ON THE HUNT

Spring seems to be when we at Wow and Then get the urge to go on a road trip for "hunting" for treasure.   Kind of like birds taking their yearly pilgrimage north or south depending on the season.  It is the season of change, renewal, new life and hints of color resurfacing, depending on which direction you drive.  We have our favorite haunts, that most often the unusual decorating uniquities  for inside or out, surface.  I like to try to see past the "same old" kind of pieces and dig for the unusual, or most unlikely.  Those are the pieces that inspire me or cause me to see another purpose.. It might be their color, or lack thereof and  crusty from time.   With summer planting just around the corner I will be watching for galvanized, tin, wood, enamel and painted finds to showcase the myriad of colors.   Decorating outdoors is popular for even the most novice of gardeners, and here in southern Alberta, portable gardens are a perfect solution to the very changeable weather patterns sometime within hours;  allowing for removal to shelter or cover.   As we are located in Cowboy Country, western memorabilia is always on our list of must haves.  So our sights are set on a treasure hunt of vintage, garden, rusty, western, and the unusual and of course just as importantly a  change of scenery.

Please call ahead to make sure we are open. as we will have a shortened work week.. thank you..     403   9226888.

     

March - St Patty's Day and the Hope of Spring

photo  by belleatelier.tumblr.com

photo by Painting With Light Photography

                                                                           

Green is my favorite color.. pretty much any shade.. And March brings out the green in me.. looking for as much of it as possible both in my wardrobe and in home decor.  It's a little too early to expect green grass, or buds on the trees but I find it in bringing little budding plants and sweet smelling herbs into the house.   It's about this time that I begin to yearn and think about my outdoor plants and the first signs of life are little green shoots.  At present the grape hyacinths are working their way out of the soil, even with the snow and cold.. Love their hearty style and determination.

And to those who are of the Irish decent  Happy St. Patrick's Day !!!!  Bring on the Green..  

HIDDEN TREASURE

My hubbie loves to fix up vintage bikes and this one  is his latest re-creation.  Rust and flat tires were all you really could see and while in the process of  refashioning, cleaning and restoring it to its previous splendor, he made a fun discovery.


  A DOLLAR BILL TUCKED AWAY IN THE   HANDLE   BAR

It would be fun to know the story behind that dollar.  As you can see by the rust around the edge, it has been there a good long time, through many a rain or snow storm.  Was it being saved for a rainy day?   Seeing as the bike is from the mid 60's a dollar would have gone a long way if you were going to go to the corner store.  As well the dollar went out of print many years ago . Oh the stories that bike and bill could write.  The beauty of the bike is the fact that my hubbie saw beauty beneath the rust, and recreated it into a once again rideable beauty.  And just goes to show 

"You Never Know What You Might Find" when hunting or working with those old and discarded treasures !!!

Making your Home your Sancutuary

What comes to mind when you think of home?  Albeit your own home, home growing up or another's home that brings a sense of comfort and peace.
I'm sure we can all find one or more such places presently or in our memory banks.   For myself, home needs to evoke a place of  destraction(not sure if that's a word but you know what I mean).  Where the distractions of life become distant, where I can put my  feet up and turn it all off.  Using pieces of history whether from within your family  or finds you have incorporated along the way, all help in creating a sense of peace, interest, and comfort.  Sometimes it's just a simple addition of a a treasured piece, like a vintage book, an fun box camera or Gram's old rocking chair that create a sense of history, memory and conversation.  Repurposing has become the buzz word of the day promoting reusing, incorporating and creating.  This gives limitless choices when decorating,  from paint choices and finishes, to discovering small out of the way shops offering a plethora of uniquities to find that one special piece.  

This is a vintage Duncan Fyfe table and 4 chairs that has been redone to give a cottage chic look, it has been  updated and  still retains its function but incorporates the history and integrity of the past.

WHAT'S NEW

Have you ever stopped to wonder when someone asks you "What's New" ..that you can't really think of anything to share?   That struck me as quite interesting and thought provoking as to the next time I'm asked to be sure I have a sincere answer.. There is always something new.  It's a new day, a new year, a new haircut, a new birth, a new friend, a new beginning, a new paint color... you get the idea.   Keeping the thought of new.. doesn't mean a new dress or new furniture, it can mean simply making something old new again.  That's what we like to do here at Wow and Then.   Making something come alive that was once loved  and with a little effort becomes once again.. something new.    

Celebrate

Celebrating is definitely happening everywhere this time of year.  From family gatherings, to office parties, to Christmas pageants and  school concerts.   The act of celebrating is all around us.    As a family our celebrating has evolved over the years to become very simple and  the reason we celebrate has remained the constant throughout the years.  As a child our family celebrations involved large families, church choirs, and country Christmas concerts.   Many fond memories arise at the sound of certain carols, and pictures of horse drawn sleighs with christmas trees. I will always hold dear the memories of my childhood celebrating, and the comfort, peace and joy it brings.   

As you celebrate may the long lasting memories you make remain with you throughout the coming years.

Wow and Then  CHRISTMAS HOURS:   CLOSED Monday Dec 24 to Wed. Dec26

                                                                              OPEN  Thurs Dec 27 to Sun. Dec. 30th 

HOURS       12ISH - 5ISH    CALL 4o3 922 6888 if  you need to reach us or find us on FACEBOOK  

Christmas greetings and blessings to each of you as you celebrate the Reason for the Season!!!

Making your special Wedding Day as Unique as You are

Beautiful Summer Wedding

Finding the right pieces for your Vintage Wedding isn't always an easy task.  At Wow and Then we offer rental items from interesting furniture pieces, old doors, chairs, buckets, tables and accent pieces.  All we need is  your ideas and we will help co-ordinate the perfect pieces to make your day complete. The photos are courtesy of Shannon Yau Photography. And the pieces in the photos were rental pieces from Wow and Then.