We know little about the details of timekeeping in prehistoric eras, but wherever we turn up records and artifacts, we usually discover that in every culture, some people were preoccupied with measuring and recording the passage of time. Ice-age hunters in Europe over 20,000 years ago scratched lines and gouged holes in sticks and bones, possibly counting the days between phases of the moon. Five thousand years ago, Sumerians in the Tigris-Euphrates valley in today’s Iraq had a calendar that divided the year into 30-day months, divided the day into 12 periods (each corresponding to 2 of our hours), and divided these periods into 30 parts (each like 4 of our minutes)....

Antique Table Styles There are primarily two categories of antique tables: accent tables and dining tables. The following list includes the most common types of antique tables that you are likely to encounter in the collectibles world. Though the forms may date back centuries, most remain common today and can be found in both antique and modern versions.​ Butler’s table: This type of accent table originated as a light, portable type of furniture during the 18th century....

While there are many limited color palettes you could use to start off painting with acrylics, the colors listed here make up a good basic palette of acrylic colors and from it, you should be able to mix all the colors you might want. Red Get a tube of cadmium red medium (you also get a cadmium red light and dark). Cadmium red medium is a yellowish, warm red and relatively opaque....

Hand sewing needles are all designed with unique characteristics that make each type more suitable for one type of sewing, but although needles are commonly associated with a certain technique, you might find that choosing one needle (instead of another) has advantages for your own particular style of sewing. The good news is that hand sewing needles are inexpensive, giving us the opportunity to experiment with them without spending a fortune....

We’ve scoured the web for some of the best puzzles that focus on various Biblical themes. Some can be played online and others printed out to make a great Sunday School activity. Online Bible Word Search Games Bible Word Search Puzzles: A comprehensive resource featuring dozens of free word search puzzles on topics mentioned in the Bible. The smaller puzzles use 10- to 12-themed entries in a small grid; the larger puzzles have about 40 in a larger grid....

If you love the look of embroidery but don’t have the skill or time to learn the craft, an embroidery machine may be just the tool you need to elevate your next project. Without any prior knowledge of stitching techniques or embroidery best practices, I put the Brother PE800 5” x 7” Embroidery Machine to the test over the course of a month to see if it’s a worthy investment for a casual DIY’er like myself....

Liu Pang, founder of the Han dynasty (206–195 B.C.)Wu-ti, posthumous temple name of the fifth emperor (140–87 B.C.) of the Han dynastyWang Mang, Chinese Han dynasty regent (45 B.C.–A.D. 23)Sui, dynasty of China that ruled from 581 to 618Hsüan-tsung, Chinese emperor (712–56), ninth of the T’ang dynastySung, dynasty of China that ruled 960–1279Chao K’uang-yin, founder of the Sung dynasty (960–79)Hui-tsung, Chinese emperor of the Northern Sung dynasty, painter, and a great patron of art (1082–1135)Kublai Khan, Mongol emperor, founder of the Yüan dynasty of China (1215–94)Ming, dynasty of China that ruled from 1368 to 1644Yung-lo, reign title of the third emperor (1403–24) of the Chinese Ming dynastyNurhaci, Manchu national founder (1559–1626)Manchu, people who lived in Manchuria for many centuries and who ruled China from 1644 until 1912K’ang-hsi, second emperor of the Ch’ing dynasty of China (1661–1722)Ch’ien-lung, reign title of the fourth emperor (1735–96) of the Ch’ing dynastyTz’u Hsi, Tsu Hsi, dowager empress of China (1861–1908) and regent (1861–73, 1874–89, 1898–1908)Kuang-hsu, emperor of China (1875–1908)Henry Pu Yi, last emperor (1908–12) of ChinaYüan Shih-kai, president of China (1912–16)Li Yüan-hung, president of China (1916–17, 1922–23)Chiang Kai-shek, Chinese Nationalist leader (1928–48)Lin Sen, president of China (1932–43)Mao Zedong, founder of the People’s Republic of China (1943–76)Deng Xiaoping, Chinese revolutionary and government leader (1945–89)Li Peng, Chinese premier (1987–98) Wen Jiabao, Chinese premier (2003–2013) Li Keqiang, Chinese premier (2013–) Jiang Zemin, president of China (1993–2003)Hu Jintao, president of China (2003–2012 ) Xi Jinping, president of China (2012–)

Important Factors in Yarn for Baby Hats Softness and washability. These are the two most important factors when selecting yarn for any baby item. A baby’s skin is very sensitive and you want to make sure you’re treating it properly. A parent’s sanity is also precious, so an easy-care machine washable item is the most practical. Besides softness and care, hats have some special requirements of their own. The best yarn for baby hats will have enough elasticity to hold the hat’s shape and keep it secure on baby’s head....

Popular Depression Glass Patterns Although several companies made Depression glass in this color, two of the most popular patterns with collectors are Moderntone and Royal Lace, both produced by Hazel Atlas Glass Company. Hazel Atlas went as far as to name its rendition of this captivating glass “Ritz Blue.” The simple bands decorating the outer edges of Moderntone pieces please those who prefer a clean design with a slight Art Deco flair....

According to the generally accepted plate-tectonics theory, scientists believe that Earth’s surface is broken into a number of shifting slabs or plates, which average about 50 miles in thickness. These plates move relative to one another above a hotter, deeper, more mobile zone at average rates as great as a few inches per year. Most of the world’s active volcanoes are located along or near the boundaries between shifting plates and are called plate-boundary volcanoes....

Though you can make soap using only one oil, the best soap recipes have a balance of oils. Soapmaking oils each have different fatty acid makeups. The percentage of each of the fatty acids in the oil determines how each oil will contribute a different quality to the final bar of soap. Generally, the qualities can be categorized in four ways: Hard, stable, long-lasting: (palm oil, beef tallow, lard), these oils give a stable, creamy, low lather Lathering: (coconut, castor, palm kernel), these oils give bubbly, fluffy lather Moisturizing/Conditioning: (olive oil, canola, sunflower, soybean), these oils give a low creamy, milky lather Luxury/Super Moisturizing: (cocoa butter, shea butter, almond oil, hemp oil, jojoba), too much of these oils can dampen the lather—but they sure are good for your skin—they also help make the bars harder (they contain some of the same fatty acids that the “hard” oils have....

Whether you’re new to die cutting or a pro, you’ll likely come across the Cricut brand when searching for a machine to add to your craft room. One of the latest offerings from the brand, the Cricut Explore Air 2 promises faster speeds and a simple, easy-to-use design for even the most novice of crafters. Whether you’re looking to make stand-out cards, special invites for your child’s birthday party, seating tags for a wedding, or even Halloween favors, this machine’s options are practically limitless....