Wrapping up 2012...

It's been exactly 1 month since I blogged last and alot of life has happened in that time! Wasn't quite sure where to start with this "catch up" post so here goes ~

December was a busy month filled with all the "normal" holiday festivities...those of you who know me well KNOW how much I LOVE CHRISTMAS and how very much I LOVE DECORATING for Christmas!!! This year was no exception! I did have a bit of a late start due to the fact that 3 Craft Chicks participated in the Two Women Christmas Show. I learned a BIG lesson this year!!! I MUST decorate my home in November before any Christmas shows! Otherwise it's being done the week before Christmas and I like to have it done sooner so we can all enjoy it longer! I know! I know! I know! I'm just {alittle} crazy for Christmas!!! Always have been & always will be!!!

In my formal living there are 3 trees!!! The tall one has all glass & Old World Christmas ornaments, the silver one by the mirror has all Shiny Brites {those make me HAPPY} and the newest addition is the smaller aluminum tree {purchased from Happy Girl Vintage}that holds all of Grandpa Bernie & Grandma Lorraine's VINTAGE Shiny Brite ornaments along with a few family heirlooms!

I simply ADORE this tree & all the treasured memories it holds!!!

Got to check off something on my bucket list this Christmas!!!
Jim gave me a REVOLVING CHRISTMAS TREE STAND!!!

The catch was I already had my big tree decorated! No worries tho!!! I took off all the glass ornaments and Jim put the new stand on and then I stayed up till 3 a.m. that particular morning redecorating my tree!!!
It was SOOOOOOOOOO worth it!!!

Of course in a picture you can't see it moving but trust me...IT MOVES!!!

When I was 10 years old we went to our friends Gary & Ginny Evans home for Christmas and their tree was revolving! I remember that day 35 years ago being so mesmerized by it and saying in my mind that someday I would have one!!! Much of my love for Christmas decorating came from Gary and he to this day still loves all things Christmas!!!

Just a few of my other favorite Christmas decorations ~ ~ ~

We ended the month of December 2012 with a couple very momentous events:

 First...our dear Scotty came to live with us! His mom, brother & sister brought him back over from western Washington a couple days after Christmas! We are all so happy to have him here with us. He certainly brightens ANY day and is a such a reminder of the simple joys of life!!!

Secondly...we signed a lease on an adorable little pink house just a couple miles from our home where 3 Craft Chicks will have scrapbooking/crafting classes and crops. We will also have vintage/antique home decor for sale. I'm most excited about a place for people to gather and be able to craft and work on whatever project they need to. It's going to be alot of fun and I will certainly keep you posted on the details!!!

SO EXCITING!!!!!

a TREASURE to me ~ SUNNY JIM

When cleaning out Grandma Lorraine & Grandpa Bernie's home this past month we found many treasures. 

Well, at least they are TREASURES to me (us).

Jim originally took these jars because of the nails inside. He then realized after looking at them, I would want the jars!!!

 Now isn't that LOVE???? 

He "gets" me!!

I LOVE THAT ABOUT MY {SUNNY} JIM!!!

Weekend Wrap Up...

Hope everyone had a wonderful summer weekend!!! Here's a snippet of what I had going on...

My fun started on Friday at 2:00 p.m. when I met my mom at The Magic Lantern Theater which is in downtown Spokane! We saw the movie "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" which is now is my ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIE!!! It was my mom's 3rd time to see it and I can now understand why!!!

A favorite quote from this movie...

EVERYTHING will be okay in the end.

If it isn't okay, it ISN'T THE END!

I then went a couple doors down from the theater to ROOST to add some items to our 3 Craft Chicks spaces. 

Went home from there to be greeted by this SWEET face...

Saylah & I went on an adventure to the PARK!!!

We started off with impromptu picnic which consisted of "fresh frwies" and  her favorite "dip" (ketchup) ~  :)

Then after that it was OFF TO PLAY &

 SWING, SWING, SWING...

Absolutely LOVE seeing that sweet little {ketchup}smile and hearing her LAUGH!!!

 

Such a BIG GIRL!!!

 

ON THE RUN!!! She kept me hoppin'!!! :) We {BOTH} slept so soundly that night ~ I love that about summertime & fresh air!!!

Saturday morning Saylah and I went down the road to my friend Amy Ward's home for a Stampin' Up Open House! Amy has a little boy about the same age as Saylah so they were going to play. When we got there tho Michael was busy outside "helping" his dad mow the lawn and didn't want to come inside. Saylah kept asking "where friend?" She was so good in spite of not playing with "friend" and everyone there commented on what a sweet little girl she is! I, of course, couldn't agree more!!! Thank you to her mommy, Samantha for letting us have her for the night!!! We ALWAYS enjoy our time with little Sugar Pie!!!

Saturday evening Lauren, her boyfriend Austin and I went to a movie! 2 movies in 2 days!!! Not very common for me however it was so much fun!!! We went and saw "People Like Us".

It was phenomenal and I would recommend it. I did push for this movie as I felt the other options wouldn't be my style of movie. So that being said...it was a VERY emotionally charged movie that made me CRY & CRY. Normally I don't mind that however in this case I thought poor Austin would think I had lost it if I didn't at least contain myself somewhat! I apologized to him if it wasn't his kind of movie but he's so gracious and kind and said he liked it! 

Today, Sunday, has been a day of cleaning and getting my home ready for my Aunt & 4 Cousins that are coming in from Iowa for a week. Haven't seen all but 1 Cousin in over 24 years!!! It will be a very SWEET reunion I'm sure! I like when company comes from out of town too because then I act like a tourist in my own town!!!

Tonight Jim & Natalie return from Bothell .Precious Grandma Lorraine passed away on June 5th and her home has already sold. The estate sale was this weekend and getting everything in order at her house has been taking place over the past couple weeks. I was able to go last weekend and it felt so odd to be at Grandma's home and have her not be there and also to see the SOLD sign on the FOR SALE sign!!! It was such a blessing that the house sold so quickly because now a days that is not always the case!!!

So...that's that!!! My weekend in review ~

WHAT DID YOU ALL DO THIS WEEKEND???

 Summer has FINALLY arrived here in Spokane and I for one...

LOVE IT!!!

Farm Chicks 2012

My sweet little family right before the show started...definitely the calm before the storm! 

3 Craft Chicks was formed in January 2012 so it has been a whirlwind as this very  new business in the junking world has taken off! Just 6 weeks ago we decided to pursue having our very own booth at The Farm Chicks Show! So, at that point began the frenzy of activity it takes to prepare for not just any show but one of the biggest shows in the country!!! My husband,  Jim is amazing and helped design so many things from business cards to booth displays. Our daughters, Lauren & Natalie are such a vital part of the 3 Craft Chicks and I just can't even imagine doing this without my precious family! They have really made my dream a reality!!! 

We did have a little hitch in our giddy up about 3 weeks ago when we got news that Jim's Grandma Lorraine was not doing well and would need extra care the couple weeks preceding the show. Jim's mom needed to go back home for appointments and Grandma couldn't be alone. Jim & I traded off going over to Bothell, Wa to be with our beloved Grandma! It was an honor & blessing to spend her last days on earth with her. When I married my husband 25 years ago she became MY Grandma and had such a profound influence on my life. I was able to be with her 2 separate times in the last month and while there worked on things I was hand making for our booth. She enjoyed watching me work and was looking forward to seeing pictures as she could not really fathom the concept of Farm Chicks! Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m., just as the show started we received a phone call from Jim's mom saying that Grandma was worsening and she wasn't sure how much longer she had. At that moment I just wanted to hop in my car and make the 5 hour drive to be with her. I knew I couldn't and that Grandma would not have wanted that as I know she would want us to do the show & do it well. I walked over to my friend Jennifer's Funky Junk booth and just stood there and asked how we were suppose to go on and put it out of our minds? She very promptly went over and wrote on a tag and quietly tucked in my jacket pocket. She said that was GRANDMA and I didn't need to put it out of my mind, I would be carrying her with me near my heart all throughout the show. IT HELPED!

Our Grandma did pass away on June 5th and I was just getting ready to head back over to be with her and help my mother in law however it was not meant to be. I will miss MY Grandma Lorraine and I know my husband and children will also. She left such a legacy for us and for that I am so thankful.

I will share many photos from the 2 day show however one of things that meant the most to me is the realization yet again of how wonderful friendship is and how much this dear dear friend means to me...

Photo courtesy of Burnett Photography

Now...back to the The Farm Chicks Show...

Photo courtesy of The Little Red Shop

Photo courtesy of Burnett Photography

3 Craft Chicks just before the show started...Jim made this absolutely amazing cash booth for us with pallet wood and the sweet awning I bought from Serena Thompson.

I would not have survived without the help of my wonderful friend Kathy!!! She showed up Friday morning and helped us set up all day and then came and worked the show with us both Saturday & Sunday. She even stayed until every last item was packed and loaded. Her son Chris & daughter Sara came on Sunday to help with tear down and load out! I must say we were very spoiled to have extra help!!! I appreciated it so much and in the midst of the craziness Kathy and I enjoyed being together all weekend!!!

Loyal shoppers of all ages...

This man was so thrilled to find a milk crate from Modern Valley Dairy as his family owned and operated it for many years out of Orting, Wa. I love hearing all these wonderful stories!

Photo courtesy of Burnett Photography

The little girl who bought this was about 9 years and actually squealed with delight when she saw this typewriter. Her mom told me she had been saving for months to come to the show and she was specifically looking for an older typewriter that still worked!!! That made my HEART HAPPY!!!

Photo courtesy of Burnett Photography

Photo courtesy of Burnett Photography

 Photo courtesy of The Little Red Shop

Photo courtesy of The Little Red Shop

Photo courtesy of Burnett Photography

Now for what I considered the show stopper...

Funky Junk's booth

Photo courtesy of Burnett Photography

You can read about this amazing business owned by my sweet friend Jennifer here...

Photo courtesy of Burnett Photography

There are no words to describe this phenomenal piece that was in Funky Junk's booth!!!

Photo courtesy of Burnett Photography

Love the Funky Junk mugs, t shirts & necklaces for sale in this cool vintage refrigerator!

Hope you all have enjoyed the re cap of this amazing show and if you have not attended, be sure to put it on your list for next year. It's always the first weekend of June...so you can start planning now!

Photo courtesy of Burnett Photography

3 Craft Chicks has spaces at Roost a vintage home store in downtown Spokane! Stop by there and shop in over 5,000 square feet of beautiful rusty & re purposed items. Roost is located at Division & Main, just across from Revival Lighting!!! Can't wait to see you soon!!!