Blog Hopping Through the Decades

Welcome to Flourishes' Birthday Blog Hop Celebration!  We're hopping through the decades in honor of Flourishes owner Jan Marie's birthday -- not just with a party and blog hop, but with a special stamp set created in honor of her day!  Let Them Eat Cake was designed by artist Becky Fleck with a Marie Antoinette flair and, just in case you wondered, it's now available here in the Flourishes Store!

Would you like to win our new set?  Well... if you've just arrived here out of the blue, you'll want to go back to the Flourishes Newsletter to start at the beginning and read up on how you can accomplish that.  If you're in the process of hopping along, you should have arrived here from Maki's blog.  We've time traveled through the 40s, 50s, and 60s and now we're in the 70s.

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If you remember the 70s well, or even if you're just curious and have a moment to spare, you may enjoy reading along.  Otherwise, there's always the option of skipping to the end...

I chose this decade because it's one that always stays fresh in my memory.  It's the decade I moved out on my own, met and married the man I'm still married to, and gave birth to my son.  It was a momentous time in my life; the beginning of a wonderful journey.

When I think of 70s style, I think of bell bottoms and hip huggers (now called flares and low rise).  I remember hideously loud indoor-outdoor carpeting.  Avacado Green and Harvest Gold appliances.  Living room walls painted with bold graphics in orange and green.  Bathroom tissue in colors to match your decor.  Shag carpets.  Blacklight posters.  Beaded curtains.  Oh, my!  I could go on and on!  So, here we have an absolutely delightful stamp set, and when I sat down to create in the style of my most familiar and beloved decade, I simply couldn't see these dainty little images in 70s terms.

Finally, I got out one of my old scrapbooks, searching for inspiration, and this is what I eventually wound up with:

Yes, for the first year or two of the 70s I had blacklight posters and beaded curtains.  Later I had orange open-weave draperies and some of that hideous indoor-outdoor carpeting.  At different times, I had all of the things mentioned above, except my wall graphics were bold chocolate and white stripes ('70-'71 to go with the posters and beaded curtains -- hey, I was very young!).  But when I looked through the '70s scrapbook (what a trip that was!) I found mostly colors and styles that appeal to me, still.  I've obviously never been very trendy. 

This is the photo that inspired my card.

By 1974 we were living a quiet rural life with two cats and two dogs in a little cottage on 40 acres.  There were lizards in the shower, and frogs hopped in under the front door on rainy nights.  We had a fireplace that barely kept out the cold, and we kept one room closed off at all times.  It was like a cavern and I was barely acquainted with it.  Our water system froze in the winter, dried out in the summer, and clogged up with decaying leaves in the fall.  We had no TV, no phone, and only one car (yes, it was a Volkswagon bus) which my husband drove to work.  It was utterly idyllic.  When we received the happy news of my pregnancy in 1974, we moved back to civilization.  In this photo I was four months along.

Oh, my gosh, was I ever skinny!  98 lbs to be exact.  I used to count potato chips to try to gain weight  It's the little hippie mini-dress (sewn by your's truly) that led me to these BasicGrey papers and colors (as close as I could come).  I used the Spellbinders Labels Four Nesties because of their resemblance to the material's print.  The image was colored with Copics, the cherry on top is done up in Stickles glitter, and the flower is a Prima.

By the way, contrary to appearances and the sound of things, I was not a little hippie girl.  I wore make up and styled my hair and loved to shop.  I clearly remember when this photo was taken, I was fresh from a pampering bath oil soak in the tub... candlelight... Sheherezade on the stereo...sigh...  I really haven't changed much inside, but this 21 year old girl bears little physical resemblance to whoever that is in the photo up there at the top of my blog.

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This is the part you will have skipped to if you're pressed for time or are just here for the hoppin'.

To be eligible to win the Let Them Eat Cake stamp set, you must leave a comment on this post, as well as every other post in the hop.  Your next stop is Barbara's blog.

Take it easy!  Don't let the sound of your own wheels make you crazy (more 70s flashbacks).

Comments

[ChristineCreations]

Oh Leslie! Look at your sweet self! I love your idyllic description of your 1970's!

And I love how your transferred that to the card! So fun!

[Barbara]

Wow, Leslie!! What an awesome take on your inspiration piece. That image is colored beautifully!

[Cindy Haffner]

Very yummy Leslie.

[Dee Jackson]

Oh Leslie!! I just love reading your stories and seeing pictures of your inspiraton. As always your coloring is flawless and gorgeous!!

[Julie Koerber]

Oh I am giggling! Leslie, you are a cutie patootie then... and now! What a fun story and fun visuals remembering those days gone by (lizards in the shower?? really? And, frogs in the house???)! Love the card too --- I see that 70s style loud and clear! :-)

[Peggy Allen]

Nice artsy cupcake and card. God bless!

[jengd]

I love your card... and the story/inspiration to go with it! Sounds wonderful!

[Deena]

Wow, what a wonderful photo to have of yourself! I remember my parents having the orange curtains and the green counter top...oh my...love your inspired card!!
smiles,Deena

[Robbin Clements]

I remember these colors!!!

[Makiko Jones]

Wow!! Leslie, You and your card totally ROCK! Those colors are so 70's!! I love how you colored the cup cake. Beautifully detailed!!
The photo is so sweet. I think my daughter would love to have the dress :):)

[Toni Storie]

I think you have captured the 70's for sure! I was born in the 70's and remember all of these things. I live in an old farmhouse now that has not been completely updated. Remnants of the 70's are still here with my avacado toilet and sink in the master bath and orange, blue and red carpet upstairs:)

[Latisha]

Look at you hot stuff!!
Love your card, it is fabulous!

[Linda]

I can still see you in that girl:)) Great card....love that awesome sentiment too! xL

[~Carolyn]

LOVE your inspiration and story! Oh, and the card is as pretty as the girl! I think some of the colors and designs of the 70s have made their way back in a "modernized" way. Love your dress, I can see it could be reinterpreted for today.

[GrannyCharlotte]

Leslie: I'm right there with ya. I remember the 70s very well. Graduated high school in 1970 and set out to brave the world on my own. Enjoyed reading your blog and look forward to seeing more of your designs. Thanks for sharing and by the way - love the card!!

[Laurie P.]

Thanks for sharing your trip down memory lane, Leslie. It brought back a few memories of my own - the 70's were a fun decade! I love your card, and I'm really loving the new stamp set and the great designs everyone is creating with it. Way to go!

[Laurie]

Great dress! Your card is soooo perfect for the 70's.

[Candi]

What memories your card brought back and loved your story too!

[Karen W]

How fun and what a neat card. This new set is just wonderful!!

[Ret Cudmore]

Hi Leslie! Happy Birthday! What a wonderful idea, I love this & your 1970's soul!! Your coloris is awesome as usual!!!
Enjoy!