Good afternoon!  I just made my third visit to Wild Goose designs, and I still feel like I have so much to see!  The shop first lured me in because of my addiction to white, and at Christmastime Bonnie had a lovely display of white Christmas trees, white lights, and lots of sparkle.  Today she graciously allowed me to peruse her shop behind the lens of a camera, with a toddler in tow, no less!  She even gave him nougat, which I am hoping she does not find later in some unsavory spot.  I am pretty sure it is in his tummy.


Bonnie created this painting after watching ‘Grease.’


Wild Goose definitely delivers what it promises, “Embellishments for Body, Home, and Soul,” but I’m so glad I took the time to chat with Bonnie, because there’s a lot I didn’t know.  But first for the embellishments.  If you are looking to stop in for a small gift, you can choose from cards made right here in America, jewelry (most made by Bonnie and her husband), handbags, and scarves, books, journals, matches, soaps, candles, framed artwork, children’s books and a growing selection of children’s items.   As for the large ’embellishments,’ Team Bonnie just happens to know how to upholster, isn’t that nice?  So you will see lots of chairs and benches freshly upholstered, most with a French revival feel (though I’ve got my eye on an oversized zebra print stool).  I had to laugh when Bonnie gestured toward a mirror and said “Oh, my husband carved that…”  He WHAT?  He also custom built the counter and tons of the furniture in the shop.  Bonnie refinishes furniture, makes jewelry, paints (like that picture behind her), and  the two of them make quite the dynamic duo.  They dream it, they build it.


That brings me to ‘beyond embellishments.’  Not only can this talented couple create small and large scale home embellishments, they can also help you with your half-baked projects.  I was wishing I had known Bonnie when my family and I had first moved here.  All the upholstery shops were slammed, and I couldn’t even get a call back.  So I ended up recovering a chair and couch on my own, and they came out…let’s just say good enough for me.  If you dream up an upholstery project or a furniture building or restoration project, or you just need some crown molding put in, “We do that too!,”  Bonnie told me.  The moral of the story, boys and girls, is that it always pays to ask these questions.  From my experience on Etsy, as an artist myself, and dealing with other artists and artisans, many many folks are more than happy to do custom work.  If you have a specific vision in mind and are willing to be a good communicator and set a budget ahead of time, you will usually find someone who can work with you.

I have taken tons of photos today but not seen everything in the shop, and I have shared fewer photos that I have taken.  When you go visit, be sure to look around, but also UP.  There are lots and lots of chandeliers for sale.  And do have some chocolate, and ask about all the items that local bakers and artists are now selling at Wild Goose.

Wild Goose has been in Richland for eight years and I hope it is here for many years to come.  I like local.  I like reusing and recycling, repurposing, and trying to opt for American products.  Wild Goose does all that.