Daily Inspirations and New Arrivals

hey it's abby....

recently i have been struggling with coming up with a name for my side of the biz. (i do the vintage clothing and make jewelry :)  ). i met with a branding and graphic designer named Megan Gilger.

<-- that's her!

let me just start with the fact that she is amazing! i knew she would get what i needed for my business right from the beginning.

however, i did not expect to obsess over her blog! if you haven't had a chance to check out the fresh exchange yet....i strongly suggest you do (WARNING: I am not responsible for any addictions) i warned you.


want to see some of the designs she came up with? what do you think?

i chose these two among a million (or 11) samples designs she sent me. she comes highly recommended by yours truly :)

I love her idea about posting things she finds in Internet land that inspire her. why not share them? so i will. stay tuned for my inspiration.

in the meantime how about some new arrivals?

nose pickers

we'd be lying if we said we were not inspired by the adventures of the American Pickers and Sister Pickers (hence the previous post). we chat all the time about how we kinda do that....sorta? right? YES! so Monday we took off to travel the back roads of western Michigan in search of hidden gold (you like that?). we met interesting people, climbed through interesting places and ultimately...found interesting things.

that was the fun part.

we hunted for a good 8 hours and returned back to the shop to unload (we utilized billiam the wonder boy to help with that part).

next came the sorta un fun part

CLEANING

if things have been sitting around for 10,15,50 even 100 years they are bound to be a little....gross. it takes some impressive spit shine skills to make these products be in the condition that is suitable for your home and body :)

then comes another fun part....putting new products out on the floor! we got a few things out but there are plenty more to come. WAIT until you see what we have coming for fall! we also have some amazing chairs, tables and other odds and ends to make your house a home.

we treasure hunt quite regularly so if there is something you can't live without and can't find...let us know!

and about the blog post title....the American Pickers and Sister Pickers name was already taken. Nose Pickers was the only thing left :)

a life in the day

So anybody else out there watch 'American Picker Sisters' last night? It was the first episode - basically a spin off of 'American Pickers' but with two girls who drive around the countryside in a Mercedes SUV, wearing amazingly cute outfits, and charm old men out in the sticks to let them peruse their outbuildings in search of treasure for their L.A. store. Most of which gets shipped back to their handy wonder carpenter who apparently will turn anything into a great piece of re-purposed furniture for a measly $100.00 according to their projected costs/profit charts...


Okay, yes I am being snarky. These ladies have great ideas, a beautiful store, and , well, my dream job..

But in real life it goes something like this...

I get a lead on some possible inventory and I drive out in the middle of nowhere in my '05 Honda with an open trailer and a back gate that sticks and I cant ever get off. And you dig through garages, basements,junk shops, wherever while you are either dripping with sweat(like yesterday I was SO HOT I put powder in my bra!) or freezing to death in the winter. And unlike last nights show, where there was conveniently a construction crew working nearby that just happened to have a spare minute to dismantle and load an entire outbuilding into their trailer, you start carrying and lifting and hauling your loot and hope it is lashed down good enough to not fly out of the back while you are going 70mph down I-96. Of course that never happened....(I wish) And then the work begins..

Unload, repair, sand, paint, upholster, wash, steam. rebuild. whatvere it takes, Often at all hours. And definitely not wearing a cute new outfit..And then praying own personal wonder boy (my husband Bill) has enough energy left after working at his job all day to do be my presonal carpenter and electrician and general can do anything guy..

And my fab vintage clothing partner, Abby. Who is just, well, crazy. Who gets up at 5:00 am and goes to estate sales and then to work at her day job and then cranks out 2 dozen custom order pieces and then comes to the shop with an armload of amazing vintage cleaned and repaired and ready to merchandise and still goes out to dinner and does it all over the next day...And Sue who has endless creative ideas and who's love for vintage textiles always provides us endless fabric inspiration..

So what makes us keep at it? We just cant imagine doing anything else! We are fueled every day by the same thing as the ladies in last nights show - seeing the potential in things that have a past, a history and giving them a whole new life! And having the opportunity everyday to share that with our wonderful customers who have the same passion for finding that perfect peice that speaks to them. It's just their search starts where ours ends...

Now if I could just get that Mercedes and a whole new wardrobe...

Come see what we have dug up for you and be inspired!
 

when it's good it's great

when it's good it's great and when it's new it's greater!

now that the dreaded heat wave is over and summer is back to being nice...we have shifted things around to make room for new merchandise!

we have a fresh supply of Aspen Bay Candles coming in with a new scent to add to volcano and sueded tobacco. new dresses will be hitting the floor soon. and we may have just got in my favorite piece of vintage furniture ever (the piece that gracie is modeling ever so elegantly).

i think this piece would make the best entertainment center ever! it has the perfect cubbies for your dvr,dvd player and gaming system and a delightful perch for your tv to rest upon.

don't forget too that we love custom work so if you have a challenge for us, bring it in!

xxoo abby

lookin like a heat waaaveeee

Aahh, summer!


Why does it seem like it takes so long to get here but goes so fast! We have been enjoying all the usual summer activities - biking, hiking, beach days (and nights) cookouts, and just being able to wake up every day and see the sun shining...

And even though we are haflway throught the summer I heard the weather forecast today and we are heading towards a heatwave - This week is supposed to be hot, hot! And August is still ahead promising lots of great summer weather still to come..

So if you dont have your outdoor space complete yet there is still plenty of time to pick out some great pieces. We just finished another outdoor glider and have 2 more in the works with cushions. All fold out to a bed for sleeping outdoors under the stars. And we can redo cushions you may have already for your outdoor and patio furniture..

Stop in and let us help you put together an awesome space for the rest of your summer days (and nights)
 
Be inspired!  Susan
 

we're expanding!

ok now that we are all set up in our NEW location... come check us out Grand Rapids friends!

we know that Holland is a long drive for some so we are bringing a small part of FOUND to you! check out our new showroom located inside a dear friends shop, Lost and Found : Treasures of the Old and New (off of Century and Grandville) (check them out on FB too). The store is open until 6pm EVERYDAY (even Sundays!) with a late night Thursday until 9 (Flea Market outside as well). come and check it out let us know what you think. new items will be added all the time!

thank you for your support for without you we wouldn't be able to do this :)

XXOO

breathe and reboot

to shorthand it, it's been a busy busy busy summer! where has the time gone it's mid July!?!?!? we have absolutely loved helping you with all of your home, cottage and style needs and thank you for your continued support. in the midst of all the hustle and bustle we have totally neglected one thing...our blog! have no fear we are back in full swing and will begin posting regularly again. we also have a big announcement coming soon but for that....stay tuned!