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Decorating With Yard Sale Finds and Family Mementos

By Carole Berry, Twin Bridges Antique Productions

A 1940's Hollywood hat from Patricia's collection

If You Really Love It, You'll Find a Way to Use It!

A Visit With Local Antiques Enthusiast Patricia Yokom

"If you see something you just love, its best to buy it 'cause' in an antique store it won't hang around . . . if you really love it, you'll find a way to use it!", says Patricia Yokom of Dixon.

Unlike most of us who have family mementoes and yard sale finds stored in cupboards and drawers, never to see the light of day, Patricia Yokom has mastered the art of creatively recycling, displaying and giving new life to her favorite things. Her sewing room, guest room and master bedroom are filled with examples of her genius: A circa 1940's British department store mannequin displays a Victorian dress, gloves from her childhood hang with other mementoes near family portraits, a vintage fabric border on a pillow sham adorned with sewing notions is transformed into a picture, a doll house with a glass top becomes a lamp table, the clear base of a table lamp displays her Mother's 1920s and 30's depression-era buttons, a collage of family photos under glass gives new life to a distressed writing desk, a 1940's-50's bedspread adorned with a "yo yo" fabric border becomes an impressive wall hanging, a shabby sheik "window" with vintage curtains expands the virtual size of her laundry room, vintage hair ornaments are attractively grouped together in an oval frame, a fabric bottom masks damage to a charming hanging birdcage discovered at the Salvation Army, and Victorian ladies boots and a Spode china rose tea cup with fresh roses to match become attractive table centerpieces.

A 1920's-30's button collection is displayed inside a lamp base

"Its one thing to have them stored in your garage, but to be able to have them out and enjoy them [is so much more satisfying]," says Patricia.

When Patricia Yokom inherited antiques upon her parents' passing, she and husband, Jim found themselves transitioning from collectors to antiques dealers. "With a background in merchandising and sales, I told people how they could use things that were hard to find. People started asking me over to buy things. Jim loved auctions. One time he came home with a distressed vanity with a 'white thing' stuck in it . . . it turned out to be a British crown note worth $200 to $500!", says Patricia. In the late 1980's, Patricia became an antiques' dealer, renting a space in a collective in Woodland. "You have to be an amateur psychologist sometimes," she reminisces of those days working with customers. After six or seven years as a dealer she returned to her lifelong love of collecting and teaching about antiques.

A collage of family pictures gives new life to the damaged top of a writing desk

Patricia's lifelong passion for vintage fashion was put to use when people would ask for someone to give a lecture. "My partner would lecture on 'tea and accessories' while I would focus on 'the clothing needed to get ready to go to tea', they fed off each other. Tea was very formal [in Victorian times], a big thing in their lives, they had special dresses, lots of preparation, hat and gloves, etc. It's a lost art, having a formal tea. It started in England. A nobleman liked to eat late, his daughter didn't want to wait, so she asked for a snack at 4:00 p.m . . . that's how it got started!" Patricia would always give a prize that tapped into her creative use of antiques, such as a vintage tea cup with a professional flower arrangement. She found that offering a desirable prize helped keep people from talking and held their attention during lectures! In addition to lecturing, Patricia often lends hats from her extensive collection.

A collection of hair accessories cleverly displayed

Talking with Patricia about vintage fashion is truly a lesson in history. Among her many treasures are several Victorian parasols (the precursor of modern day umbrellas.) "Women used parasols so they wouldn't get a tan and look like the working class," says Patricia. She smiles, remembering when she thought tiny parasols used in carriages were for children while they were actually an extension of Victorian women's concern with getting a tan! Since Victorian women always wore gloves out of fear of getting a tan, "how did they eat?" muses Patricia. "They used gloves with no fingers . . . fingerless gloves! The Victorians wanted to dress for tea, always 'dress to the nine's', how did they eat little sandwiches? With gloves!"

Patricia still has a "pinafore" dress her mother made which looks a bit like a modern-day apron. In Victorian times, says Patricia, "people didn't have leisure clothes. The pinafore was worn over school clothes at home." Similarly Victorian women used a "sleeping cap because their hair was dirty and they would have soiled the linens, they didn't have shampoo!"

0A 1940's-40's bedspread gets a new life as a wall hanging with a yo-yo border

Patricia Yokom is well known in the greater Sacramento area for her knowledge of vintage fashion. She received a degree in Organizational Behavior from the University of San Francisco, an accomplishment she achieved as a reentry student. Recent speaking engagements include the Dixon Library; A.A.U.W., Davis; Newcomers, Roseville; The Antique Interest Group of The Farm Circle, Davis; PEO groups in Modesto and Davis as well as a television appearance on Sacramento and Company, Channel 10. Mrs. Yokom currently serves as the Soroptimist of Dixon, International's Co-Chairperson for the Annual Antique Show and Sale at the Dixon May Fair on March 8 and 9, and, is a member of the Dixon Chamber of Commerce and Friends of the Dixon Public Library.

Patricia'a mystery piece

In 2002, Patricia Yokom chaired the first Antique Show and Sale at the Dixon May Fair benefiting Soroptimist International of Dixon. Despite her late husband, Jim's failing health; she stayed actively involved with the Show over the years. "Patrons seem to really like [the Show]," says Patricia. "They always seem surprised at the high caliber." For this year's event, scheduled for March 8 and 9, Patricia will serve as co-chairperson along with Gail Pennebaker. Sister Soroptimimst Keri Mistler of Grand Rental Station will again provide food service during the event as an additional fund raiser for Soroptimist International of Dixon. For more information on the March 8 and 9 Show at the Dixon May Fair, contact Twin Bridges at 530-241-4063, The Dixon May Fair 707-678-5529 or on line at www.tbcashows.info.

ABOUT THE MYSTERY PIECE [SEE PHOTO] The lace shown was used in Victorian times to conceal double chins!