Friday, July 24, 2015

1930 Window Garden Series Postcards by Rapael Tuck

Just imagine receiving a of beautiful pot of flowers
  in the mailbox from a dear, far away friend.  Simply
 cut it out, place it in the kitchen window & enjoy it
for days on end!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Easy to read directions at the bottom.











Hard to pick a favorite.  Aren't the
pot covers lovely too?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Directions copied from back of card:
Cut out the Pot Cover and join it by inserting the
end into the little slot which has to be made
where indicated.  Cut round the flowers, also 
round the circle (which represents the mould) and
the inside pot.  Do not separate the flowers.  Also
cut stalks on each side from top of circle, then
bend the flowers so that they are upright.
Take the two bunches of flowers and let them
back each other and insert them with the inside
pot into the Pot Cover.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Happy gardening!

Friday, July 17, 2015

Finished Fairy Dollhouse #2

I finished the second fairy dollhouse.
Summer has been so busy around the
cabin it took me longer than expected.
 Cleaning supplies and
gardening tools; a must have
in every fairy home.
When the criks' too cold, a warm sudsy
 bath in the ole' tin tub is in order.
This very sturdy crooked chair was another 
flea market find.  I remember the price tag
was $1.00 and I thought it was too expensive so
 put it back on the shelf.  Just before I left the
shop I decided to purchase it anyway.
When I got it home I discovered the
writing on the bottom of the ole' tin seat.
Auaust Hufstepler
Van Buren MO
May 2 1964
Made at the age of 86
Great piece of our local history & it really
shows how important it is to sign our creations
& what a bargain!

I found these Mooska dolls on
the clearance rack at Target. Only one
fairy, but she'll have lots of friends.
Sturdy little dolls just Ava's size.

 Cute, colorful & I didn't have
to tackle makin' fairies. Yee Haw!
 
Taria and Fox enjoying tea & sweets.
 
Simple bedding from the
30's fabrics.  The reverse fabric
matches the borders. 
More Ozark porch sittin', I'm beginning to
think fairies are kinda lazy.
A sleep over with all your friends
is a fairy good time.
 Girl talk and a bird's eye view. 
I really enjoyed putting this fairy house together.
All the color makes it a cheerful happy home &
Little Red Hen's "roof" quilt is the
 frosting on the cake!!!
 EMZ-PINEY POST

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Puttin' Away My Soapbox-Response From Etsy

I would like to thank all the the ladies that
have had the courage to post positive, supportive
comments on my previous post.  I cannot begin
to express what that has meant to me.  I take the
censorship or suppression of artistic expression,
speech and the written word very seriously.  It 
speaks to the very heart of who we are as a nation.  A
very stormy wind is blowing across our land.
My post stands and is correct. 

 You can read Etsy's public policy on prohibited items here.


I especially love this quote that is found there.
(I had intended to use this quote myself to make
my point................)
 “Art should not be comforting; for comfort, we 
have mass entertainment and one another.  Art should provoke, 
disturb, arouse our emotions, expand our sympathies in directions
 we may not anticipate and may not even wish.”
Joyce Carol Oates

I had an on going e-mail discussion with Etsy Marketplace 
"Integrity" team on Friday.  Each e-mail clearly states.  
" This message is a private conversation between you and Etsy.
Please respect this confidentiality and refrain from 
distributing this communication without permission from Etsy."

I respect their privacy and didn't ask for permission.
The old timers here in the Ozarks have an expression.
"If it's a dead horse, ain't no point in kickin' it again."
 
I've put my soapbox away but, by golly it felt good to get all riled up!
"Censorship is telling a man he can't have a
steak just because a baby can't chew it."
Unknown

Thursday, July 9, 2015

On My Soapbox-My Personal Opinion

 
My blog is about hand sewing techniques and the historic one
of a kind early American cloth doll.  These early dolls are
extraordinary examples of the creativity, skill and imagination
of the everyday ordinary American woman that "made do" with
 the materials at hand to make a doll for their child to play with.
 These dolls reflect the times, fashion and environment these 
women were familiar with & are a window into time.  Very
 often these dolls were the only doll a woman would ever make, thus
the primitive look to these individual dolls. Women of all color made
 these amazing dolls. While many children enjoyed the fine store
bought china doll, most children from the isolated, poorer sections
 of America had to "make-do" with home made dolls. These finely
 crafted dolls are a part of our rich diverse American culture.  I am
very proud of the work I create. I take great pains to create dolls that
 give credence to the original makers and our early American history. 
 
To see some wonderful examples of these early dolls:
(There are 4 videos to this collection you can find them all here)
 &

I love Etsy, I've purchased many doll making supplies
 there, vintage and antique ribbons, buttons, even the mohair
for my stuffed animals comes from Etsy.
I have been considering opening an Etsy shop as an outlet
for selling my dollies.  It's the premier place for selling your
 hand crafted items.  After reviewing their policy on
 banned items I have discovered some of my dolls would
not be allowed for sale there.  New versions of certain
items connected to sensitive events in history are not
allowed.  In this particular instance, I am referring to
  the mammy doll.  This is America, companies have the
 right to make policies and run their businesses in any fashion
they choose, I respect that.  I love the American way.
 Etsy's a very successful company.
Carry on Etsy!
  
I don't consider my reproduction dolls as "mammy" 
dolls in a derogatory way.  Mammy is a child's
 term for referring to "one's mother."  Did little children
use that word in a hateful way?
  Most of the wonderful historic black cloth dolls
 do have a common thread; they have a particular style of
clothing and familiar look about them.  The same goes
 for the prairie or homesteader cloth dolls. All the early
one of a kind cloth dolls were made by ordinary women
with skill and love for a child to play with. I find it sad that
dolls fashioned in this way are considered offensive &
could arbitrarily be relegated to a category of hate but, that
 seems to be the way the wind is blowing.

As an American and an artist, it greatly concerns me when
 an American company bases policy on current social trends
 rather than facts and legality.  Don't American companies
prosper because of our American freedoms?  When is it
okay to squelch artistic freedom, ideas, or the written word.
Where does it stop?

Instead of opening a shop, I sent Etsy this e-mail.  It
pained me to do so, as I will have to look long and hard
 to find the right supplies for my dolls.  I don't think
Etsy will notice, I'm a teeny tiny drop in their monetary
bucket but, as an American I feel compelled to
speak my mind.

Hopefully, I still have the right to my opinion.

It has come to my attention that "new" versions of certain items connected to sensitive events in history are prohibited on Etsy. I was considering opening a shop, but after reviewing your policy I have decided not to do so. I am a historical cloth doll maker and on occasion I make historical reproductions of black American dolls. My dolls are reproductions of famous black dolls, mostly from the Hatch Collection. I take great care to make fine examples of the these fabulous historic black dolls. I am greatly concerned about living in a country where we are afraid we might offend someone. This is another example of political correctness gone amuck. What has happened to "If something offends you.....don't buy it, don't watch it, don't read it??"  It's called choice.
A generation which ignores history has no past: and no future.
- Lazarus Long, from the works of Robert Heinlein
A society or government that squelches creativity, ideas or silences dissent is not a democracy. Etsy is bowing to the current winds. If you continue policies such as this, be careful what you wish for. A day may come when you are at the receiving end. I have removed Etsy from my favorites, please eliminate me from your site.
Sherri Farley Make Do Dolls
http://littlecabincreations.blogspot.com/

Hate comes from ignorance and fear
not ladies sittin' in their craft rooms, makin'
innocent dollies, tryin' to earn a livin' or a
few coins for their pocketbook.
I find the notion frighteningly Orwellian.
 
As a country we have a complex history,
 some of it is rather shameful, but it's who
 we are as Americans.  Ignoring "bits" of history
 won't change it nor will it allow us to grow
 as a society.

George Santayana, philosopher, essayist, poet 
and novelist once said.
"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

    

Friday, July 3, 2015

Independence Day

Have a safe and fun filled Independence Day!
WWI Tuck Postcard  1914