Vintage Valentine Gift Guide : Meaningful Personal Gifts to Win Major Points

It's that time of year again, that holiest of holy holidays that is both loved and hated alike...Valentine's day. Sure, it can be a lot of pressure. Sure, you can join the anti-Vday movement and protest. Sure, you should let your special someone know how you feel all year long. But you don't, do you. Well, don't feel bad, neither do the rest of us. While we wish we lived in a romantic movie world where flowers, champagne, chocolate, and sweet nothings abound, the reality is we have to deal with life. And life can really take it out of ya! So, this Valentines, take this day to focus on that person that loves you all the year round, even while you're sick, angry, or when you tried that juicing diet and made them join in.

What's in a gift? When it comes to gifts, especially Valentines gifts, you can spend a lot of money but meaningful gifts are where it's at. Just looking out for you. I'd hate to see you waste your hard earned dollars. This is your chance to show you've been listening, you get them, you care enough to find that perfect unique gift.

And vintage offers some pretty unique gifts. Everyone loves a special gift that no one else has. From the odd to the one of a kind to the impossible to find to the nostalgic, vintage can be the perfect meaningful gift for your love.

For Him : Oh him, you are seemingly so hard to shop for. Here are some ideas...

For your stylish guy : 

Dress him up in vintage style! You won't find these at the mall.

For your child at heart: 

These nostalgic gifts appeal to your fun guy!

Style his space:

Surprise him with vintage guy style for his pad or man cave!

Sleek Mad Men Bar or Rowdy Pub:

Create the perfect bar area for him!

For her : Valentine's day is easy for guys, right? Some flowers, some jewelry, a little chocolate, what could go wrong. Take an extra step this year. I promise you'll be happy with the results.

Kitchen Gifts: 

If she knows all the cast members of 

the Food Network, you're golden.

Crafty Gal: 

Does she like to make stuff? Get her some unique supplies!

Operation Organization:

Get her some stuff to organize that craft space!

Dark Girl:

Does she like things that are a little bit different?

Gifts for everyone : Whether you are a girl or a guy or just showing a friend or family member how special they are, these gifts work for everyone!

Office Organization & Decor:

Nothing feels better than an organized office, except maybe an office organized & decorated with really cool items!

Original Art:

Original art can be so personal! Not only are you giving the item, you are giving everything that goes into it. (see earlier post on what goes into an art piece.)

Whatever you decide on, don't forget to include a special message in a vintage bottle! They are the price of a greeting card but you get a cool vintage bottle to keep forever. They arrive personalized and I even give you a cheat sheet of sweet nothings to put inside!

Whether you celebrate or not, no matter what you give or receive, I hope you take the time to think about the ones you love this Valentine's Day!

Find these items and more at www.maliasmark.etsy.com

My Walls : Original Art and Vintage Oddities

So after looking at my shop, you may wonder what the heck my decorating style is. You might be scared to see. A lot like my shop, my walls are covered with vintage oddities, some quotes, and lots of ORIGINAL ART. I frequently encourage people to support local artists and I try to do so by promoting other artists through social media and by purchasing their one of a kind pieces. Basically, I would cover every square inch of wall space if I could and with twenty foot ceilings, I have a lot of it.

Here's a little peek into what I have collected and the artists that created these amazing pieces...

• First, my house features the photography work of my better half, the ones I'm allowed to. For an analyst, he definitely has an artists personality.

• Left : I always see this artist's work at The Wrinkled Egg in Flat Rock, NC when I go to Flat Rock Bakery for the most amazing brick oven pizza and delicious scones. They do a lot of farm and country type stuff which is not my style but this one, this one was me. Love the dark theme, love the painting, love the quote. It's mine. Artist is Sandy Erickson-Wright. Find her stuff at http://www.ericksonwright.com/.
• Right : Both of these are the same artist. Yes, I have two. Because they are amazing. Printed on wood, dark, eery, they draw you in. This artist usually has a booth at Woolworth Walk in Asheville, NC. Artist is Brenda Marks. Find her stuff at http://brendamarks.zenfolio.com/.

• Top Left : This piece features a million little multi-colored dots raining down behind the stark white tree. It's one of my larger pieces and it was hard to choose one because I love all her stuff. This artist usually has a booth at Woolworth Walk in Asheville, NC. Artist is Jennifer Barrineau. Find her stuff at http://jenniferbarrineauart.com/.
• Middle Left : Love the wood, love the re purposing that this artist does. Artist is Kevin Stinehart. Art can be found at https://www.etsy.com/shop/KevinStinehart.
• Bottom Left : What can I say, this little owl spoke to us. A little happy for my taste but had to have him.:)Found this at Woolworth Walk in Asheville, NC as well. Artist is Heather Shirin. Art can be found at http://www.heathershirin.com/
• Right : This piece is hard core. Effects of industrialism, loss of innocence. It speaks volumes. Found this at Woolworth Walk in Asheville, NC. In case you haven't guessed, you need to check this place out! Artist is Brian Mashburn. Art can be found at http://brianmashburnart.com/. Check it out!

• Both of these are by the one and only Tim TV, a man of many talents including performance artist. We saw both of these pieces at the first performance we caught of Tim TV and his circus. Mark had to have the Tom Waits piece, I had to have the piano piece for above my piano. Favorite status. Catch Tim's work at http://www.timstvs.com/. If you have a chance, catch a show. He performs regularly impromptu downtown so take a lot of cash for a tip, it's worth it!

                                    

• Of course, got to have my quotes. Love them. A little less subtle than art but sometimes you need it loud and clear.

• Then my oddities. Top left : I have two corbels that I will never sell. They don't match, the paint is badly chipped, they barely stay together, they were burned in a fire, they are mine, I love them.
• Bottom left : Love wood. Love wood grain. And a little extra nature thrown in.
• Top right : Tobacco basket. Another one of those pieces that made my shopping companions of the day worry for my sanity. But I was vindicated once it rested on my wall. And I never remove my vintage dust. It's all there, dirt, dust and all.
• Bottom Right : My brother Josh made me this super awesome floor lamp out of a vintage surveyors tripod. Who knew? Restoration Hardware sells these for thousands of dollars.

I said in my last post, a piece of original art is so much more than a pretty picture. Not only is it beautiful, special, and could become valuable, it is a piece of the artist, their time, their experience, their passion. Get you some.

So there's a peek into a sampling of what decorates my home. Yes, I am the person who hung a horse bridle and reigns on my wall. No, I don't ride horses. But I like it, and I do what I like. That pretty much sums it up.