Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Vintage Easter Greeting Cards - Bizarre and Strange

I sell updated and embellished greeting cards on Etsy. The name of my shop is the Reimagined Past. I scan cards that I have purchased at flea markets, ebay or some that were sent to my Mom in the late 1930's, and decorate them. Hate to admit it, but I am a glitter convert. I also spend hours every week scouring the internet. What a fascinating thing to do. Anyway, I have come across some interesting vintage Easter cards...that "stopped me in my tracks" and ask myself - what in god's name were they thinking? Below are some of my favorites:

Monday, February 16, 2015

forgotten love notes...

right up my alley.... "Besides awesome old black and white photos, one of my favorite things to find in used books at The Strand is love notes. Sure, some of these couples may have broken up long ago, but at least at the moment the picture was snapped or the sentiments were inked, there was something there. There was love, excitement, intrigue, and hope. Here's a selection of Strand Tumblr posts that celebrate a variety of loves (platonic, romantic, familial, fraternal) to help get you in the mood for Valentine's Day or at very least, to provide a bit of warmth to your cold, cold heart. Besides awesome old black and white photos, one of my favorite things to find in used books at The Strand is love notes. Sure, some of these couples may have broken up long ago, but at least at the moment the picture was snapped or the sentiments were inked, there was something there. There was love, excitement, intrigue, and hope." Rachel Kowal Associate Managing Editor, Soho Press www.huffingtonpost.com/rachel-kowal/used-books-love-notes"

Friday, January 30, 2015

Do you remember how to use a pen/pencil? My handwriting sucks

I have read, with disbelief, that a number of elementary schools have ceased to teach cursive handwriting. WHAT???? I hope not to be too "old school" with this notion of teaching keyboarding instead of handwriting. Remember the Palmer Method?
The workbook makes me shudder, and obviously I think I failed the "Q" test. When my husband was being taught the Palmer Method in the 4th grade at a Catholic school, he wouldn't follow the lessons. When the nuns told him it shows weak character his response was that it shows strong character that he didn't write like all of the other kids. Yes - that's the man I married. And so I happened upon this article and thought, well at least it's good for something! Write a letter today - make someone feel special!

Saturday, January 24, 2015

....as gleaned from Flavorwire:

 

Personal Letters From Great Artists to Their Friends and Family


Here at Flavorpill, we’re great fans of artistic ephemera, endlessly fascinated by everything from the journals of creative geniuses to postcards from famous authors. After all, once you’re famous, there’s just no way to keep your private papers out of the hands of the curious masses — not that we’re complaining: sometimes, the best way to learn about someone is to see the way they correspond to those closest to them. To that end, we’ve collected a few beautiful letters from great artists to their friends and family, each one as visually evocative as you’d expect. Take a look after the jump, and if we’ve missed a stellar letter, send it our way in the comments!


From Vincent Van Gogh to his brother Theo, 1888. Courtesy Vincent van Gogh Foundation. [via]





                     From Pablo Picasso to his dear friend Gertrude Stein.









From Henri Matisse to Francoise Gilot, as seen in Matisse and Picasso: A Friendship in Art. [via]


From Eugene Delacroix to Mr. Haro, his paint dealer. [via]

From Frida Kahlo to a friend, with lipstick kisses for everyone. [via]

From Rockwell Kent to Frances Kent, 1929. [via]


From Alexander Calder to Agnes Rindge Claflin, an illustrated list of the sculptures of his he wants her to see in New York, c. 1942. [via]

From Paul Gauguin to Vincent Van Gogh, 1889. [via]

From René Magritte to Paul Colinet. [via]









From Gustav Klimt to his life-long friend Emilie Flöge, 1897. Courtesy Leopold Museum. [via]
 

From Georgia O’Keeffe to Alfred Stieglitz, 1929. [via]





From Salvador Dalí to Tom Honeyman, 1932. [via]

Monday, January 12, 2015