Under Construction - Part 1

Drastic times call for drastic measures! Over a month ago, we knew the clock was ticking on our opening and we had to cut out some of our guilty pleasures (aka, time wasters). We actually turned off ALL 200+ channels (many in HD) of our satellite TV so that we could focus more on BH. Now, the biggest, most beautiful, gorgeous and nurturing TV in the world sits with a very blank stare on her facing asking "Where did our love go?" I also went as far as canceling my subscription to US Weekly (and how I looked forward to checking the mailbox every Friday for that absolute garbage). You would think getting rid of these two things alone over a month ago would have allowed us to be on schedule. Not exactly... We ended up falling in love with our little duckies and did a lot of duck watching...I got "bullied" (by Lynne G.--Yes, I am calling you out!) into joining Facebook and got caught up in a web of family and friends I haven't heard from in decades...AND we decided we reeaallly needed an iPOD (since we don't have TV). Now, we have been spending time downloading music (it's really for the shows, right!?)

After realizing the clock was ticking and the show was REALLY just around the corner, we ran into another issue. We had been away from The Barn (watching TV) for a long time and really had not just sat and listened to what "she" wanted for her big transformation and debut into the 2009 BH Season (she doesn't like wearing the same thing twice, you know). So there we sat...thinking our thoughts...waiting for a sign...sipping on a little moonshine maybe at times...arguing about whose fault it was as to why we weren't hearing anything yet...having staring contests...etc. Well, apparently "she" decided at the 3 week mark before the season opening that all would be revealed. So, here we are...SCRAMBLING!

The Barn wanted a bigger entry/welcoming area equipped with a Big & Elaborate Structure, new fence and a ton of gravel for flooring. The Barn also wanted a new back drop...and additional lighting. She also wanted Big & Elaborate Structure inside...a new check out area and a new check out counter. AND she wanted us to finish a bunch of other stuff that slipped through the cracks last year. She ALSO asked for wood floors for the interior, but that's where we had to draw the line. SHE'S GREEDY ONCE SHE STARTS TALKING!!!!
Here we go again!!!!
Don't worry...we WILL be ready!!! Just light a candle for us, in the meantime. ;o)

The goods are piled up everywhere!!

Joe and I hit a JACKPOT this weekend...one of those JACKPOTS that requires 2-3 trips to pick it all up...one of those JACKPOTS you wouldn't tell ANYone the address because the stuff is sooooo good! We were giddy all day!!!


Oh, and I can't forget to mention our Featured Dealers!!! They will be bringing their treasures for the next week filling the joint to the brim...

Sylvi - Little Cottage
Natalie - Sparrow
Debbie & Laurie - Worthy Goods
Cindy - The Queen of Tarte
Julie - The Withies
and new to The BH Family, Leah - Art by Leah

I will be talking about them more this week...but it's after midnight and I have to be somewhat presentable at The Torture Chamber tomorrow.

OH...and THANKS to all of the folks that have left such warm and encouraging comments. I am REAAAALLY behind on getting back to everyone...I hope you understand. We have a very greedy barn...

J & J
The Boys of BH / Barn People / Barn Enablers

Barn House Angels...

This is an impromptu post, inspired by a visit over to Robin's Bird Tweets Blog. Oh how my little heart is aching something terrible (in a really good way)! I have said this before, but I really don't know what we did in our previous lives to be rewarded so abundantly in this life. Visiting Robin's blog today was a reminder of this. Being the cry-baby that I am, I was instantly teary-eyed and emotional about the very simple and pure things that bring so much happiness into our lives. The House, the BH Home Collection of "stuff" inside The House, the abundance of "stuff" surrounding The House, The Barn...all of this is wonderful. But it has really been the friendships that have developed and evolved along the way that make it all so special. We call these friends "The Barn House Angels." Well, imagine me sitting on the sofa "in the moment" of reflecting on all of the many things I am so thankful for...and in barges the Tasmanian Devil (Joe). "OMG, are you crying about how happy you are, AGAIN??? Snap out of it! I need you to help me lift "this-and-that" and move it "here-and-there!" I politely replied, "Well, excuuuuuuse me for being happy! I will be right out to help you, You Bubble-Popper!" I was too emotionally drained to wrestle him about it (being too happy can be exhausting sometimes)...not to mention I didn't want to scare my duckies who are still enjoying their last few days of living in the house with us. I certainly don't want my newest "children" growing up thinking their parents are heathens...no way!! Unfortunately, their older siblings may one day enjoy popping their bubbles about us...I wonder where they learned that from.
Sorry, back to the ever so talented Robin! Her pictures and stories are beautiful art! Every time I visit her blog I am amazed in one way or another. I am sure this is why Somerset Life Magazine snatched her up!!! You can see her spread in the Jan-Mar issue. We feel so honored to know her...a real life fancy photographer in magazines!!! There are even two pictures from the Barn House and Willow Nest show last August here at our place!! :o) And I will be forever thankful to her for airbrushing the wrinkles & acne off of my face and the gray out of my hair from the pictures she posted on her blog!!! Thank you, Robin...you are a true professional!!! But more important than the fancy photographs and magazines, we really feel she is becoming part of our extended family here in Washington. We can't wait to send our friends and family back home to her blog. :o) Have you checked the mail today??? Some of you will be receiving our first postcard. This one will always be very special because it features Celie (left) & Nettie (right). It was taken at our "Grand Opening" last May by our friend Rob "J-A" Kennedy (another great photographer friend). As some of you know, Sweet Nettie died last October after our Season Finale -- so this series is really in honor of her. Thanks Robbie for catching our twin goats at the perfect moment, guarding The BH Familia! In the future, we will feature something special about each individual event. If you would like to be added to your mailing list, send us a comment or an e-mail with your address (barnhousebh@yahoo.com).OK...the Tasmanian Devil is back and I really have to run. He just got back from treasure hunting and is really PO'd I have been blogging and watching the chickens through the window mess up the newly planted vegetable garden. Sorry, but my babies just can't do no wrong in my eyes!! BUT, before I go...let me talk a little bit more smack about "Joey Drama" before he comes back into the house. (We've known each other for almost 20 years, so I can do that) See all that stuff in the picture above?Well, I am sure our neighbors drive by and think that Sand ford (Joe) & Son (me, because I am waaay younger) are completely out of control. It has been said (by unknown sources) that Joe is VERY proud of his stuff...kind of like a little boy is proud of his new truck or new army army figures. SOOOO, what he does (Proud Joe) is not only bring stuff inside the house and literally surround himself with it, but he also displays the big stuff outside so that everybody and their mamas can see it all when they drive by. I guess it's the Hunter/Gatherer in him. (another scenario The Barn People got in trouble for re-enacting in Seattle). Most neighbors smile and wave...but some of the others just glare and snarl. Good thing we live in the country...this here land is ours...treasures (junk) and all!!!! HEE HAW ;o)

Goodness, I should call in sick to work more often. I really needed to get that off my chest! Can I get a witness??

J & J / The Boys of Barn House / Barn People / Happy Folks(!) / Cry Babies

P.S. - We will be acting like fools in The Land of Tarte on Saturday (if I am still not sick, of course). Hope you can join The Queen and Annie, Fannie & Abigail for one of the best shows in Oregon!!!

"Barn People" Sighting...

A couple of weeks ago, The Boys of BH and The Queen of Tarte headed up to Seattle for what turned out to be quite an adventure. In true Hillbilly style, we had stuff stacked high on the roof of the truck...the trailer was filled to the brim...and poor Cindy had only a few inches to move in the back seat b/c we had so much stuff inside the truck too. In hindsight, we were dangerously filled with stuff...but that didn't seem to matter at the time. We were going to the big city to make our "debut" at the Sand Point Antique & Design Market!!

But let me tell you how our trip started -- Already running a few minutes late on the first day of our trip, we get in the truck to find out it won't start. Now I have mentioned we were dangerously packed to the brim, right?? I just about had an anxiety attack right there in the driveway! The thought of having to UNpack the truck before we even left started the wheels in my head to spin out of control. Fortunately, Joe and Cindy know the look of panic in my eyes and took control of the situation. Turned out the battery was dead and needed a jump. So off we went to the auto store for a new battery, rope and heavy-duty tie-downs to make sure our stuff didn't fly off the roof on the highway.

A couple of hours later, we finally get on the road. We laughed hysterically about the looks & comments we got in town with all that stuff. Everything is wonderful...until it starts SNOWING. What the heck! We are on our way to Seattle to do a show in an UNheated building and it is SNOWING. This time it was Joe who panicked. He had already declared that he was "crippled" to the battery installer and couldn't get out of the truck (really b/c he was already frozen and could barely move before we officially left town). "What kind of "stuff" is this?? Who lives like this!" he yelled. (He doesn't deal too well with the Spring snow/cold of the NW)

It's not snowing when we arrive in Seattle, but it's still in the 30s. To say the least, none of us was looking forward to unpacking and setting up. I am sure we were all regretting bringing so much stuff. So we pull up to the building we were in and Joe and Cindy leave me in the truck to go "find our space." Uh huh! 20 minutes later, I come to realization that they are not only "finding our space," but have already started shopping from the other vendors too! I won't bore you with all the details (and expletives) of unloading and setting up in the freezing rain, but I bet you can imagine. What I will say is that there are some very special people in this business. The camaraderie between the dealers makes some of the more challenging situations enjoyable. Who wouldn't want to hang out (even in the cold) with with the fabulous Lulu (Luluz), Deb & Bob (Retreat), Debi (Ormolulu), and JOHN/BOB just to name a few. We will be forever in debt to Bob (Retreat) for helping me and Joe get those farm tables down from the roof of the Suburban!! What on earth were we thinking???!!

If you are wondering why this post is not filled with pictures from the show, it's because I caught a serious case of the vapors resulting in severe brain-freeze, Joe was crippled by the shakes and Cindy's shivers were debilitating. By the time I remembered to take pictures, I only took these two of Cindy's space before the rush.
The rest of the time we were chit-chatting with Seattle's finest...La . Te . Da Love (she has pix on her blog), Mimi Charmante (also has pix on her blog), The Salvage Sisters, Todd from Bountiful Home, Lisa Call and many others. One lady came into our space and said, "Oh, you are 'Those Barn People'." Something sounded really creepy the way she said it..."Those Barn People" -- kind of like "Children of The Corn" or something. At first, I was mildly offended. But back at the hotel lounge, we discussed it in detail over some moonshine. There was something terribly eccentric about it..."Barn People." Oh what fun this could be!!!! The more moonshine that was poured, the more possibilities were concocted up in our crazy heads. The costumes, wigs, dialects and characters were endless...yes, in the lounge at Hotel Deca, "The Barn People" were born!! Barn People around the world...Stand Up and Unite!! Boy, we caused such a scene in the lounge that night getting into character that the bartender cut us off and brought us a coulple of rounds of water. "Those Barn People" just don't have any sense! ;o)

OK...off to celebrate Easter. We still have lots more to share about Joe's face plastered in Old Stuff, Robin in Somerset Life, Susan in Romantic Country, The Land of Tarte event next Saturday in Oregon City, The BH Season opening and our 10 new ducklings (see a video of them on Robin's BirdTweets blog)!

J & J
Barn People

We couldn't wait any longer...

We have SOOOO much to update you on about the happenings at BH! Unfortunately, most of it is going to have to wait a few more days. We are absolutely swamped right now...there are only four short weeks until our opening and things are a bit C-R-A-Z-Y, to say the least. But the day I have been waiting for (forever, it seems) finally came today and I had to share...
OUR BABY DUCKS ARRIVED!!! HEE HAW!!!! More to come on our ducklings, the Sandpoint show in Seattle, our Shenanigans in the Hotel Lounge with The Queen in Seattle, Joe's picture in Old Stuff Magazine, Robin's (Bird Tweets) spread in Somerset Life Magazine, our friend Susan's spread in Romantic County Magazine and The Barn House Season Opening (May 9th)!!!! Is anyone else happy that Spring is FINALLY here??
We miss you!

The Boys of Barn House

We Are Two Very Lucky Men - Part 2...

OK, Joe got home last night and had to talk me down...I lost hours of work due to Blogger issues. But I took several hundred very deep breathes and counted to 10,717. Now I am ready to tell the rest of the story...

Saturday was all about The Fab 4 Sale -- Tarte, Auntie Joy, Molly Mo and Vintage Trifles. BUT, there were also "The Others." The other three of us who snuck in the back door at Tarte: Barn House, Sparrow, and Annie, Fannie & Abigail!! Let me start with Natalie from The Vintage Sparrow, aka The Master Primitive Finder. She is also one of Joe's "enablers"...meaning she is one of the people he calls right after one of our shows (when he has a pocket full of $$$) to travel to far away places with him to shop for the next show. She is beautiful, lovely, funny and probably one of the most giving people we have ever met. AND she makes the most delicious baked treats...I still really haven't forgiven her for beating us at our own Bake-Off at last year's BH Flea Market. As much as I try not to like her for "stealing" all the best primitives and "stealing" our bake-off award, I secretly love her (Joe very openly loves her). But she is a married woman, so enough about her before her husband comes knocking at our door...

Goodness...then there are The Twins, Donna and Diana...The Legendary Annie, Fannie & Abigail...Being the BH Hermit that I am, I haven't had much "face-time" with Diana & Donna. I have seen their beautiful space at Expo which is always packed with people in a buying frenzy. But yesterday was the first time I got to really spend time with them. I am usually not immediately enamoured with folks (call it my L.A. "watch your back" up-bringing), BUT, Donna and Diana are something else! Genuine, Honest and Amazingly Talented. All day, I kept telling "The Crew" how much I really, really, REALLY liked them. Sometimes you don't know how the new ingredient in the recipe is going to taste...but The Twins were DEEEELICIOUS!!! ;o)
Then there was little ol us...in the company of soooo many remarkable women...trying to be on our best behavior. "Yes Ma'am. Thank You, Ma'am." Cindy told us that no wrestling was allowed, because if we knocked over any more of her delicate treasures we wouldn't be invited back. "Yes Ma'am, we promise to not wrestle. We would like to be invited back. Thank You, Ma'am."Joe really did Job Fantastico with the Barn House space!! I will even go as far to say he REALLY put his foot in it this time...When I am sitting on the porch alone...just me and my thoughts...I wonder how the universe has squeezed sooooo much talent into such a tiny-petite-little man. It's absolutely mind boggling!! And if there is any moonshine involved, I sometimes even draw myself a diagram of how this phenomenon just might have happened. I aspire to one day publish my series, "The Barn House Porch Drawings"...just putting it out there in case someone can help me with this...Needless to say, we had a magical day in The Land of Tarte!! We are very honored to be surrounded by so many inspiring women. Did I mention we are two very lucky men???

The Boys of Barn House

P.S. -- Tarte and Barn House are taking our shows on the road!! If you are anywhere near Seattle, please come by and visit us! We will be at the Sand Point Antique & Design Market on March 29th!!!

We Are Two Very Lucky Men - Part 1...

It was this time last year when Joe and I ventured out to the "3 Friends - 3 Sales - 3 Locations" Event. We were casually acquainted with Cindy, Joy and Diane back then, but didn't know them well. We are certainly not known for our stellar memories (by any means), but this day was VERY memorable for many (many) reasons. It was our "break-through" with these ladies...our "you don't really know us but you are going to like us whether you like it or not" moment with these ladies. It was one of the first times we really got to visit with them and tour their stores and homes. We were totally inspired by their talent!! And as it was a couple of months before our own "Grand Opening," it was a big kick in the butt that we had a LOT of work to do! These were grown-folks doing big things...Inspiration was upon us to say the least. Over the past year, they have become the kind of friends you get that warm and fuzzy feeling on the inside when you see them or even hear their names.
With that, I would like to dedicate our first ever photo collage to our Auntie Joy!!! It seems appropriate not only because we love her so much, but also because it's all her stuff in the photos. Well, some of it came home with Joe at the "Pre-Sale" so technically a little bit of it is ours now. The Pre-Sale (aka Party Bus) was a little tour that the 4 Friends orchestrated the night before the show. I didn't get to go (yes, I am still bitter). Basically, it was a shopping excursion for everyone. And apparently Joe found some wine at one (or maybe more) of the stops, resulting in the lack of pictures at Diane and Martha's. I wasn't there to make sure he was acting like he had some sense. I told Cindy to wrestle him down to the ground if he didn't act right, but I still don't have the pictures. ;o) Speaking of The Queen of Tarte...it goes without saying we have a very special love for The Tarte Familia - The ("Let Them Eat Cake") Queen, The King of Tarte, The Posh Princess of Tarte and The Dog of Tarte.
Our hearts might just explode talking too much about them...but we are so honored they invited us into The Land of Tarte -- it is an enchanting place to be! In This Land, there is Pate & Cornichons, Ship-Lap, Micro-Climates and French XY&Z (a separate post is needed for decoding what this really means to us).
We have a lot more to share, but I think Blogger is having some trouble. I keep making changes, adding more pictures and talking all about Natalie, Diana & Donna, and our next venture, BUT, it would not save and publish properly...I will save the rest for tomorrow before I throw this computer out in the rain...

4 Friends Sale...

Some of our favorite folks are having a "4 Friends / 4 Locations" sale this weekend!!

Aunties 859 Railway, Silverton

Molly Mo's 440 NE Cherry St., Sublimity

Tarte 20131 South End Rd., Oregon City

Vintage Trifles 5020 Daniel St., S. Salem


A few of us (Barn House, Sparrow and The Twins) are crashing the party and have brought tons of stuff over to Tarte...but, she doesn't know so don't say anything!!

Hope to see you Saturday!!!

J & J

For the Love of Yakima...

Last weekend, Joe and I decided to head out on a little road trip to The Yakima Valley in search of treasures and inspiration. Also, as the BH Season Opening is only two months away, we really needed to do a lot of planning, prioritizing and strategizing on how we are going to get everything done in time. And there is nothing like locking yourself in a car with someone for many, many, many hours to talk about things that neither party is really quite ready to talk about. We invite you to try this experiment! You will either end up having really productive and fruitful discussions that result in a solid plan of attack...OR, you will end up just about killing each other. Can you guess what happened on our trip???? (for the answer, please see "the conclusion" below)

Let me start by saying that Yakima has some gorgeous places to shop! I don't know if we hit them all, but the shops we visited were Fantastique! We started our little adventure at The French Hen.
Kaye's store is one of the few located in Yakima's Historic Opera House and it is absolutely stunning!
We met Kaye last year at Leslee & Mark's Clayson Farm's American Primitives Show (another great reason to visit Yakima).
We have heard so many wonderful things about her store over the past year and visiting it was certainly a great way to kick off our Yakima tour.
Next we were off to visit the Garden Girl's shop...also located in the Opera House.
The minute we walked in, I was hit by one of my favorite smells...Jasmine vines in full bloom all over the store. THEN, everywhere we looked there were the most beautiful flowers in bloom...
We don't know how Lenette did it, but she had somehow orchestrated the most beautiful Spring displays throughout the shop...it was VERY magical...
and something tells us she must put on this show daily because her store was packed from the minute we walked in until the time we left.We have to admit, being there gave us a bit of anxiety about all of the work we need to do in our gardens over the next couple of months. Lenette, we may be calling to borrow that magic wand of yours!
After leaving the Garden Girl, we decided to find our way over to visit the Flutterby girls...where I fell in love with a Duck...
See, it's giving me "that look." I don't think I realized it when we were there, but when I saw the picture I knew this duck was meant for the BH Home Collection. And now I want to kick myself in the a$$ for leaving MY duck sitting there on that VERY cute rusty-iron-chippy-white rack. I will refrain from saying anything else about this very pretty duck because it may sound wierd...
BUT, I bet "my" duck loves this display as much as I do. ;o)
At every turn, there were beautiful vignettes...
We probably overstayed our welcome chatting with Denise, snapping pictures and asking a ton of questions about where to eat/shop/sleep in Yakima.
She eventually pushed us out the door so she could tend to her many real customers. Leaving us no choice but to finally find our way over to Pam's shop...There were so many beautiful things to see!!
Sylvi is probably going to kill us for not bringing this pink treasure back for her. No Duck for me, no Pink treasures for you, Sylvi!!
Like everywhere else we visited that day in Yakima, we found ourselves in the midst of many customers on the hunt.
It was a great pleasure chatting with Pam and taking in all that her store had to offer...
After all of that shopping and visiting, we found a place to stay and caused a little havoc on the Yakima night life!! HEE HAW! Well, I should really say the Yakima "late-afternoon life" because we called it quits by about 9pm. The older we get, the more more we realize..."It don't shake quite like it used to" (to say the least).

The conclusion: When the pressure is on, lock yourself in the car with your best friend and go on a road trip. We had several hours to discuss and process "The Purple Elephant" in the room (our seaon opening event). And yes, our discussions were very positive and productive! We only had to pull over and wrestle one time...and that was about the new "big elaborate structureS" Joe plans on having us build in AND around the barn. BUT, IT'S MY BIRTHDAY TODAY (Jermonne)so I would prefer not to discuss who won the road-side wrestling match!

More to come on what's next for BH...

J & J