Attack of the Angry Arachnids

I have been away for months it seems like.

I have a great excuse.

I have been bitten seven times by brown recluse spiders while swimming in the pool.

See all the lantana and clematis between the patio and the pool?

I enjoy the jungle look while swimming laps in my private lagoon.

Chucks found several drowned spiders in the skimmer.

Spiders become very angry when drowning.

As I backstroked down the pool, I pulled the nasty arachnids down my body where they found a spot and bit the ever-loving heck out of me.

On five different occasions.

You can go here to see what a bite looks like.

Three rounds of powerful antibiotics, daily careful debriding of the crater-like wounds, and Polysporin and finally I am well.

I have not been in the pool in weeks.

I am very lucky not to have lost any chunks of skin tissue.

I did know NOT to puncture the head on the bite.  It will release the venom into your blood stream.

My faithful sidekick Willie was playing in the garden bed while I painted this toolbox.

A loud yelp and a tremendous leap and frothing at the mouth.

Yes, poor Willie was bitten by something poisonous.

After several shots, antibiotics, and pain meds, he is on the mend.

Both of us have made a decision NOT to stroll about outside.

Started with this unfinished project of someone's.

Sprayed painted it Aqua Rust-Oleum.

Sanded and added a Minwax Golden Oak stain to age it.

Added a black handle.

Filled it with small buckets and took it over to the booth.



 

I was finally able to sit down, put my arms to my sides, and turn my neck after recovering from the angry spiders.

Then along came Irma tearing leaves and pine straw and small branches off the trees.

While out raking, I stepped into a fire ant bed.

I am currently NOT a fan of the insect world.

AND in February I will be radically cutting back the jungle! 

Willie insists.

See y'all!

Friday Finds

Last weekend yielded multiples of items.

Like a stack of bifold doors.

Here are several - they were selling as I brought them in from the loading dock. 

The doors make great screens on porches, displays for booths, and, of course, doors!

A lovely louvered screen door #855 from an old cottage in Aiken.

No, I did not need another tool caddy, but I am enjoying it on the front porch for awhile before it heads to the booth.

Another despicable chore - getting the tape off.

Painted red Samsonite folding chair - child size. 

A scrap of cloth - I looked in bin after bin to see if there was another piece of this.

The gold milking stool I left as I found it - wonderfully distressed.

And the tool?

The ScaleMaster No. 10.

"Oh, no, I've lost my arms!" cried the spooky doll. 

There is that piece of cloth again.

Yes, folks, yet another quilt - all hand-stitched and hand-quilted.

A very large market basket - the bottom striped red, gold, blue.

A stack of quilt pieces - two squares and the rest ovals.

An old knob and lock set.

A bag filled with children's vintage shoes.

My favorite pair - felted wool booties with embroidery.

At another sale two newer pairs of tiny shoes.

Bundled group - clip-on rings for curtains - handy in the booth.

A handful of bracelets.

A ring holder. 

A scoop.

A small lace tablecloth.

A large storage basket.

The cloth scrap fits the basket, but I decided to use it another way.

I will admit I bought this spool of metal without a clue of what it is.

It simply appealed visually to me.

I have an idea for it.

Wait and see.

Four kindergarten chairs. 

A candlestick table in a dark finish - decent enough - I did not paint it.

A large gardening encyclopedia.

So ...

Multiple doors.

Multiple tiny shoes.

Multiple quilt pieces.

Multiple chairs.

Wonder what is out there this weekend?

Have fun.


See y'all!

CLOSED FOR SUMMER!

 Use this discount code to receive 10% off your purchase at the Distressed Donna Etsy store:

DISTRESSEDDONNA16

SHOP HERE! 

Friday Finds

Chucks and I took a short trip to the flea market last Saturday. 

Short for two reasons.

One: we picked up a nail in a tire and had to drive 45 miles back home.



Two: the oppressive heat saps all my junkin' juice right out my pores.

Fell in lust with this round copper pot because of the verdigris.

You can tell it once had a base, but it would be great to string it by wire from the holes left in it.









You know you may find a bargain when -


 

When tables wobble but they don't fall down.

Small blue table in need of a makeover.

There is not ONE tight joint anywhere.

Major surgery may be necessary.

Stay tuned.

When the temps rise above 100F and no one bakes cookies.

A whole bag of copper cookie cutters.

When wire planters need new cocomats.

When someone paints who shouldn't.

(You have to admit the kitty is too cute to leave behind. Imagine a whole wall of bad art.)

When a craft is no longer popular.

I used to candlewick in the early 1980's.

Another kitty I could not pass by.

When a seller hates rust.

A double bike basket.

A rusty green tackle box.

When an old ladder is just an old, beat-up ladder.

This one has great patina and a couple of very clever make-do's.

When everyone yells, "That's the coolest thing at the flea market today!"

We love our state flag in South Carolina.  

Everyone has palmetto tree/crescent moon clothing, shoes, decor, dishes, totes, ties, and on and on.

I spied this huge tree beside a truck.

I was surprised no one had purchased it.

So I did.

Then everyone wanted one.

Made by the artist from parts of her barn.

I plan to enjoy it for awhile and then sell it.

Because quite simply it IS the Coolest thing!!!

Next week I will try not to shop except in the attic and shed.

Both spaces are packed with treasures.

Of course if the perfect estate sale arises, I will be hoofing it down the road.

Be sure to get out of my way.


See y'all!

CLOSED FOR SUMMER!

 Use this discount code to receive 10% off your purchase at the Distressed Donna Etsy store:

DISTRESSEDDONNA16

SHOP HERE! 

Top 5 Things To Look For At Yard Sales This Year

This is the time of the year when yard sales start popping up all around you.

What should you be looking for?

This is my list.

Slightly rusty.

Slightly crusty.

And mostly distressed.


HOUSE PARTS

When I drive up to a sale, I am constantly searching around the yard, in the burn piles, in the sheds. 

Wherever the sellers will let me look.

Found this old green shutter leaning against the side of a house waiting to be taken to the dump.

Makes an excellent trellis.

This screen door guard was for sale - new house owners did not need the "W" initial.

I did!

Screen door guards come in many decorative shapes.

Windows are perfect for filling wall space.

They are often cheap if you agree to haul them off.

I love to go to a yard sale advertised as a remodeling sale.

Tons of house parts and odd lumber pieces for projects.

I did have to pay real money for this old church window.


However it was near the end of the sale, the sellers had not sold any of the stained glass, and I offered to buy all six windows at a bundle price.

One stayed with me and the rest went off to the store to sell.

Found in a shed just waiting for me.

No one had asked to explore the items in the shed.

Always ask if you can investigate.

You never know what treasure you can find.

Another favorite of mine is finding old roofing tin tiles.









WIRE BASKETS

I buy most wire baskets if the price is right.

Whether they are old or not, it really does not matter.

They have been popular in every decor as long as I can remember.

Wire baskets are useful for storing craft items.

You can line them with screen or landscape cloth and plant in them.

If you find any old locker baskets for less than $10, you are stealing!




Years ago I paid $1 each for them and bought them by the hundreds.

They have disappeared around here.

Unless you wish to pay $30 or more for one!




BOOKS

I never met a book I did not like.

Most of the time I am after old textbooks especially reading books.

But stacks of old books can be great for book page crafts.

I keep my reading books.

I keep my tiny books.

A TIP: If you walk up on a sale ending with boxes of books left, make an offer for the entire lot.  You can always donate what you cannot use.



Besides the obvious of reading the books, they make excellent risers to display items in your home.




TOOLS

Another favorite sale of mine is the old man sale where he is allowing people to go into his man shed.

Great place to find tools and other odds and ends.

Recently I bought four hospital pink bins of tools.

Some to use.

Some to sell.

And some to frame!

Yes, some tools are very decorative.

Look at that mole torture device at the top of the photo.

Imagine it mounted on a block of wood all cleaned and waxed.





TOOL BOXES

Well, if you gonna buy the tools, you might as well buy the tool boxes or even tackle boxes.

This stack hangs out on my front porch holding garden tools.

I have another stack in the craft room.

I do not bother with getting rid of the rust.

I keep them waxed.

This beauty once held electronic equipment.

It now holds plant food.











So whatever your design style is, you can find items at yard sales this summer. 

Just keep an open mind.



                                      IT'S A BLOG HOP!

Please take a look at what everyone else is hunting for. 

Amy @ Brocante Treasures

Cecilia @ My Thrift Store Addiction

Diana @ Adirondack Girl at Heart

Donna @ Distressed Donna Down Home

Eddie @ Eddie-torial Comments

Jillian @ Bella Rosa Antiques

Kim @ Snug Harbor Bay

Linda @ Itsy Bits and Pieces 

Melissa @ Melissa's Antiques 

Pam @ House of Hawthornes 

Rita @ Panoply 

Shara @ Monkeybox

Sharon @ Blue Willow House

Tuula @ Thrifty Rebel Vintage

MAY YOUR LIST BE LONG AND YOUR HUNT BE FRUITFUL!  GO FORTH AND JUNK!

See y'all!


 

Use this discount code to receive 10% off your purchase at the Distressed Donna Etsy store:

DISTRESSEDDONNA16

SHOP HERE!