This week has seen us rummaging through reclamation yards and second hand furniture shops, in our quest for a bureau and wardrobes. Some businesses are small and curated, with shop assistants who helpfully look up stock on their computers. Others so full, that the aisles are almost blocked and I take note of the nearest fire exit. It has been fun, an experience and I finish the week with one item ticked off. The bureau.
Reclamation yards
You never know what you will find at a reclamation yard. There are some pieces that you wonder if anyone will ever want. Like the metal giraffe above. It only takes one person to see it and know just the place for it, but I suspect, the giraffe may be in for a long wait.
Sorry, I didn’t look at the price.
Call me sentimental, but I find the evidence of the previous owners, kicks me slightly. I have my great Grandmother’s hand cranked, Singer sewing machine, which I use regularly, because these machines are work horses. They reliably zip through fabric like no other domestic machine. As a crafter and an engineer, who likes to see how things work, they make my heart sing.
I have noticed an increase in the number of these machines in reclamation places. Maybe it’s generational, with houses being cleared out. Also a decade ago, it was trendy to fill shop windows with row upon row of these machines. The displays are now dismantled, so I wonder if that explains the increased number of machines I’m finding. Whichever, seeing this one still threaded up and ready to sew in it’s neglected state, brought out a silent sob from within me. Someone’s trusted machine.
And how many households have an area showing the growth rate of the children of the household marked up, like this dresser? We do and I defend it every time it’s up for a repaint. They each tell interested stories, but probably look messy to anyone else. I like them.
At the top, this chart has a Mr Giraffe (in his shoes), a Mrs Llama and a Batman with mask on. It covers about seven years and has more children than the average household, so not sure what the story is here. Certainly enough cup hooks for all of them.
Bureau
Back to the bureau. I found this one online, in the end. We travelled over the bridge to Wales. The bureau is for Eldest, to replace her Ikea desk, that wasn’t working for her anymore. We both loved the linen fold carving and the acorn handles.
She’s put her Flea market mirror on top, so she can use it as a dressing table, and her rat. Somehow it works. I love seeing her developing her style.
Next on my list are two wardrobes. Preferably with mirrors, which has brought up some interesting images from my online marketplaces searches. Seen a few where people don’t seem to see their own reflections and I wonder what they really are selling.
Other nice things
🙂 Finished both my cushions. I’m really pleased with them. They are identical and look good either way round. The inserts, I found, are exceedingly plump. They’re also British made.
🙂 The whole family went to see the new Jurassic Park movie, at our local independent cinema. It’s small and feels like a step back in time. The staff are always welcoming and seem genuinely pleased you chose their cinema. A good evenings entertainment.
🙂 Greenhouse and outdoor tomatoes are doing well. The conditions have been perfect. I make a batch of pasta sauce each week, so very glad to be using more homegrown tomatoes in the mix.
That’s my week. Searching for the right bureau was certainly entertaining and took time. So much time. I’ve learnt that online, most people see no need to add in dimensions or decent photos to their adverts. Also prime time to post up adverts is two days before they go on holiday, but maybe I’m just impatient. Next quest is for wardrobes. Wish me luck.
Joining in with Anne’s word of the week linky. Hope you’ve all had a good week.
I actually love that giraffe and even though we don’t have little kids anymore, he would look lovely in the garden. And hopefully scare the neighbourhood cats away in the process.
Your furniture hunting does sound interesting. I like the idea of getthing things that have some character too.
And I do love those cushions… they’re a perfect match.
The giraffe is certainly eye catching, but needs room. Something tells me that it wouldn’t be very good at scaring cats.
Sounds like it was a nice week. I have a friend who would love that giraffe, though I doubt she would have space for it. Your daughter has excellent taste! My dad has been boasting about his homegrown tomatoes too. I need to send him my soup recipe. It’s obviously been a good summer for them.
Yes, space is definitely an issue with the giraffe. There were at least two slightly smaller ones. Glad your father’s tomatoes are doing well. We have had good weather for them this year.
I would love the giraffe too, I’m not sure how long it would last in my garden with the amount of balls I get thrown over, I’m thinking it’s so tall it would used as a target! The bureau is gorgeous, I’ve always wanted one myself. I remember my friend had one when we were much younger and everyone said it was a piece of junk, but I loved it. I wish I’d stayed in touch with her, there may have been a point in her moving house that she didn’t take it with her. It’s difficult to think of the history of things, like sewing machines, that have been discarded, things that were once loved. I think that’s why I find it so hard to get rid of the kid’s soft toys. They don’t care anymore but I remember when we’d spend half hour looking for a particular special teddy that couldn’t be slept without. And Star has one that was hugged right up until the anaesthetic wore in before all her operations (it had to be replaced when she was waking up too and she never knew that Bonnie wasn’t beside her the whole time.) Bonnie lives in my bedroom now. Good luck in finding the right wardrobes, the old ones are so much better than new. I used to have two really old mismatched ones in my bedroom until I decided to ‘upgrade’ I’d do anything to have them back now, they were so much better.
I’ve rambled so much, sorry. Have a lovely week.
Oh yes. I can quite see it becoming a target for balls. I know I’m daft attributed unknown people’s unknown sentiments to objects. They may have hated them for all I know, but the marks they leave on them do tell a story and I can’t help feeling that. I enjoyed your ramblings!
I have always wanted a bureau and they often have them in the local auction near to me but I have nowhere to put one. lol I love places that are crammed full of random things, you never know what you are going to find. I would so have that giraffe. lol My brother has a 2nd hand shop and he has quite a few of those sewing machines in at the moment, they sell well.
The bureau is beautiful, what a great buy! x
I have a bureau too. Inherited from my Great Grandfather. I love that I can shut everything away and it is instantly tidy. I’m really tempted to buy one of the old sewing machines and repair it. Not sure what I’d do with it afterwards, as I already have two machines. Everyone seems to be loving the giraffe. Maybe I’m wrong and it will be gone next time I visit that reclamation place.
Your hunt for a bureau sounded like so much fun. I love looking at older style furniture, it’s so well-made and full of history. The bureau you bought is beautiful; it has such lovely detailing on it.
We have a door where the kids’ heights have been recorded over the years. I don’t think we could ever replace or paint it.
Good luck with the wardrobe hunt!
My only slight regret is that we could have chosen a less prominent place for marking their heights on the wall, but I’m OK with it really. The bureau is a good one. Hopefully she’ll take it on with her, but I’ve told her I’ll have it otherwise 😆
The giraffe is certainly eye catching and in the right place could look really good. My nan had a bureau, but I don’t know what happened to it. Things were built to last back in the day, not so much now.
It is a great giraffe, but does need room. Hope it finds one. I do like a well made piece of furniture.
I don’t think I’ve ever visited a reclamation yard. They look very interesting. I love the giraffe but I’m with you on thinking it might have a long wait to find the right home! Seeing that Singer machine all threaded up ready to sew made me feel a little sad too. I’ve never tried using an old-fashioned machine but I’m sure that one was very well-loved and used once upon a time. I love the growth marks on the side of the dresser. Such a beautiful marker of family life. Glad you found a bureau and it looks lovely with the mirror on top. Love your finished cushions and the harvest of tomatoes. #WotW
Reclamation yards are fun. Sometimes feels like a museum where you can buy the exhibits you like. The Singer machines are a thing of beauty. If they go wrong they are easier to fix than their modern counterparts. I do love seeing the tiny peeks into family life, that is gone. Makes it feel real.
I love the bureau, what a fab find. I think Ratty makes a wonderful accessory, too!
I did smile at the reflections in mirrors on the marketplace, some people do make me wonder, haha!
Your cushions are beautiful, clever you. x
Both girls have a rat and it is cute to see them. Oh my goodness. Do people not realise about reflections? Honestly. Saw one where there was a man in the bed and the woman looked like she’d suddenly decided to sell the wardrobe and jumped out of bed to take a photo of it.