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Saturday, August 9, 2014

Soccer Introduces Klinsmann as Head Coach

ï»¿Soccer Introduces Klinsmann as Head Coach

been an exciting summer, which is still going on with some terrific games Barcelona and Manchester United over the weekend, lots of big crowds and the excitement of the Women World Cup. The excitement of the Gold Cup set all sorts of records in attendance and television ratings. There were some ups and downs obviously for our teams on the field, but overall the health of the sport in this country certainly is quite good and headed in the right direction. That doesn mean there won be wins and losses along the way, but we very pleased, generally, with where the sport is headed. Having said that, I think today is a very important day and perhaps the start of a new era for us. We extraordinarily excited about having Jurgen Klinsmann join our team, to lead our team and to help lead our technical program. Jurgen experience, both as a player and coach, and as a resident of this country and I think all three of those are important we think are huge assets. Jurgen has that. He been a resident of the country for 13 years and has studied a lot of things. He lived around the world. He multi lingual, and that is in addition to his vast playing experience and the coaching experience with the German national team and Bayern Munich. His record is extraordinary. It speaks for itself. We had discussions, which have been widely reported, for quite some time. We going to focus today on going forward, although I sure there is some interest in how we got to today, and we address that, but we really want to focus on going forward and the excitement in the sport. It also a reflection of the sport that there has been so much interest in this announcement, in the fate of the national team. We think all those things are positive. the issue of control:

Jurgen and I, there has never been an issue of control. I think that a bit of a red herring. Jurgen comments previously were about being able to incorporate that onto a piece of paper. The understanding that we had about moving forward and collaborating, quite frankly, has been pretty clear for many years. How to best incorporate that is something that we been able to get through, and it been a collaborative effort in all areas. why the change is happening now:

a bit of it is always results. We take time after every major competition to reflect on that competition and what led up to it. It not a single game, or a single result. It where the program is, and how comfortable we feel in the direction that it going. That based partly on results for sure, partly on the last year, and we made a decision that it was time to make a change. The timing was never good for a change. We have a game in nine days, so that not an easy situation for Jurgen to walk into. In some cases, players have been contacted and he may or may not choose those same players. After the Gold Cup, which is a benchmark for us, it was a natural time to look at where we were. whether he thinks there is an American approach to the game:

to us having any discussions about coaching the team after the World Cup in Germany, Jurgen outlined what he had done when he had first gone to Germany on that issue of style and why that German team felt, played and looked different than previous teams. It exactly what he just outlined which we were fascinated with. He essentially had a series of conversations in some sense with the country, but with players, with coaches, with media about what they expected, what they wanted German soccer to represent at the international level. Given the diversity of this country, that sort of dialogue here is exciting.

On national team coaches having two World Cup cycles and whether Klinsmann will be given two cycles:

second cycle issue is always an awkward question because most coaches that aren very successful, defined at some level for their own circumstances and their own country, don get that opportunity, and those that do have generally done well in the first cycle. To improve on a good performance is never easy. On statistical grounds, there not many of them and it not easy to measure. The commitment we made for now is through the World Cup, so it not a seven year commitment. We look at that along the way. In the case of Europe, there are four and six year commitments quite often around a European Championship. The Gold Cup has become increasingly more important for us when it leads to the Confederations Cup and as a competition in itself, so we worrying about the next three years, and the next nine days with a game right off the bat. We see how it goes over that period of time. In the case of Germany, Jurgen was able to get comfortable relatively quickly not in seven days to get that team ready, and we look forward to that over the next three years. his meeting with Bob Bradley and the importance of Klinsmann World Cup experience:

the Gold Cup, we started to review the year and the five years. In the last 10 to fourteen days, we came to some conclusions, and that Dan Flynn, our CEO, and I for the most part. I don think I going to get into details on the meeting with Bob. These are always difficult situations. Soccer President, so those moments are difficult. With regards to Jurgen, it a great thing to have someone who been there, who been on the winner stand at the World Cup, and at the European Championship. That a unique situation. He had a bronze medal as a coach at the World Cup. For us, that a fantastic situation that he played at the very highest level, coached at the very highest level with Bayern and with Germany, but to have actually tasted the success of winning the World Cup we think is a plus for sure. Men National Team head coach JURGEN KLINSMANN

you for those kind words, and for having me here today. Soccer environment, having connected with this country in all sorts of environments the youth level, the college system, MLS. team. Obviously, as most of you know I took over Germany for two years, guiding them to the World Cup in 2006, then had a one year experience with Bayern Munich. team. Soccer. It going to be a challenge, absolutely. It going to be quite demanding the next couple of weeks to get my hands around this. There is a game coming up next week against Mexico already in Philadelphia, so it a lot to do. We be calling up the players now, getting the squad together and knowing that isn going to be too easy since a lot of players had their breaks and some haven even played a game yet in the new season in Europe. But that all just part of the job. I really excited about that opportunity on all levels. Soccer environment and it about the bigger picture. Obviously, the main responsibility is the men team and moving that program forward, but it about discussing with a lot of people involved in the game about what happens in the youth scene and in all the developmental areas. It is an exciting moment and I want to thank you for coming today and giving me such a wonderful reception. I look forward to answering all sorts of questions, and hopefully see you next week in Philadelphia for the first big one. how he intends to fix some of the issues of the team:

don think there is anything wrong with the team. They lost a Gold Cup final against a very, very good Mexico team that over the last couple of years became one of the top 10 teams in the world and have a lot of talent. When you come into a situation like this, you analyze every individual player, the team itself and the program, which I have the chance to do during the next couple of weeks, to see how I can develop them further. You build on what was built before, and if you look back on the past 20 years in this country, a lot has been built. has, since 1990, always qualified for the World Cup. has made a lot of noise with MLS being introduced. Now look where MLS is. I know in the beginning there were eight or 10 teams and half of those were supported by Phil Anschutz. Now, you have a league with 18 teams and growing next year again. There are development teams being introduced with the Academy program. It come a long way, soccer in the United States. I now getting this opportunity to move it further. We can build on what has been built by Bob Bradley in the last five years, and before that by Bruce Arena and Steve Sampson and so on. I proud to get that opportunity. Having played abroad in different countries, Italy, France and Germany, I have my own ideas for the program. And I will, step by step, introduce the ideas that I have, always double checking if it suits the American game. I not coming in here to be the European guy. I lived here for 13 years, so I think I know a lot about certain issues. But I think you can also be proud of what you achieved over the last few years where soccer is now. Look at this press conference. Look at three or four soccer television channels. Who would have thought that 15 years ago? It a lot of movement going on, and I want to be part of that movement and help out with it. There is a lot to do. whether he thinks there is an American approach to the game:

deeply believe that soccer in a certain way reflects the culture of a country. culture over the last 13 years, it quite a challenge. You have such a melting pot in this country with so many different opinions and ideas floating around there. Every coach obviously has his own ideas, and then you have the whole challenge of youth soccer in this country being based on a very different model than anywhere else in the world. Your educational system is completely different than the rest of the world. team should represent its country. What should be the style of play? Is it more proactive and aggressive, a forward thinking style of play? Or is it more reacting style of play? That comes with the players that you have at your disposal, but also the people that you are surrounded with, and the people that have an opinion in this country, like the media, like coaches. There such a wealth of knowledge in this country. In Europe or in South America, it unheard of. The college coaches have a four year education as well. Traditionally in Europe, you become a pro at the age of 18, so you never get to go to college. It is important over the next three years, especially in the beginning, that I have a lot of conversations with people engulfed in the game here to find a way to define that style. What suits us best? What would you like to see and identify with? I think a great example is the women team, and how they played their World Cup final. This is how America wanted to see their girls play that game, and they did an awesome job. It will be one of our main topics, always sitting down and discussing that. It should reflect your mentality and your culture. If you talk about Brazil, you know how Brazil plays. You know about Argentina, you know about Italy. They sit back and wait for one mistake, and if you do, they going to kill you. We defined that with Germany in 2004, which was a very difficult process, but we worked through that process and now it settled that style of play. Your opinion is important. College coaches opinions are important. Youth coaches opinions are important. Everyone is involved in that process, players as well. I looking forward to a lot of talks. whether he has spoken to any of the players or staff ahead of the Mexico game:

spoke to about five, six players over the weekend. We were extremely busy to get this whole thing organized and get officially ready to work and move forward towards the Mexico game. I spoke to five or six players, and I will call the rest tomorrow. I pretty much have a picture of where they are at right now with their club teams, especially if you look at the overseas players, their personal situations, some without a club right now. It not going to be easy to form a highly competitive team, but we will get it off the ground. That being said, about the staff, me, Sunil and Dan had a good talk about that as well. I would like to approach it in the way that I will work from game to game with different people. I won confirm a full time staff over the next couple of months, because I want to see what out there. that I might not know. I need to talk to people and understand what out there. We talk to a lot of MLS coaches and get their perspective and see who I can invite as guest coaches, guest assistant coaches. I won come in and say this is my staff. It was a different situation seven years ago with Germany, because of the media pressure and the speculations. You needed to calm that down right away. Here, because we not jumping into qualifying right away, we have that opportunity where we have exhibition games so I can try out different coaches on my side to see how they are doing. I had a great conversation with Claudio Reyna, and I want Claudio very close to me in terms of helping him in his new role as a Technical Director for Youth Development at the Federation. He will always be a part of the staff, and he will sit with us coaches at the table so I can tell him how I look at the game and how I can be of help to him. I spoke to Tab Ramos. I want his perspective, and I want his information about what coming through in the Under 20 and U 17 level even if I have seen some of those games already, and I kind of already know most of the players from watching them, but I will take my time. Hopefully by Wednesday, we can announce the roster for the Mexico game so we can give you a clear picture on who is on that roster of 20 players and also announce who will be my assistants on the training field and on the bench. It won be a coaching staff that will be confirmed for the next three years. We will take our time. I want to make sure that I get to know a lot of different people, a lot of different approaches, because covering this country here is a different challenge than a small country like Germany. team:

are pros and cons. I think foreign coaches can bring a lot to the table because of their experience in certain high intense environments. If you coach a national team in South America or Europe, or a club team, you are in the daily grind. This is really something you have to deal daily with this amount of journalists instead of once in a while. You have a different perspective on the game, and you are used to working in a different environment. Soccer. It is important to understand your culture and how you grow up and where your emotions and priorities are. It took me years to understand how important this whole educational path for people is in this country. I never got it the first couple of years, and I said, is the program really not that important to people, and why is it always about where you are going to college? What the high school? Where are your kids going to school? I always responded, kids are going to school at the next closest school. What the big deal? Over the years, I saw that those are the reasons why you think that way and it because it a completely different setup. It important that I know all those things, and it important when a foreign coach comes in, he gets the time to understand all those mechanisms. You always have to consider the different people in different roles. team and develop players in this country for their future, and the other thing is you may have to prepare them for a World Cup in Brazil or wherever in Europe. coach, in that moment, is very comfortable in whatever happens in this country, but suddenly he is out of his comfort zone when he is in Brazil and deals with different nations and different styles of play and different issues there. Soccer Federation and they live in Europe. soccer to move forward and quietly. It doesn need to be on the media surface. A good friend of mine is Berti Vogts in Germany, or Cesar Menotti of Argentina, or Carlos Alberto Parreira in Brazil. When I talk to these coaches, they admire what has happened here in the last 20 years. Carlos Alberto was here for a year and experienced MLS himself, which was a huge challenge for him because he didn know how things worked. Suddenly there was a draft and he said, a draft? We don have that in Europe and South America. Soccer. whether he would like to see a uniform style of play for the youth system in the United States, what changes he would like to see in the youth system and if that was a sticking point in the negotiations at any point:

was never a sticking point. It actually a fascinating point and I think, yes, the youth teams should reflect, again, the mixture of your cultures. It should reflect what going on in your country and there so much going on and that why I think Claudio Reyna roll is very, very important to find a path, with us together, how those teams should play and how they should be put together. There so much influence coming from the Latin environment over the last 15 20 years. National Team, and you have so many kids now with dual citizenship, Mexican or other Central American countries and American, so that will always be a topic to discuss. Obviously, you won have a copy in your Under 20 or Under 17 of the Men National Team because players are different. Players have all different characteristics, so every coach needs to find his own little path of how to put things together. But overall it should be a broader understanding of how also the youth teams should play, and this will be one of the main topics going forward. Soccer with the youth academies, it will expand and will get bigger and bigger. All these discussions are important and also important for you, media, to have your say in it. I talked to a lot of youth coaches, my boy is playing youth soccer, my girl as well, and they all wait for information. They are very knowledgeable on the youth level in this country but they also ask those same questions. I think there a huge opportunity to discuss things and bring different people in and hopefully define more and more how the style should look like. I think this is maybe a starting point. I think America never really waits and sees and leaves it up to other people to decide what is next. I think America always likes to decide on its own what is next. This guides maybe towards a more proactive style of play where you would like to impose a little bit the game on your opponent instead of sitting back and waiting for what your opponent is doing and react to it. It always depends, also, on your opponent. If you play Brazil or Argentina, you might play differently than maybe a country in CONCACAF, but it is a starting point if you say we want to start to keep possession, we want to start to dictate the pace of the game, we want to challenge our players to improve technically in order to keep the ball. All those components you have to build into your training sessions and have to build it into the curriculum for the youngsters because the earlier they start with that type of work, the better it is. Barcelona was not born in the last couple of years. It was born, the style of play now, in the early 90 through Johan Cruyff. It took 20 years for that moment today that we see and all admire, just to take an example. So I really curious to hear all the different opinions out there. Men National Team over the course of the next three years:

are always based on what was built over the last 10 15 years. When you coach Germany the expectations are to be in the final. Other than the final, the country is not happy. I think expectations here certainly are different because of how the game grew in the last 10 20 years. I think a quarterfinal is already huge. I think going through the group stage is really, really important and then going to the knockout stage where anything is possible. But obviously you want to improve, you want to get better, you want to be better than the last World Cup and the World Cup before, but you can promise anything because once you in the knockout stage, anything can happen. the challenges he faces:

think there are a lot of different challenges ahea

Friday, July 4, 2014

How to Make a Jewelry Bezel for Resin Without Soldering

ï»¿How to Make a Jewelry Bezel for Resin Without Soldering How to Make a Bezel without SolderingBezels are fun and creatively liberating because they are blank slates for your designs. You can fill an empty bezel with virtually anything photos, scrapbook pieces, printouts, charms, beads, shells, buttons, pressed flowers, coins, stamps, you name it! The problem is, it seems like commercially available bezels are either the wrong dimensions too shallow, or cost way too much. Luckily, it is fairly easy to make your own bezel. You can add a bail to turn it into a pendant or adhere it to a different setting. You can even use it to make your own resin pendant! Vintaj altered metal canvasses and K metal sheets are the highest quality, readily available metal sheets youll find at craft and hobby stores. In my experience, other, cheaper metal blanks are usually impure, which tends to make them overly soft and more difficult to work with. Materials Needed for a DIY BezelMetal. A small sheet of 22 gauge brass or copper works well. Metal shears. Make sure they are metal shears, not metal snips. Tin snips, also known as aviation snips, cut at an angle and leave a jagged edge. Pliers. Flat jaw, nylon pliers are helpful because they do not mar the metals surface, but any pliers will do. Metal file, sanding block, or sandpaper. A metal sanding block/buffer works best. Optional small metal anvil or draping block, jewelry/ball pein hammer, tape. Making the BezelThe instructions below make a 1 x 1 square bezel that is approximately 1/4 deep, but you can easily modify the dimensions to suit your own needs! 1. Mark off a 1.5 square on your metal sheet. If it is new and has straight edges, you can use the precut sides to form half the outer squares edges, saving yourself a lot of work! Permanent marker ink is easily removed from metal with rubbing alcohol, so do not worry about the lines detracting from the finished bezel.

Sunday, June 29, 2014

How to Easily Clean Silver Jewelry

ï»¿How to Easily Clean Silver Jewelry Silver jewelry is beautiful and shiny when you first buy it, its durable and looks great with everything. It will however tarnish easily if left exposed to air and water. The silver rings I wear everyday will become tarnished but there are easy ways to keep them clean. There are several methods to clean tarnished silver jewelry, these are just a few. Have a jeweler clean them. Its easy enough to drop off your jewelry at a jewelry store and have them cleaned for you. I have seen through trial and error that any toothpaste that has baking soda in it, works best. I have used the gel toothpastes as well and they dont work as well. The Tin Foil and Salt Method I recently saw a website called How To Clean Stuff that had this great recipe, Fill the jar or bowl about half full with hot water. 1. Add 1 tablespoon of salt to the jar or a couple of tablespoons of salt to the bowl and mix to dissolve. 2. Add a few strips of aluminum foil to the jar or cover the bottom of the bowl with a sheet of aluminum foil. 3. Now simply drop your silver jewelry in the water. 4. You can shake it around in the jar or swish it around in the bowl. The aluminum with the salt acts as a magnet, pulling the tarnish off of the silver. 5. Allow the jewelry to set in the saltwater/aluminum foil mixture for a few minutes. 6. Remove and rinse under running water. 7. Repeat as needed until the tarnish is removed. 8. Dry with a soft towel. I tried this method for a few pieces of my silver jewelry that was extremely tarnished and it worked within seconds for my sterling silver bracelet 2 pairs of sterling silver earrings. You have to be very careful about how you use the liquid Tarn x because if you dont follow the directions exactly, your silver might turn yellow and while its hard to polish it back to its original silver color it can be done. You are only supposed to let the Tarn x liquid sit on the silver for 3 seconds and then wash it off immediately under cold running water. If you dont wash the tarn x off immediately after you apply it, your silver could turn yellow. To get the yellow off you have to mix in a small bowl, half Tarn x and half warm water with 2 drops of dish washing liquid. Wash the jewelry with this mixture and rinse immediately in cold water. This should get rid of the ugly yellow color that the Tarn x caused. Milk Based Method Published by Mary Kirkland Mary is originally from Redondo Beach, California and now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with her husband and daughter. Mary has had extensive experience with small animal care as well as rescuing and re homing. View profile

How to Easily Clean Silver Jewelry

Saturday, June 28, 2014

How to Choose Aquamarine

ï»¿How to Choose Aquamarine The beautiful and prized aquamarine gemstone takes its name from the Latin term meaning water of the sea. Characterized by a pale blue or turquoise color that resembles ocean waters on a sunny day, aquamarine is mined in Russia, Sri Lanka and Brazil and has even been discovered in the United States in Colorado and Wyoming. In addition to symbolizing the best gift a couple can receive on their 19th wedding anniversary, the aquamarine is also sought after as the birthstone for those born during the month of March. There is superstition and lore associated with aquamarine, which is honored as the favorite of the sea god Neptune. Sailors often wore this gem when on the high seas, as a protection against storms and other nautical dangers. A member of the beryl family of minerals, aquamarine has an extremely hard surface which makes it a great gem to use in jewelry ranging from rings and pendants to bracelets. Many favor giving a gift of aquamarine to a loved one, particularly a spouse or romantic partner, because of its association with safety and security. When shopping for an aquamarine, ask your jeweler if the stone has been chemically treated or altered in some way using irradiation, heat or dyes; these procedures may dramatically alter the value of the stone. Although dark blue aquamarine stones are the most sought after and expensive, many buyers prefer to select their aquamarine based on personal color preferences, as these gems can range in color from light turquoise blue to blue green. Stones which exhibit a green tint are the least desirable and the least expensive. Check the stone under consideration for any flaws or inclusions, which may not be visible to the naked eye due to the fact that most aquamarine gems exhibit a pale color which can mask imperfections. The cut of an aquamarine is certainly a factor in determining its value. A perfectly cut stone features facets that are even and symmetrical, allowing the brilliance of the stones color to really shine through. No matter in which direction you turn a perfectly cut aquamarine or from what angle it is viewed, there should be a colorful sparkle evident, the mark of a valuable stone. Color and clarity are the most important characteristics by which to judge an aquamarine, followed by size. If you discover a very large aquamarine of more than 10 carats with intense blue color, you have discovered a very rare find, as larger stones are not as available and the color of larger stones tend to be pale rather than intense.

How to Choose Aquamarine

Friday, June 27, 2014

How To Buy Costume Jewelry in Bulk

ï»¿How To Buy Costume Jewelry in Bulk Costume jewelry became a popular alternative to jewelry made of precious metals and stones in the 1930s, shortly before the onset of the Great Depression. It came to being at a time when a lot of people cant afford to eat three square meals a day, much less buy jewelry made of gold, silver, diamond and other expensive materials. Now, costume jewelry has become an essential part of any girls wardrobe and its never been as easy to buy them in bulk. Heres how you can buy costume jewelry in volume. Look out for sales. Costume jewelry can be bought in fashion boutiques, superstores, and chain stores like Forever 21, H Checkout and Target. These shops hold several sales during the year and you can bet that you can buy fashion jewelry at very, very low prices during these times. The best thing about buying fashion jewelry during a sale is that you can also buy matching outfits at the same time. Visit local thrift stores. Also called charity stores or second hand shops, thrift stores sell items that are donated by the members of the public or that come from an estate. This is the reason why they sell items at very nominal places. With such low prices, there is no reason why you should not buy costume jewelry in bulk at thrift stores. Go to flea markets and bazaars. Aside from fresh produce, flea markets and bazaars are great places for finding inexpensive items such as fashion jewelry. You might even be surprised to find that one of the ladies in your neighborhood makes fashion jewelry as a hobby. This is a good way for you to buy unique, artistic pieces of costume jewelry in bulk and support your local community vendors at the same time. Look for wholesale distributors online. If you are having some event like Mardi Gras themed party, the best place for you to buy costume jewelry in a large volume is online. This will get you in touch with a lot of companies that manufacture and sell costume jewelry for really cheap prices. A quick look at Google shows that there are distributors for all kinds of costume jewelry such as vintage costume jewelry, collectible costume jewelry, and designer costume jewelry. Participate in online auctions. If you are not comfortable dealing with costume jewelry distributors directly, you can visit Amazon and eBay for sellers of costume jewelry. Check out the rating of the seller to make you feel secure in making a transaction online. To become fashionable, one need not spend hundreds or thousands of dollars buying high end clothing, jewelry, or accessories. Costume jewelry can make you as fashionable as the Joneses of this world without emptying your bank account. Buy them in bulk and you can be sure that there never will be a day when you have to go without an eye catching necklace, earring or bracelet.

How To Buy Costume Jewelry in Bulk

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Hollywood Helping Haiti Gift Basket Sweepstakes

ï»¿Hollywood Helping Haiti Gift Basket Sweepstakes Description:At the Oscars, celebrities who signed t shirts to be auctioned off to aid Haiti received a $4,000 gift basked as thanks. Now, you could win one of those gift baskets for yourself in Radar Onlines Hollywood Helping Haiti Gift Basket Sweepstakes. Sweepstakes Prizes:Grand Prize: A Hollywood Helping Haiti gift basket, including Calinana Jewelry, a Becca bikini, Silver Wrinkle Serum and Cor, The Silver Eye Cream, a New Tivo Premiere, a Croton Watch, a gift certificate to Lucky Jets, a Biatta lingerie set, a Money Laundry shirt, a copy of the Final Fantasy XIII game for PS3 and for Xbox, Final Fantasy XIII silver pendant jewelry, Final Fantasy XIII faceplate, a Deuce Brand Watch, a one year membership to House of Blues, Nature Made Sleep, Fashion Forms, Baskin Robbins, Plastic Surgeon, and Elizabeth Grant Gift Certificates. ARV: $4,000 More Contests and Sweepstakes to Enter10 Dream Sweepstakes to EnterTop Car SweepstakesComplete Sweepstakes List Win More PrizesImprove Your Chances of WinningEnter More Sweepstakes with RoboformCreate an Effective Sweepstakes Strategy Entering ContestsCreative Contests to Enter TodayHow to Find Answers to Trivia ContestsHow to Take Prize Winning PhotographsFinal Fantasy XIII Review PS3Final Fantasy XIII Review X360Final Fantasy XIII Hints, Tips, and Tricks Xbox 360Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Review X360Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII PS3 Review

Hollywood Helping Haiti Gift Basket Sweepstakes

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Growing strawberries in containers

ï»¿Growing strawberries in containers Growing strawberries in containers or pots is easy to do, even if you dont have much outdoor space. But you say I dont have room for a garden! Not to worry, this article will show you how to grow strawberries in containers on your deck or any sunny outdoor area. In fact, pots, cans and, other containers are a great way to grow strawberries. Just feed and water your container growing strawberry plants regularly and enjoy strawberries throughout the summer. Clay pots designed for growing strawberries work best with special pockets on the sides for multiple strawberry plants. What youll need to grow strawberries in containers or pots. Strawberry crowns preferably plants certified as disease free. Choosing containers: proper drainage is very important for strawberry plants to grow and produce plenty of fruit. You can either plant them in hanging containers or raise the containers to allow drainage. Any type of clay planter pots that have drainage holes in the bottom and saucers to keep the soil from washing away, will work just fine pick a size that fits the area you intend to grow your strawberries and how many containers you have. Most nurseries and garden centers also sell special strawberry pots which have pockets up and down both sides. If you use the strawberry pots, be sure to fill each one to the lowest pocket with soil. If you use cans, fill them so you have about one and a half inches of the rim still showing. Selecting Strawberry Plants The two main types of strawberry plants are ever bearing and seasonal. Either type will work fine for container growing, but if you live in a colder climate then the ever bearing type may not survive the winter months, so seasonal producing strawberry plants may be your best bet. Preparing soil for strawberry plants: Strawberries like soil that is loamy, with lots organic material they can consume. Planting your strawberries after filling each container with the amended soil, also plant your strawberry plants so the roots are covered. Unless you have very large containers, place only one plant in each container. Strawberry plants should be about two feet apart from each other so that they get plenty of sunlight. Watering container grown strawberries, dont over water your container strawberries they should be watered enough to keep the soil damp but not so much that you have any standing water. Again its important to be sure your containers are able to drain adequately without the soil being washed away. Fertilizing container grown strawberries throughout the summer months. Fertilize your plants every other week with a high phosphorus liquid fertilizer to encourage them to flower. Strawberries are one of summers special pleasures, and making your own strawberry patch is easy and fun to do Strawberries are a summer favorite, and growing them is easier than you think. Selecting the right strawberry variety will save you from having either too many or too few strawberries when you need them most. Even novice gardeners can expect great triumph in the container growing of strawberries. Container strawberries can be grown anywhere in a container, even inside an apartment with no balcony, patio, or yard. Choosing the best variety of strawberry plants is vital to accomplishment in container growing strawberries. Aromas Ever bearer; fast fruiting strawberries, resistant to powdery mildew and spider mites, large strawberry fruit, has some pollination issues. Since you are container growing the strawberries, follow one simple rule only plant one strawberry plant per container. And remember strawberries can be grown in nearly any type of container hanging baskets, pots, tin cans, pocketed strawberry pots, and in tiers, to name a few. I hope these tips help you grow sweet and tasty container strawberries.

Growing strawberries in containers

Monday, June 23, 2014

Gemstone Jewelry Collectibles

ï»¿Gemstone Jewelry Collectibles If you love jewelry then you might want to start collecting your gemstone jewelry as soon as possible. Gemstones are precious stones that are put into jewelry pieces. These can be very valuable pieces so you will want to collect them as soon as possible. You can start collecting diamonds, rubies, amethyst or any other type of gemstone you like. There are so many gorgeous gemstones to pick from when you are making your collection. If you like onyx or other stones you will be able to collect pieces within a certain gemstone. It is all up to you so begin collecting gemstone jewelry today and soon you will have plenty of pieces that you can admire. When you are looking for some really great gemstone jewelry to add to your collection you can check out your nearest jewelry stores as they have really good selections. You can also do a lot of shopping over the internet. This is a convenient way for you to shop. You will be able to browse many different stores jewelry selection and take your time while you are doing it. There is no rush and you can find the pieces that you really want. Best of all you can shop whenever you want to, even if it is in the middle of the night. This is a really great way to shop for your gemstone jewelry collectibles. You will find many wonderful pieces and you will also find some great prices. When you start collecting gemstone pieces it is a good idea to learn about the gemstones. You can do this by searching online and studying the different aspects of each of the gemstones. Each gemstone has unique characteristics. You will also want to know more about how to tell a good piece of gemstone jewelry from another one. This will help you because before you go looking for the stones you will have knowledge of what you should be looking for. Make sure that you know how to care for your gemstone jewelry collectibles. It is always recommended that cleaning be done by a professional at least four times a year. So be sure that you do that. Always store you gemstone jewelry collectibles in a safe and dry area. You dont want them to get scratched or damaged. Your gemstone jewelry collectibles will stay nice for you for a long time. When you start collecting the gemstone jewelry collectibles you can add to it as often as you can. Tell others that you are collecting them so you can receive them for gifts on holidays and birthdays. You never know when they might give you some to add to your collection. Make sure you also go to different auctions and yard sales, because you never know when you might come upon a really nice piece that you can get for a fraction of its cost. Soon you will have plenty of pieces in your collection and it will become very valuable for you. Published by Teresa Tracey StanishaWaterford Crystal Collectibles: Fine Irish CrystalThere is no finer crystal in the world than Waterford.

Gemstone Jewelry Collectibles

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Five Great Tips for Buying Hand

ï»¿Five Great Tips for Buying Hand Whether you are buying hand made jewelry for yourself, another person, or as a gift, you need to know a few things about hand made jewelry and what you should look for. Take these five tips into consideration when purchasing hand made jewelry for the first time. If you have purchased hand made jewelry before and you dont feel you received good crafted jewelry, take a look at these tips as well. Tip 1 Find a Reliable Source The first tip is to find a reliable source. This might go without saying, but do not confuse commercially fabricated jewelry with hand made jewelry. The latter is created by crafters that simply take great satisfaction in their own work, the former is mass produced, typically abroad. There are quite a few places you can buy hand made jewelry; just do your research before purchasing. Tip 2 Know Your Options The second tip is to know your options when it comes to buying hand made jewelry. Take complete benefits of customization. The jewelry can typically be customized in a variety of methods, in the spans of bracelets and necklaces to the varieties of stones used in rings and pendants, when jewelry is handmade. Tip 3 Make Sure You Have the Right Measurements and Styles Measure attentively. It is important you ensure the handcrafted jewelry you buy matches, as customized items of jewelry typically arent returnable. It just takes a short while to get an excellent measurement, and doing so will ensure the piece of jewelry you buy will be precisely what you need and want. To discover the dimensions, place the cord against a tape measure. You should also know the styles of jewelry you are looking to purchase. Tip 4 If Buying for a Friend, Know Their Style If you are buying the handcrafted jewelry for a friend as a surprise, you will need to know their style and measurements as well. You may have to be a bit sneaky when retrieving their measurements, but you need as much information as possible to provide the designer. You should also know the style the person likes when it comes to buying handcrafted jewelry for someone else. Tip 5 Educate Yourself on the Jewelry Ensure that you understand what youre purchasing, simply because something is called silver does not mean it is actually silver, it could simply mean silver colored! Reputable vendors will be really clear in what youre purchasing. You are not only purchasing a piece youll value, when you purchase hand designed jewelry, but jewelry that will become an heirloom for future generations. As this can cause allergies in many individuals dont purchase jewelry that you imagine may include nickel. Have fun with your hand made jewelry shopping! Published by Jasmine Starr One breath at a time. Like so many others, I struggle to make it day to day. I live with a severe case of Scoliosis and two messed up sciatic nerves. Life is very difficult!! View profile Tips for Buying and Selling Handmade Jewelry on EtsyEtsy is an enormous global marketplace, where jewelry is its biggest category. Without the proper preparation, people tend to go astray.

Five Great Tips for Buying Hand

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Facebook Jewelry and Accessories

ï»¿Facebook Jewelry and Accessories Just about everyone knows that Scrabble tiles can be turned into things that a person might like, such as earrings, key rings, and more. Its true, especially if you have a game thats already missing some of its parts. But even if you dont have a Scrabble game, you can order tiles online; you wont have to buy the entire game. If youre a big Facebook fan who isnt youll love turning Scrabble tiles into Facebook jewelry and personal accessories. Facebook, an online, social media site, is a favorite destination for millions of people. There, others can find friends, play games, post announcements, put up photos, and so much more. If Facebook is a place that you love why not make some jewelry and personal accessories? You can craft anything from a key ring, to a desk plaque, when you use Scrabble tiles. Make a desk plaque by simply gluing letters to one of the game trays. Spell out Facebook across the tray. Although the rules of the game allow a player only 7 letters on a tray, it will actually hold 9. Set the plaque on your desk and, and if you get too busy, it will remind you to check in with friends and family. Make Facebook earrings by using the F and the B tiles. Drill a tiny hole at the top of each letter right in the middle and slide in a jump ring. Before closing the ring, slide it through a wire earring hardware piece, and clamp it shut. Make sure to wear the F in the right ear, and the B in the left ear, or it will read backwards to others who see the earrings. A key ring that spells out Facebook will be way too long but one that just says FB is perfect. Slide a piece of twine through a key ring, and bring the ends together. Glue the twine to the back of the F and the B. Glue a blank tile on the back of each of those tiles, to trap the twine between the letters and the blanks, and the key ring is finished. Glue letters to spell Facebook across a scrapbook and use it to hold pictures that youve printed out from the site. Or, glue the letters to a small box or can, and you can make a pencil holder. Other Facebook things that you can make with the tiles include a personalized drink cozy, a necklace, or even a desk coaster. You find a large selection of clothing, accessories, and gift items from designers you can depend.5 Perfect Mothers Day Gadgets and AccessoriesWith the technological revolution in full swing, its only natural to want to get Mom some of the greatest gadgets. But they can be hard to find.

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Endlessly Knotted No Clasp Crystal Necklace Tutorial

ï»¿Endlessly Knotted No Clasp Crystal Necklace Tutorial Knotting between beads is a method that creates a more professional finish to strung jewelry designs. While it can tax your patience, especially if you dont knot very often, it is well worth the effort because of the wonderful drape and flow your beads will have when you are finished. In this project, I take it a step further and use knots to also create an endless beaded design with no clasp. You just simply pull the finished crystal necklace over your head, and you are out the door, ready to sparkle and shine. The finished necklace measures 26 inches, and you can adjust the length by adding or removing beads. Just remember that if you want it shorter, youll need to make sure if fits over your head before finishing the final knotting process. At 26 inches, I find that it easily fits over my head and falls to about the middle of my chest, so the length works well for my frame and for a few articles of clothing I plan to wear with it. Consider this when you are determining the length youd like your finished necklace to be.

Endlessly Knotted No Clasp Crystal Necklace Tutorial

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Different Ways to Fire Metal Clay

ï»¿Different Ways to Fire Metal Clay When purchasing metal clay of either brand, youll find it comes with temperature and firing instructions. Depending on the type of metal clay you have, from original silver metal clay to copper metal clay, there are a number of options for firing it. This may include anything from a kiln to a simple hand held torch. Here are some general guidelines for some of the types of firing equipment you can use for firing metal clay. Kiln: All types of metal clay can be fired in a kiln. As long as the kiln can ramp up to the required temperature as high as 1650 degrees F 900 degrees C and can hold that temperature for anywhere from 10 minutes to 4 hours, it can be used for firing metal clay. Check the clay manufacturers time/temperature requirements to determine how high and how long it must be fired. The main issue with using a kiln, however, is that you want to make sure the temperature gauge is accurate and the length of time the temperature is held is also accurate. If metal clay pieces are under fired for example fired at lower temperatures than necessary or for a shorter period of time than required, then the piece will not be fully fired and will be subject to breakage because the organic material will not be full burnt out of the clay. Programmable kilns, such as model 703 117 and 118 from Rio Grande allow you to set the time and temperature for firing, and this means removing any guess work. Cone System: This system is made up of a fiber cone, mesh grid, and pyrometer connected to a butane fuel tank. One model manufactured by Metal Clay Supply is called the SpeedFire Cone System. Because butane burns well above the 1650 degrees F 900 degrees C mark you need for metal clay, it gets hot enough for firing. It is also less expensive than a kiln and a little more portable. However, there is no way to program this unit, and it is important to keep an eye on it during the process since the firing area of the grid is not enclosed inside anything. Butane Torch: You can pick up a hand held butane torch at just about any hardware store or jewelry supply company. A torch is about the least expensive piece of equipment youll find that will fire metal clay; however, you are limited to the low fire varieties of clay and the size of the pieces you plan to fire also have a limit of no more than 25 grams of clay. While the firing only takes about 5 or so minutes depending on the size of the piece, obviously since you have to hold the torch as you fire, it will require your complete attention. Hot Pot: Similar to the torch, you are limited to small amounts of low fire metal clay when using a hot pot, but you have the added advantage of not having to watch it for the entire firing process. I love my little hot pot and have used it for firing all types of small charms and pendants. It is a good way for beginners who may not be comfortable using a torch to get started with metal clay without having to spend that much money. Gas Stove: A regular gas burner can also be used for low fire varieties of metal clay that are 25 grams or less in size. Its best to cover the burner with a metal mesh to make sure your piece doesnt fall into it, and of course, for safety reasons you cant just stick something on your fired up burner and walk away. As with all types of firing equipment, proper ventilation is essential when firing.

Different Ways to Fire Metal Clay

Friday, June 13, 2014

Cupid is an Economic Stimulus

ï»¿Cupid is an Economic Stimulus Gone are the days that Valentines Day is labeled as a Hallmark Holiday. Valentines can be considered an economic stimulus that helps to boost sales in between Christmas and Easter. According to Reuters News Agency, for Valentines Day 2011, the average American couple will spend $189, which is three times more than what singles generally spend on an average date $67. Cupid has consumerism working for the economy, but not everyone buys into spending to show their love. Valentines Day SpendingAccording to estimates from the National Retail Foundation, the average person will spend $116.21 on Valentines Day merchandise this year, this figure is up almost 13% percent over last years $103.00. Overall, this will bring total Valentines Day spending to about $15.7 billion. Greeting cards will be the most popular gift option at over 50 percent, and jewelry is expected to be a popular gift to give with almost 20 percent of Valentines shoppers. The survey also found that overall spending is expected to be up this year. Consumers will fork over $3.5 billion on jewelry this Valentines Day, up from 2010s estimated $3 billion. Clothing $1.6 billion vs. $1.5 billion in 2010 and dining out $3.4 billion vs. $3.3 billion in 2010 are anticipated to be popular choices. No changes are expected on who will spend more; men will spend the most on Valentines Day gifts. The average man is anticipated to spend $158.71, more than double what the average woman will spend. According to Reuters, young professionals plan to spend $255 for Valentines with their significant other. Reuters quoted Mona Hamouly, public affairs manager with American Express, In January we asked the entire population if they felt optimistic or frugal or frightened as they were going into this new year, and what weve seen is young professionals definitely feel a bit more optimistic about the economy. Perhaps thats what drives them to be willing to spend a little bit more. Valentines Day Around the WorldProfits will soar in many economies worldwide. According to results at 6:30 pm on February 13, 2011, 49% of those who voted said that they have no special plans as it is just another day. Twenty six percent said they will have a quiet night at home with their special someone, 14% will dine out and take in a movie and only 11% who responded said they are exchanging Valentines Day gifts.

Columbia Diamond Ring Company Acquired by Aurafin and Kurgan Cheviot

ï»¿Columbia Diamond Ring Company Acquired by Aurafin and Kurgan Cheviot wholesaler, and Kurgan Kurgan krg city 1989 pop. 356,000, capital of Kurgan region, W Siberian Russia, on the Tobol River. Cheviot, a major diamond and color jewelry manufacturer. A Letter of Intent has been signed on this pendingThe Columbia Diamond Ring acquisition comes shortly after theintention of consolidating the strengths of each of these bridal jewelry leaders forming a single bridal jewelry company best positioned to service the retail jewelry trade. The Columbia Diamond Ring acquisition brings together the two oldest bridal jewelry companies in America, who were rivals for over oneMr. Donald H. Fiddelman, President and CEO 1 Chief Executive Officer The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Columbia indicated, by the Fiddelman family, will prosper under the young, dynamicand financial resources will greatly benefit the company and itscomplements Aurafins branding strategy and diversifies our product.

Columbia Diamond Ring Company Acquired by Aurafin and Kurgan Cheviot

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Charles Colvards CEO Discusses QResults

ï»¿Charles Colvards CEO Discusses Q1 2014 Results Good afternoon, and welcome to the Charles Colvards First Quarter 2014 Earnings Conference Call. All participants will be in listen only mode. Operator Instructions Please note this event is being recorded. This webcast may contain forward looking statements as defined in Section 27A 1 1 of the Securities Act of 1933 as amended, including statements regarding among other things, the companys business strategy and growth strategy. Expressions which identify forward looking statements speak only as of the date the statement is made. These forward looking statements are based largely on our companys expectations, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified and are beyond our control. Future developments and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in contemplated by or underlined in the forward looking statements. In light of these risks and uncertainties there can be no assurance that the forward looking information will prove to be accurate. Id now like to turn the conference over to Randy McCullough, President and Chief Executive Officer. Please go ahead. Thanks, operator. Thank you for joining us everybody. We do not believe the financial results for the first quarter represent our future growth opportunity. We continue to believe there is a large market for our gem. We are a growing company. That means investment, time, energy, systems integrations, marketing, operations are all necessities to drive the business. As such, we are continuously taking necessary steps to increase our wholesale, retail and online footprint in order to be well positioned over the long term to surpass any previous sales records. Let me give you some color for this quarter. has seen in a long time. This created bit of temporary wholesale sluggishness for us. To help our current work through this, we collaborated closely to assist them with selling through their on hand inventories. This required our sales teams to spend more time with our existing customers, which stretched our bandwidth a bit. This triggered a temporary consequence and that we were unable to spend as much as wed have liked reaching our new customers thus adversely affecting growth of new accounts. Going forward, however, as we focus on our long term growth, we are very excited to say that we have taken several very important steps to position us to capture greater sales opportunities, reduce inventory levels and increase our cash position. Our objectives remain focused on steady building a solid foundation. Now, as always for the long term health of our business to win with consumers by providing a superior gem packed with world class service and to deliver shareholder value that we believe will bring Charles Colvard among the best performing companies in our industry. We remain confident that were doing what is right and necessary to achieve these objectives. We have continued to hire and integrate experienced industry connected sales professionals. These new sales hires have been solely charged with opening new business accounts. Some of these hires took a bit longer to make that would have been ideal. But we chose to be very selective in order to maintain our corporate culture as we grow. As such, we are willing to wait for the right people; those that we feel represented the best talent, had the most established potential client relationships, and shared the personality aspects that would align most closely with our plans for Charles Colvards growth. Already we are seeing the proofs of our investments in these new hires. These folks are hitting the ground running. As they continue to get more comfortable in their new roles and with our merchandize offerings we expect this to impact us positively in the future quarters and throughout the year. And interestingly it also delivered a valuable learning experience and compatible software systems. Many of our retailers have unique tracking, stocking and sales technology requirements. As such, we have upgraded a variety of capabilities of our technology backbone to help you make this technology aspect of our relationships with our clients more fluid in the future. Although these technological investments require time, energy and expense, we do believe this expenditure was a very worthwhile investment in our future, because it will service well with existing and new customers. We can proudly say that our integration has been very good having received an A rating every month thus far from Kohls since the start up in November. And this experience has and will benefit us with every other relationship going forward. We concentrated on capitalizing on our enhance ability now to provide state of the art fulfillment as a result of our Kohls start up by hiring a sales person that is exclusively focused on growing major e commerce opportunities. It took some time to complete this strategic hire that we brought in specifically to manage the growth of our online sales. But he has hit the ground running, and the wait was well worth it. We are very excited about the work ethic we are seeing and new doors opening, resulting in potential new relationships that were almost non existent before. Additionally, to better position us for greater market share growth he hired Sarah Williams as our VP of Marketing. Sarah is a forward thinking strategist with lots of experience in developing and nurturing global brands, including over the past couple of decades, for example, the Body Shop, LOral, Chanel and Calvin Klein. She intimately understands what appeals to women, who continue to be our target consumers. Already she is working to help us establish consistent messaging and branding while aligning our business objectives and identifying strength to optimize productivity, creativity and top performance. All of these changes and sales initiatives that Ive discussed are pushing forward with positive results. In addition, we will be participating next month in the JCK jewelry show in Las Vegas, the biggest jewelry show in the country. It is a wholesaler to retailer format. And we have more employments pre scheduled major retailers this year than ever before. This is very exciting. Well be introducing our new team and products to many key buyers and we are better positioned to sell and deliver. We are focusing on increasing market share by expanding our portfolio of exciting branded products with existing and new customers. On the bottom line, our productivity opportunity should help finance future top line growth and ensure our consumer value positions, our superior sustainable and ultimately deliver better earnings growth. Id now like to turn the call over to Kyle Macemore, our Chief Financial Officer to go through the numbers for the quarter. Kyle? Thank you, Randy. Good afternoon everyone, and thank you for joining us today. As announced in todays press release, net sales from the first quarter of 2014 decreased 7% to $6.1 million compared with 6.5 million in net sales during the same period of 2013. net sales for the first quarter were $5.7 million, an increase of 12% over the same period in 2013. International net sales for the first quarter 2014 were $359,000, a decrease of 74% compared to the first quarter of 2013. The decrease was primarily due to one distributor that placed a large order during the first quarter of 2013, but did not place any orders during the first quarter of 2014. We do expect future orders from this distributor throughout 2014. Also, our net sales declined 14% this quarter compared to the first quarter of 2013 to $5.2 million and comprised 85% of net sales. The decrease in the first quarter of 2014 was primarily due to the decline in the international sales. The companys direct to consumer businesses increased 89% in the first quarter to $914,000 or 15% of our net sales. Net sales of loose jewels decreased approximately 15% to $3.7 million in the first quarter and comprised 61% of sales this quarter compared with $4.3 million or 67% of sales in last years first quarter. Net sales of Forever Brilliant loose jewels in the first quarter of 2014 were approximately $2.9 million or 79% of our loose jewel sales compared with approximately $1.3 million or 30% of our loose jewel sales in last years first quarter. Finished jewelry net sales during the first quarter of 2014 were $2.4 million, an increase of 11% as compared to the same quarter in 2013. Operating expenses totaled $3.6 million in the first quarter of 2014 compared with $3.1 million for the same period of 2013. Operating expenses were down sequentially from the fourth quarter of 2013. The company recorded a net loss of $1.1 million or loss of $0.05 per share during the first quarter of 2014 relative to net income of $306,000 or $0.02 per diluted share during the first quarter of 2013. The company ended the quarter with $2.5 million of cash and cash equivalents from the balance sheet compared to $2.6 million of cash and cash equivalents at the end of the fourth quarter of 2013. Company ended the first quarter of 2014 with $43.7 million of inventory. Loose jewel inventory was $34 million, and finished jewelry inventory was $9.6 million. Inventory increase from the fourth quarter of 2013 due primarily to an increase in the raw materials of loose jewel inventory. As we discussed last quarter we expect inventory decrease throughout 2014 and be a positive source of cash flow.