A while back, I left a wonderful job due to demands at home. That decision gave me the solitude necessary to think long and hard about my own future. I decided it was time to be my own boss, to open a business of my own where I called the shots, where I was responsible for screw-ups, where I could claim credit for the success.

My husband supported this idea. In fact, he helped me flesh out a plan.

I loved helping friends accessorize their homes. I loved shopping for art and accessories at estate sales and on craigslist. I found that the relics of the past had such appeal when mixed into a modern home.

It was a natural decision to sell antique and vintage accessories and art, online.

But. With the marketplace crowded with thousands of stores on Etsy and EBay, how to compete?

I needed a niche. The problem is, I'm pretty slutty when it comes to decorating. I am willing to get in bed with just about any trend or style. It's a problem.

Then one day I was shopping in the garden store and noticed how increasingly popular the mixed flower containers are. People love those mixed pots that, I think, represent a little slice out of someone's perennial bed. But it's hard to find the right combination of plants based on color, leaf texture, sun requirements, water requirements, etc.

My favorite garden store, circa 1968. I was wandering these rows of plants when I had the idea for Finder Not Keeper.

And the same is true with accessories in the home. People love gallery walls and mixed mantels and interesting tablescapes. But they are a challenge to create. And no one is selling them as a complete entity. Why not?

I'm not talking about Pottery Barn and Target. They do offer wonderful finished looks. But their looks are factory-produced and mass-purchased.

I'm talking about a more personal, authentic, original look that incorporates items with history and patina.

And that's when I found my direction.

It's really hard but really fun to put these collections together.