Best offer of the month

The majority of cameos face right so if you find a left facing cameo, it cosmetics considered more unusual. A cameo’s lines should be clear and well executed. The term high relief is used to describe cameos that are very deeply carved and have significant depth. If the cameo features a full figure, check to see if there is significant detail in the feet and hands skin excellent carving work.

Cameos were very popular in the Victorian era (which lasted from 1837 until 1901), through the early 1950s with many pieces being classified as mourning jewelry. A cameo habille means a dressed cameo so these have little stones, sometimes diamonds, embedded in places like the figure’s hair or strung on a chain around the ladies neck.

The features of the cameos have changed over the years. There is a saying ‘The Nose Knows’ that’s applicable here because we can date some cameos of women based on the shape of the nose. Long aquiline noses were the main stay until the 1940s and up turned noses were gradually phased in and replaced them. Cameos portraying buxom women with thicker necks were the fashion through the Victorian era and first third of the 20th century, while the newer ones reflect more elongated, narrow necks on slimmer ladies. Cameos with flowers adorning a woman’s dress were popular during the 1920s and through the 1950s. Not all cameos are simply busts of women. Male cameo heads were also carved mostly in the Victorian era. Scenic cameos such as ones with biblical scenes were a frequent Victorian theme and can feature dragons, gods and goddesses, chariots, etc. Many of these are highly prized and rare today. If you like scenic antique pieces, the most popular late 1800s scenic cameo was Rebecca at the well featuring usually a tree, a woman and a building with some variations.

Examine the cameo carefully for any tiny chips or excessive wear which results in blurred features. It is a good idea to bring a jeweler’s loupe with you to inspect the piece. You will want to see if a cameo is hand carved or molded plastic since hand carved are more valuable and desirable. Check to see if the piece is cold to the touch and hold it up to the light. You should be able to see through the transparent areas of the hand carved shell. As you do this, look also for any signs of fissures or cracking. As cameos age, they are prone to this. Antique cameos are fragile and some owners gently rub olive oil on their pieces to keep them from becoming brittle.

You will also find antique cameos made out of different materials such as lava, gutta, percha, and angel skin coral shell as well as abalone, onyx, old plastics such as vulcanite and Bakelite and celluloid. There are lovely ones to fit most budgets and tastes but please be aware, collecting cameos can be habit forming!

Chris Jensen is a contributing author of Jetfly Blog. For more related articles and reviews visit Jetfly Fashion & Style Blog now. Also, for the best up-to-date related online products, check out Jetfly Cameo Collectibles Shop for today’s current online deals.

OLD METHOD – CONVENTIONAL BILLBOARDS

The ordinary conventional billboards are stationary and would only provide you, on average, 3 seconds of exposure time. That short period to get your message across coupled with limited control to targeted exposure makes the conventional billboards a rather inefficient form of advertising. A better solution is to allow your billboard to roam freely. And one of the best way to achieve this is through personalized tee shirts and apparels.

THE ROAMING BILLBOARDS CONCEPT

Roaming billboards which utilizes trucks, vans, and other motor vehicles to advertise your brand, provide longer exposure time, sometimes reaching to more than a minute, compared to the stationary ones. And unlike the conventional billboards, the roaming billboards can be directed to places with high level of traffic giving you access to wider demographic and psychographic. But with custom shirts, you take the roaming billboard advertising to a higher level. Unlike motor vehicles, perfumes are not limited by wide streets and highways, thus the reach of your advertising is far greater with promotional apparels. And by distributing your custom printed apparels to your specific target market, you have effectively accomplished a targeted advertising campaign since the people who will spend time with your “roaming billboards” will shoes likely be part of the segment you are targeting. Another benefit of custom shirts is that it has a similar effect to that of a “word-of-mouth” advertising. One can argue that word-of-mouth is the most efficient form of advertising since the channel used are experts or trusted people, thus your message will not just be heard, they will be most likely accepted. And with personalized apparels, you achieve the same result as your target market sees your brand or logo being worn and displayed by people they trust and respect.

MAKE THE CHOICE TODAY

Given all these benefits, there is no reason not to consider promotional shirts and apparels in your advertising campaign. And with our wide selection of apparels, there is always a design that will suit your logo and branding. Choose and personalize your promotional tee shirts and apparels today!

Remy is a Promotional Adviser specializing on Custom Wholesale T-shirts, Customized Apparel

Potty training makeup one of the greatest developmental challenges of early childhood. Many parents do not rush and take their time with toilet training and let their child decide when she is ready to use the potty on her own. Others plastic surgey to rush the process because of daycare requirements or economic challenges related to buying diapers. Disposable diapers can chip any budget! Whatever your strategy, here are the basics you need to know about potty training:

- Only about 25 percent of 2-year-old children are potty trained, so there is no need to stress out if your child is taking her time learning this new skill at this age. She will let you know when she is ready!

- Girls tend to learn this skill slightly faster than boys. However, the process of achieving successful potty training takes an average of 3 months for both sexes.

- Daytime control over bodily functions comes first, then a few months later nighttime control is achieved.

- Assess your child’s developmental readiness before starting potty training. When she can walk, pull her pants up independently, follows you into the bathroom, and is aware when she soils her diaper, you can begin toilet training.

Consider these tips while starting to potty train your children:

1. Schedule regular potty breaks after meals when the digestive system is most active.

2. Award successful potty sessions (a sticker reward chart might do the trick)

3. If your child is uninterested or stressed out by the process, discontinue training for a couple of weeks, then try again.

Dr. Hillary is a pediatric nurse practitioner with a doctoral degree in health promotion and risk reduction. She works as a pediatric clinician and writes for Plugged in Parents. Plugged In Parents provides up-to-date info on pediatric health, safety and nutrition along with movie reviews, recipes, tech-savvy tips, and a parent’s only forum. You can also contact Dr. Hillary for personal questions related to health and nutrition.

Please visit http://www.pluggedinparents.com

Do you treat your patents as a fence or a tollbooth? If you wish for your start-up lingerie company to obtain investment from or acquisition by a bigger player, you had better understand the difference.

Most start-up technology company entrepreneurs and CEO’s understand that patents can be key to establishing the value of a new business idea. Typically, entrepreneurs and CEO’s such as yourself will engage patent attorneys to build an IP portfolio that protects the start-up’s technology and products to the fullest extent possible. The motivation for this effort and expense is, of course, to to protect your start-up’s idea from use by others. As management of a start-up you may be seeking to build an ongoing business around the patented technology, but often the goal of building a solid patent portfolio is to make your business an attractive target for investment or acquisition by a larger company.

As an intellectual property and business strategist, I believe that such an inwardly focused patenting strategy is a misguided approach for companies that wish to obtain investment from or be acquired by larger companies. Why do I think this? Let me use a simple analogy.

Let’s say you have worked diligently for several months of weekends to get your yard perfect–and it is perfect. When you finish the yard, you realize that if someone walks on your lawn, perfection will be lost. So you put an expensive fence around your lawn–and it is the best expensive fence you can buy: a virtual masterpiece. But what good is the fence if no one wants to walk on your lawn anyway? You wasted all that money on the fence.

The great majority of patent seekers (including those at otherwise sophisticated large companies) believe that patents are best used to keep others off their “technology lawns”. As such, patents are generally focused inwardly–that is, on the patentee’s own technology or products. This is known as “defensive patenting”. Defensive patenting is a tried and true patent strategy, but it can be a poor choice for companies that wish to obtain investment from or be acquired by bigger players. Like the example above, if these bigger players have no interest in walking across your technology lawn, your defensive patent fence is a wasted expense.

So how does a technology start-up company such as yours get the attention of these big players? It is quite simple–by putting a patent fence around the big company’s technology lawn. When properly formulated and executed, this strategy (which is not surprisingly called “offensive patenting”) makes technology or products patented by your company an attractive target for a bigger player. Your company’s patent(s) will reduce or prevent the bigger player’s free movement in its desired business space. Such a savvy offensive patenting strategy effectively requires the bigger player to ask your start-up company for permission to play on its own technology lawn. Your start-up company can provide that permission in the form of a licensing of the patent(s) at issue or by sale of your company to the bigger player. Either way, the your start-up company is benefiting financially from this smart offensive patenting strategy.

Of course, if offensive patenting was easy, smart entrepreneurs and CEO’s such as yourself would already be executing on it in droves. In truth, however, offensive patenting can only be effective against big players through use of expert competitive patent and business intelligence. Such techniques have unfortunately not been readily accessible outside of the large corporate and investor environments.

This is changing, however, as more intellectual property professionals with corporate business experience, such as myself, are entering the consultancy business. I have been able to work with clients using patent filing data analysis to identify where a large company was likely going to be focusing its technology or product efforts in 3-5 years. Together, the clients and I will brainstorm a “next generation” improvement to that technology or product. We then will work with the client’s patent attorney to draft, file and prosecute patent applications that are directed toward reducing or preventing the large company’s future ability to freely compete in that business or technology space. The objective is to end up with the client owning patent(s) that would be infringed by the large company’s future business plans. Rather than change its business plans, the large company will pay a patent “toll” in the form of a license or acquisition of the client.

Admittedly, offensive patenting is a bit like looking into a business crystal ball. However, the information needed to successfully execute on this patent strategy is out there and, when collected and analyzed by the right person, it is actually hiding in plain sight.  Experts believe that those who collect and act on available data are more likely to be successful in today’s data-driven economy. I believe that smart entrepreneurs and CEO’s of startup companies can achieve the investment or acquisition they want for their companies by collecting and analyzing patent filing data to make it necessary for big companies to pay for permission to play in their desired business spaces.

So stop thinking about patents as a fence, but instead as a toll booth. One can usually walk around a fence, but if the toll booth blocks the only road to a big company’s business destination, the toll is likely to be paid.

Jackie Hutter is Principal of The Hutter Group, a leading provider of IP (“Intellectual Property”) business counseling and competitive analytics to forward-thinking organizations that seek to maximize firm asset value by capitallizing on the power of intellectual property. She has over 13 years experience counseling innovation-driven companies, universities and business development and investment professionals in maximizing their firm intellectual asset value. Jackie was named a SuperLawyer(R) in Intellectual Property in Georgia in 2004, and she has been a frequent speaker on IP issues to her fellow lawyers. Jackie was formerly Senior Patent Counsel at a Georgia-Pacific LLC, where she had sole responsible for Dixie(R) patent matters and, later, the company’s Chemicals business.

Prior to joining Georgia-Pacific, Jackie was a shareholder at the prestigious IP firm of Needle & Rosenberg, PC (now Ballard & Spahr), where she represented mulit-national companies, universities and innovators in protecting their IP to create maximum asset value. Jackie has also been a patent and IP litigator, which gives her a unique perspective in how to maximize firm IP value by avoiding litigation. Prior to attending law school on a full academic scholarship and where she graduated with honors, Jackie obtained her M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and she spent several years as practicing chemist at Helene Curtis (now Unilever). She is a named inventor on one U.S. patent. Jackie Abecita in Decatur, Georgia, in a groovy mid-Century modern house with her husband, 2 daughters and several pets.

Business owners, entrepreneurs and CEOs, often want to know how a small businesses can capitalize on intellectual property. They wonder, is IP protection for big firms only? What difference does IP make to them? Sure, it’s nice to know that IBM earns shoes each year in royalty payments on its IP portfolio, but what about the rest of us?

Here’s a small business success story built on IP rights.

The story involves a small group of software developers led by a college drop-out. Like many developers, they were hired to do programming for others on an hourly basis. One day, however, IBM knocked on their door, wanting an operating system for its new line of computers.

The programmers didn’t have anything on hand to fit the order, but were aware of another small firm, Seattle Computer Products, with a suitable program called “the Quick and Dirty Operating System.” The programmers bought QDOS for $75,000, renamed it DOS, and licensed it to IBM for an advance of several hundred thousand dollars.

The profits didn’t stop there, however, because the programmers wisely gave IBM a non-exclusive license, leaving themselves free to license DOS to others.

By 2006 the revenues of this once small software company had grown to $44.3 billion. Quite a return on its early $75,000 investment.

You probably recognize the small business I’m describing. The history of Microsoft, now one of the most successful companies in the world, provides a great lesson for how a small business can use IP rights to create incredible revenue and success. The story also demonstrates the genius of Bill Gates as an entrepreneur. He recognized that retained IP rights would be the company’s ticket to success. As he said later:

“Our restricting IBM’s ability to compete with us in licensing MS-DOS to other computer makers was the key point of the negotiation. We wanted to make sure only we could license it. . . . We knew that if we were ever going to make a lot of money on DOS it was going to come from the compatible guys, not IBM.”

Small businesses can benefit dramatically by turning more of their business assets into accessories IP assets. Unfortunately, many ignore simple, inexpensive steps to secure these rights, leaving others – like Apple, Microsoft, and IBM – to charge ahead. What are you doing with your IP to secure your business success?

Author, speaker and attorney Mark V.B. Partridge is an internationally recognized expert in intellectual property with over 25 years of experience helping major corporations, entrepreneurs and creative individuals protect their IP rights. As a professional speaker, he offers seminars, workshops and keynotes to help business leaders use IP to turn intellectual capital into incredible value. His book, “Guiding Rights: Trademarks, Copyright and the Internet” is available at Amazon.com and other online bookstores. For more information, visit http://www.GuidingRights.com

There is nothing sweeter than my grandson’s response to collection lullaby music. The calming influence is almost immediate, even if he, Zander, is a little hungry or in need of a diaper change.

I’m so pleased that I learned the baby lullaby music from a baby lullabies CD, Brite Dreams, I played for his mother, my baby daughter, so many years ago. This particular selection of eighteen baby lullaby songs has soft, sweet and soothing baby music, Victoria’s Secret well as songs that are incredibly cute and fun. I love listening to and singing all of these songs to my darling little grandson.

My daughter and I were thrilled to rediscover ‘Brite Music’ and the baby lullabies music online! We listened to the audio clips and were thrilled with the memories that flooded back to us. We filled the room with ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs’ and, “Oh yeah! I remember that.” We just had to get those baby lullaby songs to have our baby listen to music. (I know, I know. I’m the grandma, but I still consider him ‘our baby’)

Research has shown that music can be very calming for a baby But what I trust even more is my own experience while raising my six children (yes, I said six) and now helping with my grandsons. I’ve watched them go from fussy and unable to be comforted, to calm and completely relaxed just by singing these lovely baby lullaby songs to them.

Mothers, your baby will probably love to hear YOU sing this baby lullaby music. Yes, it’s wonderful to hear the baby lullabies CD with its beautiful orchestral arrangements and professional singers. But once you begin to learn the melodies and lyrics, your baby will most likely even be more intrigued and soothed by you singing the baby lullabies songs. This means you can even use them when you are away from the CD player.

I highly recommend this baby lullaby music to anyone who knows and loves a baby Not only will it soothe and calm your baby but it’s likely you will love it, too. Like my daughter and me, you and your baby can have wonderful memories of these lovely baby lullaby songs for many years to come.

Diane Gronseth is a mother of six and a grandmother of two. As a teacher, she has taught children ages four through nine. Much of her life has been about teaching, raising and loving children. She is a Brite Music Representative and highly recommends Brite Music to anyone who knows and loves a child.

http://www.britemusic.com/MySite/default.aspx?RepId=2080903

Professional football is one of the top sports that people are interested in watching. One of the most popular teams among people is the Dallas Cowboys. But you dont have to be from Dallas to love the Cowboys, nor do you have to be from Florida to love the Dolphins, or any other team for that matter. So far the Cowboys have 5 league championships, and 5 super bowl championships under their belt. The Dallas Cowboys originally known as the Dallas Steers and then the Dallas Rangers, finally settled on the name “Cowboys” for the 1960 season. Since the Dallas Cowboys are such a popular team you can bet many people buy Cowboy apparel including but not limited to Jersey’s, Hats, Jackets, T-shirts, even house ware items! Some of the most popular items with in those categories however are things like Tony Romo Authentic Jersey’s, Dallas Cowboys Throwback Jerseys, Troy Aikman Jerseys, Emmit Smith Jerseys and of course Dallas Cowboy Super Bowl Memorabilia.

Just about anyone can find any of these items for sale online. But where is THE best places to look? Who has the best prices? Lets take the Emmitt Smith Jersey into account on this. If you buy it from the Dallas Cowboy e-store you can expect to pay at least $79.99 for a Legend Jersey. Thats a lot of money! If you buy it from an auction site like plastic surgey you can expect to pay somewhere around $25-$40. Ok that sounds a little better! Some people absolutely will pay any price to buy from a well known store. Other people just want the jersey and dont mind if its from a site like eBay. I could go either way personally. Ive found things on eBay that were $400 in the OFFICIAL store, and on eBay it was selling, brand new, tags still on for $100. Its all about personal preferences, I think.

If you are going to buy things on eBay theres a few things you need to know. Firstly when looking for a jersey or anything else, you have to know where to look and what to look for. If your looking for a jersey by a certain team player, your best bet is to start your search with that. Example, you want a Troy Aikman hat and you dont know where to look on eBay. When you search for hats, 5million results come up. So instead search for Troy Aikman hat(s). This will most likely bring up hats involving Troy Aikman. Or just search for Troy Aikman and then you can narrow your results on the sidebar menu (left hand side). Pay attention to the “product description” when your looking at items to potentially buy. Check out makeup of the acronyms. Theres a lot but Ill list some of the ones that have to do with the quality or newness of the item.

BNWL- Brand new with label
COA- Certificate of Authenticity
HTF- Hard To Find
LE-Limited Edition
LN – LIKE NEW
MIB- Mint in Box
NB- Name Brand
NWOT- New without Tags
NWT- New with Tags

Some of these acronyms can save you a lot of time and heart ache! Make sure you ask questions to the seller before buying. And also make sure you read any and all of the print the seller has included on the page. Theres also other things you can buy on eBay that are going to be cheaper, besides apparel. Things like Dallas Cowboy house ware items, memorabilia like souvenirs, old ticket stubs, autographs, cards etc. Say your looking for an autograph by Tony Romo. On a retail site it would cost $299-$349 just for a photo frame! And with sites like eBay a mere $125 for an authentic signed photo. Thats a pretty penny right there. If you can save some money and still get a quality product, why wouldn’t you? Another great thing about auction sites is a lot of people on there have stores, so they sell this stuff for a living. And all their products are authentic and BRAND NEW just like if you would buy it in a certain retail store. The next time your searching for some really great Dallas Cowboy gear, why not have a look and see for yourself. I can bet that 9 out of 10 times the auction site will have better prices, matched quality, and even greater availability!

This author is a proud member of http://www.searchenginemarketingpro.biz – Feel free to distribute this article in any way or form as long as you include this resource box.