Some Girls Wander

The Inside Garden

I was out at the antique stores with my pal the other day, and she remarked (sweetly, of course):
"You always go for the florals!"

And the lady's right. I do love flowered prints of all sorts - from demure calicos to cabbage roses.

Poking around my house one lazy afternoon, I got it in my head to take photos of some of my favorite floral prints (most of them old and worn and lovely).

I think it's neat to admire them out of their original/functional context (paper lining, furniture, box, folded fabric), although I'm sure you have some guesses!

A Book By Its...

I recently had occassion to scan and send a designer a bunch o' covers from my library of dusty books, as a way of just giving reference to...well...some of the dusty book covers I like (nerd-to-nerd).

So, why not share a few favorites right here!

This is one of my all-time favorites, and you can't even see how good it is because, in person, the frame around the fairies is shining and gilded! I can't even say what I love most about this cover. The lettering is so pretty. But then, the colors are perfect, too.

The lettering! The musket! The bear!
I have a soft spot for early 20th century Boy Adventure Books, but usually I keep it to just admiring the shelves at Powell's. This one was an exception.

While we're on the bear ticket...I mean, I have a bit of a weakness.

The lettering on the center plate and the blue embossed scrolling on this one just knock me out (and the insides of this one are really good, too.)

This has a pretty typical Victorian primer look, but I love that sunflower border!

And the above isn't from my library, but I wish it was. I've had it saved in my inspiration folder for a few good years now, because it's so elegant and perfect.   

These things make my heart flutter.
I only wish most newly-made books were so pretty!

Gingham Sailor Dress

Oh, goodness gracious - somebody please snap up this beautiful sailor dress from this really nice Etsy shop !!!

It is a total heartbreaker, and just the thing to wear on sea monster expeditions.

Monsters of the Sea!

 
Josiah is a champion at indulging my nerdiness, and these old Sea Monster magazines from Christmas are the proof. Can a more perfect periodical exist?

I think not. Just look at those headlines!

The insides are filled with good/awful black and white line art, engravings and the like, and they all  have a comforting, photocopied appearance.

I only found out about the existance of these magazines this Fall, and immediately wanted them so bad. And that sweet fella of mine made that happen!

Since there are a finite amount of sea and lake monster sightings, by now, I think I've read almost all of the accounts. But even still, very little makes me happier or sends my mind racing than dreaming about mysterious things under the dark waves.