tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84957553464333395902024-03-05T13:19:56.534-08:00The Tie Dyed LibrarianHi, I'm Erin. I am a school librarian in New Hampshire. I love to blog about anything that has to do with children's literature, the horror genre, authors, book festivals, arts and crafts, literary theory, film adaptations of books, history, libraries, classic film, women's studies and anything else that catches my interest.
Follow me on Instagram @tiedyelibrarynUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger443125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495755346433339590.post-36363578285693351782022-08-04T12:52:00.002-07:002022-08-04T12:52:51.522-07:00Beauty and the Beast (2014)<p> Today as I was browsing the Roku channel for something to put on 'in the background' I discovered a Beauty and the Beast min-series I had never heard of before.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9lLHww0mQACTyahIWPwexlPI0EmaH9JWpMcfY-he23DDodsPXGhJaKXf7tT1ZmCgTbG-_qlFBKtLGnZ1yKoRzwMjMjS6JJTQH1StV-R3ilM0a6nMpEeVoozC3jzrMSviBxe8JKNVd9ZJJBdm-4Gm7mRkXwwZPuedh700mDgHqatha6SsHu9Qk4upwHA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1700" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9lLHww0mQACTyahIWPwexlPI0EmaH9JWpMcfY-he23DDodsPXGhJaKXf7tT1ZmCgTbG-_qlFBKtLGnZ1yKoRzwMjMjS6JJTQH1StV-R3ilM0a6nMpEeVoozC3jzrMSviBxe8JKNVd9ZJJBdm-4Gm7mRkXwwZPuedh700mDgHqatha6SsHu9Qk4upwHA=w282-h400" width="282" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This version does not have the magical aspects of the Prince being transformed into a beast creature, nor the household objects personified as his faithful servants nor enchanted rose couting down the time. The Prince has become a Beast metaphorically because after losing his wife, his grief and bitterness make him cruel and indifferent to others.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I enjoyed this retelling, mostly because it it presents itself as a mash-up of the classic tale and other stories which I love.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Phantom of the Opera: Although the Prince is a Beast mostly due to his behavior, he has scars on his face which he covers with a partial mask.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4AxTR6m-DpGB-SjVjZv4J9v06hp9Cg7vy72GL7foBUqLET4rrn9ruq_G_Mblo2ehVKiHML5YWh-SiCGGAo0DbTg9kyqEN1FzcX2fbChdguKwIhyY9OLbd4Lr350espZA3XX2tXu-zVtDWU41npFOGIAUGbviIH-VGvxUasUDPHvyhNvaV6bY1dsQ55A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="400" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4AxTR6m-DpGB-SjVjZv4J9v06hp9Cg7vy72GL7foBUqLET4rrn9ruq_G_Mblo2ehVKiHML5YWh-SiCGGAo0DbTg9kyqEN1FzcX2fbChdguKwIhyY9OLbd4Lr350espZA3XX2tXu-zVtDWU41npFOGIAUGbviIH-VGvxUasUDPHvyhNvaV6bY1dsQ55A=w400-h250" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Secret Garden: Bella finds an abandoned greenhouse, which has been locked up for years because the Prince is haunted by his memories of his dead wife, and she brings the greenhouse back to life</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXQq9fnR_QVBPjc-5EfEEGbfVSQcKtL8LqtocYbwxH_PS1fmeCpGvtgjrHtLEF1_KKe6pQuySR8EkHcs5uZOyW7EvURi30jRh-ObO5DGPeL4z94UKKZ46rJfjndEmr5pC8L9UbApS3DhPEWyphJa7am8QO3OfpvWVqWq6Z63f74Told79sfqL1t3FpgA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="236" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXQq9fnR_QVBPjc-5EfEEGbfVSQcKtL8LqtocYbwxH_PS1fmeCpGvtgjrHtLEF1_KKe6pQuySR8EkHcs5uZOyW7EvURi30jRh-ObO5DGPeL4z94UKKZ46rJfjndEmr5pC8L9UbApS3DhPEWyphJa7am8QO3OfpvWVqWq6Z63f74Told79sfqL1t3FpgA=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></div>Cruel Intentions: The Prince has a distant cousin, Lady Helene, who has desired the Prince for years, and wants to marry him herself. After Bella arrives at the castle, she senses the competition, and makes a bet with the Prince that he cannot seduce her within three weeks.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJTzQhA9xmBWFVpe_ud-N5YZCEsrFV24uIYh3xP-Np4CuIMNlCimDnyBnJG0JiPm2vtEjTMztRrRkK5J_ZXcWTgeTtLDBoR_OHrXqYR-SjN5dmi8rcvQ_psch7X0ZkcL78buCTCMoKNt-c_bGvs95Bf9TNgNoo2ZOZQ-HvQNm8k-s2D93MWRvKHlRtXg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="1030" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJTzQhA9xmBWFVpe_ud-N5YZCEsrFV24uIYh3xP-Np4CuIMNlCimDnyBnJG0JiPm2vtEjTMztRrRkK5J_ZXcWTgeTtLDBoR_OHrXqYR-SjN5dmi8rcvQ_psch7X0ZkcL78buCTCMoKNt-c_bGvs95Bf9TNgNoo2ZOZQ-HvQNm8k-s2D93MWRvKHlRtXg" width="320" /></a></div><br />For anyone who might want the 'classic' Beauty and the Beast story, there is still plenty of that in this rendition:<p></p><p>-Her name is Bella (very close to Belle)</p><p>-Her father is poor, and she offers herself in servitude to the Prince to help him</p><p>-Reading, learning and libraries are still featured as Bella's passion. In fact, rather than presenting her with a beautiful library, the Prince leads her to a forgotten room with piles of musty books, and tells her that he wishes her to organize and catalog them all</p><p>-The Dress</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpWDqfivNSys9Tm4wgx2mZqtx1QF2A6Yo7dcMI7QSZpXWgIDPih6EXAwZnGa_7R4IhEX6fAfR57EoE_29ROcJf5zOHTX--sLx1gJ8tVSu23G9SC0xrBDAOUCsnA1kcw2dJ5mIwJ_zpUa7EOahEPjAlRR_NkxaBIs8mYdps6nlKvltxLRAwJt3vcwcqkA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="1030" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpWDqfivNSys9Tm4wgx2mZqtx1QF2A6Yo7dcMI7QSZpXWgIDPih6EXAwZnGa_7R4IhEX6fAfR57EoE_29ROcJf5zOHTX--sLx1gJ8tVSu23G9SC0xrBDAOUCsnA1kcw2dJ5mIwJ_zpUa7EOahEPjAlRR_NkxaBIs8mYdps6nlKvltxLRAwJt3vcwcqkA=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Worth watching if you love Beauty and the Beast.</div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495755346433339590.post-87818634445022798242021-12-01T05:00:00.000-08:002021-12-01T05:00:01.112-08:00"Sing a Song of Love"<p> As I said in the podcast I recently spoke in, there has been an emerging trend in Peter Pan retellings to focus on female perspoectives and interpretations of the female characters.</p><p>For example, in Hook (1991) we see a Tinkerbell that departs from the mid-century pin-up girl image. Julia Roberts' portrayal of the pixie includes reddish brown hair in a shaggy pixie cut (obviously), a brown ensemble that looks to be made from leaves, and bare feet, rather than the blonde bun, skimpy green mini-dress and delicate slippers that the animated Tink donned:</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHozw2Unhxm7sm_xy1eH8nFswfI6knQ9URvKjgDPXxY_QhXobY3veI28Qe9n4PlB3slrPrTf_07PHmthzA4fCMy-bN-Ho725IGNmqCKqEzJKxPTqaFC6QkfKUo9Tum3ylzN7Aw6H9CW8Ie/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="232" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHozw2Unhxm7sm_xy1eH8nFswfI6knQ9URvKjgDPXxY_QhXobY3veI28Qe9n4PlB3slrPrTf_07PHmthzA4fCMy-bN-Ho725IGNmqCKqEzJKxPTqaFC6QkfKUo9Tum3ylzN7Aw6H9CW8Ie/w275-h320/image.png" width="275" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuktjUJPhk3ej5_1ZqDw6nmU5I-wYU0QttrLR1dWJe2HDgV2kATw8u9-gdYXXXKuNktEkj5q1XDSAnb4jkPLWXouImpu21IpIm4pULKP_gObtL83jTjigXDnccuD_7wUXTyuTudLcyHUC/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuktjUJPhk3ej5_1ZqDw6nmU5I-wYU0QttrLR1dWJe2HDgV2kATw8u9-gdYXXXKuNktEkj5q1XDSAnb4jkPLWXouImpu21IpIm4pULKP_gObtL83jTjigXDnccuD_7wUXTyuTudLcyHUC/w320-h320/image.png" width="320" /></a><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Then Peter Pan (2003) gave us a Wendy who was a little more adventurous and precocious than her predecessors. When she's in her room with her brothers, she is not waltzing and playing the Mother, she's sword fighting in armor. This Wendy was not content to stand on a rock, applauding Peter Pan; she wanted to fight along side him. She dreams of being a novelist, writing adventure stories, and even dabbles in the idea of piracy, thinking that she'd call herself Red-Handed Jill.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCD8pYsNKV7miZpaJrLhgdtecDyNEDhYJDYgkORzIxqTaRBFVKdRNUJ3SnwkViCwryZJj8x6kTDyDG2odHHpZ89l2GKTnNdeW5EskfbJebsjf7Nz587wkw0BKYclR-XL1ORAAeshfAiNDy/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="485" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCD8pYsNKV7miZpaJrLhgdtecDyNEDhYJDYgkORzIxqTaRBFVKdRNUJ3SnwkViCwryZJj8x6kTDyDG2odHHpZ89l2GKTnNdeW5EskfbJebsjf7Nz587wkw0BKYclR-XL1ORAAeshfAiNDy/w400-h269/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The 2020 film Wendy builds on this feminist interpretation of Wendy even more; now the character has the title as her own! She wears an old t-shirt that says Prison Rodeo on it, and rather than having Peter Pan appear at her window to usher her off to Neverland, she climbs out her window, then jumps on a passing train in order to join the mystrerious boy. She seeks him out, and shows agency to achieve her dreams of adventure, rather than just hoping for them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfGKyF7C8QGqQtEwm4hqwV3EUNQ6uxdtO8mcXXa_Beowq5hI6KfBCbVIaVnhsipL8MGcj_QPH6C7eSOodC2lAoUam_3D91hyphenhyphenhPEUL0La4eAZu7tl9cXBKidqBfo3yi2NXGfsgIP6ngaFf/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfGKyF7C8QGqQtEwm4hqwV3EUNQ6uxdtO8mcXXa_Beowq5hI6KfBCbVIaVnhsipL8MGcj_QPH6C7eSOodC2lAoUam_3D91hyphenhyphenhPEUL0La4eAZu7tl9cXBKidqBfo3yi2NXGfsgIP6ngaFf/w400-h225/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm not going to write too much about that film now, because <a href="https://thetiedyedlibrarian.blogspot.com/2020/05/wendy.html">I did a blog on it last year.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am now reading the book Beasts and Beauty: Dangerous Tales, which is a collection of classic tales that have been reimagined, and they have darker tones than many of the versions we already know.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTNZDhyrj1v2DpXL5FQW64GB-mEHZCaZWly4f1km0WY6-L3TVj8gk6V73i75zaHFDs7uXaNSiiUE04Uw61z4WM8eola0FF3cmhLpBje52kCUhFMfi5p-F3ujXsxPpmi_bm-A7wZWAslFV/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="227" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTNZDhyrj1v2DpXL5FQW64GB-mEHZCaZWly4f1km0WY6-L3TVj8gk6V73i75zaHFDs7uXaNSiiUE04Uw61z4WM8eola0FF3cmhLpBje52kCUhFMfi5p-F3ujXsxPpmi_bm-A7wZWAslFV/w262-h400/image.png" width="262" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There is a Peter Pan inspired retelling, from Wendy's perspective again which I greatly enjoyed. It illustrates many of the themes in tyhe text that I enjoy discussing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">- - - - - SPOILERS AHEAD- - - - -</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It begins "Dear you, sing a song of love."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wendy narrates, and she confesses to the reader that intially she was charmed by Peter Pan, and she wanted him to love her. But as she began to grow up, he lost interest in her, and in turn she lost interest in him. After being kidnapped by pirates during one of her Spring Cleaning visits, she waits several days for Peter to realize she's missing and come to 'rescue' her, and she ends up falling in love with a pirate. Even though she is in love with him, she knows that she cannot stay in Neverland with him, so she returns to the real world, but uses her Spring Cleaning trips to see him, rather than Peter Pan.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In the real world, she married an ordinary man, and settles into a life of medicority; she is comfortable, but not in love with him. Eventually, she becomes pregnant, and when she gives birth, she is told by the doctor that her son has a weak heart, and will not survive long. She has no choice except to hold him, and wait for him to die. Death has always been a theme in the Peter Pan mythos.*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Her pirate love appears at the window to take THEIR son away to Neverland (having a child out of wedlock!), he pleads with her to come with them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wendy tries to fly, but even with the help of pixie dust she is unable to make herself lift off. She laments "My son's birth was the last bit of magic my body could take. I'd grown up once and for all. I couldn't live between worlds anymore."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The minute you become Mother, you become Other. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is one of the bittersweet truths contained in Barrie's text;parenthood, specifically motherhood, changes us. It has the greatest joys, and the biggest heartbreaks all at once. But through it all, sing a song of love.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> *Peter Pan is first introduced in Barrie's book The Little White Bird as a boy who is also part bird, and lives in Kensington Gardens with the fairies. When he is not playing, he takes care of the children who've become lost, meaning he buries them in the Gardens and gives them little headstones.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And in the novelization of Peter Pan, originally titled Peter and Wendy (1911) Mrs. Barrie states that his name sounds familiar. The legend she'd heard is that when children died, peter Pan would fly halfway to the afterlife with them, so they would not be scared.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And of course, there is also Peter Pan's famous quotation "To die will be a great adventure."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495755346433339590.post-63832294053086021092021-11-28T14:34:00.002-08:002021-11-28T14:34:37.052-08:00Think lovely thoughts. . .<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yesterday I took my son John to see his first show on stage: Peter Pan.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was something I've been dreaming about for so many years, before I even had a child. I remember the first time I read the Peter Pan novelization, and the description of Mrs Darling wishing that two year old Wendy could "stay this way forever", thinking how strange it must feel to be a parent, and to simultaneously want your children to grow up but also stop time so they can be young forever. I always imagined if I had children, taking them to see Peter Pan would be such a magical experience.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This story is so important to me in so many different ways: as a child, as a reader, as a Children's Literature scholar and a librarian, and as a parent now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been interacting with Peter Pan texts for most of my life: the Disney animated movie, the book, the cartoon Peter Pan and the Pirates, and movies such as Hook (1991), Peter Pan (2003), Finding Neverland (2004) and Wendy (2020).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I played Peter Pan games when I was a little, and now I read the books (including sequels and reimaginings). I've done multiple papers on themes in the story for college and graduate classes and I never get tired of it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Seeing it on stage with my own child though might be one of the most important ways I've experienced this stpry, and even though the story continually gets updated and adapted for audiences, in order to keep it relevant and relatable, the heart is still the same.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmehcZf-CZjlUFlzfqlGsN5cE_5mSVryG29hQTbcoo0iYqV2g_G9_mZMlrBrsG4Hf8KEJSTEPRGwSDyKZ2u3y6Gp8il6fJPC2YfvXYaezLyjroOaYIGzc9g-ngA8sqGa8i2MbORkZls_P/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="791" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmehcZf-CZjlUFlzfqlGsN5cE_5mSVryG29hQTbcoo0iYqV2g_G9_mZMlrBrsG4Hf8KEJSTEPRGwSDyKZ2u3y6Gp8il6fJPC2YfvXYaezLyjroOaYIGzc9g-ngA8sqGa8i2MbORkZls_P/w400-h225/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I spoke in a podcast about the performance, and how it demonstrates the changes to the text over time, so I'll leave off with that:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/epsalmonsen/episodes/2021-11-28T12_53_48-08_00">https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/epsalmonsen/episodes/2021-11-28T12_53_48-08_00</a></div><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495755346433339590.post-80674827041203960442021-02-28T14:17:00.003-08:002021-03-02T06:02:40.985-08:00Every Time I Turn Around<p> There's another reboot to watch. This time it was the Punky Brewster one. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nYvg_I_gaEfhstze5b57zlXaT7wWwE1AC9GpXP1Kae8he5a1RJtlc5xCwBSsabTpShir0zRQW3_WkUZXVKxQr8jwIcGA-_kBPSL0WSBKV7Y3EDpkYt6DCZKH59R4USaN1JQ3VKxamzxQ/s960/Punky-Brewster-Reboot-Soleil-Moon-Frye.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="960" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nYvg_I_gaEfhstze5b57zlXaT7wWwE1AC9GpXP1Kae8he5a1RJtlc5xCwBSsabTpShir0zRQW3_WkUZXVKxQr8jwIcGA-_kBPSL0WSBKV7Y3EDpkYt6DCZKH59R4USaN1JQ3VKxamzxQ/w400-h209/Punky-Brewster-Reboot-Soleil-Moon-Frye.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I hoped it would be watchable, but I wasn't expecting a whole lot from it. I was pleansantly surprised, though.</p><p><br /></p><p>**************SPOILERS AHEAD*************************</p><p>Obviously, there are a lot of references to the original series; my favorite is when Cherie's fiancé says to her "You have an irrational fear of refrigerators" and Cherie replies "I have my reasons" because that's a pretty memorable episode. It's also basically an homage to the 80s, and there's as almost as much cheese as Fuller House served up.</p><p>However, as I watched the series (yes I binged it in all of two days)I realized that the series was actually doing a nice service to the original, and also similar types of programs, by making inclusiveness a priority.</p><p>For example, Punky's longtime BFF Cherie is gay, and gets engaged to her girlfriend. Cherie confesses that if her grandmother were still alive, she might've have been critical about that idea. Also, when Punky is planning an 80s themed block party and talking about how much fun the decade was, Cherie reminds her how much homophobia existed back then (and obviously, the AIDS epidemic was also raging) and how she is glad we've moved beyond that time.</p><p>I was also glad to see how much emphasis on different family make-ups there was. Punky herself was abandoned by her mother as a child, sent to a group home, and was eventually adopted by Henry. Grown up Punky has a daughter, as well as two adopted sons, and fosters another girl. There is family discussion about the difference between foster care and adoption, and Punky reminds her two sons that if they ever become curious about their birth parents, she will support them and help them search. </p><p>That is one aspect that really disappointed me about Fuller House; Stephanie originally says she is not able to have children, and that would have been a great opportunity to have a wonderful story arc about the adoption process, but instead they have Kimmy Gibbler be the surrogate mother (because that leads to more wackiness) and then at the series end Stephanie finds out that she has somehow become pregnant anyways. It all magically worked out with no inconvenience or setbacks or anything! Not only does Punky Brewster give screen time to foster care and adoption, but it also shows us the mixed emotions that come when adopted children make contact with their birth parents (when Punky's mother finds her).</p><p>The last thing I feel is worth discussing is Punky's son Daniel is gender non-conforming. He uses his male name and sometimes wears boys' clothing, but he also wears his hair long and paints his nails and wears a sarong at one point. When Punky tries to find the correct terms to describe him, and have a discussion with him (gender fluid, transgender, non-binary, etc) her daughter simply asks "Why do you need to label it?"</p><p>I loved Punky Brewster when I was little, and I continued to watch it when it went to reruns. I even read the graphic novel version that came out a few years go, and put it in my library at school. In fact, I kind of credit this character for influencing my home décor style; I love my house to be colorful and whimsical and a little funky, and I loved the sets on the new series.</p><p>It may not been a show that everyone was clambering for a reboot of, but there's more substance there than the trailers let on.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnA5J1NISjuctPOwwndzJv7qM9wi0HLIY1a4PVs_6c8zjC9gLxNuznGYBnbPugBriIbjALESfvD_7_YuGFVVQKhHdhwXhgCbwxCddSiPB205S6mIn3GQ2UN5NDhVZ1hu6AsuodFZ0iiw3N/s612/xkfkinba6ci61.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="458" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnA5J1NISjuctPOwwndzJv7qM9wi0HLIY1a4PVs_6c8zjC9gLxNuznGYBnbPugBriIbjALESfvD_7_YuGFVVQKhHdhwXhgCbwxCddSiPB205S6mIn3GQ2UN5NDhVZ1hu6AsuodFZ0iiw3N/w299-h400/xkfkinba6ci61.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Man, I wish so much that I still had my Punky Brewster sneakers:</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnTo26ZJxX1Cq5bYmbIbmdWe2kR_6Toh_QSK6_dmA7-JUQyQaLOJc1OK24D316JX0qaKF1WxfSPLYKN5N99lXliyCq7t06X9Lf2hArxyvXW-VNHwLyd0ELJ47CXEBGqYLcFen-Qt7K2zg/s570/97fd1e66cd15ea61cc1afc1a0faf8c69.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="570" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnTo26ZJxX1Cq5bYmbIbmdWe2kR_6Toh_QSK6_dmA7-JUQyQaLOJc1OK24D316JX0qaKF1WxfSPLYKN5N99lXliyCq7t06X9Lf2hArxyvXW-VNHwLyd0ELJ47CXEBGqYLcFen-Qt7K2zg/w400-h333/97fd1e66cd15ea61cc1afc1a0faf8c69.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495755346433339590.post-87729402330480602332021-02-28T05:59:00.000-08:002021-02-28T05:59:05.470-08:00Awkward Artist: Part 3<p> I've been having a good run on Etsy lately.</p><p>I've been selling thrift store finds as well as some random things from collections that were spending more time in the attic than on display.</p><p>I've also sold a few original creations on Etsy, which still weirds me out.</p><p>The first time I ever offered any art for sale was a charity auction for UNH PLAN organization, and <a href="http://thetiedyedlibrarian.blogspot.com/2016/08/the-awkward-artist.html">I was just happy that my art got some bids, but then it went higher than I expected.</a></p><p>And then following that, I displayed some pieces in Dos Amigos, just for fun, and <a href="http://thetiedyedlibrarian.blogspot.com/2017/03/my-first-private-art-sale.html">someone emailed me, wanting to purchase one of the mixed media collages.</a></p><p>I was encouraged by some of my friends to sell things on Etsy, so I reluctantly listed a few things. One of my mixed media collages was my first sale, a couple years ago:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBnI2XbSw-m3pkwv-Io52WuljeXDbCh3be04Qgmv_AYEZWYWBRgtzlMwCOyVlJP8A-LTwf3epYU227v9k8KjipMg-1pmmtIT4XTI5cPgW4f7M9ge-zMSiOWPeLv6XD4YJ3bygFx-lePOs/s1393/mm+art3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1393" data-original-width="794" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBnI2XbSw-m3pkwv-Io52WuljeXDbCh3be04Qgmv_AYEZWYWBRgtzlMwCOyVlJP8A-LTwf3epYU227v9k8KjipMg-1pmmtIT4XTI5cPgW4f7M9ge-zMSiOWPeLv6XD4YJ3bygFx-lePOs/w228-h400/mm+art3.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Since then, I've sold a few of my little windchimes, which is great because it just gives me more reason to make more, and more room to display them:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzH-iVYq_BOKeWugpkyopfu9V7z4XE5z9qySWIaQ6qlXiO4Jz9dn9lzxTgenOdIAGneIA8kNmVnuEBBcuxPwzblJQQhik-aej-zFM3STRSHt_Eu71C0dT281t__WvA7ykBAL1v_1NDErS/s1059/wc1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="794" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzH-iVYq_BOKeWugpkyopfu9V7z4XE5z9qySWIaQ6qlXiO4Jz9dn9lzxTgenOdIAGneIA8kNmVnuEBBcuxPwzblJQQhik-aej-zFM3STRSHt_Eu71C0dT281t__WvA7ykBAL1v_1NDErS/s320/wc1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ544BBv8XAMVeevL4xxbZrWeZZ4O882Bq_hN3eOLWGpD7fV8NcNCCT7Jc-yzcMqsHZq3u-PJ_V9CelIwXIUC2LJhqdha0sbRrZqUBzNS5CJ1ejWUi7y3_6XEzk394wN6GJuTI73m6gF_-/s1083/wc2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="794" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ544BBv8XAMVeevL4xxbZrWeZZ4O882Bq_hN3eOLWGpD7fV8NcNCCT7Jc-yzcMqsHZq3u-PJ_V9CelIwXIUC2LJhqdha0sbRrZqUBzNS5CJ1ejWUi7y3_6XEzk394wN6GJuTI73m6gF_-/s320/wc2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiId-aeQqzhH9fBBPOnveKG8mBPt64l6dEPpM3M_ivlvMP_EH1Dd_2NWVLcUIt7enSFOU00vkMc_L7gnxHYBCShvy6VyKiPB41ubk0tz1f8AmPngBa-YcVo3ElBOPwJDJXPdVkAY0jY-nI9/s1083/wc3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="794" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiId-aeQqzhH9fBBPOnveKG8mBPt64l6dEPpM3M_ivlvMP_EH1Dd_2NWVLcUIt7enSFOU00vkMc_L7gnxHYBCShvy6VyKiPB41ubk0tz1f8AmPngBa-YcVo3ElBOPwJDJXPdVkAY0jY-nI9/s320/wc3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And last night another one of my mixed media pieces sold:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2DSMvv5NVA_FDD0-YRG4VXcsCOJBCIGqtTA4uYyvqcMB0t-fGkIbAUJ8eD9qpdT2ZKUVROW1z9_KaWiXMGYZ5RryfVe87JMR3kSza7x7oTWSNj8OC0zi_Y6odwmxGjiTyzr_4fmqDq6vU/s1083/mm+art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="794" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2DSMvv5NVA_FDD0-YRG4VXcsCOJBCIGqtTA4uYyvqcMB0t-fGkIbAUJ8eD9qpdT2ZKUVROW1z9_KaWiXMGYZ5RryfVe87JMR3kSza7x7oTWSNj8OC0zi_Y6odwmxGjiTyzr_4fmqDq6vU/w235-h320/mm+art.jpg" width="235" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPU6qikBgP1SwrkIWJSfzSeuZab_h5PBBOqMbA5zvi8H0RY1OK_w4LKYLVnV8EjfflqXaD202aC4njxvd9Vr6LYMGzmhtG69MlRY7-ZoOcBmIgpQwBTrkAYtPDHU3CWupJaRx4N-Kg9jDd/s1083/mm+art2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="794" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPU6qikBgP1SwrkIWJSfzSeuZab_h5PBBOqMbA5zvi8H0RY1OK_w4LKYLVnV8EjfflqXaD202aC4njxvd9Vr6LYMGzmhtG69MlRY7-ZoOcBmIgpQwBTrkAYtPDHU3CWupJaRx4N-Kg9jDd/s320/mm+art2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's strange to think that different things I've made have been purchased by people, and are now out there in places like California and Alaska, on display for people to see. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495755346433339590.post-31048670569577521012021-02-03T17:00:00.002-08:002021-02-03T17:00:41.808-08:00Hippie Camper from from Recycled Cardboard: Part 2<p> Back in April, I posted about a Hippie Camper dollhouse I had made out of cardboard. I had an idea to do a little airstream type of camper for a while, but I didn't feel like spending money on a kit, so I decided to make it myself. It's not perfect, but it's been a lot of fun.</p><p>It's inspired by two figures from pop culture: Jenny from Forrest Gump and Karen Arnold from The Wonder Years.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsM_uUWQ6hBch8x5PMxX4_HZsWa_YUtFmE_Cs2D7_8FfRFyq04gDJ_XGZTZIce-s8uW0G8djgk9tWLUMJh6Vyqg4wi_L7hG1Nvb31nDKFEsltDRuFWZDUB85E5CteijVIWVa-lRwMfpjRl/s320/jenny.jpg" width="320" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAQHiVfA0Kb3n9mqy0-rgJUaapaiOo7y9EllCS18ppzX8XfOwmY9nAfl3vgEJoA3YXq_EZm0aAs93k5QosR_u0dKGJyWpErBZyV_FXcmh74PkcTrFNQDpVwJO6E3i8ZyoECbhrSnVntPA/s951/karen.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="951" data-original-width="625" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAQHiVfA0Kb3n9mqy0-rgJUaapaiOo7y9EllCS18ppzX8XfOwmY9nAfl3vgEJoA3YXq_EZm0aAs93k5QosR_u0dKGJyWpErBZyV_FXcmh74PkcTrFNQDpVwJO6E3i8ZyoECbhrSnVntPA/s320/karen.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I picture a young woman living here: listening to records, strumming a guitar, painting, and of course reading a lot of feminist theory books.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The protest sign is a little decorative pick from Dollar Tree, with a printout glued on, and the little knapsack is a jewlrey charm from Hobby Lobby</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3PFW0J9CMpBbhDA97g5v8fAhGFV31GhGD9gGi4gFYHHGA3pR52bqkagT7mW5cFYymQL8KVzUxNlTxEUnOLlyD_TJ11FD8TcwEWCpYFkfnPbV-yVsGj1A78qQoz-FrBASKquCHnD5MOjp/s2048/h4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3PFW0J9CMpBbhDA97g5v8fAhGFV31GhGD9gGi4gFYHHGA3pR52bqkagT7mW5cFYymQL8KVzUxNlTxEUnOLlyD_TJ11FD8TcwEWCpYFkfnPbV-yVsGj1A78qQoz-FrBASKquCHnD5MOjp/w299-h400/h4.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The nightstand is a drawer pull, and the candle is a birthday candle that I cut down (and actually lit for a few minutes) The little rainbow decoration is a jewelry charm from Hobby Lobby </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguF83D1P95hoTFe96waGU2WRhHYiQ6VAPfYvvBdXQXyeDuQQdT0ELb2wvRknCWcGTfVpEQ2OciHEW-_yEqAxKVoCNcbHnq8KsrpQJyzEre21W3_Rln4xq6FBizFyRB2Irw0L9THHtp38np/s2048/h3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguF83D1P95hoTFe96waGU2WRhHYiQ6VAPfYvvBdXQXyeDuQQdT0ELb2wvRknCWcGTfVpEQ2OciHEW-_yEqAxKVoCNcbHnq8KsrpQJyzEre21W3_Rln4xq6FBizFyRB2Irw0L9THHtp38np/w299-h400/h3.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The bed platform is cardboard, and I put a sleeping bag and pillow I got on sale at Earth and Tree miniatures on it along with the orange doily, to look like an afghan. The purse and the dreamcatcher hanging from the ceiling are jewelry charms from Hobby Lobby.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9pn_W_MaUKBvFKZjeExWGgSWuyfb3rutNm7adrlEUDfp40Zh9fVajyREw4cMu2GFFI3pkcuWpnT5OU1G3-N9qj3t0e_8n2imwqn_lXZJRQFzYfLvkjbU5ZqbYfqXnLH0yh8lUXAOf5Pc/s2048/h2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9pn_W_MaUKBvFKZjeExWGgSWuyfb3rutNm7adrlEUDfp40Zh9fVajyREw4cMu2GFFI3pkcuWpnT5OU1G3-N9qj3t0e_8n2imwqn_lXZJRQFzYfLvkjbU5ZqbYfqXnLH0yh8lUXAOf5Pc/w299-h400/h2.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The guitar is a scrapbook sticker from Dollar Tree, and the pink table is a candle holder. The record player is an old Barbie one I've had for a long time.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-nMMFEA52V8KtRmZepgWflGd0yCKa_zfSlH6YUMzjWrGGQFSwnCVApqpw0OM1ZLLquu22T0r8SyJKcUfcMiibntQUvtRVlTMW50Yjg2D9N4LJA8qmVo7Jz0Uw5Krp2Z74vCbMjCF7plg/s2048/h1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-nMMFEA52V8KtRmZepgWflGd0yCKa_zfSlH6YUMzjWrGGQFSwnCVApqpw0OM1ZLLquu22T0r8SyJKcUfcMiibntQUvtRVlTMW50Yjg2D9N4LJA8qmVo7Jz0Uw5Krp2Z74vCbMjCF7plg/w299-h400/h1.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I printed out the book cover and attached it to a regular mini book.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgqfm60DJoBZdbzkqfFbt0oh0nsqARyZT3hFEgwzay-PBFaHazwqFQTWb48Rz0TMHcne7YEmoNareZCWqiYM0Gd5In2J4n3ySwDHyB28xmtaac-vc_f2QhY0BXFNDe1b6V4BnoTBq01br/s2048/h5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgqfm60DJoBZdbzkqfFbt0oh0nsqARyZT3hFEgwzay-PBFaHazwqFQTWb48Rz0TMHcne7YEmoNareZCWqiYM0Gd5In2J4n3ySwDHyB28xmtaac-vc_f2QhY0BXFNDe1b6V4BnoTBq01br/w299-h400/h5.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All I need is 4" hippie girl</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495755346433339590.post-49852140102553268802021-02-02T07:11:00.004-08:002021-02-02T07:11:50.990-08:00Another cardboard box creation<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Back in November, I was feeling like I needed a new project to work on. I love working on dollhouses, but I don't love spending money on them on the all the time, so I am trying to create more items for myself rather than buying everything. <a href="http://thetiedyedlibrarian.blogspot.com/2020/04/dollhouse-from-recycled-cardboard.html">Last April, I wrote a post about creating a dollhouse from a cardboard box. </a>So I found a cardboard box, and designed a whimsical one room cottage.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi11yypecUeGamo8CA19Ee2KyF8feOuvkbYPgRB4X1N35SWaqfvtcylwK9HlGcm-pUJK-3BPLgDsZ-CLwlJMNVjJQKRwwosdxRuTQiwSBQQYtkUIVDrW_BIqsjedIwTcHtvN1UuB-x2psL/s2048/w5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi11yypecUeGamo8CA19Ee2KyF8feOuvkbYPgRB4X1N35SWaqfvtcylwK9HlGcm-pUJK-3BPLgDsZ-CLwlJMNVjJQKRwwosdxRuTQiwSBQQYtkUIVDrW_BIqsjedIwTcHtvN1UuB-x2psL/w240-h320/w5.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JsNrRP6RB3S4aZ0SRx6ICWwxbPQAnjmlnb-MVvhDsqotwNMTcy2gXuco9cMH3TM5LGsKCaG3vgnP8McceiSw4IW10V9Yws73g6H18lVepDZe6MKkVOrbMSlbaU3JzbM9IAGKGdB0yfps/s2048/w4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JsNrRP6RB3S4aZ0SRx6ICWwxbPQAnjmlnb-MVvhDsqotwNMTcy2gXuco9cMH3TM5LGsKCaG3vgnP8McceiSw4IW10V9Yws73g6H18lVepDZe6MKkVOrbMSlbaU3JzbM9IAGKGdB0yfps/s320/w4.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> I've had the idea for years now to make a witch cottage; not a Halloween witch, but more like a Stevie Nicks-inspired retreat that is all about nature and celestial beauty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I covered the exterior in birch bark scrap paper, and painted the inside a deep purple color.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnA2yH5vTVBcS_9VBctmXnOORtdAp1NSewOhod6efPjD_yaV8GkKSTea0L06pjmurmDhjQhEyoXmFSdglRyOCDpo1Wrw78Q_J6mENvyzIRNEjOuUFwxQp6Equ2X6lX-EjxB51nfWlKGgSo/s2048/w6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnA2yH5vTVBcS_9VBctmXnOORtdAp1NSewOhod6efPjD_yaV8GkKSTea0L06pjmurmDhjQhEyoXmFSdglRyOCDpo1Wrw78Q_J6mENvyzIRNEjOuUFwxQp6Equ2X6lX-EjxB51nfWlKGgSo/s320/w6.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuhaOJOsaTI0AOEFx0HP-bMBIHCCOwgYwy-6f2DJYiQKdGIgLSfNSbfLVAh87fX7Owdv7tD-ubnKurafCPTwMo9k72TOOlqwqpIcBL046qVmmbencnjPOunza8dgts2-KRPpwgZahqmGQ/s2048/w7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuhaOJOsaTI0AOEFx0HP-bMBIHCCOwgYwy-6f2DJYiQKdGIgLSfNSbfLVAh87fX7Owdv7tD-ubnKurafCPTwMo9k72TOOlqwqpIcBL046qVmmbencnjPOunza8dgts2-KRPpwgZahqmGQ/s320/w7.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am proud of this little cottage because I've been able to do it very cheaply. I was able to find some great things at Dollar Tree, like the star stickers on the walls, the blue lights on the ceiling, some of the furniture. . .</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The gray shelf is a Barbie accessory from Dollar Tree that I painted, and I filled the tiny glass bottles with spices</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZIE52PrKhOYuHBiK9sPeptDrLT4BzE297z1q0nDnIse9zdY-3a82ukYHmgL3jA1_xIxID9acF4VoOinEzFec4Rqz4drbLlKSETC1SjLtnhnnR2Izar7cAFEIKoaUn57eVu2chQ_N62V9/s2048/w1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZIE52PrKhOYuHBiK9sPeptDrLT4BzE297z1q0nDnIse9zdY-3a82ukYHmgL3jA1_xIxID9acF4VoOinEzFec4Rqz4drbLlKSETC1SjLtnhnnR2Izar7cAFEIKoaUn57eVu2chQ_N62V9/w300-h400/w1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The table is from Dollar Tree- the chair I got with a coupon at Hobby Lobby</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_FA_Or8HSQKPNgtW_11pxQk1yv2a1tQ03wtnXVXpnF107DjQGbJ375lgT-iO0eCL4sjVlJdIgDHBD87-mlwnct0geJ5tUgx3_1mVdMFJHf1aw0cIb_Ak7qJD8M5RxAzlABsq44Xu3hF7/s2048/w2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_FA_Or8HSQKPNgtW_11pxQk1yv2a1tQ03wtnXVXpnF107DjQGbJ375lgT-iO0eCL4sjVlJdIgDHBD87-mlwnct0geJ5tUgx3_1mVdMFJHf1aw0cIb_Ak7qJD8M5RxAzlABsq44Xu3hF7/w300-h400/w2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The crystal chandelier is a Christmas ornament</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Wdi5Vc3pTTpXS_5nC52hBUsSYJ_p67fbUWTCKaPXSV9bnMbtyeSHs6PyF1fQJyYTHjRdfrhZVxppdH4ay9z21pbl2LuK73JRkg9HMKVf4-3EjCVDXIISywEeBGPYHAgdGOQK36ojxs7-/s2048/w3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Wdi5Vc3pTTpXS_5nC52hBUsSYJ_p67fbUWTCKaPXSV9bnMbtyeSHs6PyF1fQJyYTHjRdfrhZVxppdH4ay9z21pbl2LuK73JRkg9HMKVf4-3EjCVDXIISywEeBGPYHAgdGOQK36ojxs7-/w300-h400/w3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love the way it's coming along, and how I am trying to spend as little money as possible on this project. I made an alter using birthday cake candles</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTMTuenoNeOYng6YZ55MrQ04G_mHxOd81S6X_2KqHfBaLGQdm9LqKGBpGPUxTcdj5zGz7-tWMaoM4uUycqoVmKl7Te2mLDjrlIcTRAvaikzrs-Y_uGK8_boMqc5Xz_-S78MVv1VuB6SLV/s2048/w8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1916" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTMTuenoNeOYng6YZ55MrQ04G_mHxOd81S6X_2KqHfBaLGQdm9LqKGBpGPUxTcdj5zGz7-tWMaoM4uUycqoVmKl7Te2mLDjrlIcTRAvaikzrs-Y_uGK8_boMqc5Xz_-S78MVv1VuB6SLV/w374-h400/w8.jpg" width="374" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It doesn't have a resident yet, but I may not put one in at all. For now I'm just enjoying seeing it all come together.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495755346433339590.post-54461864136662155142021-01-30T16:45:00.003-08:002021-01-30T16:45:30.879-08:00Proud Moment<p> I wanted to write down this moment that made me really proud recently.</p><p><br /></p><p>I was doin g a Google Meet with an 8th grade student on one of our remote instruction days. She had some questions about her project, which was to select a Banned Book, research it, and make a video trailer for it.</p><p>She chose Looking for Alaska by John Green. She had already read it, and she owned the book. </p><p>She found a lot of good information about the places where the book has been challenged/banned, and what the reasons behind those complaints were.</p><p>As I was talking to her she said "I don't understand why people get so upset about this book. I mean, they say they have no idea that it contains death, but if you turn to the publication page, it says it right there in the subjects. ? ."</p><p>Not only was she doing a great job researching her book, but she had the common sense to simply look in her own copy and read the subject classifications. </p><p>I told her she needs to become a librarian when she grows up.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495755346433339590.post-50704987052054832172021-01-23T11:31:00.001-08:002021-01-23T11:31:13.934-08:00Getting Back to It Now with a Peter Pan Post<p> It's been a long time since I last blogged.</p><p>I've been thinking about writing one for a while now, but it seemed that every time I thought of an idea for a post, I'd get distracted, or I'd forget about it, or my inner critic would pipe and say "No, that's stupid."</p><p>But the lack of a social life this past year has me desperate for ways to express myself.</p><p><br /></p><p>I recently read the book Wendy Darling Vol. 1 Stars since I love the Peter Pan mythos so much.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsX25sid0gdLPu-zsJnU0yhUUNGGUkxn_GU4jCbdu-wxUambr5ofNHpW_iMZpnQY6wSlBd57MhmyW0P_ec83YofhFvOeHLn7o_JeYsoe2uyLdrra36qgYGGE-Jw-lukvioBLkGuyxRnCH/s2048/912yCaEeTKL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1325" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsX25sid0gdLPu-zsJnU0yhUUNGGUkxn_GU4jCbdu-wxUambr5ofNHpW_iMZpnQY6wSlBd57MhmyW0P_ec83YofhFvOeHLn7o_JeYsoe2uyLdrra36qgYGGE-Jw-lukvioBLkGuyxRnCH/w259-h400/912yCaEeTKL.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><p></p><p>Something that I noticed immediately as I read this reimagining of Barrie's tale is that the Darling family is Catholic. I thought that was an odd choice at first because 1) I didn't see how religion was important to this story, after all, it's never been mentioned before, and 2) because the official religion of the United Kingdom is Protestant Christianity. Catholics in England have a long history of persecution and although most of that was over by the Edwardian Era (no one was being executed for attending Catholic mass) I would think that Catholicism would still be strongly associated with the Irish, and not a well-to-do family living in Kensington.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">However, as I continued reading I realized why this change was so appropriate for this story: Mary. The Mother. At one point, Michael does something naughty and Wendy instructs him to say a Hail Mary and it hit me like a ton of bricks. This story is all about Motherhood, so it makes perfect sense that the Holy Mother should be a thread weaving through the narrative.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Peter Pan is a supernatural being, and in Barrie's text Mrs. Darling believes that he accompanies dead children halfway to Heaven, so that they will not be frightened. Peter and the Lost Boys' worship of Wendy, the Mother, and the standard portrayal of Wendy in blue gowns add to the imagery of Mary and the Mother:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYyki3fJ2JIfcJPFTca0tRuWova9ywPfiDrnZEMfU0miv0X5lFuCoM6ZYuv_sP4oCEhWig7gs6734MIHchhE3G54lBg0J8gQ-MAqWCKh5hhcr357bQNGHGExCnPdjkTg7M6sDG-KK3biUW/s259/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYyki3fJ2JIfcJPFTca0tRuWova9ywPfiDrnZEMfU0miv0X5lFuCoM6ZYuv_sP4oCEhWig7gs6734MIHchhE3G54lBg0J8gQ-MAqWCKh5hhcr357bQNGHGExCnPdjkTg7M6sDG-KK3biUW/w400-h300/download.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">I really enjoyed the book, and it's actually the first in a trilogy; however, the person who recommended it to me admitted that she couldn't get into the second book, and have up on it. I'll probably still try it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">In 2002, Disney released Return to Neverland, which takes place after Wendy grows up. Although Disney sequels usually make me cringe, in this case Disney was following Barrie's cue. Barrie wrote When Wendy Grew Up: An Afterthought as a one act play: a sequel to the play Peter Pan. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81NYVy5lLOL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="555" height="400" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81NYVy5lLOL.jpg" width="278" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Later when he adapted his famous play into a novel, he used the last chapter of the novel to tell the reader what happened in the sequel play. Wendy is now a real mother, with a daughter of her own. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the Disney sequel, I think Wendy is drawn very nicely, and it only makes sense that she is still wearing blue:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://kid101.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Peterpan-Return-To-Neverland-03-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://kid101.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Peterpan-Return-To-Neverland-03-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't have much a closing thought on this, other than the conversation I had with my son a few nights ago. As I was getting him ready for bed, I admired how big and strong he's getting now that he is six, and I told him that sometimes I wish he could stay a little boy forever, like Peter Pan. I said that I used to wish I could fly away to Neverland, and he replied that maybe I could someday. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I told him that Neverland is a magical place, but only children can get there. There are no mothers allowed in Neverland, and that's why Peter and the Lost Boys need Wendy to act like their mother.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He hugged me and said "I'm sorry, Mama" and I said "It's OK; I like being your mama."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495755346433339590.post-86479362300633453352020-05-06T05:48:00.002-07:002020-05-06T05:48:54.789-07:00Quarantine ReadsI love to read historical fiction, but during the school year I tend to read books that are shorter, like graphic novels. I'm using this excess of time to sink my teeth into some more substantial stories.<br />
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I always love to read historical fiction, but I think it is important at times likes this to think about the past; what tragedies have occurred, how people have endured times of grief and uncertainty in previous times so that we have keep our current situation in context.<br />
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This time has been very difficult for most people, but I remind myself of how fortunate I am. I still have my income, I have a loving family that is still healthy, and we live in a home that is surrounded by woods and gives us many oppurtunities to be outside, enjoying nature, even if we cannot go anywhere else.<br />
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Based on a Holocaust survivor's account<br />
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<img alt="Amazon.com: Prisoner B-3087 (9780545459013): Gratz, Alan, Gruener ..." height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71-9p6cX8XL.jpg" width="207" /></div>
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A historical fiction book about romance and the Titanic<br />
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<img alt="The Girl Who Came Home: A Novel of the Titanic (P.S.): Gaynor, Hazel" height="400" src="https://pictures.abebooks.com/isbn/9780062316868-us.jpg" width="266" /></div>
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A science-fictiony horror story, set in an asylum in the 50's</div>
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<img alt="Amazon.com: Nightingale (9781335012340): Lukavics, Amy: Books" height="400" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91veeHVDzeL.jpg" width="263" /></div>
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And because I love a good asylum tale, this one takes place in 19th century. It's more mystery than horror, but it contains some wonderful parallels to Jane Eyre, and centers around one of my all-time favorite literary criticism themes: the <a href="http://thetiedyedlibrarian.blogspot.com/2016/01/diaries-and-madwomen-in-attic.html" target="_blank">Mad Woman in the Attic</a></div>
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Now I need to find more books to read.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495755346433339590.post-50206615721721146382020-05-03T05:17:00.001-07:002020-05-03T05:17:52.805-07:00WendyOne of my favorite things to do is watch film adaptations of my favorite stories, and then compare them and analyze them and reflect on what the differences mean.<br />
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The more film adaptations that are available, the better it is.<br />
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Classic stories, like Little Women and Peter Pan have so many versions available that the story seems to become more slipstream, because so many people have seen at least one movie version but most of those people have not read the original text.<br />
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But I'm not necessarily talking text here, I'm talking about the films contribute something new for viewers to consider.<br />
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A couple days ago, we watched the new movie Wendy. I have seen every film and TV version of Peter Pan I could find. Last year we went to a screening of Hook, and I cleaned up during the trivia competition.<br />
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We watched it as a family, and I warned my son that this Peter Pan was probably going to look a lot different than the other Peter Pan movie he has seen.<br />
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<img alt="Wendy (2020) - IMDb" height="400" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BN2NlODlkZWEtN2U2OC00MTI4LTlhMTEtZTM0MDIyODZiMDhhXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTA1NTA1MTI4._V1_.jpg" width="270" /></div>
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This movie takes a lot of chances, and in some ways it really trusts the viewer. The movie isn't called Peter Pan, or Pan, or even Hook, it's just a girl's name, but it trusts us to associate the girl's name with the famous story.<br />
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And it doesn't take place in Edwardian England, it takes place in Louisiana; if it's not 'present day' then it would probably be dated at least in the 80's or 90's. But, we are trusted to follow along, without any explanation for it. (In the movie Hook, the American setting is explained by way of Peter Pan being adopted by American parents).<br />
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Wendy lives with her mother and her brothers in the back of a tiny diner, where the whole family works. She longs for an escape, not from her mother necessarily who seems very loving, but just from the drudgery and monotony.<br />
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****some spoilers ahead*****<br />
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One day she sees a boy go out to the railroad tracks, and disappear. We are not given much of an explanation, but in the next scene, there is a flyer showing the boy's face with the text Lost Boy above it, including one of those age progression images that sadly accompany pictures of missing children. That's our introduction to the Lost Boys, and the only reference to that term.<br />
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In Barrie's story, Peter Pan comes to the nursery window, and lures Wendy away with stories of fairies and mermaids. But this Wendy sees a mysterious boy on top of a train, and runs after him, effectively claiming the story as her own.<br />
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This story doesn't have any fairies or mermaids, it doesn't even really have flying. (Which spares us the need for CGI or ropes that will look dated within a few years). The only supernatural resident is called Mother, some kind of being that lives underwater and seems to communicate with children telepathically. Mother is the heart of Neverland.<br />
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What it does have is a much more diverse cast. Peter Pan has little dreadlocks and an accent, and is played by an Antiguan boy.<br />
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<img alt="Wendy movie: Director Benh Zeitlin on casting first black Peter ..." height="217" src="https://imagesvc.meredithcorp.io/v3/mm/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.onecms.io%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F6%2F2020%2F02%2F050_we_sg_16901.jpg&q=85" width="400" /><br />
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Wendy isn't flitting about in nightgown, she's wearing an oversized t-shirt that says Prison Rodeo on it. I actually appreciated how this Wendy is a tomboy, and there is no romance at all with Peter Pan. She's not looking for love, she just wants adventure.<br />
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<img alt="WENDY movie - Introducing Wendy - One News Page VIDEO" height="225" src="https://video.newsserve.net/v/20200305/1304975250-WENDY-movie-Introducing-Wendy_hires.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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The movie also explains the origins of Captain Hook and the pirates in a new way. The pirates are not the classic type that sail under a black flag, in fact, they were once Lost Boys. However, when Lost Boys start to feel sad, it gives way to despair, and they inevitable begin to age. Wendy even tries to help them at one point, trying to engage them in imaginary games (much like the imaginary dinner scene in Hook) in the deserted diner where they all gather. They will not order invisible food and pretend to eat it. They won't dance. They won't even smile.<br />
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The skeleton of Barrie's story is here: Wendy and brothers (even if they have different names), Peter Pan, a colony of children that do not age, pirates. . .even the epilogue involving Wendy's daughter is there. But this movie rejects the fantastical whimsy and grounds the story (literally, because like I mentioned, there is no flying).<br />
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I already have several favorite versions of the Peter Pan story, so I don't think this version will become part of the regular viewing party but I appreciate it for its originality.<br />
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Taking chances with classic stories doesn't always work; the 2015 movie Pan was a steampunk re-imagining which featured Nirvana-singing pirates, and the story seemed to fall apart. This movie takes chances too, but they are not as contrived. Everything feels more natural; even the soundtrack. There were no songs or lyrics, it mostly sounded like a Sounds of Nature CD with windchimes.<br />
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I just found out that Disney is planning a new live-action Peter an Wendy movie, so I guess I won't have to wait too long before I get to watch another new version.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495755346433339590.post-49281535556182438442020-04-18T10:15:00.002-07:002020-04-18T10:15:46.788-07:00Hippie Camper from from Recycled Cardboard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In order to practice safe social distancing, we have been doing a lot of grocery (and wine) delivery services. Eric signed up for Misfits Market and the produce came packaged in this rippled cardboard that immediately reminded me of aluminum roofing, so I saved it for another project.</div>
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I've been wanting to do a miniature camper, and I had my eye on some kits online like these ones:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AgNdv2pOuIXeD_3emK1RLGxZyPq2l952yvjyKcWzEhdDQlUjAUduezdKk0QAIFkNpw_hf3J4AbNBCwTk59xb78UwOemIhSEOFE7LtpePTqqRhgFNqs-wpNz1NhSk4rrEhLtvEEAkmJLk/s1600/il_340x270.2234999373_nnp8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="340" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AgNdv2pOuIXeD_3emK1RLGxZyPq2l952yvjyKcWzEhdDQlUjAUduezdKk0QAIFkNpw_hf3J4AbNBCwTk59xb78UwOemIhSEOFE7LtpePTqqRhgFNqs-wpNz1NhSk4rrEhLtvEEAkmJLk/s200/il_340x270.2234999373_nnp8.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaw5n-_rJ2QCp4J7zVpeHr__6ngSYLFyksX8_Au58rjRVJ1XChiUQxNyJHiflw_VGIO6yw19ucjadaHtNkenOCTCPY_vgTiavvqkVBylHftGrcDrwsMZMGtKdD98gaebCj1sraMu8mJB4/s1600/c1400x840q75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="1400" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaw5n-_rJ2QCp4J7zVpeHr__6ngSYLFyksX8_Au58rjRVJ1XChiUQxNyJHiflw_VGIO6yw19ucjadaHtNkenOCTCPY_vgTiavvqkVBylHftGrcDrwsMZMGtKdD98gaebCj1sraMu8mJB4/s320/c1400x840q75.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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But I didn't want to spend more money on more dollhouse things, so I decided to try and make my own. We have a ton of cardboard around the house from all the deliveries we've been getting, so I used that to make a basic shape, and I attached the roof with hot glue:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0pvZD8yBT1Zre1dRhBRko7DgcGwUfAPgbSt9kRxrcthjLZr_ZjLdOly7UjIhFwN2qUDmwTzdy2QCDUNpwYTnjkV262fPjYjncpybadOe5vKdyn_K0NE5E626woDVE7IEkd0595KNv5-2/s1600/camp1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0pvZD8yBT1Zre1dRhBRko7DgcGwUfAPgbSt9kRxrcthjLZr_ZjLdOly7UjIhFwN2qUDmwTzdy2QCDUNpwYTnjkV262fPjYjncpybadOe5vKdyn_K0NE5E626woDVE7IEkd0595KNv5-2/s200/camp1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeo9awYwuiDdT3wJG6reoByGwPCoJZPfBY5Y-KasjVBUDyBRRbIrUBNxY1lZxuzKZUU-jiRrUAP68nqQ-kAazUCn43rzz1R9K_TbR8jC9MUKOvBcpW0gsy9trWcFQ4Gj2UkS4foxSVESb/s1600/camp2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeo9awYwuiDdT3wJG6reoByGwPCoJZPfBY5Y-KasjVBUDyBRRbIrUBNxY1lZxuzKZUU-jiRrUAP68nqQ-kAazUCn43rzz1R9K_TbR8jC9MUKOvBcpW0gsy9trWcFQ4Gj2UkS4foxSVESb/s200/camp2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Next, I covered the front and back with gesso to strengthen it, and make a good painting surface. I chose to paint it white and pink, so it would look vintage and colorful. The roof is painted metallic gold right now, because I couldn't find any metallic silver. I used some Tim Holtz paper for the flowery wallpaper, and some dollar store shelf paper for the 'wood' floor.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9hy11Kxc4hPtboqvkMNd57QeXMaVw9lwDQmZoOVUCGWxWVsEcQQl7MoZOMITQuFhPD0PF9LEXijKK9WenGqtWzalQzc9ACr3L9pEGtaD9a3Wgv7HAvIbvSXTU7mtqED9nXS3TNpa8ls6/s1600/camp3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9hy11Kxc4hPtboqvkMNd57QeXMaVw9lwDQmZoOVUCGWxWVsEcQQl7MoZOMITQuFhPD0PF9LEXijKK9WenGqtWzalQzc9ACr3L9pEGtaD9a3Wgv7HAvIbvSXTU7mtqED9nXS3TNpa8ls6/s400/camp3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I had the sink saved from a previous house, which got damaged beyond repair and thrown away.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6E5q2c52_Mh5NPHrjQ2IDwnJER6PSNmr9MmfeJHWwXCr_ctctOlOyEoOU0pIIhQvSPgCQnGRs41JOgzu0IPnA36SLWPnReg5hqLEf02e9JViExvQvmc2jzqSXFXpjYJL3QdlXwupWXSKg/s1600/camp4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6E5q2c52_Mh5NPHrjQ2IDwnJER6PSNmr9MmfeJHWwXCr_ctctOlOyEoOU0pIIhQvSPgCQnGRs41JOgzu0IPnA36SLWPnReg5hqLEf02e9JViExvQvmc2jzqSXFXpjYJL3QdlXwupWXSKg/s320/camp4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I added some little tassel decorations and the mattress was in my stash- the blanket is a vintage linen, which goes along with the Flower Power theme.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjgCKe8gOO6j29XvFrdLSagNspsfX_0TqD2b7Z6h4NhZNoLrAtqv9kE0HALxr7B8uVu53sOOq_ygESm69nlrmFIVPYha582QJmi7qjFNu5T5u92yyQXOK-x6UeIbgbMxtea6zSmeSmEoPN/s1600/camp5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjgCKe8gOO6j29XvFrdLSagNspsfX_0TqD2b7Z6h4NhZNoLrAtqv9kE0HALxr7B8uVu53sOOq_ygESm69nlrmFIVPYha582QJmi7qjFNu5T5u92yyQXOK-x6UeIbgbMxtea6zSmeSmEoPN/s400/camp5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Since there are no working lights inside the structure, it's a little dark. I added these dollar store flower lights from my stash (whenever Dollar Tree has mini lights, I stock up!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFL_Q-2CYKiAxqhSIUSIHKDW5h99Ae-HVElHdWE5T1zWx-n8zF9CLV9wICJ1OhRaXhfEjvsKYdQ5qfrLs76OdZme-j0JGVn2zayBK4SMjlUDTRMHL8YYz1sWpmTSe11njNWd9SvaBOow8m/s1600/camp6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFL_Q-2CYKiAxqhSIUSIHKDW5h99Ae-HVElHdWE5T1zWx-n8zF9CLV9wICJ1OhRaXhfEjvsKYdQ5qfrLs76OdZme-j0JGVn2zayBK4SMjlUDTRMHL8YYz1sWpmTSe11njNWd9SvaBOow8m/s400/camp6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I still have more work to do to make it look more polished, but it will be fun to collect some groovy accessories to fill it with.</div>
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I wish I had a tiny hippie to live in there.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495755346433339590.post-58709444997265601262020-04-15T16:32:00.003-07:002020-04-15T16:32:28.288-07:00Dollhouse from Recycled CardboardThroughout this social distancing/shut down, I've actually been doing pretty good. I know a lot of people are agitated and frustrated that they can't socialize or go out, but it honestly hasn't bothered me too much.<br />
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I remember a few years back, a friend said something which has stuck with me ever since. I was telling her how sometimes I feel like I'm being anti-social because I don't enjoy going to big parties, like the staff parties for school. She told me she often feels the same way and the way she phrased it "I'm only bored when I'm around other people- I'm never bored when I'm alone" is the exact struggle I have dealt with for much of my life.<br />
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I'm not anti-social, but I need a lot of time by myself. It's how I recharge, and channel my creativity.<br />
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Since I can't wander around Hobby Lobby or art stores to get inspired, I decided to try some new things, like watercolors, indulge in some projects I enjoy, like art journals and mixed media collage. I also decided to give myself a challenge, and make a dollhouse constructed completely of recycled and reused materials.<br />
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Since we have to do the majority of our shopping online right now, we have a ton of boxes around. A cardboard box is like an empty canvas- so many possibilities!<br />
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I started by reinforcing the box with some white duct tape. I cut out opening for two widows and the front door. Then I coated the entire thing in gesso, to make it stronger and give it a better surface for painting:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYk58GTh6hopArRrO9V-aFVjaNQtQhf-q6r92BPmS7CqWIAq3zLPEse3LOtGZWNva2zGY5zslJCvzq7AS_FVbhdKyg5kuZT1QlFDsJuOtXUmrkhpwLnnbN71CMA5MOdcX3n3F_JZnZLTx5/s1600/93279837_10102678725340025_1318566990075396096_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYk58GTh6hopArRrO9V-aFVjaNQtQhf-q6r92BPmS7CqWIAq3zLPEse3LOtGZWNva2zGY5zslJCvzq7AS_FVbhdKyg5kuZT1QlFDsJuOtXUmrkhpwLnnbN71CMA5MOdcX3n3F_JZnZLTx5/s400/93279837_10102678725340025_1318566990075396096_o.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Then I painted it gray, and used some egg crate packaging to make 'stonework' on the exterior:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfwFKT-XYccuqM85N7GTKaauJzVb8gz85pff93XFPV8ABySvYXBRa457W2J15wTJm-t14gc6dKledKJSluFMtLxCAzJZfEVFxtD0zZzJafWIKyIcerS3O6W471aVrBdJhZKheAcOkAt7R/s1600/93289231_10102678725479745_266190317680590848_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfwFKT-XYccuqM85N7GTKaauJzVb8gz85pff93XFPV8ABySvYXBRa457W2J15wTJm-t14gc6dKledKJSluFMtLxCAzJZfEVFxtD0zZzJafWIKyIcerS3O6W471aVrBdJhZKheAcOkAt7R/s400/93289231_10102678725479745_266190317680590848_o.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Then I used another piece of cardboard to make the roof:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1w3fS0rDl9n6e7TBJd1pT3B2YWBu4qKFLpH1exba9sglnZ09kYe19PXP95cL9CeS-vp_paw7j2C2Co8M58bpb2Qm9KM8GOWGMF7g9cuKEIIuqyFazMqugeYdHb_By1WyceFUpUzeU_L-E/s1600/93118782_10102678725589525_7651750701890011136_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1w3fS0rDl9n6e7TBJd1pT3B2YWBu4qKFLpH1exba9sglnZ09kYe19PXP95cL9CeS-vp_paw7j2C2Co8M58bpb2Qm9KM8GOWGMF7g9cuKEIIuqyFazMqugeYdHb_By1WyceFUpUzeU_L-E/s400/93118782_10102678725589525_7651750701890011136_o.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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I cut shingles from cardboard and covered the roof with them. I used more cardboard to make some trim around the the windows and door. The door is an ornament I got on clearance from Hobby Lobby after Christmas, and it's been in my craft stash since then. I used some duct tape magic so the door really opens and closes. The little brass lantern was also in my craft stash.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5c9pDavHjKCayerWPfvX9_LkfSe3V5COq7Qv4MGsRoXTkpv-cx2wCdp70N2f1jFEt8Uwfcs8z2nuW_A2-VHY20GqWwyBmpnJQAvE3VHm8pUN5fQSpLoVvYtJR5hyYTRBm0Xv8tWxh-91_/s1600/93597859_3176437512366268_6697647519792365568_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="352" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5c9pDavHjKCayerWPfvX9_LkfSe3V5COq7Qv4MGsRoXTkpv-cx2wCdp70N2f1jFEt8Uwfcs8z2nuW_A2-VHY20GqWwyBmpnJQAvE3VHm8pUN5fQSpLoVvYtJR5hyYTRBm0Xv8tWxh-91_/s320/93597859_3176437512366268_6697647519792365568_n.jpg" width="233" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_T8IGlr2yKseMx-ouM48DPfPq4stQB74Fh93vvcOrKdZHY_LHFXeCZHGAbVKXRDoySMOnkrumJoNKhmKBBVI5CNG2kc8jNbPjage9RMivjAb0nXYbXGsKnQ__1Zqhmyi6POUi-B7g1fhv/s1600/93658976_243457520041027_2704701705571794944_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="352" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_T8IGlr2yKseMx-ouM48DPfPq4stQB74Fh93vvcOrKdZHY_LHFXeCZHGAbVKXRDoySMOnkrumJoNKhmKBBVI5CNG2kc8jNbPjage9RMivjAb0nXYbXGsKnQ__1Zqhmyi6POUi-B7g1fhv/s320/93658976_243457520041027_2704701705571794944_n.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
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For the interior, I used some Tim Holtz paper that I had leftover from other projects. The fireplace is also made of cardboard with the egg crate stonework. The table is cardboard with a wooden peg. The picture above the fireplace is a jewelry piece with a picture from an artist's postcard advertisement. It's a fairy riding a rabbit! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu64sbi6WDKgyB8VkQ_p3So-E8YRqMV1V_s5t3ZjMvXOBnGl70pKZKE2031YOIfPAYW49iEN_ZT1JFkZ0SQ7t8_QKbtgJj33gXPxhwWcNm7iZoMGJNGEj-ziYW4VtNYmDK3OTap_GGXHCI/s1600/94076913_258376258889924_7381318502709198848_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu64sbi6WDKgyB8VkQ_p3So-E8YRqMV1V_s5t3ZjMvXOBnGl70pKZKE2031YOIfPAYW49iEN_ZT1JFkZ0SQ7t8_QKbtgJj33gXPxhwWcNm7iZoMGJNGEj-ziYW4VtNYmDK3OTap_GGXHCI/s400/94076913_258376258889924_7381318502709198848_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The chandelier was torn out of a dollhouse I am restoring- it's supposed to be wired for electricity but obviously doesn't work anymore, so it's just decoration. The bed was in my stash. I made the bookshelf from cardboard and small lace trim. The books are a printable pattern that you just fold into a box shape and glue. The curtains are pieces of large lace trim.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQDVz21-LokeiQse4W42wMlJWpqfuPgWsZuEa3TQZ7ozuwbBnIZcdiEUel8pC3bJ1WEXyB_N0h31LgojqGDjmZh0YEFJCkbNezfE5FlB_-m_4QNMD-QQEWs6SNQ8OyLxgG1ZOkBwFbSUD/s1600/93407185_224565918604349_6555879496984035328_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQDVz21-LokeiQse4W42wMlJWpqfuPgWsZuEa3TQZ7ozuwbBnIZcdiEUel8pC3bJ1WEXyB_N0h31LgojqGDjmZh0YEFJCkbNezfE5FlB_-m_4QNMD-QQEWs6SNQ8OyLxgG1ZOkBwFbSUD/s400/93407185_224565918604349_6555879496984035328_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I still have some work to do, like a little painting and neatening up the seams and of course finding more things to fill the rooms, but I am pleased with the way it looks after only two days of work.</div>
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I definitely think this little rabbit lady needs a name, and I think her cottage does too.</div>
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Just like me, I think she is OK spending a lot of time alone.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBsycM-JAZv4hrEjlwwWyf_XOlciVkdLEEk8kwlCmg-fZfUEsY8Prbc2kLIDHgb8qK385DD3nr6y13RIBn4bvt4Mk0OaeBqLS-meXaDNdURi0w4vGbBbA5OqkevKN4HDJaeg3ngt8HnFr/s1600/93722163_2922953004478993_906661342713217024_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="352" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBsycM-JAZv4hrEjlwwWyf_XOlciVkdLEEk8kwlCmg-fZfUEsY8Prbc2kLIDHgb8qK385DD3nr6y13RIBn4bvt4Mk0OaeBqLS-meXaDNdURi0w4vGbBbA5OqkevKN4HDJaeg3ngt8HnFr/s400/93722163_2922953004478993_906661342713217024_n.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495755346433339590.post-74441141018409775302020-04-03T16:33:00.001-07:002020-04-03T16:33:09.671-07:00CoOVID-19 Art Journal<a href="http://thetiedyedlibrarian.blogspot.com/2016/01/art-journal-from-discarded-books.html" target="_blank">I have been making art journals from upcycled books for a few years now.</a><br />
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It's a low-cost way of exercising my creative skills when I don't have a lot of money to buy art supplies. Actually, I have plenty of money right now, I just can't go to the craft stores to make my purchases thanks to COVID 19 and social distancing.<br />
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So here's my latest one. I've used paint markers, watercolors, washi tape, stickers, sheet music, magazine pages, old greeting cards and more<br />
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<img height="240" src="https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-9/s2048x2048/91916529_2567842990124283_5184563526760398848_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_sid=b96e70&_nc_ohc=nN8Wi-ItzlAAX_T-Uyh&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&_nc_tp=7&oh=b06bdd0c8f80a5e621ea9468342b7e06&oe=5EAF39B4" width="320" /><br />
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<img height="320" src="https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-9/92461127_2255059261462471_4865587786134061056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_sid=b96e70&_nc_ohc=gu5RtPUpv0wAX8htm7s&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=b76c6e0fefa5b9117b0555c71af885e1&oe=5EAC69B6" width="234" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495755346433339590.post-23570075351081989112020-03-24T08:53:00.001-07:002020-03-24T08:53:13.084-07:00Layers in Mixed Media CollageMy last post was about my struggle with watercolors. Apparently that art form requires much more patience than I used to exercising when it come to artwork.<br />
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One of my go-to's when I'm in the mood to create art has always been mixed media collage.<br />
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One of the benefits of this form is that you can do it with very little money. I always try to use old canvases (I just put white gesso over them to get a blank slate), and I have been gifted some, or found them in thrift stores, or even on the side of the road in 'free' piles.<br />
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I have found that the secret to make a great mixed media collage is layering.<br />
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First I layer the gesso. Even if the canvas is already white, it just makes a good foundation.<br />
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Then I layer the acrylic paint in my choice of colors.<br />
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After that, I start putting down the images I want. I usually get them from old magazines or greeting cards, but you can also purchase vintage-looking ephemera at craft stores for these types of purposes. I use Mod Podge to attach them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeLUfVFKH4cGrGJnkSPOjzdZ46uWEZh6sPyHOiWJ-r0ON9-vjEbiW-3QqzkGiEgEppxVtrqid509BnZ9i8xmmWx-zHnJMev4buGGgv5UW8YzVfMqS7mCsDAu4OBthaLt_Ra0daarUUn58/s1600/91067794_535563350682845_178086124529385472_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="352" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeLUfVFKH4cGrGJnkSPOjzdZ46uWEZh6sPyHOiWJ-r0ON9-vjEbiW-3QqzkGiEgEppxVtrqid509BnZ9i8xmmWx-zHnJMev4buGGgv5UW8YzVfMqS7mCsDAu4OBthaLt_Ra0daarUUn58/s320/91067794_535563350682845_178086124529385472_n.jpg" width="234" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKi0vUICZtAEkF5DELltsWt_EIgs3O1zKr0hvnerXPifepviUfwlGQwSWnKgAHst_luyBcKIPqn2YNQjNiB_tL1w6POymY9sqA1dWnxgXuvuazzRmD9ODLHm1eLY-vWX0drGjuYqmrDBQ0/s1600/90941251_249291909562967_5608675647271469056_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="352" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKi0vUICZtAEkF5DELltsWt_EIgs3O1zKr0hvnerXPifepviUfwlGQwSWnKgAHst_luyBcKIPqn2YNQjNiB_tL1w6POymY9sqA1dWnxgXuvuazzRmD9ODLHm1eLY-vWX0drGjuYqmrDBQ0/s320/90941251_249291909562967_5608675647271469056_n.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
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After I have a number of images in place, I use some washi tape to frame the images, or create interesting lines.<br />
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I also use some of those word/phrase stickers sometimes to create little poems or stories within the collage.<br />
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Then on the top layer, I put ribbons, or buttons or pieces of discarded jewelry or any other accouterments I want. I fire up my glue fun for that step.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_0NTClnWo-DVz1EyP5ZkHYgyOWK5UtwP1NEMKQSYydZ_7_6PAzHFibLuP6vbT4PT76ilcf9eVEpBSe7ToCB1_6WJ-jWXSrr8GvG0c1BiWovQWXRtsyKBbnTMYp6mV7M6N7c_ZV3CHUyo/s1600/91175366_1530198367156601_347222842883964928_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="352" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_0NTClnWo-DVz1EyP5ZkHYgyOWK5UtwP1NEMKQSYydZ_7_6PAzHFibLuP6vbT4PT76ilcf9eVEpBSe7ToCB1_6WJ-jWXSrr8GvG0c1BiWovQWXRtsyKBbnTMYp6mV7M6N7c_ZV3CHUyo/s320/91175366_1530198367156601_347222842883964928_n.jpg" width="234" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vuUQeVuUhcFgU0X__4lc5-2-uWBMaJ-pPRrx8ShyphenhyphenfZkMF69oVKvzuHl97XzmgfiAswOQmrVR-8wI4WubyWnX-JyF9BRTSXvAdHWMnmuuu5-SRyU4feBY17sP-rK1tre1zkV1C8GvX9Yu/s1600/91210562_536718926977305_4287438132430766080_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="352" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vuUQeVuUhcFgU0X__4lc5-2-uWBMaJ-pPRrx8ShyphenhyphenfZkMF69oVKvzuHl97XzmgfiAswOQmrVR-8wI4WubyWnX-JyF9BRTSXvAdHWMnmuuu5-SRyU4feBY17sP-rK1tre1zkV1C8GvX9Yu/s320/91210562_536718926977305_4287438132430766080_n.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
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After all those layers, it usually looks complete to me. Sometimes if I find a perfect button or something, I'll go back and add it later, but this one is already hanging up in my bedroom now.</div>
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So there's my art-inspired blog post of the day, for at least as long as COVID-19 is forcing the closure of my school.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495755346433339590.post-79382581627760053532020-03-23T17:20:00.000-07:002020-03-23T17:20:05.005-07:00Experimenting with WatercolorsSince I've has a lot more time on my hands recently, I decided to give watercolors another try.<br />
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I have never been very good with watercolors, or with trying to paint anything realistic; I'm much more about abstract art and acrylics.<br />
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But I wanted to try something new.<br />
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This is what I did today; I actually used a combination of Stabilo woody pencils (which are hybrids of wax crayons/watercolors) as well as watercolor brush pens. John did a lot of painting today, too<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRA1mZVfoP8b-dXoNvYGIXLwXbUS0QpyAmzow1RUSt00TUnm0ZIxWVLWwvsOtTt83y7o2m-OgSeJ6rhEGHzE4NZNpqjcEDhTDwLYdGyGJWFSptDAIP0BOVy30iDIFndgGcK3D06Z7ut3MQ/s1600/90433321_2558154554512460_3885641064261877760_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRA1mZVfoP8b-dXoNvYGIXLwXbUS0QpyAmzow1RUSt00TUnm0ZIxWVLWwvsOtTt83y7o2m-OgSeJ6rhEGHzE4NZNpqjcEDhTDwLYdGyGJWFSptDAIP0BOVy30iDIFndgGcK3D06Z7ut3MQ/s320/90433321_2558154554512460_3885641064261877760_n.jpg" width="238" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xB8KMcHi4BQjjcjGfhe_m9wZklzU6GEBccC2tjH8Li9fuVE9g4ep2i3uz4EbVJzR7S3sCAvSzu5XVypJi8bTcXSScSlYFO3XoY-cPdZpRUXT_wT18xxdWfu5CE81FVExx5ZqZ8G_mCZs/s1600/90958929_256435448700977_5754988544342884352_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xB8KMcHi4BQjjcjGfhe_m9wZklzU6GEBccC2tjH8Li9fuVE9g4ep2i3uz4EbVJzR7S3sCAvSzu5XVypJi8bTcXSScSlYFO3XoY-cPdZpRUXT_wT18xxdWfu5CE81FVExx5ZqZ8G_mCZs/s320/90958929_256435448700977_5754988544342884352_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Please excuse the exhibitionist mermaid.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495755346433339590.post-51142968534838220142020-03-21T15:50:00.001-07:002020-03-21T15:50:53.168-07:00Turtle Power!Years ago, I made a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles dollhouse out of a cardboard box. I put a lot of work into it, and it would always get a lot of attention when I displayed it at libraries or maker fairs.<br />
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We recently went to see the original film in Portsmouth at a 30th anniversary screening:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikV726-6y2JvUHix-DgQ0agm3Z60h8OoU7JuAGceLZFtVHHilf0aoIJtu2zvqp8tTAc-d6bVqhfswYltRB715055dABQdLf-EwIFaOkMF85lMLLDsw_qEsQXFIwQNrfrvi0-ViTRc-aBqh/s1600/90150932_2343140389312115_2904958206469996544_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="288" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikV726-6y2JvUHix-DgQ0agm3Z60h8OoU7JuAGceLZFtVHHilf0aoIJtu2zvqp8tTAc-d6bVqhfswYltRB715055dABQdLf-EwIFaOkMF85lMLLDsw_qEsQXFIwQNrfrvi0-ViTRc-aBqh/s320/90150932_2343140389312115_2904958206469996544_n.jpg" width="228" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLhdvJLBs-yUaunmdRtBshQNFEk25UYeDy5l9Iiyi4Nc6jfzBYfE8MYb3nxqIDAZLLhoqBJjRtMuQvU8PgAJ0TSqfSQdGo-8h5bTwjVTgENeZ-HD2i4chHzRKrKMNnIUgWf38UjUDDBxl/s1600/90698668_675815826501895_921817307343224832_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="352" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLhdvJLBs-yUaunmdRtBshQNFEk25UYeDy5l9Iiyi4Nc6jfzBYfE8MYb3nxqIDAZLLhoqBJjRtMuQvU8PgAJ0TSqfSQdGo-8h5bTwjVTgENeZ-HD2i4chHzRKrKMNnIUgWf38UjUDDBxl/s320/90698668_675815826501895_921817307343224832_n.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
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It was great seeing the movie on a big screen again, and the pizza was fantastic! Afterwards, I got inspired to dig out to TMNT house so that John could play with it. I was disappointed to find it damaged and warped though, from years of moving and storage.</div>
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I was able to salvage the 'sidewalk' top that I made out of a piece of Styrofoam and coffee stirrers. There's even a little compartment that I made to look like nuclear waste was being dumped:</div>
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I made the dumpster out of a tea tin.</div>
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I found a new cardboard box to make the turtles' lair. It's not finished but it looks pretty good so far. I added some tiny pizza lights that I found at Dollar Tree, and I let John set up all the furniture the way he wanted inside, and he did a great job:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49HbzwCUKMXw5gbJM1Q9wrf-m5lo8Hd-FyuqY7Lp529aNCVgfOr5bJO_cCEt1va4SQ6OuIKlq04F8c6C_zSn-H3vvYc5lU16MB4eTY_oJRAnUswcR8gvA_QxX5dXRfAD3_ocis1yVoaov/s1600/90371594_258945978448542_2656967069676863488_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49HbzwCUKMXw5gbJM1Q9wrf-m5lo8Hd-FyuqY7Lp529aNCVgfOr5bJO_cCEt1va4SQ6OuIKlq04F8c6C_zSn-H3vvYc5lU16MB4eTY_oJRAnUswcR8gvA_QxX5dXRfAD3_ocis1yVoaov/s400/90371594_258945978448542_2656967069676863488_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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He loves to turn the lights on inside at night time and play with it, and it's great to have something to occupy him for a while:</div>
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Not too bad for something we slapped together in a couple days!</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495755346433339590.post-80868828518830329352020-03-20T16:00:00.004-07:002020-03-20T16:00:56.114-07:00Exhaustion of All Sorts<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, this wraps up the first week of distance learning. It was actually only 2 days of official online teaching, but it might as well have been a whole week because I am exhausted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It's not the same kind of exhaustion I am used to feeling after a busy week at work; I'm used to teaching classes, rushing to accommodate students who come in between classes, get books checked in and shelved, recess duty, etc. It's mostly mental and emotional exhaustion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I am mentally exhausted from scouring the Internet for good resources to pass on to staff members. I am mentally exhausted from news reports and social media that I see every time I get on the computer. I am mentally exhausted from trying to review and re-explain concepts to the students that we discussed in class, but now seem to have gone out of their heads, through a never-ending series of emails. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I am emotionally exhausted from the stress of my new job situation, absorbing some of the stress from my husband's new job situation (also a teacher), and trying to keep our son occupied for more than a few minutes at a time so I don't have to explain to him yet again that Mama and Dada are not on vacation; just because we're at home doesn't mean we're not working.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And just for fun, there's the physical exhaustion that comes with constantly doing laundry and dishes because since we're in the house all the time now, we're dirtying the sheets, blankets, dishtowels, plates, silverware, etc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We are trying to get into some kind of routine but it's going to take some time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I am trying to find some time during the day to do creative things, but I end up feeling guilty if I do too much, like I should be checking emails, or entering grades, or checking out new resources, or recording a read-aloud. . .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I think the most important thing I have to do is to be there for the students. I have already received emails from several students saying how much they miss me and the library, and it kind of breaks my heart. So far, my favorite email from a student said:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">My mom started a homeschool, and my sister is a teachers pet and I was suspended. So everything is great, except the fact that I am bored, </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><u>I HAVE NO BOOKS!!!!!!!!!"</u></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">That email made me laugh out loud.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">A couple months ago, I treated myself to a new box of watercolor brush paints. I have never been very good with watercolors, so this is my first attempt:</span><br />
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It's supposed to be my cat Bella, but instead it looks like one of the humanoid-cat actors in the recent film version of Cats.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495755346433339590.post-57669200226882669882020-03-19T10:26:00.002-07:002020-03-19T10:26:35.046-07:00Update on Friends dollhouse<a href="http://thetiedyedlibrarian.blogspot.com/2020/01/its-like-youre-always-stuck-in-second.html" target="_blank">I posted in January about the Friends dollhouse that my husband made me as a Christmas gift.</a><br />
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I have been trying to work on it since then, and it's looking pretty good:<br />
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During February break, we took a little trip to NYC, and we visited the Friends apartment building (the one used for exterior shots).</div>
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I know the people who live in the building don't like this part, but I loved reading all the quotes and messages written on the wall by adoring fans:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7x0zCOFxS1LeIPac8xuTlDSvBRMswzGIou6owZR-LfDaayVjxi4atg5TdyJQMHu1iGDLFD8I06tMQMp0JTRbJn4TFfRtIcQheXLxJdUQ7BCNxSRK-UPGq7eVJtklxc0Rqz4wW6f4sokGO/s1600/85234802_10102609845276225_3003951146738909184_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7x0zCOFxS1LeIPac8xuTlDSvBRMswzGIou6owZR-LfDaayVjxi4atg5TdyJQMHu1iGDLFD8I06tMQMp0JTRbJn4TFfRtIcQheXLxJdUQ7BCNxSRK-UPGq7eVJtklxc0Rqz4wW6f4sokGO/s200/85234802_10102609845276225_3003951146738909184_o.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlVQvrNry2mLT8BCRGCCLFh2yTpQ3uSwBPCVfSN6qD72n7PAxIFZkoZ-nDmVabG9qDy7YOogSu1jLalor_o5bWvsrA815pHn-rpmozMcToRGYnW2lAqrR9A5HZdtHHZU8R7jmsBWDskNA/s1600/88423262_10102609844722335_7052945498193264640_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlVQvrNry2mLT8BCRGCCLFh2yTpQ3uSwBPCVfSN6qD72n7PAxIFZkoZ-nDmVabG9qDy7YOogSu1jLalor_o5bWvsrA815pHn-rpmozMcToRGYnW2lAqrR9A5HZdtHHZU8R7jmsBWDskNA/s200/88423262_10102609844722335_7052945498193264640_o.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Right now, I am on a quest to find (shopping online of course) a small duck and chick and monkey to hide somewhere in the scene.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495755346433339590.post-25654558857874207622020-03-18T07:34:00.002-07:002020-03-18T07:34:19.681-07:00The More (Mary Wickes), the Merrier (I am)John recently watched the classic animated Disney film <i>101 Dalmatians.</i> I hadn't seen it in a long time, so I sat down to watch with him.<br />
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As the credits were starting up, I noticed the name Mary Wickes, and I got excited because I love that actress.<br />
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For people who do not recognize the name, she played the 'grumpy' nun Sister Mary Lazarus in the <i>Sister Act</i> movies:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhU2BVAhJwYtEQUOM3mEEdPHRwKEtk_TaMDR8B6nKY4taESrd8TLFbbgRbhRl1hCnqTQuefr3rXyGU8VCzbWSeU0b0v6cX52Fi5nASBA_00vhkt9OAwzgl3CoJods_KCJylNLX2W6vtAV/s1600/MARY-WICKES-SISTER-ACT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="856" data-original-width="1284" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhU2BVAhJwYtEQUOM3mEEdPHRwKEtk_TaMDR8B6nKY4taESrd8TLFbbgRbhRl1hCnqTQuefr3rXyGU8VCzbWSeU0b0v6cX52Fi5nASBA_00vhkt9OAwzgl3CoJods_KCJylNLX2W6vtAV/s200/MARY-WICKES-SISTER-ACT.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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as well as Sister Clarissa in <i>The Trouble with Angels</i>, which is one of my favorites:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsOu0l8AairLqbiogXEesxcLKY2zCe5CRQieDccAZFdo7OwcAQ39H5j8apLX0pAttELtkmF-SJojAjzMpabHEY887uAMbMCN_lh4p5wnCfX8rHLU09JIstbSO3Sq6Uj4LgzLU7oH9Ub03/s1600/31da08d50c146f9df399491f822b2a35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsOu0l8AairLqbiogXEesxcLKY2zCe5CRQieDccAZFdo7OwcAQ39H5j8apLX0pAttELtkmF-SJojAjzMpabHEY887uAMbMCN_lh4p5wnCfX8rHLU09JIstbSO3Sq6Uj4LgzLU7oH9Ub03/s200/31da08d50c146f9df399491f822b2a35.jpg" width="158" /></a></div>
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Great Aunt March in the 1994 version of <i>Little Women,</i> another favorite,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_TGZFmWAyVbwurvf3ILxE0R1g4q67FV6iEv6fqm4xkF3Mxt4j92G18kAFQADjFoagk0dJx8Nb_ztgoSeMu7h7jlV02O63JvaKSfG-HhZo1pD8EAsdPwSxiK3_mYiQggDHgCQ_dnEf8N7/s1600/189193_full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="1000" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_TGZFmWAyVbwurvf3ILxE0R1g4q67FV6iEv6fqm4xkF3Mxt4j92G18kAFQADjFoagk0dJx8Nb_ztgoSeMu7h7jlV02O63JvaKSfG-HhZo1pD8EAsdPwSxiK3_mYiQggDHgCQ_dnEf8N7/s320/189193_full.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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as well as the ballet instructor in one of my favorite episodes of<i> I Love Lucy</i>:<br />
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She also appears in a couple episodes of Punky Brewster (as a nun again in one episode!), but I wasn't able to find any stills from those episodes.<br />
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Anyways, I kept waiting to hear her distinctive voice, but it never came. So I did some research to figure out why she was credited if she didn't seem to be IN the movie at all, and I found out some interesting trivia.<br />
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Mary Wickes was the real life model for Cruella DeVille!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PI3qC9GRndAHBhRu3i-HzDEmyO8o_I2_gF146n2ZNGtBbA9vEHU4si0HGJGJTjdMRFVyEH8bVhaPVlRG-Y-c0emEGsJqRPf2CUZsqU_WG-h2WbLNYBiH83oIB5yJneyZok31hSYQw958/s1600/D7-quuBX4AA5_oc.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PI3qC9GRndAHBhRu3i-HzDEmyO8o_I2_gF146n2ZNGtBbA9vEHU4si0HGJGJTjdMRFVyEH8bVhaPVlRG-Y-c0emEGsJqRPf2CUZsqU_WG-h2WbLNYBiH83oIB5yJneyZok31hSYQw958/s320/D7-quuBX4AA5_oc.png" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNjAStZzAeK0Ueiwp-bRZIB0xfUsnY6HiQ4LRagw4noTouTr_PjKjZJlUNZ6-kykm0-B6JQJcYrfktutyNV22cLbHRtcm4-apG26pfJ33IBOIN2adXJNjyuO6llfN3nanS5uuSR2M2KKP/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="344" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNjAStZzAeK0Ueiwp-bRZIB0xfUsnY6HiQ4LRagw4noTouTr_PjKjZJlUNZ6-kykm0-B6JQJcYrfktutyNV22cLbHRtcm4-apG26pfJ33IBOIN2adXJNjyuO6llfN3nanS5uuSR2M2KKP/s320/unnamed.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
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Disney animators use real life actors as models as they draw, but I never knew that she did that.</div>
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I love to sing the song "Cruella DeVille" to Johnny now, and now whenever I sing it, I can picture one of my favorite, often overlooked, actresses. </div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495755346433339590.post-37558094218390007622020-03-17T10:54:00.002-07:002020-03-17T10:56:40.254-07:00"It was dark times, Harry, dark times."<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have to admit that as soon as my school announced the closure due to COVID 19, that line from Hagrid is the first thing that popped into my head. Just last week I was taking the 4th graders outside to tap maple trees, torturing the 5th graders with my terrible singing voice (and a song about dracunculus medinensis) and getting hugs from Kindergarteners. Now I've had to pack up the library as best as I can to prepare for a thorough disinfecting. It doesn't even look like the library I tried so hard to make a friendly, comfortable, inviting space.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We've been preparing for distance learning for the past few days. It's very different than what most of us are used to in a K-8 school, but I am trying hard to be optimistic about it, and I hope that we are successful in it because it could provide more opportunities: like being able to instruct during snow days, or being able to provide better instructions on our sick days. For example, if my son gets sick and I need to stay home, I could potentially Skype into the library, talk to the guest teacher or ask the students if they have questions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I did not see this coming, and I know a lot of other people didn't either, at least not to this extent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">But I keep reminding myself that previous generations have faced world wars, widespread economic depressions, and natural disasters. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">This isn't fun, but a lot of things in life aren't fun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Since I began with a Harry Potter quote, I will end with one, too:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">“Happiness can be found in the darkest </span><span style="background-color: white;">of</span><span style="background-color: white;"> times, </span><span style="background-color: white;">if one</span><span style="background-color: white;"> only </span><span style="background-color: white;">remembers to turn on the light</span><span style="background-color: white;">.”</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495755346433339590.post-24732444173818815192020-01-05T13:59:00.000-08:002020-01-05T13:59:12.338-08:00"It's like you're always stuck in second gear"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Shortly before Christmas, I was feeling frustrated with my creative flow. I really wanted a new project to work on and I tried all the usual places I go to spark my creativity (Hobby Lobby and lots of thrift stores) but I just couldn't find anything that got me excited.</div>
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I think my husband must be some kind of saint. He never complains about all the dollhouses that are in our house (and garage) in various stages of progress. In fact, he encourages my hobby and for Christmas he presented me with a very large roombox that has two sides.</div>
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Friends is probably my favorite TV show of all time, and Netflix stopped streaming it on January 1st. Luckily, I have a new project to help me with the withdrawal. One side of the roombox is Monica's apartment, and the other side is Central Perk.</div>
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These pictures show how it looked on Christmas morning:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QTJqW0ebS2jIixLERnB_lE7hgEAS-mt7kq-PnwlCS5muY149ljqCGBWAqeRhFqDHSXt4VqItgEpPHi4dwBr8AgenvoNvoBrHWhN9wmkMt1tW3OcsZoaZo3GmS12hVn4ux6CaA5OmGRQi/s1600/81366673_620892138680393_8107139835107475456_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QTJqW0ebS2jIixLERnB_lE7hgEAS-mt7kq-PnwlCS5muY149ljqCGBWAqeRhFqDHSXt4VqItgEpPHi4dwBr8AgenvoNvoBrHWhN9wmkMt1tW3OcsZoaZo3GmS12hVn4ux6CaA5OmGRQi/s400/81366673_620892138680393_8107139835107475456_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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These pictures are the first one I uploaded onto social media and my online photo albums, to give people a sneak peek at the new project:</div>
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I used a Central Perk sticker on the coffee shop window, and I printed out brick pattern paper for Monica's apartment. I built the shelving units myself, and then painted them teal. All the other stuff was in my stash.</div>
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Today I put down wood pattern contact paper, and made a shade for the window from a dollar store place mat. I also made the coffee table and the window seat (it still needs to be painted).</div>
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It's exciting when you can see a project really begin to take shape. </div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495755346433339590.post-26162554749299025682019-12-29T19:24:00.000-08:002019-12-30T10:03:18.386-08:002019 Little WomenI finally got to see the new Little Women movie. I say finally because even though it's only been out for a few days, I've been waiting for this movie for a couple of years now, even since the project was first announced.<br />
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I was so anxious to see it and I hoped that I would enjoy it the same way I enjoyed the 1994 film when I saw that in the theater. It makes perfect sense that another Little Women remake would be released now, not only because we just celebrated the 150th anniversary (which is why last year saw 2 other Little Women adaptations released) but also because the film industry loves to recall the same audience. The women my age who saw the 1994 film are now grown, with children of their own so we can share the same story with them, starring the actresses that represent their own generation.<br />
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The 1994 film had 90's It girls Winona Ryder, Kirsten Dunst and Claire Danes accompanied by Christian Bale, whereas this new version stars Saoirse Ronan and Emma Watson, who represents this new generation so well because we all saw her grow up on screen, portraying Hermione Granger in eight Harry Potter films. Some of the images from this film hearkened back to the 1994 one almost identically, such as when they walk to give their Christmas breakfast to the Hummel family<br />
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and also when the family circles around the newly married John Brooke and Meg</div>
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During the first few minutes of the film, I started to panic. Unlike all the other film adaptations I've seen, this one does not follow a linear telling of the events in the text. Instead of beginning on Christmas Eve when the girls are young, it opens up with Jo standing outside of a NYC newspaper office, gathering up the courage to go in and sell one of her stories. </div>
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It seems to come in closer to the Good Wives half of the story, rather than the classic Little Women (The book was originally published in two parts, the first being Little Women and the second story being Good Wives, when the girls are young women). The portions of the story that are quintessential Little Women like meeting Laurie, Amy burning Jo's manuscript, Amy falling through the ice and more) are depicted in flashbacks. Seeing such a familiar story presented in a new, unpredictable way made me very uncomfortable at first and my internal monologue went something like "Oh my God! Why did they change the timeline?! What are they thinking?! They're going to wreck this story! If they ruin this story for me I will never be able to get over it and I will spend the rest of my days spelling out my arguments to anyone who will listen and I will end up wasting the rest of my life because I won't be able to concentrate on anything else!"</div>
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However, once I settled into the story I realized that the new presentation makes perfect sense in context of recalling a generation of movie go-ers such as myself.</div>
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When I saw the 1994 film, I was 12 years old. I had just read Little Women for the first time (<a href="http://thetiedyedlibrarian.blogspot.com/2017/09/the-sanctity-of-little-women.html" target="_blank">an abridged version from Scholastic book orders, which I still have</a>). I wanted to see that movie so badly and then it turned out I had strep throat, so I had to lay in bed and wait even longer. It kind of fit perfectly, because if strep throat isn't treated, it can turn into scarlet fever, which is what Beth's fate is in the story. I finally got to see the movie, and it made a lasting impression on me. . .I mean, how many times by now have I blogged about something Little Women related???</div>
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The 1994 film really focused on the March girls' childhood. When Meg becomes engaged, the film reaches a turning point, and we fast forward four years to her wedding. As the family circles around Meg and John Brooke and sing the hymn "For the Beauty of the Earth" (which I also included in my own wedding for this reason) we see a contented Meg, and solemn Jo who resents this change, a Beth who looks even more sickly and fragile and a beautiful, grown up Amy. After rejecting Laurie, Jo makes her way to New York, accepting that she is stepping over the "great divide of childhood and all that lay beyond."</div>
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In contrast, this 2019 film does not focus so much on childhood, but rather on young adulthood. Rather than allowing the audience to witness their childhood 'first hand', it shows the audience four young women and then shows us what happened in their lives that shaped them into the people they've become.</div>
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When the film opens, we see Jo in NYC, a place as creative as she is and as chaotic as she feels her life is at that moment.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80VgwTPiwUHGUplqlmIVTz0lO3IsRpYAy2gD9n8h3PXzAYSrSVTPQ8ujRKBd3YbyQvPC37XDPAI_XbBEjZObrdYUfpoQk8pZNbriFEWj_7-ffDoaxTBLNSifh-dvMe8QCRFFPfUgD4lt6/s1600/saoirse_ronan_in_little_women_ending_explained.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="825" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80VgwTPiwUHGUplqlmIVTz0lO3IsRpYAy2gD9n8h3PXzAYSrSVTPQ8ujRKBd3YbyQvPC37XDPAI_XbBEjZObrdYUfpoQk8pZNbriFEWj_7-ffDoaxTBLNSifh-dvMe8QCRFFPfUgD4lt6/s320/saoirse_ronan_in_little_women_ending_explained.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We see Meg in her cottage with her two young children, the symbol of domesticity and motherhood. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWxos84cNlT9ilSY6DyOprQCA0iVMoNQ2LXyycJsI7lms-IJdY-T4iuBQCF79oh8s7EJXbyuCiZwMFvKPHLivZ-wM4g22isikashLNrO6slUu3CXPyqaBUzRJmeivRAM781rBT17U3DyB/s1600/df-11454-r2-1565716623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="421" data-original-width="480" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWxos84cNlT9ilSY6DyOprQCA0iVMoNQ2LXyycJsI7lms-IJdY-T4iuBQCF79oh8s7EJXbyuCiZwMFvKPHLivZ-wM4g22isikashLNrO6slUu3CXPyqaBUzRJmeivRAM781rBT17U3DyB/s320/df-11454-r2-1565716623.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Beth is in orchard House still, because her fate never really permits her to grow up very much so she never leaves her parents' home.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeODJ89nlFgJ1Xu4ZN4KTKoy06xxUOTqLgQKKHdXB9WAwa2Z3rCRvZqB4G66UhjnTZMHo04C1yYr5ClV5HoCbyurqqjQDr3xBkkQ_s78k3a1ZEBJmV4PvtCGdA2h6SJ2e-45bFSxbAjROC/s1600/sharp-objects-eliza-scanlen-e1532527646771-700x358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="700" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeODJ89nlFgJ1Xu4ZN4KTKoy06xxUOTqLgQKKHdXB9WAwa2Z3rCRvZqB4G66UhjnTZMHo04C1yYr5ClV5HoCbyurqqjQDr3xBkkQ_s78k3a1ZEBJmV4PvtCGdA2h6SJ2e-45bFSxbAjROC/s320/sharp-objects-eliza-scanlen-e1532527646771-700x358.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Meanwhile Amy is pursuing painting and proposals in Paris, a place of beauty and romance.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncW8-NNI1BhoSivZoCSUaJnIFZ8mfTgTLAYyZZOCrLES9oU-H9ZNrqgnZ6tn2rJ_-kB_baOLD4IIC1XJGbGDlYe4qGwyGeuy32EzOeYkjtvZ85dQ-nYvdZ7j-xAiHKETdbzsc7BiM2pCN/s1600/224085-1566227111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="640" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncW8-NNI1BhoSivZoCSUaJnIFZ8mfTgTLAYyZZOCrLES9oU-H9ZNrqgnZ6tn2rJ_-kB_baOLD4IIC1XJGbGDlYe4qGwyGeuy32EzOeYkjtvZ85dQ-nYvdZ7j-xAiHKETdbzsc7BiM2pCN/s320/224085-1566227111.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I enjoyed this rendition very much because it included some very important ideas from the book which do not usually get included in the films. For example, although Meg loves her husband very much, she feels burdened by their poverty and often wishes for the luxuries she sees her friends enjoying. One day as Meg is shopping with her well-to-do friend Sallie Moffat, she sees some silk that she would like for a dress. She knows it's an expense they cannot afford, but she purchases it anyways. Afterwards, she feels so remorseful for her her selfishness and sorry that she is making her husband feel like a poor provider that she sells the fabric to her friend. That type of interaction is present in almost every marriage, and as I've written before,<a href="http://thetiedyedlibrarian.blogspot.com/2016/12/transcendelist-ideals-of-love-and.html" target="_blank"> Little Women might as well be a guidebook for Transcendentalist ideals of love of marriage.</a> The 1994 film has Meg declaring that she's not afraid of being poor rather than admitting that she is still struggling to overcome her childish greediness.</div>
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The 2019 film also shows us how Jo struggles with her jealousy as she gets older. In the 1994 film, she does not seem to be bothered at all that Amy and Laurie get married. She merely makes Amy promise to always live closy by so she does not lose another sister. However, in the book Jo struggles more with the news. She knows she is not in love with Laurie, but she still mourns the loss of her childhood best friend; she knows that she will never be his best friend again because his wife, her own sister, will now be in that position and share intimacies of their own. This 2019 film shows Jo writing Laurie a letter, asking him to propose to her again, before she finds out about his recent marriage to Amy. She retrieves the letter before he can find it, tears it up, and throws it into the water, quietly accepting that she lost her own chance at a life with Laurie. </div>
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Likewise, Amy also seems to struggle more with Laurie's courtship of her. She tells him that she has always been second to Jo, and she does not want to live the rest of her life knowing that she was a consolation prize. There is more attention given to the choice she makes between Fred Vaughn and Laurie, and how it impacts her.</div>
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The ending of the film seems to be garnering quite a bit of attention because it breaks the fourth wall, with Jo speaking directly into the camera, negotiating to own the rights to her new book (which is titled Little Women) and watching the first copy of the book get produced at the publisher. The metafiction devices at work are not simply to differentiate it from other film adaptations, but to provide some biographical information on the author Louisa May Alcott; the 1994 film includes a line about Meg's father's school having to close down after he "admitted a little dark girl." I do not recall if that's mentioned in the text, but I do know that Bronson Alcott did admit a black girl into one of his schools which caused a scandal, and led to the school's closing, so slipping in some biographical details is not new.</div>
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However, the ending also serves to highlight the strength of Jo's character and provide an ending that is not focused on marriage being her happily ever after. The 1994 film ends with Jo and Professor Bhaer kissing under an umbrella. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguerMiwHZmkFary7ecY5VxMvcjL9NoefNKahVkSjRvJFJ0ey8Fq1ZCcAqT3krlXhM-3RNXOgox1unhLaoxI7DvO50CKcKavtUZGVbYAbpgCPHZV90Y1XQmw0r_SIMzbS2NdZ7nyUsLHJTz/s1600/tumblr-0dfc829e585435794957c14dac04385f-0fbb2715-540_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="540" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguerMiwHZmkFary7ecY5VxMvcjL9NoefNKahVkSjRvJFJ0ey8Fq1ZCcAqT3krlXhM-3RNXOgox1unhLaoxI7DvO50CKcKavtUZGVbYAbpgCPHZV90Y1XQmw0r_SIMzbS2NdZ7nyUsLHJTz/s200/tumblr-0dfc829e585435794957c14dac04385f-0fbb2715-540_orig.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IwX71rY0ROY1uz_7j4DohMvywRzl-kA_NkwAZxDuDxQOol7WA2rA-_vdJeJ3c2b2uZt7isYTx_OuIIHAevFWtxOqUf3QK5jL8dgrOabvRRSI2SQrKjlCSn3nrtR05iQ0ABH2sRRrso3c/s1600/a43381ee0003aea4ac3c358a1181632c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="1600" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IwX71rY0ROY1uz_7j4DohMvywRzl-kA_NkwAZxDuDxQOol7WA2rA-_vdJeJ3c2b2uZt7isYTx_OuIIHAevFWtxOqUf3QK5jL8dgrOabvRRSI2SQrKjlCSn3nrtR05iQ0ABH2sRRrso3c/s320/a43381ee0003aea4ac3c358a1181632c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This ending includes that image too, but her real "happily ever after" moment comes with the success she made herself with her writing and her resolve to control her creative fate. Alcott herself did not want to end Jo's story with a marriage, but had to in order to appease her publisher and her young fans, so this ending pays homage to her original intention because the marriage is not the be all, end all.</div>
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In closing, I LOVED this movie.</div>
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I do not think it will ever replace the 1994 film that I saw when I was 12, but it's a very close second.</div>
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I feel like the 1994 film is all about childhood, whereas this film is about becoming an adult. . .which works out pretty perfectly for me and others my age. </div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495755346433339590.post-6032492291759608852019-12-24T13:24:00.000-08:002019-12-30T10:04:04.274-08:00Merry Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My father's father passed away in 2003. Shortly afterwards, the family was going through old pictures and mementos, like most families do when they lose a loved one.</div>
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This photograph hangs on the wall of my stairwell. I still remember the first time I saw this photo, and it kind of gave me chills when the gravity of it set in.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ODF-LBW1SpVlrl_xoPZdlIspGH1vyCLgX_4XfCFJrtyLo7Vohlakrb7Ded1Kf1w353TDOTpi2W7c9vWUy6uqLursbdg7B0Dy5io66k0QrLW5exYl0QtP1y7WQzP_vpNTKGRqphcUKCsV/s1600/81695223_536924113564154_6658169700825956352_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ODF-LBW1SpVlrl_xoPZdlIspGH1vyCLgX_4XfCFJrtyLo7Vohlakrb7Ded1Kf1w353TDOTpi2W7c9vWUy6uqLursbdg7B0Dy5io66k0QrLW5exYl0QtP1y7WQzP_vpNTKGRqphcUKCsV/s400/81695223_536924113564154_6658169700825956352_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">It was taken at Christmas time, sometime in the 1940's. We often take pictures of our Christmas trees so we can try to capture the spirit of Christmas for future years. In fact, I keep seeing this article pop up on social media that compiles photos of <a href="http://oldphotoarchive.com/stories/what-christmas-trees-looked-like-100-years-ago-20-photos" target="_blank">Christmas trees for the past 100 years</a> and it is interesting to see this icon of holiday history travel through time.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">The focus of my family's photo isn't the tree though, it's the four portraits underneath it. My grandfather (2nd from the right) and three of his (seven) brothers were all serving in different branches of the military during World War II. </span><span style="text-align: left;">I can't imagine how his parents, remaining brothers and sister felt that year, not knowing if any of them would return home.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">The holiday season stresses us out for so many reasons, and most of us have some struggles during this time; we mourn those who have died, and feel guilty about relationships that are strained or estranged while we feel compelled to put on happy faces and show up to parties and battle crowds everywhere we go.</span></div>
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I walk by this picture multiple times every day, but the other day I stopped and looked at it for a minute. Every year when I watch "It's a Wonderful Life" I try to imagine what Christmas must have been like for past generations; it always seems like it was easier. No booking flights or driving across multiple states to see your relatives. No Walmart. No TV's blaring movies that set unrealistic expectations and commercials for 'must have' toys. </div>
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But this picture is my own reminder to try and focus on the most important things.</div>
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Peace and Merry Christmas.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495755346433339590.post-83230731322921793242019-11-01T16:06:00.001-07:002019-11-01T16:06:17.219-07:00modern miniature sceneI decided a while ago that I wanted to try something new with my dollhouses/miniatures.<br />
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I follow a lo of mini artists on social media, and so I got inspired by @little_lucciola. Her creations are very modern, but still whimsical.<br />
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They are also pretty small, and I am running out of space in my house for all my dollhouses, so I need to make ones that are small and can be easily stored.<br />
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This one actually folds up into its own case!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5L5uw-JeATLWALSeWhOnmJKmPWbhgQrobHnOZnFHw-Ix4gPku6bHGIxPyT-0vOrY3YgXk_ed8RUbApFIMAq_2ODWIGJYfCbFyGjYsoxj1jUy1kUZoqFicyI24RWH-tFqylr_NlMCa99g1/s1600/75279277_1565021040306386_4486634626810380288_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="361" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5L5uw-JeATLWALSeWhOnmJKmPWbhgQrobHnOZnFHw-Ix4gPku6bHGIxPyT-0vOrY3YgXk_ed8RUbApFIMAq_2ODWIGJYfCbFyGjYsoxj1jUy1kUZoqFicyI24RWH-tFqylr_NlMCa99g1/s400/75279277_1565021040306386_4486634626810380288_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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I found the case in a storage closet, and I covered the outside with the gold patterned scrapbook paper. The carpet is a piece of scrapbook paper.<br />
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The bed was in my stash of supplies, and I made the blanket and pillow from fabric scraps someone gifted me.<br />
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The dresser is from Dollar Tree, and so is the wall decoration. The pennant banner was in my craft stash.<br />
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The little llama is from a jewelry line at Hobby Lobby. The wooden chair and table are also from Hobby Lobby.<br />
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The bedside table is a napkin ring I got on clearance at Kohls for 49 cents.<br />
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The little stand w/ succulent plants was bought last spring on clearance from Michael's.<br />
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I think it still needs a few more accessories, but I'm happy with it so far.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0