Various Thursday Night Thoughts

                                                                             People often ask me were we find alot of our product. Well there are many places and ways that we often find stuff but one way that often gives me great pleasure is dumpster diving. The great blue casing in the above picture I found this week in a dumpster. I just love getting something so cool for free. They had such great color! I turned the casing into some really great frames for some vintage oil paintings I had in the shop.

The wire baskets under the casing was purchased at a local auction. They have such great shape and character. I pretty love anything vintage wire.

We have always loved vintage architectural and this past week I came across one of the nicest stairway newel post I think I have ever found. This find happened because someone walked up to me outside my shop and asked if I would be interested i n buying some things. I think that is my second most favorite to get product. It is hard to beat someone knocking on your door offering items to sell.

                                                                             We also obtained this 1940's/1950's rattan section sofa with original fabric and a really great glass reverse painted beauty shop sign most likely from the 1930's.

Most of these item are currently on display at Bluedoor along with lots of great finds so we hope you take some time to check us out if you haven't done so recently.

If you are looking for something to do this weekend we have a great suggestion. A good friend of ours in opening what we think will be a very exciting store here in Grand Rapids. Her store name is called Elements and if you are interested in checking her out you can find more information out about her and the store on her blog which is also called Elements. Elements is listed on our side bar of blogs that we follow. It is a gift store in a wonderful old industrial setting that promises to showcase her love of vintage, recreated, and repurposed items.

Rules? What Rules? Who makes the rules anyway? Make your own.

We got a copy of this book this week. It is called "A bit of Velvet and a Dash of Lace" by Robin Brown of Magnolia Pearl fame. Many of you might recognize the name because Robin was featured on the cover of the magazine, Where Woman Create, last Nov./Dec./Jan. That is how we got interested reading more about Robin and her very unique style. The book was published in 2008 so it isn't new but it was new and inspiring to us.

Robin was born a true child of the hippie 60's culture with parents that were very creative. So her life story is very fascinating for someone like me. I came from a very opposite culture that was very black and white. My very strict religious culture that doesn't encourage much creativity. Change and new things were discouraged because that was just too scary after all. But, Robin seems like a person who embraces a love of creativity with her love of vintage and then uses her vintage finds to create new. She seem very fearless about her artistic creations and her willingness to explore new ways of using old. I enjoyed reading how she and her partner purchased an old farm house, removed all the old siding and trim from the outside, reinstalled all the wood inside their house and then applied vintage tin ceiling to the outside of the house.

The book is also filled with many wonderful quotes- Live the life you love, The heart is the boss....love it, Rules? What Rules? Who makes the rules anyway? Make your own.

So, check out this book, her website and blog. I found this just plain fun.

I have to picture this great vintage storage cabinet I picked up at an auction last week. I love these great multi-drawer storage cabinets. The cabinet needs a little work but all the drawers and hardware are in good shape so I hope to have this done this weekend.

Speaking of this weekend, I will be busy in my shop trying to getting many projects done but CJ will be up in Petoskey. Then and Now will be having a very large tent sale on Saturday so CJ has decided to go up and work our little space in Tracy's wonderful store. So stop by and say hi if you are in the area.

Trip back up north

We no sooner got back from our trip up north over the forth of July than we were already planning another return trip to north country. One of the main reasons for our trip up north this past weekend was this great salvaged set of kitchen cabinets that came out of a house here in Grand Rapids. Like many of the projects I haul to my shop this cabinet was in many pieces and I rebuilt it using all the original old wood. I did make the upper cabinet a little bit shorter, put glass in the doors and built an open arch area in the middle rather than putting a door back on the cabinet. It was great fun and best of all was delivered to a new owner inm Petoskey this weekend.

Was also brought along some new pieces to restock Then and Now. We left our space their packed very full. We also started stocking for the next Petoskey show which is the first weekend in August.

When ever we go up north this time of year we always stay with Mom and Dad Pluister. They really are the best bed and breakfast and we always have a great time with them. Dad has been helping us by making picture/chalk board frames from us out of old casing and bead board. He has also been making parts for the many hook racks we make out of door panels and sell at Then and Now. I am very grateful for his help at this very busy time of year.

Cj's Mom and Dad have lived in Boyne City for many years and when we stay with them we have to make about a twenty minute drive into Petoskey. There are a couple of favorite routes we like to take. The county is so beautiful that every chance we get we love going for drives that let us see some of the beautiful spots between the two towns. Often we take Horton Bay Road which takes us thru the village of Horton Bay which has this great inn and bookstore. I love this sign and the old house that houses the book store. So I could resist taking some pictures this time on a trip to Petoskey this past Friday.

Then of course there is the Horton Bay General which is right next door. Stepping inside is truly like stepping back in time. Great baked goodies which is always an excuse to stop.

After we got back in the truck we drove down the road about a half a mile and found the lavender in full bloom at Lavender Hill farm. So we got out and walked the grounds farm and fields. This is a beautiful vintage farm were the owners grow fields of lavender and sell lots of products make with their lavender at a store on the farm site. Last Fall I meet the owner when I delivered a counter I made for the store. She is truly all about lavender and is also an avid beekeeper evidenced by the many bee hives in the lavender fields.

Right about now the field are in full bloom. If you are ever in the area this is a stop worth making. There are places on the earth that are a bit of heaven and this is truly one of them.

So, we are now safely back in Grand Rapids, it is Sunday night, and it is time to think and plan for this week. Many things need my attention in the shop this week. I am planning on going to an auction and flea market this week. Then and Now is having a big sale next weekend. We are thinking about trying to be their for that. We are getting ready for the next Petoskey show and Country Living show in the middle of September, trying to restock Bluedoor here in Grand Rapids. Plus, we are planning what additional shows we want to do this Fall and Winter. So CJ and I are about to sit down and make lists to trying an keep track of everything and above all we are trying to stay cool as we are experincing one of our Michigan summer heat waves this weekend.

Great Time in Petoskey & Boyne City

We had a great time at the antique show this past weekend in Petoskey. Thank you to all of our wonderful customers. It was beautiful weather, we couldn't have asked for it to be any nicer. Sales were strong and we are so grateful.

We had a grand time with my family attending the 4th of July festivities in Boyne City, you just can't beat a small town 4th of July. The parade went on over an hour! ending with a chicken BBQ in the waterfront park and we watched the fireworks over the tree tops from Mom & Dad's deck.

We just can't thank everyone at Then & Now  in Peroskey enough - they all do a fantastic job of selling our items. We restocked 3 times while we were there! It is always a pleasure to meet the people who purchase from us and we had the opportunity to do that both at the show  and in the shop over the last several day. Thank you everyone!

We made a delivery in Traverse City on the way home, met with a wonderful long time client in Frankfurt, spied this amazing field of baby's breath and stopped along the way at a couple of fruit markets.

Dan is shown above with Chet, who asked where we were from and we said Grand Rapids and he said "oh do you know the antique shop Lost and Found? My son Mark owns that shop" ! Small world! I was wearing a necklace purchased there. Marks shop is really great if you have not been to it on Century Street is is a must see. We bought gorgeous raspberries from Chet along with maples syrup - can't wait for Sunday morning buckwheat pancakes! We also stopped for cherries and strawberries.

We made strawberry jam last night and I have another batch of raspberry jam started now.

Ah summer..............

This blog also ushers in a new era for us. We now have a new name for our business. We have been for sometime trying to find a new name that both of us like and reflects what we do together as a couple. We hope that our new name will best reflect the new identity we are now are now creating for ourselves. "Sometimes in the winds of change you find your true direction or ture north"