Treasure hunting

New home and garden shop recycles furnishings, collectibles

By SASHA PAULSEN
Register Features Editor

“You know me,” said Jessel Miller, “I’m always ready to try something new.”

For a quarter of a century, the Napa artist has operated her gallery, featuring her own romantic, colorful paintings as well as works from other artists in the flower-bedecked stone building near the intersection of Monticello Road and Atlas Peak in east Napa.

Not long ago, Miller, who has a self-described penchant for dressing people, opened her “Vogue to Vintage” dress and accessories shop in one of the gallery’s back rooms and she’s earned a loyal following of fans who shop for everything from bejeweled slippers to designer caps — all at bargain prices, including the near-legendary $5 rack.

In another part of the gallery, the energetic Miller, who began studying Zumba dancing three years ago, leads evening workouts she calls “Exercitement.”

Her newest venture opens Friday on the gallery grounds: a home and garden shop that, like her clothing shop, will be a treasure trove for shoppers who are looking for high-quality items at bargain prices.

“It’s really what people are looking for right now,” Miller said. “People want to spend their money wisely, and they want to help the environment. Reselling is recycling. We’re looking to help people who are downsizing or upsizing; people who want to change but don’t want to spend a fortune and people who have things that they don’t want any more that someone else might use.

“The idea will be to price things reasonably and keep them moving,” Miller explained as she led a tour through the new shop, which is in the separate space formerly occupied by the Nest gallery behind the art gallery.

Bright umbrellas line the walk up to the entrance along with a collection of wicker tables and chaise lounges, and Adirondack chairs painted pale yellow and blue.

Inside is an eclectic assortment of things both large and small: a modern sofa, a lamp made from a clarinet, an antique French armoire,  quirky metal frogs, a hand-painted table and a clock shaped like a dog.

“Like the dress shop we’re going for a certain style,” Miller said.

Miller said as things sell, they’ll move in more items. She’ll see what the response is to her new venture, and may decide to expand the space.

Thus far, it’s scoring a hit.

“One woman told me she had an entire barn full of antiques from Switzerland,” Miller said. “Other people are down-sizing, and don’t need as many things as they have. We’ll go out to homes and consult, help people figure out which pieces they want and which they’d like to sell.”

And, as soon as Miller put up an “open” banner, shoppers were having fun.

One of her first visitors snapped up a bargain on a set of Italian pottery. A woman from Michigan was trying to figure out how to buy the green wicker deck furniture.

“One man found the perfect fish he had always been looking for,” Miller said. “He carried it away in his arms.”

Grand opening party

Jessel’s Treasure’s grand opening is Friday, July 3, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Miller said. “It will be a potluck, party atmosphere”  and the celebration will be augmented, after dusk, when the air fills with fireworks from nearby Silverado Resort and Country Club’s annual Fourth of July display.

 Miller said she is looking for volunteers to tend the home and garden story as well as “cool consignment items.”  For more information, call her at 257-2350.

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