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By Mardi Zeunert

Vintage is a bit of a funny word really and can mean so many things. Some people think of Ken Done as vintage. I think of him as well, not that long ago…. Ha. I love Ken. So… Where am I coming from in this post?

Well today I am going to talk about vintage around the house.

Alarm bells – “I hate vintage”, I hear some of you yell in a nana tone. I won’t have any of that in my house dear. Come on, we all have a bit of vintage kerfuffle somewhere. Whether it is already proudly on display on the mantelpiece, or hidden (until Auntie Floss arrives) in the linen press.

Personally, for me, I love visiting homes that have a piece of that person’s history proudly on display. It gives a great insight into that person, life isn’t all about being in magazine fashion.

Here are a few things to jog your vintage memory and what you can do to keep those treasures alive, without feeling like you are living at Nan’s house.

We have all had these types of treasures cross our paths I am sure…

1. The pottery vase you made in primary school

If you don’t have this in your house, then maybe someone out there does. When my mother in law moved into a retirement village, she gave me a pottery bowl my husband made, uhum about forty odd years ago. It is gold. And guess what, it looks so cool sitting in the lounge room on the buffet. What goes around comes around, pottery is cool.

vintage memories you should bring back; adelady

2. Macaroni Necklaces

My daughter made macaroni (rock hard pasta) necklaces by the truckload a few years ago at kindy. What a memory jogger they are! Seriously colourful cool, they’re now hanging in the spare room on the door knob, to show off to the visitors when they stay over, which is never. But you know, we all need a pool room, I mean spare room, in our lives.

vintage memories you should bring back; adelady

3. That darn jug/vase/gravy boat

Do you have one or maybe more that has been given to you? Crystal? Pottery? Ooooh ahhhh even China? So many times I have heard friends say, I just don’t know what to do with it. You know what – it can look super cool planted with a succulent. And succulents are so hardy (don’t water too much – easy).

vintage memories you should bring back; adelady

Your treasure doesn’t even need a hole in the bottom. Plonk it on your outdoor table grouped with other funky friends, and you have an eclectic talking point. Auntie Mavis would be so happy to know her gravy boat is cool for school again.

4. Art. Full stop

I love it. Mr Z kept his art projects from high school. Oh my goodness, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I found the folder. Vintage gold. For me art is personal and what can get more personal than having someone’s good/bad/whatever art adorn your walls. These can look so great hanging in a group with your other arty treasures and even vintage photos. If you have kidlets, even more fun – finger painting never looked so good.

Ikea frames mixed with vintage frames from the op shop – now that is out there!

vintage memories you should bring back; adelady

5. Weaving

Now this might seem strange, but you know how weaving is really in. Well if you have some threads you love but they’ve had their day, why not rip them up and make a weaving out of them. Imagine a denim creation. Ah La Levis #501 Weavie Wonder. I hear so many people say, oh I haven’t a creative bone in my body. Not true. Give it a go – you never know what you might make, it is all about vintage fun anyway!

vintage memories you should bring back; adelady

So head for those cupboards, get out those treasures, and have fun giving it a new life and triggering those vintage memories. Makes for great conversations when you’re not having screen time.

Did that sound old? I mean vintage?

Mardi xx

Hayley Pearson

Hayley Pearson

Co-Creator and Writer for Adelady, she still gets goosebumps that she’s combined her creative passion with sharing the best of her stunning home state.

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