Vintage: A Carnival of Color

Carnival Season—that time of year between Epiphany and Fat Tuesday—is now upon us. Iridescent hues of purple, green, and gold—these are the official colors of New Orleans at Mardi Gras. They are also some of the predominant colors of Carnival Glass.

At the Paris Exhibition of 1900, Louis Comfort Tiffany introduced Favrile Glass to the world. Made with metallic salts blended into the molten glass, the technique produced glassware with a shimmering, oil-onwater effect.

Capitalizing on the popularity of Tiffany’s new product, Fenton Art Glass Company launched it’s Iridill line in 1907. A more affordable answer to Favrile, Fenton iridized its glass by applying a mineral salt solution to the surface and then re-heating it to set the iridescence. Fenton’s first line came in an orange-gold finish over clear class, which later became known as “marigold”. Northwood Glass began making iridized glass in 1908. Dugan, Millersburg, and Imperial soon followed suit. Other companies produced carnival glass as well, but collectors consider the preceding the “Big Five”.

The term “Carnival Glass” did not appear in common parlance until later. Earlier terms included Taffeta Glass, Aurora Glass, and Poor Man’s Tiffany. While the origin of the term “Carnival Glass” has been obscured by time, it may have arisen from early marketing strategies that provided pieces to fairs and traveling carnivals as prizes to promote the product. Later, as the trends for ornate, nature-driven Art Nouveau transitioned to clean-lined, industrial-inspired Art Deco, the popularity of Carnival Glass waned and manufacturers sold off their overstock to those same fairs and carnivals. As trends in collectibles tend to resurface every fifty years or so, Carnival glass became popular again in the 1960s and 1970s. It was still produced in smaller amounts by a few companies, primarily Fenton, through the 2000s.

Carnival Glass was pressed in molds but hand-finished, rendering each piece unique. Manufacturers poured molten glass into an outer mold. They then forced a second mold inside under high pressure. To complete a piece, a glassmaker would manipulate the still-hot glass, pulling and pinching the edges of a bowl for a ruffled effect, adding feet to a base, or elongating a vase with centrifugal force.

Fenton placed an oval mark on their pieces with the company name, though many of their items are unmarked. Other companies also marked only occasionally. Northwood used an uppercase “N” with an underline. Dugan employed an uppercase “D” within a diamond shape. Imperial combined an uppercase “I” and “G” for their logo. Millersburg may have used no mark at all. Potential buyers can collect by color, pattern, company, function of piece, or whatever combination suits.

Most often, manufacturers fashioned Carnival Glass into useful items such as bowls, serving plates, storage canisters, vases, and pitchers. More rarely it was used in decorative pieces or lamps.

When examining Carnival Glass for purchase, inspect it for cracks or missing pieces. Feel the edges for chips. See if the iridescent glaze is vibrant, unworn, and even. Look for a maker’s mark or sticker, but keep in mind they were often not used. Note that larger pieces are harder to find and will have more value.

Collectors will find Carnival Glass in a range of prices. Recently, a peacock blue hen-on-nest sold for close to $100. A Fenton funeral vase sold amethyst platter went for $1500. More affordably, beautiful tumblers and smaller pieces can be found for under $10.

Carnival Glass does not react well to extreme temperatures or temperature changes. Hand wash with a mild detergent and lukewarm water. Dry with a soft cloth. Take good care of your Carnival Glass and it will brighten homes for generations to come.

Bridget Klusman Owner,

Retro

Estate Sales

https://retroestatesales.wixsite.com/retroestatesales

A. 1970s Carnival Glass beads

D. A selection of Carnival Glass with

Self-Esteem Affects Your Confidence

Having high self-esteem means that you like yourself and you can be your own best friend. You are the only person that goes everywhere with you, so you might as well like who you are. If you have medium self-esteem, you like who you are sometimes and sometimes you don’t. If your selfesteem is low then you don’t like yourself much at all. You may practice negative self-talk which could impact your daily life. You may be critical of yourself, sensitive when others provide you with feedback, focus on failure, become pessimistic, and remove yourself from social situations. The negative talk that you give yourself takes a toll on your confidence and can be emotionally exhausting.

Things people with

Negative Self Esteem May Say:

I am stupid

I am a failure

I am inadequate

I am ugly

I don’t deserve love

I don’t deserve to be a part of the group I cannot succeed

There are many negative cognitions that people with lower selfesteem may say to themselves, the list above are just a few examples. When you have low self-esteem, and you are constantly saying negative things to yourself it changes your brain to notice the negative and not pay attention to the positive. The negative self-talk compounds the feeling of hopelessness.

Challenge Your Negative Thinking

The good news is that you don’t have to continue to sit in the negative thought process. You can change your mindset and build your confidence. It is important to understand you may have been saying negative things to yourself for many years, so changing the way you speak to yourself may take some time. Connect your strengths with your passions and identify your personal values. Don’t be afraid to ask others for feedback as to how they notice the changes you are making and how it is impact ing your mood. When shifting your mindset think about starting your day with a positive thought, practice

How Do You Turn the Negative Thoughts into New Beliefs?

Let’s look at the negative thoughts that we discussed earlier and turn them into new beliefs.

Negative Thought

I am stupid.

I am a failure.

I am inadequate. I am ugly.

I don’t deserve love. I deserve to be loved.

I don’t deserve to be a part of the group

I cannot succeed

New Belief

I am capable of learning new things. I can become successful. I can learn that I matter. I can learn that I am worth being in the group.

I am capable of learning to believe that I deserve love.

I am capable of succeeding.

Positive Thought

I am intelligent.

I am successful.

I am adequate.

I am fine as I am. I am beautiful.

I am an important member of the group.

I am successful.

Notice how speaking these new beliefs affect you. It is not easy to change the practice of negative selftalk because it has been something you may have been doing for a long time. However, shifting your mindset can change your overall mood and the way you view the world. Our internal dialogue may be running on overdrive, we may or may not be aware of it. Stepping out of your comfort zone and making yourself self-aware, stopping to sit with the negative thought for a moment before allowing it to float away while you replace it with your new belief as well as what you would eventually want that belief to look like, will be a great start in re-building or building your self-esteem. If it is possible, track your progress and celebrate the success even if it is a small step.

How Will the New Beliefs Help Me?

Putting into the practice of saying new beliefs to yourself will assist you in several areas of your life such as work, home life, time with friends and spending time alont. When you improve your self-esteem it will be easier for you to recover from setbacks.

Steps You Can Take to Improve Your Self-Esteem!

•Focus on your current mood. Think of the 5 to 5! How will this impact me in 5 minutes, 5 hours, 5, days, 5 weeks, 5 months, or 5 years?

•Don’t overthink your future, live in the here and now.

•Accept yourself for who you are and know that it’s okay to make a mistake.

•Take ownership and accountability for your actions. Remember that your opinion of yourself trumps everyone else’s.

•Practice self-care, and remember it is okay to come first. The flight attendant on airlines always says, “You can’t help others unless you put your oxygen mask on first.”

•Set goals! Create a list of a vision board, some type of visual to let you know what you are working towards.

•Live for your authentic self.

•Take each day one step at a time, as you begin to learn to believe in yourself.

•Focus on being proud of you.

•Give yourself grace if you have setbacks.

You Aren’t Alone!

Remember you aren’t alone. Reach out to your support group. If you don’t have a support group look for one. Meet up Kalamazoo offers different groups, sports teams, book clubs, walking clubs, and gyms are a few. Contact a counselor to assist you in rebuilding your self-esteem if you need extra help. It is okay to admit to yourself that you aren’t okay and take care of your mental health. Start viewing yourself as worth it and you will notice positive improvements one step at a time.

Dr. Julie Sorenson, DMFT, MA, LPC

References

Taibbi, B, 2022 5 Steps for Increasing Your Self-Esteem and Confidence, Psychology Today

Florko, L, 2022, How to Build Your Self-Confidence. Challenge unhealthy thinking, validate yourself and build on your success. Psychology Today

Dave, T, 2022 Six Ways to Build Self Esteem. Psychology Today

While it is mid-winter and spring is at least another six to eight weeks away, there is one native plant that doesn’t wait for spring. Pushing through the snow about now is an attractive plant with an unattractive name—Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus). It is the earliest flowering plant of the year in our region.

Skunk Cabbage is a remarkable plant in many ways. First, it doesn’t push up through the snow by brute force; rather, it has the ability to generate heat and melts its way into bloom—often surrounded by snow.

The process is called “thermogenesis.” Skunk Cabbage is a perennial which prefers wet, marshy habitats—often seen on wooded hillside seepages or in moist swales. It has a massive root system which grows deep underground from a rhizome. That rhizome stores a large quantity of starch. In the spring, that starch migrates up the roots and into the base of the flower where it metabolically generates heat. So much so, the plant can be 20-plus degrees warmer than its surroundings.

The structure of the flowering parts has evolved to optimize the species survival. The deep purplish coneshaped hood (or cone) that surrounds the actual flower, is thick and waxy. It’s serves as an insulating canopy. On one side of that canopy (a spathe) is an opening to allow insects access for pollination.

The purple color and the smell emitted from the plant (replicating decomposing flesh) attracts carrion beetles and other insects. The species name, foetidus (Fet-uh-dus) is Latin for “smelly” (fetid –unpleasant smell).

It does have a skunk-like odor.

Skunk Cabbage’s thermogenesis provides additional advantages. The warmth may be an additional attraction to pollinating insects and encourage them to gather and say longer (to ensure pollination). Likewise, the warmth is beneficial to the growth and development of pollen, ovaries, as well as other reproductive tissues.

An interesting fact about Skunk

Cabbage is the flowers have both male (stamens) and female (pistils). Amazingly, to avoid self-pollination, female flower parts mature first followed by the male stamens – pretty sophisticated timing.

Soon after flowering, a single tightly-wrapped leave bundle (like a pointed green cigar) pushes up from the soil and opens into the large leaves that are characteristic of the Skunk Cabbage we see through summer.

So, over the next couple of weeks, if you happen to drive the back roads, watch the ditches and swampy areas for the telltale 6-inch, or so, Skunk Cabbage emerging from the icy muck. It is the true harbinger of Spring.

Finally, again while we think were in the “dead” of winter, Great Horned Owls are nesting. These owls pair-up in early January and are now incubating their eggs. Once again, it’s all about timing. As the owlets hatch, it coincides with the time field mice and other small creatures become active which provides an abundant food source for the growing chicks. It gives them a head start to hunt and grow all summer into full adulthood.

Happy early spring!

James D. Coppinger

Live a life you love. Let me repeat that again. Live a life you love. I know there is no way to measure the love that goes into the work you do and the life you lead, but be true to yourself and your love and light will always shine through.

“What is done in love is done well.”

-Vincent van Gogh

One of the areas in my life where I feel truly blessed is in the ability to share my knowledge with you every month in the “beARTful” segment of this publication. Your positivity and support encourages me to keep creating and doing what I love to do and that is art. Art comes in many disciplines and this month, the artwork tutorial is uniquely utilitarian with form and function. I hope you will love and adore making these as much as I do.

Supplies needed: leather . scissors . chalk pencil . ruler . leather punch . hammer . rivets

I continue to utilize a collection of leather remnants that was gifted to me over a handful of years ago. Discovering innovative and practical ways in which to repurpose this versatile material, I fell in love with these catch-alls. The ones I have made are the size of a square drink coaster. I have seen larger pieces in