It's no secret that I love second hand shops, vintage treasures and sentimental pieces.
While there's something about the design and delicate details of older items that I'm constantly drawn to, I think that last part is what really drives my desire to buy old.
The idea that my treasures have a history, a former life, that they've been loved before, that's what makes them all so special.
At least for me.
Oh sure, I buy brand new things, too, but in recent years, especially the years since I lost my mom, the oldies are the goodies.
I just love walking into a room, looking around and knowing that so many of my cherished decor accessories have a backstory.
And even though our pasts may not be part of the same story, the minute I see them on the shop's shelf, our history becomes entwined.
Maybe I chatted with the store owner for a bit or the volunteer in the church attic shop about what I'm planning to do with my purchase.
Perhaps I shopped with my daughter or my husband and the trinket I found becomes a part of the memories we made together on that day.
Of course, I do often wonder where my finds really came from, who purchased them and where they were displayed, although, the answers are all pure speculation.
That leaves me telling myself romantic stories about the former lives of candlesticks and picture frames, that are probably much more adventurous than the true tales of how these household items were used.
But sometimes, I get lucky.
The history finds me.
And the reality is even sweeter than the fiction I create in my head.
For instance.
In November of last year, my new sofa had just been delivered and it was time to decorate the family room. I knew I wanted to put fresh flowers in the room, to bring out the ones I'd recently added to the wall, but somehow all my plain white pitchers didn't feel right.
So, I grabbed my daughter and went shopping in town. Did we go to HomeGoods or Pottery Barn? No, we did not.
Instead, we planned to pop into of a few of my favorite thrift and antique shops and wouldn't you know it, in the very first shop, I stumbled upon this beauty.
I fell in love with its classic lines and lovely roses immediately. It was the right size, the right style, and the right price.
And it looked absolutely perfect in the family room, as I knew it would.
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Then in April of this year, I finally shared a picture of the room, and that pitcher, on Instagram and received a message from someone who thought they might be the seller.
How exciting!
A chance to get a little bit of the pitcher's backstory. Maybe where she purchased it or how she came to have it in her shop.
I got so much more.
Once we established that I did indeed purchase it from her room at the antique store, she told me it was a personal piece. It belonged to her grandmother and then her mom.
That it was about 80-100 years old and a piece that was displayed in her mother's home or on her kitchen table for 50 years.
And I got chills.
I have things that were displayed in my grandmother's house and then my mom's, and that connection means so much to me.
They're inanimate objects, but somehow they continue to connect us all, by bringing back warm and lovely memories of times when we were truly, physically, all together.
Having a piece that was loved in the same way, in my home, made those roses so much more special. I was honored to own it.
And to be able to display it in my {almost} 100 year old cottage.
What a gift.
But it gets better.
Fast forward, to mid August when I spotted this beauty go by on Instagram, on the account of my now favorite antique dealer.
I messaged her right away.
Turns out, this one was also a family piece.
I was thrilled to have another pitcher from the same collection, knowing they lived together for many years and would now be reunited.
And she was happy to know that some of her grandmother's and mother's treasures were going to be staying together.
She even sent me the sweetest black and white photo of her grandmother and mom, so I could see who owned my beautiful new tabletop accessories.
How lovely is that?
Now, both of those pitchers are decorating my kitchen.
Some days they're filled with flowers, some days they're not.
But they're always filling me with joy, especially when I recall their precious history.
And that's not something I'd ever find at HomeGoods.
😉
What stories does your decor tell?
There was a song several decades ago, it goes something like this "Every Thing is Beautiful In It's Own Way". I 'm like you, I like the oldies. The oldies have the detail of beauty about them.
ReplyDeleteThey certainly do...and now I have to go look that song up!! Thanks for sharing!
DeleteLove the stories you share with us my dear friend. And the sweet family memories not just from your family but antique dealers as well... it all checks my list of The Good Stuff about life. Thank you for sharing your treasurers and writing with us.
ReplyDeleteCarla
Thank you, Carla. Thank you for sharing those sweet words. You just made my day. ❤️
DeleteOh Kim - this is the best! I agree that the sentimental value of things is the most important! I love that you know the history of those pieces and that they are together again. You'll never be able to get rid of them now. :)
ReplyDeletePS - remember the piece I told you that you inspired? It'll be on my blog this week, and it too has great sentimental value.
Hi Mari!! Yes! These two are bonded now, I should put a note on the bottoms so they always stay together!! Oh and I can't wait to see what you have to share. I'll be looking for it for sure!!
DeleteYears ago I found an old-fashioned framed document at my favorite thrift store. It had beautiful calligraphy and it was in German. I thought that it might be a baptismal certificate. It was over 100 years old. For years I tried to find the family members of the person listed on the certificate. I finally found a man on Ancestry.com who had the same person listed on his family tree. I left an email for him. I didn't receive an answer so I just displayed it in my apartment. Several years later he got in touch with me. The baby on the certificate was his great-grandmother. He told me that his father always regretted that he did not have anything to remember his grandmother by. I promptly sent him the framed certificate. He was so grateful to finally have something from his great-grandmother. - Briana from Texas
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful story and a marvellous ending to think that that persons family history is now back home you are so generous and thoughtful to give tha mans history back to him,
DeleteBriana, that is a crazy story...and a beautiful at that. I agree with Marilyn, what a thoughtful and generous act of kindness. I'm sure they're so happy to have that piece of family history back and I'm sure it makes you happy, too. Thanks for sharing your story with us!! ❤️
DeleteI have some special pieces too. I have shared a few of my mom's pieces with my two daughters and it is exciting that they like them now in their homes. Have a great weekend. Hugs. Kris
ReplyDeleteI bet they really appreciate them, Kris. I know my kids are always like, don't get rid of that, it reminds me of Nene. Of course, they still live here, so I get to house all of their treasures as well as my own...for now! Haha!! Have a great week!!
DeleteThat is so cool! The first one was really just made for you....it is absolutely perfect in your home.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I agree, it goes here really well. It was a lucky find.
DeleteThat`s exactly why I had all the crockery and ornaments from my mother-in-Law when she passed including a magnificent Art Deco Dressing Table last month I couldnt just let them go to somebody who didn`t care for them some are old other`s not so much but to me they are irreplaceable because they have meaning to us, not valuable moneywise but valuable in memories to me they are absolute treasure and priceless..
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have so many lovely pieces of memorabilia from your mother in law, Marilyn. I bet they make you smile whenever you look at them. I have some cherished pieces from my grandmothers and my mom that I just adore, as well.
DeleteGreat post! Thanks for sharing this sweet story. Those pieces were meant for you.
ReplyDeleteKathleen - kakingsbury at verizon dot net
Thank you, Kathleen! I feel very lucky to be their proud new owner, especially knowing it makes their former owner happy knowing they're together.
DeleteHi Kim, Thank you for your sweet comments about Ashley's wedding. I love to thrift and after reading this post I think I need to get my thrift on this fall. I love that vase on your kitchen table! xo laura
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Laura and congratulations again. What a wonderful weekend!
DeleteI have quite a few of these treasures - they make me smile and remember happy times.
ReplyDelete...and I think that's the best part. ❤️
DeleteKim, I love everything about this post--especially the title! I had a similar experience when I recently visited an antique store in CO with my daughter. I picked up a sweet vintage tea towel and the price tag was hard to read but it looked like $1. I asked the cashier, and she told me that it was in fact a $1 and had belonged to the shop owner's mother who was 97. As pretty as the linen was, that made my thrifty purchase all the more special!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like the title!! Writing is my favorite activity and I appreciate you noticing my wordplay. It's such a gift when we can find out a little bit of the backstory isn't it? Suddenly that pretty item in the shop gets a whole lot more interesting and the purchase is that much more meaningful. I'm glad you were able to find out a bit about your tea towel! Thanks for sharing with me!
DeleteOh, how I love these stories! Like you, I am much more drawn to vintage and resale shops to look for home decor than I am places like HomeGoods. Don't get me wrong - things from HG can have a place and a purpose, but they don't mean anything. It's just cheap stuff from China that everyone else can have in their home, too. Vintage pieces are unique, have a history, are well made, and so much more interesting to look at. :-)
ReplyDeleteMelanie, I couldn't agree more. Everything you said is spot on and exactly how I feel. I'm so glad to know I'm not alone when it comes to my love of history and vintage treasures.
DeleteThose are so sweet. I love those stories too. I often have people asking me if I know anything about the pieces I sell, but I hardly ever do. I don't blame you for wanting to know more. I love those pitchers you got...especially the last one with the big roses.
ReplyDeleteBTW, could you provide me with the youtube link to your daughters song? I just love it! Stardust I think it's called. I like to listen to it.
I'm sure you get asked about the origins of your items all the time, Florence. I guess it's human nature to want to know where our treasures come from...if possible. I'm super surprised and happy that I was able to find out a bit about the pitchers. And you are super sweet...the girls will be thrilled to hear that you love their song. You can listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELLDVpDDOxs
DeleteSuch a sweet story. I am either in a grocery store or thrift store. I do go into home goods but coming out with zero. I much rather look around thrift stores for treasures that someone else loved. I have my grandmothers end tables and when I look at them, I see her. I sure miss her.
ReplyDeleteThanks Betsy! I'm with you, I occasionally pop into HomeGoods, but I haven't come out with anything in a long, long time. Your grandmother's end tables are a treasure, I'm sure. It really does help to have a little piece of our loved ones around sometimes...
DeleteThat is so great! These pieces are so special and unique! I love old things, too. I always say I am buying my family heirlooms! Old silver plate, old lamps, mirrors, whatever strikes my fancy.
ReplyDeleteI love that Deanna, because you are buying the family heirlooms! The kids will remember all the pretty things you pick up, when they were used, where you had them set out and they will take on a special meaning.
DeleteKim, that is so awesome that you found out about those pitchers. They both look beautiful filled with those roses. I hope you enjoy your new pitchers.
ReplyDeleteThanks Julie! They really do both make me smile. They're pretty and the story behind them is so very heartwarming.
DeleteAwww I loved that story, Kim, and how you came to be the owner of those beautiful pitchers. You’re so right, you could never find those at HomeGoods or the memories that were shared.
ReplyDeleteKim,
ReplyDeleteGreat story...I love thrifted items as I think they add such character...They are perfect for your lovely cottage.
Hugs,
Deb