Saturday, November 24, 2012

Shopping Small

Nichol's House Antiques in Sylva, NC, where more is more.



Betty with wildlife
Today we went in different directions. Matt took the kids to see Wreck-it Ralph, their second viewing, and Betty and I drifted down to Sylva's Main Street to stimulate the local economy. Actually I spent zero dollars, but I offered crucial moral support as Betty navigated through the purchase of a set of coasters, a dish cloth, and a vintage lace tablecloth. We were digging through an entire sideboard full of table linens, with the proprietress helping us, and we kept finding things that were pretty but not quite right. Of one, a little oblong linen piece with french knot embroidery, I said, "Betty, you could put this on your piano." Betty thought and said, "There is a fine line between pretty and little old lady." Then she and the other lady laughed and high fived each other in generational solidarity.

This store is set up in an old house, with each room containing its proper things: bed linens in the bedroom, more masculine stuff in the study, etc. Lots to wander around and look at, and I always appreciate their maximalist approach to Christmas decorating. There is a unified sensibility to the place that makes it feel almost like someone's actual house.

I was sort of looking for things for my nieces, but I don't think that tween girls have the proper appreciation for a punch bowl resting on a pedestal made of antlers.

I blame Taylor Swift?

We remain here in the Thanksgiving mountain citadel. All of the leftovers are almost gone, so we might have to move on soon. You? 

  

10 comments:

Nina said...

I also rifled through vintage linens today, in a tiny shop that has unfortunately (for my bank balance) opened at the end of my street. And I also had a failure of restraint and got some 'Black Friday' deals online that my grandmother will have to try and fit in her suitcase to bring across the Atlantic for me next month. Tell me, is Black Friday connected to Thanksgiving, or just to the end of November (maybe a pre-Christmas thing)? Some British shops have had BF sales this year and obviously we don't do Thanksgiving.

Becky said...

Def a pre-Christmas thing. You know, it's the time that retailers go financially "into the black" for the year; I'm sure that translates across the pond. Vintage linens are a huge trigger for me, because they're one thing where you can't buy as nice new anymore.

Nina said...

Oh, I SEE. I wondered what was black about it! It's new to these shores though, I'm pretty certain; not so long ago our shops really only had two sales a year - the big one in January and a smaller one in the summer.

Amy said...

Same here, Nina! "Black Friday" is getting more press here this year.

I love that antique store in Sylva! So many things to look at...it's one of my favorite things to do when we're in NC.

Anonymous said...

Betty sounds like a blast. You need to be thankful you have a dear MIL with a sense of humor. I am not that lucky.

Camp Papa said...

Let the record reflect that the aforementioned Kate is not the Kate who is Becky's mother's daughter-in-law.

Amy said...

Or IS she? I mean, how can we know for sure? :)

Amy said...

I hereby bear witness that the aforementioned Kate is indeed no daughter-in-law of Becky's mother (or her father, for that matter), much as she might wish for the MIL upgrade that would represent.

Camp Papa said...

Let the record further reflect that there must be a clear distinction between Amy and Amy.

Becky said...

What's so funny is that often, when I get the blog comment in my email, I can't tell which Amy it is from, their tones are alike. Such Amies!