Metal art bathroom decor bathroom accessories for all themes in western, rustic, cabin, cottage, or lodge. Choose from bear, deer, moose, elk, cowboys, horses, maple leaves, trees and many more metal art designs for any decorations.

Metal art bath sets make the perfect decor decorations for all themes in the log home, cabin or ski lodge. Smoky Mountain Metal Arts designs and make custom bathroom accessories for customers.

Educational information provided for the notice and the professional metal crafter. Visit more links on articles to learn more about working with metals. From traditional blacksmithing to contemporary art forms. The arts and trades of our members include, but are not limited to, general blacksmithing, sculpture, tinsmithing, coppersmithing, furniture making and architectural wrought iron; as well as bronze casting, knife making, jewelry, gold and silver smithing.

Making Your First Custom Knife Your first attempt at custom knife making should reflect a knife built to fill a specific need or function. A knife in simplest terms is a tool designed to accomplish a certain end result.

For example, to cut a steak into smaller edible pieces, to skin a trophy deer or cut up a carcass into pieces to put in a freezer. Each of these knife designs would look and function differently.

So, the first thing you need to do is decide what the end function of the custom knife you are building will be. For a steak knife it will be relatively slim and light and made from steel that will tend not to rust. The handle material would be capable of withstanding a lot of cycles in a dish washer.

Therefore, it would best be made of stainless steel and have a handle of a material like micarta or a stabilized wood that is impregnated with plastic resin.

A skinning knife would be shorter and have a more rounded blade design possibly with a gut hook cut into the top of the blade. The steel would be one that would hold a keen edge and not require frequent sharpening. The handle material should be one that is comfortable to hold and not be bulky or to large in relation to the blade.

You might find that a design that lets you hold your index finger on the back of the blade and grip the handle with three fingers easiest to use while skinning.

A knife used to cut up a carcass for freezing would be designed for slicing and chopping actions. The kitchen butcher knife fits this form very well.

So, the main thing to keep in mind when designing your custom knife is that, form always follows function. It would be difficult to skin a deer with a steak knife. It would be easier with a butcher knife but so much easier with a skinner designed for the purpose.

Here are a few things to consider when designing your own custom knife.

Design steps: 1. What is the main purpose of the knife?

2. What is the environment where the knife is used?

3. Will it be an abrasive use?

4. Will the knife be likely to hit something harder than itself?

5. Is the design for one purpose or multi-functional?

6. Do I have the tools to make this knife?

7. Are the parts required on hand or do I have to buy them somewhere?

8. Is this design available in a quality kit form?

9. Is it cheaper to buy a kit or purchase parts separately?

10. Make your design choice after considering all the above.

There are several places you can find materials to build a custom knife to your design specifications. One of the most reliable is Texas Knife Supply Company. They have anything and everything a first time knife maker could want. You can us and old files, worn out saw blades and other pieces of tool steel. Also you can visit a local scrap metal yard and get lots of knife making materials that are as good as any you can buy at a custom knife making supply house. For example car springs make excellent blades as do old files. They both have enough carbon in them to enable hardening and tempering the blade to be tough and still hold an edge. I will have a tutorial on hardening and tempering steel in another page since it is too long to cover here.

If you decide to use a piece of spring steel or an old file, you need to anneal it first to make it soft enough to work with. An easy way to do this is to put it in a fire and get it red hot to the point that it is non-magnetic. An easy way to check this is with a small magnet laid on the ground next to the fire and when you think it is hot enough remove it from the fire and touch it to the magnet. If it won`t pick up the magnet it is hot enough. You need for the steel to cool very slowly. The best way I have found is to immerse the future blade in vermiculite and let it set overnight. In the morning it will be cool and as soft as it will ever be.

Handle materials are easy to find also. You can use wood of just about any variety with good results if it is seasoned and sealed against moisture. I have made some beautiful handles from spalted maple that I stabilized with cyanoacrylate, which is simply the chemical name for crazy glue. Just don`t glue your fingers together.

Deer antlers are often used for making handles for hunting and utility knives. If you burn wood, look in your wood pile for crotch grain wood and wood close to knots that has interesting grain. You can cut pieces into knife scale blanks about 3/8`s to 1/2 inch thick by 1 and 1/2 inches wide by 5 to 6 inches long. Put these in a warm, dry place, such an attic for a few weeks and they will be usable for knife handle material.

Moved into a new house with a fireplace to decorate? Or maybe you have used an inexpensive fireplace toolset for a couple of years and it is already falling apart. Here are a few tips to guide you when buying new fireplace tools. We`ll look at both decorative and functional considerations to help you make your choice.

On the decorative side you need to consider the set`s materials and style. By far the most common materials for toolsets are brass or iron, which you will find alone or combined to make sets from casual to very formal.

Traditional Brass Tools Solid brass sets tend to be more traditional and formal looking. You often see them gracing fireplaces in Williamsburg and other early American sites. Brass sets have a variety of finial treatments from simple ball to elaborately turned tops, to suit a range of decorating styles.

Although some handmade wrought iron sets are equally pricey, the most expensive sets tend to be made from solid brass. The rich color, satisfying heft, and brilliant finish of a well-made solid brass set can be truly beguiling. Sometimes, to increase strength and to cut costs, solid brass sets have tools shafts made from steel sheathed with solid brass tubing.

Brass toolsets in the middle price range are usually a little lighter weight and have less hand finishing than the most expensive sets. The better ones are hard to distinguish from the most expensive sets. They represent a good value and can last a lifetime.

At the lowest price level are brass plated steel sets. They are often used as promotional sets and are generally not suited for regular heavy use. They may be practical, however, as a decorative accent for a fireplace that is not used frequently.

Iron Toolsets Can Be Casual and Decorative Iron toolsets have gained popularity along with more casual trends in decorating. However, just because they are more casual does not mean that they cannot be decorative.

Handmade wrought iron sets can be decorated with scrollwork, leaves, and other details. Even machine made sets can have stamped accents and gracefully curved handles. Some iron sets combine the beauty of brass handles with the durability of steel shafts and tool ends.

Individual Tools or Set?

Functional concerns include whether to buy individual tools or a set with a stand, how the handles and tips attach to the tool shafts, and the design of the tools. Considering how you intend to use the tools will increase your long-term satisfaction with your choice. The individual parts of a toolset include the poker, shovel, broom, tongs, and stand. If you use your fireplace infrequently, you may decide to buy only the individual tools that you use most with hooks for hanging at fireside. A poker is generally the most popular tool. In addition to a stand, three-piece sets include a poker for adjusting logs in the fire, and a shovel and broom for cleanup.

If you use your fireplace a lot, look for a shovel with a larger scoop and a broom with a full set of stiff bristles to make ash removal easier. Four-piece sets add a pair of log tongs for folks who really like to play with the fire. The grabbing end of the tongs has either two or three points of contact with the log. While the two point tong is more traditional, the three point style makes log moving a little easier.

The same information on finishes for the fire place screen can also be valuable, wheather to buy Brass or wrought iron. If the propose is for an inexpensive screen then there are many brass plated designs to choose from.

Wrought iron design metal art fire screens will last longer and add more rustic beauty to your log home, cabin, or lodge.

Additional articeles of information on gardening, home decorating, outdoor living, Cabin building, cabin decorating and more.

One of the fastest ways to add a dose of interest to a home is to bring in some texture . Rustic furnishings do that with charm and style. Rustic used to mean `rickety and cheap`, but rustic style is all grown up and now borders on sophisticated and trendy.

Beautiful woods, polished logs, and twiggy charm, metal art, wrought iron has made rustic one of the most popular styles in the market today.

If you love the look of rustic furnishings, here are some tips on adding it to your own home. Since rustic furniture is extremely textural , add it in small amounts. An entire roomful may be too much to take in, while a few pieces allow each item to stand out and be a star.

For example, you might add some bent willow chairs around an old oak table, or include a few pieces in a cozy fireplace grouping.

Warm up rustic seating pieces with cushions and pillows. These will soften the chairs visually and provide an additional level of comfort. Fabric will also serve as a unifying element to tie in a rustic piece with other items already in the room.

Metal art decorative switch plate covers add functional rustic decor to any log home, cabin or ski lodge. These designs can be found made by Smoky Mountain Metal Arts. Choose from hundreds of designs and styles.

Consider using rustic accent pieces such as tables, mirrors, coat racks, coat trees or other bathroom accessories in guestrooms and powder rooms like metal art vanity lights and towel bars where interest and charm is especially appreciated. Smaller spaces like this can be theme-decorated in a rustic style around a few interesting items like switch plate covers, key racks, bathroom towel bars, rings, tissue dispensers in metal art designs, without committing yourself to an entire house full of rustic decor.

In the den, kitchen or living area, consider using a metal art design window valance with moose, deer or bears to complete the rustic decor in the log home, cabin or lodge.

See additional articles on home decor, gardening, wrought iron, and many others in our articles link.

It seems whenever the word butterfly is mentioned it is immediately connected with the word nectar. This is entirely appropriate, since nectar is without a doubt the primary food source of butterflies.

There are, however, additional elements some butterflies need to augment their survival. Butterflies will seek these needs until they find them, whether in your garden, your neighbor’s, or in their natural habitat. Unfortunately, their natural habitats are dwindling, either from adverse environmental changes or from the need for man to develop still more homes, factories, and roads. However, zealous butterfly gardeners can provide or help restore some of these important elements.

About puddles for butterflies

Remember how much you enjoyed playing in puddles when you were a youngster? I surely do! I went out of my way to walk right through a puddle, rather than skirt around it. Even knowing I’d get into a peck of trouble from my dad or mom for getting my only pair of shoes soaking wet didn’t stop me.

Unlike children, butterflies don’t need puddles simply for play. Neither do they need them for cooling off--they prefer shady places for that.

Why then do they need water from puddles in addition to nectar? Do they just get thirsty from imbibing all that sweet nectar? Read on, my friend, for more on butterfly puddles.

In researching this question, I found several answers. Referring to one of my previous articles, Gardening for Flying Flowers, you will find a brief outline of the anatomy of butterflies. The butterfly`s mouthpart, or proboscis, is used to probe for and drink nectar from flowers. Their proboscis is like a long, spiral-like tube and works in a remarkable way, similar to that of an elephant’s trunk. As the butterfly forces blood into this spiral-like tube, it then becomes straight. This type of mouthpart means that the butterfly feeds primarily on liquids as opposed to their caterpillars, which have chewing mouthparts.

There are certain minerals that some butterflies, such as swallowtails, sulfurs, and blues need that are not provided in a diet of nectar alone. These minerals are found in standing water, or mud puddles. On learning this, you may be inspired to dash right out into your garden and make a mud puddle or two so your butterflies can get their daily “mineral fix.” Not a bad idea! Just another healthful way to attract butterflies to your yard.

You have probably noticed butterflies drinking from almost anyplace they can find water. Maybe you’ve seen them fluttering around your drippy outdoor faucet, or checking out a water sprinkler that left a small puddle. In natural habitats they often drink from the edges of streams or beneath waterfalls. I found it remarkable that butterflies release the water they drink almost immediately after drinking it. Yet amazingly, they manage to absorb the minerals they need in the process.

There is yet another reason why butterflies--especially males of certain species--enjoy puddles. They love to congregate at puddles, much like men in many parts of the world enjoy gathering at Starbucks™ for a great cup of espresso! Can’t you just picture a flock of these colorful fellows perched around their favorite puddles, perhaps discussing the latest reports about the price of nectar and such? Or, are they maybe gloating about which female they just won for their mate? I’ll leave this up to your imagination.

Simple puddle-making ideas

There is really no specific way to create a puddle that is better than another. The best puddles are probably natural puddles formed after a gentle rain. But who wants rain every day just to please a butterfly? Or, what if you live in an arid area where rainfall is sparse?

Butterfly puddles can be created using most any type of containers that will hold water. These can be clay or plastic flower pots, buckets, milk or juice containers, or any similar container that holds a half gallon of water or so. Select a spot where the container won’t be in your way, but will be easy for butterflies to spot. Choose a nice sunny spot, as this is what butterflies prefer. Dig a hole deep enough to bury your container to the top of its rim, then fill it with a combination of small rocks and soil. Use the soil from your garden, as it contains the minerals butterflies seek from puddles. Consider creating several puddles in different areas of your yard. Even if you have a very small yard with just some flowering planter boxes, you can still create “puddles” and place them nearby. Butterflies don’t care how large your yard is; they only care that what is in it meets their needs.

Next, fill your buried container with water. Do this for several days until the soil in it becomes saturated, leaving a standing puddle. Continue to check the container often, making sure it always contains standing water. If watering your yard with a sprinkler, the container will usually get enough water to maintain a daily puddle. Otherwise, simply add water regularly with a hose or watering can. Either way, it won’t be long until butterflies will begin to frequent your “handmade” puddles.

If you don’t wish to create permanent puddles, choose an area where you can make several shallow depressions in the soil in different places using a spade or your hand. Following a refreshing rain or an irrigation session, water will stand in these depressions long enough for butterflies to find the puddles. Although butterflies are very self-sufficient, enthusiastic butterfly gardeners can help by supplying this one simple thing--a puddle!

Basking areas--what and where?

Have you noticed that butterflies are rarely seen on cloudy days? This is because all insects are cold-blooded and can’t regulate their body temperatures like we humans. Gardeners should also provide areas where butterflies can bask when it is sunny and warm. This helps to warm their wings for flying. Basking areas can be made by interspersing several flat rocks in your flower beds. In rural areas, an old tree stump, a log, or a piece of driftwood will serve as a perfect basking spot.

Another popular basking place can be made right in your birdbath by placing several smooth flat rocks in it for butterfly landing strips. They will love sitting there with folded wings just to rest and warm their colorful wings. Butterflies have many natural instincts that serve them well in all weather conditions. Wise gardeners need only provide their props!

Cover and shelter

Butterflies need protection from wind, weather, and predators. They like shady places such as trees, shrubs, or vines where they can sit to keep warm on cool or cloudy days. Both shelter and cover can be easily provided by blending areas of shrubbery, trees, or rockeries into your landscape design. When taking cover from predators, butterflies also hide in such areas. Mother Nature has been extremely kind to butterflies, and the gardener can be her greatest helper!

Butterfly feeders as a nectar supplement

Butterfly feeders have become very popular and many garden centers and catalogs sell them. They differ in design from hummingbird feeders in that they provide a flat surface on which the butterfly can land easily. Butterflies have a keen sense of smell and are attracted to nectar in feeders just as they are to flowers. Nectar mixes can be purchased or made from sugar and water. It is critical to clean butterfly feeders regularly as this prevents deadly bacteria from growing in the nectar. Some enthusiasts using butterfly feeders have seen both butterflies AND hummingbirds attracted to them. What could be more delightful than seeing both “flying flowers” nd “jewels of the sky” sipping sweet nectar together?

How to Hang Art
You’ve selected a beautiful piece of art to complement your interior. Now it`s time to hang it. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
•Avoid hanging one small picture on a huge expanse of wall - art looks better when it seems to extend the lines of furniture, windows or doorways.
•Decide where to hang the artwork, keeping in mind the type of feel you`d like your room to have. The way in which you hang art can make a big difference. Smaller pieces hung together will overwhelm a small room. However, grouping multiple pieces in a larger room adds interest. The right piece of art also makes nooks and crannies more warm and inviting.
•Art tends to look best when it seems to extend the lines of furniture, windows or doorways, or when several small pieces are grouped together.
•Sketching the wall, furniture, and artwork on graph paper beforehand can help you decide where to hang your art by allowing you to visualize the final room and by conveying the size and the scale of the pieces you are working with.
Large pictures look best centered over sofas or consoles. They are meant to be the focal point of the room and work well within a large expanse of wall space. Allow 4 to 5 inches from the top of a sofa, slightly higher for a console. Also be aware that how you display your art is as personal a statement as the work itself. For example, you may want to hang a painting where it’s visible to you when seated in your favorite reading chair.
Once you’ve decided where you’d like to hang your art, measure to find the center of the piece. Allow for the drop of wire, and make a mark on the wall where you will put the hanger.
Use more than just nails. Choose an appropriate hook. You might want a two-piece nail-and-hook, or a one-piece hook with a disk that keeps the straight part from going completely through the wall.
Heavier art should be hung with a hollow-wall anchor. A picture hook will protect your walls and bear the weight of the picture. If this sounds confusing, the easiest thing to do is purchase a picture hanging kit at your local hardware store. It contains everything you need to hang your art.
•You can prevent the plaster or drywall from cracking by placing a piece of Scotch tape on the wall where you will insert the hook.
•If your artwork is larger than 8" x 10", use 2 hooks to hang the piece. This helps it remain balanced by distributing the weight evenly. Use a carpenters level to determine where the hooks should be placed. Your painting will remain straight without constant vigilance.
•If your artwork is particularly heavy and you are hanging it on drywall only, you may want to use a stud or beam to hang your art. A stud is a slender wood or metal vertical structure that is placed as a supporting element in a wall. However, your standard nail and anchor hook that comes in a picture framing kit will suffice.
•Nail the picture hook into the wall where you`ve made a mark and carefully place the artwork on the wall, catching the wire on the hook. Straighten, step back, and enjoy.
Proper Care For Your Art Now that you have bought your art, you want to enjoy it. But how do you protect your investment and guarantee its preservation? We would like you to enjoy your art for years to come. Here are a few tips to keep in mind that will help conserve your fine artwork and maintain the integrity of its original state.
•Keep your art away from direct sunlight, as anything that will fade your carpet will fade your art. Be careful not to let direct sunlight shine on your art.
•Hang your art in neutral climates, away from excessive humidity or dryness. Too much moisture can cause mats and prints to buckle or mold over time. Extreme dryness can also unfavorably affect the artwork.
•Framing your artwork adds to the life of your art. Be sure to ask for 100% conservation materials when framing your art, such as cotton-rag matboard and acid-free backings. This combination results in the best long-term protection of your art.
•Keep an eye out for pollutants and contaminants in the environment. Art is just as susceptible to environmental damage as we are.
•Check your framed artwork about every 6 months, front and back, for signs of damage such as cracking and molding. There are paper conservators who may be able to repair any damage that has been done and help you with preventative maintenance for the future.
•Do not spray cleaner of any kind directly onto the framed piece. Rather, spray cleaner onto a cloth and then apply it to the glass or Plexiglas.
•If you are a renter, you may want to consider purchasing Renter’s Insurance. Landlords have insurance for the apartment building itself, but this does not cover your personal belongings within the building. Renter’s Insurance would cover the value of your artwork should anything happen to it.
•If you are a homeowner, be assured that your artwork is included in your Homeowner’s Insurance. However, it is a good idea to take out a rider for artwork valued over $2,500.
Visit this link for online gallery of giclee prints, original oil paintings, acrylic art originals and prints along with greeting and gifts cards and many other great decorating themes at www.thepaintedsisters.com to see more beautiful piece of art masterpiece for wall decor decorations.

There are a few men out there who simply cannot understand a woman`s need to decorate (and redecorate) their home. And shopping for furniture? That gives most men a sharp pain - usually in the area of their wallet. To m Just think of home decorating in terms of "guy stuff"!
You know that little flutter in the stomach when you see a fully-restored, cherry red, vintage muscle car? Complete with air-brushed flames? Chrome everywhere? Well, women can get the same flutter looking at a vintage armoire, dresser or sideboard. (Well, ok…we don`t get quite as excited if it is covered with air-brushed flames and chrome!)
So the next time your wife or girl friend brings home an antique table…think Shelby Cobra!
And for some men, hunting or fishing mean the thrill of the chase or the big catch. I have felt that same thrill when finding the perfect fabric or just the right painting for a room. (And I didn`t have to put up with the mosquitos!) So when your wife brings home new metal art piece for your mantle, or wall decor….think of it as a big game trophy!
Remember the fun and excitement you feel when watching football or hockey? Your wife can feel the same excitement watching Trading Spaces or Extreme Home Makeover! (Some rooms score a touchdown, others are fumbles, and yet others are definite fouls!) So rather than complaining the next time your wife watches one of those home improvement shows, think Super Bowl!
Yes, home décor is a sport! Games of "New Paint Bingo" and "Antique Auction Sprint" are being played daily in your neighborhood. So instead of discouraging your wife, support her with a few cheers like: "Way to go with that red trim, honey!" "Stuff that pillow! Stuff that pillow!" (No need to don the short skirt and pompoms!) Now, if I can just get the man in my life to buy this, I can start on that new bedroom décor. Honey? What do you think of Bubble Gum Pink paint?!?
Try suggesting a room that you can decorate with metal art wrought iron in a rustic, cowboy, western, southerwestern, or lodge decor. This will be something that can be shared in the family. Click on the title to link to a site that will give you ideals for this type of decor.

History of Wrought Iron

Smoky Mountain Metal Arts 5227 Hwy 411 South Maryville, TN 37801 866-689-7061

CHARCOAl IRON

There are two types of wrought iron, the iron of antiquity, now known as charcoal iron. This was the metal that blacksmiths used to before the turn of the sixteenth century. Iron was melted directly by heating ore in a forge with charcoal, which served as both a fuel and a reducing agent. While still hot the iron and slag mixture was removed as a lump and worked (wrought) and welded the iron into a coherent mass. Charcoal Iron can withstand corrosion for hundereds of years.

PUDDLE IRON

In the nineteenth century the demand for stronger wrought iron, brought to the industry a method to mass produce puddle iron. This new wrought iron with a higher tensile strength and as small increase in carbon content making the chemical composition and consistency easier to control.

Carbon

A naturally abundant nonmetallic element that occurs in many inorganic and in all organic compounds, exists freely as graphite and diamond and as a constituent of coal, limestone, and petroleum, and is capable of chemical self-bonding to form an enormous number of chemically, biologically, and commercially important molecules.Carbon is added to iron to make steel.

Carbon steel

Carbon Steel is a metal, a combination of two elements, iron and carbon, where other elements are present in quantities too small to affect the properties. With a low carbon content it has the same properties as iron, soft but easily formed. As carbon content rises the metal becomes harder and stronger but less ductile.

Cast iron

Cast iron usually refers to grey cast iron, but can mean any of a group of iron-based alloys containing more than 2% carbon (alloys with less carbon are carbon steel by definition). It is made by remelting pig iron, often along with substantial quantities of scrap iron and scrap steel, and taking various steps to remove undesirable contaminants such as phousphorus and sulfer, which weaken the material. Carbon and silicon content are reduced to the desired levels, which may be anywhere from 2% to 3.5% for carbon and 1% to 3% for silicon depending on the application. Other elements are then added to the melt before the final form is produced by casting. Mild steel is the most common form of steel as its price is relatively low while it provides material properties that are acceptable for many applications. Mild steel has medium carbon contents (up to 0.8%) and is therefore neither extremely brittle nor ductile. It is also often used where large amounts of steel need to be formed, for example as structural steel. Another popular use is in steel wire mesh.

MILD STEEL

With it`s higher and greater strength mild steel has superiority over wrought iron in it`s strength and consistency which it gives a much wider range of it`s application, it also can be hardened by heat treatment. Mild steel has just about replaced wrought iron in the last century. Mild steel does tend to corrode steel, alloy of iron, carbon, and small proportions of other elements. Iron contains impurities in the form of silicon, phosphorus, sulfur, and manganese; steelmaking involves the removal of these impurities, known as slag, and the addition of desirable alloying elements. Steel industry, the business of processing iron ore into steel, which in its simplest form is an iron-carbon alloy, and in some cases, turning that metal into partially finished products or recycling scrap metal into steel.

The steel industry grew out of the need for stronger and more easily produced metals. Technological advances in steelmaking during the last half of the 19th cent. played a key role in creating modern economies dependent on rails, automobiles, girders, bridges, and a variety of other steel products. Iron working can be traced as far back as 3,500 B.C. in Armenia. The Bessamer process, created independently by Henry Bessemer in England and William Kelly in the United States during the 1850s, allowed the mass production of low-cost steel; the open-hearth process, first introduced in the United States in 1888, made it easier to use domestic iron ores. By the 1880s, the growing demand for steel rails made the United States the world`s largest producer.

The open-hearth process dominated the steel industry between 1910 and 1960, when it converted to the basic-oxygen process, which produces steel faster, and the electric-arc furnace process, which makes it easier to produce alloys such as stainless steel and to recycle scrap steel.

After World War II, the U.S. steel industry faced increased competition from Japanese and European producers, who rebuilt and modernized their industries.

Later, many Third World countries, such as Brazil, built their own steel industries, and large U.S. steelmakers faced increased competition from smaller, nonunion mills (“mini-mills”) that recycle scrap steel. The U.S. produced about half of the world`s steel in 1945; in 1999 it was the second largest producer, with 12% of the world market, behind China and ahead of Japan and Russia.

Since the 1970s, growing competition and the increasing availability of alternative materials, such as plastic, slowed steel industry growth; employment in the U.S. steel industry dropped from 2.5 million in 1974 to to less than a million in 1998.

Global production stood at 773 million tons in 1997, down from 786 million tons in 1988. U.S. steel production has remained constant since the 1970s at about 100 million tons, but 50% of that total is now produced by mini-mill companies.

An increase in U.S. demand during the 1990s was largely met by imports, which now account for from about a fifth to a quarter of all steel used annually in the United States. The old-line U.S. steelmakers, losing market share and with higher wage, health, and retirement costs, experienced a string of bankruptcies beginning in the late 1990s, leading to industry and union pressure for protective tariffs, which were imposed by President George W. Bush in 2002 on most steel from non-NAFTA industrialized nations. Later reduced, the tariffs were found in 2003 to be illegal under World Trade Organization rules, and President Bush reversed the tariffs.

Aluminum

Aluminium is a soft and lightweight metal with a dull silver-gray appearance. Aluminium is about one-third as dense as steel or copper is malleable ductile, and easily machined and cast; and has excellent corrosion resistance and durability due to the protective oxide layer. It is also nonmagnetic and nonsparking and is the second most malleable metal (most being gold) and the sixth most ductile.Whether measured in terms of quantity or value, the use of aluminium exceeds that of any other metal except iron and it is important in virtually all segments of the world economy. Aluminium alloys form vital components of aircrafts and rockets as a result of their high strength to weight ratio. Aluminium was selected as the material to be used for the apex of the

Washinton Monument, at a time when one ounce cost twice the daily wages of a labourer.

Aluminium was, when it was first discovered, extremely difficult to separate from the rocks it was part of. Since the whole of Earth`s aluminium was bound up in the form of compounds, it was the most difficult metal on earth to get, despite the fact that it is one of the planet`s most common. The reason is that aluminium is oxidized very rapidly and that its oxide is an extremely stable compound that, unlike rust on steel, does not flake off. The very reason for which aluminium is used in many applications is why it is so hard to produce.

Recovery of this metal from scrap (via recycling) has become an important component of the aluminium industry. Recycling involves simply melting the metal, which is far less expensive than creating it from ore. Refining aluminium requires enormous amounts of electricity; recycling it requires only 5% of the energy to produce it. A common practice since the early 1900`s, aluminium recycling is not new. It was, however, a low-profile activity until the late 1960`s when the exploding popularity of aluminium beverage can finally placed recycling into the public consciousness.

Electric power represents about 20 to 40% of the cost of producing aluminium, depending on the location of the aluminium smelter. Smelters tend to be located where electric power is plentiful and inexpensive, China is currently (2004) the top world producer of aluminium.

Cabin Decor Your cabin can serve as a marvelous place of respite, provided you plan it to be so. In fact, it doesn`t take much to turn your cabin into a place where you can rejuvenate your body and your mind. A few simple changes can greatly enhance the environment of your cabin. < How do you decorate your cabin? To start with, decide what type of environment soothes you the most. This is indeed a pretty confusing task as many find it simply difficult to assess which environment is best for them. Try rustics. Rustic cabin decor is one of the best and the most cost effective ways of revitalizing your cabin. Extensions of American country style decorating cabins, rustic cabin decor is marked for its handmade appearance with unfinished yet sophisticated qualities and providing a delightfully simple and soothing ambience. Plenty of reasons add to the growing acceptance of Rustic cabin decor, not only in America, but also in the rest of the world. First are the materials that constitute rustic cabin decor. Rustic includes the use of aged wood with rough handmade finishes that are so natural that it automatically comforts the humans and give them a feeling of being in tune with the nature. This is the only reason why cabins decorated with rustic cabin decor are always comfortable, modest, and quaint. Secondly, decorating your home with rustic cabin decor will be simple, uncomplicated, and inexpensive. Rustic cabin decor primarily uses simple designs, furnishings, and most importantly natural decorations to enhance the style of your room. In other words, with rustic cabin decor, you need not turn your home into a highly fortified steel castle, but a simple and cozy place that radiates nature. Another notable aspect that adds to the credibility of rustics is its all time popularity. Your storage chest may be a classic example of the most modern piece of art. Remember, something more modern will surely come up in future and then you might not still be happy of owning the chest. A rustic look on the other hand has persisted for decades and will become more endearing when we set out more towards the future. In other words, investing for rustic cabin decor is a one-time investment, which you will cherish throughout your life.

Always reveiw products at www.smokyart.com for decorating cabins and log homes. No matter if you are a home owner or interior designer this is the best site to buy cabin rustic decor items to decorate with. From bear bath sets to deer lamps, and moose coat racks. Their finish on each item is produced with a powder coated finish either in hammered black or rustic that looks like real rust! So visit their site and if you have any questions on custom items then you will find their personal easy to contact and deal with. article by a happy customer. Debbie Entrekin

The very word `rustic` evokes a feeling of traditional and rich countrified ambience, something that undeniably takes us back to our roots. A rustic ambience has some advantages…it is unique, traditional, and durable, some aspects that are making them widely accepted all over the world by individuals seeking a rural ambience amidst a busy metropolitan lifestyle. Rustic lighting fixtures go a long way in enhancing the ambience of any house with their characteristic, down-to-earth appeal, and a casual elegance. The specialty of rustic lighting lies with the materials used... wood, metal, stoneware, antlers, etc., that help create an environment that is quite rural, yet sophisticated. The most appealing characteristic of rustic lighting is that even the most common objects can be transformed to create a superb piece of rustic lighting fixture such as a piece of wood, branch of a tree, etc. Different types of rustic lighting decor are now in demand. Adirondack, southwest, log, wagon wheels, etc are some specific rustic lighting decorations that are gaining huge popularity for their simplicity and uniqueness. In many cases, no two pieces of these are alike, giving the owner the pride of owning the only piece of rustic lighting fixture. Rustic lighting fixtures can also be theme based... wagon wheel, antler, branch, etc. However, a theme looks perfect when all furniture in a room or a house is correctly arranged according to a specific theme. For example, an antler lighting fixture goes perfect with a wooden table with stands made of branch or featuring antlers. It is mainly due to this wide range of choices of decor that rustic lighting is gaining so much popularity. Check out our collection of rustic lighting fixtures. We do have a wide selection of theme based as well as individual rustic lighting fixtures, packaged in a style that is rich, traditional, yet sophisticated. Visit www.smokyart.com for more lighting ideas.

When thinking about a gift for someone that has a new log home or cabin, consider a metal art gift. From bear bath sets to a nice deer coat rack www.smokyart.com will give you over 700 hundred items to choose from. Powder coated finish to protect against corrosion from outside. Visit today and use coupon code jm20 for a 20% discount on a phone order call 866-689-7061.

Whether you are decorating a cabin or just want to create the feeling of a cabin`s style, decorating with a rustic touch adds warmth and soul to the interior. The rustic look is ideal for incorporating cherished family heirlooms, flea market finds, re-purposed junkyard treasures and collections of primitive and folk art. Adds some rustic elements or aim for a complete rustic redesign. Palette The key to a rustic cabin decor is to avoid over-coordinating wall colors, furniture finishes, floors and textiles. Aim for a homespun look, with faded colors that imply pieces are timeworn. Antique whitewashes are appropriate for walls and furniture, but add some color with faded cornflower blue, lime green, pale pink and sunny yellow. You can also veer toward an earthier rustic look with gold, sand, terracotta and stained wood furniture. Textiles in vintage florals and paisleys can hang in windows, on walls, over door frames or over open shelving to create an impromptu cabinet.

The bathrooms can be done in old country style and still have the modern amenities that you crave. You can find antique tubs and sinks at low cost at demolition and whole sales places, that save the priceless treasures. When demolition teams tear down a existing older home. You can inquire over the phone and bargain at the best prices. If you like stained glass to add appeal to your rustic cabin, it will "add" not "take away" from what you are trying to achieve. Many old fashioned log cabins incorporate stained glass to help in cooling and still let some sun in. It also adds beauty and style to the rustic appearance. Unfinished surfaces like handrails for stairs and trim add to the stand out feature of these types of homes. Hardwood floors with rope rugs and wrought iron fasteners for cabinet doors and exterior doors help to add depth and texture and make the log cabin stand out. The more your cabin takes on your attitude of the rustic look, the better you will like it and what it presents back to you. If it gives you the feeling of kicking your shoes off and putting your feet on the couch, you have done your job. A cabin was made in the first place to be warm and charming. The rustic appearance comes from living with in. The longer you live in a log cabin, the more personality it draws from inside you. Apply those thoughts of reason when building a rustic log cabin.

Fragrances for Rustic Cabins Guest Author - Robin Rounds Whittemore If you like the look and feel of a rustic cabin atmosphere, this fragrance article was written for you. Whether you have a hideaway where you can get away from it all, or just dream of one; these fragranced items will help enhance that look and feel. Fragranced candles may have a brown or creamy white look to them. Rust red, dark yellow, maroon, and hunter green are also good colors to go with this type of décor. A common metal used is tin. The fragrances that usually accompany the above-mentioned colors should do well in that atmosphere. Mulled spice, pumpkin, patchouli, sandalwood, and pine scents for candles or incense come to mind immediately. Remember, mulberry and bayberry do not have to be put into use only at Christmastime. The scents are good all year round. There is no clear cut rule about what fragrance is best in a cabin type atmosphere. The ultimate choice is yours. Should you have firewood already cut, or people sell firewood, you may want to try making a pillar candle holder. All you would need is a round cross section of the log to fir the pillar on. Try tying some evergreen around the candle holder or small enough for the candle to fit in. You can keep spraying that lightly with pine fragrance. A small dish of pine cones with their blooms outstretched is a good way to fragrance a small area in the home. This works especially well in bathrooms. Roll the pine cones in a fragrance oil and place in a plastic baggie for 24 hours. Unwrap and place in the bowl when you are satisfied with the scent. Refresh with a mist of the scent every few days. In the potpourri and other decorations; you can add rose petals, pieces of evergreen branches, acorns, dried flowers, wood shavings, and other objects to enhance the looks if you wish. If you have stairs, try hanging scented pine cones with ribbon in your choice of color. Use about eighteen inches of ribbon for each pine cone. Just wrap and tie the ribbon underneath the topmost “blooms”, of the widest part of the pine cone, leaving the pointed side to hand down. Tie to the stairs, leaving about 6 to 8 inches of ribbon hanging under the bow. Don’t hang a pine cone on every step; rather, try every third step or so depending on how many steps you wish to decorate. You may also want to hang about three to five cones in a bunch rather than place them up the stairs. As above, refresh with scent every few days. A scented pine cone wreath would also be a wonderful way to fragrance a woodsy hideaway. If you do not want to stick with just one scent for the wreath, at the most, blend just two fragrances together. To get you started, patchouli and sandalwood are each great mixed with one other scent.

Rustic or log cabin decorating can seem like an overwhelming task but don`t let it get you down. Start small using rustic décor elements but plan big with an entire log cabin interior design laid out. Break it down into rooms or living areas and take it step by step. Plan Big with Log Home Interior Design Themes Start with choosing an overall décor theme. Many people like the wildlife themes for cabin decorating, like moose, bear, wolves, elk or ducks. If you go this route make sure you really love it because it becomes very easy to select log cabin decorating elements with moose or bear and pretty soon you can be overrun with woodland animals in your cabin. Nature themes include pine cones, pine trees and maple leafs. Other log cabin interior design themes are areas and eras such as Lake Cottage décor, Western Ranch, the Lodge look, North Woods, Southwestern and Adirondack style. Each of these cabin decorating themes looks great and many rustic décor accents and furnishings can be found in these styles for your country lodge or log cabin. Don`t be afraid to mix them up the way you like it. Pick and choose different rustic design elements from various sources; maybe decorate different rooms in your cabin in different rustic themes to give that rugged rustic country appeal. Another idea for a log home interior design theme would be an eclectic mix of antiques and imported items. This really opens things up and almost anything that interests you can be incorporated into your overall log cabin decorating plan. Start Small with Log Cabin Decorating Elements Start with individual cabin decorations like rustic lighting fixtures. A cabin-style combination light and fan can anchor an entire room. Or plan around different dominating features, like the fireplace. The stone hearth and log mantle can suggest cabin decorating themes, like birch-bark canoes and pine trees, bear switch plates and moose coat hooks, metal art ceiling lights, a wrought iron fireplace screen silhouette or twig furniture. Or start with a small room - the smallest room in the house makes planning easier to visualize. Make your bathrooms stand out with rustic hardware or wrought iron towel bars. Add a substantial outdoor-themed mirror and bear or moose light switch covers. Rustic bathroom vanity lighting sets the mood. Colors and Textures Log cabin interior design can be overwhelmed by the monolithic look of wood everywhere you turn. With log walls, hardwood floors and log or paneling on the ceilings, the dominating visual aspect is wood. Some people like this, but others would rather have some colors thrown in to the mix to set off the beautiful golden wood tones of the logs and timbers. Don`t be afraid to install some drywall on your interior walls. Use this as a blank canvas to add color to a room. Add a texture to the walls with plaster and give it some depth. A bright color will reflect the cabin lighting and brighten the entire place. Muted earth tones blend well with the log cabin look and provide some contrast with the rich tones of the logs. Light Fixtures and Lighting Log cabin light fixtures take on a new role with their ability to set a mood or enhance a rustic décor theme. Log homes are not ordinary and their light fixtures should not be either. The high cathedral ceilings of a Great Room call for large, dramatic light fixtures such as an antler chandelier, a cedar log chandelier or a birch bark canoe chandelier that focus the eye and make a statement. Use pine cone wall sconces or twig wall lamps to continue the natural rustic décor on stairs. Rustic table lamps and dining lights round out your theme. Fireplaces What would a log cabin be without a fireplace? Nothing sums up the rustic coziness of log home living like a stone fireplace set against logs and timbers. While there are many factors involved in designing the perfect fireplace, the most noticeable features will be the hearth and mantle. Using artificial or manufactured stone for the hearth facing can reduce the weight load by a factor of 6 or 7. Choosing a mantle can be an intensely personal choice and a key feature of your log cabin decorating, but you can rarely go wrong with using a massive timber made of reclaimed wood, or a red cedar log sawn in half and resting on two log corbels, or a rough-sawn slice of a log with the bark side showing, or stone slabs set on a recess above the fireplace. This is a chance to let your imagination free, but remember that there are minimum clearances required for flammable materials. Iron Railings for Log Cabins An ideal combination in nearly every log cabin decorating theme is wrought iron with the logs and timbers. They complement each other with their strength and rustic simplicity. Iron railings contrast nicely with the lighter wood inside and anchor down the feeling of solidity and permanence. Log Cabin Flooring Your floors are one of your largest log cabin decorating elements, but their importance is often overlooked or minimized. The choices you make for your log home flooring will partly dictate the overall design and look of your cabin. You can make the flooring a significant décor item or you can choose to make your flooring become a background for show pieces like soft leather couches, rustic wood tables and wrought iron benches. You can make a small room feel larger by using flooring that is lighter in color than the walls. Mix up your cabin flooring with stone or tile at the entrances that get the most wear. Blend or contrast this with hardwood flooring and use area rugs to soften the hardwood and help define interior spaces. Spice it up with cowhide rugs and pillows. Kitchen Cabinet and Bathroom Vanity Hardware An easy upgrade to your log home interior design is replacing your kitchen cabinet hardware and your bathroom vanity hardware. This is easily done with just a screwdriver and you can choose from dozens of different rustic décor styles such as bear and moose drawer pulls, brass pine cone knobs and bear silhouette door knob backing plates. Log cabin decorating or log home interior design can be as simple as choosing a few rustic décor elements to enhance your cabin decorating or as grand as selecting an overall theme for your log cabin interior design and ensuring that everything is designed and crafted around that theme. If you enjoyed reading about rustic decorating, you may enjoy learning more about log home interior design. Brian Gabriel is a licensed contractor, mechanical engineer and log home builder in the mountains of western North Carolina. He is the author and designer of the website Log Cabin Connection, created to offer advice, tips, ideas and resources related to log cabins.

Asheville, North Carolina is a truly unique place with the splendor unlike any other in the world. Here, classic is mixed with country, elegant with unexpected and mountain with modern. Whether you want to relax in luxury or at an out-of-the-kind spot in Ashville, you will find lodging that will meet your needs and fit your budget. Pamper yourself in a quiet and healing atmosphere at one of our Asheville cabins or vacation rentals that are close to Biltmore Estate, Blue Ridge Parkway or Chimney Rock Park. Everything from luxurious jacuzzi suites to rustic hideouts are represented in the Asheville mountains.Chalets and charming antique Asheville cabins with gorgeous mountain views and all the comforts of home located within minutes of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Biltmore Estate are available for families and individuals. Beautiful, tastefully decorated, completely equipped 1-3 bedroom cabins with fireplaces, hot tubs and gated forest retreat are all to here. You are welcome to enjoy fishing, hiking, playgrounds, and gardens in luxury, serenity, and natural beauty at Willow Winds. Room amenities include air-conditioning, coffee maker, color TV with cable or dish complimentary, local calls, fireplace in room, hair dryer, high speed Internet, Jacuzzi in room, kitchen, microwave, refrigerator; non smoking rooms are also available. There area various property amenities for your convenience, from fitness rooms to free parking. There are also playgrounds, swimming pools, tennis courts for sports activities. Many kinds of special fully-furnished vacation Asheville cabins for romantic getaways with hot tubs and mountain views to luxury six-bedroom family and corporate retreats on babbling creeks or lakes are waiting for the visitors. There?s a peaceful Heron Cabin to rent in the mountains near Ashville. It?s is a log cabin, constructed in the late 1800`s, between two creeks at the end of a dirt road in the Western North Carolina mountains. You can rent one side of the cabin or both sides for a weekend or a week. The other side will not be rented while you are there. Both sides have a queen sized bed. This rustic, comfortable cabin, with hot tub, is only minutes from the Ledges Whitewater and River Park on the French Broad River. You can also rent a new one bedroom Ashville cabin with spa that has everything you need for a vacation to remember. The Mountains to the Sea Trail will literally be at your doorstep or you can just relax in the spa and soak in the mountains. Come relax in this cozy cabin and get the best of both worlds, a beautiful remote and romantic mountain setting in close proximity to eclectic downtown Asheville, The Blue Ridge Parkway, and The Biltmore Estate. The proximity to the Blue Ridge Parkway and downtown Asheville makes Asheville cabins the ideal place to stay when you visit Western North Carolina. This remote mountain setting is perfect for relaxation and for those who are more adventurous many area attractions are just minutes away. So come, relax and enjoy the beauty and diversity of the North Carolina Mountains.

Choose your retreat space: one or more airy rooms with good natural light, or a quiet corner with a pretty view. Clean out the space so you can start from scratch. Choose your color scheme: To create a mountain theme, consider using a palette of muted deep greens and light blues for the trees and sky, with shades of tan, brown and brick red as accents. You may want to add aqua colors, or even special paint effects, to create the appearance of a lake, or raindrops. Find your furnishings: Look through your attic or closets for decor items that belong in a cabin. They should be comfortable, distressed, homey, such as a family rocker, a blanket that was knitted by your grandmother; a hand made pottery mug from a child. Resist the temptation to touch them up too much, because quaintness and rough edges hold the charm. Pull it all together: If you`re still missing a table or a piece of artwork, go on a scavenger hunt! Visit flea markets, garage sales, ask your friends if they have an item to contribute. If you are a little adventurous, make the room truly your own by hand crafting an object to add for everyone to enjoy. Add the final touches: For a complete mountain retreat, add balsam pillows or candles, a basket or two, old books and board games (nothing electronic!), maybe a teddy bear. Finally, change into your coziest robe, make yourself a cup of hot chocolate, and let the stress fade away.

Wooden blinds for the home, office or cottage.

Ranch metal art is extremely stylish and you can opt for a great variety in regard to design and look. These metal art signs are sturdy and they are priced at very affordable rates. There are no limitations as far as size requirements. Metal art-work can be done in all sorts of sizes, and these are great ways to express one’s concepts in art form. There are different types of custom metal art work, which include nature scenes, western, and southwestern. Ranch signs have a distinct Texas metal art theme that is very American. You have a variety of designs to choose from along with many flexible options. Online shopping of art work is popular and it’s a great way to see samples and artwork. It makes it easy for you to choose the design you like and with the convenience of sitting at home. You can find a great variety of metal art decorations as well. Ranch metal art is a perfect gift as it can be displayed anywhere in your home, business, farm, ranch, or gate. These are extremely unique and amazing gifts for your loved ones. Metal art-work is created with high quality, thick metal. All ranch metal art material is painted with double coats of flat black paint, and you can even chose different colors. These days ranch metal art is very much appreciated as one of the most popular metal art work categories. Also, it can easily be used as art pieces and displayed on the walls of your home, workplace, ranch, or farm. Metal art wall pieces can be mounted on wooden frames to depict an incredibly royal and magnificent appearance. Ranch metal art is also found in the form of metal wind-chimes, which provide mesmerizing and melodious sound. There are all sorts of patterns and cuts available that are very creative and innovative as well. There are religious gifts also available in metal art work. These can be presented to special people, especially in celebration of events. There is a lot of ranch metal art work available that range from wall hangings to home décor. In these metal art pieces you will find uniqueness and exclusivity. There are a lot of designs that are rich in character and give a great effect to your home. Metal ranch art is quite popular as metal ranch gates and signs. These are very fashionable and not only are they strong and sturdy, but also long lasting. They are a great sample of ethnic workmanship and traditional designs. Metal ranch art work gates are very popular as terrace gates. No matter if you choose metal gates on a patio, entrance to your ranch, or attached to your metal farm signs, they are a wonderful addition. Examples of ranch metal art at www.smokyart.com

Custom metal art work provides a wonderful high-fashion look to home décor. These metal art-work items are among highest-quality of art, and they are functional and decorative. There is an abundance of detailing possible for these designs, all of which are extremely stylish and impressive. Custom metal art or metal art-work furniture present a wide range of unique and stylish furniture. They are made out of steel, glass, aluminum and acrylic. You can get your metal art-work piece designed as per your wish, ensuring that it replicates the imagination in your mind. There is a huge range of custom metal art categories available; you can go for a coffee table or metal art sculpture, and you can choose from all kinds of different art pieces. There are antique end tables that have a fabulous manifestation of all sorts of nature related designs, and even the most contemporary ones can be created! The antique tables are constructed in an exceptionally stylish fashion that looks spectacular and gives an artistic finish. You can get your piece crafted in metal with glass, which has a base that is filled with elegant artwork. You can even add a dark oil rubbed finish, with a glass table top. There are combinations of wood, metal, and glass. Some of these have leather surfaced table tops that look exceptional. There are tables that layer within themselves, that come with drawers and cabinets as well. Available in all sorts of shapes and sizes, featuring interesting patterns so that these interesting pieces of art can appeal to anyone’s fancy. You can add these artistic pieces to your living room décor or even around the dining area these look very artistic and unique. These days there is a wide variety and range of custom metal art pieces, ranging from clocks to mirrors, and dining tables to candle holders. Beautiful artistic and ornamental metal art lamps are a must have for your home, if you want to provide a great balance for your contemporary décor and antique finished items. You can even go for the medieval armor and a range of medieval arms and swords that are not only attractive, but they are also functional. It’s interesting how this metal crafting has passed down through time, and has progressed from its ancient roots. These are fantastic treasures for those who are fans of medieval art and middle ages. If you are searching for custom metal art replicas of medieval art, then you can seek some extremely beautiful replicas. Replicas give you an exclusive no matter where you place them, be it your residence, farm or even your business place. Examples of custom metal art at www.smokyart.com

Western metal art has become very popular not only in the West but also across the globe. The town blacksmith is undeniably one of the most-commonly associated images whenever the term "Western metal art" is mentioned. The main task of the blacksmith was to make farm implements and horse shoes; however, he also managed to sneak in a few occasional metal arts like wrought iron signs for ranches, stores, and other uniquely-crafted decorative items for some clients. To date, Western metal art has made a genre for itself. One can find a wide range of art themes ranging from the traditional and one of the most common "cowboy" home décor to more contemporary "welcome" signs which are usually placed on gates or doors. Given this, we cannot deny the fact that Western metal art is slowly making a huge comeback. With just a few accessories, the entire mood of a room can be changed into something more unique, more exclusive and more nostalgic. Planning to get your own metal artwork, below are a few helpful tips: 1. Today, we are lucky enough to have high-tech materials and fabrication techniques. This makes metal art customizing a lot easier and convenient. More than just that, it also gives us a wide range of choices - ranging from the old fashioned finishes up to the newer ones. 2. Among the most popular Western metal art are the following: kitchen caddies with spurs, saddles which come with a very intricate metal inlay work, metal candle holders, wrought iron pictures and the horse shoe bookends just to name a few. The barn star also remains a top favorite. All these items are believed to bring prosperity and good luck. The items can come in different kinds of finishes as well as mounting options. 3. Western metal art is also a great idea for gifts. Whether for a graduation party or a house warming get-together, surely, there`s a metal craft which will fit your needs. Personal gifts can come in the form of unique key chains, business card holders, money clips and the like. 4. The good thing about this craft is that it comes in a variety of options. They may be western origin but it can give you a wide range of choices. The items can be readily available and displayed on the rack or they can be especially made for you. A quick internet search is sure to give you a lot of online stores specializing on Western metal art. Western metal art remains to be the top pick home decor to date not only for the beautiful decorative element that it offers but more importantly for its historical and cultural value. Example at www.smokyart.com

And interesting site where you can find decorative metal art made with quailty is at www.heritageirondecor.com. They have a long history of manufacturing designs creative from a family heritage. Choose from country, western, cabin lodge, or traditional designs. Visit there site to buy wholesale gifts for your customers.