cake & pie

Hello friends

I apologize for my unannounced absence. Life has been a little up-side- down in these first weeks of 2008. Big changes happening on all fronts...but they are all changes for the better, and I am feeling so much more like myself than I have in a long time.

Despite a little chaos, I have been busy teaching my two typography courses, (which I love,) and I am working on a new logo job, (which I also love.) Today I took a break and ventured out in the 24 degree Nashville weather to check out what was new (old) at one of my favorite antique stores. I covertly snapped a few photos.

I love vintage adding machines. They just fuel my love of figures (numerals.) Ironically, I am horrible at math and absolutely dread using the figures I love so much. Sigh.

Above (l to r): Better Homes & Gardens how-to books from the 50's; a vintage chair...I loved the colors in the upholstery; and a vintage apron with little dutch figures & windmills.

Overall it has been a lovely, chilly, Sunday. But now it is back to work: logos to be designed, typography projects to be graded, hot chocolate to be made...Be well and stay warm everyone!

Score!

Check out what my wonderful boyfriend found for me in one of our local antique stores:

He brought home about five or so pieces, and the minute I saw them I asked "is there more?!" and then dashed over to scoop up the rest. They are all mis-matched wood type, but I love some of the characters, so something in the near future will be done on the letterpress with some of these once I get them cleaned up.

Of course, while scooping up the rest of the wood type, I browsed around the antique store to see if anything else worthwhile jumped out at me, and I found these...

A cute vintage apron, (that iron sitting in the background was a total coincidence,) I really like some of the household illustrations on it.

This vintage fabric...its a little hokey, but I love the hand drawn type around the edge in "SWITZERLAND."

Now, back to my regularly scheduled sketching...

Pretty platters

On my latest trip to The Gas Lamp Antique Mall, here in Nashville, I picked up these two Harkerware platters for a steal from one of my favorite booths, Retropolitan.

I had seen them there on my last trip and didn't get them, so when they were still there, I thought, well they are just waiting here for me to take them home! I think they will be perfect for setting out food for spring barbeques, or perhaps even cookies, or a cake.

Update

It has been an extremely busy/stressful whirlwind week, but we found a house to rent in Brentwood and we are moving next Thurs/Fri. We are really excited about the move, but with boxes and bubble wrap surrounding us, we just can't wait for next Saturday when it is all over with!

Thankfully, the weekend wasn't all work and no play. On Saturday I stopped in at Renovation Station on Eddy Court in Franklin. Renovation Station is a thrift store for home furnishings and building supplies which benefits Habitat for Humanity. I didn't buy any home furnishings or building supplies, but I did pick up these cute wood cannisters that I haven't quite decided what to do with yet:

They were only $2.50, how could I resist?! To find a Habitat store near you check here.

Today, after a busy morning, we stopped by the Flea Market at the state fairgrounds in Nashville, where I picked up this super cute black woven clutch that can double as a shoulder bag:

With all the moving/packing activities going on I can't promise many posts in the next few days, but I am working on a feature about one of my "Artists/Designers Who Inspire" for later this week.

I am really looking forward to settling in to the new house and getting back to work on my list of many projects. Thank you all for your patience once again, and please stay tuned!

Buttons, and notions, and fabric, oh my!

What an amazing trip! I had a lovely day in Manhattan yesterday. I met up with my friend Yvonne, and we headed to the garment district. We stopped at M&J Trimming and spent almost 2 hours there. It was HEAVEN...and the people who work there were so helpful! Yvonne and I both picked up some great trims. I also found some buttons and handbag hardware...which you all will see in coming weeks in finished bags and pillows. (Some things have to be a surprise!) Then we darted over to Mood Fabrics, and no, did not see Tim Gunn, but I did pick up some really cute cherry patterned fabric in two colors that will be turning into wristlets in very soon.

Today, my parents were kind enough to help me find the Button Notion Center in Rockville Centre, here on Long Island. My friend Sue told me about it. This tiny store, that was perhaps 6 feet wide, had buttons from floor to ceiling. Just when you got through looking through the main wall, you turn around and there are more, you look down by your feet--more! You could very well spend a day in there and not see every button. I only spent about 30 minutes and found these:

I adore buttons. These were a bit pricey, but definitely worth it. Most of what I saw there I had never seen before, so some great unique finds.

Two more days in New York, and then it is back to work on my freelance job, letterpress, and sewing, so stay tuned!

Miles and miles of...

I headed to Crossville, TN this morning to check out the World's Longest Yard Sale, which spans 4 states and 450 miles of the Highway 127 corridor. I only hit about 2 miles of it...it was sweltering out. I didn't end up getting a ton of stuff, but I did find some great vintage buttons:

Vintage sewing finds

One of my favorite things to do is scour an antique store. Recently, on a trip to Staunton, Virginia to visit my Aunt Eileen and Aunt Kiki, we spent part of a day checking out some of the local antique malls. At one of them we found two vintage sewing boxes that were about $10 and $15--both filled with all kinds of treasures. When I returned to Franklin I finally dumped out all of their contents on the floor of my office and discovered lots of old lace bindings and hem facing, grosgrain ribbons, rick rack, and old spools of Clark's thread.

I love the lettering on the labels of some of the packages of facing and binding.

I'm not quite sure how I am going to use any of this yet, but I'm excited at possibly incorporating some of these vintage finds in future projects.

Goodies

Ms. Caitlin Keegan arrived today, all the way from Brooklyn! So far she has not seen too many Southern things...just a few rolling hills of Tennessee and many many SUV's and pick up trucks, but we're going to try to remedy that tomorrow. She did come bearing gifts:

This is one of the pieces Caitlin did for the Postcards from Poketo show at the Receiver Gallery last December. I was totally in love with all her pieces from that show and I'm so excited to have one. Thanks Caitlin!

I also received a few other exciting things in the mail today:

I found these great Greek coasters on ebay. I love the pattern and the colors...almost too pretty to put a drink on.

Lastly...

...but certainly not least, my Eleanor Grosch Keds arrived today! They are so super cute. I almost want to hang them up rather than wear them because the insides are so fantastic. Ms. Keegan ordered a pair too.

Cute as a button

I will admit, aside from my weakness for gorgeous new fabrics, I am a button addict. I love vintage buttons, and I have found so many now on ebay. Ebay is a great source for lots of otherwise hard to find items, and they happen to have a huge selection of vintage buttons and beautiful Czech glass buttons. I recently found these vintage cameo buttons. I love the colors.

I also found some Czech glass owl buttons that will make a super cute closure for a coin purse.

If you are a button addict like me, and its ok to admit it, check out the selection on Ebay.