I know why the caged bird sings...

I know why the caged bird sings...

 

 

 

Because she's at JunkFest...

 

 

 

waiting for you!

GIVEAWAY! Good Junk!

It's TIME!  Yeah, I know...we said when the blog reached 1000 followers.  Well, we can't take the anticipation any more....and seriously, don't you think blogs (although fun to look at) have taken a bit of a back burner to the convenience of Facebook.  And that's OK.

So....here we go!

Is this not the sweetest giveaway package???  Let's break it down.

The hammered spoon/hand stamped necklace was handmade by the talented Gretchen of Mimi-Toria's Designs.  She recreates from various vintage pieces and objects and her work is one of a kind.  She also does custom jewelry so give her site a look-see!

The adorable floral cup above...comes with the Organic Chai Tea below.  You'll be able to soothe away all your worries with this combo!

We're not done yet!  Two awesome magazines will come your way too!

 

We want to thank our VERY GENEROUS new friends for donating some of the prizes in our giveaway! Laura Caroon, Sarah McCurdy & Dan Nisbet of Midwest Junk fame donated the Midwest Junk Guide. It is a guide of 211 Vintage, Antique and Junk Stores and 26 Junkin Good Events located in North Dakota and Minnesota. It also has some junkin info and design ideas. Thanks Midwest Junk...You guys rock!
We would also like to thank our friends at FOLK magazine for donating a one year subscription. You will just adore the beautiful photography and inspiring ideas! Thanks, FOLK...We love you too!!

 

The first ever edition of Midwest Junk was created by three junk and treasure loving gurus and will guide you to all the best junk sales and vintage shops around the midwest.  The next issue is already in the works and will feature even more junk worthy stops for your roadtrips.  And a bonus...these pages also hold projects for you to try and good junk stories.

You will surely be able to melt an afternoon away with Folk magazine.  You'd better make a cup of Chai Tea before you sit down with this one!  And you'll be getting a YEAR SUBSCRIPTION!!

The pages within are purely drool worthy.  And contributing editors, like our friend Donna Williams of Funky Junk Interiors will keep your mind hopping on what projects to try next.

And MORE!  (no, not the dress form!)  Look at the beautiful scarf she's wearing.  It's new, but has the sweetest vintage appeal ever!

Won't you look great...wearing your vintage charm scarf, your sassy junk girl necklace and sipping tea...while you soak up some inspiration from Folk magazine and plan your next roadtrip with Midwest Junk!

So will you enter the giveaway????

You must comment on this blog post to be entered.  In your comment, we'd love to hear what colors your decorating with these days.  And if you've ever been to JunkFest and your favorite purchase or favorite thing about the day! 

 Here area some rules for entering:

1.  You will get one entry for commenting on this blog post. 

We prefer that you do not comment as "Anonymous", but if you must...you need to include your name and email please.  If you have your account set as "no-reply" email, you will also need to include your email address.

2.  If you are a follower on this blog, you will get 2 additional entries.  Please mention if you're a current or new follower!

3.  Watch our Facebook page.  You may be able to get some bonus entries there as well.  (a few people already did :)  )

4.  We will take comments/entries for about a week.  Hope you enter!!

READY.  SET.  GO!



Farm Implement Repurpose

On a farmstead visit a few weeks ago I found this interesting clip.  Just gotta say, I love old gagets and rusty stuff.

The farmer also had a few of these curved iron pieces he said came from a feed grinder.  My mind initially thought this would work to hold up my daisies in the garden.

However, the clip intrigued me.  It is quite large and my mind was turning and turning at the thought of what to do with it...

So, I dug out the Liquid Nails...love this stuff.

My narrow minded wine drinking brain realized a wine cork would fit snug as a bug in a rug in the clip....you totally know where I am going with this, don't you???

Next up was my buddy, polyurethane.  Great rust color comes alive with a spritz of it.  Both pieces got a good spray.

Here's the clip and wine cork ready to go...

Yep - my new WINE BOTTLE HOLDER and its embellishment!

You see, the curved piece can sit a couple different ways to hold wine bottles...this way or

this way.  Either is way cool.
It came together perfectly
with a little help from an farmer. 

Quite simply put, it's a marriage of perfect farm junk!

My heart goes all aflutter for birdcages. And how I made my birdcage chandelier.

There's just no denying it.  I have a thing for birdcages.

I try not to get my feathers ruffled about it (pun intented).

So, what, you might ask, does a junker do with a bird cage when there are no birds?

Well, make a chandelier of course!

I had this decorative cage hanging around the garage for a few years.  My keen-eyed-junk-lovin-sister gave it to me after spotting it at a garage sale.

It didn't have the rusty, aged and worn patina that I generally am drawn to so I bypassed it several times for other projects.  I knew it would be safe, right there in the garage.

Longing to have a chandelier in my bathroom, I finally turned to the lonely birdcage.  It had a light and airy look about it that I thought just might suit this project perfect.

I gathered up some bling from my stash, hanging crystals

(fake crystals, because fake = more $ left for other junk)

and some shiny Christmas garland I hadn't used in awhile.

I had a light kit from a paper lantern store.  They are super easy to use when transforming unexpected things into light fixtures.

I forced the cord to hang straight with a highly technical wrap method and some wire.  ;)

Then wrapped the cord in burlap ribbon.  Gotta love burlap!

Once I got the cord all tucked nice and neat in the burlap, I realized I had not added anything to actually "hang" the chandelier from.  I don't like using the cord to support the weight of a project, even if it's light. 

So I used a flyswatter super secret junker's tool to fish some jute twine through the burlap and secured to the top of the birdcage.

Notice all the bling?  It's maybe a bit much for me...I'm more of a burlap and rust kind of gal, but I'll give it a chance.

There she is...all pretty and shiny.  After trying a few different bulbs, I settled on one with low wattage, so it can be left on as a nightlight for those middle of the night bathroom visits.

What do you think?  Too blingy?

Now, you didn't think that proclaiming my love for birdcages meant I only had one, did you?

Here are a few more that have made their way around my home.

Isn't that a sweet pulley to hang another birdcage light fixure in my laundry/sewing/diy room?!

I've been waiting to do a before and after post on organizing this room. 

 Like that's gonna happen.

And this, my dear friends, is the sweet romantic corner where my husband and I enjoy a glass of wine and share our daily stories.

Hahahahahahaha.

What do you use your birdcages for?

Considering the JunkFest Friday Evening Event? What you need to know.

 The 2012 JunkFest Friday Evening Event will be held Friday, September 7th,

from 6:00pm-8:00pm.

Tickets go on sale for this event on July 28, 2012.

$35

On or after July 28, you can order your tickets by emailing Missy at:

hafner5@daktel.com or call 701-653-5707

(sorry, tickets will no longer be held without payment if the limited quantity has been reached)

There is a limited quantity, so once they are sold out...sorry folks, no more will be available.

A portion of the ticket proceeds will be given to a local family who's three sons have all been recently diagnosed with PKAN, a very rare genetic disease.

See a news clip HERE.

See their facebook page HERE.

Here are some tidbits from last year, and what you can expect to enjoy this year as well.

Browse and shop the JunkFest building.

Hor d'oeuvres to make your mouth water!

Refreshments to quench the shoppers thirst.  (Sorry folks, no alcohol this year.)

 Doorprizes!  And a gift for attending!

Happy smilin' faces (ok, tired, but happy smilin' faces)!

 Sales associates available to assist you.

  

And Junk Hunk's to help you carry your heavy purchases! 

So, you should bring your sister, and your Mom, and a few of your friends!

Because you might just find something you can't live without!

And whether you get a ticket to the Friday Event or not...consider attending the Main Event on Saturday.  Gates open at promptly 9am, and there will be something for everyone!