadomski
• Jan Piotr Norblin
• Zbigniew Nowosadzki
• Jerzy Nowosielski

• Roman Opałka
• Aleksander Orłowski

• Józef Pankiewicz
• Władysław Podkowiński
• Emil Polit
• Tadeusz Pruszkówski
• Witold Pruszkówski
• Stanislaw Przespolewski

• Henryk Rodakowski
• Ferdynand Ruszczyc

• Stanisław Samostrzelnik
• Wilhelm Sasnal
• Bruno Schulz (1892–1942)
• Henryk Siemiradzki
• Józef Simmler
• Wojciech Siudmak (born 1942)
• Władysław Ślewiński
• Franciszek Smuglewicz
• Kajetan Sosnowski
• Jan Stanisławski
• Jan Byk Franciszek Starowieyski
• Ludwik Stasiak
• Henryk Stażewski, (born 1894)
• Józef Stolorz
• Władysław Strzemiński
• Jan Styka
• January Suchodolski
• Stanislav Szukalski

• Włodzimierz Tetmajer

• Zygmunt Waliszewski
• Walenty Wańkowicz
• Ryszard Wasko (Waśko)
• Wojciech Weiss
• Stanisław Witkiewicz (1851–1915)
• Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz a.k.a. “Witkacy” (1885–1939)
• Witold Wojtkiewicz
• Andrzej Wróblewski
• Leon Wyczółkowski
• Stanisław Wyspiański (1869–1907)

• Jacek Yerka

• Marcin Zaleski
• Jan Zamoyski
• Franciszek Żmurko

Krakow according to its history actually progresses in the 15th and 16th centuries as the people of Poland discovered many arts, started learning them and finally after mastering the work they began to earn livelihood for them. In this way, gradually these things began to increase the earned revenue of Krakow hence making it economically stronger.

The geographical location of Krakow is the south side of Poland, and is located on the “Vistula River”. Krakow is very rich with natural beauty which includes trees and plants in abundance.

The climatic conditions are mild in both summer and winter. The summer season gets a temperature range of normally 15 to 20 degrees, and in winter the temperature ranges from 0 to 5 degrees. In winter the nights are very cold as commonly the temperature falls below 0 degrees. June, July, and August are considered as the hottest months in the city, and the winters really start from the month of November.

The population of Krakow is approximately 756,441 according to 2008 statistics. The population of Poland is mostly dominated by Polish people.

Economically Krakow is a strong city, as it is considered as one of the most important economic centres. The city of Krakow is home to offices of about 20 multinational companies, which includes Google, General Electric, and IBM. Krakow is also the only city of Poland which has a low unemployment rate of around 4.8 percent.

Culturally the city of Krakow is of major importance to the people of Poland as the city is regarded as the cultural capital of Poland. Krakow’s culture is so attractive that the city receives almost seven million tourists every year. Some of the buildings are very beautifully built and are a masterpiece of construction. Out of these buildings the “Main Market Square” and the “National Art Museum” are of major importance. Krakow is enriched with museums and art galleries. Also Krakow has a number of theatres which are open 24 hours a day and until now have produced some great talents of the world.

Among many parks inside Krakow the best one is named as “Planty”. Planty is basically a combination of many small gardens and each of them has its own style to display.

Football is a major part of life in Krakow. The biggest club which is hugely supported within Krakow is named as “Wisla Krakow”. There are also other clubs from Krakow named as “Cracovia Krakow”, “Garbarnia Krakow”, “Wawel Krakow”, and “Hutnik Krakow”.

I did not know much about Polish pottery until we started to sell it as a retailer. My wife has had pieces for years, but I guess I never really paid attention to it. I know I’m a guy, and I should probably be looking at sports equipment or tools; but this pottery is really nice. The artistry and colors are beautiful and many of the pieces are great to display in your home, and make a beautiful collectible which can be passed down as an heirloom for generations! The pottery is lead and cadmium free, and safe to use in the microwave, oven, dishwasher and freezer. Best of all, it’s affordable and functional! Cooking in it is excellent and with its nonstick surface its better than using a Teflon coated pan (ok, I now sound like I really know what I am talking about!).

This pottery has been around for centuries. In the 19th century the pottery became popular in Europe. Potters in Boleslawiec, Poland started using more colors, stamp ornaments (hand decorating the pottery with stamps) and a white background making the pottery much more vibrant. What makes this pottery very attractive and appealing are the bright colors used such as cobalt and peacock blues, browns, greens, yellows and reds.

Polish Pottery is beautiful and durable glazed stoneware that is hand-crafted in Boleslawiec which is located in the south-west region of Poland. The stoneware is a clay (unique to the region) which is kiln fired at extremely high temperatures exceeding 2200 degrees Fahrenheit. It is a man-made stone that will not easily crack or chip and hard enough to resist scratching by a steel point.

There are a number of factories in Boleslawiec, Poland that manufacture Polish pottery. I understand the highest quality pottery is made by Ceramika Artystyczna, with their craftsmanship being internationally recognized. They employ the most talented artists who hand-paint each piece of pottery using brushes and sponges from the Baltic Sea. Another large manufacturer is Zaklady Ceramiczne. There are both “designers” and “artists” in the pottery process, and “potters” who have been involved in the business for generations.

How do I know the polish pottery I am buying is a “good deal” and at the same time high quality? Generally, pottery wholesalers are purchasing polish pottery from the same factories in Poland. However, not all wholesalers are selecting the best quality and buying from top quality factories. The pottery may have flaws or imperfections in the painting or even the piece itself. Make sure your polish pottery is manufactured at a high quality factory in Poland. A good way to determine the level of quality is to look at where the polish pottery is manufactured in Poland (the actual factory) and determine if it is Quality #1, or GAT #1 (GAT short for gatunek - meaning “type” or “kind” in Polish), both mean the polish pottery is of the highest quality.

Some pottery pieces are very intricate in design, made with six and eight colors, and signed by the artist. These pieces are called signature patterns or Unikat, which is a Polish word meaning “unique”. Does this mean that all other polish pottery that is not Unikat is not high quality? Of course not, many, many pieces of polish pottery, which are not signed by the artists, are beautifully designed and very high quality.
How do I know the polish pottery I am buying is a Unikat piece? These pieces although called signature patterns, they are not actually signed by the artist. The artists who paint signature patterns have extensive training in polish pottery art. It is important to note that there could be the same design number on a piece, but painted several different ways by different artists. The signature is located on the bottom of the piece and generally will indicate the following:

• The word “UNIKAT” with a number next to it, which is the Pattern Number.
• The artists name with an impressed signature, or stamped signature of the artist, who designed the pattern.
• Sometimes there is an indication of “Ltd Ed” for Limited Edition. Not all Unikat pieces are limited editions.
• The factory stamp or insignia stamped mark.
• Impressed mark indicating Hand Made in Poland.
• At the bottom of the pottery is an alpha-numeric code which is the initials of the person who painted the piece of polish pottery. Next to the initials are a number. Each artist has a unique number assigned, to differentiate between artists names who may have the same initials. Examples of these codes are: M.O. 50 or T.L. 78.

When you are selecting this pottery, sort by manufacturer at the retail website. Most websites have a Shop by Manufacturer function on the left or right side of the website. There are thousands of pottery designs. Shopping for Polish Pottery can be fun. Look for a retail website that allows for shopping by Pattern ID Number, so you can view all the products in the same pattern. An example of this type of Polish Pottery sorting can be found at Elizabeth Michaels Home.

Guys, now that you are educated in how to purchase polish pottery, get out there and buy some for yourself or your significant other! Really, you will love it!

Michael T. Murdock
Elizabeth Michaels Home

Michael T. Murdock is a co-proprietor of Elizabeth Michaels Home, which offers fine quality home decor and garden products including polish pottery, other ceramic pottery, wrought iron products, fireplace accessories, window boxes, bird houses, and much more.

Let’s talk about everything Polish: culture, food, fashion, modern brands, as well as Polish heritage, and travels in Poland.

Poland is a country that has changed tremendously in the last two decades. As economists point out, it is one of the largest economies in the European Union, and the only one which hasn’t suffered from the last recession. Economic development is accompanied by changes in many other fields, including Polish culture, fashion, lifestyle of contemporary Poles, and even food, and restaurant scene in Poland.

As a country with long and interesting history, Poland has a very diverse and fascinating tradition, habits, and heritage. From Polish folk art, such as paper cutouts (wycinanki), to Polish traditional food, such as world famous pierogies (Polish dumplings), kielbasa (sausage), and vodka. However, there are also many other things that are typically Polish, and equally, or even more, interesting. While they are less famous internationally, all those things are definitely worth learning about.

Take Polish food and restaurant scene. Polish traditional dishes bring to mind a hearty peasant meals – pork shnitzel (kotlet schabowy), pickles (ogorki koszone) and sausages. However traditional Polish cooking as practiced in the houses of the Polish aristocracy and bourgeoisie has much more to offer. Just think of tenderloin steak tartare, Polish cheese (twarog or tvarog), Polish cheesecake, apple-pies, smoked eels, roast venison, roast duck with apples, as well as the many forest mushrooms. All these tastes are totally delicious and worth a bit of mess while cooking from scratch. Plus, their revival can be observed in any Polish restaurant, bar, cafeteria, coffee-shops, even cubs etc. from Warsaw, to Gdansk, to Poznan, to Wroclaw, and Krakow.

What is more, it is totally worth checking out the contemporary Polish art, culture, and fashion. Starting form the more intellectual side, Poland has been long a country of talented filmmakers (such as Roman Polanski), and there are many interesting contemporary movies made in Poland. The same can be said about Polish literature, theater, and Polish design and architecture, which often makes news in professional media. Fashion-wise, Poland is not only a birth-place of many famous top-models, but also it is a good place for fashionistas. There are plenty of Polish designers and Polish brands worth window shopping or even shopping. Polish street-fashion with a touch of hipster and vintage look is also amazing.

All these Polish elements make this country worth visiting, and travelling around, during Euro 2012 or any other occasion. Just be sure to sightsee Warsaw, Cracow, Poznan, Wroclaw, Gdansk, and Sopot, as well as a national parks and nature spots, such as Mazury (Mazuria), Bialowieza, Zakopane, Tatry, and others.

Amazing Hand Painted Eggs – Popular Folk Art Form of Russia

The old traditional art form of Russia is magnificently colourful and unique in its characteristics. Russian folk art has enhanced the life of local people for many centuries and still people use them as antique handicrafts to decorate their homes. Painting eggs in Russia is an ancient as well as popular Easter tradition. It is also called Pisanki derived from the Slavic root pisa which relates to writing.

The custom of making hand-painted eggs is countless centuries old. The delicate art of painting eggs is passed down from mother to daughter, generation after generation. In Russian folklore, the painted egg is the metaphor of sun and lightening and the symbol of renaissance in spring.

Selecting the prized eggs

The artists select the largest and whitest eggs from the most prized layers. Black beeswax taken from the hives in autumn is kept into a tin. The artists get ready with their miniature working tools.

Assembling special miniature tools

With the onset of spring the craftsmen get ready with their tiny copper foil funnels attached to wooden handles which are used to paint the eggs.

Painting the eggs

Painting eggs is a ritual in Russia. The artist sits down at a table with a dish of eggs in front. A cast iron pot full of glowing coals is used to keep the tin of wax hot while working. Many little foil cones filled with hot molten wax are kept in the tin.

An egg is picked up and designs are drawn on the egg with the wax-filled cone. Traditionally straight and wavy lines, triangles, spirals are used as for the drawing. A common popular design is to draw a two deer set among stars. Artists who are keeping this old form alive create so many different designs on this small surface that it is almost impossible to find two eggs alike. All these designs have a definite symbol or magic meaning. Painted ear of corn symbolizes a bumper harvest. Carpathian Mountain animals that local people consider as symbols of prosperity, like ponies, deer, goats, doves, hen etc. are used on the painted eggs in abundance.

The contours of the patterns are drawn with the molten wax and when the egg is dipped into a brightly colored paint like yellow, the designs drawn in wax are still visible in white.

After the first coat of paint is applied and completely dried, the artist again uses the wax-filled cone to draw the next set of design on the surface of the egg. The egg is again soaked in a pot filled with a different color like orange, and the yellow pattern is left under the second series of wax lines.

The artist repeats the process and dips the egg in darker colors like red, brown and black consecutively.

Final touch

The painted egg is held over the coals and the swollen wax is wiped off with a soft cloth. The egg starts glittering with rainbow colors. Now all the intricate designs painted on the egg are clearly visible with perfect patterns and amazing color scheme.

Finally, the egg is covered with lard or a transparent lacquer so that the colors last. Inside the egg, the yolk will dry up but the egg will last long. Sometimes a needle is used to make a tiny hole in the egg and it is filled up with wax to make it less fragile.

Some of the ancient painted eggs lasted as long as few hundred years and the colors remained as bright as ever.

Tips:

• You can use painted eggs for Christmas or Easter decoration. Use the eggs to make your own painted egg garland for a beautiful addition to your Christmas or Easter home decor.
• Fill a wooden or clear crystal bowl with the colorful painted eggs to make a centerpiece.
• Painted egg makes a nice gift for close family members and friends, as this not only look beautiful but also a symbol of good luck and prosperity.

—End Article—

Copyright (2010) Sudarshana Maitra

Author name: Sudarshana Maitra