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We’re gearing up for Artwalk Ann Arbor next Friday.  As a special treat, artist Katherine Larson will be set up with her easel, brushes and paints creating miniature scenes of Ann Arbor right in our hallway!  You may recognize Katherine’s illustrations from her years of being one of the local artists who produced Ann Arbor Observer covers – last year she released a wonderful compilation of those covers in a lovely book called Ann Arbor Observed.  We carry this popular book at FOUND – during Artwalk, Katherine would be happy to autograph a copy for you.

She is also the illustrator behind the “Ann Arbor and the Rest of the World” posters that are always best sellers at graduation time – the poster is based on an iconic New Yorker cover.

Although Katherine will be working on miniature canvases during Artwalk, she’s well known for creating large scale murals.  The latest mural was a series of panels for the new Whole Foods Market in Detroit.  Here’s a link to a short video made during the creation of that mural:  Muralist Katherine Larson. Detroit Whole Foods.  It’s fascinating to watch the progression from single panel to full mural installation on the huge brick wall of the new building.

Katherine is also the graphic designer behind our FOUND ads and a personal friend. It’s been a pleasure to get to know this multi-talented woman – not only has she written and illustrated numerous children’s books, but she is also a trained opera singer, makes custom fairy houses, does fine art portraiture and plein air painting, creates Ann Arbor ornaments, presents school assemblies, builds props and generally just knows how to get things done.  On her website there are photos of other large scale murals and projects she’s done.  On Friday, June 21 from 5-7 p.m., we hope you’ll stop by FOUND to meet Katherine as she creates miniature scenes of Ann Arbor.  She’ll also have limited edition prints of Observer covers for sale – the perfect size to fit in our Urban Ashes frames!

ABOUT ARTWALK 2013: Artwalk Ann Arbor is a one evening event – from Kerrytown to Main Street – sponsored by Art Showcase Magazine and Ann Arbor State Bank.  Friday, June 21 from 5-9 p.m.  Most of the events in Kerrytown will be finished by 8 p.m.  In addition to Katherine’s painting demo, we’ll also sponsor an ArtTalk by Paul M. Hickman at 6:30 in Fustinis Oils & Vinegar Shop and the first ever Urban Ashes frames second sale at FOUND. Great locally made frames at a great discount!  16 Hands and Heavenly Metal will have demos and trunk shows.  There will be live music, refreshments, chalk art by David Zinn, wine tasting and more.  Stop by the Ann Arbor Public Schools art exhibit in the former Hollanders Kitchen space.  Details about this and the Main Street features can be found in the summer issue of Art Showcase.  Flap through this online version with 6 pages of Artwalk 2013 info or pick up a print version at FOUND!

And don’t forget to enter to win a $50 FOUND gift card on the evening of June 21st.  It could be an extra lucky night for you!

About 12 years ago, I scanned hundreds of  family photos onto “zip disks” – at the time, the latest, greatest thing to store large numbers of high res images onto.  Just over a decade later, I’m dismayed that I no longer have a means to access those images.  Of course, Mom still has all the originals, but as I was writing this post I had hoped to include a few of my favorite pictures of my dad.  Here are some photos I’d include if I had the files.  One of my absolute favorites is a 1960′s photo of him wearing a white t-shirt stirring a huge copper caldron of apple butter in the back yard, surrounded by us little kids.  I’d also include photos of him dressed up at baptisms and parties – looking dapper in madman-era suit and tie.  And others in his overalls taking care of what needed to be done.  Still another favorite finds him wearing a yellow sport coat and raising a PBR on the deck of the lake house at one of the many huge family gatherings Mom and Dad would host each summer.  Whenever I go to the lake house, he is there in spirit.

My father is always a part of me – I look in the mirror and see his face.  When I figure out smart ways of moving heavy things, I think of Dad.  When I see the Coke cooler in the shop, I think of Dad.  He reused what was available to serve a new purpose.  After I started FOUND, Dad loved hearing about ways my customers upcycled and reused things.  Ask me about the rusty locker basket story sometime.  I know I have a special talent for  fitting more in the back of my van than anyone would think possible – it runs in the family – from my paternal grandfather who knew exactly what space something would take up without needing to measure.  Dad and I can’t quite claim Grandpa’s ability but we definitely both got the spacial gene.  I also got the short legs/long torso genes from him, but never mind about that.  What really matters is that we strive to emulate the best qualities of those whose lives touch ours.  This Father’s Day weekend, I’ll be remembering and celebrating things about my dad that have made me a better person.

(insert photo of Dad on porch at lake house here…. OR substitute more recent picture since I don’t have that image file at this time)

Here’s to you, Dad!  Love you and miss you.

Using vintage metal folding rulers to create unique bracelets and rings is a novel idea for upcycled jewelry.  Lightweight and eco-funky, these are a new favorite with our customers.  Made in Wisconsin – available at FOUND.

Below are some other pieces by the same artist who uses old road signs, heavy aluminum restaurant trays and salvaged industrial metals.  Rings, bracelets AND these awesome money clips = great gift ideas!

Cuff bracelets with vintage Coca Cola tags on various recycled metal bases.

For some of the cuff bracelets, the artist used parts of old fire extinguishers.  All these have a very industrial look.

One of my favorite things about FOUND is the variety of merchandise that works with our concept of mixing old and new and handmade into one fun store.  This post features photos of some of our latest finds in each of those categories.  First up are these nutritional teaching aids from the late 1950′s.  I love the vintage Fiesta style dishes.   Pick out your favorite food combos. Check out the nutritional stats on the back.  Interesting for recycled paper arts or just to hang on the fridge.  We have dozens available, but when they are gone, I don’t know if I’ll ever find them again.

Here’s a uique photo frame for the cottage – handcrafted from vintage water skis   The bindings are left on the back side to hold the frame upright.  How awesome is that for that photos at the lake?

If you’re more into sailing than water skiing, then we have a couple vintage books with yachting instructions!

This toy lithographed tin blue & white tea set is in rough condition, but we still love it.

I first saw these special little notebooks at Detroit Mercantile in the Eastern Market area.  Now we have them at FOUND, too (thanks,  Robert, for sharing your source).  Perfect for laying out your big ideas – and to note all the little steps to fulfill those schemes and dreams.

Speaking of Detroit, Urban Ashes has a new “Detroit DeNailed” line of frames in which they collaborate with a non-profit group that deconstructs homes that were slated for demolition.  On Friday, June 21st at 6:30, come to Kerrytown to hear Paul M. Hickman tell the Urban Ashes story, including how Detroit DeNailed evolved.  The talk will be part of the first Art Showcase Art Walk Ann Arbor event.

If you have a dog, you might get a chuckle out of this magnet:

Here’s a little vintage dog that you never need to let in and out.

Lots more to show you, but need to go…. more later!

It’s graduation weekend at the University of Michigan.  On a personal note, our daughter Laura is getting her MSW on Saturday and we couldn’t be prouder!  Here’s a big congratulatory shout-out to Laura and to all those who are moving on – best wishes from all of us at FOUND.

It’s been a popular week for cards and inspiration prints, with our manifesto cards from Holstee among the most popular.

An abridged version –  This is your Life.  Do what you love and do it often.  If you don’t like something change it.  If you don’t have enough time, stop watching TV.  Start doing things you love.  Stop over analyzing.  Life is simple. Travel often. Life is about the people you meet and the things you create with them.  Life is short.  Live your dream and share your passion.   A great message for grads and for the rest of us, too.

Over at the Hostee.com website, people are sharing their stories and folks are getting involved in all kinds of ways to make the world a better place.  An article in the Refreshed section even includes a snippet about Urban Ashes.

It’s a week for looking back and looking ahead.  Embrace the transition.

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Lots of little things have been added to the shop this month.  Right now at FOUND, you can find about a dozen old compacts with mirrors tucked into one of the drawers.  Little purses.  Little jewelry findings and charms.  And other little doodads for crafting.  Some tiny baskets to hold tiny little things:

More game pieces for crafting, buttons, scrabble letters, tiny little doll parts, and watch parts, and magnets.

We even found small metal hooks shaped like little hands to hang your jewelry from – I forgot to take a photo of those, so I’ll show you the new spool style wall hooks we got from the same Dallas-based company instead:

Back to small things – I found a couple little wooden houses, that perhaps some  urban fairies would like to inhabit.

When you stop by, be sure to look for the little urban fairy door in our hallway.  At night the fairies come and create wonderful things in their special urban fairy workshop….

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Candy Canes & Christmas just go together!  Not only are candy canes yummy, those bright striped colors  just make me smile.  Artist Sally Jean captured the joy of candy canes with her “candy cane fairyette” pendant:

Hammond Candy Company in Denver has been making candy canes the old fashioned way for generations.  My personal favorites are the chocolate-filled peppermint canes.  This year we have pomagranate as well. 

Tuck a candy cane into a little stocking or felt ice skate for a cute little gift! 

Peppermint soy candles with lip balm – made in Michigan.

The candy cane red and white stipe motif is repeated on many Christmas decorations.

Little red & white striped cones to tuck something into.  And striped gift bags to hold some mulling spices.

Enjoy the candy cane season while it lasts!

A quick way to decorate for the holidays is to add some seasonal pillows to the couch and pillar candles to the coffee table!  These washable cotton styles from White Line by Kriss LeCocq are some of our favorites.  They feature simple graphics announcing PEACE, SKI, merry and Brrr.

The felted pillows with stitched snowflakes and a bright red button closure on the back are another direction to go with pillows.  Mix them in with other felted or textured solid color pillows.

 Hope you have cozy, comfy time during this busy time of year!

It’s been a busy week at FOUND.  Lots of candles for Thanksgiving are going out the door.  But many people are thinking ahead and getting holiday gifts and decorations.  Our selection is terrific right now, so it’s a good time to shop.

We will be closed for Turkey Day, and like most small businesses will have sane hours on Black Friday – 9:00 a.m til 7:00 p.m.  We’ll be giving away our new FOUND tote bags with a $40 purchase that day.  These are nice big bags that you’ll want to use over and over again.

On Small Business Saturday, we hope you’ll visit us, as well as our locally owned neighbors!

We’re loving the nature ornaments we found this year – especially the sweater birds and birds with hats!