Meet Hygge Sabi
Apparently, Jeff and I were on vacation a couple of weeks ago. It seems like that was well over a year ago already😜. We did our usual trip to the sleepy harbor town of Mattapoisett, MA. It was exactly what we needed and wanted. Nothing was rushed, nothing was forced. Our next trip will be longer for sure.
Brimfield: Bucket List, Checked (and a Little Overwhelming)
One of the highlights of our trip was going to Brimfield, “America’s Oldest Antiques Flea Market.” This has long been a bucket item for me, so I was super excited to check it off the list. Overwhelming. It was overwhelming, and we spent an inordinate amount of time looking for the bathroom.😆
It was also very fantastic! There were vendors from all over the country, and it was just a spectacle of vintage, antiques, and some new stuff had snuck in too. I was on the hunt for oil paintings with awesome frames and sports pennants, specifically for our clients in Venice Beach. I did not score, exactly, but the hunt was fun!
I found a couple of pieces of art that I think might be right, but no pennants that were right. What I learned from this is that I fare much better when I shop with an open mind rather than a list. I also learned how to pack two very large pieces of luggage full of art, including a couple with glass, without breakage! I can’t say the same for the pieces that were too big for the luggage that UPS handled.😞
More Art, More Discovery
We hit all of our usual haunts in and around the South Coast and then a few new ones in the town of Buzzards Bay, where we picked up even more art.
So, what are we doing with all of this art, you ask? Well, hopefully Nikki and David will pick up a few for their home in Venice Beach, but if not, they will live in our new little speakeasy of a shop that I have been manifesting for years now, and it has finally come to life!
Welcome to Hygge Sabi
“Speak-easy of a shop,” what the hell is that, you ask? Well, it’s not open to the public. It is exclusive to just our clients and associates, and you have to know the secret knock 😉
Once you’re in, you’ll find yourself submerged in the definition of juxtaposition. A colorful, creative world curated with vintage and antique finds as well as some new and handcrafted gems. You will find things that Jeff and I have picked up over the years and would put in our own home, but we have no more room (🤗), or sometimes I have certain people in mind, or we just think it’s cool!
Why the Name?
I came up with the name Hygge Sabi for this shop. Again, what the hell!? Why?
“Hygge” is the Danish cultural concept of creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.
“Sabi” is the Japanese aesthetic concept of the beauty of imperfection—one half of “wabi sabi.”
These concepts are close to my heart, and what I hope is that anyone who walks in will feel that, feel at home, and find something that feels like home to them.
A Creative Homecoming
I cut my design teeth in the retail world of visual merchandising. This endeavor is the amalgamation of those skills, my interior design skills, and my (our…Jeff is a huge part of this) hobby, habit, passion, obsession, love of all things vintage.
This is also to feed my soul. As a designer, you would think that all we do is design and that it’s pure creation. Well. It’s not. We don’t get unfettered design and creation time. There is always compromise and giving up on things that you feel strongly about because, well, it’s not your house! 😂
This blog, and now Hygge Sabi, are the two things that are pure creative expressions where I get to lose myself and all sense of time. I cherish them so much.
When I was setting up the main floor of the shop, I turned up the music (Pandora: Prince, if you must know), and when Jeff came in, he knew that I was in my zone. He left me to it, and I came home about 8 hours later, exhausted and exhilarated. I was lifting things that were too heavy. I didn’t eat and barely drank water. I didn’t want to stop.
Gah! I love and need that escape so much. If none of you like anything in Hygge Sabi at all, it’s still worth it to just get the creative freedom. It’s a thirst you can’t quench with water that tastes like heaven.
A Few Special Shoutouts
Before I go, I want to shout out to a couple of very special contributors.
One is someone I have known since we were 13, so, like 20 years ago 🤪…Jenny Ryan. She has started a line of hand-painted cards and bookmarks, and I carry them. It’s magical to help her in her start since we’ve been helping each other in one way or another for decades. Also, they are simply beautiful. So beautiful, you can frame them. Not kidding. You can follow her on Instagram: @jenny’s_note_shop
The other is Alpha StoneWorks. We have been partnering in remodeling projects with them for years, and I know that they can do amazing things, but when they hung this gorgeous marble mirror in my shop, my jaw dropped. This stunning mirror can be yours!
You Have the Secret Knock
Because you’re reading this blog, you have the secret knock. Like I said, this is exclusive. It will not be open to everyone. I would love to show you around…once it’s completely done. Here are some sneak peeks:
And, one last thing, things seem to be a little extra weird right now…because they are. It’s even more important than ever for us to be nice to each other, to appreciate the beauty that is all around us in even the smallest ways. We’ll get through this together.
Til next time,
Arlene