out of halloween land

I finally figured out it was time to look into this problem that my blog had.

This was the thing, in case it wasn't something you noticed. On the blog roll thing that all the cool kids have, the one that shows you when a blog has been updated, mine sat at the bottom. All alone looking untended and stupid. Well it really looked like I had not updated it since October. So after having talked with Jana, the owner of Joy works and then Jermonne I decided the problem must be tackled. And this ladies and gentlemen is how my computer mind works.

The one thing that I have routinely seen mentioned on web pages that I have no idea, none, of what it does.........rss. What do those letters mean? And since I have no idea, nor any interest in finding out I figure that is my problem.

I googled rss found a url copied and pasted and viola! My blog site awoke to a whole new day.

We are back and ready for modern blogdom once again, well sorta.....

Why are we up so late?

3 a.m, I can not sleep, I am having creative overload. So many things to get done before this weekend which is of course THE BARN HOUSE FLEA, I am so excited!

So I get down here at my computer and I notice that the Barn House boys are signed into their Yahoo account, the Queen of Tart just posted a new blog and it seems even Auntie Joy is up and about posting on her blog! And those are just the vendors that I have some way of keeping track of.

I hope we all get some sleep before this weekend, cuz there will be no sleeping once we enter Barn Houseville.

Sleep my fellow vendors, I have a feeling we going to have some Saturday!

changes

When Patterns are broken, new worlds emerge.
Tuli Kupferberg.

I am always working at trying to find what I am here for, not that everyone isn't doing just that. But in doing that I find that change is the constant. And to do change with some grace is a real trick.

The universe really knocks me over the head when I need to make changes and I still don't listen, until I get a physical ailment. Last week I had gout in my big toe. Time for a change.

That means I need to grow, I need to concentrate on where I am going. with my junk, and going to Fremont is not furthering that goal. So for all the folks that I have gotten to know at Fremont I will miss the weekly visit. I still love the idea of a flea market. And I will still be at other flea markets in the area. I will post where I will be selling and give some more information on my mall space.

I am really working to create some interesting new products and stretch a bit with the type of junk that I am selling.

I have some exciting new projects in the offing and will give a shout out when they are ready for blog land input.

Thank you to all the Fremont folk who have been so good to me over the last couple of years.

Lulu

help mandi shop

oh mandi, how I love to give my opinion on shopping spots, thanx so much for asking!

I have spent my whole life shopping for junk in western washington so I'll pass on some of my favorite spots.

I live in Tacoma, about 40 minutes south of Seattle so the places that I shop on a daily basis are close to home.

First I am going to give you some show & flea dates, if you are passing thru on any of those dates you should stop in.

Every Sunday the Fremont Sunday Market. Fremont Seattle. Easy peasy to find and the stuff runs from glorious to not so glorious. I usually am a vendor, make sure and make yourself know to me if you stop by.The tip is to get there early. Most of the dealers starts roaming around watching the vendors set up about 7:30.

The Barn House Sale, this sale this year is going to be huge! Not so many vendors, only 20. Of which I am 1, lucky girl that I am. It is happening on July 18th. It is more of a show than a sale in that the Barn House Boys have more energy than a pack of wild dogs and spread it about to every one. I have to say the vendors are top notch and treasures will abound. It is in Battleground WA. Just on the edge of southwest WA.

The other show going on the same day is in Anacortes WA, it is a city wide flea market, garage sale, arts and crafts sale. I know alot of dealers who do this show and it is a great shopping show. Stuff is reasonabley priced and there is a ton of it. Anacortes is west of Mt Vernon/ Burlington and if you have time, I believe that the San Juan islands are one of the most beautiful places on the planet. You can catch a ferry from Anacortes and hang in the San Juans for a few days. Heaven.

I do a little community market in Lacy Wa, it will be on the 11th of July and the 8th of August. It's a little farmers market with some junk dealers thrown in to make it more fun. I have found great stuff here at really good prices. It is in a really sweet little park and they usually have some entertainment thrown in. Right off of I.5.

Some of my haunts, now these are places I go to alot, so sometimes the picking is good and sometimes it is a waste of my time, so here are some just general ideas of places that I would stop at. All Goodwill stores in WA are good. The ones in Seattle are a bit more expensive, but your in Seattle. The Goodwill stores in the Portland Ore are are fantastic!

I love St Vincents, I call it going to church, I can stumble around in their back junk yard for hours at a time. You just never know what wonderous thing will be found at St Vinnies.

Now for some towns that have oppertunities for junk. Vancouver south.

Bellingham has a few really good "antique" shops. I grew up 30 miles north of Bham so I love to go shopping there.

Snohomish is a huge antique town. Stop and plan to spend the day. Say hello to Annie for me at Annies. She and Mary her partner in the shop are really great. Lots on Antique Malls as well. You can't throw a rock without hitting something old in Snohomish.

Seattle you are on your own, it's just to much, the one place I would reccomend stopping is Pacific Galleries. It's an antique mall in SODO and it is where designers and the elite go to find really beautiful unusual things. It is worth a stop, but the prices are high and not really suited for resale. But it is a vision.

Tacoma, in Fife next to the Poodle Dog Resturant is a Antique Mall that is pretty good, I have a space there, and I think you could do some good buying there and it is right off I.5. I know that the Poodle Dog seems like a fun place to eat............don't.

My friends John Bob have a bunch of mall spaces at the Antique mall on South Tacoma way. They have great stuff at really great prices, I think that whole mall is always a good place to browse thru.

Centrailia and Chehalis are like Snohomish, Antique stores everywhere. Be prepared to spend some time there, ask the locals that you see out and about for reccomendations on small shops. I really don't get down in that direction enough to be of much help.

I think I'll post this as a blog, maybe we can get some other ideas for you.

Stay Tuned, Lulu

sorry,mandi my computer crashed right as I finished this long e-mail, just got it fixed today. hope this will be of some use. Lulu

---

From: Mandi Pike <mhpike@comcast.net>
To: luluz1953@yahoo.com; luluz1953@yahoo.com
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 10:39:13 AM
Subject: Hi Lulu!

Hi there! My name is Mandi, I'm visiting Seattle from the bay area. I saw your pic on one of the Funky Junk blogs...looks like you gals had fun this year!

I was hoping you might be able to give me the names of a few 'FJ' type shops in WA. We're headed to BC for a few days and then back down the '5' to SF. I'm in a shop (www.roomwithapast.com) in Walnut Creek and have my heart set on fillin' up the truck with goodies to take back to my customers.

If you know of any great shops, I'd love to know about them!

Thanks for any info...I'll wave hi on our way through Tacoma on the way home next week!

Mandi Pike

FJ fan

www.mementosdesigns.blogspot.com

Funky Junk Sisters

So after Farm Chicks, Funky Junk Sisters had a hard act to follow, but they did it! On their first time out no less. I had a great show and a wonderful vendor experience at the first Funky Junk Sister show. I was totally blown away by the energy and good spirits that pervaded the entire show. Thank-you so much you Funky Junk Sisters you.....

I was set up next to a wonderful, dear, women, God bless her, Deb from Garden Party http://gardenpartydecor.blogspot.com. She is the real deal. Talks the talk and walks the walk. I am not the first one to think that she is fab, all 2 days of the show she was getting tons of hugs and well wishers stopping by. Everyone seems to adore this really talented and wonderful person. If you are lucky enough to hang with Deb for the day, your lucky enough.

So when will the Funky Junk Sisters do it again, not soon enough for this funky junk girl. I'll let you know if I hear anything.

I will be at the Thurston County Flea Market this week end with another really nice women, Sharon Kagie, so if you are in the area stop in at the Thurston County Fair grounds and say hi.

catching up, vacation pictures.

Geff took so many pictures his camera ran out of memory, if you would like to see more of our vacation, more New Orleans, Mother Marcov and her domain, more plantations and just more go here, http://www.flickr.com/photos/geff/sets/72157619606029396/

There is so much sky in the south. Geff was walking up to get a picture of the Oaks plantation, the mississippi is on the other side of where he is standing. I never got used to the fact that alot of the time the water was up a hill. Seems kinda scary.
This is a wall from one of the slave cabins that has been recovered. Pink and green.

Geff at rest, love the Geff in Vacation mode. So fun.
these are the colors of Laura Plantation. Most of the time when I am on vacation it is these sort of images that stick with me. Bits and pieces of color and a feeling of a place that seems to come from those colors. The Laura Plantation is a restored Creole Plantation. And these are the traditional colors used at that time. I would have prefered white, but no one was asking me.........


This was on the little porch outside the old store building, loved these colors and the show of age and use.

funky junk sisters

Well I am excited, I wish I had pictures, this show is going to be great! Being closer to home lots of new junk has been unearthed and we all spent all day arranging and fussing.

I promise if you come to this show you will not be disappointed, really truly. You will be happy to see quality vintage and antiques, in a wide variety at all price points, beautifully displayed. Come to see us.

post farm chic blues

I'm trying to shake it, really, I am not going to the Farm Chick blog every other moment looking for an announcement that they want us all to come back in the fall and we can do it all again. It was fun seeing the redo of the blog, but apparently they have moved on with their lives and I suppose that I will to. Heck Serena is painting and Teri is arranging Peonies. I wonder if late at night they, Teri and Serena, get the urge to call us all up and ...........day dreaming again.

So on with this week end, I have a show in the lovely town of Puyallup. Funky Junk Sisters. It is Saturday and Sunday, starts at 10 in the morning and address is 16719 110th Ave E in Puyallup 98373 .

Farm chick pics

                                       Timmy the party animal that he is went home with A party girl, and they                                                                             lived happily ever after....
                                     Those Barn House boys build a house!  It caused quite a stir.
                                  2 of the reasons this show was so dog gone much fun, Ms Susan Wheeler

                                  and Bob, of the now infamous Bob Jon cool junk.  Doesn't he look dapper?
                                   This is me, beginning to set up on Friday.  Geff was so busy shopping

                                    and visiting that these are all the pics he took.  But they sum up a good

                                    time had by all pretty well.