Zephyr Art: Art for Children and Adventurous Adults

A few days ago a wrote a blog titled Christmas 2011 -- Birth Of A New Tradition about how we should try to make Christmas presents become more than buying a bunch of mass-produced junk made overseas.  Much of what was written focused on using locally obtained services as thoughtful gifts.  

But, children (and adults!) like finding presents under the Christmas tree.  I wrote in Christmas 2011... "OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes."  

Then, my friend asked me to "friend" her enterprise, Zephyr Art, on Facebook.  Wow!  I was blown away by the neat stuff on her site and in her Etsy shop!  I love it and just couldn't help passing on the information about her very adorable and very unique handmade dolls, one of a kind doll-making kits, fun and funky earrings, lively watercolor prints, and more!  They're handcrafted, artistic, and distinctive gifts - and they're made in the USA (with free shipping in the USA).  

Zephyr Art

Art for Children and Adventurous Adults

Aren't these little guys and girls just charming?  

Search for "Zephyr Art" on Facebook and Etsy - or follow this link to the Zephyr Art website.

                               

 

Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition

I know it's waaaay to early to be thinking about Christmas.  But the decorations are in the stores, the ads are on the t.v., and we're getting it shoved in our face no matter how much we try to ignore it.  I often say that Thanksgiving has become a speed bump on the way to Christmas.  

My cousin's husband sent this to me and I had to post it for everyone to see.  There are some fantastic alternative ideas for Christmas presents and what a great way to help your neighborhood businesses and community!

______

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high

gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods --

merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This

year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine

concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift

giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes

there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in

a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper? 

Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates

from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some

health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned

detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a

book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down

the Benjamines on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift

receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or

driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift

certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about

a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this

isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town

Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or

motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a

local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is

struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin

their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery

and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave

your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at

your hometown theatre.

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese

lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about

fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to

burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that

China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about

US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow

their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our

communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.

THIS is the new American Christmas tradition. 

Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion

groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in

your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations,

and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other,

and isn't that what Christmas is about?

_______________

P.S.  It wasn't mentioned in the post, but a CSA subscription for a summer of weekly fresh vegetables would make a fantastic gift as well!

Slowing Down Christmas Baking With The Nut Meat Chopper

Do you remember a time before food processors?  How did we chop up all those nuts for our Christmas cookies?  Most people probably used a knife and cutting board.  We used a special gadget called a nut meat chopper.

I have great memories of chopping nuts while we made Christmas cookies.  So rather than pull out the food processor and whip up the nuts in a flash, I thought maybe my kids would enjoy the slower pace of chopping the nuts with the chopper.  They loved it!

My great-grandmother Retsch, a German immigrant, gave this to my mother when I was a child, so it was neat that the kids were using something given to us by their great-great grandmother.   

The top part of the chopper, which screws onto the bottom, appears to be made of tin and most of the paint is worn away.  The part with the words "nut meat chopper" slides up and can be taken out for easier cleaning.  The handle knob is red-painted wood.  The bottom is glass with a few numbers on the base.  After some research, I found that this is a Hazel-Atlas nut meat grinder made in about the 1930s/1940s.

The Hazel-Atlas Glass Company was founded in 1902 in Washington, Pennsylvania, as a merger of four companies.  The company manufactured huge quantities of "depression" pressed glassware in a wide variety of patterns throughout the 1920s,'30s and '40s.  In 1957, Hazel-Atlas, the third largest producer of glass containers in the U.S. became a subsidiary of the Continental Can Company.

You can find these nut meat choppers being sold on Ebay.  Our nut meat chopper may not have a lot of monetary value, but the memory value it creates is priceless!