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

Even though I know that Summer officially begins June 20 or 21st, I usually think of it being "summer" around Memorial Day, so decided take a peak at what The Old Farmer's Almanac had to say about it.  Nowdays, www.almanac.com is the quick way to check out what that age-old reference has to say.  The sun will reach its farthest point north of the equator at 7:09 p.m. on June 20, 2012 in our time zone (EDT).  According to the Old Farmer's Almanac: "the word solstice is from the Latin solstitium, from sol (sun) and stitium (to stop), reflecting the fact that the sun appears to stop at this time (and again at the winter solstice)."   On the day of summer solstice, the northern hemisphere has more sunlight that any other day.  On our calendars, the Summer Solstice is marked as the first day of summer, but some would argue that it is more correctly MID-summer.  And climatologists use "meterorological" seasons, with summer beginning on June 1st. No matter, it's summer on June 20th in Ann Arbor!  It's great to have the trees and flowers in bloom.  The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is in full swing.  The 4th of July and then Art Fairs can't be far behind! And in my yard, the geraniums and petunias are adding a burst of color.  I love to use traditional annuals for pops of color mixed in with my hostas and other perennials.  Later in the summer huge red canna flowers will tower over this scene - right now they are just greenery.  If you look closely, you can see the vintage stuff I use as planters. Old tins and wooden boxes make great planters!  And they look good next to standard clay pots.   An old truck drove into the flower bed. My daughter planted tomatoes, peppers, lettuce and zucchini in an old watering trough.  The zucchini is winning.... I got this trough and another one at a spring farm auction - the better one is at the shop right now.  It would be great to fill with ice and cold drinks for large gatherings! Another thing we have is a small selection of door mats.  This is one I took home with me - have a couple more like it at FOUND. I took these photos around 8:30 tonight and the light is a bit dusky, but I hope you enjoyed seeing MY front yard. Enjoy these long summer days!     Continue reading

It's fun to add vintage touches when decorating your home.  We really like pottery from the 1930's and 40's with simple shapes and glazes.  Numbers and letters from old signs are also great accents.  A bowl, wire basket or antique counter jar filled with crocquet or pool balls adds colorful interest to a room.  We usually add a quick coat of clear Briwax to clean them up and bring out the natural color of the wood and old paint. When I found it, this cast iron sundial was pretty rusty.  It's another piece that benefitted from a buffing with Briwax to bring out the patina (and seal the rust). This sundial is embossed with a wonderful old saying: Grow old along with me - the best is yet to be.  Set in the garden properly, it will do a good job of keeping time.  At FOUND, we're bringing in more vintage treasures every week this summer.  Stop by soon to see what we've found! .. Continue reading

Things were getting a bit crowded as we brought fresh inventory in, so it's time for a SALE!  Cheery yellow dots and yellow post-it notes throughout the shop will tell you the reduced prices.  Continue reading

  FOUND is ready for summer!  Are you? Seems like people ease into a more casual style this time of year.  We've been gathering fresh finds at FOUND that are fun for summertime.  Here's a quick photo blog of some of our favorites. At the Third Sunday Market in Bloomington, Illinois, I found someone who was making flowers with antique doorknobs - of course I needed to bring some back to Ann Arbor!   Another artist at that show had flowers she made from corrigated tin from rusty sheds - all the small ones sold already - but we still have a few of these huge ones. Great on a garden fence or hung instead of a summer wreath.  Love these for casual rooms and cottages, as well.  This vintage sign proclaiming Air Conditioned was probably from a motel or cabins for vacationers.  In rough shape, but the red plastic letters are screwed on, so could be removed to repaint - but it makes me smile just the way it is.

Briwaxed this heavy duty, large capacity vintage red wheelbarrow and wheeled it into the shop.  Put a little display of sweet (okey-dokey) artichoke pillows in in, but it would be quite happy in someone's garden.  While you wait for your flowers to fill in, plant these in a row for instant color!  And add some candles to the garden stake votive holders to illuminate your party. Back by popular demand:  Great Lakes Pillows & Go Jump in the Lake signs!     Enjoy these lovely days & nights!   Continue reading

  Sweet little button flowers in our bud vases from upcycled silverware make a perfect Springtime pairing!  Emily has been busy at FOUND making lots of these colorful button bouquets for Mother's Day.  It's an easy project - just thread thin guage foral wire through the button holes, then hold the flower "head" while you twist the wire tight. If desired wire several together and add ribbon leaves for a vintage bouquet.  It's a great project to do with kids.  Small vintage bottles make great vases, too. You'll find charming Mom's Day cards at FOUND (handmade in Ann Arbor) that incorporate vintage story book images.  What Mom wouldn't love these?     This week, all  jewelry and candles are 10% off at FOUND. And  Saturday morning (May 12), we'll have a drop in button flower making session for kids between 10 a.m. and noon.  We'll help them make a couple flowers and wrap them up for Mommy or Grandma.  Happy Mother's Day from FOUND!     Continue reading

FOUND's Eco-funky Earth Day weekend Art Show is almost over.... ends at 5:00 Sunday, April 22nd.  No time to write now, but are a few photos: Above: Cre Fuller's robots with admirer - photo compliments of Charlene Plagens.  Below: Sarah Stanton metal wall art. Above: Bingo Twin wooden dolls.   Below: Fashion collage. Both by Marsha Filipiak. Mirror (2 views) and cottage assemblages by John Gutoskey.   Below: Jewelry made from watches by Rena Hopkins.   Below: bags constructed from vintage neckties and handstitched heart pillows by Celibeth Donnelly.   Below: more robots by Cre Fuller.       What a fun show!  Next post will announce winner of our $50 FOUND gift card drawing.     Continue reading