Vintage Flash Card Love

Every summer we go to Ashland, Oregon with W's Mom and take in the Shakespeare Festival. I have been doing it every summer (and sometimes fall) since I met W 6 years ago.

About 4 or so years ago, the cutest little shop called Prize popped up near the hotel we always stay at. It is a great mix of vintage and kitsch and retro. They always have the best selection of vintage flash cards there, and I've been known to pick up one or two nearly every time we visit.

You may remember these large poster size flash cards we decorated our kitchen with...

But I bought a series of smaller flashcards as well. I bought them with the intension of using them as embroidery patterns. And here, I know have something to show for my intensions.

(please excuse the terrible photos--the sun refuses to shine in the mornings these days)


I made these framed pieces using the flashcards as the embroidery patterns. I stitched them on raw linen and then framed them in these 5x5 wood frames I found in the Target dollar bin last year (for dollar bin items they are actually really nice--made of real wood with glass).

I really like the way they turned out. I am going to make some more wall art series with some of the other flashcards I got. I have a bunch more and am bound to get even more when we are in Ashland next week for this summer's trip! I can't wait!

:) Cheers

Feeling Stitchy Banner Contest

So, I finished my entry into the Feeling Stitchy Banner Contest.


I think it turned out ok. I have been obsessing with my vintage flashcards lately, so I fashioned the banner after one of them. I was hoping the flowered background on the fabric wouldn't show up so much when I scanned it, but oh well. I am going to try and take better pictures of it later tonight or tomorrow morning when the light is good.

Anyway, I'm mostly proud of myself for accomplishing something within a deadline. I've had trouble sticking to commitments lately, so finishing this in time made me smile.

I'm loving all the other entries too! Everyone is so clever, and what beautiful stitching as well! Good luck everyone! Thanks to Floresita for organizing the contest too! I love that we can interact with one another like this! :)

Summer has started....FINALLY!!!!

As those of you who live in the Northwest know, We had the LONGEST, FLIPPING Winter EVER!!! It was cold and snowing through Memorial Day weekend. It has been grey and cloudy for months and months. Our flowers and gardens and fruit trees were utterly stalled by the cool weather (so much so that our local CSA farm says that tree fruit does not look good this year). But FINALLY, FINALLY, the sun is poking its shy little face out from behind those grey clouds, and we are seeing the light once again.

Thank you sun for finally coming out. I missed you so.....

To coincide with the beginning of summer, we are on our first of many weekend trips with family. This weekend we are in Ashland with W's mom and her husband. We go to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival every year with them and it is truly a fun experience. Ashland is a great little town with lots of character and lots of culture. The plays are fantastic and the restaurants even better. We always stay in this quaint little hotel up above the shops on Main Street, the Columbia. Right next to the hotel is this awesome little shop called Prize that is a wonderful blend of vintage and new. It has a totally unique style that I wish I could emulate. Lithia Park is beautiful and a great place for an early morning walk where you might run into deer and other wildlife. We saw a great play and even had time to take in the Sex and the City movie in the evening.

At Prize, I poured over all the vintage flashcards, posters, and other educational ephemera the owners have collected and decided to get some for myself.

I got these small flashcards thinking I would use the images as embroidery patterns first and then find some kind of other project to do with them. Here are three that I picked up.

Then I got these larger posters to frame and decorate our kitchen with. I think they are so cool.

I have some more of the smaller flashcards that I'll share with you later.

All in all a great weekend and glad to be home now. :)