The Story Kept, Burnaby, BC (2026)

11/06/2021

Yesterday, while on the phone with a former student, helping him register for college, his friend texted to tell him to look outside. He told me to do the same, and over the phone we shared in the beauty of a double rainbow glowing above the treetops and rooftops of East Vancouver.

Right away I snapped a photo and sent it to a few friends too. Later, when I flicked on social media, I saw the same rainbow in all my feeds and I imagined this little arch of joy travelling from person to person all across the city, connecting us with our childlike wonder.

A tiny thing, but it brought about such lightheartedness that I wanted to share it here too. Just in case you needed a little lightness, a little encouragement to notice and appreciate something as ephemeral and playful as a rainbow.

Do you live near me? Did you see it?? 🌈

11/03/2021

As I reread The Secret History by Donna Tartt, this month’s book club pick, I can’t help but notice that the descriptions of the setting seems to mirror the turmoil within the characters. I shared a prompt in this week’s newsletter for those who are reading along: Capture a vignette (visually or in words) that mirrors your own inner landscape right now.⁣
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This is mine.⁣
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A cozy corner, a favourite chair, shadowy lighting. I know Halloween was a few days ago, but before we dive into You Know What season, I’m still savouring autumn and its moody magic.⁣
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If the cozy corners in your home need some love, there are plenty of beautiful vintage and antique home goods, decor, furniture, and art in The Secret History collection. Shop the link in my bio or by tapping this post.⁣
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10/28/2021

Life is short, though I keep this from my children.⁣
Life is short, and I’ve shortened mine⁣
in a thousand delicious, ill-advised ways,⁣
a thousand deliciously ill-advised ways⁣
I’ll keep from my children. The world is at least⁣
fifty percent terrible, and that’s a conservative⁣
estimate, though I keep this from my children.⁣
For every bird there is a stone thrown at a bird.⁣
For every loved child, a child broken, bagged,⁣
sunk in a lake. Life is short and the world⁣
is at least half terrible, and for every kind⁣
stranger, there is one who would break you,⁣
though I keep this from my children. I am trying⁣
to sell them the world. Any decent realtor,⁣
walking you through a real sh****le, chirps on⁣
about good bones: This place could be beautiful,⁣
right? You could make this place beautiful.⁣
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— Good Bones, Maggie Smith⁣
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📸: Amber Kipp
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10/24/2021

There’s something comforting about this moody season, don’t you think? Autumn feels like a call to get cozy, to stay home, and slow down. A reminder to light our candles, drink our warmest red wines, and pull out our coziest blankets.⁣
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I’m adding vintage pieces inspired by autumn to The Secret History collection every day. Patina-ed vintage brass candlesticks, antique ceramic serving dishes, delicate vintage wine glasses, and more…⁣
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And, of course, this collection has been curated not only with autumn in mind, but also the dark academia classic novel, The Secret History by Donna Tartt; the first book club pick for The Story Kept book club. Are you reading along with us?⁣
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Explore the collection and join the book club using the link in my bio.⁣
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07/22/2021

✨ Dappled morning sunlight outside my favourite Vancouver cafe, . Finding the beauty in the little moments in what’s shaped up to be a very full month. ✨

What started in my last post as a surprising realization that I’ve allowed things to get a little messy here in chez Fraser, turned into the ultimate reckoning with the fact that everything is a mess because I am BUSY!

Now, I definitely don’t mean to glorify busy-ness. In fact, quite the opposite. It’s not my ideal! But it’s the reality of life sometimes, and right now my reality is that over the next week, I’m wrapping up teaching summer term, which means report card writing and lots of cleanup; studying for and sitting an exam; and writing a term paper for a course in which I’m a student.

Oh, and of course also always prepping lots and *lots* of beautiful new items for the shop! (I tend to source products when I’m procrastinating on my more boring to do lists 😅)

So, this is all to say, I’m planning for a slow and restful August, where I take you behind the scenes of the shop, but for now, you may not see as much of me here as usual.

There are still plenty of vintage treasures in the Etsy shop to tide you over to the next release. Use the link in my bio to explore.

07/16/2021

I woke up this morning and looked around to see vintage chairs piled with unfolded laundry, product photography sessions left half assembled in the stairwell, vintage books piled high on the kitchen chairs…When and how did this happen?! (Just kidding. We all know it started when I decided to repurpose our laneway cottage as a vintage warehouse while also teaching full time 11 months of the year. 😅)⁣
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It may be all flat lays and teacups in soft morning light on my Instagram grid, but my real life needs a little organization (and maybe even a little )! ⁣
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So, I was thinking that while I go a little more “behind the scenes” with my work focus throughout the rest of the summer, it might be fun to take you along with me. How would you feel if I brought you along while I cleaned and styled products in my own home, and maybe even shared a thrifting haul or two? ⁣
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Let me know your thoughts!👇🏼⁣
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And please, reassure me that this Instagram vs. reality wake up call isn’t just me?!

07/03/2021

Hi friends! I’ve been a little quiet around here as I’ve wrapped up the end of the school year.

A couple weeks ago, I shared a little bit about me on the grid, so today felt like a good time to share a little more about Fraser & Willow… ⁣
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*Fraser & Willow hasn’t always been a vintage shop. I used to run this space under a different name as a book editor. ⁣
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*Around a year ago, I started to feel burnt out and gave myself the space and time to dream of what my heart really wanted. Through chatty Saturday mornings just being me, thrifting with dear friends, I learned that I wanted to use my love of stories, art, and history to curate vintage wares for our homes. So here we are!⁣
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*My mission in the Fraser & Willow shop is to curate elegant, classic, and nostalgic vintage wares and art for those of us who long to build storied homes and lives. ⁣
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*While my specific finds vary, the overarching style of my pieces involves literary sophistication with a little European-meets-PNW flair. I’m drawn to strikingly simple vintage glassware, classic and high-quality ceramics, and artwork and decor that packs a little subtle drama. ⁣
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*I’m based in Vancouver, Canada and host the shop on Etsy. If you live in Canada or the US, shipping is free. If you live overseas it might take a little longer but I’m still happy to ship to you! (EU shipping = challenge accepted. 😅)⁣
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*If you’re super local (as in the Greater Vancouver Area), I’m happy to arrange for free local pickup and/or delivery by request. We can do contactless if you’re more comfortable, or we can meet face to face and exchange a quick hello as I pass off your new treasures! ⁣
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Now listen, friends, because of my long and winding journey here, I know you may not all be vintage collectors, but you are most certainly friends.⁣
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Do me a favour and tag a friend who you think would love my vintage collection and my musings, especially if you think they’re someone who wants their home and life to really reflect their unique and eclectic style. ⁣
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New here? Hi! Tell me a little about yourself, and check out the link in my bio to see what I have in store.

06/29/2021

The Vintage Swap // 003⁣
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It wasn’t until my husband and I moved into our first place together on Main Street that I bought my first piece of art. We purchased a Vancouver-themed print inspired by a piece in the home of my favourite blogger at the time.⁣
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My first time living in an almost-new-build apartment with stainless steel appliances and slightly soulless laminate hardwood, I wanted something to make it feel like *us* and a little art for our walls was the perfect solution. That print is still so special to me, even though we haven’t found the right wall for it in our current home.⁣
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Today it’s so easy to go online and download a print of almost any style of art you want (and when it comes to downloadable prints from my favourite Etsy shops, I still do this!) But my favourite way to build a modern/vintage vibe at home is by adding in a few pieces of vintage wall art.⁣
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So for the third instalment of The Vintage Swap, I’d love to encourage you to mix in an original vintage painting, a vintage print, or a framed vintage needlepoint into your home.⁣
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A few things I love about sourcing vintage artwork:⁣
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*Inheriting the story of a signed vintage original piece⁣
*Incorporating prints of classic works in vintage frames⁣
*Bringing a little history into my home with images depicting local vintage cityscapes and scenery⁣
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Swipe ahead for a few examples of pieces currently in the Fraser & Willow shop.⁣
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Is there anything holding you back from bringing vintage artwork into your home? If you have any questions leave them in the comments below!

06/24/2021

Sourcing vintage for the Fraser & Willow shop is one part intentionality and one part unplanned adventure. I know what I like—elegant glassware, classic earthy ceramics, unique and subtly dramatic art and decor—but I’m also open to being pulled towards new types of treasures that I stumble across.⁣
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And lately, I’ve accidentally found (and collected) several gorgeous vintage hardcover books on art, photography, and nature. A major bookworm myself, I know that the titles on the spines and covers displayed around our homes tell as much as a look inside our personal diaries or Pinterest boards. ⁣
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I can tell a kindred spirit from their bookshelf in a moment flat, so if you’re longing to make your home feel a little more *you* a good coffee table book can be a real statement piece. ⁣
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So... what do you think I should I do with my new book collection? List in the shop or hoard for myself? You know what I’m like when it comes to books, so please be my voice of reason…⁣

06/11/2021

The Vintage Swap // 001⁣
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Confession: my first apartment was filled almost entirely with Ikea. Freshly out of university and on a beginner teacher’s salary, I longed for, but couldn’t afford, the expensive brand names I’d only seen in shop windows on South Granville like West Elm, CB2, Restoration Hardware, and Pottery Barn. (I’ve since got over this last one but used to covet it because of that episode of friends 😂). So, I fell back on the good old Ikea catalogue. What my home lacked in originality, it made up for in pre-2010 Vancouver rent prices and proximity to the beach, but it never quite felt like *me.*⁣
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Back then, I didn’t know that if I’d just shopped vintage I could have made a (financially and environmentally) sustainable choice and built a home that felt storied and one of a kind.⁣
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AND SO, I’m starting a series I’m calling The Vintage Swap. Each week, I’m going to share a piece in your home that can easily (and stylishly) be sourced vintage, rather than bought brand new. I hope to inspire you to consider adding a few vintage treasures to your own home.⁣
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Today we’re starting in the kitchen with ceramics. Vintage mugs, teacups, creamer jugs, plates, etc. are some of my favourites to collect. They tend to be made from durable materials and often feature dainty patterns and elegant, nostalgic details that you don’t see in contemporary designs.⁣
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I’m currently curating an eclectic multi-coloured set for myself that I can keep on display in our coffee station, adding a little vintage charm to our kitchen even when they’re not in use.⁣
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Of course, as with all vintage, buying ceramics from a bygone era also means less waste and production pollution.⁣
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Swipe to see a comparison!⁣
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Any questions? Let me know in the comments what you’ve always wondered about vintage ceramics and I’ll do my best to respond!

06/01/2021

I’m asked from time to time how I source pieces for Fraser & Willow; how I know when the wares I stumble across are “the ones?”

The answer is that it’s part science and part art, really. I do have strict criteria: excellent vintage condition, priced at a resellable price point, and must fit into the visual aesthetic of the shop; ie. must be something I’d style in my own home. A little less strictly, though, I’ll select an item if its story pulls at my heartstrings, or it seems a little...special. The most interesting finds are the ones where my first reaction is, Oh god, how hideous! And the next minute I fall in love and make them mine.

These Cristal d’Arques JG Durand frosted petal crystal wine glasses weren’t like that, though. These were love at first sight and for obvious reasons, and somehow they’re still available in the shop. Use the link in my bio to take a look!

05/30/2021

My wedding pearls. Gifted first to my grandmother, then again to me by my grandad for my wedding. Elegant, classic, and oh-so nostalgic.⁣
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I’ve moved across the world twice, shedding meaningless things that were just “stuff” to me. But tucked away in this little house of ours are a few things that hold more than just monetary value, they hold stories and secrets and memories of being held by lost loved ones. These are my little heirlooms.⁣
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The pearls are mine to keep forever, but a set of these vintage Anchor Hocking golden shell milk glass dishes are available now in the shop. They make lovely trinket dishes, or could serve their true purpose in a serving set. The link to the shop is in my bio if you’d like to take a look.⁣
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Tell me about your favourite family heirloom in the comments below. ⁣

The Story Kept

11/06/2021

11/03/2021

10/28/2021

10/24/2021

07/22/2021

07/16/2021

07/03/2021

06/29/2021

06/24/2021

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06/01/2021

05/30/2021

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