An Idea for Displaying Your Vintage Photo Collection

Every once in a while someone will leave me a comment asking what I do with my vintage photo collection and I always respond with some idea and a promise that I'll post pictures of what I do. I've been meaning to post about it for MONTHS,  so today I'm going to finally show you one way I display my collection! 

I had been collecting for a while and just had my photos in a cute box, and a few on my fridge. I loved looking through them but wanted to display them. I tried finding cute vintage frames for a while but I wasn't finding stuff I liked and old photos are in such a variety of sizes. Then I had an epiphany standing in the craft store one day and bought a few shadowboxes! This wall isn't finished (obviously) but this will give you an idea!

(This wall is opposite of a big window, so I couldn't get a straight on photo without glare, no matter how hard I tried,)

My favorite are the boxes that you can put multiple pictures in. They are really easy to switch out as well. I actually haven't updated these in a while, I have some new awesome pictures that I need to put up! This wall is devoted to my vintage photos with dogs in them, since they are the bulk of my collection. I want to go up pretty high on this wall, I'm a gallery wall kind of girl.

 I love this doggy chalk board. A few pieces from my dog figurine collection are displayed on the ledges created by the frames.

 Even a picture that is a little ripped can be displayed this way. 

 That single photo of the two ladies is one of my favorite in my collection! 

 I like this big frame the best, I want to get a few more like it. Maybe I should have straightened things out before I took pictures. Oops! Embarrassingly I bought these frames probably two years ago! Then never got around to buying more. I'll make it a goal to finish this wall up in the next month or two. Shadowboxes can be a little expensive so wait for the half off sales or use those coupons! I'll show you the other way I display my collection sometime soon!

And of course I need to include the best part of my dog collection!

Flea Finds!

Oops! I didn't mean to let a week slip by before I showed you what I got at the flea market! I didn't pick up much, but I got a few cute things. They all happen to be things I collect! Check it out: 

A sweet little Dream Pet mouse. His nose is a little scratched up, but he was a buck, so it's ok!

  A few brooches. The dog's head is on a spring! And I can't resist a wooden animal ever! 

 And of course I bought a bunch of photos! With your encouragement, I've started collecting men in awkward bathing suit photos. Ha! And I was already picking up vacation photos. I should just admit I'll buy any picture I like, but I like pretending I'm trying to keep the collection focused.

 I love the tube and the bathing cap.

 I have another one with a similar (if not the same) background. It is like a beach photobooth or something. It would be fun to find a bunch like that and frame them together.

 Photos with dogs in them are my main collection, but I just found two this time. I love finding ones with dogs jumping up like that. It makes me think the owner might be annoyed because they were trying to get a good family shot and the dog is so excited it just can't resist jumping! Honestly, I kind of forget that dogs jump, since mine can't. 

 I couldn't resist this one of a boy playing dolls with either his sister or a neighbor. He looks like he is a pretty good sport!

 I LOVE kids on ponies! I think the one of the left might be a taxidermy pony which is creepy and awesome. The bottom says "Ghost Town Photo Gallery" And look at that little girl on the right! Do parents still hire ponies for their kids parties? Are they as cute as this little guy with "Jimmy" on his harness.

 And really, could that little backaroo be any more precious? I LOVE her short hair and little bangs.

 I wonder what is going on here? Do you see their big bows? The look like they are having a really good time!

I got this beautiful wedding portrait at a thrift store later in the week. I never see vintage photos there, and this is a stunner! It makes me sad that no one in the family wanted to keep it. But I'll take care of them. This is a big 8x10. I'm going to put it in my Valentine's display (if I get it up in time!)

Nashville Flea in January

Here is my almost monthy flea market report! I'm so happy that Nashville flea is such a good one. I haven't been bringing home as much lately (even if my finds posts might not look like it!) but I still love to look. The January Flea was a little light on vendors, and it was COLD but we walked around with Lisa and Matthew, which made it even more fun than usual! Travis is a great vintage shopping partner but he can't feign the same level of enthusiasm I have, but Lisa is right there with me! 

Look at this big poodle! I spotted it from pretty far away and made a beeline for the table. But my logic prevailed, for once. Where would I put that huge thing? And how would I get it clean? 

I thought that rose hatbox was so pretty! And then later in the day I saw it pop up on Elizabeth from Stockroom Vintage's instagram feed! I mentioned before that I met her and Jenna from Kitty Cat Stevens at the flea this month. Stockroom Vintage is SUCH a cool company. It is a vintage rental service for weddings! I NEED a critical items trunk.

That little dog reminds me of Phyllis. Travis says that I say that about everything but that thing really does. That is how she looks up at you when she is relaxing on the bed and you want to pick her up and put her away for the night.

Look at this book! Could it be more perfect for me?? Dogs in Humanized Activities. Oh man I'm regretting not getting it, even though he wanted 25 bucks which I think is high. Because I am cheap. It had the cutest illustrations and I haven't been able to find any of them online. 

I bought a bunch of pictures, as usual, which I will scan and show you later. I left that one of the little kid in the red outfit behind because of the damage, but it was sweet. That little horse riding buckaroo to the right came home with me though.

Piles and piles of junk! Yes!
Look at the outfit that kid has on! I love it!
A suitcase full of vintage toys. I got a pretty cute dream pet for a dollar.
I did not get this yarn and google eye creation.
Look at that cookie jar! This is the last photo I took because the woman whose booth it was very rudely said "GIRL what are you DOING." And when I said I was taking a picture of the cute jar for a blog post about the flea market she was mean and said she better not see it listed for sale online the next day? Do people do that? Well anyway, I don't have this cookie jar to sell to you. Though I would love to have it on my kitchen counter. Also, check out Lisa's forehead and eye making a cameo appearance.  In conclusion, I love the flea market! And I can't wait for the next one. 

Estate Sale Finds

This sale was crazy! The house was PACKED full of all kinds of things, and it was super crowded on the day I went. I wanted to take some pictures inside but it was too busy. I would have loved to go back the last day and dig some more, because who knows what cool stuff was hiding in all the boxes and on all the packed shelves! Here is what I ended up with:
A funny little pencil holder, a big Kokeshi doll, a pull string E.T. and a cat pen!
You guys know that I LOVE E.T. The pull string still works and he says "Ouch" "Home" and "Elliot."
Some smalls. Isn't that hankie sweet? The unicorn is a little box.

I love these old keychains that were for motel doors, and now I finally have one! I'll pretend it is from a teepee hotel. It is a perfect aqua color as well. 

And check out how cute this guy is! "Prosit Neujahr" is German for Happy New Year!
These are big buttons. How cute are those illustrations?
I occasionally pick up yarn when it is cheap for making pom poms.
I picked these up mostly for the labels!

And last but not least! I picked up this guy because I just can't resist a sad vintage stuff animal. But he is even cooler because he is a radio! The knob on his belly is the volume...

And you tune it with his nose! It needs a battery, and I'm hoping that is all it needs to work!
Linking up over at Blackbird Has Spoken

The Salvage Yard!

It's finally snowing here! And of course I'm at work for it. I'm hoping we'll get one more snow day this winter, and it will be my day off. For now I'll content myself sending Travis text messages reminding him to put the pugs coats on when they go out so they don't get soaking wet and cold. I bet he is rolling his eyes at me as we speak.

Here are some pictures from when Travis took me to the salvage yard over the weekend to look for stuff for our bathroom remodel. I was looking forward to seeing the rows of colored toilets all lined up but they had them covered with trash bags because of all the rain we've been having. Bummer! But it was still fun to look at all the colored porcelain. Is that too lame? I feel like you guys will understand. 

So many pretty pinks and blues and yellows and greens!

I wanted to find a bathroom cabinet and too bad this one was so rusty. I like the awnings too! We have metal awnings on our windows and I have talked about painting them. Maybe we'll do it this year. 

Pink and yellow tubs.

I liked looking at all the beautiful mantles too! If I had space, I would love one in my kitchen/dining room. I have seen cutes ones where they put cookbooks in the whole where the fire would go and just use it like a shelf.

So gorgeous.
There was a cool organ too!
We dug through a lot of buildings. I was looking for a tile toothbrush holder, but didn't find one. We'll see what we can find closer to the actual remodel. We're getting the funds together now so hopefully it won't be too long until we are able to get started!

      

Best Pug Dad

Travis goes to the Goodwill Outlet almost daily looking for stuff to sell on eBay. He always keeps a lookout for things I might like. He is especially good at finding pug hats. Ha! He has previously brought home a pair of tiny sombreros and a little cowboy hat. This time he brought home a tiny straw hat. Lets check out how sweet they look in it. I wish I had put Phyllis in her little gingham dress to match!  Haha, I love it when he brings me home stuff like this. He is such a good pug dad.
Also, I had to post this picture. Check out those Lincoln fan girls!  And note, Travis has not drooled all over himself, it is just a weird shadow.