On my shelf there is

Subject: On my shelf there is Fri Mar 21, 2008 2:46 pm

When I look from where I'm writing this I enjoy what I see, because I finally (2 years) have my own little townhome and I only brought with me what I liked. I still have some gaps here and there but intend on filling it in when I find whatever ...........

I'm sitting on a wonderful old sofa that I've had recovered 5 times. I love it. It originally had the scritchy material from the 40/50's . It is so comfortable and it is the best place to take naps. I was going to get rid of it before I moved and just couldn't do it and I'm glad I didn't. I think we paid $25.00 for this sofa about 28 years ago. I sometimes think of my kids and the days past, of how pregnant I was with my daughter and how I had a heck of a time getting up from it, my son holding his new sister and smiling on it, my husband, brother in law, friends, and good times and it is much more than a sofa but a real comfort in other ways because I'm remembering things can never be again.

I look to my right and my brothers old toy chest, I think the wood is oak and it has some knicks and things but I don't care because I think of my brother when I look at it. He's out west and I never see him anymore.

My L shaped bookcase with glass doors I just got when I moved in and it came from a mansion in town. It is called Dr. Leonards bookcase...not sure why.but .in it is fun. I have the two pink flamingos that my grandparents brought back from Florida in the 70's. The 2 pictures of Clark Gable and his entourage, that came from my Great Uncle Pete,he was in the service with him. some of my cowboy collectibles from the 30-50's. and of course alot of different books and pictures. There is a small doll chair my dad made for my daughter.
Old glass, mirrors, chairs, lamps( I love lamps ) .
In my kitchen is my grandmothers hutch it was in her dining room when I was growing up and is painted the same green but I have decided I'm not painting it anymore and the paint is starting to crackle on it. There is old green depression glass, some dancing girls from the 20's some Findlay and Fostoria glass, cake stands, cake covers, etc.
I have a cute bench made from a Cannonball 4 poster feather bed from a friend I met when I was 18 and I remember him finding this bed in an old barn in Ohio, and cleaning it up. I would have prefered the bed but I had no control of that...so now I have a bench. He has since died..and I think of him. The cushion is covered in the same material as my sofa.
My bookshelf in my kitchen,is oak and folds and I was told this is what you would receive when you sent in so many box tops from soap. I have all my cookbooks on it with a picture of my Great Aunt Laverne. I was told she was quite a character when she was growing up and I believe she is where I got my love of books and baking from.

Just about everywhere I look, upstairs and down there is a story of how things happend and the stories behind them and the people that I know or knew or never did in my home. I love it. Why would anyone want to go to a furniture store for everything ( maybe a few ).

I could go on and on but you have the idea and I'm sure the stories of your own finds and memories.

Barbara

Subject: Re: On my shelf there is Fri Mar 21, 2008 4:54 pm

Great post Barbara. Would make an excellent blog entry, with perhaps a photo or two of the times you mention.
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Subject: Re: On my shelf there is Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:04 pm

And photo's would be gorgeous - I love a bit of visual inspiration.

Subject: Re: On my shelf there is Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:08 pm

Oh yes, Barbara...photos are always an extra-special treat! Your home sounds so loved and interesting. I regret we did not bring an old sofa and 2 chairs with us when we moved from Canada to the UK. It was a very solid, heavy piece of furniture and like yours, had been recovered a few times.

I'm on the lookout now for a new 2 seater sofa (well, new to me). I won't by new for the time being...prefer to recycle...just have to find one that is the right dimensions & has comfort-plus! Shouldn't be too difficult! (lol)

Jacquie x

Subject: Re: On my shelf there is Sat Mar 22, 2008 11:12 am

I totally agree with your sentiments too Barbara, of having a home full of love and happy memories and things you treasure, rather than a perfect interiors-magazine style 'look' bought from new - and without 'soul'.

The trouble is, for me, my parents were of the generation where when it came to home-making (in the 70's) they didn't want what they saw as old toot from their parents etc, and as soon as they possibly could afford to buy things new and 'modern', they did. This therefore leaves a glaring lack of vintage hand-me-downs for me to place lovingly in my home - there simply are none!

For instance, I remember a beautiful dark wood (probably real teak wood or something and beautifully made) sideboard, given to them by someone, that we had in our home all through our childhood. I remember my Mum hating it, and when we moved house in 1982 (yet another era of interiors that style forgot....) she placed it in our playroom, having sawn the legs off to make it fit under a window!! I often think of it, and wonder how retro it would look now (in it's original form!). She also had a real Lloyd Loom chair, that she painted with layer upon layer of gloss paint (aargh!), and replaced one of the missing feet with a Bell's Whiskey lid (I kid you not) painted over as well. It now resides in her bathroom, getting further ruined. They simply don't have a respect for salvaging true 'vintage', it is not their taste or style. Though their tastes are old fashioned and traditional (to me) it is still not in a 'vintage' way - it is shop bought old fashioned style if you know what I mean, rather than genuine old and interesting.

The only real family vintage thing I have is one of my Grandfather's winged farmhouse style dining chairs (nothing fancy at all). He had them for many years, and this was the only one not wobbly or broken, but I wanted to keep it as I still envisage him sitting making his matchstick models (which he made to give to Barnados to raise money for them) at the table - as does my daughter who was very close to him too, so I hope to find a special place for it for us both to have happy memories.

So how to fill my home with memories? Well, I will have to start to create my own, and hope that over the years I will end up with a home full of 'soul' - but it can't be contrived in such a short space of time I suppose (I have only been a home owner for 13 years!) and hope that maybe my daughter will appreciate it one day?!

Subject: Re: On my shelf there is Sat Mar 22, 2008 11:53 am

I have heard the same thing from other people about our parents and g.parents being tired of things and wanting new.

I can't say as I blame them, especially if it was something they had to look at growing up. You either like it or not.

Vintage pictures are wonderful because everyone pretty much looks alike and if you don't have any family members,then adopt the picts and call them family. I think all furniture and such cast offs by uninterested people are just waiting to be adopted. Its always nice if you can find something you missed growing up like your sideboard from your parents house.

There is alot in my house that didn't come from home or grandparents, mine anyways..alot is adopted.

My ex and I have the same eclectic taste and we both keep an eye out for different finds and switch off if we want to when we're tired of it. Although his house is now ultramodern in all the rooms he has, with the exception of one and some of the items in it. Old habits die hard.

I've found that kids usually like more than ya realize. My son didn't really care for antiques, didn't have an opinion really. But when my mom's house was being cleared out I brought him the iron skillet my dad always used and the utensils with it and he is cherishing it. He's also a chef and I knew that would make a difference. I asked him if he had used it and he said no. He wasn't going to. I was surprised by that, my dad would have prefered he did. My daughter has her interests as well and I have pointed out certain things in the house and their histories and value so she is aware of it.