Boom Box Surprise Ball

 
This Boom Box Surprise Ball was made as a creative way to disguise a few gifts (including an Ipad) for my mom's retirement present.  Also included were two picture frames that my kids made, a greeting card, a journal and a magnet.   I included a musical device in the surprise ball that plays 20 seconds of the song I'm Coming Out by Diana Ross, which was my mom's retirement theme song.  The song was recorded on a small voice recorder that would play when the red "button" was pressed.

Nostalgic Toys - Stereoscopes

A stereoscope is a device for viewing a pair of separate images, which are almost identical, side by side.  When viewed through the stereoscope, the image appears three-dimensional.  Many may know the stereoscope more commonly as the trademarked toy, "View Master".

Publisher D. Appleton and Company's stereoscopic showroom on Broadway in New York City

Stereoscopes were wildly popular in the 1850's to 1930's where even showrooms existed to display and sell the stereograph slides.   Millions of stereographs were produced, and steroscopes were common in many homes.  In a age before movies and TV, they brought news and entertainment to parlors and living rooms.  

They captured history, landscaping, architecture and street scenes through one dimensional photos and brought them to life, transporting you into the image.

NYC Flat Iron Building Stereoscope slide 

In late 1939, the View-Master was introduced at the New York World's Fair.. It was intended as an alternative to the scenic postcard, and was originally sold at photography shops, stationery stores, and scenic-attraction gift shops. The main subjects of View-Master reels were Carlsbad Caverns and the Grand Canyon.  In more modern times, the View-Master reels began to feature fewer scenic and more child-friendly subjects, such as toys and cartoons and television series.

The New-York Historical Society recently released a book/stereoscope set which includes a sturdy metal stereoscopic viewer and 50 stereoscopic photographs of turn-of-the-century New York. The package also includes a 128-page paperback that provides a brief history of the stereograph craze and an overview of the city’s evolution during that time.    It is a fun source of historical research and it makes for a great coffee table book.

 Which one did you own?

Let's Go For A Ride - Online Workshop with Julie Haymaker Thompson

After two weeks, I just finished my first online workshop and it was well worth it.  I was able to take my time and not neglect my family and other duties by working on my piece after everyone went to sleep.  It was a fun experience and Julie Haymaker Thomspon is a great instructor who provided a very generous supply kit.  I look forward to my next online retreat at Artful Gathering!

Here is my finished "Let's Go For A Ride" sculpture.

There's still time to take the same workshop...but only until July 17th!  With element drying times, I think you'd need at least 2 days.

Puppet Making Class at Parcel

I had such a good time last weekend at Parcel!  I took a fun Paper Puppet class with instructor, Marlene "Mizz Bee" Haveron and came home with three fancy, whimsical characters.  Here they are all jeweled up and embellished.  We had enough time to complete one puppet in the class and were able to bring home the other two with a stash of ribbons, sequins, brads, etc. provided by Parcel.

After the class I thought I'd take just a few minutes to shop in the store....but I should have known better....because a few minutes always turns into over an hour, e-v-e-r-y time I go there.  It's amazing how you can get lost, going up and down the same aisles in such a little shop.  I love it!  Here are a few of my fab finds from this visit and the last.