A few weekends ago I made an impromptu trip to Brattleboro, VT and Keane, NH. The original intention behind the trek was to search for ideas and inspiration with the area's small artist-jewelers. Instead, I ended up stumbling upon the most incredible treasures in an old junk shop and discovering an unexpected beauty in the weathered paint of a brick wall and an old chair.
Older things have always appealed to me. Well-loved trunks add character (and provide necessary extra storage space) to my East Village apartment, tiny colored glass prescription bottles litter my shelves, brightly patterned vintage rugs line my floors.
Old things have a sense of history, of character, of identity. There is a story behind them, one that you may never know. And my love for vintage extends beyond my home decor. Vintage items have increasingly become a major part of my wardrobe.
I love to think of who owned the fabulous 1960's leather bag I chance upon at the flea market. Was the woman who owned it an artist? What adventures did she go on with the bag in tow? Did she store love letters in the inside pocket?
Perhaps my love of vintage shopping is deep down inspired by a yearning for the past, a quest to connect with another time and place, an opportunity to create new stories with history-rich pieces.
Bottles shot in Brattleboro, VT. Painted brick wall and weathered wooden chair shot in Keane, NH. All photos by Nicole Weiler.