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ANTIQUES
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Antiques Roadshow
www.antiquesroadshow.co.uk
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Despite the name, this site is nothing at all
to do with the popular BBC TV programme.
Instead, it's a reasonable information
resource for the antique hunter. Antiques
Roadshow includes a directory of antique shops
and auctions around the UK plus a list of
upcoming antiques fairs and shows - all
ordered geographically. One word of warning
though, the navigation on the site can be
tricky - make sure you scroll down the page to
see all the information listed.
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Antiques Web
www.antiques-web.co.uk
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Antiques Web is a huge directory of antique
resources in Great Britain. The information is
ordered by geographical area and you'll find
details on auction houses, antique shops,
antique fairs and even a list of hotels to
stay in while you're digging out that
Chippendale sideboard.
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BBC Online - Antiques on the Web
www.bbc.net.uk/antiques
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Every antique hunter's favourite TV programme
has to be the Antiques Roadshow. Visit this
BBC site and you can search through some of
the valuable treasures the show has turned up.
This site's got all areas covered - you can
have a virtual chat with other antiques
enthusiasts, check out the antique of the week
and have a guess at how much it'll fetch at
auction or test your knowledge in the online
antiques quiz. The Buyers Guides section is
packed full of invaluable background
information which should help you value items
accurately
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Antique's World
www.antiquesworld.co.uk
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If you want lists then you've come to the
right website. Antique's World is packed full
of information for anybody with an interest in
antiques be they professional or enthusiastic
amateur. The lists include a guide to local
antique fairs and markets, culled from
Antiques Diary magazine, links to collectors'
organisations around the UK plus guides to
collector's clubs, antique dealers and
restoration and conservation services. The
online articles are also worth a read, they're
written by experts and cover topics as diverse
as Clarice Cliff and Cruise Liner
keepsakes.
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Icollector
www.icollector.com
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This US site lets you bid for art, antiques
and general collectable items stored in
auction houses and antique dealers around the
world. You can also search through the auction
houses' online catalogues to find out what
items are coming up for sale. If you want to
gem up on a specific topic before you get the
chequebook out, you should visit the useful
Reference section of the site. The lively
Community section, where you can chat live to
industry experts or talk to other collectors,
is also a good source of information and
advice.
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SalvoWeb
www.salvo.co.uk
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SalvoWeb specialises in providing information
about architectural antiques, antique garden
ornaments and architectural salvage companies.
There are links to the websites of the UK's
major architectural salvage companies and a
section devoted to classified ads for buying
and selling items - this is the place where
you're going to find that elusive cider press
you've been after for years. SalvoWeb has just
added online auctions to its roster of
services and you don't even have to register
to bid for an item. The kind of stuff being
offered for sale includes cast iron lamp posts
and marble church altars. And if you're after
a specialist crafts person then check out this
site; there are links to woodturners, stained
glass makers and even a Bath Doctor who comes
in and rescues your old enamel tub.
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World Collectors Net
www.worldcollectorsnet.com
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World Collectors Net calls itself the
'collectors portal' and it's true. No matter
how obscure the objects you choose to collect,
you'll probably find a kindred spirit in the
Message Boards area of this site. The
collectibles covered include popular items
such as Swarovski crystals, Furbys and Barbie
dolls as well as more conventional items such
as Royal Doulton tableware. As well as being
able to buy online, the site boasts lots of
handy features and background articles as well
as a comprehensive collection of links to
other collectibles sites.
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Collectiques
www.collectiques.co.uk
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Collectiques is an impressive online guide to
antiques and collectables. You choose your
area of interest - be it art, sculpture,
memorabilia, glassware or pottery - and then
you simply search for the item you're
interested in. The search will pull up
information on antique dealers selling the
item as well as any handy background research
material. If it's model cars you're into then
you'll love the Online Model and Toy Cars shop
where you can get hold of all those Corgi and
Matchbox classics. The gold and silver
hallmark database is also an invaluable
resource if you want to know what all those
mysterious symbols really mean.
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AVIATION
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Aeromart
www.aeromart.co.uk
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Of course some hobbies are a little more
expensive than others. Most of us, let's face
it, are not in the market for a plane of our
own, even if we lower our sights from a
brand-new Lear Jet to a second-hand Piper
Cherokee. But we can dream. Join the assorted
golfers, basketball players and Internet
company CEOs in browsing the For Sale section.
A second-hand Bell 206BIII helicopter for a
mere £349,950? We'll take one in each
colour.
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Guide to spotting commercial aircraft
www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/1273/spotting.html
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This useful little site was awarded a 'pick
of the sites' plaudit by the Los Angeles
Times. Then again, the webmaster boasts about
receiving a 'geek of the day' award too.
Still, the great thing about geeks is they are
deeply dedicated, enthusiastic, and totally
unselfish about sharing their knowledge with
you. This has all you need to identify just
about every plane currently flying the
skyways. Pictures, specifications, history,
you name it.
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Softley and Page
www.softleyandpage.com
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Forget your happy schoolday evenings
constructing Flying Fortresses from an Airfix
kit and modelling cement, Softley and Page
work from rather more upmarket materials. The
company specialises in crafting replica boats
and aeroplanes from silver. Examples of their
intricate work on the site of everything from
rowing eights and shows to modern superyachts,
and vintage aircraft dating back to the
Sopwith Camel. But you're the customer, you're
paying the (hefty) price and you can
commission any replica you want. Prices on
request.
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Wonderful world of model aeroplanes
www.mpx.com.au/~theferal/planes.html
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A site name that wonderfully evokes the boy's
own world of ham radios, crystal sets,
home-made fishing rods and, well, model
aeroplanes. No retro-style irony intended here
though, this site is the business for experts
and learner pilots alike. Whether you're into
World War II craft, modern jet fighters,
helicopters or the wackier hybrid models such
as the 'hanger rat', this is the place.
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Historic Wings
www.historicwings.com
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Historic Wings bills itself as the online
e-zine for pilots and navigators - which makes
it that much more tempting for the amateur
enthusiast to take a peek. Fantastic features
on great air battles from World War I onwards;
Neil Armstrong's recollections on
first-footing the Moon; a piece on the
pioneering daredevils of the early US airmail
service. And you can download aero calendars
and wallpaper for 'the ultimate aviation
experience'.
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X List Plans
www.xlistplans.demon.co.uk
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The sort of site the World Wide Web was made
for. What could be more frustrating than
looking for a long-lost 1955 plan for that
Sopwith Camel or Seafire, and knowing the
chances of the model shop in your particular
town having that are roughly on a par with
Elvis dropping round your house for tea and
cakes? What you need is a plan superstore that
you can drop into whether you hail from Lands
End or John O' Groats.
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Micromark
www.micromark.com
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Definitely not a site for those whose idea of
plane or train modelling goes as far as
picking up an Airfix kit from the high-street
toy shop. Micromark is a US site specialising
in the small tools modellers use to practise
their art. Really, if you can't find what
you're after in the online catalogue then it
probably doesn't exist. In fact, if it's not
in the online catalogue, go to 'hard to find
items' and there may be some tips on tracking
it down.
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Plane Spotting
members.aol.com/planespot
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If there's a passenger vehicle, there's
somebody standing, notebook in hand, jotting
down its index number and time of departure.
Trainspotting for the jetset, plane spotting
has more of a global reach, though it's the
craft rather than the glamorous destinations
that feature heavily on this site. Airport
information from around the globe; message
boards (but of course) where enthusiasts can
swap tips and unusual spots; and images of
aircraft, so the uncertain can believe what
their eyes are telling them.
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COLLECT
-ING
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Ken's Paper Collectables
www.kens.co.uk
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A marvellous site for paper-based ephemera
(no books basically) Ken and Joyce Graham's
Newport Pagnell shop goes online with its
cornucopia of autographs, comics, magazines,
newspapers and miscellania. If you are after
an early Kevin Klein autograph and have a
mid-period Calvin Klein you want to sell, then
this is the place. This is the sort of site
that works brilliantly on the web - why spend
hours hunting the racks when you can drop Ken
an email with your wants list and let him
source it for you.
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The Movie Poster Page
www.musicman.com
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Not our favourite sight at 8am. Check that
flashing banana and heliotrope pink banner
title. No, the Movie Poster Page certainly
ain't shy. Before you get to the posters
themselves, you have to scroll past an array
of 'Best on the net' awards that would put the
Old Trafford trophy room to shame. But once
you're in the site proper you can forgive
their hubris. It is, quite simply, very
good.
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About.com
home.about.com/hobbies
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We genuinely didn't realise there were so
many hobbies. In fact our mistaken belief that
sex dominated the Internet was shattered as we
reeled beneath the hundreds of sites dedicated
to knitting, quilting, home brewing,
beekeeping and cigar collecting that this
cornucopia of a site lists in detail. If the
first rule of collecting is acquire and the
second is swap then you have to bookmark
About.com.
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Pop Culture Collecting
www.odysseygroup.com
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As our consumer society churns out ever more
products, toys, magazines, you name it, so do
new groups of collectors emerge to turn them
into collectables. Nothing is too new or too
tacky as this site dedicated to the hoarding
of pop culture ephemera demonstrates.
Autographs, movies, TV, rock n roll, props,
costumes, movie posters and memorabilia,
sport, animation art and much, much more. What
could be more appropriate than that The Spy
Who Shagged Me heads the page.
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Collecting Channel
www.collectingchannel.com
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Nice site in that as well as being an
exhaustive listing of hundred upon hundred of
hobbyist sites, it adds enjoyable and very
readable content to hook you in and inspire
your searches. Newsworthy headline features
over Christmas looked at the collectables
among festive gifts old and new, and why you
shouldn't toss away those old fairy lights.
Community resources include expert advice; how
to identify if the piece of junk you've bought
is really a gem, and clubs you can join.
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Handbook of stamp collecting basics
iswsc.homepage.com/
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Call us traditionalists, but we just had to
go to the daddy of all collecting hobbies -
the humble postage stamp. It's where many of
us start, and it's probably the only hobby
where snotty-nosed schoolkids move in the same
market as millionaire international collectors
(admittedly they probably don't swap doubles
in the playground). This site is great because
it goes back to basics - printing differences,
determining paper types, tips on buying and
hinging.
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Portsmouth Stamps
www.portsmouthstamps.co.uk
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Time was when you couldn't buy a pack of
cigarettes or a packet of tea without finding
a miniature picture card secreted within.
British butterflies, footballers, rugby
players, classic cars, the companies of the
pre-War era left no collective group unturned
in their search for ever more series, in order
to lock ever more consumers into their
product. Now, of course, there are literally
millions of things sitting around in attics
and junk shops. But how many complete sets?
Portsmouth Stamps will sell you sets and
singles and purchase the same from you.
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Suite101.com
www.suite101.com
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'Admit it, you're a collector!' challenges the
home page of the Orwellian entitled Suite 101.
This is a steadily building resource - as more
hobbies come online the real delight of the
site is the eclectic chaos that ensues.
Suite101 goes out of its way to involve the
readers, inviting you to apply to become a
section editor. That's resulted in the site
being more than just a collection of bulletin
boards with editorial content in each
section.
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FISHING
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UK Fishing
www.fishing.co.uk
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The premier place for fishing folk on the
web. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned
angler you'll find this mix of news, tips and
guides essential reading. The design is easy
on the eye and the content a mine of useful
information for those who live in hope of
landing a whopper. News of the latest
tournaments from around the UK and a friendly
guide to the best places to fish are
complemented by interesting articles and a
message board on which to brag about your
latest catch.
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Where to Fish
www.where-to-fish.com
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This site has only one aim - to provide a
definitive guide to places to cast your line
in the UK. And it succeeds admirably, with
over 3000 pages of information arranged into a
well-structured search engine. Whether you're
looking for a quiet river in the countryside
or the excitement of sea fishing, it'll tell
you the best time of year to visit, how much
it'll cost, what licenses and equipment you'll
need and so on. There's also information on
fishing clubs and organisations around the
country.
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Worldwide Angler
www.worldwideangler.com
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Based in the US, this site endeavours to
appeal to fishermen of all persuasions the
world over. Covering everything from shark
fishing in the Pacific to trout fishing in
Northumberland is a massive task, but this
site carries it off with some aplomb.
It's neatly divided into categories, so you
can reach the information relevant to you
quickly and easily, while the in-depth
articles will give you some good pointers to
improving your catch.
Colourful fishy greetings cards and a photo
gallery to which you can submit pics of you
and your prize catch complete a comprehensive
site.
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Carpfisher
www.carpfisher.tsx.org
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A very attractive menu page leads you into
this informative site in the joys of fishing
for carp in Britain's lakes and rivers.
Beginners will find the advice on setting up
a fishing rig invaluable, while there's also a
list of useful books should you require
additional information.
More experienced anglers can marvel at the
pictures of some of the whoppers on show and
try and compete by entering details of their
own best catches.
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Fishing in Wales
www.fishing-in-wales.co.uk
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A well put together site, sponsored by the
Welsh Tourist Board and dedicated to promoting
some of the most beautiful and untouched
fishing spots in the UK.
A friendly guide to the best places to fish
forms the bulk of the site, including
illustrations of the flora and fauna in each
location. There's also a searchable guide to
the best places to stay, together with
information on local tutors and fishing
shops.
The children's section has been expanded too,
with games and educational tools featuring
Ollie the Otter.
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Scot Angling
www.scotangling.co.uk
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You'll get two for the price of one if you
visit this well-informed site. As well as a
selection of interesting articles from the
latest issue of International Rod and Line
magazine, you'll find an excellent guide to
fishing in Scotland.
Thousands of fishermen flock to catch the
Scottish salmon every year and this site will
tell you exactly when and where to go, which
permits you need and so on. There's even a
selection of mouth watering recipes, if you
can't decide what to do with your catch.
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Shimano
www.shimano.com
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Seemingly in a constant state of flux, this
site - from one of the largest manufacturers
of fishing gear in the world - still has much
to recommend it.
Aside from the expected information on where
to buy your rods and lines locally, the main
attraction is a great little game.
Involving a small download, it gives you the
chance to fish offline in a variety of
locations and put your fishing expertise to
the test in an effort to land a whopper. You
can then connect to the Internet again in
order to register your high scores.
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Tales of the Ultimate Sportsmen
www.ultimatesportsman.com
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If you thought that fishing was all about
sitting around relaxing on the riverbank, then
check out this entertaining and well-designed
site.
It contains an ever-expanding database of
stories from fishermen and hunters around the
world. From humourous stories of the ones that
got away, to hair raising tales of close
shaves on the high seas, they all prove one
thing - that fishing is anything but dull. You
can submit your own stories too, which might
go some way to redressing the bias towards US
fishermen.
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HOBBIES
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Garden of Origami
ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/~vbeatty/origami/
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If your grasp of the ancient Oriental art
goes as far as making origami boulders out of
your wastepaper, then this is the site to get
your fingers fiendlishly fiddling. A
beautifully yet minimally designed page (but
of course) with tutorials on grasping the
basics, increasingly advanced, yet always easy
to understand paper plans for you to follow.
There's an interesting section on therapeutic
Origami - for hand rehabilitation and mental
health therapy, as well as related pieces on
giant Origami and Origami humour and
fiction.
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Art of Marquetry
www.artmarquetry.com
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Marquetry, the excruciatingly detailed wooden
inlay which you find set into the fronts and
tops of antique wooden furniture dates back to
the ancient Egyptian art of intarsia. Having
gone strong for 3,000 years, the 20th Century
was a bad one for the art. But with many
people wanting a personal touch as a reaction
against mass-produced furniture, marquetry is
making a comeback, as craftsmen learn the art
anew.
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Card inspirations
www.cardinspirations.co.uk
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There's a growing fashion in making your own
greetings cards, and it certainly adds a
personal touch. Of course, we wouldn't
recommend hand-making all your Christmas
cards, but now the festive season is gone, you
can customise your birthday missives. Card
Inspirations supplies the kits as well as the
templates to embroider or stitch your own
cards, and has a host of other ideas on using
rubber stamps, stickers, even tea bags for an
original touch.
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Crochet Creations
www.crochetcreations.com
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If you thought that crochet just meant
endless matinee jackets and baby blankets,
think again. Crochet Creations stretches the
boundaries of this idiosyncratic cousin of
knitting, giving you hundreds of patterns
(downloadable from the site, of course) for
every conceivable item of crocheted apparel.
There are links to related craft sites too,
for those seeking hair scrunchies or fridgies
(that's fridge magnets to us Brits). You will
also find a host of excellent deals on buying
your yarns online.
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Fretworks International
www.fretworks.com
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If you're a fan of plant hangers, corbels,
spindle rails and gable end trim then you're a
follower of fretwork, and this is the site for
you. A hobby for those with an eye for detail,
nimble fingers and infinite patience, it also
relies on quality materials and top-notch
tools. Enter Fretworks International, based
just to the west of Niagara Falls but
available to fret fans worldwide thanks to the
Internet.
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Joseph Wu's Origami Page
www.origami.vancouver.bc.ca
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Appropriately enough, this site is simple yet
elegant in design, with beautiful pictures of
finished folds. There are a multitude of
origami sites on the web, even some dedicated
to origami as mental health therapy (and why
not) but this one scores for the clarity of
its diagrams - after all, you want to use it
to get started yourself - and the breadth of
links to other excellent sites from around the
world.
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Rowandean
ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Rowandean
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Otherwise known as 'the wonderful world of
Rowandean embroidery. Where creative
embroidery starts!' Much more than just a shop
site selling the Rowandean kits, themselves
some of the best in the business. The site
offers workshops, hints and tips on cross
stitch, links to other sites should you not
find the patterns you are looking for, and
embroidery shows you can visit to gain
inspiration.
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Stratford Brass Rubbing Centre
www.stratford.co.uk/brass
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A hobby that enthrals children and can be
good fun for parents too, and the Stratford
Brass Rubbing Centre offers a brilliant
introduction. Rather than wandering around
churches in the hopes of finding something
worth copying, and then getting trampled by
tourists when you're in the creative act, the
Centre has a range of copy brasses for hire.
Plus there are mail order brass rubbing
supplies, and the site has extensive
historical background on brasses and how
English churches ended up with so many of
these extraordinary artefacts.
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PHOTO
-GRAPHY
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Digital Photography Forum
www.photobuzz.com
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The days when digital photography was the
preserve of early adopters and computer geeks
are fast fading into the past. Nowadays, it's
film that's under threat as digital cameras
become smaller, cheaper and produce
ever-better quality images. The Digital
Photography Discussion Forums aim to share
experiences and expertise between
practitioners in this new medium. You'll find
forums on the best models to buy, printers to
use and software that can enhance your
results.
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Digital Photography Reviews
www.inconference.com/digicam
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A simply invaluable resource for digital
photographers everywhere. Basically a
consumer's guide, offering unbiased
information on buying a digital camera,
scanner and colour printer, plus interesting
comparisons on buying digital or going down
the road of a conventional, film-eating 35mm
camera. Also, check out the Hall of Images,
for side-by-side comparisons of snaps taken by
digital cameras alongside 'real' photos, and
find out about courses you can take to up your
output.
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A History of Photography
www.kbnet.co.uk/rleggat/photo
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There's something delightfully idiosyncratic
about a website dedicated to photography which
boasts about having no pictures! That said, if
there's anything you need to know about the
early years of the camera-related arts this is
the place. The site goes into extraordinary
detail. The beginnings of photography,
significant movers and shakers in the history
of the art, and a - for the enthusiast -
fascinating description of the various
processes used through the history of the
camera: Albumen to Woodburytype, it's all
here. Exhaustive lists of museums you can
visit, and one of the most lovingly and
painstakingly constructed sites we've
seen.
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Centre for Creative Photography
dizzy.library.arizona.edu/branches/ccp/ccphom
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This University of Arizona site has quite a
pedigree. The pre-online centre dates back to
1975, being formed by the doyen of US
landscape photographers Ansel Adams. Small
wonder then that the website is a resource of
superb and sometimes breathtaking images.
Where the site scores is in the scope and
accessibility of its archives and collections.
So you can view prints from the collection for
research or buy reproductions.
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Photography Link
www.photo.iastate.edu
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Very useful site for professional snappers
and serious amateurs. Good sections on museums
and galleries will aid anyone researching or
those of us who like to gaze upon great
pictures. The other side of the site is a
heavy-duty technical resource, with background
info on the major hardware manufacturers and
their products. It's especially good on
lighting hardware and has a good pointer to
paper-based magazines.
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Photography Seminars
www.photo-seminars.com
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The virtue of the camera is not the power it
has to transform the photographer into an
artist, but the impulse it gives him to keep
on looking." Not our words but those of
photographer Brooks Atkinson, quoted on this
marvellous training ground for snappers. And
indeed you'll have to keep on looking, because
Photo Seminars posts new images everyday for
you to aspire to in your work. The brief is to
give you all the training you need - online -
there's even a calibration strip on the home
page to ensure you're seeing the photos just
as they should be..
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The Art of Photography
www.camera.canon.com.my/photography
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Okay, so this is a Canon site. But you could
excise the word 'Canon' from any of the
masterclasses here and still be left with the
last word in using film cameras to take
terrific photos. Put simply, if you went
through this site from start to finish, paying
attention all the way, you'd have everything
you could need. Perspective, lighting, shutter
speeds, shooting snapshots, putting more
creativity in your pictures - the list goes on
and on.
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Masters of Photography
masters-of-photography.com
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No misnomer here. If you're seeking
inspiration from the greats of photography
then look no further. A simple list down the
left of the page from Abbott to Winograd, you
simply click on the artist's name and are
offered a choice of articles, photographs and
resources. Each artist has three thumbnailed
images which you click to expand, you can then
go to the articles, plucked from books,
magazines and encyclopedias. And if you want
to know more, resources will point you to
background research.
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