Little Bitty Vintage Bird Books and a Surprise Treasure: Vintage Bird Stamps

I think it's pretty clear by now that I love birds.

I have liked them for decorating purposes since high school, but it is a more recent thing that I actually like to study them, know their habits, observe them in nature and identify them.

Yeah, I'm a bird nerd.

Don't hate.

I am also a lover of vintage books.

And when my bird nerding and vintage book loving cross paths, well, it is pretty much one of the best things ever.

Like half in half in coffee instead of non dairy creamer.  Man I miss half and half.

Anyway.

Thanks to my mother-in-law, I now have a complete collection of these sweet little bird books.

Check them out.

I found the yellow and blue one on our Palm Springs get away last year.

For my birthday this year, my mother -in-law tracked down the red and green ones.

She used this website.  I'm going to be on that a lot.

I found the yellow one first and was instantly smitten by the end paper and this darling inscription.
(which is why I always inscribe books given as gifts.  it makes books even more friend-like)

That end paper is truly to die for, right?

The books are actually little field guides with a picture and description of each bird.
I collect vintage field guides too.
I collect a lot of things.

I think the illustrations are lovely and I like the writing too.
When an author can use the phrase , "in good repute" when describing a bird, I'm surely going to be reading that to my kids as we learn about tree swallows.

My mother-in-law noticed I had the yellow and blue book siting next to the couch and decided it would be just the thing to complete my collection.
Thoughtful?
Yes!  I was so excited when I opened them.

I was even more excited when I opened the red book and found these.

A whole bunch of vintage bird stamps!
It was 2 gifts in one!
There are about 35 of them.
All from the 1950s, beautifully illustrated and in almost perfect condition.
They are from the National Wildlife Federation.
Here are a few of my favorite ones.

(i know--it would be better if I had laid them out straight before photographing them.  it bugs me each time i look at these pictures.  i couldn't re-shoot.  just go with it)
I really love all the stamps, but these 2 are my absolute favorites.

They are the biggest ones and the illustrations are gorgeous.
The illustrator, Jack Murray, did covers for the Saturday Evening Post as well as many other wildlife illustrations for various magazines.
He also designed a stamp for the duck stamp series by the US Postal Service.
(ps--i collected stamps in elementary school.  and worked at the library.  see how things come full circle.)
These stamps he designed for the King Arthur Flour Company.

It looks like it was a give away of sorts--a stamp in each bag of flour.
How stinking cool is this?!?!
Yeah, I am obviously a complete nerd: birds, and stamps.
That's OK, I can take the nerd status and go with it.
I'd love to find this whole series of stamps, but I'm not quite up to the lengthy Internet research session it would probably take.
So until then, I'll just enjoy the 2 that I have.


Which brings me to the question I have for you: what should I do with these stamps?
I want to display them somehow.
I am thinking labeling them with a cool typewriter font and putting them up on paper somehow as a piece of art.
Shower me with your creative ideas.
Can't wait to hear them.


Wishing you a happy weekend!
Love from,
Greta


PS. For those of you interested in wildlife art from the 50s, (or is it just me?) you'll find lots of illustrators did work for companies and the government of birds and animals.  
Charlie Harper, an incredibly popular artist right now, did a serious of his famous bird illustrations for the Ford Motor Company.
What I wouldn't give for some companies to bring back this idea.  All they'd have to do is hit up etsy for some fabulous artists and create some art for their product like these stamps or those prints by Charlie Harper.
I'd buy a bag of flour for that, wouldn't you?

Greta's Birthday Gift Guide: Places

As much as I love a great gift, sometimes I just want to celebrate with an experience.  

So I am ending my gift guides with a post on giving the gift of place.

And for this tired, new mama, a night away some place sounded pretty good.

Specifically a night at this place.

It's in Palm Springs.  They have a great pool, good food and a photo booth.

What more could I ask for?

Oh yeah, a room like this.

The thing about going to Palm Springs in the off season is that a great room is not totally out of reach.  

There are deals to be had if you spend a little time looking. 

For example, browse the Ace's website and see what they have for this month or next.

We went to Palm Springs at the end of August last year and had a great time.  (see post here)

I'm hoping we can go again.

But since Aaron did surprise me with a day-long date to one of my favorite places on my birthday, I won't be greedy.

We can always go to Palm Springs in September for no reason at all.  
Just kidding.

Birthday or no, it is always fun to have favorite places you love to visit, right?

The ones you go to again and again and never tire of.

California's central coast is also at the top of my list.
Well, practically any coast is.

How about you?  What are your favorite places to visit?

I'm always looking for travel tips.

Love from,

Greta

Greta's Birthday Gift Guide Part 3: Jewelry

Well, my birthday week is over, but I didn't get to finish my gift guides.

The word to best describe my life right now is: interrupted.

The days and nights got full--no time to blog.

As predicted, someone was sick on my birthday--2 someones.

But they were nice enough to save it for the tail end of my birthday, which allowed me to enjoy a surprise all day date with my husband.  

So even though the week is done, I still wanted to share this post with you because this is some of my favorite jewelry ever.

My husband is impressively good at buying me gifts I love.

I, on the other hand, am terrible at buying gifts for him.

He is very hard to shop for.

Maybe he should start a blog with the things he loves so I'll have lots of ideas to chose from.

It would help.

Anyway, a few years ago he bought me a bracelet by the jewelry designer, Ronni Kappos.

She makes her jewelry from vintage, glass beads.

It is modern, colorful, and really different from any other jewelry I have seen.

This Christmas, he bought me a necklace.

But having 2 of her pieces doesn't stop me from loving, OK and wanting, lots more of her pieces.

That's the sign of good design, right?

Here are a few favorites.

Isn't this necklace amazing?

The way she uses so many colors in one piece is perfect.

And the graphic simplicity of this design works so well.

I love it.

Of all her bracelet designs, this one is my favorite.

I love the flat beads and the rainbow effect of the colors.

It is unique, simple and really beautiful.

I don't have any of her earrings yet, but I think these ones are pretty perfect.

Red dots.  Love.

If you love this jewelry as much as I do, you'll want to take a look at these sites.

Ronni Kappo's site is here.

To look at or purchase her jewelry, you can go here, here or here.  (the last one is a great site for other stuff too--one of my favorite stores--online or their brick and mortar store in Los Angeles)

I'd love to know, who is you're favorite jewelry designer?  Do share the love.

And, although it's not a blog of his favorite things, my husband has a blog that's much better.

He's finally allowed me to share it with you, so please go visit Aaron's blog.

It's got all sorts of his art on it--leave a comment and tell him what you like.

Thanks!

Love from,

Greta

Greta's Birthday Gift Guide Part 2: Packaging and Crafting

Things never go quite according to plan, do they?

The past 2 nights I have been so worn out from all the fun I've been having with the kids, that I have fallen asleep with them at 8.

Being up with 3 of the 4 kids at various points in the night hasn't helped my energy level either.

Thus my plans to blog, even easy blogging, haven't panned out.

Oh well.

Life goes on.

I had a fantastic birthday today.

I think the last fantastic birthday I remember was when I turned 25.

35 was right up there with 25.  Better even.

I can't wait to show you some of my treats.

But first, the rest of my Birthday Gift Guide.

Today's Post: Packaging and Crafting.

First up: stamps.

Remember in the early 90s, when stamping was big?

There were whole stores dedicated to stamping.

But the stamps were cheesy at best and ugly at worst.

We've come a long way.

These stamp sets from one of my favorite shops, Yellow Owl Workshop, prove it.

Besides what I'd like to create with this stamp set myself, I'd love to give these to my kids and see the art they'd create with them.

Pretty great, right?

 I just can't say no to a vespa.

I love attaching tags like this to gifts.

And how great to add a little more graphic element to the tag?

This stamp is simple and perfect.

Go here to see all their stamp sets. 

The Paris one is pretty great.  You're sure to see more that you'll like.

Before you know it you'll be donning a denim jumper and getting your stamp on!

Nest up: Baker's Twine.

I am so in love with baker's twine.

For tying up packages, stringing up garlands, tying on the tags I make with that tag stamp...the possibilities are endless.

A whole assortment of colors like this kit from Baker's Bling would be my dream come true.

I never said I was hard to please.

Just give me some turquoise baker's twine and I'll be a happy girl.

Go here for the twine.

Last but not least: tape.

Do you think much about tape?

If not, it's time to start.

There are so many cute tapes out there and you can find lots of them at this shop, Cute Tape.

Have you ever seen anything as cute at this gingham tape?  It beats scotch all to pieces.

And I especially love the Japanese tape.

Would you look at those pink stripes?

Yowza!

 

So, do you have any favorite supplies for packaging and crafting?

If so, do share.

And be sure to check in  soon (tomorrow, today, I can't say for sure, just check back) to see one of my most favorite jewelry designers.

Until then.

Love from,

Greta, who is now 1 year older

Greta's Birthday Gift Guide (and stuff you'll probably like too) Part 1: ART

My birthday is this week.

I don't really like my birthday much.

I haven't in a long time.

Not that I care about getting older because, really, I don't. (at least not yet)

I feel young and I know that if this were the Middle Ages, I'd be lucky to have made it this far.

So, even though it is weird to be looking at 35, and it does sound mature, I'm OK with it.

I'll be fine at 35.

What am I talking about?  I'll be awesome at 35!

It's not the number, it's just the birthday.

Every year I think I'll throw a party or do something fun and different for my bday.

But I am often beat (4 out of the last 7 birthdays I have had a newborn) or everyone is sick, or something like that.  

So this year I decided to do something that required minimal effort.

I am sharing a bunch of my favorite things with you--my birthday gift guide.

You'll be sure to find things you like, for yourself or others.

I will share something different each day for the week.

Today's offerings: ART.

Enjoy!

If birthday wishes came true, I'd wish for the ability to paint and draw.

Until then, I'll just admire the work of people who can.

Like this poster.

You can see the poster here.

And the whole collection here.

They have amazing stuff.

Next up, this poster from Land of Nod.

Oh how I love this poster.

I have for ages.

Perfect for a little boy's room.

Or a master bedroom because I think the sentiment is very sweet and romantic.

Don't you?

You can find the poster here and the rest of the collection here.

I would actually like any from this collection because I love this artist's work.

Then there's this map.

I looove maps.

This is one of the best I've seen.

You can find this map here, and the rest of their collection here..

If you can't actually get on a plane and go, you can at least look at the world and dream of going, right?

Last up are these birds.

Aren't they beautiful?

They are made of porcelain and hang right on the wall.

I can picture them flying across a wall in my house.

You can find them here and view the artist's pottery and other work here.

That's all I have for day one.

Come on back tomorrow for another installment of Greta's Birthday Gift Guide.

Love from,

Greta

Best Baby Blanket

I think I may be a bit late catching onto this trend.

I don't keep up with a lot of trends.

Unless they're in Sunset magazine, Bon Appetite or on the blogs I read.

But maybe you don't know about this trend either. 

So I'll tell you.

I found the perfect baby blanket.

Actually, I had nothing to do with finding it.
It was a gift from my friend Lindsey. (creator of the amazing nursery)
I love it madly.
I have 2 friends about to have babies and you can guess what I'm giving them.


These blankets are big.  
So they are perfect for swaddling.
But they are also light weight: soft, breathable muslin.
That means when you swaddle baby, you won't overheat him.
Which is especially nice in summer.


I have Davy wrapped up in that blanket all the time.
Isn't it cute?
Isn't he cute?

This particular blanket is from here.
But I was just in a baby shop yesterday and she had oodles of them.
Which led me to believe I was behind the times in this baby blanket trend.
No matter.
If you need a perfect little baby gift, now you know what to get.
I give it my seal of approval.
The best baby blanket.


Love from,
Greta


PS.  They are often called muslin swaddling blankets and I found more here and here.
But I bet if you went to any baby store you'd find some.  Or, if you're the sewing type, you can whip some up yourself.