Days of Long Ago and Far Away Come Back to the Present

(A Stereoptican card dated 1899; tinted in color) Anfinsen Arts on Etsy

I’ve always been a history buff. I'd like to go back in time and see what it was really like. How would I have reacted? Would I have been a lowly peasant or part of the aristocracy? Would my choices have affected generations to come or would I have silently “gone into that good night” unrecorded, unknown; “ashes to ashes, dust to dust?”

When my paternal grandfather left me his Stereopticon and cards, I had intentions of passing them on to my own children, but there seemed to be little interest. At a certain point, I decided to sell them to those who would prize them and use them.

I had no idea if the cards were valuable or not. I went on EBay to test the waters. This is always a good idea to see what the competition is doing. I had one card that I almost threw away. It was of an African American couple sitting on the grass eating watermelon. I was ashamed that it was even part of the collection. Then I discovered that people are paying quite a bit for “Black Americana” of any kind. A similar card has a missing corner, and will be given away with the sale of the first.

(I'm not endorsing this by any means!  Apparently "Black Americana" is a collectible item
copyright 1897)

Humorous pairs and trios, and the early tinted cards are more valuable than others. Military cards, war ships, and major cities showing how they have changed are also in demand. I’m amused at what people were interested in viewing in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.

People collected cards the way we download apps. The dual photos on each card gives a three-dimensional appearance when viewed through the stereopticon. Unfortunately, those that were enjoyed the most are more worn which decreases the value.

(copyright 1906)

These and other Stereopticon cards and collectibles are in my shop:  Anfinsen Arts on Etsy

I started collecting Popeye memorabilia for almost the same reasons. My grandson, Dane, did a pretty good imitation of Popeye when he was about six and that sparked my interest. I noticed that Popeye was still reasonably priced so I started building my collection. Many pieces have been sold on my Etsy site.

Antiques tell a story. They also seem to hold traces of the people who owned them. Sometimes you can feel their warmth and spirit radiate. At other times, an ominous cold feeling of dread emanates from the wood or the living material an object is made from.

(Bridget copyright 1906) A second card shows her on the table, afraid of a mouse!

Vintage shops draw me in compelling ways. I like to browse and stay, waiting for that certain something that urges me to buy. Sensing another time, another era and the hovering spirits of those who may have used each item gives me pause. The smell of old relics mingled with today’s dust hangs heavy in the air. I want to take it all in. I sit down in an old wooden rocker and listen for the whisperings of the past. A pendulum swings in cadence with a fly buzz-bombing in the window. A ticking clock reeks of old wax; its tinny bellow announces the hour.

I bask in old-fashioned comfort and linger for one last look around. A pair of tea spoons catches my eye. Small screened containers in the bowls are for holding loose leaves. I’ll take them home and reminisce about the long-ago teas I have missed and the friends I never knew.

(These are two different spoons. One opens from the side,
the other has a small lever that snaps open)

Check out my shop for artwork, Popeye collectibles and Vintage items:  Anfinsen Arts on Etsy

False Starts and Weak Promises Keep us from Finishing the Race

"A scene from my backyard. A great egret fishing."

In my guest closet is an unfinished quilt, a box of ideas for future paintings, and some amateur canvases that I’ve painted over waiting in the wings. I have an online folder titled: “To Paint” with saved photos, sketches, and ideas I don’t as yet feel passionate about. All are immobile. I'm hoping I'll get inspired and catch the spark that will burst into fire when the time is right.

Third prize ribbon for "Swamp Angel" at juried show.

It’s easy to start something. It’s not so easy to finish. We all have unfinished dreams, goals, and projects that never reach their conclusion. There are many reasons for this: we burn out, we lose the vision we had in the beginning. Sometimes we run up against obstacles that prevent us from finishing: ill health, financial problems, lack of education, emotional crises, etc.

Several ibis sneak in behind to forage on the outer perimeter of the lake.

Commitment is a promise we make to ourselves. Those uncompleted goals and unfinished projects that fill unused spaces in our homes and in our minds lack our commitment. Somewhere along the way, we lost our passion; we lost our drive. Like mirrors, they shine in the dark corners of our hearts and reflect back only our failures.

It’s time to turn those “dark hearts” into windows of opportunity. There must have been a reason those sad projects remained unfinished. Perhaps they were diversions from your real goals, the ones that capture your passion and lead to their completion?

A flock of cormorants, two woodstorks and a heron join the feathered throng.

It’s time to clean house! Don’t let those partially finished items drag you down. Paint over them, give them to someone else, or toss them out! A Fresh start will give you a clean slate to re-think your goals and your commitment. If these discarded dreams don’t grab you and inspire you then turn to something else that does.

Change is refreshing. It shakes things up and turns them on end. But before you make a clean sweep be certain that you know what you want and where you’re going. If you don’t, you’ll become a backslider and end up filling the empty places in your heart and home with more of the same.

This heart-shaped collectible is on sale on E-Bay. Search Popeye Collectibles; AnfinsenArt

I Yam What I Yam, What I Yam, and You’d better believe it!

"Popeye and Olive Oil" Salt and Pepper Shakers, excellent Cond. 1980 KFS, Inc. 

Learning to accept yourself and to love yourself is the hard won struggle of life. Thanks to good old Popeye we discover that self acceptance is the first step to overcoming weakness and triumphing over evil. Forgiveness of one’s self for past mistakes brings peace and happiness.

There is strength in self acceptance. By giving ourselves as much room to grow and make mistakes as we give others, we gain strength to overcome our own weaknesses. It is only when we learn to love and accept ourselves that we learn how to give love to others.

"Inlaid Puzzle" Jaymar, Shows Popeye eating his Spinach to prepare for Brutus in the background.

Our prisons are full of people with low self-esteem and self loathing; people who never experienced unconditional love and acceptance. Self acceptance is not wallowing in a life of crime and degradation “because this is what or who I am.” Self acceptance is recognizing our humanity and being patient with ourselves as we overcome weaknesses, temptations, and human frailty. In other words, we give ourselves "room to grow."

Popeye embraces all of that as he stumbles through life open to anything and everything. He is naive. He is trusting. He turns a blind eye to evil (Brutus) and unwittingly becomes evil’s “patsy.” He fights for truth and justice for his true love, Olive Oil (or is it Oyl?), and for his Sweet Pea.

"Popeye Spinach dish" (for trinkets or candy), with lid. 1990 KFS, Inc.

Like Robin Hood, he fights for the poor, the downtrodden, and the weak. He is a muscle-packing hero weakened only by his failure to eat his spinach. When I was younger, my father convinced me that I could be as strong as Pop-eye if only I’d swallow that green, slimy stuff on my plate he called spinach.

Later in life, a grandson’s imitation of the Sailor Man, prompted my fascination with everything Popeye. Somehow collecting Popeye memorabilia brought my father closer. I can still see him reading Popeye comic books for fun and relaxation after work.

"Popeye and Olive Oil" Twister dolls large; perfect condition, KFS, Inc. BRONCO CD, 1978

When Dad came home, he was covered in welder’s black from head to toe. But once he’d had his bath and “supper,” he’d relax in his chair with the comics. His favorites: Dick Tracy, Alley Oop, and Popeye in that order. Dad helped weld the Alaskan Pipeline, using Arc Welding which later proved detrimental to his health.

"Large Olive Oil with movable arms and head" 1991 KFS, Inc.
made in Philippines

Five men where he worked ended up with Parkinson’s disease from using the Arc Welding equipment. None of them were blood relatives. Research concluded that their Parkinson’s was a direct result of using the equipment. Later, other welders wore the proper protection which provided some measure of safety.

"Olive Oil" hand puppet, 1/31/57 PERFECT

Thanks to my father and later my grandson, Dane, I started my own Popeye collection until space and several moves curtailed that pastime. My small collection will soon be for sale on my Etsy site at http://www.etsy.com/people/AnfinsenArt

"Matchbox Character Series N213" 1980 KFS, Inc. made in Hong Kong; Logos worn off

Here is a Popeye feature about Popeye and Alababa and the 40 Thieves. Enjoy!

“Shit Happens” and Somebody Somewhere Experiences their Last Straw!

Third Place Win in Juried Competition for "Swamp Angel" oil on canvas

There are shows, and then there are shows. On the plus side, I had an opportunity to display my Popeye collection which is rare. The bazaar was seeking artwork, antiques, collectibles, and high-end used clothing and household items. The rules stated, “definitely not garage sale items.”

Second Place win in Acrylics for "Kindred Spirits"

Of course, whenever you make a rule, there are at least five people who will bend it or break it. It’s hard to place artwork next to a table that has used items for sale under $5. 

By the end of the show, a few vendors decided they’d rather give their stuff away than take it home. That made the situation even worse!

The artists who did participate will likely not come back. One jewelry maker remarked that she usually sells $600 to $1000 at one of these shows. She sold only $100.

There were more than 45 tables. Our hopes were high. But competition always makes or breaks a show. There were three other shows going on simultaneously in the area. These were also rummage sales that attracted a different clientele where people expect to pay a little and get a lot.

My own story was even sadder. I had a mixture of Popeye memorabilia and low-cost art. I thought, at the very least, I’d be advertising my portrait skills. I sold a few Popeye pieces and drew an interested fun loving crowd to my artwork.

 A gentleman took my card and said he’d be interested in talking to me about buying the whole Popeye collection. From experience, I know that usually means a bargain for him and a loss for me.

Could our show have been more successful in November by tapping into Christmas and holiday buying? Perhaps. Did the word bazaar throw people off? Were they expecting more bargains similar to a rummage or garage sale?

With many people out of work and low on cash, the timing may have been off. In a good year things could have been different. It’s hard to believe that in America, one of the most prosperous countries in the world, we are in decline; not only financially, but morally and spiritually.

To make matters worse, my husband ran errands while I was preoccupied and someone backed into his car. It was more than a ding. The at-fault-driver was in a truck which suffered little or no damage. Our car was dented in the fender and the door. My husband was 2/3 out of his parking spot, and she backed right into him. Did she have blinders on her eyes?

She claimed she was worried about the other driver she saw who was waiting for her spot. Impatience, stress and carelessness cause most of the accidents in our society. She was guilty of all three. At any rate, the support of friends and the camaraderie of fellow artists saved a weekend that could have been a total loss.

When we got home, I had a nice nap to sleep off my anxiety, and my husband warmed up some killer enchiladas that he’d made a few days before. It’s always the simple things in life that get us through the bad times. A smile, a hug, a thoughtful gesture can make up for so much when things go wrong.

My favorite Fall tree: the "Golden Rain Tree." Following spikes of yellow flowers seed lanterns form.

I wish some of my FB friends and social connections would remember that the next time they reply to a message or a comment. I’ve experienced some mean-spirited and ugly remarks recently because of political anger or someone who doesn’t agree with my faith or with something I’ve said. Civil disagreement is expected and deserved. But name-calling or saying that someone would be better off dead or buried is quite another.

If the world were only a nicer place, there wouldn’t be so many lonely and unhappy people out there who later become a forgotten statistic because someone somewhere vented their anger or became an ugly bully without regard for someone else’s feelings.