The Story of Dolls

The Story of Dolls

The story of dolls goes back almost to the beginning of recorded civilisation. In fact, dolls are considered to be the oldest known toy. Early dolls have been documented from ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece. They were crudely and simply made from clay, wood, textiles,...
Artwork Displays

Artwork Displays

Traditional artwork displays were usually paintings and drawings displayed on a wall within a picture frame. The frame separated the artwork from its surroundings and gave it visual importance to focus the viewer’s attention. The earliest framed painting dates...
Old Macdonald Had a Farm

Old Macdonald Had a Farm

Originally, ‘Old Macdonald Had a Farm’ was written in 1706 by Thomas d’Urfey for an opera. Subsequently, it became a folk song in various forms, and was popular for centuries in the United Kingdom and North America. The song is about a farmer and the...
Watercolour Washes

Watercolour Washes

As watercolour can be a difficult paint medium, good preparation for painting is important. Choose the best quality watercolour paper you can afford. A 300gsm cold pressed paper will repay you by withstanding multiple overlaid watercolour washes. A fair amount of...
Vibrant Pinks

Vibrant Pinks

Pink is the name of a flower (Dianthus) that is a pale tint of red, and it first became a colour name in the seventeenth century. During the following century, pink was the favoured colour among royalty, aristocrats and the elite of Western society. In the 1920s pink...
Christmas Craft Fairs

Christmas Craft Fairs

In the weeks before Christmas, people are looking for gifts. Everyone has close family to buy for, and very often we know quite well the sort of present they would like. But it is not always so straightforward choosing gifts for other relatives, friends or colleagues....
Professor Popple and the Little Furry Creature

Professor Popple and the Little Furry Creature

The unconventional naturalist, Professor Popple, lives in a large secluded house in the heart of England. Here, he studies wildlife species which are sent to him from all over the world. But one day, an unknown creature arrives to give Professor Popple much more than...