FOUND - whimsical art, vintage treasures, fun finds!

When pigs fly... (needle felted wool)

 

I've been intrigued by wool clothing embellishments, home goods and critters that are made using "needle felting" techniques.  It's something I've not tried yet.  But the results are something I'm drawn to.

The needle felted pig above flew into FOUND a couple weeks ago.  Very detailed with jointed legs and a sweet little face.  A jointed cat and two large lambs are made by the same Michigan artisit.  Lots of hours of work went into creating those 3.

They look cute with the Au Gres sheep and ponies that we carry in our Ann Arbor shop and on the FOUND website. 

The latest issue of Martha Stewart Living had a great about article needle felting - beautiful for scarves and blankets!  Here's a behind the scenes look at the photo shoot for that article.

I googled needle felting and got over 407 THOUSAND results!  Here is a link showing the technique  that gives a good basic understanding of the craft.

 

Soft and fuzzy regards!

Mary

chicago side-trip - urban remains

 

Last month I checked out Urban Remains, west of the loop in Chicago.  They have the kind of stuff I wish I had found before they found it so that I could afford it... 

I wasn't quite sure when I saw the barbed wire around the building.

 

Parked (and made sure I locked) the car right in front and went in...

 

at the top of these steps there was a sign by the light switch that said to turn it off when finished.   This is what was up there:

 

 

I didn't know where to look first! 

 

 

 

 

Went to our neighbors tonight - Norma and Chuck actually HAVE some of these midcentury chairs out on their deck.  Norma is a finder, too.

 

 

S is for a stupendous selection of SUPER-SIZED artifacts.

It was a fun side-trip - Glad I checked it out.

Regards,

Mary

Enjoying the view

Here are some summer photos that were hanging around inside my camera.  Flowers by my front porch.

 

Earlier in the summer, Mom and I took a side trip to an amazing little neighborhood Italian store, called Freddy's,  near where my husband grew up in Cicero, Illinois - we had lunch outside. 

When my mother-in-law was alive, she was absolutely tickled everytime we took her Italian lemonade from here.  My favorite is half watermelon/half pina colada.  I miss Nona.  Remembering her makes me smile.

 

Back in Ann Arbor.  Here are some neat pendant necklaces that Michigan artist Larry Zdeb brought in Art Fair week.  Love his use of recycled materials!

 

I've found some interesting vintage salt and pepper shakers this summer.   These fish look like they are talking to each other.  As of today, they are still at the shop.

 

This stuff is still in the back of my van a week after I arrived home...ahem...I'm working just as fast as I can.   And taking some time to dream and play, too!

 

I didn't do much weeding this summer, but I can still enjoy the view.

 

Hope you're taking time to enjoy the view, wherever you are this summer.

Regards,

Mary

 

Vintage Science Charts

  

We just put out a wonderful series of 1960s educational posters used to support the teaching of science concepts at the elementary level.  Plants, animals, energy, electricity, simple machines, sound, light, astronomy and more are illustrated with pictures and words in these oversized posters.  

At $8-$20 each, they are an affordable wall art option for a dorm room.  In 1960 the space programs were taking off ...

  

Simple artwork and text for children. Life Science -

 

 

 

I like this one about work - recalling that the concept of work is that energy is used to move an object, this stereotypical man moving brick and woman doing dishes illustrate work is being done. 

 I think this one would be a great beginning for altered art - Just add a big TV screen in front of this man... note the caption, "No work being done".

  

I know first hand that when I was first setting up my facebook page, nothing else was getting accomplished at my house.  This picture could be altered to include a computer and Facebook page...

  

Here are some more examples of the 60+ posters in this set -

 

 

In this set there are various posters that would make a unique gift for your favorite engineer, electrician, musican (sound concepts), mechanic, scientist or anyone who fondly remembers the simple world of 4th grade science in the 1960s -- and applies those concepts to everyday life in this new millenium!

Good night - my work is done for the night.

Mary

fun find: vintage buttons

Over the weekend, I found some good buttons to take to FOUND.

Last night Mom helped sort while I sat and priced so when I get back to Ann Arbor later in the week, they can go right out into the shop.  Several hundred buttons in all - a couple dozen vintage bakelite:

 

Plus, antique pearl buttons, celluloid, nut, plastics and some newer blue floral balls that will be fun for craft projects.  We'll add these (and lots more that I didn't photograph) to the boxes at FOUND on Friday:

 

Regards!

Mary

babies at FOUND

 

A few days ago almost a dozen babies appeared in the middle of the night (maybe the fairies dropped them off???)  Unlike fairies they don't hide during the day.  They just took over the top of the cabinet where I normally keep the buttons.... a dangerous place for babies to play.

 

The one on the right looks like she's planning something.

 

Twins from Occupied Japan.  Double trouble?

 

This big guy needs a bigger bed!

 

I'm on a trip and can't take care of them.  Their mommas and daddies are nowhere in sight.  I'm posting these grainy photos in the hopes that someone will recognize them, go to FOUND to adopt them and give them a good home.  Otherwise someone is going to fall out of that highchair and get hurt. 

Hurry please!

Auntie Mary

m. shaw folk art @ FOUND

Manchester, Michigan Artist Margaret Shaw is a multi-talented woman.  For years she has been doing Folk Art paintings on recycled doors and salvaged furniture.  Many of you may know her from her years doing art shows throughout the area - and at her studio out in the country.   In July Margaret brought in 6 more chairs, painted in her signature style.  The folding chairs even look great folded and leaning again a wall.

She's recently expanded her offerings to include bracelets crafted from vintage buttons.  Most days when I walk in the door, I put one on - a fun accessory that is comfortable to wear.  Right now our selection is a bit low, but I expect a new delivery by the beginning of September.

 

And the latest are some cozy wool socks she makes from recycled wool sweaters which she paints, then unravels, then knits on an antique sock knitting machine. 

They feel fabulous and are such fun in their slightly mismatched style. 

 

We're calling them Croc Socs because they look extra great with Crocs and Birkenstocks.

Regards - enjoy these beautiful August days!

Mary

aged paper - great background for paper arts...

 

 

I love the colors of aged paper. 

 

We've been putting together variety packs of antique papers for people to use in collage and paper arts.  

Our friend Laurie, who goes by the name StoriesDivinations on etsy, is a master at layering text and music with other ephemera to create fabulous cards. 

We carry a selection of her handmade notecards cards at the shop, but here's her photo of a set of cards currently on etsy.  Note the aged music behind the other layers.  You can also get great ideas on using vintage papers in Cloth, Paper, Scissors and any of the Stampington publications.

 

Below are some packets we put together related to race horses.    Also shown is a blank journal Laurie created from an old physics textbook. 

 

We have vintage text packs, foreign text packs, 60's school yearbook variety packs, numbers, maps/travel, vintage school days and medical theme packs.

 

Perfect for paper arts!  Mostly from books that were not in good enough condition to sell by themselves, but way too interesting to get rid of.  I'm a firm believer that it is much better to find a way to reuse and repurpose things, rather than just throw them in the recycle bin. 

 

During July, I had a wonderful group of friends who came and helped sort and prep old papers that had been in boxes at my house.   Hugs and thanks to Cyndi, Sylvia, Nieka, Anne, Laurie, Mary Jane, Nathan and Karen P.  I couldn't have done it without you!

Mary

Antique Malls sans antiques...

 

A few observations from my summer travels: 

Many places that say ANTIQUE on the sign don't actually have very many antiques. 

 

Maybe they should substitute STUFF or JUNK or even TREASURE on the sign.  There is a lot of stuff in the world.  Some of it is quite usable or even interesting but doesn't really belong in an antique mall. 

 

This booth still has its "Winter Sale 20% off" sign up in July.  They might need to update their sign and their inventory...

  

Sale doesn't mean a good deal.  $300 is way too much for this dresser, even if it is a SALE PRICE.

 

At some places, you need to look through a lot of junk to find anything good.  Time consuming.

The things I am most drawn to are from about 1920-1950.  Actually vintage, not really antique.  When I find things I like (litho tin toys, for example), they are often priced twice as much as I would price them at FOUND.  Darn! 

I pride myself in being a "finder".  I love finding fun stuff for the shop and don't mind digging for it.  But this is the first year that on many trips I come home with plenty of room in the van.  For when I find bigger things, I could use a few packing blankets...

...most of these belong in garage sales or donated to the Human Society, not on the floor of an antiques mall.  Would someone explain that to the person with the 10 year old used blankets and thread worn chenille spreads?

 

Need any cute 1980's antique figurines or glass plates?  They are 75% off.

This booth DID have a few cool 1960's salt & pepper sets that I picked up - and sold at the shop already.  I also found a few great children's books, a camera, some 1960's eyeglasses and a vintage display stand.  

I did NOT buy these used chicken buckets, but there is a Kentucky Fried Chicken in this town that I've stopped at for mashed potatoes and gravy.

 

All photos are from a big "antique" mall along I94 between here and Chicago.  I don't think I'll stop there on the next trip.   But, I always keep my eyes open and even when the pickings are slim,  I know I'll still keep finding fun things for FOUND. 

 

Here's lookin' at you, kid!

Mary

Ephemera packs

 

Thanks to all who stopped by to see our booth at the Rubber Stamp and Paper Arts Festival over the weekend.  At FOUND, we've always carried old photos, postcards and other ephemera in the shop, but for this show we assembled a few hundred variety packs of vintage ephemera and antique papers that are great for collage and as background papers for cards.  An amazing group of friends came to the house and shop to sort and price the things I'd been tucking away to someday organize.    I'll try to post some photos on this blog over the next couple days.

As mentioned in an earlier post, at the show Cyndi demonstrated how to use the gel du soleil resin to make fun jewelry in Patera jewelry "frames".  Watch for "Patera Parties" at FOUND in the Fall - you'll learn how to make great gifts to make for the holidays.   Easy + inexpensive + nice quality = great projects. 

Enjoy these beautiful summer days - and that gorgeous moon that was rising tonight!

Mary