Have a seat.

Steven has been looking for a good desk chair for quite a while. Like me, he likes old things. Things that look like they probably have a story in them.

So, when he saw this chair in our first junk shop stop in Columbia, he was immediately smitten.

When I see a piece of furniture I like, I immediately look under the piece and around its edges for identifying information. It didn't take long to find the circular brass logo for W.H. Gunlocke and Co. I quickly googled the company and saw that this chair's twin was for sale on eBay for nearly $800.  Once we saw that, we didn't even flinch at the $20 price tag.

The details on this chair are incredible, from its hand-tacked leather seat (with only one scratch!) to the pristine mechanics underneath. It's a 1940s wonder and is still amazingly comfortable, even after over 70 years.

W.H. Gunlocke chairs have an amazing American history, starting in 1902, when they began in a New York factory. They managed to survive the Great Depression, and FDR even chose a Gunlocke chair for his seat in the Oval Office. Eight other US presidents, including JFK  chose a Gunlocke chair for their time in the Oval Office.

Finding out interesting historical facts about seemingly forgotten pieces of furniture or articles of clothing bring them back to life. I think knowing where something came from can explain why it still exists today--from its craftsmanship to the care its previous owners took over these pieces.

Seek peek.

I finally took my boyfriend up on his offer to take me on a Columbia treasure-hunting expedition. He has been telling me that Columbia is the place to go on a hunt.  He was right; it felt like there was a thrift store, junk shop, or antique store on every corner. Most of these amazing dresses (and one very chic 1940s suit) are from yesterday's adventure. They'll be debuting at the Art for Charity Pop Up Shop at Michael Mitchell on February 11, and whatever doesn't sell will go up on seek vintage's Etsy after that!

In time for Valentine's Day.

Or any day, really. Cute knickers don't need a special occasion, as far as I'm concerned.

Visit my treasury here!

Eat and drink, repeat.

The theme of most, if not all, of my weekends is "eat and drink (and thrift)." Last weekend was no different:

• Wine and cheese and gossip at Bin 152
• shepherd's pie at Leaf (not pictured)
• a Saturday bike ride to brunch at 3 Little Birds
• vintage suitcase and a cool old drawer curb finds on the way home (not pictured)
• amazing Ferragamos found at a thrift store (not pictured)
• delicious ramen at Kanpai
• a hazy, gray Sunday
• a boisterous brunch and tasty bloody Marys at the Variety Store brightened things up 

Join seek vintage for a pop-up event on February 11!

Join seek vintage at Michael Mitchell on King Street for a one-day pop-up shop on February 11 from 10am-4pm. This event is partnering with Art for Charity, which supports fantastic Charleston nonprofits.

Hope to see all you Charlestonians there!

A weekend snippet.

Besides going out to Cinebarre to see The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (I've already read the books and seen the Swedish versions, and this version did not disappoint), this weekend was extremely low-key. Celebrating finds for seek vintage, reading and lazing on the couch, eating home-cooked meals, having Mario Kart marathon races--this pretty much summarizes the wildest parts of the weekend. Even with the slow-paced days, the weekend still flew by, as it always does.

P.S. I've gone through my closet again and have added some pieces to eBay. Free US shipping and some new additions!

A new year and a new year.

So, it's 2012, and as of this weekend, I am 28 years old. This is the first time I have ever been a little bit scared for a birthday. Everyone I've told this to over the age of 28 has told me to shut up, but everyone younger than 28 has nodded furiously with furrowed brows. I am now in the middle of my late 20s, and it's weird. But that's OK! It really is! That's what I've been telling myself in the mirror each morning for the past few days.

On my birthday, we threw a Celebration Party to group together Housewarming, Christmas, New Years, and me getting closer to being middle-aged, and this is a little of what it looked like:

Over my nearly five years here (has it really been that long?), I've met such fun people. It was really neat to get them all together in the same place. I actually probably wasn't that good of a hostess, because I was having too much fun playing Mario Kart and making s'mores outside. Hopefully everyone else had a good evening, because, for me, it was a perfect way to ring in my 28th year.