Happy New Year!

I hope 2014 is off to a great start for you.  I know I’m excited about the possibilities of a new year and I’m eager to start fresh.  Like many of you stopping by, I have high hopes for changes and growth this year. High hopes, dreams, and of course a few plans. 🙂

One thing that won’t be changing is my love of history, the past, old places and forgotten things.  My kids got on-the-fly history lessons as we took a few mini trips over the holiday break, amidst other activities. We did make it to a museum, but the rest of our history appreciation came from driving and walking through a few old towns and handful of new (to me) antique malls.  I’ve collected some of my favorite pictures to share here.

A well-loved classic Ford truck.   {Lexington, VA}

 I stop for ghost signs.  Can you see the Coca-Cola sign underneath?   {Salem, VA}

Sky and steeples   {Salem, VA}

I stop for abandoned homes too.  I can’t help but think of the hustle and bustle of the families that may have lived here in the past.  It looks like a wheel chair ramp was built on the right.  {Christiansburg, VA}

The Cambria Emporium – what an amazing antiques mall – with a historic train depot right across the street.  Trains sped by the building adding to the ambience.  The building itself has so much character with the wood floor and stamped metal ceiling.  We found a special piece here that will make unusual bead storage – will share that one in a future post.   {Christiansburg, VA}

 Bringing home this vintage tulle skirt for one of my dress forms.    {Roanoke, VA}

 Oh the donuts!  Resolutions and all that, who can resist? 🙂     {Richmond, VA}

Absolutely smitten by this section of Cary St. – Old buildings, cobblestone alleys, ghost signs and mysterious doors.                                            {Richmond, VA}

Just a few blocks from my old dorm (grad school), we discovered the Museum of the Confederacy and Jefferson Davis’ home, The White House of the Confederacy.  Although reluctant at first, once we stepped inside the 1818 home, the kids seemed just as interested to learn more about President Jefferson Davis’ home where he lived with his family from 1881-1885.    Our tour guide was an incredibly knowledgeable and articulate freshman attending William and Mary. We saw personal family pieces (furniture, prints, toys) in the  mansion and listened to interesting stories about Jefferson and Varina and their children.  The couple is buried nearby in Hollywood Cemetery – I shared photos of this famous cemetery last January in this blog post.

 A wavy glass window and finial on the steps at The White House of the Confederacy.   {Richmond, VA}

 

Thank you for visiting and stepping back in time with me. I have one last photo – one I took in Blacksburg along with a well-love quote……

Now on to the present.…..  Happy New Year and here’s to new beginnings!

– Cindy xoxo

 

 

 

Cindy Wimmer is a jewelry designer with a passion for combining vintage elements with modern wire design.   She is the co-founder of artBLISS, hosting jewelry and mixed media workshops in the DC area. Her first jewelry design book, The Missing Link, was recently released this Fall.