Neal and I are pretty excited about putting our home together. We’ve been sprucing things up here and there (we decided to purchase a special painting for our anniversary instead of the other options) and have been really trying to make our apartment ours. (We don’t plan to be homeowners, but we like to feel our space is filled with items that give others a clue into who we are even if we don’t own the space—perhaps especially since we don’t own the space.) Neal commented the other day (when a particular item I’d order arrived) that the space looks more “adult” as time goes on. We are slowly weeding out the hand-me-downs and place-holder types of decorations that new couples tend to have.
We’ve really taken to the handmade “movement” because we really like to feel as though there is a personal touch in our items. I usually attempt to make contact with the artist and let them know how much their item is appreciated, especially since this person took the time to make it, even if not specifically for us. However, I am especially grateful for the artists who are willing to take on custom orders from us or answer all our questions about items that they already have. Today we meandered around a local juried art fair (although I sometimes wondered who was on the jury to get into the fair, but I will admit that only a few of the items were just kitsch, which is obviously our opinion only. If you like the type of thing I’m talking about, which I will not describe so as to offend your sensibilities, then I’m sure I’m wrong and it’s the height of artistic expression.), and we discovered quite a few potters and other artists that intrigued us. We’ve been looking to replace our boring department store dish set with something that better suits our tastes. (Our dish set is plain white, so that’s not really all that exciting or interesting.) We especially have been on the lookout for mugs or bowls lately, as we do have some interesting plates that I picked up at a flea market once.
We were very glad to happen upon a talkative lady who gave us information about their glazes and different types of bowls. We looked around at other potters, hoping for something else to compare to these wonderful bowls that we’d found. We finally vacillated between two sets, one from a couple of potters I’ve already purchased another item from (a wonderful toothbrush holder, of all things) and who apparently do not sell their bowls online and the original set that we had fallen in love with. We both loved the unique quality of the first set, but we also liked the style (and price) of the second set. We realized that if we were to truly live with and love these bowls for years we had to go with our hearts on this one and decided upon the first set. The lady tapped me on the arm when she saw me back in the booth and said, “I knew you’d be back!” Indeed we were. As we checked out, her husband told us the beginnings of his work with ceramics and how he prized function within form, which obviously makes sense when making, say, a set a bowls. (I mean, the bowl may be very pretty but if it has very little functionality, why would we want it?) They invited us down to their studio in the southwest of Minnesota, and we said we hoped we’d see them again…and get to tour their studio (I miss listening to the thump!, whirrrr of my roommate’s wheel as she threw a pot or other item while I sat nearby reading my lit homework or taking notes for a paper). Knowing the artist’s story makes the bowls worth that much more to us, as we make the bowls a part of our own story together.
And that’s what we’re trying to do with all the pieces we incorporate into our life. Our table setting is just one piece of the puzzle that we want to put together to form a picture of who we are as a married couple. Sure, we both have items that we brought to the house when we got married and moved in together, but from here on out, we are choosing things together. We keep bits of ourselves but also meld into a couple who make decisions together and who compromise when we can’t both have our way. (For example, today I wanted the shaped bowls, but Neal wanted the round ones. He uses bowls more often than I do, honestly, so we went with the round ones.) I like this compatibility and only see it getting easier and better as time goes on. Our dining room is shaping up into something WE have created. Our living room is getting there, too. Every time we decide on something together, we’re making a home that we’ve chosen to enjoy as a couple. I really like coming home and seeing the house that the GR family built (who happen to be the only GR family in the entire world, by the way!) I love coming home and realizing that so many things within these walls are indicative of my life with my husband, the life I’ve come to cherish very much. With no one else would I have made these same choices and decisions, I know, which makes them all the more special because with no one else could I possibly be happier.
What have OTHERS said in response?