Over the years visiting thrift stores, I've found myself walking away from a lot of interesting things. Things I liked but already had, didn't have a place for or just plain didn't need. Most of them I've completely forgotten about. But there are a few that haunt me.
I hadn't been to an antique store in ages, but visited one just before Christmas, a few weeks ago. Though I often don't find anything I want or "need," there was one booth that day that had quite a few things I really, really liked. They were all Christmas decorations.
Here was the problem: I almost only buy things that are inexpensive, or undervalued. (It's how I justify the habit, I guess.) But all of these things I liked were not inexpensive. I often think vintage and antique items are worth their price, as they're usually well-made, and rare or one-of-a-kind. So these things may have been reasonably priced, I'm just used to not paying a lot.
Because everything cost above what I wanted to pay, I walked away. But I'm still thinking about them. So does that mean I should have bought something?
Here they are:
I really loved these two vintage Christmas trees, which I would consider a kind of folk art.
They are obviously handmade, and by someone much smarter and more creative than me. (I have no idea how they made the metal frame for these.)
They are really well made, too.
I love that someone made homemade decorations like these that have lasted so long, and are such good quality. I just loved them.
The seller (I assume) put a string of lights in each one so they shine, too.
The green one was $35.
The white one was $60 (!). (The white one has a handmade beaded angel at the top and was a little bigger, I assume that's why it was so much more expensive.)
I imagine I am drawn to these for the same reasons I'm drawn to vintage anything:
the quality is high and noone else I know has anything like this.
I like things that aren't trendy.
I like things that are unusual and different.
Next up is this pair of brass reindeer pulling sleighs.
I haven't seen these for sale much, though I see brass animals from time to time.
Vintage brass animals got trendy and now cost a fortune, so I was actually surprised these reindeer weren't more expensive. But still...
The one above was $70.
The one below was $48.
I was really considering these guys. So they are actually quality Christmas decorations.
(I was also wondering if they were definitely brass and how much polishing they might need...)
And finally, there was this vintage Christmas house:
I feel like this looks more interesting in person.Though a lot of old stuff I like is Victorian-ish, I have a soft spot in my heart for kitschy, mid-century stuff, like this.
On closer inspection, I noticed a couple of things:
this is really well-made. It's not plastic-y, even if it looks like it.
It also doesn't have any maker's mark anywhere.
It is obviously older, and has survived a long time, with every little detail perfectly intact.
And it has a lot of detail when viewed up close.
I just really liked it, but I guess not $55 worth.
So there they were, all the things I thought might be nice additions to my Christmas collection. I just couldn't get over the price tags.
So after Christmas I went back. I thought maybe there'd be an after Christmas sale. I had it in my head that I would buy the lesser-priced of the brass reindeer.
Well, there was a sale. 15%. But 15% is barely a sale. And of all the items I liked, guess which one had sold? Of course, only the one I had decided I definitely would buy.
So I walked away for a second time. And guess what? I still think about those things I saw from time to time. I haven't forgotten. So what does that mean?
Many, many times in my life when I haven't known what decision to make, I've chosen not to make one. (And many in way more important situations than shopping.) As I've gotten older, I've realized that no decision WAS the decision, I guess I just didn't realize that. I've sometimes I regretted it, and have learned to acknowledge that no action, or putting off making a decision, is in fact making one.
I wonder if next Christmas I'll be remembering any of these things. I'll let you know!
