Right on cue, April showers turned to May flowers last week!   In this part of Michigan, it's too early to plant annuals, but flowering bulbs and perennials are alive with color.  Daffodils just finished blooming. The bleeding heart by my front walk is looking sweet in pink today.  And the fresh green of spring is everywhere. Mother's Day is Sunday.  If you are still looking for a gift, a bud vase made right here in Ann Arbor from recycled silverware is just right for a special spring flower (or even a dandelion that the kids pick). We also have a fresh selection of  colorful flower pins, handcrafted from old zippers! If Mom likes to garden, she might like this vintage gardening book. What about this vintage nursery chalkboard sign?  It would be fun to hang this near your garden or on a covered porch! The Ann Arbor Farmers Market will have lots of Mother's Day flowers this Saturday.  Once again this year, photographer Myra Klarman will be taking free portraits with mom in the outside market area Saturday morning from 10-noon.  Her lovely informal shots in the Farmers Market are always special.  The prints will be available for pickup in Kerrytown after May 25th. On Mother's Day, the Sunday Artisans Market has a wonderful lineup of artists and entertainment scheduled from 11 a.m. in the Farmer's Market area. FOUND is so fortunate to have this Artisan's Market on Sundays AND the Farmers Market on Saturdays and Wednesdays right outside our windows! We're thankful for Spring Flowers and for Moms!  Enjoy these beautiful Spring days.           Continue reading

Perhaps you've noticed that Urban Fairies have built a little workshop and garage in front of FOUND in Kerrytown.  Or perhaps you've walked by dozens of times and never even seen it.  Close to the floor is this 3 or 4 inch high entry door to the space where Ann Arbor fairies come to work and play (in the wee hours of the night when the rest of the building is all locked up).  The latest evidence appeared last week when a fairy sized typewriter appeared. Here's a closer look. And an even closer look. I wonder which fairy knows how to write... as I understand it, most fairies are illiterate.  But could this be the beginning of a story or a fairy poem?  Is it a to do today list?  Or a letter to a friend?  Or just banging on the keys and getting them all stuck...  The tiny type is too small for me to decipher. Do you know about the Washtenaw Wanderers Fairy Door Walk on Sunday, May 5th?  Join them at the Michigan Union Sunday morning - click here for details.  We'll have cookies at FOUND during the Fairy Walk.  Or you can find a map on the Official Urban Fairy Doors of Ann Arbor website that you can explore as your convenience. Mentos and Vernors and...bubble gum?!! What kind of music do you think urban fairies prefer? Or do they just pound on the keys? (that keyboard looks a bit rough for a fairy real pianist.... We'll have to have an expert on urban fairies come to the shop for a Q and A before too long. .

NOTE : this fairy workshop disappeared when Found moved in August of 2015. Evidence of fairies can be found at their new location, downstairs by the Kerrytown Courtyard. 

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It's graduation weekend at the University of Michigan.  On a personal note, our daughter Laura is getting her MSW on Saturday and we couldn't be prouder!  Here's a big congratulatory shout-out to Laura and to all those who are moving on - best wishes from all of us at FOUND. It's been a popular week for cards and inspiration prints, with our manifesto cards from Holstee among the most popular. An abridged version -  This is your Life.  Do what you love and do it often.  If you don't like something change it.  If you don't have enough time, stop watching TV.  Start doing things you love.  Stop over analyzing.  Life is simple. Travel often. Life is about the people you meet and the things you create with them.  Life is short.  Live your dream and share your passion.   A great message for grads and for the rest of us, too.   Over at the Hostee.com website, people are sharing their stories and folks are getting involved in all kinds of ways to make the world a better place.  An article in the Refreshed section even includes a snippet about Urban Ashes. It's a week for looking back and looking ahead.  Embrace the transition.         . Continue reading

. Goats have arrived at FOUND!  Like the needle felted sheep that we carry, these guys are handmade in Au Gres, Michigan - up in the thumb area.  Each one is crafted with wool, has natural stick legs and a tiny rusted bell around the neck  (so Old Hogan knows to move his red shirts off the line when they are near - mom, you know what that means - if anybody else knows this song, comment below). In addition to a fine herd of goats, we have this springs new boucle lambs and more of the stick leg sheep in stock.  The sheep have been popular as gifts.  Each one seems to have its own personality. They are available at the shop in Kerrytown or on our website. .     Continue reading

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The last couple months have been kinda low key at FOUND.  We've been in the background busily planning and bringing in more fun finds.  Though Spring has come slowly to Ann Arbor, the shop is bright and cheery.  Last week I added some vintage dishes, more buttons and old books. Arrivals from the winter shows are all in. The shop is a fun mix of old and new and handmade from recycled! Pictured above are  vintage watch parts that can be used in jewelry and collage projects, plus some metal letters from a company in Dallas (new, but with a great rusted vintage look) that are fun and reasonably priced. We have lots of fun things planned, so watch this space and if you don't already follow FOUNDgallery on facebook , you might want to check it out.  Charlene has been posting photos several times each week (she composes such creative images!) and we've been sharing other pages that we think our FOUND friends will find interesting.   Continue reading

Lots of little things have been added to the shop this month.  Right now at FOUND, you can find about a dozen old compacts with mirrors tucked into one of the drawers.  Little purses.  Little jewelry findings and charms.  And other little doodads for crafting.  Some tiny baskets to hold tiny little things: More game pieces for crafting, buttons, scrabble letters, tiny little doll parts, and watch parts, and magnets. We even found small metal hooks shaped like little hands to hang your jewelry from - I forgot to take a photo of those, so I'll show you the new spool style wall hooks we got from the same Dallas-based company instead: Back to small things - I found a couple little wooden houses, that perhaps some  urban fairies would like to inhabit.   When you stop by, be sure to look for the little urban fairy door in our hallway.  At night the fairies come and create wonderful things in their special urban fairy workshop....   . Continue reading

Color your Easter eggs with all natural dye this year.  We have the kit to make it easy and fun!  Non-toxic, child-safe  botanicals combine to make pastel or brilliant colors.   We're excited to now offer watercolor paint sets  from this eco-friendly company, too. Hop on over to FOUND in Ann Arbor's Kerrytown -  find decorative bunnies and fun little things for your Easter baskets!   Continue reading

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The package claims these Royalty vintage hair nets are "fit for a queen!".   At FOUND, the latest editions to our charm and pendant collection are what we think a queen or your mother might want more. But, whether you have a use for a real hand-made human hair net or not, the packaging is classic vintage beauty shop kitsch.  And so they are displayed right along-side some of our new jewelry collection. From left to right are a few of the new pendants: an hourglass, Eiffel Tower, lucky shamrock, mini birdcage and teeny tiny magnifying glass (which really magnifies!).  These pendants are only $14 each.  They come with a well designed easy release clasp toggle. The miniature hourglass and magnifying glass might be just be perfect for our fairy-sized friends as well.... Other pieces from the same company include letters to form initials or special words. We spelled out LOVE on a charm bracelet.   We still have Nunn Design Patera findings to make your own customized charms and pendants.  And found little word charms to add to your jewelry. The necklaces below are complete and ready to wear, but we also got the component tiny word charms for those of you who prefer to assemble your own. As always, FOUND is open 7 days a week, in the historic Kerrytown Market & Shops.  407 N. 5th Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan.   P.S.  broken watch parts are back in stock if you like to craft with them. Continue reading