8.30.2011

how we see...

Last week, at an estate sale, I came across this pile of old metal letters and numbers...


The man running the sale gave me a pretty good deal because they were so "beat up" and he'd had them for years.   I thought they were great and are quite popular right now so the whole pile came home with me for my shop.  I began to clean them up and discovered something...


The "beat up" part was a protective film on top of each one.  I started peeling and voila - they look almost new!  Here is a before and after...


I wonder how he could have had them for years and not noticed this?  Funny how we can look and not really see isn't it?  It made me think of people and our protective layers and how you kinda have to ignore the silliness we have on the outside to see the real person inside.

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."
- Marcel Proust




11 comments:

Jane Kilpatrick Schott said...

What a deal! I love when things like this happen when you are out scavenging.
And the thoughts about the outer layer is so right on.
Great post!

MJM said...

I love them, and a quote? What a great Tuesday!

angryparsnip said...

What a fabulous find and what a hoot that the protective covering had been put on so well that it looked like the real top.

I rather like the beat-up look !

cheers, parsnip

KR said...

I love little discoveries like this! Wonderful quote!

k said...

great words :) and great find as always! you have a knack for that i think :)

Beatnheart said...

Score!!!!

the only problem is is that alot of people like
beatup and don’t trust stuff when it looks so new...but reguardless, nice purchase.

Stitchfork said...

His numbers just didn't add up for him, so lucky you! Great quote!
xo Cathy

Silver Strands said...

What a great find! And an even greater quote. I've been thinking of you today Jeanette ...

pamela said...

does he have anything else he wants to sell? ha!

lisaroy said...

what a score! I love big numbers too. Actually, I kind of like the worn look too. :)

Anonymous said...

don't you hate it when your find turns out to be something entirely different than you thought. :)
e.