ANTHROPOMORPHIC FOOD - Creepy or Cute?

One of my favorite hobbies is reading vintage cookbooks circa 1930 - 1970.

It's not so much because I love to cook, but because I love the photos and illustrations in them.

I am mesmerized by hideous photographs of Jello molds and aspic...what is that?

No, don't tell me, especially if it involves the word hoof. Ugh. Do people still eat that?

I am always surprised by the vivid colors and the strange quest to make blue food appetizing.

But the thing that I find most intriguing in Mid-Century cookbooks and magazines is...

FOOD with EYES.

Something about this just screams cannibalism to me! Do they know they ARE food?

Do they eat only other types of foods not in their food group?

Will this all end in some kind of Jambalaya melee where they eat each other?

No, Mister Pickle, don't do it....don't get in the bathtub...Nooooooo.

I know I am not the only person with this secret obsession (phobia).

There is actually a hilarious blog devoted solely to this topic.

It is called FOOD WITH EYES of course! It includes all kinds of products and illustrations

including the funny craft of attaching googly eyes to food. And I can't stop reading it.

Who doesn't love Meatwad, Frylock & Master Shake from Adult Swim?

Not only do they have faces, they TALK...Yes, animated food with faces.

Their world is a dizzying combination of loaded sarcasm and empty carbs.

I get sucked in to it everytime I channel surf late at night

and it always leaves me craving french fries.

From Mr. Potato Head to Mr. Peanut, these guys are everywhere.

If Monsanto, Dekalb, Calgene, Searle and the other GMO labs

keep on their current path, our food might really have eyes.

Take a look around, you never know who or what may be looking back at you.

CHEMICAL WORLD

It's a chemical world after all.

That makes Monsanto an ideal corporate sponsor

for a new attraction in Disneyland's Tomorrowland.

Monsanto - purveyors of Astroturf, Agent Orange, Herbicides,

Bovine Growth Hormone & Genetically Modified Seeds.

Yes, THAT Monsanto.

Here are some vintage postcards of Disney's

Adventure Thru Inner Space.

In the mid 1960's, things were changing in the United States and the World.

The post-WWII optimism and American Dream was fading.

The Atomic Age was in full swing.

Walt Disney wanted an Atom themed attraction.

It was a marriage made in heaven...

The bright heart of America's love of fun and dream-filled fantasy

intertwined with the dark heart of corporate chemistry

and biological manipulation.

This collaboration created a few attractions

which extolled the virtues of chemicals and plastics.

It disguised corporate advertising as a learning experience. Sly!

Adventure Thru Inner Space was a peek into the wonders of the atom.

It opened in 1967 and ran until 1985.

Monsanto ended their sponsorship in 1977.

I wonder what happened.

I never visited the Adventure Thru Inner Space.

Now I may never understand Quantum Physics and how nuclear energy really works.

CHURCH & CHOCOLATE

I love vintage book illustrations...

especially those from the 1950's and 60's.

I picked up this one a few years ago.

These illustrations really grabbed my attention.

I like the simplicity of these images...

The kids searching for the hidden Easter eggs and the decorated eggs.

An Atomic Era Easter!

I have always liked the colorful traditions of the holiday.

The Easter bunny, easter baskets, colored eggs

and that weird cello Easter grass.

Whether you are in it for the church or the chocolate...

Have a Happy Easter!

PAN AM FLYING CLIPPERS

These 2 postcards are a rare look into the future of aviation at the end of World War II.

Around 1945 Pan American World Airways published a set of 12 images on postcards

depicting what luxuries their next fleet would have to offer.

Unfortunately Pan Am chose an entirely different airplane body than the one they pictured

on these cards and they scrubbed the production of these fabulous images,

but not before some of them were released. Lucky for us!

This one is my favorite.

It shows the Sky Lounge with passengers being served drinks by a waiter.

No Fasten your seatbelt signs in here!

Across the top it says: 'Preview of Tomorrow's Flying Clippers:

Sky Lounge for Refreshments."

The next one shows a mother and her daughter preparing to go to bed in the sleeping berths.

Across the top it says: 'Preview of Tomorrow's Flying Clippers:

"Sleep in the Clouds" in full-length berths.'

Maybe I would enjoy flying a little bit if I had a comfy bed like that to snooze in.

But for now, I can only dream.

LAS VEGAS

Las Vegas is calling me.

I love Vegas for its late nights, neon and Mid-Century Modern remnants.

If you look for it, you can still see bits and pieces from its Atomic past.

We found this amazing mosaic wall walking back from the neon boneyard.

It is near Fremont Street.

And the fabulous Stardust Casino, pictured in this vintage postcard,

is no longer there. It was torn down years ago but you can see parts of the sign

if you take a tour of the neon sign boneyard at the North end of the strip.

The Sands is gone. So are Dino and Count Basie.

Dean Martin and the Rat Pack...that was the Vegas I wish I could have seen.

And now the Sahara is closing...

Look at those beautiful letters...

And if you are lucky enough to fly in or out at night,

Vegas looks like a glittery pile of rhinestones.

I miss you Vegas!

MUNISING

I have just found the most amazing antique wooden bowl hand painted with daisies.

It is made from birds eye maple which is a spectacular cut of wood.

The grain is speckled and it shines and glows when the light hits it.

It is a very large bowl, it measures 13" by 14" across and 4 1/4" tall.

It is kind of oval in shape which was traditional for these bowls.

It has 3 wooden feet. This dates somewhere between 1920 to the 1940's.

It was made by Munising of Michigan, a manufacturer of wood products.

They produced, bowls, kitchenware, clothespins and even wartime goods.

The company is no longer in business and their bowls have become quite collectible.

Since they are made out of maple, they are quite durable.

Many of the bowls were handpainted with tole style decorations.

These are some great examples of American folk arts and wood crafts.

The bowl is in very good condition and shows only minor wear. It looks as if it were never used.

I have never seen a better Munising bowl than this one. It is gorgeous!

If you want to know more about the Munising Woodenware Company,

I recommend a site called algercounty. It is chock full of interesting history.

JELLYFISH

One creature I have always been fascinated by are Jellyfish.

Barely a solid, tangible being...they always amaze me.

Here is a treasury of items I made on Etsy...all Jellies...

Click on the item you like and it wll take you right to that seller's shop!

'Jellyfish' by Shtook

Mesmerizing!

Custom Octupus sea scape art... AsianArtAndQui... $	Medusae, Jellyfish 8 x 10 Fi... scarlettdesign $30.00	Brilliant blue painted pillo... crabbychris $38.00
Jellies, 8X10 celizabethphot... $25.00	The Perfect Beret- Jellyfish RachelOs $25.00	4T cobalt blue longsleeve je... thefullspectru... $30.00
Jellyfish Pendant, wearable ... cmooreglass $40.00	Slate Blue Round Jellyfish C... ekra $110.00	Jellyfish Wall Art Aluminum ... stephaniekiker $98.00
On sale: Jellyfish Scarf AltheaP $36.00	Delicate Iridescent Blue Tra... fuff $95.00	Jellyfish Coral Under the Se... AllistairsAtti... $15.00
Jellyfish, screen printed gl... vital $35.00	Three Jellyfish debsloweyrn $47.50	Dancing Jelly Fish Bowl/ whe... cephalopodink $30.00
Jellyfish (Leptomedusae 3) -... DreameryStudio $8.50

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

BUBBLES The WHALE

This is Bubbles the Whale.

She is a short-finned pilot whale

who lived at Marineland on the Pacific in Southern California

from 1957 until it closed in 1987.

She then moved to Seaworld in San Diego

where today, she lives with the dolphins.

She is approximately 50 years old.

I found this cute tiny souvenir dish with a picture of Bubbles.

I just added it to my Etsy shop.

Come by and check out my other new additions.

FERNS

Here is my newest treasury from etsy...

I am still learning how to make these but whalesharkwebsites

has created a treasury generator that is very easy to use.

You can click on the thumbnails! Each one is a link!

'Woodland Ferns' by Shtook

I love ferns!

Fun-fetti Fern - Eart... funkychickensc... $1.75	Happy Spring greeting c... smackofjellyfi... $3.00	Black Cat in Ferns - Pa... mtnlaurelarts $3.50	SALE Fresh Fern Tote Ba... bndesigns $10.00
Garden Fern Print on An... wordsandmelodi... $7.00	Spring Fern, Handmade P... tigerlillyshop $7.00	Fern. Golden Brass Bran... vintageandglam $20.50	Fern 4x6 Fine Art Print westofwhimsy $10.00
Vintage Fern Mug BlackbirdAntiq... $5.00	Fern Frond Goats Milk S... LostRiverRags $4.25	Vintage Green Fern Silk... MableDear $15.00	Vintage 1950 Blooms and... VintageCalling $38.00
Evergreen Tree Earth Li... paperplanet $8.00	Forest Fern. Natural Li... PonyAndPoppy $16.00	Green Jungle Leaf Singl... BreakinGlass $4.00	Fern Stemless Wine Glas... marywibis $58.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.