The Family Trunk transforms old into new

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake's Karin Smith blends her love of crafting and family time into creating gifts for the online business - The Family Trunk.

Smith and her sister, Megan Nieforth, of Pasco, started selling their "repurposed vintage memories," more than a year ago.

A picture frame featuring vintage Monopoly pieces, a cupcake-shaped pincushion and a large picnic basket full of pinecones and post cards are among their offerings.

The pincushions and framed game pieces are customer favorites.

"It started off with us hitting yard sales, which we've done anyway," Smith recalled.

Her sister, Nieforth, noticed how popular used, vintage gifts were becoming, possibly because of the economic downturn.

The sisters have always done crafts and sewn with their mother.

"My mother and sisters were crafters," Smith says. "They went to bazaars and sold things and would sell out of their house at Christmas-time. As we grew up, we were kind of around crafting."

The items they find to sell are preserved well.

Small white pillows that appear to be covered with old flour sacks are instead tea towels from 1945. The pillows are immaculate.

Smith's favorite TV show is "American Pickers" where show stars find "big junk and resell it," she said.

"We buy 50-cent items," Smith clarified. "I've noticed those kind of shows are becoming more and more popular."

Another item she sells is a magnetic tray decorated with vintage jewelry crafted into magnets.

Smith picks up a shiny tin container filled with silverware, dried flowers and an electric candle. This table decoration can be used as a centerpiece or a night light.

"This is a good example of what we do," she commented.

They also work with many 1950s era coffee cans for their projects, which are fun, she said.

"They look really cute for a light in your kitchen," Smith commented.

Her sister's mother-in-law from Nova Scotia provided costume jewelry and pages from a children's book to frame for another item.

They even had a Little Bo Peep card game from 1889, which a co-worker of Smith's now has.

A circular wall hanging of rolled musical pages framing a bird's nest was made by Smith's mother.

The daughters took a stack of crazy quilts their grandmother made and sewed pillows with the quilt pieces.

Another piece is a large picnic basket full of Washington state-themed items, including pinecones, a license plate and an old postcard bought at an estate sale for 50 cents.

She points out images of Colfax, Mt. Rainier and the Columbia River in the postcard.

"The fun part is figuring out what to do," Smith said.  "We've had just tons of fun."

The sisters have sold their wares at bazaars in Moses Lake and Richland.

Smith enjoys receiving invitations to participate in shows.

"It makes you feel validated," Smith said.

During the week, Smith is a teacher at Garden Heights Elementary School in Moses Lake and her sister is a school bus driver in Pasco.

Smith says she loves teaching.

They have discussed making their business a full-time job, but "you would have to make enough money and it's tough," Smith said. "We spend what we make, usually."

For more information future shows, visit thefamilytrunk.blogspot.com or call 509-431-2213. 

They plan to sell their items at a June 18 show in Richland and a July 2 blueberry festival in Grandview.

The Family Trunk also has an Etsy page, www.etsy.com/people/Thefamilytrunk.