(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 I look forward to each week. Frequently the owners are in their shops, prepping for weekend traffic, sometimes already putting out items picked up at the morning’s estate sales, and I can stop and chat. Or, when it suits me, just quietly browse. Even when I travel, I try to find a few minutes on my own, searching for a vintage souvenir.

Last week I made my rounds and stopped by Tossed and Found on north Monroe. I’d been looking at vintage Valentines all morning, thinking I would build a February 14th column around some sweet paper find. But, as it always is with treasure hunting, my Valentine arrived in an unexpected way when I spotted a small heart-shaped lock on a table and picked it up. The black paint on the body of the lock showed its age, faded and chipped in a few places. The hasp had that true rusty patina that comes with time and exposure to the elements. Stamped on the front was the patent date of Feb. 25, 1896.

I stopped looking at postcards and paper. I’d found my Valentine.

Since I brought it home I’ve carried the lock around the house like a child with a favorite toy. For a few days it rested in the dish where I drop my earrings and watch each evening. Then it spent a day on my desk as a paperweight. After I photographed it, the lock lay on the table next to the chaise lounge where I like to sit and have my coffee each morning. From time to time I pick it up and run my fingers over the surface as my mind plays over words and sentences, searching for the perfect line for whatever I am writing. I feel the weight of it and imagine the places it might have been. The little lock is a perfect example of the Victorian philosophy that even the most mundane objects should possess beauty by design.

I considered looping a ribbon over the hasp and wearing it as a pendant. It’s the perfect weight and shape for a keyring. Of course, if I can find a key, I can use it as it was intended, to secure something I want kept private and safe.

So, some may get cards and flowers. Others will celebrate with jewelry and wine. But I’m happy with my discovery.

 I like to think I have a lock on Valentine’s Day.

Cheryl-Anne Millsap is a freelance writer based in Spokane, Washington. In addition to her Home Planet , Treasure Hunting and  CAMera: Travel and Photo blogs, her essays can be heard on Spokane Public Radio and on public radio stations across the country. She is the author of “Home Planet: A Life in Four Seasons” and can be reached at catmillsap@gmail.com

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 is owned by partners Celeste Shaw (of the popular Chaps restuarant), Lana Neumann, Erica Parish and Chris Lynch. The women have been working in the former Luminaria space since March to create a unique and stylish place for local treasure hunters. As you might expect, Pink is filled with one-of-a-kind vintage and shabby finds as well as handmade and reclaimed objects. No space is left untouched. Even the massive vault will shine as a gallery for Lynch's paintings.

Neumann and Parish have filled one of the streetfront rooms with their unique handbuilt furnishings. Their use of vintage salvage including massive chopping blocks, industrial materials and soft-as-butter leather is attracting attention across the country. You can see more of their work at dejaneu.com

Holly Baublitz and Becky Ellis from All That Glitter will be involved and have already relocated that beautiful old greenhouse from their shop in Spokane Valley. Now it shines in a corner of the new store.

Stop by soon and check out the newest old things in town. I'm sure you be tickled, well, you know.

Details

Pink is located at 154 Madison, one block west of the Old Spaghetti Factory.

Hours are Wed - Sat 10am - 4 pm.

For more information call 509-838-2054.

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 sale continuing today at the Spokane Fair and Expo Center is the place to be.

The crowd is always big and the people-watching is fantastic. And, of course, there are bargains to be had. As I talked to people there were a few complaints: Topping the list was the option of paying a larger admission fee to get in before the throng but the sheer volume of shoppers was a grumbling point, as well. But, on the whole, everyone was glad to be there and having a great time.

Sunday is my favorite day. The aisles are not as congested and vendors do restock so there are still plenty of treasures to be found. The “Man Cave” will be open again today for husband-sitting.

For more photos from the 2011 Farm Chicks Show in Spokane click “Continue Reading.”

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 better than ever thanks to Carol Worthington-Borodin’s donation of more than 10,000 pieces of fine china and 1,000 pieces of fine crystal. Worthington, a noted appraiser and antiques dealer, donated pieces from her former pattern-matching business. If you've ever wanted to add to your china collection, or you're looking for pieces to complete a set, this is a perfect opportunity.

Other always-wonderful-to-find items include furs, silver, musical instruments, books, linens and holiday decorations.

The Upscale Sale has become the place for scoring great deals on antiques, designer clothing, brand-name furniture as well as vintage rugs, costume jewelry and household items. More than 150 individuals have contributed to the sale.

For a $5 admission, early Birds can take advantage of the 5:30 - 7pm Thursday evening preview sale and shop before the sale opens to the public Friday morning at 8am.

All proceeds benefit the Spokane Symphony.

See you there?

Spokane Symphony Associates “Upscale Sale.”
Where: 1027 W. 3rd Ave. (Between Monroe & Madison Streets.)
When: Early Bird sale Thursday, June 2, 5:30 - 7pm.
Regular Hours: Friday, June 3, 8am-5pm, and Saturday, June 4, 8am-3pm.

    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, especially vintage fabrics.
    I recently spent a week in Iceland. I was on my own and had no itinerary or agenda. I wandered the streets in any direction I chose.
    On one street, just off the main shopping district in Reykjavik, I noticed a small red building, decorated with a red cross. I could see the words, in English, “Second Hand.”
    My kind of place.
    I opened the door and walked in. The tiny shop was full of locals looking through the racks of hand-knitted Icelandic wool sweaters. The sweaters were beautiful but what caught my eye was a bundle of fabric in the window.
    I tried to get the attention of the two women working in the store but neither spoke English. Finally, a young woman realized I needed help and translated for me. She had the women bring out the fabric so I could get a closer look.They were four old woven flax or linen curtain panels in a soft, golden, natural color. They were clean, soft (obviously laundered many times) and in wonderful condition.
    “How much?” I asked.
    The young woman asked the two older women.
    We finally determined that there were four curtain panels at $8 U.S dollars each.
    “Not much, eh?” the young woman asked with a smile.
    “No,” I said. “Not much at all.”
    I measured the panels and realized that there were at least 8 yards of wonderful fabric selling for much less than it all would have cost in an American shop. Vintage European fabrics are very popular now and can command high prices in antique shops or at flea markets.
    “I’ll take it,” I said, gesturing to the women.
    They wrapped the fabric in paper and I carried it out of the store.
    Of course, when it was time to leave my luggage was considerably fatter. Not only two bulky Icelandic sweaters (one purchased later at the same shop) crammed in, but eight yards of fabric, as well.
    The remarkable thing? When I got home I discovered the curtain panels were exactly right for the two large windows in my living room and dining room.
    I haven’t hung them yet. I don’t know if I will. I may repurpose the fabric in some way. But simply looking at the material gives me pleasure. Every time I see it I remember my adventure in Iceland and how I brought home a suitcase full of vintage gold.

(To see a photo of the fabric, click Continue Reading)

Cheryl-Anne Millsap writes for The Spokesman-Review. Her essays can be heard on Spokane Public Radio and on public radio stations across the country. She is the author of “Home Planet: A Life in Four Seasons” and can be reached at catmillsap@gmail.com

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, graphic design and marrying back into the military, Kris Mack landed back in Spokane. And she’s landed with style. She's working with partner Wendy Allen and their new shop, Artemis, is opening this weekend.

I was able to get her attention long enough to answer a few questions about the road to Spokane and what we can expect from Artemis.


What brought you to Spokane?

“(My husband) Brian received orders in 2009 to Fairchild AFB where he is a pilot in the KC-135.  We moved here in January of 2010. My parents now live in the Tri-Cities, so it's nice that they are close.”


What made you decide to start a business here and open a store?

“With my own business, I could create an environment of positive energy and help other people.  I learned these principles from my own grandparents in Israel. My grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Morocco and they owned shops there.  My grandmother Simi had a restaurant.  I don't know that grandma ever made a dime from her cooking.  They fed Muslims, Christians and Jews and really lived this incredible life.   They touched a lot of people's lives regardless of religion with their generosity and sense of community.  This shop symbolizes so much for me.” 


What can we expect from Artemis?

“You'll see a lot of new artists, funky antiques, vintage clothing, upcycled furniture and an expanding clothing and jewelry line.  Artemis supports local artistry and craft. One hundred percent of our new clothing, jewelry, furniture and art is made in the USA.  We are committed to spending our dollars locally, buying wholesale from and promoting new designers from the USA.”

How did you find just the right vendors for your store?

“The deal with local vendors was really serendipitous.  Last year I bought a desk from Al and Lynda Rogers of Yesterday and Today Antiques and I just kept coming back.  Once we had begun construction on the shop, I heard that they were closing up and it just gutted me.  I sent Al a quick note and asked him to get in touch with me and from there we had a series of conversations that lead to them putting their antiques in our shop!  I started searching for other vendors. I found Ronni Ryno of Glamarita and Kadra Evans of  Assassin Apparel.  I just sent them a note and they responded.
I found Jessica Fouche and Rachel O'Brien on Etsy.  Artemis will have their jewelry and soaps and lotions.  
 I also met a lovely woman, Judy Rosier of Frosting, that will be providing Artemis with our free cupcakes on Saturday.  We are also looking into carrying some items from Gladys Hanning of Junebug.”  

With Artemis launched, what’s next?

“Our new website artemishop.com coming in 6 months We also have  a daughter business called 'Pickn' Chicks.'  We will sell your estate (buy your estate in some cases) or help you clean out your garage, barn, house.  We're developing that side of the business currently.”


Artemis Grand Opening Details
Where:3109 N. Monroe
When: Saturday, April 16
Hours: Mon - Fri: 10 am - 5:30 pm; Sat: 9 am- 5:30 am; Sun: 11am-5:00 pm
For more information call: 509 995 8860  
(Vendor inquiries welcome)


Cheryl-Anne Millsap writes for The Spokesman-Review. Her essays can be heard on Spokane Public Radio and on public radio stations across the country. She is the author of “Home Planet: A Life in Four Seasons” and can be reached at catmillsap@gmail.com
  

Put away that list of spring chores. Forget about cleaning out the garage and tidying up the basement. It's time to go out and play.  And by that I mean out to Chattaroy for the Spring Funky Junk sale.

The sale is going on this weekend at the Irish Dance Hall Grange in Chattaroy and Hollie Jantz Eastman and Jennifer Wood have filled the hall with all kinds of treasures of her own and other dealers. Hollie's been posting tempting photos on her blog and so has Jennifer.

I drove out to the sale last year and took a few photos (I even snapped a few local treasure hunters with happy hands) and I can't wait to do a little treasure hunting again this year.

Here is the list of this year's vendors:

Apropos (Kathy Simmons)
BallyHoo Girl (Christy Dunham)
bizi (Jamie Anderson/Paris Flea Market, CD'A)
A Brush Stroke Away (Denny Wuesthoff)
The Catalog (Ashley Reynolds)
Hudson's Holidays (Shirley Hudson)
Iona's Antiques (Traci Brush)
Junebug Furniture and Design (Gladys & Celia Hanning of the Mad Hatter Flea Market)
Joey Vintage (Shawna Moran/Jenna Burgener)
Joy Harvest (Funky Junk Hollie Eastman & mom Gail Jantz)
LadyBird Jewelry (Erin Campbell)
Nestting (Ann Caster)
Orphaned Decor (Leslie Willmann)
Out of the Woods (Tudy Kvenbo)
Pauper's Candle Company (Krista Webber) Playhouse Soaps (Funky Junk Jennifer Wood)
ReVamp (Dore Schiller)
Rustic Radiance/Burnett Photography (Cary Burnett-our photographer!!)
Rusty Pine Junk Co. (Barbara Ackerman)
Shabby Stems Furnishings (Holly Dalke)
Scout Vintage Clothing & Accessories (Robyn Pirie)
Sisters Creed (Kristin Johnson & crew)
Sophia's/Angel's Attic (Kristen Dobsen/Linda & Jon Gardner)
Touched by Time (Kathy White)
Two Women Art & Antiques (Dianna & Fielding Chelf of the Two Women Barn Bazaar)
Unexpected Necessities (Jennifer Walker)
The Vintage Show (Coquille Gallagher)
The Wren Nest (Nicole Froemming/Vicki Penna)
Yesterday's Connection (Funky Junk Jennifer Wood)
  

The details:
Funky Junk Spring Antique Show and Sale
When: April 9 & 10, 10 a.m.—4 p.m.
Where: Irish Dance Hall Grange: 8216 E. Big Meadows Rd. Chattaroy, WA 99003

Directions: Go north on Newport Hwy (which becomes Hwy 2.) Follow Hwy 2 past Cat Tails and turn right on Elk-Chattaroy Rd. (at the Solid Waste Transfer Station).Right on to Big Meadows Rd for three miles. Look for the pretty pink signs!

Admission: $2 (kids 12 and under get in free)

   
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 Glitter first and talked to Holly Baublitz and Becky Ellis. I love the architectural elements that define the interior. A vintage greenhouse frame and a wonderfully shabby gazebo carve what would be a wide-open room into a space with lots of interesting nooks and crannies. It’s not all girly glitter, though. Holly told me they’re doing more with industrial and salvage pieces, as well. (Look for new merchandise scored at a barn sale this morning.)

    From there I moved on to The Mad Cow next door. I missed The Mad Cow’s grand opening recently but got a chance to meet Heidi Tobler and her daughter Hannah when I stopped in today.  Each room is full of wonderful shabby finds and I loved the creative touches in every corner. Can't wait to go back.

    The last stop was This Old House & New. I’ve been in This Old House plenty of times but I found it particularly hard to walk away from several sweet chairs recovered in vintage fabrics. I’ve been treasure hunting for a long time and have always had a fondness for orphaned chairs (among other things.) I poked around in Jennifer Walker’s Unexpected Necessities space. As always, she’s filled it with cotton-candy pink and white vintage goodness.

    So, pardon me if I give myself a pat on the back. I got the Saturday errands done and managed to snag a little junking time for myself.

    Hope your day was just as much fun!

(Click Continue Reading for more photos)

Cheryl-Anne Millsap writes for The Spokesman-Review. Her essays can be heard on Spokane Public Radio and on public radio stations across the country. She is the author of “Home Planet: A Life in Four Seasons” and can be reached at catmillsap@gmail.com

  

You could spend the weekend cleaning out the garage, putting away the snow shovel and doing all those early spring chores that need to be done. Or, you could poke around in someone else's garage and find a treasure to bring home. Easy choice, right?

This weekend is the spring Shabby Stems Furnishings sale at the home of Holly Dalke. She will be selling vintage items, furniture and other one-of-a-kind finds.

You worked hard all week. Reward yourself. Take a break, get out to Holly's garage and do a little treasure hunting.

Spring Sale

Where: 3225 W. 7th Avenue

When: Saturday, March 19

Hours: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Directions: West on Sunset Blvd, right on F Street, proceed straight. Turn right on 7th Avenue at the corner of E Street and 7th Avenue. Look for a big white house with a picket fence. Have fun!

Since I started writing my Treasure Hunting column in 2003 (I started the blog in 2004) , I’ve written a lot about my fondness for vintage clothing. I dressed in silk Flapper dresses while in college and was married in a delicate 1900s cotton lawn  summer gown. What most people don’t know is that my first business was a vintage clothing shop. With my husband’s help, I took an empty storefront on the “arty” side of the city and turned it into a space that was equal parts store and artist’s salon.

Surrounded by racks of sheer Edwardian cotton dresses and bouffant tulle prom dresses from the 1950s, my friends and I - most of whom were actors, artists and musicians - spent happy hours talking, laughing and enjoying being young and free.  When my first child came along I closed the store and rented spaces in the more upscale antique malls in town.

So, in addition to a love of all things vintage and shabby, I have a sweet spot for vintage clothing. Which means I have a sweet spot for Carousel Vintage Clothing.  

This week, I decided to feature Jenny Stabile, owner of Carousel, as one of my Treasure Hunting profiles. I enjoyed getting to know her better and think you will, too.


How did you get started collecting/buying/selling vintage clothing?
“I started almost 6 years ago just thrifting for funky finds of any kind and I came across a couple of vintage dresses that just struck me. That’s when the dress-collecting started. I started selling a couple of years later when my bedroom apartment started to resemble a large walk-in closet! I was working full-time at a coffee shop and I thought I might be able to also make a little extra money from my hobby.”

You moved into the former location of Finders Keepers and purchased some of Deena Caruso’s stock and fixtures when she moved. It all happened pretty quickly, didn’t it?

“I opened on August 13th. It took me about a month and a half to negotiate my lease, get my licenses, paint and remodel, price and display merchandise, decorate etc.  All of which I did almost completely on my own! It was really hard but I'm pretty proud of myself! Thankfully I didn't have to take out a loan, I had been building a savings for this.”

Where do you get your love of vintage?
 “I think it’s just always been there! Really, I don’t remember not loving it or being influenced by it somehow. But I think I get a lot of it from my Mom. She was always telling me stories of how her mom dressed in the 50’s and 60’s. And she was always hitting yard sales and thrift stores, bringing home all this great stuff. I always felt like I was missing out on something if she went to a yard sale without me! She actually met the midwife who delivered me at a yard sale so I guess you could say vintage was born in me!”

Where would you like to take your business?
“I would love, down the road, to open a second store. Not necessarily vintage, but a boutique with a mix of some vintage décor along with recycled/repurposed clothing/accessories/décor. I love making something new out of something you wouldn’t expect. Like turning bottles into lamps or something. And I have a background in coffee so maybe throw a little café in there, too.”

What do these vintage garments posses that newer fashions do not?
“Oh my! Everything! There is so much attention and thought put into each detail, every seam. Every part has a purpose.”

Do you have a favorite fashion period?
“I really love the 1950’s and earlier the most. Mostly back through the 1920’s. The quality of the fabric that was used, the quality of workmanship and design just doesn’t exist anymore. You rarely see synthetics used and when you do it’s sometimes hard to tell them from silk or rayon, the quality is so fine.”

What unexpected problems/blessings have you encountered as a new business owner?
“I wouldn’t say problems, but maybe challenges. Probably the most difficult is just educating people about how vintage fits. A lot of vintage fabrics are woven, so there is very little or no give at all. I think we’ve become accustomed to everything having stretch, even formal wear. Not so with vintage. If it looks small, it is. If it looks large it is. Also, women were wearing ‘shapewear’ even under day dresses so the waists tend to be smaller than the rest of the dress. And lastly, clothing was often custom fitted to each woman (just one of the things I love about the past!) So it really is just about finding the right fit and style for you.”

It sounds like you love what you do.
“Having the opportunity to own my own business is a blessing. I feel like everything I’ve done the past few years since I knew I wanted my own shop has led to this. It’s everything I hoped for. Owning Carousel is the happiest and surest about what I’m doing that I’ve ever been. I can’t imagine NOT doing this!”


Carousel Vintage Clothing
110 S Cedar
Spokane, WA, 99204
Hours:
Tue-Sun 10-6
Mon 12-5

For more info call: 509-838-2877


  

Admit it. All this gray-skies-and-rainy-weather atmosphere has gotten to you. Wouldn’t it be nice to do a little shopping and bring home a pretty vintage treasure?
You bet it would.
I feel the same way. That’s why I’m looking forward to Fielding Chelf’s Spring Opening Sale. Today (Friday) from 5pm- 8pm and Saturday March 12 from 9am to 3pm, you can browse antiques, collectibles, vintage finds and one-of-a-kind handcrafted jewelry. That ought to brighten things up a bit, don’t you think?

It’s high time we kicked off the junking season. I'll see you there!

Details:
Where: 3326 S. Grand Blvd. (Just behind Performance Chiropractic)
When: Friday, March 11, 5-8 pm and Saturday, March 12, 9am - 3pm
  

(photo by Cheryl-Anne Millsap)

    Each week I record my Home Planet column for my Sunday Morning Essay program on Spokane Public Radio. After my studio time I always try to stop by The Vintage Rabbit, which is located on the street level of the same building on North Monroe.
    

    Owner, Jan Richart is usually there and we chat for a few minutes as I look around.
    

    The Vintage Rabbit (here’s a Spokane Grapevine post about the store) was one of the first places I discovered when I moved to Spokane in 1999. I decorated my new house with old things, many of them Vintage Rabbit finds, so over the years I’ve become familiar with many of the dealers there.
    

    Last week as I walked through the booths, I noticed a woman shopping in the same space. She was looking at a large vintage locker-unit in a corner and after a minute, snapped off the price tag hanging from a string.
   

     “This is my new armoire,” she said, turning to me with a big smile.
    

    That’s the way it is with treasure hunters. We get so excited about our ideas and finds we just have to share.
    Kris Mack introduced herself and we talked for a few minutes while Jan helped her clear out the big piece and get it ready to go. It seems we have a similar story.
    

    Kris just moved to Spokane a year ago and is now slowly filling her new home with funky vintage finds. As a designer, she has a good eye. Drawn to a more industrial look, she and her husband love to create one-of-a-kind pieces from unique antique and vintage items.

    “I love looking at things and imagining them in a different way,” she told me. “It’s a way to save money and to be creative.”
    

    I snapped a quick photo of Kris and her $200 find - which will become an armoire in the master bedroom - and I’m looking forward to writing more about her.    I’d also like to introduce her to all of the other junkers out there.

    You can read more about Kris Mack's design work here.

  

There are finds and then there are the finds you find all over again.

In 2006, I was invited by a Treasure Hunting reader to join her for a day of antiquing. I met her at Apple Annie Antique Gallery in Cashmere, Washington and joined Soap Lake Collector's Club for lunch at the diner there in the mall. After lunch we spent several hours looking around the mall. I bought two pieces of green Fiestaware and we were saying goodbye when I noticed a pile of items just inside the door. One of the dealers was just bringing in new merchandise and had dropped it off at the door while she moved her truck and got down to the business of tagging and displaying.

One item in particular caught my eye. It was a small round, weathered, wrought-iron table. The glass was missing but otherwise the shabby white table was in great shape. I could see it in my garden or sitting beside a favorite chair.

When the dealer walked up I asked her what she wanted for the table and she studied it a minute and said, “How about $18?”

Sold.

I brought it home and put it in the garden shed until I could find a place for it. We sold the big house in the suburbs soon after and downsized to a cottage in the city, I got rid of a lot of things, but I brought the table with me. I knew it had potential.

For the last five years the table has been in the garden shed here in the city. Waiting until the time was right.

Maybe it was the unexpectedly bright sunshine on a February day, but I woke up this morning in a mood to do something different around the house. After my coffee, I moved a few things around. Declaring the end of the worst of winter, I put the white cotton slipcover on the sofa and replaced the heavier oriental rug with a lighter jute rug. I also moved the leather ottomans I've used for a coffee table since moving in.

Staring at the empty space in front of the sofa, wondering what would look good and still do the job, I remembered the iron table in the garden shed. A quick trip to Pier 1 for a new glass top and it was done. I've got a brand new look built around a fine old find.

Cheryl-Anne Millsap writes for The Spokesman-Review. Her essays can be heard on Spokane Public Radio and on public radio stations across the country. She is the author of “Home Planet: A Life in Four Seasons” and can be reached at catmillsap@gmail.com

There were only two vendors at last weekend’s arts and crafts show that specialize in vintage wares. The Funky Junk Sisters were there, as was All That Glitter.

I spent some time chatting with Becky Ellis, one of the glitter girls, and poked around her booth a bit.  I loved her style. Lots of Shabby whites and glittery, papery, crowns and crafts. I was particularly taken by the big pastel paper peonies and twigs behind the iron bed that was the centerpiece of her display.

Just goes to show it doesn’t take much to make an impact. One or two of the supersized blooms makes quite a design statement.

(More photos…)

I stepped in out of the wonderful sunshine today long enough to take in the Custer’s Spring Arts and Crafts show at the The Spokane County Fair and Expo Center.

I’m not a crafter, although I admire the hard work of those who are, so I went looking for vintage finds. I knew there were at least a couple of booths stocked with primarily vintage goods and I found them.

I talked to Dixie from Funky Junk Sisters first. Loved the black and white theme of the merchandise that remained in her booth. There were just enough splashes of red to make it pop.

We dished about the local market, the movers and shakers of the industry and the upcoming junking season. By the time I left my mouth was watering. I can already taste the summer fun.