My Day in Arcadia Louisiana

I've had several inquiries about the goodies I found on this trip. Most of the items are currently listed on my ebay (link to the right). The Christmas items are in my Christmas store.


My Dh and I set out this morning at 8am and headed east for 2.5 hrs to a little town called Arcadia, Louisiana.

I was told about this town from my friend Alison (the flower girl) you'll hear more about her next week. Our first stop was 1st Street Antiques, per Alison's instructions. The following pictures are all from that store.

The fun starts outside

The good stuff, or as DH puts it, "Margo stuff" was in a back room. Lots of displays etc. I'm loading up.

Beautiful Displays

Another pic of that wonderful back room

this is part of a store display that I purchased. It's for men's underware, and it's in French. Love the graphics :)


Another stop was "Trash to Treasure", sounds like my kinds of store. DH posed for this interesting pic.

There was lots of old restaurant ware in this place. I picked up a few items, that I'll show later.

After getting some lunch, and stopping by a few of the other Antique stores in the main down town area, then we headed out to Bonnie and Clyde Flea Market.


It wasn't the best I've been to, more like a "socks and sun glasses" flea market, and not many vendors out at this time of year. But there were a few junk dealers and I did find a few things there.

Isn't this a wonderful name for a business. I don't know what they do????

Now for my finds, and boy did I find!!!!

I got 2 store displays, that thing with the orange piece in the center is a chimney sweeper, the round display is the underware display it talked about earlier. and I got one of those rotating post card displays too (keeping it for now)

see how it works


I love this cart, and I'm keeping it. For now it's in my laundry room, but it could also be a side table with glass on top, or it could hold files or lots of things.

This great old lab scale with all but one of it's weights, in box with literature.

funnels

Vintage Christmas

This unique tie holder

flower frogs, will be listed on ebay

See the handle on this candle holder, It's a Greyhound, not for sale

Some of the restaurant ware I picked up.

My initial M

These are my favs, they have crowns on them.

Aren't they lovely, I've got 5 they will be going on ebay, check next week

And all these old gumball machine charms. Lots of furniture and travel themed pieces. .50c ea, I could even make them into earrings for you. I can't tell if they are aluminum or plastic. All metalic colored, gold and silver toned. I'm keeping the carriage, it was the only one in the batch.

And more trinkets

That little token has an A on it for my last name, keeping it.
My favorite piece is the rolling basket. Most of the other items will be for sale, so if you saw something you liked feel free to inquire, or check my ebay next week.
It was a great day, and like usual, I always take you all along with me.
Margo

Upcoming Sales this weekend

Looks like this is a busy weekend for sales and flea markets. Here are some upcoming sales. See if there is one in your area.

Mustard Moon in Carver MN

Renningers Extravaganza in Mount Dora, Florida
Round top Antique Fair, Round Top Texas

Bonnie & Clyde, Arcadia Lousiana I'm going to this one

Fun at the Auction

Calendar winner is Tinta's Treasures. Thanks to all who entered, and on to another 400 posts.

DH and I headed for a local auction this past Saturday evening, and it was fun an entertaining as always. I go for the box lots, and picked up a couple, but my prize was this.

I was going to take it to work and put it on my shelf, but I think I'll keep it at home. It's an old balance scale without the hanging bowls. I just love the look of old industrial pieces.

DH caught me working with it

Then end result, I just love it.

I needed a change in this spot, and this piece does the trick. What's in the planter? Old bottles of course, what else would be in there, certainly not a plant with my black thumb. Anyone can grow bottles. ;)

The piece I had there, had pot-pourrie in it. Every time I un-do a display with pot-pourrie, I don't chunk the stuff, I just put it in a bag and keep it for another time. But I think it may be getting out of hand.

These 4 bags are full of the stuff

I love the chunky pieces

They still smell good too. They'll just sit in their bags waiting for the next project.

400th Post give Away

Actually I hit my 400th post last week, But am just now getting around to my give-away. What am I going to give away???
a RoboJunker Calendar, Valued at 14.50



Full of beautiful color photo's taken by fellow junkers, in their junking travels.

You can view a complete preview of the entire calendar
here.

One Calendar will be given to one lucky winner, name drawn at random. To enter simply reply to this post. To get a second chance to win, simply mention this give-away on your blog with a link, tell me about it, and you'll be entered twice.
I will draw the winner Monday Evening and announce it at that time.

If you Don't win one of these beautiful Calendars, never fear, I have a few left, I'm down to less than 10 so don't wait.

This week's finds

Yesterday I got a call from a fellow Junker, that she had just gotten back from an auction in IL and had some stuff for me to look at. I picked up this great birdcage, and stand from her.

And This whold batch of old hardware

And about 8 of these beauties

And then today, I hit a few of my junking haunts and found these great things

Look how beautiful the legs are on this coffee table

And I got a great deal on this heater front

These old craft supplies in their original packages

and some bottles and pretties for the class I'm giving in February

Here's the class information if you are interested, I've had several inquiries so far. I love the suggestion that a few of you made about doing a video of the class. I think I'm gonna do it, so watch for the videos later in February

This is a very versatile project, the designs are endless, I'll have suggestions and pictures to help spark your creativity, as well as lots of trinkets, sparklies, etc.
When you leave, you'll have all the knowledge you'll need to make these on your own, and the one you made, to take home with you.
Date February 5th
Time 6:00-8:00 or whenever we get finished
Location will be given to students, but is on the east side of Tyler Texas, near the Oil Palace.
If you are interested email me
I'm limiting this first class to 8 ladies, first come, first serve. Let's create something.

What is it that I want?

I often ask myself that question. Why do I do this? Why am I always looking for that next unusual thing? What is my goal? What do I want to come of this venture that I'm pursuing in a way that seems to consume me? As a Christian, I know that none of this is permanent, it's all dust, I know that, yet I continue to pursue that next project, that next great find. Why do I do it? What is my goal?

When I was a little girl (only child), Friday nights were the family (just 3 of us) in the family room watching, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Odd Couple, Bob Newhart, and lastly Love American Style. My parents would laugh at the jokes I didn't get, and say they'd explain when I was older, and I would make stuff. I'd have tape, glue, tooth picks, popsicle sticks, string, paper, scissors, whatever else I could find, and I'd try to create. Often, the vision I had in my mind of what I was making never quite came out the way I had planned. Yet Every Friday night I'd do it all again.

My parent's did their best to feed this desire that this very un-artistic girl was pursuing. Mom bought kits and we'd do some projects together, enrolled me in crochet classes etc, but my projects never quite turned out. I just decide I didn't have a talent for crafty things and dropped it.

Then in my mid 20's I decided to try my hand at quilting. With the help of some talented ladies, I actually managed to make something that wasn't so bad. Then there were the MOPS groups, and the "craft" that came with each meeting. My stuff, again, wasn't turning out so badly. Hum, maybe I did have some talent after all and I just needed some help along the way. These small successes, built my self confidence, over time, to try different things down the line. Which leads me to where I am today, and that question. What is it that I want?

I guess it's a 2 part answer. I want to create. I wan't that "ah ha" moment, when I see an idea, and it sets my brain in gear, to either make it, or make it different. When I find an object meant for one purpose, but I see it as something completely different.

The second thing I want, is to inspire. When I get a note or an email that someone has been inspired to do something, because of what they saw on my blog or web site, that is right up there with the "ah ha" moments.

None of that feels like work to me. Making a living at it, that's work. I really don't want to get into the mass production of stuff, as much as people seem to love it. Making 1 of something is fun, making 20 is work.

So I will continue to try to create and inspire and have fun while doing it.

Really big News

Junk Revolution has it's message boards up and running. This is the place to share your ideas, your pictures, and your indomitable junking spirit. Ki has been working hard to get this MB up before she leaves town on a junking adventure. Pop over there, help us get things started. Post pictures of your projects, ask questions, get advise... There's even a coffee shop for off topic discussions.
http://junkrevolution.com/community/
Margo

A Simple Sunday Project

New Feature: I've been thinking of doing this for awhile now, and we'll see how it goes. I'm almost always working on something. And you never know what might be sitting on my counter or table, just waiting for me to transform it. When I get an idea, many times, I'll put a piece of it on my counter, to keep me reminded of what I was going to do. I usually do the project pretty quickly, or dump it all together. I've often thought it would be fun to have a picture of what is "currently" on my counter . So If you'll look to the right, you'll see a picture, that will be changing often, of some tid bit of junk I currently have sitting out on my counter. You may or may not ever see the finished project, but it's usually something strange and interesting. And many times I will share the finished project with you, when it turns out well that is. So I hope you enjoy this little peak into my world and see what is on my counter today.

Also, I've got a contest coming up soon, and some big big news. Tomorrow!!!!!!

Now for a project,
Remember those grain scoops that I got at the Junk Bonanza?

With my constant desire to be organized and help my family be tidy, I came up with this cute idea.

This was a very very simple project. I simply put 2 of the scoops back to back, attaching them to a piece of scrap wood. I added a handle to the top, and there you have it. It's being used for spice storage next to the stove. It would also be great for condiments at a cook-out too.
To seal in the rusted patina, I sprayed them with a spray on varnish before asssembly. I currently have 2 more of these scoops if you are interested in making one of these for yourself.



What was the Whatsit?
It was a undertaker's cooling board (table), and they were used at a time when funerals were held at a private residence. They date from the 1880s through the1940s. Such folding boards will sometimes have holes drilled through the top or have a caned top. These surfaces allowed for a better flow of air cooled by a block of ice placed under the board. Some will also have brackets that pull-out from either end and fix vertically. The brackets were used to suspend a cover over the body and ice to contain the cooled air. Examples without the holes may have been intended for home embalming only. If you are interested you can read more here.

I had a comment from a concerned reader regarding Tetanus:
Renie Cee, never fear, I got a Tetanus Shot 2 years ago, they are good for 10 years. It's a very good precaution in this business. Thanks for your concern.
Actually rust is not really the problem, It's the place that rusty items are usually stored. A BARN. You see Tetanus is carried in feces of farm animals. I had a Great Uncle, that I never knew, who died of it. He had picked up a stick out of a grazing pasture and threw it at a cow. It bounced off the cow and hit him in the face, cutting him. He got Tetanus from that cut and died from it, before my Grandmother was born.

My day in Canton

Roger hunted for dead people, while Margo

Looked for the very largest things she could find.

Interesting book Roger ;) He actually thought of getting it as a gag gift for someone.

here's my Whatsit???? Do you know? Ki you can't answer, because, I know you know, and you have a story to tell. Here's a hint, it folds up, and it's portable.


Margo's idea of Heaven

Here are some of my finds. See anything you like, just ask, It's probably for sale.

I got 4 of those cross street signs. They are so cool

Those 2 industrial displays would make great jewelry, or broom holders
and the orange box thingie, I can see lots of potential with it. I'm keeping the drink carrier.

a row of cistern buckets, (did you see my quick project this week?) and a shirt dryer, not sure what I'm gonna do with it yet.

lots of bed springs, and these unusual ones

with built in hooks. I've never seen any like this before.
I should have gotten the whole box. Woulda, Coulda, Shouda....

The funniest Flea Market site was a man, walking down a row, Whistling Dixie. I'm not kidding he was actually Whistling Dixie. That tune has been going through my head all day... Oh I wish I was in the land of cotton...old times there are not forgotten... Look away, Look away, Look away....