Vintage Findings

Vintage Play

Seems I've used a lot of processing on this one:  LightRoom, PhotoShop, and Corel. Hope to do more in this style. Not only do I get to use the programs I love, I get to incorporate vintage photos, ephemera, brushes, and texture.

Hope you are headed into a wonderful weekend.

~K

 

One More Collage ~

Long ago and far away, in a previous life, I used to make dolls. Sounds corny, huh? Each one was carefully handmade, stuffed with wool roving, and dressed in period dresses with vintage fabric from that era. The hairstyles were authentic to the period, as were all other embellishments. They range in size from 4" to 12" tall, so you can imagine the care and difficulty in stuffing those fingers. Faces were stitched and painted. Each one was distressed to get the true vintage feel. Sandpaper distressed the old fabrics very nicely, as well as tea to stain muslin. I sought out tiny lace trim for undergarments (yes they are fully clothed) and baby buttons. I get them out each year for Christmas and often felt bad that they lived out the remaining months of the year tucked away. But it delights the child in me to unpack them at Christmastime.

The top two on the right are hand carved.

The largest photo in this collage is a copy of the doll used in the Disney movie Tuck Everlasting ~ a doll had to be created to look new for the time period and more had to be made showing years and years of age and wear ~ you know, how one arm might get floppy from a child carrying it around and how the face gets smudged from too much loving.  I purchased the patterns from: Gail Wilson  She is AMAZING!!!

Some I've turned into angels ~ some have fabric wings others have wooden wings that I cut with a jig saw ~ others sit nicely in miniature chairs. There are more. Surely you know, they all have names.

And I suppose you now know what a "detail" kind of person I am.

Best to you and yours

~Karen

The Tacky Tinsel Tree

I am taking a few steps without the crutches secure in the immobilizing boot ~ what freedom to carry something in my hands! So I've picked up the camera and snapped more than a few images of Christmas. Still unable to drive, but I just might start cooking again :-)

Several years ago I was recuperating from a major surgery and knew that I would not be seeing anyone for 3 months. I used the 3 months to solder copies of vintage photos between glass. By the time I had soldered 100 of these little gems I was pretty good at it. I had taken a class from Sally Jean Alexander at her studio in Portland and used the time at home to work on the idea that I had. PA-LEEZE do yourself a favor and look at her work: www.sallyjean.com

I made simple photocopies of old family photos, reducing them to fit the glass pieces. Some are 2" x 2", some are 1" x 1". I bought a box of new microscope slides which are 1" x 3" and those worked really well, too. After adding words and a pretty paper or a miniature collage on the back, the paper photos were sandwiched between two pieces of glass. Copper tape covered all edges. Flux was added with a Q-tip and silver solder was added with my soldering iron. Fusing jump rings into place took some practice. To hang the ornaments, junk jewelry chain was used ~ found at Goodwill or flea markets, adding to the tacky-theme nicely.

Each year I adorn the Tacky Tinsel Tree with my soldered ancestors and vintage photos of my past. The tree is 4' tall and is very shiny, full of bling ~ no lights needed, it sparkles all on it's own.

I got the bug to photograph some of my collections from the inspirational work of Jennywww.flickr.com/photos/bw4444/ I adore her vintage sewing still life work.
Jenny, pretty soon I'll break out the miniature sewing machines for you to see, too. I can't go upstairs to get them yet LOL

Happy Holidays 

~K

A Vintage Christmas

Toy soldiers, an old wooden train, paper-thin vintage ornaments transparant with age (it is a wonder they survive year after year), the goose feather tree, the little crackled tea set, the sailors standing tall, and the Merry Christmas blocks ~ I wonder who held some of these things before I did.

I inherited most of my fragile, old ornaments from my Great Aunt Minnie (Mathilda). She was my mother's Godmother, my Grandmother Emma's sister.

In spite of all the senseless, dreadful things that happen in the world, I hope you find joy this season with those you love.

~karen

Macro Monday

Theme this week is turquoise. Just glancing around my workspace here I spied my Smith Corona and it's lovely turquoise color ~ couldn't resist using it for the theme. I added the vintage typewritten German text between the keys ~

It is in perfect working condition ~ got it at Goodwill for $4

Hope your weekend was a great one full of summer sun.

~karen

This Memorial Day. . .

. . . remember the fallen and those who made sacrifices for our freedoms.

I do not know why this image will not appear here on the blog. You can view it in Flickr here: Remember the Fallen

~K

Just a Little Fun

Change of pace here - my challenge this week is to depict IMPULSE. I went the whimsical route, as you can see. 

There I am, standing on the letter 'S' gazing at chocolate - LOL!  I'm not really a chocolate lover, but those kisses seemed to work for this image. I tend to pick and nibble throughout the day. I don't care for heavy meals, so it seems that I eat on impulse on whatever I find at home - a bowl of cheerios, a handful of almonds, a few carrot stix, some fruit, a little cheese, maybe a yogurt. I tend to nibble during the day whenever hunger strikes. Then I try to have a balanced meal at dinner time.

So those thoughts led me to IMPULSE.  The background is my own texture, the vintage image is from my collection, and other elements have been collected along the way in my PhotoShop journey. I especially like the vintage street map clipped to the leafy branch.

It is mid week and you are probably already looking forward to the weekend!

~karen

 

Some Challenge Work

The Challenge this time is to depict a proverb.  After over thinking it for days, it came out quite simple.  

DON'T PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN THE SAME BASKET

I have my Grandmother Emma Hager's egg basket.  My Grandfather Sam Hager asked his brother to make it for Emma.  Otto made baskets on the side for a little extra cash. This one is from white oak splits.  Emma used it every day when she checked on her chickens.  I am very fortunate to have it.

My grandmother is third from the left.  She is here with her sisters.  Around town they were known as "the seven sisters".  "Town" was Jefferson City, Missouri.

Left to right:  Emily, Wilhelminia (Minnie), Emma, Sophie, Mathilda (Tillie), Elizabeth (Lizzie) and Annie.

 I hope you all have a wonderful weekend - Happy Easter!

~karen

Macro Monday

Monday already! Hope your weekend was a good one and you had a little bit of sunshine. 

The theme this week is blue. Just a few sewing notions tucked into a vintage muffin tin. I liked the steely grey color with the blues. 

Short post today.....  catch ya later....

~karen

Paper Roses

 

 

Every week I wonder what the heck am I going to create this week? I often sit here looking at a blank screen without a thought in my head. My heart has a mini panic and then I think of something. Very strange, I know.

Quite some time ago I folded some pages from an old book and tucked them into a paper bag to photograph them.  Recently I untucked a couple pages, cut them, rolled them, then let them gently unroll themselves.  Ta-Da - paper roses.  

I love the feel of vintage papers, the brown edges, how easiliy it tears, the smell, etc. What I find hard to envision is that vintage papers, or even paper, is becoming obsolete.

Where would I be without my books?  Reading on my iPad, I suppose :-)

Thank you for stopping by today.

~karen