YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH 'BARN SALES'!

You'd think I'd have my fill of Barn Sales, Junk Events, Occasional Sales, or whatever else offers a chance to peruse my favorite pastime - looking for junky finds!! NOT YET! On Saturday I joined the throngs of junkoholics at an occasional Barn Sale over near Holland, IA. It's an event held monthly that I've been wanting to go to for ages! It wasn't a very nice day weather wise, though! Heavy rain earlier in the morning and high winds. Oh, well! Adverse conditions have never stopped me before! Had I known I'd be traveling over gravel roads - now that's another thing altogether! Rain + gravel roads = mud on the truck! Not a fan of either one!!

Two tone truck - red & mud!

I started out going very slow, trying to be careful so only the bottom part of my truck would get dirty. But when an on-coming vehicle whizzed by showering me with a full-blown mud bath, I figured what the hey - might as well chuck that idea and hurried on down the road! GOOD GRIEF! I was horrified at how badly the truck looked! Like I'd been 4-wheelin' on the back roads!

Anyhoo.... my anticipation of getting to the farm was somewhat dampened by the mud all over my truck, but it was soon regained full force when I saw all the displays of old farmhouse furnishings and fall decor!! Many vendors filled several outbuildings with their vast assortments of items. Colorful pumpkins, some with bumpy, peanut-like growths all over, and brilliant colored gnarly gourds covered the ground around one vendor. She had some gorgeous magenta cockscomb, too, that looked like soft velvety ruffles.

Then I finally made my way to the BARN!

It was like eye-candy everywhere I looked! Outside there was an eclectic mix of rusty, crusty metal things, vintage outdoor furniture, farm tables, old fence gates, old bikes and a bench made from an old headboard. The main level had nice displays of painted furniture pieces incorporating home decor accessories, neat old windows, pendant lights made from galvanized metal farm items, old garden gates, stacks of vintage suitcases in every nook and cranny, chippy painted shutters, and lots of big decorative picture frames waiting to become something unique and fun!

Sorry - bad cell phone photo!

Upstairs was chock full of more stuff! Several vendors had their own areas where they displayed their vast array of fabulous finds! So many things to see! These gals are so very creative and talented! Snuggled back in the corner was a cute little lunch counter that served pannini's and a scrumptious variety of cupcakes! I resisted the temptation to taste, but they looked absolutely decadent! My waistline will thank me for my utmost control!

In case you were wondering - Yes, I did buy something - another project to work on! Which you will hopefully see soon - or as soon as I figure out how to get the vision of what I want to do, to actually turn INTO what I want! You know what I mean?

I can't think of a better way to spend a damp Saturday afternoon! Do you have a favorite fun-filled pastime?

Happy Trails to You Until We Meet Again!

XOXOX

SHOW ME SOME LOVIN'

Over the years I've picked up a lot of furniture pieces that have been so badly abused it's really SAD it really makes me MAD! Why would someone purposely damage, misuse, destroy, and then abandon a once beautiful and loved piece of furniture?? Some people have no respect for older items that they have no use for, whether they're priceless antiques or handed down from a loving family member. Give it to the kids and let them do whatever to it! Imagine this once beautiful vanity:

A vintage Waterfall vanity that includes a large round mirror - missing the middle drawer - like how could you LOSE a drawer? Uh, dunno how that happened!

I LOVE YOU -- are you KIDDING ME??? Obviously you don't LOVE this vanity so much. Probably scratched into the surface by some love-smitten pre-teen!

Yeah, happiness happens! Didn't you have any PAPER to write on??

Anyhoo..... I digress! I've seen furniture pieces in much worse condition and this doesn't stop me from wanting to take them, repair all those boo boos, and make them feel REALLY LOVED and beautiful once again! And so, this vanity will be my next victim project piece. I'll let you see how it turns out - later!

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Now, here are some recent transformations that are now on display in my space .....

BEFORE:

Drab lamptable in need of an update!

AFTER:

Oh, this turned out SWEET!

Love the detail on the shade! What a perfect match!

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BEFORE:

 

Older sewing machine cabinet - who uses these things anymore?

AFTER:

Now it's a writing desk - okay, who writes anymore? So it could be a cute table, then!

Vintage-y looking paper applied to the top so you don't see where the sewing machine used to be!

Hope you are feelin' the LOVE!

Until next time......... XOXOX!

Junk Bonanza!

Last weekend I went to Shakopee, MN to the junker's paradise, 'Junk Bonanza'! http://junkbonanza.com/. If you've never been there, you are missing out on a fun fantastic junk event! It was my first time, and let me tell you, it was a treat for the eyes and the imagination! Everywhere you look, there's great STUFF! 

Every one of the vendor's displays were so well-done. They really know how to attract attention to their unique and unusual items. It takes an artisic, creative mind to make a display interesting as well as show off the merchandise!

 Whoo-ee! There's A LOT OF CRAZY 'JUNKERS' at these events!

I'm so glad I went! It was the perfect way to spend a perfect Fall day! I can't wait for the next junk event! Maybe I'll see YOU there!

  

XOXOX

OUTTA THE WAY SUMMER ....... FALL IS ON ITS WAY!

Are you like me - almost dreading the oncoming fall season? Yeah, it'll bring cooler temperatures, but it also means that before long winter will be upon us. Am I jumping too far ahead??? Just sayin' - I'd like to enjoy a few more weeks of summer before giving it up!

That being said ............... there is one good thing about this time of year! More flea markets and junky events!! YAY!  I've vowed to try to go to more some of them, since I didn't go to ANY last year!! GASP! I know! Can you believe it?? I found some goodies at the flea market I recently attended in Oronoco, MN along with other stuff from local garage sales. Here's how they turned out!

This vanity was minus the mirror, but it still had lots of potential.

Pretty in Pink! She's so flirty now! I love the color. It looks like pink cotton candy! I used a white-wash finish to tone down the pink and give her more of a 'frosted' glow.

 

Opps! No before photo, but this antique mirror had some major fracture in the frame, which I mended and painted her all up in a beautiful sky blue. A soft touch of distressing covered with a white-wash finish gave it more of a chalky, milk paint appearance. Very nice!

Here's a fun piece! An antique magazine holder turned mod! Marigold yellow - doesn't that sound better than just plain old yellow? It would look good in any decor!

Hmmm - I've got to start remembering to take before shots! Anyhoo...this previously non-descript coffee table has been transformed with a lot of white paint, distressing, and finishing paste wax, hand buffed to give it that soft, smooth sheen. Just like a baby's butt!! I added new drawer pulls to give it a much needed update.

Here's a shot of my space. It's still lookin' kinda bare, but I've got several projects now to work on so hopefully I can get it back in shape and filled with some new and exciting pieces in no time!

This is just one pile of stuff that I've got in the works!! Ha! You say! What can you possibly do with rusty old buckets?? Well, my doubting friends....just wait and you shall see!!

Enjoy your Labor Day weekend!

XOXOX



Gold Rush Days

I've always wanted to go to the Gold Rush Days in Oronoco, MN ever since I first read about it! So last weekend, when I found out it was being held that weekend, I knew I just had to go! 1200 vendors with tons of junky stuff! I decided that maybe staying overnight would be fun, and I'm so glad that I did. I got my junk fix!!

 

Perfectly imperfect vintage furniture!

 

 

Fun, shabby chic stuff!

 

     

 

 

 

Rusted, crusted, junky finds!

 





Beautiful wicker pieces!

 



Truckload of old chippy-painted furniture and hen nesters!

  



Presentation by Sue Whitney of JunkMarket Style.

 

 

When I got there on Friday afternnon, I thought I'd check it out first. I was amazed to see how many vendors were crammed into this tiny little town! I got up early the next morning to do some serious shopping!

 

My attention span is that of a flea, so you can imagine how I could get easily distracted at an event like this! My head was spinning! I found a few things that I could turn into treasures, but I came away with a whole lotta new ideas!!

 

Of course, there were numerous food vendors, too! Just about anything you could possibly want to eat was here! My favorite?  You haven't tasted a true ice cream sandwich, until you've had one of Mama Meg's Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches! 2-DIE-4!!

 

I'm ready to go on another Junk Flea Market adventure! How about YOU?

 

Happy Trails to You!



XOXOX

Movin' Right Along!

Poof! Here it is into August already! It's been a busy summer trying to keep my space filled up and here's some new things that I've been working on .....

BEFORE

Oak TV cabinet 

AFTER

 

 

I painted the cabinet white, added bead board to the back, and an old church hymnal rack on the side to hold olive oil decantors, cookbooks, and dish towels! I put it on casters for ease in moving it around. It could easily be used as a kitchen island or for extra storage.

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This was a trash rescue! It was missing a couple of rungs, which I replaced with chair spindles from my wood stash. I added burlap from a coffee bean sack for a new seat covering. It's useful once again!



A plain small wood accent table is transformed into a charming painted beauty! The carved rose decor around the edge is ehanced by light distressing. A French postal graphic from the Graphics Fairy sets off the table top.

Can't you just feel the moist salty air on your face? Everyone should have a beach house! I used an old knotty pine cabinet door for this sign and heavily distressed vintage boat colors to give it a weathered look.



 

 

I'll be working of this little wooden rockin', buckin' horse. I'm thinking that it will be perfect for some tiny cowboy or cowgirl. I'll have AFTER photos in the next post. I promise!

 

Here's a BEFORE picture:

Kid's wooden rocking horse 'painted' with black magic marker! 

 

I love old windows! I love the diamond pattern on this one. The window was in really good condition - all it needed was a little cleaning. I added the vinyl lettering that I had in my stash to make it more special.

 





I did several more projects in a rush to get put into my space and in my haste, I failed to take the time to photograph them! That's what I get for trying to hurry things up!! Those pieces have already been sold!

"Haste makes waste" - my Mom used to say. I guess she was right - this time!

Make the best of YOUR time!!

Until next time ...............

XOXOX

On a Roll!

Whoo-ee! It's been a scorcher this Summer! I'm not complaining, though! I'd rather have hot, than freezing cold, any day! In between gardening, yard work, and pulling weeds, I've been busy keeping my space at Barn Happy filled up! Here's a few of the things that I've been working on:

BEFORE:

6-sided end table - throw-back from the early 80's!

AFTER:

Curbside find after a little paint and whimsical graphics!

I love this antique buffet sideboard! I got it in CO and it was in pretty rough shape. (see 'before' pictures on previous blog) Thanks to Richard, he made it sturdy again! It rained on the trip back, and even though it was well covered, the veneer got wet on the doors and lifted. I had to make repairs using techniques Richard had shown me a long time ago. And he thinks I don't ever pay attention!! It turned out great!

CHAIRS, CHAIRS, AND MORE CHAIRS!

Old wooden desk or teacher's chair - BEFORE

WILD AND WACKY - AFTER!

Pretty upholstered chair with wooden arms. ('before' photo on previous blog) I like the vintage looking fabric.

I added a tiny eyelet ruffle trim - so dainty!

Fun turquoise chair with t-shirt covered seat and matching pillow! Tres' Chic!

Love the detailed legs on these dining chairs! I used burlap coffee bean sacks for the seat covers. Burlap is my new favorite fabric!

I threw this one in just for fun! It was a curbside find that needed to be 're-built'! (see 'before' pic in previous blog) Quite the challenge for this 'non-carpenter'! Some things should just be left on the curb for the trashman! Anyhoo .. it's a conversation piece and quite comfortable to boot!

Speaking of BURLAP ... I made several table runners of different styles.

I got this BURLAP coffee bean sack in Hawaii at the Kona Farmer's Market! I thought it would be appropriate as the liner in this Farmer's Market cart! Fun & Useful!

Candle holders made out of vintage porch rail spindles and rusty, crusty, metal thing-a-ma-jigs! Perfect setting for Shabby Chic burlap table runner!

Great way to display wine corks! I'm not a wine connoisseur - I choose wine by their pretty labels! 

Okay, that's it for now! There are lots more projects that I didn't photograph, but you get the idea! Stay tuned for new creations coming soon!

So, until next time ..... KEEP ON JUNKIN'!!

XOXOX

On The Road, Again!

For those of you who think I'm 'missing-in-action', you're not far off! I was running low on inventory and potential projects and I was coming up empty-handed at my usual treasure haunts! So-o-o-o, I decided I'd better hit the road in search of some unique junky finds!

I hit pay dirt in Colorado - my favorite place to be!! Not only because my daughter and her husband live there and I get to stay whenever and however long I want!! We went "sale-ing" one day and filled the truck up with some goodies! Here's a shot of one particularly interesting piece:

I spotted this beauty at a moving sale. It was in reasonably good shape, but a little wobble-y and in need of some TLC! Perfect!

My son-in-law, Richard, is a GENIUS and TALENTED in so many ways, and he can fix anything! Lucky  for me! ( I sure miss having him around to help me when I'm back home!!) Anyhoo ... he worked his magic on this sideboard! With a lot of gluing, some straightening, and reinforcing, it turned out as sturdy as it was when it was new! Now all I'll have to do is decide what color to paint it when I get it back to my place! Like most guys, Richard always cringes when I say I'm going to PAINT over nice wood! But, hey! A little makeup and glitz can turn a plain-Jane into a glamour girl!! THANKS, RICHARD FOR ALL YOUR HELP!!

I'll be back home sometime soon and ready to crank out some great looking things you're gonna LOVE!!

Until then, I'll have the radio blastin' and singin' along to the oldies on the lookout for even more junky finds!!

HAPPY TRAILS FROM THE ROAD!

XOXOX