Auction - cigar boxes

We went to an auction yesterday. It was a big collectibles auction - with hardly anyone there! So I scored lots of good stuff including 50 vintage cigar boxes for $10. The type is just great on all of these pieces and the imagery on the inside of the lids is FAB!

Beautyspot.

I thought these were very pretty and original when I spotted them last week - thought you might like them too - from Beautyspot.

Inspiration - Animalarium

I'd like to introduce you to a fascinating blog - Animalarium. I love to visit this site and find loads of fabulous vintage illustration inspiration. Revolving around animal imagery - you might find something that inspires you too.

All images from Animalarium

Illustration - Jordan Gray

Beautiful work by Jordan Gray. Love the muted colours and vintage textures.

Inspiration - vintage rubber stamps

These are rubber stamps - I love the authentic vintage look of these. They haven't been 'prettied' up in Illustrator. Their fuzzy outline is just lovely. This is one of the reasons we never use vector files or Illustrator in our Cartolina designs because it immediately makes everything look slick and modern. These stamps are from here.

Inspiration

A couple of pictures that caught my eye this week. The first is a collection of cast iron seahorses that are to die for. I would like to have all of these on my window sill - in my new white living room ;-) From a really great post on At West End at Comfort and Luxury. The second is a picture that Doug's cousin, Tony Mayer, took in New Orleans of a cast iron horse's head on a post.

Favourite things

A few of my favourite things - vintage engravings of butterflies. I specifically like these because of their gestures. I expect these were illustrated in the late 19th century - lovely.

Vintage |  Posh Bags

We love Posh in Chicago! Here are some great interior shots of their store - isn't it fantastic? Let's go. It could be our first Cafe Cartolina field trip :-)

Can't leave for the weekend without posting something vintage, something worn or something with a great patina. These bags(below) have it all - I love these, especially the first one - which almost looks new(and could almost be from Fossil, but it's not, its a vintage postman's bag from Holland) and you can get yours from Posh. We love Posh - oh did I say that all ready?

Prints and Textile Inspiration | Urban Outfitters

Pretty prints from Urban Outfitters.

Perfect Pillows | Bonjour Mon Coussin

Well how could I resist these? These are right up the Cafe Cartolina alley don't you think? They were just made for me. And they have the cutest web site with so many to choose from - you must go and look at them right now in their puffy splendour - pillows are all they do and they do them very well!  From Bonjour Mon Coussin -  au revoir!

Inspiration | Patterns

Wonderful, inspiring patterns from Anthropologie - where else, she says, with a shrug . . . .

Inspiration | granny chic

Great floral designs combined with some crochet and some woolly dingle balls makes for one superbly chic granny bag. 

Similar styling in these curtains - faux crewel embroidery -  all symptoms of the crafty revolution - love it!