Knowledge

10 Things We Know to Be True about Vintage

 

Tony and I have been vintage lovers, we figure, for ninety years if you add them together. These are some things we believe to be true about vintage:

Living with vintage goods is-

  1. Sensible- Quite often, buying vintage is friendlier on our budget than buying new.

  2. Expressive- Vintage decorating and adorning is very self-expressive and unique to the collector. We love the freedom of not closely following trends, of finding things that “speak to us.”

  3. Meaningful- Often, vintage goods have past histories and memories associated with them. Living with them can make daily life more meaningful.

  4. Responsible- Buying vintage goods is a way of re-using products that already exist in the world, lessoning the carbon footprint.

  5. Friendly- Shopping for vintage goods can foster new friendships with shop owners and other like-minded people.

  6. Creative- Curating a vintage decor or wardrobe is a creative outlet, and some collections become works of art.

  7. Bonding- Gathering vintage finds is a fun hobby that my husband and I enjoy together.

  8. Adventurous- Not knowing where, when, or what we will find makes vintage buying so enjoyable.

  9. Educational- It’s truly a joy to research and learn about vintage finds.

  10. Quality- Older items, especially furniture, are often of higher quality materials than new, often disposable items.

Community

Tony and I often find ourselves a little introvert-ish. (One-third to one- half of us are, according to QUIET: The Power Of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain.) It’s a little comical that we both chose teaching as a profession since on a typical day, I interact with over 100 students and staff (Tony, not so much having retired). After a very social day, it’s vital for me to have quiet time to recharge. When weather permits, this usually consists of quiet conversations on the back porch on our green vintage metal glider. Our favorite place recently is what we lovingly call our “headquarters,” our matching chartreuse green, plush vintage 60s swivel club chairs with matching ottoman. (We just love those chairs! So do the grandkids, because they are fun to spin:)

These last couple of weeks, though, we’ve been even more deeply immersed in community. We’ve met hundreds of new faces at Chandelier Barn Market. We’ve been more involved in events at our church. We attended a family member’s funeral, faculty meetings, organizational board meetings, a local chamber of commerce meeting, and a local poetry and prose gathering. At first it was a little overwhelming to have such “people-y” days and less quiet time, but we are learning…

We recognize that to be around people with common interests, goals and causes is so vital for inspiration, support and belonging. When we dreamed our shop, we imagined a place where people who loved art and antiques would enjoy visiting and gathering occasionally for special events. A place where people could share ideas, think new thoughts, and remember old ones.

We need each other.

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Wander

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Mended

We have all heard the saying “if these walls could talk.” It’s fun to imagine the things that might have happened in a house or business. April and I do this as well, but not only with walls. I think that is why we caught the antique and vintage “bug.”

April loves fabrics, especially the handmade or embroidered pieces. Names, initials, pictures, often made out of necessity. A mended feed sack or patch on a linen tractor umbrella tell the story of a farmer’s wife.  She was not only saving the family finances, but also fixing something that was just the “correct” thing to do.

I tend to gravitate to the patched enamelware pot, welded tool, or bolted harness. Oh, the stories the things could tell!  I will often see something at a sale and admire the lengths that someone went to in order to save it. Why? Was it sentimental, so specialized that it was irreplaceable, or just a story of economics?

Maybe that is why I am currently working on the Franken chairs. (see last week's post) I wonder who rocked this broken rocker or who ate dinner in that broken ladder back chair?  Who made them, how many were made, and where were they made. I can't help myself.

Tony


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