Retreat by KENNEDY|kennedy Design

Retreating

2009-11-04T16:02:00.000-08:00

Whew. Sometimes life really hands you a STOP sign. Usually it happens when you have a plan in place, and are set to step out and move forward in a particular direction that you have chosen. You lift your foot, swing your leg, and just as you are ready to put your foot back down on terra firma in a new place - BAM! The unforeseen swoops down and stops you in your tracks. You THINK you know where you are going, but suddenly all of the roadsigns start pointing in every other direction than THAT one. Confusion and frustration result. We're there, my friends.

We were told many years ago that this occurrence was a test of our 'devotion'. We've learned that it is, actually, a test of our flexibility! We are most certainly devoted to and determined to pursue our goals and plans for our life and for Retreat... but the underlying mission statement of our business is that 'we will be building this business and developing it to benefit our family and help other people & families along the way'. If we can help others build small businesses doing what they love, and that can bless their lives and families, as well as contribute to a growing local economy, it fulfills a large part of our mission.

While we are planning and waiting for the 'big parts' of that plan to unfold, we've also been working out ways to take smaller steps 'in the meantime'. One was to have begun this past week... but our emergency trip to California has stopped that. Will it ever happen? Yes. We just don't know when. Ditto for the big stuff. It's a bit frustrating to be standing here staring at signs that look like that photo above: 'Turn right! No, turn left! No, go straight! STOP! GO! Yield! U turn!' All we can do is what we can do at any given moment. I know you've probably all felt that way at times, too, so you understand. Especially our generation, who are all working on balancing our own lives with being parents of adult children and parenting our aging parents.

Being in SoCal, considering whether or not this situation necessitates our relocation back here, and discussing how that would impact our life, our family, and our business, is a very heavy subject for us right now. It is not our choice to do that - to leave behind all that we have discovered, built up, and planned for in Washington. There's that concept of 'flexibility'.... are we willing to do that? Are we willing to change everything and for the time being give up our goals, our business, and life in our house on our island in Washington - along with the very real chance that we may never get the opportunity again? Or are we willing to work harder to find a solution that will benefit everyone, and not cost us what we have worked so hard for up to this point? Our choice is the latter, but we may need to be willing to be flexible.

We are watching the roadsigns and listening for guidance so that we make wise and workable choices. I guess you could think of it as our Universal 'Garmin', whispering directions in our ear as we travel this road...

Our Little Angel..... um...... Lil' Devil.....

2009-10-31T20:33:00.000-07:00

We thought we'd share a peek at how we spent our Halloween....

This is our second grandson, who is our son Joel's son. Mr. Cute Stuff up there is Jameson Ward Kennedy, AKA Bubba, Jamers, and Lil' Dude. As a result of our last-minute trip to Southern California for a family medical emergency, we got to see all four of our kids and our grandson at the same time. No small feat to accomplish that, let us tell you! Seeing Bubba in his Lil' Devil Halloween costume was the highlight of our day today.

We have enjoyed having some special family time together with Bob's parents, our girls, our son and his wife & son. And yet, on everyone's mind and heart is the failing heart of Bob's dad, and how to help him and mom as things proceed. One thing we've learned about in life: Enjoy every moment, and remember that the happy often accompanies the sad.

We had some plans in mind for Retreat's next month or so, but this trip has put all of that on the back burner. Right now, nothing is more important than family. We are trusting that our needs will be met as we help here with everything we can...

Halloween 'ReTreats' at Poppyseeds!

2009-10-27T21:45:00.000-07:00

Today we added more Halloween Re-Treat goodies to our space inside Poppyseeds! The punch of black looks fabulous with the soft grays & whites in the space, and a few creepy details make it perfect for haunting:

Madame Matilda, ensconced in her crystal ball, glows eerily... or you can get a slightly less creepy non-lit version!

There are still ivory and tan Sweet Sweater Pumpkins to be had, and now you'll find some Sweet SWANKY Pumpkins in black & white, as well. Great for decorating all fall season long!

Two of the mini-chandelier ornaments in black are still available!

Altered books & bottles are ready for use in your Spells & Incantations...

And for the first time at Poppyseeds, we offer Deb's original 'Junk Queen' Crown creations. This time, it's a special Halloween version with smoky vintage crystals - perfect for the 'Scream Queen' in YOUR life!

Or maybe, just for your Halloween pumpkin?!

As an unadvertised special offer for our blog readers, All Retreat Halloween products are 50% off of our already low prices, this week at Poppyseeds! We aren't advertising this offer in the store, only here on our blog. So just ask Julie or MaryBeth for the discount when you purchase our Halloween products at the store!

It Was FUNky!

2009-10-25T19:30:00.000-07:00

Thank you SO much to all of the wonderful women (and a few 'manly men', who clearly don't mind being surrounded by dozens of women in pink feather boas!) who came to the show in Puyallup this weekend. It was wonderful to see friends, customers, clients, and fellow dealers alike over the past few days, and we both want to express our appreciation to all of you for your continued support. We know you have choices in where you go, and how you spend your time and money... and we are grateful that you choose to visit us at shows. We hope we always delight you!

Our neighbors were JohnBobCoolJunk and their painted pink pumpkins, Miss Tiffany of Shabby Scraps and her fanciful prom dress, Linda of LuLuz who finaly figured out why all the pink was appropriate for this show ;0), and Janet of Blue Ewe and her darling grandbaby! Close by were DeWayne Lumpkin of Home Economics with more cool factor signs, and Patricia of Tippy Stockton Designs with her guys hubby John and friend 'Hot Toddy'. ;0). (No, it will NOT die!) Just around the corner were MaryBeth & Julie from Poppyseeds with more cuteness than should be allowed in one booth alone! Our booth was haunted, we swear.... the lights kept going off all day and night! (Then again, maybe it had something to do with a loaded circuit that couldn't handle the additional strain of a space heater in another booth, who knows....) While the lights were on, we managed to snap a few shots to share with you. There was a lot to see:

Many new delightful furnishings, created from castoff, discarded, reclaimed, and rescued parts in a rather 'frankenstein'-ish manner by Dr. VonBob himself...

There were spellbinding effects, like a hot pink bowling ball serving as a vase, and a mysterious medium, 'Madame Matilda', entombed in her crystal ball....

There were crowns for every Queen, from Junk Queens to Scream Queens (a limited edition of Halloween crowns, featuring dark smoky crystals)

And of course, there were the newest version of Deb's pumpkin creations: these are 'Sweet Swanky Pumpkins' in mod fabrics & colors. We served 'em up hot and fresh on this vintage stove (that actually works!)

So many of these treasures went home with happy girls, but we still have a few of the Halloween decor items and will be adding them to our room at Poppyseeds in the next day or so. We connected with Mandi, owner of the wonderful shop Creme Brulee in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, who is interested in carrying our products, and we are looking forward to working with her to create some special new pieces. The next show on our schedule isn't until December 6th, at Sand Point, Seattle, so for the next few weeks, we'll be busily preparing for another new adventure around here. We will share that with you all very soon! (and for those of you whom we have already told, SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!)

Just one important final note: Our appreciation goes out to two sweet young ladies in particular, who always travel to see us at shows, regardless of the distance involved. These two perservered for hours to locate the show venue, finally arrived yesterday just before closing, and as we caught them walking in the front door, they looked more than a little relieved to have found us at last(and you know who you are!). We offer yet another hug and our endless gratitude and hope the special 'I finally got it!' treasures you both took home from our booth made the long trip worthwhile.

Thinkin' Pink and Junkin' It up!

2009-10-23T23:17:00.000-07:00

Our booth was filled to the brim tonight for the evening event at the Funky Junk Sisters Antique & Flea Market Show.... it was a great evening with a huge turnout of fabulous girls, and booth after booth filled with a plethora of perfectly pink pretties. A lot of stuff went flying out of our booth, so we'll go in first thing tomorrow morning to re-set, re-style, and foof up our swanky urban country look to be ready for a full day's show. (Can you see those Sweet Swanky Pumpkins in the old stove?!) Oh, yeah, there's more where that came from! Doors open at 8 AM for early bird shoppers AND for the Junk Bus Gals - we'll see you then!

Spacin' Out for the Funky Junk Sisters Show

2009-10-19T21:45:00.001-07:00

Hey, gang, I have some more news about next weekend's show to share, in addition to the photos a few days ago. The Funky Junk Sisters have just put a new post up with some show information on their blog:
They have posted a list of participating dealers (above)

and a map of the floorplan (above).

If you are, like us, a dealer participating in the show, you can see where the girls have decided to place you in the show floorplan. Also just received an email from them, letting us know that dealers can load in on Thursday night from 6 to 9 PM - no set up, just drop off. That should help with the inevitable rush the next morning - though they are saying we can drive into the building, I don't think that's an option for us with our truck and 25' foot trailer rig!!! The girls mentioned that they are also going to be taking photos of the venue and sharing them, so keep an eye on their blog for those. (Maybe there will be some of those interior shots that we couldn't get!)

There are 90 spaces, and 60 dealers/businesses listed as participating in the show. Some are returning from the first FJS show last June, and many are new to this show. Linda posted on Facebook that many of the dealers are first-timers doing a show, too, so it will be one hoppin' place!

By the way, if you are a dealer who is donating a pink ornament for the pink christmas tree, please make sure your name and contact info are on it, and bring it to show setup on Friday. I'll be completing the tree decor at the end of the day (after I get our booth set up!) and will add all of your special ornaments then. And thank you all SO much for participating in this raffle project.... it's such a great way for all of us to contribute to a very good cause. Oh, yeah - wear PINK on Friday night!

If you are going to be attending the show as a shopper, the two images should help you to find the locations of all of your fave dealers, and plan your assault. We hope to see you in our Retreat spaces, #4 & 5, located immediately inside the entry door on the left side. (seen just above the middle on the left side of the image above). The entrance to the show faces the Sears wing of the South Hill Mall, BTW. See ya' this weekend!

Photos from the Funky Junk Sisters blog

Sharing A Fave Fab Find!

2009-10-18T23:18:00.000-07:00

We are re-visiting one of our previous posts, in order to participate in the 'Flea Marketeer' party at the Flea Market Style Magazine blog! We hope our regular readers enjoy this blast from the past, and we'd like to welcome new readers to our Retreat blog! Our business is all about restyling found and thrifted items.... check this one out:

Hi guys, it's Bob... thought you might like to see how a discarded piece of furniture turns into something special here at Retreat! This 60's cabinet/server, above, is one of the items we got from Beth Evans-Ramos earlier in the week. Deb & I stood and looked at it, trying to figure out how to make it into something with a more current look AND fit in with the theme we will have for you at BarnHouse next weekend. It took us a bit, but some spirited discussion and a serendipitous movement of the flag in our yard inspired us. And between the two of us, we finally came up with a game plan (it's fun when that happens!)... here's what we did:

Added a new top, made from some old T&G siding (also from Beth), and some moulding to trim it.
Made the legs a bit shorter, to remove the tapered ends. Added finials as feet.
Took the door and drawers and enhanced the 'board' effect. I deepened existing grooves and added a few to the drawers, to make this look like we had assembled it from miscellaneous parts. Added some old ceramic knobs, too. Then Deb did her magic with paintbrushes (using some paint that Beth was discarding!), and the result is..... (drum roll, please).....
Something that you, we, and Beth find it hard to believe is the same piece we started with!!! Pretty cool, huh?! Deb said we needed to share the story of its transformation because it looks like a brand new piece by Lane Furniture or something...but I disagree. I think our stuff is much more interesting than anything by Lane. Thanks, Beth, for providing the raw materials that became this one of a kind piece of furniture for someone to love!
Oh, and this beauty has friends! Lots more 'pieces with personality' for your home or summer beach house will be in our space at the BarnHouse Flea Market next Saturday.... right in the center of the barn, under the awning. Come see us!
__________________________________________________________________
This post originally appeared here on our blog in July of 2009, and the dresser sold after the BarnHouse show, when we brought it back and put it into our room at Poppyseeds. It now lives happily on the other end of our island. Meanwhile, we are busily creating new products from old 'stuff' every day!

Mission: Vendor Recon

2009-10-16T20:02:00.000-07:00

Bless my husband's heart... he takes his part of our business so seriously. He's Mr. Logistics when it comes to trailer packing, product packing & delivery systems, and show load in/out processes like access, parking, and loading zones. (Among other things. There's a lot more on his plate than that! If we tried to list our 'Areas of Responsibility' like the BarnHouse Boys do, we'd run out of sidebar space......)It's the contractor in him, wanting to know the parameters and then create a plan to follow and WORK that plan. I love that about him!

With things at the point where we needed to start making some decisions about our packing process, he decided that a little bit of reconnaissance was in order before next week's show. So we loaded up and headed down to Do the Puy. (Which is actually pronounced 'Do the Pew', which you know if you are local. Don't ask me why the town is spelled Pull-Y'all-Up but pronounced Pew-All-Up. I'm from California and I don't get pronunciations in this state half the time.)

In ANY case, I've been receiving emails from several vendors/dealers asking me some questions about the tree decoration thing, the facility stats and the booth assignments. Truthfully, I'm just the tree decorator and a vendor like everyone else, so I know about as much as you do!! I really am not in a 'special information loop' in regard to the show or anything! We just went and did this on our own 'cause we needed to find a few things out... so, here goes.... I'll share what we learned today and hope it helps all of you who have asked!

This is the former Bally's Fitness building, located on the North side of South Hill Mall - right next to the Sears wing. The Theaters are located across a parking lot at the other end of this big long building.

This end of the building is the show venue - it's the size of THREE full size tennis courts! Lots of overhead halogen flood lighting (tho it wasn't on when we got a peek inside) and the flooring is hard rubber tennis court material, in terra cotta and dark green. Pretty much just your basic indoor tennis courts. You saw a door in the shot above, and there is a similar door on the right side of the building (look by the red car in the shot above). Linda said to us that these can be used for load in & out.

If you go around the corner on the right side of the building, there is a roll up door:

It's not as wide as the doors at the last venue, if that helps. If not, here's a shot with me standing near the door to give a sense of scale:

Note that there is a curb from the road up to a planter area. Here's a close up:

Curb, planter with plastic sewer vent that sticks up @ 4", then another curb at the edge of the door, @3". We were told that this planter area is going to be filled with gravel before show load in to help avert the puddling water seen here.

After the roll up door, the building looks like this. You can see the theater building at the end.

These two photos show the parking lot between the venue and the Sears wing of the mall. Above, you can see the 'road' that abuts the building (right side) and then the parking spaces (other side of the red trees in the planter). We can't block this road during move in/out as it is a main thoroughfare for stores nearby.

Ok, Joe, so that's what we know!

This little recon mission helped us plan our assault: How to stage our product as we load the trailer, where we'll park, what to expect for load in - especially if it rains, and let Bob know that coming up with LOTS of solutions is on his plate. He's OK with that - information is good. It makes a big difference in how we all approach the unknown. And I'm OK with that, because when Mr. Logistics is happy, Mrs. Details is REALLY happy! ;0)

I hope this information will help everyone who's been asking me questions. The real source of all knowledge is the Funky Junk Sisters themselves, and the vendor packets should be arriving soon to answer all of your lingering questions. For now, it's back to work for me.... I have a Pink Tree to finish decorating & pack up, and an entire booth to plan, prepare, pack, and primp. See you all on Friday!

Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater....

2009-10-14T20:24:00.001-07:00

And you almost COULD eat these, they are so yummy! There were just a few of my original Sweet Sweater Pumpkins left after Sunday's show... they are now available at Poppyseeds in Stanwood. Get 'em quick! (Priced from $4 to $25 dollars each.)

Image copyright Deb Kennedy 2009; All Rights Reserved. Do not duplicate.

Then and Now

2009-10-12T14:05:00.000-07:00

A few shots of our space at the Sand Point Show yesterday...

It was a good show, and we always enjoy seeing friends who are also dealers: Janet, Beth & Lisa, Bob & John, Debi, Linda, Cindy, and more. SO many friends also came to visit: Todd, Julie, Timi, Melaine, Cindy & Heather, Jill & Jana, Linda... who am I forgetting?! We also made new friends: Matilda and her daughter (darling, you never told us your name!) are just two of the sweetest gals we have ever met!

So, what's left over from the show?

A matching suite of furniture: 38' X 80' Farm Table, Glass-front cabinet, and two host chairs. All in a whitewashed finish, made from reclaimed & recycled lumber, trim, window, and furniture parts. Add two benches or six armless chairs of your own to the table, and you have a complete new dining room for the holidays!

(Available separately, and these pieces will be in our space at the Funky Junk Sisters show in two weeks)

Another of Bob's one of a kind benches - this one made from a twin size headboard and an old Eastlake tabletop

The large School House Acorn pendant light (new, never used) that would look great hanging above the Farm Table!

Oh, and Miss Foofy Sofa?

Her Saga is finally over. She went home to live happily ever after with Miss Matilda, in a sweet Laurelhurst Cottage. It is going to be SO charming when the decorating is finished, and we can't wait for them to share photos with us!

We are already off and running in preparation for our next show in two weeks. Come see us then at the Funky Junk Sisters Antique & Flea Market Show in Puyallup - info link on our sidebar!

(ps: learning to use the new post editor on Blogger..... bear with the spacing issues....)

Ready...Set....Go!

2009-10-10T20:50:00.001-07:00

Our booth is finished and filled with a plethora of fabulous finds, ready for tomorrow's Sand Point Antique & Design Market in Seattle. What's in store for you? Take a peek...

A certain stunning and infamous collaged Piano Bar

Fall Decor Accessories (including the King & His Queen....)

Vintage & Vintage Style lighting

'Sweet Sweater Pumpkins'

A fabulous Farm Table, Cabinet, and two arm chairs in a beachy finish...(Oh, yeah...... Miss Foofy Sofa is here, too. ;0) )

Beth & Lisa, the Salvage Studio girls (famous local authors!) are here, Linda of Luluz is here, even Cindy the Queen of Tarte (And have you seen the feature article on her home in the new Romantic Country mag?!) is here - and so many more FAB.u.lous dealers with amazing goodies. Let the guys watch the 'Hawks game tomorrow, just get yourselves and your girlfriends down here!!!

New Additions....

2009-10-09T19:40:00.001-07:00

Just in today at our room in Poppyseeds:

*A 4' diameter round vintage metal table (repainted with a weathered light gray finish; has central umbrella hole) that would work splendidly outdoors, indoors, or as a retail display fixture (you can run electric lines for lamps up thru the hole!) priced at $95. Table top easily separates from legs for transport.

*A very comfortable rocking chair, spacious enough for a man but with curvy lines that girls love, can be yours for $145. The seat has a burlap slipcover over it - but beneath it, the original upholstery is in perfect condition! It's a small floral in ivory, gray, and pink. Here's a closer look at the rocking chair...*A simple desk or dressing table, made from solid hardwood with original brass hardware. We did paint over the hardware! (it was bright finish brass - sturdy and long-lasting, but not quite fashionable anymore). Seven drawers - two file-size - offer plenty of storage in this slim-profile piece of furniture. Priced at $135. (Center drawer shown opened). The gray vintage chair is $55.
*The magnificent solid wood 'Butler's Table' or 'Hall Tree', made from an antique front door from Seattle, a leg & trim from an Eastlake table, and hooks from a century-old building in Texas, is still available! It features a painted 'weathered' gray finish and white trimwork, and the vintage mirror (not permanently attached) is included! (The fencing mask is not included - but it would make a FABulous Halloween mask!) Priced at $325., this is a one of a kind statement piece with functionality and beauty.
You can view any of these pieces and more at Poppyseeds, a home decor boutique in Stanwood, Washington. Visit their blog for hours & directions, or give Julie a call in the store at 360.629.7333 to purchase via credit card.

We'll be setting up at Sand Point in Seattle on Saturday, and I'll try to get some 'sneak peeks' of our booth displays on here Saturday night for you. Plan to come see us Sunday! We have even more wonderful new things for you there...

Good Junk?

2009-10-08T21:58:00.001-07:00

Once you have junk on the brain, you see it everywhere....
...even all the way across the QFC parking lot. (And when you drive by slowly and take pictures, people give you funny looks!)
But the looks they give the old rusty trucks full of old rusty junk are funnier! Check out the guy in the left side of that photo... He's wondering 'What the....???'. Me? My first thought was 'Hmmmmmn.... is there anything GOOD in there?' ;0)

The Long and Winding Road...

2009-10-04T17:04:00.001-07:00

...that led us to this place on Earth and in our lives has been quite a journey. Thirty years in the making. (Amazingly, our farm was built in 1979. The year that Bob and I started dating. Coincidence? Nah.) At times it has moved quickly, other times it creeps along, and sometimes it doesn't look like it is moving forward at all. Or even seems like things are sliding backwards. (We really hate those times.) We are action people - planners, creators, do-ers. We don't sit still for too long. Ideas are constantly swirling around in our heads and hearts and conversations. New ideas. Big ideas. Crazy-to-anyone-else ideas.

Since the day we first saw this place, we've seen the big picture. Doesn't scare us in the least to take an idea all the way to its greatest possibility. We did, and planned for that achievement. Of course, we'd love to jump from point A to point B,C,D, and E and be in the daily running of our business at that level! But it's all of the smaller steps along the way to that big goal - the ones that we are learning to take each day - that are spurring remarkable growth within us.
We have an incredible resource here - and yet our ability to access and use it ALL right now is limited. We know our goal. Everyday we stand in the physical space and envision the whole thing unfolding, but we can't access or prepare the barn and fields for it just yet. That can be frustrating! Some days, it can be downright depressing, to be truthful.

Today, things changed. From out of the blue, we overcame that inertia and hatched a plan to use PART of it until we can use ALL of it. We feel energized and excited about this new, heretofore unseen, opportunity to move our vision-dream-goal one step further along the path to reality. We CAN start small, and let that energy build to help us reach our larger goals. And before you know it, we'll be announcing the big stuff and flying from point A to points we haven't even imagined yet. So stay tuned. We'll soon be announcing some fun things from Retreat that will be comin' up in November! (This big guy?....well......some REALLY fun things are going to happen in there, but not quite yet.....then again, tomorrow it may all break loose and be possible! )

Get On Da' Bus!

2009-10-02T10:56:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone, The Girl Named Timi just mailed out this announcement and I wanted to be sure to get it up here ASAP:

"Hello Girls!
If you were thinking about going to The Funky Junk Sisters Show and Sumner for an all-inclusive day of fun on the Junk Bus Junket, please get your tickets before October 5th! The early bird special of $75 per person ends October 5th. On October 6th the ticket price goes up to $90 per person.

Don't miss out! This trip is shaping up to be a waaaaaaaaaay fun trip with lots of surprises!Come Junk With Us! Tickets available through www.comejunkwithus.com. Get yours TODAY!"

So what are ya' waiting for?!!!! We'll be there with a FABulous 'Industrial Country Style' theme, fall & holiday decor, and of course my famous (infamous?!) Junk Queen Crowns. We are providing a special bit of 'swag' JUST for the Junk Bus gals, too, so like Timi says, don't miss out!

This Just IN!

2009-09-30T13:10:00.001-07:00

A peek of what's new today in our space at Poppyseeds:
This large, curvy classic Eastlake-style tea table with a perfectly worn white finish would be lovely in a foyer, hallway, landing, or as a bedside table. A tray or basket would fit nicely in the lower section for more storage possibilities.... priced at just $175.
SOLD
A one of a kind bench straight from the shop of Mr. Bob, created from a vintage twin-size headboard & stair spindles. With simple country lines and a beautifully Shabby white painted finish, this would be a perfect entryway or porch piece... especially if filled with happy orange pumpkins for fall! Priced at $195.

If you are interested in either of these pieces, give Julie a call at Poppyseeds - 360.629.7333 and she can help you out! You can pay over the phone, too! Tax will be added.
SOLD (all four)
We also have two of these big ol' metal Post Office desks with dividable shelves at $75 each, and two versions with narrower tables at $50 each, here at the farm. (They are a BIT too big to fit into our space at Poppyseeds!) Email us at kennedy2design@gmail.com if you are local and interested in them.

All images and text in this post copyright 2009 Kennedy|kennedy Design, Retreat, K2D for use on our own Retreat Design blog. All other use expressly prohibited.

And the Award Goes To.........

2009-09-30T12:04:00.001-07:00

One of our favorite stores, haleys cottage, has been nominated as 'The Best Retail Shop' in King 5's Annual 'Best of Western Washington' Awards! We encourage you to click through using that link and VOTE for them!

We love Cindy's fabulous store and the way she deftly combines new & vintage items to create a warm, inviting and inspiring setting for her customers. Of course, we had a blast with everyone at the French Flea Market event she hosted a few weeks ago. She regularly carries our lamps & lampshades, and right now she is showing off our Glamorous White Piano Bar in the front display...

haleys cottage is located at:

15021 Main St #E
Mill Creek WA 98012

Tel: (425) 357-8106

Hours: 10:30-6:00

Vote for them, then stop by the store and tell Cindy that Deb sent you!

Image Credits: Photos by DWK 2009 with permission from haleys cottage

Funky Junk is On the Move!

2009-09-29T09:53:00.000-07:00

The Funky Junk Sisters Show has had a change of venue - it's now going to be held at the South Hill Mall Campus Center! That means it's easy to find from the freeway, has loads of parking, and a huge building will house the show. Plus, there are restaurants and even a Gene Juarez Salon & Spa nearby - talk about a Girls' Day OUT!!! Mark your calendars, ladies - this just keeps gettin' better and better!

Funky Junk Sisters Show
South Hill Mall Campus
3600 9th Street SW
Puyallup, Washington

Friday, October 23
6 to 9 PM Special Prepaid Event

Saturday, October 24
8 AM Early Shopping Entry
Show Open 10 AM - 6 PM

image provided by FJS for promotional use.

'We B Junkin!'

2009-09-28T08:06:00.001-07:00

'We B Junkin'!' - that was Bob's Facebook status on Saturday morning.
The Skagit County Fairgrounds hosted their semi-annual 'Giant Garage Sale' this weekend, and we were there in line before the gates opened. Armed with our carts and twine and bungee cords, we sailed through in record time and snapped up a bunch of goodies. These 'junk' items are destined to be recreated into fabulous furnishings & decor accessories for upcoming shows...

My cart seems just a little out of proportion to Bob's shown above, but it's filled with small stuff - and one load already went out to the truck before I took the photos! I unearthed some really neat smalls for Sand Point and Funky Junk Sisters next month (to add to the hoard I already have....sigh.....)

I had to laugh at the reactions I got to my lined cart. I threw that thing together in half an hour (and Deb is no great seamstress) but you'd have thought I created an masterpiece! Most people at this show don't frequent the big antique sales, so they don't know about the cart revolution that has been born....the shabby cart liners and blog badges and such. I had women asking me for directions on how to do this and saying things like 'Oh.My.GAWD. look how CUTE that is!' and 'Oh, now just look what she's done to that......' as I walked past. Funny! Um, it's a burlap bag, girls. With a bit of muslin attached as an inner liner. Tied on with twine. Done. They'd keel over if they saw the ones at Junk Revolution and Farm Chicks!!!

This is a shot of one of the booths at the sale... not your average Garage Sale setup, is it?! This one and Shyla's booth (and I can't believe I didn't snap a photo of hers......) and Debi Burton's were the prettiest ones there. We ran into so many friends - Dona, Jo Marie, Julie, the guys of the Coleman Lantern Club from BC (oh, there's a story!), Jim my piano player music supplier guy - and then our sweet daughter and grandson joined us later that morning. We took a quick spin thru the barns again, then it was off for some bouncy-house fun for the lil' guy!

This week we are busy adding a few new things to our 'Danish-Inspired' space at Poppyseeds, prepping new 'French Flea Market'-style product for Sand Point, and will soon be starting some 'Industrial Revolution Country' bits for Funky Junk Sisters. Stay tuned for sneak peeks!

Oh, and Joe just emailed us a link to an article about the BH sales in The Oregonian. We got a mention in it from Brigitte the reporter - who fell in love with a lamp we had and just had to take it home with her! Edit: Ahem. I was reminded that Mr. Apodaca does not 'DO' the computer stuff, Mr. Swendell does. The email was from Jermonne, of course, and not Joe. I don't know how I got it in my head that it was from Joe. How silly of me.....! ;0)

If you are reading this post anywhere other than a site/page that is licensed/owned/maintained by KENNEDY|kennedy Design, you are viewing stolen content that is being used without permission. All content in this post is original to KENNEDY|kennedy Design, KkD, and RetreatDesign.blogspot. As such is protected by Copyright. Reproduction or rebroadcast of any content in whole or part without express written permission is prohibited. Content copyright 2009 KkD; All Rights Reserved. Photo credits: Debi Ward Kennedy, 2009

The Sofa Saga (or 'How the Sofa Sits'....)

2009-09-25T21:21:00.001-07:00

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...Another update: Miss A has decided not to adopt Miss Foofy SoFa, soooooooo that means she's still awaiting the perfect family. For now, she is the undisputed star of the show at Poppyseeds in Stanwood, reigning over the front room in all her faded shabby French-style glory. With all new fall decor in the space, it looks ready for a swanky party at the drop of a hat!

Speaking of hats.... I created this custom 'Halloween Queen' Crown to go on a black witches hat. It tops a mannequin dressed in tattered finery - the perfect hostess for the party, And yes, the hat with crown, the mannequin, and her 'costume' are all for sale. ;0)

On Wednesday, we took some time off and headed out on a ferry into the San Juan Islands. It was a perfect sunny warm Indian Summer day, and we hoped to see an Orca or two as we made the trip.

Not five minutes out of the Anacortes ferry dock, the ferry slowed to a stop and we saw those playful fellows in the photo above. And twenty of their friends, too - what we saw was a 'SuperPod' of Orcas from the local J & K pods. Just frolicking and breaching and spyhopping and fluking - right alongside the ferry. To say we were awed and amazed is an understatement! We enjoy a lot of wildlife on our island overlooking the Saratoga Passage, but this was more than we could ever hope for. The ferry staff said this was a highly unusual sighting. Yeah, um..... never underestimate the Universe!!! Miracles happen every day!

All content in this post is original to KENNEDY|kennedy Design, KkD, and RetreatDesign.blogspot. As such is protected by Copyright. Reproduction or rebroadcast of any content in whole or part without express written permission is prohibited. Content copyright 2009 KkD; All Rights Reserved

Foofy French SoFa Deja Vu!

2009-09-21T21:27:00.000-07:00

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A week ago, we included this b.e.a.utimous French-style vintage sofa in our offerings at the French Flea Market. (see more photos in the post below). She was admired, whispered about, and then purchased - by a very sweet lady. Others sighed in defeat as they saw the sold sign, and then watched her leave. Well, through a very serendipitous and convoluted series of events, this suave and stylish vintage sofa is now AVAILABLE again!!!!!

Here's what happened (in a nutshell):
She went home with Miss V. But didn't quite fit. So, Miss V put her on Craigslist. MaryBeth saw the ad, told me about it, and asked if I wanted it back. I have NO WHERE to store it, so I said no. Then MB asked if it was OK with me if she got the sofa and put it in her shop. I said yes, she did, and it's at Poppyseeds now! A very special girl, Miss A, admired the sofa at the show, so I told MB that she might still want it. MB emailed Miss A to tell her it's in the store. If Miss A doesn't come get it quick, she can be all yours! ** Miss A posted on her blog Thursday that she's going to let this one go.... so if you've been drooling over her, miss Sofa can be yours!**

As a matter of fact, we are rearranging furniture tomorrow morning to make miss sofa the star in the front room, along with a plethora of fun fall & Halloween decor!

All content in this post is original to KENNEDY|kennedy Design, KkD, and RetreatDesign.blogspot. As such is protected by Copyright. Reproduction or rebroadcast of any content in whole or part without express written permission is prohibited. Content copyright 2009 KkD; All Rights Reserved

More Danish Style for Fall...

2009-09-17T19:16:00.001-07:00

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(Totally ridiculous that we have to put that at the beginning of our posts, but while legal action is being taken against the thief, he is STILL stealing and reposting our content on his sites.)

We've stocked up our room at Poppyseeds in Stanwood, filling it with more serene and welcoming Danish/Euro style decor in soft grays, whites, and warm tan tones. We've included lots of accessories and some great furnishings:

Bob's latest bench, made from an antique footboard, is in

And so it a sweet little maple twin bed

Poppyseeds is holding their last Swap Meet of the season this Saturday, Sept 19th, in their parking lot - so stop by! There's a huge 'Harvest Jubilee' celebration of farms taking place in Stanwood that day (check www.harvestjubilee.org for info), as well. We're babysitting our grandson all day so we won't be selling at the swap meet, but our room is stuffed to the rafters!

All content in this post is original to KENNEDY|kennedy Design, KkD, and RetreatDesign.blogspot. As such is protected by Copyright. Reproduction or rebroadcast of any content in whole or part without express written permission is prohibited. Content copyright 2009 KkD; All Rights Reserved

The Wheels On the Bus Go 'Round and 'Round...

2009-09-14T22:13:00.001-07:00

Timi took her fabulous Junk Bus on its maiden journey on Saturday, down to the BarnHouse Show! As part of the festivities, she doled out treats, swag, and prizes as they rolled down the road. We donated one of our original 'Junk Queen Crowns' for the giveaway, packaged up all swanky with a tag that gave it instant 'provenance'...

Norma was the lucky winner of the crown, and we think she looks quite regal in it... don't you?! We hope you love it, Norma!

Timi will be heading down the highway again next month, taking a sleek chartered bus (don't let the logo photo up there fool you - it's not an old truck!) to the Funky Junk Sisters Show in Puyallup - be on it for a roarin' good time! Check her website for info. We'll be donating another special original Retreat creation for that trip, too, plus we'll be vendors at the show so you can get your OWN Junk Queen Crown if you want one! ;0)

Photo Credit: 'Come Junk With Us!'

What a DAY!

2009-09-13T10:52:00.001-07:00

Ah, sunny morning, light streaming in the window to awaken us...... at 10 AM. ;0) Yesterday was a very long day - up before 4 AM and home after midnight, making it a 21 hour workday for us - so we are in serious recovery mode today. Here are a few shots of our booth (more later) and then a few more of other beautiful spaces at the show. (Forgive me, I didn't get many photos. It was just a breakneck pace from the moment we arrived until the moment we pulled out of the parking lot last night.)

Tiffany of Shabby Scraps was our booth neighbor, and oh what a gorgeous display she created!

Marybeth & Julie of Poppyseeds brought the bling!
\
So did Jo and Debbie!

And there were sweets for the sweet...

I know I have more photos. It is just going to take me a few more hours to recuperate before I can edit and post them!

Thank you all so much for coming out to see us and the other dealers at the show. It was a gorgeous Indian Summer day (and I have the sunburn to prove it) and we really enjoyed meeting new friends. Now I think I'll head out to the swing with an iced tea... for a nap..... ;0)

PS: We'll be restocking our poor empty space at Poppyseeds in a few days... more of the white/gray/burlap Danish look to come!

Tres Jolie!

2009-09-11T10:53:00.001-07:00

Oh, just wait until you see what we have in store for you tomorrow! This is our BEST yet!

Haley's Cottage Presents
A French Flea Market at the Clocktower
15021 Main Street in Mill Creek Town Center
Mill Creek Washington 98012

10:00 AM 'till 8:00 PM