Meet and Greet Home Decor Designer Artists at Evilena's Red Dresser

New Trend for 2012 Gives Hope for the Future

Frankfort Business Launches Re-purposed with a Purpose Home décor Line

Frankfort, IL (December 28, 2011) – Re-purposing has become a trendy buzz word of the Great Recession and with good reason. It's inexpensive, creative, and fun! But Evilena's Red Dresser, an upscale furniture and home goods consignment store in Frankfort, IL is taking it to a whole new level by connecting thankfulness, togetherness, and hope for the future to re-purposed items.

Owner Jan Sabey will launch the “Cathrine's Curiosities” line of re-purposed home décor with a Meet the Designer/Artists event on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 5-7 p.m. at 59 W. Bankview Drive in Frankfort. Designer/Artists and next door neighbors Cathrine Schipman and Tracy DeGraaf will be available to talk about their newest creations including their Hopes and Dreams Birdhouse, Trash Talk Bin, and Thankful Boxes. Each item is handmade and includes a story of inspiration along with instructions for how to use them.

When asked why she decided to launch this new line, Sabey said, “I like what Cathrine and Tracy are doing because there is a deeper meaning to it. They are using home décor to create a home environment that also feeds the soul and that matches up with the mission of our store.” she said. “We have designated a special section of our store just for Cathrine's Curiosities and people are going to love it,” she added.

Their “Hopes and Dreams Birdhouse,” is a wooden birdhouse covered in recycled colored glass in hues of amber, blue, green and red. It was created by DeGraaf who is currently pursuing her dream of becoming a professional writer and stand-up comedian. She self-published her first book, Laugh Anyway Mom, in 2010 and is working her way up the ladder of success speaking and performing comedy at churches, women's groups and corporate events.

DeGraaf was inspired after seeing Tereri Trent, an impoverished woman from Africa with a dream of moving to the United States to get an education. Trent wrote her dream on a piece of paper, buried it, and it all came true. DeGraaf decided to write her dreams on paper and put them in a birdhouse that one of her son's made and let God take care of them.

“I had this naked birdhouse that one of my boys made in Cub Scouts and I wanted to do something fun with it. I put my hopes and dreams on paper and put them in the Cub Scout birdhouse covered in recycled IBC root beer bottles and VOILA' …..now I'm ready. I hope Oprah doesn't lose my number, because I sent it to her,” DeGraaf said.

Their “Trash Talk Bin” is a metal can that the pair use to rid themselves of any negative thoughts or talk. Whenever they are bothered by something, they write it down on paper, tear it up and toss it into the bin. Then they light it on fire and watch the negativity disappear! The concept of not communicating negative talk is taken from scripture in the book of Philippians when the Apostle Paul encourages the church not to allow any unwholesome talk to come out of their mouths but only to speak what is helpful to all.

“Remember to be Thankful Boxes” came to the surface when DeGraaf was searching for the perfect Christmas gift for her in-laws who moved to Florida five years ago. On a tight budget, she went to Evilena's for inspiration and found a small wood box painted with Christmas colors.

“I wanted to nurture our connection across the miles, so created a pretty box with memories written inside and we all got teary eyed as they read them out loud on Christmas day. It was a gift that we all will remember.” she said.

“She's Cathrine and I'm Curiosities,” laughed DeGraaf about the name. The idea for turning their creations into a line of home décor evolved after a 12 week course that Schipman took at Evilena's called The Artist's Way. The course is designed to help people re-discover their creativity and to unblock the things that stand in the way of moving forward. Schipman has dreamed for over 12 years of launching her own line of re-purposed furniture and home décor. The name Cathrine's Curiosities was inspired by the Charles Dicken's novel “The Old Curiosity Shop.” Her passion for re-creating furniture is evident throughout her home. She has a bathroom vanity that used to be a dresser, hockey sticks for curtain rods, skis for shelves, fireplace mantels for headboards.

“We love inspiring ourselves and others and we're having a blast doing it,” Schipman said of the new endeavor.