Vintage Photos....

I've hit the jackpot with them lately.

Years ago vintage photos could be found at local antique stores for a song. Honestly, there are some that I still regret not buying to this day, but hindsight as they say.

A couple of weeks ago I decided to stop in at a local antique village and look around. I didn't expect to find anything, certainly nothing that I could afford. I was pleasantly surprised to come across several vintage photographs, many from the late 1800's that I willingly purchased. Some of the photos even have names penciled on the backs of them, and I found info. online about several. The computer age can be a real tool and offer a wealth of information.

Of course most people could probably care less about who is in those photographs, but I've always been interested in that sort of thing. Interested too in how someones family life can end up sitting in an antique store for sale.....I know there are all kinds of reasons for that happening, but it just seems so sad somehow. A couple of the photos were quite faded, but for $1 I took a chance and with the aid of computer technology ended up with some very nice images.

Here are three of my finds...I actually ended up with 15 photographs over the course of two weeks. Pretty cool!

Anyone who wants to is more than welcome to use these images. They are untouched, complete with the scratches and writing that came on them. I scanned them at a high resolution. If you do use them - I'd love it if you linked back to this post so I can see what you came up with!

Speaking of photographs, I took this picture last week while waiting at a stop light. A few of the smaller towns around have these roadway trolley's. Some are actual trolley's that have been converted for highway use. I think they're cool.

Bandana Technique....

From what I understand this technique has been around for a while, but I've been reading a lot about it over the last few weeks. I decided to do some research, and the best information was at the blog PearlEsq.

In this case the backgrounds are made using the Tim Holtz wrinkle free distress ink technique, then pitch black Adirondack acrylic paint dabbers for stamping, and a good quality white pen for doodling.

My background is made using Adirondack ink pads, playing around with them in my own fashion....I stamped using black chalk ink, but since my Gelly Roll pen didn't show up very well I opted for acrylic paint. I actually like the raised texture that the paint gives.

Aside from making fancy backgrounds, some have suggested simply using a solid color cardstock, stamping, and doodling. That would certainly give the look of a real bandana. I'll definitely be playing some more (this could become addictive), but this is my first try (8 1/2" x 11").

Theme Thursday - Flowers

I've skipped out on the challenges lately...Just haven't really been in the creative mood. Today's Theme Thursday challenge caught my eye though, and I've made a 4x4 using various elements.

Since I was playing around making backgrounds this morning I decided to use this one. It's made using Adirondack inks. The flowers/leaves are hand stamped with chalk ink, then colored in with pencils. The image is of my mother.

I love this furniture...

I don't know what it is about them. Yes, they're slanted, yes, they're slightly off-the-wall, and yes, they're certainly different.

Maybe it's because I'm a fan of Fred Astaire, the man the furniture is named after. The cabinet looks like it could be dancing right next to Fred, or even singing and dancing along with the other pieces of furniture from Disney's Beauty and the Beast. lol

They have style, just like Fred did.

The furniture is made by NW artist Hank Holzer. I'll never own either (too rich for my blood), but I can admire and appreciate them. I think Fred would like them too.

I've been a fan of Fred Astaire's for as long as I can remember. I don't even know when I first became aware of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, but I've watched them dance since before I was in college. I could watch either man dance for hours. They were so good at what they did.