Animal House

Here's what all the animals at Banar Designs are doing right now:

 Sassie naps in the "in" box on my messy desk.

 Baby Kitty rules the roost.

 Tootie looks cute.

 Artie blends in.

Chloe poses for a cat food ad.

Zoe stretches out on a long box of feathers next to a file of colored paper.

Abbie snores quietly in a basket on my desk.

Ebony quenches her thirst.

A meme ?- 7 things about me

I don't quite understand "memes" but Doug (http://crazyasacoolfox.blogspot.com/) tagged me to do one so here goes:

7 things about me-

1. Generally speaking, I like animals better than people.

2. I cook so seldom (read-never) that I have to dust my stove.

3. I love to read...books, newspapers, magazines, internet articles, anything.

4. I'm a zentangle addict ( a form of doodling that's supposed to put you in a zen-like state.) I also like other forms of art- collage, watercolor, pastels, drawing, etc.

5. I identify with hoarders-but I don't think I'm there, yet. I hate to throw anything away... I might need it tomorrow. Some people think I'm a cat hoarder but I don't think 6 qualifies.

6. I spent the first half of my adult life living a life just like the T.V. show "Mad Men" in L.A. advertising agencies and design studios.  The second half in the publishing and craft kit business with my sister.

7. I'm a bleeding heart liberal and proud of it.

Now I'm supposed to get 7 more people to do this-

I've sent emails to the following people asking them to write seven facts we don't know about them on their blog, then tag seven others. (and I hope they'll forgive me)


Nancy Javier
Helen McHargue http://guacamolegulch.blogspot.com/
Larry http://ldburgus.blogspot.com/
Penny Smith
California Girl http://emptynestevolution.blogspot.com/
Ticklebear http://www.ticklebear4u.com/
Jane LaFazio http://janeville.blogspot.com/

Ground Zero Mosque

Sepia Saturday- Clang, clang, clang went the house!

This is my Uncle Glenn's house in Chicago.
The copy says : Commuters waiting for a streetcar at 104th and State wonder if they are "off their trolley" when a two story frame house comes rollin' down the track. But it's only moving day for the Glenn Finwall family. Last April, Finwall purchased building for $500 after it was marked for razing. Today, movers  start nudging house to 98th and Eggleston from original site at 104th and Michigan.

I remember this house well. My sister and brother and I had many good times there. In the upstairs there was a large playroom between the bedrooms at either end of the house. My cousin, Carol Ann, and I spent many hours playing with paper dolls, many of which we made ourselves. She was a wonderful artist and I think this is where I got my love of art. This may have been the start of my whole career in the art field. I wish I could thank her but unfortunately she died when she was in her early 20's.

Jackie, Danny, Carol Ann and ? on their front porch.

Uncle Glenn and Aunt Phyllis enjoying their back yard.

Her brothers, Danny and Jackie (now known as Glenn Jr. and Jack) were also fun playmates for my younger sister and brother. Their mother, my Aunt Phyllis was a wonderful aunt. She had a freezer in the basement which she kept stocked with popsicles. She loved to go to auctions and find bargains. I think I was also influenced by this because I love garage sales and thrift stores.

If you follow my blog you'll have met my Uncle Glenn. He was the one who, as an eleven year old, saved his family in a car wreck.  He also became a wonderful artist in his later years.
You can see his art here

To see more Sepia Saturdays Click here

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY- Dog shadows

Scout and the photographer.

Ruby stalks a plant

Tootie- "Can Scout come out and play?"

To see more shadow shots click here. 

New Zentangles

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY- See Sepia Saturday for shadows

I just noticed that on my Sepia Saturday post there were some pretty neat horse shadows.

So see Saturday's post below.

For more great shadows click here. 

Sepia Saturday- The Horsewoman

Me and my horse, Becky.

My mother had written on the back of this picture; "The Horsewoman" with an exclamation point.

When we moved to California from Chicago my mother immediately signed us up for horseback riding lessons. I guess she figured that's what you were supposed to do when you got to the West. We were, of course, thrilled. We lived in San Diego at the time (about 1950). For some reason we were taught "English" style.  However, when we moved to Pomona I got a horse and it came with a western saddle. I don't remember if this caused any problems. I often rode bareback.

There was a pasture near our house where you could pay to keep your horse.  My girlfriend, Linda, also had a horse and we usually rode together.  We learned to do tricks and had a lot of fun. The rest of the family hardly ever rode. When I got to high school, unfortunately, I lost interest. This seems to be common with young girls and horses. Linda never lost interest, though and still has a horse.

After a while the horse was sold. I still feel guilty about this. I love animals so much that I can't imagine letting this happen. I think I got more interested in boys than horses.

My father and Becky.

Click here for more Sepia Saturdays. 

Borrowed from the Center For American Progress blog.

The new scapegoats- Muslims

Americans of all stripes—religious and nonreligious—need to stand up for our fellow Americans who are Muslim. Embedded in the Bill of Rights is the right to practice our religion. Countless patriots have fought and died for this freedom. When religious freedom and tolerance is attacked for some, it is threatened for all. All of us must work tirelessly to undo the suspicion, hatred, and xenophobia directed toward our Muslim fellow citizens.
Bishop Gene Robinson

Mad Men vs. Mad Women, Headbands, Awards

As I watched "Mad Men" win so many Emmys this week I was transported (again) back in time to my days in advertising in the 60's. I was talking about it with my friend, Robin, and she mentioned how much she liked the hairdos with the headbands from those days. The ladies on the "Mad Men" show often wear headbands. I hadn't noticed this til she mentioned it.

Working hard at my drawing board with my hair neatly held back with a fashionable headband. (This photo has spots and fingerprints all over it. )

The women in advertising had their own separate club and gave out awards called "Lulus".  Women, of course, could join the Art Directors Club (ADLA) but it was made up predominately of men and harder to compete in. I did manage to win an honorable mention once in the ADLA but in the Women's Ad Club it was easier to win. Not many women were Art Directors, though. Most of the women were in other parts of advertising.

The first award I got was presented by Dina Merrill (actress and daughter of E.F. Hutton and Marjorie Merriwether Post). It was always quite a gala event, patterned after the Oscars, complete with an orchestra. 

The next year the award was presented by Howard Duff and his wife, Ida Lupino. (where are they now?) I sent this picture to my hometown newspaper and cropped out Ida. Howard was a little more well known at the time and Ida looked awful in the photo. My note on the photo said Ida looks like a creep and the person at the newspaper wrote "so does Howard". (Note the headband)

 Here's the uncropped photo.

The next year I won two "Lulus".  I don't remember who the presenter was that year.  (I'm in the middle, 3rd from left.)

Click here to see other Sepia Saturdays

Beckapalooza

SEPIA SATURDAY-Girl Scouts reappear on T.V. show

A few weeks ago I posted about my girl scout experience and mentioned that we were on a T.V. show. I just found this newspaper clipping and I see that "because of our knowledge of animals and poise before the television camera" we were called back for a second appearance.  Sounds like they were hurting for show material. 

The article says we discussed the care and raising of pets with Dr. V. A. Young, head veterinarian of the Anti-Cruelty Society.  The show was on WENR-TV. in Chicago. It goes on to list all of our names and addresses. This would have made it handy for a pedophile. I don't think they would do that in today's newspapers. Although I don't suppose pedophiles look up little girls addresses in the paper.

It looks like I was very good at tying my tie. I can still remember how to do it, "right over left and under, left over right and under".

To see more Sepia Saturdays from around the world, click here.

Check out my sister, Nancy's post about her childhood diary. It's hilarious. At least, I thought so. But she always makes me laugh.
Diaries are hilarious

Artie gets the groceries

I know there's something for me in here somewhere.  Aha...Nutri-Dents.

That sure was good!  Do my teeth look whiter?

A dip after my treat.

Time for a nap.

Junior High School Diary

On Nancy's blog, Ladies of the Grove, she has a hilarious post about her childhood diary. I highly recommend it. She asks for other diary stories, so here's mine:

I don't remember the dog ever eating my homework but she did my diary.

I've been meaning to piece it together for several years. I couldn't bear to throw it away, so saved it in a plastic bag.

The diary is for 1954-56. So it's actually part Jr. high and part high school.


Here' s one little excerpt that's together enough that I can read:
 "Went to semi-formal at the "Y". Had crumby time. Can't stand Jack. I love George."

I remember Jack but I have no idea who George is.
I don't think I can compete with Nancy's diary.  Hers is much funnier.  Maybe when I get it pieced together.

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY- L.A. Theater outing

I feel like I'm cheating when I shoot patio chairs. They make the most beautiful shadows. It's just too easy! These were in the patio of the Mark Taper Forum In L.A. where we have season tickets.

Here's some tiny little shadows on the spouts of the fountain also in the patio.

Here's the play we saw. Believe it or not, it was both bloody/gory and funny.  I shouldn't have liked it because it was way to involved with a dead cat. A very realistic-looking dead cat!  It was about the war(?) in Ireland and one of the leaders of a splinter group whose cat had died. Hard to imagine that as the subject of a play. It was quite clever and to me it showed the stupidity of war. It was a lot about torture, too, which, of course reminded me of Abu Ghraib. Are you still wondering how it could be funny? I guess you'll have to see it or take my word for it.

Nancy, with a few more shadows being thrown by an interesting sculpture, also on the grounds of the Mark Taper. 
To see more shadow shots click here.

SEPIA SATURDAY- A ghost in the church

 My great, great, great grandfather, Bartholomaeus Theiss came from Germany and was one of Napolean's bodyguards. I've written about him before. He settled in Sublette, Illinois in 1846.

The family built the first Catholic church here in 1849. His son-in-law, Paul Lindstom was an excellent carpenter and did most of the building and the finish of the interior. An article in the Dixon, IL Telegraph, 1951, says that he carved the altar with an ordinary pocket knife. Originally it was called the Perkins Grove Catholic Church.

 I think I can see a ghost kneeling down to the left of the altar, wearing a white hood. Can you see it, too, or is it just me?

To see more Sepia Saturday stories click here. 

Anchor Babies

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY- Lady Marine

Believe it or not, this is my very pretty ex-tenant who was recently sent to Afghanistan.  She and the donkey are making some very interesting shadows.


click here to see more shadow shots

SEPIA SATURDAY- I was a female "Mad Man"

If any of you watch the T.V. series "Mad Men" this photo will probably look like part of the show. (That's me, with the big hair.)  I worked at an ad agency in the early 60's and, I swear, the stories on "Mad Men" came right out of this agency, Hixson and Jorgensen, and the next agency I worked for, Faust/Day.

I was about 22 in this photo and working as a paste-up artist which would be the precursor to being an art director if you were a man. At Hixson and Jorgensen it was the stated policy that women couldn't be art directors. Luckily, my fellow paste-up artist, Dennis Juett, (on my left) moved on to a wonderful new agency (Faust/Day),where he became an art director and soon hired me as an art director, also.

If you watch "Mad Men" you'll recognize "Joan" in the black dress- the office glamour girl. This was at a Christmas party held at the Ambassador Hotel, just down the street from our office on Wilshire Blvd. (That's me in the back, spreading office gossip.)

This must have been a different party because I have a different outfit on- very chaste, just like "Peggy" on "Mad Men", who reminds me of me in lots of other ways.  Notice the woman in the "tres chic" white suit with the long black leather gloves, harlequin glasses and requisite cigarette. She walked by my cubicle one day while I was working on a "Nixon for Governor" ad. It was very misleading (not my idea, of course). She was appalled (so was I). She whisked it off my drawing board and took it to Democratic headquarters. It was in the paper the next day. For some reason neither of us got fired. He did lose, though. Did I have a hand in that? That ad was nothing compared to all the really misleading ads of today.

Why the cigars? I think someone in the office must have had a baby. The cute guy with the pipe was the office Lothario. I did go out with him once but it went no farther than that. He was pretty stuck on himself.

Click here for more Sepia Saturday stories 

This town's not big enough for both of us!

Don't drink the water!