Interior decorators often recommend mixing new and old to achieve a timeless style. Some folks may be lucky enough to inherit cherished antiques and keepsakes. While others, like me, enjoy looking for them at vintage shops and antique markets. Finding a vintage treasure, especially one with a personal connection, can take time but is well worth the effort. I share some of my own favorite treasured vintage finds in this post.
Some time ago, I shared the story of this vintage tin. It is a treasured find from an antique market in Belgium. It’s designed to hold beschuitjes (Dutch rusk) and brings back fond memories of my childhood. The milk bottles, found in Nova Scotia, Canada, are also a treasured vintage find with a personal connection. They are embossed with “Farmers Limited Halifax” which is a milk producer-owned dairy in Nova Scotia. These bottles were used to deliver milk to customers back in the day. They are special to me because of my Dad. He was a dairy farmer and an active member of the Farmers Dairy cooperative.
The vintage sock stretchers, pictured below, are the perfect place to showcase a pair of socks that my Mom knit for me. They found a new home in our laundry area along with the old washboard. You can learn more about this story in the post Socks by Mom.
Wooden spools and spindles, like the ones displayed in the glass jars below, are not hard to find in the US Southeast. They are a remnant of the cotton textile industry that once dominated this area of the country. Today, they are displayed in our home as a nod to the local past.
The vases in the above photo are made of white glass called “milk glass”. Milk glass was mass produced in the 1950s and 1960s and is readily available today. It reminds me of this advice from a local collector “The most insignificant object assumes importance if you have a lot of it.” Well—I have to admit I have a lot of it! These gleaming white pieces are ideal for displaying flowers but are equally interesting on their own. Pieces from my milk glass collection have made more than one appearance here on the blog.
Another item that seems to have grown into a collection is vintage textiles. I have a few displayed on a ladder in the hallway to my studio. The top piece, taking pride of place, is a tablecloth hand-embroidered by my Mom. It’s a beautiful piece! The other pieces were collected from near (US Southeast) and far (Japan and Germany).
Some of my vintage finds, such as this glasses holder, are simply quirky and fun.
Sometimes a vintage or thrift store find can be repurposed for an entirely new role. I shared an example in the post Thrifted Frame to Small Tray. Here’s a before and after view of the picture frame repurposed as a small tray with, yet another, grouping of milk glass!
But vintage finds need not be limited to the inside of the home. We have a small collection of vintage white French enamelware which we collected while living in Germany. It’s displayed on our porch and reminds us of our time in Europe. Here’s one of those pieces playing an unexpected role as a wren’s nest.
We use vintage curvy café chairs for outdoor seating. I bought them in pairs. Then refinished the frames and replaced the seat cushions.
In fact, here’s the original green chair at the antiques fair. It was quite a transformation!
A small grouping of old, wooden posts serves as a focal point in our flower garden. This photo first appeared in the post Our Garden Prepares to Leap.
In the same way vintage finds add interest and uniqueness to our home, they can add personality and punch to photos. I’m always on the lookout for vintage or thrift store finds to serve as photo props. The little porcelain figurine of a young girl holding the number 2 was a timely vintage find for the post FanningSparks Turns 2!
Here’s another example of a thrift store find that needed a little attention. The wicker picnic basket was in good condition but the top covers were missing. The updated basket, complete with new covers, starred in the post Picnic Under the Wisteria.
Vintage pieces are often time-worn but I think that can add to their appeal. This vintage croquet set, which played a key role in the post A Colorful Backyard Picnic, is a case in point.
There’s one more reason I like to explore vintage shops—to scout for inspiration. I love to find handmade items from the past. It’s interesting to see what people made—to see what materials and techniques they used. These vintage finds can serve as thought-starters for new projects. The wooden trivet, shown top right in the photo below, inspired the Christmas wreath I shared in the post Diamonds and Beads Wooden Wreath.
The post, Hello Marvelous Photo Embroidery – DIY Tutorial, included a cool vintage post card which I scored at the El Rastro flea market in Madrid Spain. There were a handful of these cards tucked in amongst the bric-a-brac.
This postcard featuring Rafael Ortega, a famous Spanish bullfighter, is elaborately enhanced with embroidery.
Vintage postcards are fun to collect. They’re small and easy to transport and store. Yet they can be quite fascinating as can be seen in this set of 3 vintage postcards from an antique market in Tongeren, Belgium.
The illustrations are signed by “Girona”. The postcards were printed in Spain. They are incredibly cutesy but special and unique. Here’s a closer look at the little girl and boy winding yarn.
An interesting detail that I didn’t notice before is the girls are knitting with extra-long straight needles positioned under their arms—that’s the way my mother knits too. It’s just another reason to treasure these vintage finds!
More Info
Vintage and thrift finds often appear in FanningSparks’ blog posts. Check out the following posts for more vintage inspiration:
. A Vintage Tin with a Story
. The Ultimate Maker’s Cabinet
. Decorating With Collections
. Thrifted Frame to Small Tray
. Everyday Things That Aren’t Every Day
. Little Golden Books Illustrations Showcased
Today’s Takeaways
1. Achieve a timeless style by including a mix of old and new.
2. Consider seeking out unique, unexpected vintage items.
3. Vintage items with a personal connection can help tell your story.
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