-

-
Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

I'm Not Old, I'm Vintage

"Vintage Markets" seem to be quite popular at garden shows of late.  I admire the "shabby chic" look but when I try it in my house it ends up just looking shabby. (That was being kind, it really ends up looking crappy.)   Nonetheless, I'm a fan of vintage markets and the cool stuff to be found there.  Here are a few shots of the vintage market at the Tacoma Home and Garden Show that Alison and I attended last weekend.

Dig the golf club coat racks.  What a great way to repurpose these.

One of the things that appeals to me is spaces filled with treasures.  I love having to move cool objects to see others, to have to study a space for a while to see all that's there.  The three-dimensional collage  is a wonderful place to be!

Spring chandelier.

So, you're telling me that this is a vintage item?  What do the kids play their records on these days?

As I said in the title, I'm vintage.  Old is someone who once owned these vintage glasses.  You know who you are!  It's o.k. I love old things.
 
Old meets new.  Victorian baskets and the neon art at the Tacoma Dome.   There were baskets like the silver painted one that lived at the little church I went to as a youngster and they were hauled out to hold flowers for weddings and funerals. 



These aluminum chimney top thingies, the official term for them, have always fascinated me but I'd never thought of bringing one indoors.


These lockers would make great planters for anything that likes good drainage.  I took the card of the local lady who has these for sale as I didn't want to haul them all over the dome.  The price is fairly low and I think that six of them stacked in a pyramid and planted with succulents and cacti would look smashing!

This screen almost came home with me.  Would be perfect in my house but I don't really know where I'd put it. 

A wonderful new life for the front panel of an old upright  piano. 


 Technology has certainly come a long way in a short time!  Some of us learned to type (that's another word for keyboarding) on something that looked like this and now often only use our thumbs to write texts on miniscule lighted flat surfaces.
 
Speaking of keys,  I hope you're as keyed up as I am about the Northwest Flower and Garden Show that opens on Wednesday.  It'll be nice to see gardens in bloom!  
 
 The weather here had been fairly dry and warm for a while and it felt like we were going to have an early spring but with temperatures forecast to go into the teens, it seems that winter is making a repeat visit with another deep freeze.   Alison and I are going to Seattle for a preview of the show today so I'll post some teaser pictures tomorrow.   Keep warm everyone!

30 comments:

  1. I remember far too many of those things ! Keep warm Peter

    ReplyDelete
  2. Don't you know you're supposed to buy first and figure out where to put it later? :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are so right!I do that with my garden so it should work in the house too, right? Of course, there are narrow paths through the jungle outside and wayward branches hit you in the face as you pass by.

      Delete
  3. So many cool items there to be creative with Peter, and we want that typewriter!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Always fun to visit places packed with fun stuff.

      Delete
  4. So cool, Peter! I think there are many such vintage things in any garage or shed. (in my garden shed I have some old things too!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, indeed, my attic has a few vintage things lying around. It's fun looking at other people's old stuff.

      Delete
  5. An artist friend used those "chimney-top thingy's" as stools in her loft (with a bit of cushioning) and they were brilliant. Hers had the patina of age.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Fun tour! We had a set of those plastic rattan glasses.

    Love all that stuff and enjoy using it in the garden mostly. I'm looking forward to the posts from the NWFGS.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One of my sisters also had a set of those plastic rattan glasses. We got a preview of the gardens at the show today just before the deadline. The garden builders were working frantically to put on final touches and sop up stray water or spray water on things to make them glisten. Such fun for us but it must have been a very nerve-racking time for the designers and workers!

      Delete
  7. There was so much cool stuff at that vintage market. I kind of wish I'd checked out the price on that piano bench. Wouldn't it look awesome on my front porch?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It would look really great on your front porch! Was that from The Urban Gardener? www.tacomaurbangardener.com Maybe it's not too late?

      Delete
  8. I'm not old either :) And like you, I haven't mastered the shabby chic style in my own home, but like seeing it elsewhere....My grandmother had those glasses. I'd LOVE to find an old upright piano to tear apart! My wonder-working hubby could make me that bench!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We fall more into the collectable category. Collect them all, trade them with your friends... I've seen wonderful things done with inferior instruments with gorgeous cabinets. One had the front cut apart and hinged so that the piano (strings, hammers, sound board removed) opened into a computer desk. Craigslist often has free pianos so you might check there.

      Delete
  9. I don't have a clue how to do that shabby chic thing.

    My grandmother had those glasses also, but she had a complete set of some sort--it was a picnic set maybe?, with those glasses, plus bowls, and a suitcase thingy that was the picnic basket. Someone must have sold a million of those things back in the day. Come to think of it why would a picnic set have just glasses and bowls? Memory is strange.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe it was a winter picnic set. Warm drinks in the glasses and soup in the bowls? It will now be my mission to see a complete set of these!

      Delete
  10. I obviously come into the old category, I remember using quite a few of your items first time around ! Same as when our grandchildren ask about World War 2 for their history homework, that's not history, I say, that's my childhood. You obviously had great fun that day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was great fun looking at all these things I grew up with. Nostalgia is a lot of fun.

      Delete
  11. I wasn't tuned in to the fact the the flower and garden show starts this week. How will anyone get there with the Seahawks celebration going on? That will be a mess.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The show is offering a discount to folks who come after the parade so people can park once and do both! You're right, it will be a mess!

      Delete
  12. I'm not old... I'm vintage. Love that. That is my new favorite phrase,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you like that! We vintage folks have to stick together! Sometimes I like to think of myself as a collectable rather than an antique.

      Delete
  13. Glad you enjoyed your day shopping in the vintage market.

    Thank you. Love love, Andrew. Bye.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was lots of fun indeed. Thanks for finding my blog and commenting, Andrew!

      Delete
  14. My house's capacity for collectibles unfortunately has been exceeded already, but I enjoy seeing how other people find new uses for old stuff, now they call it "repurposing". Cool, I like metal stands to hold several potted plants in a small space.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Fun! We're the first 4 pictures. Thanks for the lovely post. :)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.