Monday, July 13, 2009

The Touch, The Feel of Wood



Old painted architectural pieces.....
I love the look, the feel, the smell of old wooden things....



This flat wooden box has something to do with sorting cigars....at least that is what I was told when I bought it.....what do you think? I love it's graphic appeal...



These old porch balusters have a great patina... worn and chippy dark green paint...



We found them at Madison Bouckville a few years ago and I thought I would do something very creative with them but can't seem to decide what to do just yet....Any ideas? In the meantime I sort of like how they look all stacked together in the old bicycle basket....



These old small bowling pins need to be cleaned up and polished just a bit.....then I will line them up on a shelf....We have a collection of old Indian clubs....wooden weights, etc.



This is a miniature croquet set.....the mallets are only about a foot long each.....I guess it was a child's toy...



About ten years ago, my girlfriend Paula created a number of these frames out of old wood molding pieces for her pressed ferns. Even though the fern is now faded ... I love how it looks hanging on the wall in the lake house.



Curly wooden architectural details....again in forest green.... a color which goes so well with an Adirondack decor ...






This is special.....This little wooden bucket is probably the first "antique" I ever acquired.....I found it in the orchard on my grandparents' farm and I was taken with it's charm and pretty red color.....I was probably about eleven years old at the time and I asked my Nana if I could have it......I remember her pretty pale blue eyes tearing up as she laughed and said, "Of course you can have it...take it along!"

That was the beginning for me....I spent the rest of my youth in the barns, the basement of the old farmhouse and the attic....discovering treasure after treasure and always being told ...."Go ahead....you want that old thing? ....take it along!"

To this day, I can close my eyes and envision every detail of that old farmhouse....smell the scent of the hot dusty attic air and feel the warmth of the afternoon sun on my arms as it streamed through the attic window; I spent many hours poking around and looking through old boxes of linens, photographs and other family belongings up there.....

I have only to close my eyes and remember... in order to feel the dampness and smell the mustiness of the basement where Nana kept the sarsaparilla soda and my Great-Uncle Harry tinkered with all his old clocks...

With my eyes closed I can feel the smoothness of the dark wooden banister on the stairs my brother, sisters and I used to slide down on....
Special, calming memories...

22 comments:

icandy... said...

Such wonderful finds!! Isn't it nice when something as simple as a smell can spark so many special memories? I know exactly what you mean! It's always nice to reminisce...

Happy day!
Christina :)

Lisa said...

Wood is awesome! I always love your photos!! You enjoy the simple things like I do!
Hugs, Lisa

A Flair for Vintage Decor said...

Lovely post! It makes me remember memories I had with my Grandmother! Take care, Caroline

June said...

Such a beautifully written post. I love remembering my grandmother's house and the old farmhouse that I lived in as a child. Thank you for taking me back.
Smiles,
June

Anonymous said...

Your balesters certainly have a time worn look. If you have a small hallway, you could use them for wainscotting. Love the bucket too. It just looks like a cowboy was carrying back and forth from here to there.

jade said...

So many wonderful treasures!!! My favorites are the small bowling pins, and this loveley wooden bucket............and the story of your grandparents house (my grandmother is still living and she tells me the stories of her grandparents - they also had a farm).......love it all, thank you so much!!!!

Have a wonderful day, Hugs Jade

Yvonne said...

What a beautiful memories, and lovely things you have found...
Have a nice day !
Yvonne

Barbara Jean said...

Wonderful finds!!

Blessings,
Barbara jean

Les Cotrions said...

I adore wooden items! Your ornaments are simply faboulous! Lots of new projects you can make!
Hugs
Vale

Rose Garden Romantic said...

What wonderful memories to have! You have some great architectural pieces!
Michelle

Jacqueline @ HOME said...

Love that grey patina that wood gets even after a short time....have a look at my post today ( sorry, you don't have to!!!!! ) there is a chest ( the one with flowers in ) that you would like.....by the way , I have those French storage canisters that you have on your side bar....got them for a song off of ebay a while ago. XXXX

Suzy's Vintage Attic said...

Hello Laura

What a lovely post.
The love the bowling pins and the the little red bucket, your first antique purchase.
What a wonderful description of the old farmhouse. You would give anything to be able to go back and experience such treasured moments again.
Take care
Isabelle x

cheryl kuhn said...

As usual I oohed and aahed over all your wonderful photos of your cherished objects. I am a huge lover of old wood pieces, especially where the paint is all chippy or crackled. That bucket is so special , made even more so by the memories it brings to mind for you!!

Rosemary said...

I love all of your beautiful pieces, especially your red bucket of course. What a nice little story to go with it.
How wonderful you knew what you liked at such a young age.
Thanks for a great post!!
Have a great day!
Rosemary

Carole said...

That's really when it first started for you...in your grandparents farmhouse. George's father was always getting rid of everything. It's sad there wasn't much left of the old things.

Eva Agnes said...

Your story about your grannies farmhouse and sunny attic takes me on a trip back n time to my own grannie's farmhouse attic.
Like you I spent lots of my time up there with all her treasures.
I got a lot from her which I've kept and some given away to my daughter.
Mmmmmm what a nice feeling this is remembering that time.
Love and ugs
Eva Agnes

Anne Marie said...

your collections are simply amazing Laura....

i love your variety........
but I love your description of the farm the best.

Kay said...

What wonderful memories and lovely photos...thanks for sharing!!

Anonymous said...

What wonderful memories! You are so blessed to have them.

Karen said...

What a beautiful blog, I love all the photos and the colors and well, just everything!!

Angie B. said...

Hello Laura, Thank you for your lovely comments on my blog!! Your pictures and decoration are delicious!! Looks like you do a lot yourselfs as well, very creative. I promise to step by more often! :-)
I wish you a nice evening,
Hugs !
Angie

Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage said...

Wonderful wooden treasures, Laura!

My love of vintage started in childhood, as well. My maternal grandparents had two houses - one on the farm and the other on the lake. Each was filled to overflowing with inherited pieces, auction wins, yard sale finds, etc. Some of my fondest childhood memories involved those two houses and those two dear loved ones.

I loved being with Grandma and Poppa and hearing the stories of how they came to own this piece or that. Poppa owned "The Merchantile" - a junker's haven - and used to take me, as a young girl, to auctions with him. I've been smitten with "vintage" ever since. ;)

Blessings,
Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/