Archive for January, 2010
Scents and essences might linger in the mind long after they’ve disappeared from the air. Such is the case with a perfume or cologne that takes you back to a distant place and time. Our minds associate memories with the senses in order to help us remember them. I’ve been collecting glass perfume bottles for years, and a quick whiff from any given bottle transports me to the moment I purchased it.
Of course part of a perfume bottle’s appeal is the artistry and craftsmanship that went into its design and production. These aren’t mere containers or vestibules that are produced, filled with liquid and shipped out. The most distinct, attractive bottles have an artistic sensibility – the shape of the bottle is either pleasantly round or strikingly squared off. In any case, perfume bottles are as decorative as they are functional.
If your sofa is starting to look boring and you feel that it needs an immediate makeover, why not give it an instant fabulous look using a bright colored throw blanket? Just imagine the amount of money that you can save compared to opting for an upholstery job—saves you the waiting time too.
With many choices in colors and designs on throws these days, you can even change the look of your sofa everyday of the week. Besides, throw blankets can easily be mixed and matched with whatever current furniture or accent pieces that you have in your home, it’s just a matter of choosing throws that will best compliment and accentuate them.
In its original use, a votive could be understood as any object left in a sacred or important place as a kind of ritual. In an ancient context, this act was usually done to somehow appease or gain favor with the gods or other supernatural forces. A more modern and secularized version of this would be throwing pennies or tokens into a fountain for good luck or the granting of wishes. Because the votive offering was often done with a candle, the name “votive” has since become synonymous with the candle itself.
In this way, votives can be understood as small candles, which are most often white. Alternately known as prayer candles, these votives are commonly burned in a votive offering. They can either be burnt in order for your prayer to be acknowledged, or they can be burned in honor of someone who has passed. But these votives are perhaps even more known in a non-religious sense. To that end, they have become a common home décor additive and are housed in a variety of ornate votive candle holders.