ONCE UPON A JUNKIN' TIME

Once upon a junkin' time, I was setting up Garden Cat at Funky Junk Sisters Junk Salvation in Hillsboro, OR. I was worried about getting everything to look beautiful and buyable when I noticed the very cool, lovely red head in the booth next to me. She would be(and probably was) the smart girl at the front of the class...notebook out and pencil ready for notes. She had it under control--her stuff was already unpacked and looking completely buyable!

She had a lot of interesting, eclectic vintage items...things I could paw through for a very long time. And best of all, she had (HAS) this magical smile that just says, "don't take it all so seriously! Have some fun!" And with her magical smile aimed at me, I smiled back. I relaxed and let the junkin' ju-ju work its way through my booth. It turned out to be a "game changer" of a show!

This story has a great happy ending/new
beginning...you see, this cool, lovely red head is hosting her own FABULOUS vintage market this weekend...only her third, yet already recognized as one of the best flea markets in the nation in FLEA MARKET STYLE

and  FLEA MARKET DECOR magazines.

You see this wonderful red head and great friend is Pam of One Gal's Trash and Plucky Maidens Junk Fest!!

Junkin' Sistas--Kristi of Checkered Past, Sue of Vintage Rescue Squad,
and Pam of One Gal's Trash and Plucky Maidens.

Havin' a little fun at Warrenton!

She is hosting the Plucky Maidens Junk Fest Spring EXTRAVAGANZA this Friday, April 27 from 5 -8 p.m. and Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Columbia Conference Center in Portland, OR.

And, oh yeah, I'll be there too...a lot more relaxed with my Garden Cat vintage treasures for special spring events like Mother's Day, graduation, a wedding, or a tea party!

I'll even have a few copies of First Monday Murder A Jimmie Rae Flea Market Mystery

on hand if you'd like a signed copy.

These other FABULOUS vendors will be there too:

Timeless Cool Junk

Vintage Market

Blue Ewe

Aunt Adeleine's

2nd Childhood

Vintage A-Go-Go

Adrienne & Rose

Molly Heltsley Designs

Into Vintage

Penumbra Design Studio

Homestead

Rachelle Ramirez

Jennii ReUnique

Rose Cottage

Hoity Toity Designs

Purple Pear

Magpie Ethel & Joie de Weave

Rusty Trellis

Mack & Momma

Pitula the Jeweler

Red Star Art

Flotsam & Jetsam

Stacey Darden

Beth Kloss

Purse Strings

Andy's Attic & Faded Rosie

Bird Song

My Shabby Passion

Jeanna Steacy

Voondi

Harris Farms

Monster Vintage

Joanne Crawford

Brush with the Past

Dorothy's Domain

Rutabaga Redesign

Terry Powers Recycled Art

Fun Junk

Camp Hollyhock

GJ Design

Pure & Applied

Frody O Dough Art, Inc.

I Spy Antiques

Chris Banauch

Molly Mo's & Roost REimagined

Vintage Trifles

The Butler Did It

Peonies & Possibilities

Ogles & Friends

Dolce Mia

Metro Retro

Lazy Jo Ranch

Karen Culp

L +W Estates Sales

Pierced Zebra

Donna Rentel

Little Apron Pocket

Pasteesh

Rustic & Refined

Eileen Coffey

Finds Old & New

Carla Starzec A.D.

Janet's Creations

Penelope's Hope Chest

Blissful Vintage

Just Chic

Peace, love, and feelin' quite PLUCKY and LUCKY to have met that lovely red haired lady named Pam!

WHICH CAME FIRST?

It all started here with this writing project of mine. This chick who lives in my head and was begging for a story--for an adventure--a junkin' adventure, road-trippin' moment of her own. I acquiesced to her demands and began writing her story introducing her friends, her enemies, and her world. First Monday Murder A Jimmie Rae Flea Market Mystery is the result. So with a box of FMM books I took to the blacktops criss-crossing my sweet, bluebonnet bloomin' Texas to sign books, meet new friends, visit with old friends, and as always look for funky JUNK. First Monday Murder A Jimmie Rae Flea Market Mystery made its debut in TEXAS, and I laughed more and slept less than I have in a LONNGGG time.

Sharing laughs at the First Monday Murder
 book signing at Diggin' It in McKinney, TX. Thanks to
Tracey Jane and all my friends who came. It was
 awesome to see y'all and sign SOOO many books!

Here's a glimpse of five weeks on the road in TEXAS...from my old hometown of McKinney to Waxahachie to Warrenton/Round Top and lots of places in between...

A lovely vignette at Antique Company Mall--
my old mall!--in McKinney, TX.

Another wall of wonderfulness at
Antique Company Mall, McKinney, TX.

And another...Antique Company Mall, McKinney, TX

Plant Markers for sale (along with many other
 fantastic, FUNKY finds!)at Diggin' It in McKinney, TX

New friend and sweet lady who
owns Lavender Ridge Farms in Gainsville, TX

Jean and Emily who co-own Enchanted Interiors
at Frisco Mercantile in Frisco and also have
a space at First Monday Trade Days in Canton.

And meadows full of beautiful bluebonnets!!

A vignette from Garden Antqs Vintage at Zapp Hall in Warrenton.

More from Garden Antqs Vintage...

A HUGE THANK YOU to  Theresa Cano for
 inviting me to sign FMM at her AWESOME Blog Party.
 (Thanks to Pam for the pic!)

Jill of Jill Suzanne, me, Lynn, and Janie of
Petticoats on the Prairie Vintage Mareket
at Jill's incredible booth at Warrenton.

Elaine, who with her sister, Betsy, has Sisters Treasures
at Warrenton and Fredericksburg's Trade Days.

Beautiful Theresas--

Lots of fun at Zapp Hall in Warrenton, TX--just add Junkers!

My loot--what would fit in my suitcase, anyway!

I couldn't leave without a few quick trips to AUSTIN!

Barton Springs at Zilker Park

Scene along South Congress...

On the way to Uncommon Objects

Time for something cold and delicious--Mexican Chocolate and Key Lime Pie Ice Cream at Amy's Ice Cream -- FABULISCIOUS!!!

More driving and taking in the beautiful prairie

At Red Neck Chic 's cool booth at Zapp Hall with Robelyn and Karley of Gypsy Treasures.

PROM NIGHT-- Junker's style! The Junk Gypsies always host a ROCKIN' Party at the Junk-o-Rama Prom at Zapp Hall toward the end of Antiques Week. What a blast!

Fortunately my adventure in TEXAS has only just begun...stay tuned, sweet friends!

Peace, love, and

all the good stuff to y'all!