recollections

FRESH FROM The

antiques, vintage and collectibles. We all have them, some people have more than others, and some people can’t wait to get rid of them. Whether it’s Grandma Ethel’s depression glass, Grandpa Wally’s massive tool collection, or mom’s collection of Snowbabies.

An antique, by legal definition, is an item that is at least 100 years old. If it’s not an antique, it can be vintage, but anything can be a collectible. Those items, no matter their age or value, have memories attached to them. Memories of the people to whom those items once belonged, and a life lived in their presence.

As the proprietor of The Fargo Antiques and Repurposed Market, The FARM, I make it my business to help people with their collections. For some people, it’s a house full of literally everything for which they need assistance removing, so the home can be sold.

More often, it’s the hunt for items to add to their collection, for a special piece like the mid-century lamp like the one in Grandpa’s man cave. It’s stoneware crocks featuring the names of North Dakota towns that may no longer exist, or vinyl records — or maybe even a vintage stereo on which to play them.

Or it’s just a simple appreciation for times gone by. A desire for something unique, with the design, durability and craftsmanship we don’t often see in the era of Amazon. It can be the preference to recycle and reuse, rather than throw away and buy new. The farmhouse movement in design and decorating has its roots in antiques and vintage.

The holiday season, especially, inspires recollections from things past. The traditions we enjoyed as kids that we pass on to our own kids (and their kids) are tied to the beautiful things we remember seeing. Remember the ceramic Christmas tree sparkling on an antique buffet, the beautiful table set with Grandma’s best china, silver and linens? Mercury glass ornaments, a music box playing Silent Night and a pottery bowl filled with cinnamon-scented pinecones are the things I remember most from my mother’s home. Those are the things my home is never without during the holiday season.

If you’re searching for the things that inspire your recollections from the holidays, the Holiday Hay Loft at The FARM is a great place to start. We have curated an entire section of The FARM featuring vintage and collectible holiday décor. The 60+ small businesspeople who are vendors at The FARM will be bringing out their holiday wares as well. The vendors are curators, collectors and craftspeople and they are a great source for unique gifts for the holidays, and all year long.

Hot cider and coffee will be served all day during December. Come see us, warm up and browse. Share your thoughts about this article in Area Woman and receive a 10 percent discount on all purchases.

In the next Fresh from The FARM article, I’ll be walking you through the process of cleaning out an estate, what happens to the left-over items from a sale, and what you can expect during the process.

Happy Holidays, Kristi