MySoCalledJunkyLife Giveaway!

Sarah at "My So Called Junky Life" is the sweetest person ever, I was just telling her how I love to browse through her Etsy shop and drool as I look. There may be a trade between Sarah and I in the works, as I just hoard my enormous stash of vintage jewelry like a troll and Sarah actually does something lovely with it.

I just heard about her very generous giveaway: A $50 gift certificate to her etsy shops! She just updated her shop with a bunch of vintage "assemblage jewelry."

Dottie Angel Challenge

Today, I've decided to try something crazy.

I've decided to join dottie angel in her amazing and scary challenge.

I am committing to buy only handcrafted or secondhand goods for my home or my closet for 1 year. I'm also adding my 4 children to the challenge. They have so many clothes right now. I can mend, thrift, get creative, and do what I need to do to make sure nobody goes naked.

As I am typing this, I'm really considering how challenging this could be. I'm thinking: what about Christmas? I guess that can be handmade. My kids have too many toys and things anyway. Spencer's birthday on Friday. I don't have presents bought for that yet.

So here are my exceptions. I'm starting TODAY. But, I don't have time to get creative and make Spencer something for his birthday, so I'm going to make that my exception (unless I have some great idea before Friday). The other exception is, of course, any underclothing that may need to be purchased. Oh yeah, and diapers. I won't do cloth diapers. I just won't. Sorry. And the store isn't included in this challenge. I need supplies and can't get them second hand.

I will update my blog whenever anything worth mentioning comes up with this challenge. Wish me luck!

Melissa

New Displays at the Shop

Another slip for my etsy shop.

New display at the shop.


Beginnings of a Halloween display at the shop.

Vintage Slip Rescue Mission

I've been busy with dye baths, vintage fabric and my sewing machine getting these upcycled vintage slips ready to list in my etsy shop. I have lots more on the way!

La Musique

Yesterday, I went out junkin' like I do most weekends. I have a head cold, as do my little ones, and didn't feel well, but went out anyway. I'm glad I did for the short time I did because I found this beauty: something you would expect to find at a Paris Flea Market, not a yard sale in Pocatello, Idaho. And you would just die if you knew what a deal it was.

She is aged bronze with a wood base that says "La Musique". I haven't decided what to do with her yet. For now she is on my bedroom dresser. I have an art nouveau mirror that would look really pretty with this. I like to keep things, enjoy their beauty, then when I have had enough of it, put them in the shop. Who knows, she might make an excellent blog giveaway!

Late Night Giggles...

Where Women Create

As many of you know, my shop is located in a hundred-year-old Victorian house. When I first moved in, the house was pretty disastrous. There were weeds everywhere and the inside was painted green and purple with the ugliest 80s linoleum and carpet you've ever seen. I've done some work (although it is never how I want it). I opened up a little tiny entry-way, a first room, a second room, and later another room off to the side. I am currently working on opening a little tiny room which (has a really strange story behind it, I'll tell you about it sometime) to put candles and chandeliers in.

Shabby Scraps pretty little studio: LOVE THE PINK, LOVE THE NATURAL LIGHT

Unfinished in my shop are the kitchen (behind the curtain in the second room), a medium sized bedroom off the kitchen, and the bathroom. The kitchen is pretty gross looking currently. It has ugly, nasty carpet. The paint is dirty, yellowed, and grungy. It is full of junky treasures that I haven't priced yet or am waiting to find the time to paint, fix or work on to get in the shop.

Underneath all of its ugliness, the kitchen is so cool: original beadboard walls up to a chair rail. Original cupboards all the way to the high ceiling. A deep cupboard to store whatever needs to be stored. Original cute enamel sink. Two original wood windows let in a ton of natural light. This room could be really adorable! It is perfect for a studio.

So what's stopping me? Well, the junking is HOT right now. As I have said in previous posts, there's lots to buy and fix. Right now, my buying exceeds my time to price and display. I've decided to (when I can find the help) box up all the stuff in the future "studio" and place stuff in the basement of the store until winter comes and the buying slows down. Then I will have new items for the shop even when there's not as much to buy.


Then, I need to pull up carpet. I'm pretty sure there are wood floors under the carpet. They will probably need to be painted, as well as the entire room, from floor to ceiling. Roy is my wonderful painter, he will probably do that job. Does anyone have ideas for paint colors? How should I paint the floor?

Next, I need some ideas for storage. It would be quick and easy to buy pre-fab bookcases, but old wooden cupboards would be more charming if I can find them. I like the idea of having shelves with metal locker baskets so I can see my materials. And there are the built-in shelves to store items. I have been collecting lots of glass jars with lids to keep buttons, trim, vintage junk jewelry, and other essentials to creating.

Of course, I need a table in the middle of the room. I would like it to be big enough to host small classes (maybe 10 people) and teach altered books, collage, soldered jewelry, and other fun classes. I would love to have guest teachers and different types of classes making crafty things using recycled and vintage materials.

Lately, I have had so many ideas swirling around my head. I go on etsy and blog surf and become so inspired. I NEED my own spot to create.

The current issue of the magazine "Where Women Create" has a lot of great ideas and eye candy to think about. I love the old frames with chicken wire to display snippets of inspiration.

Any ideas for me?? I would love to hear any suggestions, ideas, or advice.