Should I open it?

I found this little package of surgical gauze yesterday at our local antique store. I love to use gauze and cheesecloth in my art. I figured this is probably aged to perfection by now and it came with the brown wax wrapping and a pretty little box with a tear string.  I could use those too!

I was curious about the manufacturer though and the date this might have been produced.  So, I did some research.  Seabury and Johnson was the company Robert Johnson  founded in 1873 with his partner George Seabury before Robert and his brother formed Johnson and Johnson.  They started mass producing antiseptic gauze in 1876 or so. Seabury and Johnson's partnership ended in 1885 after many disagreements over how to run the business. Johnson agreed to not start a competing business for ten years in return for monthly compensation. When Seabury got behind on the payments in 1886, Johnson and Johnson was formed.

So, do I open my cute little package of late 1800's gauze and use it in my artwork OR is this cute little box and wrapping best preserved as is?  I just can't decide. What do you think? I'd love to hear your comments. I found some other great things while treasure hunting Saturday. I can't wait to share more.

Don't forget! Enter my giveaway here!  You could win a free custom canvas from Easy Canvas Prints.

Giveaway for YOU from Easy Canvas Prints

Ready for a giveaway? Not too long ago I won an 8x10 canvas from Easy Canvas Prints.  I really enjoyed selecting a picture and creating my custom canvas.  Their site was very easy to use. I chose to wrap the border of the canvas frame with the picture. It came out great and looks terrific hanging on the gallery wall in our play room.

Now, Easy Canvas Prints has offered to giveaway a FREE canvas to one of my readers!  You can create your own 8x10 custom canvas of your family, your pet, your artwork or maybe even a really great shot you took for your blog.  I can't wait to see what you pick.  Here's a link to their gallery for more ideas.

You have two chances to win! Here's how to enter:  1) Leave a comment on this post 2) Leave a second comment that you "Like" Easy Canvas Prints on Facebook. You can get to their Facebook page by clicking here.  You have until 5:00 p.m. next Friday, August 26th to enter. I will announce a winner that night. If you don't have a blog make sure you leave your email in your comment.  Thanks!

The rules and fine print:  The folks at Easy Canvas Prints have informed me this giveaway has to be limited to U.S. residents only and excludes Hawaii and Alaska due to shipping costs. Sorry! Good luck to you!  Thanks for stopping by and for your wonderful comments and follows.

By the shore - Vintage letterpress

Photo courtesy of:  Sea Sea Rider

My birthday gift for my friend, Jodi, arrived this week.  Don't you just love this?!  Jodi loves the beach and they have a new condo there.  She is anxious to decorate it, and I was thrilled to find this on Etsy for her. The shop name is Sea Sea Rider.  Isn't that a clever name?  Stop by to take a look at all the other sea themed items she has listed.  Hope you are having a great week!  xoxo

Simple gift and wrap

Hello all!  Here's a simple and inexpensive gift idea that you can wrap using your scraps.  My friend Jodi was celebrating her birthday this weekend. The gift I ordered for her did not arrive in time.  We did not want to go empty handed, So, my husband and I decided to share some music with her.  We burned two CDs to take to the party. Music makes such a great gift.  In this case, we chose a new group that we had introduced to Jodi this summer on vacation. We burned two CDs and I wrapped them using some scraps from the studio.

I had ordered some biodegradable Kraft wax paper bags some time ago. I loved the color and planned to use them in my art and for wrapping gifts.  I simply wrapped the CDs in some scraps of old sewing pattern paper then placed them in the wax paper bag.  I found half a sheet of vintage music from a recent project and folded it in half over the top of the bag.  I created a decorative edge with pinking shears then stapled the music paper to the bag.  After punching two holes, I ran a coffee stained ribbon scrap through and tied a bow. I wrote a little sentiment on the back and done!  Don't have the wax paper bags? Make one.  Take two pieces of wax paper and sew or staple around three edges to make a pouch.

Checkout Le Box Boutique  for more great packaging ideas and supplies.  You may want to have some of these on hand as the holidays approach.  Wouldn't a CD of your favorite Christmas music be a great hostess gift this year? I think I will make up a few and have them on hand.  I'm also thinking of doing something similar at Thanksgiving. I am the hostess for this holiday, but I want to burn a CD of Christmas music and make up several of these bags with a Christmas theme to pass out to our guests as they leave. I love the thought of them listening to Christmas music on the way home.  Take care sweet friends! Linking up to:

 

Vintage feathers and trims

 Photos in this post courtesy of:  Vintage Feathers

I stumbled upon a shop that sells vintage millinery hat trims.  The collection of feathers and fancy trims they  have acquired are from all over the world and mostly old warehouse stock.  Above, you are looking at white goose feathers. Can't you almost feel them?  Wouldn't they look lovely topping an old glass bottle or silver creamer? I'm drawn to the texture of feathers.  I find myself daydreaming about how I could use them in a project.  Check out these feather flowers -

Hand dyed feathers attached to fabric backs.  I'm sure I could use these in a project.  These are labeled on the back as Paris, France. You can see pieces of the original labels still attached in the picture.

These are called burnt turkey feathers and are early 1900's hat trims.  Again, these would be really fun for home decor or mixed media projects.  I've searched for old hats at estate sales. Many have millinery flowers you can remove. Honestly, I haven't seen too many with feathers still attached. I assume the feathers were too fragile and through the years were lost.  I do love the idea of being able to purchase some of this old warehouse stock.

I'm in love with these German hat trims. See the old labels still attached?  If you would like to see even more millinery trims from around the world then visit Vintage Feathers to have a look for yourself.  What would you do with these?  Getting any great ideas?  We would love to hear. I'm linking up to-

Gifts and goodies in the mail

Look at this sweet little pouch from Tina at Tiny Bear. Inside were small white taper candles. Tina, I love this. You were so sweet to surprise us all with a few extra winners in your recent giveaway. I'm excited to have a little piece of you in my studio now with me.

And look at this gorgeous millinery flower pin that I had to have from Vintage Supply Co on Etsy. I just love Jeanette's shop and her blog.

Jeanette thanks for the few little extras you sent along. I love and appreciate them. You know I'll be back.  So, anyone else receive anything fun in the mail recently?  Tell us all about it!  Have a great week everyone. xoxo

Back from the beach!

I big puffy hearted our vacation to Anna Maria Island. We just returned today. I hope you have all had a great week too.  We spent the week playing in the surf and sand, fishing, flying kites and eating great food with close friends. 

 The sunsets from the house we rented were amazing.  I took pictures every single night from the deck and on the beach. Lucky for you I'm only sharing a few! lol

The kids found countless things to do in the surf and sand.  On the last night, they wrote their names in the sand to mark the end of our trip.  Did I mention the good food?  We ate out several nights and cooked a few favorites at home including a shrimp boil and steamed mussels (compliments of our friends Jeff and Jodi) -

What a relaxing trip. I hate to even think about work on Monday.  Our kids start school on August 15th too. Our summer is coming to an end but we'll have these memories forever.  Hope to share some gifts in the mail and new projects this week.  Stay tuned! xoxo