DI-Wednesday: Free Vintage Travel Posters

I love vintage travel posters, but they are few and far between (and usually expensive when found)--but a lot of library sites have some reproductions available for free! You just decide on how to print them, and the sky's the limit! Check out the collection here.

Prints for the Francophile

Art is probably the simplest and least expensive way to change and spruce the homestead. Here is a great find for the Francophile: some wonderful vintage prints and collages you can print for yourself!

Friday Finds: Easter Fun!

Vintage Gray Tin Toy Rabbit from bellalulu

Easter is upon us, but it's not all bunnies and chocolate--here are some happy spring finds to brighten your Friday.

Retro Pink and Yellow Easter Egg Paper Decorations from REdesignkc

Two Easter Baskets from Willow Creek Sparrow

Baby Chick Vintage Pressed Glass Egg Cup from Patina Vintage

Hummel Style Gretal Girl Relief from Curious Collections

Friday Finds: Down the Rabbit Hole

Alice in Wonderland and the soon-to-be Easter holiday make this a fortuitous day for rabbit! Here are a few vintage selections.

From top to bottom:

Vintage Bunny Rabbit Folding Cutouts from incognito in maine
Ceramic Rabbit Planter from Little Byrd Vintage
Vintage Lucite Blue Rabbit Key Chain from Castle of Charm
Velveteen Rabbit from Eclectic Pelican
Vintage Flocked Bunny Shadowbox from Trampoline
Sweet Little China Bunny Bank from Beggars and Choosers

Friday Finds: Time for Love!

Valentines, Loveheart Ninja from Lilley

It's time for some love!

From top to bottom:

Tiny Wee Hoot Owl - Redwood Lovers from buttercupbloom

Vintage Science Anatomy Heart Print from Unique Art Pendants

Removable Wall Stickers - Branches and Doves from ContemporaryDreams

Bunny with a Heart from wry & ginger

Kiss Me Valentine Card from corella illustration

Friday Finds: Wall Collections

I love the use of vintage here to create a large and inexpensive wall design--these vintage flash cards are fun, and you can play with position and pattern.

Here are a few other ideas for flexible and inexpensive wall coverings from Etsy:

From top to bottom:

Vintage Dennison SPECIAL SALE Hand Tags from Sushipot (Parts)

34 Vintage Assorted Accounting Ledger Book Pages from sweet twee lab

My Childhood Friends from Sweet Memories For You!

From A to Z MINI Vintage Alphabet Cards from 30 one

Vintage Bingo Cards from Jambo Chameleon

Friday Finds: Geek Love

Geek Letters from johnny vintage

Valentines Day is upon us, but rather than featuring the usual hearts and pink everything (though lovely) I thought I'd gather up some true geek love from Etsy.

Tower Pencil Sharpener from 12karri

1960's Porter Microcraft Junior Microscope Set from StilettoGirl Vintage

Vintage Throwback Adding Machine from Sassbox Classics

Set of Four Pyrex Mad Scientist Bottles from Vintage on the Make

Vintage PacMan Ceramic Figure from Robin Graves

Neat New Product: Sugru

Here's something for the not-so-handy among us who would still like to repair and modify items around the house: sugru. It's a kind of modeling clay/epoxy that can repair anything from a door handle to a pair of shoes. This goes along with my philosophy of using sturdy vintage items rather than buying new, cheap, disposable ones. Now, we've got options if that vintage item happens to need a little 'tweaking'.

DI-Wednesday: Cleaning your own vintage finds

Apartment Therapy strikes again with this handy guide for cleaning your vintage finds--so, next time you hit the flea market or thrift stores, you don't need to pass on an item out of fear that you won't be able to clean it! And don't forget to check out the user comments--there are some real gems for getting rid of the muck.

Friday Finds: 'Tis the Season for Cleaning

A re-purposed storage crate from Vakuoli

It's the time of year when we relish the new possibilities we face, and wonder whether one of those possibilities might be a clean house. In typical fashion, we've spent the last year cramming things into closets rather than deciding whether they were worth keeping or not, and now we're facing the consequences and looking to downsize our collection of ill-fitting pants and chipped glasses.

For what remains, however, we will need someplace to put them, and I'm determined not to simply shove them away until next year's resolutions. So, I'm looking for storage that's inexpensive and has a little bit of style. Luckily, there are a lot of options.

I can hang prettier finds rather than keeping them hidden in the closet (from half pint salvage)

I know this book can't store much, but it's just too pretty to pass up (from TealStripes)

Jars are a classic, inexpensive way to see everything you have (from saganaga)

Monday Inspiration: Mid-Century Warmth

I'm loving this Mid-Century Modern fireplace/bookcase from VintageGoodness--the wood paneling, not so much, but cozying around this off-center fireplace lined with asymmetrical bricks seems like a good evening to me!

Monday Inspiration: Color, Color, Color!

An oldie but a goodie--we tend to see the decor of the 50s and 60s as more muted and streamlined, but then how do you explain aquamarine appliances? I've yet to see any of these decor ads in an actual home, but I'd love to see if anything like this came to fruition! Anyone have a secret stash of room photos with pink ceilings?

Vintage Color Inspiration

If you're looking for inspiration, there's no need to look further than the past. For instance, thedesigncubicle demonstrates how classic posters can inspire current design--he's referring to graphic design, but there's no reason this can't extend into the look of our home.

Check out his long list of vintage (and vintage style) posters, and see where you land--the one above blends muted colors and shapes that remind me of an old textbook I had in elementary school. The yellow could be my wall color, the maroon a major accent, and the dark aqua could show up in pops around the room--this would make a great den!

Friday Finds: Happy Holidays on Etsy

I was not out Black Friday shopping, as I think sales that present even the teeniest chance of being trampled to death aren't worth it. Instead, I've been on Etsy, finding some holiday inspiration:

Bronze Star Urchin Ornament from Kissa Design -- made entirely of paper! Wouldn't this be gorgeous on top of the tree?

DIY Ruby Red Double Paper Luminary (set of six) from Prudence Octavia. The warm glow is so inviting...

Vintage Shiny Brite Ornaments (set of 12) from Hope and Joy Home. These take me back...

DIY Swinging Ornaments Holiday Christmas Card Kit from Heal.Create.Share. I love this idea--so much better than the cards I could create by myself, but still personal.