Wednesday, December 1, 2010

White Wednesday Vintage Wallpaper Book

Hello my White Wednesday friends!  If you've stopped by in the past week or so, you know I found a great little vintage Wallpaper book at Renningers.

I was walking back to the car to drop off some of my purchases when I saw a dealer near the exit set up on just a blanket. I had no intention of stopping until I saw this beauty. Thank goodness my girlfriend, Blair, was with me because...it was written all over my face that I was in love with this thing before I asked the price...the dealer answered $2.50!  Yup! That is two dollars and fifty cents! lol As I fumbled to get my money out, I guess I was certain I had heard the dealer wrong so I asked her for the price again.  Blair grabbed $3 from me and whispered with a huge smile on her face, "You need to take your "special" and walk away. I'll bring your change!"
I was so excited about this book because not only was there plenty of gorgeous vintage wall paper samples inside, there was also a surprise! Half the book had been used as a scrapbook by the Bliss family.  David Bliss was in the fifth grade in 1931.  His mom saved many pieces of his schoolwork and placed them inside this "scrapbook."
"Our Farm" is one of many projects I found inside with David's beautiful script and artwork.
Isn't it sweet? I love how she mounted the work right onto the wall paper.  She used it just like scrapbook paper. Many of the pages are dated.  I love this next one -
You can double click on these to super size. There are short essays, poetry, artwork and other small projects like this one which shows how raw cotton can be transformed into a variety of textiles. Obviously the focus of David's schooling was reading, writing and farming -
I know this is just a glimpse but I was anxious to share a bit of this gem with you. Thanks for exploring with me! Here are a few quick shots of wall paper samples from the book. I plan to carefully remove these and create some high resolution scans to share with you. Look for those after the holidays.  I'm already thinking of projects for these!





Have a great week everyone. Appreciate you stopping by!  Remember you have until Sunday to leave a comment and enter my giveaway!

29 comments:

  1. What an awesome find....and at $2.50!!! Both of my parents were born in 1929. If you have a chance, I'd love to see more pictures of the wallpaper samples. I think it would be fun to see what decorating look was popular the year they were born.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Jane

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  2. Hello Vicki... treasures like these always bring tears to my eyes... I am sooo sentimental about objects from the past, and the precious memories they carry with them make them even more priceless...I picture these people from the past in my mind, and I wonder always too how anyone can possibly part with these family treasures... I would never be able to... but I am happy it belongs to you now... I always say "I" am their new family when I happen upon beauties like this... I am alot older than you I know, and when I was in school, ALL of the boys were in FFA, Future Farmers of America... and all of us girls were in FHA, Future Homemakers of America... life was simpler then... boy, times have sure changed!... can't wait to see more... xoxo Julie Marie

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  3. What a great treasure you found. I love seeing little bits and pieces of the past--and this one is full of them.

    Isn't it wonderful when friends are looking out for you?!

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  4. Hi Vicki...a treasure inside a treasure! I guess it is the season to be jolly!

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  5. I'm so excited about your wallpaper book. You could take photos of the samples and make them into background images for blogs, digital scrapbook images or textures for Photoshop. Or I'm sure you already have thoughts running through your head about them also. Oh, the possibilties are endless! Amazing, fabulous, awesome find!

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  6. I think we are all on the same page. I should have expected it! I'd like to carefully remove a few favorite pages, do high resolution scans and post. Expect that after the holidays. There are some great neutrals for projects. Some are a bit too "loud" for me but will be fun to show. I'll take some more photos on a sunny day of the samples. We have that storm blowing in from the west here and been cooler and dreary.

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  7. What a treasure! and what a sweet surprise to find it was used as a scrapbook, you are a lucky girl! Theresa xoxo

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  8. Hello again Vicki... had to stop back in and see the wallpaper photos you added... they are gorgeous!... I have lived in many an older home throughout my life, and I love it when I have uncovered layers and layers of old wallpaper the previous owners of long ago just kept putting one on top of the other... each layer tells me a story about them... thanks for letting me know you posted these!... xoxo Julie Marie

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  9. What an exciting find! And I can't believe the price, either! How sweet that it came with the special scrapbook inside! Can't wait to see what you create from these pretty papers. I think even just simply framed, they would be gorgeous!!

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  10. I was so looking forward to seeing inside your fantastic find, and I am not disappointed, wow, those wallpapers, aren't they just wonderful?

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  11. oh I would have died, I just love finding kids works, school art is one of my favorites
    this is just a cherished piece of history here.
    So happy you found it and decided to splurge that 2.50!
    Can't wait to see more
    AMy

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  12. Oh.My. Goodess! How did you keep from screaming when you got this? How could anyone part with this? The wallpaper is just beautiful, Vicki. And how sweet were these writings of this little boy?
    Blessings,
    Sonya

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  13. Oh My, what a fun fun find! And for nothing, a gift!
    Aren't you loved...
    Look forward to see your creations, the paper is amazing
    Blessings
    Rebecca

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  14. What wonderful images! And I love old books...what a fabulous and unique find! Hugs to you and happy holidays! ♥

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  15. This is an amazing find! Such pretty and one-of-a-kind stuff!

    Kelly

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  16. What a lucky find, Vicki...I love the papers, definitely from my parents era {they were born in '27 and '29}. And the schoolwork by David Bliss makes the book all the more special. I can't wait to see what you do with it!

    XO,
    Jane

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  17. Wow! Your scored big girl! I love it when you get alittle something extra that you didn't know was there in the first place!
    Theresa
    aka:TOT

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  18. lucky you! beautiful papers. almost hate to cut them up......almost

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  19. Vicki, this is truly a wonderful treasure, the wall paper samples are so beautiful... can't wait to see what you do with it! I just joined as your newest follower, and entered your giveaway, don't know how I missed it!
    Blessings~~~ Daphne

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  20. What a GREAT find-I would have run away fast-best find I've heard lately~!

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  21. Wow, I would have been so excited too!!! How awesome is that???Great post, Vicki!!
    XO

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  22. That really is such a special find, Vicki! I would have been SO excited, too! The cute sheet of writing reminded me of the time I had to write 100 times~ I will not talk in the library...

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  23. That is quite the amazing find, Vicki!

    Knowing you, there will be some incredible crafting coming from the pages of that book! :-)

    XOXO,
    Anne

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  24. What a great find! I should have gone to Renningers!!!! We have had computer problems and can't get on email. Open house today 12n to 7pm. Wish you could come!
    Hugs to you

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  25. Vicki,
    What a treasure!!!! Oh, to be able to see al the projects and written words-too wonderful. Thanks for sharing it!
    xo
    lynn

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  26. $2.50 sure is a bargain for this very special scrapbook. And considering how much you appreciate everything about it...you were definitely meant to find it.

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  27. I love those finds! I can vision that happening! Enjoy!! Hugs, Liz

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  28. That's amazing Vicki! I love it...a lot!!

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