Saturday, April 22, 2023

It's bEARTHday

 

Today is Earth Day.  It's also the day of my birth.  For those of you who are not aware of Earth Day, it was a grass roots environmental movement, first celebrated 53 years ago today.  Although every day should be Earth Day, this is the day we celebrate and show our respect for the earth. It's the day we call attention to all the "R" words like recycle, recover, rethink, re-invent, repurpose, remake, redesign, reuse, reclaim, and recraft, while we reduce waste going to our landfills and recycle centers.  

In case you have lived under a rock most of your life and have never heard of Earth Day, the first person to propose, create, and found it was John McConnell.  Originally, the date of the first Earth Day was to be the first day of spring, March 21, 1970.  However, many of us in the states know that Gaylord Nelson, the senator and environmentalist from Wisconsin is considered to be the founder of Earth Day.  Originally scheduled to be a "teach in," it became so much more.  The date was set for April 22, 1970 and Earth Day is now celebrated on that same day every year.  

The first Earth Day and the next 20 years were focused in the states.  However, in 1990, Earth Day went International.  In case you still don't know what Earth Day is all about, here is what I pulled from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) web site: 

It may be hard to imagine that before 1970, a factory could spew black clouds of toxic smoke into the air or dump tons of toxic waste into a nearby stream, and that was perfectly legal. They could not be taken to court to stop it.

How was that possible? Because there was no EPA, no Clean Air Act, no Clean Water Act. There were no legal or regulatory mechanisms to protect our environment.

Granted, that is hard to believe, because today laws are in place to protect our environment.  There are also groups who work to reduce the amount of waste that people produce, and increase the amount that we recycle and reuse.

Now let's celebrate with a spread in my journal.  Of course, it is also for Art Journal Journey, where Bleubeard and I are hosting this month.  Let's reduce, recycle, and reuse, as I did in this spread.

These are all Leftovers from other projects or from my leftover basket.

There are detail shots, too.










A hodge - podge of disparate items were sewn with new thread to a sheet of cardstock, the only other thing not recycled.

Thanks for joining Bleubeard and me (Dr. E, Queen of Free) as we celebrate bEARTHday in style at Art Journal Journey and with the world.
 
 

26 thoughtful remarks:

Valerie-Jael said...

Happy bEARTHday Elizabeth! And another great journal page! Have a wonderful day, hugs, Valerie

Mae Travels said...

Have a great birthday on Earth Day!

best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com

Elephant's Child said...

I hope your Bearthday is as beautiful as you are.

Iris Flavia said...

Happy, happy bEARTHday, dear Elizabeth!
To happiness, health and more people joining!
Like... awareness in China, India etc... or even Germany where some try their best and others don´t care.
To fun and more bloggy-events, to art and support. Did I mention fun? Oh, and yum. Do you go out with your foodie-friend today?
Wither way, I wish you a wonderful day (certainly like actually always, as we always and every day recycle and take care of Mother Earth!).

Meggymay said...

Happy Birthday Elizabeth.
Yvonne xx

My name is Erika. said...

Happy Bearthday my friend. I love these leftovers. They are yummier than the leftovers in my fridge-smile. I like the stitching too because it connects everything together. I hope you have a super day getting your plants and celebrating your birthday. hugs-Erika

Jeanie said...

TODAY is your birthday! I knew it was right around here and I was a day off. I hope it's very happy. Love that you are getting your plants -- I don't dare do it yet but I'm getting ready! Happy day!

Sami said...

Have a wonderful Bearthday Elizabeth, hope you have a fun day :)
Still loads that people and industries can do for our Earth, I certainly hope more people recycle.
Great page too.

Christine said...

Happy Birthday Elizabeth!

Cindy McMath said...

Happy BEARTHday Elizabeth - I hope you have a great day! Love your stitched page of leftovers. Xo

CJ Kennedy said...

Happy Bearthday! 💐 Wonderful leftover collage. Leftovers are great. No cooking the following day. 😺 Have a magical day today

Rita said...

Happy bEARTHday!! I remember well the first one. I wish humanity paid more attention but I'm glad they have as much as they have. :)

Rajani Rehana said...

Wish you a very happy birthday🎂🎉🎁.. I love you mother earth

Rajani Rehana said...

Wish you a very happy birthday🎂🎉🎁

Rajani Rehana said...

I love you mother earth

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Happt bEARTHday, Elizabeth. Count me as a fan of leftovers. Sometimes after a day of flavours blending in the fridge dishes taste better the second time around.

Empire of the Cat said...

Happy bEARTHday Elizabeth!

Helen said...

Happy bEARTHday, Elizabeth xx

Julia Dunnit said...

I came over to wish you many many happy returns, I hope your b’earthday has been a lovely one. As usual I’m captivated by the sewing and the put togetherness of what you call disparate items!

Sharon Madson said...

Happy BEARTHday to you! Great leftover page. I hope you got my card in your mailbox today! Hugs!

kathyinozarks said...

Happy Earth Day and Birthday Elizabeth, hope you can get out and celebrate a bit or go out for lunch possibly.
great journal page too-hugs

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

*Happy HAPPY BEARTHDAY Elizabeth* I hope you are having a fabulous day. What a special day to it is.. I agree every day should be Earth Day!! We all need to work hard to help keep this world a beautiful place.
Loving all the stitches on your pages & the poignant word Leftovers...
Wishing you many happy returns Elizabeth Hugs Tracey xx

Mia said...

Happy Happy Happy Birthday, Elizabeth. I wish you all the best, my friend.

Divers and Sundry said...

Happy belated bearthday!

Jenn Jilks said...

Happy birthday, my dear! I hope it was a good one. xx

jinxxxygirl said...

Happy Belated Birthday Elizabeth!!! I'm so sorry to have missed this!! I love how you sew on your pages... i have a sewing machine i have never used.. On my to do list!!! Hugs! deb