As you have gathered by now, I'm a bit partial to old stuff. The environmental benefits of using secondhand instead of buying new is an added bonus. My vintage tea cup collection has drawn an admiring glance or two and now I've got even more loveliness to share with you.
There's something about a piece of fabric, a book or furniture which is a few decades old that is so intriguing. I think it's the idea that it's been used and loved by other people that attracts me. I try to imagine who the previous owners were, what they wore, where they lived, just what their life was like. The first flat my husband and I owned was in a mansion block built in the 1920s and still had the original fireplace. When we were getting ready for a night out I liked to imagine the couples who had lived there before us, what gladrags did they dress in, where would they go for an evening's entertainment, had they checked their appearance in a mirror above the fireplace before leaving, just as we did?
So, following a trip down memory lane with my mum last weekend, I have photographed some more beautiful items full of stories and history, if only they could tell…
These well travelled suitcases belonged to my mum (and I think her sister). The camera is a 1930s Brownie which I picked up while visiting the antiques market at Blakemere Craft Centre in Cheshire. I couldn't resist taking another close-up of the camera, it's too gorgeous.
The linen you can just see in the above shot is another treasure given to me by my mum, thank you for being a hoarder, Ma!
These pieces are a mixture of linen from the 1920s to 1950s which belonged to my grandmother, great-grandmother and aunty, some embroidered by their clever, talented hands. Not sure I'll ever quite get to their standard…
…and lastly, I've recently been thinking about my favourite childhood book series, and I think probably my favourite book outright – Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery.
This copy dates back to 1935, the entire Anne book set belonged to one of my mum's aunts and now belongs to me. When I was younger, any time I felt poorly or in need of comfort I always reached for the Anne books. If you haven't read it, I urge you to, and if you have daughters, buy them a copy. Anne is a spirited, dreamy, lovable girl you can't help but be enchanted by. Plus a brilliant TV series was made which is sure to get you hooked.
It's about time for a reread I think…
What a lovely post, Gabrielle.. your photo of those beautiful linens really struck a chord - they reminded me of some very simiilar pieces my Grandma used to have. Got me wondering where they are now...?
I feel the same about vintage furniture and odds & ends.. I love imagining their past life.
Thanks for your congratulations, by the way! :o)
Posted by: SarahLP | Monday, 22 February 2010 at 19:47