{Vintage Inspiration} long lost friends…

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on May 03, 2011 in four finds Vintage Inspiration, marionettes, puppets. pelham puppets, vintage toys | 8 Comments

Life is just that much sweeter when you have good friends, right? That’s why I was thrilled when I found this little girl marionette a few weeks ago. She looks like the long lost friend of the English Pelham puppet I found in January. I actually thought the one I had found earlier was a girl, but now realize- it was meant to be a boy. I think it’s so cool to find mates to vintage toys- these are from the 60’s & made in England. For me to reunite them, being that I live in the US, is pretty amazing I think. Now Sayer & I can each have a puppet for our puppet shows!

But, when we aren’t playing with them, the puppets will now have each other to hang out with. It’s almost like no time has passed. These two just picked up right where they left off, like all good friends do…

{Vintage Inspiration} long lost friends…

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on May 03, 2011 in four finds Vintage Inspiration, marionettes, puppets. pelham puppets, vintage toys | No Comments

Life is just that much sweeter when you have good friends, right? That’s why I was thrilled when I found this little girl marionette a few weeks ago. She looks like the long lost friend of the English Pelham puppet I found in January. I actually thought the one I had found earlier was a girl, but now realize- it was meant to be a boy. I think it’s so cool to find mates to vintage toys- these are from the 60’s & made in England. For me to reunite them, being that I live in the US, is pretty amazing I think. Now Sayer & I can each have a puppet for our puppet shows!

But, when we aren’t playing with them, the puppets will now have each other to hang out with. It’s almost like no time has passed. These two just picked up right where they left off, like all good friends do…

{Vintage Inspiration} four finds ~ primary colors…

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on April 17, 2011 in four finds Vintage Inspiration, vintage books, vintage finds, vintage toys | 25 Comments

I’ve been finding all sorts for fun things for Sayer at the thrift stores lately- all in primary colors. We are big Wallace & Gromit fans at our house & Wallace uses an abacus often- to do his bills of course. Sayer has been particularly interested in what it was so I have been keeping an eye out for a cool old abacus for him. After all, I could use help with the bills around here. I found this great old Playskool one the other day & it has been getting a great deal of attention in his room. Apparently Wallace uses a pencil to move the beads- so that is how Sayer does it too.

The only downfall to bringing home really old toys (other than finding space for everything) is the need to create the missing parts to the toys which I suppose is more of a challenge than a downfall. I’ve been spending time making coins for this Playskool pay phone that I just brought home him. I still don’t have the weight of the coins quite right, but I think I’m getting close.

I had my eye on this rubber doll for a long time. Every time I visited my favorite thrift shop, I would check to see if it was still there. I finally broke down and bought it recently & Sayer keeps it in his “office”. She also serves as a helper in front of his fire house & takes many fire engine rides.

This little Bonnie Book is really sweet. The worn down circle on the side moves the images in the illustrated TV. It’ s all about a day on the train. Sayer thought this book was pretty cool too.

So these are definitely four fun finds that are new additions to Sayer’s space. I love that he knows what an abacus & a pay phone is. Although his pay phone is used for an emergency room next to his fire house most often. Hope you are having a great weekend!

{Vintage Inspiration} four finds ~ primary colors…

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on April 17, 2011 in four finds Vintage Inspiration, vintage books, vintage finds, vintage toys | No Comments

I’ve been finding all sorts for fun things for Sayer at the thrift stores lately- all in primary colors. We are big Wallace & Gromit fans at our house & Wallace uses an abacus often- to do his bills of course. Sayer has been particularly interested in what it was so I have been keeping an eye out for a cool old abacus for him. After all, I could use help with the bills around here. I found this great old Playskool one the other day & it has been getting a great deal of attention in his room. Apparently Wallace uses a pencil to move the beads- so that is how Sayer does it too.

The only downfall to bringing home really old toys (other than finding space for everything) is the need to create the missing parts to the toys which I suppose is more of a challenge than a downfall. I’ve been spending time making coins for this Playskool pay phone that I just brought home him. I still don’t have the weight of the coins quite right, but I think I’m getting close.

I had my eye on this rubber doll for a long time. Every time I visited my favorite thrift shop, I would check to see if it was still there. I finally broke down and bought it recently & Sayer keeps it in his “office”. She also serves as a helper in front of his fire house & takes many fire engine rides.

This little Bonnie Book is really sweet. The worn down circle on the side moves the images in the illustrated TV. It’ s all about a day on the train. Sayer thought this book was pretty cool too.

So these are definitely four fun finds that are new additions to Sayer’s space. I love that he knows what an abacus & a pay phone is. Although his pay phone is used for an emergency room next to his fire house most often. Hope you are having a great weekend!

{Vintage Inspiration} four finds…

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on April 03, 2011 in four finds, vintage books, vintage illustrations, vintage inspiration, vintage toys | 21 Comments

I’ve been playing this game of karma lately when it comes to finding cool vintage goodies. It seems as if by dropping off a few boxes of my own junk at the local thrifts, I increase my luck with what I find at my favorite antique shop. I was over the moon with this latest batch of vintage goodness. Funny, but I think I shop & find things by palette. These four finds were purchased in the same few days (3 in the same trip).

My fondness for the monkey toy goes way back. When I saw him on the shelf, I think I jumped a little bit. I remember buying one just like that at a garage sale when I was kid. I thought he may freak Sayer out, but it’s like the monkey from “Toy Story” so he thought it was funny. The cover of the book immediately drew me in- I’m a sucker for owls, kitties, & illustrations of that vintage. I love the palette & imagery. Of course when I see any kind of vintage train or fire truck, I snatch it up of Sayer and this little vintage Fisher Price toy thrilled him. The tin, red doll case was a total score & now houses Sayer’s toys in my studio. All of these finds have actually found homes in my studio where I’m sure they will serve as inspiration in one form or another. Do you have a group of colors that you find you are drawn to often & are inspired by?

Hope are enjoying your weekend!

{Vintage Inspiration} four finds…

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on April 03, 2011 in four finds, vintage books, vintage illustrations, vintage inspiration, vintage toys | No Comments

I’ve been playing this game of karma lately when it comes to finding cool vintage goodies. It seems as if by dropping off a few boxes of my own junk at the local thrifts, I increase my luck with what I find at my favorite antique shop. I was over the moon with this latest batch of vintage goodness. Funny, but I think I shop & find things by palette. These four finds were purchased in the same few days (3 in the same trip).

My fondness for the monkey toy goes way back. When I saw him on the shelf, I think I jumped a little bit. I remember buying one just like that at a garage sale when I was kid. I thought he may freak Sayer out, but it’s like the monkey from “Toy Story” so he thought it was funny. The cover of the book immediately drew me in- I’m a sucker for owls, kitties, & illustrations of that vintage. I love the palette & imagery. Of course when I see any kind of vintage train or fire truck, I snatch it up of Sayer and this little vintage Fisher Price toy thrilled him. The tin, red doll case was a total score & now houses Sayer’s toys in my studio. All of these finds have actually found homes in my studio where I’m sure they will serve as inspiration in one form or another. Do you have a group of colors that you find you are drawn to often & are inspired by?

Hope are enjoying your weekend!

{Everyday Inspiration} childhood nostalgia

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on February 01, 2011 in klt:model, Nostalgia, photoshoot, vintage, vintage toys | 11 Comments

My love of collecting vintage treasures has increased tremendously since becoming a mom. I seem to constantly be on the hunt for things that I enjoyed as a kid & now want to share. I suppose watching my son grow, makes me feel quite nostalgic about my own childhood. I try to see the world through his eyes & love to see his reaction to cool things that once caught my attention too.

I admit, that I do look for vintage toys for a variety of reasons, but there is a definitely “boy” slant now when I’m browsing the local thrifts & antique shops. I found this great spinning top not too long ago and was drawn to it for the color, shape, & illustrations. I thought Sayer would like it & sure enough, I was right. The minute he saw it on my shelf in my studio, he was intrigued.

But the item that I purchase recently that really took me back to my childhood was the pair of rainbow suspenders that I found at 3ringcircus. When I saw them, I didn’t have to think twice – I got them for Sayer right away. I used to have Mork suspenders that I wore all of the time. They were a little thinner, had some stretch, & I loved them! He discovered them again the other day and decided that they looked like fireman suspenders or “benders” as he likes to call them. He wanted to wear them yesterday & I saw an photo shoot opportunity right in front of me. I really think that one of my favorite things to do is take photos of Sayer (as you may have guessed).

It’s nice to be able to combine all of the things that I love into a “work related” photo shoot. My little retro lovin’ klt:model & I had a fun afternoon yesterday – not to mention we got a lot done! Is there something from your childhood that you’ve shared with your kiddo or keep around you as an adult?

{Everyday Inspiration} childhood nostalgia

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on February 01, 2011 in klt:model, Nostalgia, photoshoot, vintage, vintage toys | No Comments

My love of collecting vintage treasures has increased tremendously since becoming a mom. I seem to constantly be on the hunt for things that I enjoyed as a kid & now want to share. I suppose watching my son grow, makes me feel quite nostalgic about my own childhood. I try to see the world through his eyes & love to see his reaction to cool things that once caught my attention too.

I admit, that I do look for vintage toys for a variety of reasons, but there is a definitely “boy” slant now when I’m browsing the local thrifts & antique shops. I found this great spinning top not too long ago and was drawn to it for the color, shape, & illustrations. I thought Sayer would like it & sure enough, I was right. The minute he saw it on my shelf in my studio, he was intrigued.

But the item that I purchase recently that really took me back to my childhood was the pair of rainbow suspenders that I found at 3ringcircus. When I saw them, I didn’t have to think twice – I got them for Sayer right away. I used to have Mork suspenders that I wore all of the time. They were a little thinner, had some stretch, & I loved them! He discovered them again the other day and decided that they looked like fireman suspenders or “benders” as he likes to call them. He wanted to wear them yesterday & I saw an photo shoot opportunity right in front of me. I really think that one of my favorite things to do is take photos of Sayer (as you may have guessed).

It’s nice to be able to combine all of the things that I love into a “work related” photo shoot. My little retro lovin’ klt:model & I had a fun afternoon yesterday – not to mention we got a lot done! Is there something from your childhood that you’ve shared with your kiddo or keep around you as an adult?

{Everyday Inspiration} childhood nostalgia

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on February 01, 2011 in klt:model, Nostalgia, photoshoot, Uncategorized, vintage, vintage toys | No Comments

My love of collecting vintage treasures has increased tremendously since becoming a mom. I seem to constantly be on the hunt for things that I enjoyed as a kid & now want to share. I suppose watching my son grow, makes me feel quite nostalgic about my own childhood. I try to see the world through his eyes & love to see his reaction to cool things that once caught my attention too.

I admit, that I do look for vintage toys for a variety of reasons, but there is a definitely “boy” slant now when I’m browsing the local thrifts & antique shops. I found this great spinning top not too long ago and was drawn to it for the color, shape, & illustrations. I thought Sayer would like it & sure enough, I was right. The minute he saw it on my shelf in my studio, he was intrigued.

But the item that I purchase recently that really took me back to my childhood was the pair of rainbow suspenders that I found at 3ringcircus. When I saw them, I didn’t have to think twice – I got them for Sayer right away. I used to have Mork suspenders that I wore all of the time. They were a little thinner, had some stretch, & I loved them! He discovered them again the other day and decided that they looked like fireman suspenders or “benders” as he likes to call them. He wanted to wear them yesterday & I saw an photo shoot opportunity right in front of me. I really think that one of my favorite things to do is take photos of Sayer (as you may have guessed).

It’s nice to be able to combine all of the things that I love into a “work related” photo shoot. My little retro lovin’ klt:model & I had a fun afternoon yesterday – not to mention we got a lot done! Is there something from your childhood that you’ve shared with your kiddo or keep around you as an adult?

{Vintage Inspiration} Winky-Blinky…

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on October 12, 2010 in Fisher Price, vintage inspiration, vintage toys | 13 Comments

Oh, I have been just itchin’ to show you this vintage Fisher Price find. I found Winky-Blinky Fire Truck 200 about a week ago in an Etsy Shop called lovinglola and I really couldn’t get it out of my mind. This fire truck was manufactured in the US in 1954 and it’s so unbelievable cool. I knew Sayer would go nuts for it as well because he loves firetrucks. So, I went ahead and purchased it. It wasn’t my $6 bargain that I usually find, but it’s charm & history made it worth it. We just received it and Sayer has been playing with it ever since I opened up the box (which included a sweet, handwritten note).

Sayer is really into details and loves all of the illustrations on the side of the truck & I love the old Fisher Price logo & face. Now, you may have noticed that Winky (who Sayer has named, Bobby) is being parked on a circle. It’s the firetruck’s turntable that all of Sayer’s firetrucks use. He made that one at his grandma’s house and it has traveled here. The minute “Bobby” was ready to play, the turntable came out.

So, it is official – my Fisher Price toy collecting has reached a new level. When “Bobby” is not in use, he will sit next to my cool old 50’s FP register, on top of my parent’s old hi fi console that sits in our living room. But I have to ask (as my dear friend Catherine asked me), is it really a “toy collection” if the toys are being played with?

{Vintage Inspiration} long lost friends…

{Vintage Inspiration} long lost friends…

{Vintage Inspiration} four finds ~ primary colors…

{Vintage Inspiration} four finds ~ primary colors…

{Vintage Inspiration} four finds…

{Vintage Inspiration} four finds…

{Everyday Inspiration} childhood nostalgia

{Everyday Inspiration} childhood nostalgia

{Everyday Inspiration} childhood nostalgia

{Vintage Inspiration} Winky-Blinky…

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