Monday 18 November 2019

Thankfulness and Controversial Thinking

Can you believe we are halfway through the November challenge and hurtling ever faster towards Christmas. At this time of year there is so much to be thankful for and yet so easily we get caught up in the consumerism of the season.

Before I share my thoughts with you I just want to say that these are my own thoughts and I am open to helpful critique. Also, I in no way want to upset my American friends so if you have different opinions on this please let me know.

On the third Thursday of November the Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Day, this year it falls on the 28th November. The first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Indians when they shared a meal marking the first harvest. Settlers and Indians sharing the earth's bounty in peace. But as is the way in the history of mankind that harmony did not last. The sharing of bounty in a spirit of thankfulness was replaced by avarice and the hunger for acquiring more; more land, more money, more everything.

When we want to justify our position of taking from others we invariably reduce our victims to less than human. So the Indians lost their tribal names and became 'savages', as such they were fair game. European settlers have followed the same pattern wherever they have landed on the earth. The Spanish did the same to the Aztecs and Incas, the Australian colonists to the Aborigines, the British in India, the Dutch in Africa.. The idea of superiority over others was taken to it's pinnacle by Nazi Germany and the Final Solution, wiping out all that was considered inferior, Jews, Gypsies, Coloureds, Gays, the mentally ill, the physically handicapped. It was easy, just spread falsehoods about them and incite hatred towards them so that people don't question what is happening. With the rise of xenophobia and Antisemitism the danger is increasing that it will happen again.

The great sadness in all this is that we forget to be thankful for what we have and start wanting what others have. How different the world would look if the spirit of the first Thanksgiving Celebration had remained the dominant spirit of the the land.

Thanks for sticking with it and I do hope I have not offended anyone, that is the last thing I want to do. And so onto my card, I have used another cornucopia image this time from our on going sponsor Scribbles Designs. I have a thing about the beauty of nature at harvest, all the different colours and textures. I made this one for my friend Melanie, those who have been with me for a while will know that Melanie introduced me to rubber stamping all those years ago. Well she now splits her time between the USA and England having remarried an American. So this is for her and Russ even though they will be in the UK for Thanksgiving Day.


Materials used:
X-Press It card
designer card
rectangle die set
5" x 7" card blank
orange sequins (from stash)
Copic pens:
orange pumpkin - Y35, Y38, YR14, YR18, E15, E18  stalk - E43, E44, E47
yellow/green pumpkin -  W0, Y00, Y11, YG67, G28, G29, G99  stalk - W1, W3, W5
aubergine - V06, V09, V99  stalk - YG01, YG67
pepper - YG03, YG17, YG67, G29   stalk - YG21, YG23, YG25
maize - Y21, Y26, Y28  husk - YG61, YG63, YG67
wheat - YR21, Y26, YR24, Y28
apples - R24, R27, R29, R39, R59, R89  stalk - E19, E09
pear - Y02, R32, YG01, YR02, Y15, Y17, Y06   stalk - E29, E18
maple leaves - YG00, YG23, YG17, YR02, YR04, YR7
leaves - YG03, YG17, YG67, G29
cornucopia basket - E31, E33, E35, E39
background - Y00, Y11

I'm not a great embellisher finding it tricky knowing where to place them but I had a box of sequins for my birthday back in August and felt I really should have a go at using them! The designer layer has been lying in a drawer for some time now waiting it's turn to be useful.

Our two sponsors for this month are A Day For Daisies (on a break but honouring sponsorship) and Scribbles Designs.  For details of prizes and how to qualify, the link up and all other information visit the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog. As I write this we have only had three entries though with Thanksgiving coming soon I am sure there must be more of you making cards. So do please join us you have until the end of the month to link up. You never know one of the prizes may already have your name on it. Now wouldn't that be something to be thankful for!

Thanks for dropping in. Take care.

Pippa

Entering the following challenges:


12 comments:

  1. You most certainly have not offended me by telling the truth. Man can be quite inhuman when he wants something that someone else has, and it never ceases to amaze me how easily led some people are.

    Anyhow to your gorgeous card with it's superbly coloured image, thank you for sharing with us.

    Lin
    Crafty Cardmakers

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  2. Lovely card. Very nice use of colors from our Inspirational photo. Thanks for sharing at Color Dare.

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  3. What a gorgeous thanksgiving card. Love your use of color. Thanks for playing along with us at PIP Challenges.

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  4. First, thanks so much for recognizing the Native American People! I couldn't agree more; they were treated horribly after they did so much to help their new brothers. It pains me to think of how these people were used. Great writing to bring us to see the similarities of what is happening now! Beautiful card with such lovely colors and texture in the Cornucopia!

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  5. Thanks for sharing your perspective of the holiday season. It would be nice if we kept the original meanings of the holidays, and did less of the retail experience. I think the words you wrote are heartfelt and truthful. I just love your card! Thanks for joining us and good luck with with your entry!
    Hugs, Joy
    Joyfully Stamps
    Lil Patch of Crafty Friends, Owner/Coordinator

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  6. Lovely card, wonderfully coloured and very representative of the season. Thanks for sharing
    with us at Crafty Cardmakers!

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  7. Absolutely gorgeous coloring on this card!

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  8. Very thankful card, fantastic coloring and great layout. Your thoughts on the Holidays are shared by many. The only thing that could be changed is that American Thanksgiving is always the fourth Thursday in November...have a great Thanksgiving and Holiday Season and thanks for sharing with us at Color Dare.

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  9. A beautiful elegant card. Your colouring is fantastic! Thanks for joining us at Addicted to Stamps. Marlies

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  10. I'm impressed you went with the theme of the inspiration photo as well as the colour theme. Thanks for joining us at the Colour My Heart Colour Dare Challenge. I hope you can join us again soon.

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  11. Beautifully coloured. Thankyou for sharing with Crafty Cardmakers.
    Mary

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  12. wonderful card and great coloring! Thanks for playing along in the 613 Avenue Create Challenge.
    Hugs,
    Natalie
    INKognito

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