By Darragh Doiron

The News staff writer

NEDERLAND — Dubbing herself a curator of whimsy, Trisha Faye Grice has brightened her new Boston Avenue shop with, as the name implies, “Uncommon Curiosities.”

“Glitter is magic, and there’s no place like home,” said the Nederland shop owner.

The fun starts outside with a wishing well she’s fashioned from a bird bath. Vintage jewelry and colorful trinkets fill the first room. Eyes head up to catch hand X-rays in the lighting fixtures and to a corner where a lamb’s head seems caught in a tree. Patrons leave money on an altar with images of Jesus, Mary, Buddha and others and the curious can travel through other rooms with shelves brimming with the sort of trinkets their grandmothers used to have. The bathroom is overflowing with bridal and anniversary paraphernalia.

“What drew us to her is her personality,” Tina DeBarge of Beaumont, said.

She was impressed that Grice noted what she liked on her first visit, then phoned her when new goodies she’d might like appeared.

“People just don’t do that any more,” DeBarge said.

These books, buttons, knickknacks and memories from other eras “just came” to Grice, an obvious collector, or “curator.”

“I was absolutely drawn to collect. My house is totally different, but the same,” said the woman adorned with dozens of tattoos.

The sentiment “Tell me somethin’ good” is inked across her chest, and she says people do, all the time. She calls women “mama” and often hugs departing repeat shoppers.

A house fire in Austin gave her new perspective, allowing her to “let go” of some of the wares that have been in her life, but she loves when items find a good home.

“I like to see the way people feel,” she said.

The merchant said she enjoys putting her curiosities in unusual, “out of the box” settings. Above the altar is a bird cage with cat figurines inside. The birds perch freely, outside the cage.