Obsolescence Project

Day 57 – Chinese Paper Fan

Chinese Paper Fan detail

Paper Fan. Stamped “Shangai Arts & Crafts – Made in The People’s Republic of China”

There are currently four very similar fans for sale on eBay from a low of $8 to a high of $22. One even claims the status of antique. Which technically, cannot be true, as the People’s Republic of China was not established until 1949 (hence the potential value or worthlessness of my 1949 stamps.)  Vintage, on the other hand…

Closed, it’s a very compact creature. Brings to mind an evening bag, a gin and tonic, smoke pluming from a long cigarette holder.

Chinese Fan Semi Open

Chinese Paper Fan Open

Status: Unknown. Such a delicate object, it speaks to me (now that it’s dusted off and taken out of the far reaches of the linen closet).

Posted on by Deanne in Paper

Day 56 – Nikon Loupe

Nikon Loop from front

Nikon Loupe 8x magnifier.

I started typing it as loop automatically, which got me thinking about its etymology. In both English and French, its origin is obscure, its first known use (in English) is 1775. I enjoy that its origin is obscure, given its function is clarity.

I have two loupes. The other one is also 8X, but this one has significantly better  focus. It has gone unused in terms of its original purpose (looking at contact sheets and/or slides) for about 3 years. Occasionally I use it to look at a mark on some vintage/antique object, while planning my next career as either a gemologist, or more appropriately an antique dealer.

Nikon Loop from above

Nikon Loop from back

Status: With purchase of macro lens (reason # 7 to justify said purchase), see how well the lens will capture the varying focal points the loupe offers. Combo with Day 14’s View Finder, and voila a nice obscure study of focus will present itself.

Posted on by Deanne in Photography

Day 55 – I Ching Cards

I Ching Box

I Ching Cards. University Books, Inc. Edition, New Hyde Park, NY 11040 • Six Dollars

I Ching Cards Box

There is a set of cards just like this for Sale at Ruby Lane  Vintage Collectibles. I am only linking to the general category because, who knows, they could sell by the time I post this.

What I learned from them is that “the designs used in this very set of cards were the subject of a lawsuit, Walker v. University Books, Inc. (9th Cir. 1979) 602 F.2d 859.”
Which, of course, for me, greatly adds to their allure. So, alas they cannot be shoved in the Sally Ann bag. They wouldn’t have been allowed to go anyhow, as when I pulled them out to photograph, I heard someone squawking a complaint.

Somewhat in keeping with the spirit of the thing, I cut the cards randomly on two different occasions no less, and both times got the #34 – Great Strength card. Traditionally the 34 is ‘Great vigour, Constancy is fruitful.’ Am thus feeling pumped.

I Ching Cards 34

If you don’t know much about the I Ching, wikipedia (where else) has a great entry.

I ching

Replica of an oracle turtle shell (wikipedia)

Status: Well, someone else won’t let them go…
Is there a way to turn this design copyright lawsuit thing into a little video of sorts? I am inspired by the above image.

Posted on by Deanne in Objects, Paper

Day 54 – ‘Asian’ Doll – Made in Canada

Pullan Doll Back

‘Asian’ Doll With Sweet Blue Eyes.

Having now published two off-topic posts, I’m losing track of what day it is. Maybe that’s not such a bad thing. I can sneak it up one or two days and reach 100 posts sooner. There has to be a finish line somewhere in sight.

This doll has a stamp/mark on the back of her head. It clearly says “Made in Canada” but it’s hard to read the mark itself. I say “Asian” because although her outfit looks very Chinese to me – she also has blue eyes ( I don’t think she’s avant garde enough to be a mixed-race doll, although being mixed myself, maybe she is and that’s why I was given her – she was  a hand-me down). Being Canadian,  perhaps there’s a slight chance she is supposed to be Inuit (aka Eskimo). I used to have an Eskimo/Inuit doll who was big and bundled up in a more “traditional” outfit – a white tinged grey snowsuit. She had beautiful mahogany skin and brown eyes flecked with yellow, that opened and closed with long lashes. She was amazing and I sold her on Craigslist for $10 two years ago. Regrets, I have a few….

This doll has become a recent fascination. I am taking a lot of photographs of her and she now constitutes reason #6 to justify purchase of macro lens. It’s something to do with her outfit, her hair and her articulated legs. Her face is squishable, her legs are hard plastic, but her arms and hands are also soft. She can stand up and standing she’s almost 10″.

Pullan Doll Front

Status: Keep. Photograph. Arrange in different situations. Photograph…

Posted on by Deanne in Dolls, Photography

OT – Creative Chaos

Creative Chaos

Many thanks to Richard Guest of The Future is Papier Mache (fab photography/gothic thriller blog with a dash of bookworks )  for nominating me for a Creative Chaos award. I especially like the Chaos part.

There are rules.

All of this is quoted from Richard’s blog. Scroll down for my answers.

Now for the ‘rules’ in accepting the Creative Chaos Award……As rather wonderfully written by the Delicious Dolly ( http://allaboutlemon.com/):

1. You must tell 3 completely weird things about your habits. If you claim to have no weird habits, you’re lying and we’ll have to send an investigative team for further analysis.

2. You must tell why you look at the “glass half full” scenario and ask “what? No coffee?”

3. Complete any one of the following essay questions:

A. You find yourself in a desolate place when your car breaks down. You have no cell phone service, no Walmart (I know, GASP, right?), and only a candy bar for food. It is 150 miles to the closest town. What color are your pants and why?

B. You find yourself having to ride an elevator quite frequently. How do you pass the time to show off your creativity?

4. Then you are to nominate 5 random people and let them know.

5. Make sure to show proper gratitude to the person who nominated you whether that is to shower them with gifts, prizes, and cash or to see that they are put into a clown costume and photographed for internet mocking.

6. Make sure to post the award somewhere other than the underside of the toilet seat.

MY ANSWERS:

  1. My habits:Hunching over the keyboard without getting up for hours on end. My ophthalmologist said this is contributing to my poor eyesight and suggested I drink lots of water (so I would be forced to take breaks). Hunching over the keyboard without getting up for hours on end and cooking dinner at the same time. This results in “internet cooking”. Walking to the studio/office as much as possible and taking a slightly different route each time. This keeps me awake to random beauty,  and also  counteracts the hunching over thing (just a bit).
  2.  Glass half-full: I quit drinking coffee almost one year ago to the day. Does not compute.
  3.  Black. Although lately I’ve taken a fancy to brown corduroy.
  4. FOR THE CREATIVE CHAOS AWARD I NOMINATE
    in no particular order:
  • Jah Doily– Doilies with a Rasta twist.
  • Pasta Princess & More– Just found this food blog. Delicious.
  • John Biehler Blog for the 3-dprinter updates. Geekdom at it’s finest.-
  • Journeys of a Restless Mind by Janeen Armstrong  which might now be Nina Turns40/50 She isn’t blogging a huge amount lately, but lots in the archives – photos, poems.
  • And because lately I haven’t been reading that many blogs lately  (and have lost links to the amazing illustrators, quirky artists etc that I used to follow) I will give a little shout out to this amazing press in Nova Scotia: Gaspereau Books Blog and their website. If you refresh their front page, they have gorgeous images of letterpress process and other goodies.
Posted on by Deanne in Other