Shopping trip like no other...

I love going shopping for junk, especially when Im in a creative mood.

Gotta grab it when you can these days, with limited time, it is hard to get those ideas flowing sometimes!

What's even better about this trip, is it is cheap on petrol and a hop,skip,and a jump away....under my house!

With all of the rain we have been having over the past few weeks, I was worried these wonderful pieces may get damaged, and go mouldy or rot.

I have a few ideas for these, some I will keep, and some I will sell.

In the first pic, I soon came to realize what I wanted!

I had been looking to replace this shelf in the kitchen.

I didnt really need storage anymore since I had been selling off 

simplifying my home,and I created a new space for the glasses,

 so I wanted something that would be a 

feature I could still change around if I felt the need...

So this is what I came up with!

as I mentioned, I created a new space for the glasses. I used this stand in my studio from time to time ,to house small things to purchase.It stood about 150cm.
Too busy to take before pics, I attacked it with the grinder, stuck a metal finial on top, and a new base, and wella!
I had to play with it a bit, so the glasses wouldnt clang, but now Im really happy with it!

So I think I have finished transforming a dull wall and corner.

Though I think I will replace the frame with a slightly larger one to even out the space...

It's true, I think everyone has eaten here and survived ok ;)

A purchase that just doesnt stop!!!

With the lack of junking enthusiasm I have had the past few months, it has been hard to create and be inspired by much....that is until last week!

I finished work early, so decided to call into my irish friend's junkshop, for a chat and a look. He wasnt in, but his old time friend, a real character, was happy to fill me in on the happenings of late!

 When I walked in the door, with my trained eyes,lol, I did a quick scan of my surroundings, and spotted alot, no , a truckload of sewing machines, overlockers, signs, tables, etc. Being the big collector of all sewing paraphernalia, my heart started palpitating!!! The story goes like this...

This old man had been collecting for over 60 years, started with the old Antique Singer in the table with the iron legs. As the years followed, he found more and more, and before long he was renting a shed to store them.Some were brand new, timber lids, tables, all new! It became an obsession! Now in his late eighties, he cant afford the rent, so he asked my friend to come and take them away.None were on display, he hadnt looked at them for years....so sad. 

So it is up to hoarders people like me to help him out, see, Im just trying to help!

it is a gorgeous aqua colour

I picked out a cute retro looking machine, so cute, then went down to the back (junky area), and found all of these!There are enough pieces to make three or four tables!

From my last visit, I remembered he had this collection of old jug kettles, and I had decided then, that I didnt need another collection, they would stay....but this time, they were 50% off, so I grabbed a couple or four! I love them for vases and holders of cutlery.

I also found these great timber singer machine covers, though Im not sure what I'll do with them yet, any ideas?

Of course going there that day was unplanned, and I had absolutely no cash, they dont accept cards, so he was happy to hold them for me till payday!

Yesterday was payday, and lucky for me, I grabbed extra cash, just in case. My Irish friend was there, and he found me some more treasures, and at next to nothing prices.

Will share the best find next post, well next payday, when I go back to  pickup and pay!

Mmmm, should I buy more, do I need more?

OMG, now I need to work more, but I feel so much brighter!

Isnt it amazing what a good junkstop will do for the soul? 

Therapeutic research...

Im out and about today, hard at work, the buying side of the business!

Or , for the 'not so business savvy people', we can call it shopping !

It is raining here today, so rather than watch the dryer turn round and round, hour after hour,(and watch the electricity bill rise), I made a business decision, to check out my competition, so to speak....

I'll share photos and stats soon :)

Confession # 245: Ok, I'm plastered!

This post makes me laugh, a nervous, worried laugh...read on....

A dear friend of mine gave me a stack of plaster cornices and decorative pieces she had stored under her house. I love them, and was so excited to start some new projects!

That was over six weeks ago, they have sat on the back seat of my car, basically I didnt have a spare , safe space to put them!

Then one day, I was doing some computer work, and I caught a glimpse  on tv, of a guest Oprah had on, Peter Walsh. I have watched him before, and am amazed how he can transform people and their homes!

For those who dont know who he is, Peter is an Australian living in the US, his profession being a declutterer! You can read more about him *HERE*.

One of the questions he asked was,' Do you store 'stuff' in your car?'

Suffice to say, the plaster is out of the car, and on my beloved verandah!

Ive always have 'something' in my car, tables, chairs, cupboards, JUNK!

My son is on his Learners, and he has adjusted to rattles and clunking when turning corners and going over potholes!

I wouldnt call it storing...

Maybe laziness, or just the fact I have absolutely nowhere to put them!

Anyway, after hearing Peter's words amplified in my head for a few days, I immediately bought his new dvd,'It's all too much'.I'll be watching it today, when I can work up the courage!

I put together a slideshow for my March sale, if interested, check it out *HERE*.

Sue came up the mountains for a short stay, and didnt disappoint with her choice of flowers! It was nice to catch up and spend quality time together!

Well my Easter is a quiet one this year...my family are all going away!

Easter Sunday marks the 10th anniversary of a very traumatic event which changed our lives. Whilst time heals, and we adapted to a new lifestyle, I cant help but reflect, emotions and memories are flooding in.

'They' say experiences like these make us stronger and better people, so true.

I wish you all a Happy Easter, wherever you are, eat lots of chocolate, and enjoy family time!

While hubby's away...

The wife races down to the nearest 'Vinnies'(thrift store) and loads up the car!

Brings it home, and crams all her junk into any little space left on the verandah!

No, I didnt do that, I wouldnt, because I simply couldnt! There isnt any spare space to fill!

Not many really...

Great files boxes!

Coat stand

Art deco mantle mirror and drawers

Love the frame

quilt hangers

Love these pillars, mmm, not sure what I'll do with them yet,but had to have!

Plate and peg rack, huge!

Im seriously going to have to clean these up and clear them out!

Wish me luck, and head over to here for the before and afters, coming soon!!
(Sorry for the poor quality of photos, it is just that it was so sunny, and such a beautiful day!
Oh, and did I mention how sunny and gorgeous the day is? It really is a lovely autumn day!)

Come and join in!!

Long overdue....

It's been a long time between junking trips, I have been so good, but so depressed! So I had to call in to a local Vinnies for a fix!

Well someone had decided to hang up their apron, and close the kitchen! How cute are these, too cute to leave behind.

 Also, for the pink lovers, this flask and an adorable vintage dressing table set. Who cant knock back another set of glass candle sticks...

I also found some retro fabric, sheer curtains, and a pink tablecloth!

I feel so much better, life can go on!

Today is sunny, breezy, and a great day to air everything out, until the next bout of rain!

ACCIDENTAL JUNK FIX ,from friends!

I wasnt deliberately looking for junk this week, I really do have enough to keep me busy!

This particular trip down the mountains was for the sole purpose of going to the hardware for some hinges and doorknobs.I have been searching high and low for some oldies, but they get snatched up pretty quick!

I like to drive down the back roads, it is fun, a bit like a go-cart track! As I come out the other end of the race track, I cant help but realise Im just near a friends shop, so I have to call in!

It just so happens to be a 2nd-hand furniture shop, and a junk room out the back! My Irish friend is always so kind, and knows what I like.I dont even have to bargain with him, he just drops the price straight away.I could have bought at least 5 items from him, but he got me on one of my strong days, well my 'one and only' strong day!

I told him I was just looking today, and unfortunately, he didnt have any hinges or doorknobs!I said Id see him in another few months cause that is the kind of friendship we have, quarterly!

I head home without any 'hardware' from the hardware, too expensive !

A couple of hours later, a ute pulls up, and two guys deliver all 5 of the items I'could have' bought from my friends shop!!The guys gave me a note which said...'see you in a few months you can pay me then'!

How sweet, and such a wonderful surprise!

So these are the befores, and I will share the afters soon....

This one's a keeper, fits in my office perfectly, well if I cleaned up the office, it would!

Shame there wasnt two of these, so cute!

A fresh coat of paint will do wonders!

The top of this table was painted white, about 5 times, on top of varnish! Who would do that? I had to remove it asap, too horrible to take a before photo!

I worked on this today, and Im happy with the outcome.

First I lathered on some citrus paint remover, love this stuff! After I scraped alot of paint off,I sanded and sanded and sanded.

I mixed some colours together to form this gorgeous pale aqua,(It is a bit darker out of the bright sun), and painted the legs.Then I brushed on and wiped off green stain and varnish in one, it is so easy to put on.The finish makes things look older and almost rustic.I decided to just add the stain to the top, the natural colour just gave it more depth.I left some bits of the white paint, I wanted it to look shabby.

Im putting it in the studio,and have just listed it on ebay. I will sit this cupboard on top,if it doesnt sell in a hurry!

I was also given this gorgeous cupboard from Sue.It has a marble top, and I cant wait to redo it!

This cute little table was from my friend Judy, I love these

tables! 

So my friends have been really looking out for me lately, or they just want me to work harder! But Im loving it, and even this burst of extremely hot weather this week isnt going to slow me down, too much!

Have a good week, and I hope your friends are being good to you!

SHEDS OF TREASURES.....

I needed a fix, and what better place than my fav junkyard.

Though my last couple of visits, I have noticed the prices have hiked up some. I dont know how they can justify their price rise as most of their junk is outdoors rusting or rotting away!

I look at it as an opportunity to really search for bits and pieces that I need to use to do my 'redos', like hardware and unusual pieces . I have her stumped for prices when I roll up with a bucket full of 'stuff'! She doesnt even know what half of it is, and makes up the price on the spot!

This junkyard is set on about 5 acres of land, filled to the brim! Each time I go, I make a wishlist of the pieces I like, then I drag her around to get prices.Some of the little things I gather, I just make a small pile along my travels, no one wants my junk, so it is pretty safe!

It is hard work fossicking through mounds of junk, but I call it 'research', it's my job afterall!

I usually spend about two hours there, I dont need to see the cars and parts, otherwise it could take 3-4 hours!

Today i bought a set of doors, some thingimies, and some rusty bits, interesting huh!

Ive shown a couple of photos before, but here's some more to drool over!

Hope you had your 'fix' today, in the junking way!