Estate Sale #1

Estate Sale #1 was advertised as a living estate sale. 

Held by a couple who moved all their antique store merchandise here from Missouri.

Then they decided to sell it all.

And they were serious about getting rid of everything.

Two Coca-Cola crates.

That rusty something - looks like a fireplace fender.

Wreath.

Metal Pepsi bottle carrier.

The display shelf was created from an old sewing machine cabinet. 

It is the base where the machine locks in.

Idea for Melissa of Melissa's Antiques.

A tin of small billiard balls.

A large rusty tin.

A tool caddy.

Two baskets - one signed by the maker.

When I expressed interest in a Thermos, they insisted on unpacking as many as they could round up.

I ended up with nine.

The blues and gold - both Thermos and Aladdin.




 

The reds.

The dark red and silver one is an Icy/Hot made by Thermos.

Fall's coming - bring out the apples.

A beautiful pottery one.

A cheerful wooden one which opens up.







 

A stack of music sheets framed in glass.













 

Walking up from the street, this caught my eye.

A leftover piece of a folding table.

Great patina.






 

Tiny metal casters.

A project piece. 

A mission oak coat rack.

A large luggage rack.

Two balcony posts from an old house.

Most of these items are now in my booths at Riverfront Antique Mall.

More but no time to photograph it all.

As I drove away, the two were still flagging me down with more merchandise.

The funny thing was I did not plan to go to this sale at all.

It was off the route I had planned for the day.

I only went because it started at 7AM - an hour before any of the others.

Serendipitous!


See y'all!

A Red Ladder Day

It was a red ladder day down home today.  I finished another project.  I am burning through them like there is no tomorrow.  I attribute this energy to the fact there has been a couple of hours break in the rain each day.  Time enough to swim laps.  I am dreadfully out of shape.  (I renewed my gym membership several weeks ago and have not gone back since!)  I have not started counting the laps, but hope to be to seventy-five in two weeks.  This is not such a great accomplishment except for me.  Our pool is small -only 32 feet in length! But my left shoulder is frozen due to an injury followed by a bad break so I do a poor man's back stroke.

I set my goals early today as it was still pouring outside:

1)  Stencil a table (to be revealed at the end of this week) - DONE

2)  Finish this ladder project - DONE

3)  Clean off my work space - er, um, hmmm...   Well, NOT DONE  (maybe after writing this!)

You can tell I started this project when I was in my British mood and to tell the truth it almost became a frame for a giant Union Jack.  I changed my mind and decided to add it to the Americana projects.  

I sprayed painted with colonial red Rust-Oleum this cute little ladder that I had been using to hang vintage linens.  I don't know what it would have been used for in the past.  It is not really sturdy or big enough for a bed ladder, but it was well-made.

After staring at the red ladder standing in the corner of the den for two weeks, I finally decided to drape it with stars and put a grapevine wreath on it.

I bought a pre-cut package of cheesecloth by Sewology at Hobby Lobby.  Three yards for $3.95 and less if you have your trusty 40% off coupon.  (Though I usually buy big ticket items with it! Do you know you can use the coupon on the magazines?)  

I love this cheesecloth.  It makes great summer scarves. Just paint or dye.  Then soak in hot water.  Wad it up.  Let it dry in the sun.  Voila - a scarf.

But I digress.  I was making a star-spangled scarf for my little red ladder.  I spread the cloth out across waxed paper and free-hand painted the indigo stars with craft paint.  I did not use any textile medium since this scarf was for a ladder and I did not think it would be bothered by the scratchy stars.  (Of course I may be wrong!) I let the paint dry and then soaked it in leftover coffee and cheap dollar store vanilla for a distressed look.  Then wadded it up and left it to dry.  (I had to un-wad, if that is a word, and lay it flat - no sun!)

Next came the draping and the wiring and the general fussing with getting everything where I wanted it.  Wire and glue dots quickly became my friends.

I wired the wreath in the center.  Then draped the the star cloth around the ladder.  When I had the scarf where I wanted it, I used those nifty little glue dots to hold it in strategic places.  They are invisible and can be removed if for instance you would want to use the ladder at Christmas!  I made a wire hanger. 

This baby was DONE!

I took it outside for the photography portion of this post.  I hung it on the patio wall.  (Yes, I know this needs painting - it is almost too distressed even for me!)  I was so intent on taking a decent picture, I did not notice Scout digging up more ginger lilies and eating the roots.  He has now taken out about fifty of them! (He is only fifteen pounds!)

I made him go immediately inside so I could see if I could save any of the roots and replant them.  Scout met me with this big muddy grin when I came in.  Who could stay angry with such an adorable creature!

If you need a ginger lily root-eating dog, let me know,  I might have an idea where you could get one!

See y'all!





 
 Party Junk #227 at Funky Junk Interiors
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Befuddled Bedsprings

It's raining and I had projects lined up for outside.  I did some decoupaging on some gift tags and note cards so they are spread over every available flat space to dry.   It's raining and  the dogs and cats are bored -no dog park -no kitty-chase-the-stick games.  Everywhere I go they follow behind -my own personal parade.  It's raining and my beloved Blazer has decided she will not use her blinkers or the headlights so she is visiting her mechanic. 

As I looked around I see those  bed springs in their plastic bags.  I had vowed not to make another votive holder with them.  What could I do -What could I do?  A friend had wanted me to make a centerpiece for her table on a wreath form so she could hang it later.  I had bought the green wire wreath

 form and sprayed it Rust-oleum Cinnamon, a favorite among rust goddesses.  So why not a bed spring wreath! 

I took the first spring and twisted it around the form - in and out the wires on the form.  the first went on so well I thought this is easy.. Next I started the second one up inside the first coil.  That did not work.  I backed it out and started the second coil just inside the large bottom ring of the first coil.  Carefully twisting until it was positioned where I wanted it.  I continued around the form twisting and positioning as I went.

 When I got to the next to last coil, I had to twist it way up the previous coil so I could fit the last coil in.  After the last coil was twisted on the form, I went around the wreath adjusting the twists to even them out. I used fourteen coils.

 I have needed something to hang on the inside of the back door, and I think I have found it.  Here it is naked - just can't have that!   So I gathered some odds and ends from the stash cabinet and started playing.


 




I grabbed this star made from shutter slats.  It easily slid between the coils.  It did not need any extra anchoring. 






 I thought of that doll with the pretty vintage dresser scarf dress and tried her sitting in the wreath.  She overwhelmed it, and the pups are way too interested in her hanging skirt.  I am afraid she would quickly become a chew toy!

 I take off the star and doll. I add a piece of round frame that has had many different uses over the years along with part of my collection of garden tools.  (I know I did not confess to a garden tool collection in my last post, but sadly that was just the tip of the iceberg.)  I think it looks lop-sided so I remove the frame - it doesn't mind. It knows I will have a future job for him.

I add the star back to the wreath and adjust the tools.  That red trowel will not cooperate. The wreath still looks naked. I am surprised how well each object fits inside the coils - no wiring so far!   I think the star a keeper, but the red trowel has to go.  Sorry!

Atop my stash cabinet sits my Raggedy 

Ann angel. I add her in front of the star.  I know some of you are thinking aren't those coils rusty?  Yes, they are, but I, as a rust goddess,  do not mind rust spots on most stuff - it adds character!  If it bothers you,  you can spray it with a clear sealer to keep the rust look without the rust stain.

Here she is hanging on the door .  The dogs can't reach it (though both Willie and Scout have tried.)  I am off to upload the photos for this post.  As the pictures load, I put away some things and check on drying items.
I keep coming back to the door and looking at that wreath - something is missing.




How could I not have thought of adding my torn ribbons to it.  Well, duh, everyone knows I put ribbons on everything that stands still long enough.  I know just the ones to use.  They are the end pieces of other ribbons that were soaked in my husband's left-over coffee and cheap imitation vanilla from the dollar store. (HINT:  That cheap vanilla keeps its scent just as well as the real stuff!)  I gather the pieces into a loose loop and slip it through the top coils. Finally, a well-dressed wreath!

It is done - at least for today.  I hope you enjoyed this rainy day project.  Remember - I have two box springs of these coils so there will definitely be more projects!  

Come back again, folks.  Please leave a comment if you have the time - all are read and treasured.


 

Party Junk #210 at Funky Junk Interiors