Antiquin'

In case you can't tell by now, I LOVE old stuff. I really do. In most cases, I prefer it to new:

• I don't see me living in a new house...I would so much rather fix up an older home
• I know the words to every oldie
• I love looking at old photos
• Most of my collections are of outdated things

I'm a little torn at times...I think I belonged in the early 1900's (love the clothes, houses, artwork, photography) yet I am glad that I live in the here and now (indoor plumbing, Internet, AC, 4 wheel drive, TV, the ability to vote, etc). I really love antiquing/junking/flea marketing cause it's so much fun to find a treasure and there's so many interesting things to see. It's fun to find something unique to express yourself with. What's nice about being in the East is that there are a LOT of little shops to explore! Stuff is generally cheaper out here than out West as well. This weekend, as a celebration of getting through last week, I stopped at one of my favorite antique stores and then on Saturday I wandered the local flea market and the junk store. I wish I'd had more money with me, but I still had fun.

The other thing about shopping this way is that it's green...you're reusing stuff instead of needing new stuff produced. And you're keeping it out of landfills!

Sometime soon I'll have to show pics of what I actually collect, as I have several (too many! ha!) collections.

Here's the Whistle Stop in Corry, one of my faves:

I love re-purposing items...I think this fireplace insert would look fab on a wall!

On a side note, this was upstairs in the junk store...just had to take a pic of this FUNKY flower-shaped display...who made that and how??? Unexpected!

Most of the time I prefer the natural aged patina, I find it to be interesting looking- like this chair (it looked cooler in person than in my photo). I mean, you couldn't replicate this if you tried:

So what did I come away with this weekend? While I wished I'd had more pocket $ at the flea market (saw a great pink depression glass cake plate for cheap), I came away with this vintage tabletop aqua ironing board for $2! I love junk stores. Someday I want an aqua kitchen, and this is flat so storage for it in the mean time isn't too big an issue.

It's ever so slightly greener than the aqua metal doll highchair that I acquired a couple of months ago (I'm such a sucker for this color!).

It was funny cause when I went to pay for my ironing board, the shopkeeper was all "those make really great ironing boards" and I'm like "I just bought it for the color"!

I guess that's an added bonus for my $2 investment!

Creativity

I mentioned in October that I really liked the talk given by President Uchtdorf about women and creativity and thought I'd share some of his comments. I really do feel happier when I am using talents and creating. I also liked the point that it's not just about painting or singing or something, but creating a peaceful, happy atmosphere in your home:

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before."Everyone can create. You don't need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty."Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty. . ". . . Remember that you are spirit daughters of the most creative Being in the universe. Isn't it remarkable to think that your very spirits are fashioned by an endlessly creative and eternally compassionate God? Think about it—your spirit body is a masterpiece, created with a beauty, function, and capacity beyond imagination."But to what end were we created? We were created with the express purpose and potential of experiencing a fulness of joy (see 2 Nephi 2:25). Our birthright—and the purpose of our great voyage on this earth—is to seek and experience eternal happiness. One of the ways we find this is by creating things."

"If you are a mother, you participate with God in His work of creation—not only by providing physical bodies for your children but also by teaching and nurturing them. If you are not a mother now, the creative talents you develop will prepare you for that day, in this life or the next."You may think you don't have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us (see D&C 46:11–12). The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter."What you create doesn't have to be perfect. . . . Don't let the voices of critics paralyze you—whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside."If you still feel incapable of creating, start small. Try to see how many smiles you can create, write a letter of appreciation, learn a new skill, identify a space and beautify it."

-Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Happiness, Your Heritage," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 118–19