341 : distressed signage

I love photography. Taking pictures soothes my soul. I've already talked about my love for photographing rust and spider webs in this blog, but I've also really gotten into photographing distressed signage (Big shocker, I know). There's something about paint chipping off letters, and (another shocker) rusty letters that makes my heart happy.

324 : snail perfume bottle

So this is my little treasure from the fair yesterday... a vintage Avon perfume bottle (complete with the old disgusting perfume stench) in the shape of a snail. I don't know why I love it so much, considering I think live snails are kind of gross (except for the ones we had in our fish tank, of course...but even those took awhile for me to warm up to). He's just so stinking cute and a super steal at 3 bucks. You better believe he'll be adorning my desk in no time.

322 : linotype : the film

You have no idea how bad I want to see this... Hurry up and come out already!

284 : vintage buttons

My mom kept my great grandmas old wooden sewing machine, complete with drawers full of old thread, ribbon, safety pins, and buttons. I love looking at the old packaging on the ribbon and other notions, but I love looking through the drawer full of buttons even more. There's such a variety that she collected through the years; from plastic, to shell, to rhinestone and even crocheted.

239 : house industries

Over the past few years, I've become seriously obsessed with House Industries. Not only do they have some amazing fonts (Day 191) but they've come out with some crazy beautiful products. In addition to the Alexander Girard blocks from Day 16, there are also these beauties:

Between the Girard alphabet blocks and this set, I know no regular ol' blocks are gonna cut it for my future kids.

And how seriously amazing is this Girard memory game. Love it.

234 : vintage art books

 

Years ago I'd scour the used bookstores and library sales for vintage art books. I had two favorite series that I'd look for: The Pocket Library of Great Art and Petite Encyclopedie de L'Art (both from the 50s). The Pocket Library contained 39 volumes, a much smaller set than the Petite at 120. With only 8 more to find for the Pocket Library, and a bunch of the Petite versions, I wonder if my collection will ever be complete. I know I could hunt them down online, but it's so much more fun to find one unexpectedly.

178 : vintage typewriters

There is something so stunning about vintage typewriters. I'm always drawn to them in antique stores. Especially when their either particularly shinny and new, or VERY used. The thought of the metal keys hitting and inking the paper seems so foreign to our modern day computer era, but is such a lovely thought none the less...

Photo by Benjamin Earwicker

173 : antique/thrift stores

I'm on a vintage kick lately. I've always loved me a good vintage object over a new one anyway. There's something about all that history and pride that went into it, not to mention the majority of the items, were of much better quality.

I love the hunt of finding that perfect thing. The one I keep looking at because I can't believe it's actually mine. If I didn't have work to do, I'd be driving up to LA right now. And luckily the boy is the perfect antique/thirft-store hunting buddy. Surprised? I was too.

Current obsessions: letters from old signage, original fruit crate labels, wooden type, vintage fabrics.

151 : vintage fruit crate labels

  Right now I'm on a vintage kick. It's mostly type and art related materials that are capturing my heart. In addition to my expanding ampersand collection, I can feel the faint sound of vintage fruit labels calling my name. I love the typography and graphics. It's nice to sit back and remember there was design before the computer. Strange concept for many of us designers, I know.