antiq-tip

A lot of people were surprised when I jumped into vintage shopping with both feet.  It's true, I had never been much of a shopper in my younger days....even at Christmas, most gift-buying trips were performed with the precision of a military strike.  But the signs were always there.  My kitchen was already decorated with framed concert posters I had pulled off of telephone poles. "Flea Market Flip", the HGTV show starring Lara Spencer was certainly the game changer.  It captured my imagination in a way no DIY show ever had.  One of things she emphasized when the teams went out to look for their items was to get the story behind the item...and there you go...I ALWAYS love a good story.  I think we'd only been to one actual flea market when we made our way to Dixieland in Waterford, Michigan.  Antique stores, boutiques, thrift shops, they all cross paths with the others.  You will often see one booth where there is already restored furniture, ...

When you walk into the barn at 5150 Michigan Avenue, it’s clear that this is no ordinary second-hand store.   Muse Atelier Vintage is an extremely funky spot, chockful of antique (as well as newer) vintage clothing and hard-to-find accessories of all types.   While the items for sale are predominantly women’s, there is a smattering of other items that would interest any shopper of discriminating tastes. When Kathy and I visited the first time, we were overwhelmed by the welcoming spirit of the place and the sex-positive, inclusive vibe.   As we were leaving, the proprietress, Tanya Luz, invited us back for an event later in the week, an erotic art show.   It was there that we met Luna Legare, the blonde spitfire that manages Muse.   We sat down recently to discuss where she came from and where she’s headed…as well as what she does on the weekends...   “I was helping out Tanya with her cake business, but it wound up being much more than that. ...

It would be easy to say that Kathy and I got into thrift shopping because of the bargains.   It would even be partially true.   But there’s another facet, the fact that you’re sometimes sorting through someone else’s memories.   Everything you see, everything you touch, it is a story.   It is someone else’s story, granted, but it COULD be yours…for a price. Our story: On vacation in Austin, Texas with my wife’s sister, Lisa, I tag along with the siblings and visit the funky downtown shops.   I was never much of a shopper, but Kath and Lisa are good company and there was a likelihood of day drinking, so…duh…I was in.   Some stores were filled with tasteful antiques, some were stocked with items of varying and (largely) unknown vintage.   A few were like showrooms while others were garage sales.   I never knew what I was going to see from one store to the next, and that was exhilarating.   Think about it…if you were led into a store bl...