written by: Melissa DeAntonio (Shopkeeper of the Month)
Endlessly curious and nostalgic by nature are a few ways to describe myself. Always awe of the natural world, I spent countless hours in my young life playing, exploring & creating in our neighborhood woods & pond. Many carefree afternoons were spent collecting old bottles, artifacts and treasures with friends. In the summertime, there was no shortage of beachcombing & seashell collecting along the coast of southern New Jersey. Later, I developed a hobby for collecting sea glass, which was both fun and fascinating! As a backyard gardener, I now enjoy learning about native plants & flowers as we tend to the gardens on our property. I’m always delighted to find a stray bird’s nest made from our horse’s hair as I’m out working or enjoying the grounds. I use these little “nature gifts” as accents in my décor. In the kitchen I collect cookbooks & recipes, curious to learn new and creative ways to cook with plants for our vegetarian household.
As a young adult, my path took me down a professional route where I landed in a health care career as a Physical Therapist for almost 2 decades. In addition, I was committed to volunteer work for a non-profit animal sanctuary for many years. This time in my life was filled with an abundance of experiences and new learning. Through my involvement with the animal sanctuary, we fell in love with a big white horse and miniature donkey who were bonded for life and in need of a new home. We adopted them, promising to never separate them. This life changing decision led us on a lengthy journey as we searched for what we now call our farmette, or Friendship Farmette, named in honor of our adopted pair.
While we searched and waited patiently for our forever home, my interest in vintage and antiques was growing. What started as an occasional browse through an antique shop on vacation, became a more frequent hobby as I became excited to discover & explore shops in our area. I began collecting old objects that I envisioned in the rooms of our future home. My ongoing curiosity fueled this new interest of mine & I soon discovered how much I loved researching new finds and learning about their connection to history.
After we found our home, built a barn, and moved the animals to the property, we began to shift our focus to small house updates & projects. Making design decisions in the new space proved to be more challenging than I anticipated. With the stress of the move, jobs, and life, I had a hard time moving forward creatively. Caught somewhere decoratively between the Palace of Versailles and Colonial Williamsburg, I asked for professional design help to steer me in the right direction–or at the very least, to pick a paint color! As I ran down my seemingly never-ending list of styles and places that I was drawn to the designer asked me a question that I still think about to this day: “But where do you want to live”? That was a lightbulb moment for me.
Maybe where I wanted to live wasn’t a specific era, decade or location in the literal sense, but rather somewhere where it felt relaxed yet refined, timeless yet time loved. Maybe it was more of a feeling. Moving forward, I was able to slowly curate spaces with intention. I chose objects that exuded warmth, generated interest, sparked a memory, added coziness, and of course, a touch of fancy & whimsy. Over time, our home has become collected versus decorated and it feels good living here! What did many of these pieces have in common? You guessed it—vintage.
Becoming a vintage shopkeeper was a natural transition. With a tenderness for the past, passion for lifelong learning, and an enthusiasm for old things, my shop feels like a true extension of myself. In many ways, it feels like life has come full circle. My business, Farmette Finds, was launched in the spring of 2021. Inspired by nature & my surroundings, I love to include elements of flora & fauna when I find them. Using nature’s color palate to source for seasons is always enjoyable! I strive to offer a variety of styles and timeless pieces for many to enjoy. I also love a touch of whimsy & fun! It brings me joy to connect with customers & I find great satisfaction in sharing my finds. How fitting, that I found & offered a collection of dinnerware called “The Old Curiosity Shop” for the grand opening of Vintage Keepers! Serendipitous for sure.
I am fortunate to be in the company of so many successful, creative and curious shopkeepers & small business owners who share in the enthusiasm for lifelong learning and who see the value in previously loved goods. It’s a community that I feel grateful to be part of everyday. I truly feel that vintage is for everyone. Whether you are a seasoned shopper or new to the scene, there are endless options to explore as you find what speaks to you. Whether you shop online or in person, it’s so much fun to discover your very first piece or to add to a beloved collection you’ve been growing for years. Your next great find could be one click away or right around the corner in your neighborhood antique shop. Unexpected finds are the best finds, so be open minded, have fun, and stay curious!
Snag some of the goodies in Melissa’s Farmette Finds Shop!
