From Pioneer Catalogues to Paper Collages: The Story Behind the Label

A close-up of a blue vintage Sears Roebck and Co. "Consumers Guide" label fragment, featuring red and black typography, layered over yellow fringed paper in a handmade collage.

**A Tiny Slice of History 🕰️**

Have you noticed the distinctive blue label hidden behind the fuchsia roses in my latest card? That small piece carries a story that dates back over a century.

 

**The "Everything" Store**

In the late 1800s, the Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalogue was known as the "Cheapest Supply House on Earth." For families living in remote areas, these mail-order books were a gateway to the wider world. You could order anything—from a pocket watch to an entire DIY house kit! 🏠 

 

**Why It’s in My Studio...**

I have always been a collector of vintage advertising. I love the chaotic energy of this bold, commercial piece of American history, especially when contrasted with the soft, organic shapes of the flowers I find along the lanes. 🌸

 

By pairing this gritty artefact from the past with delicate petals, I’m creating a dialogue between human-made history and the timeless beauty of nature. It’s a small fragment of history, reimagined for a modern-day 'Cariad.'

 

Love the vintage vibe? 

See how the Sears, Roebuck card came together here.

Behind the Art, Studio Notes, Vintage InspirationLowri Drakley#AntiqueEphemera, #MixedMedia, #FoundObjects, #PaperCollage, #SearsRoebuck, #StudioDiariesComment