Mid-America News
compiled by Rhiannon Ross
Missouri • Kansas • Arkansas • Iowa • Oklahoma •
MISSOURI
Jewelry designer opens dream shop
When Mechelle Arndt, of Blue Springs, was laid off from her job in the construction industry for the second time in two years, she saw it as a sign.
“I’ve always enjoyed looking around antique stores and flea markets,” she says. “And I have wanted to open a shop for several years. So I decided to pursue the opportunity.”
Arndt didn’t let the fact that she’d never owned a business before stop her either. Instead, she relied upon her skills in project management to guide her decisions. And when she found a suitable, reasonably priced building, she made the jump.
“I didn’t face any roadblocks, so I took it as a go-ahead,” she adds, laughing.
In December, she opened Mechelle’s Variety Shop, 1103 S. Broadway, in Oak Grove. The store offers a variety of items, from old to new, including some antiques (on consignment) and collectibles such as Precious Moments and Cherished Teddies. She also sells sewing notions.
“I have both old and new buttons, needles and fabric,” she says. “But what I have today I might not have next week. I could go to an estate sale and come into possession of two tubs of sewing notions. You just never know.”
The shop also serves as a showcase for Chelle’s Beaded Creations, the name of Arndt’s jewelry designs.
“I love getting my hands on broken jewelry and then making something different out of it,” she says.
“Right now, I have a box of (lapel) pins that will become magnets or maybe the focal point of necklaces.”
Arndt, who also sells beads and wire wrappings, plans to offer jewelry-making classes and wire-wrapping classes in her shop in the near future. And her daughter, Brigitt Arndt of Brigitt’s Photography, also uses the shop to sell her photographs.
Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, call 816-255-0833 or visit www.bonanza.com/booths/mechellesvarietyshop.
Chocolate and wine divine!
Indulge in wine and chocolate food pairings in the annual Chocolate Wine Trail Feb. 18-19 in historic Hermann.
Maps of the seven participating wineries are available at the Hermann Welcome Center. Tickets are $30 per person, with a souvenir glass included in the price.
For more information, call 1-899-932-8687 or visit www.visithermann.com.
New shop focuses on old
Retrofit Home Furnishings and Décor, 106 5th Ave. South, Greenwood, announces it has opened its doors.
Shop owners Leah McCauley and Toni Bauer launched the shop in October 2011 as an outlet for their hobby of rehabbing old and used items. Retrofit is open the second and fourth Friday, Saturday and Sunday of each month. Check their Facebook page for more information.
KANSAS
Glass museum finds home
The National Depression Glass Association has moved into its new museum space at 117 S. Washington, in downtown Wellington.
The museum will showcase American made glass from the Victorian Era thru the Mid-Century and up to the 1970s with an emphasis on the Depression Era. The National Collection, consisting of over 8,500 pieces of glass, has been housed in warehouses in Wichita for a number of years. The museum is slated to be open to the public in the spring.
For more information, visit www.ndga.net.
ARKANSAS
Museum of Discovery reopens
The Arkansas Museum of Discovery, 500 President Clinton Ave., in Little Rock, reopened its doors in January.
During the past year, central Arkansas’ premier math, science and technology center was gutted and redone from top to bottom. The result is three new galleries containing 85 interactive exhibits for all ages.
The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation provided the Museum with $9.2 million grant for renovation. “Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas” is the first of many traveling exhibits to be featured in the new museum. The immersive exhibit, custom-built by New York’s American Museum of Natural History, spans 1,500 square feet and includes seven interactive stations.
For more information, visit http://museumofdiscovery.org.
IOWA
Spectacular weekend!
Beat the cabin fever blues at the Antique Spectacular Antique Show, the weekend of Feb. 17-19, at the Iowa State Fair Animal Learning Center, E. 33rd Street and East University Avenue, in Des Moines.
Hours are 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 712-326-9964 or visit www.antiquesSpectacular.com.
OKLAHOMA
An Affair of the Heart
Enjoy three days of antiquing, crafts and collectibles at the annual Affair of the Heart show Feb. 10-12 at the Oklahoma State Fair Park, 3001 General Pershing Blvd., in Oklahoma City.
Admission for each show is $6 and is good for all three days. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 405-632-2652 or 405-632-2653.
Submissions wanted!
Don’t see your city or state represented? Submit something! Discover Vintage America wants to know about festivals, antique and craft shows, events, historical and art exhibits, new business openings, anniversaries, ownership changes and other news in your area. Photos are welcome. Submission deadline for this free listing is the 10th of the month to run in the following month’s issue (for example, Aug. 10 for news to run in the September issue). We regret that we cannot run all submissions because of space; however, early submitters will get first priority! You can submit information and photos three ways: 1.) email editor@discoverypub.com, 2.) fax 816-474-1427, or 3.) snail mail at 1501 Burlington, Ste. 207, North Kansas City, MO, 64106.
As always, we look forward to hearing from you!