As a child, I was quite shy and would spend a lot of time with myself. I preferred my own company. Aside from that, I also spend a lot of time with my Great Grandpa Bill. He was a great story teller, especially ghost stories. More than that he was a very interesting man.

One of the things he enjoyed was collecting vintage catalogues, eventually, he would collect reproduction catalogues. I was intrigued with them. He would let me look at the reproductions while he supervised as some of the vintage catalogues were too frail. Two of the ones I loved the most were from 1901 and 1927 (Eaton’s). I obsessively looked at them. When he passed away, those two catalogues were given to me and I still have them.

Occasionally, I will use these catalogues or other online catalogues as inspiration for characters in stories I’m writing for for garments I am making. Below are a few I often peruse. You might get some enjoyment out of them as well!

Eaton’s Spring and Summer Catalogue 1907 https://archive.org/details/eatons190700eatouoft/page/n5/mode/2up

Archives of Ontario http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/microfilm/eatons.aspx

Library and Archives Canada https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/postal-heritage-philately/canadian-mail-order-catalogues/Pages/canadian-mail-order-catalogues.aspx

Digital Kingston https://www.digitalkingston.ca/presents-from-the-past/store-catalogues