Don't Forget the Small Things - 3 Mistakes Home Canners Sometimes Make

Learn the Secrets to the Masonic Seal Ring from Ancient Tomb Rings

Ping, ping, ping, music to the home canner's ears. We all love to hear that familiar sound as we know that the valuable food we have prepared for our family is safely preserved for use at a future date. We all love to admire our work and the pinging of sealed jars is the cherry on top of a successful canners sundae!

Occasionally though the pings don't happen and you are left wondering what went wrong. In my home canning experience I have found that there are usually a few little culprits that steal your pings and leave you with unsealed jars.

Check for Nicks

First, it is crucial crucial, crucial that you check the tops of your canning jars for nicks. Sometimes if the nicks are small and on the outside of the rim you can get away with using the jar. If the nick however spans the entire rim or is more towards the inner circle of the rim the best thing to do is not use the jar. However, jars that are not suitable for home canning are not lost forever. Old mason jars can be useful for storing nails and screws in and you may find craft supplies can also be stored quite nicely in a nicked mason jar. Also, if you look on line you can find a lot of neat craft ideas to do with old mason jars.

Wipe that Rim

Second, Wipe that rim off. Yes I know you used the funnel to fill your mason jar, but it is still a good habit to get into to wipe the rim of your jar off before putting on your lids and rings. If there is any oil, or residue left on the rim of the jar from the contents you are putting in it can prevent your jars from sealing. I always like to use a heavy duty paper towel that is slightly moist to wipe them off versus a wash cloth. The reason I like the paper towel is because they are typically pure white so you can see if your paper towel starts to get soiled and swap it out for a clean one. You don't want to be wiping your rims with a dirty wash cloth because that would be counter productive.

Boil Those Lids

Finally, don't forget to boil your lids. Sometimes you can get away with this one, but sometimes you can't. When home canning you don't want to not seal an entire go because you forgot one simple step which is to soak your lids in boiling hot water before affixing them to the top of your jars. I actually did this the other day and luckily all the seals took, but it is definitely not something I would encourage or get into the habit of. Also, as you are placing your lids into the hot water it is always good to give them a quick once over to make sure they aren't bent in anyway and that the sealing is the entire way around.

Home canning is a great adventure and a wonderful way to provide for your family. Remember to not forget the small things while you are canning and you will have many great meals ahead of you!

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For all your home canning needs, product reviews, helpful articles, recipes and so much more visit us online!

Kristen Forrester Hall
Canner's Corner
http://www.cannerscorner.com
kristen@cannerscorner.com

Home Canning Made Simple

New Zealand's 7 Favourite Native Animals

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New Zealand is one of the most isolated countries on the planet, and with this status has come along a vast array of wildlife that now fondly call it home.

Unique birds, animals and plants have developed here and attract thousands of tourists year upon year. New Zealand is best known for its flightless birds, such as the Kiwi, but visitors shouldn't be tricked into thinking that these are all that is on offer here.

Time magazine has described New Zealand as an "ultimate storehouse for discontinued zoological models". This especially rings true of the direct descendents of prehistoric wildlife that frolic about the countryside, including the tuatara, weta and giant snail.

While visiting New Zealand, there are several species of wildlife keen nature lovers should definitely keep their eyes open for, and these include:

1. Kiwi

The Kiwi is New Zealand's icon and there are a total of 5 species to be seen here. The Kiwi is a nocturnal flightless bird and is characterised by its hair-like feathers, long whiskers and nostrils at the end of its bill.

The best place to see the Kiwi is on Stewart Island on the beautiful Mason Bay beach.

2. Kea

The Kea is a large species of parrot that is olive green in colour and has a large narrow curved grey-brown upper beak. The Kea is one of the only alpine parrots in the world and is known for its intelligence and curiosity.

The Kea can mostly be found in the forested and alpine regions of New Zealand's South Island.

3. Hector's Dolphin

This unique species of dolphin is only found in New Zealand and spans just 1.4 metres in length. Hectors are small, fast and chunky and are characterised by their black beak and rounded dorsal fin.

Hector's Dolphins like to play around the shallow waters of the coastal areas of New Zealand, but are mainly sighted off the coast of the South Island.

4. Sperm Whale

Although they are not unique to New Zealand, the Sperm Whale has a large population nestled in its waters. The sperm whale has the largest brain of any animal, is the largest living toothed animal and also the deepest diving mammal.

A popular location to watch for sperm whales is in Kaikoura, on New Zealand's South Island.

5. Fur Seals

The New Zealand fur seals are easy to recognise, with their pointy nose, long whiskers and visible external ears. Other popular seals spotted along the coast are the Hooker's sea lions, southern elephant seals and leopard seals.

Seal spotting is more popular off the Otago and Kaikoura coasts on the South Island.

6. Yellow-eyed Penguin

The Yellow-eyed penguin is a penguin native to New Zealand and has a pale yellow head and paler yellow iris with black feather shafts.

These cute little penguins are generally found on the South Island, as well as on Stewart, Auckland and Campbell Islands. Tourists especially love the colony on the Otago Peninsula, which allows visitors to get very close to these clever little creatures.

7. Tuatara

While some reptiles scare many people, the Tuatara is simply too cute not to make the list. The Tuatara is greenish brown, measure up to 80cm and boast a spiny crest along their backs.

They are rarely sighted but are sometimes seen on the islands off New Zealand's North Island.

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Christine Barton is a Content Writer for Discovery Campervan Hire, Australia's travel focused online campervan hire company. She also writes frequently for Discovery's Motorhome Hire New Zealand and enjoys travel around the world.

Men's Rings Are Hot and Trendy

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Jewelry is not just for the ladies... in fact, it never has been. Men were actually the primary wearers of rings in ancient times. Kings and noblemen wore them and used them as seals to identify themselves.

Others wore pieces that identified their social class or the family they belonged to. Still others wore them to identify themselves as members of fraternal brotherhoods such as the Masons. Today, everyone wears jewelry and trends in men's styles have come a long way.

What guys are wearing

Guys are wearing gemstones, some more understated than others, but they like the sparkle too. Men's gemstone rings are usually bold with a thick band, maybe a squared off face and masculine stones like onyx or cat's eye. They also like the unusual star rubies and sapphires which are cut into a cabochon instead of faceted.

Men's gold rings may be a plain band or have intricate designs as well gemstones set in the band. Other trends include a laser finish, which gives it a matte look, and two tone designs. Men's white gold rings are often bordered with yellow gold for a unique and masculine look.

Different metals are also used besides gold in today's ring fashions. Men's silver rings are certainly not new, but they are a classically masculine metal that guys love. Newer metals that are being used are titanium and tungsten which are even more durable and can be worn by the roughest working man.

Styles designed for the ladies

As women have become bolder in their relationships, tradition has fallen by the wayside and jewelry designers have grasped on to this new trend. Women are no longer waiting for their men to take a knee; they are buying men's diamond rings and popping the question themselves.

It is a different world in jewelry and among the sexes! They are also giving promise rings to their boyfriends in the same vein that the guys give their class ring or tiny diamond.

Picking the right piece

Lifestyle is a huge factor in choosing an appropriate ring. If he works with his hands a lot, gemstones that sit above the setting are in danger of being knocked out or catching on something. Of course, his taste and personality should also be taken into account.

Is he simple and classic or bold and flashy? This can help choose between a simple band or a chunky pinky ring. The size of his hands is also a factor. Long slender fingers may not look right with a wide band style where as a thin band will get lost on thick fingers.

Like a peacock spreading his plumage and strutting his stuff, guys like to accessorize and look good. There are no rules about what he can and can't wear and because of growing popularity there are all kinds of ring styles for men to choose from.

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Men's rings can be notoriously difficult to find. Are you having a tough time choosing the perfect one for the special man in your life? Find the ideal ring to make your man look good when you visit our showcase at http://www.gemaffair.com.

Home Canning Equipment

Learn the Secrets to the Masonic Seal Ring from Ancient Tomb Rings

The public outcry over the food practices in our country is spurring a renewed interest in home canning...and for good reason! Canning your food at home insures nothing toxic goes into the food you and your family consumes. And it also tastes better! That's a win/win in my books.

Don't let the thought of canning intimidate you. It's not as hard as you may think. You also won't have to invest your life savings to start a home canning operation in your home. In fact, most of the equipment you need you probably already own. Here's a list of both the basic essentials as well as a few other things you might want to pick up as time goes by:

Essentials:

Mason Jars

You can often find these glass canning jars at garage sales for cheap. Run your finger around the rim of the jar (when buying used) to make sure you don't feel any chips or dents. Even the slightest chip will keep your jars from sealing. Most grocery stores sell jars in various sizes by the case during the summer and fall canning seasons. (NOTE: Don't use recycled mayonnaise and other condiment jars for canning--use only mason jars created for the purpose of canning.)

Seal able Jar Lids

While you can buy the jars used and re-use them over and over, jar lids need to be new. These little metal lids have a rubbery band around them that once hot, create the seal between the lid and the jar. If you're buying new jars by the case, these lids will be included. If you're re-using old jars, the lids can be purchased separately and are inexpensive.

Jar Bands or Rings

These metal rings screw down on the jar to create a snug fit between the jar and the lid. They can be re-used and don't have to be purchased new each time. If you find your running short on rings, you can take them off totally cool jars that have already been canned and sealed. You don't have to store them with the bands screwed on. Again, if you're buying new jars by the case, the rings will be included in the package, but you can purchase them separately as well.

Boiling Water Canner

This doesn't have to be as intimidating as it sounds...you can use a big stockpot or other large, deep sauce pot you already own. I canned my own jams and jellies for YEARS before I invested in a water canner (that I found at a yard sale for $5!) The pot you use needs to be large enough to have the jars you're canning completely submerged (with about 2 inches or more of water above the jar tops) and with enough room around the jars that water can move freely).

If you're using a saucepot from your kitchen, it needs to have a properly fitting lid to go with it. You will also need to either buy a wire rack (you can buy them separately in the same section as the jars in most stores) or create a homemade solution yourself so that your jars are not sitting on the bottom of the pot unprotected.

A great homemade solution I used was placing as many jar rings side by side on the bottom of the saucepan as would fit. The jars then sat on top of the rings, creating space between the pot and the jar bottoms.

Kitchen Utensils

Things like measuring cups, wooden spoons (long handled ones work best), ladles, funnels, spatulas, etc.

Non-essentials (but very helpful additions):

Jar Lifter

This tongs-like simple contraption is designed especially for safe jar lifting from boiling water baths when the jars are too hot to touch. Although it's not an essential, it's hard to can without it (I've used regular kitchen tongs before, which are tricky. The wet jars tend to want to slip from your grip and dropping a glass jar full of boiling hot food is something you definitely want to avoid!)

Lid Lifter

This is a little plastic stick with a magnet on the bottom for ease of lifting your jar lids out of the warm water you've got them sitting in while you're canning. This little lifter is totally NOT essential, but very inexpensive and quite slick. I didn't have one for years, but after I got it, I wondered why I didn't spring the 2 bucks a long time ago. I love it!

Bubble Remover and Headspace Tool

If you want to be sure about the headspace you're leaving, there's no better way than measuring it with a specially designed device to get the job done. Some people swear by them, but it's never been something I've used.

Pressure Canner

This is the most expensive investment of the whole canning process, but you can pick one up for less than $75.00 and it will last forever, at least! (I have one passed down from my grandma).

Although I didn't put it in the MUST HAVE section, it is a must have if you plan on canning low-acid things like most vegetables, meats, etc. However, there are many, many recipes you to can that don't need a pressure canner, so it's not essential for all canning. My suggestion is that if you're new to canning, try your hand with the water bath method of canning first before you dive into recipes that require pressure canning.

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Kerrie Hubbard lives in Portland, Oregon with 9 chickens, 1 cat and several small raised bed gardens. Her website, City Girl Farming ( http://www.citygirlfarming.com ) is an urban guide to raising and growing your own food in small spaces.

Canning - How to Make Homemade Apple Chutney Plus a Recipe

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During the fall season, we love to visit our local fruit orchard and pick our own apples so that we can make some homemade apple chutney.

We enjoy using this chutney as a sandwich spread or as an addition to our homemade chicken, turkey and tuna salads. If you are using it as a salad spread, cut your mayonnaise or salad dressing in half and replace the other half with the chutney.

This recipe requires the basic home canning equipment: half-pint or pint-sized mason jars, water bath canner, jar lifter, seals and rings, ladle and a funnel.

Apple Chutney Recipe

2 quarts apples

2 teaspoons lemon juice

2 lbs. seedless raisins

4 cups brown sugar, firmly packed

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 cup sweet red peppers, finely chopped

2 red peppers, finely chopped

1 clove of garlic, crushed

2 1/2 tablespoons mustard seed

2 tablespoons ginger

2 teaspoons ground allspice

1 teaspoon curry powder

2 teaspoons table salt

4 cups white vinegar

Apple Preparation: Wash, peel, core and chop your apples, sprinkle with 2 teaspoons of lemon juice to prevent darkening; set aside.

In a large stock pot, combine all of the above ingredients, one at a time and stirring in between each addition. Over medium heat, simmer the mixture for 60 to 85 minutes or until the mixture has thickened. Use a nonstick silicone spatula to stir the mixture every 10 minutes.

Once mixture is done cooking, ladle it into hot and clean mason jars, leaving a 1/2" head space. Use a soft cotton towel and wipe the rims clean before placing the seal and ring onto your jar.

Process jars in your water bath canner for 10 to 15 minutes or according to manufacturers instructions. Once they are done, carefully remove them from the water and let them cool in a non-drafty area of your kitchen. After 2 hours have passed, recheck your jars to make sure they have all sealed properly.

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Shelly Hill has been working from home since 1989 and is a Manager with Tupperware. Shelly enjoys cooking and baking for her family and friends and trying out new recipes. You can visit Shelly online at http://www.workathomebusinessoptions.com or at http://wahmshelly.blogspot.com for additional free recipes and cooking tips.

101 Products You Can Make With a Medal Press

Learn the Secrets to the Masonic Seal Ring from Ancient Tomb Rings

1. BULLION MEDALS, ROUNDS A medallic item issued not for its commemorative, historical, souvenir or art design aspect, but for the bullion it contains. When these are circular they are called by the unimaginative name of "rounds."

2. CHALLENGE COINS Created for members of a military unit, a custom-designed medal of roughly silver-dollar size to be carried by members or supporters of that unit.

3. ART MEDALS A medallic item made from artists' models, generally multiple struck and given a patina finish to enhance its total appearance.

4. AWARD MEDALS A medallic item bestowed upon a recipient in a contest, race, game or other sporting event, or for the participation in a group effort in some notable activity.

5. MILITARY MEDALS The full spectrum of medals issued by or for the military, including campaign, service medals, wound medals, and decorations of honor. Such medals issued for American military are administrated by the Institute of Heraldry and it is necessary to remain on their bid list to be notified when these medals are required.

6. ANNIVERSARY MEDALS A medallic item issued on the occasion

of a significant anniversary; this includes product anniversaries as well as the anniversary of the issuer organization to memorialize its founding and long-term existence.

7. PLAQUETTES A square, rectangular, or nearly so, medallic item smaller than eight inches (or more precisely, 20 centimeters), it is an art object struck from a die bearing a bas-relief design. When such an item is greater than 8 inches and less than 24 inches it is cast and called a PLAQUE; larger than 24 inches it is a TABLET.

8. MEDALLIONS A large medal, round or nearly so, greater than 80 millimeters (3 3/16-inch). Naive people think the larger the medal the greater its importance. Not true. Importance comes from the status of the sculptor-medalist, the rendition of his bas-relief design and its execution.

9. DECORATIONS, DECORATIONS OF HONOR An elite class of medals, usually those of exceptional design, embellishment and composition - including suspension by ribbons - bestowed for exceptional service or tenure,

and sometimes granted the recipient special privileges.

10. MEDALLIC OBJECTS A work of art inspired by the medallic genre. There are few restrictions on medallic objects or their creation, other than perhaps, they must be permanent, capable of being reproduced, usually made of metal and, in most issues, have multiple sides. They are MODERN ART objects.

11. SO-CALLED DOLLARS Originally political medals struck in silver similar to a United States silver dollar including such items as Bryant dollars (1896, 1900) and Lesher or Referendum dollars (1900-1901). Later the term was corrupted to include any medal similar in size and relief - but not necessarily similar in composition - to the U.S. silver dollar (1 1/2-inch or 38mm). It could

be considered a SOUVENIR MEDAL.

12. ART BARS, COINED INGOTS Bullion items issued in shape and imitation of ingots; design is not that important since, ultimately, they will be melted for their metal content. The term "art" in the name misleads most people, however they are widely collected.

13. CONVENTION MEDALS, CONVENTION BADGES, LADY'S BADGES A medallic item, often of fraternal nature, bestowed upon delegates of a convention or meeting. Usually attached to ribbons and headers, convention badges were often designed with several components: bars, drops, pendants and such. All are intended to be worn, thus they have some method of fixing to a garment. Medallic Art Company invented a lady's badge of half size for the American Numismatic Association and made a COLLECTOR SET of four medals (without loops) struck in two metals (bronze, silver) of the two sizes.

14. RELIGIOUS MEDALS A most popular theme with a heritage extending back in history for hundreds of years. Like religious paintings, religious medals portray Saints with rules of depicting them with halos and rays. Catholic religion encourages wearing medallic items around the neck.

15. CROSSES A medallic item with several arms; often in the form of a crucifix. The use of a cross for a medallic item has wide appeal, mostly for its symbolism of Christianity and talismanic quality.

16. CAMEOS An oval medal in raised relief usually bearing a portrait, in similitude to a carved shell cameo; by extension raised relief, particularly a small relief handcut with BACKGROUND CUTAWAY.

17. JEWELRY ITEMS, BIJOUS A highly decorative medallic item intended to be worn, often worked into a piece of excellent craftsmanship with a FRAME of jewels surrounding the relief item.

18. BADGES A medallic item intended to be worn, often of heraldic shape and emblematic design, greater than one-inch diameter with some form of fastening to cap or clothing.

19. CHARMS A small medallic item, of less than one inch diameter, with a loop and intended to be worn.

20. MEDALETES, MINIATURE MEDALS A small medal less than one inch diameter, not intended to be worn, and obviously, without a loop.

21. TOKENS, GOOD-FORS A substitute for a coin, usually struck in metal with a denomination - or some indication of value - near the size and form of a coin. Often in place of a denomination it will state "good for" some form of merchandise or service.

22. PENDANTS A medallic or jewelry item intended to be worn suspended from a chain, ribbon or the like, as from around the neck.

23. KEY TAG MEDALS Utilization of a medal to put on a ring of keys; they are always looped or holed; better key tag medals are struck in nickel-silver for its hard-wearing qualities.

24. MARDI GRAS DOUBLOONS, ALUMINUM THROWS A light-weight, low-cost medal intended to be thrown to spectators from parade floats or such. Aluminum is ideal and not a too-heavy a projectile; most of these medals are anodized to give them color.

25. LAPEL PINS, EMBLEMS A small medallic item for wearing in the lapel buttonhole of a garment, their unusual shape and color help identify the issuer of the pin.

26. INSIGNIA A symbolic device of distinctive shape and three dimensions indicating rank, office or honor, most often intended to be worn.

27. CALENDAR MEDALS A medallic item in which a calendar of one or more months (usually 6 or 12) is incorporated into the design.

28. ZODIAC MEDALS A celestial constellation, twelve in number and forming a belt around the sky, appearing on numismatic and medallic items; they are symbolized by animals and are the basis of astrology.

29. PINS, PINBACKS A small medallic item, less than one inch diameter, usually uniface, with clasp or stem and catch, intended to be worn.

30. SPORTS MEDALS A prize medal or medal of sports theme; other than Olympic medals which fall in this category, sports medals are notorious for poor design, poor quality and cheaply made. Opportunity exists for upgrading this entire class.

31. FRATERNAL MEDALS Fraternal organizations, notably the Masons, but all others as well, have a long history of issuing medals for members and many functions.

32. COIN-MEDALS, TOKEN-MEDALS A medal made like a coin or token

- struck in a coining press on an upset blank with low-relief coining dies.

33. BROOCHES A large insignia, badge or medallic jewelry item with a clasp on the reverse to be attached to a garment or hat.

34. HISTORICAL MEDALS A medallic item which commemorates some historical event, as contrasted with those medals of purely artistic nature, or those of completely commercial nature (as a CARD). Most always bears a date.

35. TWO-PART, MULTI-PART MEDALS A medallic item of two or more separate unattached parts which form the complete item.

36. INAUGURAL, DEDICATION MEDALS A medallic item issued on the occasion of a new administration, era or term.

37. PORTRAIT MEDALS A medallic item bearing a portrait as the principal device.

38. SATIRICAL MEDALS A medallic item whose theme is basically humorous, often cutting or critical much like an editorial cartoon.

39. SOUVENIR MEDALS A medallic memento; a medal issued in honor of a public celebration or event.

40. EXPOSITION MEDALS A medallic item bestowed either as a prize for a display or activity at an exposition or fair, or one issued for attendance or purely to

commemorate the occurrence of the event.

41. POLITICAL MEDALS A medallic item primarily issued for a political campaign, often containing one or more portraits of candidates, campaign slogans and symbols.

42. MEMORIAL MEDALS A person honored by his portrait or name appearing on a medallic item after his death.

43. GRAND PRIX MEDALS A French term for a highest ranking PRIZE MEDAL

44. MEDALS IN SERIES An issue of a number of numismatic or medallic items with a common theme or design and a continuity in their issue.

45. KEYSTONE MEDALS A medal associated with a series but with a feature different from all others in the series.

46. CORNERSTONE MEDALS A medallic item placed with other objects in a cornerstone or other place in the foundation when erecting a new building.

47. MAP SHAPE MEDALS Silhouetted medallic items in the shape of some geographic entity, as country, state, province or region.

48. ADVERTISING REPLICAS An award medal in which the recipient individual or organization has medals struck in similitude to the original medal and distributes these as a form of self-promotion.

49. STOCK MEDALS A medallic item made up in advance and on hand for use by anyone; not a custom medal.

50. SEALS A metallic bas-relief object, much like a medal, the possession and use of which indicates authority or a medallic item whose principal device is a seal or trademark.

51. LUCKY CHARMS A medallic item intended to be carried by a person, the item purporting to bring good luck.

52. AMULETS A talismanic medal to ward off evil or illness, usually intended to be worn around the neck, intended for very superstitious people.

53. SERVICE MEDALS A medallic item of any size which is bestowed upon an employee or member of a group for length of service to that business or organization

54. SERVICE PINS A pin or emblem bestowed upon an employee or member of a group for length of service to that organization; usually such pins bear a number indicating the years of service.

55. RETIREMENT MEDALS A medallic item designed for bestowing to a person for long service, not a gold watch, give a medal.

56. PERSONAL MEDALS In a broad sense, a medallic item with a person's portrait or about a specific person.

57. PRIZE MEDALS Any form of medallic item used as an award in a

contest, race or game where there is competitive action and more than one

contestant.

58. MARRIAGE MEDALS, WEDDING ANNIVERSARY MEDALS A medallic item issued on the occasion of a marriage or on the anniversary of a marriage.

59. BIRTH AND BAPTISMAL MEDALS A medallic item issued on the occasion of a birth of a child or of its baptism; usually the design shows an infant, a baptismal font, or the Christ child.

60. AVIATION AND SPACE MEDALS From ballooning to the latest space launch this theme covers a wide range of air transportation; very popular. Look for medals to be made from the first metal alloy to be made is space (without gravity) which cannot be combined on earth (like aluminum and gold).

61. MEDICAL MEDALS Any medallic item with a medical or health theme; extremely popular theme and the subject of medal series, collections, catalogs and books written about the subject.

62. GARDEN CLUB AND HORTICULTURE MEDALS Local garden clubs are known for awarding medals for growing prize flowers and for garden arrangements; by extension horticultural medals are awarded for more serious or professional activity.

63. ARCHITECTURE MEDALS Virtually any medal which contains a building in its design, plus any medal issued by an architectural organization.

64. RELIC MEDALS A numismatic or medallic item formed from metal or other material which was previously an artifact of a different form.

65. UNUSUAL COMPOSITION MEDALS Struck on a blank made of a material not normally used for making medals, the usual compositions are: bronze, copper, silver, gold, copper-nickel, nickel silver.

66. PRODUCT MEDALS A medallic item made of a composition that is the business product of the issuing firm.

67. EMBOSSED SHELLS Any form of relief created by pressure from behind, as hammering with hand tools or striking with dies.

68. TALISMANS A medallic object of superstitious design intended to be carried to ward off evil; they are often more grotesque, more symbolic and more widely used than amulets or lucky charms.

69. COSTUME JEWELRY MEDALS An imitation decoration or medallic item made to wear on costumes and fake uniforms, most often for use in theatrical productions.

70. ANIMAL MEDALS Widely popular, the issuing of medals depicting

animals will never end; the critical point is the design, the animals must be shown

in a realistic pose and setting.

71. ENGINEERING MEDALS Construction of everything requires an

engineer; medals can be designed to honor this activity.

72. NAVAL MEDALS Show a ship on a medal, from a canoe to a battleship and it is the desire of every naval collector to own that medal.

73. MASONIC MEDALS Masonic was mentioned among Fraternal Medals above, but it bears its own slot of medallic products. Masonic "pennies" were issued to every member who carried his own medal as a pocket piece. So pervasive is the number of Masonic medals there are two museums in America (more in Europe) of nothing but Masonic medals.

74. SCOUTING: BOY SCOUTS, GIRL SCOUT MEDALS Medallic Art Company was an early medal supplier to the Boy Scout movement, by designing and striking some of the early badges (in the 1920s!). Millions of medals later, there is wide demand for any scouting item.

75. RAILROAD MEDALS The author could have said "transportation medals," but there is a strong nostalgia for railroads, thus the appeal of any medal showing a railroad engine or theme.

76. COIN CLUB AND NUMISMATIC MEDALS What should be the leading groups for fine art medals is just the opposite, as most coin club medals are not quality at all, but accepted by naive collectors. A genuine opportunity exists here to raise the bar!

77. GAMING CHIPS Joe Segal and his Franklin Mint made a million (dollars and medals) by producing casino chips for Vegas and other locations. Imitators are now making gaming chips, not of metal, but of a clay composition.

78. WEAPONS AND ARMOR MEDALS The appeal of this category is very strong among their devotees. Easy to reach through their national organization.

79. GALLANTRY MEDALS A medallic item bestowed for noble and chivalrous behavior; early such medals were bestowed to knights, in modern times more so to heroes of military action.

80. VETERAN'S MEDALS Servicemen returning from military service have been given medals it seems like forever. Napoleon made this a major activity, and in America following World War I hundreds of states, cities and local organizations had medals made for local veterans.

81. SURVIVOR'S MEDALS A medal bestowed to a living relative of a military or naval person killed in the service.

82. MILITARY UNIT BADGES A pin identifying a military organization, highly emblematic and usually enameled.

83. CAP BADGES An insignia, a medallic item with a device on the reverse to attached it to headgear.

84. CARDS, STORECARDS A numismatic item issued as an advertisement by the sponsor or issuer; its called a storecard when the issuer is a retailer.

85. SPINNER MEDALS A medal or token used in games of chance which has a pointer on one side and a center projection point on the other allowing it to rotate or spin on a flat surface.

86. OPTICAL ILLUSION SPINNER MEDALS A medal which when spun both obverse and reverse appear as one view, also called edge spinner.

87. KEYS, PHI BETA KAPPA KEYS A charm shaped like a small tubular key usually indicating membership in a scholarly, fraternal or scientific organization.

88. ADILLIONS A small Jewish bullion proof surface medal mounted in a bezel for wearing as jewelry, invented in Israel.

89. FOBS, WATCHFOBS A special pendant medal with a wide loop worn by men usually attached to a leather strap, or to a metal chain to a pocket watch, what was once called a FOB SEAL. The rise of use of wristwatches diminished the need for such fobs.

90. PAPERWEIGHTS A medallic item intended for use on desktop to hold down papers, also called deskweights.

91. NAMEPLATES A metallic item bearing a name, often with other data, usually in rectangular shape.

92. PLATE INSERTS A medallic item attached to a metal plate; made as a gift item for women or plate collectors.

93. BOX MEDALS, SCREW MEDALS A medal machined in such a way that it has a hollow center - or one made of two sides with a hollowed inside - made to open up to reveal the inside chamber much like a locket; it is called a "screw medal" when the two sides are machined with threads that screw together.

94. TILES Thin square medals which are mounted in quantity on a flat surface, much like ceramic tiles, often of interlocking design.

95. BRELOQUES Adapting a portion of a large medallic design for a small portion to form a new medallic item.

96. SIGNET MEDALS A medal used like a signet ring to press into molten wax to make a wax seal.

97. ANAGLYPHS A small bas-relief item, as an art object in similitude to a cameo, gem, or other three-dimensional relief that is cast, carved, or chased.

98. WAFERS A very thin small metallic piece usually with design on one side only; their thickness is about one millimeter, gold bullion wafers have been made.

99. TROPHY HOUSE MEDALS A medallic item, often a stock item, with a design of a particular sport or event, poorly designed and cheaply made. You can't make them cheap enough to suit these merchants.

100. ASSASSINATION MEDALS A memorial medal issued following the killing of a leader, ruler or president, for the next JFK, Bobby Kennedy, or Martin Luther King.

101. TSUBAS Japanese sword guard; the protective guard between the blade of a sword and the handle; these are essentially medallions with an aperture for the sword blade to pass through. Tsuba makers developed similar techniques as design, plating and finishing as art medals made in the western world.

Ancient Tomb Rings

D. Wayne Johnson is a writer for the Medallic Art Company, based in Dayton, NV. Many of these articles are informational for many people who are interested in the art of medal making. Please visit the medallicart company at http://medallicart.com.

Men's Rings - The Masculine Accessory

Learn the Secrets to the Masonic Seal Ring from Ancient Tomb Rings

Men wearing rings is not a new phenomenon. Since ancient times, they have worn wedding bands and other practical pieces-practical because they actually served a purpose. For instance, men's thumb rings were worn to protect the fingers while shooting arrows and as an identifier for physicians.

Royalty and noblemen wore signet rings to identify their family and to serve as their official seal for correspondence. They dipped the ring in hot wax and pressed it to the documents. But today, the styles for men are becoming more fashionable and less about utility.

Trends and Styles

The tradition of exchanging class rings among teens is improved upon with the promise ring for girls and guys. Yes, there are men's promise rings. The concept is the same-the girl is pledging her love to her beau and promising that they have a future together. This ring is typically inexpensive and simple, usually just a band of gold or silver with the names engraved on it.

But, women are doing more than promising themselves, they are proposing. Sometimes waiting for the guy to get down on one knee just takes too long and it is not an uncommon practice for the woman to give a men's engagement ring to her lover. There are even sets so that the engagement and the wedding band match!

For the guy who has thick fingers, the chunky square fashion rings look great. These pieces often have gemstones like onyx and diamond or maybe a star sapphire in the center. Masonic rings can also be quite ornate, with symbols and diamonds and color.

Interesting new materials.

Men's rings are being made out of some interesting materials these days. It may sound like a part from a car, but a tungsten carbide ring is actually a popular accessory for guys. Men's wedding rings and other fashion pieces are being made from this incredibly durable metal.

When it is polished, it makes a dark smoky gray band that just oozes masculinity. Tungsten is a great metal for guys who work hard with their hands because it doesn't scratch or dent. It is also known for keeping its finish.

Another metal that has emerged in the jewelry market is titanium. This metal produces jewelry that is similar to the grayish shade of platinum. While it makes a good-looking ring, it is not quite as durable as tungsten.

Two-tone rings are also a trend in men's jewelry. They can combine white gold with tungsten or gold and platinum-whatever makes a bold statement. Textured surfaces are also popular. Faceted and laser matte finishes offer something different to the traditional shiny buffed finish.

Even if all he wears is a man's wedding band, there is a much larger and more fashionable selection than the gold bands of yesterday. Jewelers are having fun designing creations for this often forgotten about market. Men wear jewelry and they like to have a choice. So, whether it is a men's white gold ring for his thumb or a fabulous tungsten carbide wedding band for his ring finger, he can accessorize in style.

Ancient Tomb Rings

Men are fickle about the jewelry they wear, and that makes it difficult for the woman trying to find ideal ring for the special man in her life. For a selection of men's rings that will bring you and your man years of satisfaction, visit http://www.gemaffair.com