Sometimes Plan A just doesn't work out quite as planned, so a quick shift to Plan B is necessary. And today was one of those days. In reverse order from this post on my design blog last June, it all went down something like this:

From this V

To this V

(Minus the awning, which was removed two weeks ago.) Took us about two hours, start to finish. I really don't have much to say about it all except 'chapter closed, book complete': we are completely out of Snohomish after fifteen long years. (Sorry, I said twenty before... maybe it just FEELS like 20 years....) Didn't end like I wanted it to, but sometimes getting it over with (and ripping it off fast, like a bandaid) is just the only way to do it. This move-out was a week ahead of what we had scheduled, but in the end it's better for everyone this way. Trust me on this.

I'm certain that the next dealer in this space will be bringing beautiful things to Faded Elegance, and we wish everyone there continued success at this lovely antique boutique. *** Update Friday, May 29: I just heard from another dealer at Faded Elegance that Jan Marie was moving her stuff into our old space TODAY. Oh people, get in there!!!!! She's had a little space upstairs and now she's going to have all that room for her wonderful merchandise..... it will be incredible. Amazing. Beautiful. ***

It's on to the next big thing for us..... see ya' in Spokane!

Just a reminder that tomorrow there will be some great events going on around here...

Poppyseeds is hosting the second Swap Meet of the season in their parking lot on Saturday! Plan to stop by - the weather's going to be perfect, there will be vendors outdoors selling all kinds of goodies, and you can check out the newly-redesigned rooms inside Poppyseeds... I've been working with owners Marybeth & Julie to refresh the store, and we know you'll love it! (Check out my Design blog for the whole story, with before & after photos).

In Snohomish, the first annual Street Antiques Faire is being held (sorry, that's the ONLY photo of the poster I could find....) Along with all of the great shops in town, there will be vendors in street booths selling all kinds of wonderful things. This is a perfect day for you to have fun in the sun and get something from Retreat inside Faded Elegance, while you still have a chance!

As for us, we'll be here on the farm, creating loads of fab stuff... in the sunshine!

Mr. Kennedy, design star and creator of flawless furnishings, has composed his Opus. This great work is a 'Piano Bar' - pun intended. What began as a forlorn, broken, and damaged baby grand piano case has, with his imagination and skill, been transformed into a stunning one-of-a-kind piece of art.

With the lid open, it takes a moment to realize that all is not as it seems...

Beautiful lines, a softly antiqued white finish, mirror, and lights built-in beneath the case highlight the elegance and beauty of this remarkable piece. Can you just imagine serving your guests a glass of champagne or a martini from this?!

Where the keyboard used to be, there is now a mirrored tray that glides forward to provide space for mixing & serving drinks. (Shown pulled out @ 2" here - extends to expose full 12" wide mirror).

Inside, there is a deep storage area for liquor bottles, glassware, and an ice bucket. The front part of the lid is hinged to fold back to expose just this part, OR to lift up along with the rear lid to expose the entire interior. The larger section in back is a wine rack, able to store ten bottles of wine. With the lid closed, it forms a perfect stand-up bar for serving. You could, of course, add a few simple barstools.

This project has been underway for quite some time, and it is a thrill to see it finally on display at Faded Elegance in Snohomish. We've expanded our space just to fit her in, and she shines like a bonafide glamour superstar in the spotlights. Applause, Applause!

((Oh, and by the way..... she has a sister. ;0)

A sister who is a bit more vintage style, a bit more musical, and a bit more prone to showing off. She's being prepped and primped now, and will make her 'stage debut' at Farm Chicks.))

We unearthed TWO of these beautiful wall lamps at a yard sale this morning, and promptly went out and bought new shades for them. As of this afternoon, they are now in our space at Faded Elegance. I couldn't wait to share them with you!

The vintage lamps are not hard-wired - they have a plug-in cord at the base of the lower bracket. They hang from a single screw-hook on the top bracket. Installation of these gorgeous girls would take...oh, about five minutes - two screws in the wall and you're done! Perfectly shabby white enameled metal, with not-often-seen white opaque glass (like chalcedony) drop crystals. Both lamps are in perfectly perfect condition, and priced at an amazing $145 each.

They'd look absolutely marvelous over bedside tables, flanking a mirror over a buffet or in an entry hall or powder room. (I love 'em so much I almost kept them!)

We've added a few new things to our space at Faded Elegance, just in time for the 'Girls Night In' event this weekend in the store....

There are some vintage paper rolls, with wallpaper, sheet music, old French book pages, vintage seam binding, and a crystal. Perfect for your scrapbook or collage art projects for Mother's Day!

There's this charming young lady, whom I call Bella because if I called her Drew you probably wouldn't get the movie reference. Right? (This painting was used as a 'portrait' of Drew Barrymore's character, Cinderella, at the end of the film 'Ever After'. That's your film trivia for today!). She's wearing a stunning pair of deep green & gold earrings & a necklace to match. The cool thing is, YOU can wear them, too! This is 'embellished art' - the vintage image has hooks that will hold the jewelry in place and allow you to remove it for wearing. Or perhaps MOM could!

We also added a few new furniture pieces. I love love love this table! She has cute little antique brass wheels and such feminine lines. She didn't start out this way, though... It started out looking like this:

Hmn, well, actually, not really. It started out with a flat top with a broken piecrust edge, and it was all just the wrong proportion. So Bob removed the edge, added a new tray edge using some old moulding from his stash, stained it to match, attached it, and then I got busy with paint. I just had to leave the tray top as it was - the graining is so gorgeous! Now she gleams with tres' French style, oui?

LOVE her!

This sweet little dresser is just perfect for baby's room! Or as a bedside table, maybe... or in an entryway, perhaps? Possibly a powder room?! I've also brought back the green china and the little bird creations that were in the booth before. I think they will make such sweet gifts for Mother's Day!

We are working on lots of wonderful creations for the upcoming Farm Chicks show AND for our expanded space at Faded Elegance! Something wonderful will be arriving there May 1st. Stay tuned!

Eidted to Add: ....mmmmnnnnn, I lied. May 1st is a Saturday and we can't load in on weekends. So, it will be in on Monday May 3. Sorry 'bout that.

After the recent busy sunny shopping days, a quick Foofing of our space at Faded Elegance was in order. (Yes, that's an offical term!) Today, I took in lots of sweet spring NeSts, old gold photo frames in many sizes (with sweet spring-theme sheet music in them), and some darling new white-on-white floral ceramics. These small touches really refreshed the booth - and they'll do the same for your home or office!

Today we finally braved the downpouring rain (it's just not going to STOP, so we can't keep waiting!) and hauled product into our spaces at both stores... first stop was Faded Elegance. Now it's overflowing with treasures!

(note: dresser and filligree mirror on wall are sold, awaiting pickup.)

Then we headed to Poppyseeds, and did a bit of rearranging before adding more colorful goodies... the green, white, & yellow from our recent booth at Sand Point went by the window, anchored by the darling yellow vintage chrome table already there. (I still have to add a hook and hang one chandelier tomorrow)

The red vintage chrome table and coordinating decor all went on the other side of our little room. Lots of vintage linens & aprons filled up my fave display rack (sorry, NFS!). This place is chock-full of whimsy and color, to brighten up these interminably long gray, rainy days!

Rumor is that the SUN is supposed to make an appearance this weekend! If you are out enjoying it, stop by these two wonderful shops. We know you'll find something you love!

And thank you, MaryBeth, for your sweet post on us on the Poppyseeds blog!

Today we added several more furniture items to our space at Faded Elegance.. side & accent tables and another dining table really helped to fill it up before the weekend. A minor re-arrangement helped us fit it all in and give the space yet another fresh look. (Large pastiche mirror is sold)

(dresser is sold)

Come in and see what beautiful things we have for your spring decor!

Even on these cold, gray days, there are robins and chickadees and wrens and even a family of six mourning doves that perch in the still-bare branches of the trees on our farm and serenade us with beautiful songs. The trilling, warbling, melodic notes float through the air, bringing with them the hope that Spring is coming... both in the weather, and in our booth at Faded Elegance. Yes, we finally brought in new creations!

We've infused some pretty spring greens into the decor here, setting a scene for a garden-style Easter or Spring Solstice feast. The china is Noritake 'Maureen', from the 1960's, in soft mint green and white with silver edging and swirly white floral accents. We are offering these in single 5-piece placesettings only. Some beautiful etched bar glasses and goblets compliment them perfectly, and with a few small nests inside glass cups as favors, all presented on a green roll of player piano music (NFS), it's ready for a party!

You can just see the soft swirly white etching on the china here...

Since birdsong inspired this look, birds are a major design element. Using vintage music, wallpaper, crepe, and book pages, several collaged settings present a simple birdnest - handmade using natural elements. (These are not nests built by birds). It's the simple, sweet essence of springtime and new life...

The lamp isn't very old, really, but by turning the garden sphere into a 'cage' and adding moss, a nest, and a sweet vintage-look bird, topped off by a GORGEOUS handmade shade with vintage wallpaper, it's got vintage feel - and personality to boot. This won't last long so get in there if you want it!

The various nests are held inside vintage glass garden globes and a glass compote. Each one has its own special touches, and is a one-of-a-kind art creation by yours truly. I really love coming up with these!

There's a sweet green birdcage with a green metal stand, too, just in case you prefer your birds in cages instead of nests! There are more treasures to be discovered... please do come by and enjoy our version of Spring!