Words of Wisdom

{Hand lettering by Jasmine Dowling}

INSPIRATION 2014 #88: Great advice for all! In my case at this moment in time, the quote should read the secret to getting ahead is catching up.

Talented Typographer

                    

INSPIRATION 2014 #87: This is typography you probably don't even think about, but you have to be pretty impressed with this painter's skills. Not only is he an amazing lettering artist, but his footwork is pretty fancy as well.

Inspiration ~ Embroidered Monograms

Several years ago I remember finding a set of embroidered monograms at the AMVETS Antique Show in Walnut, Iowa ~ the dealer that sold them to me told me that they were used to personalize underwear. Well, I didn't plan on sewing those I bought on my underwear ~ I just thought I would buy them to use in an art or craft project. To tell the truth, I'm not really sure where mine are at the moment!

Yebisu, an Etsy seller, has an amazing array of these embroidered monograms ~ I am tempted to get one of the alphabet lots ~ they are just beautiful. According to the shop description, this is Swiss embroidery made between 1890 and 1950 in St. Gallen.

I think one could come up with many more creative uses for these other than underwear tags, don't you? If you want some for yourself, you can get them here. What will you do with your embroidered monograms?

Yebisu also carries a selection of these beautiful copper stencils ~ for embroidery and cross stitch. I SHOULD get the JR, shouldn't I?

{all images from here}

Fabulous Find ~ ABC Block

Have you ever seen a block like this? I picked up this lone block at the Old Summit Antique Show I went to this weekend ~ I am dying to know what the whole set looks like. The pin shaped block is so unusual ~ I have never seen anything like it before. The graphics are printed on paper that has been applied to the 3/4" wooden block ~ wouldn't you just love to see the complete alphabet? Please leave a comment and/or link if you can provide any more information.

Old Summit Antique Show ~ Part 1

{Nice combo of letters and images ~ clever way to fit 4 letters on one block!}

A few weekends ago I went to the Old Summit Antique Show ~ since it seemed like eons had passed since I had gone to a show, I ended up buying quite a few things and also taking lots of photos. A friend of mine who is a dealer allowed me to take photos of the wonderful collection of block sets he was selling ~ these are all from his personal collection he has decided to part with. Just take a look, such beautiful and unique sets ~ some of which I had never seen before. I love the gorgeous graphics of the typography and the packaging ~ rarely do you see sets like this in such great condition. Which is your favorite?

{A gem of a set ~ these were rather small, the whole box was about 4" x 6"}

{Hill's Spelling Blocks}

{Hill's Spelling Blocks ~ inside}

{Built in advertisement}

{Love the simplicity of the graphic letter forms}

{Naughty!!! Guess they didn't have copy editors back then!}

{My favorite ~ Beasts & Birds Rolling Toys}

{Round blocks with lovely letters!}

{Description and list of contents}

{lovely engravings as well}

Antiques on the Common Spring 2010 ~ #3

Finally, the third installment of this spring's Antiques on the Common ~ this one features the two items I purchased ~ a gorgeous old ledger book (1862) and an ancient German children's book(1894)! This is the kind of purchase my brother would just shake his head and ask me what was I thinking? Why would anyone want battered old books like these? Well, for one thing, I just love the covers ~ worn and torn, but wonderful patterns and color ~ great for scanning and using in a future art project . . . . then, when I saw the inside pages ~ these were both going home with me! The alphabet index in the ledger sold me in a second!

{spread from the children's book}

{irresistible alphabet index}

{lovely columns and rows of beautifully handwritten lists}

The pages in the ledger book are actually light blue ~ that seemed odd to me, but I was told that light blue paper was quite common ~ it's the first I've seen though. Don't you just love the neat and tidy look of a list? ~ I love things all lined up and orderly!