Antique Oriental Designs for Free Friday!

Antique geisha coffee card

antique sewing, thread collectors card

I have always been infatuated with the orient, since the rare visits to my great-grandfather's house as a child. It was filled with extraordinary things that he brought back with him from Japan when he was stationed there after the war. He had the most amazing Geisha dolls encased in huge glass boxes..tall black lacquer screens with mother of pearl inlay scenes played out in intricate detail. And always, he sent me home with some little thing I coveted, mostly some of the favorite porcelain chop stick rests I'd run my fingers over, from his burgeoning collection. He kept them all in a large, square low-walled wooden box on a stand; just kind of jumbled up like a heaping miniature treasure hunt...and I was always amused as I dug through them...nimble little fingers rummaging through them to find the oddest shapes and funniest things like chickens and curved up fish and strange vegetables. My fave was the deep purple eggplant one...I was so proud of my treasures when I got home to Florida to show them to my friends. I've been enamored with Oriental/ Asian themed things ever since. I feel strangely like it is a part of me somehow. I am so irresistibly  drawn to the culture and the beauty of Japan.

This assemblage necklace I made is in my Etsy shop. I created it with a gorgeous medallion made from the impression of a very large (very coveted) antique metal Geisha button from myown collection. The original antique button was later made into a special cuff bracelet for a up and coming project. This particular necklace I've named "Her Ghost".

oriental vintage assemblage Geisha necklace

My pottery artist friend Michelle Stambaugh used the button stamp she made to create a gorgeous pottery stamp, and in turn she made the most beautiful cobalt blue washed medallion...I just could not resist its ethereal beauty.

"Her Ghost" ,a geisha necklace, vintage brass fan, vintage glass bead chain

and this Lovely Geisha cuff bracelet that I made for a very special project...

antique geisha button cuff

Thank you for being here! Hope you can us the vintage Oriental/Asian ephemera for a nifty project.

Free Ephemera Giveaway, and an antique Blue Bird Etching from 1876

Fresh from my burgeoning  paper hoard, an antique etching of blue birds from a catalog from 1876. Yes, the date is absolutely correct...can you believe it? It is so old it is bound at the top with string.This would be so amazing in a frame, or reproduced for a collage. Just click on the image, choose save on your computer. It was scanned at a very high resolution, so it can be made quite large. I hope you love it as much as I do. I have a "thing" for birds...

So, In the spirit of the Simplicity Project, I'd like to talk just a bit about my paper hoard. Going through it yesterday, I realized I have more old paper and ephemera than a person really needs.
I think I have devised a creative way to slim down my collection.

I have an unreasonably huge assortment of old photos, book covers, journals, sheet music, game cards, advertisements, old stamps and other paper items that I've been adding to over the years that I'd love to share. I  need to share. If you'd like a very large envelope stuffed with wonderful ephemera, send $11.00 to me via the Paypal button below. That will cover cost of shipping and the large brown envelope. I will be sure to stuff your envelope with great things for collage, and encaustic work, and know that my wonderful collection will go to good use! Let me know in the message at checkout if you'd like more vintage magazines, handwriting, old photos, vintage envelopes, more stamps, more sheet music, advertisements, words for cutting and pasting, etc. and I will create a custom envelope for you, to your liking. Thank you for helping me with this. I just couldn't put all of this wonderful old ephemera in the recycle bin! Please let people know about this offer. I have so much to share!(click button below to go to checkout)

                                                                

Antique Floral Images, Free Friday

antique floral/ flower images

I've come across my stash of antique floral postcards, antique thread advertisements, and vintage Arm and Hammer Collectible Cards. Thought you might like some pretty downloads today. I admit I have an old papers addiction. Any scrap of paper...stained, ripped, creased, discarded, shabby; I have to keep it. My very first love before assemblage jewelry making was assemblage art making. And I love to use old shabby papers and photographs in my work (which I haven't done in forever).
I thought these would just be amazing for all kinds of transfer projects, assemblage projects and such.
I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Blessings,
Jennifer

Free Victorian Photo booth Style Photographs for You

I recently came across these amazing photo booth style Victorian photographs that I wanted to share with you today. They are scanned at very high resolution, so you can make larger copies of the individual photographs to use in artwork and such. Some talented people use these for quilts by printing them out on fabric sheets made for the printer. I just thought these were to nifty to keep all to myself. Click on the images to make them larger. To download them, just right click on the image and choose "save".

original Victorian photo booth typed photos

Victorian photo booth typed photos (that I Touched up a bit)

All I know about these is that they are a bit rare. Smiling Victorian Women or any smiling Victorian  people in general in photographs were quite a rarity, because they had to hold very very still in order to make a clear photo. It is hard to hold a steady smile, I imagine.
The vintage and antique Cabinet photographs are my favorites. I wouldn't call myself an avid collector, but my husband and I both find it very difficult to pass up great old photos. Especially in pretty frames. Our living room walls are decorated with groupings of old framed photographs from different eras, around a central favorite gorgeous oil painting by the very talented Cathi Isza on Etsy.

some of our collection, and cathi's lovely landscape (ignore the tv, will ya?)

 

I know what you might be thinking. Let's just say I'm not a huge fan of the large black TV and we are looking for a way to disguise it...any ideas? I was thinking old wood frame pieces, but then they get in the way of the infrared sensor. I think sooner than later we will put it in a cabinet. I'm not a fan of TV's that "show". Neither is mom, so my her husband, Greg, actually made their TV so it rises out of an old organ!  I was truly amazed. He took the guts out of it, and put in one of those tv risers. It looks fantasic. Then the cable box and dvd player are on the bench underneath. Nifty idea huh?
ANYWAY, back to the story!
I touched up the second set of photographs above in case you wanted them that way. I didn't spend a whole lot of time, so they aren't perfect, but a bit better than the first set!

cute art quilt by Mary using a free image from my stash!

Hope you enjoy them. One of my favorite shops on Etsy uses my free vintage photos in her artwork... I love to see that! Visit Mary at KMHandyKrafts to see more.

If you'd like to see more free downloads from my blog, like the bird and others, just click here.
ALSO, if you need even more images to inspire you, look no further than The Graphics Fairy! Be prepared to be delighted and inspired by her amazing blog packed with all kinds of amazing antique and vintage images, antique postcards, labels, advertisements and more. I used her images to create my blog banner! (which needs a bit of a change, me thinks.)

Hope you all have a happy week! If you do happen to create something with my images, I'd love to see.
Many Blessings,
Jennifer Valentine of Sacred Cake

Free Friday, Two Hooters

Since Owls have become the latest craze, I thought these two owls would be neat for collage projects and such. I hope everyone has a fantastic day! I'm picking my beautiful mama up at the airport in an hour....I can hardly wait to see her!!

Buddha and a Church Lady for Free Friday

The handwriting is from a long and skinny antique ledger kept by a woman for a church describing the daily events...I love the handwriting so much... she gently writes of gatherings and food, baptisms and visits and tithes and such. Old ledgers are one of my most favorite paper things.

The next picture is from an old text book about Japan. I've always wanted to travel there. My Great Grandfather spent some time in Okanawa after the war and his whole house was infused with the orient. My most favorite thing was his collection of chopstick rests. Though I am a Christian, my thoughts are also infused with the teachings of Buddha...I even have several Buddha statues in my home. The serene expressions on their faces, a constant reminder of peace.

For Free Friday today...Antique Postcards from Varese, Italy (and a tiny...confession)

Such architecture and finery...
I found these as I was cleaning my little studio yesterday...there is a whole set, joined together by twill and they fold over one another, but I won't bore you with the whole set...have I told you of my secret? Well, I imagine if I am telling you, it won't be a secret any longer, but here it is:
I have a "thing" for old paper.
I have an extensive collection of antiquated and vintage paper things. Not just the usual postcards and photographs, but hunks and bits and pieces of old stained cardboard from the backs of picture frames, book covers, stamps, catalogs, life magazines, stacks and stacks of old books, sheet music, old letters, vintage typed documents, ledgers, journals, newspapers, doilies, antique negatives...even vintage pastry crust liner and shelf paper and bits and rolls of very old wallpaper.....until now, only close friends and my children knew of my secret. It feels good to share it here. I have enough old paper for years and years of "Free Friday" downloadable stuff....won't you stay awhile?

Beautiful Victorian Calling Cards for Free Friday

I think whoever Eunice and Gardner Barber were, they had very good taste...and I adore any kind of vintage or antique bird image. The calligraphy is printed, which means that someone had to carve an intricate block for each letter in the name so that it could be printed....imagine the work that went in to making calling cards so long ago. And how about the name Gardner? Seems like such an unusual name.
I am so happy to share my fondness (obsession?) for all things paper, here with you.

Antique Rabbits for You Today

This plate came from a book from 1860....it is by far one of my favorites, now here for you to enjoy for your projects.

Free Friday (a little late) Antique Prayer Cards from my collection

 Though I am not catholic, I collect antique prayer cards. I am just smitten with iconography and religious symbolism and churches and cathedrals, stained glass and statues... and each delicate or gaudy gold nimbus and the soft stares from Mary and from Saints and the Christ child. These are all at least 100 years old. Lovingly preserved in ancient bibles; pressed into desperate hands. Prayed on fervently; gazed upon with hope and adoration...just a few of the reasons I love them so.

Free Friday, Oriental Designs