Brenda Baker Productions

Twice a year, I look forward to the Ruffles and Rust show featuring vintage and handcrafted treasures at the Evergreen Fairgrounds in Monroe, Washington. Even after a long work week, I usually jump at the chance for the Friday night First Choice Shopping opportunity. In the end, it's worth the ticket price. Plus, if the show knocks my socks off, I'm also allowed free entry on Saturday, too. Here are a few things that especially tickled my fancy last night. In looking back at my photos, I see that I was drawn to the colors that scream "summertime" and any vignette that incorporated flora and fauna with fabulous vintage finds. For some reason, there was a lot of acrylic pastel dinnerware for sale. I love the colors, but not so much the material. Still, it is so pretty! I still prefer the croquet balls that I keep in a wooden bowl on my coffee table, but the mallets make for a good display, too. These are perfectly worn and still have some of the rubber tips in ...

This is the second time I have attended the "Ruffles and Rust" junk fest in Monroe and once again--it did not disappoint. We were too busy searching for fun junk to buy so we didn't take too many photos. Honestly, I didn't have too much to spend this time around but I always just LOVE taking in all the fabulous displays. I really appreciate an artist who can put together an appealing mix of new and old items, color, and elements of nature in a fresh, colorful and whimical display. My sister bought this fun cake pan that she plans to fill with primroses for spring. Good find! I also love the fact that the crazy fur thing made it into the foreground of this picture. None of us would touch it, of course. Fur is definitely in the category of things that shouldn't be at a vintage sale. Also on the list? Birdcages and bedpans--to name just a couple. See you at the next "Ruffles & Rust" sale in October!

Bethany, Carrie and I had a blast on our most recent girls' road trip. Once again, we hit the "antiquing road" and searched for sweet vintage treasures, met interesting people, scoured as many craft stores as possible and enjoyed lots of laughs. Lots of laughs. This year we returned to a favorite antiquing event in Yakima known as "American Primitives at Clayson Farm." We made this trip last year, too, and had a ball. Check out the fun we had this year! From our pictures you'll see that it's not all about the quest for "stuff" but we take great delight in the displays, the colors, the shapes, the creativity of each vendor. And the friendship is the icing on the cake! Nothing says "vacation" like really cute luggage. But that handle would be a real pain walking through Heathrow. Two words: Super. Glue. Love this fruit platter and the gorgeous blue of this baking powder tin. I'm not a big fan of "blue" but the whit...