Friday, November 18, 2016

Mail Box Organizer Project, Mud room organizer, Keys and such



 This project is something I've been wanting to do for awhile now.  It's fairly simple but did require a few tools.

 

The mail box I used did not have the hooks below that a lot of old mail boxes have. If it did, those hooks might have been all that was needed and you could have just hung the box up and been done with it. 

 But my hubby has several cars (classic) and several sets of keys, so having up to 6 hooks is a bonus.  I cut a piece of wood so that it would fit in the bottom of the mail box.  I then drilled 3 holes and screwed in my double hooks. That is all that was needed.  

For added interest and functionality , you could paint the mail box and or add vertical wood pieces to make compartments inside. 
Just one of my projects designed to bring some organization to my mud room.

Brand new issue of Flea Market Style Magazine
Now available for Immediate Shipping.
get it before it even hits the stores.

*************************************************

 An All New Never-Before-Seen 
2016 - 2017
 issue of
Flea Market Style Magazine.
 
Click photo or here for ordering information

Saturday, November 12, 2016

No need for a Vase when you have a Thermos

 
Even though it's fall, I still have a few Lantana's blooming.

 
 No need for fancy vases, and old Thermos does the job.

Brand new issue of Flea Market Style Magazine
Now available for Immediate Shipping.
get it before it even hits the stores.
 

 An All New Never-Before-Seen 


Click photo or here for ordering information


Orders will be shipped within 2 working days and will come right to your door, no driving around waiting for them to show up in the stores.

Save time, frustration and gas.

Also available are a selection of back-issues.  

Click the social media links below for more updates
@fleamarketstyle on instagram
Flea Market Style Magazine on Facebook

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Flea Market Style Magazine, now available for immediate shipping

Brand new issue of Flea Market Style Magazine
Now available for Immediate Shipping.
get it before it even hits the stores. 


 

 An All New Never-Before-Seen 
2016 - 2017
 issue of
Flea Market Style Magazine.

http://www.robomargo.com/magazineordering.html



Click photo or here for ordering information


Orders will be shipped within 2 working days and will come right to your door, no driving around waiting for them to show up in the stores.

Save time, frustration and gas.

Also available are a selection of back-issues.  

Click the social media links below for more updates
@fleamarketstyle on instagram
Flea Market Style Magazine on Facebook

Monday, October 24, 2016

Flea Market Style Winter 2016-2017 Cover Reveal

Brand new issue of Flea Market Style Magazine 

 

And now we have a cover!!!!!


 

 An All New Never-Before-Seen 
2016 - 2017
 issue of
Flea Market Style Magazine.

http://www.robomargo.com/magazineordering.html



Click photo or here for ordering information


Pre-Orders will come right to your door, no driving around waiting for them to show up in the stores.

Save time, frustration and gas.

Also available are a selection of back-issues.  

Click the social media links below for more updates
@fleamarketstyle on instagram
Flea Market Style Magazine on Facebook

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

What year is it???? or having a Blond/Senior Moment

So Last week I announced the
 Brand new issue of Flea Market Style Magazine 

 But apparently I lost a couple of years somewhere and was so" thrilled" that  I announced it as a 2014 issue. (insert "i failed" face here)  

It has taken several days and an attentive customer to straiten me out, but I think I've finally got the 4 replace by a 6 in all places.

So Announcing again,
 An All New Never-Before-Seen 
2016 
 issue of Flea Market Style Magazine.

http://www.robomargo.com/magazineordering.html



Click photo or here for ordering information


Pre-Orders will come right to your door, no driving around waiting for them to show up in the stores.

Save time, frustration and gas.

Also available are a selection of back-issues.  

Click the social media links below for more updates
@fleamarketstyle on instagram
Flea Market Style Magazine on Facebook

Sunday, October 9, 2016

Flea Market Style-New Issue-Winter 2016-Now available for pre-ordering Shipping in November

http://www.robomargo.com/magazineordering.html



Click photo or here for ordering information


Pre-Orders will come right to your door, no driving around waiting for them to show up in the stores.

Save time, frustration and gas.

Also available are a selection of back-issues.  

Click the social media links below for more updates
@fleamarketstyle on instagram
Flea Market Style Magazine on Facebook

Friday, September 30, 2016

Some Recent finds for Autumn Fun!

Just a few recent finds
Click any photo to shop


https://www.etsy.com/shop/RuffByMargo

https://www.etsy.com/shop/RuffByMargo

https://www.etsy.com/shop/RuffByMargo

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Big Announcement Flea market Style Magazine is coming back

Big Announcement






Flea Market Style Magazine is coming Back!

And I will have them for sale and pre-order

Stay tuned for details.

Back to School Coupon Code for Robojunker items on Etsy



https://www.etsy.com/shop/RuffByMargo
http://www.robomargo.com/trash

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Can you live a minimalist lifestyle and be a junker?????

You might say I'm "conflicted".


 First and foremost I'm a junker. I love to hunt, find, and purchase unique and fun vintage stuff. I love to decorate and re-arrange. I love the unexpected fabulous mystery piece, that will be just perfect in this spot or that.  But I'm also a very organized, neat and tidy person, who at times, just wants to clear it all out.
Organized but dense 


 How do I possibly combine both of my personality traits?  Well, It's not always easy!


Way too busy!


The organized part of me says...  "Keep it simple" "if it's not useful or beautiful, don't have/keep it"  and  "when it starts to look cluttered, clear it out".


Definitely needs decluttering in here. Photo is old and I've removed a ton of stuff from this space since.






Then the junk lover inside says "but that piece is so special, I just have to have/keep it"

Not so bad, but still a bit crowded.
That's a little bit better


My solution is to have spaces that are "cluttered" and spaces that are "edited".  Basically for the sanity of my marriage, the "edited" spaces are the shared spaces.  The "cluttered" ones, are "my spaces".
This is one of those "my" spaces where I allow myself to clutter things up



And when things get a little "dense" as hubby says, I edit...

This is "after" decluttering, but I've since edited it even more. There are fewer items on the desk now, and on the shelves.


Sometimes I'll go into a room and say to myself "remove just one item".
I'll look around for the item that I'm "over" and move it to my Etsy store.
There are at least 4 items in this photo that have since been moved out
That is the other way I deal with the desire to hunt and gather. As a "dealer" I can find, purchase, and enjoy an item for awhile, and then move it along to the next person. It's a way to feed the sickness.
This space is fairly well edited. If I were to walk in here and try to pick an item to remove, it would be the cases under the coffee table.
And when I feel I'm failing, I just look around at all the Junk, hubby has, and I feel much better. :)
My things don't take up nearly as much space as Cars, Motorcycles and Mini bikes:)

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Vintage Coach Bags now in my Etsy Shop



 I'm not exactly sure what it is about Vintage Coach that has drawn me in. 

 It might be the feel of the Leather. Have you ever felt the need to caress your handbag??? 
Well you will, if you have a vintage Leather Coach.

It might be the history of these old leather bags. The story of how Bonnie Cashin brought the company into the Ladies Leathergoods market, with her iconic designs and built in kisslock coin purses.






Maybe it's the quality of the hardware. The way the zippers still glide without hesitation or the buckles are still securely attached even after years of use.


Maybe it's the story of the Coach Creed, that tells you so much about the bag.
 When and where it was made etc.




Maybe it's the common sense designs made for real women who did not feel the need to carry their entire world with them every time they leave the house. 

Whatever the reason, I've been sucked in to the world of Vintage Coach Bags.  And of course I'm offering many to you via my Etsy and Ebay Shops.


http://www.ebay.com/sch/robolady/m.html?_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1


check it out and fall in love!




Thursday, April 7, 2016

Vintage Inspired Farmhouse Design

I've ventured into the retail Home Decor World just a bit, dipping my toe in the pool so to speak. These items cannot be sold on Etsy because they are not old, but I love them and when I got my catalog I couldn't resist adding them to my repertoire.

 First I want to share with you one of my favorite items. This vintage inspired organizer has so many great uses. It could be for garden tools, or kid's toys crayons etc. It could be used in the studio or workshop or as I have it as a centerpiece on my table. It's nicely made, all metal construction. You can view it here.


This is a fun adjustable wall rack, perfect for leashes, coats, backpacks etc. perfect for that Farmhouse, Cottage or Industrial look.  The rings slide along the track so it's easy to adjust their width, Here.  
The purse is also one of my new items. All leather, and oh so roomy, hobo style. Big enough for books, but very light weight. Fully lined inside with very pretty fabric Here

And I love this unique organizer. Could be used indoors or out. Buckets come off of the hanger if needed and I can think of so many uses for this little goody.  Here
 

And you can even purchase back issues of Flea Market Style Magazine, right from my Ebay shop.


And sometimes I find really wonderful things when I'm out junking, that are not old enough for Etsy, so I list them on Ebay.
  Like this fabulous Le Creuset Tea Kettle that just sold.

 So check it out, new treasures  every week.

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Fun project, Family Message Board



Thomas Edison said "To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk"
Well I definitely have the pile of junk, So here's my project.  

Take that pile of junk. Grab anything and everything that might be used to make a family message organization center and start building.
To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/thomasaed125362.html
To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/thomasaed125362.html
To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/thomasaed125362.html
 
 You'll need lots of screws, and a drill and some glue.

Some things you'll need for a family message board are,  A place for magnets to stick to, a chalk board, clips for messages, hooks for keys or whatnot, some sort of container to keep supplies, and a place for a replaceable pad of paper. I'm sure there are more things that could be used, but with that formula here's what I made.

 Clock is the magnet board above, and the metal soap dish piece is the magnet board below.
For chalk tray I used a scrabble tile holder above and a piece of a picture frame below.

 Back board for this is an old ammo crate lid, I kept the hinges and they become the hangers to attach it to the wall.

 This one below is  a bit different. The backing is an old tray, I simply glued the chalk board and chalk holder to it leaving enough exposed on the sides for magnets to be used. Then I added one clip to the front and more if needed can be added at the fluted sides.  This cleans up the refrigerator chaos a little bit.
 If you don't want to build one of your own, two of these are available in my Etsy store here


Thursday, February 18, 2016

The post office is Tricky, how to avoid paying too much and watch out for those upcharges

My Daughter-in-law recently brought me two large envelopes with small items inside, and said the Post office wanted to charge her $15  to mail them, and she thought I might be able to help her get a better rate.  You might wonder why my DIL would ask me such a questions?  Well, part of my "real job" is to ship packages around the world, and I've learned a few things along the way.  


 And I'd like to share them with you, because I get so mad when I see the Post Office "selling" more expensive services to people who don't need them. 
Tips will be in italics and some will be in bold below. See bottom of post for a quick summary of these tips.

First let me say that one can never say they know all there is to know about shipping, because it's impossible. Once you learn something, it changes and you always need an open mind to a better idea. I've learned this the hard way.

As for those packages of her's, I was able to mail them for less than $3 each and I'll reveal my secret if you just read on.

http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/usps_priority_mail_boxes_express_single.jpg

One of the tricks the post office tries to pull is Priority Mail and Flat Rate Envelopes and Boxes.
If you take an item to the post office to mail it. They will immediately ask you to grab one of the PM mail boxes on display.  But watch out, this may  not be the best option. 


Don’t Get Duped!

Did you know that if a package weighs less than 13oz you can send it by First Class Mail?
That is how I saved her the bucks. I put it in a brown envelope, looked up the rate online here https://postcalc.usps.com/ and slapped some stamps on it.

Once you get to 14 ounces, you have to use Priority Mail UNLESS, you are using a service via Etsy or maybe even Paypal. Sometimes those will let you stay with First Class even above the threshold up to one pound (16 oz).  I'm unsure why, but I've done it several times.

I'm going to do a sample shipment that is 1.5 pounds from Texas to California using the postal calculator linked above.  After entering your package information you'll click to the next screen and see something like this.

Click photo to enlarge it.




Notice that the rate at the top is the only one you actually see, Ignore it, It's for a very expensive service. You have to click the other blue areas to see the better rates.
As you can see, now you are getting the general Priority Mail rates. You can now compare apples to apples and see which box is the best economically for you. The top one is for your own box. As you can see it's the best deal except if you can fit the item into a Small Flat rate box or a  flat rate A box, which you will have to order online, as the Post office does not keep the A box  in stock.

Now click "other options" and you'll see this.


 Retail Ground, is the old Parcel Post service.  In this case, not too much cheaper than the PM service and Media Mail is for Media and Books only.


Flat rate boxes are usually only economical if you are mailing a very heavy item that will fit inside the box. and sometimes even this is not true. Flat rate envelopes are good if you go above that 13oz limit and the item will fit in a flat rate envelope. Use the postage calculator to help you find the best rates for your shipment before heading to the post office. (link above)

Did you know that you can put a small video sized flat rate box, inside a flat rate envelope and save a few cents and give your item some more protection, while still paying for the flat rate ENVELOPE price?

 I've found that once you get about 4 pounds, UPS or Fed Ex can be a better deal . Under 3 or 4 pounds the Post office might still be a better price. Also if the box is large, just go to your UPS store to send it. The amount the price jumps once your box gets over 12" in any one direction, can be astronomical.  Where UPS would charge  me $13, USPS wants to charge me $28.  Also don't forget to check the Parcel Select option for larger boxes. Although Slower, it can sometimes be more economical.   Use the link above to calculate.
 
Sign up for USPS Click N Ship  https://www.usps.com/ for packages, you can print and pay for your label online, and schedule it to be picked up at your door. No more trips to the Post Office.  You'll need to get a click-n-chip account though, but it's not hard. 

 Watch for those upcharges, extras for insurance etc, and be sure to click the down arrows when you are choosing your service, the cheaper options are only visible when clicking that drop down menu arrow. click and ship works great for International shipments too. You can complete your customs forms right there, again, no trip to the post office. But you  cannot ship First Class (under 13 oz) within the US via Click N Ship.  Like I said, they don't really want you to know about this cheaper shipping option.  Get yourself some stamps in various values and you can simply put it in your mail box. 

Stack of packages

That's just a few tips I've learned along the way. Dealing with the post office is not fun, but these tips might make it less of a pain for you.  Just be careful, watch every little thing they try to add onto your shipment. And don't pay for something you don't need.
I know this is a lot of information, So here it is in a nutshell
1) Ship light weight items via First Class Mail
2)Avoid Flat Rate boxes, except in special circumstances.
 3) Use the shipping calculator Tool on the USPS site, linked above
4) Be diligent and don't pay for services you do not need
5) If sending a lot of packages, sign up for click-n-ship via USPS.com
6) Click down arrows to reveal cheaper shipping options. 

I hope this helps you save some money and makes your life a little easier.



Blog Widget by LinkWithin