Welcome to Robins in the Trundle Bed. We are Sheila and Sherrill Murphy, twin sisters and co-owners of a small antique shop. We are dedicated to bringing you antiques that have a voice and that sing a whimsical tune. We stock our shop with antiques that hint at the former owner and her life from a handkerchief church doll with a provenance that reads “This doll I tied for Marjorie while out driving in June 1906. It was a handkerchief and I believe her first doll”…to a child’s red riding cape worn by Leila Gertrude Babcock Fitzgerald when she was eight years old and performed as Little Eva in Uncle Tom’s Cabin at the Powers Opera House.

We carry many one of a kind antiques that we assiduously gather throughout the year. Saturday and Sunday mornings are not made for sleeping in. Oftentimes we awake while it is still dark out. Armed with a large canvas tote and a sense of adventure we set out on wonderful treasure hunting forays around the New England area. On one such trip we discovered beautiful antique letters cut out by a teacher and her pupils. We spent an afternoon puzzling out the scrambled letters into words that read “vacation” in silver foil letters, “welcome” in bright green signed by each incoming grade-schooler on a long-ago September day.

Our shop also contains displays that feature common household items. We are especially intrigued by everyday objects that have been lovingly mended and repaired. In an old trunk we found an antique ironing board cover stitched from a feed sack. It has been lovingly patched and repaired and tells a wonderful story of making do. We were touched by our find of a primer whose cover had been carefully stitched by a mother’s fine hand. We oftentimes see the beauty in these forgotten objects and encourage our customers to do the same.

We love to leave messages around the shop to inspire those who read them. A box of old flashcards containing the letters H, I, S and W, becomes a gentle reminder to “WISH” when the letters are rearranged and placed on metal card holders on a shelf. Placed near a vintage box of birthday candles and fancy 1920’s paper party hats, customers get the sense that a surprise birthday party might begin at any moment.

We invite you to an impromptu party at our shop, Robins in the Trundle Bed, located at the group shop:

Country Mischief Plus, 36 Baldwinville Road, Templeton, MA