Election of 1800

(Click to see larger image)

This is a campaign flyer I made for Thomas Jefferson in the Election of 1800! (It was a project for my AP US History class) I take the side of Republican Thomas Jefferson rather than Federalist John Adams.

There are a few things you should know about this campaign;

• Republicans back then were not the same as they are now, they actually are more parallel to modern day Democrats (but not very close), Federalists are about the same as modern day Republicans.
• Neither Jefferson nor Adams actively campaigned, it was conflicts between the two parties and very biased newspapers that influenced the election.
• Adams had already served two years as president, and during that time he allowed the Alien and Sedition Acts to be passed. They were very un-constitutional that effected free speech so that nobody could critize elected officials and their party (Federalist) without risking imprisonment. Imagine how full our jails would be if the government passed a law like that today!
  

I am very biased towards Jefferson and the Republcans. They believed in smaller governments closer to the people where an individual's voice can be more easily be heard. That is exactly what I have believed for a very long time. I don't see my self as being a modern day Republican or Democrat but as an 18th century Jeffersonian :)

One More Week of Summer

I'm really sorry about the very sparse posts these last two months. It's so weird that in the summer you're actually busier than during the school year!

I start my Senior year on the 25th! It will be my first time ever in public school. It's only going to be every other day but I should still be nervous, right? Well, I'm not. I've only just begun to count down; there are only 7 days until school starts but I'm still not nervous. A little excited, a little reluctant to go but not nervous. I wonder why?

Anyway, this was just a little post to say that after a few days of school [I hope] I'll have more time to do more projects and posting. Thanks, as always, for reading :)

String, Wood and Stones

I love to wear things that look natural and rustic like my two lastest neclaces.

I began with this necklace:










I found some square wooden beads and hemp string and used that necklace as a visual to make a flower. Its really fun and looks great!

I love this necklace because it looks really professional. I used crimping links (I don't know the real name...) to connect the suede lace to the string of beads instead of knots. That really made a huge difference. I'm glad I was able to find those 'crimping links' here!

This one actually is a gift that I gave to Bethany for her birthday. I was a little sad to part with it but I know that she really likes it, so I'm happy!

Wait 'til you see the other piece I'm working on; it's inspired by Lia Sophia!

My Super Alter-ego

I've been working on changes for my blog. Sorry about the web address, I changed that too...again. It's now: http://www.samandbirdy.blospot.com/ so be sure to add it to your favorites :) I just wanted to give a little credit to Birdy, you see. Here's the story I wrote one night that inspired all this change:

"Every single day of my life has been different. But, everything I did was pretty much the same. Usually I'd finish school then do a mixture of watching TV, babysitting, playing on the computer, shopping, going to the movies, having slumber parties, cleaning my room. You know, normal stuff. I was used to change, we had moved at least 4 times, and for the most part I enjoyed change. Little did I know something big was going to happen.

In the month that I turned 16, I found myself being bustled into Germany. Everything was different; the language, the customs, the weather. Furthermore, there was absolutely mothing to do. Even TV channels were limited. For a long time it felt like I was in a state of nothingness.

This story does have a happy ending. Someone came to rescue me. An amazing superhero: my alter-ego. Her name was Birdy. She was a jewelery maker, a refashionista and a writer. She cleans, cooks and crafts; she puts Kitty into naps, washes dishes and much more. I don't know how she does it all but I'm glad she does! With her around Im never lonely or bored. My life is no longer dull and meaningless. "

Birdy told me that everyone has a super alter-ego but sometimes it takes something like a big move to set her (or him) into action. Have you found your alter-ego? I'd love to hear your stories!

Write them as a comment and I'll post them!

A Precious Gift from God

I made this card for an old friend in the states who has a new baby girl. (Her name is Gianna, isn't that cute?)

The Psalm 127:3, "Children are a gift from God; they are his reward." Reminded me of something Obama recently said about abortion. He said that he wants to take the power away from the states to make abortion illegal because he thinks that if one of his daughters were to make a mistake, he wouldn't want them to be punished with a baby.
Punished???
No matter what happens, mistake or not, a baby is a living, breathing gift. Nothing less. What a horrible, horrible thing for him to say! :(

Scrounged Poetry

The next assignment was my favorite!

Find a picture that interests you then look at it for a few minutes. Notice the colors and the mood, see what is happening and whats in it and just let it soak in. Then take words from your list that you think could go with it. Put the words in a sequence that makes at least a little sense and then change it around. Keep moving the words around, taking some away, adding in more. Soon you will have a poem, it may make sense or it may not. What ever you do is right!

I used a postcard of the Charleston Battery. Here is a picture that looks just like it:

"valiant oak trees are a disciplined regiment
their regal power supersedes the sunshine
spanish moss are honored to be among the foliage

the oppressed humidity cries out for freedom
but all insurrections are overwhelmed
honor the oak trees; fearless and foremost "

(I added the words their, among and cries out)


I also did another from a picture of British soldiers crossing a bridge.

"honored discipline
regal power
crimson regiment
awaiting insurrections
across the restless bridge

valiant minority
dare freedom
muster courage
against the depredations
the victorious make history"

(I added the words across, bridge, and against)