And Teeks

Trying to rebuild a household takes years, when you've left one and left essentially everything behind. Suddenly you've got no slotted serving spoons, no cacti, and no tall, pine, corner TV cabinet. That's why I've bought a lot of second-hand stuff. A bird builds its nest one straw at a time, I keep saying. One of the first second-hand items I bought, when I embarked upon the re-creation of my household, was a chair. It's not just any ordinary chair. It's a chair I would consider "antique-like," with a wooden frame that has a design like a wooden lyre on its back (picked up from Mr. What Not, as mentioned below). The chair looks like one that belonged in a set my grandmother had in her dining room. I re-covered the seat with a tapestry I recovered from my other grandmother's house after she died. So, the symbolism is pretty cool, and the chair, I think, is nice on its own, minus the grandmother references. The chair was just the beginning. Now, eight years later, I cannot really fit any more household items in the nest and it keeps growing, and I keep shopping at second-hand stores, flea markets, and "antique" places. Which brings me to my point. Today I confirmed my theory about the fine line between "junk" and "antiques." Is there a difference? I think actual, valuable, beautiful antiques are passed down through the familial lineage. Most of the stuff people peddle as "antique" is broken, scratched, worn, faded, and costs at least $375. The other second-hand stuff (who knows what age it is) is broken, scratched, worn, faded, dirty and costs $25. Anyway, for the past few years I've been hearing about this "antiques fair" that happens on the last Sunday of every month in the warmer months. Today we decided to go. It was very cold. Most of the items were overpriced. We came away with two tiny Star of David juice glasses (again, purchased exclusively for sentimental value), two rings, and a small wall-hanging with two pockets decorated with two embroidered peacocks, almost undoubtedly made in India, and $23 less than we arrived with. Our hands smelled like old stuff when we left. Old stuff, as in, years of dirt, cobwebs, rusted metal, moth balls, stale air, and something else I can't quite identify. Old-stuff smell.

Used Furniture

Today we decided to look for vintage/antique/old stuff and, possibly, a sewing machine. We re-visited the What Not Shop (not hyphenated). Previously we purchased such What-Nots as silverware ($1 for a handful of silverware, including some silver spoons and tiny fondue forks); a bright red, metal step-stool, which we use as a computer station ($30); a vanity with round mirror ($75); and a wooden chair ($25) that I re-covered. Today we found an old sewing machine for $15 that comes complete with a cabinet in which the sewing machine folds. None of us knows how to use, thread or run the sewing machine, but I hope we can find someone to come over and show us. The sewing machine I got from my grandmother caught on fire when someone showed us how to use it about four years ago, and now I can't remember where all the threads go. Internet directions have proved to be unfruitful so far. If the sewing machine fails, we have a passable TV table with an upside-down surprise inside that just might have the capacity to make us curtains or pillows someday.

Yesterday, on our way back from Columbus, we circled the block in Zanesville twice when we thought we saw an antique store that was open. By the time we circled around the block and parked, the store was just closing. It was one of those businesses with multiple dealers. The antique shop next door was also closing, but she let us in and we all found some useful and interesting stuff: a dark-purple oval tablecloth that looks like a reversible jacquard blanket; elbow-length gloves; and teacups with saucers.