{ colline by Jeremy Perrodeau } { Untitled by Sofia Ajram (Etsy shop) }
Hey buddies. I’m afraid we don’t have any more posts scheduled for today. Why? Because I had homework last night. WHAT?! Shoot. That’s right. I’ve got homework to do for work every night for the next 2 & 1/2 weeks. I’ll try not to let it interfere with my blogging too much, but bear with me!
{ pony ride by Rachell Sumpter } { calling bird by Nomi Kim }
My supervisor is away on vacation. I’m thinking… all day dance party in the office with pizza and sparkling wine! JK. But maybe I’ll get myself an ice cream cone after lunch. I love you, Dairy Queen.
One day I like loud color. The next day I like muted, monochromatic tones. Ain’t nothing wrong with being a fickle pickle. That’s the spice of life, right!
{ 264 by Emilie Bjork } { * by Indgila Samad Ali }
I could bask in the beauty of this wonderland all day. Well, at least until lunch, which should be in about… 30 minutes.
Jamal Vrno is about as mysterious and magical as his subject here. All that anyone can find out about him is that his name might be Perry? Maybe this is a self portrait?? Maybe he can’t venture out into the real world becuase he has laser beam eyes! He has to hide his deadly powers, his deep dark secret from society. And maybe he’s desperately lonely and wants to reach out, wants to TELL us that he’s there, tell us his secret… tell us with the help of his only friends… his brightly colored markers. We won’t judge you, Perry. Or is it Jamal?
That’s just my bunny hat.
{ from The Textile Museum, found via Toronto Craft Alert }
{ A Mixed Up Tale from Pretty Little Thieves }
The original drawing above (by Pretty Little Thieves) is available on Etsy. Not only is it a darling little doodle, but it supports Haiti relief efforts. $10 from the sale of this and several other originals in her Drawing for a Cure series will be donated to the American Red Cross.
“Another Book Shop post?” you say. “What fun!” you say. You’re too kind. With this new installment, we’re bringing you a little gem from Anna Jane Grossman. Obsolete: An Encyclopedia of Once-Common Things Passing Us By is an amusing look at technologies and practices that are outdated and defunct (or quickly getting there) with over 100 subjects from answering machines to wrinkles. With entries ranging in length from a few sentences to a few pages and quirky pen-and-ink drawings from James Gulliver Hancock, the book offers bite sized quips that are perfect for a few minutes of happy diversion, nostalgic reflection and hearty chuckles. Grossman is careful not to preach or over-romanticize, but there are certainly a few things I’m sad to see go (e.g. writing letters, Polaroids, body hair) and a few things I’m not (e.g. manual car windows, lickable stamps, “Miss” and Mrs.”).
A few of my favorite entries:
PERCOLATORS: Coffeemakers that pushed boiling water up through a cylinder into a chamber of coffee grounds, producing a brew that smelled better than it tasted and was imbibed from cups that were referred to using the English words “small” and “large”.
LIGHTHOUSES: Structures that emmitted beams of light to signal sea vessels. Once largely manned by monks who wouldn’t have complained about living in a five-story walk-up… Also a staple of the collectible figurine market.
ANONYMITY: Living an existence that warranted only two status updates; three, if you got married.
LANDLINES: Magnasonic Telephone from Hindsvik
CURSIVE WRITING: “A form of writing that involved making letters touch each other. Largely impossible for small children to read; adults fared better, but only slightly.” Cursive Letter Ring from Silvermade Studio
BLIND DATES: Bad Blind Date Card from GemmaBear
PENNIES: “Coins representing one hundredth of an American dollar, once used for purchasing candy, now used decoratively in jars.” Wheat Penny Cufflinks from David Gieske
TYPEWRITERS: Vintage Olivetti Typewriter from StilettoGirl Vintage
GETTING LOST: Vintage Cartographic Map T-shirt from Isotope
MILKMEN: “Professionals who delivered dairy products, mostly milk, which came in reusable glass bottles that were not printed with information regarding pasteurization, presence of hormones, additives, calories, vitamin content, or missing children; usually were men accustomed to fielding winking comments about how much they resembled their clients’ children…” Vintage Milk Bottle Holder w/ Bottles from Our Retro Toybox
POLAROIDS: “Instant memories, squared.” Vintage Cameras Photo Blocks from Susannah Tucker
