Heights Emporium

I’m thrilled to announce Flown The Coop will be a merchant at the Heights Emporium on March 1, 2014.  The Heights Emporium is an outdoor event in the parking lot of the Corridor Shops and More located at 238 W. 19th St. in the Houston Heights.

For the past several weeks I have had the privilege of joining a team of talented entrepreneurs who are planning the upcoming Heights Emporium.  I love the creative energy that goes into brainstorming possibilities and forgot how much I love to help organize and promote events, especially in the community I call home.

The Houston Heights is home to an amazing community of creative business owners, both in conventional and unconventional business models.  The Heights Emporium was developed to showcase a curated mix of local merchants.  Gilbert Perez, owner of the Corridor Shops and More, recognizes the growing number of merchants without walls and has graciously created an event on his premises to showcase local talent who are utilizing a variety of business models.  Sarah Rufca of the Houston Chronicle penned the current business trend in her recent article, These buzzy Houston retailers don’t need brick and mortar shops.  Kristy Keel of West 23rd. St. Vintage was highlighted in the article and is a valuable part of the team organizing and promoting the Heights Emporium.  I am honored to be included in the mix and excited for the opportunity to bring Flown The Coop to 19th Street again.

The mix of merchants is shaping up!  Stayed tuned on Facebook, Instagram (@heightsemporium) and Twitter for updates on the lineup.  Tag your posts with #HeightsEmporium so we can see the event through your eyes too!

~Tiffany

And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky!

 

Admitting a problem

Chair Addiction

I’ve always had this problem.  When I go shopping, it’s guaranteed I’ll bring home a chair.  I used to sneak them in, like an adorable orphaned puppy that I can’t possibly take care of.  After years of this behavior, I’m ready to admit to an addiction.  I prefer to call it a love affair with chairs.

Walking around my home, the problem is obvious.  To my credit, I don’t discriminate.  There is no rhyme or reason to my love affair.  At any given time, there is a wide variety of seats to take in my home.  Take a peak at our current options…

These classic wood desk chairs are waiting the perfect kitchen table.  Don’t they look like wallflowers waiting to be asked to dance?

My desk chair is one of my favorites!  This is where I spend a LOT of time.

Here is a recent rescue.  This will be a fantastic chair when I get around to recovering it.

Here is one of my favorite projects.  I think the school bus seat covered with faux cow hide turned out great!  It found a home at the Crazy Oaks Lodge & Retreat.  I love that!

Here is a wonderful vintage arm chair that I had professionally upholstered.  I can visit this lovely chair at my friend Katrina’s home.  Stayed tuned… I’m picking one up similar to it soon.

This Toledo drafting chair is a recent pick.  Isn’t she sweet?  Look closely, you’ll see my beloved butterfly chair, another recent pick.

The best part of my “job’ is that I can preserve my love affair (aka addiction or problem), enjoy the treasures for a time and then send them off.  As proof, take a look at a collection of chairs that have been placed in good homes.

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What are you drawn to when you shop? Have you been accused of having a problem?  Are you warned not to bring another one home?  Admitting the problem is the first step.  🙂

Here’s to our love affair with vintage and simple pleasures!

~Tiffany

And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky!

Flown The Coop has a new roost

I can finally spill the beans…

The adventure continues

I am very excited to announce Flown The Coop has joined the antique co-op at Chippendale Eastlake Antiques on 19th street in the Heights.  You will be able to shop Flown The Coop at our new roost beginning in June!!!

Serendipity!

For months Jeff & I have toyed with the idea of finding a shop location.  We love the Flea, but also like the idea of a permanent location to roost in between shows.  The idea seemed like a distant dream… but ya’all know we dream TEXAS SIZED DREAMS.  🙂

Saturday afternoon Jeff & I set out to explore our options.  We love the eclectic, funky, fun-loving Heights area of Houston and ultimately want to live there.  I thought we should start by driving around looking at houses.  Jeff wanted to shop… who am I to argue with that?  Strolling through the shops on 19th is always fun!

I had already talked to a few shop owners on 19th and was leaning more towards a booth space with a co-op instead of a full fledge shop.  A co-op space would provide a coop to roost in, with the freedom to continue flying off to junking adventures… remaining true to our dedication to those who can’t be caged.  Earlier in the week I checked with one antique mall in the area who only could offer me a display case as a way to get my “foot in the door.”  I wasn’t excited about that idea.  Admittedly, I was thinking there was little chance of finding a space anytime soon.  We walked in Chippendales Eastlake Antiques to inquire about getting on a dealer’s waiting list.  To our surprise, we learned that there is a space available for the first time in three years.  Serendipity!  (Jeff loves that word)  After talking to Heather, I was sure this could be a good fit for Flown The Coop!

Chippendale has been located on the corner of 19th and Rutland in the Houston Heights for twenty three years.  Previous to Chippendales, the location was home to a gas station, Lewis and Coker grocery store and a green stamp store.  Currently there are twenty one dealers who make up the antique co-op.  Jeff and I are excited to be apart of such an established group of dealers and love the idea of locating on 19th street.  There is so much scope for imagination!

New space/ new friends

The ideas just keep coming… shifting my paradigm from filling a 20X20 space in the field to filling our new indoor space will be a fresh challenge.

I am excited about getting involved in a new community of “junk” lovers and developing new friendships!  One of my first friends at Chippendale… meet Carlos Antonio, the shop dog.  He is a rescued long haired Chihuahua.  Isn’t he handsome with his summer cut?  Seemed to pose when I got the camera out.

BTW:  Chippendale Eastlake is a pet friendly shop!!!!!  Most of the antique shops on19th have at least one “shop dog” and  are open to dog walkers and pets 🙂  Pretty cool.

Our Coop away from Coop….

We haven’t flown away from the Flea all together… the Flea will remain our “coop away from coop.”  This month we will be set up in our regular spot at Canton Trade Days (May 30th – June 3rd).  However, this will most likely be our last month in the “field” at Canton… we are exploring pavilion options.  Please come visit our beloved corner in the field!   (Row 52/ Row 98 by the creek between the Civic Center and the Pavillions)

Our flight pattern will also include Warrenton at Cole’s Antique Show twice a year and other possible shows.

Sign says “Walk.”

Jeff and I are enjoying our Flown The Coop journey… we are flying free, taking tiny steps forward and loving where it is taking us.  We are thankful that we took the time to explore our options and stepped into Chippendale.  Feels like a huge leap, but there is no doubt we will love our new coop!

There are more dreams to dream (Texas size)… all of which build on what we are currently doing.  With each step we take I am beginning to believe the sky is the limit… really!

And the birds fluttered around them writing “yes” in the sky!

~Tiffany