Another Cape May When most people think about Cape May, New Jersey, they dream up images of surf, saltwalter taffy, and Victorian
vacation homes. But long before the queen's reign Cape May was a popular destination for New England farmers looking for cheap land
and profits from the whale trade. You can find out more about the southernmost outpost of New England in our August issue. See issue contents. Meet the Artist: Marie-Helene L. Grabman  To help you get to know some of the best artisans in America, we want to take a moment to introduce one of those selected for the 2008 Directory of Traditional American Crafts, Marie-Helene L. Grabman, selected for exemplary work in the category "Paper." Marie-Helene L. Grabman is one of the few fine artists executing original works of scissor-cut paper - "Scherenschnitte". She first learned cutting techniques from her grandmother. Later, from studies of electronic and print journalism at the University of Detroit, then as a TV news professional, she mastered the concepts to design in a medium that contrasts mirror images and asymmetry. Read more about Grabman. Find out about the Directory. Reader Letter: A Dim Future? Barry and Debra DuPree writes: My wife and I recently became aware of the Energy Bill that Congress has passed that
mandates the demise of the incandescent light bulb. The phase out begins with 100
watt bulbs by 2012, and ends in 2014 with the 40 watt bulb. I won't go into anymore
of the specifics of the Bill. We talked to a store manager and he said, "Wal-Mart was
going to stop selling incandescent lamps within the next 8 months." Has anyone
heard if there is going to be some kind of affordable replacements for early
american lighting? Maybe EAL can find out what the future of early american
lighting will be and post it in the editors, or letters column. Send a reply to the editor. Past IssuesJanet sent this note to our Readers' Exchange:
I just "found" EAL for the first time, and would love to have any old issues. please let me know if they are still available. My husband and I are restoring an old log home in West Virginia (late 1700's or early 1800's?), and need all the help and ideas we can get! thanks. Visit the Readers’ Exchange. Letter from the Editor: Needle or Paint In our current issue Early American Life executive editor Jeanmarie Andrews writes,
"
Just as I can’t imagine myself
picking up a paintbrush and attempting
to render a landscape in
watercolors, I’m sure that two centuries
ago some schoolgirl faced the
same doubts at the thought of picking
up a needle to create a project as
daunting as a pieced and intricately
stitched quilt." Read the Editor's Letter. | 
