Have a great weekend

Happy Friday everyone! What a busy week it's been at Cartolina - the Christmas rush is in full swing believe it or not - and it's only September! Hope you had a chance to enter our giveaway this week. If not, you still have a few days. It's a holiday on Monday so I'll see you on Tuesday morning(bright and early with 2 giveaway winners!) I'll leave you with a few more of those very pretty vintage travel posters. Enjoy . . . . .

Collections

We collect lots of things around here as you probably know. One of the odd things we collect is miniatures from the 1930s through to the 50s. Doug started to collect them because they are great reference for drawing. They are fun to collect and they are very popular when we have kids come to visit! This is a group of my favourites. The two girls with the horse are made of hard rubber, the horse is metal. I'd better get them back into Doug's studio before he notices they are missing!

These other miniatures here are from a book called Counter Culture by Louise Fili and Steven Heller. It's a great little book with wonderful photography.

Random objects

There's something very appealing about arranging all your items by colour - as are these images on this Flickr set by Sally White. Even if you don't fancy the individual items they make for a great display. Oh to have the time to organize all my trinkets by colour . . . .

Mystery pictures

I have a big folder of wonderful images on my desktop that I collect to share with you here at the cafe. Occasionally, due to my over enthusiasm, I forget where I have sourced these great pictures from. I'm sure I'm not the only blogger this happens to. So today I have a whole bunch of images, that I think you will love, and if you have any idea where they came from be sure to enlighten me in the comments section below! Thanks. Also, while I have your attention, I just want to remind you to enter the Cartolina giveaway that we stared on Monday - we already have lots of wonderful entries and I am really enjoying reading them - so thanks to all of you who have entered already!

Mystery Pictures II

Here is the next section of obscure mystery pictures. Looks like it may be at a salvage/antique/garden centre - sounds like a great concept for a store if you ask me!

Random Objects

Check these out - I can think of a whole bunch of things I could use these for. French zinc metal placecards from Graphics Fairy.

Mystery Pictures III

I think these are ceramic flowers - they are fabulous! It's hard to tell the scale - I think they are quite small. 

Skona Hem

Skona Hem is such a beautiful website with so many pretty things. I haven't a clue what they are talking about but the pictures are gorgeous. I spotted the image with the white lampshade frames maybe a year ago and I just stumbled on it again yesterday - so pretty!

Random Objects

You probably know by now that I am really intrigued by this style of jewelry(from Talula). I don't actually wear much jewelry and, as I have said before, I am more interested in these pieces for their perceived provenance than anything else - I just love the idea of having all those tiny treasures hanging together on a chain! 

Photography

Super pretty photography from talented British photographer Emma Mitchell.

{That suitcase of old letters and photos is lovely}

Inspiration

Doug loves vintage posters and that is often what he is looking for when we are out trolling through junk stores and street markets. I thought you might like to see these - 3 vintage transport/travel posters from England - probably around 1935. They are so beautiful, screen printed with great colours and type.

Inspiration

Beautiful stamps to inspire you from Stefan Kanchev - aren't these wonderful? They would make such amazing posters. You can really see how many of today's designers are influenced by these vintage pieces.

Inspiration

Don't ever tell me we don't post anything original here at the Cafe! Open your minds and imagine being given this design assignment - "Design dozens of medals - they all have to basically be round and no two can look the same." I find these absolutely fascinating and wildly inspiring - from the pressed metal, fluted edges to the inlaid enamels. Antique Chinese medals. There are dozens to look at and buy, if you are so inclined, right here.