Office Cottage part 1 (The Before shots)

"All I want is a room to spare, far away from the cold night air...oh wouldn't it be lovely?"

A window to start plants in.

A new dutch door with a window will be perfect!

I found a small cottage today for my office and work area.  If all goes as planned it will be moved from Bayview to my garden before the end of the month!  I have been looking for one for over a year that will fit next to the garden and be big enough for bookshelves, a desk, storage and a comfy chair to sip coffee in.  When I found an ad for this little guy in Bayview ID,  I jumped at it!  He measures 10x14 and is ready to be loaded and moved!  The best part is I have something new to decorate!  Like a painter with a fresh piece of canvas I am imagining up all sorts of things!  I plan to put cedar shingles up on the outside so it will match the house when we are finished.  Followed by a porch light, an old European type to shine across the yard.  I don't know what I will do inside yet but I will post later when I have it finished.  By then I should be sitting in that comfy chair surrounded by my books and papers!  stay tuned... Love, Jennifer

How to host a Junk Show: By Glenn Kelly Wood

First, Create the dream.  Then set forth on your journey with an open heart!

 Next, Find a location "ok, now make  sure we have enough room inside for music!"


Make sure there is plenty of room outside too for all the wonderful vendors!



Pack early to make sure you are ready for vendors, and pack lots of stuff for all the shoppers!


Spend time making things look good.  un-pack carefully.



Decorate your show, it is a treat for all those attending! PS  remember to pack tools!

Always lend a helping hand, even if it is just to hold a ladder.



  Keep a tidy show room and clear isles for all the shoppers!

Give LOTS of love to your vendors!  -My friend Charlie from Junebug 

Keep engaged on what is going on.



Practice good customer service skills.  Show the customer how an item can work in their own home!

Clean up afterwards!



All worth it in the end.  If your vendors are happy, and your customers are happy, and you are happy...then you have had a successful show and you can rest easy.  Happy Junking!  Love, Glenn Kelly

Vendor Profile, a tour of Marianne Duarte's yard

I would like you to meet my friend Marianne Duarte, She is also a fellow Antique dealer and vendor at this years Funky Junk labor day weekend Show. 

Marianne (you may know her by her show name Kootenai Cabin Antiques)  is one of the hardest working and most down to earth gals I know.  She puts heart into everything she does and it shows.  She has been on the Junking trail for years and has many a story and a treasure to show for it!  I went to drop off posters at her home in Bonners Ferry Idaho and I was blown away by her outdoor living spaces!  Talk about talent and inspiration!  See for yourself!

An entry fit for a cowgirl!

I LOVE this outdoor pavilion made of twigs!

Such inspiration!

A great collection of vintage seating and a table from a trough!

The arbor from her Son's Wedding fits perfect here!

These Bird houses on old pillars are such a wonderful idea!

The waterfall,

A beach perfect for a summer float!

My favorite was this greenhouse made of old windows, I will re-visit this when it is finished and write more.

The entry to the Duarte home, love it.

This makes me happy!

Marianne and Husband David.

I am excited to have Marianne's energy at this years show!  She brings with her a mix of rustic, primitive, western cowboy and more!  And I have to add, she is responsible for the pink toy camper I have.  She picked it up for me in Bonners because she said "it was meant to be yours Jennifer".  The junking world, like any other business, can be tough sometimes and Marianne is always willing to lend an ear, give encouragement and remind me that it is all going to be fine, and I love her for it!  Please come meet Marianne at Funky Junk this weekend, chances are she will greet you with open arms!

A New Location for Funky Junk & Giveaway!

I was sad, very sad when we decided we had outgrown Oden Hall.  It has always held a special place in my heart; Harvest dances growing up, my first dance with my husband on our wedding day, parties and receptions.  And add to that the MANY seasons of Funky Junk that have been spent there...more memories then one can begin to cover.  Hollie and I haunting the Hall 'til wee hours of the morning finishing last touches.  The Smell of Nathan's Pie baking in the kitchen, all the treasures on display like entrees in a fair awaiting ribbons. The face of every vendor filling their space and every customer waiting to find the item they have been searching and waiting for.  The sound of Bridges Home echoing through the grange, becoming the familiar sound of Labor day weekend. 

So when I went in search of a new location I was determined to find a building with the same sort of feel, a building with history like all the items it will be filled with, a building with SOUL like all the wonderful people who will enter it. 

I looked at farms, no luck.  I looked at big steel pull building...no heart.  I looked at reception halls and event locations...no history.  I was not finding the SOUL in any of these places.  Then it dawned on me!  The Church I grew up in, St. Joseph's Catholic Church on Oak St.  Had been put up for sale sitting empty after a new Church was built across town, and I knew it had A LOT of space!  So I checked off everything on my list one by one;

It had History, it was built in 1907!  It had heart, My family members had all been married there.  I was baptized there.  Had my first communion, and gave my grandmother's eulogy there.  Listened to my mother's voice ring through the sanctuary on Sunday mornings.  I had memories here that I could share with others.  So it did indeed have SOUL, it is after all a Church!  After running it past Hollie, we agreed it would make a great home this season!

621 Oak Street

a view from the altar.

I love these windows.

My baptism with  Fr. O' Donovan

My First Communion

We, Hollie and I, will be waiting to greet you again!

On Labor day weekend I hope you feel it, We will all be there, the faces you have come to know and love and new ones that will be a treat to discover!  The Sanctuary, the education wing, the courtyard, even the choir loft will be filled with Funky Junk!  And on Saturday morning when the doors open we will be there to greet you as always, while the music of "Bridges home" once again fills the grounds with the last sounds of Summer!  Welcome back to Funky Junk!  Love Jennifer

PS As a gift to you I am giving away a St. Joseph's Centennial Cookbook!  It is an amazing cookbook from some wonderful people who have put much heart into it!  And some history too!  retails for $25.00.
To be entered post a comment on this blog.
To be entered again link the blog in post on facebook!  Good luck!

Add a little yellow

I am pretty faithful to my color pallet, but once in awhile I need a breath of fresh air, so this summer I am bringing the Sunshine in with yellow popping up in my vintage decor, it makes me happy.  Hoping you find some "yellow" in your world too!  Enjoy!  Love, Jennifer

I heart Pyrex.

I will have mine stirred not shaken.

My first Funky Junk purchase, from our first show, I bought this beautiful old pillow from Nancy of Forget Me Not.

Loading the New tractor into Old Blue!

Nathan and his new tractor!  Happiness.

I love to use vintage sheets to quickly cover outdoor furniture.

My prayer flag.



Glenn's Barn from Junebug, I store his cloth diapers here.



See you there!