(Photo by Cheryl-Anne Millsap) When it is time to dress the table for dinner I open the old oak armoire that serves as my linen and china closet and take out the one of the bundles of napkins, table runners and tablecloths I've collected from…
When you walk into Roost, the new vintage emporium on Main Avenue and Division, the first thing you'll see is a trunk filled with letters and papers. But what makes the papers so interesting is that they are a lifetime of correspondence, keepsakes and photographs…
(Photo by Cheryl-Anne Millsap) If you were anywhere near the Fox Theater in downtown Spokane Saturday night, you might have noticed men and women in evening wear, wearing elaborate masks as they hurried into the beautiful Art Deco building. It was the Spokane Symphony's first…
Once a month I spend a half an hour or so at Spokane Public Radio recording several Home Planet columns for my weekly Sunday Morning Essay program. ( Listen to the Podcast here.) I always try to make sure I have enough time to record…
(Photo by Cheryl-Anne Millsap) So often when we bring home an antique or a vintage find, we’re left to imagine the history it might have. That’s part of the fun after all, speculating where and when an object might have been used, and in whose…
(Photo by Cheryl-Anne Millsap) I’m in good company, I know, but I have this tendency to put my head on my pillow, completely exhausted by the events of the day, and then find myself wide awake, unable to sleep. The words I couldn’t come up…
If you're looking for a little creative inspiration, Custer's 35th annual Spring Arts and Crafts Show is coming up this weekend and we've got a chance to win free tickets! Treasure Hunting creative types should go to The Spokesman-Review's weekly news quiz, authored by reporter…
Last week while out making my weekly treasure hunting rounds, I stopped by the Antiquarian, on Division between First and Pacific Avenues. The antique mall has been a Spokane staple for a number of years and is a place I always recommend when asked where…
(Photo by Cheryl-Anne Millsap) I usually spend Friday afternoons out and about exploring local antiques shops. My weekly deadlines have been met and it’s a treat to have the quiet time to myself. I’ve done this since I moved to Spokane and it’s a ritual…
A week or so ago, on my Friday Treasure Hunting rounds, I stopped by Orphaned Decor in the Gonzaga district. I made a quick swing through the shop and was on my way to the car when I stopped for one more look in the…
The best finds are not only bargains that catch the eye and stimulate the imagination. The real treasures are objects that are useful. Years ago I spotted this wooden box in a Spokane thrift store. It is basic and beautiful, solidly constructed out of tongue-in-groove…
(Photo by Cheryl-Anne Millsap) The little book, dated 1894, caught my eye. With its rich turquoise, red, and gold filigree cover and the title “About Women: What Men Have Said” it was impossible to resist. I couldn’t help but wonder who had purchased it first.…
Every job requires certain basic tools. A cook needs pots, pans and good sharp knives. A woodworker needs a saw, a hammer and a reliable tape measure. As a writer, I have my own tool kit. My notebook computer, a phone that is a computer…
(Photo by Cheryl-Anne Millsap) Caught up in the New Year ritual of house cleaning, I swept through the house dusting, rearranging and organizing. As I moved from room to room I let my mind wander as my hands worked. I began to notice that with…
(Photo by Cheryl-Anne Millsap) We all have our own way of traveling. Some want to hop on a bus and then hop off at the next big attraction. Others like to explore on their own. Some prefer to watch the world at every new place…
Some people have the right idea. I've written about Kelly Tareski before, but after reading about it on her blog, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to learn a little more about her outdoor spa. Tareski, who owns GardenStone Creations in Airway Heights, coerced (or…
If you need an infusion of shabby, chipped, re-purposed and recycled creativity in your home, today's Junk Salvation Show and vintage market may be just the ticket. Vendors will be selling vintage furniture, textiles, home-goods and other funky finds and, as always, there will be…
You can stop driving by or walking up to press your nose against the glass. Pink, Spokane's newest and most unique shop will have a soft opening tonight in conjunction with First Friday activities and will open officially Saturday morning at 10 a.m. The business…
I spent an hour or so yesterday talking to people at this year's Farm Chicks show. If you have a hankering to walk around in petticoats and cowboy boots and like the idea of decorating with vintage junk- the shabbier the better - the annual…
Don't forget, a $5 donation lets you get in the Spokane Symphony Associate's annual "Upscale Sale" tonight at 5:30. You can see photos of some of the items on sale here. This weekend is your chance to find a treasure at the Third Annual Spokane…
This weekend is your chance to find a treasure at the Third Annual Spokane Symphony Associates “Upscale Sale.” I’m a big fan of the sale and try to never miss it. (I wrote about last year’s favorite finds here.) This year’s sale is bigger and…
I try to travel light. I don’t like a lot of luggage and I don’t bring a lot home with me. In fact, most of my souvenirs tend to be things for my children. But my weakness gets me every time. Textiles. I love fabrics,…
(photo by Cheryl-Anne Millsap) This weekend, if you want to have it both ways, you’re in luck. For those of you who love to spend hours trolling for vintage bargains each spring at the Custer’s Antique and Collector’s Sale, but would really love to know…
Take one Air Force kid with a Moroccan mother, mix travel, careers in nursing and graphic design, stir in a big romance and a love of antiques and you have the story of Kris Mack. After graduating from Eastern Washington University, a stint in nursing,…
Our list of Saturday errands took us out to Big R in Spokane Valley. Always the opportunist, I took advantage of the fact that we were in the neighborhood to make a quick stop at three side-by-side shops on Trent. I peeked into All That…
Cheryl-Anne Millsap writes about antiques and collectibles and the love of all things vintage. Millsap's Home Planet column appears each week in the Wednesday "Pinch" supplement and she is The Spokesman-Review's female automobile reviewer. She is a regular contributor to Spokane Public Radio and her essays can be heard on Public Radio stations across the country. Cheryl-Anne is the author of "Home Planet: A Life in Four Seasons."
