President's Day Feature: Late Greats Dolls

As we celebrate President's Day, I'd like to spotlight a handcrafted artist

who creates dolls from the likenesses of well-known people which, 

along with United States Presidents,

include artists, activists, writers and musicians.

Chen Reichert illustrates each one, then sews up a "stuffy historical figure."

The one thing that they have in common is that they're all,

well...deceased. Hence the title of her business: Late Greats.

George Washington

Theodore Roosevelt

Abraham Lincoln

Susan B. Anthony

Mahatma Gandhi

Mark Twain

William Shakespeare

Frida Kahlo

Freddie Mercury

See lots more Late Greats here:

website

Facebook

Etsy

Images used with direct permission from Chen Reichert.

p.s. Frida Kahlo fans can visit THIS post

for lots more Frida!

Lincoln's 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation

The following are excerpts from Abraham Lincoln's 

1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation:

"The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings

 of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, 

others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they

 can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible 

to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.

...It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, 

and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice

 by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens..."

Happy Thanksgiving to you and to your loved ones!

Enjoy celebrating together as we appreciate one another 

and the many ways in which our Lord has blessed us!

Lincoln

I must say, I am really psyched to see the movie Lincoln, due for release on November 16th. This is going to be a good one. It's about the last 4 months of Lincoln's life, as he worked toward bringing an end to the Civil War, and toward passing the 13th Amendment to abolish slavery.


Based on the book Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
by Doris Kearns Goodwin, the film is directed by Steven Spielberg.

Daniel Day Lewis stars as the president. Co-stars include Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tommy Lee Jones and Sally Field. Enjoy the full official trailer:

Here's another one:

For those of us who can't get enough of the inside scoop,
watch this interview of Steven Spielberg and Daniel Day-Lewis by AMC.

Videos courtesy of YouTube.
Really looking forward to seeing this! Anybody beside me thinking ahead to the Oscars?


>>>>>Update: My husband and I saw this movie on December 1st.
                          We could really see Lincoln's true heart to abolish slavery.
                          Daniel Day-Lewis was phenomenal. Now THAT is acting.