My love of all things home, art, and design has evolved over the years, from my 1950s toy kitchen, to my Heywood Wakefield desk as I celebrate my 60th year.

I was born on October 7th, 1949 in Old Orchard Beach, Maine–the week of the Chinese revolution, the week the Yankees and the Red Sox were in a hot race for the American League pennant, the same year Bill’s Pizza opened on Main Street, and the day Reny’s first opened in Damariscotta. I grew up in Maine, went to away to school to study history, came back, taught school and coached basketball, played lots of golf, became a political junkie, went to grad school, and became a counselor. Then, around age 50, I realized I needed to tap into the power of my own creativity. There I found my greatest joy.

I’ve always loved art, but I was paying more attention to it now. I started noticing what I really loved whether it was fabric, prints, dishes, or furniture. I began taking mental notes on colors, textures, and designs. I explored Americana and studied the ancient Chinese art of placement, Feng Shui. I took classes and did my own research, except I didn’t have to write term papers this time. It was just fun. And I listened closely to what all the antique collectors were saying. Every object, every bowl had its own story. Someone gave a toast at some joyous event with those crystal glasses. Someone wrote letters at that desk. Every quilt, made lovingly from scraps of fabric, kept some kid warm. It occurred to me too that most of the things I loved were utilitarian–baking powder tins, McCoy vases, Transferware pottery, vintage children’s books, old maps, yardsticks from interesting businesses that no longer exist.

This blog is my way of sharing all the found objects (and hopefully their stories), interesting places, and people I encounter. There’s a story in the finding of all these things just as there is a story in the objects. In my youth I studied history as an academic. Now, I see there is history in almost everything. It gives me great joy to share it with you.