Tin Cats — My New Life

Blanket chest, ca. 1810-1820, original paint. Love.

Wooden bowl full of stone fruit. 

My new life and business venture — Tin Cats Antiques — officially make me an antiques dealer of early American furniture and decor. (Actually, what we call decor today is what early settlers meant for practical use.)

Tin tray, tin cookie cutters, coffee grinder,
tin and pewter measuring and serving ware —
All were staples of the 18th & 19th centuries. 

 I have bought and will continue to collect items from the 1800s and 1700s.  I have lots of decor and pieces of furniture (although while I have claimed and purchased the furniture, not all is in my current possession — it's a long way to New England from here!).

Pantry boxes, both painted and of natural wood, stored just about
anything and everything. And who could have
imagined a pestle and mortar as decor?

I do not and will not have a shop, but instead will travel to shows and sell through my web site. Dorsey is currently in the process of creating that. My first big show will be at the end of March/first of April in Round Top. Yeah ... the big one. How exciting is that!? For me, it's huge.

I first had experience with Round Top through my mother-in-law, Mary. Dorsey's parents were antiques dealers of the same period and style of antiques that I am doing. When I went with Mary the first time in 1999 or 2000, I thought that was the most exciting thing I had ever experienced, and I wanted to do it. I fell in love with the style and knew I someday wanted a house full of 18th and 19th century furniture. Thanks to Mary, Dorsey and I have always had a few pieces.

Salt boxes were hung on the wall and stored — salt!

And while I loved the idea of making a career in antiques, I never believed it would be possible for me. I was wrong, because it became possible, and it is possible, and it is happening.

This is a spice cabinet, also hung on the wall; each drawer held its own spice.
This apothecary has seen a lot of time, use and heat.

More pantry boxes, a checker board, candle box and yet another wooden bowl. 

Shaker boxes demonstrate the amazing carpentry skills of the Shakers.

I've always loved our dining room "farm" table and Windsor chairs.
These aren't for sale ... at least not any time soon. Unless you want to offer me double their worth —
THEN I might sell them. ;-)

There you have it. I can't wait for the web site to be ready and able to display my inventory. This is going to be a fun, hard and rewarding ride. I am so, so grateful for this opportunity — and I've always wanted to spend extended periods of time in New England —another dream coming true.

I've said it before, but I'll say this again ... it's amazing to me how in the middle of something devastating and sad, God can and does create blessings. In my case, he resurrected a desire that has sat dormant in the recesses of my heart for many years.