Italic Cursive Tunafish

I was at a Goodwill store a couple of years ago, trying to score a 3-ring binder that I needed. When I opened one, this paper drifted out.

I didn't end up buying the binder, but I just had to keep the treasure that had been inside!

"Italic Cursive Tunafish"

Bondex Jean Patches

I love old product packaging ...
I'm not sure why.

Something about the simplicity of it intrigues me ...

Family Letter - Found at Goodwill

I found this partial letter in a bin at the Goodwill Outlet Store sometime back ...
What a wonderful letter - I only wish the first half of it had been there!

"-ses who pose for some clothes (fashion), jewels, necklaces, lipsticks, makeup, products, fragrances, creams, etc ... also I get some cinema's books, I like period "Great Hollywood" with Marilyn Monroe, my idol, John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Rita Hayworth, Audrey Hepburn, Tippi Bedson (?), Nathalie Wood, Lana Turner, etc ... It was golden age of the cinema, also I like aeronautic and space, history: The First and Second World War.
I'm very happy to have received a letter from you and to hear my gift was pleased you a lot.
I hope you're in good health and work well at school.
Mae (?), I'm well, thank you.
See you soon!
I kiss you
Your cousin John
P.S. I kiss your parents Kai (?) and Casey very strong. I often think of them."

Even though this letter does not have a heart, it is FULL of heart ... and therefore I am going to link it up with "Guest Heart Thursday!"

Found Old Photo

I was at a church rummage sale last Saturday, when I saw two old photos. They were printed on heavy cardboard, and someone had at one point used glue on the edges to hold them into their frames (now missing). The center parts of the photos were still in relatively good shape.

I fell in love with the photos, but they were way over my budget.

At noon the people running the rummage sale kicked everybody out of the building. Then we all lined up outside, and were handed paper bags. "$3.00 for anything you can fit in this bag".

Since I was first in line I was first in the door ... can you guess where I went first? - straight to the vintage photos that were still on the table of course! Then I filled the rest of my bag.

When I got home I looked more carefully at this particular photo - fascinated by the lady's dress ... and the gentleman's pose with his hand tucked into his coat.

I know nothing more about these pictures - there is no marking on the front or back that would help me identify these people, where they came from, or when the portrait was taken.

So now they will be re-framed and hung in my room, to become part of my extended family!

Any ideas as to what I should name them???

I am also linking this to "Vintage Weekly" - come join us to see wonderful old photos!!!

Who Are These Old People???

I found this Polaroid in one of my old photo albums ...

It was taken when I worked at the Farmers Insurance Group back in the early 1980's ... my friend Annette (little old man) and I (little old lady) dressed up for Halloween.

We got to work and wandered around for half an hour talking to all of our friends and coworkers in "old people" voices. The funny thing is ... nobody knew who we were until we both sat down at our desks and started working!!!

What fun memories those are!

Please join us over at Jane's "Vintage Weekly" to see fun vintage photos!

Bookmarks ...

Being an avid reader, I've always picked up bookmarks when I found them.
I'm not even sure where I got this one - but I love the pastel colors ... and the hearts.

I found this curious message in a book I bought at the Goodwill several years ago.
I was a little stumped until I realized what it really meant ...

"stopped here".

What a wonderful bookmark!

To see hearts from around the world, visit "Random Hearts" - and share YOUR heart on "Guest Heart Thursday!"

Sissie ... Somewhere in Europe

Back in 1988 or so my little sissie lived with us for a year while we were stationed in Germany. We took lots and lots of pictures, which I have been trying to save from a box of photos that got caught in a roof drip (ack!!!). Sigh. This is one of the photos I managed to convert from a negative - (see the process I used HERE.)

I have sincerely missed Al's "Sunday Scans" ... but guess what? Al has introduced me to a new meme! Jane's "Vintage Weekly"!!! I can't wait to see you there!!!

Somebody Went to the Portland Swap Meet!

These beautiful cars from the 2007/2008 Portland Swap Meet caught my eye ...
At the Goodwill Outlet Store.

Aren't they gorgeous?

It's Love, Love, Love!

When I saw this sheet music cover in a bin at the Goodwill Outlet Store, I grabbed it - FAST.

Don't you just LOVE the artwork???

Words and Music by: Mack David, Joan Whitney and Alex Kramer ...

Copyright 1943 by Santly-Joy Inc.

Even the lyrics are delightful!

I wonder if anybody sent in their lyrics with this coupon?

To see more hearts from around the world, visit "Random Hearts" - and share YOUR heart on "Guest Heart Thursday!"

Did He Make It Big? - UPDATE!

Back in November I posted about this book by Josh Wagner I found at the Goodwill Outlet Store ...

It had been signed by the author ... to "Draven".
I found a Facebook entry that led me to Draven's full name ...

This morning, to my surprise, I got a comment from Draven on the post!

"You found my book? I lost it at a doctor's appointment and thought it was lost for good. Josh became a friend of mine, and is a wonderfully talented comic book writer, as well as author. I admire his drive very much. Did you like the book?

I still write a lot and have been published a few times, but it will take time before I 'make it.' College is next on the horizon, along with a fantasy series I am currently writing.

Draven Ames"

How exciting is THAT???
This is what I envisioned happening when I started this blog of obscure stuff I have "found"!

Note to Draven: I read the book and thought it was very good!
Now my question ... would you like your book back?
I found your e-mail address, so I will be in touch!!!

Clytie ... Her Mythology

Someone gave me this clipping when I was in high school ...
I've kept it all these years.
I thought it was lost, but I was going through my "stuff" ... and found it again!

Poor Clytie.

Margarine Ad Heart

Sunset magazine, January 1978

To see hearts from around the world, visit Random Hearts - and share YOUR heart on "Guest Heart Thursday"!

I'd Rather Hold It, Thank You!

Of all things to find at the "abandoned" church ... this is one of the strangest!

Found Thank You ...

I've been spending a lot of time trying to sort, organize and inventory the incredible volume of ephemera I have stashed in boxes around the house ...

This beautiful tribute to veterans of the (first) Gulf War was written back in 1991 by my cousin's daughter to my (ex) husband Guy to thank him for fighting for her freedom.

Now how precious is THAT?

To see hearts from around the world, visit Random Hearts - and share YOUR heart on "Guest Heart Thursday"!

Found Heart on Old Photo

Back in 1980 I took one of those pre-packaged trips to Hawaii with my friend Nadine. What a fun week it was!
The package included a "Luau", and we had a blast.

I recently found the photos from that trip, and as I scanned them, I noticed a random heart. Do you see it?

To see hearts from around the world, visit "Random Hearts" - and share YOUR found heart on Guest Heart Thursday!

Somewhere in France?

I found a box of old negatives of pictures taken in Europe ... We were stationed in Germany from late 1986 until late 1989 ...

I have been converting the negatives to digital, and find that I sincerely wish I had labeled all of these negatives! I think this picture was taken on a trip to France, mostly because of the "sign" that reads "creche du soleil". If anyone recognizes where this was taken, please leave a comment - I would be overjoyed!

If you are wondering just HOW I am converting these negatives, check out my post HERE.
I've been having so much fun with this - and it's FREE (not to mention EASY)!

To see signs from around the world, visit Lesley's "Signs, Signs"!

A Negative Experiment ...

So ... how many of us have negatives ...
I know I have a whole file folder full!
I've always wanted to have them developed, to replace so many of my pictures that were ruined when the roof leaked ...
The process is something I've had to put on hold, due to lack of funding for this project.

Then I had an inspiration!!!

I cut down an old soda box, cut a small square hole in the front, and taped on a small piece of cardboard to each side of the hole to hold the negative in place.

The negative slipped right in!
I set the gizmo in front of a lamp, but the lighting was too strong.
So I diffused the light with a piece of white paper taped to another box behind ...
I propped my camera up on a pile of books, set it on "Macro" about an inch from the negative, focused my camera ...
"Click"!

And took a picture of the negative!
(Sorry about the cat hairs, this is a re-take of the shot - the original didn't have the hairs).

I used "Gimp" (colors/invert) to make the negative a positive ...

Then played with the colors and levels.
It's not the best, but I will keep trying!

In the meantime, this is a photo of my mom, my brother and his wife ... that I haven't seen in years - and probably would never have seen again!

The Problem with Processed Photos ...

This is a photo from 1982 or so ...
I remember picking up the pictures, and realizing the negatives didn't look like this at all!

I brought them back to the store, and they re-processed the lot.

With much better luck!

The thing is ... I kind of like the weird one!

It is with a heavy heart that I am NOT linking this post with Al's "Sunday Scans".
Alas, Al has decided to devote his time to his main blog, "Al's Photography Blog", where he will continue to delight us with his wonderful photography, and an occasional scan.
Thank you, Al, for taking the time and effort to run this meme.
I will miss linking in!!!

Pear Avenue

This is another photo (Polaroid this time!) that I found in Grampa and Grandma G's old photo album from their Western US road trip back in the late early 1980's.

The tiny sign in the middle of this barren looking area reads ...

"Pear Ave".

I don't see any pear trees ...

But then it doesn't look much like an "avenue" to me either!

If you have scanned something, be sure to link it up to Al's "Sunday Scans"!

To see signs from around the world, visit Lesley's "Signs, Signs".

Misc. Gnomes???

I was out this morning, taking pictures of my cold world.
As I walked up our country road, I noticed a bit of paper curled up next to the ditch, and of course I had to see what it was.

Turns out it was one of the oddest notes I've found to date ...
Miscellaneous garden gnomes?
On MY street???

Be sure to link up YOUR scans to Al's "Sunday Scans"!!!