Holiday Children Challenge Winner: Marina

I've completed the random drawing for today, and it's time to announce the winner of my Holiday Children themed challenge....

The lucky winner today is the very first entry in this challenge, by Marina! Congratulations to you, Marina, for your win and also for some a lovely vintage winter creation. Email me at info@lunagirl.com when you get a chance, to claim your prize, $15 credit to shop at Lunagirl.com.

A big holiday Thank You to everyone who took part... please come back for the next challenge... the theme will feature who else, but Saint Nick?

Vintage Winter Freebie: Antique Snowflake Photos

In 1885 a Vermont farmer, amateur scientist, and photographer named Wilson Bentley started taking photographs of snowflakes.  This was obviously not an easy thing to do, but he developed a method of capturing snowflakes on boards covered in black velvet and then quickly transferring them to microscope slides to take the photographs.  Above are just a few of his amazing results.

Wilson Bentley was also the first person to propose that no two snowflakes are exactly alike ~ each and every one is unique! Thanks to Mr. Bentley's curiosity, persistence, and ingenuity we can enjoy these beautiful antique images of nature's artwork.

And here from the Old Farmer's Almanac is a simple tutorial for creating paper snowflakes!
http://www.almanac.com/content/how-make-paper-snowflakes

Snowflakes

These are some of the amazing snowflake photomicrographs taken by Vermont farmer, scientist and photographer Wilson Bentley. It was Wilson Bentley who first proposed the idea that no two snowflakes are alike! As snowstorms blanket the East Coast and the Rockies this weekend, look around at all the white, millions and billions of snowflakes, and really think about how every tiny snow crystal is unique and one-of-a-kind!

Starting in January of 1885 Bentley took over 5,000 photographs of snow crystals ~ not an easy thing to do before they melt to water or sublimate directly to water vapor! After some experimentation, he developed the technique of capturing snowflakes on black velvet-covered boards and then quickly transferring to a microscope slide to take the photo. His work is an amazing intersection of science and art and a testament to the beauty and wonder of the natural world.