This week the shop looks entirely different than it did 7 days ago!  Here's a bit of what we've done: Elves and gnomes posing throughout the shop.  This one likes to play with jewelry, another has a favorite toy train, while others play with owls and birds in the woodland section. Continue reading

Next week, we'll all flip our calendars to the November page.  At FOUND, that means we shift into holiday mode.  We've been working behind the scenes for months gathering and prepping great holiday finds. We'll be closed the last two days of October to hang sleds and snowflakes from the ceiling and transform every inch of the shop. On November 1st, we'll reopen as a holiday wonderland!   Here are dates to mark on your calendars:   Oct. 30 and Halloween - CLOSED   Thursday, Nov. 1 thru Sunday, Nov. 4 - first look at 2012 collection & gift with purchase!    Sunday, November 11 - Kerrytown Open House - storewide sales!   Friday, November 16, 5:00-8:00 p.m. - let us help you decorate your wreaths (& sleds) in this free evening demo, with our favorite Melrose rep, Cyndi Valerio.   Friday, November 30 - Midnight MADNESS & KindleFest - an Ann Arbor tradition!   Friday, December 7 - Festive Friday. Open til 9 p.m.  Fresh trees, greens & Gift Market outside, caroling, santa and more.   I'll send more information on each of these as the time gets closer.  Right now it just seems too early to write (or think) about Christmas, but we hope you'll mark your calendars and watch for details later. Continue reading

This Thursday evening, FOUND is hosting a jewelry making workshop.  This is what we're making: But the beauty of this 3 hour class is that the techniques can easily be applied to other projects!  More info and registration in our foundgallery workshop tab.  Thursday, Oct. 18, 6:15. $38, includes all materials       Continue reading

Here's the recipe for the yummy pumpkin bars I made for our Autumn Open House.  My mom has been making this recipe for family gatherings for years.  thanks Mom! Beat together 1 c. oil, 4 eggs, 1  2/3 c. sugar, 1  15 oz can pumpkin until light and fluffy. Add 2 c. flour, 2 t. baking powder, 1 t. baking soda, 1 t. salt, 1  1/2 t. cinnamon.  Mix thoroughly.  Spread batter into greased 15x10x1 inch pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.  Cool.  Frost with cream cheese icing. Cream Cheese icing:  Cream together 3 oz softened cream cheese, 1/2 c. softened butter.  Stir in 1 t. vanilla.  Add  2 c. powdered sugar, a little at a time, beating well, til mixture is smooth. A wonderful autumn treat! Continue reading

Come to FOUND on Sunday, October 7th for Cider & Pumpkin Treats!   At the Open House, you'll get a little Halloween ornament with purchase.  There will be special savings on all Fall decor.  And you can enter to win a gift basket filled with Halloween goodies!  As the autumn leaves begin to fall, FOUND is filled with whimsical halloween decorations, harvest colored wreaths, pumpkin & spiced apple scented candles and potpourri, felted wool jacket pins, owls of many varieties, Urban Ashes frames, art from antique tin, jewelry from Michigan artists and so much more!         Don't forget that our Annual Old Stuff Sale continues through Oct. 29th.  30% off all vintage and antique merchandise in stock.   Hope to see you soon!   . Continue reading

  I've been traveling a lot the last couple months -  the transportation options illustrated on the antique child's easel are sweet images, but I'm thankful for modern air travel and my trusty van.  Between trips, we changed things up at FOUND, filling the shop with Fall colors.  Though I love summer, the Autumn palette is probably my favorite. Just a simple touch of orange or yellow can add a happy note to a room.  Like these fun striped balls or the yarn wrapped "candy corn" trees above. Just in is the new collection of tagua nut jewelry in fabulous fall shades. The texture of burlap works well as an Autumn accent.  How do you like this doorknob flower with burlap petals?  Now there's an idea for a fun fall project.  We have nice burlap runners and ribbons in stock.  They transition well into the holidays with a rustic theme.  Check out our latest selection of the Burlap Boutique bags made from recycled coffee bags. These metal birds are a great accent year round: Need some old bailing wire for a project?  We have some - wrapped around the barrel above.  Gotta look closely to see what we have for sale! There is more that I wanted to show in this post, but I just realized I didn't take photos of the fall decorative candles or potpourri or Halloween things before I left town this time....  I'll need to get my camera out when I return to Ann Arbor later this week.  I'm bringing back some interesting vintage treasures, too.         . Continue reading

Faces and gears from old watches are great for collage/assemblage and upcycled jewelry projects.  Whenever I find them, they sell out almost immediately.   So I was pretty excited when I recently found a source in Chicago who can keep FOUND well stocked! Our watch faces are priced individually (mostly $2-$3), plus we have mixed gears and parts for $5 per bag.  These are the real deal salvaged from broken vintage watches, not the new (made to look old) ones that you can find at Hobby Lobby and craft stores... Not creative or skilled enough to make your own jewelry from these parts?  Well, we can help you out with that, too!  For some time, Detroit artist Rena Hopkins has been designing terrific steampunk pieces that incorporate antique bits and bobs from broken watches.  You may remember her work from the eco-funky show we hosted last Spring - her earrings and necklaces were so popular at that show that we brought her back! Rena, aka The Divine Iguana, also creates her own designs on game pieces.    Time keeps on tickin', tickin', tickin'....into the future. gonna fly like an eagle... do you remember that song???  I think I'll go google the lyrics Warm regards, Mary Continue reading

I can't take my mind off fairies lately. There are many kinds of fairies, including woodland fairies, flower fairies and tree fairies.  Probably the most famous fairy is Tinkerbell. What has intrigued me lately are Urban Fairies. I've been checking out the Urban Fairies website and consulting with Jonathan Wright, an expert fairyologist (located in Ann Arbor, but consulted by the media worldwide) hoping to understand some odd additions to the bay window at my shop. We're both puzzled.  It appears that fairies are creating what will be a workshop or garage or headquarters or something.... What is strange is that while there is a little door in front, this project is HUGE and has what look like BIG barn or garage doors on the end. Fairies usually don't like big or exposed areas, preferring to protect their privacy... I've been aware of the presence of fairies in Kerrytown since I opened seven years ago. Some live in the clock bell tower and can be seen  flittering around the clock face if I leave the building late at night. I've seen evidence that they like to explore  at FOUND when no one is there - so sometimes I leave little trinkets for them in a jar by my desk. Here are a few photos. Who knows what's next??? Above: looks like a fairy door.   Below: does NOT look like a fairy door...   Below below: some stuff they left in the window.     So, what's going on???  I'll keep you posted, but in the meantime, let me know if you have any ideas. p.s. there is one vehicle associated with an urban fairy that uses an alternative fuel - Vernors     Continue reading

  These 100 degree days call for refreshing drinks.  Add plenty of ice and stir things up with a vintage swizzle!  Very inexpensive - these are just 20 cents each at FOUND.  Mostly from hotels and resorts. Continue reading

  Stop by FOUND this week for our annual Hooray for the Red, White & Blue special, where any item with even a speck of red, white OR blue in it is 15% off.  We'll be closed on the 4th, but this sale will go through Saturday, July 7th. Here are a few vintage things we've brought into the shop lately. Just about everything fits that red, white OR blue criteria! This early 1900's First Aid box came with original emergency instructions. Old red paint on handmade case. Vintage metal horse. If you're in Ann Arbor this week, stop by FOUND!        Continue reading