Tuesday 13 July 2010

paper patterns

One of the treasures I came home with after my recent family visit was a box of old stamps. Given to me by my father, some of them date back to the forties, maybe earlier - I've not had a chance to go through them thoroughly. There are some wonderful images, illustrations and designs from all over the world. It's no secret that I love a good stamp, so this collection is a real treat. I have a few ideas about how to use them - they certainly won't be stuck in an album, I'm not in to conventional stamp collecting.

Virtually all the stamps are torn or cut off the corners of envelopes. If you turn them over, you can see the many different designs that were used for security and air mail envelopes back in the forties and fifties. They're quite different from the modern variety, which are quite bold and graphic. These patterns feel softer and less defined.


There aren't any larger pieces of paper which are usable, sadly.

* * *

On another note, I'm farm-sitting for some friends this week, over on the north coast. It's good to be out of town for a bit (though I'm back home during the day for work). I have a menagerie of animals to keep an eye on, and in some cases feed and water....cows, horses, a shetland pony, two dogs, two kittens, chickens, ducks and geese. I'm a little frightened of the geese, but feeling braver each day! I also have the bonus of free helpings from the enormous veg garden.

I'll draw the book winner on sunday, when I'm home again properly, so if you'd like to join in, there's still time.

11 comments:

MrsP said...

If only they were fabric scraps... Have fun farm sitting- lucky you! Jxx

Gigibird said...

I love the way you have grouped them.....

Good luck on the farm!

harmony and rosie said...

I agree with MrsP, they would make terrific fabrics, the muted colours are so beautiful, not to mention the interesting patterns. A quilt perhaps. I hope you'll show us what you end up doing with them all.

Geese are a bit on the scary side, I agree, but by the end of your stint you'll be an old hand I'm sure. What an opportunity.

Kate x

JP said...

enjoy the farm sitting - it sounds quite nice - plenty of fresh eggs I hope

Tilly said...

Farm sitting, wow, you are brave. I think I could manage the dogs, cats and chickens but the horse and cows would scare me stiff!

dragonfly said...

Wonderful colours. So what are you going to do with the stamps?

Hope the animals are behaving!

Pipany said...

Hello Diana. The papers are very beautiful aren't they? There is such a tactile quality to them and the faded colours seem to highlight this. You and Lauren would definitely hit it off as her passion is old papers/stamps/text. Lovely to see you back m'dear xx

Gina said...

What wonderful paper. I gave away a huge stamp collection dating back to my childhood and earlier a few years back and now regret it!

Lesley Austin said...

These remind me of the lovely, soft patterns you find in the endpapers of old books. They are very soothing and pleasing to look at, aren't they?

Thank you so much for sharing them.

Unknown said...

You amaze me every time- like a true artist you see beauty in things that pass me by ... and then you show me the way.
xx

A time to dance said...

I always love to see what you have been up to ...you have such a lovely way of presenting things and making them look special...I found my other flower patterns yesterday when I went through my knitting pattern scrap book....sorry...