Thursday, June 11, 2009

A walkabout my home...

Today I'm sharing some of the budget things I've collected over the years.



Iron star shooting gallery targets and handled biscuit pricker in old tote. Discarded and left behind by others...



Old "Garden City" soap; crock lid with acorn knob; wooden dragonfly, carved heart, and mortar; tiny bisque doll arms.
Bought from estate, garage, rubble sales and right off the hot asphalt at parking lot flea markets...



Crazed and stained ironstone mug, bone handled knives, scrap of cardboard, turned wood pepper mill in another compartment of that same tote.
Things that the old owners didn't want anymore. The castoffs and discards of other lives from other times...



Framed butterflies, folding ruler, leaves collected last autumn, starfish, iron doormat made of repeated hearts, the edge of an old dough bowl. All calling to me to take them home and give them a place amongst friends...

Imagine how humorous it would be to read these items on a home inventory list!
What they have in common for me is a sense of history, a weathered texture, interesting shapes. and a peacefulness.
How do they make you feel? Would you have chosen them to bring home?


All but a few of these things bought for just a few dollars or less. It wasn't just possible to do this in the past.
I see life's discards and castoffs everyday that would make cool new collections if I was starting again.

Just turn your mind off, use your good eye (I don't know which one mine is... Right or Left?). We all have one, and the follow your heart...

53 comments:

  1. I love the shooting gallery star. Just to let you know, your link in Mr. Linky doesn't work. You may want to go back and re-enter.

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  2. Love many of these things, but particulary the shooting stars and carved heart. Lovely finds.

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  3. Definitely a sense of history I feel. I myself am not a big collector, well I do of course bring home rocks and shells from the beach, but not as much as you'd expect from somebody who loves the beach so much. My husband though loves old tools.

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  4. Hi Joan,
    We truly were cut from the same cloth....perhaps twins separated at birth? I pretty much stash the same groovy stuff! :)

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  5. Love the walk around your home! These "castoffs" are wonderful...doesn't matter if others don't understand! Thanks for sharing. *elaine*

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  6. What great treasures!! Thanks for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday! I love your shooting gallery stars, the ruler, and love, LOVE the hearts iron doormat. I love all of these castoffs! Great post and have a great VTT!

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  7. I love your weathered collection!

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  8. My inventory list would sound funny too!
    The top of my garage is loaded with tidbits and I'm such a pack-rat! My hubby has given up on me.
    Love the folding measure! Makes sense that you would have that since you like dress forms.
    Do you sew?
    Have a great day!

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  9. Wow! What a wonderful collection of history, art, and nostalgia..all rolled together! I love the ironstone mug, the folding measure, and the soap. I can just imagine how fun it would be to peruse your collection in person. Thanks once again for sharing such beauty!

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  10. Thank you so much for sharing this collection! I love items that have character and an obvious history. I cant pass them up either hehe. All your items are so lovely and full of life, i especially love the folding ruler :)

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  11. what a collection.thank you for sharing.

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  12. You know, I'm not sure I would have collected a single one of these items (well, maybe the hat pin) but seeing them all together like that - - - wonderful nostalgia!!!!

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  13. Oh yes the aged beauty of yesterday..... lovely.... You have such an eye for seeing the beauty....
    Yes you did a glimpse of my chickie girls ...I have six..... they make me laugh...
    Hugs
    Linda

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  14. I would really enjoy a few of those things, but some of the others are too junky for me.

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  15. Hey Girlie!
    You and I would be trouble at an auction together!
    I love everything you have! I love your garden stuff too!
    Barb C.

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  16. There is an antique store in Rockaway Beach with a sign that reads: "Quality Antiques - No Junk". Like that's a good thing. I wave and drive right on by.
    xo
    Pam

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  17. So much fun to collect old things with history. I'm looking for old kitchen things now. Old spatulas, crocks and table cloths. Can't get enough vintage!
    Brenda

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  18. Hi -- thanks for commenting on my blog. You've got a great one here! :)

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  19. LOVE the framed butterflies!

    I have a thing for butterflies :)

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  20. I was in Lake Forest two years ago. It was absolutely beautiful. I went for an early walk around the neighborhood before the birds were even chirping, and I encountered a family of deer! You don't see that in New York City. Love the blog :)

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  21. Great collection of things. Doesn't it just break your heart to see things like this being discarded? sigh

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  22. .....history, a weathered texture, interesting shapes, and a peacefulness. Wow!! You certainly hit the nail on the head! The word peacefulness really touched me.. that's exactly how I feel when surrounded by pre loved things:)

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  23. PS. I was so glad that you reentered your name into the Mr. Linky! When I saw that your first link didn't work this morning I was sad that I didn't know where to find you!

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  24. "history, a weathered texture, interesting shapes and a peacefulness."
    That rather explains part of my fascination with old stuff that others don't want. Thanks for posting so I know I AM NOT ALONE!

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  25. Love your stuff!!! Glad you came by!!! Chrissy

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  26. I loved seeing your collection! So inspiring! Those shooting stars are pretty special. I am a collector of castoffs, too. I live in an old refurbished textile mill on a street with many other empty and crumbling old mills, and I spend as much time as I can searching and discovering whatever I can in and around them. I grew up in a family of antiques dealers, and spent many years working shows and shops with my mother. I was (and still am) always the one buying the crazy box lots at the end of the auction that no one else wants. I love old marbles and printing blocks and books and keys and bobbins of beautiful thread. The list goes on and on. I love the feel of people's lives, everyday tasks, and even their dreams in these objects. What treasures! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I will definitely keep coming back to visit yours!

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  27. Lovely finds!!! I loike your stars and the soaps...gorgeous and very French!
    Thanks for your nice comments!
    Have a nice week end!
    Vale

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  28. i love the patina on that wooden bowl....so lovely.
    have a wonderful day.
    chasity

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  29. Love your collections. Discards have so much history and life. Hope to make it to one of your shows. Thanks for visiting my blog. Looking forward to keeping track of Anything Goes Here.

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  30. Love the hearts and the shooting star. You have a great collection.. Happy VTT, have a great weekend.

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  31. what a great collection.. thanks for sharing & happy VTT & have a great day too!

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  32. I think my "good eye" is the one in the back of my head. You know how you'll walk by something and bingo!...you have to go back.
    I love how all the discards play against each other and complement.
    You really do have a "good eye" or maybe two or maybe three!
    Debbie

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  33. I think I would have kept all of it too. Why do people discard this stuff??? and then keep such JUnk!!!?????
    Love this post!!!
    Carole

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  34. Castoffs are my favorites! I love the old worn things that people used every day or held in their hands. Old dice, knitting needles, kitchen ware, postal scales, skelton keys, dressing table things...just doing a visual of some things around me. There are so many more.

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  35. Well considering I have my own menagerie of misfits I answer in a resounding yes!!!! My favorite is the rusted thingy I found walking through an alley. Yup an alley. It looks like its out of a giant old clock: a metal mechanical sunflower all spiky & tick tokety but its fab just hangin over the finial of my antique dresser. If it goes with nothing it goes with everything I say.

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  36. Hey darlin!

    LOVE all these goodies! I could think of millions of things I would LOVE to add to my art using these! :)

    Thanks for stoppin' by the Yaya! Have a great weekend!

    xo....deb

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  37. Que de belles choses dans tes pages ! Des objets d'hier qui font notre bonheur aujourd'hui ! Merci de ton passage chez moi !

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  38. I'll take one of each, please! Great thrifty finds! Wish I lived closer so I could come to the Gray's Lake antique market. (My sister lives very close by on Lake Villa! I'll mention the market to her!)

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  39. Lovely collection of vintage this and that! They just give a warm and cozy feel.
    BTW, what is a biscuit pricker?

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  40. they make me think of old times, I feel like they had an entire life before and would have a lot of stories to tell... I think I would have bring them home too ...

    and apparently ... my good eye is the right one :)

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  41. HI there thanks soo much for your comments on my little 'ol blog.. Marion ;0)

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  42. I'm diggin' the grinding stone pedestal... we need to be friends .. you game?

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  43. Hi
    WOW
    I love the word Blogmance !
    Oh so much to see ,these priceless treasures are all coming home with me .
    I really hope my insurance guy is use to unusual priceless objects of art at this point in my life :)
    If not I 'll explain how unique each one is and tell him the history behind the discovery of each object .
    That's sure to convince him . Than I'll begin sharing a few of my quaint family stories .
    My zany family comes in so handy .
    As my hubby reminds me I never have to tell a lie the truth is so strange.
    I love my relatives but I must admit we are not your normal run of collectors .
    Have a delightful weekend.
    Happy Trails
    Hugs

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  44. what a fabulous post..i love all you 'castoff' treasures and would happily bring them home with me :)

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  45. Oh yes, I love every single item you have -what an eye you have! It's my sensibility too!

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  46. OH hun, I am crushing back on your blog! When I get home this evening I am going to have to come back and and lust some more.

    To answer you about Etsy. It's really quite simple.I would suggest you read up on other etsy shop bio's and policies before writing your own to give you ideas. Study up a little on what hot right now. Get a feel for what kind of image you want. I rushed to open my first shop and got it all wrong. The fees are very reasonable. Gotta go or I will be late!

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  47. If you ask me...I think you have two good eyes...lol!

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  48. Hey Joan-thanks for finding our blog-we are definately soul sisters. Love all the stuff you find and so happy to hear my garage is not the only one out of control. One of my favorite blog quotes-"if it looks like it's going to the dump-I am sure to love it! There is nothing like junk, funk, rusty and crusty treauses that speak to a time before us!

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  49. I REALLY love your sense of style! I love putting "disconected" and different tectures together and making vinettes. Great job!

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  50. Your home is full of such wonderful treasures! Thanks for sharing these with us :)

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