for the love of tools

My battered pin tin, old wooden spools, long vintage scissors, tiny embroidery scissors, black japanese ones and bamboo knitting needles

I love surrounding myself with old functional things. Or, if not old then at least made of natural materials and built to last. There is not only beauty in that, but vitality, a sense of meaning and responsibility. Well-made tools become more beautiful the more they are used, feel alive from the spirit the craftsman put into them, give meaning to work because you enjoy using them and give a sense of responsibility to look after and put love into what you create.

My favourite pairs of scissors. The long ones have just the right balance.

I love the wooden handles on these tools, and the way they have worn.

On an outdoor market in Brighton I once found a stall run by two old gentlemen, filled to the ceiling with boxes of vintage tools. A young woman trawling through their piles seemed to be a bit of a novelty (and I think it might have influenced the prices) so I got all the help I needed. Not that I would have minded spending that hour on my own finding treasures, but I had so much fun talking to them and it made me feel comfortable hanging around. I asked them if the long pair of scissors above would still work, which prompted them to polish them up for me for free (they still work a treat, so sharp).

The little things that show the craftsman cared and loved what he was doing always touch me. The beauty in the general design, but mostly the decorations that aren't functionally necessary but add to the joy.

A cracked Mason bowl, a worn wooden spoon, an old silver fork, an apple corer, my gran's old cup that I broke the handle off and a charity shop find: a serving spoon with decorative holes in it for which I don't know the purpose, but I love it and use it.

The things we use every day and look at often are so important to me. I want to feel the purpose and meaning and joy of the everyday things, feel I deserve to eat on pretty china, use tools that make the small things a celebration and feel surrounded by objects that have been lovingly made and lovingly used. What are your favourite things or finds?

One of my polished fit glass jars, reminds me a bit of a snow globe in this light.

Comments

[linni]

Hey Linn,

This are beautiful photos...can see that you took your time and appreciation putting these together...appreciating the craftmanship...the love put into them...the design...the beauty.

This is what I love of you...your admiration for beauty in everyday things...

I hope (and believe) you treasure yourself as much every day..as you treasure everything else...

My favorite finds this weekend was the very rough sea...with surfers trying to tame the waves...knowing that they are 'polished' in throwing and moving around...reminding the surfers to be humble...

the beautiful, fairy forest with moss growing and intertwining with the trees...with the feeling of fairies everywhere...

the time spent with M3...knowing 'he is back'...although not 100%, but almost all of him...

We laughed...and played...and sang...we tried to 'conquor the wind'....but came laughingly second...humbling us in the beauty of our everyday life. xx

[degan]

gorgeous collection of little useful things! i love that jar...it really does look like a snow globe, or possibly some magic medicine when paired with that spoon beside it!

[darlene]

what beautiful tools you use and love ... i also have a collection of well worn items including china from my great great grandmother, pots and kitchen treasures all of which i use on a regular basis. there is something about the craftsmanship and the history and the way these things feel in my hands that i adore ... plus it is nice to know that i can reuse rather than contribute to adding more unnecessary stuff to my life ...

[Angie]

Such lovely photos! I like how someone took the time to add that little design to the saw handle, so sweet.

[Jessie]

What a delicious post. I'm so glad that I followed your link here today! It is just the sort of beauty I needed to fill tonight's creativity well. Thank you. And thank you also for the comment you left on my blog. It really means a lot to me.
:)
j.

[joan]

Sigh... sigh... sigh.

Let me just say, to beautiful you, miss caroline that in your future I envision an beautiful large hard covered coffee table book of all your incredible photos and musings and observations.
I am putting that out into the Universe today... if that is okay with you.

Every single visit here is like the scent of laundry drying on a well worn clothesline, and the feel of a spring rabbit's soft downy coat against my cheek.

i am so in love with everything you share... always.

This post brought tears to my eyes, especially the carved handle of the saw.
It makes me long for days gone by when yes, everything was crafted with pride and love.

Sometimes I go into antique stores just to marvel at furniture legs...
weird, I know. But I'm certain you know what I mean.

This is so incredibly beautiful.
thank you... thank you.

xoxoxo
joan

[PixieDust]

My house is filled with treasures like this... thank you for sharing yours... it feels like we just shared tea and chatted about our "loves"...

:-)

Love,
me

[deirdre]

I found your blog by way of Darlene. Beautiful. I'll be back.

[Marie]

Your photos are beautiful!

[Marie]

Your photos are beautiful!

[maddie]

I love vintage spools of thread and keys
and i adore old vintage mason jars ~
and old photographs:)

those photos should be in a book they are
so delicious:)

[kristen]

these photos are stunning. maddie is right, they'd be lovely in a book. blurb perhaps?

[kristen]

these photos are stunning. maddie is right, they'd be lovely in a book. blurb perhaps?

[yolanda]

I am glad to found your blog via liz. I truly enjoyed this post and your photos area gorgeous.

[Carolina Eclectic]

Hi Caroline
These tools are so beautiful! I love natural and utilitarian objects too, especially if they have a history. As usual, love your photos.

[meg]

stunning photos. I could stare at them for hours.

[Anne Marie]

I'd love to go with you to a market in Brighton! Beautiful things with a every day life story tied to them. One of my favourite things is a cup that belonged to my great grand father. He was a big fan of design (altough I don't think he would descibe himself like that). And also a big fan of everything that came from England. I love zipping tea from this cup and know that him and I, in spite of growing up in different times, have at least one thing in common; the cup.

[Anne Marie]

I'd love to go with you to a market in Brighton! Beautiful things with a every day life story tied to them. One of my favourite things is a cup that belonged to my great grand father. He was a big fan of design (altough I don't think he would descibe himself like that). And also a big fan of everything that came from England. I love zipping tea from this cup and know that him and I, in spite of growing up in different times, have at least one thing in common; the cup.

[Marilyn]

I, too, love old things like this, but don't have a stunning collection like this. I was so thrilled last year when walking into an antique store in a tiny town we'd never visited before I stumbled upon a set of tin measuring cups just like the ones my Italian grandmother had always baked with. I bought them, of course. ;)