Timeless Treasures

Kerry Morgan's perfect word

2010-02-03T13:44:00.000-08:00

Kerry Morgan of Snohomish, Wash. had a very specific request when her husband traveled to San Francisco on business a few weeks ago: stop by Timeless Treasures for vintage letters.

Turns out that Kerry had been inspired by Tara Whitney's blog, where the Southern California photographer has written and posted images of old letters she has found here and used in portraits of friends and families.

"I wanted the perfect word," Kerry says. "something that everybody would see when they walked into my house and in my kitchen. My crazy house with three little children and full of love."

Love, Kerry says, was a possibility, but that was "way too boring." So she thought and thought.

"Amore, that's it and it's perfecto!!"

There's a silly back story, according to Kerry, who worked at an Olive Garden restaurant to pay for college expenses. AT OG, as she calls it, employees were required to sing along to the Dean Martin song That's Amore whenever it came on the sound system.

"I loved it! My hubby (then boyfriend) and I thought it was hilarious and would sing that song all the time, purely because if you hear it once, it is stuck in your head for the rest of the day!

"Our house. Love. Amore. And memories of the Olive Garden," Kerry says, smiling.

"Thanks so much for these awesome letters," she adds. " I was pleased as punch when my husband got home with my safely packaged and bubble-wrapped letters. I wasted no time and they were up the next day. Right above my sink. So happy," she says.

Cupid's calling: Gifts for your Honey Bunny, your BFF and more

2010-01-28T00:47:00.000-08:00

We are huge fans of Valentine's Day. Not just for romantic, lovey-dovey signs of affection between the recently lovestruck, but as a day for sending funny cards and little gifts to special friends and family, and perhaps one fabulously memorable, one-of-a-kind gift to your sweetie.

The 14th of February falls on a Sunday this year, which means that there are about two weeks left until your surprises must be in the mail. So we want to offer you some ideas for a Valentine gift that should lead to a big smile and perhaps even a hug around the neck and a squeeze around the knees.

We have a unique handmade bottle opener with a heart-shaped cap popper shown here, a perfect possibility for your sweetie who tends bar when friends drop over. Lusciously feminine and flirty charm bracelets from La Vie Parisienne are now in stock in heart shapes as well as crowns.

Or consider something a bit more lyrical. . . an antique chocolate mould for making Valentine hearts, vintage 1940's French photo frames suitable for a portrait, vintage sign letters and numbers for creating an artful gift, vintage globes for reminding someone that he or she "means the world to you", heart-shaped French soap, sterling cuff bracelets from Toby & Max to remind someone that you are "always here" for her, a vintage abacus found in France for the one to whom you want to say "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways" and much more.

Say Cheese, Ducky!

2010-01-13T20:32:00.000-08:00

Some weeks ago, Jack and Kelly-Marie Howard of the UK stopped by Timeless Treasures during a visit to San Francisco. Like so many other people who appear to be on a mission when they first arrive in the shop, they made a beeline for our drawers and cubbies of vintage sign letters. And, as so often happens when someone begins rummaging through the old letters, other people in the store became curious and asked what they were going to spell.

Soon they were trying various combinations of letters to spell out JACK and KELLY and DUCKY, which turns out to be the name of their beloved pet. And when they were finished, we asked Kelly to be sure and send along a photo of how it all came together back home.

Recently we received a note and a snapshot of Ducky poised on Jack's hand in front of their words. Kelly says that "the words look lovely" on their bedroom wall.

"She really is a lovely pet to have," Kelly added, "and we both love and enjoy every minute with her."

in the fine print: new SF guidebook calls Timeless Treasures "a decorator's dream"

2010-01-11T11:22:00.000-08:00

We're always interested in how people find out about Timeless Treasures.

Oftentimes customers say that a friend sent them, or that someone bought them a gift here.

Other people who are out strolling around the neighborhood notice the store for the first time, and stop in.

And, of course, in the age of Blackberries and iPhones, lots of people find us on Yelp or by Googling.

A few weeks ago we learned of another way people are discovering us, when a visitor from out of town said she saw a write-up in a new guidebook, San Francisco: spend less see more, edited by Pauline Frommer.

In a section on shopping, Frommer focuses on ways to "fill your bags without emptying your wallet", and says shoppers will be rewarded for ducking into countless boutiques spread around town, investigating the off-the-beaten path neighborhoods "for little stores worth a gander."

Among what Frommer calls "individual stores you'll want to visit", she describes Timeless Treasures as "eclectic," and "quite like any other store you might have seen." She writes that the store's "real fame is in its letters -- of every font, size and purpose," and "is the word for the alphabet."

A Saturday project updates a bathroom with style

2010-01-06T22:57:00.000-08:00

The weekend before Christmas, Jason Bloom visited Timeless Treasures in search of a shelf for a storage-starved bathroom in his San Francisco apartment.

Instead of traditional shelves, he wanted something with more decorative detail that would complement his two Pop Art pieces by San Francisco artist Jenny Wehrt, whose work you can see by clicking here.

Jason noticed a Victorian painted wood valance, rescued during a San Francisco building renovation several months ago, that we had repurposed as a shelf for displaying small photo frames, a collection of old glass bottles and a limestone statue of the Blessed Virgin. "I bet that would work, as long as it would fit over the sink," he said, and took the richly hand-carved valance immediately on 24-hour home approval.

Just a few hours later, he emailed a few snapshots, including the one above. "The valance now has a new life as a shelf in my 1959 bathroom, which needed more storage and a bit of a boost in its design," he said, adding, " I hope you enjoy the mix of pop and classic!"

If you're looking for fresh ideas to liven up your living space, stop by Timeless Treasures with the measurements of the area you're working with and see what we've got in store for you.

"It's just what I wanted!"

2009-12-23T11:53:00.000-08:00

We love being part of a surprise. So when Jaime Palomo visited Timeless Treasures with his daughter Francesca over the Thanksgiving holiday, we were delighted to surreptitiously complete the sale of the vintage Underwood typewriter shown here.

Earlier this week we received a follow-up message from Jaime, who lives in El Salvador, asking us to print out a letter he was sending to accompany his gift and confirming our plan to surprise his daughter.

When Francesca, who's studying journalism in San Francisco, stopped by on her way home from class one evening last week,
she was speechless as she read the note, delighted as she realized what the gift bag contained and oh so grateful to her beloved Papa. "I can't believe it!" she said, adding, "I have such a great dad!"

It turns out that Francesca had had her eye on that typewriter for weeks, and her dad picked up on her, hmm, subtle hint when they visited Timeless Treasures together.

As a postscript, we had a call from Francesca the following afternoon, saying she'd been up nearly all night, typing away. "I am so happy! It's exactly what I wanted!"

And with that, she truly made our Christmas very merry.

San Francisco Birthday Calendar ready for Christmas!

2009-12-16T14:58:00.000-08:00

Hot off the press, just in time for gift giving to your holiday host and hostess, neighbors, friends and family who love San Francisco!

San Francisco: It's All in the Details, a Perpetual Monthly calendar photographed and designed by Daniel O'Connor, is a spiral-bound permanent reminder of dates to remember. Full of all new photographs of San Francisco details, such as gates, shop signs, sculptures, architectural pediments and more, it makes a perfect present for everyone who likes to be organized when it comes to remembering birthdays and anniversaries. It is priced at $25.

Even for high-tech people who rely on a Blackberry or a computer for tracking day-to-day events and to-do lists, a Perpetual Calendar offers unique advantages. It gives you a place to record important dates just once, and then refer to the month-by-month list as often as you wish. No worries about accidentally deleting precious personal information, like the day you adopted Rover or Kitty, or the birthday of your sister-in-law!

This Saturday, Dec. 19, we are hosting a Calendar Signing from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Timeless Treasures, 2176 Sutter Street near Pierce in San Francisco. Join us for a glass of wine or a cup of hot cider, cookies and last-minute holiday shopping.

Here is a preview of San Francisco: It's All in the Details.

perfect presents: letters from Paris

2009-12-10T00:06:00.001-08:00

For several weeks leading up to my trip to Paris earlier this fall, one guide book was on my nightstand... Paris Made by Hand by Pia Jane Bijkerk. It's a collection of brief profiles describing 50 shops in Paris, including ateliers, where artisans have a boutique and workshop together.

One vignette made me swoon. It is the story of Le Petit Atelier de Paris, where two young French ceramicists make luscious and simple porcelain objects in the city's Marais district. I dogeared that page and put it on my "must find" list for Paris treasure hunting.

And, oh my, what a great find it turned out to be!

During a leisurely afternoon visit there in early October, I met Jae and Stephane, the husband and wife team who created Le Petit Atelier, and learned about their exquisite handmade porcelain objects. You can read more about them here.

Afterwards I chose a collection of petite plates fashioned in the style of a traditional French tart, along with several dozen inch-high alphabet letters and numerals, shown here, to bring back.

Now available in limited supply at Timeless Treasures on Sutter Street are porcelain plates stamped inside with the French word amour (love), amite (friendship), sante (health) or bonheur (happiness). Whether you choose one or a set of all four sentiments, we can almost guarantee you will want to keep at least one for yourself. They can be used for serving bon bons or olive oil for dipping, as a wine coaster or a petite tray for earrings or cufflinks, or simply to enjoy as a charming objet d'art.

We can think of so many ways to use the small, smooth-to-the-touch ceramic letters. They would make marvelous 3-D place cards for your holiday table, as well as stylish words of inspiration on a table or windowsill. If you're handy and crafty, you might use them as original gift tags.

marnie spencer's very special thanks

2009-11-21T13:17:00.001-08:00

Some weeks ago we received an email from Bolinas artist Marnie Spencer, inquiring about a set of vintage rubber stamps she had spied in a photo on this blog. Was it still for sale, Marnie asked, and, if so, could she come and buy the set that day?

Turns out that the stamps were still available, Marnie came and bought them and soon after sent along the photo you see here.

We love the simple, clever concept of thanks on brown butcher paper. In fact, we've adopted it to use as a part of our weekly e-mail to friends and customers of Timeless Treasures, San Francisco.

Only later did we find out that Marnie is a North Bay artist, known for her very intricate collage making. She incorporates rubber stamp images in some of her work, which made the vintage sign printers set a great find for her.

And this week we heard that Marnie's art, which can be seen here, will be exhibited at Cafe Borrone, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, from Nov. 29 thru Jan. 17.

She writes in her bio that some years back "in a deliberate move away from abstract subjects I focused on recognizable ones -- junk yard items, old toys, games, dolls, architectural salvage, random letters and numbers."

Sounds like a fascinating treasure hunt on paper!

Baubles and Bubbly ... Come Celebrate the Season!

2009-11-10T15:24:00.000-08:00

If you're in San Francisco this weekend (Nov. 13th - 15th), join us at Timeless Treasures on Sutter Street for a little bubbly and a lot of beautiful French baubles.

“Oooo!” and “Ahhh!” over the most sparkly, festive and beautiful assortment of La Vie Parisienne jewelry we’ve ever gathered at once.

Just in time for the holidays, we have luscious French necklaces, earrings and bracelets, in long-time favorite styles and La Vie’s newest designs.

Enjoy bubbly beverages and small treats on
Friday evening from 5:30 to 7:30,
Saturday from 11:00 to 6:00 and
Sunday afternoon from 1:00 to 5:00.  

Please invite your friends . . . the more the merrier. (And that’s about all we’ll say about the December holidays until after Thanksgiving.)

We are located at 2176 Sutter Street, near Pierce and Steiner. Come by MUNI – the #2, #3, #22 and #24 are all nearby. If you drive, allow a bit of time to find street parking.

a love letter about Tara Whitney

2009-11-05T16:09:00.000-08:00

Some weeks ago the Cirjak family from British Columbia stopped in San Francisco and bought vintage sign letters at Timeless Treasures to include in family photos that were to be taken that weekend. They spelled out LOVE and FAMILY.
It turns out the Cirjaks were driving down the coast to Orange County for a long-planned photo session with Tara Whitney, a Southern California-based photographer whose casual, usually unposed images have long made us swoon. In fact, we have blogged about how she uses words as props in some of her photo shoots, and occasionally writes about it on her blog.
Earlier this week Tara wrote about her experience that weekend in July, when she struggeled with the flu and the Cirjak family patiently waited for her to be able to take pictures as they frolicked at the beach and other locations.
The Cirjaks photos are, like just about every Kodak Moment captured by Tara, simply fabulous. We especially love the one shown above, a perfect interpretation of love letters in the sand.
This morning we heard from Tara that she is coming to the Bay Area on Thanksgiving weekend and, since this trip was spontaneously scheduled, she has time for a family photo session or two.
If you are interested in getting in touch with Tara Whitney, click here to visit her website.

Berlin travel tip: A museum for everyone who loves letters

2009-11-05T11:29:00.000-08:00

If you're fascinated by typography and vintage sign letters, we have a must-see museum stop for you during your next visit to Germany.

Photographer Joschko Hammermann, whose work you can see here on his website, told us about the Buchstaben museum when he stopped by Timeless Treasures a few weeks ago. For anyone who's intrigued by letter forms and fonts, the story of this museum and the efforts by its organizers to save and display old signage from Berlin is pure delight.

You can read more about this tiny, difficult to find slice of typographic heaven here. From what we hear, it is a trek well worth making.

Like something right out of a magazine

2009-10-29T14:33:00.000-07:00

"About a year ago," Grace Partridge of Vancouver, British Columbia, wrote in a recent email, "I wandered into your lovely shop and purchased this big red r. It sat on my table for a while, then it sat on another table. Then I put it on a desk for a few months. Then I moved. Then I moved again," she said.

"I am happy to announce that it finally has the permanent home it deserves. Prominently displayed in the living room, it also happens to be the first thing you see when you walk through the front door. Thank you!"

All we want to add is, "Wow!" This vignette has all the star quality of a layout in Elle Decor magazine, showcasing a simple, fresh blend of vintage and new furnishings and decor details. We also appreciate that it can take a while to decide on a place that feels right for the vintage sign letters you choose at Timeless Treasures. Shall they go above the sofa? On a wall in the hall? In the kitchen? The family room? What about above the bed?

Sometimes it simply takes a while to find where that letter feels right at home.

Thanks for sending along this Show 'n Tell, Grace!

J is for JACK!

2009-10-09T12:21:00.000-07:00

As Stephanie and Kevin Dale of Georgia talked over ideas for decorating their soon-to-be son's room, Stephanie decided she wanted letters to spell out his name. She looked and looked, but only came across newly made letters, mostly in flowery fabrics.
"No, no, no!" she remembers thinking. "I want something in colors that will work in his room." And then she stumbled on Timeless Treasures online and read about the vintage letters used by another mom to spell HOLDEN.
"Our baby's room is painted light blue, with one navy blue wall where we want to spell his name, " Stephanie explained when she called us in San Francisco a few weeks ago. "We're also using green and orange. Can you come up with letters to spell JACK?"
Here you can see the ones she chose, with help long distance from Erin Richardson, who assembled a couple of options for her from the current stock at Timeless Treasures. A vintage highway letter and 3 old enamel and metal sign letters came together to spell out J-A-C-K.
Three-year-old Sam, who's about to become big brother to Jack, pitched in to help Stephanie unpack the letters the other day when they arrived in Georgia. "They work perfectly!" she says.

CRAVE San Francisco:

2009-09-24T11:54:00.000-07:00

More than 100 Bay Area women entrepreneurs are featured in a new guide book celebrating what its authors call "some of the most creative, interesting and gutsy proprietors" throughout the city. Timeless Treasures is delighted to be included among the San Francisco businesses that are profiled.
For those who believe in supporting small, independent businesses, there is plenty to explore. If you're looking, say, for a marvelous place to take visitors to the City who would enjoy "a veddy English cup of tea," this guide profiles local favorite Crown and Crumpet at Ghirardelli Square.
And that's just a beginning. There are photos and short comments that may give CRAVE San Francisco readers the insight and inspiration to consider, even in the current economic climate, pursuing their own entrepereneurial dream.

And they named her Sylvie

2009-09-03T11:25:00.000-07:00

As Emmanuelle Merrill awaited the birth of her second child this past April, she stopped by Timeless Treasures to choose vintage sign letters to decorate her soon-to-be-daughter's room.

Erin Richardson, who has an uncanny knack for helping people choose letters that reflect their personal design style, recommended these letters in warm tones of old brass and gold-painted wood and metal to spell out SYLVIE.

Last week, soon after the safe arrival of her daughter, the proud mama showed us the letters arranged in the baby's room. Erin "picked out the absolute perfect letters for her room!" Emmanuelle says. "I wanted to share the final product."

If you're thinking ahead to the birth of a baby, or mulling over ideas for unique and personal holiday gifts, come to our shop on Sutter Street and see what letters strike your fancy. Or email us to inquire about Letters Long Distance, a service we offer to type and letter aficionados who can't make it to San Francisco.

I Spy: Vintage sign letters from Timeless Treasures featured in Southern Living

2009-08-28T11:45:00.000-07:00

More than a year ago BJ Freeman made a one-day trip to San Francisco from Phoenix especially to find vintage sign letters for a country home she and her husband were renovating in the hills of North Carolina.

Imagine our delight when we spied her story in a recent issue of Southern Living magazine! BJ describes why she chose old letters as part of her decor. "When you're collecting vintage things, there's too much wonderful stuff to limit yourself to the color, style or original intent of the item," she says, according to the magazine. "The sign on the screened porch is actually made using letters from five different signs." She labeled the room PORCH, she says, "in case someone got lost!"

E is for elephant

2009-08-20T01:31:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a simple window display turns out to be the most appealing, and also the fastest to arrange when we're pressed for time.
Here you can see how a gigantic letter E salvaged from an old Tenneco sign serves as the perfect counterpoint for a concrete elephant that has been meticulously restored by San Francisco artisan Peter Quayle. Wouldn't they look marvelously modern in a garden, or a spacious hallway?
The letters T, N, C and O are also available at Timeless Treasures. Each one is 30 inches tall, and priced at $250. Perhaps there's someone on your holiday gift list who would swoon over his or her monogram.

Sign 'em Up: Big Sur Bakery features Timeless Treasures sign letters

2009-08-13T13:53:00.000-07:00

As you drive along the magnificent Pacific Coast Highway south of Monterey and Carmel, there's a "blink-and-you-miss-it" gas station and restaurant located right off the highway in the heart of Big Sur. In recent years, the three owners of Big Sur Bakery and Restaurant have attracted a loyal following by creating what has been called ""a rare beauty: a great restaurant with soul."

Now you can read all about it in The Big Sur Bakery Cookbook, a newly published book that tells the story of a year in the life of Big Sur, including profiles and stunning photographs of the people and the food that make this lovely little place such a favorite with locals and others fortunate enough to stumble upon it.

There's a local angle for Timeless Treasures. The sign that welcomes people to the restaurant, which is featured in the photo on the left, is made entirely of vintage sign letters chosen at Timeless Treasures a few years ago by a Carmel designer. The repurposed letters seem right in keeping with the "locally grown and sustainable" approach taken by owners Michelle and Phillip Wojtowicz and Michael Gilson.

You can read more about this little gastronomic treasure by clicking here.

A bracelet that is destined to become a personal favorite

2009-08-06T12:41:00.000-07:00

When it comes to choosing jewelry -- especially anything you'll wear every day -- everyone wants it to be truly special.
Something sentimental, maybe romantic, certainly personal.
Something, too, that gets people to say, "Oooo! How cool is that! Where'd you get it?"
If it's unique, so much the better.

That's why we are charmed by the one-of-a-kind bracelet shown here. It's made of vintage map charms by Oakland artist Adjowah Brodie and a silver monogram locket from our collection of La Vie Parisienne jewelry.

It began with an idea by Lyn Christensen of Palo Alto, who noticed Adjowah's vintage map necklaces when she stopped by Timeless Treasures a few weeks ago.

Lyn wondered aloud whether we could create something custom, starting with a La Vie Parisienne locket bracelet with her monogram C. She wanted to add map charms depicting cities that have special meaning for her, including Vienna, Prague, New York City and San Francisco. You can see the results of Lyn's luscious gift to herself.

For anyone who loves to travel, or as a keepsake of your city for a friend or co-worker who is leaving, one of the vintage map necklaces or a custom bracelet of favorite places, would make an ideal gift. Give us a call or send an email and we can explore where you want to go!

what inspires you?

2009-07-31T12:16:00.000-07:00

A few days ago we came upon this incredible script sign word that once held neon tubing and a glass or plastic front.

Idea . . . a simple concept open to so many interpretations.
Immediately we started tossing around possibilities for a one-of-a-kind art statement, maybe for a wall in an office or a family room.

What a great idea seems to balance enthusiasm with simplicity. But other possibilities are endless. my big idea, you've no idea, what's your idea of a great time? and more, more, more.

Erin Richardson created the option shown here on the wall at Timeless Treasures using a variety of vintage sign letters to accompany the metal word.
So, what word or phrase inspires you, or simply makes you laugh? Come on over and we'll help you put something into words.

a guest book as unique as her wedding day

2009-07-23T14:00:00.000-07:00

When Amy VanPortfliet of San Francisco stopped into Timeless Treasures looking for a guest book for her upcoming wedding, she was very clear what she didn't want. . . "nothing traditional," she said.
Instead, she was looking for something that would become a very personal and meaningful memento of their Big Day, "more than a couple of signed pages and the rest just left empty," she said.
We were inspired by Amy's choice, a book of quotations called Be, produced by a small publishing house in the Northwest. Along with other collections of inspiring quotations, including Live Good and She, the book Amy will use as a guest book for their wedding reception on August 29 is a thoughtful way to honor a special birthday or anniversary."I hope our friends will write us advice about being married, and about life in general," Amy said. "The book itself is very special, and It will mean a whole lot to us. It feels really unique, and that's what I've been hoping to find."

Little letters make a huge statement

2009-07-16T13:38:00.000-07:00

When Sierra and Jason Renter of Manteca, CA, stopped by Timeless Treasures a few weeks ago, they rummaged through drawers of small vintage letters until they assembled the perfect saying for their home.

The phrase 3 boys plus 1 girl equals happiness, as you can see here, reflects the full-house feeling of this busy family. Their three young sons -- Jeromy, Sam and Aidan-- and daughter Miranda are the impetus for the phrase that's now displayed over a set of double doors in their home.

Of all the letters in her chosen phrase, Sierra says her favorite is the old wooden N painted dark green. And see how the letter O in boys seems to reflect light? That, explains Sierra, is because it's an actual reflector, scavenged from a vintage freeway sign letter. "Jason gets credit for finding that one," she adds.

Now Sierra says that she can't wait to hang up other old sign letters from Timeless Treasures that spell out another favorite phrase, Family Rocks. "Some of the yummiest letters are in that set," she says.

You can follow Sierra's progress at her blog by clicking here.

How others see us: a virtual visit to Timeless Treasures

2009-07-02T11:30:00.000-07:00

San Francisco photographer Michelle Gutierrez of cultural photographia stopped by Timeless Treasures a couple of weeks ago and spent time snapping photos of things that caught her eye.

When she dropped off a CD of her favorites and agreed that we could post them, we couldn't resist sharing all of them with you. We also thought it would be a great opportunity to experiment with a slide show feature we have seen on other sites. See something that you've just gotta have? Give us a call and we can arrange to ship it to you.

one good thing may lead to another

2009-06-04T23:12:00.000-07:00

Within just minutes of a recent blog post by Southern California photographer Tara Whitney about a photo session in which she included giant letters that spelled CHICAGO, we received several inquiries about our old sign letters.
It turns out that Tara mentioned Timeless Treasures as the source of the word, which has led to a continuing stream of requests for words and phrases from people who read her blog. (BTW, if you have trouble finding the photo with CHICAGO, be sure and scroll to the very end of her post for May 13th.)
Among our favorites was one from Alison Conklin, a wedding photographer in Allentown, PA, who wrote and asked about buying the word TRUE. We offered her four options, and she chose the one shown here. We are eager to see how she includes TRUE in photos celebrating the day-of-all-days to be true.