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Saturday, March 31, 2012

Why We Love Vintage Shabby


Please don't be offended by the title of this post.
It's just, well, you should probably know this about me:
I am a woman with theories about things.


Things like: 

Why liver is NOT good for you.

Why hot coffee spills more easily than iced tea.

Why certain people are mean. (OK, so this one's a coping skill.)


So when I post about why we love all things
vintage, shabby, chippy and rusty, 
THINGS THAT MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH AT US...
it is just another theory of mine.

So, why did I get excited when I dug this out of a pile 
of leaves and wood scraps in my storage shed?


Well, here's my theory:

I (and apparently a lot of you, too), so WE
like vintage shabby stuff because of these things:

ROMANCE
CRAFTSMANSHIP/QUALITY/MATERIALS
CONNECTION
REBELLION


ROMANCE

It reminds us of a time in which we did not live, therefore
we can think sweet, romantic thoughts about it.
(not about actually having to haul and drink water from it)


We can wonder about who made it, who used it, 
who loved it when it was new and other romantic things.


CRAFTSMANSHIP/QUALITY/MATERIALS



We are baffled by it being thrown out or sold for pennies.
We don't understand why others don't see it's charm or its value.
We wonder why it is considered as junk, when the
craftsmanship and materials are better than 
most things available to us today for a lot more money.

Things today are plastic, plain, or disposable. 
It costs too much to produce an ornamental door plate.
Metal, glass and wood things last too long. 
Our economy would be adversely affected
if things didn't break or wear out so quickly.
Oh, yeah, and go out of style in a year. Or less.


CONNECTION

These things connect us to the past,
sometimes to family we cherished and now they're gone.
Sometimes to people we never knew.
We are amazed that this simple thing was 
touched by their hands. It decorated their home.
We know that chip was caused when
great uncle Fred through a toy tractor at grandpa.
It makes us feel closer, and a part of a family.

Or as in my case, if you did not have a family of "keepers,"
you buy other non-keepers' stuff and imagine your own stories.

My mom is a keeper, but my grandparents were not.


REBELLION

What? You never thought of yourself as a rebel?
You are. You are choosing to do things differently.
You will not follow the pack. You wouldn't dream of
ordering a room full of matching furniture.  

And think about this one: We live in a high-tech culture.
Don't think you're a techie? You're sitting at a computer now.
You may have an I-phone. You may tweet and text.
You can take photos and email them. With your phone.

OK, Jane Jetson, how do you 
counter-balance all this high-tech, slick and shiny,
 new and improved, state-of-the-art,
something point something version of lifestyle?

Simple.
 By surrounding yourself with a little rust. 
Or something handmade. 
Maybe a piece of
textural original art. 
You are SUCH a rebel.

So, how much cash did I pay for all this?


Seven. Buckaroos. 
(Yes, we say that here in Texas.)
And I was happy to do it.

And those people  who sold it were probably
laughing all the way to the bank.

That's OK. They didn't know I wanted to make one of these:


I don't think I could even buy a cheap towel bar for $7.


Word for the Day:


The Throne in Heaven ] 

After this I looked, and there before me 
was door standing open in heaven. 
And the voice I had first heard 
speaking to me like a trumpet said, 
“Come up here, and I will show you 
what must take place after this.”

If you haven't yet been to the door, 
and then one day you find yourself there,
just knock. That's all you have to do. 
You will love what you find on the other side.
-Revi

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