I got started on this stuff when I was in an altered book club, buying it with the intention of using it in collagey projects. I have actually used some of these sorts of things in projects, but as with most crafts I like, I tend to stockpile! There are good intentions for most of this stuff, at least.

Old metal is so pleasing to me! The designs, patinas, wear patterns, dirt and old paint. I love that it’s REAL metal! It’s usually brass or bronze, none of that crummy fake plated stuff. I love how heavy it feels in the hand.

My first acquisition for this collection was a batch of these strike plates. I intended to screw them into altered books with the tabs sticking out, and place tiny images in the “windows.”

I quickly moved on to purchase other bits of antique metal. Here are some keyholes, a piece of old jewelry, and another unidentified piece of hardware. I think the keyholes would be cute for jewelry or artwork.

I love antique door plates! Neat designs, and usually lots of crusty paint, varnish and patina. I have more of these somewhere… probably out in a box in the garage. I didn’t notice before, but the one on the left and the one on the right in this photo actually have the same pattern! I bought them at different times, and never closely examined them until now.

I got this old letter slot at an antique shop for $4. It has a spring on it so the flap so it is self-closing. I envisioned making some sort of decorative box/assemblage with this mounted on an opening…

Got these drawer pulls at an antique shop too. I don’t recall the exact price, I think it was $3.50 each maybe. I imagined attaching one to the front of an art book, using it as a holder for another smaller book or some art cards.

These are one of my favorite acquisitions: antique pocket door pulls. I had never seen any before when I bought them at an antique shop for $5 each. I envision them installed into a book or assemblage as tiny shrines or holders of small objects. Love!