It’s the latest trend, shops that are open on an occasional basis and Ashley Cooper and Kate Foss McKinney have decided this will work for their new shop. After all, Ashley works full time and Kate has three small boys, a first grader, a four year old and a baby just eight weeks old.
Ashley’s degree is in media communication and Kate has the ability to beautifully repurpose a piece of furniture that others would toss out. Between them, their shop, First and Vine, currently located in Kate’s house at 418 Vine St in Spooner is planning their first opening on Saturday, November nineteenth from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, and then again on Monday night, the twenty first from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, joining lots of other shops and stores celebrating Ladies Night in Spooner.
It’s really hard to describe the things you’ll find for sale, not only are there all kinds of repurposed furniture pieces, but lots of painted signs, including some that simply state, “Be nice or leave.” Everywhere you look the things are not only cute, but affordable and practical.
If you’ve got kids and don’t plan to stay where you’re living now for years and years, measuring boards are for you. Just place it up against a wall and mark your child’s yearly height on it. This way, when you move, you can take it with you.
Just about anything that makes you feel cozy and welcome is what you’ll find at this home turned shop on an occasional basis. Soy candles, pillows, mugs, placemats, clothes, jewelry; they’ll have it all in true boutique style.
Kate is a 2002 Shell Lake graduate and Ashley made her way from Michigan and then Indiana, where she met her husband, and they now live in Spooner. The women met at church and became fast friends. They also each have really great husbands who not only lend their verbal support, but also think nothing of taking the kids or making supper so the girls can spend time creating. Kate’s husband is Ryan McKinney, Spooner’s middle school phy ed teacher and Ashley’s husband, Patrick, is the youth pastor at the Spooner Wesleyan Church.
They call their products, home design/decor and they’re filling all their available space with “all things that say, home.”
If First and Vine finds an audience for their hand-crafted creations, their goal is to eventually move into a place downtown and join the other shops that are working hard to make Spooner the place to shop for items you won’t find anywhere else and have fun doing it.
You can keep in touch with their progress by following them on Facebook and on Instagram.
Last Update: Nov 18, 2016 11:21 am CST
