I've been making a huge effort to clean out our home closets/vintage catch-alls in the last couple of weeks. Call it a Valentine's Day gift to my husband.... lol. There is nothing he likes more than what he calls "getting rid of junk". He is so stinkin neat and me, well it's an ongoing battle with myself to keep the piles to a minimum and to not let the boxes of stuff fill up all of the rooms in our house. Some of you might think ... hey don't you have a couple of buildings you could keep your finds in?? And the answer is yes, BUT, I am one of those work very late or super early people and when the spirit moves me to take photos, clean, price, pack etc... I'm usually in pj's and slippers and that's how I like it! I don't want to go off to a big old commercial building at 4 am because that is creepy and definitely not pajama optional.
As I've been digging thru some of the boxes of stuff I'd shoved into dark recesses of our house I was recently struck by just how random my buying is and always has been. I do have a love for vintage clothing, shoes, and linens for sure, but when I'm at an estate sale I buy whatever strikes my fancy at that particular moment. And sometimes the moment never returns again. For instance, this book ....
I do remember buying it about 3 years ago. I had never bought a book on tools before and I might never again. But I'm pretty sure I opened it up and thought .... hey all of those illustrations would be pretty cool for collage projects. And then it promptly got buried in a box with other randomness on top that I was unsure what to do with and flash forward 3 years it just got drug out and is now going to the shop having had nothing done with it. I do that a lot! My husband doesn't care at all about how much I buy so long as I DO SOMETHING WITH IT!
My problem is that I have a million ideas and fashion myself some sort of future artisan/crafts person. Ssshhhh, lets not remind him about the GINORMOUS hoard of vintage beads I have hiding under the stairwell for my doubtful future as a jewelry maker! But in reality I have rarely found the time in the last 20 years to make things. And why is that? Probably because I'm too busy buying cool crap to make cool crap .... isn't that ironic!
How about this ...
See those three sticks banded together ... I bought those because there is pretty mother of pearl inlay on them and one of them has a fancy rhinestone top. I wasn't, and still am not sure if they are hair adornments of something else entirely. When I can't figure out exactly what something is the item often gets delegated to storage. Like I think the answer will come to me magically in the night. Hah! Never happens. What does happen is that I forget completely that the item exists and then months or even years later I get to like it all over again as I discover it for the second time. Sometimes (sadly) I don't have any memory of it at all. When at estate sales I buy in a whirlwind. And I never agonize over a purchase. Buy it or don't! I go with my gut. So even the same day of a sale when I unpack my finds I'm surprised by what's in the box. I'm beginning to see that this post should be entitled "Hey lady, you're crazy as heck!"
So anyhoo...I am deeply in love and like with my dear sweet husband Bob and if me cleaning out the closets and hidden recesses of our once tidy home makes his sweet self happy then by gosh that's what I'll do! After 21 plus years of marriage the love grows stronger but the gifts do certainly change. In our house there is (by request) no flowers, chocolate or heaven forbid lingerie being received by me on Valentine's Day. There will be a cozy delicious dinner, a heartfelt card and if the stars are aligned right .... the world's best back massage. I could not ask for more!
The book, mirror and pretty sticks??? are all being dropped off at moxie today. Along with .... cutest chicken platter, big green hat, vintage floral print, black floral tole tray, faux snakeskin belt, turquoise and white pyrex bowl, funky swedish tealight holder, funky cute orange floral tablecloth, 3 family creative workshop books, a small globe, vintage picture frame and more. As always if you are interested in seeing photos of what I'm bringing in on a more frequent basis please visit our Facebook page often. You the people have spoken and I have listened. You like photos!! I have been a good shop girl and have been posting pictures at least 3 to 4 times a week for a month or so. Just click the photos button on left side and it will take you to all of our recent photo albums. If you visit our page I hope you'll "Like" us. It makes us feel all happy inside when you do that. A happy Valentine's Day to you all!!!!!!!!! xoxo, Megan
This is so funny... and sounds somewhat like me!!! I bet your husband and my husband would have some good talks about us together haha My husband is a "everything has a purpose and a spot" kinda guy and I like you buy what I like in that moment kinda of girl and might not "use it" for years or maybe never but I had to have it in that moment ... HUGS!
Posted by: Angie Kossman | February 14, 2012 at 09:32 AM
Angie... I'm happy to know that you also might squirrel your finds away for whatever reason. And yes, our husbands would surely have lots to say about us and our vintage buying habits!! Hugs to you too!
Posted by: Megan Morrison | February 14, 2012 at 10:06 AM
I find this exciting that you've made discoveries of long lost vintage and can't wait to see what has come in to the store! Happy Valentine's Day!
Posted by: Lisa | February 14, 2012 at 07:17 PM