Look but Don’t Touch
It’s not for sale, but it sure is pretty to look at: A $150,000 crystal chandelier, displayed at Allied Lighting in Costa Mesa through Wednesday.
Designer Stanley Samet created the chandelier using natural rock quartz, semiprecious amethyst and authentic hand-cut Czech crystal. He modeled the sparkler after the Versailles-styled ones found in French palaces during the reign of Louis XIV and added details inspired by Russian palaces.
Allied Lighting has a selection of crystal chandeliers on display, most for purchase (starting at $350). Europeans, contemporary and traditional styles of lighting, in different sizes and finishes, are also available.
The store is at 222 Victoria St., Costa Mesa, (949) 646-3737.
Preservatives
Have a little something that needs extra care? Or need to create a sentimental gift?
A custom frame may help.
Stamps, coins, fabrics, special invitations or heirlooms can be preserved in shadowboxes or flat frames.
“No gift is more appreciated than a personalized framed piece, whether it’s a family portrait, a special photograph, a print, a collection of memorabilia or even a child’s drawing,” says Robert de Castro of the Arts and Framing Council, a national nonprofit organization of professional framers, manufacturers and distributors.
The council is sponsoring a fund-raiser during October. A portion of each frame’s purchase price will go to the Starlight Children’s Foundation, which grants wishes to seriously ill children.
Enhance Gallery & Framing in Laguna Niguel ([949] 488-2808) and most custom picture-framing shops and galleries are participating in the fund-raiser.
Scary in a Snap
The mission? To gather Halloween masks, cards, party invitations and decorations. The course? Stay home.
A software package from Microsoft Graphics Studio allows you to make an assortment of personalized spooky creations as well as monster-up your family photographs.
The package ($85) includes Home Publishing 99 and Picture It! 99.
Home Publishing lets you make posters sporting witches, goblins, black cats or any of 72,500 graphics or photos. It also makes it easy to create animal masks, finger puppets, stickers and party hats and favors.
Need more? You can alter family photos--swap bodies with a ghoul or add a scar or fangs--cut out backgrounds or isolate a subject with Picture It!
In addition to editing and enhancing personal photos, the software will help restore photos that have scratches, tears or dust markings. You can add text to the prints, then e-mail them.
The CD-ROMs run on Windows 95 operating system or newer versions, and the Windows NT Workstation operating system version 4.0 or newer.
Available at computer stores. Visit https://www.microsoft.com