by JimHinckley | Apr 24, 2021 | Featured, kite accessories, Kites, Windsock |
Spring is an ideal time to discover or rediscover the simple pleasures of kite flying. And it is a perfect tie for introducing a new generation to the hobby. For the expert or novice, Tumbleweeds & Tarantulas for all things kite related in the upper Colorado River... 
by JimHinckley | Mar 26, 2021 | kite accessories, Kites, Windsock |
Spring Time At Tumbleweeds and Tarantulas every season is kite season. But for most enthusiasts spring awakens a hunger to sail a kite in the breeze. And it is also an ideal time to discover the simple pleasures of kite flying. Interest in kites has been on the... 
by JimHinckley | Feb 25, 2021 | kite accessories, Kites |
Let’s Celebrate Spring. This past year has been challenging, to say the very least. The COVID 19 pandemic derailed plans, caused a great deal of misery and in general upended life. Now there is a ray of sunshine on the horizon. Nationwide the number of daily... 
by JimHinckley | Jan 27, 2021 | Featured, kite accessories, Kites |
Kites are unique in that they have an international appeal that is rooted in antiquity. As a result they are excellent for bridging chasms of culture or language. Japanese historians believe that kites were first introduced into the country by Buddhist missionaries... 
by JimHinckley | Dec 28, 2020 | kite accessories, Kites |
Chinese folklore is rich with tales and legends of dragons so it should not be surprising to learn that the mythical creatures figure prominently in kite designs. Some of the most intriguing legends blend dragons and the use of dragon kites used to help fight off... 
by JimHinckley | Nov 30, 2020 | kite accessories, Kites |
Time Capsules In movies, books and stories kites are often used to portray a sense of whimsy. They are linked to the carefree days of childhood. But like simple, carefree days kites are fragile. They are made of paper, twine, wood or silk. As a result vintage or... 
by JimHinckley | Oct 28, 2020 | kite accessories, Kites, Uncategorized |
Flying Good Times Harvey A. Sellers, was a seller of paper. He was also an avid kiting enthusiast. Disappointed by the poor construction and quality of available commercial kites, he began tinkering with kite designs in his basement. His break came with the idea to... 
by JimHinckley | Sep 26, 2020 | kite accessories, Kites, Uncategorized |
Oasis In Troubling Times. At the very least 2020 will be remembered as a year of stress and uncertainty. Both are detrimental to physical and mental health. The kite enthusiast that shops at Tumbleweed and Tarantulas has long known that stress is easily cured with a... 
by JimHinckley | Aug 29, 2020 | kite accessories, Kites |
The kites & pizza hideaway restaurant across the street from the Oklahoma State University campus in Stillwater, Oklahoma is an institution. The doors at the original restaurant opened for business in 1957 making this one of the oldest pizza parlors in the Sooner... 
by JimHinckley | Jul 25, 2020 | Featured, kite accessories, Kites, Uncategorized |
Here is to a point to ponder. A recent archaeological excavation in the Vanuatu Islands included a burial site more than 3,000 years old with an engraving of a kite. When you are relaxing under a desert sky while watching your kite dance on high, when you stop by... 
by JimHinckley | Jun 28, 2020 | kite accessories, Kites, Uncategorized, Windsock |
Building A Kite, Okay, I think we can all agree that flying a kite is a great way to alleviate COVID 19 induced stress. When shared with friends it is also a pleasant way to do a bit of social distancing. Now, if you have a bit of extra time on your hands courtesy of... 
by JimHinckley | May 28, 2020 | kite accessories, Kites |
Kites On The Big Screen. The popularity of the kite can not be overstated. Festivals celebrating the kite and the simple pleasures of kite flying are held throughout the world. Some of these festivals are rooted in centuries of tradition. Still, few things attest to... 
by JimHinckley | Apr 28, 2020 | kite accessories, Kites, Uncategorized |
Forgotten History of kites are ideally suited for this time of social distancing and quarantine. Hours can be spent with this relaxing past time and kite flying is a great way to enjoy the spring like temperatures. A visit to Tumbleweeds and Tarantulas is all you need... by JimHinckley | Mar 30, 2020 | kite accessories, Kites, Uncategorized |
Kites & Quarantine offer a special way of maintaining the Corona-virus mandated social distancing. As a bonus they can provide a bit of peace in a troubled time. There is, however, another way to enjoy kites in a time of mandatory quarantine and that is to binge... 
by JimHinckley | Feb 28, 2020 | kite accessories, Kites, Uncategorized |
Well, that is different. Kites are almost universal in their appeal. In most every country on earth people associate kites with fond childhood memories. And in most countries there are also legends linked to a story about a kite. In some instances those legends are,... by JimHinckley | Jan 27, 2020 | kite accessories, Kites, Uncategorized |
Odds & Ends and the joy of kite flying transcends barriers of language, of culture and of age. It is nearly universal in nature. In most every country in the world you can find people laughing as they send kites high into the sky to dance on the breeze. Kites are... 
by JimHinckley | Dec 28, 2019 | Featured, Kites, Uncategorized |
That Was Different. This past spring the 36th International Kite Festival was held on the International Kite Flying Field in Weifang City, Shandong Province, China. Launched in 1984, the festival has become one of the oldest, largest and most popular festivals in... 
by JimHinckley | Nov 28, 2019 | kite accessories, Kites, Uncategorized |
Willy Copens was a Belgian soldier fighting in WWI. On Thursday, April 15, 1915, watched a German Zeppelin pass overhead on its return from a bombing mission in England and he was flooded with memories. On the same beach, when he was five years old, running among the... by JimHinckley | Oct 29, 2019 | kite accessories, Kites, Uncategorized |
Coming To A Town, kite stores such as Tumbleweeds & Tarantulas are opening in towns large and small as the popularity of kites is on an upswing. Still, pardon the pun, to a large degree the sport of kiting flies under the radar even though there are some major... 
by JimHinckley | Sep 25, 2019 | kite accessories, Kites, Uncategorized, Windsock |
Oddly enough, from their inception innovative military strategists have found use for kites. In fact there is historic evidence that kites originated in China as a tool of war. Made of light wood and cloth and designed to imitate the natural flight of birds, these... 
by JimHinckley | Aug 29, 2019 | Featured, kite accessories, Kites, Uncategorized |
Aside from Route 66, there are few things other than kites that I can think of which transcend barriers of language and culture. According to legend, Benjamin Franklin made his most shocking discovery while flying a kite. Since the fifth century B.C. in China, kites... by JimHinckley | Jul 30, 2019 | Featured, kite accessories, Kites, Uncategorized |
Afghanistan is an ancient county. War and battles have been a way of life for decades and centuries, and now village is spared from the fierce fighting. In Kabul, the battle for dominance of the skies predates the historic flight of Oliver and Wilbur Wright, and even... 
by JimHinckley | Jun 22, 2019 | kite accessories, Kites, Uncategorized |
It is doubtful if your health insurance provider or HMO will buy you a kite from Tumbleweeds & Tarantulas. Still there is a therapeutic benefit to kite flying. Kite flying can also enhance your time spent with family, help you drop a pound or two, and, perhaps,... by JimHinckley | May 25, 2019 | kite accessories, Kites, Uncategorized |
It’s kite season! Well, every season is actually kite season but summer is ideally suited to this pursuit of idyllic childhood reminiscing. And summer is always the season for an array of kite festivals. Scheduled for June 22 -23 the annual Summer Kite Festival... 
by JimHinckley | Apr 20, 2019 | kite accessories, Kites, Uncategorized |
The High Flying History of Kites The first hot air air balloon amazed crowds when it debuted in 1783. In 1903 the first mechanically powered aircraft took flight. These manifestations of mans quest to dance on the winds with the freedom of a bird are recent history... 
by JimHinckley | Mar 30, 2019 | Uncategorized |
Go Fly A Kite Telling someone to go fly a kite is often viewed in the context of a brush off. However, there could be another connotation as the flying of kites is one of the few carefree pastimes that is often enjoyed from childhood through becoming a centenarian.... by JimHinckley | Feb 20, 2019 | kite accessories, Kites, Uncategorized |
Let’s have some fun. How about some kite trivia? Tumbleweeds & Tarantulas is one your stop kite store in Bullhead City but do you know where the largest kite store in the country is located? The largest kite store in the United States is located in Newport,... 
by JimHinckley | Dec 20, 2018 | kite accessories, Kites, Uncategorized |
Mark your calendar, start making travel plans, and pick up your kite supplies and kites at Tumbleweeds and Tarantulas. For the kite enthusiast who also happens to enjoy the classic American road trip, what could be better than an epic cross country adventure (on Route... by JimHinckley | Nov 25, 2018 | kite accessories, Kites, Uncategorized |
Kites and kiting can be a delightful hobby for the budget conscious or the youngster looking to get the most out of their allowance, the average customer at Tumbleweeds & Tarantulas. As with any hobby, however, the sky is the limit. Consider the Joachim Nellissen... by JimHinckley | Oct 15, 2018 | kite accessories, Kites, Uncategorized |
Fun With Kite Trivia Let’s have some fun with some trivia about kites! Did you know…. Fun With Kite Trivia. A kite only .196 inches holds the title of smallest flying kite in the world. At the other end of the scale the largest kite dubbed the Megabite... 
by JimHinckley | Sep 15, 2018 | art supplies, Uncategorized |
The historic business distict in Kingman, Arizona is experiencing a rather dramatic renaissance. Wine bars, microbreweries, and eclectic restaurants with sidewalk seating, delightful and fun events such as Chillin’ on Beale and First Friday that add an... 
by JimHinckley | Aug 15, 2018 | kite accessories, Kites, Uncategorized |
It was the summer of ’65. My dad had just returned from a six month deployment. I was just a kid and don’t remember all of the details (it would be nice if I did) but after reading the Sunday comics, dad mixed up a concoction of flour and water to make... by JimHinckley | Jul 15, 2018 | Kites, Uncategorized |
Some of the most memorable scenes, and songs, from the 1964 film adaptation of Mary Poppins by Disney Studios have to do with kites. This really is not surprising as kites, then and now, are linked in our minds with gaiety, childhood, and carefree times. However,... 
by JimHinckley | Jun 15, 2018 | kite accessories, Kites, Uncategorized |
Set your sites on Louisiana this fall and let the wind carry you to the 2018 American Kitefliers Association National Convention. Here is some exciting information provided by Nic O’Neill, President of the American Kitefliers Association. We would like to send a... 
by JimHinckley | May 15, 2018 | kite accessories, Kites, Uncategorized |
The sport of kite flying in Afghanistan known as ’Gudiparan Bazi’ was banned during the reign of the Taliban but it is once again ranked as a leading national sport. For more than a century kite flying was both a hobby and in the form of kite fighting, an intensely... 
by JimHinckley | Apr 20, 2018 | art supplies, Featured, kite accessories, Kites, Uncategorized |
It is never to late. If you have always been a doodler that dreamed of being an artist but education, work, career, family and life in general ensured this was always just fantasy, perhaps it is time to take the first steps toward making it a reality. Start with a bit... 
by JimHinckley | Mar 15, 2018 | kite accessories, Kites, Uncategorized |
You may have noticed that the wind blows often in the Colorado River Valley, northwestern Arizona, and in the California desert. Imagine how much fun it would be to harness the wind and fly across the desert, across Red Lake, the dry lake bed north of Kingman, or over... 
by JimHinckley | Feb 16, 2018 | Kites, Uncategorized |
Afghanistan is a land of ancient traditions including kite flying. Khaled Hosseini is an Afghan born physician turned novelist after learning that the Taliban had banned the sport of kite fighting in his native homeland. As he had grown up with the sport as a child in... 
by JimHinckley | Jan 3, 2018 | kite accessories, Kites |
It is the dawn of a new year. What an ideal time to take up a new hobby or dust of an old one! Let’s start with painting or photography. Start with a stop at Tumbleweeds and Tarantulas for some new art supplies, and a bit of encouragement to take up the pallet.... 
by JimHinckley | Dec 10, 2017 | Kites |
Kingman, Arizona is on the fast track toward becoming a dynamic haven for artists in western Arizona. The Kingman Center For The Arts located at 208 E. Beale Street hosts a variety of themed shows where local and regional artists display, and sell, their work. This is... 
by JimHinckley | Nov 26, 2017 | Kites |
Winter is an ideal time to explore your desert neighborhood. The temperatures are mild, the snakes are hibernating, and with a bit of luck, the mountains will be tinged with snow. In short, it is a perfect time to pack up the easel and art supplies from Tumbleweeds... by JimHinckley | Nov 2, 2017 | Kites |
For the avid kite enthusiast the fun begins before the kite flies. One of my fondest memories associated with kites dates to my early childhood when dad took time to help me build one using wooden yardsticks, newspaper, and paste made from flour and water. Today, from... 
by JimHinckley | Oct 11, 2017 | kite accessories, Kites |
It is coming soon, and the way time flies this historic event will be here before you know it. Volunteers from the American Kitefliers Association (AKA) and the Kite Trade Association International (KTAI) work together to help promote the fun and sport of kite flying... 
