This week’s featured shop is FreewheelFinds , owned by Kara.
Please tell us a little about yourself and your shop.
I am a writer and teacher who lives on the East End of Long Island. I have always been an avid yard-saler and picker – from birth I think! I cannot resist going hunting for forgotten objects. My favorite finds are the whimsical and unusual folk art ones. Things hand made or homemade by people.
Last year I found a precious thing: an amateur oil painting of the Starship Enterprise. It was from the 70s and was very funny and wonderful. Sometimes it takes longer for items like that to sell, but when pieces like that, or my giant victorian portrait of a St. Bernard, or my crazy velvet Hollywood Regency chair, or my red goat weathervane – when these find their true owners, and their true owners find them on my shop, it is so wonderful!
Since I am a writer and a storyteller I do consider my Etsy shop an extension of that passion. Each object has a story, and for me, the stranger the better!
I go to sales out here in the Hamptons and, of course, the recycling center has amazing things, and then I do commission on bigger items that friends want to sell. There are really plenty of bargains left, even in a place that knows its antiques.
What is your favorite era and why?
I don’t have a favorite era really. I love beautiful and unusual finds from any era and my shop is very eclectic that way. 50s, 60s, 70s, Victorian, 30s – I just don’t have a favorite! Of course I’ve gone crazy over all the mid century modern stuff that’s all the rage. But I like to mix styles. And I love the home-made or folk art things.
Do you have a favorite item in shop right now?
My mid century Brutalist dragon sculpture.I guess I love it because it is so mysterious. Is it an Asian dragon or a Nordic ship? Who made this? What was their story? It might actually be a piece by a well known artist. The craftsmanship and design are incredible. I find it magical and can’t wait for the day when someone on Etsy emails me all about it. This happens quite a lot on Etsy.
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Love your eclectic style, Kara! You have a really fun shop!
Truly a wonderful shop!
I enjoyed reading about your journey that brought you here to Etsy. You tell the story of your vintage items very well. Congrats on the feature. I'm personally thrilled to have you on my Virtuoso team!