Lars Henkel

Via Visual News

Day-Glo Pairing

Day-Glo video and article pairing!

Cabinet Article

Scratch Off Map

What a rad idea.

Scratch of Map

Letterology

Agence Eureka

Daniel Agdag

Sets for a Film I'll Never Make

rororo

Found at 50 Watts

Calligraphy Class

Here's my calligraphy class "final". We were assigned to write whatever we wanted using what we've been taught. I chose one of my favorite quotes by an unknown author.

Sorting Through the Old Stuff

About a year ago a friend of mine handed me a bundle of ephemera he'd come across randomly. I of course love old paper crap so, it was an amazing gift. I put it aside on my shelf and hadn't really filed through it til the other day when I was packing in preparation for my move. I found some great images of historical Minneapolis.One thing I noticed immediately was the angle the skyline of Minneapolis was drawn from. I have not seen very many photos or illustrations of the skyline drawn from this angle.

These images are from the 1967 Fairview Hospitals Annual Report

This letter from what is now the Star Tribune was also in the bundle.

The National Commercial Detective Association

Last weekend I took a trip to Wabasha, Minnesota. I visited a local antique store and picked up this lovely find for about $8. If these get you curious for a good story there's this site to fill all your old timey gossip needs. Miss Cora Strayer's Private Detective Agency 
Below is a dictation of the Notice on the inside of the cover.

The text on the Notice is pretty hilarious. As to not strain your eyes on the image, I've dictated here for you. It is as follows:

NOTICE

Kindly observe the following rules in the use of these forms:
1. Always use an unprinted envelope in mailing these letters. After sending out the first form furnished, wait a reasonable time for results, and if not forthcoming? Mail letter No. 2 in the same manner. If this letter also fails to produce returns in a reasonable time, send out the last form in the same manner as the others.
2. BE SURE-To mail them from some other post office than the Town in which you reside. If you live in a small place, the best results are usually secured by mailing them from the largest city or town near to the place in which you live. When it is convenient to do so, a good plan is to give the letters to the mail messenger on a train. But at a station distant from your own place of business or residence, for in that way the envelope will not get a post office postmark and the person to whom the letter is addressed will not be able to tell where it was sent from. If you have a typewriter, it is better to fill out the forms in that manner.
If written otherwise, do not use a pencil, but pen and ink and if there is a possibility of your debtor being acquainted with your handwriting, get some friend whom you can trust to do the writing. In this manner, the person addressed is kept mystified as to the origin and it will bother him, for the word "DETECTIVE" is not greatly relished by him, gives him shudders and he will worry over the matter to the extent that he will pay whole or part to ease his mind. If he comes to you with excuses and requests more time to pay, tell him that you have given him all the consideration possible, when he would not listen and that nothing but payment will stop further action and put him right with the Association.
There are times when "patience ceases to be a virtue," and you can not afford to be sympathetic after you once have your debtor scared, which is the time to follow out this System until you have secured what is honestly due you.
PRICE $5.00

#2

Wow, here I am blogging about pencils, never saw this one coming. They are so adorable though; they look like Steve Zissou pencils! I got a batch and I think they are fun and nobody's going to take that away from me by making me feel dorky about it. 

Map Meets Dress

I love these map dresses. They are wonderful and I wish they were real fabric so they could be worn.

Via: A Lovely Being

What Men Really Want: Enchanting Cigarettes

Two books I received from my dad at Christmas along with 2 fountain pens.

Viktor

Freelance photographer Viktor Gårdsäter has a wonderfully diverse portfolio. The portraits are especially intriguing.

Via Booooooom!

Buro Collection

Sure they're not old timey looking like everything else I post but, they are pretty snazzy.What's there not to love about a matching series of office supplies.

Via Fast Company

What Is The Purpose?

1970's Classroom Discussion Posters. I picked out a few I thought were the weirdest. Both the messages and illustrations are pretty eerie.


Via Laughing Squid, Westword

I uploaded all of them to Flickr for easier viewing.

Tape, Paper, Scissors

Beware: You are about to be exposed to some high levels of dorkage in regards to office supplies. 

Recently I was in a conversation where a couple friends and I were discussing our favorite childhood toys. I didn't even have to think about it, my favorite toys were: tape, scissors and cardboard. Apparently I used to tape the small cracks in the walls of the stucco house grew up in and when my mother asked why I told her I was trying to fix them. I also once made a slot machine completely out of cardboard with the help of scissors and tape. I really wish I could inspect that project today.
Still today these are my favorite things to play with. Examples here and here.
So I've complied what would essentially be my "dream toys" to own.

Gold Plated Dressmaker's Shears
These just look classy I've actually never used them before. 

 

Forged Shears

We have something similar to these at my work. They are basic, clean and glorious. They are the type of scissors that you know you're not supposed to run with. The only unsatisfactory thing I've noticed is that they can get squeaky.

Fiskars 

Memories of my mother and learning to sew. 

Scotch Tape (CLEAR)

This picture is rad and so is this tape. I'll take any kind that is clear and glossy. Most scotch tape is matte or frosty; it's labeled as "magic" or "invisible", neither of which are accurate descriptors. The clear, gloss finished Scotch or packaging tape is actually closer to being invisible and magic. This is the tape I use the most often.

Masking Tape

I haven't used this until recently. I like the 2 inch because it doesn't seem like masking tape anymore. Also any kind of colored masking tape that's not tan is highly appreciated.

 Strapping Tape

This is a new discovery for me as using it as a visual element. It's got these kind of silver strands in it. I wish they made strapping tape with gold strands. :)

Paper

Anything old works. Letterhead and manila folders are also nice.