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Just like Santa Claus and Rudolph the reindeer, there are other characters that complete the Christmas spirit. Though they are not that much mentioned in films, books, or comics, Christmas gnomes are popular among the Scandinavian countries. 

Gnomes are believed to be nature spirits that live underground. They are likewise fond of interacting with humans and can be both helpful and mischievous. In Scandinavia, gnomes are closely associated with Christmas and have the role just like the American Santa. In Norway, the gnomes are called Nisse. 

The Scandinavian gnomes

Scandinavian gnomes are similar to what we have read in any Western book. They are bearded creatures and are oftentimes considered to be mischievous domestic spirits. Gnomes are believed to be responsible for the welfare and protection of a farm.

Some Scandinavians also believe that gnomes came from the soul of the first person to own the farm. The spirit creature then continues to take care of the farm.

Scandinavian gnomes rose from the imaginations of the people who wanted to feel less lonely during the cold months of winter. As many know, fams in the region are isolated, and that people experience dark and long winters. Gnomes are then associated with pranks and mischiefs. However, there’s the other side of the story when gnomes are scary. They are known to have the capacity to kill livestock and destroy the fortune of the family. 

What do gnomes look like?

Most gnomes look like short and old men. They have long white or gray beards with bright red caps on their heads. Depending on where gnomes live, the outfits also differ. For instance, gnomes living in the stables usually wear gray clothes and those living in the house appear neater with blue and dark green attire. Gnomes also know magic and how to cast illusions or make themselves invisible. 

Gnomes in Sweden

Swedish gnomes are sometimes called Nisse but are more commonly called Tomte. Swedes also believe that gnomes take care of farmers and their homes. They are known for living in solitude and about 2 feet in height. They also possess incredible strength and hate people with a lack of respect or even lazy farmers. 

According to legends, Swedish gnomes are caring for children and help with fortune if you are good to them. They are also active at night especially when the homeowners are asleep. They also love to do various things around the house and hate it when people interfere with their tasks. During Christmas, it is recommended to leave a bowl of Christmas porridge so that they will reward you with gifts. 

Scandinavian Christmas gnomes

In Western countries, Santa Claus is one of the most important people. However, Scandinavians believe that gnomes do the majority of the work during the season. Norwegian Christmas gnomes help in safeguarding the animals throughout the year. It is also important to leave a bowl of Christmas porridge on Christmas eve for them to become your friend. Just like Santa, gnomes also bring gifts to children on Christmas eve. 

By definition, zodiac signs are the imaginary belt of the heavens that contains the 12 constellations. These are called the signs of the zodiac. They usually contain pictures of animals, human figures, others, and are associated with the constellations and signs. Over the years, these signs have been used for some predictions that are based on the movement of the stars. The truth is that stars do not move, and it is our planet that rotates and revolves around the sun. But of course, this has been studied since ancient times and still kept us wondering about the mysteries of space. 

The use of the stars

Astrology has been used to search for answers, signs, and predictions and is based on the movements of the celestial bodies. Over the years, there have been debates about whether astrology is science itself. History has shown that humans have looked up at the stars to plan their lives. Since ancient times, different civilizations have used celestial bodies as a calendar. Stars are even used by travelers as a compass to know the direction where they need to go. 

The origins of the zodiac signs

People have turned to the stars for answers. This notion has been going on since we don’t know when. Nature has influenced humans in different ways. Archaeological excavations have revealed that cave paintings show that animals and things can be imbued as some kind of spirit form that influences humans. 

In Ancient China, people viewed eclipses and sunspots as harbingers of good or bad times for their emperor. Even the Sumerians and Babylonians also have divination practices. Their observations of the planets and stars were their way of keeping track of the whereabouts of their gods. It was the ancient Egyptians that gave the idea that patterns of stars make up constellations. 

The 12 signs of the zodiac

It was during the Ancient Greek period that the 12 zodiac signs became popular just like the ones we are familiar with these days. Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces, These zodiac signs were named after constellations and matched with dates based on their placement in the sky. 

By 1500 BC, the Babylonians had divided the zodiac into 12 equal signs and are similar to the zodiac signs we know today. These were later on incorporated into Greek divination. It was the astronomer Ptolemy who helped popularize the 12 zodiac signs. 

The difference between astrology and astronomy

Over the years, people have considered astrology to be similar to astronomy. An example is Johannes Kepler who studied the movement of the planets, is also considered to be an astrologer. Sir Isaac Newton used mathematics in studying the motion of the planets. This was then the advent of the scientific approach to looking at the sky and the motion of the planets and the earth. This was the point when astronomy was known to be part of science and astrology was not a science.

According to Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” A good education will hone a child and the result can be astonishing. The key element to education is knowledge. Besides knowledge of certain subjects, education helps and trains us to build our opinions and have our own points of view on different matters. You don’t only learn the content of the books or the topics that the educators teach. Students also learn the most important lesson… the lesson of life. 

Over the years, educational institutions have created ways to help the learning of young minds. It is important for educators to have learning and teaching methodologies to properly instruct the students. Teachers also need materials to help them as well as the students in their classroom activities. The use of posters is one of the most commonly used visual aids in the classroom. It is an effective way to instill in the minds of students the lessons given by the teachers. Read on to learn more about the role of posters in the classroom. 

Influence student behavior with posters

Students are easily influenced by their surroundings. Studies also revealed that the appearance of the classroom has significant effects on the behavior of the learners. This is where the use of posters comes in. The display of attractive posters in the classroom will help create a pleasing environment that will be conducive to learning. In addition to these, the right posters can encourage good attendance and active participation in class. 

Active participation with interactive posters

One of the best ways to encourage student participation is to increase the activities in which they have to be involved. One of the ingenious ways to encourage active student participation is to use post-it notes. Posters can be modified by the addition of removable post-it notes. Invite students to write what they have learned on the post-it note and stick them on the poster. This activity helps reinforce the lesson for the day. 

Remind safety in the classroom with posters

The display of safety posters is one of the creative ways to enforce safe classroom practices. It is also a fact that teachers may benefit from the posters. A well-organized classroom carries little risk, thus making it safe for the kids and letting you teach more effectively. Display posters that remind about health and standard health protocols. These will be very effective especially during these times of pandemic.

Posters that show classroom rules

Rules are needed everywhere. These are to maintain everything in order. Posters that feature classroom rules will help both the teachers and learners with behavioral expectations. These are likewise effective visual aids if the need arises. 

Display these posters in a spot where students can easily see them. The posters may also be displayed on bulletin boards. Limit the text content so that kids will easily understand them. It is also recommended to use infographics to make the posters more appealing. 

More posters for learning

Over the years, posters have been used for different reasons. In the classroom, posters can totally help in the learning of kids. Young ones love colorful images that will remain in their minds. Images of animals, plants, flowers, and the alphabet are of great help in establishing the fundamentals of life for the students. 

Bedroom is a special place for every household member. It is where you can have rest and relax from the daily routine and forget about your worries. Since it is your personal sanctuary, it needs interesting decor to make the atmosphere inviting and relaxing. There is a wide range of decors that will make the necessary transformation. While choosing the right bedroom decor, you need to consider several factors, such as room size, furniture pieces, and wall colors. 

The decors you choose can instantly change the beauty of your bedroom. This is the reason why you need to plan carefully before adding any poster. Themes may vary and are available in various designs. The most important aspect in choosing the right design is how they combine with the interior design style of the whole room. Choose the poster design that will stand out or will enhance the overall design of your bedroom. Here are some ideas that you can employ when decorating the bedroom with posters.

Floral prints

Floral prints are always safe to use. However, different flowers evoke different kinds of energy. Experts suggest not to have complete freedom when choosing the type of flower. There are flowers that are appropriate for the bedroom. Here are some examples:

• The cherry blossom represents freshness and innocence and is ideal for newlywed couples. 
• Peony Flowers are known to attract love, romance, and warmth. However, avoid this flower to couples. 
• Roses help improve the relationships among the members of the family. 
• Orchids symbolize love, beauty, and fertility. 
• Narcissus is the flower that represents career and education as well as good luck and prosperity. 

Landscapes

Landscapes are fantastic poster designs that have been used in both homes and offices. If you are going to use this design in the bedroom, choose the poster the depicts good and calm weather. Images of typhoons, hurricanes, storms, and the likes bring bad vibes to the bedroom. 

Animals

The images of animals evoke positive emotions, and the urge to take care of your loved ones. Avoid posters of predators and other aggressive animals. Posters of animals with their partners are also great to display as they bring harmony and balance to your life. 

Abstract art

The good thing about abstract art is its versatility. They suit well in every room including the bedroom. Take into consideration the colors and significance of the art. We understand that sometimes it is difficult to interpret the meaning of abstract art. But that is what makes them amazing. Avoid too bright or too aggressive designs as these will not help you relax in the bedroom. 

Nature-inspired posters

If still not sure what poster to display, go with nature-inspired art. It is a universal theme and the safest design to display in any room. Just like in any theme, it is best to choose calm and placatory images. Posters with cool designs like greenery and botanical prints are proven to calm and relax the mind. On the other hand, posters of different landscapes like mountains and horizons give an impression that the room appears bigger. 

Travel posters

If you are a travel enthusiast, you can bring the adventure to your bedroom. There are many travel posters available in the market. These posters feature the different travel destinations and landmarks around the globe or the country. As such, your bedroom will have a style that will reflect your character and personality. 

Black and white prints

Black and white posters are perfect if you want your bedroom to have that classic and retro appearance. These posters never go out of style and they likewise evoke a minimalist effect. These prints are ideal if you want your bedroom to have that elegant and sophisticated vibe. 

Paul Klee is a talented artist who has contributed a lot to the world of art. He is also a natural draftsman who experimented with and mastered the color theory and wrote extensively about it. His lectures, Writings on Form and Design Theory, that is published in English as the Paul Klee Notebooks, are considered to be of utmost importance to modern art. Read on to learn more about the life and works of Paul Klee.

Biography

Paul Klee (1879-1940) was born in Switzerland and considered to be both a German and Swiss painter. His works were greatly influenced by different movements in art, including expressionism, cubism, and surrealism. He is a natural draftsman whose artworks have shown that he has mastered color theory. 

During his younger years, Paul Klee focused on becoming a musician, but later on decided to concentrate more on the visual arts. As a musician, he played mostly the traditional works of the 18th and 19th centuries. As a visual artist, he enjoyed practicing freedom to explore radical ideas and styles. 

During his school years, he is fond of drawing caricatures and already displaying and already displaying skill with line and volume. He also studied art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich wherein he excelled at drawing. After receiving his Fine Arts degree, he traveled to Italy along with his friend, Hermann Haller. While traveling, the two studied the master painters of the past centuries. 

For Paul Klee, color represented the optimism and nobility in art, and a hope for relief from the pessimistic nature he expressed in his black-and-white grotesques and satires. By 1905, he was developing some experimental techniques, including drawing with a needle on a blackened pane of glass resulting in 57 works including his Portrait of My Father (1906). He also completed a cycle of eleven zinc-plate etchings called Inventions. 

From 1931 to 1933, Klee taught at the Academy of Fine Arts in Dusseldorf. He went back to his hometown when the National Socialists declared his art “degenerate” in 1933. His later works reflected the turmoil in Europe in which they have a somber tone. Lines turned into black bars, forms became broad and generalized, scales are larger, and colors are simpler. 

Methods and Styles

Paul Klee was associated with Expressionism, Cubism, Futurism, Surrealism, and Abstraction. He usually worked alone to interpret new art trends in how own way. He developed new techniques as he worked in different media including oil paint, watercolor, ink, pastel, etching, and others. He often combined these mediums in one artwork. He also used canvas, burlap, muslin, linen, gauze, cardboard, metal foils, fabric, wallpaper, and newsprint. He also used spray paint, knife application, stamping, glazing, and impasto and mixed media such as oil with watercolor, watercolor with pen and India ink, and oil with tempera. 

With his mastery of color and toes, many of his works combine these skills. Most works have a fragile childlike quality to them and are usually on a small scale. It is also common to see geometric forms and grid format compositions along with letters, numbers, animals, and people. Some of his works are abstract that may reflect dry humor and varying moods, as well as political convictions. His works often allude to poetry, music, and dreams. His later works are distinguished by spidery hieroglyph-like symbols.  

The birth of your baby is one of the greatest gifts in the world. You have waited for several months and now that your baby has finally arrived, there are a lot of changes that may happen to your life and to the whole family. However, before that, there are some preparations that need to be done. The baby room will soon be the sanctuary of your little. Preparing it before the arrival is crucial so that it becomes comfortable and relaxing. Moreover, the baby room also needs to be multi-functional. Read on to learn a few tips about decorating the baby room.

Choose the right wall color

Choosing the color for the baby room is probably the first thing that comes to your mind. Why not? This is the very first thing that you will see upon entering the room. It is therefore right to prepare the room before the birth of your little one. You may already have an idea about gender so there are different colors to choose from that will personalize the whole baby room. Check out the list below to see if they fit your needs for the baby room:

• Red is usually associated with passion and aggression. Be careful with using this color when using it in the nursery. Do not paint the entire wall red and do not even make it the principal color of the room. Use it only to accent the wall or use decorative items of this color. 
• Orange is another warm color. It stimulates communication and friendship. Be careful as well with the use of orange as too much may be too stimulating. 
• Yellow is a cheerful and sunny color. It provides more energy and contributes to better memory with the lighter hues help in concentrating. Too much yellow may likewise be too agitating for the baby.
• Green is a neutral color that can be used in any room. It is the color of health and well-being. It is a good choice for the nursery especially if you decide to use lighter and softer shades. 
• Blue is a cool color that is calming and relaxing. It is a good choice for the nursery and can be used whether you have a boy or a girl. Choose the lighter hues since the dark shades can be too depressing. 
• White is one of the common choices of parents. It is the color of purity and innocence. It offers calmness but it is recommended to use it in combination with other colors and decors. 
• Brown is also a good choice for the baby room. It is warm and pleasant and it’s better to combine it with other colors such as blue, beige, and green.

Personalized Baby Posters and Pictures

In many instances, the first thing that comes into your mind when decorating your room is the use of posters. It is one of the easiest ways to decorate the walls and make the room look warm and bright. Before choosing the poster design, you need to take into consideration the theme of the room first. Also, the color scheme is important so that you will be able to pick the right poster design that will blend. Personalized posters of babies come in different appearances and themes. And the choice depends on your existing interior design style.

A neutral theme for the posters is the safest to use as they can easily blend with any design style that the room has. The image can be anything, from animals to the baby’s first photos. Once displayed on the walls, these posters will make wonderful wall art that your family and friends will surely adore. Other themes that you can create in the nursery with the use of posters are nautical, safari, medieval, and cartoons/ 

These days, parents even make the nursery look lovely with family photos arranged in a random layout. A large-sized customized poster of the baby will even make the wall art more interesting and personalized. 

Now that you are expecting the arrival of your baby, it is time to decorate the nursery and personalize it. Preparing the nursery may be a bit busy for you as there are many things to consider. For instance, the addition of wall art is usually the last to be thought of. Yet this will totally make the nursery look amazing. Customized art will help you create a wonderful nursery and will create a room environment that is perfect for the newest member of the family. 

Wall display for the baby room

Decorating the walls is one of the easiest and fastest ways to personalize the baby room. As expecting parents, preparing the nursery is one of the exciting activities to do while waiting for the day of your baby’s arrival. Buying the things they need and placing them in their respective places may be tedious yet there’s something satisfying about it. This is also true when decorating the wall. You get the chance to choose the right color as well as the decors to display to customize the whole nursery. With the right wall art, the nursery will be a safe haven for your little bundle of joy.

Family photos

Check your albums. For sure there are a lot of photos of the family that you have kept all these years. Displaying them and arranging them in a fashionable way will help you introduce the family members to your baby at the right time. You can also do this to create memorable wall art as you will showcase some of the fun activities that you and your family did. 

Cuddly-looking animals

There are a lot of animal-themed posters that are perfect for the nursery. Most of them are in adorable colors that are not too loud for the eyes of babies. Collect the different animals and display them and create wonderful wall art in a random layout. These posters can also be used to teach them the different animals and prepare them for school. 

Nature-inspired prints

Posters of plants and flowers are not only cool for the sense of vision. These will also make the nursery look lively and welcoming. The natural colors can help create a calming and relaxing vibe that is perfect for you and your little one. The posters will also look perfect if they are in neutral-colored frames. 

Alphabet and numbers

Alphabets and numbers are the very first lesson to teach your little ones. Having posters of the alphabet as well as numbers will likewise help your child learn about them and prepare them for school. Choose prints in subtle colors so that they may not be too offensive to the eye. These will not only help beautify the walls but will also serve as visual aids to educate them. 

Personalized posters

It is also smart to add personalized posters to make the nursery look and feel its own. Display posters that feature the images of your child when they were born. You can likewise choose poster designs with colors that will help your child rest and relax.

Already in the planning stage for your wedding? This is probably one of the most challenging parts before the big day. You will have to choose the right wedding cake, the gown, reception area, flowers, and others. With so many choices on the table, you will surely be confused about which ones to choose. However, if you are planning to have the wedding ceremony at your home, then you also have to prepare your home big time! Do not stress yourself as there are simple and inexpensive ways to prepare your house for this momentous occasion. 

Clean your house and make it stay that way

Big efforts are needed into getting your house organized and clean especially before the big day. As it draws closer, you should be able to focus on the preparation rather than cleaning up and making things look bright. Of course, many people will keep on coming in and out of your home. This will be difficult for your to keep your home clean. A robot vacuum will be a good help in removing the dust off your floors. It does not have to be that expensive. You can get good deals online. As such, cleaning the floors would be simple.

Try to rent some items instead of getting new ones

For sure, you will have some events before the wedding day. Relatives from different places will be coming in to stay in your home. Friends will come and go for visits. Your things may not be sufficient, like chairs and tables. Avoid buying new ones and look for rentals. Wine glasses, tents, decors are likewise available for rent as long as you take time in search of them. Ask your friends if they know someone to save time and effort. Another way is to check social media as you can see a lot of rentals there. 

Relieve your guests from stress

Wedding and wedding preparations are fun and exciting. They can also be highly stressful. It is important to keep everyone relaxed and maintain a comfortable ambiance to your home. If the room temperature is warm, try adding some electric fans and paper fans to keep your guests comfortable. You may also use calming scents with the use of scented candles of oils to calm your nerves before the big day. Examples of scents you can try are lavender and cedarwood. 

Prepare simple yet sumptuous meals

Food is very crucial during these times. However, this should be the last of your worries especially if you have a large number of guests. It is also vital to prepare healthy food especially for those who are on maintenance meds. You do not want your wedding to be the cause of their health problems. Plan your meals and snacks even before they arrive. You can hire some help in preparing the meals. Prepare a snack bar where they can pick their own stress busters. It is also cute to see a colorful healthy snack bar for the little ones. 

How about pets?

Pets do get stressed especially if they are not familiar with their surroundings. Look for someone who can take care of them while you are away or busy with the preparations and celebrations. You may also bring your pets along with you, especially anxious animals. 

Decorate your home

There are a lot of ways to maintain a festive ambiance in your home. Decorating the walls is one of the easiest and fastest ways to keep them cool and lovely. Posters are some of the wonderful wall decors that can be a great help when preparing your home before the big day. There are a lot of themes available. Floral prints are also perfect to make the ambiance perfect for the event. You can also personalize it with your photos with family and friends.