Urban Vintage Market (aka Junkin' 4 Joy)

Changes are coming..

2013-03-04T12:26:00.000-05:00

I'm getting back to the blogging world! I have quit my sales job and I now paint furniture full time! I am taking on custom painting jobs, selling antiques and JUNK full time. It's a little scary, ok, A LOT SCARY! But I needed to at least try it full time. So here goes..I have had this facebook page for several years and want to incorporate it into my blog and website (working on this too.)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Urban-Vintage-Market/111037079000146?ref=hl

BOO!

2013-03-04T09:05:00.001-05:00

Just checking...

Did you miss me? ~

2011-11-10T21:07:00.000-05:00

HEY YA'LL!

I'm back. I was only gone a week on my trip, but it took me awhile to get organized, motivated and settled. I had a great time on my road trip, even though the weather was rainy. I drove to VA to see Luckett's Antique Store and then kept driving until I hit NJ. My trade show in NJ was near the Meadowlands Stadium so I just HAD to check out their flea market Sat. morning. First things first though:

Luckett's was cool.

I got there 2 minutes after they closed though, not good. Traffic and weather held me up. This is what I drove in most of the way:

It was just gross.

Since I didn't make into the store the first day, I went back the next day and shopped, and shopped. Here are a few pics of the inside. Not great cell phone shots, but I didn't want to take my big camera in. I just thought that would be too weird and didn't know if they would like that or not.

Found her! Had to check out this booth. One of my favorite bloggers. What you don't know is that this is on the third floor. Ok, maybe you did know that. But the stairs are STEEP! I can't believe she has to haul all her furniture up 3 flights of stairs! I don't think I could do that. I haul too much junk in as it is. On the other hand...I would probably weigh 100 pounds.

I wanted this table. But it was a little too expensive for me to re-sell and I don't have room for it in my house. It was gone when I went back at the end of the week....C'est la v1e....

Loved this chest. So pretty.

This corn bin from the Shenandoah Valley came home with me..I love it. I had a piece of glass under my bed for 2 years, and now it has a home.

One more shot.

So all in all it was a fun road trip. The flea market at the Meadowlands was not the best. It was a bunch of new socks and shirts and not much of the old stuff that I like. I'm still glad I checked it out though.

So there you have it. I made it to Luckett's. I have taken pics of the rest of the loot I came home with which I will show you in the coming days.

Front of Luckett's.

The rain just didn't let up. It was constant and annoying.

~Amy

ROAD TRIP! ~

2011-10-13T22:41:00.001-04:00

I'm road trippin' it to NJ! WOO HOO, can you sense my excitement? You'll be even more excited to know that I'm on my way to a trade show for the laundry and dry cleaning industry! I know, contain yourself! We manufacture machines that make really cold water for dry cleaning machines and for other industries.

Anyway, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to check out Luckett's Antique Store in Luckett's, VA. One of my favorite bloggers (she really is a rock star!) was going to be working her space and I thought she would love to meet one of her stalkers! Who could it be but: MISS MUSTARD SEED!

Oh what could have been. I got there 2 minutes after they closed. Of course, I have no idea if she was even there all day, but just 2 minutes late, and I couldn't even shop! I have an empty truck too!

The weather was nasty all day and the traffic was horrible! So that put me behind schedule. How many exclamation points should I use??!! I will just have to check it out in the morning along with some other junk spots I found. See? I was there and will be again tomorrow.

You can't tell, but that red Expedition is EMPTY!

I wonder if there are any cake bites left?

~Amy

Happy Fall! ~

2011-10-11T22:40:00.000-04:00

I took these pictures in Helen, GA last October.

Helen, GA hosts one of the largest and longest Oktoberfest's in the country.

It's a beautiful area and always a good time.

I'm heading North for the weekend and will post from the road. I have a trade show in NJ for my 9-5 job. I can't wait to shop all the way to NJ and all the way home. I've already scoped out 2 flea markets for this weekend and there is a Home Goods 2 miles from my hotel. What could be better than that??

~Amy

New Booth Space ~

2011-10-10T14:31:00.005-04:00

Last week was L O N G !

I moved into a new booth at Little Mountain Unlimited. The best antique mall in SC!

Well, I'm biased, but it really is a great mall.

I already have 2 booths, but I'm building my empire, remember?

A spot opened up near the front of the store and I claimed it.

So I spent the entire week moving in and shuffling my other 3 booths. I was tired!

The Humongous hutch is center stage.

I don't want to sell it, it looks so good where it is!

I also ended up "decorating" for fall.

I don't have too much, but I put out what I had.

The screens are from a plantation home in Union, SC. They make great frames for the barn stars.

Love these stag horn coat racks.

The pictures are a little dark. I need to remember to throw in my tripod to take batter pictures. I was reminded that for brighter pictures, use a tripod and adjust the light setting and viola! So I will be better.

This booth space is a across from another girl that is moving out. She had my space previously and this is what it looks like now:

HORRIBLE! You can't even walk in the space. The faster she leaves, the better.

(I'm taking that space too!)

So, that was my week and weekend. It took a while and I was beat.

But I still cut my grass this weekend and went junkin'! Can't keep a good girl down!

~Amy

Another HUGE Hutch Finished ~

2011-10-04T20:51:00.002-04:00

Remember this?

This was my weekend project. It is, by far, the largest piece I have ever done.

I found it on Craigs List 6 months ago. It was so big, I had to borrow a Pick Up truck to haul the top portion of the the hutch. The base of the hutch measure 96" across.

This is the top portion on its side.

It is so large, I need help moving it and setting it upright without damaging it.

I took the easy route on priming it. I spray primed it. No sanding, just priming.

Here is the finished product. I love it.

I used an industrial paint sprayer to paint it. I have never used a paint sprayer before, but I think I'm in love. It took about 30 minutes to spray on 2 coats.

It used much more paint than normal, but I'm okay with that since it only took 30 mins. to paint.

The sprayer took some getting used to, but after a little practice, it was great.

I didn't have to get it perfect either since I was going to distress it anyway.

This is the center piece of my new booth. Oh, did I mention, I am expanding my furniture empire? I moved into a new booth this weekend and it should be finished tomorrow. Pictures of the new booth to follow...

~Amy

Moss Rocks! ~

2011-09-30T23:44:00.002-04:00

I'm a little late in finding these cool things called Moss Rocks. I don't shop Target and WalMart like I used to. I used to go to Target and spend $100 on "stuff." "Stuff" I didn't really need, but wanted. Well, since becoming a junk dealer, everything I buy has to fit into 3 areas. If I can't eat it, sell it, or paint it, I don't buy it. Of course there are exceptions to those rules, but it's amazing what you can live without or find at a yard sale or thrift shop.

Well, tonight I needed to buy white paint. Out of all the paint I have, I didn't have any white. I have a ton of OOPS paint, but they are OOPS paint for a reason; bad tint job. WalMart here we come. I used a sample of Glidden paint and I really liked it, so I bought a gallon of Pebble White. $28! I about choked. I hate paying retail for anything! But I needed it for a HUMONGOUS piece I'm painting in the morning.

Long story short, I found Moss Rocks. I had seen them on some blogs, but never found any.

Crap pictures, but cool rocks.

I put them in an Ironstone bowl I found last weekend for $3.00!

This is why I bought paint; I'm using an electric paint sprayer to paint this tomorrow:

It's 69" long and HUGE and heavy. It has a top hutch portion also that I forgot to take a picture of.

This violated one of my rules. If it's too big to handle on your own, let it go. Well, It took 2 trips to pick it up. The bottom portion fit in my Expedition. But the top portion was too big and I had to borrow a pick up.

Rules are meant to be broken, right?

~Amy

Pumpkins ~

2011-09-27T22:22:00.002-04:00

It seems velvet pumpkins are all over blog land and I love them! I just can't afford them.

Well, my friend Jan has made a pumpkin patch of her very own.

I claimed this mini pumpkin.

Pretty great, huh?

I like the grapevine wreath stems. Looks more rustic..

Here is another one of her creations. A flour sac pillow. Love the red and yellow together.

This is a cashmere sweater pillow with cashmere rosettes, and felted leaves.

This feels so good; it's so soft.

Well, all of these can be yours!

They are available at The Corner Store Antiques and More in Little Mountain, SC.

If you don't live near me or SC, you can still own one or your own patch. Feel free to message me and I can quote you and send them to you. We ship anywhere! Happy Fall!

~Amy

I Was Featured ~

2011-09-27T00:00:00.002-04:00

I got a call this morning from my friend Jan. She asked if I was excited. Well, sure, I was excited. I was awake to see the day and was checking my work emails. What could be more exciting than that? Well, this is:

I was featured on Southern Hospitality's blog for my Thrifty Treasure finds last week!

I'm a geek, but it is exciting. Rhoda's blog was the first blog that I started reading and following. I have been hooked ever since. I love reading blogs and getting ideas for decorating, painting and trends.

Check it out:

See? Pretty cool I think.

So a big THANK YOU to Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for the feature!

~Amy

Wash Stand update II ~

2011-09-22T22:32:00.000-04:00

The weather has been terrible and I haven't been able to finish this piece.

But here are some pictures of what it looks like right now.

It's YELLOW! and WHITE!

The color was pretty much determined by how bad the red of the wood bled through.

I primed it 3 times times and the yellow was the best color to make it blend in and not look so bad. You can see some of the red bleed through where the handles should be.

Good thing you won't see that once the hardware is put back on..

I still need to distress it and make it all pretty, but the rain is supposed to let up tomorrow.

This is the mirror that attaches to a bracket that attaches to the back of the wash stand.

So instead of a finished product, take a look at one of my favorite pictures I have found..

SO CUTE!

This weekend will be a busy one with FOUR estate sales going on. It's an addiction. It really is...

~ Amy

Christmas in September ~

2011-09-20T21:59:00.001-04:00

Last Friday, I drove to Charleston again for another estate sale. It was in an old, Registered Historic home, and it was BEAUTIFUL! I was in line an hour and half early! What can I say, I'm a freak for great junk! I became fast friends with the first couple in line, Shannon and Steve from Mt. Pleasant, SC. People at estate sales are very tight lipped about what they are there for, for fear that you will be after the same things. I didn't tell either!

Here is the house:

Simply Gorgeous. Love the ivy growing up the front porch.

Here is my loot:

Love Ironstone. That is the main reason I went. Great pieces!

Coffee grinder

2 large dough bowls, a vanity stool and 2 luggage racks, which I didn't get a pic of..

this is a mixture of things from the estate sale and from another of my favorite shops Charleston.

Ignore the messy house. MERRY CHRISTMAS! Great (new) tinsel tree I found in a thrift shop in town. It will look great in the booth in a few months.

Good stuff, huh? I think so.

It got too dark for me to take good pictures of the wash stand that I finished today. So until tomorrow...

~Amy

Wash Stand update ~

2011-09-19T22:19:00.000-04:00

This washstand came out of a barn. It was gross!

I bought it off the back of a pickup. I wouldn't buy meat off the back of a pickup, but I'll buy furniture!

It also has a mirror and towel bar that attaches to the back.

It took me so long to do anything with this because the veneer is messed up on the top. It looks like it was burned and it was bubbling up. I was scared to touch it until this weekend. I didn't want to ruin it! HA!

So... I took a razor blade to it and cut out around the bad spots, and then chiseled out the bad wood. As I was cutting out the bigger section, two smaller spots became apparent.

All the spots are dug out and then I sanded the edges to make it smooth.

Then I spackled the heck out of it. I filled in all the spots and waited forever for it to dry completely. The spackle turns lighter when it's dry, so then it can be sanded.

All filled and sanded and ready for paint. It was easy overall, but time consuming and very hot in the sun.

I painted it and it's just waiting for the hardware to be put back on, and then I will have the finished product pics.

~Amy

I'm back! ~

2011-09-18T23:56:00.000-04:00

I didn't go anywhere sadly. I wished I could have gone to the Country Living Fair in OH. Pictures looked amazing. I also wished I could have gone to Junk Bonanza in WI. I didn't. Pictures looked amazing though! There is another Country Living Fair in GA which isn't that far away from my home in SC. So maybe I can go to that one. I just fear that everything will be out of my price range. But I think it would be fun to see different things, ideas and other people's junk. I'll have to work on that one. Maybe drag my Mom along! Mom, get off the floor, it won't be hot, I promise!

Still trying to clean out the garage. Here is a pic of the "trying"

I pulled a few things out and painted them. I swear I did!

I painted this end table. It has only been in the garage for 2 years..

you like the dust on it? Dirt don't hurt!

That crud on the bottom shelf had to be scraped off. It was an old sticker.

And viola! Slate Blue Rust-O. I haven't used this color so much but I like it...

A little character building with distressing. Fini!

In the booth it went! It's very happy to have a new home, and I'm very happy to see it go.

I also did this little half moon table.

Nothing too drastic. It was already primed when I bought it (2.5 years ago) so I painted it Hyacinth by Krylon. Again, a new color for me, but I liked it. I distressed it and green paint came through. Hard to see from the after pic, but there is green showing. I wasn't sure if I like it, but it grew on me and away it went. I was saving this table for a project that never got completed. I wanted to attach it to a door and make this entry way door/table thing. Yeah, whatever, it's done and gone.

Tomorrow, I'll have the "after" pics of this wash stand..

I just have to paint the hardware and distress it and it will be done.

It has a terrible case of veener sickness. The veneer was actually burned in one place and had lifted up. This was a barn find last summer and I was scared of the veneer damage, but I fixed it and will show you tomorrow.

In the morning, I'll be taking pictures of all the great junk I have found the past 2 weeks.

Great Ironstone, cotton scales, luggage racks, vanity stool, and more books! Shocking!

~Amy

Scenes from the Lake ~

2011-09-08T11:09:00.001-04:00

My house has become the Labor Getaway for my sister and her family. I live a block from the lake and have a boat ramp for access. But I couldn't find the key this year! Too much JUNK! I know, bad hostess. We still had a ton of fun and I took a ton of pictures.

My 9 yr old nephew Aaron wakeboarding

6 yr old Ethan kneeboarding.

dueling kneeboards. These kids are amazing..

A blue Heron looking for lunch..

Turtles sunning

I could have sat in these all day. Wonder if the owners would mind??

The next batch of pictures are from a cemetary that we visited by boat. A LONG time ago, before Lake Murray was here, there were 11 towns where the lake is now. When the lake was made, the towns were relocated and then flooded to make the Lake. There are still cemetaries and headstones visible when the lake level is down. It's pretty cool.

Lake Murray is also where Jimmy Doolittle trained his raiders to retaliate against Japan after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. There is an island on the lake called Bomb Island which Jimmy used for target practice.

Anyway, this cemetary isn't one of the flooded ones. But it is on a point of the lake and it's pretty cool. So, I jumped out of the boat (not very gracefully) and took pictures of the headstones.

There were about 8 stones that did not have any markings on them.

This was an infant son's stone dating to 1861. So cool.

This stone was broken, but dated to 1889

Saw the No Tresspassing sign as we were leaving. Oops.

Another great weekend on Lake Murray. Always fun with family and the annual Labor day parade, and the annual Library book sale that follows. Like I need more books! But I'm addicted.

I'm still trying to get my house in order (was it ever in order before?) and put back together so I can get back to FURNITURE! I'm having paint withdrawal. This was the last thing I painted:

And just my luck, it's almost the weekend again and the weather has cooled off and it is gorgeous!

Ready....Set....Paint!

~Amy

Let the Weekend Begin ~

2011-09-02T23:37:00.001-04:00

I can't believe how fast this week has gone, and that I haven't said anything since Monday!

I have been sorting through a bunch of stuff that I have collecting for one reason or another. I'm sure I had a plan at one time for most of it, but this week I got tired of looking at it so I donated a bunch of stuff or priced it to sell. I'm tired of the clutter.

I have a full time job on top of running my furniture empire and just don't have time for a ton of projects right now. Someday maybe, but not today.

I wanted to post pictures of one of my favorite table and chair combinations.

These came from 2 different sources but I love them together.

The chairs are a blue with a hint of green and very chippy.

And the table has a wrought iron base with a wood planked top.

This come from Amish country in PA. I think it's straight from the barn.

I forgot my camera so I had to settle for cell phone pictures. Not too great, but ok in a pinch.

I'll try to get some better pictures of the set this weekend.

My sister and her family are staying with me this weekend to enjoy Lake Murray. We will get together with all the family at some point this weekend. It's always fun time. Have a great Labor Day weekend and stay safe. I hope to take more pictures of all the cool smalls I have purchased lately. Including 2 cotton scales and some great enamelware and other rusty goodness!

~Amy

Weekend Junk Roundup ~

2011-08-29T12:54:00.000-04:00

This weekend, I only went to one yardsale. GASP! I know, I was tired. But I made it worth it. This house had posted pictures of what they were selling and I wanted a wardrobe that they were selling.

I LOVE IT! It's small and petite. English, and very cool.

This is from L. Marcus Ltd.

makers of fine furniture since 1898

Shelves for SHIRTS and SUNDRIES

PYJAMAS and UNDERWARE

and a rack for TIES

After some Old English scratch cover, you won't even see those scratch marks..

At the same garage sale, I found this very heavy, Venice print for $5!

I did get some other smaller things, but haven't had a chance to do anything with them. I spent the rest of the weekend cleaning out a friends storage locker. The same locker we started cleaning out 2 weeks ago. I can't believe all the stuff we didn't get through yet. We did manage to pare down enough to transfer to a smaller locker though. But this just means there will be another clean out day in the future...

But I got my wardrobe, so all is good. What did you find??

~Amy

Yellow Dresser Finished ~

2011-08-24T13:56:00.001-04:00

Here is a bad picture of the Craigslist dresser.

I painted it a Vintage Yellow from Glidden.

This was the free paint sample I requested.

the dresser was dried out and really needed some help

More dark pictures of the in process.

The warehouse is dark and under renovation, so the lighting isn't great

I tried something new and different. I saw a picture of a desk that was painted yellow and white with the white being wood grained. I can't remember what blog I saw this on, but thought I would steal the idea.

Do you know how hard it was to find a wood graining tool?

Since the faux painting craze is over, they are a little difficult to find.

When I did find one, I kept looking because I didn't want to purchase the Martha Stewart kit!

But it was all I could find, so that's what I used.

I like it. It is different from other things that I have painted, but that's why I like it. I was getting bored with just painting a piece, distressing it and that was it. I think this gives it an intersting feature that not everyone does. We'll see how it goes in the booth. I would like to start doing different techniques and taking more chances with the pieces that I paint. Keeps it interesting.

~Amy

Linked Up!

Life is a Journey ~

2011-08-23T16:24:00.000-04:00

Life is A Leap of Faith – The Good News is That You Were Born to Jump.

Posted on September 1, 2010 by Ken Peters

Millions of people across America are doing something remarkable. These people can’t read or write. They don’t work, can’t drive, have no income, and are totally dependent on the support of others for their well being. Despite these disadvantages, they’re taking an extraordinary leap of faith to begin an awesome journey that will change their lives.

These daring individuals are kindergartners setting off on their first day of school. This year’s crop includes my son, and marveling at him makes me realize that in their leap lies a lesson for us all.

We’re all equipped with an inner compass pointing us toward our unique self – our true north. As kids we navigate by that compass, our every step a willing leap of faith, following our hearts and chasing our bliss down dazzling paths of discovery. Careening through the world with boundless optimism and wide-eyed wonderment comes naturally when we’re children.

Somewhere along the way we grow up – and grow insecure. Life gives us reason to doubt. Wonder and optimism are reined in by reality. Venturing down new paths becomes scary. We fear failure. We start to conform. We leap less.

Wordsworth put it this way:

Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:
The Soul that rises with us, our life’s Star,
Hath had elsewhere its setting,
And cometh from afar:
Not in entire forgetfulness,
And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come
From God, who is our home:
Heaven lies about us in our infancy!
Shades of the prison-house begin to close
Upon the growing Boy,
But He beholds the light, and whence it flows,
He sees it in his joy;
The Youth, who daily farther from the east
Must travel, still is Nature’s Priest,
And by the vision splendid
Is on his way attended;
At length the Man perceives it die away,
And fade into the light of common day.

We’re born extraordinary. Our job is to steer by our true compass, to keep our bearings, and not fade into the light of common day – to not conform to the world’s expectations, but to configure the world to our own. From the start, convention conspires against us.

Life is relentless. It comes at you every minute of every day, and it doesn’t give a damn about your race, your gender, your politics, your economic situation or what you think is fair. You can either leap forward or lie down. Sometimes, when you leap, you’re going to fail, and your going to fail spectacularly. Failure isn’t the problem. Letting failure stop you is the problem.

Recently, I overheard my son tell a friend, “Cowboys never give up, and you shouldn’t either.” I have no idea how he came up with that, but hearing it made me smile. He’s right. As soon as we stop trying, we start dying.

Van Gogh famously said, “What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?” What if you never attempt to write that novel? What if you never attempt to start that business? What if you never attempt to steer toward your true north? In the end, you might regret some of the failed leaps, but you’ll surely regret all of the times you failed to even try.

Goethe encourages us: “Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”

Leap and let the naysayers nitpick – because they will. Conventional thinkers will always find excuses to stand still. Mediocrity loves company. Don’t let other people’s insecurities get in your way. Creativity scares the hell out of people who find it hard to be creative.

In my line of work I’m fortunate to collaborate with creative people, from all walks of life, following their true compass. They are entrepreneurs, businesspeople, architects, dreamers, healers, filmmakers, inventors, parents, writers, teachers and artists – among other things. They each offer unique gifts to the world, and they are each inspiring because they have taken – and continue to take – extraordinary leaps of faith.

Every leap of faith is a hero’s journey. In his study of comparative mythology, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, scholar Joseph Campbell frames the archetypal hero’s journey: “A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.”

Can there be a more fitting metaphor for children entering kindergarten, or the painter placing the first strokes on a blank canvas, or the scientist testing a hypothesis, or the entrepreneur launching a new venture? Decisive victory is never certain, but if you don’t take a chance, you don’t stand a chance. You just have to have faith.

As I watch my son and his peers in the future class of 2023 leap into their journey I’m inspired by children everywhere. They remind us that we are all born extraordinary, with unique gifts and a unique purpose, and that we each must faithfully follow our own true compass – that we must keep leaping, no matter what. After all, cowboys never give up, and you shouldn’t either. My son taught me that.

Have Faith is what my Dad told the day after we lost our first business.

It was also the first day of our new business and I have never forgotten that.

Have Faith

~Amy

Make Your Own Tags ~

2011-08-21T23:30:00.001-04:00

Today, I had to do what I hate the most as a homeowner. YARD WORK. I love to cut and trim the hedges, but I hate cutting the grass. But I did it. I didn't quite finish cutting the back yard since it is getting dark earlier, but I'll finish it tomorrow. Prolong the agony...

I did do a few things today that were fun; this was one of them

I go through a ton of price tags every month. They are normally white and boring. So on my recent trip to Micheal's Craft Store, I found this great punch. It punches 3 tags sizes in one punch. A few years ago, I thought I would scrap book. Everyone was doing it, so why not give it a try. I loved the patterned paper and bought a ton of it. I made one page and never did anything else with scrap booking. Why would I, when Shutterfly does such a wonderful job??

It punches a little tough, but I think after some use, it will get smoother.

A cute pink 1/8 size hole punch for the hole and we're good to go

My first attempt with scrap book paper. It is a little thin, but still works. Card stock would be better, but I don't have any of that right now. But look what I do have that would be perfect...

Paint chips that are very stiff and thicker than scrap book paper and FREE!

I just need to add the string and I'm all set.

So now if I run out of tags, I can just make some.

I think I love it..

~Amy

Preoccupied ~

2011-08-19T23:30:00.000-04:00

I have been preoccupied this week because I dropped my external hard drive and can't access ANYTHING! All my pictures from all my trips are GONE! I don't care about anything else on the hard drive.

I've just been sick about it and when I called tech support, they told me that data recovery starts at $1000!

I just can't pay that. It's crazy. So that has been my week.

I'll be busy this weekend getting some painting done now that the heat has subsided.

This is a 2-tier butler's table that I painted a little bit ago. I dry brushed it with a French Gray paint.

I didn't distress it at all. I liked it too much just like this.

Yard sales in the morning....Don't be jealous.....

~Amy

Junkin' is Dangerous sometimes ~

2011-08-16T23:55:00.007-04:00

I think I have recovered from this past weekend in Charleston. I packed in my junkin' trips and even hauled along my sister and nephew. My sister doesn't get why I like what I like, but she goes with it! It was pointed out to us that at least we don't fight over wanting the same item. No chance of that! I like old, she likes new. I like rust, she uses WD40. She did buy a lamp at one of the antique stores though. I was so proud, there is hope for her after all! I had no trouble filling up the truck with rusty goodness and my table and chairs.

At one stop, it was raining so hard, I jumped out of the car to look at some stuff and slipped on the wet, rotted walkway and the next thing I know, I'm looking at the sky. It hurt. I was soaked and covered in wood chips. Junkin' is painful, people! Luckily it was only my arm and not anything vital, like my knee or head! Then I would have had to go home early!

Sunday, I helped a friend clean out her storage locker. After her divorce, she just packed up everything and stored it. She just couldn't face sorting it by herself. Well, lucky for her, I love to sort and clean out JUNK. It's costing her $150 a month to store JUNK! And a lot of it was just that, JUNK! She did great making decisions about what to keep and what to donate and throw away. We took 2 car loads to Goodwill, 2 car loads to a consignment shop and 2 loads to the dumpster. We got through the majority of the stuff but we still need to sort through 25 boxes of books. Our goal is to have her out of the unit by the end of the month. Anyway, that was my weekend. Here are a few of my finds and a look at my horribly messy house...

Love this chair. Love it more because I don't have to paint it!

Columbia Water Can

Rusty gas can

A mini bingo wheel

kids foldable chair

Black iron cauldron

Junk on the couch

Junk in my living room

Woof!

~Amy

To Charleston I Go!! ~

2011-08-12T22:12:00.002-04:00

Charleston, SC Estate Sale

I am visiting my sister and her family in Summerville (suburb of Charleston) and went to an estate sale today. The sale was in the oldest part of Charleston near Battery Park and Rainbow Row. This was a typical shotgun style house with the porch on the side to catch the breeze (when there is one.)

It was a beautiful house and can be yours for $1.3 MILLION dollars. I'll take 2 please, do you wrap?

I was the 3rd one in line and had butterflies in my stomach. I was nervous because there were things that I wanted to grab before anyone else got to them. It's always hard to go into a house without knowing the floorplan. Even though you see the pictures beforehand, you never quite know what to expect. Well, I found WAY too much and spent WAY too much money, but I got some great junk and have to go back tomorrow to pick up my big purchase.

This is actually the side of the house.

The door faces the street and when you come in, you enter into a courtyard.

The side porch

This is my big purchase. I had to have it! It was so cute and in good shape and I love it!

I just wish I could keep it. The table is metal with the heaviest piece of beveled glass.

I think I spent 2 hours there and had a pile of junk by the time I checked out.

I then met my sister at her work before heading to dinner at this joint:

BIG BILLY'S BURGER JOINT!

Highly recommend this if you find yourself in Charleston by the Tanger Outlets.

This is the Southwest BlackBean Burger. YUM!

It came with a mini fry basket of sweet potato fries.

This was the burger sliders kids meal.

Me: Aaron, what kind of plane is that?

Nephew Aaron: it's a C-17 cargo plane

Aaron: you can tell because it's Chubby!

Me: Very Cool

Me: amazed at what my sisters kids know

C-17's are a common sight flying overhead in Charleston.

Flea market in the morning! WooHoo!

~Amy

Junkin' ~

2011-08-09T23:50:00.002-04:00

I have not been junkin' in a month or so. GAH!!! I have been trying to get my house in order and cleaned out. And the heat has been so bad, I just haven't felt like it. Well, tonight I had to get out of the house and do something normal. My normal is stopping in at the new Goodwill to see if the stock has improved. It hasn't. Their prices started out normal, but now they are a little high (ok, a lot high). Take a look at this:

Cute, right? But not for $25. There was another one of these with a badly cracked glass dome and that was $25 also. Crazy!

This was $25 too. I don't think it was $25 new.

I liked this coffee table, but it was $50!

This chafing dish was $50 too. I don't get it...

I am all for supporting charities and I certainly buy enough from Goodwill and Salvation Army,

but I have a hard time with them over pricing certain items.

So, on to the next place. I went to a consignment store that I've only been to one other time. They were closing so I only had about 10 minutes to run through this huge place. I found something good too...

Don't you love it?

This was sitting on the top shelf and this is all you could see of the item.

This was underneath all that fake silk. An ironstone ginger jar minus the lid. I love it though.

I love the little birds on it.

I couldn't even read the label while I was in the store. I couldn't peal back the price tag to check it out, it was too sticky. But for $4 I took a chance and bought it. I think I did pretty well.

Anyone want to buy a glob of silk junk? Yeah, it's already in the garbage...

That's all I got. Must be a record. Only 1 thing. I then went to Michael's and roamed around for a while. I hadn't been there in 6 months or so. I usually spend too much money when I go there, so I try to stay away. I love all the crafty supplies. It's like the start of school and you get to buy all new supplies. That's how I feel when I go there. I want to buy everything cool and interesting even if I don't have a use for it. I MIGHT use it one day.

Then I met a good friend for dinner at Ruby Tuesday's. I made her get out of her pj's and meet me there and it was pouring down rain too! Dinner then lasted 3 hours!

Good Times.

~Amy

Little Mountain Reunion ~

2011-08-07T00:08:00.001-04:00

Today was the hometown festival called the Little Mountain Reunion. It's a chance for all those from Little Mountain to come home and visit. It's a small festival, but the parade route runs right in front of the Corner Store and More Antiques.

So it was a good oportunity to open early and be there for the early traffic.

Funny story about Walt McLeod..Years ago, my Dad was driving my Mom's Mustang and was messing with the radio. While he was distracted, the car veered to the right and BAM! He crashed into Walts campaign manager's car. Oops! I think my Dad was only going about 20 mph or less.

Walt could not have been nicer and still remembers this when I see him periodically.

He lives right down the street from the Corner Store too.

Little Mountain is a very small town with only one blinking light!

But 2 Antique stores!

What would a parade be without beauty queens?

I just wanted to tell her to sit up straight, and stop slouching!

and cub scouts..

And Harley's...

And the staple of every Southern parade: JOHN DEERE!

um...I have no words......

I have some paint in the car..??..

again, no words.....

South Carolina State Parks van! WooHoo!

My friend Kenny was driving the van and throwing candy. He missed me.

the band was the caboose of the parade.

Fun times. The End.

~Amy