Argh, I miss blogging! I thought the summer would be a great time to get caught up with things, but I've been working like crazy (at Anthro, which is awesome!) but also time consuming... Someone tell me to stop whining, haha.

I have been obsessed with collecting things lately, which is bringing me too all sorts of wonderful places. I went to Ten Editions (bookstore on Spadina) again yesterday, and I was looking for something a bit special. I am getting ready for my thesis project, which is a secret for now, and I am looking for old stained/written on/interesting envelopes. I won't tell you why yet, I don't want to give a key element of my these project away! I am hugely inspired by the envelope collection of Andrew Bush, right here. So if anyone has any envelopes lying around... hint hint! Send me an email : )

So I went to my favourite (often overpriced) bookstore today, and actually spent a reasonable amount of money! 23 dollars for 3 books, and a nice little stack of ephemera. Let me tell you a bit about each one!

I have so many things to post about lately, to both blogs, and no time at all! Though it's always feels like there isn't enough time. Doesn't it? I thought I'd share a few things I took home from my home town (Welland, ON).

The books (above) I found at a second hand store for $1 each! I usually buy books (my favourites are printed before 1950) from a place that is more of a collection than a book store—meaning the owner doesn't care to see the books go, and charges an arm and a leg for them. Of course, I am the horrible kind of person that brings them home and tears them apart and makes art from them. Nobody has to know that.

The thread, claimed by the kitty already, came from my Nana's house. I never realized how beautiful wooden spools were, thanks Anabela for making me take notice! Of course I brought home a sewing machine too, so they will be put to good use! (I'm still learning).

Finally posted about this Eric Carle book over here. Google sent me a sign that it was time.

I didn't get a lot of work done today (surprise, surprise) but at least caught up on some blogging! Wish me luck that tomorrow is more productive.

It's been a rainy weekend, which was frustrating after the beautiful sunny, warm day we had on Friday. The weather is toying with my emotions. To make myself feel better on Sunday, I took a little trip to Goodwill—which I recently discovered is only a few blocks away!

I didn't find much this time, and I stayed away from the books (where I can get stuck for hours). I found some very 70s brown ceramic plates and bowls which—I love, but—Jory hates. They remind me of Lorena Barrezueta's tin container-inspired dishes around the edges, which I will buy when I can afford. These will do for now.

Jory and I went for the nicest walk today, just to get some fresh air, and we ended up at a Goodwill store. I love Goodwill for the housewares and odds and ends and—just my luck—this store had a HUGE selection of books. Encyclopedia sets, textbooks, kids books, et cetera from the 70s. I love books that are pre-1970s, but they tend to be a lot more expensive. And books from the 70s have this bright, colourful charm that older books do not.

This is what I spent several hours doing today, and I swear I was in heaven. I went to this used bookstore—I can't remember what it's called—the one near U of T campus, on Spadina. I went with exactly $50, and plenty of time to spend looking through all the books for great illustration or other little treasures. There were so many books I wanted to buy, but this store is a lot pricier than I expected it to be. Each book is like $6 to $20, which is fine, but I could get brand new books for that price at BMV (one of the best used book stores in Toronto).

But BMV doesn't have this kind of charm.

1. vintage book pile, 2. paper sample book, 3. paper sample book, 4. type specimen, 5. type specimen booklet, 6. type specimen book, 7. type specimen book, 8. univers!, 9. close up, 10. butterflies, gray + colour, 11. bird pullout, 12. love love love love, 13. colour pullouts, 14. naturescope, 15. map, 16. map of england and wales, 17. letraset canada, 18. letraset catalogue, 19. letraset catalogue, 20. anatomy & art, 21. art & anatomy, 22. DSC07607, 23. astronomical geography, 24. geography study books, 25. atlas

The one little critique I have of this store, was the owner was clearly a "book collector" who didn't care if she sold the books or not. The store is literally overflowing with books, and it's no surprise why. I had my 50 dollars, and I came to her with a stack of books that came to 53 dollars. "Well, this one here is $4.50." So I had to give that one up. I'm sad now, realizing what it was I was giving up.

It was a botany school book, probably from the 40s, with little slips of paper tucked in every few pages. Little drawings, notes, just loads of vintage ephemera. Whyyyy!

I just finished my job at a bookstore, and I'm definitely going to miss being around books all the time. I picked up the following books this week (at used bookstores) some of which I was surprised to find. From top to bottom:

Mary Jones and her Bible
A Year of Mornings
Windsor Castle
McSweeney's Quarterly Concern
A Child's Garden of Verse
The Art of Eric Carle
(my cat is also present)

A collection of old books I plan to use for collage.

I've been a little sulky lately, I want this weather to be over! Oh, Canada.