lowcarb Crafter

Ceramic Camera

Skip — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 04:05:58 +0000

This gorgeous ceramic jar is the work of Steve Irvine, a professional potter and a really creative guy. What makes his art pieces even more interesting than their fabulous designs is that Steve took his love of photography and pottery, and combined the two.

Believe it or not these are fully functional pinhole cameras. They have no lens, light meter, viewfinder, or automatic shutter, and yet they can produce gallery quality images. To see how Steve does it visit his website.

Amaze your friends at your next home event by taking a group picture with a beautiful ceramic accessory!

A Gym For The Brain?

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:23:09 +0000

Get Me OUTSIDE!

This is why I don't like treadmills in the spare bedroom, garage, working out at health clubs or other forms of indoor exercise, other than they are boring, boring, boring, wall mounted TV or not. I don't care if Oprah has Michelle Obama, Tom Cruise, David Letterman, Ellen, Donald Trump and Tiger Woods on the same show! (wouldn't that be a show?), indoor workouts just don't work for me, even if I have a window to look out of.

If you ever wondered why your new year's resolution to exercise and lose weight lost it's momentum after only a few weeks here is a clue:

Hello! It's winter out there, cold, rainy, gloomy, etc. Your brain wants to be doing something outdoors, walking, hiking, just about anything as long as it's outside while your body cringes at the thought. Some refer to exercising outdoors as eco-therapy, or green exercise, although I think that word green is overused. Did you know for example that the color green balances the nervous system and is supposed to have a calm, soothing, effect?

When there isn't a whole lot of green around during winter where you live it can be tough to get motivated, much less stay that way until spring. But don't despair, just by seeking the natural world you can reap the benefits of re-connecting with the environment – a reduction in anger and stress levels only to mention a couple. Take the dog for a walk, bundle up and breathe the fresh air.

Your Favorite Craft?

Skip — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:21:22 +0000

What inspires you, getting your hands dirty with pottery, cracking glass tile for mosaic, or maybe you are more of a "clean" crafter, a scrapbooker or a sculptor maybe?

No matter, it's what gives you pleasure and gets your juices flowing, right? Well, we would like to know which particular creative endeavor gets to share that most precious of moments, your spare time?

Please take a moment and vote, comment if you like and if you see a category of crafting that is unique to you, please let us know about it.

Thanks and happy crafting,

Golden Mosaic On The Fly

Skip — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 01:30:44 +0000

This little bug critter is actually a caddis fly larvae who has used precious and semi-precious materials to make a protective casing for itself. The gold flakes, the pearl-like pieces, and the other bug bling materials were provided by French artist and naturalist Hubert Duprat. The design itself is by the fly.

I thought these looked like works of art and deserving of a spot in the Crafter's Gallery.

Giant Margarita Glass Boosts Tips At Mexican Restaurant Bar

Skip — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:21:06 +0000

I have received so many nice comments about the giant martini glass in my last post for the Grafters Gallery that I thought I would share the margarita glass I made as well. I made it especially for the bar of a Mexican restaurant so that the bartenders would make lots of tips. When it sits on a lighted base behind the bar it really gets peoples attention.

What bartender out there wants to double their tips?

Giant Martini Glass A Hit With Bartenders

Skip — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:53:28 +0000

I made this giant martini glass with colored glass beads and the raw glass itself purchased from Michaels arts and craft store in Scottsdale, Arizona. It came out looking great with a flower pattern made of rich, dark reds and blues and when it's lit up from below in a dark pub, bartenders call it the "perfect tip jar."

Why Limit Carbs AND Fats

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:38:14 +0000

Saturated fat will have much less impact on insulin levels than whole grains (bread), cereal fiber or fruit and vegetables (which can heighten the risk of type 2 diabetes). Even if you don't follow Atkins or The South Beach Diet you may already have suspected as much or experienced an increase in blood sugar from eating them.

People tend to go to extremes, carbs should be limited just like fats. If you eat too much of anything, you're headed for a fall.

American Diabetes Association

Care, Cure Commitment

Marines Promote "Good" Carbs

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:38:14 +0000

Saturated fat will have much less impact on insulin levels than whole grains (bread), cereal fiber or fruit and vegetables (which can heighten the risk of type 2 diabetes). Even if you don't follow Atkins or The South Beach Diet you may already have known that. We also know that even the good carbs found in fruits and vegetables are still carbs so we have to count them too.

Low-Carb regimens that follow similar paths to those of the Atkins and South Beach Diets can be diets that include animal fat and protein. Or they can be vegetable and fruit inclusive. The problem is that even though it's a "very good thing to do," most people don't know how to eat well. They don't bother to learn the differences between simple and complex carbohydrates and what's involved in maintaining a healthy and balanced diet. People go to extremes," said Dr. Stuart Weiss, a clinical assistant professor of medicine at New York University School of Medicine in New York City. "In general, carbs should be limited just like saturated fat needs to be limited. . . If you eat too much of anything, you're bound to get into trouble."

American Diabetes Association

Care, Cure Commitment

Good Carbs VS Bad Carbs

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:35:18 +0000

The good news about Type 2 diabetes, which affects as many as 45 percent of women and 30 percent of men in the United States, is that it is 75 percent preventable with the proper diet. (The other 25 percent is hereditary).

And, while low-fat, high-carb diets are often recommended by doctors who treat diabetes, my feeling is that we have to minimize our carb consumption, especially the bad carbs (sugar) found in processed foods (empty, useless calories) and continue to promote the "good" carbs found in fruits and vegetables.

It then becomes a question of finding your carb "threshold" the fine line between weight stabilization and weight gain.

Marines Minimize Carb Consumption

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:35:18 +0000

The good news about Type 2 diabetes, which affects as many as 45 percent of women and 30 percent of men in the United States, is 75 percent preventable with the proper diet. (The other 25 percent is hereditary). And, while low-fat, high-carb diets are often recommended by doctors who treat diabetes, my feeling is that we have to minimize our carb consumption, especially the bad carbs found in processed foods (empty, useless calories) and continue to promote the "good" carbs found in fruits and vegetables. You just have to find that fine line between weight stabilization and weight gain, your carb "threshold".