scream for ice cream

Gotta love this vintage inspired print available at Tiny Showcase. Tulip Sundae? Thick-A-Shake? One of each, thanks! The print originated from a genuine ice cream parlor menu somewhere out there, but it came to printmakers The Head Light Hotel from an extensive candy ephemera collection.  Almost as good as the real thing.

poppies for grace

cute styling and stationery goodness by poppies for grace. i especially love the confetti lolly bags (cute diy idea! i'm thinking stamp pads + easy rubber stamps using erasers on the ends of pencils). makes me want to throw a party! check out their shop and pinterest.

hiding in plain sight

A little bit of magic: The Secret Bookstore. After his NYC rent quadrupled on his used bookstore space, Michael Seidenberg moved it to his apartment on the Upper East Side.


There's No Place Like Here: Brazenhead Books from Etsy on Vimeo.

found recently: stamp set

Here's a favorite among my most recent estate sale finds: A 1940s American Sign Printer Rubber Stamp Set. I found it at the same place I unearthed the vintage Twins matchbook. Let this be the start of my new, once-in-a-while column I'm calling "Found Recently," about items I like so much I have to keep for myself.

I love this because:

It's graphics and typography (both on the box and on the stamps themselves) are phenomenal! What a cool piece of history. Vintage fonts have so much charm.

It's original box has such vivid colors, too. It was pretty dirty when I brought it home but easy to clean because of it's coated cardboard. And what a nice surprise underneath the grime! It's hard to come by vintage packaging that is still so bright and hasn't faded.

The rubber stamps work like a charm, too! I used them to stamp names in red on Valentine envelopes this year for the gals at work. Love that drop shadow on the letters. And of course I always appreciate something vintage that looks pretty and  it's something I can actually use.

Plus, the box is in great shape and complete. It has the packaging structure to hold the stamps inside, the original instructions and all the pieces.  Plus, all the numbers are there along with bonus punctuation stamps! It holds more value when it doesn't have missing pieces, and bonus points for any included paperwork a shopper would receive when buying this item new.

Even though the stamps have been used and show ink residue on the rubber and box, it is nice to know that someone actually enjoyed this, even if not often. A lovely connection to the past and unique addition to my crafting arsenal.

landland

Landland is a Minneapolis graphic design and illustration studio (and not a record label!) that puts out great work. The poster above is hanging in my house actually. I especially love the intricacy and detail in their watercolor illustrations. Check out Landland's site and shop.

Bright on the inside

Almost hard to believe that this bright, light space is actually a 230 year old thatched home in Denmark.  A lovely marriage between old and new: The best of both worlds! Read more about it (make sure you have your favorite translator handy!) at  sökna hem.

(p.s. I'm experimenting with a larger photo size here on the blog - any feedback? Awesome or overwhelming?)

your taste is still killer

Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.

This is just what I needed. Thanks Ira.

leisure living

"Leisure living is twice the fun in a second home!" I should be so lucky. Check out these modernist "cabins" from the Douglas Fir Plywood Association circa 1960. Leaf through the booklet yourself over here.

[via Present&Correct]

sweet tooth

I've had a bit of a sweet tooth lately and these desserts from spoon fork bacon are looking pretty good. Little sponge cakes, chocolate dipped potato chips? Yum!

monday sunshine

cute styling over at castle makes me pine for summer! those polka dot pillow cases get me every time.

Graphic advertising by Tom Eckersley

Tom Eckersley was an English graphic designer who had a great body of poster art for well known companies and public works alike. I like the posters advertising public transit and the post office. Bright and colorful, Eckersley's work communicates a strong message and still holds up today.  I'd love to have a few of these hanging in my house. The Tom Eckersley Collection at University of the Arts London Archives and Special Collections Centre is available to view at VADS (an amazing archive!)

[via Where The Lovely Things Are]

kaufmann mercantile

I've been quietly obsessing about Kaufmann Mercantile since before Christmas, when I ordered the everyday carry pry bar and the tube wringer intending to gift them over the holidays. But I'll let you in on a secret: I kept them for myself.

I've always wanted a little hardware store that sold only quality, well made, practical goods that would last forever. Kaufmann Mercantile is my dream shop! Every item is simple, thoughtful and useful from companies that have been doing it right for years. The Juniper Ridge soaps are all-natural and made with sustainable practices by "Northern Californians from their own great outdoors." Three Stars is a German company that has been making chalk since 1870 and 130 years later it's still a family business. The tube wringer is made in Oregon and it really does work. A quality investment (and my favorite new gadget)! Here are a few more of my favorites:

Heavy duty canvas tool bag: I'd use it for everything.

Steep Ravine soap by Juniper Ridge: Bay laurel, oak moss and redwood.

Duluth Pack Canvas Backpack in green (made with real "Midwestern leather"!)

Chalk made from natural calcium carbonate deposits from Champagne, France.

Solid beech wood shaving bowl (I'd keep little things in it instead).

Enamelware storage container set available in white, grey and red.

All-brass pen case by  Japanese stationery company Midori.

Solid brass numbered clips would make organizing that much more satisfying.