"I was determined to find a place on the Key," Kirk said.
For years, she had visited her grandparents here while on vacation from Northern California. She fell in love with the Northwest and moved up 11 years ago. She and her son, Dillon, worked for about a month to prepare the space for opening in October 2015. Kirk lightened the interior from its previous black cave-like color.
"I have a clear vision, a passion. I want to make a community resource center. This is the perfect place for it," Kirk said.
Most of her inventory is newly acquired and is constantly undergoing change and rearrangement, with new inspiration.
There is free wall space for local artists, artisans and wood carvers to display their work. Spring and summer will bring an opportunity to expand the sales floor into the parking lot for the community to sell local produce, flowers and cottage industry products, along with arts and crafts and other consignments. Commissions are negotiable, she said.
Kirk is enthusiastic about her business philosophy: helping others. "This is the beginning of a really good thing. I hope the community embraces it. I’m doing something that feels right, keeping it where we live," she said.
Art classes are also planned on-site for those interested in watercolor, basket making, collage, textile weaving, embroidery and other media.
Gifted people want to share their talent," Kirk said. Prices range from $1 to $500. Credit and debit cards are accepted, along with cash.
"Everything is negotiable," she said. "My price point is something that everyone can afford. I like letting things go to the excited new owner. Carrying out transactions is therapeutic. People open up, talk about what’s going on in their life. No purchase necessary."
For information, call (253) 851-0988, or go to Facebook.com/Marnie-Farmers-LLC.
