Tuesday, July 19, 2011

The Vintage Whites and Somers MT




My favorite were these miniature displays, about the size of my hand!










Emma and Brooke scored feathers and patterns!



















Jana and I.














































This Past Saturday I was at my Uncle Herb's (yes I really do have an Uncle Herb!) 80th Birthday party on Flathead Lake MT. That morning I loaded up all the girls in the family I could and we headed across the lake to the town of Somers to visit the Vintage Whites Market.  It was a pleasure to see Vanessa, Jana and Sandy.  Mom and I scored beautiful mirrors I wish I had gotten a picture of before mom left!  And the prices were Amazing! It was such a nice day and all of us left with treasure. MY Aunt took me for a tour of Somers and with an eye for white that day I captured a few of the old white-washed buildings too.   I love this lake and the history around it, I grew up with all my summers here and enjoyed the chance to get out and do some junking in a place I treasure so!
Love, Jennifer

Friday, July 8, 2011

An afternoon with Sister's Creed


Victoria's home

Kristin, Stacey, Me and Victoria

Beautiful spread!

more loveliness!

Such a fun way to store a curling iron!

I sooo want pillows like these!

Victoria's Husband made her this amazing eating nook.

A welcoming entry way.

The Word Sister literally means "woman of our family".  The word Creed means "I believe".
When put together these two wonderful words become the  perfect definition for my dear friends and fellow vendors, the women of Sister's Creed made up of Stacey, Kristin and Victoria.
Victoria happens to live in nearby Sagle and invited me over a couple weeks ago for a kick-off to Summer with,  an afternoon of Sangrias on the patio (two of my other favorite words by the way!)
The girls all get together as often as life allows to share time in the kitchen, visit, create, tend to children and relax with one another.  When invited to join in on this I was more than thrilled!

We gathered at Victoria's home on Saturday along with Stacey, Kristen and their Sister  Kelly, who actually came up with their wonderful name.

I was so excited to see Victoria's home.  It was like entering a European loft.  with french touches, and flea market finds I found myself oohing an ahhing around every corner! 

And the food was AMAZING!  I enjoyed the salads and delicious treats well into the evening as we all visited out by the garden, getting to know one another.  I love that, I love hearing stories of how everyone came to be where they are.  Turns out that Victoria is a North Idaho native from Bonner's Ferry originally!  and her father and my grandfather most likely worked together in the logging industry!

My other treat was getting a chance to visit Victoria's studio!  I enjoyed every second of that, upstairs from the main living area is 1000 sq ft of design and crafting space, mixed with a collection of antique twin beds for the visiting grandchildren.  To me it resembled the wonderful attic bedroom in the movie Nanny McPhee.

A crafter's dream, with space for storage and work.

Love the Jadeite

I enjoyed this clever way of hanging pots!
Victoria's Kitchen just makes me happy.
Her husband invented this faucet paper towel holder.  you can find them at the next Funky Junk show!
Even the stairs were given special attention.
Wonderful galvanized tub to store toys
This is just cozy and wonderful to me! 
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Victoria's collection of vintage prom dresses.  The green one is a recent purchase from my Farm Chicks booth!
A little "Funky Junk".
Love this.
A collection of dress up hats for any mood.

The idea of a room for all the grandkids to hang out in and slumber party in, mixed with a space for creating makes perfect  sense to me.  Why not take in as much as that childhood energy you can!  Victoria loves having them all together her where everyone can "play" and dream.

I was so happy to spend the afternoon getting to know the girls who bring so much creativity and genuine love to Funky Junk.  come visit them too Labor day weekend, you will leave their booth with a smile as I did heading out from my visit.
Thank you Sister's Creed, for a lovely time.  And for being you.
Love, Jennifer

Monday, June 6, 2011

Farm Chicks Dreamland

A great excuse to buy ones' self a new dress!







My Water tank Gazebo!  I can dream it up, but it takes a great husband to make it a reality!






This was "Fun" to get and haul in!  So glad it sold!



















My High school friend, The beautiful Ginger!












Love this word!














A cozy place to be
















My little helper






Hollie and I taking a break





My Girl!



My insprirations in life, Carol and Marianne...I love them to bits!





The men who made the weekend sane!











Cathye Serena and I at the after party!







We are home from an amazing weekend at The Farm Chicks Antiques Show! We had a blast meeting everyone who came from near and far! I loved hearing your stories, seeing your treasures, visiting and laughing and JUNKING with all of you! Thanks everyone for a wonderful Weekend! Here are some shots of my booth for those of you who may have missed it! And some shots that just make me happy!
See you at the next stop! Love, Jennifer

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

The Story of Old Blue




Robyn and Patrick "Scoutin" out treasure in old blue!




A very pregnant me with Nathan and old Blue




























































It was 2005. I had recently opened up my Antique store in Spokane called "Yesterday's Connection". I owned a Subaru at the time and was borrowing vans, trucks and trailers from friends to haul things, always needing to call a family member when I found a great treasure. That May I got a booth at the Farm Chicks Antique show in Fairfield WA. Needless to say I was loosing my mind taking load after load 22 miles south of town in My Father's minivan just to fill my booth. So I made a plan. I earned enough money that weekend to buy myself my own truck. But I did not want Just any old truck, I wanted a cool old Shabby chic with muscles truck!

It took me 1 day to find him! He was listed in the paper for only $850.00 a soldier who was heading out from Fairchild owned him and could not take him back to California. I fell in love immediately. He was born in 1975, He was the perfect shade of Blue. He made a lovely roar when I turned the key, and he had an extra back seat so friends could go junking with me.

I paid the man and drove down the dirt road singing "country roads" (Old Blue does not have a working radio). And smiled with the knowledge that life was going to be a whole lot easier!
We have been on many Adventures since. He has climbed the mountains of north Idaho for the best of the best Huckleberry patches. He has been used as a bed to sleep under the stars in. He has hauled everything from couches to pigs.
I love to drive him barefoot on the back roads down to my favorite swimming hole, eating lunch on his tailgate and packing home anything I find along the way back.

When I have my niece and nephews' they always enjoy a ride in Old Blue, he is so darn cool! The back seat rings with their voices as they bellow out whatever song they come up with (reminder: old Blue has no radio)
and we rumble along.

He is parked outside each Funky Junk Show proudly welcoming you to visit the the treasures that he painstakingly has brought to you along with many others.

This weekend he is returning to the roots that brought him to me, I will load him up until I cannot fit a bottle cap, and he will rumble down the road as I sing at the top of my lungs "Country roads"! Heading to the Farm Chicks show
If you see us please wave, we love passing friends on the junking trail!
Love, Jennifer and Old Blue