Antique spool cabinet.
After Paul carried in this antique spool cabinet, he stood back and looked around… He said – it’s getting to be like someone’s crazy great-aunt lives here.
I nodded with satisfaction. Because it’s true— I am on my way.
Also, let us be clear: a superior great-aunt who wears giant cocktail rings, enjoys martinis at noon, and keeps a twenty-something stable boy even though all the horses have died.
If I can get my house like that now, it will save me so much time down the road when I need to be arranging my hat collection and shaking my fist at the neighborhood children.
We put it on the dining room table until I figure out where it’s going; the base is pretty large and it does not fit on any surface I expected to put it.
This is my favorite kind of problem.
Up until now, I’ve been keeping my fancy bits in stacking mini cupcake carriers. They’re great for the dividers and organization options.
But I couldn’t see everything at once, and getting the bins out of the closet and unsnapping all the layers to look for something was decidedly UNfancy.
THIS IS BETTER.
I have been looking for an antique spool cabinet FOREVER, for exactly this purpose.
And although I was hoping for something BIGGER or BIGGEST… since I only paid $60, this will do just fine.
I LOVE the thick beveled glass and the little brass pulls and the “Belding Bros.” plate… ALL of it! Plus it’s nice to be able to see everything all at once!
Now. Transition to new topic.
I’m SUPER excited for my trip to the Autumn Spectacular Antique Fair… 100 booths filled with antiques, vintage and re-purposed dealers, in a huge Victorian barn… 20 minutes from my best friend. It’s like they created it JUST FOR ME!
I am presenting on Saturday and on Sunday… (Miss Mustard Seed too!)
I’m doing the same presentation both days (even though I was invited to present on two separate topics and even though I most certainly enjoy biting off way more than I can chew and becoming totally overwhelmed and regretting my own idiocy at every turn,) I decided to limit myself to ONE HOUR OF PURE GENIUS.
Do I have concern about this possibly-unreachable-bar-of-proclaiming-myself-the-Ludwig-Wittgenstein-of-antiquing?
Yes… That is why I have enlisted some professional help… they guarantee that their services are fail-proof.
I’ve structured what I have to say into five sections and sprinkled it with JAZZ HANDS and also some fascinating personal details that make me sound like I know what I’m talking about.
I’ve got my keynote slides all sorted out; because visual aids make everything more interesting!
Also because I am someone who needs a lot of structure.
A LOT of structure!
When I do a presentation, I need a clearly marked path… and I cannot deviate from that path or I will say something stupid.
Essentially, my brain cannot be trusted unsupervised.
I’m telling you all of this because I’m afraid I have overlooked something obvious… and I have always found that reading about other people’s experiences is a way that I process my own thoughts.
This is why memoir is my favorite genre. (Especially if the author has deliberately done very stupid things to ruin their own life.
So if you feel like sharing, I’d love to hear your thoughts on STUFF… Craigslist, auctions, estate sales, trash night… whatever you feel like.
Who/what sparked your stuff habit/what you’re longing for right now/your favorite place to score good stuff/mistakes you’ve made/what you’ve learned/what you think about your stuff/decorating with stuff/what you collect/why it’s interesting to you.
I think it will help me polish some of my segments by getting out of my own head!
September 14, 2016 @ 11:07 am
My DIL found your blog and led me here…I have thanked her several times. Would you be willing to make a post about the blogs you read? I have found that someone I realllly think could have been a friend usually has other friends I would be interested in knowing. Clear as mud? Is there a blog roll you like to visit when you have time?
September 14, 2016 @ 11:12 am
You speak my language! I wish I could show you what I did to our old antique spool cabinet! Ours had pewter and mother of pearl knobs so we had a base made for it with small mop inlay so it is now used as a side table!
September 14, 2016 @ 11:20 am
I’m a little bit of a different collector from you; I am always looking for mint, NWT, or NIB items to replace the things I had growing up. I don’t really have much use for a brand new lamp that I immediately rip out of the box to display for my own satisfaction, but it sure does feel good (would have been cheaper to have just saved my stuff, Mom & Dad). I’ve run out of things I’ve been coveting for years, so now I actually have to think about what else I *should* covet. Luckily I’ve renovated a small 1920 tudor that’s opened up a whole world of possibilities!
September 14, 2016 @ 11:22 am
Love!!!!!!
I have totally started using you as a “see!! Look at her – going after GFTs is totally normal” when explaining to my husband that we need to go pick up an antique player piano like right now! ( it’s pending my pick up this weekend! Woohoo! )
I’m building a new house and am on the hunt for huge antique mirrors, am contemplating doing an antique / Mercury glass backsplash in my new kitchen and can’t wait to shop for new-old pieces!
Can you beg someone to record your talk and post it on your website ?! I would love to hear it but am in Texas. Where by the way, you need a road trip to come down to Canton for their first Monday’s… It’s a ginormous flea market of antiques and all kinds of stuff!!
When can we get a new update on your kitchen?? I’ve read all of your posts many times!! You are above and beyond the greatest inspiration I’ve ever found!!
Love seeing your foster kitties and am hoping you’re doing ok after losing your Elvis. Xoxox
September 14, 2016 @ 11:24 am
You’ll do amazing just by being you! That’s what all of who love your blog enjoy…..your personality. I know the space will be packed out! Relax, you don’t have to perform for anyone……something I always try to remember if in front of a crowd. Focus on your audience, not on yourself. Find one smiling person to talk with like you would a friend. Enjoy yourself.
Why I collect STUFF……because the HUNT is half the fun…..it’s the “pirate treasure seeker” in us….hunting for treasure others missed! Plus, things with a story are so much more interesting and a home should be interesting, not just beautiful. I love the quote, “The home should be a treasure chest of living.” by Le Corbusier What we collect along the journey is our story!
September 24, 2016 @ 10:06 pm
I love this! Yes, I am all about the hunt. The visceral excitement of not knowing what you’ll find. I get a thrill of excitement when I enter a thrift store or yardsale because it is the great unknown. It’s the sybarites skydiving. LOL
September 14, 2016 @ 11:31 am
Am I the only one dying to know what that’s a photo of on the computer screen (behind kittens on desk) with the gold numbers?
September 14, 2016 @ 11:38 am
Ok I just have to say that those kitties look right at home in your fabulous house! Maybe they shoudl be a foster fail and just stay at your house! 🙂
September 14, 2016 @ 11:40 am
Swe this GFT? In an auction this Friday of Spaghetti Warehouse retaurant stuff – commercial kitchen items and GFTs!!
http://www.restaurantequipment.bid/cgi-bin/mnlist.cgi?rebid2/SWPD20/showall
Oh dear, the Photo didn’t display! It’s. Large Eastlake type mirrow! Quite huge, in fact!
September 14, 2016 @ 11:51 am
LOVE the spool cabinet, which is definitely looking its best adorned with kittens!
I don’t know where I got the Stuff Habit. Not from my mother or grandmothers. Maybe it’s a throwback gene and I have a hoarder in my family tree. Unfortunately, my Hunter skills far outstrip both my display and selling skills. My garage is a testimony to this misbalance I am constantly struggling to overcome.
I finally started selling on Etsy so I would a) have the equivalent of a steam valve for the Stuff and b) have an excuse to get More Stuff. See how that works? 🙂
We are blessed with a plethora of incredible Goodwill stores here in the Valley of the Sun and that is where I do my picking. I always have a list of things I am looking for, not to sell, but for my own use. I have wanted new dining room chairs since, I don’t, like five minutes after I bought the ones I bought five years ago. yesterday I walked into a Goodwill and There They Were! Not antiques or even vintage, but just right for my dining room. Two armchairs and four side chairs for – I kid you not – $37.44!!! For all of them!
Best of all, my daughter wants the old chairs when she moves into her new apartment in November. She’s also taking some of the dishes from my china cabinet that I was going to sell, making room for my current obsession – Bordallo Pinheiro majolica.
September 14, 2016 @ 12:00 pm
Oh my what a nice cabinet. It’s a great one!
But I am so distracted–KITTENS!!!!
They’re beyond adorable.
🙂
September 14, 2016 @ 12:00 pm
Victoria,
I love the use of the spool chest and clearly the foster kittens share your love of bright and shiny objects! I’m thrilled for you and the lucky participants at the upcoming event. I would love to hear your presentation and of course, meet you in person!
I currently collect any little bit and bobble that comes across my path. The good news is I need nothing more in my house. I never thought it would come to this but at my age I can honestly say I need nothing other than the maintenance of upholstered pieces and such. Phew, it only took 60+ years to be able to say that.
xo,
Karen
September 14, 2016 @ 12:12 pm
I’m feeling a sense of loss as I look at your spool cabinet. As an avid sewist, who owns more thread than a human should be allowed to have, I weep that your spool cabinet is not holding spools. Do you think it felt betrayal as you filled it with baubles?
September 14, 2016 @ 11:56 pm
I disagree. As soon as I saw beyond those adorable fur babies, it was obvious that the cabinet was made for sparkles. Perfection. The cabinet immediately took me back to the old Winn’s 5&10 store of my childhood. Their spool cabinet was always filled with eye catching jewel toned threads. Next time your in the DFW area, the Downtown Mini Mall in Denton is a great bargain hunter’s paradise. I sold there for many years before moving overseas. Now I collect passport stamps. Wish me luck on filling this one up before I have to renew!
September 14, 2016 @ 12:16 pm
I’d love to get into all this, diy, antiquing…knowing what the hell I’m looking at and how it gets made fresh.
But I’m aware that I don’t have the luck, knowledge or patience! So I go to the very rare flea market and thrift store, secure in the knowledge that I probably just walked past THE door/sideboard/hanging thing that would have rocked my world.
Focus…I lack focus. And confidence. And, uh….
September 14, 2016 @ 12:41 pm
Wow what a deal on the spool cabinet. When I googled them the started in the $300+ and up+
The kittens are so cute and I am so happy to hear the female cat is well and ready for a new home. She sounds like the perfect cat….maybe she might have been perfect for you???? Someone will be so happy to have her. It is awesome that you and Paul have such big hearts to foster!
September 14, 2016 @ 12:49 pm
You have all the makings of a modern day Auntie Mame! I pride myself in being an Auntie Mame too. I have a velvet fainting couch that I have demonstrated to many, many children how to dramatically swoon onto it. I can tell the kids who are kindred spirits, they light up and place back of hand on forehead and swoon away. The boring kids look at me like I’m a freak, and I quickly know I don’t have to leave anything big and fancy to them in my will!
September 15, 2016 @ 11:25 am
Auntie Mame is my role model! Teach open-mindedness, true love, and a flair for dramatic fashion!
September 14, 2016 @ 12:56 pm
So That’s what I have! – a spool cabinet! Not as fancy as yours, of course.
September 14, 2016 @ 1:03 pm
My sister and I are traveling from Wisconsin to hear you speak and hopefully meet you. You will be awesome!
Can’t wait to check out all the vintage items as well!
September 14, 2016 @ 1:15 pm
My late mother was a picker back in the 60’s and 70’s in Upstate NY. She would put my sister and I in the car on a Saturday morning with a map and snacks and off we would go! She was quite fearless, approaching farmers and asking if she could peruse their barns. She had a great eye and always came out with something.
Now, I check out people’s piles on garbage day and search Craig’s List. Since just moving to SE PA, I am going to start checking out the local auction houses. At present, I am looking for a vintage drafting table, urns, and sculpture for the garden.
BTW, my mother used her spool box as an end table, but love your idea to use as a jewelry box!
September 14, 2016 @ 1:24 pm
You have the most adorable typist! Certainly cute enough to compensate for lack of accuracy
September 14, 2016 @ 1:27 pm
Well, now I need a spool cabinet AND a carriage house. Also, will you please be MY great-aunt??