Beauty and Aesthetics.....a rant

I am a sucker for beauty. I love to fill my home with pretty trinkets and things that make me stop and smile when I pass by them on the way to fold laundry or cook dinner. I am also a careful shopper, choosing items not only for their usefulness but for their aesthetic qualities as well. Whether buying dish soap or a new coffee mug, I'm a sucker for a pretty package. And, I have a feeling I'm not the only one. The marketers of these products are smart, savvy little fellows who are well aware that most of us are slaves to our aesthetic drives. That's probably why Kitchen Aid mixers come in every color under the sun ( I personally dream of a peacock blue version...sigh) and pink Hello Kitty microwaves exist. Even the most utilitarian of items are designed to be appealing to our senses. I experienced this when I was forced to choose a new faucet for our kitchen sink. Although, I had never paid that much attention to our old faucet when it was my turn to find a replacement I stood for what seemed like hours in Lowe's waiting to hear the siren song of the perfect one. Finally, I picked a curvy model, that I would describe as "whimsical". It's beautiful to me, and to be honest I have spent much more time at the kitchen sink just to admire it.

I believe this quest for beauty stems from our creation when God infused a unique allure into each and every one of us. All different, all captivating. It just makes sense to me that our creations follow the same pattern. I love to discover hidden beauty in objects whether natural or man made and thank the Supreme Artist for that special insight.  Of course being immersed in the world of antiques, I am constantly surrounded by items that take my breath away. Some posses humble beauty, they show their wear and I can tell they have been loved and used for decades, even centuries. Others reflect a past aesthetic such an art deco shot glass that seems transported from the world of Fitzgerald with its glimmer and glitz.

I could probably post a picture of every items in the shop since each would sing to someone. However, that's not how it works. Beauty is best when it is discovered by the beholder. When they can own the moment of laying eyes on something they can not live without.  So, I invite you to come on your own quest. Browse our shelves, look closely and listen for your own sweet song.

Second Chances

I don’t wear hats very often, practically never.  A friend once told me I look funny in hats and that was enough to eradicate them from my wardrobe forever.  It’s sad really, because hats offer such a world of possibilities and provide an inexpensive way to jump start a tired wardrobe.  Whether you’re trying convey a sense of mystery and intrigue, or bring out your inner Marlene Dietrich the right hat can do the job. 

We have gotten a slew of hats in the shop recently and the tiny velvet ribbons and birdcage veils are calling to me.  I had to share some of my favorites because they are just so delectable.

They even make me willing to give hats another try.

COLOR!

I appreciate winter.  I have respect for this powerful season and marvel at each blade of frosted grass and tiny ice crystal.  I think there is nothing more graceful than daybreak on a snow-covered landscape and always feel a little guilty when I have to mar its beauty with my footprints.

Still, the shorter days full of hazy darkness leave me longing to batten down the hatches around four in the afternoon.  While I adore the coziness that comes from being confined with the ones I love the most within arms reach and relish in the comfort of my fuzzy socks and trusty bathrobe, I find myself missing the one thing that January isn’t willing to provide…an abundance of color. 

So, today I’ve decided to focus on colorful items that can shine a little light during these long winter months and remind us of what lies ahead.

Finding Christmas

Each December, I sit down with my notebook and pen and make a list of all the things I'd like to accomplish prior to December 25th.  This list is comprised of places I want to visit, like the the big tree downtown, as well as family activities I find special during the holidays including baking Christmas cookies and watching Elf for the 1,057 time.  My list making has become as much of a tradition as the things written on it. 

Yesterday while I was busy penciling in holiday parties and school commitments on the calendar, I noticed there were very few "white spaces" remaining before Christmas. I looked back and forth from my list to the calendar frantically trying to orchestrate a plan that would allow me to maximize holiday fun while efficiently utilizing every spare moment we have available before Santa Claus makes it to town. Festive? No. Stressful? Very. 

As my shoulders started to tense up, I was struck by how my quest to 'create' the perfect holiday experience for my family has squelched the true joy of the season.  For example, Matt would rather not go and stand in line at Bass Pro Shop for 1.5 hours to see Santa on a weekday night after working at the shop all day just because the calendar dictates it so. And, surly Matt will lead to short-fuse Stephanie thus bringing out whiny Weston. By the time we reach Santa's lap, we'd rather kick him in the shins than sit and chat.  I began thinking what's the worst thing that will happen if I (gasp) abandon the list?

The last time I marched/ran down Broadway was, well, never.  It was kind of a spur of the moment decision for Grassy Valley Antiques to join the Fountain City Parade, but some of the sweetest moments are indeed spontaneous.  There wasn't much planning involved, no fancy float was constructed ...Although, if we ever do make one,  I'd like to build it out of red and green recycled doors. That, as my nephews like to say, would be epic... Still, as our small group made our way down Broadway all decked out in Santa hats and antlers (me) passing out candy to bundled up children I unexpectedly found Christmas.  It wasn't during a list-mandated activity, and it didn't have to be deemed a "tradition" to be enjoyed.  It just was wonderful because the look in Weston's eyes as he leaned out of the festooned Mustang shouting "Merry Christmas "and handing out candy canes could never be orchestrated.

This year I'm going to try and fly through the holidays without planning the fun. I think we will all have much more of it if we just let it happen.

Coffee Anyone?

I love coffee.  The aroma, the taste, the warmth of the cup in my hand, there are few things more satisfying to me than a good cup of joe.

 I loved coffee well before I was ever allowed to drink it.  When I was around seven or eight, I held a precarious spot within my family. I was stuck in the middle with a slew of older cousins already in high school and too cool to play Bedbugs or Operation, and several toddlers that I wouldn't dare let touch my Barbies. During the holidays, after the meal was finished and the men had disappeared to wherever it is that men retreat to while dishes are being put away, I would hang around the kitchen.  I'd breath in the rich aroma of  the coffee brewing and watch as my mother and aunts gathered around the table cups in hand.  Laughter and conversation seemed to accompany the steaming cups, and I so wanted to be a part of their community.  I learned that if I was still enough and didn't fidget in my seat, they would soon forget I was there.  I would drink in their presence fascinated as they clinked and stirred, lipstick-ringed mugs cupped in each hand.  I overheard a lot in that kitchen, probably much more than I should have! 

In college, I would spend hours nestled in the corners of local coffee shops. Whether reading between classes, or chatting with friends, coffee added flavor to the very ordinary activities of my life. I still find that sharing coffee is synonymous with family and friendship for me.  My favorite parts of holiday gatherings still revolve around the cup.  

If you are a coffee lover or have a loved one who is, you'll love all of the vintage percolators, coffee canisters, and  other finds lying around the shop. 

Oh, and if you happen to come in while I'm working, I'll be happy to share a cup with you. The coffee is always flowing-and complimentary- at Grassy Valley!

"A Wishin' and A Hopin'"

Most every little girl dreams of her wedding day.  Even if just for a moment, to try out what it would truly feel like to be a princess swathed in white surrounded by admirers.  Life marches on, and while I'm sure some of these wedding fantasies do become reality, many white stallions and garden tea parties are replaced by civil ceremonies and simple affairs.  This is not necessarily a bad thing, if I had the wedding I envisioned as a five year old I would have been more blinged out than Elton John circa 1978 and our honeymoon would have taken us to the Panama Canal.  Seriously, change is good.

While my tastes have changed over the years, I don't think I have ever outgrown my fascination with weddings.  I am addicted to shows like "My Fair Wedding" and "Say Yes to the Dress", and although I do not want to undertake all of the stress involved in planning a wedding of Kardashian proportions, I do like to fantasize about what it would be like to plan the party of your dreams with zero budget restrictions.  While mine are the musings of an already married crazy woman, I'm sure many sane brides to be share the same sentiment trying to conjure their fantasies into an affordable, realistic affair without losing the magic that lies within a big dream. 

I don't know how you accomplish this besides making sure that every element you select for your wedding is a reflection of what you love and treasure.  We recently had an event planner come into the shop who was interested in a purchasing a large tobacco basket for an upcoming wedding. I'm always amazed by the ingenuity of those who can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.  Now, I too envision that basket filled with fresh flowers providing a beautiful centerpiece with a little history thrown in.  How perfect that the basket's rough exterior reflecting hard work and labor is part of a ceremony in which two will promise the same diligence to one another.

The basket got me thinking of other antique and vintage items that could lend their charm to a wedding celebration.  I am always delighted to see personal touches and thought thrown into a ceremony. Mismatched vintage china used during a reception dinner, or mason jars filled with wildflowers are both inexpensive ways to add functional beauty to an event.  Why not adorn old windows with photographs that chronicle the bride and groom's history together and create their own personal love story?  

The ideas are endless, and the journey to unleash your creativity may be almost as fun as the main event itself.

I Will Remember You

It's funny how closely our memories are tied to possessions.  Holding a familiar object can transport us so vividly to another time and place. All our senses engage and suddenly we can smell, taste, and even hear the past with amazing clarity.  

My personal time machine is in the form of a small child's quilt.  It's red and cool to the touch, and I spent hours spread across it happily coloring and reading at my grandmother's house.  Now the quilt resides at my mother's, and she uses it to cover my son during movie time or when he isn't feeling well.  When I look at Weston all snuggled up in something that brought so much comfort to me as a child, it's almost as if he is wrapped in safety and love instead of fabric.

My friend Maggie recently told me a story about a necklace.  It was a piece of Sara Coventry jewelry that she fell in love with at an estate sale.  The vintage necklace was so important to her that she chose to wear it for Senior portraits and during many memorable high school events making it synonymous with that time in her life.  While away at college, her home was broken into and the necklace was stolen.  Being a vintage item lost before the Ebay age, Maggie felt her hopes of replacing the necklace were slim. Time went on and the necklace became a fond, but distant, memory.  Then a few months ago, while doing some internet research, she came across the very same necklace on Ebay. While not her original piece of jewelry, seeing the item still brought on a swell of nostalgia.  It reintroduced her to the girl she was at the time it adorned her neck.  Maggie was comforted to come face to face with the item that was once so dear to her.

It is so exhilarating to stumble across the "props" of our past. Especially, when those items are accompanied with fond memories. Working in an antique and vintage shop, I am privileged to live a life centered around remembrance and cherishing the items that fill our lives. I think we could all benefit from time spent as our own personal archeologists.  Who knows where you will uncover that long forgotten favorite storybook, or the trusty BB gun you drug around all over the yard looking for varmits?  It could be at Grassy Valley.