Excuse Me While I Buy This Junk

A new booth in a new mall!

We’re at it again. Opening another booth in a mall new to us, Angels in Opelika, Alabama. It’s a big ‘un. The mall and the booth. Both big. We’ve been working hard the past few weeks getting things ready to go in the booth, but kept having to put the stuff we were finishing into the booth at Longleaf in Alex City because stuff was selling out of there. So now, both booths are kinda bare looking. It’s all taking over our life. There is no  life outside of building, painting, fixing, redoing… I’ve even been too tired to look at Pinterest at night!

Here are the pieces we put in Angels:

Stacked benches hubby built and I painted and a five sided table I painted and antiqued.

Before I go further, just let me remind you how much out of my comfort zone I am with painting. But ya do what’cha gotta do.

Adorable mid century nightstand in aqua with black legs.

Fab, mid century dresser in gray and white.

The picture does not show the original, faux wood graining of this chifferobe. It’s really pretty cool. —– Ha! I was trying so hard not to be in the full length mirror that I forgot the little round mirror. So there I am.

An accident happened during transport. Some wood was knocked off one of the legs. The top was messed up a bit, too. I’ll either have to take some chalkboard paint there to make the necessary repairs or bring it home. The picnic basket top is painted in chalkboard paint, too.

Took this picture before we left the house. An old door with original, chippy paint was cut in half. The panels were painted in chalkboard paint and old hooks were added at the bottom.

A bookcase hubby made, the half door coat rack again and an old tin Hoosier drawer. On the shelf of the bookcase is this little tote:

It’s a small tote with a Graphics Fairy image transfer. I wasn’t completely happy with the image transfer result. But guess what? It was the first thing to sell. I always wonder, when the first thing to sell is “some little something”, nothing special, if someone in the mall bought it to make us feel good, give us a start, or if they truly liked it? In this case I also wonder if they’re going to paint over it? LOL But I suppose it’s cute as is. I know I’m critical because I did it and it didn’t match the vision. But perhaps the … um… messiness of it gives it a more authentic look?

Anyway, if y’all are anywhere near Opelika come on by and see what’s next! We’re still working. Busy, busy, busy. Our booth is all the way to the left. When you walk in the mall, turn left and go as far as you can go. We’re the last corner booth on the right. Booth “OREO”. If I’d known that the name was going to be on the wall, I’d have thought of something more clever. Oreo’s our cat and was the first name that came to mind.

Don’t forget we’re at Longleaf in Alex City and the Pickle Patch Market in Sylacauga, too. We’re booth WC1 at Longleaf and 05 at the Patch. Just ask. And enjoy all the other booths, too! There are some great ones in all three malls. They make for fun outings.

• May 5, 2013,
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A repurposed piece of enamelware

When I spotted this 8″ square piece of enamelware recently, I knew immediately it should be a magnet board. Normally, I’ll see something and think that needs to be in my stash. Surely I can think of something to do with it. Then years later, it’s still in my stash. But not this time. And I hopped right on the “project”! Of course, all I had to do was make some magnets and then stage the photo.

I’m trying to talk myself into selling this along with the magnets and recipe card. Even wrote up the description and put it on Etsy and in the store on my other blog (Just Vintage Home) but took it down a half hour later. (As I write this it’s even still on my Etsy feed on the right.) I’m enjoying it too much. Not even using it anywhere. It just makes me smile when I walk by and see it.

• April 1, 2013,
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Estate sale loot and a brand new person in the world

OK. I might as well get it over with. We have a girl grand-darling!  I said on the last post that our daughter decided not to find out the sex of the baby until she was born. That made it so exciting at the time of the birth. So, let me introduce little Danielle Elizabeth.

This was day 2 and taken with my phone. The picture is not good, but the only one I have where she’s not scrunched up, crying, and wondering what just happened. When I’m with her, I’m too busy being with her to think of taking pictures.

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Now that I have done my proud grandmother, look at my picture(s) thing, let’s move on to estate sales.

Before I went back to the hospital the second day, I was compelled to go to an estate sale. I don’t know the area very well and thought by the description that it was fairly close in. Not 20 miles out! But by the time I realized how far it was, I was already half way there and figured I might as well continue on.

It was midday, drizzling rain, and they didn’t have a lot to choose from. A few tables set up outside and stuff in the living room and dining room. They said they’d already sold a lot of stuff and I still came out with all this. (The pictures aren’t the best quality. The light was too low and I didn’t have the camera set correctly to compensate for that, so had to lighten in my photo editing software. I use the free Photoscape, by the way. And love it.)

A plastic butterfly serving tray, a milk glass reticulated bowl, a heavy glass leaf, a large, Floraline vase, and a small, silver plate pitcher of some kind.

A couple of cookbooks, a leather souvenir mug, a Reed and Barton, silver plate razor, a small Stangl plate, a tall silver plate glass (thought it needed a bird’s nest) and an old pickle jar.

Three milk glass reticulated plates, one plain, one with birds, one with flowers, and a Fire King hot plate.

A penguin ice bucket with Bakelite handles and a Godinger crystal bowl.

Also got two, tall, wire plant stands.

After I left, I kept thinking I should’a got this or why didn’t I get that? But there was no going back. I also wondered what I missed if these were the things left. Not really things I’d usually buy, but still OK. So, I felt guilty about not going straight to the hospital and glad I went to the sale at the same time. Figured it gave them some more alone time – if there weren’t any other visitors, but I believe there were.

One last picture. Erin would kill me if she knew I was posting it, so I’ll make it a small one.

I know she won’t agree, but how can somebody look so good almost immediately after giving birth?! I sure didn’t look that good.

• March 26, 2013,
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Estate sale in Sylacauga, AL March 1-2

We’re conducting an estate sale in Sylacauga, AL

March 1-28-4
832 Pineview Ln.

It’s actually two combined estates. The late Dr. Steven Rudd and his parents’ estate. What’s there? Small household items. one mid mod bedroom suit, 3 hide-a-bed sofas, glass top dining table, roll top desk, other small pieces of furniture, household items, hundreds of books, many medical, CDs, DVDs, records from the 1960s-70s, lots of very nice mens clothing. 80 volumes of Medical Classics Library, other collectible books, Mont Blanc pens, watches, Renaissance items (chain mail hoods, helmets, shield, daggers), computer equipment and electronics…

By request of the estate, this is a cash only sale, so bring those dollar bills! If you’ve been to our sales before, you know we price to move it out. Lots of bargains. Saturday will be half price. Hope to see you there and tell us you saw it here!

• February 27, 2013,
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The Saga Of the Silver Aluminum Christmas Tree Comes To An End

Several years ago, 2007 to be exact, I told the story of my “ownership”, loss, and quest for another 6′, pompom, silver, aluminum Christmas tree. I won’t repeat it in detail, but you can read it here. I just reread it and it was a fun read, if I may say so myself! (That blog post was back in the day when I had a Blogger blog. Things haven’t been updated there in years.) In a nutshell, Momma had one, I hated it, wanted it later, thought I had it, but it was gold and not ours, and I’ve been on a quest ever since. This quest has gone on for 13 years.

Went to an estate sale Saturday. I only had time for one sale and I chose this one. Turned out, it was in the back yard and basement. Boxes were EVERYWHERE in the back yard. Boxes, and boxes and boxes. And boxes. And MORE boxes. People were leaning over, rummaging through. Now, I love to dig as much as the next junker, but not this time. The boxes weren’t just On the Ground, they were sitting in wet, sloppy, icky, cover your shoes MUD! Bleah! To make matters worse, you’d dig and come up with cheap, 1980′s decor. No, that combo, mud and ’80′s, really took the wind out of my sails. Besides, several friends had beat me and probably had found things of worth already. Quite discouraging.

I did get some old fabric and quilt tops and pieces and sewing paraphernalia. Who me? Sewing stuff? What a surprise! Ha! Then I realized the basement was open. You betch’a I made a beeline to the dry spot. Picked up a few more things. An old, oval, convex glass frame, a covered cake stand, can’t remember what else at the moment.

I was walking around, making sure I wasn’t missing anything when a joyful noise came from the heavens. The Angels sang. A light shown around a box. A box?

A nondescript, taped up, box. It was close to the basement entrance. Every single person there walked right past it several times. Including me. Perhaps they didn’t see the writing on top?

Oh, yeah. I grabbed that baby, hoping it wouldn’t be beyond my budget. When the seller saw it, she commented that it was such a pretty tree. They’d had it when she was a little girl. I asked how tall it was and she put her hand up above her head – about that tall. She thought about taking it home with her, but she was on a plane, blah, blah, blah. Whatever. Too bad, so sad. I WANT IT! But I still didn’t ask how much. We just tallied everything I had. I offered $10 less and we had a deal.

I still had not looked inside. It could have been some other crapola in there for all I knew. Maybe it just said silver tree. Two days later – Yup. I was able to contain myself for two whole days – I opened it. These pictures were taken as I was opening. How’s that for self restraint?

I held my breath, undoing the tape and my, my, it was taped real good. Finally it opened. Was it………..???

YES! It was!! The original box is still there, too. In pieces, but kept with the tree. I don’t know if I’m completely satisfied, though. The pompom ends aren’t as full and lovely as ours were.

So this one might be replaced sometime in the future. Or maybe not. After all, it has it’s own, fun story.

• February 13, 2013,
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First estate sale of the year for me

You know, here in the South, our sales don’t stop except for major holidays. They slow down, a lot, but don’t stop. I’ve got enough stuff in storage that I’m not actively hunting at the moment, but when an estate sale is 3 miles from my house, I can’t not go. I didn’t get out early to go. Actually showed up a couple of hours late. Judging by some of the things I got, I wonder just what I missed? Now, some of the things I bought are eye roll worthy. The only reason I can think of that made me put them in my stack was hunger. Hunger for a deal. But a 50¢ deal is 50¢ trashed if I can’t figure out what to do with it.

Here are pictures of The Stuff. Good and bad. And forgive the pictures. Some are not up to snuff. Trying out a new picture taking spot and lighting. There are so many pictures, to cut down load time, I used several thumbnails instead of full size pics. If there’s anything you’ve just got to see better, click on the picture to see a larger one.

Mid century magazine rack

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I can never remember which pieces of the Arnel’s mushroom series people want, so I tend to buy what I find. Haven’t hit gold yet.

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The ironstone pitcher in the back is marked DIXIE on the bottom. I thought that was cool. The little perfume bottle is shaped like an elongated strawberry and came in the little white case. There’s a tag that says France, but no other indication what the perfume is or anything. The other things were just in a box. Didn’t actually buy them on purpose.

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These flower pots are larger than they look in the picture. Six and eight inch-ers. I liked them because of the blue color that’s chipping off.

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I’ve always been attracted to vintage Christmas boxes. Thanks to Pinterest and Beth Leintz, I now know what I can do with them!

• February 4, 2013,
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A couple of MCM things I’ve found recently

I haven’t posted any finds lately, but that doesn’t mean there are none. It hasn’t been convenient to take pictures, the light hasn’t been right….. Yeah. OK. I’ve been lazy. I admit it. I do have a pretty big lazy streak.

Here are two of the things I’ve come home with lately. Thought I’d show them together since they’re from the same era and in the same genre. (Oooo! She used a fancy word!)

Found these burlap tumblers in a thrift store:

There were more, but the others had cracks. Usually what you find in these is cups with handles, but these are cup size with no handles.

This next item was found at another thrift store. There was an annoying lady looking at all the lamps, staying forever and I was about to turn around and cruise another aisle. Erin was with me and spotted this lamp. She simply pointed. The Heavens opened and the angels sang. I snatched and grabbed. Then thought to look at the price. Yes! It was doable. VERY doable!

The picture does it no favors. It’s stunning in person. Now, I know not everybody appreciates this style. I didn’t until maybe 10 years ago. I still don’t decorate with it, but do so wish I had enough rooms to have at least one mid mod room. I want to keep this lamp so bad!  – Badly? Which is correct? – But so far I haven’t found anywhere it can go. I suppose I could redo a whole room around it…. But remember that lazy streak? Yeah. It’d kick in, I’m pretty sure.

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I’ve made my first “official” post at the new blog, Just Vintage Home, about my new upcycled coffee table. Used to, we’d call it a make-do table. I’d love for you to pay a visit! I’m still working on getting a subscribe button on there. That really shouldn’t be so hard. But if you use Google reader and have the rss subscribe thingy in your browser, I’d appreciate the follow.

• January 8, 2013,
• 4 Comments,
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Happy New Year & 2013′s Grand Plans

Happy New Year card from 1947

Hope everyone’s Christmases and New Year’s celebrations were faaab-u-lous and that you got to spend them just the way you wanted. Either with family all around or quiet time alone. Maybe you were on a cruise ship somewhere or skiing in the mountains. However it was spent, we all have to come down and get back to work. Sigh.

My vacation’s ’bout over. I didn’t plan on taking a vacation. Didn’t go anywhere and wasn’t sick. Really wasn’t even all that busy. It just happened. When I realized I hadn’t done any internet work, Etsy or the blog, I just rolled with it. Decided to make it a complete Christmas vacation and determined that I’d get back to work Jan 2. Ack! That’s tomorrow! I’m not ready!

I wanted to tell y’all about some of our plans for the next year, both personally and for Just Vintage. First, there will be a blog change. I plan to take this blog back to its original intent. Junking. Sharing the finds and perhaps the business end of the… well, the business. We’re still tossing around the idea of reopening the shop for a few days a week, so there will be both shop and booth pictures.

I’ve been working on a new blog, Just Vintage Home, to cover home decorating, the crafting I’ll never be able to give up trying, the occasional recipe… you know. Homey stuff. We’ve got a few projects up our sleeves for the house. A couple of closet re-configurations, at least one room makeover and of course the usual little re-dos here and there. That blog will also have a store that has many things I can’t put on Etsy. Newer items and I’m hoping Capri Blue candles (The yummy candles Anthropologie sells, Aloha Orchid, Volcano). We plan to go to market in Atlanta in a couple of weeks. Of course there probably won’t be much money available to spend, so I don’t know what, if anything, I’ll come back with.

Ricky has his woodworking shop ready to rumble now, so there will be furniture being built and old furniture being made over. I hope I can get him to do some repurposed things as well.

In our personal life, our children will be adding two brand new people to the world in March and June. Our first grandchildren. It’s funny. Thirty years ago I envisioned me being a plump, grandmother, my gray hair in a bun, always with home baked cookies in the cookie jar, etc. The only thing I’ve nailed is the “plump” and I really, really, really want to get rid of that. As for the other things? Not gonna happen. What was I thinking?! OK. Maybe the cookies. But only if I know ahead of time they’re coming.

So there you have it. Those are some of the plans. Like resolutions, keeping them is the challenge. But if Ricky will get behind me and push, we’ll do fine.

• January 1, 2013,
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