Those who have followed us through the years know how we love old ephemera ... and photographs are more than a story ... they capture feelings, smiles, frowns, tragedy, love, special moments and more ... Well today, August 19th, has been declared World Photo Day. Why World Photo Day? World Photo Day is an international photography event on August 19 th that celebrates the passion for photography in our communities. In a world where millions of pictures are uploaded every minute, World Photo Day is inspiring thousands of photographers across the planet to share a single photo with a simple purpose: To share their world with the world. From everyday life to incredible landscapes, our global gallery is an evolving mosaic of images captured by photographers of all skills levels living in a diverse range of countries and cultures. No matter who you are, where you are or what equipment and skills you have, World Photo Day can help open your eyes to the possibilities of phot...

Need a place to hang up your notes, lists, photos, postcards, stuff? Refrigerators don't work like they used to since so many are now made with stainless steel doors. Well, we have a solution for you. These wire cardholders come in two sizes and are perfect for the job. Lots of clips to hold your reminders, kids art and relatives photos ... and maybe a few pieces of jewelry if you like. Medium Cardholder (12" x 15.5") -- $24.95 Large Cardholder (23.5" x 15.5") -- $39.95

Cambria is a quaint little beachside village on the California Central Coast. It is one of our favorite getaways ... quiet ... a couple of excellent restaurants ... interesting shops ... and Moonstone Beach. The one-mile sandy beach, part of Hearst San Simeon State Park , and has easy access. It is never crowded and is just pretty! Years ago we would stroll the beach and pick up shells, moonstones and bits of turquoise, but those days are nearly gone. The treasures are few and far between ... even beach glass is hard to find.  BUT ... driftwood abounds! We saw some great driftwood architecture. Sculptures and beach shanties carefully stacked and balanced as shelter from the wind or statements of art. Some were rather crude ... others expansive, including courtyards and stonewalls. These works of driftwood art will last a short while, get beaten down by the winds and tides and eventually revert back to piles of driftwo...

We just got back from the Atlanta Gift Show. Lots of ideas and inspiration ... plus we placed quite a bit of orders, so watch for new products arriving over the next couple of months. One continuing trend ... which lines up with our vintage and new offerings at Vintages ... is the mix of old an new ... vintage and modern in interior design and mixed media art.

We recently took some time in Napa Valley ... wonderful weekend! On our way up we stopped at CornerStone , a uniquely wine country "village" of artisan and antiquish shops and the newly added Sunset Gardens . If you are up that way, make a stop. The gardens are wonderful ... full of garden ideas, sculpture and beauty. Here's a little gallery of what we enjoyed.