|
|
|
Newsletter
December
2005
Letter
From The Editor
With the Holiday Season upon us, we are busy polishing up
our web site with new and updated information about Limited
Edition Collectibles. We want our site to be the best resource
on the web, where our vistors can find whatever they are looking
for easily and quickly. We know how frustrating it can be
to find that one special, perfect gift and how frustrating
it can be to have to search through mountains of data to find
it.
That is why we work so hard to constantly update our site
and find ways to make it better. Never hesitate to drop us
an e-mail when you have suggestions about how we can improve
our site or even just to ask a question. We love hearing from
our visitors and we are never too busy to make new friends.
We hope you will enjoy reading our Newsletter and will find
the articles relevant. We will be including an Artist's
Profile in every Newsletter. This month the featured artist
is Thaddeus Krumeich. We will also be searching for articles
of interest to art collectors and gift shoppers, so that we
can be of even greater service to our web site visitors.
We also included an intersting article about Native-American
Art. In our Gallery pages we feature two of the most prominent
artists of our time who paint Native-American subjects.
Jonnie Chardonne's wonderful art depicts scenes that include
Native-American men and women; and Gregory
Perillo's compelling art includes portraits of Native-American
children, Chieftains, and horses.
Click on the links above to be transported through time by
these artists, to the wonder of a period in history that is
gone, but not forgotten.
We hope your Holidays are wonderful and filled with all the
people and things that you cherish..We've included a few articles
in this Newsletter that might help you get more out of the
season. One is about how to make the Holidays
less stressful, another is about the history
of gift giving, and the last one is about
how to host a tree-trimming party for family and friends.
No matter how busy you are this season, trying to make your
Holidays as perfect as possible, remember to enjoy yourself
as you spend time with friends and family. Love doesn't come
in a box that is tied up with a beautiful ribbon, it comes
from the heart.
Happy Holidays from the staff of The Plate Lady
®
of Tampa Bay!!
|
Artist's
Profile: Thaddeus
Krumeich
Thaddeus Krumeich, born in 1930,
is a master of the style he calls
Magic Realism.
He studied art at the New York University
and Columbia University. He has
created illustrations for publications
such as Readers Digest, Time Life,
and Family Circle. His work was
also selected for UNICEF Greeting
Cards in 1981 & 1982 .
Thaddeus' art has been shown throughout
the United States, but some of his
most beloved work is represented
in the 'Uncle
Tads Cats' Limited Edition collectible
plate series. The series was manufactured
by Anna-Perenna, from the original
art works, with pure metallic oxide
colors.
Other popular series that were based
on the art work of Thaddeus Krumeich
are 'Uncle Tad's Golden Oldies',
'Uncle Tad's Holdiay Cats', and
'Tick Tock Clock' by Anna-Perenna..
Thaddeus' work is displayed at the
Bradford Exchange Museum near Chicago.
|
Native
American Art: Thunderbird
Written by Clint
Leung
Tuesday, 26 July
2005 The thunderbird has been one
of the most dominant icons in Native
American art and legends. In fact,
the concept of the thunderbird has
been so popular that it has been
used in the non-Native world to
name a classic automobile, liquor,
a 1960's children's adventure television
show (and subsequent recent movie),
a US Air Force squadron and is referenced
in pop music (remember the word
't-bird' in 1950's rock and roll?).
The thunderbird is one of the few
cross-cultural characters in Native
American mythology since it is found
in legends of Pacific Northwest,
Plains, and Northeastern tribes.
The Native Indians of the Pacific
Northwest Coast always lived along
the shores and never ventured inland
to the mountains. Legend has it
that the thunderbird, a mighty God
in the form of a giant, supernatural
bird lives in the mountains. The
Quileute tribe of Washington state
considered a cave on Mount Olympus
as the home of the thunderbird while
the Coast Salish believed it is
located on the Black Tusk peak in
British Columbia. It is thought
that the thunderbird never wants
anyone to come near its home. If
Native hunters get too close, the
thunderbird will smell them and
make a thunder sound by flapping
its wings. It would also roll ice
out of its cave and down the mountain
with chunks breaking up into many
smaller pieces.
Some tribes such as the Kwakwaka'wakw
believe that their people once made
a deal with the thunderbird for
its help during a food crisis and
in return, the tribe agreed to honor
the thunderbird for all time by
making its image prominent in their
Northwest Native American art. This
is why West Coast art totem poles
are often carved with thunderbirds
with outstretched wings at the top.
The wingspan of the thunderbird
was described to be twice as long
as a Native Indian war canoe. Underneath
its wings are lightning snakes which
the thunderbird uses as weapons.
Lightning is created when the thunderbird
throws these lighting snakes or
when he blinks his eyes that glow
like fire. Sometimes these lightning
snakes are depicted in Native American
art as having wolf or dog-like heads
with serpent tongues. They are occasionally
referred to as the thunderbird's
dogs. Native American art portrays
the thunderbird with a huge curving
beak and prominent ears or horns.
The thunderbird is large and strong
enough to hunt its favorite food,
which is the killer whale. The lightning
snakes of the thunderbird are used
during hunts out at sea for the
killer whale. After capture, the
thunderbird carries the killer whale
back to the mountain to eat. According
to legend, the thunderbird and killer
whale once battled so hard that
entire trees were uprooted. This
was the explanation why there are
treeless prairie regions near the
Pacific Northwest Coast mountains.
The thunderbird and killer whale
are often depicted together in Northwest
Native American art. A large example
is one by reknowned Northwest Native
American art carver Richard Hunt
at one of the Northwest Native American
art exhibits at the Vancouver International
Airport.
The Squamish Nation in British Columbia,
Canada has a thunderbird as their
symbol. Their thunderbird is portrayed
as one of the special messengers
of the Creator. The Squamish thunderbird
is a symbol for strength as well
as change with the three tail feathers
representing the past, present and
future. In the talons of this thunderbird
is a face of a lizard which represents
spiritual protection for the people
of the Squamish Nation.
For many people, Natives and non-Natives
alike, the thunderbird has become
a symbol of power, strength and
nobility. Even the classic automobile
of the same name was reintroduced
as a contemporary version.
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com
About The Author: Clint Leung is
owner of Free
Spirit Gallery, an online gallery
specializing in Inuit Eskimo and
Northwest Native American art including
carvings, sculpture and prints.
Free Spirit Gallery has numerous
information resource articles with
photos of authentic Inuit and Native
Indian art as well as free eCards.
|
It's
the Most Wonderful Gift of the Year
By Joy Fisher-Sykes
It’s the most wonderful time
of the year. As we deck the halls
and fill the malls, we’re
filled with anticipation, joy, and
excitement. The holiday season is
upon us, and it’s a special
time we choose to show our appreciation
and share our love with the special
people in our lives. However, with
all of the joy the holidays bring,
this still tends to be one of the
most stressful times of the year.
Why?
Could it be because it’s intoxicating
to buy loved ones whatever their
hearts desire – and we’re
willing to rise in the dark of night
to shop in the pre-dawn hours for
the “gift of the year”?
Ah, yes, the mad dash to the 5 a.m.
sale where you’re guaranteed
to be pushed, run over, stepped
on, and after a long wait told “Sorry
sold out;” only to then have
the pleasure of standing in a check
out line as long as the east coast.
Hum.
Do you ever question the sanity
of a day like this in a life that
seems to have so little time, and
a world that’s filled with
job insecurity, war, and economic
ups and downs? If so, why do you
still feel so torn? Could it be
because we’ve allowed marketers,
advertisers, manufacturers, and
retailers to shape our outlook and
convince us to buy into their vision
of the perfect life? This life where
you shop to create the perfect body,
so you can be with the perfect partner,
live in the perfect house, and drive
the perfect car to the perfect job
so we can afford the perfect lotions
and potions to forever live the
perfect life. Wake up and smell
the perfect hype! The holidays are
not about being manipulated into
believing in some artificially created
image that drives sales; it’s
about your vision of giving and
sharing the joy you choose to create.
Stress of the season happens when
we fret about how our gift will
be received. A disconnect exists
when we fear if our gift is disliked,
then somehow we too will be rejected
and denied the friendship, affection
or acceptance we so desire. Although
intellectually, we know nothing
could be further from the truth,
we may still feel the need to explain
away or apologize for our gifts
of love. I say if you hold this
to be your truth and also believe
that the worth of your relationships
is based on the monetary value of
gifts exchanged, then I strongly
urge you to re-examine and re-evaluate
your relationships.
At a time when many feel compelled
to spend more money (perhaps more
than they can afford) yet feel they
have less time, it’s important
to focus on the deeper meaning and
spirit of the holidays. Now and
in the days to come, regroup and
refocus your energies to give the
most priceless gift you always have
to offer – YOU. Truly the
most wonderful gifts of the year
are heartfelt, so here are a few
you can offer the whole year through.
1. Create A Moment. Moments are
magical times when someone later
turns and says, “Remember
the time we…” Moments
don’t just happen; they’re
created. Moments are the gifts that
keep on giving and that can be relived
at any time over and over again.
2. Unconditional Love and Friendship.
No judging, no gossiping, no criticizing
– No Kidding!
3. A Random Act of Kindness. Give
of yourself daily. Acts both small
and large count - choose to donate
your time, energy, or money. You
can experience even greater gratification
if you don’t tell a soul.
4. The Gift of Time
* Time with yourself to reflect
and grow
* Time with others to develop and
build powerful relationships
* Time given to others that empowers
them to expand their greatness
5. The Gift of Respect. Respect
for yourself and others empowers
you to value beauty inside and out.
Value the beauty of your relationships
by infusing them with respect and
honoring them with your time.
I encourage you to start today -
share any or all of these gifts
with yourself, family, friends,
or colleagues. Remember, the most
wonderful gift of all is the gift
that keeps on giving!
Joy Fisher-Sykes is a professional
speaker, author, and success coach
in the areas of leadership, motivation,
stress management, customer service,
and team building. You can e-mail
her at mailto:jfsykes@thesykesgrp.com,
or call her at (757) 427-7032. Go
to her web
site, and signup for the newsletter,
OnPoint, and receive the free ebook,
"Empowerment and Stress Secrets
for the Busy Professional."
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
|
Why
Does Santa Bring Gifts?
By Jessica Cander
The history of Christmas and in
particular the reasons for the giving
of gifts are not known for certain,
but several things are known for
a fact. The traditions of Santa
Claus and giving presents at Christmas
time began long before the birth
of Jesus Christ, although it really
depends on where in the world you
live as to how you believe the whole
tradition started.
The giving of presents at Christmas
time actually dates back over 4000
years to the Mesopotamians. They
believed that every year in winter
their primary god Marduk would do
battle with the evil spirits of
chaos. Upon Marduk's return it was
necessary for the king to then pledge
his allegiance to the God and he
would die at the end of the year.
The Mesopotamians obviously cottoned
on to the fact that they were going
through kings quicker than they
could produce them, so they would
dress a convict up as the king and
treat him as though he were a king
for one day. At the end of the new
year festival they would kill him.
On this day they would present gifts
to one another to mark the beginning
of the new year and the success
that Marduk had yet again bestowed
on them. This is where the giving
of Christmas gifts began.
St Nicholas is believed to have
been born around 300 A.D and lived
in what is now Turkey. He was a
widely revered and loved monk due
to his overwhelming kindness. His
most famous act of kindness was
to save three sisters from slavery
by providing them with a dowry in
order that they could be married.
As such a popular character he soon
became the patron saint of many
different groups of people, eventually
resting on children and sailors.
Traditionally St. Nicholas day was
celebrated and remembered on December
6th, although his role as patron
saint of children has seen his special
day moved to coincide with Christmas.
So one thing that is certain is
that Santa Claus visits us on the
wrong day every single year. Celebration
of Saint Nicholas should in fact
be on December 6th, although the
moving of St. Nicholas day to the
25th was presumably done to combine
his special day with the Christian
festival. If the large superstores
and toy manufacturers were given
the choice I'm quite sure they would
rather celebrate them separately,
so be warned for next year.
Born in Vancouver, BC Jessica Cander
is a professional freelance writer
who currently calls the Southern
tip of Ireland home. You can read
more of her writing on all things
Christmas gifts related at the Christmas
Gift Center.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
|
Tips
On Hosting a Christmas Tree Trimming
Party
By Adam Lenk
Do you remember when the Christmas
season was less of a hassle and
more of a joyous time spent with
family and friends? Back in the
day, families just seemed to have
enough time to sit back and enjoy
the holiday season. Today, on the
other hand, many people get harried,
rushed and basically stressed out
during the Christmas holiday. There
just seems to be no time to enjoy
any of life's simple pleasures when
there is so much shopping and entertaining
to squeeze in during a short period
of time.
Take trimming the tree for instance.
As a kid, I can remember the whole
family gathered around the tree,
Christmas music blaring in the background,
warm home-baked cookies and cool
milk in our tummies, as each of
us took a turn to place our most
precious and beloved ornaments on
the tree. And when we got done trimming
our Christmas tree, we loaded up
and went to Grandma's and started
the whole thing over. It was a time
of being together, a time of love,
laughter and celebration that the
whole family slowed down to enjoy
and appreciate.
Now, fast forward… I'm not
going to say how many years; that
would be too revealing. Let's just
say to today. In many households
the act of trimming the tree has
evolved into more of a hectic holiday
task than a chance to enjoy and
celebrate the season. I've even
heard many moan and groan about
having to put up the Christmas tree
when they got home from work. If
this is the way things are at your
house around the holidays, maybe
you should think about hosting a
tree trimming party to recapture
that holiday spirit.
A Christmas tree trimming party
can turn what was once viewed as
a tedious chore into a joyous holiday
gathering with your closest friends
and loved ones. All you need is
a tree, decorations, a few appetizers
and your favorite people.
Here's how you can host a tree trimming
party at your home during this Christmas
season.
· Invitations. With so many
competing functions to attend, even
your closest relatives can forget
an event if you only invite them
informally. By sending out invitations,
you can formally invite your closest
family and friends and give them
the sense that this is something
worth attending. Invitations do
not have to be expensive. You can
pick up simple cookie-cutter invitations
at the dollar store or party supply
store. You can also print invitations
up on your computer.
· Ornaments. Ask each of
your guests to bring an inexpensive
or homemade ornament to hang on
your tree. In years to come, when
you unpack these ornaments, you
will be reminded of the special
people who attended your tree trimming
party and the memories that you
created.
· Appetizers. While you do
not need to plan a lavish banquet
to serve your guests, you should
serve a wide variety of appetizers
which include hot and cold entrees
and a little bit of the sweet stuff.
If you have family members or friends
who are health conscious or follow
specific diets, keep them in mind
also while you're preparing the
menu.
· Setup. Place beverages
and appetizers on several tables
or counters, in a room separate
from the tree, in a way that guests
can flow freely around the buffet
to choose their favorite munchies.
Nobody likes to have to fight or
squeeze their way through a tight
crowd to refill their drink or get
a little something to nibble on.
The same thing goes for the "tree
trimming room." Place ornaments
openly on tables so that guests
can move about freely and their
special touch to the tree at will.
Also make sure that there is plenty
of space for guests to mingle and
move throughout the house.
As you can see, a tree trimming
party can be a great way to get
a holiday chore done while enjoying
precious time with your family and
friends in a casual atmosphere.
If you do not want to host a Christmas
tree trimming party in your home
every year, you can pass the torch
on to other family members so that
you can trim a tree at a different
home each year but still get to
spend quality time together.
By Adam Lenk
For more christmas tips and articles
visit Christmas
Visions
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
|
|
|
|
Collection
Displays
Dinnerware Displays
Doll Stands & Cases
Plate Frames
Plate & Platter Hangers
PlateRacks & PlateRails
Plate, Platter&Bowl Stands
Home Decor
Animal Art
Art-Deco/ Art Nouveau
Capturing The Moment
Chess Sets
Cultural Art
Dragon Art
Egyptian Art
Fairy & Unicorns
Fantasy Art
Medieval Art
Asian Art
Museum Reproductions
Norman Rockwell Art
Sandra Kuck Figurines
Terry Redlin Art
Warrior & Knight Art
Ornaments
Sandra Kuck Ornaments
Decorative Egg Stands
Ornament Hangers & Trees
Jewelry
Costume Jewelry
Collectible Music Boxes
Jewelry
Hangers & Stands
Information
About Us
Collectibles Information
Contact Us
Help
Page
Helpful Links
Home Page
Privacy Policy
Site Map
|
|