Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Patina


Whether in the world of museums, antiques or rare books, patina is a word often used to describe an artefact or object. It can mean fading, darkening or other signs of age, which are natural and/or unavoidable, and often enhances the value and appearance of the item. With the arrival of yet another birthday, I feel patina could describe me as well!

So when I wandered into a shop in La Selva Beach, CA, near Santa Cruz, called PATINE, I knew it was my kind of place.


The shop is filled with imaginative displays, and objects of charm, with just the right amount of wear around the edges.




We met Lauren, a very elegant woman who watches the shop on weekends, so the owners can go off to work various markets and shows.





Pillows and Bolsters in French ticking and linen




Vintage and Antique Nightwear from the 1800s in cotton, linen and hemp. See how lovely Lauren looks in hers.


Antique French children’s cloth "rag books"


Cushions made from some of these cloth book covers


Looking like two Parisian rag-pickers, we had a ball rummaging through an industrial-size laundry bin full of vintage designer scarves priced at $5-each. We discovered and liberated several brightly colored and patterned vintage treasures from YSL, Vera and Schiaparelli.

A rustic, French produce sack made of hemp, with great lettering and a red star, was hanging on the wall behind the counter! I fell in love with its patina, particularly the primitive repair stitching.


Here it is, proudly hanging over our red Chinese settee.

Patinated and proud,
Marjorie

12 comments:

  1. Dearly patinated one --ow very lovely. I think I would have quite enjoyed that store myself, even if I'm still fairly wet behind the ears. Ha--wish it were so! :)

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  2. Now this looks like my kind of boutique, full to the brim with time-worn vintage treasures.And what an elegant "dame" watching over the shop.

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  3. What a wonderful shop to come across, with beautiful objects and at such reasonable prices. I love your French, hemp sack and it looks terrific on your wall....oh and doesn't Lauren look chic ? XXXX

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  4. I would love to have that red settee!
    Thanks so much for stopping by pinecone camp. Not sure if I'm going to get to Flinders this time around, though I have been there. soooo pretty. Thanks for the tip!

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  5. Oh, I LOVE the french ticking....I have family in Santa Cruz...

    I am from Los Gatos. Have you been to Tancredi and Morgan... I know Marsha pretty well. My girlfriend Julie Whitmore used to do shows there and I would go with her... Fun Times...You are in Carmel..so now I am thinking .....I KNOW you've been there....

    More later,
    Kary

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  6. I for one love those cushions with vintage kid's books sewn into them! You're right, it's a fabulous shop...

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  7. Dear Marjorie,

    Gorgeous stuff. Definitely my kind of place as well. You're constantly coming up with great finds.

    How lucky we are.

    I have a proposition for you: How about writing your bouquet post for my Saturday deco/cadeau post. I think it's brilliant and for the handful of women who read my post who haven't yet met you, what a cadeau.

    Please feel more than free to decline. I'm just so taken with it particularly because I think I would love to be a florist as an avocation.

    Merci pour les deux posts.

    Tishx

    P.S.: Lauren is gorgeous. She perfectly answers the question about whether to go white/gray.

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  8. I love all those pillows. What a great place to visit.

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  9. Thanks for visiting my blog, and thanks so much for posting photos of patine! I have been meaning to get over there for months now. Everyone tells me I need to go and now I know that I do. I had no idea Lauren minds the shop on weekends, so perhaps a visit tomorrow is in order. She is a customer of mine, and the most fabulously put together woman I know. ps super jealous of the grain sack, it looks great in your home!

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  10. What a perfect shop! I love, love, love the hemp sack you bought, and I also love he cushions made from the old cloth books. I want to go shopping with you, my friend!! xoxo Gigi

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  11. Ahhh I love places full of treasures!

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  12. Happy Birthday....and what a lovely way to celebrate. I LOVE those pillows. How perfect...

    Have a wonderful week.

    Warm blessings,
    Spencer

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