Memories to Keep...and Love to Share

Hiya! I'm Jameson Ward Kennedy. AKA Bubba, Jamers, and Lil Dude. My grammy is Debi, and I bribed her with squishy hugs and drooly kisses to share pictures of me on her blog. I don't know what a blog is, but my grammy really likes them! I let her take some good pictures of me today to share:

Today was my very first Halloween! I don't know what Halloween is, either, but I got to wear this totally cool costume that my daddy picked out for me. He said it reminded him of himself at my age, and grammy agreed. With a smile.

So I laughed.

I had fun today.... I played in the clover lawn at my GREAT grandpa & grandma's house.

And my Great Grandma (GiGi!) showed me off to all of her friends. I think her friends look kinda' funny, but then maybe it has to do with this Halloween thing...

Then I learned how to do something called 'Tricks or Treats'. It involves yelling loud and banging on things, so it was pretty easy for me. I'm good at that. ;0)

And when it was all done, I had to get a bath and my jammies on, and get ready for bedtime. 'Cause even lil' devils have to say their prayers.... I'm off to dreamland, and I really am glad that I got to share my first Halloween with my grammy & grampy, and my great grandpa & grandma. And all my aunties, too. And my great GREAT grandpa, even! Lots of fun.

Next year I hope they give me candy. See? I learn fast. ;0)
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I thought I'd share a very happy part of our trip with you. You see, Bob & I are in Southern California due to his dad's failing health. All of our kids also gathered here on Thursday, coming from Washington and Texas, in order to spend some time with their grandpa and let him know they love him. Bless their hearts... this is so hard for them. They all have had such close relationships with Bob's parents, are so connected to them. They never really thought about this happening. As the situation unfolds, each of them have had to face the realization that the hardest part is coming. 

I wish I could fix it all so that my children and my dear husband would not have to bear this burden. It is not easy to face this... ever. I had to face it very early in my life, losing my uncle and my grandfather in a matter of months, and then my grandmother. My son's wife faced it last year when her mother died suddenly. She and I talked about how to help the men we love so much through this very difficult time - I can't even tell you how much I admire this young woman, who is so giving and loving and supportive. Her empathy for what she knows Joel will be going through is remarkable, and she is so good for him. My girls, they are each so brave... they try so hard to smile and cheer others up when their own hearts are aching. They pitch in and help with things that need to be done, and they shoot furtive glances at one another in a silent support system between sisters. Each of them had a moment when the fear finally won out, and the pain I saw in their eyes just stopped my breath. I know that pain. I don't want to see them go through it, and would do anything to prevent them from having to know it firsthand...but it is a part of life that I can't protect them from.

Have you seen the film 'Big Fish'? My father in law reminds me so much of Albert Finney in that film... his heart, though too weak to sustain him, is filled with so much love for his family. When our son said goodbye to him tonight, as they reluctantly left to return to Texas, I thought that big ol' heart would break. Until then, he had been putting on a brave face. He looked at his son, grandson, and great grandson standing in front of him, and he cried. Something I have never seen him do before.

While it is a stressful and sad last-minute situation that brought us all here, there were also wonderful moments of all of us being together that we will remember forever. I may not be able to be in Texas in just a little over a month for my grandson's first birthday, but seeing him for three days really filled my heart. His great grandparents got to meet him and spend time with him, and there are many photos to share for the years to come. In the midst of all of that we are facing as a family, that is a true gift.

The bond between grandparents and grandchildren is a strong one... my children, my husband, and I have all known that kind of limitless, unconditional love. I am devoted to carrying on all of that love, and sharing it with every one of my own grandchildren. A legacy of love.... I can think of nothing better to pass on to future generations.

Just One (or two) More!

Just a few shots of our space at the show last weekend...

(you can see more on our Retreat blog)

One of my favorites sold first thing:

A hot pink bowling ball used as a vase for vintage flowers!

Altered bottles as 'Spells & Incantations'

Farm Fresh Furniture & Lighting

Crowns for every 'Scream Queen'!

And fresh, hot 'Sweet SWANKY Pumpkins'! Two women picked some up and sniffed them, then asked me why they were called 'sweet' if they weren't sachets.... I honestly didn't know what to say for a minute. What would YOU say?!!!

Framed

Oh lordhavemercy, get a load of THIS!

My friend Cindy just sent this to me in an email.... her exact words were 'I thought of you when I saw this, you'll know why!' and I nearly fell off my chair when I saw it!  I am SO going to add this to my dining room chandy. ASAP. Thank you, Cindy!!

Photo Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

The Pink Project: Perfect!

A few months ago, Linda & Dixie, the Funky Junk Sisters, asked me to decorate a PINK Christmas tree for their show. The tree was to be raffled off at the show, with all proceeds donated to breast cancer research & local treatment centers. Of course I said yes!

I had the girls bring the tree and basic decor to me two weeks before the show, so I could foof her up at home and add a bunch of fun details. I did that, adding the hot pink feather boas and sparkly 'disco' balls that Linda gave to me, plus some of my own white poinsettias, ribbons, clusters of silver ornaments, some white tulle netting to swath the base, and a half dozen vintage goodies (including a pink award ribbon, a pink gingham 'elf' stocking, some teeny tiny bottle brush bells), then transported her to the show last Friday. Once there, she was placed on a pink table at the entrance, and I added a plethora of pink prettiness in the form of ornaments that were donated by the dealers in the show.... an inspiring assortment!

On Friday evening, as I was adding all of the marvelous donated ornaments, the wind was literally roaring in through the large loading door to the right of the tree. I was terrified that the tree would either topple over, or that the fragile vintage glass ornaments would be broken if they hit another one. One of our large chalkboards on wheels, deftly placed by my husband between the entrance door and the tree, served to calm both the movement of the branches AND my nerves.

I'd like to offer a public THANK YOU to Linda Olsen, my dear friend and woman extraordinaire. A breast cancer survivor herself, Linda makes the beautiful 'Tassels for a Cause' shown above and donates all profits to breast cancer awareness & recovery programs. She is also involved in sharing her story of recovery and healing through henna tattoo art - please visit her blog and the story about her in Goodness magazine to learn more about her story and her work. Linda was not a participant in this show, but when she read that I was decorating the tree, she asked if she could donate some of her tassels.... like I said, she is quite a woman. I am so proud of her, blessed to have her as a friend, and was thrilled to be able to share her story and her work with women at the show.

I created a special 'Pink Princess' crown to serve as the tree topper. She has pink beads and ribbons and a swanky curvy crystal. The white paper crown was a last-minute addition I made when the wire crown didn't show up too well!

This AMAZING original artwork was on an ornament that was donated and I'll be darned if I can remember which generous person donated it. I am so sorry! But seriously, is this darling or what?! I received so many wonderful donations from the dealers at this show, and a very very sweet note from vintage artist extraordinaire Michelle-Renee. I covet her fanciful jewelry & crown creations! Thank you, dear girl, for your kind words. You brought ME to tears this time. (she knows what I mean by that). The spirit of women with kind hearts touches me deeply.

The Pink Tree was raffled off at 5 PM Saturday, and Mary Anderson was the winner! Mary wasn't present at the time of the drawing, but I'd bet she'll be happy when she hears the good news! The tree is going to be on display at several business locations before it goes home with Mary, and I was told that Nordstrom's is even considering featuring it in a store display for Thanksgiving weekend. All the better to spread awareness for the cause and some pink goodness, huh?! I am so happy to have contributed to this project.... thank you again for asking, girls!

Funky Junk, Blogger Bust, and Sweet SWANKY Pumpkins

The Funky Junk Sisters Antique & Flea Market Show kicked off tonight, with an evening preview event to raise money for Breast Cancer research. I'd LOVE to share photos of the fabulous pink Christmas tree that is being raffled off, of some really stellar dealer displays, some women in darling attire, and photos of our own space... but BLOGGER apparently has it out for me. Wouldn't let me access any of my blogs last night, and won't let me upload more than one photo tonight. I'm too tired to fight with it, so this one little shot of some very special PINK, black, and white Sweet SWANKY Pumpkins that I made will have to suffice. sigh.

I will try again tomorrow night to post... but don't hold your breath! (Typepad is sounding better and better right now.....) This girl needs some shuteye. 'Nite!

Bewitched again!

I've been locked up tight in my studio and barn, working on loads of products for this coming weekend's antique & flea market show. As I've snooped through bins and boxes and cabinets filled with stuff, my discoveries have led me off of my original path. (Big surprise, huh?!)

Yeah, the plan was for a pretty clean 'industrial country' look, and we will be sticking to that with the furnishings. But the decorative accessories.... well..... let's just say that I've become Bewitched with swanky black & white again, and there will be a lot of that goin' on in our spaces at the show. Some 'Halloween & Holiday Happiness' is in store, believe me, and since Friday night's special event is all about raising money for breast cancer research, we'll be Thinkin' PINK, too! No sneak peeks just yet, as I'm still workin' my particular brand of magic. But stay tuned - before it all gets packed up & loaded onto the trailer, I'll snap some photos to share. ;0)

For information about the show, go here: http://funkyjunksisters.blogspot.com/

Sweet Sweater Pumpkins: Claim to Fame?

So, those of you who are regular readers know about my little Sweet Sweater Pumpkins. I came up with the idea for them in fall of 2007, and shared my original idea on my blog back then. Then I shared a tutorial the following fall. Well, since I RE-shared my tutorial for making these sweet little darlings a few weeks ago, I've seen them all over the web. People are linking to my tutorial, to my blog, have asked to use my photos, and I've even been contacted by a magazine about them. W00t! I'm really glad that people love them!

I just want to ask people out there that if they're going to make them and share them and sell them online, don't call them 'YOUR' Sweet Sweater Pumpkins. Call them something else (Petite Pumpkins, maybe...) and for goodness sake, don't take credit for thinking them up. The idea IS a good one, and I've got to say that it's pretty hard from this end to see forty seven comments after your blog post calling you a genius 'for thinking of something that no one has ever seen before'.... it's not at all hard to share where the original idea came from: 'I was so inspired by Deb's that I HAD to make my own'. See? Easy. We all move in many different blog circles, so it is possible that your readers have never seen them. But you have, so be honest in all of your posts where you feature the pumpkins.

I'm selling my original Sweet Sweater Pumpkins at shows right now, too, and yet I shared the tutorial freely because I have a bunch of other products to develop, make, and sell. I can't possibly make enough to sell ONLY those and I don't yet sell online, so I'm fine with people using my idea. I just don't like them taking credit for it as their own.

On a happier note, if you HAVE posted on your blog about my pumpkins, leave me a comment with a link and I'll add them here in the post footnote. Then we can all visit you and see your versions of them!

First up: You just HAVE to go see DeeDee's version of them! Holy Moly! So cute!!

Promise

We've all heard the story of Noah and the Ark at some point in our lives: Man receives message from God, telling him to do something big. Something that could only be accomplished by faith alone. Something that to the naked eye defies all reason. (Remember the song? "The Lo-rd told No-ah to build Him an Ar-ky Ar-ky"?!)

To Noah, not to mention to all of the people in his life and looking on from afar, it's an incredulous undertaking with an unseen outcome. He's to build a boat out of wood because a huge rainstorm and flood are coming. But these people - Noah included - have never even SEEN a boat because they live in the middle of a desert.  There are no trees around. There has never even been 'rain' before. Never.

And yet, Noah does what God has asked, working each day with the resources and faith that God miraculously provides, despite the naysayers and the headshakers and the faithless who watch him. Why? Because Noah is certain that he is being led to do this for a reason, and that it is his place in the world to accomplish this particular goal. He's never been more sure of anything in his entire life. Even so, I'll bet more than once dear old Noah had a few passing thoughts along the lines of "Now, you aren't just yanking my chain, here, ARE you Lord?" and "I'm not going to end up looking like an idiot here, AM I Lord?" He WAS human, after all.

But when that first drop of rain fell.... well, I can only imagine Noah's thought:

"Well... I'll BE... He wasn't kidding!"

And by a day later, it was probably something like this:

"Um..... He REALLY wasn't kidding. Load up the animals....."

By the time the story ends, Noah and his family and a few thousand animals are on the ark, the flood is receeding, and another 'first' appears: A rainbow.
God reveals it as a promise, His covenant with Noah. There will never be another flood over the whole Earth to destroy living things.

The photo at the top of this post was taken as we prepared dinner tonight. We looked out the back door from the kitchen just as it appeared out of the clouds... and gasped. It appeared exactly over our barn. I ran for the camera. God gave Noah and his family a refuge from the storm, a task that was impossible, and faith to complete it. And then a home and a promise to protect them forever. To say we took this precise placement of the rainbow as a 'sign' to us and that there are many similarities in our situation is an understatement of gargantuan proportions.

We took our dinner into the media room and fliped on the TV.... do you want to guess what movie was on??? No, not the story of Noah!

Would you believe 'Field of Dreams'?

....if you build it, He will come.......

We watched it and laughed, cried, and kept giving each other knowing looks. Life is amazing. God is amazing. It's all just.....amazing. I'm just so darned excited waiting for that first drop of rain. Proverbial rain, that is!

Countdown

New product loaded into room at Poppyseeds: check.
New show product finished, priced and packed, and loaded into trailer: check.
Show props & fixtures ('the set') ready and loaded into trailer: check.
Trailer hooked up to truck in readiness for morning drive to show location for setup: check. (Sand Point Antique & Design Market in Seattle)
House clean: check.
Laundry done: check.
Emails sent, blog posts made, Facebook status updated: almost done!

I don't know how this is possible. It's only 8:33 PM and I'm DONE.
Combine that with the fact that I barely slept last night so I took a mid-day nap today, and it's positively astounding. I don't think this has ever happened before! ;0)

Ok, so.... more blog surfing and maybe some dessert before I head of to dreamland? Check!

At the End of the Day....

Wednesday evening's sunset
Tonight's sunset

Does it get any better than this, really? I didn't think so. ;0)

Traditions Old & New

A few more shots of the fall decor in our Beach House... my Sweet Sweater Pumpkins are featured on the table (and I just thought of this as I looked at this photo: she needs a Junk Queen Crown!) and on 'Miss Phoebe Buffet' in the dining room. Paired with bleached oak leaves, they make a nice soft addition to the vases of seashells without overwhelming the decor. I'm into subtle seasonal changes these days - easy, simple, thoughtful little touches that enhance our rooms and our lives without being a 'Look at me! Look at me!' kind of thing. (I'll save that for displays of our products at shows!)Though the color scheme is pretty monochromatic, many textures combine to add interest. I'm having fun playing with elements in this subdued palette and seeing how the seasons change them. For fall, I've combined chenille, knit sweaters, canvas, burlap, muslin, dried grasses, bleached and skeletonized leaves, seashells, white ironstone, galvanized metal, and clear glass to bounce the light around and amplify the warmth of that oh so PERFECT late afternoon golden glow that pours through the windows... I just love that light:
I was chatting with my friend Coleen on Facebook, discussing how our decorating style has changed over the years. When our four kids were young, I decorated the house to the nines for every holiday known to man.
We had cute stuff everywhere. Inside, outside, up & down stairs. Bedrooms & bathrooms, even! We actually had a 'Holiday Tree'- a huge manzanita branch on a wood base - that always got decked out in everything we could find or make for each month of the year. And Christmas brough multiple trees all over the house, all themed differently each year. (I have bins and bins and bins of Christmas decor, and remix them for new themes....) I concocted menus for breakfasts and lunches that even included milk dyed a color that corresponded to the holiday - pink for Valentine's Day, green for St. Pats, etc. They would wake up to streamers & balloons in the dining room and a little gift of some kind to celebrate the day. And birthdays - holy moly. We are STILL dealing with the fallout of making each kid feel like Royalty on their special day all their lives. (um, kids, after you get married, it's not mommy & daddy's job to do that anymore.... ;0) )It was always fun coming up with new things to make them smile!
The kids are all grown now, married, out on their own, and are starting to create their own holiday traditions.... and part of that is to re-create some of our family favorites. They remember most of the crazy things we did on the holidays when they were kids, and that means SO much to me! I'm passing along the special seasonal decor and ornaments to my daughters and sons, so that they and my grandkids can enjoy them. I may not be into decorating like that anymore, but they are - and I am happy to help!

Let's Take It Outside!

Every season, I have a lot of fun changing up the decor on our front porch. To me, outdoor areas are simply more 'rooms' for living & decorating. I created this happy little grouping within half an hour on Sunday... it doesn't take long to decorate! I simply used a bunch of dead daylily foliage as that dark brown 'grass' and raided my 'prop barn' for the rest.
The buckets, watering can, and plant stand were there all summer, heaped with seashells and beach grass...a quick switch of accessories makes a big statement. I combined the coolness of galvanized metal with the warmth of burlap and grasses, and an assortment of white & cream pumpkins. This is really our own personal design style in a microcosm: rustic, industrial, natural, and subdued. And while this current arrangement doesn't scream 'Beach House', I am going to add a few more pumpkins covered with...seashells! That should do it!
I took this photo through the old metal screening on our vintage screen door...love the texture it adds. I edited one copy of it in desaturated sepia tones, and it looks hundreds of years old!
The back deck got a splash of autumn color, too... the buffet (an old plank door on sawhorses) holds an assortment of galvanized & aluminum containers, so I added leaves, flowers, fruit, and a few wooden buckets there. We can see this area from our master suite windows, so it's a natural place to decorate.
Along with the new party lights overhead, it's a fab place for a fall evening. (Um..... late afternoon, maybe..... by sundown, it's COLD now!)

"One of These Things Is Not Like the Other..."

"....one of these things just doesn't belong...." Remember that song from Sesame Street? (Hey, I have kids. And grandkids. Cut me some slack!) Well, when I went thru my boxes of fall decor, I found some favorite bits of my pumpkin collection that I really wanted to use this year. This happy orange guy above is one of them. And he has a story:

When I was growing up, my mom had an orange ceramic jack o'lantern light like this. I loved it. Even before the Halloween decorations went up (oh, my mom was big on holiday decor, just like I am!) I would beg and beg for her to get that light out and let me use it in my room. I remember that after Halloween one year, she let me keep it in my hall closet-turned-art studio (just like Mary Engelbreit!) for awhile.

Well, at some point that Jack O'Lantern light pulled a vanishing act and just disappeared. Poof. Gone. No one knew what happened to it (though a move from Northern California to Southern California may have been the cause of its demise...) and I mourned its loss. For YEARS I searched and scoured every shop, thrift store, garage sale, gift show, and the like for its double. To no avail.

And then, after my kids were all grown up and gone, I stumbled upon this guy one day in a thrift store. I swooped in and grabbed it so fast I was a supersonic blur! Jack has resided at our house ever since. I just adore him, and he brings back so many childhood memories. Uh - GOOD childhood memories! ;0)

However, orange is not in my decorating scheme. Our beach house is all shades of white and ivory and sand and wheat. So..... time for a makeover!
One can of appliance white high gloss paint later, Mr. Jack O' Lantern is decidedly more beachy. He now matches his friends, the other white pumpkins, fits right in with our warm, soft decor AND he makes a great nightlight at the entry....
The little guys below are part of my collection, too.
I made them in.... 1985, if I remember correctly. I made some of that baking soda clay (gotta' find the recipe for that again) and the kids and I made all kinds of fun stuff. These are the lone survivors and, amazingly, have never been repainted. Well, it was time...so I mixed up some warm white flat paint and scrubbed it into the pumpkins with a tiny little paintbrush.Now they fit right into the scheme with my Sweet Sweater Pumpkins, some glittery pumpkins, bleached leaves, and the never-to-be-put-away-again seashells. I love that I walk by them on Miss Phoebe Buffet a few times every day and smile, remembering a very fun day with 3 of my kids when they were small. And I can't wait for my grandson to come and see it all...

Lots more to share...coming soon!

Come On, World, There's a JUNK Song We're Singin'... Come Junk With US!

Hey, girlfriends out there in Blogland..... have you heard of the Junk Bus yet?

Let me start by saying that the photo above is not of the actual Junk Bus. Actually, that photo isn't a bus at all but a junky truck. Loaded with Junk. The actual Junk Bus is a swanky chartered dealiebobber with all of the bells and whistles and a HUGE cargo compartment to trundle all of your junk back from the show in. But I've gone and jumped ahead of myself...

The Junk Bus experience is not JUST a ride on a bus. Not since the Partridge Family bus has something this amazing rolled down the road, people! (Um, no, David Cassidy is not coming.) It is an EVENT. An EXPERIENCE. A day of fun, frolicking, friendship, food, fanciful shopping stops and fabulous swag. You buy a ticket, you get on the bus. And then it's an altogether 'Alice In Wonderland' sort of day wherein you don't know what exactly to expect but you KNOW it is going to be wonderful!!! And the Mad Hatter herself, A Girl Named Timi, is your hostess with the mostess on the journey. She packs each trip full of stops at antique shows & shops, delightful boutique stores, and gives away goodies donated by supporters & participating merchants. She provides a repast of delectable delights for your luncheon and snacks. She takes care of every last detail so that all you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the day. Easy Peasy!

The inaugural Junk Bus Junket was last month, to the BarnHouse sale in Battle Ground. Um, they got a tour of the darling Boys' soon-to-be-in-two-major-magazines house AND lunch with them. Talk about VIP treatment! Check out the Junk Bus Web Site to see photos of the happy happy gals on that trip... you could be next!

The Junk Bus' next Junket will be to the Funky Junk Sisters Antique Show in Puyallup, Washington on Saturday, October 24th. It will include shopping at the show - which is now located at the South Hill Mall in Puyallup AND I'll be there with our goodies from Retreat! - and at specially-selected shops in Sumner, lots of giveaways, and great food. Get your discounted 'Early Bird' tickets NOW at www.comejunkwithus.com at the incredible price of $75 per person. DO hurry - on October 5, the offer ends and ticket prices go up to $90. Grab a few friends and get on the bus!!!!