Monday, March 22, 2010

What Boys Are Made Of (Mixed Media Monday)



Frogs and snails and puppy dogs' tails... that's what little boys are made of!


These three boys are part of my "found" family. I found them hiding in a box in an antique store. I love to hunt for hidden treasures, especially old photos and Victorian cabinet cards. But I don't think I have one old photo where the person is smiling. They all look so serious and austere. I saw these three boys and fell in love and adopted them into my instant family. How can you not smile at these faces? How much mischief do you think they've caused over the years? I bet they gave their real mother a run for her money!


This is a 9 x 12 piece on acrylic paper. I enlarged the original photo to 8x10 and glued bits and pieces of vintage primers and picture books. One book is called "Book of Etiquette for Boys and Girls" and on the original you can read the rules of etiquette that were taught to children in the past. Things like:


"All children should stand up when an older person comes into the room, and remain standing until everyone is seated. But boys must stand whenever a girl comes into the room. And if there aren't enough seats to go around, he must always offer his seat to her."


"A boy holds a girl's chair when she is seating herself at the dinner table, pushing it in gently when she bends her knees. He never seats himself until all the girls are seated."


"Do not wave your knife and fork around or stick them in the air or bang them on the plate or table. Do not hold your knife and fork upright in your fist like a dagger ready to stab someone. Chew slowly, with your mouth closed. Don't gulp or make noises. "


Wow. What the heck happened to proper etiquette? Enjoy your Monday!

21 comments:

  1. Gosh this is amazing.
    Really darling boys. Love them.

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  2. This is just precious! Beautiful work

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  4. How adorable! I can see why you love that photo...great use of the images!!

    Wow - I cannot imagine if my kids followed those rules. Hmmm....

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  5. Love your picture of the three laughing scamps, and the accompanying comments! It is rare to find the old photos where everyone is smiling. Something surely tickled their funny bone! I'm sure they caused all of us who see this to smile hugely!

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  6. Oh wow, this is amazing! And so light-hearted and spirited--makes me smile!!! What a perfect entry for MMM! Simply adorable!!!!

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  7. How precious are those little guys??? And, I love the way you framed them up, too. Etiquette has gone out the window nowadays. Sad to say.

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  8. What a great photo. And you did a fantastic job. No wonder you were smiling all the time. I guess you don't have boys at home to give you a hard time about it. Love the rules. That's how I was brought up. Miss the good manners severely.

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  9. Yes, that is a delightful photo, and I love the way you've used it. Diane

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  10. Lisa
    I love these little boys!! They do look full of mischief!!! And my favorite rule is not to hold your knife upright in your fist like a dagger!!! Great job!!

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  11. Absolutely delightful and yes, they do look like they are up to something!

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  12. Oooh! This is perfect - I LOVE the picture, the text (so, so funny) and the vintage images to the bottom right. This is just wonderful, Kristin xo
    Oh, and I also liked how you used boys - I often forget about them . . . :)

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  13. What a great collage and great photo that you found!!

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  14. Such a great creation and really captures little boys. I wonder what they've got in their pockets?

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  15. Can't find smiles better than those. Love your border!

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  16. This is a piece, where you have to smile!!
    Wonderfull done!

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  17. these boys are adorable, they make the item
    thanks for sharing
    michele

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  18. Absolutely gorgeous

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  19. This is sooo cool. It's such a happy piece!!

    Linda

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  20. Fantastic collage with an absolutely perfect photo! I love using "found relatives" that way!!

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