Vintage Books

I like vintage books but I don't read them, I rip them apart to make things!  I do like how the yellow pages look and even the smell of old books.

 

I made this flower orb from pages of an old dictionary:

Tags from an old catalog:

And my favorite thing to make from old books are paper beads.  These are from an old catalog:

These are from an old dictionary:

Here are a few of the books I like to collect:

Uncle Wiggily books, these from the shop of Corr Nucopia (click on photo to get to her shop!)

And here is a book I'd like to add to my collection!

From the shop of 27thStreetPress  (click on photo to go to shop)

Have a great day!

RWS

Can't tell a book by it's cover

pinkingedgedesigns

Today I am dedicating this post to VE.

I thought a collection of books or related items would be fun and also follow the theme that the sisters have started.

ChloesSandBox

vintagemarvels

VE has inspired and encouraged many of us. She always has a word of advice whenever you need it. I believe that there is even a rumor going around that she is “the wise one”….her sister may disagree, but then again that is what sisters are for.

lipmeister

She also likes to play on words, and her sense of humor shows through her use of them.

SalvageNation

DuDidesign

I guess what I want to say is;

Thank you VE it has been a lot of fun and your knowledge and willingness to share has been wonderful. (now don’t be getting a big head and not play nice anymore)

BillyAndRoger

(jj)

Historical Library Buildings

St. Charles, IL 1903

VE's post yesterday made me think of the old library buildings and the opportunity they gave everyone to have access to books. Not too long ago a tenth grade education was considered a fine achievement, and the cost of obtaining a formal higher education and supporting yourself and/or family at the same time made it impossible for the majority. However, throughout our history many men and women were able to obtain the equivalent by taking advantage of the books offered in public libraries.
Some libraries were magnificent buildings and others were very humble. The large cities constructed huge, impressive libraries while the smaller communities used whatever buildings were available.

New York City, 1908

Wisconsin, 1908

I remember standing in line to check out my books when I was younger. I thought the little pocket that the library card fit into was so "neat", and I always felt so grown-up holding my books . Today it's all digital and, although it's faster, it's lost that personal touch that was always to special.

1930

Arcadia, CA 1953

(This is the period of time I remember. Just thought I should mention that.)

 Janesville, WI 1903

Wisconsin 1912

There are many of the old libraries still standing and in use around the country.

Built in 1905

Built in 1908

I'm sorry to say this is not one of them.  It was built in 1858 but was demolished to build a new one around 1895.

Have a nice day...and take a trip to your local library. All kinds of adventures await you and reading is the best way to escape into another world, at least for a little while.

Pepper, Pep, Helmet Head



I Have A Confession to Make!

I am addicted....to reading!  One of my earliest memories is sitting in church at the age of 3, holding an open hymnal in my hands while the congregation sang and wishing I could READ the words....by 10 years old I had pretty much read every book I thought was interesting in our local library...

I do have some favorite authors whose latest books I always read...let me share some of them with you....

J.D.Robb, a pseudonym for Nora Roberts, writes futuristic mysteries about a woman homicide cop named Eve Dallas...I love this series and have read every one so far....here is a link to the J.D.Robb website where you can learn more about this heroine with a darkness in her past....

http://www.jdrobb.com/about/how.html


Another author on my list is Clive Cussler...whose Dirk Pitt and NUMA series books are always fast paced mysteries set on and under the oceans of the world.  You will hear some great underwater sounds when you visit his website!

http://www.clive-cussler-books.com/


Catherine Coulter is a prolific writer (frequent new books are very important to me), my favorites are her FBI and Contemporary thrillers...this is the next one I have waiting to be read...sounds super exciting!

She also has a romance series if murder mysteries are not your preference :)
http://www.catherinecoulter.com/


My very favorite author is Dean Koontz...while I may wait for the books of other authors to come out in a paperback version,
I always purchase a first edition hardback of each Dean Koontz book as soon as it is available at my local bookstore...his scary, scary, novels are frequently set in Southern California locations that I am familiar with....makes them even scarier for me...LOL!

My favorite book of his is...

but a close 2nd would be Watchers, which was the first Dean Koontz book I read, and I was hooked from the 1st page!

http://www.deankoontz.com/

I have other authors and/or series of books that I also love, the"Left Behind" series for example, but I think I have taken up enough of your time for today :)  Happy Reading!

VE

Recycled Envelopes

A long time ago, I came across a book called The Envelope Mill and purchased it.  It came with 3 envelope templates inside it and was packed full of ideas.  It is out of print, but you can still find it from time to time, like there's one on eBay at the moment.  I have learned to make my own templates using mat board and you can search the Internet for templates.

 

One of my favorite things to use are old calendars!  Last years calendar for me was one we purchased at Chick-fil-a and it's a funny one with cows dressed up as different characters (their slogan is "Eat More Beef")!  So, I'll show you how that works up and also show you an old book I have that is pretty useless except for the wonderful photos in it.  You can use just about anything you have laying around, I'm fond of using wallpaper!

 

First thing to do is rip out the parts you want to use.  A handheld rotary cutter can be useful with this part.

  

Next step is to decide which template you want to use, sometimes the size of your paper determines the size of the template.

You simply lay the template down and trace it with a pencil.  Cut it out and erase any pencil lines you see.

This is how one from the book looks when cut out.  Now, turn it over so you are looking at the back and fold over the two sides (I use a straight edge):

Now fold up the bottom (again using a straight edge) and glue the bottom to the sides, let dry and that's all there is to it!

Here's the finished one:

They are completely legal to use but I recommend you use a white mailing labels for the address and return address.

This page from the calendar would look like something this when finished: 

It's fun to see what turns up inside, especially when using calendars!

 

RWS

How Do You Know

What it is?

What is it worth?

Will anyone buy it?

These are questions a lot of people are asking about the stuff in Grandma's attic...or basement...or where ever!

So here are some links to resources for what you may have :)

Vintage Fashion Guild Label Resource
http://www.vintagefashionguild.org/labels_f.html

Links for pottery and stoneware
http://antiques.about.com/od/pottery/Pottery.htm

Vintage Costume Jewelry
http://www.illusionjewels.com/costumejewelrymarks.html

Antique or Vintage Lace Identification
http://lace.lacefairy.com/Lace/ID/laceID.htm

Identify your silver or china pattern
http://www.replacements.com/silver_dentify.htm

Buttons 
http://www.antiquebuttoncollecting.com/

http://www.buttonbuttononie.com/collectible-buttons-site-map.html
(scroll down on this last link to find clickable links to specific types of buttons)

Vintage BarkCloth
http://imageevent.com/vintagetresors/vintagebarkclothstylenames

Depression Glass Patterns, Elegant Depression Glass and 40s50s60s Glass
http://www.suziemax.com/

Fabric Identification
http://www.fabrics.net/fabricsr.asp

Books
http://www.abebooks.com/

 Good blog post about vintage
http://heatheralexander.blogspot.com/

Good blog for general information
http://cdiannezweig.blogspot.com/search/label/%22kitsch%20n%20collectibles%22


Hope these resources help some of you to identify your treasures :)

VE