Cottage Elements

2011-12-08T06:00:00.001-06:00

Oh great birch tree, how lovely is your bark. And your branches, they reach high to the sky (insert sound effect of me clearing my throat). Okay, okay.....so I'm certainly no poet by any means. But I do love the look of the birch tree, and its bark, and so I decided to do a little vignette in ode to it and well...nature in general.

When you add birch into your indoor home decor, it brings a little bit of nature into your space. So when I decided to change up the little alcove I have as you first walk into my house, I found myself putting a little birch theme together.

This little twig tree was purchased new, but it fit right into my "theme". The planter was made for me by my good friend Sue Wolfe. One of her Destination Art creations.

You could probably create your own version of this tree if you want to. Just decoupage' newspaper or book pages around some twigs.

How about a real birds nest placed in a vintage drinking bubbler. Can't get much more le'naturale than that!

And how about bringing a bird bath inside? Filled with these huge pinecones, it seems to be the perfect addition.

I decided the bird bath needed to be raised up a bit so this old iron grate fit the bill.

Birch wallpaper added over an old picture was the perfect backdrop, also created by Sue Wolfe. It hangs next to an old English Bus Roll.

Hey!! Herc, move away from the birds nest! Ooops...I think keeping this here may be a problem!

And of course I do have birch branches mingled throughout my home. I love the thicker branches that are mature enough to have the white bark on them.

And then why not put a tree in your house? You could have a whole forest in there! Hahaha. Well then again...maybe not.

Until next time...

Where Have I Been and What the Heck Have I Been Doing?

2011-12-04T23:44:00.000-06:00

So some of you have been wondering where I've been and what the heck I've been up to lately. Actually, something quite crazy overcame me (and I mean crazy)! My husband was complaining (what?...a complaining husband??) That never happens now does it? Ha! Anyways, he was complaining that all I did was go out for lunch (who me?). So I sat down at my computer and applied online for a job....at Target.

Mind you I hadn't applied for a job in over 30 years so I really didn't think I'd get it. And I know, like I really have the time. But guess what? They hired me! Seriously? It must have been my charming personality. Or maybe it was my striking resemblance to that crazy lady in all the Target Christmas commercials (I even had a customer insist it was me...hahahaha It must be my psychotic personality!) But I have to say the extra Christmas money is certainly pretty handy (let alone the discount). Mind you it's only seasonal. But it does seem like they've had me working quite a bit of hours. So my time is definitely limited. And let me tell you, for the fashionista in me, it has been a little bit of a challenge making khaki and red look chic!

But in all the craziness of my life, I've been busy working on a couple projects. Seriously! What is it with me and over extending myself! But these are a couple of pretty darn big and exciting projects! But you'll have to stay tuned. In the meantime, I'm going to try to catch up on some project posts I've been working on. Plus I have to get my Christmas decorating completed! Darn it anyway. Anyone want to help a girl out. LOL!

Again, stay tuned......

Well Another JUNKMARKET Under Glass is Behind Us

2011-09-14T06:00:00.003-05:00

We'll another JUNKMARKET Under Glass sale is behind us. Can't believe it. All the preparation and anticipation. And it's done. It's all so bittersweet. I met so many fun and creative people. And the time spent with them was a great bonding period. These are truly the best group of dealers and vendors out there. We all felt like those in our "quadrant" were the greatest group. And our next sale in March is way too far away!

But on the last day of the sale I was able to sneak away from my booth to capture a few of the moments to remember it by. The pictures aren't great by any means, I was way too tired. But you'll get a hint of the beauty we had here. And it was beautiful. Both customers and vendors alike will attest to that. What a superb venue. The plants seemed to add the icing on the cake. And I also have to recognize the superior staff at Otten Bros. Garden Center and Landscaping. They were above par. Seriously! We would not have been so successful without them. How lucky could we be!

Again, these pictures may not be the best, and may not do the sale justice, but I wanted you to get an inkling of how beautiful it was. But don't take my word for it. Come and see for yourself at the spring sale which will be held March 1-3, 2011. It'll definitely be worth the trip. Also, if I forgot to credit anyone, please don't hesitate to let me know. They all deserve recognition. PS We actually even had someone travel from Japan just for the sale.....seriously. How amazing!

The picture at the very top is the amazing work of Sue Wolfe of Destination Art. Julie Pierce, her partner in crime from the Loft on 2nd, brought her hand painted pots, along with some of her great vintage finds, to the show. They certainly made a great pair.

Okay, how excited was I? I was right across from Heidi Comfort! If you are not familiar with her handmade bags, you need to be!! I LOVE her things! You have to check out her website. I wanted everything in her booth. And not only did I love her bags, but I got to be able to know what an amazing person she is. What a talent!

I felt like I really scored! Yes!

And then kitty-corner from me was Kari Blackwood from Shabby Chick. Like I said, we all thought our little quadrant was the bestest! Before I knew her I loved her things at Haupt Antiek Market. They're lucky to have her!

Once again, Gretchen Schaumann of Mimi-Toria's graced us with her talent and her fabulous jewelry. Sounds like she had an amazing show!

And then there was Annie de Jongh of Grace and Corazon. Her religious inspired jewelry inspired me. My favorite piece (which I own) was a metal given to someone for their faithfulness....aaaahhh. Love that!

And her leather cuff's? To die for!

Stunning!

And then there's another favorite dealer of mine, Jan Berg of Summerspell. I love her industrial look. I'm surprised she had anything left!

This was Cindi Halverson's first visit to JMUG. Her style is impeccable. If you've ever been to her store in Carver, The Nature of It, it is one of my favorites. Her style fits perfect in the greenhouse.

She has amazing style, doesn't she.

Here they are! Cindi is on the front right, her friend Barb is on the left, and Tracie of Histories is in back. Wait until you see Tracie's booth!!!!

Love Julie Broshat of JULZ. Her claim to fame is her belt buckles made from vintage finds. But she also has wonderful metal cuffs, bracelets and necklaces. She's great at whatever she put's her mind to!

And then of course there are two of my dearest friends. Marge Utley of Emma's Nook and Granny on the left. And on the right is Sharon Vreeman of the famous Pfarkel sisters and Junk Re-Defined. I have the best time with them.

Remember I was telling you about Tracie from Histories? We'll this is her booth along with her husband Lee. They have great industrial stuff. And better yet? They are two of the nicest people you'll ever meet.

This is her husband, Lee.

What a great stash of gears they have!

These gals were her for the first time from Iowa. Becky Hiatt and Jenny Boevers, a mother and daughter duo. The name of their business is called Junk Revised and it has a retro flair to it. I wanted this Minnesota sign!

Her I found Sue Whitney of JUNKMARKET, the show organizer, taking a well deserved break!

Some great vintage signs from Judi Shackelford of Rubarb Co.

What a fun display this was!

These gals, Jolie Raimondo of JolieRaimondo.com and Linda Morall of Northwoods Boutique, were taking a break. Sorry, I'm not sure the gal behind her, but she was another fab dealer who joined them..

This light, courtesy of Otten Brothers had my name written all over it. What a fun piece!

This wood box was seen in one Sue Whitney's Country Garden Magazine articles.

Sarah Smith, from Kansas, was my neighbor and I was so glad to be by her. We've become fast friends and she has great stuff! Did I just say great? It was AMAZING! Her WWII French Army bags were a huge hit, along with her reconstructed vintage jewelry and English Bus Rolls. Another LOVE!

This is her friend Meloney's booth from The Seed Box Antiques. She is another one with impeccable style.

This little cabinet of Meloney's was wonderful! You know me....I love industrial!

I was able to snap a picture of Sarah Smith (left) and Kari Blackwood (right) taking a break. Love these gals!

And how could I forget Shayne Barsness of Style Minneapolis. She has great Style! Fab is the word!

And l saved the bestest for last. Judy Hill from Texas was here! Seriously! The Judy Hill! How did we rate? Thanks Judy for making the long track from Texas. We loved having you!

How could you not want to spend time in this beautiful booth. Judy has the touch!

Here's a picture of Judy on the left with Laurel Putnam of Chipping with Charm on the right.

Like I said, my pictures aren't the best, but I hope I was able to give you an feel of how amazing the space, product and people were. It was truly the best of the best!

My Booth at JUNKMARKET Under Glass!

2011-09-06T22:48:00.000-05:00

After a long day, I thought I'd throw out some pictures of my booth. I like how it turned out. All it needs is some plants, and they'll come tomorrow. But I'm tired, so here's the pics! Short and sweet :-) To see the pictures larger, just click on them.

Hope to see you this week! For times and info, go to junkmarketstyleevent.com.

Displaying Memories

2011-08-30T06:00:00.002-05:00

There's something about old family pictures. They are something I look on with great fondness. To be able to see the heritage from which I've come, to see my parents as children, or my grand parents as young adults. It just gives me so much appreciation of where I've come. And I think those things are so important. So when I come upon something that can display those prize possessions, I'm all over it. I only hope the next generation can look from the past to help them in their journey to the future.

This piece was originally used to hold files folders, possibly in a dental or doctors office.

I wasn't very fond of the brown paint, so I simply sanded it off. It hadn't been put on their very thick, so it took very little work to remove it. I did make sure I protected myself with gloves and a mask in case the paint was lead base.

The piece needed some embellishments. These European house numbers would suffice.

Being both the pieces were metal, all I needed was some magnets to attach this to the file holder.

This brooch turned into a magnet, also adds some additional interest.

And then I need my family pictures. This is my Dad back in the '60s when he worked in radio. A very special photo.

Or how cute is this! Probably taken in the late '30s or early '40s.

I love how it all came together.

But then again, if I want to change it up, it works great for notes, business cards and other things I may need handy.

To see more of my JUNKMARKET projects, click on the link on the side of my blog.

I've also linked up to my friend Amy of Whisperwood Cottage's Linky Party "Authentic Style". How better to show my style then to show you some of my favorite things! Hop on over there and check it out!

Good Friends, Good Times and Good Junk...My Weekend in Oronoco!

2011-08-25T06:00:00.001-05:00

I just had the most amazing weekend in Oronoco at Gold Rush Days! If you're unfamiliar with Gold Rush Days, it's an event that the whole town of Oronoco gets in on. They open up all the public spaces, along with private yards, and it's one heck of a sale! This year, I was able to tag along my friend Sue Whitney for a photo shoot she was doing on the event for Country Gardens Magazine. I've tagged along before on photo shoots, and it's such a thrill for me. This time unfortunately I seem to have forgotten my camera, so guess what? No pictures! My bad. I guess you'll just have to purchase the magazine next summer to see their pictures. Ooops!

So here's a run down of what was going on.

We drove down on Thursday evening and were able to set up our JUNKMARKET Style booth....oops. No pictures for this! You'll have to trust me. It was stunning! We did run into a bit of a pickle. Sue and I didn't know how to put up the "easy up" tent. What can you expect from a couple of blonds! Thanks to Jeff Marthaler from Dona Rose Antiques for his help in this venture. The Pfarkel Sisters came to help after a distressed call from me (they've helped us put up a tent in the past when we were having difficulties), but they got there too late. No sweat...they did however help finish getting the booth put together. Thanks, gals!

The famous Pfarkel Sisters from St. Charles, Minnesota, Sharon, Diane and Janelle!

The next day we were up early to get ready for the day. If you know me at all, being up early is no simple feat. Mornings and I don't go together so well. But this was for a worthy cause. So after a few supply runs, we arrived in Oronoco around 9:30 ready to start an exciting day!

The morning was spent greeting people and sharing about JUNKMARKET and JUNKMARKET Under Glass. Because the booth looked so spectacular (thanks to Sue's great style), we drew in a lot of people. It was fun meeting new and old fans of JUNKMARKET! Thanks for all who stopped by!

In the afternoon, Sue spent the day with the photogs, Greg and Chris, photographing all the fun sites of the sale. Me? I was out with the Pfarkels, looking for some great finds....Oronoco is the bestest!

Here's a picture of us from last summer's photo shot. Chris is on the left, Greg's on the right. What a great couple of guys. They are fab!

At the end of the day, I spent it with the Pfarkels, Marge (an adopted Pfarkel sister), Sue, Greg and Chris at the Pfarkels campsite with good food, good wine and good friends. Perfect way to end the day. Aaaah....

Tammy asked in the last post what I purchased in Oronoco. Here are a few pics, Tammy :-)

This metal desk was a steal. I LOVE vintage metal pieces...specially if they're medical.

Some great spindles. I wish I would have bought more. There must have been fifty of them, or more. I went back later in the day and they were all gone. Darn!

I've always loved these (don't ask me what they are). This one was extra special...it's more tall and narrow then most of them I've seen. Can't you see it with a candle behind it?

I picked up a couple of these vintage metal coolers. I have a few more at home. Love!

Know what this is? A table fan which is literally a table. Another piece I love! The color is fabulous!

It came from Northwestern Hospital (where ever that is). That makes it even cooler!

Many of these items will be fore sale at JUNKMARKET Under Glass....hope to see you there!

A Can't Miss Event....JUNKMARKET Under Glass "Fall Edition"!

2011-08-17T06:00:00.016-05:00

I've been meaning to get this out to you...it's coming up quickly! It's our first ever JUNKMARKET Under Glass "Fall Edition" and it's just around the corner! The spring one was so much fun, and we had such a great response, we just had to do it all over again!

I've been gathering up things throughout the summer and seem to be coming up with a couple of themes. Most recently I ventured out a couple of fellow junkers, Amy of Whisperwood Cottage and Jan Berg of Summerspell, to a local flea market where I found some great vintage pieces. See if you can pick out what themes where developing here. I've got a few pictures of some items I've found and cleaned up, but I have lots more to get ready! I'm such a procrastinator (can ya tell?).

I'm really hoping to meet a lot of fellow bloggers/junkers/JUNKMARKET-eers at this event. So please, please, please be sure to stop by and introduce yourself. I may not be great with names, but I'm certainly hoping to be able to connect with a lot of you. Please let me know your thoughts on here, too. I love hearing from you!

I found this great library book shelf.

It's just too cool for school....literally!

This pale blue metal mail sorter would be amazing used as wine storage. Wowzer...it sure could hold a lot of wine!

This is a post office scale.

Can you see a theme here?

But then again, I have another "blue" cubby! I might have another theme developing. Hmmmm....

Or maybe it's a scale theme I have going on? You know how I love scales!

And this one gives you the "exact weight"!

This ladder is all hand made...which makes it even more special!

What a find this vintage ballot box is. I just might have to keep it!

This window washer swing has some of it's original "blue" paint. It's gonna be the center feature of my booth.

This old "blue" heater is just a shell, but it still has that "cool" factor and contributes to one of my themes.

I think this piece is extra special. It may not get to the sale either.

Old wicker has really been speaking to me lately. Am I the only one?

I also found a boat load of these tin pieces...love! Now all I have to do is figure out what to do with them!

And after a good day of junking where do I go with my friend Amy...

...and my friend Jan?

No better place than Sonic! The perfect end to a perfect day of junking!

Here's the rest of the details...again, please come and say hi!

These are a Few of My Favorite Things!

2011-08-02T06:30:00.003-05:00

"Rain drops and Roses and Whiskers on Kittens" might make Julie Andrews feel better when she's down, but for me? It's scales and cloches, along with some other great vintage finds! So "when the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad, I simply rememeber my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad!" Who really needs Prozac? All I need is some really great junk!

I have always had a love for scales, but this one is particularly beautiful. It was the inspiration piece for my happy place.

Ooooh, what is it about a worn piece of ironstone? This one is particularly special holding some of my favorite flowers from my garden, Annabelle Hydrangias.

In the basket of the scale holds a few of my scale weights. Though they are a little rusty, they make me happy!

I love the wear on these pieces. Two are from an old pillar and one, a piece from a wooden pulley. Again, LOVE!

Now who wouldn't feel better looking at a vintage clock under a cloche?

And this piece? Not actually a cloche, but the globe from an old hanging light fixture. Perfection!

Now doesn't that make you happy?

And who doesn't love rust? This piece, though not perfect, is beautiful.

The piece that holds this "happy" vignette was actually a tithes box from a church. Notice the slot to put your tithes in?

Now doesn't it all together just make you go, "Aaaah"?

Mudd Lake Sale Pictures!

2011-07-29T13:34:00.001-05:00

Two posts in a little over a week! Can you believe it? I've got a few pictures from our booth at Mudd Lake. It was such a fun sale, and even though the weather didn't always cooperate, it was very successful. Glad to meet so many fun and new people, too!

I had the fortune of being in the "horse barn", along with Bob Kratch from Mudd Lake, Otten Bros. and Sue Whitney JUNKMARKET. So when the storms came, we didn't get any of the wind and rain. And on those hot days, we had a cool cement floor and ceiling fans. Now how do I rate? Haha! Thanks to Sue for letting me help her with all her creative displays. I love working along side such genius! So without further ado.....

Does this look like a horse barn to you? We had three creative table displays to give you oodles of ideas.

Can you give me an "E"?!!

Only "Junk" in this trunk is the good kind (unless maybe we're referring to this manekins backside)....lol!

Loved the mixture of the white chippy pieces with industrial and natural wood. My favorite look lately!

Now this is what I call a flower bed!

My absolutely favorite room! Love how organic it is....you had to see this in person!

We had lots of outdoor vendors, too!

Can't remember if this was taken before or after the storm? Looks like everthing is in place here.

Photo Credit: Mudd Lake

And then we had Nick. His beans were to "die for", along with all the other good food he made. Nummmmmm!

Photo Credit: Mudd Lake

Look good to you?

photo credit: Mudd Lake

Looks like someone shopped 'til she dropped!

Thanks to all who worked tiredlessly on this sale to make it what it was! Also thanks to Mudd Lake for putting this on.

Miss Me Yet?

2011-07-21T00:03:00.000-05:00

Thought I might have to remind you what I look like. I'm sure you must have forgotten...I mean it has been a while. Well actually it's been over a month! Have you wondered where I've been? Well I've been taking a slight break from blogging to work on a lot of fun new adventures (plus have some quality summer family time). It's been a fun summer and I've got some very exciting happening's on the horizon.

And what kind of adventures, you may ask? Well first off, I've be I've been having some "huge" fun with my friend Sue Whitney of JUNKMARKET. We've joined forces with Bob Kratch of Mudd Lake and have been busy transforming his horse barn, yes a real horse barn, into a shopping Junk Mecca! And it hasn't been easy. This Minnesota summer has been brutal! With high's in the 90's, we're putting in a lot of blood, sweat and tears. But it's gonna be worth it! It's looking pretty darn amazing! Sue's one extremely talented lady, and am so thrilled to be able to "assist" her in this venture. I just need to get out there and get some pictures taken!

So here's the details:

Mudd Lake Presents:

"Junk in the Trunk" Art, Antique, & Junk Flea Market!

Join us at Mudd Lake Farm, July 22nd-24th from 9am to 6pm.
Mudd Lake is located at 10685 County Road 24, Watertown, MN 55388

"Shop the fields with numerous Art & Antique dealers as they abound throughout the apple orchard. This event is JUNK MARKET STYLE APPROVED!"

To see more on this fun event, go to Sue's post "Big To Do at Mudd Lake Furniture Company" on the JUNKMARKET Style website. And for directions go to Bob's website at muddlake.com. Hope to see you there!

PS Stay tuned to more upcoming events!

Thank you!! Thank you!!!

2011-06-15T23:49:00.000-05:00

I had to take the time to give a big "thank you" to all the response I received from my last post, both publically and privately. I am overwhelmed and my heart is full. Your comments have been amazing and so supportive. And rest assured, I will continue to blog and share. I've got lots coming up, and I know the future looks bright. This blogging community is amazing...to say the least.

Again, I'm so glad to have shared my heart with you. You're the best!

Are Pictures Free for the Taking?

2011-05-26T01:33:00.004-05:00

I guess I've got a bone to pick with someone. I know the laws regarding the internet can be very vague, but I'm getting really tired of people taking my pictures and posting them on their website (or in a recent case in their newsletter) and using them for their own monetary gain. I can't tell you how many times this has happened to me. And I'm sure there are some I don't even know about. Maybe I should be flattered by it. But I only seem to find out about it in a round about way. And I've only rarely been contacted for prior authorization.

I work really hard to produce the projects I do, let alone edit the pictures so I can bring them to you. I really make no money in doing this. My purpose for doing it is to inspire you and even be able to recreate it for yourself. And I have no problem with that. I think we all love to share ideas.

But my question to you is this. How do you feel about using other's pictures or other's using yours? I know some websites are totally made up of other's pictures, and none of them their own. A lot of times they're from major magazines and store catalogs. But this has really discouraged me from posting at all. I think I'd feel a little different if I had been contacted in the first place. If you know me, I'm really very giving. But finding out after the fact just makes me plain old mad.

I do think this is a good discussion to have. I'd really love to hear your thoughts on the matter. Am I wrong? Please don't feel bad of me to bring this up. I really want to know. What are your thoughts? My blog from the get go has tried to be totally original, and positive. I want it to be, well....all me. Not anyone else. I want it to be a good reflection of me and my style.

So please, don't hesitate to comnent. I'd love to know your thoughts on the subject, good and bad.

PS The picture used in this post is free clip art.

"I've Been Framed!"

2011-05-24T06:00:00.031-05:00

Did you miss me? I've been having a bit of over load load lately and thus I've neglected my blog. My bad. I'll try to do better, but sometimes you just have to let some things go for awhile. We've been busy, too. With a Hockey Trip to Boston for my daughter, the Easter Holiday, Occasional Sales I'm involved in, another speaking engagement, etc., I've been extremely occupied. But here I am, back on the bike again and getting into the swing of things. I've got some new ventures I'm stepping into and I'll let you know more about that when they take more shape.

But in the meantime, here's one of my newer vignettes in my home. I purchased this amazing frame with the great patina a few years back. I didn't want to detract from it's coolness by adding a picture to it so I did something different.

I had purchased a bunch of these European house numbers from a wholesaler that was going out of business. I loved the rusty patina on them and I thought they'd worked well inside the frame.

There you have it. To me it's much more interesting than a silly old picture.

I hung the two in a little alcove I have in my entryway. I think everything seemed to come together quite nicely, if I do say so myself.

I found these children's boots at a favorite local occasional sale and I think they work perfectly in the vignette. Using them as bookends is a little out of the box, but I like that!

And how about the nice little Texas star on them?!

I LOVE vintage books! I have quite a few of them. Funny thing is, I'm the farthest thing from a book worm. These books have some fun titles, Child Rhymes, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Songs for the School and Longfellow's Evangeline.

This iron urn holds a branch I picked up on a sisters' weekend in the woods. It holds a branch I literally stole from Mr. Beaver. I went and got it right off the top of his dam (and that's probably what he was sayin'). Ooops. My bad. But it was soooo cool. Couldn't help myself.

Rocks hold the branch in place...and the moss adds to the coolness of it.

The branch slightly covers the frame, but I kind of like that.

And the final piece to the vignette puzzle, this chippy grate. I added the inside gear piece to it as I didn't think it looked quite complete without it. Sometimes the best things just happen by chance.

Again, another piece with amazing patina. It's perfecto mundo! And if you pick up the latest issue of "Country Garden" Magazine, you'll see some more of my grates collection, among some other of my vintage pieces, in the JUNKMARKET Garden Party Ideas section. I was honored to be a part of the shoot and provide some of the pieces for it! Unfortunately, any pictures with me in them must have hit the editing room floor. Oh well. But Sue did an amazing job in the styling so it's definitely worth picking up!

Junking from J to K, and Everything In Between!

2011-05-09T23:16:00.045-05:00

I have my second speaking gig! Seriously! And I have to say, I'm quite excited. The first one, a few months ago, was at a local thrift store. And I guess it went so well, I was asked to do it again. This time at The Loft on 2nd in Anoka, MN. So if you're not busy on Thursday, May 12, from 6-7 pm, I'd love you to come on down and join me! And it's all free!

What will I be taking about? Why "Junk" of course. My topic, "Junking from J to K and Everything In Between" will hopefully inspire and entertain you with some of my experiences of taking what some would call "junk", and transforming them into amazing decorating accents. You'll also be able to spend time with other fellow "Junkers", and learn how you too can save money and be "green" at the same time.

The Loft on 2nd is located at 2005 2nd Ave, Anoka, Minnesota. Their phone number is 763.208-0589. For additional info head on over to their website at http://www.thelofton2nd.blogspot.com/. I'd be thrilled to have you join us!

Spring Time in Minnesota

2011-04-20T23:25:00.000-05:00

Someone's playing a very mean trick on us here in Minnesota. Seriously. It's suppose to be Spring! It is April 20 for goodness sake! But we all awoke to a winter wonderland this morning. And it may be gorgeous, but so is green grass and garden flowers. I mean really? I am so ready for Spring to come....please? But in the meantime, here I am taking pictures of the snow. Hopefully these will be the very last pictures we'll see of snow for this year. And maybe the next outdoor pictures I take will be of my garden. Here's to summer!!

Until next time,

A Desk Reorganization ala Junk Style!

2011-04-01T17:03:00.001-05:00

I'm not one to be very organized to say the least. And my home desk is often a place for disarray. But with a little help from some good old vintage junk, I'm hoping to solve this problem.....

This is the first piece that's gonna help me do that. Can someone tell me what it is? No matter, it's just what I need. Looks like my cat is curious again on what I'm doing. Either that or she just likes being in my pictures :-)

How's this for a pencil/pen holder?

It use to hold drill bits.

Next on the list? Something for note paper. I think it was originally used for a calendar. But we junkers always like to use things for different purposes, now don't we.

Can't take credit for this repurpose idea, but it'll give my desk a little embellishment. The door knob piece is metal so with a magnet and a metal tag made by my friend and fellow JMS contributor Sue Wolfe, it'll add a little extra pizzazz.

A vintage date calendar and a slate board from Pottery Barn will help keep me on track...hopefully!

And because the piece is metal, it will be another place to hold memos and business cards.

With this piece, I'll always be able to find note paper....it won't be walking off!

Another little embellishment. The key fob was purchased at one of the JUNKMARKET sales.

There you have it. All neat and tidy...and all in one place.

On the other side of the desk, beekers with ivy cuttings are displayed with some red gears all stacked up and holding a wire flower. A vintage dresser mirror serves as a tray.

Now if my desk could always be this neat!

To see more of my JUNKMARKET projects, click on the link on the side of my blog.

It's a Dilly of a Sign!

2011-03-26T12:27:00.010-05:00

I found this sign at the last JUNKMARKET Style Event, Flea Market Under Glass. Because there is no pre-selling allowed (we have to save the best for the customers), I had to book it over to the Junk Devotions/Queens of Chic's booth shortly after the doors opened. Sorry, Richard. I guess I just move faster than you :-) The only problem with the sign it? It was too long for the wall it was intended for. Oops....but sometimes decorating accidents work out for the better!

Don't you love this sign! It was "almost" perfect for my wall. The only problem? It was a bit too long.

The wall it was intended for really needed some "oomph" to it.

My solution for it? Allow the sign to hang over one edge, and then add something fun to the end of it.

This "vintage" rope would be usefully in hanging the piece.

And this cool old wheel? It'll be a fun addition!

It doesn't hang over too much, just enough!

A cute vintage green industrial table with a black and white scale complete the vignette. Though this wall was a work in the making, I like how it all came together!

To see more of my JUNKMARKET projects, click on the link on the side of my blog.

Thanks to Amy of Whisperwood for sponsoring this fun chalkboard linky party!

Finally! Pictures of Flea Market Under Glass!

2011-03-23T11:56:00.004-05:00

I'm always a day late and a dollar short, but here is finally some pictures of the Flea Market Under Glass event done in collaboration with JUNKMARKET Style and Otten Bros. It was an amazing event, and we are so thrilled at the turnout. Thank you to all who came out. I was so fortunate to be able to meet some of my followers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! You really don't know how tickled I was. It was a great honor. I love what I do and it's because of all of you. You really do not even know how much I appreciate it. Again, thank you!

So without further ado, here are some F.M.U.G. pictures. I wish I was able to take better pictures. The good thing, I was too busy to do it! Enjoy and stay tuned for more info on the fall event!

To see amazing additional pictures taken by a professionl photographer at the event, go to the JUNKMARKET Style Events page by clicking here.

From Broom Holder to Flower Display!

2011-03-21T06:00:00.005-05:00

What do you get when you combine a vintage broom holder, some chippy wood and some fun vintage bottles? A very cool piece of wall art!

In its former life it was not too appealing.....

But I could see it was a diamond in the rough.

The chippiness of the wood gave it the perfect patina.

This small stash of vintage bottles will make great vases.

And I can use these claws to hold them.

"Esquire Lanol White" was for shoe polish. A pretty fancy shoe polish bottle if I do say so myself.

Now all I need is the flowers....

And there you have it. All finished! Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!

To see more of my JUNKMARKET projects, click on the link on the side of my blog.

I'm also participating in White Wedneday. Head on over there and check it out!

A Rusty Wall Pocket that's a Total Gas!

2011-03-14T06:00:00.004-05:00

Well actually in it's former life I was told it was some type of gas can cover. But with it's perfect patina and pre-made holes, a wall pocket was a perfect reuse! And my chalkboard wall off the kitchen was in need of some additional accessories.....

Some of my supplies, the gas can cover, beads, wire, and a glass that will serve as a vase insert. My cat Jazzy was so curious as to what I was up to, she wouldn't get out of the picture. That Darn Cat! Wait....isn't that a movie? Ha!

With the wire and beads, I created a flower that will serve as an embellishment.

Wa-la!

Have you ever tried these Hercules Hooks? Love!! They'll be perfect to hold this rather heavy piece.

The pre-made holes on this piece will be perfect to hang it.

Just an old Ikea glass was used as a vase insert.

Love the colors of these flowers....a present from my hubby on this snowy winter day.

And there ya be. From gas can cover to wall pocket.

My chalkboard wall is starting to take shape with some added accessories.

This old metal whatchamacallit will work great for an additional message holder. Ooops.....I guess that event is over. On to the next one!

I had to share this fun vintage card I recently purchased. They had almost every town in MN. After a little digging (okay maybe a lot), I was able to find a neighboring town.

To see more of my JUNKMARKET projects, click on the link on the side of my blog.

Minnesota Special Hockey's Founder Get's Honored!

2011-03-11T11:53:00.001-06:00

Every once and awhile, I share something besides decorating and "junk" when I feel it is warranted. I think this is the case. My daughter was the inspiration behind the creation of Minnesota Special Hockey, a hockey team made up of special needs kids. It's an amazing organization, and last week, it's founder, Susie Miller, was rewarded with the Eleven Who Kare award from our local TV station, KARE 11. Rebekah and I also were featured in the piece (our 15 minutes of fame) and so I thought I would share it with you. Be sure to look closely for Bek's goal, and her great pass!

I'm also working on getting pictures together from the Flea Market Under Glass. It was a great event, and was a huge success. Stay tuned for those, but in the meantime, enjoy the video. And bring the tissues! It really is an amazing organization. Thank you, Susie!

A Sneak Peek at Flea Market Under Glass!

2011-03-04T05:19:00.002-06:00

Here's a sneak peek from the official "FMUG" photographer, Ali Haupt. These are seriously some amazing photos. Sorry the video is so funky on my blog....I might need to rethink my layout. My photos, though not quite professional, will be coming after some much needed rest...when the sale is over. Until then, enjoy!

It's a Pfarkel FMUG Blogger Bash!

2011-02-25T16:04:00.001-06:00

It's a Blogger Party! Janell Kraut, Dianne Perry and Sharon Vreeman, better know as the Pfarkel Sisters Fjerda, Frannie and Flossy, along with adopted Pfarkel Sister Marge Utley aka Fosteria, have offered to host a blogger party at our Flea Market Under Glass event. Stay tuned for more details on this fun event!

"Flea Market Under Glass" - A Work In Progress......

2011-02-23T06:00:00.006-06:00

I've been such a neglectful little blogger now haven't I. But what can I say? I've got a darn good excuse. I've been busy, busy, busy! Busy getting ready for the first ever, "Flea Market Under Glass". You've probably notice my little blogger button on the side announcing it. I won't go into all the details. You can get them by clicking on this link: JUNKMARKET Style Events - Flea Market Under Glass . You'll get all the "411" from there. But what I will do is give you some pictures of our progress.

This is my booth. I'm going for that fresh white look mixed with natural elements. I'm really starting to dig it. Now mind you, I haven't added much of the accessories yet, so it is a work in progress.

This is a watchamacallit! Ha! Like my technical term? Actually it looks like some sort of trellis. But who knows? All I know is I like it!

I'm really starting to get into vintage leather pieces. These kids cowboy boots are oh so cute!

And these are some honkin' corbels!

Sue Whitney of JUNKMARKET Style will of course showcase her stylings. She's got great taste!

Love these baseballs innards. And that chubby rope....amazing!

My friend Jan Berg's presence is still at the sale, though she skipped town for warmer climates (lucky her). But somehow her stuff still found its way to the sale (thanks to some of us purchasing it before she left). She has the best stuff!

And do we have reels....

Sue Wolfe of Destination Art has such great style. Her displays are amazing!

Put a little spring in your step!

Oooh....how cute is this!

And of course Sue also brought her one of a kind tin prints.

The three Amigo's, Patrick from Robinwood Reclaim along with Bob and Kent from Mudd Lake, are the perfect trio. They have brought with them some unique finds!

Old American Proverb...."Love many, trust few and always carry your own canoe". We even have an extra one here!

These are great old molds!

Jenna from Mama's Happy in Mound, MN has been working hard to get her booth ready. Lookin' good!

Cheryl of Junk Devotion came up early and beat us all to the punch. Looks like she doesn't have much left to do.

And "here we have them"!

Beth and John from Antiques Downtown are once again joining us in this venture. They sure are a fun bunch!

As you can see, we're not done....yet. Like I said, it's gonna be good! Gotta run....lots to do!

A Union in Perfect Harmony!

2011-02-05T08:00:00.000-06:00

If you've been a follower of my blog, you know I love metal. And when I saw this metal organ pipe tube, it was love at first sight. And of course the most natural use for it would be a vase. For me it was a no brainer. But I wanted to add a little more interest to it. I already had this piece made from old picture frame molding, and the two seemed to make a perfect pair. So what do you get when you mix a wall hanging made soley from frame molding and a metal pipe organ tube? A display that brings with it, it's own kind of music!

This part of the project was actually put together by my friend, Sue Wolfe of Destination Art. I purchased it a few years ago, but always wanted to add something to it. It just took the right find.

I love all the different kinds of molding it has on it. And the metal paint finish on it gives it a modern edge.

I love the fact of course that it's all metal. And it thankfully came with two openings in the back making it easy to hang on the frame molding.

Love the unique pattern on the metal!

These decorative nails were from another project, but they were perfect for hanging the piece. The long narrow point didn't leave too much of a hole in the molding, but the large head kept the pipe in place. And yes, it is on there very sturdy.

Now all I needed was some extra embellishments. Not sure what I'm gonna do, but I wanted to have a few options.

This is what I decided on. A little bling, a little brass and a little rust. And the twine added an extra element to all of it.

And of course I need something to put in the pipe "vase". Some natural twigs and some with glitter. And then a unique flower!

A closer look at the flower. It's another Sue Wolfe Creation! She certainly is a good one to have as a friend :-)

Just in case you wanted to see what the other side of the sign said. It welcomes guests as they are coming and says goodbye as they leave.

I think it all came together quite nicely. And combined I think they make perfect harmony!

To see more of my JUNKMARKET projects, click on the link on the side of my blog.