I’ve been surrounded by beautiful antiques and treasures all of my life, but I didn’t truly begin to appreciate them until I was in my thirties. One of my first “antiques” was a vintage Crayola crayon tin that my mother-in-law gave me. Little did I know that a seed of love for old things – and repurposing – had been planted! When my great-grandparents’ house was liquidated, I found hidden treasures galore that spoke to me… primitive kitchen utensils, patchwork quilt tops in need of quilting, and my great-grandmother’s glass butter churn with lid, for starters. A few years later, we liquidated my maternal grandparents’ house, and again, I found amazing treasures that told the story of their lives… and my childhood.

After my husband (39 years, two cats!) and I retired in 2005, we agreed to help my mother-in-law with the online selling of some of her numerous antiques and treasures... collected for more than a quarter of a century. Instead, we discovered that auctions and estate sales held an allure for us – and represented something the three of us could do together. Soon our house was filled with glassware, linens, estate jewelry, and more that we simply had to bring home!

I spent a lot of time caring for my 100-year-old paternal grandmother, who departed for heaven in March 2013. My husband and I devote a lot of time helping to care for my great-nephews and niece, now 5, 3, and almost 2. Researching and working with antiques and treasures...and keeping my Etsy shop fresh and fully stocked...is a great outlet for my creativity – and a wonderful stress reliever. I found that sewing for my little nieces, nephews, cousins and friends was also a great source of fun and relaxation. I truly love repurposing old clothing and linens into fresh, new pieces for children and others… many of which are sold in my Etsy shop.

I’ve rented booth space in more than one antiques store, but I find that the audience who appreciates my treasures most is the warm and welcoming community of Etsy members. I want the things I present in my shop to remind you of days gone by, your own grandparents or family members, an item of clothing or piece of jewelry you once had – or something that simply made you smile. Life is pretty great in the Arkansas Ozarks, and I hope my treasures will give you a little glimpse into our neck of the woods.