Comfort "Things"

As a child, I would read in a sunny spot on my bed or a chair for hours.  I would often just read my mother's magazines, a Sears Catalog and of course the books that my Mom had around our house.  My favorites were anything that would take my young mind on a journey...getting me out of Maine..far away.

It's funny now that when I return to Maine, I long for those memories that I had as a child and wonder where most of them went.  Old age? selective memory?  All I know is I miss memories that I know I have locked away, but for some reason, they are gone.

Have you ever smelled something and it's brought back a memory from your childhood? Those to me are special moments.  Old books, apple pie, wool blankets, vintage quilts...these are some of the triggers of fond memories as a child.  I have had some not so good memories come flooding back by other smells...but luckily, I've forgotten what they are..again..old age?

When I go to a yard sale, church fair or even the Salvation Army, the vintage things I long for often have a distinct memory of my childhood...and they are always good memories.  When I find a knit pillow, old quilt, vintage book or anything else that's vintage that screams my Grandmother's camp or my Grandmother's house...I have to have it...For some reason I need to have it in my possession, knowing that I will sell it eventually (hopefully) but for that brief moment I'm holding it, smelling it (if it indeed has a scent and its not a bad one!) it brings me back to the few memories I have stored away that give me comfort and contentment.

They say that we crave comfort food when we're in emotional need, but have you ever felt like you're craving comfort "things"? I truly believe that these things can be very comforting, even if you're not a collector or selling them, but just having a couple of memories around your home can give you peace and a sense of belonging in our big, crazy world.

Enjoy the memories you still have and try to preserve them somehow..because one day you wake up and those memories can be hard to bring to the surface, with everything else we clog our lives with, they deserve to be a part of you and not lost forever....

LeeLees Closet

A while back, Craig started making these beautiful wooden pendants

At first, he was giving them away as gifts to our family and friends, but then I realized, after people were asking for one...wait a minute..we need to sell these!

So, I created LeeLees Closet on Etsy,

http://www.etsy.com/shop/leeleescloset

....if you say "what's Etsy?"...I'll first fall off my couch with shock..then pick myself up and slap you!  www.etsy.com

Is the END ALL/BE ALL that is handmade or vintage...very simply, if you can make something, or have an eye for vintage/retro goodies, you can open an Etsy Shop.

Etsy has a huge following.  You can purchase some fabulous one of a kind gifts, have custom orders made and see what creativity lives throughout the world.

I love anything vintage/retro...hence, my wedding theme.  If my Grandmother had it in her house, chances are...I'm drawn to it.  Linens, bowls, utensils, cookware, you name it..I want it...

So, since I can't possibly use all of the things I pine for, why not collect them in my creative way (yard sales, Salvation Army and auctions) and sell them on Etsy! 

Mammy & Chef

Salt n Pepper Shakers





Vintage Green Handle Bowl



Finding and getting these treasures ready for Etsy is more time consuming that you would think. First, its off to find them...sometimes I luck out and find them at the most random times, other times, I'm going to yard sales to see what treasures I can find and have a poker face while I'm buying something for $2 that I will later sell for $25......Yes, that happens.

Once I find them, its time to get them ready to shoot to create the listing.  Sometimes, I need to research what I'm selling to make sure I'm selling it appropriately. Other times,  I just want to be able to share it with someone and not really concern myself with a huge profit.  My theory is, if it makes me happy to find it, then hopefully it will make someone else just as happy to own it....

The things I find usually have some kind of personal connection to my past...whether its a vintage tablecloth that reminds me of my childhood or something that I wished I had, but never did.  And of course there's the times that I just think it's cool as shit and I have to buy it!

Remember what once was, is now not only usable but probably has it's own memories that can be carried on with you.  Why buy something new when you can find something old that will do as good of a job if not better and probably look a hell of lot cooler in your house at the same time...

Embracing the old may bring back memories you might of forgotten about...try it.. you might like it...