Does this ever happen to you?

It seems that when I'm really looking for something I can't find it. But a year later, it's everywhere. I saw this with clothing awhile back. I was looking for a shirt that was cinched on the sides. I couldn't find one, Now they are everywhere. I'm seeing this now with some of my T2T loves and ideas. Let's talk about the clocks. Most of you saw my Christmas Clock display. I searched and searched for dishes with clocks printed on them. Not dishes that were clocks, just had them printed. I found most of them on Ebay, and they were old. Now keep your eye out, I have a feeling you'll be seeing lots of these in the next couple of years. Just a feeling I have. On another note, I pickedup the January issue of Romantic Homes and found these uses for old clocks.



does any of this look familiar? Well my displays aren't set up quite so well, but Here's one of mine. I edited it a bit after Christmas, but he idea is the same. I also copied some of what I saw in the RH magazine.


Notice the title on the book, I thought it was appropriate. This is a great display idea for New Years.

Speaking of New Years, Have a good one, stay safe.
Margo

What a year

What a year this has been. My Adventures in Junking began in earnest about 1 year ago, with a
Resolution that you can read about here and This project.


After that the sky has been the limit.

In April I began this blog and that is when I started meeting the nicest people. It wasn't long before we were meeting in person. I met Teresa C in Canton

The Next Month in Canton, I met Linda Smith
for the First Time. This would be the beginning of a wonderful friendship.

In September I met the Queen Bees of the Junking World,
Ki & Sue the original JunkMasters,
when they came to do a show at First Monday.

I also Met
Laurie Anna and
Cherry Hill Cottage Tina
that same weekend

Whew!!!
Also in September I had my
First Barn Sale

Where I met
Tina of Stitchin in Texas
and my new friend and Customer
Vickie of Sand Flat Farm
I've also had the opportunity to get to know many of you (although not in person) over the blog world, and your links are all listed in my side bar. You are each very special to me so to Rosemary, Joy, Jamie, Fifi, Lori, AJ, Nicole, Sher and all you other wonderful ladies. Thank you for blessing me with your blogs and friendship.

It was around this time that Jamie began to inspire me to play around with Junk jewelry, I have really enjoyed this indoor T2T hobby, and hope that the inspiration will continue into 2008.
In November and December
Linda, of The blue Gate, was nice enough to let me use part of her booth in Canton to see how my stuff sold.

It did well and I hope to do Canton again this year. Although Linda is now in the Arbors and I'll be on my own, she has helped me to take baby steps towards getting my own spot out there.
Wow, that blog took a long time to post, import pictures, and make links, but not so long to read. It really was a wonderful year, and I look to 2008 to be full of projects, people, and inspiration.
Thank you all for being so wonderful
Your Junking friend - Margo

Changes with the New Year

Well I'm starting the process of taking down the Christmas Decorations. Do you remember this project?

Well I liked it so much I decided to change it up a bit and leave it out all year long.

I left the bird and pine cones, but changed the greenery and the berries, and I used jute to hang it instead of ribbon.

I've also made some changes to the area around my Red Transferware wreath

I made the 123 plates go in an arch instead of strait across, and I changed out the mini plates there on the perpendicular wall. They countdown to the new year 4321.

I'm making changes to my web page, I'm learning how to add some great graphics so check it out, by clicking the tag.

And I've started to list those Mini pitchers and creamers on Ebay so if you are interested click the label

Our Christmas

Well the day of fun and festivities is over, and part of me is very happy to be back into my normal routine.
Although I don't usually focus on what I want as gifts or what I got, I thought you all might be curious so here's the bootie.

as usual my very thoughtful DH got me several items from my Amazon Wish list, as well as a
reciprocating saw. I try a new tool every year, and this is a light weight version of one he uses to help me cut legs off stuff. It can also be used like a jig saw, so I'm anxious to get started using it.
He also got me a new saw blade for my chop saw, as I had dulled the one I have quite a bit.
And of course he got me the ultimate girl gift.

Chocolate and a movie!!!!!

After 3 hrs of cooking, DH cleaned up, he's a peach. I took a nap and dreamed of projects. When I woke up I decided to organize my indoor workspace a bit. I took a couple of his left over cubes and designed this little thing.

I'm using this to organize all my bits and pieces for crafting and jewelry making.
I added the bar across to hold chains, and keep them easily visible.
I love my jars, and I've got them on display as well. Everything is up off the table and
still very visible and easy to get to. It also give me a place to play at display a little.


I'm getting lots of ideas for things to add to my weekly web page. I'll be adding a spotlight blog of the week, as well as Helpful hints and movie suggestions. This will start tomorrow so be looking for that.
Time to start cleaning up and storing all of this Christmas stuff.
Hope you all had a great holiday and enjoyed family, and time together.
Margo

I Know I said it was a project for next year...

But I just couldn't wait. I found a few more pieces of Red Transferware on Friday and
then had enough to make up my wreath.


I'm going to re-arrange the 123 plates below it and maybe add something to the top, but here it is. I really like the way it turned out. I think I'll leave it up all year. It likes this spot.

My Family and I are headed to spend Christmas Eve with Family. It's a tradition, in my DH's family, and we really enjoy the evening. We Roast Hot dogs and marshmellows, and open gifts. Everyone in the family comes and it's very casual.
Then Christmas Day will be just us at home, with gifts in the morning and a quiet feast in the afternoon. Then It will be time to breath and start planning for the New Year. Tax Time is just around the corner. :/

I hope you and yours have a great Holiday, you are all an inspiration to me and I so enjoy belonging to this blog world I've found.
Margo

Christmas Truce of 1914

I found out about this as I was watching a show about Christmas movies. In the winter of 1914 as WWI was in it's early days. Soldiers... English, German, French, and others, Stopped fighting and started singing Christmas Carols. The trenches were close enough to each other that soon both sides began singing together. This lead to the soldiers actually coming out of the trenches, meeting in the middle (no man's land), exchanging gifts of candy and food that had been sent from their various homes, sharing cigarettes, and even soccer games. These were young men, acting on their own. Men who had been shooting at each other the day before and would shoot at each other again, but for that day... they played soccer, and exchanged gifts. The Christmas truce of 1914 was a spontaneous event, that has not occurred since, but is a testimony to the power of Christmas. The one thing each side had in common was Christmas- traditions, songs, families... This commonality brought them together, if only for a little while. I encourage you to read this article about the
Christmas Truce, for more information. There is also a French movie made about the event called Joyeux Noel. Here's a link to the
english language version.
.

May the Joy and Peace of the Season fill your homes and hearts,
Margo

Out with the Old

I get like this every year around this time. I guess I'm not the only one, and maybe it's the origin of Boxing Day in Canada. But I feel I need to get rid of stuff. I know at the new year, the hardware stores are full of plastic organizing bins and other organizing stuff, so I know i'm not alone. Anyway, I've decided after years of collecting Mini Colorware creamers in all shapes and sizes that I'm going to sell of a good chunk of my collection. Today I pulled some off from their current place of honor and am getting them ready for Ebay.

some of these are worth $30-$40, so I'm also hoping to raise some cash for fun T2T projects as well. Watch for these to be listed just after the new year. I'll also start selling my creations on Ebay again after the New Year. I'm just too busy right now.

In with the New
I finally got my order of prisms in today, and I've been playing with them. For now I strung this garland with teardrop dangles from my inspiration board, trying to keep it in the forefront of my mind.


I also was able to get a pretty good shot of the China Swag that I decided to use as a window topper.


I kinda like it up there. I think I'm going to be adding China Swags and Wreaths to my regular product line, I just love making these things.

I'm also working on a few jewelry projects, and a couple of furniture projects. So watch for them soon. I just love weekends.

Decompression

I have had a couple of really hectic days at work and I felt the need to decompress today. So at lunch, and then later around 3:00 I went junking. I found a few neat items. Some red transferware for a future wreath. a plate with clocks on it, and some trinkets for jewelry. Mostly I visited, hunted, and let the stress of the day just fall away.


For those who have asked or are wondering, I will NOT be doing the reality show that was mentioned in the previous post. They'd have to offer me a lot more money for that kind of public humiliation.

Also, be sure to check out my
robojunker.com
web page tomorrow evening, for detailed instructions for the china wreath below, with pictures.
Have a great day.

Reality TV

Got the wreath finished

I'm pleased with the end result, this item is for sale on my web site if you are interested.
I decided to use the swag above a window instead of on top of the mirror. Very easy to hang and I love the look. I'll take a pic later. Now i'm on the hunt for red transferware for another wreath.

On a different note. My DH (robot builder) was approached by one of those reality television shows today where the Mom's swap places. Here are some excerpts from the email. I've deleted the name of the show as I don't want it to come up on any google searches. but it is W*f* S*ap.

My
name is ******* and I am a casting director for ABC's Primetime
show, **** ****. I hope you don’t mind me contacting you, but
 we're
gearing up for a fourth season at the moment and we're currently 
looking
for R o b o t Builders to feature on an upcoming episode. 
I was doing a bit
of online research and came across your website. The idea 
is to show
America the values of a family who works together create 
objects that we
can all benefit from in the future.

I've seen this show, and I said "did you tell them not
 NO, but HE** NO".

What an interesting proposition ;/
20 grand isn't enough, A cool million might do it.

Super Secret China Project-revealed

Well after fussing with several different types of glue I settled on 2 old favorites. Liquid nails, and Hot glue. here is the project.

I was inspired by a picture I saw on Teresa's blog and made one of my own. This one is designed to go on top of a mirror on a dresser or vanity. It is completely removable and is just hooked over the existing mirror.

I had to wrap ribbon around some of the exposed ugles (framework) to hid it and I added some buttons and pearls on the ends to hide more of the (skeleton frame) I used.
The glue situation did give me fits. The first glue I used (silicone) never dried, then the second glue wouldn't stick where the old silicone had been removed, and wasn't quite strong enough. Liquid nails worked great, but boy is the back ugly.

finding the china was fun too. I loved looking for these small pieces.

I still need to tweek it a bit, and I'm working on a Wreath too. I'll get a pic of it posted soon, as soon as it's done. I love the result, and now that I've figured out the glue thing I can do more. I was thinking of a red transferware plates for a Christmas Wreath, wouldn't that be pretty.

My Day

Tina and I met for lunch at a nearby town, and went to one of our favorite stores, Pandora's Box. We both picked up lots of goodies and I found this great carriage wheel. It reminded me of a project Joy had done a few weeks ago, and the price was right, so I just had to have it. I brought it home and scrounged through my Christmas stuff and came up with something kinda like what Joy had done. I'm such a copy cat. Thanks Joy for the great idea.


My DH dreamed up this project a few months ago, I think he literally dreamed about it, then he had to write it down, and of course build it. Each one of these shelves is the same shape, they are mounted on a grid in any configuration you can think of. doesn't it look great, contemporary I know, but it's in his space so I don't care. I think it is a great idea.

Oh, and I painted them.

as for that project I mentioned in the last post, I'm waiting for glue to dry so no pics yet.

Adventures in Finding

There is a project I want to do, but I needed a child's tea set. I decided to head over to a thrift store that I've not visited in awhile. boy did I hit the jackpot there.

I came home with all of these dishes for my project


And I got that scale there too.
These will work perfectly for the project. Watch for it soon, I hope.

I also found this great old Sewing machine cabinet.


I want to do a version of this project with it.

It came complete with machine, and various attachments




I really don't need the machine, it was the cabinet I was after, but I'll find something to do with it. Any takers out there???
Make me an offer and It's yours.
Well this was my adventure day, and I've got some stuff for projects to come.
Hip Hip Horray!!!!
Margo

Look what I found today

As you regular readers know I'm doing a clock theme in my hutch this year. Well, today I found this cute little note pad.


Isn't it just perfect. guess it doesn't take much to make me happy.

And Yes I got the tree up, made the family help.

Now don't expect too much from my tree. Many of my ornaments are getting old and tired. I did do something new this year with the skirt. I found this really ratty old quilt this past summer and got it for practically nothing to use as a tree skirt. It's a real cutter, but great red and white colors.


Here's our stockings, We have no mantle so I use this plate rack to hang the stockings on.

These are my smaller trees, with my smaller blown glass ornaments on them. I like these trees because they are just" plug in and go".

That is it for now. Now I just need to get the Cards mailed, Outside Decorations done, presents bought and wrapped, not to mention the meal. tis' the season for long lists of stuff to do. I'm such a scrooge.