Nothing beats the excitement mixed with nostalgia that rushes from a box full of musty old treasures. When I looked through my Grandma's old keepsakes from her high school days, I was surprisingly more interested in the vintage design of the pamphlets and brochures she kept than some of the snapshots in scrapbooks. I experiences a similar sense of awe when looking through this Flickr set of vintage ephemera from Ohio.

One of the fun things about these little cards is the die-cut shape. How often do you see funky shaped brochures and postcards these days? Not often. I particularly like the skates with wings logo incorporated into the shape of the top left card. It's pretty clean and graphic, but also has traditional preppy elements in its simplicity and color choice.

Check out the movement created by type, too! Words whoosh behind skaters or are diagonally printed across banners, giving each image extra energy. Whimsy is added to energy with these simple engraving-style illustrations boldly inked with block of color.

I'm feelin' a lot of artistic inspiration and overwhelming nostalgia in these designs.
What about you?

images: What Makes the Pie Shops Tick?

Seven years ago today, you might have found me at the thrift store. In the boys’ department. Looking for grungy band tees and vintage Levis. Don’t believe me? Okay, I don’t blame you. But I have something even more shocking to share: I still have some of those shirts, and I’ve been aching to mix them into my wardrobe today.

Through the years, my wardrobe has somehow become more refined. If you peek inside my closet, you’ll find a rack full of ladylike skirts, instead of shelves full of worn jeans. Polka dots, ruffles, and pleats have crept in and edged out the… well, the edgier things. But lately I’ve been thinking more about blending my inner groupie with my outward Minnie Mouse, and these photos are just the inspiration I need.

Images: 1 2 3 4 5 6

After just a glance at her quirky wardrobe, fun illustrations, and chevron blanket, I was quite certain Andrea and I would be kindred spirits! I'm pleased to share with you a brief glimpse into her corner of the world, where she creates and sells wonderful little illustrations and shares with us her pretty fashion ensembles.

Whimsical animal illustrations are Andrea's signature creations. You can buy her original illustrations or her prints and stationery. Check out The Paper Sparrow jewelry and accessories line, including necklace pendants, brooches, earrings, and buttons. Andrea also sells fabric renditions or her illustrations that have been crafted into fabric pouches and plush animals. There truly are a lot of fun things to find in the Paper Sparrow shop.

In addition to the things you can find in Andrea's shop, she keeps creative in the wardrobe department. Capturing outfit ideas in a sketch book is an idea I totally adore! Dressing creatively is fun, but sometimes it's exhausting.  (Can I get a what, what?) You just want to wake up in the morning and get dressed without thinking about it. Aren't these pages so much fun?

If you like Andrea as much as I do, be sure to follow her blog, check out her flickr, and shop the lovely goods at the Paper Sparrow Shop!

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