Things To Know Before You Buy

Odds are you do not know that you are able to tell the country from which an Oriental rug originated just by looking at the style and design. Many people view Oriental area rugs as having a defining style, when really they have many different styles depending on the traditional patterns and materials common to one area. If you have looked to buy an Oriental rug in the United States, chances are you were looking at a rug made in India.

Indian rug producers are able to make rugs in designs that originate in almost every other country. You are able to generally buy an Indian rug pretty cheap compared to other countries. However, just because they make rugs from all over the world does not mean they do not make rugs for their culture. The Indian dhurrie rug, which is a flat-weave rug of either wool, cotton, or other natural fibers, is created in a variety of traditional and contemporary patterns, and is one of the rugs that originated in the country.

When you hear the words 'Oriental rug' this is the type of rug you think of. Persian rugs are easily the most recognized style of any of the Oriental rugs. Persia is now Iran but they still have a reputation for making some of the highest quality and most beautiful rugs. The traditional designs have the name of the tribal region where they were made, such as Tabriz, Kerman, Sarouk, and many others.

The intricate geometric patterns and floral designs are a hallmark of Persian Oriental area rugs, and because of that they are among the most sought after and valuable of all Oriental rugs. Turkish rugs are very prized not only for their beauty but because most of the Turkish Oriental rugs are between 50-75 years old. During WWI the Turkish rug industry was disrupted and it took nearly 50 years for the industry to regain its footing in the country.

The Turkish government is now encouraging Oriental rug weaving as an industry and the rugs that are now being produced are striking in their rich use of traditional design and color. These are just three of the many countries that make Oriental area rugs. You should now see how complex Oriental rugs are but how if you study just a little bit of your rug you are able to pretty much tell from what country, and sometimes area, the rug was made.

I wish schools were more like that! Congrats on LOTD - well deserved even if it's about poo! Congrats on LOTD. I'm sure my homeschooled boys would have appreciated this project. I must say I never thought I'd be learning how to "Make Poo" today but I'm sure glad I did.

Gonna try this with my daughter. Excellent way to engage kids in learning about their bodies. Great original lens that you all put alot of work into. Congrats on the LOTD. Under "A Few Things To Keep In Mind Before We Make Poo" you listed two of the things twice. Especially because I consider myself a poop fanatic!

NOTE: Do not be tempted to add anything, other than possibly a drop of oil, to the almonds before they turn into a smooth butter. Adding sweeteners or water can ruin the texture of your almond butter and will affect the shelf life as well. You can use the resulting almond butter immediately in one of your favorite recipes, or transfer to a sealed glass container to store in the fridge.

You can use raw or roasted almonds. Raw almonds take a little longer, and freshly roasted almonds break down into nut butter faster, if added to the food processor while still warm. Feel free to add salt or spices, to your own personal taste. Don’t use soaked almonds (without thoroughly drying), or add liquid, for longest shelf life.

It might be tempting to add something like vanilla extract, but added moisture will reduce the shelf life greatly. If you haven’t tried it yet, I hope you’re inspired to try making your own almond butter in the near future. Just like making your own almond milk, once you try it, you may never want to go back to the store-bought stuff again!