Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Putting a face to endangered species

Tlamatcanemiliztli

'Peace' in the Aztec (Nahuatl) language
spoken in Guatemala

That's a mouthful!!!

child in El Barranco Pueblo, Guatemala

I have been reading the news today.
Mistake.
It gets so depressing sometimes!


I read the article about mistreated turkeys at the Butterball factories.
Depressing.
You can find more about the investigation here:

I get discouraged about the people that do the mistreating.
What are they thinking?


Are they so dulled by life
that they fail to respect life?

What kind of people are these in their homes?
Their families?
Their friends?


Well, enough about that (heavy sigh).
I am glad that there are organizations like Mercy for Animals who get mad,
fund secret videos
and encourage an active role in being aware about our surroundings,
and the impact that each and every one of us has on the world around us.

'Mother says Eat Your Vegetables'
original Collage Art Doll by inkspired

So, about 45 minutes ago
(slow, slow, grrrr...grrrr...)
I decided to publish a blog I have been thinking about for a couple of months.

Endangered Species

On June 19, 2012 the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
gave their latest updates.
This is the world's most widely recognized list of the world's
endangered and threatened species.

Out of almost 64,000 species examined worldwide,
almost a third of them are threatened with extinction.

wow.

Sumatran tiger and cub
Oklahoma City Zoo, 2011
picture credit: Jim Beckel

Did you know that if you are 50 yrs or older,
that before you die (average)
the Sumatran Tiger in the wild will be extinct?
No more beautiful pictures of tigers in the wild....
seeing them in their natural habitats
and free.
That means if I ever have grandchildren
(which I am NOT pressuring my son about)
they will be born into a world with no wild tigers.
heavy sigh
courtesy of Dover

Now, I think if you have read any news other than the sports columns
and the headlines of the day,
you should be aware of the sad struggle of the tiger.
But
I bet you haven't heard of some of these!
I hadn't!

the Hula-painted frog
photo credit: Oz Rittner

Now, I had never heard of the hula-painted frog,
have you?

Not only are they 'endangered',
 but scientists thought they were already extinct!
Yeah, I think that qualifies for 'critically endangered', don't you?!!

I know there are frog-lovers out there,
as my past blogs on frogs are still viewed today.
However, they are not all 'cute'.
The hula-painted frog falls in that 'not-so-cute' category, I think.

Disney's 'The Princess and the Frog'

FROG FACTS:
according to the IUCN's list
41% of amphibian species are threatened.
That's about 41% too many for me!

Now, I understand it is much easier to relate to endangered species such as the Mountain Gorilla, or even the Sumatran Rhino.
They can be kinda' cute!

Critically Endangered Sumatran Rhino with 5 day old baby.
This baby is only the 5th rhino baby born in captivity
in 123 years.

But here are some not-so-cute species on the
critically endangered red list
and
the vulnerable endangered red list.
Oh, and some of them aren't even 'animals'!!

Bi-valve molluscs www.nhm.ac.uk

Thing I learned today:
the multiple of 'mollusc' is 'molluscs'
and 'mollusk' is nowhere to be found!!!

 In Africa 42% of ALL freshwater molluscs
 are globally threatened.
In Europe the percentage is 68%.

I never really thought about molluscs before -
Especially as being endangered!

A bi-valve mollusc actually has an important job to do-
They (and many wetland plants) have
'The Water Filtration Service-persons' job.
What' that?
It means they provide clean water.
Hmmm...now that's something I can understand...

The King Cobra
photo credit: Bosse Jonsson

Status:
vulnerable
due to loss of habitat,
and
over-exploitation for medicinal purposes

Now, I can't say I even tolerate snakes very well,
but I do know that without snakes
we would have a bunch-a-bunch-a mice, rats,
and other less desirable critters
running all around where we don't want them to be!

Here's another super duper man-helper -
Posted by BuzzFeed, Pinterest 

18% of bats worldwide are threatened.
Bats are very good at being
'Pollinator Supermans'!
They also eat a TON of insects,
like nasty mosquitoes.
Hey, we should all have a bat house or two in our yards,
as free, energy-efficient bug zappers!

Camouflage Grouper
photo credit Stanley Shea

Status:
very vulnerable
due to over-fishing
and loss of habitat

18% of all groupers are threatened
Large reef fish, such as the grouper
feed more than 275 million people.

also

the Giant Australian cuttlefish
photo credit: Roger Hanlon

Of the 1900 species new to the red list
the giant Australian cuttlefish is one of them.


"A sustainable future cannot be achieved without conserving
biological diversity -
animal and plant species,
their habitats and their genes -
not only for nature itself,
but also for all 7 billion people
who depend on it."

- Julia Marton-Lefevre,
director general of the International Union for Conservation of Nature


and now for some 'pretty' species -

pink-throated brilliant hummingbird
photo credit: Chris Sloan

status:
vulnerable
Known for pollinating,
the hummingbird family
has 4 species that are now at greater risk of extinction.

Job description:
eat insects
get pollen on your beak,
and distribute pollen to other flowers for pollinating
look pretty
delight children
eat more insects 

a vintage song sheet cover, published in 1906
courtesy of the Indiana Music Libraries
see web site add to the right of my blog


Bird Fun Fact:
One third of the world's food depends on pollination
distributed by birds, bats and other buggies.
This includes 87 of the world's leading food crops.

Well, that's enough
endangered
vulnerable
critically endangered
and
threatened of extinction
that I can have in one day.

I hope you have enjoyed today's blog,
and that perhaps you have learned about a couple of species
that you didn't know about before,
and that you are now thinking,
perhaps,
of what you can do to make our world a better place.

That would just thrill me!

Also, I hope you enjoy the coloring page,
and really great photos!!!!
:0)

Monday, August 27, 2012

Summer Memories with a bit of Nessie

Tecocatu

'Peace' in the Nhengatu Native language, spoken in Brazil

'Brasilia' 7/3/12
photo cred: Ueslei Marcelino

Hello there!
It's been a stressful week for us, so I haven't been able
to carve out the time to post much recently. Sorry about that.

Summer is waning. I see yellow leaves on many trees now.
School has started for most of the Colorado schools.
Our neighborhood is quieter now.
Sometimes that's nice.
But I really don't mind the sound of children playing nicely.

illustration by Kate Greenaway

Here is a nice paper doll set of Marisole - a 'sporty girl':


I always hated it when teachers would ask on the first day of school:
"So, what did you do this summer?"

Many times my answer would be:
"I moved".

How can I sum up all the things I did during the summer?
I figured the teachers didn't want to hear:

I spent hours playing with clover, and making clover chains.

My friends and I went to the Lousville Pool and I got planter's warts,
twice.

Glenda and I went rolling down the hills of the Southeast Theological Seminary's grounds.

My sister was actually nice to me one day,
and we made 'tea' out of warm water and lemon drops
and had a tea party using the miniature china tea set we had.

Laura and I made gazillions of little bugs and butterflies
and other super fun stuff from our 'goop' maker.

My grandmother made some clothes for my Barbies.
Then she showed me how to do it myself.

Nah, I would have never said any of that.
I mean, really, how embarrassing!

Other kids in my classes would say
"We took a trip to _____________
(fill in the blank with some great sounding destination.)

"We visited my cousins in ___________
(fill in the blank with some great sounding destination.)

You get the idea!!!
:-)

vintage ad

So
let's see what others have been up to this summer!

photo taken November, 2011

George Edwards, a local fisherman and "Nessie" searcher,
took one of the most viable, authentic photos of Nessie to date.
aka....'The Lock Ness Monster'.
so called because it is in the Loch Ness in Great Britain,
along the Great Glen which divides the North of Scotland
from Inverness to Fort William; 
and because there have been sightings reported there
for centuries.

You can check out the 'official' web site here:

Iris Folded card of a 'sea monster'
by Debbie Fagin, 2012


I have been able to create several new collage paper paintings.

Here is a sneek peak at a few that I haven't listed yet:

"A Stroll Through Cantebury Park"
original collage paper painting by inkspired


"Marzipan Ballerina"
original collage paper painting by inkspired
made from all recycled junkmail


"Romeo's Stolen Kiss"
original collage paper painting by inkspired
made from all recycled junk mail
(as are all of my paper paintings and Collage Art Dolls)

So, what have YOU been up to?
SHARE WITH US

It's been awhile since I have had any comments on my blog,
why don't you comment, today?
It really is very simple, and you don't have to sign up or anything.

vintage Wee Wisdom magazine cover

Well, it's that time again, when,
after spending an hour and 20 minutes to type and post this simple blog
(gggrrrrrrrr....... boo Yahoo)
(gggrrrrrr.....boo Windows Internet Explorer)
I have to get ready and go run some errands.

The laundromat destroyed one of my Mom's jackets.
It was a very nice memory, and also looked great on me.
sigh.
The laundromat lady, Mary, has been very sympathetic
and really very nice.
I'm not angry or anything - what would that change?
I'm just sad.

So, here is something to finish up on an upbeat note:

vintage hula dolls for sale at www.dollybemine.etsy.com
Now, who can't smile now?
:0)

Let's all feel peaceful today!


:0)

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Peace doves around the world

Ashtee

'Peace' in the Farsi language,
spoken in Iraq and Iran

A mural of Iraqi Christians that have been slain,
with an Iraqi soldier outside the
Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad
courtesy of www.nydaily.com

Today I want to say Peace in different languages,
with peace doves accompanying them.
In no particular order, other than they are all countries that I have readers in, Let's start!

Friour

'Peace' in Icelandic, spoken in Iceland
and welcome to one of my newer countries to read my blog!

2 doves, by Claudia Hopf

Claudia Hopf has numerous cut paper patterns.
You can purchase books and patterns at:


Heddwich

'Peace' in the Welsh language, spoken in Wales

a simple beading pattern for you


Patz

'Peace' in the Aranes language, spoken in Spain

Spanish children in traditional costumes


a BackStreet Design pattern out of print


Soksang

'Peace' in the Khmer language, spoken in Thailand

Buddhist monks working in a flooded temple in Ayutthaya province Thailand

Why did I choose this picture?
Because not only is it of Thailand, it shows people cooperating.


a BackStreet Design, out of print book


Rauha

'Peace' in the Finnish language,
spoken in Finland and Sweden

a safety pin pin pattern
You can find many more patterns throughout my blogs


'Peace begins with me' by Lee Shapiro


Pas

'Peace' in the Papiamentu language, spoken in the Netherlands Antilles
and welcome as one of my newer readers!!


a BackStreetDesign pattern, out of print

In order to do this cutting, you lightly fold a piece of paper in half,
then cut out the outer design of the heart.
Next, cut out the flower design at the bottom.
To finish, you open the cutting to lay flat, and cut out the dove!
You can add the pin-point detailing with a large hat pin, or a corsage pin,
or of course the whole kit and kaboodle is for sale many places too!


Ch'ol

'Peace' spoken in the Tumbala language, spoken in Mexico

Dove of Peace

Look carefully at the peace dove above.
It is  made entirely out of weapons, except for one 'peace' sign.
A very clever and original interpretation.

For me, it reminds me that we cannot obtain peace
while still manufacturing weapons.
The USA needs to become responsible in this area.
It can start with us.


I'd like to end today with this lovely illustration:


Practice a moment of peace each day, for the rest of the week.
Really, you can do it!

:0)
inkspired


Monday, August 20, 2012

Fantasy Cottages with Fairies

Amn

"Peace" in the Kashmiri language, spoken in India

Festival of the Hindu goddess - Dashama
Sabarmati River, India  7/29/12
photo credit: Amit Dave


Today is a fairy-good day!

c. 1909 'Wedding of the Fairies Waltz'
vintage song sheet cover graphics


I have more Fantastic Fairy Cottages to share,
and I always am on the look out for fairies,
so I have a few of those to share today as well!
Can anyone have too many fairies in their lives?

'I don' think so!'
- a memory of Ricky telling Lucy....

Dell Comics cover


"In a utilitarian age,
of all other times,
it is a matter of grave importance
that fairy tales
should be respected."

- Charles Dickens



a C. Rohal miniature, 1 1/4 inches high and the roof opens



vintage illustration


Here are some fairies that would like to live in your fairy-tale cottage -


a vintage fairy ballerina

a dragonfly fairy by Purple Moon

coloring page, unknown source


"If I had influence with the good fairy,
who is supposed to preside over
the christening of all children,
I should ask that her gift
to each child in the world
be a sense of wonder
so indestructible
that it would last throughout life."

- Rachel Carson


a cottage in Carmel, California, USA

a house built between two large rocks!

Perhaps this little troll would like to live in that house -



a Scandinavian Knirke

Or perhaps she would like this one better?


The Simon Dale House in Wales

"Happiness lies not
in the mere possession of money;
it lies in the joy of achievement,
in the thrill of creative effort."

- Franklin D. Roosevelt, former USA president

Here are some scherenschnitte houses and cottages for you to cut out:


from a Back Street Designs out of print book

another Back Street out of print design


Perhaps we need a country cottage?



Gingerbread Cottage

These little German paperdolls would love to live in either one!


German paperdolls

I found this fantastic paper artist on etsy -

She will take a  photo of your house
and translate it into a 3 dimensional version paper house!




Wouldn't these lovely ladies want to live in one of those?



Pride and Prejudice paper dolls Dover books

One last fairy cottage for the day:

Giethoorn, Netherlands cottage

Why not try making a paper doll house today,
that looks like your house?

:0)

inkspired

'Water, Palm and Butterfly'
original Collage Art Doll by inkspired
made from all recycled junk mail