A Birthday, a Beginning, and a Year of Hand-Picked Magic

This week marks two beautiful milestones - my birthday and the one-year anniversary of Hand-Picked by Heidi. A year ago, this little dream was just a spark - a seed of curiosity and creativity planted between motherhood, travel, and my lifelong love of discovery. Now it’s blossomed into a full-grown treasure hunt that fills my heart daily with gratitude.

A Little Seed, Planted Long Ago

Before there was Hand-Picked by Heidi, there was a little girl tagging along to garage sales with her mom. The neighborhood block sale was the holy grail - tables of treasures waiting to be found. On my sixteenth birthday, my mom gifted me an antique trunk. I remember thinking it was the most magical thing in the world - I kept it at the foot of my bed and filled it with letters, trinkets, and tiny keepsakes.

Those early memories of uncovering beauty in forgotten things - old boots, worn denim, vintage jewelry - were the first clues that this passion would one day become something bigger. Even when other kids teased me for wearing “old stuff,” I loved it. I’ve always believed that age adds character - whether it’s in people, places, or the pieces we surround ourselves with.

The Dream Unfolds

Last year, I opened a small booth upstairs at STARS Antique Market in Hermosa Beach (https://www.starsantiquemarket.com). What started as one little corner has grown into the entire center section of the upstairs loft - my happy haven filled with treasures and stories waiting to be rediscovered. Over the months, I’ve found so many memorable pieces: pennies tucked inside a tin box, antique oil paintings whose brushstrokes tell forgotten tales, hand-stitched quilts soft with history, vintage French lace, and Lucite galore for my fellow lovers of mid-century magic.

And once, I thought I’d found the diamond in the egg - only to discover it was just an old glass bead. But that’s the beauty of this business: even when something isn’t what it seems, it still holds a bit of wonder.

Gratitude in Every Grain

This year has been a lesson in gratitude - for the friendships made, the stories shared, and the support from every single person who’s visited, followed, or cheered me on. You’ve made Hand-Picked by Heidi more than a shop; it’s become a living story, a community, and truly my happy place. My eye for design and history grows sharper every day because of the incredible people I meet in this world of vintage - fellow collectors, creators, and old-soul seekers. I love learning from all of you and discovering beauty in the most unexpected corners.

Looking Ahead

As I step into another year of life and business, my heart feels full. There’s so much more to uncover - more stories, more treasures, more connections. Maybe the next piece is waiting under a dusty table at a flea market, or halfway across the world in a forgotten attic. Here’s to the next adventure - to curiosity, craftsmanship, and the stories behind every find. And here’s to the joy of sharing it all with you.

With love and gratitude,

Heidi Founder, Hand-Picked by Heidi

A Birthday, a Beginning, and a Year of Hand-Picked Magic