Ismoyo's Vintage Playground

May 30, 2012

More Antique and Thrifting tv shows

vintage siera tv television advertisement

The list keeps getting longer and longer as more shows on television are about buying and selling antiques and vintage treasures.
I just updated the list of Antique and Thrifting shows. Lots of new shows, with links to watch the full episodes online!

posted by ismoyo at 1:14 PM 0 comments Leave a comment

May 09, 2012

Vintage Resin Crafts

I’m spending a lot of my time lately getting ready to launch Retro Resin in the shop, but I’m definitely still also very focused on my regular vintage shop activities.
I don’t know if i'm unconsciously out looking for vintage resin, or that it is the universe bringing it to me at this time, but on my latest treasure hunt I came across this wonderful bunch of vintage resin flowers.

I remember as a young girl having a small resin paper weight with a real seahorse embedded in the clear resin. I wish i still had it. Will have to be on the lookout for a similar piece. Will find it someday. I did find this round paperweight with flowers embedded inside.
I might list it in the shop at some point, but for now it stays here with me. Retro Resin inspiration on my desk.

And for more resin inspiration, my treasure hunt also brought me several early 1970s vintage craft magazines, in them a few great resin articles and advertisements.

Article on how to make resin paperweights with small items embedded.

The Art of Embedding, Capture Memories crystal clear with American Handicrafts supplies.

A gift only you can give ... something you've made. Buy a gallon of Clear Cast resin, get a mold for free.

I'm going to list some vintage goodies in the shop now, and prepare to add the first pieces of Retro Resin later this week!
More pictures and updates on Retro Resin on Twitter and Facebook.

Labels: retro resin, vintage advertisements, vintage crafts

posted by ismoyo at 7:54 PM 2 comments Leave a comment

April 23, 2012

Mold Making and Resin Figurines

After a long time without crafting, i felt the urge to create again. To learn something new.
I wanted to do make something with a vintage feel but in a modern kind of style.
So i did some brainstorming, and ended up with a few ideas on mold making and resin crafts. I did a lot of online research to figure out if it was something i thought i could possibly do. After watching a lot of youtube resin tutorial videos, i decided to just purchase the materials and dive in.

Not only did i have to learn how to pour resin, for the end result i had in my head, i couldn't use the store bought standard resin molds. I had to make my own rubber molds. So back to researching how to's and which materials would work for me.
I must say i was really excited pouring my first molds and later pouring the actual resin. But the very best part to this craft is de-molding of your work. Resin has to cure and harden for like 24 hours, so i timed it so that they were ready to be removed from the molds in the morning. Waking up all excited, did they come out alright? Resin demolding party! A big Tada! moment.

The pieces in above picture were some of my first resin creations.
The blue figurine in the back is an eggcup in the shape of a chick.
cute handmade resin figurines deer bulldog chick eggcup

cute handmade resin figurines deer bulldog chick eggcup

And for full honest disclosure, not every craft i decide to teach myself comes out perfect the first time. In this case i overlooked the fact that not all resins will cure in larger shapes. I just figured it might take a little longer to harden, but oh, how wrong i was! After a few days of waiting for my first try at the resin eggcup to cure, i gave up and removed it from the mold.
This is what it looked like after one day being out of the mold.
uncured resin

And a day later it looked even sadder..
uncured resin

No way of saving it. The only way to make the eggcup with this type of resin is to do it in layers. Let one layer cure, pour another layer, let that cure, and another. A bit more work, but at least it gives it a chance to harden correctly.

I made some more figures, like a whole bunch of these little owls.
cute handmade resin owls

Not quite sure what to turn these into. The deer from the first picture is really 'just' a figurine. As is the pink owl on the right. These owls are smaller with flat backs and can be turned into charms, pin brooches or magnets. The orange bulldog has a flat back too and even though he's a bit bigger than these owls, i think it would also be wonderful as a brooch pin or pendant. My hubby thinks it might be a little too big for most people (a little over 2" tall), but i do think there is a market of enough people who would like a to wear some sort of statement piece. And otherwise the bulldog will remain as is. A cute resin figurine.
I have a few more molds ready to pour, like cute duckies, and an adorable reindeer head. So more to show soon.

I call them Retro Resin. When i have more pieces ready, i will start selling them in my Etsy shop. For now i have set up a twitter account and a Retro Resin Facebook page. Nothing happening there yet, but that will come. Feel free to start following and be a part of this new creative adventure with me.

Labels: retro resin

posted by ismoyo at 9:10 PM 9 comments Leave a comment

April 08, 2012

Happy Easter!

vintage childrens easter magazine jack and jill 1960s Rae Owings

Hope everyone is having a lovely Easter!

'Easter Surprise' illustration by Rae Owings on the cover of vintage 60s Jack and Jill childrens magazine. Easter edition 1968.

Labels: vintage childrens books, vintage holidays

posted by ismoyo at 2:35 PM 1 comments Leave a comment

February 28, 2012

Vintage Richard Scarry Huckle's Book

vintage cloth book richard scarry huckle fabric

Sharing some pages from this adorable learn-to-read vintage cloth book, Huckle's Book. By the great illustrator Richard Scarry.
vintage cloth book richard scarry huckle fabric

It has a little fraying on the top and bottom, but being from 1979 it still is in wonderful condition.
vintage cloth book richard scarry huckle fabric

Huckle Cat lives in Busytown and this book introduces you to his house, his family and his best friend Lowly Worm.
vintage cloth book richard scarry huckle fabric

Fun fact, the nickname of Richard Scarry's son, Richard Scarry Junior, was Huckle. He continues his fathers legacy working as an illustrator, sometimes even working under the nickname Huck Scarry.

This rare vintage childrens book is currently for sale in my shop.

Labels: vintage childrens books