Have you ever wondered?
A common question that I often get is, “Who is Edith and Evelyn”?
I always laugh when hubby and I are out somewhere and the subject of my business comes up. When I mention the name, Edith & Evelyn, invariably we will get asked, “Who’s Edith, and who’s Evelyn?” I usually point to hubby and say, “He’s Evelyn, I’m Edith!”
Edith is my mother, and she was the strongest woman I have ever known.
Edith
My mother was a stay at home mom, as so many were in those years. When my father suddenly passed away at the age of 51, my mother found herself a single mother with no work experience, and two children at home to raise.
Instead of letting her circumstances weigh her down, she immediately went out and found work, sometimes working two jobs to provide for us. She already knew how to be thrifty and frugal, but she turned it into an art form. My mother was a creator, a picker, and a DIYer way before it was cool or trendy.
She knew how to create a beautiful home from vintage finds and castoffs, getting the look she wanted without spending a lot of money. Rising early on weekends, she would hit the yard sales, usually dragging me right along with her!
She scoured yard sales, flea markets, estate sales, and anyplace else she could find, looking for beautiful pieces, at bargain prices, to decorate our small home.
If she found treasures that needed repairs, she did them, and she would magically turn some of the most down trodden pieces into things of beauty!
Though her talents were born of necessity, Edith had an amazing, creative eye for transforming trash into treasure.
She knew how to “get the look” with minimal cost, and had a beautiful, comfortable style.
Twice a year she would have a big sale, selling her re-purposed wares for extra cash.
People in our home town would mark their calendars for Edith’s next sale because she had such great treasures!
My love of vintage and antiques comes from my mother, Edith. She taught me the art of “picking” and creating at a very young age, and showed me how to create a beautiful home, no matter the budget, using vintage and antique pieces.
She was one of the strongest, most amazing, resilient women I’ve ever known. If Edith were here today, her style would probably be called Farmhouse or Cottage style…..though she did love a little “fancy” thrown in here and there!
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At the age of twenty five I moved to the deep South, and instantly fell in love with it’s people, food, culture, and traditions.
It was there that I met my wonderful husband and my second mother in this story…..Evelyn.
My mother in law was a gentle, petite lady with bright red hair, and always dressed to “the nines”.
Evelyn, a true Southern lady, loved beautiful things…..french furniture, fine china, crystal, silver, and pearls.
She was a collector of many beautiful things and could never get rid of anything.
Evelyn had a formal living room filled with French Provincial furniture, and a dining room filled with gorgeous antique pieces for entertaining. She never walked out of the house without looking like she was going to high tea, wearing several strands of pearls, and always matching shoes and handbag.
She was indeed a fancy, stylish Southern lady. She loved me like her own, and I her.
Evelyn’s style definitely leaned toward the French Provincial style.
Evelyn saw the beauty in everything………..including me.
She loved me like her own daughter and was the best mother in law a girl could ask for!
She and my mother were complete opposites, but hit it off immediately upon meeting the first time.
Both of these beautiful women heavily influenced and inspired my passion for decorating with vintage and antique pieces, as well as my love of french furniture.
When I began my antique business in early 2011, I felt it was only fitting to honor Edith & Evelyn by naming it after them, and so Edith & Evelyn Vintage was born.
I have spent so many years thrifting at antique markets, and finding those one of a kind treasures that make a home unique. Buying and selling vintage and antique pieces for E&E Vintage is a way to feed my passion, but also pass those beauties on to others to create their own beautiful homes. I curate our selection very carefully, only offering pieces that truly reflect my own style, or as I like to say, the E&E style!
I love to mix both of Edith & Evelyn’s decorating styles, mixing opposites like the gilt of a chandelier dripping in crystals, with a chair upholstered in burlap or an old grain sack.
Opposites do attract, and can be perfect together….just like Edith & Evelyn.
And, that is the story of Edith & Evelyn!
Cheers, Cindy
I love the story about your mom & mother in law! And what a way to honor their memory.
Also enjoyed the article on holy art – Mary Magdalene is also a favorite of mine. Every time I read how Jesus called her by name after His resurrection, it brings tears to my eyes.
I’m so glad I found your website – such interesting facts & always enjoying resding about your treasures!
What a darling story ! Thank you for sharing it with us
Wonderful women in your life, so fortunate
You’re very fortunate to have a wonderful mother-in-law who gets along really good. That’s a rare treasure!
Beautiful story!
I love hearing that story! I think every mom dreams to be as lovingly described as you do yours. ❤️
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What a beautiful tribute to the two special women in your life. Thanks for sharing
What a beautiful story and tribute to these influential women in your life. They are smiling down from above.
Beautiful tribute to them both. They are smiling down upon you
What a beautiful story. I love your style and love even more hearing the history behind it. ❤️
What a nice tribute to your mother & Mother-in-law. I too had a wonderful mother & a mother-in-law that treated me like a daughter instead of a daughter-in-law. I was blessed by the examples of both of these women. Thanks for filling us in on how you got your name.,
I had an awesome mother her name was also Edith, she was a great mother & junker. In the 1960’s teachers came to your home once a year to talk to parents about how we were doing in school, but they wanted to talk to mom about how she made our home so pretty and how they could do it for their homes!
What a wonderful story, Pauline! ❤️
So interesting and I love the photos!
What a fabulous and beautiful story. I had a wonderful and resourceful mother who thrifted decades before it was a thing. She was a talented knitter, sewed, crocheted and moved furniture around like a trooper. Having grown up during the war in Italy, she barely finished elementary school, but she was able to look at my future husband one time and knit him two sweaters without taking one single measurement…and they fit perfectly! She started her own business later in life, and I do believe she would have been a clothing designer had the situation been different. My MIL was also a strong and resilient farm gal who thrifted, sewed and fixed everything in her home. It was a beautiful tribute to your mum and MIL. We are blessed to have such wonderful role models. God bless!
Truely a heartfelt story. I posted story as it reflecteda a short memoir of your mom. I just published ‘The Veranda,’ a small book of short stories and poems about my mother. The emotional impact on my heart was a difficult but pleasurable one. I loved that you honored your mother with words of love. I want you to know it is an example more daughter should undertake and you have been a guiding light to many. Not only in design, but preserving our heritage. Bettie MacIntyre, Author
Thank you for your sweet words, Bettie.
I enjoyed reading the history behind the name of your store. Danielle
Cindy, thank you for sharing your beautiful story. You are truly blessed to have had these two wonderful women in your life!! I would have enjoyed shopping and learning for treasures with your mom. I love vintage items, but have no idea where to start looking, it seems a bit intimidating. Thank you again for sharing and Happy Spring!
Thank you so much, Susan! Vintage treasure is everywhere! Start by checking out some of your local antique malls, flea markets, and thrift stores. They are a wonderful source to begin your vintage journey!
That is a sweet story!
That was a wonderful tear jerker story. I just love the relationship you had with those women. I feel an Era of spending time, vintage and a lot of the simple joys are becoming less and less. I enjoy you passing this on to us who enjoy your blog. Thank you.
Thank you so much, Christie! They were amazing women.
Excellent story.
Thank you, Denise!
Sweet story. My Grandma was that person for me. She was wealthy but still dyed Easter Eggs with Purple Cabbage leaves LOL that is something i will never forget. Stella Mae Landry
What great stories and such a lovely way to honor your mom and mother in law. Would have loved to have known your mom! Your blog is off to a wonderful heartfelt start.
Thank you Erin for your kind words!
I am new to your blog. I loved this story.
Thank you Ali!
Cindy! What a beautiful story! By the way, I think you look just like your lovely momma 🙂
Thank you Debbie! You aren’t the first one to tell me that, I consider that quite a compliment!
Loved hearing about Edith & Evelyn and also about your buying trip. Welcome to the blogging world. Jan
Thank you Jan! I just visited your blog and signed up to receive it by email! Blogging is something I have wanted to do for awhile, finally decided to just jump in and learn as I go! Best, Cindy
Beautiful Story! And I love everything that you do. ♥️
Thank you so much, Joan! ❤️