Thursday, February 3, 2011

Vintage Finds Valentine Edition

If you like to stay up to date with current events and weather trends, you may have heard about the massive snowstorm that hit the Midwestern United States. Here in Oklahoma, everything has pretty much shut down due to the record-breaking amount of snow we received. Other states may be accustomed to this kind of thing but this is a rare occurrence around here, and our cities do not possess the proper equipment to get the roads cleared. So while most businesses and government offices are closed, people have been trapped inside their homes for 3 days straight now because the temperatures have not been high enough to melt the massive piles of snow surrounding their houses and vehicles. Since I just witnessed a brave neighbor getting no further than the end of his driveway before getting stuck in a mountain of ice, I think it's safe to say I won't be going anywhere until it clears up a little. And I'm quite alright with that. I'm all holed-up with my love, my kitties, plenty of food, and enough craft projects and blog ideas to keep me occupied for a year or more. It's turned out to be a pleasant, impromptu staycation.


A waist-high snowdrift on my deck.

Since I've got plenty of downtime, I thought I'd take a moment to show you some of the vintage valentines I mentioned in my last post. Even when I was single, Valentine's Day has always been one of my favorite holidays. I would daydream about possibilities, about what kind of Prince Charming the future might bring to me. I passed out valentines to friends and classmates well into high school (and I'm talking Care Bears and Hello Kitty, the kind you would expect to receive from a preschooler).

Over the years, my fascination with this holiday has matured a bit, but it's still going full force. When I was about 19, I started collecting vintage valentines. It's just one of many collections, but it's very dear to me. Even though unused valentines hold more monetary value, I place a higher sentimental value on the ones that have been marked on. Seeing a child's handwriting, faded with time on the back of a worn piece of cardstock, my imagination runs wild. I get swept away in a sea of childhood memories, classroom crushes, and curiosities about what happened to these people and the experiences they went on to have as adults.

Here is just a small selection from my stash of vintage valentines. They were sent and received many years ago, stored in a safe place, and eventually passed around until they reached the hands of a certain starry-eyed pack rat.



I could show you valentines all day, but variety is nice too. So here are a few more sweet, vintage goodies to warm your heart.


Vintage fabrics in dreamy patterns.

I purchased this necklace at an estate sale for $2 quite some time ago. I figured for that price, I could at least use the beads to make something new. But the more I looked at it, the more I realized that this piece of jewelry is far too beautiful to be destroyed.



It's made from faceted German glass beads in a gorgeous shade of red.



These illustrations are part of a sweet little book about friendship, published in 1972.



Vintage storybooks are yet another collection of mine. Now you see why I started a "Vintage Finds" series on my blog. I have endless items to show you, and it's nice to have an audience who can appreciate such things. Out of all the things I come across working estate sales, the things that were a part of someone's childhood are the most special to me- even thought they are not a part of my own family's history. What kind of things do you become attached to?

20 comments:

Cindy said...

I put together an album of vintage valentines that we found in my mother-in-law's home. They are valentines to her husband and his brother when they were in school in the early 1900's. They are priceless!

Unknown said...

There were quite a few vintage Valentine's Day cards at the Flea Market this weekend.

apparentlyjessy said...

I love vintage valentines. I bought some from Etsy a couple of years ago and I just love looking at them now and then, they are so lovely.

I really like the vintage fabrics too, so many possibilities with those prints.

That is a LOT of snow! I've never seen real snow, I am glad you have plenty of food in the cupboard and lots to do. Enjoy your staycation!

Anonymous said...

I love it when you share your collections Holly, you might inspire me to share some of my finds a little more often... I have always loved the style of your blog and posts. ♥

hmm... collections.. I collect rocks I find at the beach, stars, little birds, bird houses, folk art, pottery, glass... what else??? I'm sure there's more. ♥

Anonymous said...

oh! and chairs! don't ask me why but we keep buying chairs!!

I always find my eye looking at chairs!

gah!

Pili said...

Those Valentines are so cute! And I so can understand that you don't want to destroy the necklace, it's lovely!

I hope you will continue to enjoy your staycation with the hubby and furbabies! Snow can be nice if you don't have to worry about missing work or not having enough food!

Robin Thomas said...

Holly, those cute little books we ere popular birthday gifts when I was a kid. Then it was popular to give 45rpm records.

You are dawn to what was commonplace ro me. Now they so dear.

Also that pink floral? Chills girl!

Actual chills, it's really cold.

Rose said...

Wowzers, really looks like your getting snowed out!
I love all your vintage finds, the illustrations of the valentines and book are so sweet.
I deffinatey think you should leave the necklace as is, red suits you.

Rose

Ink Obsession Designs said...

I love all things vintage, especially vintage valentines!

Your yard looks like mine. :) We created a little path for our dogs to go outside and because the snow is taller than them it looks like they are running around in a mini maze.

alexkeller said...

i can't believe the snow!!!
lovely collections - and i know what you mean about not wanting to take apart the necklace. i find that happens to me quite a bit!

Sarah Knight said...

Very cool finds : )

I hope the weather clears up for you soon! I know I look forward to all this snow melting here in Michigan
: )

Heather said...

wow, look at that snowy porch! can you believe all this? and its still falling! looks like you're keeping busy though :) love the valentines. I found some little hand drawn ones in an old cookbook I have. they're from the 1920s and sooo adorable. I love finding little lost treasures like that :)

devonrose said...

Great finds! I love the vintage fabrics too:) Hope you and your hubby have a great one!
xoxo

Cindy said...

Thanks for visiting me today. My Husband said to tell you that a back rub is probably not enough for him after shoveling the drive this week! Of course, we are a bit older than you guys. Although, I think he expects a back rub tonight!

The Fancy Teacup said...

Wow, you found some seriously adorable stuff. I love the retro valentines and the super cute storybooks.

I'm so glad this weekend the snow has started to melt (driving back home from work on Friday was a nightmare). But I did love not having to go to work too.

Stay safe and warm!

OliveStreetStudio said...

You have almost as much snow as we do! I have a property in OKC so the manager's called to tell me about the snow. I do not mind being snow-bound tho, it's nice to have the excuse to stay in , sleep, sew, read....

Vintage Valentines - very cool.

babalisme said...

I Love vintage illustrations! They sure evoke some interesting feeling :)

I am easily attached to things and persons... I still keep stuffs from my childhood. yes, even that half-used hello kitty eraser. I just don't have the heart to use it all!

ps. wicked snow!!! now in february???

Lemon Shortbread said...

Great collection, such a unique theme too! The carrot one was cheesy and funny but love all the oldschoolness! The necklace is lovely it's more of a higher quality since it is knotted in between the beads (unless it's sagging) then maybe you can reuse the beads - enjoy your staycation! Hope the ice melts soon.

Lolo Sinclair said...

I love your collection Holly! Really nice! The necklace is beautiful too. We have a lot of snow too here in Ithaca, NY. It's wonderful to see everything cover in white. I'm taking pictures to publish soon in my blog.

Hugs
Lolo :)

Jennifer Juniper said...

Holy snow, batman! And I love those red beads just the way they are :)