Sunday, June 26, 2011

SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE

I couldn't help but think of the name of the album that Stevie Wonder released in 1976 when I started on my latest project.  Since I have so much time on my hands relaxing at home enjoying the nice cool weather, as others are finally feeling that summer heat index start to rise, I thought I would scrounge around our shed for some more scrap pieces of wood to paint on.  When I found a couple of old ledge shelves that were no longer being used, I had an indea for what to do with them.
Almost immediately after picking them up and looking at them, I envisioned piano keys.  So off I went in search of a graphic online that I could print out and use to trace onto the shelves.  After tweaking the size of the graphic, I painted the shelves black and then went about transferring my image onto the wood.  Then it was time to paint using left over Martha Stewart "Glass of Milk" white.  When I finally finished them, I had to admit that they turned out pretty darn cute.  This can either be placed on a table, shelf, or any flat surface, to be used in a creative vignette, or attach a hanger on the back, or a couple of hooks on the top and hang it on a wall.

Not only did I complete the two piano key pieces, but I also completed a couple of distressed signs that will be sure to add just that right touch of color or interest to just about any kitchen.  I have really found a lot of joy in using stuff that would have just found it's way into the trash, and being able to give it a new life and purpose.  Now I think I'll put away my paints for a bit and enjoy the fantastic views of the sunset I have nightly right outside my window.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

20/20 VISION

I've had a fascination with vintage eye chart signs lately, and after seeing how much they were selling for, took the route of maybe a reproduction print, but even those were too steep for my pocket book.  So I got to thinking.......why not make my own?
So off to Home Depot I went after dropping Craig off at the Company yard last Wednesday morning, and since it was so early in the morning, I practically had the store to myself, and plenty of employees that were more than willing to help me.  I hit the lumber section  and picked out a sheet of plywood.  You want to know what is cool?  They will cut it up into as many pieces and sized as you want!  Talk about great customer service.  On my way out I passed by the paint department to pick up a quart of Martha Stewart "Glass of Milk" white.  It seemed the perfect color for my project.
For this particular sign, I painted the board black first, and the white.  When dry, I distressed it with some coarse sand paper.  Because I didn't have a stencil to go by for the first sign, I purchased a vinyl transfer and then made copies of each line with tracing paper so that I can duplicate it over and over again.  For my own sign, I am going to do a black background with white letters, so this one will be up for sale in our consignment store as soon as I can get it to Walla Walla.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

S'MORE POPS


While visiting with my Mom in California a couple of months ago, we made cake pops for the first time. It was a very labor intensive project, and about halfway through the process, you begin questioning yourself as to why you started it in the first place.  In our little kitchen at the house, it would prove difficult to have the counter space needed to take on such a project. 
Looking for a fun little treat to take into the Company yard the next time I go through Spokane on my way to Walla Walla, I stumbled across a quick and simple recipe for S'More Pops.  Three simple ingredients are all you need:  Marshmallows, Milk Chocolate Chips, and Graham Cracker Crumbs.  You'll also need to get sucker sticks, and if you like plastic treat bags to wrap them up in.
Simply insert one of the sucker sticks into the marshmallow on the flat side until almost completely through the marshmallow.  Dip it into a bowl of melted chocolate chips, tap off the excess, and then roll into graham cracker crumbs.  Allow to set, and then wrap into individual bags or a large airtight container.
Now no respectable cook would post about a food item without first tasting it themselves.  I was no exception to that rule, as you can see from the evidence left on the tray.  Just to make sure they were worthy of sharing with you all, I went beyond the call of duty and ate a second one!

Saturday, June 11, 2011

IT SOUNDED GOOD IN THEORY

You ever have some of those ideas in your head for a project, and in your mind it looks great, but halfway through the project you determine that in all likelihood it will turn out completely different?  Yeah, I had one of those ideas yesterday.
It started out with loving the look of the subway signs that Restoration Hardware are selling for way over my budget these days.  I thought to myself, how hard could it be to recreate those, but on a smaller scale.  I had recently purchased some one half inch plywood for another project idea ( I'll let you know how that one turns out later), and had some scrap pieces left over that I knew would be the perfect size.  I painted the piece black and then thought about what I could use for lettering.
Again, not having the budget to buy one of those fancy vinyl letter cutting machines, I had to resort to the old standby of stencils.  I looked at our local craft store, and in a town of only 3,000, let me tell you, they don't carry much.  I couldn't find any lettering stencils, but I did find a style of stickers, which were actually on card stock, so that I could trace around them.
In my mind, it didn't think it would take as long as it did to place each letter onto the board and then trace around them, but I was already too far into the project to turn back now, so I trudged onward until all the locations were traced onto the board.  Again, in my mind, I pictured the lettering going so much more different than it turned out to be.  What I pictured was Urban Chic, but what I got was Rustic French Country.
After distressing and waxing, it certainly doesn't look all that bad, and in the right location, would look pretty adorable with the right accessories, kinda like this French Patisserie sign I had made the day before.  It looks fantastic on the World War 2 suitcase that Cori and I purchased at auction last February.  Since no one wanted it either at the consignment space or at Farm Chicks I brought it home with me, and wouldn't you know it?   It looks fantastic on top of a five dollar chair with a leather seat that I snagged at a yard sale on Friday.

Sunday, June 05, 2011

FARM CHICKS 2011 - THE REVIEW


Yes, I'm a vendor, and am I allowed to say "I'm pooped"?  What a whirlwind of four days of activities, starting with Thursday and packing up all our stuff and heading to Spokane, WA and ending Sunday afternoon with having to disassemble our booth and happily, only pack back up about half of what we brought.
As expected, Saturday was the big day, when the line of  people waiting to get into the fairgrounds starting forming almost two hours early.  Craig took a couple of photos of the front gate on one of his many trips out to the moving truck.  It didn't take long before the aisles were packed with like minded people with the love of all things vintage.
I have to tell you, the biggest surprise and one of the best memories of this event was when I was approached by a young couple who asked which one of us, Cori or I had the blog.  I assumed they were asking about Cori's blog, which has the same name as our business, and started to introduce them to Cori, when they said it was the truck driving blog.  I couldn't have been happier meeting this couple and getting the chance to see face to face the wonderful people that read my blog.  Although the husband had enjoyed the truck driving side of the blog, the wife was enjoying following my adventures in the junking world.   Honestly, it made my day!
There were so many enduring stories that come to mind when I think about this past weekend.  The one that continues to warm my heart and give me chills, was the woman who was looking at an old baseball mitt we had for sale with a baseball in the glove.  When she picked up the ball it had the name "Mo" written on it.  She said that was the nickname that her husband's Father always called him when he was a boy, and that it was most definitely an omen for her to purchase it for him for a Father's Day present.
Or the older couple, who have a 35 year old son, who as a boy, would sing the Davy Crockett song over and over.  When they saw the old vintage Davey Crockett suitcase we had for sell, did not hesitate to pick it up and buy it for their son to remind him always of that childhood memory.
It was exciting for us to have our first sale on Saturday morning, and it did not disappoint.  A lady was in our booth and noticed a small metal windmill.  She snatched it up quickly and said that was exactly what she was looking for, and that if she bought nothing else all day, she would be going home a very happy lady.
We had so many people taking pictures of both our dress forms and the hanging light that Craig put together for us.  It was nice to get the feedback on all those items, and the items we had worked hard to create, like the thermos lights, and the soap dispenser mason jars. 
By the end of the show, we were all physically tired, and Cori and I could not have been the success that we were without the endless help of our husbands, Craig and Mike.  They both took vacation time to help us with our first Farm Chicks vendor experience, knowing full well that they would have rather have spent their vacation time with a bit more relaxation than work.  I am eternally thankful for the love and support you both showed us this weekend.

Friday, June 03, 2011

FARM CHICKS IS HERE!

Farm Chicks Antique Show has finally gotten here, and I think we are as ready as we can be for first time vendors at one of the biggest west coast shows in the junking world.  We loaded up all of our products on Thursday and drove to Spokane, and after a nice relaxing evening at the hotel, we hit the ground running this morning by setting up our space and hoping for the best outcome come Saturday morning when the doors open for business at 9am.

We only have a 10X10 space, and after trying to fit in most of our stuff, we soon realized how much nicer it would have been to have two spaces.  One of our neighbors at the show has five spaces.  WOW....that's a lot of space and a lot of product to have on hand.  We have plenty of good stuff left in the truck to bring into our space as stuff sells, and with a lot of good fortune, we will sell most of what we brought.

It will be a long 10 hours tomorrow, in what other vendors have told us will be chaos, with thousands of people clamoring to buy what is being offered to sell throughout four very large connected buildings at the Spokane Fairgrounds.  After a full day of setting up our little space, we sat back and were very proud of what we created to entice buyers into our space.


By the end of this weekend, I'm hoping to be enthusiastic about venturing out and applying at several other antique/junk sales in the area.  In fact, we were already invited to join a show which is slated to be in Walla Walla, WA on October 8th.  Who knows, you just may see us there!

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