Design That Feeds Us

Corniness inside ⤵⤵⤵

Hey friends!

Did you have a good summer? I had a busy summer and thus, haven’t written to you in a long time!! Is anyone else feeling like every day is a fresh new hell? All you want is peace and prosperity for all but that’s feeling impossible?? If you are feeling like that, know that I am with you. It feels insane to talk about type/design but it’s my job so here I am!

I’m bringing you a long overdue Fun Email today! I think we could use a little respite from the world so there are lots of images below to rest your pretty little eyes on. <3

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A couple weeks ago, it was MN State Fair season. If you’re not from Minnesota (like I am), you may not know how special it is. It is a fair on the juice!! It’s the second largest state fair in the US — after Texas, naturally. It’s gigantic, hot, crowded, and all the food is on sticks for some reason. Better to eat and people watch I suppose?

I hadn’t been in several years so it felt like the first time again! While I was there, I went to check out the crop art (as one does). In the entrance, there were all these feed sacks on display and my jaw was on the floor!! How did I, a farmer’s daughter, completely miss the agricultural sector of design?

I’m thinking about making “NORD” a new logo option for me!!

In case you’re wondering what that person on the bottom left is: It’s part of the scarecrow competition, obviously.

There was no information displayed about this collection so I googled it when I got home. The collection is owned by my fellow Minnesotan in arms, Ron Kelsey. Here’s a little vid that shows a peak at his collection and a couple fun facts about the history of feed sacks. It’s from PBS and very wholesome.

Unfortunately, Ron’s collection is not available digitally but there are lots more videos and articles on him if you’d like to fall down that rabbit hole. Fortunately, there are lots of other feed sacks online! So I’ve gathered a small handful (50+) of my favorites! They’re all linked if you want to take a closer look. And about half of them are for sale on eBay so maybe you’d like to own a piece of design ephemera?? Enjoy!!

Las Mariposas Harina Superior Flour Sack | H. Skott and Co. Butterfly Brand Flour Sack | Nutmeg Orange Brand Roller Flour Sack

Genato Commercial Corporation Surtidos Flour Sack | Big Bend Milling Company Flour Sack | Pendleton Roller Mills Byers' Blue Ribbon Flour Sack

Clover Hill Corn Sack | Beyers Feed Sack | Harrison's Corn Meal Bag

Jack Frost Sugar Bag | California Ryans Toppers Sack | Wisconsin OK Potatoes Sack

Sterling Flour Bag | Fancy Bouquet Flour Bag | X-L-NT Flour Bag

Bleached Four Peaks Flour Sack | See All Flour Sack | Red and White Bleached Flour Sack

Old-Time Pure Buckwheat Sack | Greenfield Village Buckwheat Flour Sack | New York State Buckwheat Sack

Hubbard’s Feed Sack | Farmdale Feed Sack | Beacon Feed Bag

Bowens Mills Apple Cider Sack | 'Rag Darling' Flour Sack | Kaytee Feed Sack

Green Pennant Potato Sack | Green Diamond Flours Sack | Rancho Grande Potato Sack

Kellers 70-30 Feed Sack | Donley's Alfalfa Sack | Kellers Red Clover Sack

Northwest Co-Op Sack | C&C Mills Plansifter Flour Sack | Pillsbury Flour Sack

Round Up Family Flour Sack | Charger Best Patent Flour Sack | Kentucky Pride Flour Bag

LOV-ME Flour Sack | Red Bell Potato Bag | Montana Spring Wheat Patent Flour Sack

Sunrise Blue Stem Wheat Flour Sack | "Morning Glory" Flour Sack | Golden Harvest Extra Cake and Pastry Flour Sack

GOLD MEDAL Flour Sack | Centennial Mills Waffle Flour Sack | Wirthmore Feed Sack

Swan Corn Meal Bag | Dekalb Corn Feed Sack | Log Cabin Corn Meal Bag

Leave a comment and tell me which one is your fave!!

Love you,
Libbie