Vintage items...

[http://users.livejournal.com/anam_cara_/]

Our family recently had to clear out my grandparents' house, and it was a vintage treasure trove! However, all my aunts and uncles were far more inclined, due to the daunting nature of the task, to want to just throw everything away. I salvaged what I could each time I went to help out.

I called dibs on the button collection long ago... 11 jars of buttons from 4 generations, all kinds of awesomeness. I have several ideas of what to do with those.

However, the problem comes with the rest. I simply don't have the long term storage room for all of this, and I don't want to just box it up not to see the light of day for another few decades. I'd like to figure out some nice crafts to make with what I can, or find a way to get it out to others that would appreciate it and use it as well. Several things I plan to mat and frame and maybe sell on my poor empty Etsy site. But I need ideas for the rest! There are a few items I have sentimental attachment to, but need ideas for displaying them.

Link to view without slideshow:

vintage stuff

This is just the tip of the iceberg... it would take WEEKS to photograph everything that I actually have. I have BINS of children's books, school primers, YA novels, encyclopedia type nature, science, and geography books from 1910s-1970s. Cards, postcards, those old-fashioned viewmaster cards (old-fashioned as in from the late 1800s/early 1900s). Some of the books are in a range of conditions- some in mint condition, others are moldy or falling apart (I've separated the moldy ones out, but a few had covers in good condition that I didn't want to part with), or written in. Hundreds of records from the 1920s-40s (I used to listen to them with my grandpa in the 80s, so some are in great condition).

I appreciate any suggestions you can share!! I will try to add more photos when I can.