What's New in 2018 From That Fabled Shore December 17 2017

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from That Fabled Shore. In the coming months, I'll be rolling out a new product I'm very excited about. It's a 22 OZ frosted glass beer mug featuring some of TFS' most popular hand-tints of lighthouses.

It's Easy to Fall For Trivets Of Tumbled Marble. April 28 2017

The challenge of reproducing hand-tinted color comes down to technology and substrate. Certain surfaces react differently to the inks. These colorful marble trivets were made using ink sublimated onto tumbled marble. The "ink sub" technology isn't new. The machines that can do it are now smaller and more equipped to do smaller product runs. The images obviously aren't new. The fact that they are now in a hi-res file means all the subtleties of the colorful hues are perfectly rendered. 

Here is Nobska Light every bit as vivid as the original.

You can use these trivets as hot plates or frame them as wall art. Either way, it's an attention grabber. The featured image shows Nantucket's Brant Point Light on the left with The Rainbow Fleet coming around the point and out of the harbor.

It matches with the more prominent Rainbow Fleet image which shows Brant Point Light on the right with the boats have passed the point. Judge for yourself how beautifully the colors have been captured in the marble.

This image of Falmouth Harbor in marble captures the full depth of the blue in the original image which is one of the hallmarks of the great hand-tinted postcard images from the period. The rough edges are part of the tumbled effect and its why the image is set in from the edge. 

One caveat worth noting is that tumbled marble is not smooth or perfect on the edges. Hence the image is slightly smaller than the surface and not a "full bleed" as they say in the graphics industry.

Each of my trivet postings will feature this important point as a caveat emptor for the buyer. Unless the irregularity extends to the image surface, it is what it is. 

What is it about a hand-tinted postcard? November 16 2016

This image was taken approximately a century ago. Ten years later, that schooner would have been replaced by a steamer. The image of that steamer would have been printed on linen-based paper necessitating inks with far less subtle hues. And, most importantly of all, the visitor to the Cape, who may well have arrived by a crowded steamer, would have found little romance in purchasing a postcard of the same type of vessel he came on. Old Cape Cod and The Age of Sail were why folks made the trip. The tourists of the early 20th Century wanted the images of the late 19th Century. Nostalgia from a postcard manufacturers point of view was the only thing with a future.

Rotographs, like hand-tints, applied color in process after the original black and white was taken, without sacrificing too much in terms of the subtlety of the hues. Here again, the march of time was relentless. The presence of the lighthouse keeper's residence at Sankaty Head on Nantucket dates the image as much as the evolving technology used to create it. The building would soon be lost in a fire and the Rotograph Company and its processes would be gone not long thereafter. 

Sometimes the colors add a touch of humor that reminds us that somewhere deep in the process of churning out a new image to be produced for the teeming masses, there was someone looking to spice things up visually.

Someone looking to add more richness to a scene that would soon be lost in time, using a process that would soon be obsolete, hoping to earn the nickel of a tourist or two hoping to find something nostalgic to help them remember that day they came in search of a bit of the past.

A Tempered Glass Cutting Board Is A Tough Choice. October 29 2016

My first experience with a tempered glass cutting board was having a vendor toss it in the air. It clanged off the showroom's tile floor and as all assembled regained our collective breath, was presented as having suffered nary a scratch. It's worth remembering that tempered glass has long been the choice for windows on Brinks trucks. So why is it now showing up in gourmet kitchens as a cutting board? Here's my take on it:

Ink sublimation technology - which allows for infusing the glass substrate with an extensive palette of subtle hues - has scaled down the size of its equipment to make shorter production runs cost effective. The result has created a wide range of these colorful cutting boards in images ranging from wine labels and autumn leaves to brightly colored monogramed boards created as personalized gifts. For a small business such as mine, which was created around specialized catalogs of hand-colored, archival postcard images, the impact has been far greater.

The end result fully captures the subtle hues that are the hallmark of this period to be fully rendered in brilliantly colorful glass cutting boards that are as durable as they are eye-catching.

In fact, many customers buy it as a piece of art without fully appreciating exactly how tough and durable it really is. It's a fabulous cutting board, and a great serving piece for hors d'oeuvres or on a table top. Best of all, it cleans up with just a rinse of soap and water.

So if you're looking for a unique gift idea that's harder than steel and far more picturesque, consider the many lighthouses and other images now in my tempered glass cutting board selection. 

It's sure to be a tough choice and a beautiful one too.

The Top Five Lighthouses of Cape Cod November 06 2015

Two weeks ago, I asked my Facebook page followers to weigh in on their favorite lighthouse images and promised to, where possible, offer those images in my new expanded product line that now includes marble coasters, trivets, tempered glass cutting boards, and pillows to go along with the night lights I've always offered. 

Well, without further ado and not including lighthouses of Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard, here they are:

Number 1 - The Three Sisters. These range lights stood atop Eastham Bluff until the encroaching cliff and rot caused them to be replaced by Nauset Light. Here's a link to the page for more information.

http://thatfabledshorenightlights.com/collections/lighthouses/products/nansett-three-lights

Number Two was the Highland Light in North Truro, MA, one of the most popular lights in New England, and a favorite for both its history and its crisp lines. See it here:

http://thatfabledshorenightlights.com/collections/lighthouses/products/n-truro-highland-light-2

 Sandy Neck Light in Barnstable Came in at Number Three and it remains a favorite of mid-cape lighthouse aficionados for its Victorian style and scale. Here it is:

http://thatfabledshorenightlights.com/collections/lighthouses/products/barnstable-sandy-neck-light 

Number Four was Falmouth's beloved Nobska Light which is both an iconic feature of the town's road race and a familiar sight to all who use Woods Hole as a gateway to The Islands. Its shown here: 

http://thatfabledshorenightlights.com/collections/lighthouses/products/woods-hole-nobska

Last, but not least, coming in at Number Five were the Twin Lights of Chatham, which is partly nostalgic seeing how the northern light of the pair departed its companion to become Nauset Light, of Cape Cod Potato Chip Fame in 1923. Here they are before they parted ways:

http://thatfabledshorenightlights.com/collections/lighthouses/products/chatham-twin-lights

Each of these images will be made available in marble coasters, tile trivets, pillows and tempered glass cutting boards for the holidays for all orders received before December 10, 2015. 

The Boston By Gaslight Series March 17 2015

I grouped this set of images based the period and the landmark. Each remains an iconic part of Boston imagery to this day. Gas lighting seems to give each a special kind of glow that fits nicely with the nostalgic lens our memories and experience of Boston applies to it.

Sepia tone has a similar effect on imagery casting people and scenes we love in an almost overly sentimental light. Ironically, "Boston By Gaslight" is also a turn of the century compendium of the same period that's anything but lachrymose. It's stories are of of the melodramatic Victorian variety and feature gruesome murders, drunken louts, pickpockets, and much of the underside of Boston that doesn't mesh well with our wistful looks back at a simpler time.

"Gas light" is in fact an old verb for manipulating someone's memory into doubting their own recollections. Very few cities in this country retain as much gas lighting as Boston does in its historical neighborhoods of Beacon Hill, Back Bay, Charlestown  and Bay Village. At least, that's how I remember it.

The series, over time, will also include Scollay Square, Court Street, Old North Station and the huge rail shed that housed the locomotives behind South Station

Happy Valentine’s Day and a Special Thank You February 13 2015

Happy Valentine's Day to Lovers of Lighthouses Everywhere

In the 3 months since my site went live, I’ve come to appreciate the near transcendent power of lighthouse imagery on people in all walks of life from all around the world.

 Images – especially the colorful ones I choose to make night-lights with - are always going to draw likes. If I post the image of a lighthouse though, the number of those likes frequently double and occasionally triple.

 As to why that is, I am only beginning to understand. I know I can’t begin to articulate the meaning each holds on an individual standpoint. For some it’s a memory.

 For others, it’s a symbol. For yet others still, it’s simply the history they reflect or the beauty they present.

 I knew a month or two ago a Valentine’s Theme for Lighthouses would be a great way to tap into folks’ personal attachments to specific lights.

I used a free web survey site, which I was to quickly learn, has its limitations.

 Some responses were simple and direct like “Twin Lights at Navasink, NJ” or "Boston Light, I always liked taking the Harbor Tours with my Dad."  Others offered a bit more context, like “Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. My first vacation with a boyfriend.” or” Portland Headlight in Maine! Loved living in Maine!!”

 Some went even further offering wonderful and in many cases heart-felt responses that I’ve posted here to share with you. Thanks to everyone who responded in any way.

 Here are the more heart-felt responses:

Nobska Light, Woods Hole, MA - -

“My mother was a born and bred Bostonian. She met my father and they moved to his home state of NJ.

 Since Mom always missed Boston and Cape Cod, we spent most of our family vacations on the Cape.

 I met my own future husband and when it came time, he drove me to my "home away from home", Boston, for the day...and proposed in a Swan Boat on the Charles River.

We married and raised a family...and we, also, spent most of our family vacations on Cape Cod (specifically, Falmouth).

 My husband and I spent our 20th and (recently) 25th wedding anniversaries at a favorite Falmouth seaside resort. We made time to visit our favorite landmark, the Nobska Light in (Woods Hole) Falmouth. Majestically located, it will always represent a lifetime of warm, happy and romantic memories.

 I have visited and collected many lighthouses through the years, but always displayed proudly, front and center on my curio shelf, is the Nobska Lighthouse - an anchor of love and contentment.”

"Boston Lighthouse. I always loved taking the Harbor Tours with my Dad. Fond memories!"

 Montauk Lighthouse, Montauk, NY

“Montauk lighthouse. Because I worked there. Played there. Fun in the sun. Days & nights sleeping on that beach looking at my favorite lighthouse.”

Nobska Light, Woods Hole, MA

 "Woods Hole-Nobska Light in Falmouth/Cape Cod holds a lifetime of childhood, adult and romantic memories for me and my family. It is the "beacon" to which I have been returning since I was a babe in my mother's arms.

 Holding my mother's Bostonian-bred spirit and immeasurable family memories, this lighthouse, among many others I treasure as special, is the one that "lights" my heart with nostalgic joy.

 It will always be displayed prominently on my collection shelf as well as in my soul. .”

 [ Image Not Yet Available - My Apologies - TG]

 Cape Blanco Light - Bandon, Oregon

“Cape Blanco Lighthouse outside of Bandon Oregon... The one and only place I got to share with my Mom in this lifetime!

 Great memories that she took her very first air flight from the Midwest to come see me here in Oregon!

 It is my happy place I can always go to in my mind when I need to find peace for my soul...

  MY Mom has been gone for almost 16 years and my most beautiful memory of a lighthouse.... my mom was my shining light... Sorry this isn't "romantic" but it is full of love!”

Minot Light, Off Scituate & Cohasset, MA

"Minot Light. My husband had our wedding reception at the Light Keeper's Cottage in 1998. Sankaty Light on Nantucket comes in second. We could see the light at night from my in laws house, where my daughter took her 1st steps. Precious memories."

Edgartown Light, Edgartown MA.

"My husband of 30 years passed away nine years ago. He was from Edgartown but had moved to Maine. When visiting family on the island we always took a walk to the Lighthouse. It's a beautiful spot with a great beach. After he passed away my sister in law had a stone engraved with his name on the base of the lighthouse joining many other names as well. Every time I go visit his family down there I always take a few walks down to the lighthouse. It is like going down memory lane and being with Ed again. It's my favorite place to be!"

Thanks to everyone who responded and enjoy the weekend.  

10 weeks in and 1,000 likes on Facebook January 23 2015

In the 10 weeks since I went live with this site and its related Facebook page, I've been able to better learn what you want and I will present it here as best I understand it.

First, you love lighthouses. Far and away, these are the top draw for viewers. Some that you folks live near or used to live near or knew growing up. Others that are just beautiful and interesting in their history. One that had no identifying details at all was still quite popular "Steamship Meets Lighthouse." I've since been able to establish the beacon as Bremerhaven in the North Sea.

A close runner up are famous seaside destinations (Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod, Jersey Shore, etc.) Next are sailing ships and shipwrecks, mermaids and surfers.

Many of you seem quite interested in the history that I try to squeeze into the descriptions and the ways that printing and colorization distinguish them. 

Finally, an awful lot of you (especially in FB) seem to be unaware of the fact that what I'm posting and hope to be selling are in fact night lights. Believe me when I say, If you like the image for whatever reason, you'll love it as a night light.

I'll keep trying to make the fact that night lights are what I'm selling that much clearer.

Baby Steps - Welcome Facebook Friends November 22 2014

Just completed links from my Facebook Business Page.

Thanks to all who have 'liked' or taken a look. 

Remember that any image can be done any number of ways besides night lights.

I hope you keep coming back.

Rate your Faves in The Collections and Win November 14 2014

Right now, I'm in the process of weeding out the winners from the also-rans.

Well qualified, articulate opinions that rate the best of some of my major categories will

be given significant price discounts pre-Turkey Day.

Make a case for why certain lights are better than other on the basis of color, image, etc.

and you could be basking in the glow of a light you love.

Attention All Unique Visitors November 13 2014

This site is still going through its early, iterative phases and your opinions matter.

Please rate images within the various collections and email me your findings.

I'm interested in what works because of the image and the location and what doesn't.

I'm equally interested in suggestions for inclusion in specific categories, as we consider ideas

for future categories. 

Thanks in advance. All serious input will be rewarded via mail with my children's leftover Halloween

candy and a coveted seat on my advisory board. 

Folks who tell me how they found me will get especially desirable candy.

Slow day traffic-wise November 12 2014

Clearly my numbers are being negatively affected by

Kim Kardashian's lastest publicity stunt.

Google Tamed - Traffic Detected November 11 2014

I'll take your collective silence as form of affirmation. 

Who wants to start us off with a night light based anecdote?

Preferably one where the vivid scenes evokes long dormant 

memories or help to re-establish a relationship.

Raise your hand if you ever skinned a knee.

All right then,who's got an emoticon?

Still wrestling with SEO challenges November 09 2014

To anyone who's found this site without being tipped off, I'd love to get some feedback

positive or otherwise. I hope to get more Galleries of The South Shore and Nantucket up

in the coming days and would welcome any and all input.

From Pillory to First Post October 30 2014

Blogging – Will it prove to be the ruminations of us all?

With that first pun out of the way, I welcome all light house enthusiasts, closet grammarians and

gratuitous fact-checkers to my online world of pretty old pictures collected by a pretty old man.

If you're like me and tired of the mysterious bruises associated with bumping into things in dark

hallways and dimly lit bathrooms, relief is here.

Now you'll look up from the floor and see a brightly colored iconic image of your choosing shining

down upon you as if to say "Rest easy friend. They'll find you with a smile on your face."

Enjoy my night lights if not my humor.

tg - 11.3.14