Texas Shows - We Came, We Saw, We Conquered

Yay for Texas in the Winter time! For us Iowans any excuse to go south in January is a GOOD excuse. So why not do a couple antique shows? A working vacay it is! So we loaded up the truck, and the trailer, and we moved to ... Bryan Tx ... then New Braunfels, near San Antonio.

We didn't know what to expect; it was our first time selling there! But it was awesome! Here we are at the Lone Star Vintage Show in Bryan -

We Nearly Sold Out! Thank you Bryan Tx customers!

We had such a great time getting know our Texas vendor neighbors! The couple across from us were in there 80s and were selling antique linens. They were an inspiration to me! (Wished I'd gotten their picture!) Shirley's philosophy on selling was much like ours - "it isn't all about the money, it's about the people you meet and the fun you have!" she said with a grin.

The following weekend we set up at the New Braunfels Antique Show -

Our booth looked the same and yet different - proving that every show is different and provides its own set of benefits ... and challenges. This particular venue, the civic center, had its main lighting in the 'aisles' and the center of the rooms, yet we were placed in a corner so the lack of lighting was a bummer. But since it was a corner we got to spread out - bonus! And we nearly sold out of all the furniture we had left!

<----- This vintage double wash stand was one of the first pieces to sell in New Branufels - it was its first time to market and we knew it would be popular. Our customer is going to use it as her laundry room sink!

One of my favorite things to do at shows is to stage our vintage goods. Although we are a 'general store' type of booth, I always try to display items that are 'alike' in little vignettes, like all the silverplate together in the photo above. This helps the customer to quickly scan our booth and see if we've stocked anything that interests them! In the other photo, you'll see all our vintage kitchenware staged together as well.

I think Texas is starting to become a fav destination for setting up our little market! Next up - Quincy, Il!

See You on the Junkin Trail,

Cheryl

Pepsi Repurposed

We've just finished what I think is one of my FAVORITE projects to date! The junk hubster and I rescued an ancient Pepsi cooler from an auction in the middle of nowhere and it's a beaut! It had been parked beside on old barn for I don't know how many years.

At some point in its life, it had been painted a blah brown color. I've seen lots of that 50's brown paint before - ugh! But the crazing was amazing (pardon the rhyme)! I knew I had to have it, but would it go sky high when the bidding began?

It didn't! And I felt like I had scored a buy when I won at $70. I could already picture it as a beautiful kitchen island for some lucky customer.

Now I hadn't brought home any other orphaned pop coolers in a very long time so the junk hubster was cool with it. Yay! He was excited to take it on and I just helped. So, yeah, he gets the bragging rights.

      .First, power washing.

Second, more power washing.

Third, pulling out insulation.

Fourth, pull off rusty                                                                casters.

Fifth, add new rusty casters.

Sixth spray paint the inside zinc gray.

Seventh, cut boards to size.

Eighth, fit the top and bottom shelves on.

Ninth, hinge the top.

Tenth, apply Polyacrylic seal.




                                       Whew! And she's done!

I feel so attached I'm thinking of naming her, so if you have any suggestions leave it in the comments! 

See you on the junkin' trail!
Cheryl AND Roger

How I Find Junk at Stuffy Estate Sales

 "Estate Sale" - the very name conjures up mental pictures of stodgy interiors with even stodgier antiques filled inside shiny glass cabinets - not exactly a junker's domain! And, oftentimes the prices are too scary! But, it's hard to resist hunting in a beautiful home like this one. 

The secret is simple but it does take some willpower!

The secret is ... stay away from the main floor! Go immediately to the basement, attic or the garage! You will find great junk there! 

But you must be brave. At some estates, I've found primitive, painted washstands covered in years of dust and major spider webs. Pottery, garden tools, antique salvage all covered in dust! I've found old tackle and toolboxes filled with grimy, rusty tools and things. The sellers will help empty all that stuff just to sell you those coveted wood crates and wire baskets! Score!

Here is one of my recent estate sale finds in the garage of a Branson, Mo. estate. When I found it, the stand was missing some of the cubbies, but we found a few more in the garage and I ended up buying it full price on the first day (prices lower each day the sale is held). You snooze, you lose, right? (You'll see the price at the end of the post!)

Well I made plans to pick it up later and soon I received a call from one of the estate owners. The other missing cubbies had been found inside the house, sure enough holding other small stuff! The owner had taken the time to gather them all up, even taking one from a customer who kept what was inside it. He was so excited, he called me to let me know. I was pumped! This was going to be an awesome storage piece.

The junk hubster helped me haul it home and the whitewashing on the exterior began that afternoon.

Then the thread spool hunt began. Why? The small boxes had no handles! I had little stashes of them everywhere in my house but I needed 33! I had about 25, so I ran to my fav flea market and found the rest.

The hubster cut them in half and helped me add them to the cubbies. They really do finish off the entire piece. Whew! Thirty-three cubbies!

I promised more estate sale shopping TIPS. So besides avoiding those shiny glass cabinets, try exploring the CLOSETS! I'm an avid vintage clothing buyer and seller but I've found wonderful wool blankets, feather pillows and vintage linens in those neglected closets as well and you will too! This Mohair cardigan in the coveted aqua color was a rare find! (My cost at the end of this post!)

Next tip - you'll also find some good junk in those cardboard boxes under the tables so don't be afraid to DIG! Another great place is the YARD. It's where you'll find old gates, wheelbarrows, planters and garden stuff! I love old concrete pieces so I've found old birdbaths with no tag on them, with the water still in them. 

Here's where the next tip comes in - don't be SHY - ask for prices on unmarked things! Usually the sellers are trying to liquidate the entire estate so even if it's not marked it's probably for sale and because it's not marked the price oftentimes is reasonable!

And, of course, as always - the EARLY BIRD gets the worm!

Please comment and add your estate sale tips and finds!!

Values -
Cubby Storage = $40
Aqua Cardigan = $2

See you on the junkin' trail, Cheryl

Winter Decor from Christmas Leftovers

Putting away all that wonderful Christmas decor can be a let-down! 

But when the New Year arrives it's cool to see a cleaner palette, so to speak, in your home. I've already started editing what decor stays in my home and what goes back up in the attic. Maybe you'll get inspired too!

Retro Centerpiece from Christmas to Winter

Here is our table centerpiece right now. (I had all kinds of Christmas fu-fu here but I love this look just as much!)


A vintage 60's genie bottle is filled with pretty white branches with glass buds.

I've added a vintage, teal-colored glass tree dish, and one of our upcycled candle holders made from a funnel and a jello mold. 

All sitting on a vintage tea towel and drink tray.
(All thrift store finds!)

I love playing, I mean working, with old funnels. I got inspired by all the funnel trees on pinterest and gave it a go!

I had a bedspring to set them on and then an old metal star for the top.

The secret is - I never glued a thing! Gravity is holding it all into place. (I have a thing about not being able to use my funnels for other projects, you see.)

It was cute for Christmas decorating and it will be just as cute for winter decor!

          

                       Next up is the coffee table.

                                                                       I just hit Michaels' after Christmas sale and found this blingy, aqua floral and wrapped it around my antique light fixture, which I've turned upside down to hold a candle!                                                                                                                              

                                                                    Our Kitty - Harri - approves!

  Enjoy your own

 Winter decorating 

and Happy 2016!

See you on the Junkin' trail,

Cheryl

The Iconic Christmas Tree

One of my favorite decor inspirations at Christmas time is the Christmas tree, especially LIVE pine needle trees. I love that there are so many varieties! But the lovely pine aroma I adore does not jive with the junk hubster's nasal passages, so I've made do with artificial trees through the years. (sigh)

Here is our tree from last year.

I had wanted a white tree for a long time and I came across this one at a thrift store. It was c-h-e-a-p but it didn't have a stand so we slipped it inside a large crock we had and covered that with a funky vintage tree skirt. 

I've filled it with family ornaments and lots of pretty vintage ornies.

This year I plan to add more aqua ornaments. I've found a few but that precious color is VERY hard to find in ornaments (which makes the finding that much sweeter!) I did find some striped ones and a couple indented ones but I'd love to find a vintage aqua bead garland!

Do YOU collect any vintage Christmas?


The hubster's allergies may be what started my "hobby" of collecting vintage table-top trees. If I can't have the REAL thing I'll have a bunch of smaller not-real things. (I like making up words, don't you?) This "hobby" has become one of my fav obsessions, I mean, collections. Table-top trees were very popular back in the day so you can still find them if you watch for them!

This collection was acquired over about 7 years and, yes, I have a few more than these. The white light-up one on the left is my latest find. Someone made it, probably in a ceramics class in the 70's, but this one's special. It has a music box inside! And so does the green brush tree just to the right of it! And, it spins while the music plays.

Aren't they sweet? Which one would you buy if you found it?

I hope you're enjoying your decorating 

and shopping. 

I don't usually decorate until after 

Thanksgiving partly because I feel like

 it's official then somehow...

My little elf says - 

Be blessed ... and of good cheer this season!

See you on the JUNKIN' trail!
Cheryl

Junktastic Finds

    Have you ever come across something SO junktastic that you went weak in the knees or felt your heart skip a beat? It's that rare occurrence that we junkers live for and it's an itch that only occasionally gets scratched. But I'm not talking about auctions or even antique shops where you pay top dollar. I'm talking garage sales and thrift stores or flea markets where you score this junktastic piece for a buck or two.



One of my infamous junk hauls, all found within one week

    Do you see that cute little rusty doll stroller in the front of the pic? My heart skipped when I found it all by itself at a garage sale. It was tagged $15 so tightwad me was going to pass on it, but after I bought a couple of smalls and started walking past it to my car, it called my name - "Cheryl!" and said "buy me!"
I thought, "What a good idea," so I did, and we settled at $13.



Another great weekend of junkin! Can you guess which item I kept for myself?

    The doll stroller eventually went into my booth and sold for $39, though I could've probably priced her higher. In this second junk haul I actually kept about five of those items. Sometimes I find it very hard to part with some of my finds, like that sweet industrial cart which still pulls duty in our junkshop. I also put the antique sewing drawer to work in my bathroom storing my hair curlers.

But it's this little piece that made me go weak in the knees -

    Do you know what it is? Would you grab it as fast as I did if you saw it at a garage sale among a pile of other dusties?? (This photo shows how it looked when I found it, all dirty and dusty.)

This is called tramp art and would have been created near the turn of the last century, on the cheap, out of a cigar box. I don't know the exact process but it is hand carved. And, these folk art pieces are very hard to find on the junkin trail! This example is a small square size, making it even more unique, and besides all that dust, it's in minty condition!

(Paid: $2. Value: $40-$50)

What makes YOUR heart go pitter-patter? I would love to know!

Define It

Me:  Okay, Versed in Vintage, define 'vintage.'
Me:  Seriously, on my very first blog post?
Me:  Yes, if you're so 'versed!'
Me:  That's just a name! (sigh)

And so go the conversations in my head. I might as well join the blogging world right? (And, yes I know I'm only a decade late.)

I would venture to say that the question of what is 'vintage' in the collecting/junking world is second only to the 'to paint or not to paint' question for a piece of vintage furniture. (Talk about starting a conversation/argument!)

The word vintage actually comes from the world of wine. Wines are aged and given descriptions such as 'vintage 1918.' But at some point, if my amazing memory serves me right (sarcasm intended), the word migrated into the world of antiques and collectibles about the time we junkers and re-purpose-ers showed up in the 1990's. Since we weren't exactly working with antique pieces, nor new, we just started calling them 'vintage' and it kind of stuck. Really stuck! Everyone just nodded their heads and were like, "Yeah, I'll buy it."

So in the spirit of not taking ourselves too seriously, I humbly offer up my expert (cough, cough) definition ...

vintage (vin' tege, adj., now inaccurately used as a noun) 1. an item that's not new  2. an item that's not necessarily old (i.e. vintage style)  3. an overused and abused description that could be applied to anything 1970's and older but is seen on 1990's stuff instead  4.  or as one ebay contributor dryly puts it, "used"

Definitions aside, and whatever vintage is, I know I LIKE it! Don't you? See you at the flea markets! Oh, and the thrift stores, um, and those yard sales, yeah, and the junkyard too!