Saturday, May 30, 2009

DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN


We went to a comedy show last night here at our casino"The Mill" and had dinner with our neighbors.
This show was the longest running comedy on Broadway. It is funny and oh so true.

It is about the difference between Men and Women. I won't elaborate because you may have the chance to see it someday. It is funny!

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Thursday, May 28, 2009

SHOPPING FOR VICTORIAN WOMEN


DIRECTIONS TO LADIES FOR SHOPPING,

SHOPPING is the amusement of spending money at shops. It is to a lady what sporting is to a gentleman; somewhat productive, and very chargeable. Sport, however, involves the payment of one's own shot; shopping may be managed by getting it paid for. Ride all the way till you come to the shopping-ground in a coach, if you can; in an omnibus, if you must; lest you should be tired when you get there. If you are a lady of fashion, do not get out of your carriage; and when you stop before your milliners, particularly if it is a cold, wet day, make one of the young women come out to you, and without a bonnet, in her thin shoes, stand on the kerb-stone in the damp and mud.

The best places for shopping are fashionable streets, bazaars, and the like. Street-shopping principally elates to hosiery, drapery, and jewellery of the richer sort. Bazaar and Arcade-shopping, to fancy articles, nick-nacks, and perfumery. In street-shopping walk leisurely along, keeping a sharp look-out on the windows. In bazaar-shopping, beat each stall separately. Many patterns, colors, novelties, conveniences, and other articles will thus strike your eye, which you would otherwise have never wanted or dreamed of. When you have marked down some dress, or ribbon, for instance, that you would like, go and inquire the price of it; haggle, demur, examine, and, lastly, buy. You will then be asked "whether there is any other article to-day?" Whether there is or not, let the shopman show you what wares he pleases ; you will very likely desire one or more of them. Whatever you think very cheap, that buy, without reference to your need of it ; it is a bargain. You will find, too, as you go on, that one thing suggests another; as bonnets-ribbons for trimming, or flowers; and handkerchiefs-perfumery. In considering what more you want, try and recollect what your acquaintances have got that you have not; or what you have seen worn by strangers in going along. See if there is anything before you superior in any respect to a similar thing which you have already ; if so, get it instantly, not reflecting whether your own will do well enough. You had better finish your streets before you take your bazaars and arcades; for there the shopping, which one might otherwise call cover-shopping, though excellent sport, refers mostly to articles of no manner of use ; and it may he as well to reserve toys and superfluities to the last. Married ladies, when they have laid in all they want for themselves, are recommended to show their thoughtfulness by purchasing some little trifle for their husbands, who, of course, will have to pay for it in the end.

Punch, Jul.-Dec. 1844

THE LUNCHEON

Ladies shopping without male escort, and requiring luncheon, can safely visit any of the great restaurants — care being always taken to avoid passing through a drinking bar. In some cases a separate room is set apart for ladies, but there is practically no reason why the public room should be avoided. At some of the great “omnium gatherum” shops, and at institutions such as South Kensington and the Royal Academy luncheon can be obtained while several confectioners at the West-end particularly study the comfort of ladies.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of London, 1879

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

COFFEE WITH FRIENDS



Another meeting with my Etsy friends.
I look to serious here. We discussed all sorts of things today.

Creating, Etsy, how to promote our Etsy shops, felting which seems to be the big thing right now and personal conversation. I love my Etsy team. They keep me sane in this retired with your partner 24/7 world.

Friday, May 22, 2009

I AM HAVING WAY TO MUCH FUN!!!


A Chinese Post Card


This was a black and white image until I got a hold of it.


This is one of my very favorite images and one I used to make a card when I first started to do collages. Using some of the filters in Photoshop I discovered a new look!!

I have always been a fan of Bernice Wagnitz over on ZNE. Her work is done in Neon Paint and I just love it. I have always wondered how she did that and now I think I know. I am a beginner but someday hope to do some art fashioned after her style. She is such a dear and is one of MY biggest fans.She has purchase several collages from me which was such an honor to have her admiring my simple art.

Here are some of her recent pieces

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

ETSY HAND MADE

This little felted mouse was made by an OCEAN Team member also. It is so cute!

This elegant lady was created by me using real lambs wool. Her hair and fur wrap is wool.
She was part of a challenge using the wool but she will be going to the Comfort Doll Project

This little flower girl was fun to make. She looks so happy and summery

Yep, they are buddies. Living here in my office for the time being

Have any of you done felting? It is amazing what you can do with felted wool.
This is a flower done by an Etsy OCEAN Team member.

This is a tiny piece of art encased in Memory Glass. It sold the first day I put it in my Etsy Shop.
I have a variety to put in my shop soon.

This one is Belle, she also comes in a 12 x 12 two dimensional collage, note cards and an ATC
Also in my Etsy shop. The collage has real wool for hair. Inspired by the article about the Victorian Ladies saving their hair and making art with it.


This one is really sweet. She was on sale at the Crawdad Festival but did not sell.

Monday, May 18, 2009

WHAT A DIFFERENCE 105 YEARS MAKE!


The year is 1904
What a difference a century makes! Here are some of the U.S.
statistics for 1904:

The average life expectancy in the U.S. was 47 years.

Only 14% of the homes in the U.S. had a bathtub.

Only 8% of the homes had a telephone.

A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost $11.00.

There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S., and only 144 miles of paved roads. The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.

Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were each more heavily populated than California. With a mere 1.4 million residents, California was only the 21st most populous state in the Union.

The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.

The average wage in the U.S. was 22 cents an hour.

The average U.S. worker made between $200 and $400 per year.

A competent accountant could expect to earn $2,000 per year, a dentist $2,500 per year.

A veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year.

A mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.

More than 95 percent of all births in the U.S. took place at home.

Ninety % of all U.S. physicians had no college education. Instead, they attended medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press and by the government as "substandard."

Sugar cost four cents a pound. Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.

Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.

Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo.

Canada passed a law prohibiting poor people from entering the country for any reason.

The five leading causes of death in the U.S. were:

1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke

The American flag had 45 stars. Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Alaska hadn't been admitted to the Union yet.

The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was 30!

Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been invented.

There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.

Two of 10 U.S. adults couldn't read or write. Only 6 % of all Americans had graduated high school.

Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at corner drugstores. According to one pharmacist, "Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health." (Shocking!)

Eighteen percent of households in the U.S. had at least one full-time servant or domestic.

There were only about 230 reported murders in the entire U.S.

The average life expectancy in the U.S. was 47 years.

Only 14% of the homes in the U.S. had a bathtub.

Only 8% of the homes had a telephone.

A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost $11.00.

There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S., and only 144 miles of paved roads. The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.

Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were each more heavily populated than California. With a mere 1.4 million residents, California was only the 21st most populous state in the Union.

The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.

The average wage in the U.S. was 22 cents an hour.

The average U.S. worker made between $200 and $400 per year.

A competent accountant could expect to earn $2,000 per year, a dentist $2,500 per year.

A veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year.

A mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.

More than 95 percent of all births in the U.S. took place at home.

Ninety % of all U.S. physicians had no college education. Instead, they attended medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press and by the government as "substandard."

Sugar cost four cents a pound. Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.

Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.

Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo.

Canada passed a law prohibiting poor people from entering the country for any reason.

The five leading causes of death in the U.S. were:

1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke

The American flag had 45 stars. Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Alaska hadn't been admitted to the Union yet.

The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was 30!

Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been invented.

There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.

Two of 10 U.S. adults couldn't read or write. Only 6 % of all Americans had graduated high school.

Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at corner drugstores. According to one pharmacist, "Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health." (Shocking!)

Eighteen percent of households in the U.S. had at least one full-time servant or domestic.

There were only about 230 reported murders in the entire U.S.

There was no income tax.There was no central bank.The dollar was a defined unit. The United States was a rising economic powerhouse.Wars were declared by Congress .

Friday, May 15, 2009

MEET MY BIG FAT CAT


This is my cat Schvartzi. Pronounced Sh -vart -z. It is a yiddish word meaning Black.
He came to us about 8 years ago as a stray, wandering around outside our 5 acres in CA. He finally had enough nerve to come up to the house and when he did my slider was open and there he was... MEOW! He had the loudest meow I have ever heard. I think he was telling us that he had decided to adpot us. He was skinny and had what looked like a broken leg and a big sore on his side, We doctored that all up and in a couple of days he was just fine.

He weighs 20 lbs and thinks he is a dog. He does everything the dogs do .

When our little orphan puppies were found also on our property in CA, Schvartzi was there in the puppy pen with them rubbing them and letting them play with him. It was as if to say, you are my puppies and he has never changed his attitude on this subject.

He has been a garage cat up until the past few months when he decided that he wanted to be in the house with the dogs of course. He meows and scratches to come in which I think he learned that trick from Sampson. He lays on the bed with the dogs as if he is one of the guys. The bed is to small for all three!

He is quite a guy and I wanted to share him with all of you.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

EXTREME MAKE OVER RELAY CHALLENGE


That's right. As all artist do, I have been cleaning things up in my studio and I ran across some of the first collages I ever did. They are not bad but need alot of work and imagination. So I had this idea on how to maybe get some imagination. Here it is....

I challenge my artist friends to take these collages and make them over. Ad to them and make them better. An Extreme Make Over! Here are the rules:

If you are interested in this challenge leave a comment and email me at pchickki@hughes.net me with your address.

I will send the first person that leaves a comment these two collages along with a list of the participants names and addresses. The first person will work on them and pass them on to the next person and that person will work on them and pass them on to the next and it will be passed on until the last person receives it. Each person will have a week to work on it.

The last person will send the extreme make over back to me. I will put in my Etsy Shop with a description of what you all did and mention your names. When it sells I will donate the proceeds to our local animal shelter here in Coos Bay. http://unwantedpets.blogspot.com/

Let's see if we can get these made over collages in my Etsy Shop by July 1st.

So are you up for this challenge? Get ready to Move That Bus!!!


Monday, May 11, 2009

TELL ME I AM NOT ALONE!!

For the past 2 weeks I have been sick with a cough. My doctor has done a throat culture, chest Xrays which were normal. After two office visits this past week he says I have the tail end of a bronchial infection. Humm? I never had a bronchial infection so how could it be the tail end? Go figure.

Anyway as usual I pushed on even in sickness. I felt weak and tired and dizzy and lethargic but I kept going. House cleaning, grocery shopping, cut my husbands hair, took myself to the doctor twice and to the hospital for the throat culture and Xray. I went to my Etsy Meeting and to the Festival this last weekend, I kept my appointment at the hairdressers and had such a coughing fit she had a hard time finishing the cut. I ran to town to pick up the mail and just did my regular duties. I am finally feeling better today and think I am on the mend.

My husband has come down with whatever it was and he is acting like he is half dead. Huffing and puffing and sleeping most of the day and just cannot hardly move. Am I alone in this or are men just the biggest babies when it comes to being sick. It kind of makes me giggle because he kept telling me to TAKE CARE OF MY COUGH. It was getting on his nerves. This morning I said to him "So, when are you going to do something about that cough?" He gave me a funny look and called the doctor.

To make matters worse...he saw the same doctor I saw today and he was prescribed an antibiotic and told to rest and drink alot of water. That same doctor told me to take Robitussin! I suffered with this stupid cough for over two weeks!!! I am so angry. I guess it just goes to show that even doctors know that MEN are big babies when they get sick. Og course this doctor was a MAN. I will be looking for a new doctor!!

Men are funny creatures aren't they? How many of you have experienced this behavior?

WOMEN RULE!!!

Saturday, May 9, 2009

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY


Happy Mother's Day to all of my beautiful friends out there.
And especially to my sweet Mama in heaven....I miss you!!


Digital card created by Patti
2009