Culture BlogA blog on all things cultural…

This is an ongoing situation so expect this page to update in the next few weeks!

Our Ostrich Feathers have proved a massive hit with brides-to-be this year and this gave me reason to look at advertising ourselves on various wedding websites.  This morning (27th September) I contacted a few and got quotes for advertising with them.

Now, they give me lots of spiel about how amazing and busy their sites are giving the impression the world and his wife will be knocking at my door to buy my products.  However, as with most things 'marketing' the truth is perhaps a far different matter!

And this is the best lesson I've learned today; talk to their existing clients.  Not expecting to get a reply from everyone I contacted I sent ten businesses that currently advertise on their site an email asking for them to share their experiences. 

Two hours later I had three replies.

One said they'd had two sales whilst another two informed me they'd not received one enquiry as a result of their ad.

So, it's not looking as promising as the sales rep made it sound.  I'll get a few more replies before making my mind up.  However, in the meantime I'd like to thank Adele from Finishing Touches, Alison from LoveFromAlle and Mel from Propose to Invite for taking the time to let me know how they got on with their ads.

I'll keep you posted on our journey into advertising!

The garden gnome: subject to numerous legends and stories all over the world.  Here we'll take a look at the characteristics of these little men, some of the legends that surround them and the people that fight for liberation of the gnomes! The vast majority of the gnomes you see will be males that are indulging in various pastimes including hiking, gardening and fishing.  They are often depicted as being between six to twelve inches in height depending upon their age. Gnomes are helpful little men that perform good deeds without the need for recognition.  Some of their activities including caring for injured animals and feeding those animals that are hungry if there wasn't enough food left out in winter.  They are said to be particularly fond of rabbits.

Why do you never see a gnome move?  Well, according to some legends they are turned to stone by sunlight.  However, when night falls they are released from the spell and are free to move around.

As such friendly creatures the gnome has very few enemies.  However, they are hunted by trolls!  Although the trolls are unsuccessful as the gnomes are too clever and can easily outwit them.

Scandinavian legend has it that gnomes live for around 400 years.  The female gnomes give birth only once (to twins).  They live in rural locations and help farmers in their work.  They are very good to humans but are still very secretive.  Their underground burrows and gnome language are off bounds to their human friends.

In the Netherlands gnomes are referred to as kabouters.  According to Dutch folklore, kabouters live underground and help with household chores.

Being such legendary creatures gnomes do have friends that fight for their freedom and try to return them to the wild.  Two of the most notable groups can be found in France and Italy (The Garden Gnome Liberation Front).  In 2008, a man from Brittany was arrested for stealing 170 gnomes after the authorities were tipped-off by local residents complaining of their vanishing gnomes.  Upon investigation he'd squeezed all of them into his own garden.

In fact, the gnome abduction problem got so bad that an international database was set up to trace them.  Gnomes Without Homes allowed people to post photos and information in the hope they would be reunited with their gnomes.  However, as of September 2011 the website is not active so one can only hope the gnomes are safe!

And, one eerie gnome legend to finish with.  A town in South America is said to be terrorised by a living gnome.  There's a link to the video below so you can make your mind up for yourself!

Written by Gary Mullen from Garden Gnomes.

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We asked for some feedback on why you play games with your family and were inundated with responses.  Below, are just some of the 'real-life' experiences you have had playing games with your family members.

Games are so fun to play as a family because you can laugh and talk, whereas with video games, you simply look at the TV screen; not very personable. I own a toy store now, so I know the value of having children playing games at home!! Michelle Sidney, Kookle Toys
 

My wife and I play games with our four-and-a-half year old daughter several times a week to counteract the hyper stimulation of her TV, iPad, Droid, Wii activities.   Games undoubtedly develop many skills such as colour identification, counting, solving simple mazes and, storyline appreciation.  Social skills are learned simultaneously, like taking turns, patience, and sportsmanship. Parents enjoy educational & nostalgic "family time". Michael Plociniak

It is a time when my husband, son and I can get close together and fully focus on each other and laugh. We tend to enjoy strategy games  that make us think and the games that make us laugh out loud.  I have always loved games and often played them with my girls when they were young and still do today (they are 25 & 27 now). These times were always "our" time and I can see this must of been some influence on them because they too have many games and bring them to all our family gatherings. Michele McKay

For my kids, I think games teach a number of things as they progress from simple games to more complex ones. Taking turns, understanding how to move along a board, counting pips on the die or spaces on the board are all basic skills. But I think once you get past simple roll-and-move games and there's an element of choice, then they start to learn how to make decisions, how to plan ahead. They begin to understand that their choices have consequences, and that winning a game requires thinking about those choices. I recently played a simple dice game with my second-grade daughter, and an unexpected bonus was that she was working on her addition during the game—I had her keep her own score, and she's just been learning how to add two- and three-digit numbers, so it was great practice for her while getting to play a game with dad. Jonathan Liu, Geekdad.com

Games for me provide quality time with my family and friends. I love the laughter that comes while playing games. I am actually considered the Board Game Queen in my family. I can't walk into a board game store without leaving with at least two new games!  Jess Shultzaberger

When playing games with our children, we are able to talk about how they are similar to how the world works.  For example, Monopoly can help explain the current financial situation our world is in, as well as understanding how decisions we make in the moment can have impact on our future (i.e. buying up too many properties in the beginning, leaving no money for unexpected issues, and so forth).   I would definitely say that Monopoly is our favourite, although we also get a real kick out of Twister and, Jenga. We have tried some of the newer games but always find ourselves drawn right back to the old favourites.   Zoe Keegan, LindasLaw.org

Games are good for bringing the family together face-to-face without an electronic distraction.  It teaches children counting, adding (the dice), how to follow rules, how to lose, how to congratulate others, and patience. To me, it's as important as sitting down to dinner as a family. And it's just plain fun!  Karen S. Elliott

They are an opportunity to get together with friends and family and to do an activity together. 

There is also an element of challenge. Dependant on the game you choose there are choices to make in the game and decisions to make and strategies to decide on which influence the outcome. In other words you have to think a bit! 

Games can have an educational element – both in information you learn in a game and in the stimulation to thought they might provide. This might flow from say a historical map used as the game board, language and words encountered, perhaps something about the nature of what the game is simulating – perhaps running a railway or building a cathedral or colonising an island; or just the interaction between the players that the game promotes. Richard Denning, richarddenning.co.uk

We play them because they are fun and most of all provide good quality family time.  I have observed people open up and talk about things they would not normally plus, you learn personality traits about each other.

My 10 year old daughter says, about playing games, that she loves the family time. We are all so busy that this is one of the only times when we truly have good family time. It is challenging right now to include our toddler in with the games because he has such a short attention span but we try to play some age appropriate games with him.

Our children learn different personality traits from us as parents – they see us laughing, they watch carefully how we play the games and learn about us. My daughter knows now how to negotiate with my husband to make 'deals' in Monopoly. She knows I am more of a neat and control freak because I am the one who wants the games set up in a certain way, always checking the rules, etc.  Liana Ling
 

A huge thank you to everybody that took the time to share their stories.  We really appreciate your responses.  Thanks again.

Compiled by Gary Mullen from HandcraftedUK, supplier of Garden Games.

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Paranormal tool to communicate with the dead or, a meaningless board to fool the naive?  Whatever your opinion of the Ouija Board there is no denying that they are a source of intrigue and fascination for many people.  But where do these boards come from?  Do they have their roots in ancient spiritual practices or, are they nothing more than a modern toy?

In its early years the Ouija Board was referred to as a Talking Board and looked very different from the boards we recognise these days.  These early designs had a pencil fitted to the planchett which was rested upon sheets of blank paper.  The participants would ask a question and the planchett would travel across the paper until it had spelt out the messages from the spirits.  Over time, the design was modified until the boards had letters, numbers and words fixed upon them.

The modern Ouija Board which we know today dates back to the late 19th Century where they were first sold as novelty items.  William Fuld of the Kennard Novelty Company was the first to introduce the Talking Board to the mainstream and in 1901 patented the term ‘Ouija Board’ to market them.  This was the perfect time to introduce these boards to the general public as interest in spiritualism was growing in popularity.

An interesting side-note is that the original Ouija Boards did not have the words "hello" and "goodbye" on them.  It was only added by the Victorians who didn't want to anger the spirits with bad manners so demanded a courteous opening and closing to their Ouija sessions!

Fuld claimed the word Ouija was from the Egyptian for 'good luck'.  In fact, this is untrue.  However, the name can be linked to the words for yes in French and German, "oui" and "ja" respectively.  One of the earliest mysteries surrounding the boards can be attributed to the death of Fuld himself.  In 1927, whilst attempting to repair a flag mast on the factory roof that produced the boards he fell to his death.  The official explanation is that one of the supports gave way however, others believe a more sinister force was at work and something supernatural caused his demise!

The Fuld family eventually sold the trademark ‘Ouija Board’ to the toy and game manufacturer Parker Brothers in 1966.  Parker Brothers still own the trademark to this day.  To date, they are estimated to have sold up to 25 million units.

Much of the opposition to using Ouija Boards comes from religions groups with many of them believing the boards carry a threat of demonic possession.  Some fundamentalist Christian groups have burnt the boards as they see them as symbols of witchcraft!  However, there is much scientific study to suggest Ouija Boards are nothing more than a toy and it is only the conscious/unconscious activities of the participants that is responsible for making the boards 'work'.

So the Ouija Board we know today may have their origins in ancient China.  The methods used to use the Boards have changed through time but the debate as to their credibility is still a source of great debate.  Perhaps Parker Brothers summed this up perfectly with their marketing slogans: "It's just a game…isn't it?"

Written by Gary Mullen from HandcraftedUK, supplier of Ouija Boards.

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Many holistic therapists advocate the use of salt lamps as ionisers.   The negative ions are thought to neutralise the electrically charged ions present in the everyday environment.  They believe these negative ions promote many health benefits including: alleviating respiratory problems, stress, skin conditions and joint pain.  However, the majority of the scientific community disregard such claims, supporting their findings through research demonstrating that salt lamps produce no health benefits.  So which side is right?  We'll look at some of the facts, research and anecdotal claims surrounding the debate.

More recently, a study by The Division of Respiratory Medicine University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland concluded the negative ions produced by air ionisers were ineffective in asthma treatment.  They even state that over-reliance on alternative therapies can lead to undertreatment and undesired side effects.

However, not all those from the scientific community dismiss the impact of negative ions on health.  A 2006 trial by the American Psychiatric Association reported improvements in a sample group of people suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).  Over a three week period, forty per cent of those exposed to negative ions reported improvements in their depressive symptoms. 

Those in the field of alternative health also state how scientific thinking does not generally support their methods.  Just because something can't be proven in a research study does that mean it can't exist?  Is it not possible that any benefits that can arise from the use of salt lamps are unable to be examined adequately with current scientific thinking?  There are a lot of things that we all experience which can not be studied in a laboratory and this could be true of the beliefs held by holistic therapists.

So, the big question is; do salt lamps work?  The answer to this question seems to be down to the individual.  Those who need concrete evidence to hold a belief are likely to see salt lamps as little more than an attractive decorative item.  For those who believe there's more out there than can be proven by science then a salt lamp could be viewed as a catalyst to health improvements.

Written by Gary Mullen from HandcraftedUK, supplier of Salt Lamps.

Sources

Division of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.  Complementary and alternative medicine for bronchial asthma: is there new evidence?

Controlled Trial of Naturalistic Dawn Simulation and Negative Air Ionization for Seasonal Affective Disorder, Michael Terman, Ph.D., and Jiuan Su Terman, Ph.D.

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The following article comes from our friend Sandy Cristel.  Whether or not you believe in the power of these boards we provide them on agreement that you adhere to the following safety advice:

* Only have people present who are serious and respectful. If the board is used without care or in a joking manner, this can attract unwanted and potentially dangerous negative energies and spirits.

* Do NOT drink alcohol or use any mind altering drugs including marijuana!

* Clear your mind of all negative thoughts or distractions. Your mind must be clean and clear.

* Anybody having any psychosis or psychological disorders or persons who are nervous, anxious or have addictive tendencies must not use the board.

* Never ask questions relating to your own death or death of another person.

* Make sure you visually protect yourself and have faith that you are protected. Imagine a white light surrounding you and your friends. It is always a good idea to make an affirmation before you begin. For example, "With the power of the elements, spirit guides, angels and higher self, I and the users of this board are protected from all negative spirits, entities, energies and influences." This is what I personally use, but you should say something that resonates personally to yourself.

* It is safer if you ensure that the spirits only communicate through the board – make it certain that you are in control of the board and either ignore any other spiritual activity in the room (knocks, bangs, tapping, lights etc) or ask the spirit to either use the board or leave.

* Occasionally spirits cannot or do not wish to answer certain questions so respect their silence and do not ask the same question over and over again. Ask once, once again to confirm and that is all.

* Ask if the spirit is a good spirit. If the planchette goes to NO, it is advisable to close down the board and wait at least half an hour before attempting to make contact again (see below on how to close down a board).

* Take the answers like you would anything else that somebody tells you (alive or dead). Do not revolve your life around answers you may receive as they may be inaccurate.

* Do not use the board for longer than an hour and a half. This is exhausting for both yourself and the spirits, and can be harmful.

* It is always advisable to "ground" yourself afterwards by eating and drinking something.

* The more you use the board the more spirit activity it will create (similar to a magnet). The board can become addictive to some people and this is harmful, not only to your well being but this can also attract unwanted negative energies and bad spirits. It is advisable to not use the board more than twice a week.

Closing down the board

This is extremely important! The board MUST be closed down properly at the end of each and every séance. Start by thanking the spirits for coming forward and talking with you. Wish them peace and say Goodbye. The spirit should move the planchette to GOODBYE and you may pack up the board.

If the spirit does not move the planchette to GOODBYE, then tell the spirit that you are saying goodbye and that you ask they do the same. If the spirit STILL refuses to leave, then you must move the planchette to GOODBYE and in a stern strong voice say GOODBYE and LEAVE out loud. Remove your fingers from the planchette. If you feel that is not enough you can also slam the planchette down on a hard surface (obviously take care not to break it!) or pass it through a candle flame if it is not made of flammable material.

Be safe, be successful – but most of all enjoy!

We would like to thank Sandy for the content of this article.  You can read more advice from Sandy here.

Should you ever appear on Who Wants to be a Millionaire and be faced with a question on ostriches then, I imagine some of these 23 unusual ostrich facts will come in useful!

1. Ostriches can not fly.

2. They are native to the African continent.

3. There were once Arabian Ostriches. Unfortunately, they were hunted to extinction in the mid-twentieth century. 4. Ostriches can run at a maximum speed of 45mph (70km/h) making them the fastest two-legged animals in the world. 5. They use their wings like 'rudders' of an airplane to change direction whilst running. 6. It is the largest living bird with males reaching up to 9 feet!

The Arabian Ostrich

7. Ostriches can weigh up to 130 kilograms (20 stone).

8. The ostrich has a diet of plants and insects.

9. They are group birds. Flocks vary between 5-50 ostriches. 10. If in danger an ostrich will either run away or lay flat on the ground. However, they can also attack with a powerful kick. Strong enough to kill a lion! 11. They do not bury their heads in the sand. This is a myth! 12. Their feathers are used for dusters. The barbules in the feathers act like 'fingers' to collect dust particles.

A flock of ostriches

13. Ostriches have the largest eyes of any land animal. Very useful for spotting predators in the distance. Their eyes are bigger than their brains!

14. They have three stomachs.

15. The ostrich has a lifespan of up to 45 years.

16. In a communal nest, a female ostrich can still spot her own eggs. The dominant female gets to lay her eggs first. 17. The incubation period for their eggs varies between 35-45 days. 18. The bird has ancestry of at least 40 million years. Evidence comes from a fossil found in Europe. 19. Males control a territory of up to 20 square kilometers (8 square miles). 20. Ostriches have no teeth. They swallow pebbles to grind down food in their gizzards. There are around 1kg of pebbles inside an ostrich stomach!

An Ostrich Egg

21. Ostriches raised by humans will often try to court them!

22. Apparently, the taste of ostrich meat is similar to beef.

23. In some cultures people have ostrich races where they ride them like horses.

So, there you have it.  A whole lot of ostrich facts that you never realised you wanted to know!

Written by Gary Mullen from Ostrich Feathers.

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The winter frost is thawing and the days are getting warmer which must mean only one thing…wedding season is fast approaching!

Traditionally used at Hindu weddings where peacock feathers are thought to bring luck, the beauty of the feathers sees them being used in weddings with couples from many different faiths. This piece will showcase how many brides-to-be were inspired to use peacock feathers for their 'big' day. Hopefully, it will provide future brides with a bit of inspiration too!

	A simple peacock feather attached to a wedding invitation adds an eye catching detail. You can see here the simple background heightens the effect of the peacock feather. Less is more as they say!
Here, peacock feathers decorate the bride's hair. Fastened with a hair-clip three peacock feathers add a simple and elegant feature to the hair.
	A peacock feather on the groom's lapel. The peacock eye is turned away preventing the feather overshadowing the simple effect of the white roses.
This beautiful aqua blue jewellery attached to a bridesmaid bouquet is completed with peacock feathers. See how the blues in the eye of the feather and jewellery compliment one another?

There are also many different ways in which peacock feathers can be used to decorate the wedding venue.

	Adding peacock feathers to flower arrangements outside the wedding venue sees an impressive welcome for guests!
	These azure seat covers are each accented with a peacock feather. The colours of the peacock feather eyes really highlight the blue within the covers. Keeping colours complimentary guarantees a tasteful looking wedding!
This wedding guest book area looks fabulous with it's peacock feather theme. Very simple but effective.

Peacock feathers can be used to great effect on the outside of the wedding venue. However, there's no reason for the peacock theme to remain outside the building!

If you are planning a wedding I hope the above examples have highlighted how the versatility of peacock feathers can be used to create an elegant wedding. With a few peacock feathers accenting the bride, groom, bridesmaids and environment their vibrant and plentiful colours help 'blend' everything together ensuring your big day is a style triumph!

Written by Gary Mullen from Peacock Feathers.

A MASSIVE thank you to the following four ladies. Without their help this article would have looked rather boring so I'd like to thank them for taking the time to share their expertise and photos.

Lynda Barness from I DO Wedding Consulting.  Photographs courtesy of Mike Kehr.

Wendy Dahl from Dahl Wedding Company.

Angela Rando from Juliet Events.

Amy Vargas from First Comes Love Weddings and Events.

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Chinese sky lanterns are one of the latest crazes to ‘hit’ the West. Popular for centuries on the Asian continent these lights of the sky are now a staple at celebrations throughout the Western world. But many believe a heavy environmental price is paid for such beautiful spectacles. What are these concerns and do they hold any substance?

Those who are the most vocal about the potential hazards of sky lanterns come from the farming communities. And, when you see the problems many have faced with these lanterns you can understand why. Some manufacturers construct their lanterns using wire to hold the fuel cell in to place. The problem occurs once the lanterns have used their fuel and fall back down to the ground. This wire can be hazardous to livestock who can not only get their feet caught in the wires but also ingest it in it’s original form or if it accidentally gets chopped-up and put into their feed.

There is no doubting these wire sky lanterns present problems for livestock. However, responsible manufacturers and retailers are working to negate this by introducing wire-free lanterns. The difference is that instead of the fuel cells being held in place by wire, rope or bamboo are used instead. This means that should the lanterns descend on to land containing wildlife consuming the lanterns will not be life threatening. Of course, in an ideal scenario they wouldn’t end up on farm land anyway. But, is there any way to prevent them doing so?

It is not only farmers that wish to prevent these sky lanterns from entering their land. Many other organisations are caused problems by them. Airports report they lanterns blocking their flight paths, coastguards mistake them for distress flares, and some sky lanterns end up getting caught on power-lines and in trees. Can these problems be eradicated? In truth, nobody can guarantee issues won’t arise after a lantern has been released but steps can be taken to minimise potential problems.

What are the recommendations for responsibly launching a sky lantern safely? In essence the best advice would be to use common sense! Always have a fire extinguisher (or buckets of water) ready before using the lanterns. Do not leave children unattended with the lanterns and, don’t wear loose clothing that could accidentally be exposed to the flame. As the lanterns can stay afloat for up to 20 minutes it is best not to set them off within two miles of any of the places where they are reported to cause problems. For this reason it is also best to launch them on days with nothing stronger than a light breeze. This will stop them drifting too far away from source and minimise the risk posed to others.

There have also been concerns raised about the potential fire hazard caused by fallen lanterns. In 2010, a field in Oxfordshire caught ablaze after a lantern landed in it. Incident Commander John Nixon from the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said “Whilst we are happy for people to celebrate special occasions, they must consider the potential damage these lanterns can cause. We have had a particularly dry summer and it does not take much to set large areas of the countryside alight.” Could this have been prevented? During those dry summer days the lack of moisture in the air and on the ground leads to a higher probability of a fire occurring. For this reason it is recommended to use the lanterns on low humidity days. Whilst the risk of fire is not eradicated it is reduced.

So, are sky lanterns a safety hazard? In a nutshell, they can be. However, purchasing those that are degradable and without wire ensures no life threatening problems will be caused to livestock should they be consumed. And, with a bit of forethought, launching the lanterns at the right time and in the right location will minimise the potential problems caused to others. The lanterns do not have to pose a safety hazard and have been used in Asian celebrations for thousands of years. Let’s hope these beautiful ‘sky candles’ stay with us for just as long.

Gary Mullen from Sky Lanterns.

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At the height of summer there are not many things that can beat the feeling of having fun outside with the family.  The barbecue is cooking, you have your friends over and the children are playing their games in the garden.  Sure, the children may be having a great time but there is also a lot of learning happening too.  We have categorised some of the benefits of playing garden games in to cognitive, social and physical aspects.


Cognitive

- Perhaps we should start with the most important point about games.  They’re fun!  The excitement youngsters feel when playing garden games gives them the opportunity  to develop in a positive environment.

-  Garden games also improve the mental agility of children.  They need to use their memories in order to stick with the rules of the game and learn from their mistakes so as not to repeat them.

- Improves analytical thinking.  Whilst waiting for their next ‘turn’ children will learn they need to plan their next move in advance.  They need to try and outsmart the other player in order to win.

- Emotional development.  Depending on the outcome of the garden game being played children are taught to handle losing, helping friends deal with losing and, being gracious when winning.  They also learn how to overcome defeat with the desire to try again.

- Garden games teach children how to succeed.  Games are goal driven so in order to become the winner the child must overcome the obstacles standing in their way.

Social

- Self control.  Garden games are all about rules and regulations.  Children need to stick within the rules of the game; turn taking, impulse control, behaviour that is/isn’t fair.

- Interaction encourages children to be more sociable.  Negotiation, turn taking, correcting and challenging each other all involve communication.

- Strengthens family relationships. No sitting silently in front of the television,  just good old fashioned interaction!

- Children who are withdrawn or anxious can use the playing of garden games to express themselves.  Have you ever seen the shy child getting really in to a garden game?  They often turn in to little monsters!

Physical

- Improves physical agility.  The physical exercise involved with playing a garden game encourages children to keep active and therefore healthier.

- Motor co-ordination is developed. Fine and gross.  Fine responsible for writing and drawing.  Gross responsible for balance, co-ordination and flexibility.

- Fun way to exercise in this digital age.  No sitting immobile in front of the computer or television.  Garden games encourage movement which in turn is a great way for children to keep in shape.

It’s not difficult to see how the benefits of playing a garden game can have a positive impact on every aspect of children’s lives.  There are a lot of lessons that can be learned in the safe and encouraging home environment that will arm children with the skills they need to survive in the ‘real’ world.

Gary Mullen from Garden Games.

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