Carnival History

Carnival is a holiday that goes back to the Middle Ages. It began in Italy and quickly spread to other Roman Catholic communities, first in Europe and then to Europe's colonies. In that way it became popular among Roman Catholic communities and other Christian communities around the world. It is a celebration before the period of Lent. Roman Catholics do not eat meat during Lent and temporarily give up other pleasures during that time. Carnival gives an opportunity to party to excess before the start of Lent. It involves wild music, dancing, and extravagant costumes. The word Carnival comes from Latinand means leaving meat. The most famous carnivals are those in Venice and Rio de Janeiro, but carnival occurs inmany other cities as well. The Mardi Gras in New Orleans is an American example of Carnival.
The word carnival in the U.S.A. and Canada describes traveling amusement parks that go from city to city. The origin goes back to the traveling shows ofthe 19th Century. However the beginning of the modern carnival was the World Columbian Exposition in 1893 in Chicago where the idea of a carnival with rides began. Since then carnivals and amusement parks have been part of the North American culture.
The Beadshaper has started a new Carnival Series of lampwork glass beads, pendants, and beaded jewelry inspired by the Carnival which you can see at Carnival Series

History of Blue

Blue was once considered a hot color but is now considered a cool color. It is found in the flags of many countries and is the color of blue jeans. In the Turkish culture it is the color of amulets worn to ward off the Evil Eye. It now is often associated with sadness as in one is feeling blue. There is a type of jazz music which is known as the Blues.The Egyptians created blue pigment from cobalt thousands of years ago and used it in glass making. It was subsequently used by other ancient civilizations. Later it was perfected in glass making in 18th Century Europe. Azurite was discovered as a source of blue pigment in ancient China and spread to other lands. It became popular as a color in medieval European paintings.Indigo was developed as a blue dye in ancient India. It spread through the Far East and across Asia to Greece and Rome where it was given the name indigo because it came from the East.Ultramarine was a pigment first developed in Afghanistan during the Middle Ages and later was used in Italian Renaissance paintings. It was very expensive because it was made by grinding up lapis lazuli semiprecious stone.The first manufactured blue pigment was Prussian Blue which was created in Gerrmany in the 18th Century.
You can find green lampwork glass beads at Beadshaper Gallery

Viking Knit and Chainmail

Viking Knit is a technique for making wire wrap jewelry that is reminiscent of chainmail. Chainmail was a type of protective clothing worn by soldiers in battle in the Middle Ages. It consisted of metal links which formed shirts, hoods, and leggings. This type of armour protected the soldier from cuts although not so much from crushing blows. The earliest known chainmail was worn by Persian soldiers in the 4th Century B.C. Later the ancient Celts used it extensively. The Romans learned about it from the Celts when they fought wars with the Celts in the early centuries A.D. Other European people, including the Vikings, soon adopted it. It remained popular in Europe throughout the Middle Ages until more advanced weapons made it less useful. In recent years jewelry artists adapted the method of attaching links together in making wire wrap jewelry and named this technique Viking Knit.

Examples of handcrafted Viking Knit wire wrap bracelets can be seen at Viking Knit Gallery

The Beadshaper teaches classes on how to make Bead Crochet jewelry. See Beadshaper Classes for details.