Tag Archives: The Seed Box Designs

Unexpected Bend In The Road

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As I predicted, 2014 already presents an unexpected bend in the road.  This chic is flying to Vegas baby!

Dreaming of displays

Next to my love for digging for “junque” and discovering unusual objects out of the piles of discarded items, I dream of creating displays.  My friends at The Seed Box Designs have inspired me to continually improve on my displays at the shows I set up at.  In November I had the opportunity to assist Meloney in merchandising the store Homepieces in McKinney, Texas.  It was a huge treat for me to watch Meloney transform this lovely shop for the Holidays!

Side note:  I fell in love with McKinney, Texas.  McKinney has a wonderful downtown filled with amazing shops like Homepieces.

I have learned so much from Brian and Meloney!  Brian and Meloney create award winning displays at the Dallas Market Vintage Home.  They are always a crowd favorite at Urban Market and Texas Antiques Week.  In addition to transforming discarded “junk” into unique items with functional design and offering custom design fabrications, this creative couple have added more services to their design business; traveling across the United States merchandising for companies like Park Hill Collections, E. Barrett General Store and Leftovers.

Flying The Coop to Vegas

I could have not predicted this bend in the road…

Thanks to my good friends at the Seed Box Designs, I am so excited to have the opportunity to work for Creative Coop.  I’ll will take flight on January 3 to Las Vegas to help merchandise their market show room!  I hope to make my friends proud!

This is uncharted territory for me.  I am both excited and nervous for the new challenge.  I am a hard worker and plan to give it my all.  I knew this year would offer bends in the road, but had no idea that it would happen as soon as the first week in January.

Life is a journey

Have no fear, I am not forsaking my love for junque!  I will continue picking and offering my finds at my favorite shows!

At the same time, I will enjoy the unexpected bends in the road.  I truly believe that opportunities present themselves when you allow yourself to be open to the journey.

Fly Free in 2014

Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love.  Fly free!

I hope that you find yourself flying free in 2014.  What passions excite you?  What will you pursue this year that you haven’t in the past?  It doesn’t have to be a monumental expedition.  Simply allow yourself to explore and be open to unexpected bends in the road.

Happy New Year!

~Tiffany

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

 

 

 

Hard Work Pays Off

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“Formula for success: rise early, work hard, strike oil.” J. Paul Getty

I did NOT strike oil. I struck a sweet spot in the field, loving my new spot at Bar W during Texas Antiques Week. This was the best show I’ve had yet. I contribute the success of the show to location, improving my selection of merchandise and hard work!

I arrived with a twenty foot UHaul, Miss Dixie (my truck) and the trailer packed and departed with a small trailer load. It was so fun to see so many of the pieces I hand picked go to excited new owners.

Living the dream

Hard work does pay off. My lifestyle of flying free is hard work and not at all glamorous. The field is not for high maintenance girls. I’ve gotten stronger lifting furniture and moving displays around. I’ve been covered with dust, mud and sweat. I’ve loaded and unloaded trailers, sometimes by myself. I’ve driven long hours between Houston and Ohio hunting good junque. All the loading, unloading, cleaning, repairing, loading up for shows, unloading, merchandising, marketing, book keeping, etc can take a tole. Thank God for Mr. Flown The Coop, who is extremely supportive! I believe in hard work, and am excited to reap the sweet rewards!

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Time to play

We have fun in the field too. If you follow me on Facebook, you saw the daily Miss Ivy pics. Did you see her precious Drink Stand? Setting up with Brian, Meloney and Ivy of The Seed Box Designs, is always a treat.

The Kansas City girls (Brenda, Abby and Joe) were delightful neighbors!  Brenda was Miss Ivy’s first customer.

I love the friends I make from all over the country!  It is always fun to hang out with Don and Peggy Abrbenz, owners Down Home Antiques in Orange, California.  I’m only sad that our go cart racing got rained out. I met Megan Thomas, owner of Salvaged in Austin, who had some really creative repurposed pieces. Wendy and Lia from Thelma & Louize were a hoot! These two chics bring the fun to the field! I’m only a little jealous of Wendy’s Vespa!

Visitors are always welcomed! My cousin Tanya and her friend Sandy stopped by to catch up and for our traditional lunch at Belly Laughter. This was Sandy’s first trip to Warrenton. I enjoyed hosting my friends Katrina and Martine, who bunked a night in my shack and experienced Texas Antiques Week for the first time. I had forgotten how overwhelming the twenty-six miles of fields between Round Top and Warrenton can be. It was fun to see the craziness through their eyes.

Thanks to all of you who stopped by! I met some fun customers.  I was in heaven when three Italian guys pulled up in a whirl wind and cleaned me out in about a half hour.  I can hardly believe that some of my picks are headed for New York, California and now Italy!

Check out these gals, who videoed a parade in front of Flown The Coop booth.  You can hear me giggling in the background….

New dreams

This show has allowed me to entertain new dreams.  I NEED a vintage camper (not sure the style yet) and a Vespa for my gypsy lifestyle.  I’m in the market for a  vintage camper that needs to be gutted and restored.  A remodeling project will bring back the days when Jeff and I restored historic homes.  The Vespa would make roaming the fields fun and useful for zipping around the Heights. I didn’t buy the Vespa I found in the field. The dealer didn’t have the title and couldn’t let me test drive it.

The best part about my new dreams?  I don’t need to strike oil.

What was your favorite part of Texas Antiques Week?  Leave a comment to share with us your favorite finds and stories!!!!  

What is next?

Buying trip – October 11- 20th  Follow my flight pattern on Facebook.  🙂

Urban Market Houston – October 26 & 27.  I’ll have a new load to share at Urban Market, located at 9401 Knight Rd in Houston.  Hope to see you there!

Shop Local Parking Lot Sale Event at the Corridor Shops and more on 19th – November 2.  Stayed tuned on Facebook for details about this local event.

Onto the next adventure…  Life is a journey, come travel with me!

~Tiffany

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

 

What’s the story?

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My anticipation is growing as I prepare for Texas Antiques Week in Warrenton, Texas.  I am thrilled to be in a new location at Bar W under a big tent with my friends at The Seed Box Designs.  This is the first time I’ve had enough junque to fill a 20ft UHaul, my trailer and truck.  I will be ready to get this party started on Saturday, September 21, when Jeff and I roll our caravan into Bar W and unload.

I’m always excited to be surrounded by kindred spirits who share my passion for fabulous finds (aka junque).  Wether you are a customer or another dealer, most of us out in the field have junking in our blood and could tell stories about our adventures.

I come from a long line of junkers.  I have fond memories of Friday morning garage sales with my grandparents.  Grandpa loved garage sales as much as my Grandma.  I loved staying the night with them during the summer when we could hit the garage sales.  We would get up early, with a route all mapped out.  We were normally the first in line and had to wait for the homeowner to open the garage at our first stop.  I learned the art of negotiation from my Grandma.  I inherited my love for thrift stores from my Mom, which I’d never admit as a teenager.  We had our favorite thrifts and discount shops, like Schottensteins and the Volunteers of America.  One of the best shopping experiences I had with my parents was at an Eddie Bauer Outlet sale.  We stood in line at 4 am and left with garbage bags full of clothes.  To this day, I refuse to pay retail prices for anything.  My children grew up thrift and garage sale shopping.  I am proud to say that my daughter is a natural who takes after her Great Grandma, Grandma and her Mother.

When I began to build a home for our family, I remember falling in love with the story.  I had friends in Mississippi who taught me the art of decorating with character.  They would walk me through their homes telling me stories behind each treasured piece.  Their homes were full of fun memories and insight into their lives.  To this day, my home is a collection of adventures and remembrances from my journey.

I am often asked, “So, what is the story?”  I know that it’s nice to know where a piece came from, who made it or what era it came from.  I can usually tell you where or how I acquired the piece, but not it’s origin.  Honestly, I never think to ask the person I buy it from.  At the time I am usually caught up in the moment and excited about the particular piece.  Here’s a glimpse into my world of junking, a video Jeff and I made a couple years ago called “Making magic happen” or better known as “it’s not all fun and games.”  Warning:  it’s not all glamorous.

Click Here (in case you don’t see the video embedded)

I believe the true value of a treasured piece comes from the story you give it.  Where did you find it?  What were you looking for at the time?   Who were you with when you bought it?  What special occasion is it associated with?  What adventure did you have while buying it?  Did the piece “buy you” when you weren’t even looking for it?

I enjoy the idea of helping people tell their stories through the pieces they buy from Flown The Coop.  I love watching the adventure unfold in Warrenton as shoppers hit the fields with their lists.  Years from now, I wonder what stories they will tell their friends when asked about the piece they purchased from me.  Don’t be surprised if I ask you, “What’s the story?”

Is your home a collection of stories to tell?  Or are you just getting started on your decorating adventure?  Tell us about your current favorite piece, and “What’s the story.”

Here’s a sneak peak of the items you’ll find at Flown The Coop during Texas Antiques Week.

Hope to see you there!  Stop by and we’ll swap stories.  🙂

Don’t forget to share your stories in the comment section and follow our flight pattern on Facebook!  Life is a journey, come travel with me.

~Tiffany

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


 

I took a leap

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And now I’m flying!

Two years ago I took a leap with my friend Kristie Herlong (now owner of Dorcey’s).  We naively set up at the Springfield Antiques Show and Flea Market in July, a traditionally slow month.  Kristie and I had NO idea what we were doing, but embraced the adventure and figured it out.  We were thrilled with our sales and decided to launched Flown The Coop.  I had no idea that a little experiment with junking would turn into a passion and sustainable business venture.  Making it up along the way and carving out our individual niches, Kristie and I have both “built our wings.”

These little wings have flown some distance since then.

Last month I shared a space at the Dallas Market Center, Vintage Home section with my good friends and mentors Brian and Meloney Russell of the Seed Box Designs.  Needless to say, I am in awe of where Flown The Coop has taken me.

It helps to have talented friends in the business!  Congrats to The Seed Box Designs for winning Best of Vintage Home!!!

A flight home

This month I will return to the Springfield Antique Show and Flea Market.  Two years ago I would have never guessed that I would travel such a distance to shop the flea.  I am still excited about the journey and the unpredictable flight pattern.  I’m so glad that I took the leap, Flew the Coop and continue to build my wings!

If you have a dream, take the leap!  You’ll figure out how to build your wings on the way down!  If you are a leaper, what is your experience?  I’m sure there are kindred spirits who could benefit from sharing your experiences.

~Tiffany

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

 

May Flew The Coop

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Time flies when you are having fun!

May was a fun month that seemed to fly by!  The buying trip to Ohio was a huge success! My workshop is officially “hoarded” up and the Flown The Coop booth at Chippendale Eastlake Antiques is fully stocked.

Shopping is one of my favorite parts of the business, and is even better when friends and family tag along! You never know who you’ll meet up with in the field.  This time I found Mrs. Beasley!

Jeff joined me on this trip. Shopping hours on end is not his favorite part of the business. We joked that he became my personal porter.
Jeff proved to have a good eye for treasures! He found this egg scale, which was immediately sold to a farm in West Liberty, Ohio after being posted to Facebook. The Springfield Extravaganza kicks off the show season in the midwest.  I was so excited to shop it for the first time since I moved to Houston. It was fun to see my friends at Dorcey’s set up under their big circus tent. (click on the image to view the Vine Video)

Shopping trips are serious work, but a trip to Ohio would not be complete without spending time with my family and friends! On the way to Ohio we stopped in Memphis to see our dear friend Erin, and heard award winning Blues at the Hard Rock Cafe. We arrived in Ohio in time to celebrated Mother’s day with my family. Jeff and I enjoyed hanging out in the evenings with some of our favorite people.  Here’s Kelly, Michele and I after a dinner in Urbana. These ladies always make me smile!

On the way back to Houston, we stopped at Brian and Meloney’s home in Missouri. They own The Seed Box Designs and have a fabulous home in the Ozark mountains. We enjoyed hanging out on their deck, showing them our picks from Ohio, seeing what they’ve been working on and feeding the cows with Miss Ivy. It was exactly what we needed before our last leg of the trip.

Returning to Houston

First thing on the agenda after returning to Houston was a booth redo at Chippendales. My daughter Emily was in town and helped me whip the booth in shape. Many of the new pieces have already flown off to new homes.

The Dallas Market

It’s now June, which means summer in Texas is really heating up!  It’s also quickly approaching the time for Flown The Coop’s debut at the Vintage Home Market, going on during the Dallas Gift Market June 20-24th in the Market Hall North across from the World Trade Center. I have a week to finish last minute projects and pack it all up.

June and beyond

I hope to spend more time blogging about my adventures in the future! Time seems to fly the coop. I get busy working on projects and hunting new treasures. There are so many aspects of the business I’d like to share; from buying, repurposing, merchandising, selling, etc. What would you like to read more about?

There are no shows scheduled for July and August, but I’ll hook up the trailer to Miss Dixie for anther buying adventure this summer. Stayed tuned for stories from June and beyond… and follow our flight pattern on Facebook for a daily dose of Flown The Coop!

~Tiffany

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