Sea Story

Once upon a time... That is how every vintage item's story begins. One such story is about a boy who went off to serve his country. It was 1940 and he left his sweetheart Betty, a blue eyed, strawberry blonde who was a second generation Swedish Lutheran. He had never left his town of Richfield, Minnesota except for that one time he went to Niagra Falls on a family vacation. He was not only leaving all he knew but he was going to the country of Churchill and Big Ben. He marched in the Fourth of July parade proudly wearing his perfectly starched sailor suit, blue wool with white stars and stripes. His mother dabbed her eyes with her kerchief in the crowd out of pride and terror as she realized this passing moment of glory would be replaced by days of painstaking waiting. I walk into a bedroom and look in a closet. It smells like mothballs and hanging in the closet forgotten for decades is that sailor suit. The boy who wore it, grew up, came home, married Betty and had a family and lived the American dream. Now he has passed. His legacy hangs in this closet, sad and forlorn for perfect strangers to examine and pick up at a bargain. I buy it. Not because there is any innate value in and of itself, but because I promise to tell that story.

In it for the Long Haul

As I sit here in my cozy upstairs nook on this snowy (yes snowy) April day in Minnesota, I refuse to be uninspired.

I want to wish time away, to fast forward to 65 and sunny with the windows open. I have to check myself. Wishing time away is like throwing away a perfectly good thing just because you feel you have no use for it anymore.

I call bullshit on this.

I have adopted a new attitude. The idea of reinventing and giving new life to things once thought old and used up.

This all began with perusing every thrift store, junk market, and estate sale in town in search of unloved goods looking for new homes: forever homes.

Like a lost puppy in the rain I stumbled upon a sad little 1960’s Radio Line wheelbarrow with chippy paint and a squeaky wheel.  Something about this little guy said “ I’m not done hauling dirt, yet”. 

“ I’m in it for the long haul”.

And, with that I signed the papers and took him home.

Once considered broken down junk, this happy apple green wheelbarrow is now suitable for toting rocks, dirt, and of course the family doxie.

This little wheelbarrow has been a jumping off point for many more and bigger projects. As I speak items once sent to the attic are being dusted off and restored to their original luster.

Let the hunt continue...

From Conception to Reality: The Etsy Shop

In the last few weeks the "think tank" has been at work to create a new Etsy store. The process is arduous as there is a lot that goes into the startup. So, this blog's topic centers around the basic steps for creating an Etsy shop. So, you want to open up a shop. It looks pretty easy right? Just sell some stuff online. In concept it is having a product, marketing it and maintaining a customer base, right? Yes, that is the simple version. Yes, you need a product and then you need to market it and then somehow continue to keep the customers coming. The conception of Badger Hunter Inc. (currently under construction), was born out of the family love affair of dachshunds. This breed was genetically engineered to hunt down badgers, go down their holes and be easily pulled out by their long pointy tales. An unmistakable breed, comical physicality and ferocity. Celebs such as Pablo Picasso and Adele have popularized the breed and those who have the pleasure of being owned by one (no joke) are eternally loyal and in love with their own doxie. So, with the birth of the name comes the marketing of the product. Ours being furniture, home decor and distinctive pieces for the home, many of which are DIYed, upcycled and given a second life. It is our belief that a house becomes a home when the pets and people breathe the life blood into the inanimate. You now have a name and a marketable product. How do you present this product? With an online shop you are limited to photographic images so get comfortable experimenting with your camera. There is no store where tangible and tactile experiences can take place. You are telling a story through your image that is highlighting this product you want your customer to feel he or she must have. Stories are told through visual images but even more so through the descriptions of objects that are grabbing attention through the intentional placement of value on being unique, creating a space that is inviting and putting your personal touch through the way you choose to display these treasures.