By JENNIFER K. BAUER
In 2002, a group of friends carefully selected a collection of retro and refurbished items for a small antique show in an eastern Washington barn.
Today, the now annual Farm Chicks Antique Show draws thousands to the Spokane County Fairgrounds each June. If it sounds intriguing there’s no need to wait until spring. This weekend’s Funky Finds show in Clarkston was created in the spirit of Farm Chicks.
Now in its third year, Funky Finds was started by partners Amber Maskolunas and Ruth Prasil of Clarkston. After reading about Farm Chicks in Country Living magazine and visiting the Spokane show, “I just felt like I needed to bring it back to the valley,” says Maskolunas, 43.
Funky Finds will feature 20 vendors selling vintage, antique, handmade and upcycled goods outdoors from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6 at Granite Lake Park, behind the Quality Inn in Clarkston.
Many of the sellers are people who, like Maskolunas, describe themselves as “junkers” or “pickers.” They find creative ways to repurpose old goods — pages from a children’s book might become a decorative garland, a bullet shell casing is transformed into eye-catching jewelry.
“We are pretty picky about the vendors we have,” Maskolunas says.
The variety will include furniture, handmade cards, jewelry, toys and other household items ranging in price from $1 up. Hen House Chicks of Colfax will hold demonstrations on chalk painting. The fair will also include live music and food vendors.
Admission is $3 for ages 12 and older and free for children 11 and younger. Half of all entry fees will be donated to the Willow Center, a Lewiston-Clarkston Valley nonprofit organization benefiting grieving children.
IF YOU GO: What: Funky Finds When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Where: Granite Lake Park, 850 Port Way, Clarkston Cost: $3 ages 12 and older, free for children 11 and younger
