Vintage Soul & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up #106

January 22, 2019 / 56 Comments
This is not a sponsored post.

There’s a tiny little shop tucked off in the corner of Main Street in Watertown, New York, that is bursting with the most inviting nostalgia of bygone years. Warm and friendly, kind and welcoming, this charming shop entices your sentimentality with the most delightful relics from the past and makes you yearn for a simpler time. It’s like taking a few steps backwards straight into an uncomplicated era where people lived to work and worked to live and had pride in their endeavors. I stopped in Vintage Soul Antiques this past Saturday when the temperatures were double digits below zero and as I crossed the threshold into the warmth of the shop, I was met with the same friendly cordialities one would expect by entering a fire lit cabin in a Dickens novel. And oh, what a wonderful feeling of reception that can be.

Neighborly in every way, the proprietor of Vintage Soul Antiques, Jenn Baker, meets you with the most exuberant of greetings making you feel as if you were an invited guest whom she has been expecting. But then again, that is her business philosophy, in the timeless and very wise words of Mahatma Ghandi, her appreciation for every person who walks through the doors is prominently displayed ensuring that we, the customers, know that we are her purpose and her passion.

“A customer is the most important visitor on our premises. He is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption on our work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider on our business. He is part of it. We are not doing him a favour by serving him. He is doing us a favour by giving us an opportunity to do so.” -Mahatma Ghandi

The Vintage Soul Mascot…he only has one foot.

And Jenn’s sole employee, Tara, her right-hand gal, exudes the same appreciation for the customers as well as for the beautiful memorabilia that fills the shelves and decorates the windows of this tiny shop on the corner of Main Street. Heirlooms galore surround you in this place, but it is the feeling of being welcomed and appreciated that really draws you to return time and again.

Jenn, Owner of Vintage Soul Antiques, and her right-hand gal, Tara

If you are unfamiliar with the antique market, as I am, Jenn and Tara are both very educated and knowledgeable about the items that stock Vintage Soul. As they explain the antiquated uses of certain items, you cannot help it as you get pulled into the story and suddenly find yourself wanting to know more. Each trinket, no matter how big or small, has a story, a unique and fascinating tale particular to itself which creates vivid images of the way that generations before us lived their day to day lives.

An antique butter churn

I took my 7 year old with me and I had no idea that he would be so completely fascinated by antique and vintage items. We left with a small scale replica of a Ball and Claw Bitters bottle and a teeny tiny wooden casket with tongue and groove edges that now houses his miniature weapons arsenal for his inch tall Army guys.

He was so excited to learn about all the old things!

I, of course, picked up a Vintage Soul tee shirt for myself which is crafted from the softest cotton and makes for perfect layering during these freezing cold months in the North Country.

Honing in on my son’s enchantment with the items in her shop, Jenn so generously escorted him to her “secret storage room” and sent him home with an old wooden clock and another bottle constructed of vintage green glass. Days later, he is still talking about this “secret storage room” and has all of his new “old” treasures proudly displayed for any and all visitors in our home to see. He very eloquently weaves the story of how these items came into his possession and shares all of the information that he apparently absorbed like a sponge during the brief time we spent in Vintage Soul.

Old bottles
My son was so thoroughly impressed by this empire chest. It is one of the things he keeps talking about.
And I am completely fascinated by this glass buoy.
I also have a strange affection for old kitchen items…
Rolling pins
Who remembers these maps?

So whether you are an antique and vintage collector or just have an interest in learning more about items from the past, I highly recommend paying a visit to Vintage Soul. Jenn travels the country finding the most unique and interesting artifacts to bring back to the North Country and her passion for these items shines bright. She grew up with a love for all things vintage and established her shop in honor of her mother who instilled this passion in her. It is well worth the trip down Main Street. I promise you won’t be disappointed. If you are not local to the Watertown, New York, area, you can follow Vintage Soul Antiques on Facebook to see the latest additions to her intriguing inventory. Also remember that by supporting shops like Vintage Soul Antiques, you are also supporting a locally female owned small business.

A sprinkler
This checkerboard is another of my son’s favorite items.

I hope you have enjoyed my little photographic tour through Vintage Soul Antiques. You can find Vintage Soul on Facebook and Instagram. Go ahead and give them a follow! And let me know…are there any artifacts here that have tickled your fancy?

Photo c/o Vintage Soul Antiques

And now your featured favorites from last week.

Elizabeth of Natty Gal shared her post, 3 Easy Tricks for an Organized Coat Closet. She has shared some really great ideas not only for organizing your closet, but many can be used to organize your clothes and other things as well.

Natty Gal

Nina of Sharing a Journey shared her post, Get Your Diet and Exercise Routines Back on Track. Another worthwhile read to get yourself organized for the new year.

Nina of Sharing a Journey

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Ups.

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

You May Also Like

Kimono Love

June 9, 2016
chambray shirt dress, houndstooth ruana, wedge booties, thrifted fashion, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

Styling My New Houndstooth Ruana & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up #203

December 29, 2020

Shelbee Asked…About IVF

August 26, 2018

56 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Shelbee on the Edge