vintage design :: Page 4 :: Small Pond Graphics

Archive for vintage design – Page 4

inspired by . WPA Posters

· September 4, 2012

It was very nice to spend a little extra time playing with my little ones over the Labor Day holiday, and to enjoy a break from my normal design work. It was also nice to take a few minutes to recognize how blessed I’ve been with such incredible clients to work with! I was looking back through some posts from the first year of Small Pond Graphics, and I was inspired again by posters designed through the Works Progress Administration. In my 2010 Labor Day post, I highlighted a few from the “living archive” of the Posters for the People website. This weekend, I enjoyed another look through their collection and found a few more designs highlighting the value of work that so much of our country has been built on. Enjoy!

Categories : inspire

Tags : illustrators, print design, vintage design

inspired by . Eames Chairs

Posted by haley montgomery

· August 13, 2012

I came across this US Postal Service stamp set in my bookmarks featuring the creative work of Charles and Ray Eames. I’ve always been inspired by how they applied their design sensibilities to so many different disciplines. The commemorative stamp set was released in 2008 and is a very fun glimpse at some of their iconic designs and maybe their personalities. Of course, the Eames chair designs play a big role in any overview of their work and these tiny images spurred me to search down a few other well-designed products inspired by the chairs. If you’re an Eames junkie like me, I think you’ll love these…

1. Eames Chair Letterpress Coasters from Green Bird Press
2. Eames “Hankies” from The Honey Press
3. Eames Chair print from Weavers of Southsea

Categories : inspire

Tags : furniture design, modern design, vintage design

favorite things . Rockin Recycled Journals

Posted by haley montgomery

· May 24, 2012

I’m so impressed with this product. I just wanted to get that out of the way right off the bat. The Sahabo shop creates handmade books (a personal favorite craft) in a variety of flavors that are all spectacular, but this particular variety is so fun. The 100-page journals are made from repurposed vinyl records and their sleeves. The binding looks top-notch too. I love this creative way of recycling a bit of vintage goodness into something beautiful used to record thoughts and ideas. The great part is that an extensive list of album titles are included in the Etsy shop so you can pick your own album to reflect your own inspiration. Honestly, I can’t wait to get one.

Categories : favorite things

Tags : etsy shops, inspired by paper, inspired by repurposing, paper craft, vintage design

favorite things . Holiday Leftovers

Posted by haley montgomery

· December 7, 2011

If you’re ready to get in to the Christmas creative spirit, check out Collage Lab! I just ordered myself a pack of their “Holiday Chock Full of Paper” packs. It’s leftovers and scraps from old paper ephemera with a holiday theme — vintage papers, cards, ribbons, etc. You never know what you’ll get, but that’s such a HUGE part of the fun. I also love these packs of red, green & black letters and numbers from old graphic designers’ text kits (before the days of computers, kids). Oh the possibilities for holiday fun!

Categories : favorite things

Tags : favorite shops, green, paper craft, red, vintage design

favorite things . October Treats

Posted by haley montgomery

· October 3, 2011

It’s October! The temperatures and weather in my neck of the woods are finally beginning to feel Fall-like, and I have an excuse to indulge my appreciation for orange. Over the weekend I was looking through Etsy.com for vintage Halloween ephemera (because I’m quirky that way) and I came across these great examples of old treat bags. Get inspired by the orange and black to kick off the month, and dream of your favorite candies filling them!

[Tricky Retro found at TheIDConnection | 30One | Tinsel and Trinkets | AppelJar Vintage]

Categories : favorite things

Tags : black, ephemera, etsy shops, Halloween, orange, packaging, vintage design, vintage shops

Hello & welcome! I’m Haley Montgomery, and I’m the designer and owner of Small Pond Graphics. I sometimes fancy myself a frog kisser— a documentarian coaxing poignant moments from unexpected places. This blog has evolved from those moments.

The small Pond FIELD GUIDE is part diary, part sketchbook, and part wish list – an archive of ordinary wonders. For years, this space has housed my stories – creative ideas, vintage inspiration, our forays into curious places, and the simple artifacts of quiet of conscious living. Through watercolor, photography, and illustrated tales, these pages uncover the blessing of ordinary days and the wonder found in authentic places and pursuits.

I invite you to open the boxes.
Peek into the drawers.
Rustle through the pages.
I’m honored to have you here.