FABULOUS FALL JUNKIN ADVENTURE

Hey, Y'all--I'm blessed to be able to spend a lot of quality time in the Pacific NW and even more blessed to have so many talented friends to visit while I'm there. During my most recent adventure I arrived in time to go to one the most talked about new shows, Today's Country FARM & Frills Antique Show.

Today's Country FARM & Frills Antique Show
Enumclaw, WA

Debi Bock's Vintage Lilli

Although this show is new, the promoters



JOHNBobcooljunk

 

and vendors are seasoned antiques dealers who 




Sound Sister

create fabulous vignettes with their incredible finds. This was truly one of the most beautiful, fun vintage markets I've ever been to. (Just ask Hubby --I shopped non-stop for four hours!)

 

Besides scouring markets and antique malls I really enjoy walking through neighborhoods, checking out  bookstores, shops and coffee houses.  

A wrong twist with my cowboy boot added a few more weeks to my visit. Bad for my bum knee, but good in every other way including being able to go to the Plucky Maidens Get Hitched Vintage Bridal Show.

This event was held at Portland's Oak Park Dance Pavilion and featured vendors, florists, and caterers--everything one would need to have a lovely vintage-styled wedding in The City of Roses.

 

Although I'm not in the market for vintage wedding accoutrements, I happen to know a certain side-kick (ahem...Maxine Huntington!) who is planning her wedding in the next installment of the Jimmie Rae Flea Market Mystery series VINTAGE MURDER. Stay tuned!

Camp Hollyhock Boutique
Portland, OR



Since Oak Park is located in the Sellwood neighborhood, Sweet Hubby and I spent the afternoon wandering through Stars Antique Malls, Camp Hollyhock and many of the other interesting

 

shops in the neighborhood. We were thrilled to see this old Ford truck since we have one of the same vintage and will be restoring it in the coming year.

Shabby Nest Antiques
Portland, OR




I finally got a chance to stop by and visit with Raylene of Shabby Nest Antiques. Her pretty shop is a fabulous collection of antiques, garden, cottage, farmhouse, Victorian loveliness!

Shabby Nest Antiques
Portland, OR

We also made a tour through Monticello Antique Marketplace and stopped in for an early dinner at a

 

 

cool restaurant down the street.

 

 

Back in Seattle a few days later I hit the blacktops going north to Snohomish and Monroe where some of my favorite vintage and 

 

Bungalow Bling
Snohomish, WA

antique shops are located. I was delighted to find Bungalow Bling and to finally get to meet it's creative proprietor, Shelly. 

Bungalow Bling
Snohomish, WA

The next day we followed the blacktops south past Seattle off I-5 to this wonderful event!

 

After numerous loads to the car and a great visit with friends, we decided to enjoy the gorgeous sunshine-filled day and headed across the Sound toward Port Orchard and Bremerton --where of course there was more junkin' to do!

Port Orchard, WA

Kris Williamson's space at Olde Central Antique Mall
Port Orchard, WA

Uptown Mercantile & Marketplace
Bremerton, WA

Uptown Mercantile & Marketplace
Bremerton, WA

And now for the fun part...packing it ALL up to take back to Texas--four shipped boxes and one full suitcase!

 

 

Until next time,

Peace, Love and

all the Good Stuff!

PACIFIC NORTHWEST NESTING

Hey, Y'all! It's summertime and I've been traveling across Washington and Oregon visiting friends, enjoying the sights, and yeah, doing as much JuNkIn' as possible. This trip I've had the added fun of decorating what was once our small boring condo into a sweet little abode that feels like home in the Great Pacific Northwest. 

When we moved our family back to Texas a few years ago, of course I insisted we take our favorite

things. So there wasn't too much personality or character left at our tiny condo. Since we split our time between Washington and Texas these days, Sweet Hubby suggested we make the condo more homey...with flowers, and pink, and old chippy paint furniture. 

"Throw me into the brier patch!"

Well, it didn't take me long to hit the junkin' trail and find the goods.

I made a trip to Joann's and bought utility ticking and a pretty Waverly floral print. 

We hung curtain rods and clipped broad strips of the floral print and ticking fabric to make curtains with white sheers filling in the center. No sewing! 

We already had an Ikea sectional with navy denim slipcovers. I remembered we received a white slipcover set when we purchased the sectional. So the first part of the transformation was simply putting the white slipcovers on. Since we wanted the small space to feel light and relaxing, we accented the room with blues from provincial grey to cobalt. I found dainty vintage English blue and white cups and saucers and a couple of pretty Dutch blue and white plates at thrift stores--so much prettier and more environmentally conscious than paper plates. 

In our bedroom, we needed lots of storage and light.  

This cupboard traveled with us from McKinney, Texas to Seattle and I sold it to a friend in Portland several years ago. Last summer, I bought it back from her.

It looks so pretty in our room, holding a pink toy Tonka pick-up truck and old Homer Laughlin Bluebird plates. 

We found a beautiful antique (French?) metal bed at M & M Antiques in Monroe, WA along with a light blue bedspread.

 I replaced the lampshades and dry-brushed white paint on our black metal bedside lamps and console table freshening and lightening up the space. 

"Before"

"After"

We added some character to the walls with an old bead board door, mirrored cabinet door, an old TX license plate, and an old painting. 

Since we both work from home, we decided we would build an eight-foot long desk to fit into a window niche. We scored this vintage singer sewing machine base at Funky Junk Sisters Junk Salvation and purchased the top at Lowes. We'll use the old wooden top that came with the base for displaying family pictures and mementos. 

Here's how it turned out.

Oh, yeah--the vintage round plaster mirror (in the center) was a $9.99 Goodwill Thrift Store find! 

Now our Northwest nest is cozy and filled with things that make us smile...and isn't that what "home" is all about? 

Until next time,

Peace, love, and 

all the good stuff.