My Mother’s Influence

Corey Amaro Blog, Brocante, France, Provence

 

Antiquing or the Brocante Bug as I have called it has been in my blood since I was a girl. The first thing I ever bought was a brown glass ink bottle, a small bone hand mirror, and a blue beaded 1920s clutch was when I was twelve years old with my own babysitting money. I left them in the States when I moved to France. At first romantic sweet things appealed to me, though for some reason I never thought of it that way until Jennifer my friend came to help me with the French la Vie. Watching her buy antiques rusty, country style gems that my mother loves showed me that I rarely look at those type of things, though they appeal to me and remind me of home and my mother's style.

My mother's influence on buying and selling antiques has had a major impact on my life, but more than her attraction for old things, her passion for creating a magical creative life stirs deeply within me, she taught me to take the ordinary and make it extraordinary.

 

Use silver and your "good" plates every day.

Put a tablecloth on the table.

Bake for the whole community.

She says, "Use your stuff or give it away. Why keep it in the closets? When you die your children might not want it and sell it for 25 cents at a yard sale."

Do you know that my mom decorates funeral luncheon's for our church community? And has for over twenty years.

Life is meant to be celebrated even at death.

 

We learn. We grow. We change and we become. 

 

 



Comments

7 responses to “My Mother’s Influence”

  1. Your mom is very special. I do love her energy and agree with using it or give it away.

  2. Your mom is both lovely and wise.
    My own dear grandma would say,”Use your nice things,they were made to be enjoyed.” and “Don’t let your possessions possess you”.

  3. TEXAS francophile

    I love your Mother’s style! Remember Dead Poets Society “suck the marrow out of life” ……..I can’t wait for her to see her great grandchild…..

  4. Sharon CrigSt

    Wise words from your mom! She reminds me of my mom and the wisdom she passed on to me and that I have tried to pass on to my sons and daughters-in-law and now my grandchildren! ❤️

  5. Ana Maria

    I had breast cancer 15 years ago. After I was given the “all-clear”, I took out my silver cutlery, good china and embroidered linen, and have been using it every day since then. There is nothing better than sleeping on vintage, French Métis sheets!

  6. I am cracking up reading your post about my daughter, Jennifer. She told me she could only fit a few things in her luggage. I love what she picked as I have similar taste and can’t wait to see them. In fact I have an old tractor seat “rusty” in my garden that Corey’s mom gave me years ago. When she was a little girl she would ask me “Are we going “teaking” today?

  7. Loved reading this. So many similarities of your life and of my mother and myself growing up, too. We always went to thrift stores, yard sales, antique stores. I grew up with my mom’s strong influence & love of the old and ornate, as well. I am now tasked with deciding what to keep of hers and what I must part with. I realize that I can’t keep it all. I love that your mom says to use the good silverware and china. I’m going to do that now, too!

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