Vintage Registry for Wedding Gifts

There are so many beautiful things to be found in antique stores that would be suitable for wedding gifts!  People say that young people don't want fine things anymore, but I say that times are changing!  Young people are interested in environmentally friendly businesses and products, repurposing of vintage items, the cottage or shabby chic look, and more.  I believe within the next few years, due to the economy and other factors, that interest in vintage will grow and grow.

For years I have had subscriptions to Country Living and Romantic Homes - one look at the pages inside take you back to a time when beauty and quality was important.  I believe that our young people are becoming more aware and interested in shopping vintage and finding unique items rather than just what all of the other wedding registries are offering.  They are even interested in vintage for their weddings - bridal dresses, vintage jewelry in their hair or their bouquet, setting the tables with fine china and crystal, and more!  So it would stand to reason that they might also have some interest in having these items in their homes.

At this time there are many baby boomers who are inheriting their parents and grandparents silver, crystal and china - and they already have their own that they love.  These items are becoming available in thrift stores, flea markets and antique stores in great volumes.  Why go buy expensive new items such as these when the quality and uniqueness just isn't there?

Think outside the box when setting up a bridal registry - think about your local antique store!

Just walking around Memories for a few minutes I spotted so many items that make wonderful wedding registry choices, such as our Fostoria Nosegay Crystal luncheon plates, ice tea goblets, sherbets and water - we have the whole set!  http://www.goantiques.com/fostoria-nosegay-water-2334922#2
Or maybe some of the beautiful pieces from our collection of Imperial Candlewick crystal!  http://www.goantiques.com/imperial-glass-candlewick-2422779
We have a complete set of 1847 Rogers Heritage Silverplate flatware and extra serving pieces in wooden box!  http://www.goantiques.com/1847-rogers-heritage-2382669
Beautiful Dutch Delft Canister Set!  http://www.goantiques.com/dutch-delft-canister-1964511
We have pottery items for the kitchen, beautiful Westmoreland Paneled Grape Milk Glass Punch Bowl Set, crystal candlesticks, antique china serving pieces, Crown Imperial Rosari set of dishes http://www.goantiques.com/crown-imperial-rosari-2510381
and the list goes on and on! 

I have been browsing on Pinterest, and the ideas for a vintage wedding registry are endless and I believe that young ladies are going to become more and more interested in shopping vintage for their homes.  Give them a treasure from an antique store to pique their interest in vintage and perhaps start a collection.  A gift that is unique and thoughtful such as these will be a gift always remembered!  http://www.hendersonmemories.com/

Paint Makes It New Again!

As I think back to my childhood, I remember visiting my Granny and Grandaddy at their cabin down by Cumberland Lake in Kentucky.  It was a wonderful place, and when we all went at once, there were 13 of us crammed into that tiny place with no bathroom - just an outhouse!  My grandparents, Mother and Daddy, me and my brother, my two Uncles and Aunts and their three children (my cousins).  There was one bedroom and the rest of us slept all lined up on the back enclosed porch.  When we had to go to the bathroom, we had to check for Grandaddy long-legs spiders at the Outhouse or there was no way I would go in there.  We would all go to the lake and feed the ducks and fish for crappie!  Then Granny would cook them all up with cornbread and we would have a feast.  Somehow we all got ready and went to church on Sunday, too!

I didn't really notice it then, but as I think back I remember that everything was painted black!  The iron planters out front, the iron kettle full of magazines, the kitchen table and chairs, the coffee table, the end tables, the bed, the yard furniture, everything!  My Granny could take any old thing and make it look great by applying this black paint on it! 

With all the shabby chic style and Pinterest repurposing ideas, there is a lot of paint being applied to almost everything.  Even in my store if I have something that is the wrong color, I immediately suggest a little paint would fix that in no time!  I saw a post on Pinterest this morning where they had spray painted brass lamps into bright colors - I would have never thought of that - but if you don't like the brass, just paint it!

Some of the pictures I see of distressed furniture tell me that there is no way you could "make" something look like that although there are many people trying.  "Real" distressed furniture is a treasure that cannot be duplicated - it is distressed through years of painting it to make it new and then using it a while, then painting it another color to match the new decor and then using it for a while, and on and on.  Any good old solid wood furniture is suitable for using paint to make it look new again - although there are some that would disagree as it destroys a piece of furniture's value.  But, who cares? - if it creates a way you can use it without buying new, it is a good thing.  You are truly making a treasure for years to come by reusing what you have or buying something old and making it new again.
                                                               

There are a lot of people saying that no one wants antique furniture any more, but I beg to differ if you will apply just a little creativity.  All you have to do is take one look at the new furniture being offered, and it is easy to see the value in the old, solid wood, hand crafted furniture.  Paint - it's a wonderful thing!  Black, white, red, yellow, pale green, blue, whatever color you can dream up is out there, and it is a cheap way to redecorate your home!  You can go to our pinterest board http://pinterest.com/memoriespast/vintage-for-the-home and you will find tons of great ideas.  Then take a look around at what you have, or visit your local antique or consignment store and search for a piece of furniture, lamp, etc. that would work for you and paint it to start your redecorating project.  A lot more fun than just buying something new!  I believe it's more fun to decorate with antiques!

As I think back about my Granny, I smile - it was a special time for me as a child - eating fish off of that black painted table, sleeping on the porch, and trips to the Outhouse!  Create some memories for your children and grandchildren!

Pinterest Is Changing The Way I Think About Antiques!

I know that many young ladies would never even think about stopping in an antique store to shop.  I am a 60+ year old antique dealer who also has a past in creating beautiful crafts.  Having had a craft store in Florida for years, teaching tole painting, hosting craft open houses in my home, and then gradually shifting over to the antiques business, I had thought that antiques was my new "thing" - that was, until Pinterest came into my life!

First, my daughter mentioned it and asked if I had looked at it - that all her friends were so excited about the ideas on there.  I didn't pay much attention to her as I am sort of an old fuddy duddy and am happy with my life like it is.  That was until a professional young man probably in his 20's came into my antique store and asked me if I had looked at Pinterest.  I told him "no", but why would he suggest such a thing?  He told me that all the young women were finding ideas on there and printing out the pictures and scouring yard sales, flea markets and such for the vintage items to put together the ideas that they were finding there.  So I decided I needed to take a look - and WOW!

I have always been a fan of decorating magazines, primarily Country Decorating Ideas and Romantic Homes - in fact, it is probably those magazines that have placed so many images in my mind that I just had to get into the antique business to be able to express myself!  Well, they pale in comparison to what can be found and shared on Pinterest!  I have joined at Memories Past and Present and share pictures and ideas from my shop, but also have found and re-posted so many great ideas on my many boards there that I am about to POP!

If you have an interest in decorating with antiques, repurposing vintage items, vintage fashion, crafting, crocheting, music, tea parties, etc. I would encourage you to take a look at what Memories is sharing on its Pinterest boards, and then stop by the shop and let us help you to achieve these ideas for your home.  It's fun and I have found so much inspiration there!  Please take a look at our boards and follow us for great ideas:   www.pinterest.com/memoriespast 

This is just the beginning!  I feel a change in the air!  Keep in touch for new ideas coming out of our shop at http://www.hendersonmemories.com/

Old Books and Ideas For Decorating with Them

At one time I was a painter and got the idea of painting a decorative picture on the front of old books!  I bought dozens and dozens of old books and first painted them with a crackle medium, then a background color, then painted the cover with roses, teddy bears, bunnies and a multitude of other items.  I couldn't even tell you how many of those I sold at craft shows and in my shop (I probably need to take up this hobby again - in my spare time!).

Recently, I joined Pinterest where ideas for decorating, crafts, etc. abound - it can almost drive you crazy looking at all the creative ideas available there.  If you would like to follow my boards, you can by going to www.pinterest.com/csdorsey .  I am just beginning, but finding some unique ideas for vintage decorating especially using items found in my store http://www.hendersonmemories.com/

Old books look so beautiful displayed on a table or desk opened up with a pair of old glasses on them, or a beautiful fringed or lace bookmark to mark the page.  It gives the feeling that you were just relaxing there, actually reading a book!

I have also decorated books with old doilies, ribbon, flowers, cameos, old brooches and buttons - the ideas are endless as far as decorating the top of the book for display.  Or they can just be stacked up and tied with a pretty ribbon if you don't want to damage the book in any way. 

Recently on Pinterest I saw the idea of making shelves out of old books - now that was interesting.  They had just purchased pairs of shelf brackets and mounted them on the wall with a book on top as the shelf and grouped them on the wall with pretty vintage items sitting on them.

At Memories we use old books to layer our displays - this would be a great idea in your home as a way to display items at different heights - it helps to show off your collections better than just placing them all at the same level.

After all of this, of course, you could just place them on your bookshelf and actually read an old book every now and then - now that's the best idea of all!  We all have them and wonder what to do with them - now go out and get creative!

Prayer Shawl Ministry Revives Art From the Past (Updated)

I remember as a young girl learning to knit and crochet by my Mother's side.  Over my lifetime I have made several afghans, little baby outfits, and more.  It has been a source of enjoyment to me on many a cold winter evening and given me such pleasure to have a creative outlet.

Over time my interest has waned as life has kept me very busy with other things.  Recently, I have begun to hear about a ministry that has sprung out of women's desire to create, comfort and nourish - the Prayer Shawl Ministry which after researching a little I understand had it's beginnings around 1998.  In our community there are a few groups which have formed fairly recently to make various types of shawls to give to those in need of prayers, warmth, and the feeling of loving arms around them.  Suddenly many ladies are rediscovering the wonderful feeling it gives to create something of beauty from a simple ball of yarn.

I recently have begun to crochet again since I have been blessed with two grandchildren over the past couple of years.  I decided to try my hand at making them a tiny baby afghan to be used in their car seat when they traveled around from place to place.  I made this for them to use, but also attached a poem written for them by me, so that they would know how much I love them and that I was thinking of them with each stitch - a sort of prayer shawl I suppose.

My husband watches me as my hands are busy making a thing of beauty out of nothing but a ball of yarn and thinks I am a miracle worker.  I guess it is really a miracle of sorts - especially to get me to sit still long enough to make one.  But I will tell you, that it is addictive and a very satisfying experience - the art of creating something meaningful and beautiful. 

Once recently I came across a prayer shawl crochet pattern book in a craft store, couldn't resist, bought it and four 1-pound balls of yarn.  Since then I have made three beautiful shawls which I intend to give away or sell so that the money will go to charity.  After a ladies' meeting at our church last night there was a group of ladies talking excitedly about getting involved in the prayer shawl ministry in our community.  They were making all kinds of plans to knit and crochet together and go to yarn shops to purchase yarn to make scarves and shawls to give away!

What a wonderful resurgence of interest in a nearly lost art!  In this day and age of technology and so many distractions, it is amazing that the art of crocheting and knitting is making a come-back.  I am quite sure that those getting involved and learning will soon find the satisfaction that it brings to create a work of art - and then when all the work is done - to give it away!

The next time you are in an antique store, take a look at the stacks of doilies that you will find there and picture ladies sitting together crocheting these delicate works of art to adorn their homes.  You will find a new appreciation for this artwork when you decide to tackle a beautiful project, work on it for hours, and then lovingly bless it and give it away to someone in need.  What a wonderful ministry to emerge in this crazy, mixed up world!  I do believe there is hope for us yet!

Added 3/24/12:  Since I have written this I have made so many beautiful shawls that are pictured on my pinterest board http://pinterest.com/memoriespast/prayer-shawls/  You might want to take a look and follow my page to see the new ones.  In addition to giving them away to those people who have a need, I plan to have them available in my store http://www.hendersonmemories.com/ for sale with all the money going to my First Christian Church Women's Ministry who will use the money to do outreach in our community.  That way those who cannot crochet can still be able to give one to someone they know who would love to know that others are praying for them. 

In visiting with a couple of nice ladies who came into my store today, I learned that they are involved in a prayer shawl ministry in Boonville, IN, but they also make up hat boxes with a beautiful hat inside and other gifts to give to ladies who have undergone chemotherapy and have lost their hair - what a wonderful ministry!

Anyone who thinks that this world is going the wrong direction and all is doomed, need to know about such ministries.  The giving spirit of people has amazed me, and I know that God is at work in all of us - and I have faith that all will be OK!  I just can't make the shawls fast enough - and the joy comes when they are given away!

Modern Uses for Vintage Jewelry

We all have boxes of jewelry inherited from family members including clip earrings, beads, old brooches, charm  bracelets and more.  While we may not be interested in wearing them as they were intended, this is certainly an option!  Layer the necklaces using two or three at a time for a new look or clip vintage earrings onto a chain for a unique pendant!  Clip vintage earrings to your shoes to decorate!  Clip vintage earrings or brooches to a metal barret to decorate your hair (I once had a young lady use brooches in this way to make a unique headpiece for her vintage style wedding!).

At Memories we receive piles and piles of great vintage jewelry that is no longer wanted and we have beautiful cases full of unique selections!  After working with the jewelry for a while, we have come up with some creative uses which may interest you.

It can certainly be taken apart and made into new and unique jewelry pieces if you have a knack for designing jewelry.  We have just such a customer who comes in from time to time looking for some unique find to add to his custom jewelry which he sells all over the country!  Various beads and pieces can be glued to wooden box tops, lamp shades, purses, picture frames and mirrors for a new and romantic look.

I have another customer who purchases large unique brooches and mounts them on velvet or some other elegant fabric and frames them and has them arranged in her bedroom.  She can then just unpin them and wear them as she desires.  Another way to use colorful brooches and clip earrings (with the clips removed) is to glue them to a background in the shape of a Christmas tree, frame and enjoy during the Christmas season.  Another customer has covered a dress form with elegant fabric and covered it with vintage jewelry for her dressing room - so elegant - and the jewelry can still be taken off and worn when desired. 

I went to the home of a customer one time and she had pretty rhinestone and angel pins placed all over her bathroom lace curtains!  Also, they can be used to decorate tie-backs for your drapes, hung from chandeliers, placed in your Christmas tree, pinned onto a scarf to hold it in place - so many uses other than the traditional and a wonderful way to treasure family keepsakes!

My Mother makes the most beautiful Christmas ball ornaments decorated with jewelry from our family or other jewelry she finds and beautiful tassels and trims to accessorize.  She has made 100's of these and each one is unique and a keepsake to hand down over the years.

So if you have that vintage jewelry collection from Gramma, be sure and don't just get rid of it - use one of these great ideas to put them to use.  Or bring them to Memories, and we will sell them for you to someone who is designing some new jewelry!  What's Old can be New Again!  And besides, recycling is the "in" thing these days!

Christmas in My Hometown

Growing up in Henderson, KY, was a wonderful thing, and especially at Christmas!  I remember watching the Christmas parade downtown with my Daddy and almost crying with excitement when the bands marched by playing Christmas carols.  Later on in life, I got to be in that band marching down the street!  I remember shopping downtown in the evenings with the Christmas carols playing from the Salvation Army booth that was set up in front of J. C. Penneys with people on the loud speaker calling out your name and asking for donations for a good cause.  I remember living on my little street with all the neat little houses in a row with their Christmas trees in the windows with wonderful families inside celebrating being together!  I remember the Christmas Eve service at my church at 11 pm - it was a candlelight service and when it was over at midnight we all lit our candles, held them up and sang Joy to the World!  And what a joy it was to remember the birth of our Saviour in such a special way.

Now, after living away for many years, I am blessed to be able to return to my Hometown and experience all the wonderful things offered by a small town.  People smiling and wishing each other a Merry Christmas, families coming home for Christmas celebrations, little children laughing, and all the traditions and wonders of a small town Christmas.  I used to only dream of coming home for Christmas.  This morning I was thinking of this familiar song:

I'm dreaming tonight of a place I love
Even more than I usually do
And although I know it's a long road back
I promise you

I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have some snow and mistletoe
And presents by the tree

Christmas eve will find you
Where the love light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams

Here's hoping that you are blessed to be celebrating Christmas with family and friends and continuing old fashioned traditions!  We may be living in a newer, faster paced world today than it was in our past, but we always keep coming back to the old traditions.  That is where we are most comfortable and happiest.  Merry Christmas from Memories Past and Present, wherever you are!  Share some of your childhood memories with us - we would love it!