Long Live the Queen!

I've mentioned our friend Gretchen on this blog in the past, and today I wanted to show you one of her recent works of art. Gretchen designs jewelry out of vintage costume jewelry and found items. Recently, she has come up with some very creative, clever, and funky rings. The necklace shown below features a pocket watch medallion with the word "Queen" in it as the focal point. Check out the vintage dice, wooden checker, and sweet little bird...."surprise" elements!

There are many others out there crafting jewelry out of buttons and other found objects, but none quite like the work of Gretchen's, a.k.a. Mimi Toria's Designs. She and Lani from Cottage Elements are embarking on a wonderful adventure, all beginning tomorrow with the opening debut of the French Flea occasional marketplace in Anoka, MN. If you are anywhere in the vicinity, you really must check this out! Gretchen and Lani will be joining several other equally talented women to offer their French-themed vintage items, architectural salvage, and home decor at twice-monthly sales. Visit either blog to get shop info. and future sale dates. You won't be disappointed!

Here's a shot of my great new necklace, shown on Marguerite Joni....that's right, she now has a name. How'd I come up with that? Even though I loved all the suggestions you all gave, I decided on this because Marguerite is the name of my Dad's cousin...it has such a worldly sound to it, don't you think? And Joni? Well, that's easy.....that's my sister's name and she told me to name her that!

Weekend treasures...

I know, I know...it's not the weekend anymore. The week is more than half over but quite frankly, I was too pooped to post till now. Do you mind if I share just a little taste of my weekend wares?
LOOK CLOSE....SAYS CARRINGTON, ND!!! I know it's a weight, but I wish I knew more about it!!

"Spring Fling" Culinary Event

Welcome to the Putnam House! This beautiful home, built in 1907 by Thomas Putnam for his family, has had many owners over the past century. A few years ago the Carrington Historical Society stepped in and purchased the home which is preserved by them as a cultural center for the entire comunity to enjoy.

Many events are held at the Putnam House which is conveniently located on Carrington's Main Street. Quarterly culinary dinners are hosted here by the twenty-four person Carrington Culinary Club, of which my hubby and I are members of.

Since it was our turn to cook, I thought I'd share a few pictures from last night's "Spring Fling" event. A great time was had by all!

I was in charge of the appetizers...they turned out great! I told the gals I'd take care of the decorations too...the old tool box filled with flowers, old garden tools and my new topiary added to the spring flare!

Cooks in the kitchen assembling the salad. Love the hats, girls!

Here's Alison, Coordinator of the Putnam House, a culinary member and my good friend.

Here are the cooks! Myself, Laurel, Joyce and Ann. Springy clothes and of course, spring hats.

My hubby made the pork loin (which was done on his NEW grill) - it turned out awesome! Ann's husband and mine helped serve the Pomegranate Champagne Punch, assorted specialty beers, welcomed the other culinary members and were our servers for the evening.

I didn't take the best picture of the dinner table, but this will give you an idea. I brought in my fig tree, rusty birdcage, grates, bricks, flowers...rusty birds...you get the picture...
had to "junk" it up, of course! :)


Ann's Roasted Asparagus with Cherry Tomatoes and Garlic
was truly fantastic and oh, so colorful.

Here's a close up of my appetizer spread...Beef Tenderloin Canapes with Cucumber Sauce, Shrimp Salsa and Fruit Kabobs with Orange Sauce...yummy!

Hope you've enjoyed the pictures. I'm going to throw my feet up

on the couch now today...I'm exhausted!

Evidently men have obsessions too...

My husband had to run to Fargo yesterday for a medical check up, and I really wanted to go with him but was unable to.

At this point I need to tell you he’s quite obsessive about a few things (yeah, just like me). He likes a clean garage, but that hasn’t been possible since the Junk Fest craze started five years ago. He also obsesses about our yard and in particular, the lawn. He loves to apply fertilizer and chemical concoctions for the maximum weed-free, thickest and greenest lawn possible. And yet, probably the biggest obsession he has is his charcoal grill. He loves to grill (and sit outside and gaze at the yard while grilling). A few years ago we mutually decided to throw out the flaring gas grill which had ruined fifteen years of meat (his words, not mine), and buy a charcoal one. Every year since then he has bought a new one…you know, bigger and better. I’ve never said anything because he never says anything about what I buy (or how crushed he really is with the current condition of the garage).

Last year’s grill purchase was a very large one, and I remember thinking…good, he’s finally found “the one”. I was even sorta excited for him. But apparently, unknown to me, it wasn’t big enough.

I jumped in the van this morning to go to work, glanced behind me and my eye caught a glimpse of a colorful box in the back end…..what the?! ....don’t tell me...!

You guessed it. A new purchase made while in Fargo. Notice it's the "Pro Deluxe" model...geez Louise... But remember, I ain’t sayin’ a word….

Because...THIS is our garage...well, my side...his side looks worse.

Eye Candy...

Here are some more shots from our recent junking adventure...love the visual appeal of all these things. Enjoy!

Really? Us? An award?

The wonderful ladies over at Funky Junk Sisters have presented us with our very first award! A big thanks to Linda Albers and Dixie DeRocher for this huge compliment! If you've never seen their blog before, head on over there now and take a look.

Like everything in life there are rules to this award! And here they are:

1) List 7 things you love.

2) Link to the person/blog that sent you the award.

3) Choose 7 more bloggers to pass the award to.

4) Comment on those 7 blogs to let the recipients know you've chosen them.

Here are the seven things we love:

1. Our faithful followers....LOVE, LOVE, LOVE you!

2. Rust!

3. Chippy, time-worn patinas.

4. Sales....estate, garage, occasional sales, flea markets....

5. Polyurethane.

6. Chocolate....and of course wine...to wash it down.

7. The unconditional love and support we've come to rely on from our bras, families, and volunteers that help us to make it all happen!

Hard as we try, sometimes we just can't stick to the rules! There are so many bloggers out there that we love, we couldn't limit ourselves to just seven! Here are just a few we love:

1. Candy at Junk Sophisticate

2. Gretchen at Mimi Toria's Designs

3. Lani at Cottage Elements

4. Theresa at Time Worn Interiors

5. Kathy at Sylvia's Vintage Daughter

6. Darcie at Quilting by Darcie

7. Urban Farmhouse

8. Layla at The Lettered Cottage

9. Mindy at Primitiques 'N Poetry

Please be sure to check out each of these sites....they've been great inspiration to us!

"De-purposed" junk!

You're familiar with the terms de-ice, defrost, decompress? In each action verb you're "un-doing" something. I checked with Webster's New World dictionary from 1982 (yes, my most up-to-date edition) and was unable to find "de-purpose" but for all practical reasons here today I'm declaring it a word, unless Webster has done so since the 80's. Why, you say? Because today I found this outside...it was once a garden angel made out of salvaged metal and an old wooden finial. Junk...it was repurposed junk. It is now "de-purposed," and this is just how I found her. Somebody has some 'splainin to do.

If you look closely, you'll see that whoever dismantled my angel also took a big bite out of the fence. And, you can't see it here, but there are tire tracks in the vicinity that very closely match those of our snow blower.

This is the kind of thing that keeps us junkers working. This is why we have to keep doing what we're doing.....because someone out there keeps un-doing it! Yes, she's been degraded, defiled, deformed, defaced and is now defective...but she deserves another chance and will be repurposed into something useful, decorative, delightful, and once again devine! Stay tuned for the re-purpose. And...if you're so inclined, send me some great ideas for her!!

COMMENT...I dare you!!!

It's Prom time! Would you believe that three of the four JunkGirls have a son going to prom tonight??!! We all have sons the same age in the same grade and I would bet chances are slim to none that we'll ever see them all dressed up in tuxes and cuff links at the same time again! (Except maybe at next years prom.) ...and Lynette was the bravest MOM...taking on the task of organizing the event!! I just know it will be fabulous!

Now, on to the meaning of my title...since discovering and entering the world of blog, the four of us couldn't be more giddy! We can't wait to get to a computer at all times of the day and night just to check for a new post from each other. And the best part...the sweet comments we get. We watch the real time ticker and are in awe at the hits from literally all over! And we just added our hit counter a couple weeks ago and it amazes us how many new hits there are every day. Evidently we aren't the only ones eager to get to our computers!

Now, I'd like to throw out a challenge...I see all those locations and the curiosity kills me....I would love to hear from more of you and lets be friends. Tell me a little about yourselves. Do you have a junk sale, a booth, a store? Or do you just love junk??? Can't wait to hear from you!!!

A taste of spring, a metal thing, and a project.

I picked up these heavy duty industrial metal light fixtures at a thrift shop recently. They're fairly sizable, measuring about 18" across and 15" high. (guessing a little there) The metal is finished in white with just a few dings to add patina. What transformation do YOU think is right for these? I would love your opinions.

Here's a little peek at a project in the works at my house. Just a peek. You like? I will post the finished product when the time comes.

Giveaway!

Ever seen these fabulous ceramic spheres with numbers and letters on them? Here's your chance to win some! Head over to see Holly at HomebodyHolly's and leave her a comment for your chance to win. Please tell her you read about it here! Thanks and good luck! Oh, and don't be mad, but I'm gonna win them!

My turn! Part 3.

It was a very eventful weekend for the JunkGirls! Of course I'm still drooling over everyone elses great junk finds (junker's envy). But here are a few finds of my own...

Enjoy a peek at some of my weekend junk treasures.

Rusty, chippy, old and metal...can't go wrong here.

Aren't these white pots sweet? And I just love the old handmade brooms! After I tucked these in the bottomless birdcage for a photo, I was slightly impressed with myself for the little "arrangement" I had come up with. So I simply slid the birdcage, pots and all back on the countertop to enjoy as spring approaches. Besides, this will surely draw attention away from the toast crumbs on the counter!

Something junky, something blue.

I really thought this rusty cage was TWEET! It'll be even tweeter with a cute little potted plant inside.

We had a great junk bonding weekend, scored some awesome junk finds, met some new junk friends, found a few new good spots to visit and to sum up the weekend....SUPERB!!

Score! Part 2...

On our recent Junk trip, I found a few treasures of my own! I've always wanted an old vintage typewriter and this one was small plus it was in great shape. I love her!

I almost broke my neck grabbing the tag off this cool chair. The picture really doesn't show how neat the rusty patina actually is....love this! Should it be outside? Yeah, probably, but for now I'll enjoy it in my family room.

This old scale is HEAVY, but pretty fun holding soaps and t.p. in my half bath. By the way, the half bath is going to get a much needed makeover soon...stay tuned for that blog in a couple weeks.

Truly LOVE my new topiary! Don't you love the metal numbered tag?! Even looks like real dirt in the pot! Did you think it was a real plant?

You had to know I'd come home with yet another grate...this one came out of a floor. The box looking part is actually the metal casing still attached to the grate. This will probably go outside this summer to display a garden statue.

Last but not least, this neat iron table will be adorable on my back patio. Don't despair fellow junk lovers, I found lots of other neat stuff that'll be SOLD at Junk Fest!