Collections of objects offer messages about passion, history and personality.
I often marvel at the consistency of what people collect. Perhaps that’s because I’m easily distracted and like a variety of things that falls short of a look. Or, perhaps I’m simply not sufficiently obsessed with one type of object, color or shape.
When I look at a wall of vintage dishes like this one, in L’Emotion du Passe a vintage shop in Brittany, the consistency of color and style is what makes it so amazing. The owner, a French baby boomer adored life in the 70s and kept that vision alive through what she purchased and sells.
Fabric collectors will appreciate these cubby holes filled with remnants of fabrics, also from the 60s and 70s. Everything from batik to the liberty flower prints can be used for accent pillows, quilts, or minor upholstery. Folded, rolled and intermixed, they offer the possibility of a delightful discovery and the perfect color or print. There’s little so satisfying as an object covered with a wonderful textile.
In the country home of a couple, both distinguished English gardeners, colorful garden and flower photographs on magazine pages were relieved of their binding and pasted up in a hallway as DIY piecemeal wallpaper. But I cannot help thinking that each was of a blossom or shrub one of them loved to grow. It’s also amusing to see that the hallway was in the former servants quarters since the wood trim along the top of the wall bears the stenciled names of the various rooms along with bells that would have been rung to summon the staff, which obviously was no more.
If I hoarded anything, it would be scraps of fabric. I remember going through fabric hoards at friends’ house (everyone’s mother seemed to have one!), unfolding and carefully refolding … do little girls still do that?
The photo wall is pure English High-Bo!
I marvel at the consistency of things we collect around here, too, but none seem to be as picturesque.
I could try to look at them differently…or try to sway the collections in a different direction…
I used to love pawing through my mom’s box of buttons, and always loved my Grandma’s collection of different tea cups.
The dishes are cool, and quite appropriate to a shop. And, of course, as a fabriholic, I can appreciate the little cubbies of textiles. Nice.
I think little girls are likely too busy on Facebook to focus on fabric — unless it’s wearable. I’ve been unloading so many things but old cutters and fabric bits are things I continue to keep, along with ribbon. Now I need to figure out how to use them or send them to a better home.