Handmade in Minnesota. We Love Local!

Each month, we bring in more and more handmade products. While the majority of our store is vintage, antique, or repurposed, we also love to support local artisans. And by "local" we mean Minnesota-based. Many of our in-house dealers make handmade items of their own to sell at the store. Others come from folks who specialize in a particular craft, and we work with them to provide specific products for the store.

Here are just a few of the handmade items carried at Carver Junk Company:

What other handmade items would you like to see at Carver Junk Company?  We're always looking for inventory suggestions!

Retail Store Inspiration: non-junk-style

It's no secret, I like to shop. You're not surprised, are you?

About a month ago, I had a little "me" time, wandering through the Galleria in Edina, MN. It's a high-end shopping center, at which I typically buy nothing. Except, Crate and Barrel was having a clearance sale, and I'm all about the bargains! It was one of those days with nothing on the agenda, and no rush. I love to shop alone on days like these, because I never feel rushed, or as if I'm making someone stand around while I look at some thing they'd never consider remotely interesting.

Annnnyway. I wandered Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, etc, etc checking out what they had. I mean, realistically, they are our competition. Have you seen our amazing antique rail carts? Their reproductions can't even come CLOSE to the real thing - not to mention the prices....whooooeeeee.

But, I did snap a few pics of what I thought were some hot items. I'd love to find some originals of these bad boys to have in the shop. Check out the eye candy below!

Loving the fabric prints, the hardware, and some of the really out-there styles, like the airplane-inspired armchair!

If you want some cool old wheels for decor, we've got 'em. And they won't set you back $99!  

 Above right:  Hey, we've got some skulls and horns, too!

Above: The front and back of the same chair. I saw a lot of the rough, unfinished burlap look. Very cool!

 Above right: I would give my left arm to find an original whatever-those-things-are to make into tables!

Above:  A steamer-trunk inspired desk! How cool is that?

Above left: $145 for this pulley!! None of our pulleys are priced over $45 :)



A New Space for a New Year!

Exciting news: {drumroll please.....}       We're Moving!

If you follow us on Facebook, you may have already seen the announcement, but here are some more details.

Railroad Cart Reveal - our new coffee table

I'm running a little short on time this morning, but want to get this before/after post up before the week gets even more crazy!  The shop is open Thursday - Saturday this weekend, which always means tons of last-minute work to do to get it ready. Like pricing all the new items we've brought in!

Pretend this is one of those MadLibs-type blog posts, and fill in the captions (outloud or silently) as you go. The end result will be "Here is the super awesome finished cart in our new, not-yet-accessorized living room."

 

So, what was your favorite caption? Have you done anything this ambitous for your own house? How did it turn out?! Share a link to the photos!