FOUND - whimsical art, vintage treasures, fun finds!

Midnight Madness + "secret" sale

After a very busy start to the holiday season at FOUND, it's quiet at the shop tonight.  I love being surrounded by twinkling Christmas lights.  At home, we have alternated between colored lights and little white lights.  I have an affection for the big vintage bulbs of my childhood, but worry about the safety of the old wiring.  We have mini white lights in the shop windows. 

As I'm typing most of the lights are dimmed, smoothing piano music is playing and it's so peaceful in Kerrytown.  But not for long...

 

On Friday at 10 a.m. we begin 14 hours of storewide madness, with our Annual Midnight Madness Sale.  It goes until midnight, of course.  And features 10% off artistan gifts & jewelry, and 20% off everything else in stock.

But, here's a "secret" special for our blog readers...  If you post a comment in the section below, you can shop any day between Tuesday, Dec. 1st and Sunday, Dec. 6th, and get the Midnight Madness discount of 20% off everything in stock EXCEPT for the handmade artists things. 

Not sure what to write?  How about this blog question:  White lights or colored? And have you ever had any mishaps while decorating for Christmas?

Just comment anytime before Dec. 6th, then remember to mention it to the sales person when they ring you up to get the 20% off savings.  Stop in as often as you want and use this deal all week if you'd like - I'm still bringing more things in.  And yes, it can be combined with the merry multiples (buy 5, get 6th one free) for a even better deal!

Regards,

Mary

 

Eco-Sunday #2. Antique Sock Knitting Machine Demo by Margaret Shaw

Margaret Shaw will bring her antique sock knitting machine to FOUND this Sunday from 2:00 to 4:30 for the second of our Eco-Sunday series of demonstrations.  She takes reuse, recycle, repurpose to a whole new level with her unitque methods!

  

As I've mentioned in earlier posts, to make her mismatched wool Art Sock, Margaret starts with thrifted wool sweaters, handPAINTS them, removes the side seams, unravels the yarn onto skeins, then uses an antique sock knitting machine to make new socks. 

The mittens she makes are knit on a flat knitting machine, then hand finished and felted.  They are the coziest mittens I've slipped my hands into in years.  I can definately recommend them!

What a great opportunity to see Margaret and her marvelous machines in action and ask questions. 

Sunday,  November 29th   2:00-4:30 at FOUND, 407 N. Fifth Ave (upstairs in Kerrytown).  Free.

Make a day of it by shopping and eating in the neighborhood, followed by the Annual Old Fashioned Tree Lighting Ceremony with caroling in the courtyard at 5:30.

Hope to see you soon!

Mary

 

Chocolate filled Candy Canes

Freebie Alert:  We're setting aside 10 big candy canes for the first 10 people who walk in the door and simpy mention they saw this post on the FOUND blog. Offer expires Friday at 7 p.m.

  

Yesterday our second order of chocolate-filled candy canes arrived.  This batch includes more of the red & white peppermintcanes with chocolate inside, and cherry with chocolate or raspberry with chocolate.  The color on these is more Ralph Lauren-ish.   The taste is yummy!

This is the third year we've carried this seasonal favorite from the Hammond Candy Company  of Denver, Colorado.  They've been making candy canes for generations.  The most popular here are the chocolate filled Peppermint canes, followed by the traditional peppermint.  I recently had someone request the cherry with chocolate so we added those to our selection.  We also have solid candy canes in butterscotch and cherry. 

If you have a sweet tooth and are in the area, be one of the first 10 to mention you read this blog post and get your free candy cane.

Have a great day!

Mary

Holiday Hours:

Closed Thanksgiving

Mon-Friday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Sat. 9 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.   Sunday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Midnight Madness - Friday, Dec. 4.  10 a.m. - midnight

 

 
 

Gratitude and helping others

Although the shop is filled with wonderful Christmas decor and gifts during November, we realize the importance of slowing down and counting our blessings this Thanksgiving week. 

 

As we plan & prepare our meal and gather with family and friends, we pause to think of those who struggle to put food on the table.  My gratitude list is long.  What is tops on your list of things you are thankful for? 

Mention something you are thankful for in the comment section below before  midnight on Thanksgiving eve, and FOUND will add an extra dollar for each comment to our annual Food Gatherers donation.   Follow the Food Gatherers link to donate directly and to learn about their upcoming Rockin' for the Hungry event!

Have a blessed Thanksgiving,

Mary

Eco-Sunday #1: Holiday cards!

Make your own holiday cards or gift enclosures from vintage materials!  This Sunday, Nov. 22 Cyndi Thayer will be demonstrating easy techniques to turn scraps of vintage music and postcards into one-of-a-kind holiday cards.   Here are the samples she prepared:

Here are the details:

Sunday, Nov. 22, drop in between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.

the demo is free, but there is a $1 per card materials fee if you want to try it out with Cyndi's assistance

table in the hall outside FOUND, upstairs in Kerrytown, 407 N. Fifth Avenue, Ann Arbor 48104.  phone 734.302.3060

 

We hope that you can join us this Sunday for Cyndi's demo - she's been doing paper arts and rubber stamping for years and has a long list of  tips and tricks!

Eco-Sunday #2:

Our series of eco-Sundays will continue the Sunday after Thanksgiving when Margaret Shaw brings her antique sock knitting machine to FOUND to show how she turns thrift shop wool sweaters into Art Socks with a totally unique process.  That demo will be from 2:00-4:30 p.m. at the shop and be followed by the Annual Kerrytown Tree Lighting Festival in the Courtyard.  I'll include more details in another post, but if you didn't open the early post of what this Manchester, Michigan artist is doing with old sweaters, click on the You Tube video below. 

 

Cyndi's cards and Margaret's socks remind me how much artists who work in found materials bring a smile to my face!

Regards,

Mary

 

 
 

eco-friendly ornaments from odd repurposed materials

Trees don't have to be filled with traditional ornaments and trim.  One of the things in the shop this year is this tree hanging from the ceiling filled with odd vintage things that have been repurposed into ornaments.

 
 

You can hang old cabinet card photos and snapshots from binder clips from the office supply store.   Small doll dishes can be tied on to the tree.  You can even punch a hole in a vintage paperboard beverage coaster, add a red or blue ribbon and have an ornament!

Old springs can serve as extenders in hanging ornaments.  Salt shakers can be wired through the holes and hung.  Even old little figurines can adorn your branches. 

Here's an easy, inexpensive, eco-friendly project with just 2 materials (of course you can find both of them at FOUND).  A 12" piece of thin aluminum wire + a colorful spool of old thread:

 

Form a loop in one end and pass it through center of spool and secure it.  Wrap rest of wire around a pencil to form decorative swirls of wire.  Bend top in shape of hook and hang on tree.

Pull the wire out of kilter for a fun look.  Sorry about the blurry image - but I think you get the idea. 

This Sunday we start a series of Eco-Sunday demos with artists and projects using recycled and found materials to create something new.   The first is a make-and-take holiday card making with Cyndi Thayer.  Free demo, but materials cost is $1 per card/envelope if you would like to make some to take with.

 

Regards!

Mary
 
 

 

 

Merry Multiples at FOUND

Here's a season long deal for those of you with lists...

 
  
Need half dozen of a particular item?  Say chocolate filled candy canes or star shaped ornaments to use as napkin rings on your Christmas table?  Our Merry Multiples' Special will be offered every day until December 31st and covers most things in the shop.  Just buy 5 and get a 6th one free!

A flock of felt birds would look great on your tree or tied on to packages!

Polar bears - handmade in Au Gres, Michigan - so soft and fuzzy.  Get them for your friends(and maybe keep a few for your own tree). 

Little stockings to stick a note or a candy cane in.  Or even tuck your silverware inside for a whimsical touch to your table.   Like almost everything else in the shop, when you buy 5 of thes little stockings, we'll give you the 6th one free.

Anybody need a little monkey?  These cute little guys are just $5 and they come in 2 styles - ornament or with a hook for a keychain or backpack.   The mini felted ball ornaments to the left of the monkeys are $3 each and come in red, green, or white with sparkles. 

Yes, the vintage things where we have multiples are included in this deal, too.  Excluded are the fork art angels, m shaw art socks, burlap boutique bags, handmade journals and typewriter key jewelry.

My next post will have info about the Kerrytown Open House this Sunday from 10-6:00.  Gotta go now - more tomorrow!

Mary

 
 

 
 

The Christmas Shop at FOUND is open!

 

The Kerrytown manager told me that  last year she had several phone calls asking when "that Christmas store" upstairs would be opening.  She soon realized they were referring to our annual transformation in early November.  All the "regular" odd things we carry are still here, but yes, the Christmas Shop in Kerrytown is once again open at FOUND! 

Our shop isn't very big, but we've packed a lot in.  Here's the front side by the hallway. 

 

To keep more of the floor space clear, we hung a tree from the ceiling!   This is our eco-friendly tree...more about that in another post when I give some ideas for easy-to-make ornaments from repurposed materials.

Here's a simple project - take an old faded sled (one that doesn't have sentimental value in your family) and spray paint it silver.  Add sprays to make a great focal point on your front porch or even over the fireplace.

 


If the sled is in nice condition, just tie a bow and some natural evergreens on it.  The wall below had a really cool sled with good old paint hanging on it - for 3 days!  Gotta get something else hung in that spot tomorrow.

Here are a couple more shots before I head home for the night.  As usual, we mixed vintage pieces in with the new holiday decor.  Adding the unexpected in to a display in the shop or in your home gives a fresh take on decorating.

Warm and fuzzy regards,

Mary
 
 

amazing process: M. Shaw Art Socks

I never cease to be amazed by the creativity of artists who use repurposed materials.  Michigan's own Margaret Shaw is handpainting, then unraveling thrift shop sweaters to make original wool Art Socks for FOUND.   Take a look for yourself:

We have a nice selection of these unique mismatched socks at the shop right now in medium and large sizes and a lovely palette of colors.  Comfy & warm wool Art Socks.  An eco-friendly gift idea!

This video was created by Kerrytown friend, Wendy Williams.   Thanks Margaret and Wendy for showing us how this is done!

Cozy regards,

Mary

p.s.  sorry I haven't written in awhile - meant to post photos as we worked to get the "Christmas Shop" at FOUND put together.  Camera problems.  We're ready for holiday shoppers now!

Here's a reminder of upcoming events:

Saturday, November 7.  Holiday Open House @ FOUND.  Gift with purchase.  Refreshments.  9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 15th.  Kerrytown Open House.  10:00 - 6:00.  Special savings throughout Kerrytown Shops, including FOUND. 

Sunday, Nov. 23.  1:00 - 3:00.  Make holiday cards using recycled materials!  Details to follow.

Sunday, Nov. 30.  Margaret will at FOUND knitting these fun wool socks and answering questions.  Also, this is the day for the Annual Tree Lighting, with caroling and Santa in the Kerrytown Courtyard at 5:30.  Come to meet the artist, stay for the festivities!

Friday, Dec. 4th - Midnight Madness from 10 a.m. til Midnight, of course!   This is also when we kick-off Buy Local Week, a community wide event where we encourage you to shop at locally owned businesses.  As our special thanks for your patronage throughout the year, receive an ornament at FOUND with any purchase from December 4th through Dec. 12th.

organized chaos...

We spent Sunday night and all day Monday  in organized chaos as a great group of people joined in the annual transformation of FOUND for the holidays.  The process will continue on Tuesday.  We'll reopen at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday. 

It's 2 a.m. and I just finished Briwaxing some things that we need for our displays.

ZZZzzzzzzz...

Good-night,

Mary