Me and my vintage life...
I have a ridiculous love of all things Retro & Vintage!
I started RetroLand in 2008 and have been hunting vintage and creating retro-designed pieces ever since. The idea of using pieces of the past to create a unique home has always been the springboard for both my Etsy shop and at Antiques on Pierce in Milwaukee, where I sell my vintage finds. Fabric stores and estate sales are a constant source of creative inspiration!
My grandmother was a dressmaker and I am blessed to have and use some of her sewing pieces - her sewing cabinet, notions, thimbles...I would give just about anything for a day to sit and sew with her, taking in all of her knowledge. My sewing room sits upstairs in our 1925 home close to Lake Michigan in the Milwaukee area of Wisconsin. Moving here from Southern California made it possible for us to buy an old home, which has been a dream come true for us! When I'm not working on my RetroLand shop I can usually be found at estate sales or thrift stores hunting for vintage goodness or puttering in my space at Antiques on Pierce. A friend asked what I look for at estate sales and I had a hard time coming up with a succinct answer. How do I explain that while I do have a few things in mind every time I enter a house - aprons, linens, vintage sewing or cookbooks - the thrill is to simply stand there and take in all of the treasures of someone's life, hoping to find that one truly unique piece. The "I'll know it when I see it" philosophy is strong during my estate sale visits. With each vintage piece I put on Etsy I try to give a tidbit of its history or a fun way the item could be used in the home or as a gift.
This is my wish for you: May you be reminded of sweet memories as you browse through my vintage finds & retro accessories. Enjoy!
Katie
