She's just another Junk Girl!

Hello JunkFest readers! I'd like to introduce you to my latest WIP (work in progress). She's not quite finished yet, but I couldn't wait to share her with you! While dress forms are certainly not a new concept, the vintage forms with the wire cages seem to be quite popular and highly sought after. They are very hard to come by in our area, so when I saw this one at a tag sale, I literally lunged after her and held on for dear life! Not sure why, as I was the only one at the sale!


Many would have turned and walked away at the mere sight of her, but I knew she had great potential. I'm not sure about her history, but I do believe she's been around the block more than once! Or quite possibly in a cat fight or two? I'm fairly certain one previous owner tried to cover her flaws with spray paint, but aborted the mission halfway through.

After peeling off as much of the paint-hardened fabric that was left on the bodice, I used a spray adhesive and some quilt batting to re-shape her. Much better, don't you think?

I had several options for recovering the body, but I chose decoupaging with old book pages. I hate the thought of destroying or altering classic works, but since I had two copies of "A Romance of Two Worlds" I decided I could part with one.

I have not read this book, but I liked the title and the discoloration of the pages.

In between coats of Mod Podge, I decided to do a little online research about the story. I was quite surprised to find that it wasn't as "romantic" as the title led me to believe! If you've read the book, then you know what I mean...

Anywho, like I said before, she's a work in progress. I've got some more tricks up my sleeve for further adornment before she makes her debut at JunkFest.

Read here about my first dress form purchase, Marguerite. She's doing well, thank you.

I could use your help in naming this one. Perhaps we could all read the book and get a feel for "who she is?" Okay, gotta run...she's pretty, but not quite ready!

Linked to: SNS #28

Where have all the Junk Girls gone...?

source: flickr

Where have all the Junk Girls gone? Long time passing....(sung to the tune of 'Where Have All The Flowers Gone?') Tell me you've heard the song before!

You may wonder where the JunkFest girls have been (again)? We've been busy....crankin' out the goods for this year's sale! The proof's in the picture, and NO, those are NOT pigs in blankets! What are they, you say? Well, you'll just have to swing out to JunkFest '10 for a look-see! Hope to see ya there!

JunkFest & Flea Market Saturday, September 11, 9:00am to 3:00pm....bring your friends, and bring a trailer, 'cause this ain't your grandma's garage sale!

Alpha-what?

Hey everybody...today I'm linking up to Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday. If you've never read Jenny's blog, now's the time to head over and check her out. Each week she hosts a link party in alphabetic form, and this week she's on the letter "N." Your post can be about anything, or nothing...but must somehow be related to the letter "N." Of course each week the alphabet changes! And since my previous post was about Nests, and Nice Boys (did you read it?) I thought it appropriate to link up to Jenny. Please take the time to go meet Jenny....you'll love her. She can have you laughing hysterically and crying like a baby....all in one post! Frankly, she's a little Nuts. That's why I love her!

Taking flight...

This past weekend, my daughter and I were visiting my parents' farm. It was a beautiful sunny spring day, so we decided to take a walk down a little prairie road that leads to a creek. This is not an unusual occurrence. I spent many childhood hours on that prairie road, either by foot or by bike...occasionally on horseback. Every trip I've taken down it as an adult is full of nostalgia. I'm swept back to another time...a very easy, carefree time, where as a child, I was unaware of life's stresses...I had my parents and my siblings (all 5 of them!) to rely on.
There are always treasures to be found alongside this little road, or near the creek, or even in the adjacent pasture. Sparkly rocks...weathered wood. Sometimes we get lucky enough to catch the crocuses blooming in all their spring glory. On this particular day I came across the tiniest little nest...with remnants of pale blue egg shells in the bottom.
I picked up the nest, which had obviously been abandoned...it's purpose having been served. As I wondered about the baby birds, I couldn't help but think about some other "babies" leaving their nests. High school graduation will soon be here, and my three junk sisters are preparing to send their babies off into this big old world.

I know this happens every year to millions of parents and their children. It's a bittersweet occasion. But these three graduates have turned out to be fine young men with very promising futures. Some of you may know them. If you've ever been to JunkFest, chances are you saw them there. These are our cream-of-the-crop "junk hunks." None of them had to be there....they certainly weren't being paid...unless you call a free lunch "payment." They were there because they believed in what their Mothers were doing. They even brought their friends along to help. They did what was asked of them with smiles on their faces....not a single complaint.

Casey

Colin

Devan

I wish these young men the best in their future endeavors. I know they'll go far. And my hat goes off to the parents that gave them their wings and encouraged them to fly.

Meant to be.

Anyone that's been to JunkFest knows. If you didn't get in the door when the ribbon was cut you might have missed it. Missed what? Well, purt near everything! Within a few hours the scenery changes by quite a bit, as happy shoppers gleefully envision their new prize in their home or garden.


But...there are a few things...a few lost little pieces that don't get adopted on JunkFest Day. So sad. Such is what happened to these two lonely souls. The simple cloche made sweet with a broken marble doorknob on top, and the empty (but not without grand potential) gold frame. Can you see them?


Never fear. I am not disappointed you see, as selling items at JunkFest is often bittersweet for us. Because as true junkers....WE also love all those items too!!! So the lost is found...the cloche and frame have found their place.


Fumbling through a songbook for odds and ends "placemats" I swept across a song entitled "Gentle Annie". It immediately brought visions of my Grandmother Anna (Annie to most) to mind...the sweetest, most gentle, soft hearted woman I ever knew. I smiled inside and knew this sheet was not be be used as a surface protector. Flipping a few pages farther, the most astonishing thing came before my eyes. A song entitled "They All Love Jack"! My Grandfather's name was John (Jack by all his friends) and he was truly a well liked and very much a fun loving man!!


Finding those two songs in the same book felt like they were meant to be together...just like my Grandparents, who had been married for 63 years, 3 months, and 18 days, and when they passed, did so within months of each other.


A copy of their wedding photo in sepia tone blended nicely with the aged sheet music. Who said frames needed to be filled with paintings, when they can simply be filled with things we love.


The cloche also found it's place near the large frame. Sitting upon a metal do-dad, and again sheet music as a "placemat". I played with a few ideas for what to put in the cloche, starting with my Grandmother's garden gloves and Grandfather's hanky. They were a good match to the Grandparent "theme" I had going on but didn't seem quite right in the cloche.


Then I tried a sweet little tree my sister brought me from Brazil. It also looked good in the cloche but maybe wasn't exactly the fit for this time around.


Then I remembered I had recently picked up a happy little bluebird at a convenience store of all places. With spring in the air and the mix of colors atop the sheet music...this was the perfect fill for the cloche for this display.


I love how my area turned out, it brings a smile to me as I pass by. Maybe our junk shoppers will see the junk in a different way this year, knowing the possibilities are endless when incorporating "junk" into a display in your own home. Will these two items be back on the block at JunkFest 2010? We'll just have to see.

Linking to SNS #52 Check it out!!

We want YOU!

JunkFest 2010 is fast approaching, and this year's Flea Market promises to be better than ever! Want to be part of the action? Vendor spaces are still available, but they're selling fast!


Come and spend the day with us on Saturday, September 11, 2010 in Carrington, North Dakota. You'll find food, music, and fun at the best 6-hour sale this side of Foster County! From antiques & collectibles, rusty junk, hand-crafted wares, and soup to nuts, we welcome all inquiries. For vendor information, email Lynette at caylor@daktel.com.

Hope to see you there!

A Stylin' Centerpiece

Today's Link: Centerpieces! Check out Donna over at

Funky Junk Interiors SNS

for more great centerpiece ideas!Here are a few odd junk pieces put together for a stylin' centerpiece...or at least a fun and funky one!

I bought a meat grinder for $2 at a rummage sale but was really only interested in the different inserts...I knew they'd be fun holding a candle.But the more I looked at them, I thought the light would be neat peeking through the holes. Then I looked around and found a canning jar holder and a disc spacer. My centerpiece was coming together!

Added flowers and a little embellishing is a must-have.

The extra candle I had didn't go to waste. An added number and base (a zink lid from a mason jar) added a little more fun...this centerpiece is all ready for spring!