Name: Deborah Shull

Business Name: The Vintage Boulevard

Shops where people can find you: Etsy

Personal bio: I am one of nine children raised in rural Colorado – I’ve always been creative, because with a large family, you have to be, right? I owned my own handmade home decor store for a few years but decided I preferred the flexibility of working from home and doing shows. I have my own large family with 6 grown children, 19 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. We all live here in Arizona and somehow I ended up in the desert – even though I’ll always be a mountain girl. My husband and I spend most of our summers avoiding the heat in our camper up north or in beautiful Colorado.

How did you start your business & why?  I love creating beautiful things, especially out of things other people have discarded or ignored. For me, it’s about the treasure hunt and the transformation. It started as more of a hobby and slowly turned in to something people wanted to buy. I’ve been making and selling handmade items since toll painting was all the rage! Now, it’s a whole family project as I have help from my sisters, my daughters, my niece and even my granddaughters.

How would you best describe your style and the items you sell?  I love all things vintage, old, chippy and classic. I like things that last, so I try to make sure that everything I make is high quality and durable. I don’t like things that are just trendy for the sake of being trendy, but prefer timeless items that can look great for years to come. I make handmade crocheted rugs, wood signs, re-purposed furniture, windchimes made from silverware and kitchen items, and much, much more.

When was your first Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market? My daughter and I were shoppers at JITT in May 2014 – it was the first we had heard of the sale and she was 9 months pregnant. It was hot and very crowded, but we knew that it was our kind of place. We walked around just taking everything in for quite a while and when we left we said, “WE COULD DO THIS!”

And what is your favorite part about the event? Or a favorite memory? The people. We have met the nicest vendors and shoppers at JITT. We’ve done many shows through the years, but have been so impressed with the culture of JITT – from the top down – all quality, kind people. It makes us excited for the event every time.

What’s your favorite place to get away in the summer? Anywhere but Phoenix! We love to take off in our camper and spend our summer up near Flagstaff or in Colorado where we can enjoy the weather and I can see my dad and some of my brothers and sisters.

Thank you so much Deborah for sharing!  Head over to Facebook to check out what The Vintage Blvd is preparing for the next market.