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. 

WHY BUY NEW FURNITURE?

Recently we have received a nice selection of antique furniture pieces dating back to the 1800's, and it made me think. Why would anyone buy brand new furniture? Antiques provide so much more than factory made, mass produced pieces that you find in a typical store today. Antique furniture has history, personality and character. It can provide one with conversation and a feeling of comfort unmatched by today's quality.
Why spend thousands of dollars for a seemingly "perfect" piece of particle board, when you can spend a fourth of the price and receive a piece of high quality, hand made effort that can last another hundred years?

Just something to think about.....


Beautiful early 1900's buffet. This size and quality would cost you a years worth of car payments if bought new.

Solid oak chest of drawers....perfect for any decor!













Antique solid cedar hope chest from 1924.....amazing!

Who Knew?

Inspiration can strike in the oddest of circumstances.  For example, a broken toilet seat recently launched the redecoration of our entire bathroom.  The new seat was so sleek and pretty that the rest of the space suddenly seemed shabby in comparison. Suddenly, I saw scarlet walls and pretty brushed metal fixtures in my future. This led me to one of my favorite websites, www.etsy.com, to browse their fabulous selection of wall art and unique decor items.  I was struck by the following two listing for re-purposed vintage items that have been transformed in to utalitarian works of art.....

Mason Jar Light Fixture

This is such a cool melding of modern style and primitive charm.  I love the warm glow emanating from the frosted jars.  Owning this, would be like having your house lit by fireflies!  

We have a large selection of mason jars at Grassy Valley Antiques in all shapes and sizes.  Now, I walk by them and see all sorts of new possibilities for chandeliers, luminaries, etc. Enlightening!

Suitcase Vanity

Well, this is just beyond awesome. Who would have ever dreamed a suitcase could get new mileage as a bathroom vanity? 

Several of our vendors have beautiful vintage suitcases on display in the shop. I am considering snagging one and creating a vanity that will make all the other bathrooms cry with envy.

These are just a few examples of how a spark of inspiration and a little elbow grease can give and ordinary item an extraordinary new life.  Why don't you visit us at Grassy Valley and see just what items inspire you?  

A Few of My Favorite Things

I thought I'd share a few of my favorite things that currently reside in the shop.  I'm always finding new pieces  to fall in love with, but these little items currently have me head over heels...

This Hazel Atlas "Be ye Kind" glass is so sweet and darling! The red silhouettes of children and woodland creatures are so simple, yet the message so profound. 

This is the face plate from an old post office box.  I love the Deco border and the glass numeral plate.  Imagine the secrets this once held under lock and key.

This deposit bag is from the Lyons National Bank in Lyons, NY.  The embroidery and red accents make this utilitarian object quite beautiful!  The lock and key make it a perfect place to store your modern day valuables!

Feeling a little nutty?  This iron squirrel nutcracker can take on the toughest nut in the bunch.  His rustic charm and a bowl full of walnuts equals instant bliss!

Let this lovely lady add a little femininity to your bath. This Art Nouveau soap dish is tres elegant with its clean lines (I couldn't resist) and green patina. 

These vintage card games make me want to spend an evening with the television off huddled around the table with my family. Hmmm, I think it's time I plan a game night.