Oklahoma.
shop update - mixed paper notepads & labels.
Thanks so much to everyone who has filled out the Saturday Morning Vintage survey! (If you haven't done so already, there's still time and you'll be treated with a discount code at the end!) Lots of you said you preferred scheduled shop updates so I'm jumping back into listing a group of new products twice a month.
The notebook section of the shop has two new additions - mixed paper notepads! The notepads come in two sizes. The regular notepad measures 3" x 5" - a good size to slip into your purse. The list notepad is long and skinny at 3" x 7" - made for shopping lists, to do lists, goal lists, and more. Both are embellished with a little Dennison label. Leave it blank, or personalize with your initial / name / special date.
Like the larger notebooks with the vintage initial covers, these notepads are filled with a good mix of new and old office papers - lined, blank, graph, accounting, and more. Flipping through all of the pages to find the perfect paper to jot down your notes is half the fun.
I also added a whole new label section to the shop! It is filled with a variety of vintage labels, all in small quantities so you can pick up a good mix of different labels for all of your scrapbook and craft projects.
You'll find blank red and blue border labels, airmail and other shipping labels, and some fruit and vegetable canning labels.
See something you have to have? Check out the shop here!
You'll find different blank red and blue border labels, airmail and
other shipping labels, and some fruit and vegetable canning labels.
interview - Inklinks.
I can't think of a better way to start off the new week than with an awesome collection of vintage office supplies. Today Lito from the London based shop INKLINKS is going to share some of her favorite finds and the history behind them.
Please introduce yourself and your shop.
Thanks for inviting me to play. I’m Lito, the historian and blogger behind INKLINKS, a shop that likes to be stocked with vintage writing supplies and collectibles: there is vintage ink, storage boxes, writing instruments, writing cases and all kinds of office supplies of old. Apart from carrying vintage finds, I also make notebooks out of vintage paper, and paperweights out of British pebbles. Recently I couldn’t resist adding another section in Inklinks: the Vintage Wardrobe which is slowly filling up with 1960s/70s dresses and accessories from a private clothing collection.
Have you always been a collector of old things? What inspired you to open a vintage shop?
As a historian I’ve been a collector of words and of stories, and I’ve always been fascinated by the materials people use to write down these stories. Inklinks was born out of this fascination with writing technology and also out of the stories these very writing materials carry with them. Inklinks is in a sense the child of Palimpsest, my blog about writing instruments.
You also have a selection of handmade products in your shop, including hand-stitched notebooks made from a mix of vintage paper which I love. Do you have a preference between hunting for vintage goods and making your own creations?
I enjoy both! It’s a great feeling discovering something well used with its own story to tell. And it is equally exciting making something inspired by the writing process. The notebooks for instance are made from old paper coming from ledgers, exercise books and notebooks from England and Europe and I love experimenting with the different shapes, textures and lines. The paperweights are very dear to me too. The pebbles that I use I have collected from my travels along the British coastline and the images glued on them are original photographs from my pencil collection, vintage pen and ink ads and typed ancient ink recipes.
What is your all time favourite find that ended up in your shop?
I remember being excited with a pack of Owl paperclips that are so difficult to find… I guess two of my best finds must be the Lamarthe oxblood red writing case made by the Parisian master of leather goods Alfred Lamarthe, and the Mark Cross leather wallet which prompted a bit of historical research too!
Do you collect anything yourself – vintage finds that we won’t find in your shop because you have to keep them for yourself?
I’ve got a collection of Victorian glass ink bottles imprinted with the names of their makers and a mini collection of Stephens’ Ink related items. Stephens used to be a big name in ink manufacturing in Britain until the 1950s. I’m also collecting Her Majesty’s Stationery Office (HMSO) supplies: from inkstands to ink bottles and from exercise books to paperweights and steel pens – they all carry the distinctive S.O. sign and the crown. If you come along one let me know.
social media.
Truth be told, social media freaks me out a little bit. I have a personal Facebook page, but it hasn't been updated for a good 5 years or so. Other than that, I've stayed away from social media for the most part. It's just not my thing. However, I have found myself drawn to two social media sites lately, even if I am a little late to the game! You can now find Saturday Morning Vintage on Instagram and Pinterest!
If you like to hang around Instagram or Pinterest, feel to connect with Saturday Morning Vintage! I'd love to share some of my paper finds and product sneak peeks, and see what you guys are up to! You can find me on Instagram at SaturdayAMVintage, and on Pinterest at SaturdayAM.
Postal Society.
Have you heard of the Postal Society? It just opened its doors this month and is described by its founders as a place to "meet like-minded creative postal freaks, who share your love for the old fashioned correspondence system." Sounds right up my alley! You can become a member for free, and gain access to mail swaps, challenges, forums, and more. A premium membership is also available and will get you some extra goodies. If you're a fan of mail art and perhaps looking for a pen pal or two, be sure to sign up for the Postal Society right here.
My favorite part of sending letters is picking out the perfect stamps, usually a collection of new and old postage. The US Post Office has a bunch of awesome stamps out right now or coming soon. Here are my favorites:
["Where Dreams Blossom" Stamps]
Which are your favorite? I think I'm partial to the Vintage Seed Packet stamps.
Saturday Morning Vintage survey.
- Have a few free minutes before starting your weekend? I'd be super grateful if you clicked here and took the Saturday Morning Vintage survey. It's less than 15 questions, should take about 5 minutes or so, and will help me make Saturday Morning Vintage the best it can be.
- To say thank you, you'll receive a discount code at the end of the survey. Write it down and save on your next order. Discount code is valid through the end of June. Pretty easy, right?
