Aren't you kind of impressed with people who know what things like stoneware, enamelware, toile and so on are? I love that sort of thing. Fancy, old, traditional stuff you keep around your home. To me, those things make a home over just a house you live in.
Everyone has their finishing touches. I like old and traditional. Not so much antiques, they are a responsibility. New old stuff is what I like. Don't get the idea that I'm looking for that fakery stuff. I do not like new stuff that has been made to look old. Scratched, burned, cracked, glued, etc. - that's not my thing.
I prefer a new enamel pot. It's something new based on an old idea. I wish I had a list of all the old fashioned things. Likely there is a website for this somewhere. I could just sink into all that information, especially if it comes with pictures or some kind of illustration to daydream over.
This is my home and garden fetish. I watch Martha Stewart just cause she indulges my fetish with things (like paper twist flowers, stoneware and toile), some of them, previously unknown to me.
What's your home and garden fetish? You must have one... don't be shy.
NOTE: The last newsletter (about family and antique methods of cleaning and maintaining a home) didn't go out to everyone, you can find it in the archives at BackWash
I like odd ball retro sort of stuff. But my version of odd ball retro stuff. Today I was at the GoodWill store. I ended up buying an old pair of kids red jeans. That will become a great backpack/ purse eventually. I also found a hand knit hockey sweater in perfect condition. I gave that to my nephew. He was as impressed as any 7 year old boy would be. He did look at it, that was enough to make me happy.
One of the retro things I would like to get more of are those 70's style big eyed girls pictures. You know the ones where some of the girls are dressed in harlequin outfits? Anyway, I first saw those at a neighbours garage sale. I bought about 5 but one of my sisters insisted on taking 2 of them. Later she tossed them out, never offering them back to me. It just takes a real connoisseur to appreciate these things, I guess.
I'm also a sucker for practical or bits of useless old fashioned things. Like the enamelware kettle I bought at the Lions steer roast last Autumn. I think that thing is great. I've yet to actually use it though. It's cream coloured inside and green outside. It looks like a kettle for boiling water, with a lid and spout. But, the lid has wholes in it. The kettle is meant to be used for pot pourri or mainly to put water back into the air. Is that a humidifier? I always get those two mixed up. Anyway, I love that kettle cause it's old fashioned and yet practical. Also, it's in pretty good shape compared to some of the enamelware things I've seen.
So we all have our stuff, hanging around, collecting dust and amusing the dust bunnies and spiders. In fact, that is my new reason for resisting buying new great odd ball stuff. I just decide who will get more use out of it; me or the dust bunnies.