Playing with Vintage Packaging

My brother Dan gave me the most special stash of images from packaging that he had collected in his travels mostly in the 70's.

I really felt that the collection was sentimental to me as well since I had lived vicariously  through his travels long before I started world travel myself.

He had gone off to art school at Instituto Allende in San Miguel while I was still in high school.

Some of these images are from his South American travels back then.

Then he went to Bali and lived for a year painting back when there was only one restaurant in Ubud.

He was a huge influence in my life in so many ways... travel, art and humor.

I realized that I couldn't really part with most of this ephemera for my art so I decided to combine it all on these stiff place mats that I got at the thrift store.

He told me that he had always meant to put them all together somehow and now I have.

Dan told me that this one was his favorite.

I'm keeping them all!

My Little Mexico Trip~ Magdalena de Kino

 When my friend heard that mi esposo was going to be out of town running with his sons in Vegas, she shot me a message that she could be persuaded to take a drive south to Magdalena de Kino a few hours south of here in Mexico. She had heard that it was Fiesta time for the anniversary of Father Kino's death some 300 years ago which is a big deal for many Mexicans. It turned out we were a few days off from the actual celebration but got there in time to see some preparations for the event.


Unfortunately I've left my camera in her car and for now can only show you what I bought. (You see my moratorium on supplies doesn't hold across international borders) and I want to do my best at helping out the economy in Mexico since tourism has dropped off drastically with fear mongering news reports.
 My biggest fear on the trip was more about driving over the mountains with people passing on curves trying to pass semi's that were crawling at a snails pace on steep grades.

 We went to the shops that had religious paraphernalia and I found what I was looking for.

Milagros (miracle charms) that are used as votives in altars and shrines.

These are scapulars which were being sold in Magdalena de Kino

I was delighted with our visit to the ferreteria which is NOT a place that you buy ferrets but is a hardware store. How I love it when I go to less modern stores that have a selection of nearly vintage items mixed in with the new stuff. 

Some of these items are Chinese I know but I think they are certifiably vintage.

I was happy to find a great array of Mexican oilcloth at a decent price.

I'm thinking of sewing place mats and coasters.

I've got these hanging on the line right now though because there seems to be some serious industrial outgassing at the moment.

I promise to post more about the trip when I get my camera back.

I think I got some more great images that will warm those of you who haven't felt any semblance of spring yet.