Tuesday, July 31, 2012

More Hoarder Garage Finds and Life...


For the life of me, I can't remember 
where this vintage art print is from. 


It's not something I drooled over. 
Still, it's pretty cool. Though I must admit, 
I was considering cannibalizing the frame.


See how someone touched up the gold
where the gesso details chipped off? I like it.
It's endearing - in sort of an "I was green 
before it was cool to be green" kind of way. 


And now it's chic to be shabby.


So since it was chic, I thought I might use 
it to frame the cool drawing I have been
hoarding for years. It even has glass!
And I could paint the frame white...or not.

But I took another look at the old print, and
saw some information that allowed a Google search.


White City Art Co. 1908. Older than I thought...


The Old Homestead. Charming. 


Here's what came up on Google:

"The White City Art Co." of Chicago Illinois was founded 
in 1893 to supply souvenirs to the Chicago Columbian Exposition and proved so successful that it continued to publish Prints in the years to follow until they closed their doors in 1909..."

So, I don't think I'm going to steal the frame.

Another cool find was this road map...



Look at the old gas pump. (I remember those.) 
That was the day when a guy pumped your gas for you. 
And while he did it. he checked your oil, water and 
the air pressure in your tires. I sure wish I could go somewhere and get that done when I filled up my tank 
with gas that probably cost 20c per gallon...

As a single woman, I function fairly well doing
the "manly" chores. But I forget to check my tires,
and I let more air out than I put in sometimes. 
And I hate to sharpen knives. 


FYI - Humble and Enco are both what is now Exxon.


Notice the date - 1952.





I thought of using it as a lamp shade or
some other project, but I think a new map would
work better. This map is too cool a 
piece of American History to use for that.

Sometimes it just blows me away that 
ephemera such as a paper map or 
an art print may still be here after
over 100 years, while people are gone.

I think that's a big reason why I like vintage stuff.

It seems like a tangible connection to
people and times that are no longer here.

Word for the Day:

The grass withers, the flower fades, 

but the word of our God will stand forever.

Linking With

Monday

http://betweennapsontheporch.net
Metamorphosis Monday
http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/
Masterpiece Monday
http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/
The More the Merrier Monday
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com
Make it Pretty Monday
Tuesday

http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/
Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://theivycottageblog.blogspot.com
Cowgirl Up!
http://www.elizabethandco.blogspot.com/
Be Inspired
Wednesday

http://verymerryvintagestyle.blogspot.com
Share the Love Wednesday
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/ 
What’s it Wednesday
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/
Show Me What Ya Got
Thursday

http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/
Thursday Open House Party
http://www.the36thavenue.com/
Share Awesomeness Thursday
http://katherinescorner.com/
Thursday Favorite Things
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/
Time Travel Thursday
http://frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com/
Treasure Hunt Thursday
http://www.savvycityfarmer.com/
thrift’n on a thursday
http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com
Home and Garden Thursday
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/
Share Your Cup Thursday
http://livelaughrowe.blogspot.com
Live Laugh Linky
Friday

http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/
Potpourri Friday
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/
Inspiration Friday
http://sassysites.blogspot.com/
Free For All Friday
http://www.lovenotesbylauryn.blogspot.com
Spread the Love
Saturday

http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/ 
Saturday Nite Special




Posted by at 12 comments:

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Annie or Plain Jane? A Chair Makeover...


I realized something about myself today.
I already knew it, I just didn't know how
hard core I am about it. Blogging is so good for that.

I am a Plain Jane. I WANT to be more blingy.
But I just can't do it. It's not me.

Case in point:


I found this great chair for three bucks.
It has nice details - carved legs, 
a lovely arched design on top of the back, 
and the perfect place to put a design.


I started thinking about what I might do
the minute I put her in the car. 


A number? Which one? I already have a 7.
A graphic from the Graphic Fairy?
What kind? A French label? Something
industrial looking? Vintage? Choices, choices.

Then, I had a great idea! 
An ampersand. You know - the "and" sign.
&
I found a lovely font and enlarged it. 
I even looked up the history of the ampersand.
It's quite interesting. And it's French. 
"Perfect," I thought. 

And I even went so far as to name this chair.
Annie. 
Annie would be a new companion to Martha.

It made perfect sense. She has a new 
coat of Annie Sloan Old White on her.
And she'll soon have an ampersand on her back.



So I taped the ampersand on the chair, 
to try and find the perfect placement.
I wanted it visually centered in the space.
When I stepped back to look at the placement,
I hated it.




Well, hate may be too strong a word.
It didn't feel right. So I took it off.

And I gently distressed her
to show off her curves.


Did you notice those legs?


As I sanded, I kept wondering what else I might
put in the center of that virtual blank canvas.

And I drew a blank. 


If not the chair back, 
then what about the seat cover?
A patterned fabric? 
A transfer on canvas?

Nope. Plain old solid drop cloth.


Sorry. 
If I have disappointed any of you
who wanted to see a number or graphic, 
please forgive me.


I just like plain stuff. At least the BIG stuff.
Walls and furniture - I like them plain. 


I don't think I have problems with commitment,
it's just that I like to change things around a lot.
And plain things allow me to do that with the 
least amount of work possible.

Now, pillows or lampshades or artwork...
THAT'S a different story altogether!

But back to the new girl...Annie or Jane?
Martha is just dying to know. Let me know
what name you think I should call her...

Word for the Day:
Philippians 2:8-11
8 And being found in human form, 
he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death, even death on a cross. 
9  Therefore God has highly exalted him 
and bestowed on him the name 
that is above every name, 10 so that 
at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 
in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ 
is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

P.S. About the Ampersand - 

"The shape of the character (&) predates the word ampersand by more than 1,500 years. In the first century, Roman scribes wrote in cursive, so when they wrote the Latin word et which means “and” they linked the e and t. Over time the combined letters came to signify the word “and” in English as well. Certain versions of the ampersand, like that in the font Caslon, clearly reveal the origin of the shape.

The word “ampersand” came many years later when “&” was actually part of the English alphabet. In the early 1800s, school children reciting their ABCs concluded the alphabet with the &. It would have been confusing to say “X, Y, Z, and.” Rather, the students said, “and per se and.” “Per se” means “by itself,” so the students were essentially saying, “X, Y, Z, and by itself and.” Over time, “and per se and” was slurred together into the word we use today: ampersand."

Read more at http://hotword.dictionary.com/ampersand/#Bczt9Jc5JRygUEXh.99


Possibly Linking With:

Sunday

http://my1929charmerblog.com/
Sunday’s Best
http://www.homemakeronadime.com/
Creative Bloggers Party Hop
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/
Nifty Thrifty Sunday
http://stylishonceagain.blogspot.com/
Restyled Sundays
http://www.sistersofthewildwest.blogspot.com/
Sister Sunday
http://www.thegirlcreative.com/
Just something I whipped up
http://www.thesoutherninstitute.com/
Creative Me Link Up
Monday
Metamorphosis Monday
Mod Mix Monday
Making the World Cuter Monday
Show Off Your Cottage Monday
Revival Monday
Masterpiece Monday
Just a party with my peeps!
Make it Pretty Monday
Tuesday
Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Cowgirl Up!
All Star Block Party
Tuesday’s Treasures
Twice Owned Tuesday
Wednesday
White Wednesday
Primp Your Stuff Wed
Piece of Work Wednesday
Restored it Wednesday
Wow Us Wednesday
Penny Pinching Party
What’s it Wednesday
Thursday
Under $100 Link Party
Suzy's House Party
Transformation Thursday
Thursday Open House Party
Share Awesomeness Thursday
Time Travel Thursday
Treasure Hunt Thursday
thrift’n on a thursday
Doin’ It Yourself
Friday
Feathered Nest Friday
Potpourri Friday
Furniture Feature Friday
Fridays on Remodelaholic
Friday Redoux Link Party
Frugal Friday
Frugalicious Friday
Furniture Friday
Inspiration Friday
Flaunt it Friday
Vintage Inspiration Friday
Rustic Restorations Weekend
Saturday
Saturday Nite Special
Get Schooled Saturday
Show and Tell Saturday

http://www.freckledlaundry.com                                    Air Your Laundry Friday



Posted by at 19 comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)