South African Art

  • November 27, 2009 2:51 pm

Hello I am Rob Anderson.

While I am an artist and have earned a living as an artist I now include my own art as only a small part of my involvement in the South African art scene.

The depth of talent in South Africa totally astounds me. Whenever I would be displaying my art on a local Show or Festival I would realize that the Quality and diversity of the art is fantastic.

Now while you can already find a huge amount of art online from some good South African artists I KNOW for certain that these artists could all represent themselves better and in a much more profitable way.

I have extensive training on website design and website promotion and offer this service to you. I offer you a free website set up and not only functional but already set for SEO ( search engine properties) I have a number of different packages available only the high end getting near to an expensive package.

I can show you how to promote yourself as a “serious” artist to build up your name – or I can show you how to use your artistic talents to build a business that will gain an international reputation for unique pieces. Look at the example below.


Marketing of artworks

If you look at this “picture” below you will see that it is capable of standing on its own as a Painting. In fact I have sold a few all in a very similar vein with changes to frame style and coloring being the only difference.

Now look at it again. It could very easily be part of a 4 door set designed to customize someones wall unit and create a very unique and desirable piece of furniture. In the correct setting – naturally. The wooden carvings are available at very competitive rates on all the hawker corners in South Africa.

Now picture the same panel as a 40 part tiled feature on the lobby of the headquarters of the new African Summit building – mounted on to the main feature wall. Or on that same building You produce a set of 4 triangular 3 meter high panels and secure them directly from the ceiling using adjustable steel rope.

Or – you get the local shopping center to order 80 related panels when they renovate the mall.

The frame is in fact recycled roof beams, pine – stained to suit whatever application.

The background is boiler cement and is designed to be compatible in art applications and is able to be weather proof.

So finally my point here is that if you wanted to run your art business on a more commercial way, there are so many hundreds of ways to take a combination of real creative art skills and mesh it with a sort of product line and produce quality products that could stand on their own in the glossy magazines.

African Art

This chair below was done using airbrush and normal painting techniques. It could easily have been ramped further by being crackled crafter style, as the likely buyer of chairs like these often are looking for something that stands out as 100% original.

With this concept you could position yourself as a furniture designer to the hotel and restaurant industry. When I was doing these type of chairs I had all sorts of different ways that I could dress them up. Leather padding, zebra skins etc. Give it a little thought.

African Grafitti

This rock painting that I did below were done on recycled post office canvass bags. The second that I discovered the bags in a salvage yard I had ideas pouring out of my head. What I enjoyed doing at that time was stretching 6 or 8 in a row along a huge panel that I had set up in my yard. I then painted them all Sausage factory style. I used acrylic paint and because it was outside in the sun, I was able to easily finish all 8 in a single day. You still had time to add different twists to the paintings because they still took time to dry.

In fact I still had time to drink copious amounts of coffee sitting in my hammock chair.

Now to be honest I got bored with doing it this way fairly quickly and moved on to new ideas, someone who has more staying power that I do could easily build up a very large wholesale business using this technique.

By the way, I do still paint onto the recycled post office canvass bags and tend to do oils these days and take weeks longer to do far more detailed and expensive work. I also enjoy sewing together some of the canvass panels and the painting over the seams and stitching to get some great effects.

Rob Anderson Artist

This picture below should not be shown at all, but I realized that it was an idea that I had on the spur of the moment at the time should be shared with you to show how all ideas could be tried out. Even if for the joy of seeing an idea go to an end.

What happened on this day was that I wondered if I did a system of eyelets onto those canvass pictures, if they would frame differently.

So it was really just about testing a way of framing. It was based upon the Red Indian way of stretching a piece of animal hide between a frame.

So I did a 3 minute painting ( that is it below) and quickly punched in the eyelets things and then went on to try different ways of framing it.

If I remember correctly I had a fair amount of difficulty in getting the canvass stretched neatly. And the final result looked a little tatty so I never pursued it further. The painting might have taken 3 minutes but fiddling with the idea used up at least a half a day.

dad 1

This painting (?) on the back of my trailer here (below) is in fact one of the styles that I now still do as I realized that I am so addicted to the construction of 3D pieces that I get immense satisfaction out of creating a sculpture that is not a painting and not a sculpture, looks both stylized and had life and movement built into the work.

The biggest disappointment that I had from these pieces is that they photograph so badly that it is almost impossible to get the same view of it from a picture.

This one below – I was taking it to Pretoria with another two different “Bulls” to do a limited offer series with a Rugby Club.

It is a pity that they photograph so badly.

I have moved past the range of animals that were very popular in the beginning. I worked almost only on commissions at that time.

I now do more “fine art” pieces and most of the time it is what has to get out of my head, and not in the remotest way meant to ever be commercial. If those never sell I would be just as happy to hang them above my swimming pool.

art delivery

I seem to have drifted off the topic a little but that is normal for me.

What I really needed to get across to you here on this web-page was that if you need a free website or need to get your stuff PROPERLY PROMOTED out there and online – then I do have the way for you.

Contact me.

Rob Anderson

Kensington – Johannesburg

0116161072

0825725446

rob@designsmith.co.za

Entertainment News Review: Get Him to the Greek Starring Sean Combs

  • July 30, 2010 12:04 pm

After a string of successful comedies, the producers behind Superbad and Knocked Up offer a new film, Get Him to the Greek that follows the same mold as their past hits. The film starring Jonah Hill, Russell Brand and Sean Combs, however, simply does not live up to the genius of their previous movies.

Despite the ridiculously slow start the middle of the film is very hilarious as Hill and Brand display natural chemistry, despite finding themselves in awkward moments as Aaron Green (Hill) tries to get Aldous to leave Europe and perform a tenth anniversary concert at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.

Aaron begins the movie as stand-up employee at Pinnacle Records, run by Sergio (Combs), but ends up living the epitome of sex, drugs and rock and roll because of the shenanigans of Aldous,

Surprisingly, one of the highlights of the movie is the comedic timing of Combs, who is obviously very believable as an arrogant record company executive with little sympathy for his employees. He basically recreates his image from the MTV “Making the Band” series in his role as Sergio.

Get Him to the Greek begins to drag at the end as it attempts to show the human side of each character and what drives them to behave the way that they do. However, the true success of the film comes from the silly antics of Brand, which should have been the focus of the entire film, not seriousness of reviving his struggling career.

Nevertheless, the film manages to convey a message to moviegoers. When Aldous is consumed with his drug habit, his professional and personal lives fall apart. But when he manages to rid himself of that ugly habit he is able to recreate some of the magical moments that he enjoyed early in his career.

the instant classic Knocked Up, and wait until E! Entertainment Television begins playing Get Him to the Greek every weekend like his other films.

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Love Tips – Is a Bad Marriage Grounds For Divorce?

  • July 29, 2010 11:52 am

The negative impact caused by a bad marriage may affect both sides involved in the situation, but sometimes only one of you is capable of recognizing it. If you are involved a relationship and you feel that you are expending large amounts of energy on satisfying your partner while receiving little in return, then stop for a moment. It might be time for you to reconsider the direction you are taking in your marriage, and try to figure out if this is a bad marriage that will not benefit you in the long run. Your needs are just as important as the needs of your partner, so the partnership can’t work well if one of you is giving and not receiving. This lack of understanding creates an emotional vacuum that can commonly result in depression, unease, anxiety, distrust, sorrow, and anger.

There are some married couples that have thrown everything away and signed divorce papers after a heated discussion, only to later regret the decision and wish they could have somehow put in a little extra effort into making the marriage work. On the other hand, there are also many married couples who continue to suffer a bad marriage, when even after prolonged therapy it becomes clear that things are simply not working. So at what point does one decide that a sacrifice is too much to handle, or when it’s time to move on, start again, and leave the past behind?

A good idea to help you come up with answers would be to ask yourself where you see your marriage heading within the next few years. Do you see yourself happy in this marriage, or is this a bad marriage that will leave you feeling unsatisfied and angry? If you still come to the conclusion that your marriage is failing , even after thorough self analysis, marriage counseling, and psychological therapy, then it is probably time to end it. Not all marriages were meant to be, and if you feel you would be better off alone or with someone else, then maybe it’s time to follow through and make a decision.

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Battle Ready Swords

  • July 28, 2010 5:38 am

There are many reasons for medieval swords being so popular these days. Some people buy them as display items in their homes. While other people purchase them as trophies for victorious fighters. People doing reenactments and medieval plays also purchase these swords quite frequently. These people are the ones that need their swords to be battle ready. They need to be able to fight each other with them in simulated combat, and therefore need a different type of sword than the average medieval sword collector. This article will talk about the differences in battle ready swords and collectors swords. We’ll also go over how and where to buy these types of weapons.

 

The first thing you must recognize is that these weapons are built differently than traditional collector’s swords. They must be built in a way that lets people spar with them over long periods of time without sword damage. In addition to this, the swords must be made safe so that actors do not get hurt while using them. Movies like “300”, “Troy”, “Lord of The Rings”, and “The Mummy Returns” all used battle ready medieval weapons. These movies had fight sequences in which the actors did battle with each other using battle ready medieval swords.

 

What separates these swords in terms of build is the fact that they have blunt edges. They are unsharpened and do not have a point at the end. You won’t have to worry about accidentally impaling somebody with a battle ready sword. Many reenactment societies have rules in place that say just how rounded a sword’s tip needs to be in order to be used during reenactment fights. Even though these weapons are very safe, they are still weapons and you must be 18 years of age if you want to buy them.

 

If your looking for this type of sword you can always visit sites like http://www.armorvenue.com to find them. Sites like this offer a large variety of both battle ready medieval swords and collectors items. You’ll even find great movie prop weapons from various box office hits.

 

Buying through the Internet is great because you will always get a great price. You’ll even get the weapon sent right to your front door. If your looking for a battle ready weapon, then head on over to a great Internet retailer today.

Batting – The Fabric Filling in Quilting

  • July 27, 2010 7:44 am

Brought to you by Fat Quarter Quilts, where you can learn more about easy fat quarter quilt patterns.

 

Batting – The Fabric Filling in Quilting

Following the quilt best had been finished, remove all the pins and other basting systems and iron out all of the seams. It is now time for batting, one of the more essential stages in quilting.

Batting materials

It’s known as by other titles based on the place exactly where one arrives from – batting, padding, or wadding. Batting is the bulk or the heft from the entire quilt project. It might be the middle section from the quilt sandwich.

Based about the style and area, batting arrives in various thicknesses, compositions and textures. You’ll find also a excellent quantity of options of batting components from natural fibers (cotton and wool) to synthetics and man-made fabrics (polyester, rayon, and so on).

Cotton

For little projects, cotton may be the perfect batting material. It’s also great for beginners because it’s easy to function with and is organic. Cotton can achieve a much more even appear in your finished quilt.

Polyester

This is a lightweight and an inexpensive material to utilize. It adds puffiness within your quilt and packs nicely sufficient.

However, polyester fabrics tends to “beard” (unraveling from the fabric’s thread and weave) more than the other natural fibers.  

Wool
    
This really is one from the most perfect materials for batting. Wool is very warm, absorbs moisture, and is ideal for use in cool and damp climates. It is flat in comparison to other man-made or synthetic fibers, but feels great when utilized in quilts.

When washing and caring for your wool-filled quilt, be certain to study and adhere to guidelines nicely. (Ask some expert if you don’t know how.) Wool can really easily warp and alter the form of your quilt in ways you will not like.

Batting thickness

Ideally, a thin light batting is really great in quilts. The advantage is that it is simpler to sew compared to heavier or thicker batting.

It’s important to create small and even stitches in quilts. When the batting is thinner, it’s much easier for the needle and the thread to go via.

If you intend your quilt for use in your bed, and consequently, requirements it for that warmth, then choose a thicker batting. Professionals suggest, nevertheless, that it would most likely be a lot simpler to tie it, rather of quilt it.

Batting size

1 point to remember is to have the quilt batting larger compared to quilt top, but scaled-down compared to backing. This enables for any pull or in cases when the quilt had already been sewn up and edges had moved and don’t measure up anymore. An overlap is your insurance for almost any mishaps.

In no way worry about left-over batting components from prior quilts. These can be combined utilizing the others to create a mixed piece, especially for very large quilts.

Left-over strips can be laid out side by part and carefully tacked together employing some loose stitches.

These left-over strips of fabric should a minimum of be considered a fourth in terms of dimension to the actual quilt it will probably be used for. Something scaled-down would be too a lot work when it comes to piecing them together to come up utilizing the right size.

It is not recommended, either, to overlap the batting because it can produce a double thickness more than you intend. Plus, it will be hard to quilt.

Quilting should be a breeze to do.  

 

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Cross Stitch With Hand Dyed Fibers – 3 Things You Should Know

  • July 26, 2010 2:15 pm

If you browse pictures of completed cross stitch patterns around the web, no doubt you’ve seen the gorgeous images of projects stitched with hand dyed floss. Because from the range in the coloring from the floss, this can cross stitch projects some amazing and unexpected results.

Hand dyed floss is created just as the name implies – it’s dyed by hand.  As a result of this, you will find variations inside the amount of colour throughout the thread. Some variations may be subtle, although some may be a huge contrast.  Some also have much more than one color per thread, which with the correct cross stitch patterns, will create incredible final results.

When stitching with these beautiful hand dyed cross stitch fibers, there’s an crucial note that should be made. Several stitchers usually will make all of their stitches going a single way at a single time, after which return to finish their crosses.  With hand dyed thread, stitching in this manner will give an effect that seems ‘muddied’.  Much much more desirable outcomes can be achieved by finishing each and every “X” as you go.  Stitch both legs at once and then move onto the next “X”.  This helps maintain the range inside the shade of thread all within the same stitch.  

There is another note that must be made about stitching with hand dyed threads.  Numerous stitchers use a “loop” approach to decrease the amount of excess thread around the back.  This should not be done when stitching with hand dyed threads.  The reason is because when the thread is folded over to make the loop, various parts of the color variance will be subsequent to every other.  This will similarly generate a mixing from the colors in an undesirable way.

1 final note about hand dyed floss is the colorfastness.  Most hand dyed threads are not colorfast, so it is not suggested to wash your stitching project when you are completed stitching.  The result is going to be that the colour from the floss will bleed onto your fabric and other floss and your stitching task could be ruined.  

By following these three suggestions, you too can enjoy stitching with these gorgeous hand dyed cross stitch fibers.  They truly can add extra pizzazz to your stitching project.

Guide to Professional Food Photography

  • July 25, 2010 12:41 pm

Photographs are one way in which we express ourselves without words and most restaurants use food photography in order to show through actions what they create instead of through words, which usually makes a greater feign if the picture was professionally shot. Here are a few suggestions and recommendations that will help you to  get professional food photography every time.

Professional Equipment

Your camera plays a authoritative role in getting professional food photography , which if it is professional it will make your job a lot easier as most of the time they have almost everything automatic such as focus, distance and flash, which means that the picture will not be over exposed.

Even if your camera is professional, you must be well accustomed to it in order to be able to use all its features and thus, obtain the desired results. Food photography must look real in the first place in order for it to look appetizing and inviting therefore the right features in your camera must be activated in order to obtain these results.

Display And Freshness Of The Food Photographed

The food will not look any better than you have displayed it whether you have the best camera in the world , therefore take the time to display the food in the way you find it most inviting by others. Place the good in the most pleasent spot , a well-set table with a clean tablecloth and full set dining plates and silver. If you are photographing fruits, then ascertain they are in a bowl where they are well displayed and yet at a contrast with the bowl used in order to bring out their colors and thus, make them vivid and appealing to consume.

It is important you center the food that you are photographing in order for it to look appetizing and the center of the picture not the corner of the table or the floor along with it. Food photography should look fresh, and that will be captured only if the food is fresh as well as if the place where the picture is being taken is well lit; most professional cameras have flash that will make up for the lack of light however, they may not bring out what you want in the food photography and that is freshness.

Take Many Pictures In Order To Get One Right

Food photography is more afflictive then any other picture taking because it dries up and/or will look stale after just a few hours and therefore you will need to act quickly if you want to capture one particular angle or look and take as many pictures as you can open out of which later you can choose at leisure, the right one for your taste. Practice makes hone and it may happen that at first you will not be able to capture what you were looking for in a food photography but after mush practice you will be capable of achieveing the look and impression you are after.

The information is provided by a member of the Auckland Lawyers who knows the features of lawyers in many conturies.He says that his success owes a lot to his wife who designs baby clothing and provides suggestions on Plastic surgery.Both of them are interested in  photographing.

Personalized Gifts for All Occasions

  • July 24, 2010 5:53 am

If you are suffering from having the presents you give others constantly ignored and underrated, perhaps you should be thinking about personalized gifts. Besides being able to make lasting and powerful impressions of the person given, these gifts offer some advantages that you won’t find with other ways of gift-giving.

You will never have to die a million deaths again wishing you had more money to spend on more expensive gifts. The truth of the matter is that you won’t need much to get personalized gifts. Besides, by the time they realize that someone has bothered personalizing something for them, their mind will be so flooded with emotional issues that evaluating your gift will be that last thing they will do. The first thing they will wonder about is whether they have merited to be so admired. Then they will try to remember if they somehow, somewhere gave you a wrong lead. Then they will turn to you and start speculating whether you are as nice as you seem to be. You will have caught them off guard enough for you to hopefully make an impressive introduction for yourself. At the very least, you will have gained the courage to try.

Personalized gifts are good for any hour of the day, any day of the year. They are therefore ideal for fixing up troubled relationships before the situation gets any worse. Whenever you need to say something but, due to circumstances, have to avoid doing that personally, you should let personalized gifts fix matters up for you. On the positive side, these gifts can help you to build relationships steadily.

If you are the kind of person who can’t bring himself to complain about anything to anyone personalized gifts will do all the speaking to that special person for you. The fact that you went out of your way to endorse this gift as being his/hers will be eloquence enough to inspire returning your affection.

On the other hand, as already mentioned, if you are tired of having your presents rated below everyone else’s, personalized gifts can end that vicious cycle for you. People will always stop to think whenever they get personalized gifts, especially if the customization is exceptionally worded and executed. They won’t be concerning their minds about the price you must have gotten it for. Their thoughts will be involved on how thoughtful your are and how they never realized it until now and whether you should really be admiring them as much as you are. They will be in such an emotional muddle that even if you stutter like mad, you can’t fail to make an impression.

In fact for any gift giving occasion you can anticipate that personal gifts will stand out among the rest.

Personalized gifts can do so much for your own self. Perhaps it is the lack of thoughtfulness for others and unwillingness to adjust to them that has kept you high and dry for a long time. Maybe giving personalized gifts is exactly what you need to thaw out and become a regular and loving person.

Besides having a positive effect on other people, personalized gifts can also do much towards improving your own outlook on life. Who knows but that the reason for your whatever emotional failures you have is rooted in your own psychology. Perhaps personalizing the gifts you give your friends is precisely what you need to step in out of the cold and start living a happy life.

 

Bennetta Elliott is a writer for Personalized Gift Express, which offers personalized gifts , personalized children’s books  and gifts for her.

 

Displaying Roman Armor Tips

  • July 23, 2010 12:47 pm

Adding a Roman armor set to your medieval displays is a fantastic idea. This warrior played a pivotal part in world history and should be in all great displays. This article is a good place to start for those looking to build a fabulous Roman armor display in their house or place of business. This page is all about how and where to display a set of ancient Roman armor. By the time your done reading this page you’ll know all about where to get Roman armor and how to go about displaying it.

 

First, you need to decide where you will put your armor. If you already have a medieval display, this will be an easy task because you’ll just need to make some space. Those that do not already have a display set up will need to decide on a room. Recreational rooms are great for displaying Roman armor sets. Great places to set your display up are dens, game rooms, finished basements, and even living rooms. I would not recommend that you display your armor in a kitchen or a bathroom. These rooms tend to get dirty and you don’t want to have to always clean your armor.

 

Once you’ve decided on a place to display your yet to be bought set of Roman armor, you will need to decide where to buy it. The best place to buy any sort of collectible is the Internet. You’ll find great deals and extreme variety while searching through Online stores.

 

Shoppers immensely enjoy purchasing sets of Roman armor through the Internet. Take your time and pick an armor that you know you will love for years to come. Always ensure that you purchase from a business that has clearly stated their return policy and delivery policy. Doing business this way will help alleviate any trouble you may have. You’ll find these policies posted right on the web site that you are ordering from.

 

After you know where to buy your armor and where to put your armor, you have the green light to purchase your armor. When you receive your armor make sure to display in a way that lets people know how proud you are of your armor.

 

Armor cleaning should take place each and every month of the year. You should set up a cleaning routine that lets you clean it without even having to think about it. Keep the armor in tip top condition and it will increase in value each year. You may even pass your armor down to your kids as a family heirloom.

Outdoor Weddings – A Wonderful Adventure For Your Big Day

  • July 22, 2010 6:59 am

What a great  combination  Sun, Sand and Sea will make a stunning backdrop that you can use to make your outdoor weddings unique,  and romantic beyond words . A hugh number  of couples choose  to get married on the beach  for those precise  reasons,  a number decide  to have the ceremony  on the beach and the reception indoors  – safer but not so romantic or such an exciting adventure .

If you choose to go for a beach wedding this  again breaks down into 2 broad  price bands - there are many  agencies  who dedicated to   arranging  your beach wedding , they will be able to offer you destinations and locations world-wide starting in the US, Mexico, the Caribbean and  across the globe with local details on hotels, wedding packages, wedding planners and local vendors. They will also offer you an entire package that offers such things as such as beach wedding invitations, favors and gifts and beach wedding attire for both the bride and groom. So all you have to do is  chose the destination, the guest list and they will do the rest , you just need arrive at the venue do not forget your credit card!

With these packages you will get all the romance with the sun, sea and sand in factprobably the perfect day, at a big  price tag

However  there are many ways to do your outdoor weddings to include  all of those things at afraction of the price , with a carefull planning and a sense of adventure. There are a few things you will need to take into account and make allowances for –conditions that are peculiar  to coastal locations .

Tide      Although on some coastlines the high tide  does not come all the way up the beach leaving enough of room for your wedding, just remember that in a lot of places the beach is under water twice a day. Ensure that  you check the local tide charts.

Weather              I know that anywhere you sellect for your outside wedding is open   to inclemment  weather and there is nothing more dissapointing  than a rainy beach. There is nothing you can do to get  nice weather, so don’t worry about it but have a backup plan , just in case.

Public Places     Almost all  beaches are accessable  to the public so be prepared to have some inquisitive onlookers , so when you are making your plans try to secure  a more outof the way place  for the ceremony.

Eating on the Beach        This can be add a whole dimension to your adventurous wedding , but you need to keep in mind things like refrigeration, keeping the sand away from the food, all the usual  things you have to arrange for a family outing . This is defiantly the alfresco style for your wedding!

As to location you might want to think about some of the following alternatives  as a sort of half way help

There may well be a hotel on the beach with a swimming pool, were you could have  your small intimate  reception.

For nature lovers  there are many parks or nature reserves that have special BBQ areas, some with facilities  such as tables and benches that you can  use  for your ‘reception’.

In some coastal communities  will also be either churches on or close to the beach where you could have  your wedding, you may be fortunate and maybe they they will have a church hall or community hall that you can reserve for your reception.

Lastly for the seafarers among  you possibly try chartering a boat to take you and your guests for a short cruise, it will make a great  finale after  your beach ceremony. There will also possibly  be the ever popular and more cost friendly  “sunshine cruise” ,some with a dining  option, or maybe  a “booze cruise”.

As an afterthought these two  but very important considerations for your outside weddings are:-

Accessibility  wherever you select  for your big day ensure that all your guests can get to the wedding, especially  the older guests.

Photographs -  the lighting is different on the beach , the sun shines back  off the sand so make sure that whoever is taking the pictures has a good quality camera. Because if the pictures do not turn  out well you might have to do them all again next month – I don’t know though that might be a great idea anyway.

Blooming Orchids Need A Cool and Dry Environment

  • July 21, 2010 10:56 am

So, you’ve nursed and fussed over an orchid for many long months and now it is rewarding you with a gorgeous bloom.Should you handle the plant any differently now? The answer is a definite maybe.

Although the species of your orchid will be the final determinant, as a rule it would be advisable for you to remove the plant to a cooler and drier place that that in which it was grown. This will help the flowers to last much longer than in a warm and moist greenhouse or other typical growing room.

Most orchids will not suffer by being place in a drier and cooler location when they are in bloom. Most of them will definitely benefit from it. Still , you should make sure that the temperature where you place your blossoming orchid should not fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night.

Here’s an experiment you can make if you happen to have two orchids of the same variety that blossom at around the same time. Leave one in the warm room or greenhouse, and put the other in a dry, cool location as advised above. You will almost certainly notice that the plant in your “cool room” will have fresh flowers for a significantly longer time than the one that was left behind.

The flowers of all orchids, including those kept in a cooler space, will of course eventually fade. When this happens you can move the plant back to the warm growing room. Just take care to shade it from the sun until it has re-adjusted to the warmer surroundings. Otherwise it could suffer scorching.

One of the keys to success in growing orchids is to understand their life cycles and the different stages they go through. Every stage requires a different kind of care, and the blossoming stage has its own unique “rules.”.

The most complete guide to expert orchid care, in the opinion of many, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which may be downloaded from the Internet. Mr. Howard’s ebook is a thorough course, enlightening for novices and more experienced cultivators alike. Also, be sure to visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which contains an ever-growing database of information on many facets of orchid cultivation.