Archive for July, 2009

About The Bonzai Tree

posted by admin

Bonzai is a Japanese word, but its roots are Chinese and are derived from the word “punsa”. This word means “tree in a pot” The practice of growing trees in a pot was originally Chinese, but the practice of growing the Bonzai Tree was made into an art form by the Japanese when the concept was introduced to them about 5 centuries ago.
It was not until the early 1900s that the Bonzai Tree was introduced to the western world, but it soon became not only a popular hobby, but began to be considered a serious art form in horticulture by many people. Today, there are Bonzai Tree displays and shows, as well as stores dedicated to the Bonzai Tree.

It is a common misconception that the Bonzai Tree is small naturally, but this is not true. The Bonzai Tree comes from the same seed as its larger counterpart, but is grown in a specific way to ensure that it remains tiny.
It is vital for the beginner to know that the main element to growing a Bonzai is pruning this is the technique used that allows the tree to stay small. Without regular pruning, the Bonzai Tree will grow to its standard height and size.
(more…)


Do you want to try your hand at building a platform bed? For those of you who don’t yet know what a platform bed is, it’s an exciting, old way of sleeping that incorporates a simple, elegant frame and a single mattress. Its lines have been used in Europe, Scandinavia, and Japan for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Platform beds can be made of wood or metal. If you’re looking to build a platform bed, you’re probably thinking about wood.

Platform beds can be extremely simple. The extremely simple platform beds have no headboard or footboard, and certainly no canopy. They incorporate slats, which, in effect, replace the need for a box spring, since, because they are sturdy yet somehow slightly flexible, support the single mattress on top. The result is that you get a good night’s sleep, are very comfortable, and yet don’t end up with back pains or numb muscles in the morning.

It’s ever better for your back than sleeping on the floor. And now, with the rapid proliferation of memory foam, your platform bed can be even more comfortable and healthy. Memory foam is a gel-like polymer that accepts your shapes and bones, but supports it fully. (It was first used in hospitals, and is now a popular mattress and pillow material.)
(more…)


Summer decorating should add freshness to your home, not bog you down with more projects during an already busy season. Here are 11 of The Budget Decorator’s top easy, fast and cheap summer decorating ideas.

1. If you want to add color to a room fast, paint is a great option. To save time and money however, try just painting the focal wall in a room. In most average rooms, you can paint just one wall in less than an hour!

2. Instead of sewing up new pillow covers and tablecloths, try using no sew techniques instead. Pillows can be wrapped in a piece of unfinished fabric on the diagonal like a present, and wrapped with decorative ribbon to secure it. Use duct tape to put a temporary hem in flat sheets or older tablecloths to make them fit your end tables and breakfast nooks. Once you have those tables covered, use cardboard boxes pushed under the tables to hide the kids toys and books and flip flops, but keep them handy. The floor length tablecloths will hide the storage area.
(more…)