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Tom Clark gnomes are collectible figurines that Clark creates as the lead artist for Cairn Studio, LTD. Although Clark makes other figurines, collectors have made his gnomes and other woodspirits the most popular items. The book "Gnomes" by Rien Poortvliet inspired the creation of the first gnome and other themed forest-dwellers. Crafters hand-cast gnomes in a resin medium or bronze and hand-paint them to create an antiqued finish. Work cautiously when cleaning Tom Clark Gnomes in order to protect the paint and maintain the value of these collector's items. Instructions 1 Brush the figurine with a soft-bristled brush, such as a new paint brush, to remove built-up dust from the gnome. Small artists' paintbrushes work best for accessing small crevices. 2 Line the bottom of your sink basin with a bath towel. The towel provides a soft surface that will protect your figurine from breaking in the bottom of your sink. 3 Fill the sink with two to three inches of warm water and approximately one tablespoon of dish detergent. Use more or less water, depending on the height of your gnome. 4 Soak the gnome in the soapy water for a few minutes to loosen and remove stuck-on dirt. If your gnome has felt on the bottom of the base, place the gnome in the water upside down so you don't get the felt wet. 5 Brush the dirty spots of the gnome with the soft-bristled paintbrush to remove the dirt. If the dirt doesn't come off easily, gently rub the spot with a microfiber cleaning cloth. 6 Dry the gnome on a clean paper towel. 7 Display your gnomes in a glass case or curio cabinet to protect them from dust. Read more: How to Clean Tom Clark Gnomes | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_7666970_clean-tom-clark-gnomes.html#ixzz1xt3cN3Ib

I tend to walk around the house and garden in bare feet for a lot of the year, however this does tend to result in cracked and unattractive heels. I recently decided to invest in a pair of slippers as I had a voucher to use for and couldn't find anything else that I really wanted. I selected the grey bobble knit slippers from their nightwear range... despite the cream ones looking very appealing in the photo above I decided they wouldn't stay cream for very long if I was to buy them! The slippers are made from 100% acrylic which looks like knitted wool with bobbles firmly attached to the outside of the slippers. The inside is furry which is absolutely delightful to put your cold feet into, obviously the fur under your foot will flatten and wear with time but it's still very comfortable at the moment. The slippers are more like ankle boots in that they reach up past my ankles but they're not at all tight around my ankles. The soles of the boots are quite thick to so they should last! The slippers come in three different colours; cream, grey and black. As aforementioned, the cream are lovely but not overly practical so I'd opt for the grey or the black really. The slippers are available in three sizes; small, medium and large. I've got size 7 to 8 feet so I selected a large which are a perfect fit. The sales assistant suggested a medium is for sizes 5 to 6 and a small for sizes 3 to 4. The slippers are priced at £17.99 which isn't overly cheap but I personally think they're a worthwhile investment!

It is important to know how to wear rain boots because they are handy when it rains, and they are also a growing fashion statement. Rain boots are very different from everyday shoes, so before you put a pair on, pay attention to these simple guidelines so you look great no matter where you’re going. Wear your jeans over rain boots for a more casual look. Make sure that the jeans are ironed so you don’t look sloppy. The jeans also need to be long enough; they should be the normal length you would wear them with regular shoes. If the jeans are too short, they will look strange. For a more interesting look, wear the rain boots over the jeans. Usually the only time to wear rain boots over jeans is when it is raining, so that the bottoms of your pants do not get wet. However, if you decide you want to wear the rain boots over the pants as a fashion statement, then make sure the pants are not tight or too fitted. Too-tight jeans on men is not appealing, and adding rain boots to that equation is a recipe for disaster. Instead, opt for looser-fitting jeans. Only wear rain boots with casual clothes. While it may be tempting to throw on a pair of rain boots with dressier clothes, it should never be done. If you are wearing business or dressy clothes and need to keep your shoes dry, then wear rain boots only until you reach your destination, at which point you should change into other shoes. Wear rain boots large. Rain boots should be at least one size bigger than your regular shoe size, because rubber is not the kind of material that will allow your foot to move freely. If the boot is too tight, your foot may be uncomfortable. They may also be difficult to put on and take off. Don’t wear rain boots with shorts. Don’t wear them with khakis either; rain boots are not made for those types of bottoms. They are popular for safety while gardening. Rain boots are great for moderate safety while digging or carrying lite gardening tools to protect your feet. Also to keep your feet clean and dry. Unlike cloth or leather boots that soak through they are also very easy to keep clean.