Earlier this month, I found a lovely little vintage typewriter that I fell in love with. I had been wanting one for some time, but I never wanted to spend that kind of money…$100? $200, or more? Well, I found one that was a lot more affordable with a new ribbon, and it works! CJ is a really nice guy, and his shop is Timelessmuse, where he has all kinds of really cool stuff, including more typewriters. Just for fun, I put together a layout to commemorate my new treasure.
My mom recently gave me a real gem of a gift. She had found my great-grandfather’s medical dictionary which he had used while training in medical school to become an Internist. Knowing that using vintage book pages is a really cool thing in scrapbooking, she tore out a small section of this old book to give to me. The book is beyond repair and literally falling apart, so what she did was not as shocking as I originally thought, and once I got over that initial “OMG, what did you just do?!” moment, I thought about adding the pages to a mini album, using them as a photo mat, making cards, or selling some in my shop on Etsy. But then I took a really close look at them, through the macro lens of my camera, and saw how special they are, at least to me. You see, I am a Cardiology technician at a large hospital, and Cardiology is my thing. It’s not only my bread and butter, but it’s what I do that I love during the day (until I put my ‘super scrapbooker’ cape on at night). While I was an EMT student eons ago, I had to study medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, CPR, how to set a broken arm as well as how to deliver a baby, etc., etc., and when it came time to study the heart and cardiac rhythms, the instructor went through the basics quickly (we were behind in the lesson schedule) things just clicked for me. So while every other student in the class was scratching their heads saying, “Huh?”, I was looking around at them saying, “You don’t get this? This is so cool!!”. Thus, a position in a Cardiology department at a local hospital a few years later was written in the stars.
So, that’s why this little piece of my history is such a gem to me. My mother intentionally chose this section for me (aaaw!), and now I can’t part with it! It’s not just that this pertains to a subject near and dear to my heart (pun intended), but this book is from my great-grandfather and dates from 1839. I am such a sentimental nerd, I know, and I just wanted to share. Don’t you have something passed down to you that is sentimental because it seems meant just for you? Share it with me, I’d love to know about it!
I also want to extend a huge Thank You to everyone who has been visiting my shop, Retrospect. I have been utterly overwhelmed with the wonderful response I have gotten to the Christmas items I have created!! I am so amazed and flattered and pleased, but each item I create is done by hand and is very time-consuming, and sometimes expensive. I work full-time during the day, and I simply have not had enough time during the evenings to keep up with the demand, so I have therefore stopped production for now to take a needed break. I do apologize, but I have recently made myself sick trying to keep up with a minimum amount of sleep, and that’s not good. So, for my sanity, and for the sake of my family, I need to take a little time to take care of myself and them, so I can be back in December for a lovely, happy, healthy season. See you then!
Today I got my package in the mail from Saturday Morning Vintage. Somehow I discovered this treasure on Etsy, and fell in love with the vintage findings. This gifted and talented owner is a
frequent visitor of our local farmer’s market and flea market.
collector of old things with a soft spot for vintage paper and buttons.
quote, unquote.
Love her. I think I get this from my mother; we used to ‘garage sale’ as a kid, and go to ‘flea markets’ as well, which I hated because I did not fully appreciate it. I do now. While I’m not particularly interested in waking up at 5 am to find the best garage or estate sales, and no flea market in my area could ever conduce me to leave my house, (lazy?) I am still quite interested in what others come up with. It’s the nostalgia, perhaps; or genetics (my grandmothers were both famous for their hoarding of family treasures), but I find something comforting and lovely about looking at authentic, retro, vintage things. And paper is something I especially love. After all, that’s the basis of Retrospect. An appreciation for documenting stories, memories and mementos of our lives- past and present- with photos, written words, ephemera and souvenirs. I can’t help but sit and think about what these items represent; the photos of the men (who are they? what are the stories behind the photos?); the stamps (I remember collecting some as a child); the flash card; the airmail envelopes…each item carries value and a piece of history.
I was so excited, I just ripped open the package, but this was what was inside.
Cool cards. But, I can't imagine what the one on the right is all about.
I love opening packages. It's my birthday and Christmas all over again.
Looks identical to what I saw in the Etsy shop. Can't wait to break this baby open!!
“]
This is an important element here: I'm crazy about washi tape!! [Where'd she get this one...I want it...
Good stuff.
Someone's handwriting in pencil. I'd love to know the story. Who is George Smith?
...the rest...
No, okay, this really is the rest. I have never seen a "circular" playing card. Wow.
"But wait, there's more!
This add-on package has a really cool vintage photo booth strip on the front of a postcard, as well as some really neat graph papers, and patterned papers. I really wanted this too, and there was a discount coupon code for this which could have been added to the original order. Unfortunately, I only found this discount after I put in my order. So, I quickly went back to the shop and added and email with the coupon code ….and soon after found out that the offer had expired….What a dork you are, Jennifer! I left it alone knowing she would figure out exactly how much of a dork I am.
But it came. The girl is awesome, I’m telling you. She must have somehow sensed how dorky I felt and sent a left-over, anyway. Too cool for school. I can’t wait to use this stuff! I am inspired by what she’s done in her mini-albums, and that’s what I aspire to. I just need to get past Christmas and all that entails, and I will do some serious scrappin’! I’ve even pinned her on Pinterest. I’m so excited; I have to pass on to you this blog/Etsy shop one more time: Saturday Morning Vintage. Love to scrap? Into Mini albums? Vintage/Retro junkie? Flea market enthusiast? You won’t be sorry!
I’m catching up on my Big Picture Classes homework this weekend, and I have accomplished quite a bit. I have Four new layouts, thankyouverymuch!
First, “Colour! Or is it Color?”. This week we are focusing on the color green. You know, each week I am finding that I like each color more and more, thanks to this class. I am discovering the importance of color in my layouts like never before. I am certainly appreciating colors more, as well.
He is Content.
I followed instructor Nic Howard’s lead as far as style and composition here. Quite out of my comfort zone, which is good. I am here to learn and push my limits.
Next, “Design Challenges”. This is a truly fun class! The challenges we are given are so unique and interesting. Challenge 4 is to use a vintage type, or font. I love fonts, and I have always found them an important part of the style of a layout.
A Fourth of July party photos I hadn't yet scrapped. Kizmet!
Challenge 5 is to use symbols in our layout. We were given links to a font website for free dingbat downloads, which really helped. Dafont.com is also a good resource for free fonts and dingbats.
Pause. Christmas photos I never scrapped. I'm batting a thousand.
And finally, “The Mother LOAD”. Basic training for the goal of hopefully becoming a “super scrapper” one day. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. This assignment is to create any layout we choose, but to keep tabs on how long it takes me; what is my process; how do I go about choosing this and that, etc. It took me a long time, and I do not have a method or protocol I follow; rather I am somewhat scatterbrained at times. I don’t think about the order in which I am doing things, or how long it is taking me, or taking any steps to organize anything. I am just doing. One thing I have learned is that I tend to get lost in my creative process. I am so happy, content, focused and creative-minded, I lose track of the time, whether I am hungry, and sometimes what is going on around me. It’s not intentional. But, I do have to admit that there are also times I do dawdle and end up sidetracked looking at Twitter posts, or playing my turn on Words With Friends. Love that game.
Hello Summer, inspired by Ali Edwards.
I feel accomplished today, and it feels good. Yesterday was productive, and today will be too, as I get to work on creating cards for a friend. Happy creating!
Just in time for vacation and travel season, I have a new product available on Etsy today: my “Let’s Go” travel journal kit. This kit is for the scrapbook lover who wants to put together a keepsake journal of their vacation without having to fuss with all the cutting, punching, and trying to figure out what papers to use. It’s all here for you; 30 unique pages, 3 tags, 1 vintage card piece, a sheet of airmail stickers, 5 Jenni Bowlin chipboard buttons, and 2+ yards of baker’s twine. It all comes in a white cigar box for you to decorate to your heart’s content! The size of the journal is approximately 4×6″, so it’s small enough to put in your bag and tote along with you. Add photos, journaling and mementos of your special trip, and you have a unique and special remembrance to last you a lifetime! To get yours and see more photos of what’s inside, click on my Etsy badge to get to my shop, and get yours before they run out. Free gift with purchase, too! Happy travels!
Hubby went with me to the Tower District the other day, where we hung out at Fulton’s Folley, an antique mall I mentioned in an earlier blog post. A very nice lady was going to meet me there to give me some old airmail envelopes for me to use in future scrapbook journals. While we waited for her (we had an appointment earlier in the area), we browsed the antiques and goods in the booths, and I of course, took photos. It’s been such a long time since I have been in an antique shop; I forgot how much fun it can be. My mother used to have a booth in an antique dealership where she lives, but that’s been years ago. Wow, these older relics sure brought back memories! I can remember having old children’s books, a doll like the one in the blue dress, and I have seen countless photos with my mother or grandmother dressed in some of the styles I saw here. And I just love Fiesta Ware! So much fun, so much reminiscing. Hubby loved the books, and got a big kick out of the old cameras and records. Lots of good stuff to sort through, lots of little adventures to encounter, plenty of photos to bring home and scrap.
After work this afternoon, I met hubby at a new art exhibit opening at the Spectrum Gallery, downtown in the Tower District (the Soho of our town). Afterward, I noticed some antique shops nearby, and since I don’t often get to this side of town very often, I thought I should peek my head in to see what’s what. I have been looking for some vintage items, and I feel that I’d rather not spend an arm and a leg for a “new” scrapbook product that is supposed to give that vintage feel, and get the real deal, instead. No shipping costs, either. The first place I went to was an “antique mall” with many vendors in individual booths. Loads of goodies, here! Wow, I will have to go back again someday, except that I noticed that many antiques are more expensive than I realized. Well, maybe those 7 Gypsies vintage-looking products on their website don’t look so bad after all…But, I was able to find some inexpensive items that I had been wanting, and then I went to a thrift store down the street and found what I have been really wanting: cheap, unused sewing patterns. Sewing patterns, I have discovered (thank you, Ali Edwards!), can be used like tissue paper, and decoupaged onto journal pages:
braying a piece of pattern onto a decoupaged acrylic overlay page
the finished page, on the right.
I did this method for Ali Edwards’ On the Road class/journal. I loved the look of the transparent tissue-like pattern piece over the acrylic transparency (which has a pattern of a map on it).
I also wanted some little, antique bottles to nestle into my 7 Gypsies library drawer. I will put some vintage labels on them, and they will add a nice touch.
Last, but not least, I have noticed these neat little “flower frogs” in photos on Etsy. Crafters use them to hold a paper product for photography. I really like it!
I am so surprised at myself doing this today. I guess it just goes to show that one must keep an open mind, and you’ll find what you’re looking for about the time you stop looking! Happy crafting!
