February 16, 2010

cool things I didn't buy

As part of my "Clean your Closet for a Cause" quest, I have had to make several visits to a local antique store that is consigning some of my things. It's been kind of like an alcoholic visiting the liquor store, just to look at all the pretty bottles. Not a particularly smart idea.

However, my resistance has held.

So far.

In my current frame of mind, I believe the next best thing to buying vintage goodies, is photographing vintage goodies. Actually, it's not the next best thing, it's the better thing. It's better to take pictures than to buy. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I have a birdcage collection. I love my birdcage collection. My collection does not include a black birdcage.


Nor does it include a cute little bird.


In keeping with the bird theme, how about this little cutie?


Back in the day, I wouldn't have thought twice about picking this up. Four dollars. Adorable. However, it would have ended up in a drawer, and that's precisely what I'm trying to avoid.

But it's so cute.

And four dollars.

The road to good intentions apparently shouldn't go past the antique store.

I drool over this little thing every time I stop in. I'm not even sure what it is. I'm thinking cookie jar. It's not really my style, but for some reason I just love it.


And hats. I have a hat collection, and I couldn't bring myself to get rid of it in the purge. This one is kind of funky, but the flowers on it are beautiful.


And a child's hat. Too cute.


The icing on my little window shopping trip was this beauty.


All these things were tempting, some more than others. But it actually feels good to have a little self control. This way, when something really special comes along, it will be just that. Special.

Hopefully, sometime in the next week or two, I will have the purge pretty much wrapped up. I can't wait to share how it's gone. It's fun to collect things. Really fun. But it's been pretty fun getting rid of my stuff too.

So, how about you? What calls your name when you're out and about? Name your kryptonite...vintage or otherwise.

25 comments:

  1. Oh so many things! I live in Australia and it "seems" like things cost more here....antique wise. I am a sucker for colour....beautiful, dulled with age colour. Red! Now I am sitting here dreaming when I should be making dinner. If I lived with you I would have bought all of your purged items. Oh dear!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oooh, those birdies! That bird cage! I'm way impressed, Benny. As for my poison? At the moment it's anything industrial or nerdy. And no, I do not care to elaborate at this time. ;)

    Oh, and chips and salsa. Definitely, always chips and salsa. But you already knew that, didn't you?

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love vintage aprons...I have a bunch, I love to buy them and wash and iron them and use them...just love them! Come say hi :D

    ReplyDelete
  4. Fat Quarters...and I'm not a quilter! I recently got a new sewing machine and have been having so much fun with it. We don't have a traditional fabric store in my little town but we do have a quilter's shop. They have the cutest little bundles of Fat Quarters...it's all I can do to stay away!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Let's just say vintage. But I have had to stop because I have no room. I'm working on an Etsy Shop, I don't know why I'm nervous about that. Now my finds have to be useful.
    And when I move to Lakeside Montana I have to sell everything!

    ReplyDelete
  6. you are a strong person! i love anything birdy...

    ReplyDelete
  7. you are doing so great, I wouldn't have been able to pass up that towel for nuttin'....but you are right, why buy it to store it in a drawer? Sigh...
    Miniatures is my name and dollhouses are my game....well, that and anything, and I do mean anything to do with the garden. I'm about ready to buy a bag of dirt, just to smell it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Umm, well that bird cage just stole a little piece of my heart. My vintage kryptonite is ironstone, old christmas stuff, paper, chippy, peely furniture and baskets. But yesterday my kryptonite was HomeGoods. I should knowed better but I stopped in there pretending that I was just looking for a lamp shade and a new pot and I spent $89.83 of which $54.54 was new clothes. Oops. I guess maybe I should say some hail mary's or something because I'm feeling really bad. In my defense though, Emma is outgrowing approximately one clothing item per week and I really needed a date night dress to go with some rockin boots I got on sale after Christmas. Oh the guilt! I will just admire your strength and try to emulate you more.

    ReplyDelete
  9. We have a combined Marshalls/Home Goods near us and since cleaning it out the day after Christmas (how could I not), I am trying very hard to resist the strong gravitational pull my car gets whenever we pass the parking lot. Just like you can't eat one chip, you cannot get just one thing at Marshall's/Home Goods. I've made it six weeks...

    ReplyDelete
  10. Teresa, would you please contact me at my e-mail address? I have a question for you. mgpuc@everestkc.net

    ReplyDelete
  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Beaded belts!!! Can't seem to pass up the urge to seach for just one more, (as my blog banner will attest).. I think I NEED all fifty states....lol.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh Teresa, I had so hoped you were going to sell
    your goodies on Ebay or Etsy....I think I live
    too far away to shop at your local consignment
    shop! Anyway, I, too, have lots of things to
    purge but I'm having such a difficult time letting go. Help!!!

    Keep up the good work!
    Becky

    ReplyDelete
  14. If I live near you or whereve the shop is that you took these pictures I would be there right not buying that gorgeous feather tree. I would not be able to pass that one up.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I just found your blog and love it! Great photos, great colours, just love it. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  16. really liking your site. I am always equipped with a camera when I go to the flea market/antique stores. I'm not sure why. My husband barely wants to see the things I do purchase let alone the things I contemplated about buying. Perhaps I should blog about them, giving me a reason to take the pictures...

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh, gosh! Linens--all kinds of linens! Vintage pillowcases, vintage and new dishtowels, and quilts especially. I think mostly it's easier to collect these things since I can tell my husband they are "useful." What if we have 20 guests spend the night at once? I will NEED this closet full of pillowcases!
    Plus, anything to do with the Civil War. Growing up, my parents' house was decorated with artwork of Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee and now I find myself looking for the same things!

    ReplyDelete
  18. OH my - I just found your blog & I'm loving your style - everything - gardens, interior, exterior - it's fabulous! My sisters & Mom are also going to seriously heart you! Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I also just found your blog through Vintage Home, and I am dying......Are there any more houses like yours in Montana???? Everything about your place in a dream! Love it!!!

    Shellagh

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hmmm...I never know what I'm going to find when I leave the house....but I always seem to find something! The other day it was pretty white Bavarian plates, a lovely delicate bamboo egg basket, and a sweet little lamp with hand-painted pink flowers on it's "vase."

    Thank you for sharing your lovely world with us!!

    Have a beautiful weekend!

    : )

    Julie M.

    ReplyDelete
  21. In no particular order: vintage fabric, vintage Christmas, linens, dishes, little cuckoo clocks, souvenir plates from places I've been and so on. But I do love to browse too. It's how I unwind. :-) -amy

    ReplyDelete
  22. "The road to good intentions apparently shouldn't go past the antique store." Good golly, I'd love that on a sign! I can't pass up ironstone pitchers.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Far too many things catch my eye in the antique shops. Earlier this week I bought a few bird pottery pieces.... wall pockets and will blog about them sometime soon. The colors were irresistible.

    Di
    The Blue Ridge Gal

    ReplyDelete
  24. I would've gotten the bluebird embroidered towel...two of my fave things. But, I know what you mean about trying to declutter...I'm sorting thru what I really love and things I sorta like.

    ReplyDelete