The Cedar & Song Journal

Volume Two

A Place to Wander

Early July

Some places have a way of slowing you down before you've even realized you've been moving too fast.

They invite you to linger.

To look a little closer.

To notice the details.

I've always believed those places are becoming harder to find.

When I first walked through Middle Floor Merchants, tucked inside the historic Sanford & Son Antiques building in downtown Tacoma, that's exactly what happened.

I wasn't rushing to get somewhere else.

I wasn't searching for anything in particular.

I simply wandered.

There were shelves filled with pieces that had already lived long and interesting lives. Handmade furniture worn smooth by generations of use. Pottery shaped by another maker's hands. Old books, glassware, artwork, and countless treasures waiting patiently for someone to discover them again.

Every booth reflected the personality of the person who created it.

No two were alike.

It reminded me that the best places are never assembled overnight.

They're built slowly.

Carefully.

One thoughtful piece at a time.

As I wandered those aisles, I quietly found myself imagining Cedar & Song Studio.

Not as a store.

As a place.

A place where handcrafted cedar could share a shelf with vintage pottery.

Where birdhouses could sit beside old field guides.

Where every collection reflected a love of nature, craftsmanship, and the simple joy of making a house feel like home.

The more I walked, the more one thought continued to return.

This feels right.

Sometimes life gives us loud signs.

Sometimes it simply gives us peace.

This was the latter.

Not long afterward, I found myself sitting at a table with a lease agreement in front of me.

It's funny how a few signatures can represent years of dreaming.

As I signed my name, I wasn't simply leasing a retail space.

I was giving Cedar & Song Studio its first permanent home.

I thought about the old birdhouse my grandfather built so many years ago.

I thought about afternoons spent beneath the cedar tree outside our home.

I thought about all the ideas that had slowly grown into something real.

Dreams don't usually arrive all at once.

They grow quietly until one day you realize it's time to say yes.

Today, Cedar & Song Studio occupies a cozy corner inside Middle Floor Merchants.

You'll find handcrafted cedar creations, carefully curated vintage treasures, artisan pottery, and pieces inspired by the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

More than anything, I hope you'll find a place that encourages you to slow down.

To wander.

To discover something unexpected.

To leave feeling just a little more connected—to nature, to craftsmanship, and perhaps even to yourself.

If you decide to visit, you'll most likely enter through the front doors beneath the Sanford & Son Antiques sign on Broadway.

From there, make your way to the second floor where Middle Floor Merchants is home to a wonderful collection of independent merchants, each bringing their own style and story to the space.

If your visit begins with a cup of coffee, you can also enter through the café on the first floor and simply follow the stairs up.

Either way...

Take your time.

Walk slowly.

Open the cabinet doors.

Notice the grain in the cedar.

Look closely at the pottery.

Ask about the stories behind the vintage pieces.

The best discoveries are rarely the ones we're looking for.

They're the ones we stumble upon when we give ourselves permission to wander.

If you've found your way here, whether you're visiting our studio, reading these pages from afar, or simply taking a quiet break in your day...

Welcome.

We're grateful you've joined us.

Welcome, Friend of the Studio.

—

Until our paths cross again,

May you always find places that invite you to linger, stories that stay with you, and simple moments that remind you to slow down.

— The Journal Keeper