Today is an epic day. At least for me. Why? Because my husband just finished (last night) the dresser he had been promising to make me for about a decade. It's sort of a running joke in our house when I say "Oh, I want a headboard or a side table," to which he responds, "I can make that." I roll my eyes, he laughs, and so the battle continues. And I wait.
Well, after years of hearing this (and sometimes he does make what I ask ... and sometimes I don't have the patience to wait another ten years and so I buy it), he finally finished this beauty. This isn't just any dresser, but a gorgeous Sapele wood (it's from Africa!) handmade dresser with hundreds of man hours put into it. This is heirloom quality. This also weighs about two hundred pounds or more. So, it's not going anywhere. Ever.
True, you can buy something machine made, somewhere in China and have it waiting for you at Pottery Barn. But, you can't put a price tag on something that is hand made, with real wood, in the good 'ole US of A. Well, actually you can. And it costs a lot. But that's not what I'm talking about here. I'm talking about the blood, sweat and tears (mine-- in that it took so long to make and how beautiful it was when it WAS done). I'm talking about the love put into it. I'm talking about how proud I am of him. And how we have something to pass down to our boys.
This is very much like vintage clothing. It has a history. A patina. Love and blood, sweat and tears are involved in vintage clothing. They have stories to tell. They know hard work. This dresser will be that vintage item, in no sooner than twenty years. It will have a history. It will have a patina (Lord knows I'll be careless enough to leave a coffee cup on it without a coaster-- hopefully, my husband will forgive me). It will have stories to tell. And I hope my kids will remember them all.
Oh and sorry, he's not available for commissioned pieces ... there's still a list of about ten more pieces that I am waiting on ...

Can you see how happy I am? Very.
-HJS- Perennial Vintage
Well, after years of hearing this (and sometimes he does make what I ask ... and sometimes I don't have the patience to wait another ten years and so I buy it), he finally finished this beauty. This isn't just any dresser, but a gorgeous Sapele wood (it's from Africa!) handmade dresser with hundreds of man hours put into it. This is heirloom quality. This also weighs about two hundred pounds or more. So, it's not going anywhere. Ever.
True, you can buy something machine made, somewhere in China and have it waiting for you at Pottery Barn. But, you can't put a price tag on something that is hand made, with real wood, in the good 'ole US of A. Well, actually you can. And it costs a lot. But that's not what I'm talking about here. I'm talking about the blood, sweat and tears (mine-- in that it took so long to make and how beautiful it was when it WAS done). I'm talking about the love put into it. I'm talking about how proud I am of him. And how we have something to pass down to our boys.
This is very much like vintage clothing. It has a history. A patina. Love and blood, sweat and tears are involved in vintage clothing. They have stories to tell. They know hard work. This dresser will be that vintage item, in no sooner than twenty years. It will have a history. It will have a patina (Lord knows I'll be careless enough to leave a coffee cup on it without a coaster-- hopefully, my husband will forgive me). It will have stories to tell. And I hope my kids will remember them all.
Oh and sorry, he's not available for commissioned pieces ... there's still a list of about ten more pieces that I am waiting on ...
Can you see how happy I am? Very.
-HJS- Perennial Vintage
Lucky girl!! You have one talented hubby, such a beautiful dresser.
ReplyDeleteBrooke
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