The Farm Chicks Adventure Part II

WE were in line at 7:30 am! Look pretty chipper, don't WE?

Just so you know, from left to right, it's Melin, Teri, Nancy & Sue. 

 

Here is our spot in line. It's not too bad.

 

 

If you don't arrive early, you could be at the end of this...or worse!

WE talked to many fun ladies in line with us and tried to make a plan.

But once inside, it's so awesome you forget the plan and just go for it!

 

 

 I bought 3-4 larger items in the first half hour and I am so glad I did.

Watch for a future blog post about hints for The Farm Chicks Show. 

 

 The booths are fun and each one unique. There were some industrial, kitchen (more would

 have been better for me), garden, kids, and general home items. The prices are fair,

not cheap nor super high. I do prefer bargains but fair is good.

 

 

I wish I could share with you what I bought and I will when I retrieve my treasures from

Sue in August. The plane really limits what I could bring home with me.

I think I took these booth pictures on Sunday, when the crowds are just a bit lighter because it was much more crowded than it looks like here. Just want to give you an idea of what it looks like.

The booths are all inside the fairgrounds building. It was very crowded in the booths

and at times almost overwhelming.



WE each did our own thing, so WE could go at our own pace. Our paths did cross many times

with happy grins and hot spot sharing. WE met for lunch and they had a nice selection of food.

 I had a great barbecue sandwich. There were long lines and seats were tough to come by but

WE did manage to seat all together. It felt great to sit and compare notes on what we found. 

 

 There is an assortment of Farm Chicks merchandise near the entrance. WE all bought shirts, which sold out on Saturday. WE wore them on Sunday and were told gals may offer 

us cash for the shirts off our backs but no way were WE selling our keepsakes.

I bought this great mug too!

 

 

 Here WE are posing with the car in the woods theme display in the entrance in our shirts.

Most of us had to make a car run at least once. WE all bought some great treasures  for our

 own homes and I picked up a few cool treats for Wren Elizabeth Gifts ~ Vintage.

Watch for more blog posts about our adventures with The Farm Chicks.

Melin

 

The Farm Chicks Adventure Part I

I have heard about The Farm Chicks Antique Show, in Spokane, WA, for years now and wanted

 to join in the fun. This was my year and I will share a few stories from my adventure here with

you over a few blog entries. The Farm Chicks is a two day event over the first

 weekend in June at the Spokane, WA Fairgrounds.

 

The Farm Chicks Show was started in 2002 by Serena Thompson. Serena is tiny and beautiful, a mother of four, contributing editor of Country Living Magazine, an author of two books and

co-creator of this great event. You can find out more about her and the show on her facebook page

at http://www.facebook.com/thefarmchicks or at http://thefarmchicks.com/antique-show/.  Her love for antiques, re-purposing and cuteness shine through all she does! Here WE are together below.

I was lucky to get to meet her and she signed the latest copy of Country Living Magazine for me.

 

 I flew to Washington State and met three of my grade and high school besties for this grand girlfriend adventure. Sue, Teri and I drove from NW WA along highway 2 to Spokane.

WE stopped in a darling Bavarian town, Leavenworth, for an early lunch and a bit of shopping.

Speaking of shopping...WE shopped ALL 8 days we were together!

WE arrived in Spokane and was greeted by Nancy, who lives near by in ID. Bless her heart,

she already had our wrist band tickets for both days of the event for all of us. WE were so

excited to all be together again! The last time was at my son's wedding 6 years ago.

Dinner was at Clinkerdagger, a beautiful restaurant on the river, at the falls.

 

 

This is our view during dinner!

 WE toasted our adventure with a few fun cocktails and wine.

 

I brought a small gift for each of us. Watch for a future blog called "Farm Chick Craft".

 

 

The dinner was perfect! WE knew WE had to get up early, so WE strolled back to our

hotel enjoying our reunion and precious time with dear long time friends. 

 

Stay tuned for The Farm Chicks Adventure Part II.

Melin

An Abundance of Flowers!

 

Flowers are such a loving way to say "YOU are special"!

 

 

One easy and quick floral trick, is to purchase a bunch of inexpensive, but pretty, flowers

 at the grocery store. These pretty carnations were $3.99 at our local store. The bunch was

variegated, shades of pink with just a couple of white ones (a lucky mistake) too.

 

I have collected several small vases, a few little perfume and throw away bottles, just for flower arranging. It makes a small bouquet look like a plethora of blooms. You can find small

 little vessels at your local thrift store for very little money. They are usually open

 on Sunday too, so you can  still get some on the way to the store for your

 flowers for a last minute Mother's Day gift.

 

 

These are beautiful scattered across a dining or coffee table or set here and there around the home.

I especially like to put one or two in the powder room and next to a favorite photo.

I often use this trick when I am having over-night guests. 

Happy Mother's Day!

Melin



What is your collecting style?

Some collectors start with one item that just appeals to them, in a happy way, and they buy it on the spot. If they just have to have more of the same, they slowly gather the knowledge about their collection over time. Others are more cautious collectors and they study the items to learn

all they can about their history and values, so they don't make many mistakes along the way.

 And others start with a gifted or purchased collection that someone else collected and passed on.

 There are a lot of psychological explanations of why we collect but, wow, that's too heavy

 for this collector. I think "to each, his own". Seems to me everyone collects, whether

 it is a 100 year or older antique, a childhood collectible or new shoes or ties.

 

 

What interests you? That is the best place to start a collection. I've changed my collections over the years as my interests and resources have changed. Do you like sports and it's memorabilia,

 cooking and all things kitchen, travel, places you have loved and want to bring it's essence into

your home decor? How does your Grandma's china inspire you or your Grandpa's plaid thermos?

Holidays have always brought me great joy, the decorations, china, family and even gifts.

They stir warm nostalgic feelings deep in my spirit and I love to collect those kind

of things.  Most of my collections are built around fabulous memories.

 

 

Whatever makes you feel that thrill of the find, long after you leave the shop

or flea market, go forward and collect!

Happy Holidays,

Melin

Hello Birdies!

 

The Easter decor is all put away...now what? I say bring out the birdies!

 

 

Over time I have amassed quite a collection of birdies and bird themed decor. I just

 find a  new one or pair here and there when shopping and traveling.

 

 

My all time favorite is the sweet gifting birdie that is the Wren Elizabeth Gifts' mascot and logo.

 I bought her years ago in Carmel and LOVE her still. She has always looked vintage.

 

 

I also use nests, both real (abandoned and recycled) and replicas, in my decorating

 inside and outside my home. Birdhouses in all sizes are fun too.

 

 

I set birdies in groupings, pairs or singles, near framed pictures or just scattered about.

 

 

When there are long breaks between holidays, just display 

seasonal treasures of what you love and collect!

 

 

 

 

Happy decorating!

Melin



My Easter Collections



 I thought I would share a few of my Easter collections with you. These bunnies, chicks and

duckies have been a part of my Easters most all my life. I believe my Momma or my

Aunt Joann made the broken egg above...priceless!

 

Most of these treasures are made in Japan from Lefton. The shiny duckling and standing

 duck are newer additions that I was lucky to find. I just love them all!

 

I started my Snowbunny collection by accident when I was collecting Snowbabies, gifts

for my daughter. I loved the pastel touches of color on these sweet bunnies.

 They are busy making Easter more fun for everyone!

 

My Mom started my Bunnykins collection for me when I was a girl. I have added to

it here and there as I grew. I try to select pieces that show the bunnies doing

 activities that remind me of my childhood family or my own family.

 



 

 These little plastics figures are a fun retro Easter memory. Can you pick

 out the  newer impostor from this line up?

 

 

 

 

 Just a few fun egg cups showing a different style egg collection. 

What do you collect for Easter? WE would love you to share.

Happy Easter and Passover to you!

Melin

 



Easter Table

 

I love a festive table for Easter that will delight the kids and the kid in all of us.

 I found the light pink metallic tree at Michael's for 75% off at the end

of last spring. I just knew it would come in handy. It even  has a few

 clear flowers on some of the ends of the branches.

 

 

First, I set the base of the tree into the spring bead wreath,

then I added Easter ornaments, all from WE.

 

 

 I sprinkled small malted milk eggs in matching colors around the base.

 I like to mix in a few edible treats into the centerpiece. 

 

 



I set a few fillable paper mache bunnies around the tree and a favor at each place setting. Who

doesn't love a favor? You can add a slip of paper with their name on it to personalize.

 

 

A retro ornament decorates the vintage napkins that were a lucky find at an antique store in Paradise, CA. Most of my pink dishes were found in a set in Folsom, CA. I love them for Easter and showers!

Occasionally, I find pinks at thrift stores but it is getting more rare in my neck of the woods.

 

 

See what you have collected to pull together for your Easter table. Make a list of what to

look for in the future that will take your table to the next level of fun for you family and YOU!

Melin