Ordinary Artifacts

🌷THE STORY OF ORDINARY ARTIFACTS🌷

Three years ago today, Ordinary Artifacts opened its digital doors.

Before this shop, I had spent a decade working in thirteen museums across four states. My mission, battle cry and mantra was ‘museums are for everyone’. Nothing felt more important than my job.

I thought museums were my great love, ya know? They had made me who I was - shaped what I thought and how I moved around in the world. But ya girl was tired. I was underpaid, overworked, burnt out and exhausted. So I quit my job and sobbed the whole drive home. Who was I without museums?

Much of Ordinary Artifacts has been shaped by the thing that broke my heart.

I love the thrill of unearthing something covered in dust that I just know has a story to tell. I love researching and telling y’all the wild stuff I find. I love uncovering stories of people that lived and died centuries ago who weren’t so different from us. I love finding our common humanity in handwritten letters. I love hearing echoes of my sister’s laugh in antique photos of joyful women. I love using the past to teach myself to do better - learning lessons unintentionally taught from mistakes left behind. I love that artifacts have brought us together.

For me, Ordinary Artifacts is more than a vintage shop. It’s a museum of the things that move me. It’s the way I honor the past, nourish my soul and find a connection with humanity through ordinary items left behind.

In the past three years, I’ve shipped more than 2,700 packages to 10 countries. More importantly, I’ve met all of you! What a gorgeous community of vintage lovers we are a part of.

I'm thankful for each of you - your support, friendship and hoarding. Here’s to the years (and vintage!) to come.

❤️ Abbie