Dreamy Mixed Media Boats
Lovely little boats by mixed media artist Kathleen Koopman are floating in the window at FOUND on a dreamy voyage. The sailboats have dainty handkerchiefs or recycled fabrics as sails and float through the air like something out of a bedtime story.
Others tell a story of companionship. Birds join in the journey.
We asked Kathleen to share her inspiration for these dreamy boats:
I'm part collector, part archivist, part archaeologist, and part researcher. I find things, arrange them, organize them, and display them.
My work for the past several years has focused on the assemblage of found objects, scraps, photographs, fiber, and paper, to create a narrative with memories and dreams intertwined.
I draw from a collection of artifacts, found: junk stores, the street, the landscape, the pathways of life: items cast off and abandoned, waiting for the opportunity tell their stories, effected by time and memory.
Constructing boats rose out of that process, out of these materials, as an extension of the assemblage process, and the inspiration grew fueled by the metaphors: voyages, sailing, hulls, rigging, sails, navigation driven by the vagaries of wind and water: discovery, travel, wandering.
Bon Voyage!
Kathleen Koopman. July 2014.
During Ann Arbor Art Fair week, Darcy Bowden will be our featured artist, bringing over one HUNDRED of her ceramic works to the shop! We're clearing out the center section to make room for this fun made in michigan show and sale. Her quirky, modern pieces often have whimsical POPS of color and sensitively drawn lines in the design. Other groups have a mid century feel with chunky sculptural shapes.
Ceramic Art & Printmaking Show with Darcy Bowden
Tuesday, July 15, 2014. Opening Reception Party. 4-8 pm.
July 16,17,18. Meet the artist 3-7 pm daily at FOUND.
Sat. July 19. 11 am - 2 pm. Clay Demo by Darcy! Hand forming & decorating simple, modernist bowls using ancient paddling techniques.
The group above is just out of the kiln over at 
Darcy is a long time FOUND friend and inspiration! Many Ann Arborites will recognize Darcy from her days as an art teacher at Huron High School. I almost forgot to mention that printmaking is another of her passions and she'll also bring prints, cards and other fun things to the show. Hope to see you during Art Fair Week 2014!
When I picked my latest batches of bottles and jars at the antique show, weddings were on my mind. Old jars and vintage bottles can be casually elegant when decorating for events at party barns or outdoor venues. Canning jars are sweet as vases, but the jars with metal bail handles are also great to hang from branches, trellis' or trees with a tiny votive candle nestled inside each one. For safety, you might use the small battery candles or even tiny rice lights which have the effect of fireflies twinkling in the jars. The more the better for a summertime celebration!
Antique "cures" bottles look lovely with a simple, single stem in each bottle. Try tying them together with a wrapping of twine or ribbon in groups of three bottles of varying heights for a unique table decoration.
Jars can be filled with many things, including wishes. Here's a link to our artist friend 
Web friend Bonus: Stop by FOUND and let us know you read this post and what you think about Lynn's video, and we'll give you a FREE milk bottle like those pictured above or a clear bailed pint canning jar - while supplies last.
Here's one final picture. Don't you just love the way blue and aqua bottles and canning jars look with light shining through them?
DIY is definitely not a new thing. Case in point - I found some vintage HOMECRAFT magazines from the late 1930's through the 1950's at an estate sale last week. I bought the whole stack and took them to FOUND. It's fascinating what this home workshop magazine includes in the "build it yourself" category. I didn't have a chance to read them all yet, but focusing on summertime this Memorial Day weekend, there are water fun and camping projects galore. Along with tame plans to build a cobblers bench and instructions on how to install linoleum, one issue also gives complete instructions to build a trailer to tow your speed boat!
In another issue, you can learn how to build a honeymoon house trailer. The complete cost in 1939 was $60. It's big enough to hold a standard mattress and be towed behind a car. It would sure be fun to see one of these in the campground this summer!
And speaking of summer fun, another issue shows the steps to make your own water skis. And still another has plans for a sailboat.
For the less adventurous home workshop builder, projects like globe stands and planter lamps are included. I'd rather have a sailing kayak or some homemade water skis. Now that I think of it, the old water skis I learned on may have been made by someone who subscribed to this magazine. Right now, we have about 3 dozen different issues of HomeCraft at the shop. Pick some up and build something great this summer!
Craft
Now it's hanging a FOUND.
It reminds me of something you'd see at Anthropology on an indigo blue wall. At the home decor shows, I've seen resin reproductions. This is the real deal - choppers and all...
So there's another item in the category of you-never-know-what-you'll-find-at-found!
I bought my first bottle of Educated Guess for the label. The second because it's a really nice Cabernet. It seemed a shame to toss the empty bottle into the recycling bin. I've heard of people who soak the labels off and save them in an album or frame them, but that's not for me. Too much work. Here's an easy and fun way to reuse your favorite bottles:
Turn it into a candle holder! The Bottelabra (as in candelabra in a bottle) is a more refined version of the old college stick-a-drippy-candle-in-a-bottle method. They are probably a little safer, too. Two rubber rings around the base hold it securely in the bottle. For outdoor use, you might want to fill the bottle with some water or pebbles for added stability.
Elegant enough for wedding receptions, and casual enough for the patio. At just $12.50 each, they are great to give as a gift with a special bottle of wine. They also work in antique bottles with similar size openings. Bottelabras are in stock at FOUND. If you'd like one shipped, call the shop at 734-302-3060 during business hours and we'd be happy to make that happen. But you'll have to provide your own bottle of wine!
Hope you're staying cozy during this winter that seems to never end. This week we decided to bring Springtime to FOUND whether the weather cooperates or not. It doesn't take a lot to bring some springtime into your home. A
Pretty blue eggs and vintage soft aqua blue bottles.
New items are arriving daily. Stop by while there is still snow on the ground and you can enter to win a $50 gift card and springtime goodie bag! Just guess what date the last of the snow will melt from Kerrytown and the Farmers Market. In case of tie, we'll do a random drawing of all the entries that guess the correct date. (We're hoping to do a drawing later this month, but April snow is not unheard of in these parts, so watch email, blog
In the midst of the frigid blast of cold and snow that hit us earlier this month, we were busy counting inventory and tidying up the shop after a very busy holiday season. Though it's obvious that I love filling the store with wonderful Christmas merchandise, I'm always relieved to clear it out and start fresh. As the store empties out, there's room to think about new displays. Mixing things up is fun. I love that being a "finder" is a big part of my job. Last weekend, I found these great old billiard scoring beads at an estate sale. Today, I'll be searching for Valentines and other vintage treasures, then off to the trade shows later this week to see what fun new things I can find.
In retail, the slow pace of January is a perfect transition time. It's a month to look back over the past year, get everything in order and plan for a fresh new year. Here's to a 2014 filled with pleasant surprises!
While we've been as busy as elves this past week getting all of our holiday merchandise into the shop, we've had some funny little elves to keep us company! The woodland elf above is corralling a set of votive candle holders. Perfect for tealights from our friends at Green Daffodil Soy Candles.
For the past 6 years, we've hung an upside down tree from the ceiling at FOUND. Of course there was an elf to help hang the tinsel from the branches.
Some of his buddies climbed ladders to help. But my favorite has to be the elf that grabbed onto a sled flying off the ceiling - hair and beard and eyebrows blowing back in the wind...
The biggest elf of all is Jolly Old Santa Claus himself. This seven foot fellow is sitting at his workbench, doing what Santa does this time of year - getting the toys ready for good little boys and girls.
We had fun putting together these fun display. But that's only the beginning. Watch the blog for more photos - or even better, stop by the shop and see for yourself!
Our favorite photographer, Charlene Plagens, is also posting wonderful images on the