I'm Stephanie Dew and I am Stephanie Dew Designs! Also known as Designs From the Deep!
I am not your average collector, as I collect a very wide range of items. I studied art and fashion at Syracuse University. Upon graduation, I moved to New York City and pursued a career in fashion design. Soon I landed a job as an assistant to my idol, Betsy Johnson. As I worked for her, my interest in antique images, paper scraps and ephemera blossomed.
In 1985, I started my own wholesale line of handcrafted decoupage jewelry and various gift items. My collection of these images and ephemera is directly used in our work. Almost everything I collect is dated from 1900 to 1960. I search high and low for unusual images. I look for old board games, postcards, marketing accoutrements, decals and decorations. I recently began experimenting with old vegetable seed packets - they are colorful and amusing.
Sometimes people find that an image I have used will evoke a personal memory. I love it when that happens. I love connecting with people this way
A fairly large portion of my collection involves pulp fiction paperback books, although I have to admit that a lot of the art on those would be considered politically incorrect these days
I think you'll find that this collection is based in a sense of whimsy or lightheartedness. My favorite time period is the 1950's. I love anything to do with bowling, drive-in movies, cars and pin-ups. As we get farther and farther from this period, it becomes apparent that people long for at he simpler and gentler time reflected in this art work.