Meet Julie Ouellette | Vintage Fun Finder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Julie Ouellette and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Julie, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?
What makes me the happiest is meeting customers and creating relationships. I spend time curating pieces for my booths that bring happy memories to customers. When they stop by to see the fun vintage items, they remember a favorite aunt/grandmother/neighbor who had that same piece. Often they will share stories of where it was or what it meant to them. Typically they are sad they no long have it and frequently purchase to bring those memories back home. Being able to be part of someone else’s journey is so rewarding.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
At first, when I joined the vintage dealer community, I was intimidated! There is so much talent throughout the interior design and artist community that I thought I needed to imitate their creativity instead of finding my own. Over time I started paying attention to what drew me into booths, how I felt when in a sparse space or a crowded space and how I would like my customers to feel.

I found that I was inspired by color and fun and challenged myself to ‘not take myself too seriously’. I began curating pieces that started conversations, like a 4ft x 6ft framed picture of a cat on a chaise. I explored my ability to tell a story by creating a backdrop for vintage pieces with words by sharing who I thought would have owned the piece, how they felt or what they did with their life.

The biggest lesson I have learned is that if I can act foolishly without embarrassment, to laugh at myself, then I can encourage others to do the same. By focusing on items that are fun, bring joy, have a story (or I make one up) then I find my own life is centered more on the positives instead of the negatives. If someone follows my story on social media, they will begin to see that silliness and joy-seeking can be a discipline that reaps copious benefits in your mental and physical health.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Best friend trip? I am in!

My most favorite place is the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, any time of the year. The Orchid Daze never fails to stun me, the Christmas lights are spectacular and their yearly themes are well thought out. I would definitely eat at the Longleaf Restaurant while there also. For evening fun, I would check out the City Winery at Ponce City Market to see what music artist is playing! I recently saw Who’s Bad, the Michael Jackson tribute band and the atmosphere and small size means there is not a bad seat in the house.

Then we would have to do some thrift shopping, hitting any Goodwill we see, any church sponsored thrift store, especially St. Vincent de Paul locations. My favorite in-town thrift is Lost-N-Found Youth which supports young adults between 18-25. Breakfast nearby at the Original Pancake House on Cheshire Bridge is my go to place as well as International Cafe on Buford Hwy and Mo’s Pizza on Briarcliff Rd.

Lastly, we would hit the antique stores, my favorite being Queen of Hearts Antiques & Interiors with locations in Buford, Alpharetta and Marietta. I would challenge them to do a triple-play and hit all three in one day! While driving from Buford to the Alpharetta location I would make sure to visit Marie’s Italian Deli, Bakery & Market near the intersection of 400 and GA 20 in Cumming. Once we hit the Marietta location we could easily hop over to a Braves game!

It’s a BAM junking adventure!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am forever grateful to the Queen of Hearts Antiques & Interiors for providing a space for me to grow as a booth dealer. I am consistently encouraged by the teamwork of fellow dealers, supported by the staff and provided an amazing foundation for my business.

Instagram: Julievintagebam