Rocking horses

 

Several of my art friends are sharing their photos from around their homes.  I decided that every Sunday I would show a few of my over 450 rocking horses.  If you joined What's In Your Workdesk Wednesday or WOYWW, you know I showed one each time I joined in.  Here I will share where they live when they are not being displayed on my work table.

Here a just a few of them.  I count nine in this photo.

 

Thanks for visiting today.  I am grateful you dropped by.   BTW, both my cats are thrilled the fireworks have stopped.

  

Looking back and looking forward

 

Today the United States of America celebrates its birthday.

   On July 4, 1976, we in the States celebrated our Bicentennial which included the 200th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence during the Second Continental Congress. 

Gerald Ford was president of the United States.  The average cost of a home was $38,100.00.  An AM/FM Cassette Player cost $39.88, as did a Mini Tape Recorder.  A Texas Instruments Pocket Calculator cost $29.88.  A gallon of gas cost $0.57.  One pound Thompson seedless Californian grapes cost $0.39.  The New York Times cost $0.20 (I suspect that was daily, not Sunday).  Posting a letter cost $0.13.  A dozen eggs cost $0.84 and a gallon of milk cost $1.65.  One pound ground beef cost $0.70.  One pound supermarket ground coffee in a can cost $1.28.  These are all averages and all prices are USD.

Monthly utility bills, including electricity, water, and heating, usually stayed under $100. Phone service was an additional cost, but nowhere near today’s smartphone and internet bundles.  

Cable TV was beginning to gain traction, but basic broadcast television was still free over the air. You didn't need an antenna to watch the four networks.  

Going to the movies cost around $2 per ticket, making date night or family outings affordable. 

While wages have risen since 1976, the cost of basic needs has risen much faster, and many of today’s financial struggles stem from that imbalance. 

  A special coin was minted to celebrate the Bicentennial.

Queen Elizabeth II visited the states over the 4th of July weekend.  

According to History.com: From a Bicentennial Barbie to red, white and blue ice cream, themed merchandise was everywhere. Companies sold everything from commemorative syrup bottles to patriotic tea bags. Stein points to a 1973 headline in the Philadelphia Inquirer announcing, “The Bicen Will Be a Sellabration in the Spirit of $17.76,” with the article noting, “The big birthday is lighting new sparks under American ingenuity for making money.”

Now lets look at our Semiquincentennial, which we celebrate today.    Trump is president, but that's no reason to celebrate.  Leading cities in today's celebration will be Boston, Charleston, New York, and Philadelphia.  Many of my readers, visitors, lurkers, and followers who live in the states will celebrate like me.  We will not under any circumstances participate in any event to which Mr. Trump approves or sanctions. Happy Semiquincentennial Birthday today.

 

Friday Smiles

 

It seems we can't get enough of Vince the sign guy (Vince Rozmiarek).  We love his puns, his double entendres, and his play on words.  Here is more of his humor. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And just in time for the 4th of July  

 

Thanks for visiting.  I am SO grateful you dropped by.  I think that's all for today.  As long as Vince keeps creating them, I'll show them. 

 

Week 5 of Index-Card-A-Day or ICAD

 

It's Friday and time for ICADs.  I'm joining Nicole for Friday Face-Off and Gillena for Art For Fun Fridays along with Tammy Garcia at Daisy Yellow (Index-Card-A-Day).     

Do you want to see another ICAD?  Check out Reverend Arnoldo Romero's post. 

Day 27: Future.  Background is crossword.  Blue and green dry erase colors. Postage stamp is Phoenix steamboat (sidewheel steamboat built in 1807 by John Stevens and his son, Robert L. Stevens).   Names in blue felt tip pen.

 

Day 28: Vintage. Background is Russian text.  Red and green dry erase colors.  Postage stamp is Christmas angel.  Names in red felt tip pen.

 

 Day 29: Carousel.  Background is crossword clues.  Brown and blue dry erase colors.  Postage stamp is carousel horse (one of a series of four). Names in blue felt tip pen.

 

Day 30: Daring.  Background is sheet music.  Blue and green dry erase colors.  Postage stamp is General John J. Pershing. Names in green felt tip pen.

 

Day 31: Canada.  Background is encyclopedia. Green and blue dry erase colors.  Postage stamp is Canadian Jean Talon (First Intendant of New France).  Canada is celebrating 159 years as a country today.  Names in blue felt tip pen.

 

Day 32: Fly.  Background is Spanish text. Blue and red dry erase colors.  Postage stamp is two pheasants flying in autumn.  Names in blue felt tip pen.

 

Day 33: Trustworthy.  Background is crossword clues.  Blue and green dry erase colors.  Postage stamp is celebrating 50 years of Civilian Conservation Corps (was a New Deal program created by President Roosevelt in 1933 to provide jobs for unemployed men during the Great Depression, focusing on conservation work like planting trees, building trails, and fighting fires).  Names in blue felt tip pen.

 

  I'm creating ICADs but am not on the sites where Tammy posts.  Therefore, this is the only place you will find Bleubeard's and my ICADs.  

Today I'm also joining Nicole at Friday Face OFF, and Gillena at Art For Fun Friday.

 

   

Thanks for visiting today.  Bleubeard and I hope you enjoy the ICADs and will let us know your favorites.  We also hope to see you at these art blogs.  We are delighted you dropped by.

 

Friday Smiles will be posted this afternoon.

 

Second on the 2nd: Project Dress Up

 

As most of you know, whenever possible, I like my Second Look to somehow reflect what our current host at Art Journal Journey is featuring.  That means I had to look for something that reflected Halle of Halle’s Hobbies whose theme is Fabric, Lace, and Trims.

Today is all about the dresses that live on my wall.  This was a year long project created by a lady who no longer has a blog.  She sent each player a PDF pattern and we were supposed to make the dresses out of paper and only decorated on one side.

I didn't learn about the project until late in January, 2010, so I started with the February dress.  I wasn't necessarily satisfied with what I was making, so for January, which was the only month I showed my dress late, I changed the pattern and decided all my dresses would look equally good on both sides.  Often made using fabric, and occasionally both paper and fabric, I made two dresses a few of the months.  I made and formed all the hangers from heavy metal baling wire, too.  Sometimes that was harder than the actual dress I created.

This was taken on my floor with my old worthless camera.  I made two dresses for February, two for March, and two for April.  From May through December, I made only one dress each month.  Want to see how I made them?  You can see each of my contribution by month: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.   You can also click on the label "Project Dress Up" on my right sidebar and they will all appear starting with December's dress.

We were also required to provide a cabinet to hold our dresses.  Most players made theirs out of paper, but I made this one out of wood.  When I decided to bring the cabinet upstairs, I got the idea of hanging the dresses on the wall instead of in the cabinet, which I now use for much needed storage. 

Now it's time to share your own Second on the 2nd.  The rules are quite simple and everyone is welcome to join the fun look back.  All you have to do is bring back a post that you are especially proud of, or perhaps one you shared before anyone knew your blog existed.  It could even be one that holds special meaning.  Any post, any genre, any artistic endeavor is acceptable, as long as it's been published sometime in the past.  Then link below (direct links only, please) and Bleubeard and I, along with other Second on the 2nd friends, will be by to visit. 

 

  

 

Dressing Up?

 

First, I want to thank Matilde for hosting in July.  It was obvious we loved the theme.

Today we invite a new host as we do every month  This month it's my friend, the very talented Halle of Halle's Hobbies.  Her theme for the month of July is Fabric, lace, and trims…oh my!  Below is my interpretation of this theme.

I'm calling this first entry this month Dressing Up?  Details are below.

 

 

 I began by sewing four different laces to 8 X 11 inch (20.32 X 27.94 cm) green cardstock using blue variegated thread, the color of the neck band.  I used double sided clear tape to adhere the outfit to the page because it was a bit too thick for my needle.  I believe there is something on my scanner bed because there is nothing dirty on the cute outfit.  I was going to add the words, but they didn't look right.  Sometimes words just don't feel like they belong.

 

Please remember we welcome art journal pages that meet the theme requirements, altered book pages, canvases, loose, or stand alone pages including fabric and digital art.  I (and the administrators) do not leave comments on Facebook, TicTok, or Instagram entries.  We do not allow cards!!!  Period! We also don't allow tags, index cards, ATCs, or ATCoins, unless they are part of a journal page, and as much as we don't want to, will be forced to delete your entry.  Please remember if your blog is not in English, we ask that you translate it for us since the translation tool doesn't work on some blogs, including mine.  Finally, we do not allow back-links to any journal page published prior to the start date of this month's challenge. Hope to see you and your interpretation of Fabric, lace, and trims…oh my! inspired art soon at Art Journal Journey.

 

 

 

T Stands For Math

  

   Do you remember this mug I showed a few years ago to which many felt they could relate?

The last time I was at The Spice Merchant, I found a mug to which I could relate. 

 

 This is one mug I really would love to own.  Yes, I'm a math geek.  

 

I love all these formulas I learned (mostly) in Calculus and Differential Equations classes.  Of course, like everything in life, if you don't use it, you lose it.

 

I had forgotten so many of these formulas and this mug brought them back to life for me.

 

I've shown you mine, now it's your turn to share your T entry this week.  The rules are extremely simple.  Your drink related post may be anything from a photo of a glass, cup, or mug, to an actual drink.  You may choose to share a sketch or a digital, hybrid, or traditional page in your scrapbook, art journal, or altered book.  Maybe you'd prefer to share a tag, or wow us with your photography.  You might choose a postcard or decorated card.  You might even draw an image on a used tea bag.  Or perhaps you prefer to review a place you visited, a movie, or book.  It makes no difference as long as it's drink related.  And don't forget that the more unique and outside the box it is, the better we like it.  Please tie it back here, and please link only to your T post, not your entire blog.  When you link, Bleubeard, the T gang, and I will be by to visit.   Bleubeard would also like to remind you that your photos may be taken any time.   This link will be active until Thursday, 2 July at 12 a.m. my time. 

 

 

 

 

Don't forget it's time to dig up your Second on the 2nd.  Any genre, any length, as long as it's been published sometime in the past.