I Was Vintage When Vintage Wasn't Cool

 

If I was a betting person, I would bet that most of you vintage loving friends have pretty much always been that way. I may be wrong here...maybe you're a follower of trends and have jumped on the vintage bandwagon that has been so popular the past several years. Or maybe you are like me and just can't remember a time when you haven't taken a shine to the old-fashioned, crusty, rusty, aged, antiquated, and time-worn objects of yesteryear.

I'm sure there was time when I was growing up that I may not have given much thought to many of those items that were surrounding me...like that old iron chippy white bed that my brothers slept in. Yes I said brothers....plural for brother...two teenaged boys slept together in the same double bed. What I would give to have that wonderful old bed! And just over in the next room (we girls had to walk through the boys' room to get to our room... homemade house problems) was another old metal-framed bed, a dining room buffet and ancient dresser where we put some of our clothes. There, three sisters shared one double bed and I slept on the old roll-away...after I graduated from the baby crib that many of my predecessors had slept in before me...it was in my parent's room downstairs and I was 4 years old before I moved on up to the second floor. Remember the Waltons? That was us.

I guess I just took these things for granted since we didn't have much money and we basically used a lot of things that had been passed down to my parents, most likely from their families. There was nothing fancy or new in our home but it was cozy and warm, adorned with large floral prints...either displayed on the wallpaper (that must be why I still love it) or in the drapes, along with hand crocheted doilies, embroidered dresser scarves, chenille bedspreads and frilly lampshades.

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And speaking of vintage floral prints, I recently found this gorgeous Waverly fabric at a local thrift store. There were eleven yards and it looked as though it was just cut off the bolt...I paid five bucks for it and I was thrilled! I may use it for curtains or maybe I'll get really adventuresome and upholster a chair and foot stool. It would also make some gorgeous throw pillows.

 

Thinking back to our first home (apartment) after we married, I would describe it as eclectic...no real décor theme but cozy and comfortable with some old things mixed with a few newer ones. Some items we came by on our own, others given to us Jim's parents and mine. As a wedding present, Jim's parents wanted to buy us a bedroom set. We decided we wanted antiques so we went to a local dealer and picked out our new (old) oak bed with the tall, curvy headboard, a matching dresser and an old oak wash stand. Today it resides in our guest bedroom.

 



And then I have this weakness for vintage linens. Surely there must be a local chapter of VLAA out there close...(Vintage Linen Addicts Anonymous).

Remember my friend Susie who gifted me with so many of her treasures a couple of years ago?

I'm looking forward to finding just the right places for them in the farmhouse. I've also shared with you before a collection of vintage jewelry that had belonged to my dear late mother-in-law.
 

I get it out every now and then to just look at it or use it in a photo shoot.



I recently found this stunning necklace (below) at the same thrift shop I got the red fabric. I don't think it's really that old but it looks like it's right out of the '30s or '40s...it more than likely is right out of the 2000s...ha! I really don't care though since I really liked it and considered it a bargain for $5.



 

 

And every once in a while, those of us who enjoy olden things, get extra excited when we come across a deal of all deals...like the glider we bought for only $40 at a yard sale several years ago. Those folks just weren't aware of what they and what they could have gotten for it.  Some of you may remember, all she needed was a little face lift. 😊

 

My friend Bonnie who blogs at Vintage Girl 901 (and really knows her vintage stuff) happened to see my bowl and pitcher in a Facebook post and commented on what she'd give to find a McCoy like that one. I didn't have a clue what she was talking about....I proceeded to tell her I had gotten at a yard sale for $2.00 and I could almost hear her chin hit the floor.

 

 

She told me to look on the bottom and sure enough, McCoy was engraved on it. I googled McCoy turkey bowl and pitcher and hit the mother load, finding tons of them in many colors and range of prices. If I like something, I really don't care much about how much it's worth since I plan to keep it...but I have to admit it's fun to know I've gotten a great deal! And talk about deals...remember Sophie?

 

Thirty-five bucks and she was mine. You may remember that I rescued her from a fate worse than death. She had been severely mistreated and I just had to give her a new home. It kind of breaks my heart when something so beautiful is left in ruins.

 

I still need to do a little work to her (the machine) and have just added it to my already long list of things to do.



Jim also shares my fondness for vintage items...in fact, sometimes I think he's got it worse than me. One of his favorite pastimes is browsing flea markets, yard sales and antique shops...it seems he has a weakness for old dishes and has brought home more than I know what to do with. Recently he brought home a couple of really old lamps and these decorative wall plates made in England.

And then there was this vase....♥♥♥.



This very old spinning wheel was given to us by Jim's mother. She had acquired it from a pair of old spinster twin sisters (say that 5 times fast) who lived in their neighborhood when he was growing up. Their last name was Good so they became loving known to all the neighbors as the Good Girls...go figure!

When my mom became too ill to continue living in her home alone, the family came together to go through her things. These are some of what I kept of hers...they probably wouldn't even bring twenty-five cents at a yard sale but are priceless to me because when I use them, they conjure up sweet memories of her.

So this post has been all about old things that add a little extra joy to my life. As I was writing, it became obvious to me that I would be leaving out a very important truth by not adding this final thought. Yes, I admit I do like to surround myself with these timeless pieces and sentimental treasures. Many of them bring a peace and comfort to me by just having them around. But when all is said and done, I would gladly give them all up in a heartbeat if I had to choose between them and my real Treasure...the One whose unending grace saved a wretch like me. Would the Lord ever ask me to do that? I have no idea. I do, however, know where my true peace and comfort come from and it doesn't come from things. I never want any of these possessions to possess me and if and when I am ever asked to give them up, I will do it.

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A visit to an old junkyard several years ago inspired me to add this verse of scripture to one of the many photos I took that day.



So what about you? Is your fancy for vintage something that you acquired as a trend or were you like me...vintage when vintage wasn't cool?