When I was a little girl, my mother and I would venture out to garage sales and antique stores. Perhaps it was this early exposure to the “old” stuff that captivated my heart’s rhythm and attached a significant invisible string to my insides like a barnacle does to a ship. Every now and again, this little string gives a little tug that connects my brain to my heart and then down to my wallet. The result is that a little treasure comes home with me.
Mom bought me several antique dresses one time on a trip to Truckee, California. My favorite was a brown dress, circa 1910, that was adorned with beads and lace. Though it smelled like it had been stored in an old trunk for years and years, I still loved wearing it with some old lace-up high-heeled shoes. I could have easily be cast for a role on Little House On The Prairie!
Someone asked me awhile back what I collect. After mulling it over in my mind, my answer was “just this and that.” You won’t find museum quality pieces here because my pocket book cannot swing such treasures, though I do appreciate them whole heartedly. For me, it’s the simple things with a charming or romantic flair that spark a flame inside my soul…. 
…like these little birds on the edge of the brown transferware plate.
When the old cow tags and French beaded flowers aren’t being used as napkin rings, they simply lay on an ironstone plate. It is about mixing up the unexpected little things, right? 
Bring on the old! There just isn’t anything new that lends itself to the beauty of the past. The beautiful patina of soft browns and silver on the silver-plate pieces, in addition to the patterns of the pieces, quietly contrast with the delicate floral of the white milk pitcher. 
A gorgeous pieces of lace (in need of ironing) unpretentiously drapes over the edge of a cabinet shelf. So delicate in its sweet little way and exquisitely made, too.
Perhaps I am just an old soul with a heart for the old. I can live quite comfortably with that.
xxoo
