she's a pinball wizard...

it's official—i bought my first pinball machine. i've been looking for over 2 years for that perfect machine to grace my home. i was picky, i admit, but i knew what i was looking for and i was determined to find it—even if it took me a few years, i was relentless.

what made my search even that much more difficult was the era and the price range i was wanting. i knew i wanted a pinball machine from the 1960's-70's era and of course, i needed it to be in the $300-500 price range. that was a challenge. as i perused craigslist, i knew given in the small town where i live that my options would be limited.

but i kept searching.

obviously, given the size and weight, i couldn't go much farther than an hour away from our home, knowing it'd be a risky drive back. at the time, i had no idea that transporting a pinball machine was a lot easier than i had envisioned. this made my quest that much easier. however, living in a loft with close quarters always presented a new challenge with my desire to own a pinball machine.

ya, i know, i'm crazy.

just like my endless search for those perfect gym lockers, i finally found the size/price that would be perfect—after a year and a half, craigslist had come through—as always. i found lockers that were in a shed of a farm sitting outdoors collecting dust and weathered all kinds of outdoor changes, only adding to the patina of the lockers. all for a low price of $60. needless to say, i was elated.

i had hoped to find a similar deal for my daunting quest of a pinball machine. 

until i found it! it was perfect. it was exactly what i was looking for. the seller advertised $500 but brought it down to $450. hey, $50 is $50—i'll take what i can get.

it was originally made in 1973 by the well known pinball machine designer/maker, gottlieb. although i had hoped and wanted to find that perfect design in addition to my price range and desired era, it was absolutely perfect. i knew once i would look at it, i would immediately fall in love and want it!

oh boy did i want it.

my husband had hoped deep down that i wouldn't want it for whatever reason, but boy was he wrong. i gave the seller $100 to hold it and i picked it up with a borrowed truck the following week. 

i admit, carrying it upstairs presented a whole new challenge, but it was worth it. 

1973 gottlieb Hot Shot pinball machine

thankfully, my search came back with this perfect vintage pinball machine. it's what i've been looking for and wanting for so long. i'm glad i didn't give up my search and i remained patient, because i knew, in the long run, my patience would pay off.

and this time, it did.

good things come to those who wait.

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vintage or bust

if you've been following my blog, you will know that i love vintage/pre-own objects—because i love what they encompass and their history; knowing there's a story there. although i may not know the history involved in these objects, it pleases me nonetheless. it's a part of the cycle of life as we continue with the future ahead of us. a desire that ensures our peace of mind. in lieu of buying new (for most objects, of course), we decide to continue with our search of that one single vintage piece in hopes of changing it to what pleases you the most.

as i fill my home mixing new with old, i always add a bright color which only transforms my surroundings. although color won't solve how i may feel at that moment, it makes me happy regardless. something about color encompassing my home gives me a sense of peace. whether it's short-lived or a part of who i am, i know that bright colors filling my life and my home will brighten my day. even if it's only temporary.

my latest obsession has become the busts of small statues. whether or not they're of famous people such as Beethoven, et al, i find the retro creation of a design aesthetic spray painted with my chosen color(s), describes my personality in a way that cannot be explained verbally, but visually instead. maybe in a therapeutic sort of way, it explains for that moment in time, how i feel and how i may look. a funky outlook of something unique that permeates my soul.

as i walked through my local Goodwill, i found these busts sitting lonely on the shelves for a low cost waiting to be loved. since the colors were of a dull patina, i couldn't wait to take them home and give them new life. with spray cans of bright colors sitting on the shelf inside my locker, i couldn't wait to get started on a new project i have been craving for some time now. i knew once i added color, it would bring them a look that may have been unacceptable during its time.

although i still rummage through local eco and second hand shops, i was pleased with the final outcome overall. as i continue my search for vintage busts—or anything of interest, for that matter—i realize that these searches can be beneficial for me, especially allowing me to recycle and create new life to such an old piece, or pieces. a feeling of satisfaction as i salvage another composition of an aesthetic work of 'art.'

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old to new

as i've mentioned before in prior posts, i love mixing old objects with new. i've always felt it adds such an eclectic mix throughout my loft and adds a unique flair that isn't seen anywhere else. it's my creative imagination, and my "design" overall.

this past weekend, i found a table for our dining room that was a perfect fit for our small space. i've always loved the look and feel of a quintessential 50's diner style chairs, tables and barstools, but unfortunately where i live, there aren't exactly a plethora of that style where i can mix and mingle this look. however, as i was browsing the for sale section of craigslist, i found this vintage 50's dining table that looked—as my husband labeled—as though we were eating cheeseburgers while being served by a beehived waitress named Flo. for a mere $40, i knew i had to at least go look at it in person.

when i arrived at the gentleman's house who was selling the table, it was covered in—what i call—a bunch of crap. including his TV set and computer. among the dark lighting throughout his small apartment, i knew right then and there that i had to have that table for our dining spot. it was exactly what i had hoped for.

the dimensions were perfect at a small 56" x 32" rectangle which included a rare leaf for such a diner-styled table, which would have fit perfectly for such a small space in our loft. perhaps it did come from an old diner that was appreciated many decades ago by patrons of a retro hangout, which only appealed to me even more.

even though he asked me to pick it up a few days later so he could prepare it for departure, i couldn't wait to arrive with my car ready to load for the trip to its new home. i wanted to leave with it right then and there, but instead, my patience won out and i was forced to wait two whole days.

as we were carrying the table outside to my car, i saw the many stains that permeated the tabletop as though paint had been spilled over several years of wear—but it still didn't discourage my purchase. i couldn't wait to get it home and enjoy our new table for our dining experience.

once my husband and i carried it upstairs, both he and my daughter showed nothing but distaste for the look and feel of the table—a table where we would spend many nights enjoying our dinner. 

or so i thought.

to say the least, i was disappointed with their unhappiness with something i had been so eager to share with my family. it still didn't prevent me from trying to convince them otherwise.

the next day, as i noticed from the sunlight shining throughout the upstairs area, the dark stains that showed its wear over time made me finally give in and reluctantly agree with them. not with the style, of course, but the stains on the tabletop which what i felt, took away from the vintage appeal but only showed dissatisfaction instead. 

while glancing at the table and the surroundings of my loft, the color red immediately sprung to mind. i felt by painting the top red with a gloss coat, would only complement the vintage and retro-diner style instead, thus covering the horrible dark stains.

i was on a mission!

after two coats of paint, i stood there and admired the completion of what looked like a brand new table. i knew this is what was needed to give love and gratefulness as if i purchased it brand new.

i was happy and now, as we continue to eat on our patio as we wind down from the summer months, i'm eager to christen our 'new' table with plentiful amounts of dinner enjoyment and conversation.

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