- By Sandy Neilly
- It's time to tuck another year away and look forward to a
new package full of 365 fresh, new days . . . no, make that 366,
since 2012 is a leap year.
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- We hope 2011 was a good year for everyone overall and the
positive aspects of it outweighed the negative, if there were
any.
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- For us, the year flew by and once again we're left shaking
our heads wondering where on earth it went. Do you remember when
you were a kid and eight glorious weeks of summer holidays seemed
like a lifetime?
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- And remember when the days before Christmas, or your birthday,
dragged on and on and you were sure those special events were
never going to arrive? Well, now eight (short) weeks represent
one issue of the Wayback Times and those weeks flash by at lightning
speed.
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- Some things I learned in 2011 could be classified under "Life's
Simple Lessons" or something of that nature, They are:
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- • I am terrible at Social Networking, whether it is
Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In, YouTube (if that counts) or any
of the other organizations that most people seem so adept at
participating in. Partly, it's a matter of time for me, but there's
also that factor of confusion . . . too often I'm left with that
"what do I do next" feeling, sort of like being dropped
off at a corner somewhere and not knowing where to go. So my
apologies if I don't show up when invited to join. In 2012, I'll
make an effort to navigate my way around the networks and try
to figure out how to make good use of them.
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- • I think "re-purposing" is the greatest thing
to finally catch on. There is an abundance of reality television
shows, as you all know, that feature pickers, pawn shops and
auctions, but the most creative one, when it comes to "re-purposing"
is, in my opinion, Picker Sisters. Who knew you could make a
chandelier out of barbed wire, or a love seat out of tractor
parts? We're still a little puzzled as to why two lovely young
women would travel hundreds of miles to find rusty old objects
to make into something quite remarkable (thanks to their assistant
back at the shop) when stuff like that is probably quite available
within a 100 mile radius of L.A. and thousands of willing sellers
are fervently wishing the ladies would pay them a visit. (Have
you ever noticed that fleeting look of amazement when some farmer
is offered money by the ladies for a rusty old car part he's
been wondering how to get rid of for years?)
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- I do fear for the two women. I hope they have up-to-date
tetanus shots because they are often wandering around with bare
legs in dirty places where there are sharp objects with a lot
of rust. I suppose cover-alls would not be nearly so attractive
and might cause ratings to drop.
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- My favourite "re-purposed" item of 2011? That would
be our recently created coffee table, made from an old cast iron
butter churn base and a thick, round wooden plate that was part
of a mould for clay sewer parts. (The top has Checker Brick Die
Std. Clay Co. stamped into it.) The iron base was purchased at
a yard sale for $20 this past summer and the wooden top had been
kicking around here for years, part of an auction purchase that
had never sold. This marriage of parts, thanks to my talented
husband, is now a wonderful piece of furniture, and with an old
Chicago parking meter lamp sitting on top, I'm as pleased as
punch to have it in the house. (We did have a wonderful antique
piano stool with a decorative twisted copper base (purchased
at the Christie Antique show) as an end table until it went missing.
Apparently, someone was looking for that very thing and my husband
sold it to them. This is a common occurrence here, but Peter
has been threatened with his life if he starts eying the aforementioned
table.)
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- • I've re-discovered vintage fabrics and now understand
why they are so popular. This happened quite unexpectedly. Not
being talented at all in the way of sewing or anything related,
I've never given much thought to fabrics, but after buying a
lovely cotton chenille bedspread at a sale, I have acquired a
whole new respect for them. This has led to additional fabric
purchases, some of those being cotton-linen dish towels . . .
how did I ever survive without these towels? They are wonderful
and actually dry dishes and glasses etc, without leaving fuzz
and smeared water like the new ones we buy today.
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- • One of my favourite money savers of the year (and
possibly this could fall under the "re-purposing" net
as well) is buying music CDs at flea markets and yard sales and
copying the pieces I like into my music library, instead of downloading
music from the Internet. I've found music of every genre, every
era and every culture at a fraction of the cost you pay online
and find it quite exciting to purchase a CD anywhere from 25-cents
to a buck or two, only to find it has the most delightful music
on it. And if it doesn't quite fit your taste, no big loss .
. . off it goes to Goodwill for someone else to enjoy. (During
this process, I have also learned I don't really need 3,000 pieces
of music on my iPod, but what the heck.)
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- • And here is a handy idea for those of you who enjoy
a glass of wine and have pets . . . pick up some lovely, vintage
crystal highball glasses at your local antique shop, flea market
or (if you luck out) yard sale. These heavy, stemless glasses
are beautiful to look at and much less likely to be knocked over
by a wagging tail or flying cat. We know this for a fact.
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- So 2012 holds a lot of promise at this point. The Wayback
Times is thriving, thanks to all of our wonderful advertisers,
writers and readers. It will continue to grow and we will strive
to serve the interests of our readers as always.
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- The antiques market is getting stronger as it evolves with
the inevitable shifts caused by the change in consumers and the
economy. Nostalgia is the hot ticket these days - and it's so
much fun. Who says you can't relive the past?
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- As 2011 passes into the history books (or more accurately,
onto our hard drives), we have to say goodbye to many dear friends
who left us in 2011 - far too soon. They have all left indelible
marks on our hearts and wonderful memories we will cherish always.
We wish their families peace and comfort as time progresses and
assure them that none will be forgotten.
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- Thank you for being a part of this publication, whether as
a reader, a contributor or as an advertiser. We appreciate you
all and wish you the very best in the new year. Health and happiness
come first, of course, and prosperity is always a nice finishing
touch - we wish you all three.
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- As for that extra day this year leap year . . . why not set
it specifically aside for visiting an antique show, shop or market
you haven't been to yet?
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- Safe travels, wherever you go in 2012. Cheers, and God bless.
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