Showing posts with label adventure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adventure. Show all posts

Sunday, December 3, 2023

December meanderings

 Welcome!

I’m so glad you stopped by today!


I have started, and stopped, numerous blogs to you. Life has been a crazy roller coaster ride for a while. But, this too shall pass. That’s the adventure in life, isn’t it? Things change. They will change and they do change. And that’s ok.

Posted on Pinterest by Cheezburger

Pardon my lack of formatting today. If I wait until this blog gets ‘pretty’, it will take me another couple of months! At least at the rate I have been functioning.

I write about things that interest me. That might interest you. That made me laugh and I want to share the giggles. Things that are pretty. Or unique. Or just awesome! Things I never knew, that maybe you might like to know too.



Our sweet Nessie has decided to clone herself, starting with enough dog hair to make an exact duplicate. Every other day. Really.
Does she not realize Winter is approaching? She might need to keep all that fur to stay warm?
Oh. 
She has a favorite plushy blanket in practically every room in the house to curl up into.
Guess staying warm with fur is not an issue…

‘Nessie’

And there is a typical example of what my brain is doing these day! Bunny trails galore.

Some people call it ‘Chemo Brain’.
Ok, that works for now, but what was my excuse the last 25 years?!
😁
So let’s get started down a path for today.
I might find bunnies, or Easter eggs or even a dinosaur or two. Who knows? But let’s enjoy the time together, shall we?

Posted on Pinterest by Bored Panda


I love creating unusual, creative and beautiful greeting cards.
Little pieces of art, if you will. They are portable, easily given and a nice way for someone else to remember I am thinking of them. Care about them. 
It releases some of my creative energy that is always buzzing around inside me.
I have a plethora of cards, to say the least.
(Plethora - wonderful word by the way!)
I decided a few months ago if I wanted to continue making cards I needed to de-stash some.
Actually send them off to people! (Radical idea). So, I’ve been doing that.
Fun!
Here are a few samples I have made with micro-waved pressed florals, most from my garden.




My friend S and I are actually glad winter is upon us, so we can stop seeing all these wonderful florals, and feeling irresistible urges to pluck them and press them!
Our stash will definitely carry us through any and all projects til next Spring!
Here are a few more samples:





Using my Micro-Fleur press really preserves the color, and from picking to pressing to pressed it can be less than 2 minutes and you have flowers ready to create with.
No more old telephone book stuffed with dried crumbling flowers!
You can find the Press and accessories online. A bit pricey, but it lasts ‘forever’ and makes a huge difference in the outcome. Too many $? Check out some other brands. S found one at a local Fabric Store for $9.99 that is very similar. Clearance though. Just be sure it is micro-wavable.

I use 1/2 school glue (Elmer’s) and 1/2 water, mix thoroughly. Then 1 ply Kleenex, wax paper and a sponge brush onto a cardstock base. Iron after dry. Let me know if you want more specific directions. 




I have gotten positive responses to my Card Campaign. It works both ways. The receiver gets a note and a bit of unexpected cheer (I hope!), I feel good about myself, and I now have room for more cards I can create! Win, win.

I know the trend is everything is ‘online’. Save trees. Don’t waste paper. But it’s very hard to place an I-phone on your  dresser, or at the dining table, to be reminded that someone cares about you.  They thought about you, made something just for you. Wanted to let you know you are important. These things are why I hope we never as a society lose the personal touch of a card to hold in your hand.
Phone calls are good.
A card in hand is good.
Don’t get me started on texting!


Chemo effects:
- tired
- weird loss of tastes
- bloody nose
- blisters on face
- incredible water weight gain
- hair? What was that?
- dehydration
- bone pain
- die where I stand fatigue

Karen wins:
- naps, whenever I want
- oatmeal is good
- Kleenex with lotion is my friend
- this too is temporary. Kudos to makeup.
- minimize long needless trips
- hats, cute!
- water. Water. Oh yes, and water.
- Claritin - who knew?
- soft sofas and beds

I consider myself The Equalizer at the moment! Stuff gets thrown at me. I cry. I get a bit angry. I find the humor and laugh. I get on with life. So what? Did I think life would remain the same forever? Of course not! When has it ever?
And I write blogs with bunny trails.

Hope to see you again. I’ll try to make it sooner than later for the next one. I enjoy our time.
Sincerely,
Inkspired







Monday, May 8, 2023

Robin Hood - Saint or Sinner?

 

May 1934 American Boy Magazine cover

Artist: William Soare


“Underneath this little stone

Lies Robert, Earl of Huntington;

No other archer was so good -

And people called him Robin Hood.

Such outlaws as he and his men

Will England never see again.”

- ‘The Adventures of Robin Hood’

By Roger Lancelyn Green

British biographer & children’s writer 


Robin and the Men of Sherwood

Artist: Greg Hildebrandt

Robyn Hode 

Robert Hood 

Robin of Sherwood

Robert Fitz


1897 Robinson Crusoe series book by the McLoughlin Bros.

Well, before we can learn about this ‘Robin Hood’

shouldn’t we at least know what was his actual name?


Through the centuries 

(Yes, centuries!)

he has been called many names -

Robertus Hod 

Robin of Loxley

Robert Huntingdon 

Robyn Hude


1939 edition by E. Charles Vivian

Artist Harry G. Theaker

Robin de Courtenay

Sir Robert Hode

Robert Hod

Robehod

1952 movie ad for Walt Disney’s 
‘The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men’

Was there a specific person from history that the Robin Hood adventures are based on?
No one really knows. What we do know is that the stories about Robin and Marion have endured for ages. So perhaps there was one man that started it all, but like a snowball rolling downhill, it has gathered a lot of extra weight and fluff!

Poster for 1922 silent movie “Robin Hood”


We can’t go much further without a little 
Roman Catholic Church history. 
In the 12th, 13th century the Catholic Church was 
The Authority - on everything. What you ate, wore, who you could marry, and where you lived was all dictated by the Church.
Most peasants were too busy trying to survive than indulge in luxuries such as reading, hygiene or hobbies.
Church authorities recognized that all work and no play made Common Man a very dull and restless subject.

And so we have Festival & Feast Days.
These were a spill-over from ancient times when different religious groups (think Celts) had special days to celebrate changes in seasons and other vital events (think fertility to produce next generations).

There was little to no reliable written languages for the Common People, and they had no time to learn it anyway, so The Church stepped in.
They ordained special days (many coinciding with pagan rituals) to provide a break from drudgery and routine.
It also put the focus back on religion rather than tribal customs, and became an important way to teach the people religious teachings.
For instance, it was this time period that the Nativity Plays became popular in teaching about Christ’s birth.

So where is Robin Hood?

Artist: N.C. Wyeth

As far back as 1261 there are hints, suggestions & notes in manuscripts about a Robin Hood type character.
Many with Maid Marion!
In 1280 there were French ballads and plays about ‘Robin & Marion’ that were featured in May festivals.

Artist: Lucy Fitch Perkins, 1923

Or was it Lady Marian?

Oh, let’s not go there!

By the 15th century the ballads had moved from
 ‘for nobility only eyes’ & street recitals
to scripted plays with set tunes.
The earliest preserved script is from 1450!

Author/Illustrator Louis Rhead, 1912 woodcut

William Shakespeare mentions Robin in a few of his plays. (1564 - 1616)

In 1795 Joseph Ritson wrote about Robin Hood and his Merry Men.
In 1818 Ritson’s friend Sir Walter Scott used his anthology of Robin Hood in his famous novel “Ivanhoe”.

‘The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, of Great Renown in Nottinghamshire’
Written and illustrated by Howard Pyle, 1883


The stories and adventures of Robin Hood, Marian and the Merry Men have been around a long time; changing, evolving and reshaped as current events did the same.

In the earliest Robin Hood documents Robin is violent and murders those who have betrayed him. There are even hints at a possible romantic link-up with the Sheriff’s wife! 

Movie poster for ‘The Adventures of Robin Hood’
1938

Times were cruel and unjust to most.
People had a lot of repressed anger.
Robin’s stories and ballads reflected this.

In 14th century England the common people were becoming more and more unhappy with the feudal system and a life of servitude.
Robin Hood appears as an anti-establishment hero. He uses his wits and charisma to make fools of those corrupt authorities.

Movie poster for ‘Walt Disney’s Robin Hood’, 1973
Artist: Dave Perillo

“We never rob.
We just sort of borrow a bit from those who can afford it.”

-Robin Hood, Disney animated movie


Later, Robin Hood becomes a dispossessed aristocrat with a heart of gold and true love for Maid Marian.

‘The Adventures of Robin Hood’
1938

So…
which is it?
Saint or Sinner?

Artist: Walter Crane (1845 - 1915)

I guess we each have to decide that on our own!
I think he was both,
adapting to the desires and needs of the people around him. His stories are constantly changing with what they emphasize just as life is always changing.

Outlaw?
Yes. He broke the current laws of the times.
Hero?
Yes. He came to the help of people in dire need.

Can we have both?

Artist: Frank Godwin
1932


In researching for this blog I found so many wonderful paintings, woodcuts, illustrations and more all with a Robin Hood theme.
I’m sure I will be sharing more of these in the very near future!

That’s all for now!
‘Til next time,
inkspired

Here are some of the sites I researched while making this blog.
In no particular order:

azquotes.com
goodreads.com
moviemistakes.com
en.Wikipedia.org
History.com
Pinterest
rarebooks.ie
wikimedia
Encyclopedia Britannica 

Possibly from “Life and Adventures of Robin Hood”
Written by John B. Marsh; 1880
Artist: unknown




Sunday, November 10, 2013

The Pirate and the Mermaid

The Proposal
Wil Cormier, 1955


"If the pirate with the scarf
had  been more poetically minded
he'd have thought that her eyes
were like a thousand emeralds,
glittering in a far-off pirate treasure chest.
But he wasn't,
so he just thought that she had
really really green eyes,
a bit like seaweed."

- Gideon Defoe,  The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists





sea dogs and treasure chests
www.pinterest.com


"Only those who will risk going too far
can possibly find out
how far one can go."
- T.S. Eliot




paper doll set by Susan Hoffman

bronze ship's pocket sundial/compass
www.StylishInteriors.etsy.com




"No! No! the adventures first,
explanations take such a dreadful time."

- Lewis Carroll,
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland




Mermaid Kat, Katrin Felton
www.facebook.com


selkie lilly's mermaid
www.lewfoster.etsy.com



"I love to sail forbidden seas,
and land on barbarous coasts."

- Herman Melville



Captain Johns, New Foundland


www.polyvore.etsy.com


by Thomas Blackshear
sea dogs and treasure chests, www.pinterest.com



"Let us step into the night
and pursue that flighty temptress -
adventure."

- J.K.Rowling,
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince



Captain Cur
www.StudioRayyan.etsy.com


www.beautifulwallpapersfordesktop.blogspot.com


'Shopping for Lunch' Collage Art Doll Mermaid
www.collagepaperpainting.etsy.com



The Mermaid
One Friday morn when we set sail,
And our ship not far from land,
We there did a-spy a pretty fair maid
with a comb and a glass in her hands.
While the raging seas did roar,
And the stormy winds did blow,
And we jolly sailor-boys were all up aloft
And the land-lubbers lying down below."

- anonymous



unknown artist

unknown artist

Mermaids from The Pirates of the Caribbean
www.pirates.wikia.com



"You don't know what it is 
to live and laugh and love
and run a man through!
You've never tasted salty air on your tongue
or waved heartily at a mermaid!"

- Gideon Defoe
The Pirates! in an Adventure with the Romantics




coloring page courtesy Dover Books


Ryan Pancoast
sea dogs and treasure chests, www.pinterest.com



The Buccaneer movie poster
www.sodahead.com



vintage Japanese pirate mask (eyes not punched out)
www.flickr.com


artist unknown




"There is no shortage of well-known pirates,
including:
Henry Morgan, Captain Kidd,
Blackbeard, Yellow Beard,
and Yellow Beard with Black Roots,
who surmised that,
if blondes have more fun,
than blond pirates must have
a heck-of-a-lot more fun."

- Cuthbert Soup
Another Whole Nother Story


vintage Bergamot Brass Works buckle
www.AjsCollectables.etsy.com



The Pirate Movie DVD cover art


Pirate Jeff
www.mypiratenovel.wordpress.com

Life Savers' ad
sea dogs and treasure chests, www.pinterest.com



"My bounty is as  boundless as the sea,
my love as deep.
The more I give thee,
the more I have,
For both are infinite." 

- William Shakespeare

fantasyart-mermaids
www.pintocara.wordpress.com

www.tylersworkshop.etsy.com

The Flower Garden
www.WilCormier.com


Pirate and Mermaid by dashinvaine
www.mermaids-melody.deviantart.com


Merman and Mermaid
www.forestofthefaie.ning.com


incredible costume!
www.instructables.com


and that is the tale
of the Pirate and the Mermaid!



artist: Scott Gustavson



'til next time...
inkspired
www.inkspired.etsy.com
www.collagepaperpainting.etsy.com
www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com
and on pinterest:  kkloberdans
"Mermaid Preening"
Collage Paper Painting by inkspired
using all recycled junk mail and magazines
www.collagepaperpainting.etsy.com

I found quotes here too:

http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/pirates?page=2