There is something about a fixer upper that I can't resist. Perhaps it is that unwanted, neglected "diamond in the rough" attachment I have - an abnormal adoration for discarded possessions - most likely stemming from that Christmas Tree incident (but I digress).
Among other "ruined" things within a fixer upper, I am absolutely insane about the beauty in peeling paint. The texture. The color. The way the elements of nature take something un-natural (but really...everything was natural at some point *digressing again*) and alter it in such a raw way. Someone else might like to scrape the peeling paint off and slap a fresh coat on. Me? I'd leave it just like it is (instructing anyone under the age of 18 to NOT eat it).
Imagine my (creepy) delight when I stumbled upon the Kingston Lounge - a pictoral anthology of buildings that have seen better days. Oh, there are other blogs (believe me...I ogle them, too)...but the photographs that Richard Nickel Jr. displays just sends shivers through me. More than photos, there is a history to his sharing. Read along...you will understand and you will feel it too.
Celebrate the unwanted...abandoned...neglected: Today, find something that has been left behind and adopt it as your own. Perhaps it is a shredded bit of fabric at the bottom of your mothers sewing pile. Maybe a chip of wood that is laying alongside the road. Perhaps even a hungry cat that has been begging at your back door. Love it. Embrace it. Give it a good home.
The Sally Jean Christmas Collection 2009 is NOW AVAILABLE!! Jingle-icious!
1. 
Absolutely beautiful!
XOXO
Jillian
Posted by: Jillian | March 31, 2009 at 04:26 AM
We have bought my Grandparents big, old, lady. We adore her wrinkles, her chips and untouched splendor, her door knob jewelry and her lights are twinkles to our eyes. We will be fitting her with a new hairdo, just to keep the rain out (literally) and freshening up her make up a bit this summer. But, she is majestic, not perfect, but, who is who has lived the real life? So, I say cheers to the lived and the living and cheers to you Sally dear for valuing a life that is full:)
Light from Amy Sperry Faldet
Posted by: amy sperry faldet | March 30, 2009 at 02:17 PM
I was fascinated by the staircases such raw almost sad beauty
Posted by: sara collins | March 18, 2009 at 06:00 AM
Fix up....but not too much....
Darling, thank you for sharing the beauty.....
Peace ~
M
Posted by: Mylene | March 13, 2009 at 09:36 PM
Sally - thanks for the link to the Kingston Lounge...I just spent 20 minutes amazed at the photography. Would have stayed longer but I have work to do. There is an old theater/bank building in my hometown that I climbed through plaster rubble like the stairwells shown in these pictures. At the top of the 3 story stairway were the offices of a former attorney - abandoned law books, cabinets, peeling paint and plaster...looking at these photos brought back the awe I felt just being there. Thanks for sharing. Mary
Posted by: mary@found | March 10, 2009 at 06:44 PM
I have a fixer upper fetish, too. Over the weekend I "adopted" Lisa, a new dollie. I just blogged about it, so take a peek at who I salvaged!!
Posted by: Dayna Collins | March 09, 2009 at 02:56 PM
What a beautiful blog and shop! Do you send orders to Italy?
I going to make a post in my blog about your shop!
Posted by: Federica | March 09, 2009 at 02:35 AM
Sally-
Thank you for sharing the beauty!
Kim
Posted by: kim | March 05, 2009 at 02:49 PM
...such a sad + almost ethereal beauty.
Posted by: scissor variations | March 03, 2009 at 08:29 PM
When we were looking for a house.....the worst it was the more potential my husband thought it had.....we did end up with a house with a lot of potential....a lot of work. All of those drawers are calling my name..........I want them bad.
Posted by: Geralyn Gray | March 02, 2009 at 02:29 AM
Beautiful! I was just talking about you when your blog popped into my view! Are your ears burning??? Hope you're doing well and that things are hopping for ya (but not overly fast). :)
Hugs,
Sheila
Posted by: Sheila at Halo Hill | March 01, 2009 at 08:48 PM
Unwanted cats-check (I feed four outside, and have five more inside who used to be sad, cold, skinny cats nobody wanted)
I'm fascinated by photos of old amusement parks. I don't know why, but I just am. There's a website called defunct parks dot com, which has all KINDS of cool, yet sad photos.
And we won't even get into the 'saving' of various and sundry bits from people's curbs on bulk pickup week here. HOW COULD YOU THROW THAT AWAY?!
Thank you for all the good stuff.
Posted by: Amy | March 01, 2009 at 06:46 AM
Wow...I would "kill" for those card cabinets in the last picture. Thanks for sharing!
Cheryl
Posted by: Cheryl | February 28, 2009 at 10:34 PM
What a possibility of such possibilities!
Posted by: carol | February 28, 2009 at 02:06 PM
I would love to step inside the abandoned building and soak in the history. I am giving a beautiful vintage empty brooch new life. I found it in a $3.00 bin at an antique shop last week. I can't wait to finish it and share.
I'm a huge fan of yours although I am a crazy quilter at heart!
Pat
Posted by: Pat Winter | February 28, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Wow! I don't believe that I've seen a more beautiful old run down building! I looks as if there is so much character. I would have to agree with you about the walls, I don't know if I could paint over them either! Have fun!
Posted by: Jenni | February 28, 2009 at 10:21 AM