Whether looking for garden statues that will be used in a courtyard, landscape setting or pool area, the variety of sizes, color, and styles are abundant at Home Infatuation.

By placing a few garden statues, garden sculptures or garden statuary pieces throughout your outdoor living space you can create single garden rooms. Each “room” can have its own focal point. Garden sculptures will expand the size of your outdoor room and spark curiosity in your guests to see what may be around the corner. Home Infatuation’s unique selection of statues ranges from Florentine Lions, Buddhas, Pagodas & Lanterns and old world attributes.

Many types of materials are used in the making of outdoor statues. Cast stone or concrete, fiberglass, bronze, terra cotta and metal are often used. They may perform differently over the long term. Always think of your local climate and the material used in the statue.

A few well placed garden statues around the pool or patio can also greatly change the decor. Place many garden statues in a central area and you can create an open air outdoor living room gallery.

View more of Home Infatuation’s distinguished outdoor living products by visiting http://www.homeinfatuation.com. Contact us today and also receive a free outdoor room designer consultation on the creation of your new space.

 Note: For all Flat Tony adventures click the drop down Category box in the side bar & select “Flat Tony”

After becoming familiar with the indoors of his 3D home in Tasmania (see last Friday’s post) Flat Tony checks out some blog posts then heads outside to see what’s going on in the yard.

Later in the day I had some rose branches to shred, Flat Tony insisted on helping but I wasn’t too keen on the idea…

Then a bit got jammed, I think the Division of Work Place Health & Safety may have something to say about his blockage clearing methods.

After a busy day he was all tuckered out & went off to bed early. However I think he may have a dispute to settle with Dixie over ownership rights to the bed…

Note: He is actually lying down on Dixie’s bed although it kinda looks like he’s standing up. Must be a funny camera angle.

Garden statues arranged throughout your landscape and flower beds add a classic, elegant touch to your outdoor space, during the day.

Add solar led lights to the garden statues and you now have classic elegance and the beauty of showcasing that landscape and flower bed at night, with sun charged solar light.

Solar garden statues can be placed anywhere that receives full sun, or sun for at least five to six hours each day. No wiring or electrical is needed. Just imagine what a beautiful sight it will be to see your geraniums, petunias or pansies growing around an angel, fairy or cherub solar garden statue. When the sun goes down, your flowers and solar statue will light up. My favorite is the Cherubs with the solar fountain. The solar led lights flow down the fountain bowls to create a continuous solar sun fountain. Click on the image to see the solar fountain in action in a new window.

Solar garden statues also make great gifts, and can be shipped directly to your friends or family that you are honoring with an elegant, yet fun, garden statue gift.

To shop and buy your solar garden statues, solar animals, outdoor solar lights, and indoor solar lights, visit http://www.naturessolarlights.com.

We have been talking about plants and flowers in different ways, but what we have to do if we want to create a garden? . We are going to help you with some considerations.

You have to considered this things to created a garden. First of all you have to decide the style  you will like in your garden. There ,you´ll select the plants and flowers that are better with your style, the elements to decorated such as fountains, rocks, statues, etc. . It´s good to choose floors and ornaments in the same material so we can give unity to the garden. Now we are going to see each point you have to considered.

WHICH ZONES DO YOU WANT IN YOUR GARDEN?

Here you have to take care about the grass zones you want to have in your garden also, the shady areas and bright light areas you have. If you want to have a place to take sun light or a pool , a place to read  etc. Take a sheet of paper and a pencil and draw the garden that you imagine you want to have.

We are going to help you with some ideas.

Near a swimming pool you can create a zone to take sun light with umbrellas and deckchairs.

Also you can have a pergola with benches to you can sit there to enjoy the place and read or take tea.

A place with grass so children can play better.

Statues and rocks making a mix between a Greek and a Japanese garden.

WHICH ELEMENTS WE ARE GOING TO INCLUDE IT IN OUR GARDEN?

Well as we think of our garden and we started with the design we talk about the elements we can put in our garden. But also we can considered a barbecue place, rows, lights, pots, etc.

WHICH KIND  OF PLANTS AND FLOWERS WE ARE GOING TO USE?

Here you can think in trees, palms, shrubs, flowers, perennials plants, fruit trees, water plants .

We continue in next post with other points to be considered. Now I´m going to give some garden photos to help you in your decision.

Sculptures have a very old history in India. Excavations of the old civilizations have shown traces of metal sculptures in the land. Different regions within the country differ in choosing the material of sculpture.

Stone and clay sculptures dominate the east region. The south has the master sculptors of wood and metal. The central states have a rare talent of molding the iron. Various kinds of wood are used for making beautiful and intricate sculptures in the south India. These sculptures are made either in one block of wood or by joining more than two pieces together. The glue used for joining them is prepared by grinding tamarind seeds.  The use of wood is seen almost in every region however. The techniques of crafting are also different in each region.
The oldest and the most complex technique is the one used in the central Indian state Madhya Pradesh. The tribals of this region use the cire-perdu or the lost wax technique for making various metal sculptures. This method has been in practice for a very long time. The skill is passed from one generation to the other. The eastern state Orissa has in abundance a very soft stone known as soapstone. The artists of this region realize the minutest of their imagination on this gray stone. Kerala, a beautiful coastal state in the south produces the best of the rose wood sculptures of the country. The themes are everywhere related to the deities or the nature.

Apart from making individual idols of the Hindu deities, the sculptors also make idols with mythological significance. We have collected for you the best from every region. Discover and learn the heritage of the Indian sculptures.

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     As more and more people rediscover the natural world as an important part of daily life today, many times the nearest refuge is our backyard or garden.  The garden is a place of comfort and peace, and can be a unique expression of our individuality and personal taste.  A wide variety of garden decor is available, much of it made from natural stone or other calming materials.  Bird feeders, lawn plaques and garden statues are a few examples garden accents which serve to transform an ordinary backyard into a more peaceful, unique space.

A bronze sculpture that depicts a mother's undivided attention to her children.

Our mothers inspire us in so many ways we sometimes cannot imagine living life without this formidable human being by our side, guiding us through our childhood years, standing by unceasingly at every second of our life, nursing and teaching us the instruments of life’s little quests and tasks. Her unceasing presence to protect and love is divine and cannot be dispensed as easily – she leaves a trail of memory in every step of our life, every facet governed by a thread of memory she leaves behind us influencing our behavioral position in the day to day management of life’s joys and hurdles. A mother reminds us constantly in her own way, how much she loves us leaving us thinking of ways to honor her and it does not have to be just on Mother’s Day. Love transcends through time and should be always on our mind every single day irregardless of the tedious day to day chores. For all the work she endured bearing us, the least we can do is celebrate her love in ways that she appreciates.

Mother Holding Her Child

Sculptures of mother and children statues are probably sacred pieces to us because of the deep emotional meaning that it carries. A sculpture of a mother holding her child close to her bosom or bearing her child within her arms, nestling and loving the helpless little child, is a loving gift idea for her and highlights our way of exemplifying our feelings towards the woman we call “mother”.

There are many sculptures highlighting a mother focusing on the care of her young children with her undivided attention. This bronze sculpture of a mother kissing her young child establishes the closeness of a young mother to her

Sculptures capture our intense emotions and expressly highlights our bond towards a person, in this case, our mother.

child as she further holds her child with her hand in a loving assurance. It not only captures a human relationship with feeling but also depicts our sensitivity and emotional demands for loving relationships. 

Mother and children sculptures will always captivate us and make lovely gift ideas for the home and garden. They do not have to be the ultimate gift idea just on a Mother’s Day or even on Christmas Day. Gifts that expound the emotional senses should be gifts to present any day of the year. After all, a mother who loves constantly will always attach a proud and loving feeling to the significant gift she gets from her loving child.

Written by Romilla D. for MyGardenGifts.com
© 2009 MyGardenGifts Inc. All Rights Reserved
Email csr@mygardengifts.com

Highlights the closeness of a mother and her child.

The versatility of bronze sculptures remains unmatched – bronze is a malleable form and has a way of communicating the passion of the sculptor; it tells the mindset of the sculptor drawing emotional interest and admiration for the arduous details and beautiful emotions that gets depicted on some of the life size sculptures we see these days as an instance. The marketplace is replete with many bronze sculptures and statuary from small bronze figurines to large to life size bronze sculptures depicting the classics, art deco and modern themes. Bronze is an ancient metal, one of the oldest allow known to man, that has been used to create an infinite number of accessories like table lamps, decorative accessories and urns, vases, tables and monumental sculptures and fountains. You might even find many beautiful sculptures recreated from the ancient Roman and Greek civilizations like Hebe, Venus, Neptune and so forth, each extolling sometimes the infinite character and artisanship of the sculptor as he recreates his/her passion for the ancient bronze beauties of the past.

Bronze is used to create the mythical charm of mermaids.

Bronze is made primarily of copper and tin, and is favored because of its resistance to corrosion.  Over time, it weathers to a beautiful brown or patina

Bronze creates some of the most charming tabletop figurines.

color and is notably a metal that corrodes very gradually. The worthiness and strength of bronze is apparent in the many bronze sculptures man unearthed from past civilizations namely the ancient Greeks, Roman, Eastern, Mesopotamian and Egyptian which have still retained their timeless looks and function.  It is little wonder why artisans choose to use the same bronze material in reproducing some of these timeless artifacts over again. 
Written by Romilla D. for MyGardenGifts.com
© 2009 MyGardenGifts.com  All Rights Reserved

It can be self-fulfilling making your home and garden attractive, and most importantly, a relaxing place to stay. The garden is the first thing that you see before entering your home. Therefore, if you can create an inviting atmosphere in your garden, you are creating a welcoming introduction to your home. In addition there are some wonderful benefits. There will be times when you just want to spend time entertaining or relaxing in your garden, so it’s enjoyable knowing that you have taken the time and effort to create that ambience.
We are committed to offering a wide variety of unique garden and home decor made with the highest level of design, skill, and materials that help to create just that. Are you longing for a new outdoor space that only appears centuries old, or are you hoping to extend the clean lines of your modern style to your garden or home?
In addition, we also offer beautiful stone water fountains, wall fountains, garden planters, bird houses and feeders, garden furniture and hammocks, garden statues and plaques.
We also offer home decor such as an array of different types of candles, glass sculptures, vases, and table-top fountains. Turn your garden, patio, deck, or home into the oasis you have always dreamed of.
With such a large selection of unique garden and home decor and accents in a variety of styles, sizes and price ranges to choose from, you can easily create the perfect ambience while reflecting your own unique style.
At GardenandHomeDecorSite.com, we take pride in what we do everyday. In addition to offering a large selection of merchandise for your garden and home, we really want you to feel secure purchasing from us. We realize that quality merchandise is very important! In addition, we also understand that only the best customer service will enable us to establish only the best relationships with our visitors!
Our Mission Statement:
GardenandHomeDecorSite.com is dedicated in bringing our clients only top quality products. We take pride in what we do! Our customers will always come first!
Please consider taking the time to come and check us out:

http://www.GardenandHomeDecorSite.com

The Chanchitos pigs has inspired curiosity and interest from those wondering about its three legged form.

Many of us use symbols as part of the association with our culture and each of us, have our own type of symbol that we associate good fortune and good luck to. Pigs have garnered much popular interest in many cultures east and west. The Chinese for instance speak of the golden “double pigs” for happiness and prosperity while the Germans consider the pigs, “Gluckschweins” or “lucky pigs”. However, these symbolic pigs are usually seen possessing all their four legs.

Thus, many of us may be intrigued and somewhat surprised by the three legged Chanchitos pig statues that we might sometimes see in a friend or family’s yard. After all, none of us could possibly conceive the existence of such a heavy animal without all its four quarters intact. Hence, the idea that maybe a leg got snapped off leaving the unwary pig statue still capable of standing ground to maintain balance may well be the heartwarming position we might take in responding to the sight of a rather awkward looking three legged pig.

The creation of the Chanchitos pig hails from the town of Pomaire, a Chilean town located west of Santiago. The land of Pomaire is extremely fertile in natural clay and has been noted for its lovely pottery creations handed down from generation to generation using the same ancient techniques passed on from their ancestors since the late 1600s. Apart from creating pottery ware and ceramics, the town is also well noted for its inception of the famous and rather cute three legged pig figurines known as Chanchitos pig. These little pigs are endowed with the blessings of ushering good luck and goodwill to its recipient and hence, it is common for people of this town to bring in little Chanchitos pigs made of clay and ceramic as gifts for friends and family. The chance of bumping into these imaginative looking pigs in the shops of Pomaire is therefore common. They appear to have been assimilated in the face of this vibrant little town as a common good luck statue seen in shops and restaurants which have also become closely acculturated into the beliefs of the people of this town. Tourists passing their way through Pomaire looking for some giftware reminiscent of this lovely town may find it very hard to fend off the look of the unusual and adorable piggy figurine with the three legs and eventually these little pigs become part of the merchandise and gifts purchased in this town. As each of these little pigs weaves their way into our society, it is only natural that the idea behind their existence is also upheld. After all, we all like good luck charms to keep our lives secure, happy and filled with luck every single day.  

Whether the story behind the Chanchitos pig remains a creative charm contrived by the fertile imagination of the town craftsmen to boost a tourist appeal or otherwise, no one can dispense the adorable and imaginative appeal these pigs have possessed over the rest of the world. They have become a lively part of the conversations in blogs, part of the garden landscape tucked away in a place for noticeable view and as desk ornaments mostly looked upon for luck or as unusual gift pieces for intriguing a curious passerby.
Written by Romilla D. for MyGardenGifts.com
© 2008 MyGardenGifts Inc. All Rights Reserved
Email csr@mygardengifts.com

Raking Leaves, the Impending Doom of the Holidays, But the Cabbage and Mums Look Great

Raking Leaves, the Impending Doom of the Holidays, But the Cabbage and Mums Look Great

Author: Patrick Murray

The sun breaks through and the majority of the leaves finally fallen from the tree out front. In a few hours I’ll be out there cursing mother nature for not just blowing them away. On the upside the sun will be out and the skies are clear. It’s a Sunday and after all the things I have to do for others the remainder of the time will be spent aimlessly meandering around, putting away some pots, trimming back some plants and cutting down the morning glories that took for ever to turn brown and go to seed.. That is that is until the game comes on or so I thought.

How can such a small tree produce so many leaves? I wonder all the while knowing what’s really lurking around the corner.

The invasion is not my parents who are coming from back east to spend the first Thanksgiving with us in years. Admittedly I don’t go back east to see them on the Holiday either. Still the invasion is coming and there is nothing I can do to deter it but it’s not my nephews who will run through the house like screaming maniacs wrestling, playing Star Wars, and just being boys. In all fairness they’re really good well behaved kids thanks to my sister but Grand Pa and Uncle Patty think its funny to wind them up, encourage the rowdy behavior so they rip and tear and yell like savages. It keeps me entertained.

The Doom of the holidays is less obvious than that. Drinking down about the 12th cup of coffee the insane ritual of black Friday creeps in. So as the day winds on my little one who is now 10 and eating me out of house and home as she hits yet another growth spurt decides to “help”. Seriously she’s on her 3rd shoe size since school started back in August. She comes up to me “when can we do the Christmas lights?”

This is the invasion, the impending sense of doom that I knew was coming. “It’s not even Thanksgiving yet.” I tell her in my most understanding and paternal voice as I go back to the task at hand of planting bulbs where earlier in the day I opted to rip out some distressed shrubs. Good spring colors, different blooms, it will be great if and when winter finally passes and things start to grow again.

Around the same time the neighbors started getting out ladders, Across the street the kids were already on the damn roof wearing Santa hats and turning their property into something that would have made Clark Griswald so very proud. I was tempted to call OSHA but thought better of it. As the last leaves hit the bio bags and compost pile here she comes with a sorry string of lights and the timer she managed to dig out of the holiday decorations in the basement all by herself.

How could I say no? So it began as we placed the first string over the rose tree and its last fleeting blooms of the season I thought how they should have cut it back some earlier in the fall but secretly wanted those last flowers. Still she seemed thrilled as we strung the lights up across the porch roof, around the posts, finally lining one side of the walk with a series of two foot high light up Candy Canes. On the other side the phlox had taken over and were encroaching on the concrete. For the sake of sanity, and international relations in my own home I stayed with the task at hand of decorating and left them there to be cut back another day. For me leaving plants to be cut back another day is a day that rarely comes because I see a few buds and who needs a clear concrete path if they can have a few more blooms. If you don’t like having to dodge my own semi manicured version of nature don’t come over.

My Little One was ecstatic beyond words and bouncing like it was actually Christmas morning. I felt like Scrooge but gave in like I always do on the little things. She was excited and youthful, a trait that is not found quite as often in kids these days. I enjoyed it, a kid who was just that a kid. No social pressure, no what am I missing on TV or a favorite website. Just a few hours of puttering and playing and telling me how things should be and how weird they boys at school are.

Somewhere in the back of my mind as we placed a few strings over the enormous and still blooming Mums and picking the last of the Halloween cobwebs of the now barren maple tree I wondered if I hadn’t become as bad as the retail world who put up their decorations, Santa and Reindeer statues, wreaths and Holly right after Halloween.

As we debated, but mostly she talked and I listened to how we should have lights on the back porch “since no one else does” and how I’m not Nearly as cool as Kay up the street with an ice skating frosty decoration surrounded by a blue strings of lights to make a pretend pond we came across what had been a struggling cabbage plant that was given to her to “grow” at the end of the last school year. To say it hadn’t thrived but until now had just survived would be accurate but now it was large and thriving.

It was enough of a distraction to forget about her ambition to make me festive and excited about putting lights up on the back porch…for now. However like the cold winds that are starting to blow, the hordes of family members making their way to holiday meals, and the insane crowds gathered outside of retailers over night going into Friday (but I still love you Honey) the doom of the holidays is here. So I’ll put on a good face, sit quietly with my books, spend too much time watching football to make up for all the games I’ve missed this fall and wait for the first green blades of grass. The first crocus to push through the spring snow, followed by the daffodils and tulips.

By then chances are my little one will be another shoe size or so bigger and someday not all that far away I’ll look back and miss all the help I had putting up the lights too early. She’ll be off doing more important things, wearing out the key pad texting on a new cell phone and I’ll still be outside hanging off a ladder

Have a safe and Happy Holiday Season.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/landscaping-articles/raking-leaves-the-impending-doom-of-the-holidays-but-the-cabbage-and-mums-look-great-657948.html

About the Author:

Patrick is an avid writer and outdoor enthusiast dedicated to educating consumers about the benefits of landscaping. Looking for more landscaping ideas? Come visit http://www.DesignerStatues.com for the largest selection of garden statues.

Oftentimes known as the Three Wise Monkeys

Most of us may be curious and perhaps intrigued over the sudden interest in See No Evil, Hear No Evil and Speak No Evil statues which have since moved from the conventional use of the three wise monkeys to include cherubs, frogs, turtles and many other life forms. The idea of covering the eyes, ears and mouth may seem somewhat unnatural but this unusual pictorial form was really based on a 17th century carving found over the door of a famous Tosho-gu shrine in Nikko, Japan. The beautiful carving was created on the door leading to a horse stable for the sacred shrine.

I remember my father’s little gift items from Japan and the popular sculptures of the See No Evil, Hear No Evil and Speak No Evil monkeys have since taken a unique place in our curio cabinet for the foyer. The origin for this form is vaguely unknown but reports indicate some similarities to references made in the Analects of Confucius, a great Chinese philosopher and thinker suggesting that Chinese pilgrims may have taken this aspect of the adage and modified it in Japan. The Japanese adhere to this adage religiously and perhaps, to some extent, it surely applies in our day to day living as we realize that it is not a good deed to speak, hear nor see events which are unsavory and detrimental to our own spiritual and emotional well being. Others suggest that a person will not be evil in his speech if he is not exposed to the words and sight of evil. Whatever the insights offered, the proverbial adage of the See No Evil, Hear No Evil and Speak No Evil will surely fascinate and lead to as much as conjecture as it does in awakening the good side of mankind and reminding him/her constantly that it does not pay to lead a life tainted with evil and in whatever form it takes.
Written by Shari G. for MyGardenGifts.com
© 2008 MyGardenGifts Inc. All Rights Reserved
Email csr@mygardengifts.com

The end of internal warfare in Norman England permitted the precincts of the castle to become less restricted without loss of security. At the close of the thirteenth and the beginning of the fourteenth century the connection between France and England was very intimate. The French language was spoken by the upper classes in both countries; and as to manners and customs in general, and their gardens, fountains and statuary in particular, the same fashions prevailed, although the French were somewhat more advanced than the English, especially when it came to water fountains. Frequently at home there was leisure to give attention to domestic comfort and to engage in the peaceful contests of chivalry, and enhance the simple functionality of the outdoor fountains. Then the castle, becoming more than a bare fortress, was treated as a commodious residence for the lord and the little court of retainers living under his protection.

The description of a French garden in the twelfth century would answer for an English one during the two following centuries; the basics of a fountain, fragrant plants, and adorned with statuary. During this era, the pleasure garden (developing from the terrace walk containing little collections of herbs) began to enjoy a less precarious existence, and extravagance in fountains and décor was accepted. In France, earlier than in England, its form became more clearly defined, and, by covering more area, answered more varied requirements, and leading to ever larger fountains, statuary, and garden planters.

Monasteries with dramatic gardens, adorned with garden statues and water fountains, flourished throughout Europe in the first half of the first millennium, and along with cross, monks carried the plough.  Hard work, which had fallen into disfavor, was raised from the dust by the monks. “It was the special glory of St. Benedict [the founder of the order to which St. Augustine belonged] to teach the men of his day that work in the garden, sanctified by prayer, is the best thing a man can do, and this lesson has never been lost sight of since his time, as reflected in the beauty of the garden grounds.”

Within the walls of Benedictine monasteries, therefore, were large gardens with dramatic statuary, water features, and hanging wall fountain gardens cultivated by all the resident monks, often along with smaller ones assigned to the abbot and the chief almoner of the community. Formerly despised by the earliest Christians as symbols of paganism, flowers were now grown to decorate the church. The roses were often grown in large stone garden planters and was held in the highest esteem. At Subiaco is still preserved the roseto, a little rose garden set with a large stone statue of St. Benedict. The rose bushes it contains are said to be  the same as those whose beauty delighted his senses, and with whose thorns he was accustomed to mortify his flesh.

There are so many types of of garden decorations its unfair to lump all of them into one category.  After all the style can vary greatly to classic reproductions, religious icons, to gnomes, garden fairies, people and animals.

I suppose that how one decorates their garden is their own form of expression, you choose what to plant and where to put it.  you choose the flowers, the colors, and blooms and then hope for the best.   Chances are people never intend to create gardens and decor styles that clash with their surroundings.  Still they do it all the time like the house in Michigan that insists on trying to grown palm trees to create that ever so desirable Florida feel.  In the coming months and years we’ll take the time to look at the best practices when it comes to designing a planting and how to incorporate outdoor decor items such as garden statues to compliment your style, increase your enjoyment and still express your style.

And if you happen to like garden gnomes, there’s a place for you too.  After all they are far more popular than most people ever imagined.

We’ll always do it with a touch of humor, a good dose of compassion and a very open mind

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… CY: wait… I: wait… L: wait… YCat: wait… I: wait… Top: wait… I: wait… L: wait… C: wait… SD: wait…

Statues of Our Lady of Perpetual Help captures the sadness of the Madonna as she holds the fingers of her son appearing to calm and soothe him.

The Madonna graces all those who believe and her loving eyes never steer clear of her son, Jesus and the task that awaits him. Our Mother of Perpetual Help, known by many names including Our Lady of St. Matthew is also known as Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The Church of St. Alphonsus in Rome, Italy, holds an image of Our Mother of Perpetual Help which has been responsible for granting many miracles. The image was believed to have been acquired by a wealthy merchant around the late 15th Century who brought it to Rome from Crete and before his death, asked that the painting be placed in a church in Rome. However, the painting only wound its way into private hands until it was received into the St. Matthew’s Church in 1499. Many miracles arose which were attributed to this beautiful image of the Madonna. However, close to the 1800s, there was an invasion ordered by Napoleon Bonaparte and the Church of St. Matthew was destroyed. Miraculously, the image was removed by the priests before the destruction of the church commenced and finally, after moving through a few churches, was finally laid to rest in its final resting place, the Church of St. Alphonsus not far from where the St. Matthew’s Church stood. The working of this inspiring image eventually spread to the US and devotions were held every Tuesday for Our Mother of Perpetual Help. This spread rapidly and the novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help is now observed worldwide. Statues and sculptures of Our Lady of Perpetual Help constantly reproduce the serene and captivating beauty of the Madonna as she unceasingly protects her child. The actual image highlights the sadness the Mother feels as she holds her son in protection as he appears to almost be shaken off on the sight of the angels holding the tormented objects which would eventually do him harm. However, the statues created normally depict the Madonna and child with baby Jesus’ face directed mostly towards the crowd than to the archangel on the left which is originally depicted in the image. However, sculptors still capture the sight of the sandals almost falling off his feet as his hands grip the Madonna seeking solace. Truly, the Mother of Perpetual Help is one of the miraculous forms that have stirred interest and continues to seek a massive following all across the world.
Written by Shari G. for MyGardenGifts.com
© 2008 MyGardenGifts Inc. All Rights Reserved
Email csr@mygardengifts.com

Cats were highly revered in Ancient Egypt.

For those who love the look of beautiful sculptures and who love cats, you might not want to miss the elegance of this metal used in the creation of bronze cat sculptures. Cats are feline creatures which inspire many a home and were deeply worshipped by many ancient civilizations. These beautiful creatures are also one of the oldest domesticated animals known to mankind next to dogs. Their place in the ancient Egyptian civilization as recorded about 4,000 years ago is legendary and history even dictates that laws were passed on by the Egyptian court that banned the killing of cats because of the religious symbolism they carried. Cats were also preserved and mummified and excavations have revealed these forms in the tombs of pharaohs. Egyptian civilization also recorded paintings in tombs which highlighted that cats were used to ward off evil and served as guardians and protectors for the home dweller. Due to the belief and reverence for the cat, ancient Egyptian

Bronze renders fluidity in the creation of lovely bronze sculptures like cats.

celebrated the cat as having a Godly status and the first known Egyptian Goddesses Bastet and Sekhmet were highly represented in this ancient society. Today, the Egyptian cat continues to inspire the artworks and sculptures of today and many statues of cats inspire the look of a home and garden. In our range of bronze sculptures, we feature lovely selections of bronze cat statues that capture the lithe and grace of one of the favorite domesticated animals known to us. Always ensure that your bronze sculptures are produced through the lost wax process to ensure the casting of quality bronze statues and sculptures.
Written by Elaine T. for Kaviik’s Accents
© 2008 Kaviik’s Accents Inc. All Rights Reserved

Cougars are often chosen for use as mascots due to their prowess and lithe persona.

Mascots continue to be popular and important symbols for many organizations, sports teams, schools and military. Institutions typically reference a person, object or animal as a mascot and focus on this particular symbol for good luck and guidance. For instance, the United States Marine Corps (USMC) has used the bulldog as its mascot since 1922 while the US military references the bald eagle as its mascot.

Many schools, both elementary and high school, tend to adopt an animal as their mascot and the use of eagles, falcons, bears, lions, tigers, gators, cougars and even dragons are most popular. A school that adopts a mascot places importance on its symbolic characteristics as setting a purpose and vision unifying a cause in the common interest of the school. Our society is diverse composing of people from many ethnic and religious origins. The introduction of a mascot fosters and builds unity among the student population by focusing on the positive behavioral features and attributes that the mascot displays and highlight this energy towards achieving the goals and objectives set by the school. We use the mascot to make us think alike and in many ways, that has led to many positive and creditable achievements. However, the task of determining a common mascot all can relate to, can be initially daunting but it is always good to take a vote to decide which mascot works well for the school since the mascot will be a permanent part of the school’s social life.

Bulldogs are common mascots for schools and even the US Marine Corps.

Eagles are also widely used for their theme of freedom.

The mascot is also the integrating force for major events in school especially sporting events that call for unity among the student and teacher population. This symbol is often boldly displayed on school sports wear and all school memorabilia as well as the school year books, adorned in the school office and the areas where students may commune as a common body such as the gym or even resting rooms. In major sporting events between schools, it is common to have a costumed mascot to harness the cheer of the crowd for the school team involved in the event. In such events, the mascot may inject interest and cheer the team towards winning by engaging the interests of the rest of the students, parents and teachers into joining in. It is also common sight to see the costumed mascot work with the cheerleaders in engaging a rousing performance with acrobatic stances and humorous pitches to motivate the team to winning.

Written by Elaine T. for Kaviik’s Accents
© 2008 Kaviik’s Accents Inc. All Rights Reserved
Email csr@kaccents.com if you are seeking a specific animal for a mascot.

The peacock inspires many a culture and many a story.

Peacocks have long inspired many cultures including the ancient civilizations of India, Greek, Iran and Egypt perhaps because of the beautiful plumage and colorful personality the male peacock displays. These beautiful birds have also earned a symbolic resurrection representation in the Christian faith and many ancient paintings and artworks displayed in Romanesque and Byzantine churches feature the peacock as a sign of immortality and later, as a sign of vanity. It is said that St. Augustine saw the peacock as possessing antiseptic properties while there is also a suggestion that the tail of the peacock with its ‘thousand eyes’ symbolizes omnipotence and often ascribed to the Archangel St. Michael. The peacock has also provided a form and basis for one of the most thought provoking poems written by the famous English poet and writer, William Blake, known as “Proverbs of Hell” which contained a reference that “The pride of the peacock is the glory of God.”

Hera, the wife of Zeus and Queen of the Gods, was noted to be symbolized with the peacock and it is said that her wagon is pulled by peacocks. Although the peacock remained unknown to the Greeks until the time of Alexander the Great, there is much imagery given to the use of the peacock in the historical perception given to Hera.  The story goes that Hera caught her husband Zeus flaunting with a mistress called Io. In order to prevent Io from being spotted by Hera, Zeus quickly turned Io into a white heifer. Hera, being as cunning as she is, was not fooled and demanded the heifer as a present. Once in her possession, she placed the cow in the care of Argus, a giant with 100 eyes. Zeus became angry and ordered Hermes to kill Argus, Hera’s loyal servant. Hermes did this by putting the giant to sleep and then slew him. Hera, upon learning of his death, took the giant’s many eyes and placed them in the plumage of the peacock. Hence, the Greek legend for accounting the origin of the eyes found in the plumage of the peacock.

The beauty of the peacock has inspired its form on bookends as well.

Peacocks which were once admired from afar are becoming common place sights when one ventures into an aviary or zoo. Perhaps, their constant interaction with the human race has made them more adaptable to watching us close by but male peacocks can still exercise aggression when threatened and for no reason. Due to man’s interest in the peacock partly borne of fascination and part cultural, it isn’t little wonder why the peacock has been represented in many peacock art forms like peacock bookends, vases, pottery and of course, as lovely peacock statues and sculptures. These birds have also become iconic representations in the Asian cultures of Myanmar and India where they are also considered national symbols. While the peacock adds to so much fascination due to its good looks, there are also constant references to the manner in which they strut which has been attributed to vanity.

Written by Romilla D. for MyGardenGifts.com
© 2008 MyGardenGifts Inc. All Rights Reserved
Email csr@mygardengifts.com

Ho Tai was often seen holding a cloth sack with candy.

Ho Tai, also known as Ho Tei in Japan or the Laughing Buddha (Happy Buddha), is not to be mistaken with Siddharta Gautama Buddha “the enlightened one”, the original Buddha who started Buddhism. Ho Tai or popularly known as the Laughing Buddha referenced a jolly Chinese Buddhist monk named Budaishi who was said to have lived over one thousand years ago and who has been incorporated into the Shinto Buddhism in Japan. Historical records highlight him as a jolly fat monk who always carried a bag full of candies to please the children and credits him as the God of Contentment and Happiness. In Japan, he is seen as one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, an incarnation of Maitreya (the Future Buddha).

Ho Tai is important in the practice of Feng Shui and he is thought to direct positive energy flow. Businesses usually display a form of the Happy Buddha with his fat belly to improve sales and usher in good fortune. It is said that rubbing the belly of the Laughing Buddha will render one wealth and prosperity. Others suggest that his rather rotund and heavy belly is a symbol for a bountiful harvest. Sculptures of the Laughing Buddha (also known as Fat Buddha) or Ho Tai usually depict the monk surrounded by children capturing the monk’s intense love for children. The Laughing Buddha is also seen with a Chinese fan known as an “oogi” which was used by Chinese royalty to beckon the granting of the wishes of their subjects. The Laughing Buddha is notably seen in

Used to bring in wealth and good luck

a variety of poses that procure meaning and many images of him in seated, sleeping, dancing and walking forms have been recorded. Ho Tai is also shown with a begging bowl that represents affirmation to his Buddhist faith and is always seen carrying a cloth or linen sack which is never empty. The idea of the Laughing Buddha with a happy and jolly smile as well as a round full belly highlights Ho Tai Buddha’s desire to take pain away from those who believe in him leaving them with wealth and prosperity. Many Feng Shui believers may keep a statue of the Happy Buddha or Ho Tai in their premises with the hope that he will usher in wealth and prosperity into their households or business establishments while taking away any form of misfortune and bad luck that might prevail.
Written by Romilla D. for Kaviik’s Accents
© 2008 Kaviik’s Accents Inc. All Rights Reserved