Approaching the one year anniversary of “The Ukulele Challenge.”  Any progress?  Any new takers?  (Stay tuned for the follow-up.)

What if we stop or forgot to have  fun?  What if we fall further away from something or someone?  Where or how do we reclaim it or ourselves?

Vintage Hardware’s sole responsibility is reclaiming things from our past.  Pieces that are necessary to put something back together … a hinge pin, window stay, a set screw, caster, drawer pull … door.

But sometimes in life we are looking for a piece to put ourselves back together as well.  I witness people strolling through Vintage Hardware experiencing a nostalgic journey.  Nothing warms my heart more than when a visitor stays … unexpectedly longer than they intended, as they meander, touch & reminise.  This is the secret gift of  Vintage Hardware.   The old, painted, crusty stuff or architectural piece that conjures up guesses of its origin or purpose, speaks to & touches the core of some people.

Reclaiming pieces for our home or restoration project is much easier, more tangible than searching for or replacing  that piece, spark  or challenge our soul is needing.  It is much more complex to recognize that we are in need of retrieving, recovering or regaining something for ourselves that would bring happiness & perhaps peace.

I have started a retrival process.  A journey indeed and most definitely a challenge.  My muse?  My tool for salvaging the pieces and finding greener grasses?  A ukulele.  (I, too am perplexed by this discovery.)  It started with a song that makes me smile. It makes my heart sing & my toes tap.  A feeling I want to experience and incorporate into my everyday life of responsibilities & obligations that don’t usually allow time for whimsical acts or idle play.  But now – somehow this sweet, petite & underestimated  instrument found me & I am discovering the  joy.  (“Hearing” the joy will take some time yet.)

So … is there something that perhaps you need to reclaim or restore in your life?  If so … what is your ukelele going to be? 

RESERVE TWO NIGHTS & GET THIRD NIGHT 50% OFF ($50+ savings)!! Vintage Hardware incorporated salvage materials to create custom pieces, mixed with refurbished furniture in a newly remodeled space that illustrates the appeal of mixing old with new for a space that is fresh and relaxing. Please contact Beach Breese Properties at (503)440-5644 or beachbreese@gmail.com for inquires and availability. http://astoriavintagehardware.com/design-construction-projects/5

Clatsop Community College students enrolled in the Basic Design course will be exhibiting artwork in a show entitled “Lost and Found”  for the Second Saturday Art Walk in
Astoria.  This one-night-only exhibit opens on March 10th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Vintage Hardware.  Located at 14th and Duane in the lobby of the 1922 Astor Hotel, Vintage Hardware is the ideal backdrop for this show .  Inspired by artists of the early twentieth century art movement called Dada, students have created works of art that
incorporate everyday objects and convey a meaningful message to the viewer.