Hi Everyone

Due to difficulties, lack of knowledge and just plan frustration I'll be going back to my original blog Annie's In Snohomish

Come join me there for the latest and greatest happenings at Annie's in Snohomish.
Trust me your going to want to keep up with what I'm doing. Theres lots happening in cute little Snohomish!

Success at Our First Show!!!

Whew!!!, we made it..Our first annual Snohomish Antique and Art Faire was a hit...It was more work than I imagined, but it turned out sooooo good. The weather was the best ever, can you believe it? The majority of the vendors were more than happy and want to come back next year. There were a few that didn't do as well as they were hoping, but still enjoyed themselves and thought for the first year, it went well. We know what we need to work on for next year and will have more time to plan and advertise. We are hoping for at least 100 vendors next year, enough to fill up the whole street! And thank you all who attended and blogged and called about the show. We appreciate all our awesome local customers and friends who help make an event like this a success. Maybe next year we can get some of you to help pass out flyers, etc. A special thanks to Timi..she showed up VERY EARLY and helped us load in the vendors and pass out the yummy scones that my friend Brigit made for the vendors. I told Brigit that she needs to have a booth next year to sell them. She got up at 4:am to bake them... Kimberly from Faded Elegance and her husband Anthony were non-stop along with Debbie from the city and Haley from.... Haley and Company. Her "boys" helped us pick up all those damn road signs afterwards and stored them in her back room. Thanks again, everyone. (Oops, forgot my husband/laborer, Vern.)
The next big event will be Farm Chicks, June 6th and 7th. Mary and I, along the husbands will hit the road on June 4th.. We hope to see you there.
After that, I'm not going to do anything but bask in the glory of havng just the store to concentrate on...until HOT BLOGUST NITE!! Saturday August 8th. I have had some really good response to this little party. I will keep you up to date with activities, door prizes, demo's and how to's from some creative types....wine, food, fun, shopping.... what could be better?
Here' to a wonderful summer, we deserve it!
Be Good,
Annie

Snohomish Antiques and Arts Faire

Don't forget to mark your calendar for this Saturday May 16th... We have some really good vendors for our first show. Melaine, from mysweetsavannah.blogspot.com Dawn from Great Finds, I think LuLu will be here, not sure... but anyway good people with great stuff. The weather is even suppose to co-operate. Sunny?? Can that possibly be right.? We have some talented musicians to entertain us and good coffee shops and restaurants to feed you.. Next year we will have food vendors, we just didn't have enough time to get that part all put together. Mary and I won't have a tent outside, but we will have our stuff on sale here in the store. Please come in and say hi. (no purchase required..)
Farm Chicks is just a few weeks away and I'm getting closer to being ready..I am thinking of it as a little vacation for my husband and myself. He really does know that he is being forced to go as a laborer...I so love him though! We will be celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary this Sunday the 17th...Wow, that's hard to believe.
I will be receiving my Sid Dickens order the first week of June and naturally, I'm not ready for that.. Deb from Queen Bee is giving me here big, wood board that the tiles hang on. I will have to prep the store between the antique show and Farm Chicks...
The next event that I am working on will be called Hot Bloggust Nites... We are just in the planning stages, but we have some great ideas for a girls nite shopping, talking, eating and B.S ing experience. Mark Saturday August 8th for this event. Timi, www.CoolChickClub.com and her vast blogging experience, is working with me. We already have Jana from Joy Works on board. The idea is to have our bloggers meet other bloggers that they follow in person..It sounds like some gals from the Portland area are already planning to come.. We think it sounds like fun. Let me know what you think.
That's it for now, be good!
Annie

Antique Show Countdown!

Well, we're now 12 days away from our first annual antique and art show. We have worked very hard in the small amount of time that we had to prepare. Thanks to Debbie, (city of Snohomish) Kimberly from Faded Elegance and Haley from Haley and Company, we have managed to get this thing going for real. I didn't realize how much goes into doing a show like this. Everything from getting vendors, to porta-potties to security...In fact, if anyone wants to volunteer their girl scout or cub scout pack for street barricade duty, we'd love to hear from you. The reward for their duty is food!!! I think we might be at 35 to 40 vendors signed up. Our meeting is tomorrow and I'll get a new count. Please blog along our date to all your fellow bloggers. Check the website at www.SnohomishFaire.com
My good Buddie, Carol from Gatherings in Marysville, has announced that she will be closing her store. I was really hoping that she would join me here in Snohomish, but has decided to do some other creative adventures. She is truly one of the most talented gals I have ever met. If you live in the area, you really need to treat yourself and just go and see this store... it's remarkable. Her website will remain up and active and updated A LOT MORE than I update mine. Carol, you know I love ya!! and I am really going to miss that sandwich!!! All through May,Gatherings will be offering 30% off select merchandise.. Good luck Carol.
The other event for me around the corner is FARM CHICKS.. I still say... oh my God, what was I thinking!!!.. actually, I am looking forward to the hoopla that I have been hearing about..Mary and I have been hoarding for a while and I think we'll will have a great looking space. Check us out when you go...don't forget to mention that you read it on the blog...
I will be making my Sid Dickens order tomorrow, so all you collectors start saving your Dickens Dollars for your next tile...
Ok, that's it...
Be Good
Annie

Bi-annual Update...

That's how I feel about keeping up with this blog. Thanks Timi, it's your fault. So much has been happening the last 6 weeks, its hard to put it all in order. First off, I still love my new spot and have been keeping very busy. I do sometimes have a hard time keeping pace with the responsibilities of owning a store, and in maintaining a semi-normal life. Even though my 2 boys are grown and out of the house, I can't seem to get the everyday things done. A lot of things have been changing in town. I'm sure everyone has heard that Queen Bee is closing. That was probably the biggest shock for all the gals that have been in love with the store. Debbie truely has made an impact on the way we decorate our homes and her style will be missed. She will continue to have her newsletter and keep everyone up to date on her future endeavors. Debbie was also kind enough to recommend that I continue to carry the Sid Dickens Memory Blocks here in Snohomish. I will have them available the first week of June. So all you local collectors, get me your names and numbers and I will let you know when new tiles arrive.
Mary and I signed up for the Farm Chicks show June 6 and 7th.. My God, what were we thinking!! We having been hoarding some good stuff though. I have never gone to a Farm Chicks event, but from what I hear, it's the most fun ever. We have 2 spots in the building on the left, so you'll have to look for us and mention that you read about the show on my blog and who knows, you might get a gift or a discount or something!
Our antique show is coming along really well..we have a combintation of vintage home decor, collectables and fine artists signed up and are hoping for a least 10 more. I know some of the vendors and they have some really great things. We are still looking for vendors, so give me a call if you know anyone interested.
In between all of this, my friend just called from Palm Springs and asked if Vern (the husband) and I can come and visit for a few days. I'm looking for a spot in our schedule. My sister in law just flew out of Bellingham to Reno and the tickets were really cheap.
I hope to see you here in the store, and be sure to let me know who you are, my blogging friends, so I can meet. By the way.. I am working with some friends on something that could be really fun.. It won't be until later in the summer, but stay tuned.
Be Good!
Annie

Boy, it's great to be in the new location... We are pretty organized for only being in there for 3 weeks. We still have a lot to do in the back room...Mary is still bringing in new stuff every 3 days or so and I have been getting my things in as we go. I had more in my garage than I realized. We are concentrating on some cool garden stuff. I love anything rusty, wiry and bent. Old baskets, buckets, little boxes, anything that you can fill with flowers or moss or shells...
We put a new gazebo in the store and it looks great. It's new, but has a lot of moss on it to give it that worn and aged English garden look. My friend Cathy and I went to the Sandpoint Antique show yesterday. I didn't find much this trip, Mary found some good stuff, but I did get to meet the guys from The Barnhouse, (Oregon) and the Queen of Tarte...Their space was too good!!! The displays were fabulous and make you want to go home and redo everything. Check our their blogs... it will keep you creative.
We are still working on our own antique show this May 16th...tell your friends..
There are a lot of things happening in town too. Rene' Paul antiques is moving to the old Painted Sky location, the Snohomish bicycle shop is open in my old space, Folands Foly moved into a bigger location by the bakery. We also got a little spot on Evening Magazine last Wednesday. It was pretty good.
Ok, be good,
Annie

ALERT...NEW DATE ANTIQUE SHOW

We have a new date for our first annual antiques faire. There was a lot of confusion with the motorcycle show, bla, bla, bla....they are still negotiating for that date, so we were offered Saturday May 16th. We are so excited about this... we are expecting a good turnout and are including some fine arts and crafts.(no decoupage', doilies or pipe cleaner ornaments this time!!) Please check our website at
www.snohomishfaire.com for registration info and contact numbers. Please let everyone know our new date because we don't want anyone to miss out on this show.
I did get moved into my new spot.. love it, love it, love it..I tell you what, there is nothing better than playing store. I want to go to sleep early so that I can wake up and go to work! It was tons of work and if it weren't for Mary and Craig, Tamara, Linda, my husband Vern, the boys and many other friends, I would still be there setting things up. Mary worked her butt off and she loves all this just as much as I do... she's the best and my God, she has good stuff....Anyway, I'll add some pictures in the next day or two or three...if you get a chance, please come and see us, I think you will love our new spot.
And thanks to everyone who has asked and thought and prayed for my mother in law. She passed away, peacefully on March 2nd. I will think of her with only good memories and love.
Be Good
Annie

Moving Again!

I will be getting the keys to my new store on Saturday afternoon. I am so excited about the new location. Mary, her husband Craig and I were in there on Monday, pulling nails and puttying?(is that a word?)anyway, we got a lot done and can't wait to get those shop vacs humming. I will be taking some before and after pics so you can see the transformation. I hope to be up and running around March 9th or 10th. I will close the current store for a few days next week, so that I can concentrate on the new store.
I am also working with the city of Snohomish and Kimberly at Faded Elegance to put together an antique show this spring. Sunday, May 17th is the date and we've got our fingers crossed that it will be a success. I know a lot of dealers and store owners who know other people and so on and so on.... there's a lot going on!
Stayed tuned and hope to see some of you at the new place. Whew!
Be Good
Annie

January Blues!!

Man, does anyone else want it to be July??? I am so tired of this gray weather I could scream.. It's not like I don't have anything to do, but I just want it to be warm when I do it.
I will be very busy for the next month, since I am moving my store again.. The space is much bigger with tons of storage. My husband is happy about that part. He still is in shock over the move...I have had a lot of friends and customers offer to help with the move and I plan on calling on them if I get in a bind. Everyone in town has been excited about the move and I am looking forward to it. My good friend Mary will be joining me in my adventure. Her and I are great friends and we work, shop and decorate with similar style. We will combine our merchandise throughout the store instead of having just a space for her things. I think it looks better that way. We will both be out shopping for the next few weeks and also trying to get the new place cleaned, painted, put together..the old space cleaned, holes filled, paint touch-up, oh my God, what have I got myself into?!
The Seattle gift show finished up this week and I have to say that I was disappointed in it. I didn't see anything new that screamed for me to buy it.. and besides, I've decided that like the old stuff better. It's more fun to shop for and I like that someone else loved the thing before I did. I still have the new things, but will concentrate on finding really unique pieces.
I finally finished my bathroom and I'll add a couple pictures. I kept decided to do more minimal decorating in the bathroom. It looks very crisp and clean.. The wood cutout in the picture is an old folk art piece that I bought in Portland a couple years ago and I just had to find a spot for her. She is a Janzten Beach girl, probably from the 1940's. I have collected that style of wood folk art for a few years, but will probably start selling some of it. My look has changed , so they need to find a new home.
Things are picking up a little in town and I,along with the other store owners are optimistic about the future. There is a city wide sale the first weekend in February and that usually brings a lot of people to town. I will plan something as far as a grand opening at the new place, maybe some other stores want to stay open late on a Saturday... we'll see..
Anyway, lots going on and lots to do. I want to thank all my friends, especially Mary, for being so good to me. I am lucky to have them all!
Be Good
Annie

Happy New Year!!

Hello everyone! Wow, did you all have a wierd holdiay season like I did? Everything was just plain wierd this year. The beautiful snow that we only dream about on Christmas turned out to be a nightmare. We pugetsounders would never, never survive in the midwest or god forbid, the Alaskan tundra! The few days before Christmas here in town were bad. It was like a ghost town, even the last minute husbands out to buy gift cards were not here. So, we survived the snow, had a little break and then the floods. How great was that. No way into town on hiway 9, had to go through Everett from Mill Creek just to here. But you know I love it anyway. This are better and there is a good buzz in town with possible new stores, restaurant...Jana and Clarice from Joy works have been shopping in Atlanta for a few days, so that is a great sign... FYI you have to go see the rubber boots they have..they are cowboy boots that are too cute!!! I think I'll have to break down and buy a pair.
Oh yeah, I'm moving again. I will be taking the Sun Song location just 5 stores up from me. I am very excited about it. It all came about very quickly and unexpectedly.. Both of our leases are up the end of February, so I will have my work cut out for me. I had lots of friends volunteer to help. It's a much bigger space, great display windows and the thing that made me almost cry, was the storage in the back.. Seriously, it's huge. I will finally be able to clear out my garage and have enough room for a project area, storage, storage storage....I'll take some picture once the Sun Song owners have a chance to get packed. They are retiring after 13 years in Snohomish.. They are super nice and I wish them the best. Everything in their store is on sale including lots of display pieces basic store items.
So that' what up for now. I'll keep you posted..
Be Good
Annie