To keep our costs low and because we love the eclectic look, we’re planning to use lots of salvaged wood, antique crates and other recycled or re-purposed odds and ends to build all of our shop displays. The majority of my craft show booth displays have been made this same way, but we’ve had a lot of super great finds lately at estate sales, thrift stores, garage sales, even dumpsters: vintage type trays, pop bottle crates, tool boxes, and more.

This morning we visited some local garage sales and found so much good stuff that we had to make a trip home to drop stuff off before we were even finished! We also got some excellent pieces for free today: the screen door shown above, some gallon sized glass jars, and even an old hardwood kitchen table.

Not only are we saving money and collecting pieces that will become a truly one-of-a-kind shop, but we’re also spending money in our own local economy. DIY rules.

I also was lucky enough this morning to find three new(-to-me) pair of Converse in my size! (It’s a good thing, too, because the one stars I’ve been wearing for the last couple of years have gotten a bit threadbare.)

Finally, I want to share the logo that Tod & I designed for the shop. We picked a swallow for the sign because they fly all along the river and through our neighborhood. When we first moved back to Eaton Rapids, I saw a pair of them first thing, as though they were greeting me and welcoming us home. Needless to say, it was a warm welcome, and it stuck with me. :)