Repurposing Out of Necessity
Source: Etta’s Etceteras. Gran, Papoo, Mom and their long-ago dog circa 1952. Gatlinburg, TN
Gran
Until she was in her early 70s, my grandmother mowed her half-acre yard by herself using a push mower. It wasn’t self-propelled: Gran was the propeller.
The entire property is perched on a Gatlinburg hillside and, while not steep compared to some lots, it’s a daunting patch o’ land with a small flat spot for her and Papoo’s home. The rest? All incline. As in, don’t try to mow early in the morning with dew on the grass or you’ll slide right down the hill.
This same mowing maven also never left home without getting “all dolled up” as she called it. Even in her later years, when she took the ETHRA (East Tennessee Human Resources Agency) bus to doctor appointments, Gran always wore a dress and had spent time doing her hair and makeup.
I think of her often and still try in many ways to be like her.
Today would have been her 102nd birthday.
While I was in elementary school, we lived in a home just above Gran and Papoo – literally in their backyard. I walked down the hill to visit them frequently, especially in the summer. Mom was doing chores – ironing, cleaning and the like – while Dad was at his job.
Papoo, likewise, was away at his job. Gran spent her days doing chores, too, but I found her activities way more interesting than Mom’s. Gran might be canning, sewing, or doing something else I considered exotic. Mom canned and sewed, as well, but I wasn’t fascinated with her endeavors. A belated sorry, Mom.
One of the main things I still appreciate about Gran’s “chores” is the way she repurposed things. Old curtains became slipcovers for chair and sofa cushions, which she regularly changed with the seasons. Jars held buttons and other knickknacks. She even saved used Christmas and birthday wrapping paper, which I admired but the rest of the family gave her a hard time about.
Gran repurposed out of necessity, not because it was trendy. I love that she saw new life for old items, including her carefully smoothed-out giftwrap.
So, Gran, Happy Heavenly Birthday and, in your honor, today’s post is about items from 1923.
Source: Etta’s Etceteras. Sterling silver guardian angel pin, $9.53 with free US shipping.
Actual Antiques
Once an item hits 100 years old, it’s an antique.
On Etsy, you can use “vintage” for wares that are at least 20 years old.
When I searched Etsy for “1923” this morning, the most intriguing item I found is a 1923 bird book. Definitely an antique, and a super-cool one at that.
Source: Etsy/ ArtifexSpaces
The seller, ArtifexSpaces, has superb info in the description. There’s even a “Why It Matters” section with four bullet points explaining the significance of this book.
What I learned is that “Western Birds” was published in 1923 and written by Harriet Williams Myers. This was at a time when it was rare for females to be ornithology experts and/or bird guide authors.
It looks like a beautiful book, not to mention groundbreaking, historically significant….You get the idea.
Calling Reese Witherspoon
I searched online for more info about Harriet and, surprisingly, didn’t find much. She was born in 1867 in Illinois and passed away in 1950 at the age of 83. In 1945, Harriet self-published “We Three: Henry, Eddie and Me,” a memoir she wrote about her relationship with her two brothers who had passed away in 1943 and 1944. From what I can tell on http://www.ResearchWorks.oclc.org, a copy of her 152-page memoir might be housed in the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California. Maybe?
Hey, Reese Witherspoon, please check out Harriet’s life for a Hello Sunshine movie or documentary!
Back to the 1923 item at hand….
The antique bird guide from ArtifexSpaces on Etsy is $145, with free shipping. What a cool gift for a bird watcher, history buff, antique book collector or someone celebrating their 102nd birthday this year.
Reseller BOLO
On HiBid, there were 1,296 lots when I searched “1923” earlier today. Most were coins.
The thing I consider to be the Find O’ the Day is a 1923 Coca-Cola calendar.
Source: HiBid/ Kyle Kelso Auctioneer (Bushnell, IL)
Yep, there are a bazillion Coca-Cola collectibles. Some are worth lots, and others not so much.
According to http://www.CocaColaCollectibles.com, the 1923 calendar has sold for $350-$1,400. The sale dates I found range from 2012-2020. (That $1,400 sale was in 2012, and the $350 sale was in 2020.) As always with antiques, the item’s condition plays a huge role in the final price.
Auction Info
The 1923 Cola-Cola calendar (framed) above is offered by Kyle Kelso Auctioneer in Bushnell, IL.
It’s Lot #356, and the broker premium is 15%. Shipping is available for an additional fee.
The auction starts closing on May 21 at 6:00 p.m.
As of May 18, the high bid was $6.
Etta's Etceteras 