Thompson Family-Life

Typography Books - Palm Springs Thrift Finds & an Update

These were two of my thrifty vintage finds while visiting Palm Springs. As I mentioned, I didn't bring home a lot from the thrifts, but I love quality over quantity.. and these are quality in my book! And I have to say, it was because my friend Katie locked her keys in her car (with the car running! eep!) that I found these gems. Thankfully we were in a thrift store parking lot, so I could swing back in and do some more looking while we waited for the locksmith. I guess it was destiny I found these. ;)

As a Graphic Designer, I'm definitely a typography junky (really, what design lover isn't?) These vintage fonts are pretty groovy. And the cross-stitch patterns in the other book are just gorgeous. Totally chomping at the bit to stitch some of these up....

... especially these cross-stitch typefaces! LOVE.

They're all pretty great, aren't they?

I wanted to have at least some sort of explanation as to the crickets on this blog lately! This blog isn't a for-profit blog, and that means, if I'm absent, it's usually because I'm working on things for our shop. It also means, making some things happen for my own projects that I've been dreaming up, but haven't made the time for. That includes a digital kit from me! (yes, finally!!) And it's a goodie. Can't wait to share this with you next week when it's released. If you follow us on Instragram, you will always get to see peeks of our projects, so, to stay in the loop - be sure to follow us here! So, even if the blog is a little quiet, there are always things going on at Instragram.

As you can see, we have some really, really cute new products in the shop! Embroidery patterns (including THE perfect bridesmaid gifts! and a very retro owl! as well as four sets of embroidery patterns celebrating Downton Abbey - YES!! That's 15 portrait patterns in all. I just rewatched the first season. I have a project in the works using these awesome patterns!) Also, some cute Project Life printable cards! You'll be seeing more Project Life products in our shop in the future!

Also, an amazing printable that folds up to become a retro kitchen - for a dollhouse. YES. That Alice Apple is amazing. I recently scored a vintage Lundby dollhouse on Craigslist (I had no idea about the Lundby brand, but they were manufactured in Sweden. I really loved the mid-century shape..) and I'll be revamping mine with Alice's retro printables. 

Click here to see ALL of our new products. I'll also be adding more new products this week, so be on the lookout. (more cross-stitch, felt doll patterns and printables, oh my!)

Aside from Kitschy Digitals, I also have a little Spoonflower idea I hope to start working on this weekend. It's inspired by a vintage doll I found. Very excited, and it's something you can make with easy sewing skills! I also haven't forgotten about my felt doll patterns.

As a working Mom, getting things accomplished is always a challenge. It's all about working in as much as I can, in between field trips, getting them to soccer practice, feeding them, helping with homework - you know the drill. But I feel pretty LUCKY to be able to do what I love and be there for my boys (who are always my priority, which also explains why things happen a bit slowly. But that is ok.)

We also went on a last-minute trip to Memphis last weekend to visit with family and an ill grandmother (a great-grandmother for the boys!) It was such quality time packed into a two day trip. I'm so very glad we went. (Also, note to self: I MUST get better about calling the grandmothers. Who else is bad about this? Texting and emailing has spoiled me.... and has also made me lazy.)

Always trying to find that balance. And making time for things (and people) who take priority over everything else. Sometimes the exciting ideas in your head that keep you up at night, just have to wait a little longer. I'm learning that when you put what really matters first, everything else will happen when it's supposed to. : )

Palm Springs Thifting & More Little Tokyo

We did A LOT of thrifting and vintage shopping while in Palm Springs. It was so, so much fun. There's something about thrifting in a totally different area that is exciting. You just never know what you might find. It really is the hunt that is the most fun for me. I just love looking through endless booths and aisles of STUFF. And luckily I was with friends that can do it *literally* all day long like I can.

I didn't find a lot, and I've become much more picky about what I bring home from thrift stores and vintage shops. (the past six months or so of purging our house has made me realize how picky I really need to be.) But I did find these cute floral plastic cups that I couldn't pass up and will be perfect the next time we throw a Tiki Party. I found a couple other things that I'll share soon. 

The rest are things I bought in Little Tokyo in LA (see more here). I particularly love these little stationery sets I found. They look to be vintage illustrations (I LOVE vintage Japanese girl illustrations.. they are my number one source of inspiration for when I get my first tattoo) and how cute are those erasers?

The little food picks are just amazing, aren't they? I hadn't unpacked them yet, but I did use one today in Campbell's lunchbox. That's where the missing one went. I love that on top they have little hats... and one has a lion face!

The sponges are just too much. Like seriously... how can something as mundane as a cleaning sponge be so cute? I just die from the cute. 

I've been busy working on lots of new Kitschy Digitals projects including adding many new products! We're also adding new designers, one of which has designed some SERIOUSLY cute embroidery patterns that celebrate a super popular show... that lots of people are into right now.. that came from across the pond. Can you guess? Take a peek here.

Be sure to check out all our new products here, sign up for our newsletter here to take advantage of exclusive newsletter discounts, and you can also find us on Facebook and Twitter!

Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California

As I mentioned, I got to visit Little Tokyo in Los Angeles because I had some unexpected downtime before my flight out (did you know this was my very first time in LA? Crazy right?). Luckily Katie recommended a visit to Little Tokyo. I think she knew I'd love it! And I did. And my wallet was poorer because of it.

I want to go back because I didn't get to see all of the shops! The first shop I went to was a grocery store. Which, believe it or not, has some of the cutest things to be seen! Just the packaging alone will get any design-lover giddy. Some things I bought JUST because of the packaging, like these animal chocolates. I justified buying them as treats for the boys. (ha) Look at all of those cute little faces!

Needless to say, the boys were happy to see their treats when I got home. And I was happy to just look at them.

It amazes me the creativitiy that runs through Japan and how they make even the most mundane things have personality. I love the idea that everything deserves a good design, no matter what it is. Packaging has come a long way in the States, but wouldn't it be such a fun world to live in if everything was as cute as in Japan?

(More photos coming of my Little Tokyo loot! You didn't think that was it, did you?)

Pappy & Harriet's, Pioneertown, California

We ate at Pappy & Harriet's (cute website, right?) in Pioneertown on my trip out west to California. The food and drinks were super good, definitely recommend! It's also apparently a popular destination for music shows. The stage is pretty charming. You kind of feel like you're at a real honky-tonk, which is fun! I love the stage...

Here are the original Pappy & Harriet...

You can tell A LOT of good times have been had here over the past few decades. It would be fun to see live music here. It's a very small and intimate setting. After doing some googling, I found quite a few cool posters designed for shows that took place at Pappy & Harriets - including one of my personal faves, Neko Case. That's her poster below on the left with the fox. Most of the others were designed by Michael Wertz. Really cool designs! There's a Camp Out Music Festival in Joshua Tree every year and it looks like several of the shows play at Pappy & Harriet's.  (Source for the vampire lady with laser eyes here.)

Pappy & Harriet's is definitely worth a stop if you're in the area! It sits at the entrance of Pioneertown.

Pioneertown, California

I'd been hearing about Pioneertown from Heather for a while now and had seen her pictures of it and I knew I wanted to check it out on this trip! It's about a 30-45 minute drive from Palm Springs. Pioneertown started as an Old West motion picture set, built in the 1940s. The movie set was designed to provide a place for the actors to live, and at the same time have their homes used as part of the movie set. Roy Rogers was among the original developers and investors, and Gene Autry frequently taped his show at the Pioneer Bowl bowling alley (sadly now closed). According to IMDB, many films and TV shows were filmed in Pioneertown including Annie Oakley, The Gene Autry Show, and the TV show and Movie, The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (with an extremely handsome Paul Newman).

Many of the buildings are inhabited (meaning, people LIVE in them! wow, right?) or are businesses. There's even a working Post Office. 

The "Joshua Tree" above

(the boot above was actually taken at a flea market nearby)

Below there was a house with these little prayer areas (I guess you would call them), with circles of rock arrangements, and little "art installations" inside the circles. You could really call it "junk accumulations" more like.. ha. But really interesting little collections! I'm not sure if the home owner created these, or if visitors have added things, or maybe it's a combo of both. The whole thing reminded me of that movie Gas, Food and Lodging, of which I really want to watch again after going to the desert.

These old school desks were set up with old typewriters. Totally bizarre and fascinating at the same time. My first thought was "What if it rains?" and then I was like "yeh... it's the desert." 

My first thought when I saw these little toy collections was that my boys would LOVE this.

Until next time, Pioneertown!