May Newsletter

NOTE FROM KI

Fond Memories. At barely 5 feet and weighing fewer than 100 pounds, my Mom was vibrant, loving, spunky, hard-working and strong willed.  An advocate for shelter animals and a get-it done kind of gal, she adopted a dog or cat from most towns she visited. Not to mention the many homeless animals that found their way to our farm. She fed horses, scrubbed water tanks, picked manure from the pastures and met with veterinarians and farriers seven days a week. With chores completed, she ritually microwaved a bag of popcorn and sipped an iced Coke in the tack room. Mom had a soft spot for her herd of mini donkeys and treated them daily to handmade hay nests filled with a mix of molasses, oats and hand-cut carrots.

Sadly, dementia stripped her of her dynamic personality and lovely spirit. I regularly dream of the times I spent growing up on the farm and am forever grateful my kids got a chance to know the extraordinary woman who raised me and my four siblings. My kids and I reminisce fondly of the hours spent in the barn amongst dogs, cats, donkeys and horses as my Mom doled out our chores. What I would give to relive just one more weekend on the farm!

Happy Mothers Day! Cheers to sweet memories and to all things vintage.

Ki

French Style. International author and stylist Fifi O’Neill illustrates fresh and timeless decorating in her newest book French Flair: Creating a Home Inspired by French Style.  In our interview she shares more about herself and the new book as well as what is inspiring her these days. You can follow Fifi on Instagram here.

A Little Piece of Heaven. A Sears kit home was the jumping-off point for this charming Lake Michigan cottage, a barefoot-breezy retreat for a Phoenix antiques and vintage dealer. Read more here.

Saving the World, one Teddy at a Time. Read the story of of how one woman went from a dream to save all the stuffed animals from landfills, to one of the world’s fastest growing sustainable toy brands. Loved Before and its fluffy mission have landed in the USA with expansion plans! Learn more on the toymaker’s website and follow the fun on Instagram.

Goldilocks of Belt Bags. There was a time when my kids chided me for my lack of fashion sense. The thought of sporting a fanny pack brought me back to those bad old days! But I needed a practical solution for my walk to the gym and for shopping hands-free at the flea market. My research yielded not one, but TWO, perfect solutions! One is smallish and fits my phone, keys and hand wipes and is perfect for short treks. The second is a bit bigger and fits phone, wallet, eyeglasses, keys and other items. Both can be worn on my waist or as crossbody bags. They have proven to be just right!