Retro Folding Chair Redo, Part 1

Just a quick hello to show you some awesome retro chairs I picked up at the thrift store last night.  They are all shades of 1970, and feature the liberty bell, some eagles, and a flag or two.  I call them the Freedom Chairs.  I redid one already, but I only have a phone picture, so you'll have to wait to see the actual final product tomorrow.  Behold, the Freedom Chair in all it's glory:

You still have 3 days to enter my Anthropologie giveaway...so hurry over and make it happen! {Click Here!}



Bench From a Repurposed Door Headboard

Last year, Tanner made me an amazing bed out of an old chicken coop door, and made some cubbies for an endboard.  We recently replaced that with my great grandmother's iron bed, so we decided to repurpose the bed into a great outdoor bench.  For the seat, we used slats from an old bed we found a while back.  Originally, we were going to paint the boards all one color, but once he got them on, we thought they were just way too much fun to change.  Enjoy!

Oh, and don't forget to enter my giveaway for a $50.00 Anthropologie gift certificate, a $20.00 credit to my Etsy store, a copy of The Holiday, and a Brooke Waggoner CD!  CLICK HERE to enter by Friday, September 17th!

Tanner took some pictures when he went out to the pond Sunday morning...I have to post these too.  He's a great photographer!

Anthropologie Giveaway

I must apologize by my lack of a Things Bloggers Do  post this week.  I have way too much going on, and I have it half finished, but no pictures.  To me, the pictures are the most fun part, so you'll just have to wait until next week! Its about the Dollar Store this time.  Yes.

I know this says Anthropologie Giveaway...but I'm changing the name from Giveaway to, Give-a-little,get-a-little. We all know I absolutely love to see more people come to my blog, and I know you love to get good things!  So let the

Anthropologie give-a-little,get-a-little commence!

This time, you will receive a $50.00 Anthropologie gift card (that goes a long way toward their new boots...)

a $20.00 credit toward anything in my Etsy shop

a copy of The Holiday (just because I love it)

and a Brooke Waggoner CD!

All I ask for in return (the give-a-little part) is to leave a comment saying that you:

-  Follow my blog

-  Blog about the giveaway

(and if you DON'T have a blog, just facebook it or tweet it).

Thats it!  I'll keep it open until next Friday and announce the winner on Monday Sept. 20th (my birthday! woohoo!)

Good luck everybody!

Glacier National Park

I live in Montana, and have only been to Glacier Park a handful of times.  It's sad really, because its such a beautiful place, and I'm literally 30 minutes away.  We went the last couple weekends and I just had to share the photos with you guys.  Hope you had an awesome Labor Day!

haaaa.  I loved this guy.  This is a hoary marmot.

Umm...this guy was a total ham.  He posed.

"MAAAAASEWAYAAAAAAH....THE CIRCLE OF LIIIIIFE"  am I right?

Many Glacier Lodge.  SO beautiful.

Oops...this is outside our house haha.  I just love these wheat pictures.

 

Things Bloggers Do #8

8.  We are not afraid of throwin' 'bows at a yard sale.

You better believe that if I see some ironstone at a yard sale, and you see that same ironstone, I will win. I lift weights in the off-season just to make sure I’m in the best shape possible for yard sailing.

Well, I don’t really “sail” from place to place…I take the “white knuckles” approach.

If you blog, I know you’re like that too. I know you don’t have to be a blogger to be a bow throwin’ kind of shopper, but bloggers have the added mission of writing about what they find.

Countless photo-worthy treasures + an interesting story = a GREAT blog post.

If you’re not a seasoned yard sale pioneer, this post is for you. If you have an addiction to yard sales, this post is for you. If you’ve already scoured Craigslist for the weekend sales, this post is for you.

WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU START

- Cash (can not stress the importance of this one enough)

- Checkbook

- Sustenance like granola bars and water. No stopping.

- Phone handy, as well as your husband. He must be able to be reached at all times for measurements, approval, and to talk you out of buying the 4th disc of the 3rd season of LOST.

- Taser for the unruly ladies.

- Leave the babies at home, or bring someone who can watch them in the car. I have a friend who plays Veggie Tales for her kids while she shops. This is SO smart…perfectly entertaining and a great way to make sure your kids never see what kind of animal shopper you are, Amy ;)

THE ARRIVAL

You need to drive by before you commit to parking. You need to find out if this is a “baby clothes and boxes full of VHS tapes” sale, or if it is a hidden treasure type sale. Sometimes the line between them is very thin. That is why the drive by is so important. You can NOT feel bad for the drive by. They would do it at your sale in heartbeat.

This isn’t rainbows and unicorns and new found friendships. This is BATTLE.

I can not describe in words the animosity I feel toward drawing cars.  WHAT IS THAT?!

GETTING OUT

If the drive by doesn’t tell you all you need to know, this is the time to park. Pick a spot closest to the sale that doesn’t leave you blocked in by the lady in the Buick. You know her. I know you do.

Take your cash with you, and start eyeballing EVERYTHING before you even get the door shut. Look through boxes, peek in the garage and see if they have any great cabinets they might part with. If not, look on table tops, and if you see something you just have to buy…buy it quick before a line longer than the one at the DMV forms.

There are a number of sales where you will not find anything. The thing sticking out of the box that you thought was an old flour sack was actually some whitey-tighties a little worse for the wear. This is ok. This is when you leave. I’m not saying you have to be completely heartless…I usually use this excuse: “Well I was looking for (insert whatever you DON’T see at their sale here) so I better keep moving on!” This has always worked for me, but I dread the day when someone says “Oh! I actually have one of those in the house!” ……REALLY?!

BARTERING

Here is my advice on the matter. Plain and simple. Always. ALWAYS ask politely for a lower price. If they say no, you can still buy it if you really want it! There’s no evil sale police telling you to put the item down once sticker dickering does not work. YOU CAN STILL BUY IT.

NEVER, in that smart Alec tone, talk about the item in front of the seller. There should be no “well I don’t know…it IS kind of dirty, and not really what I’m looking for…can you go less?” as you’re turning the item over in your hands scrunching your nose at it. Doing this not only makes you look like a giant IDIOT, but also makes that seller shut down. That’s like a guy telling you, “I don’t know, your face is kind of gross and disfigured but I guess I could date you….I guess. Only if YOU buy dinner…”

DEALING WITH OTHER SHOPPERS

I’m a really nice person. Ask around. When it comes to garage sales though…..watch it. It’s really nothing personal. I shop sales like I play basketball….I throw ‘bows. I give you permission. In the real world, I hate confrontation. I can’t even ask for a day off at work without shaking…literally shaking.

Let me tell you a little story. 3 or so weeks ago, I arrived at a yard sale at the same time as the lady in the Buick. (You DO know her) Apparently en route to the sale, I had done something to upset her. Never mind that I had NO idea who she was or had even talked to her! Anyway, I got out and she was shaking her head and me and then that big heavy ‘HHHHHHHHH’ sigh came out. Not once, not twice, but the entire walk up to the sale. Shifty-eyed glance, head shake, sigh, repeat. Since this is garage sale land and not real life, I finally turned and said “is there something you want to tell me?” in a tone that would make Wanda Sykes proud.

BAM. There it was. I threw a verbal jab and it felt good. Real life Jana would have cowered and walked faster, arms folded, to the sale.

Lesson is, garage sales aren’t real life. You get to be ruthless. Don’t tell your husband I said that. Or your mother. Or mine.

You’ll encounter the “I saw it first” women, the grabby ones who will try to take things from your pile, and the people who must be numb from the neck down to not feel that they are totally rubbing up on you. Now you know what to do.

HAULING YOUR GOODS TO THE TRUCK

If it is going to take you more than 15 minutes to load the big items you bought in your truck, ask to leave it there until the end of the day. My reasoning for this is that while you’re busy loading up that dresser, someone at the next sale is buying up all the treasures. That person is usually me. So you’re welcome for that tip. Do you want one dresser, or the dresser plus 10 awesome cool things you found while not spending time loading it? That’s what I thought.

BRINGING PEOPLE WITH YOU WHILE GARAGE SALING

Pick these people selectively. They will control how well you do that day. Do they take an extra 5 minutes putting on lip gloss in the mirror? Do they ask to stop for the bathroom more than twice? Do they linger over the 1.00 items table too long? Are they looking for things like porcelain trinkets and baby clothes?

DO NOT TAKE THEM WITH YOU. DO NOT TAKE THEM WITH YOU. Here’s a hint: you will resent them for the entire trip. Guaranteed. You need a marathon sale partner. Someone in for the long haul. I have a few of them, and they’re great. In, out, no questions asked. ‘Nuff said? Yes. I think so.

**

Now that we’ve talked about the various aspects of the sale itself, lets talk about things that are potentially threatening to your mission.

THINGS THAT THROW YOU OFF YOUR MISSION

THE UNRELENTING CONVERSATIONALIST

This is the equivalent of shopping in quicksand. Social obligation and real life tell you that you should listen to the guy, give a few head nods and attempt to further the conversation. He wants to tell you the history of the item you’re looking at, and out of the corner of your eye you see someone paying for some flower frogs, and your mission is being compromised. What do you do? Since this is garage sale land, you have limitless options. You could say “Oh that’s great,” and continue walking. You could use that cell phone of yours to fake a call. You could point up to the sky and say something like “is that a hot air balloon?” while you make your escape. You could even act mentally unstable and start banging on things. Maybe add a helmet to your list of things to bring.

THE HUSBAND WHO KEEPS CALLING AND WONDERING WHERE YOU ARE

This is a tough one. Unlike the conversationalist, we have to deal with husbands on a daily basis, so real life definitely applies. You can not claim mental instability on this one. He may suggest that…but you can’t. Do not ignore the call. Do not say “I’m only going to one more.” Do not try to buy him something thinking he will be ok with you being gone all day. You have to prepare him for the worst a day ahead of time. You have to say “hey honey, I am going to go garage sailing Saturday, probably until dark. I might not even come home and I’ll most likely buy a UHAUL full of stuff. I promise to spend less than 100.00 and I promise to buy you something you might like if I see it.” This way, he can be happy that you’re back around 3 with only a truckload and only spending 60 dollars. Maybe that will work….

BATHROOM BREAKS

Don’t have coffee before you start, don’t drink a ton of water. Moderation is key. Pace yourself so you don’t have to “go real bad” 10 minutes into an amazing sale. For people like me, this is hard. I have a bladder the size of a small bead, I’m convinced. I keep a coffee can in the car with me while I garage sale….just kidding. I am just really really good at holding it.

RUNNING INTO SOMEONE YOU KNOW

 

Are you obligated to shop with them now that you’re both there? NO! You are probably going to be stuck with an awkward conversation, especially if it’s someone you haven’t seen in awhile. Make it quick. Make it as not weird as you can. “The sky sure is blue!” “Yep!” “Well…see you…..sometime….later.” Never mind that you’ll run into them multiple times at the sale. This is the most awkward, since you’ve already severed the conversation a first time. You can either ignore them at this point, or make a comment like “oh that’s a good find” before you jet out of there.

**

These are obviously just a few, but you’ll be that much more prepared next time. Do you feel equipped? Are you ready to get out there and throw some bows? (That’s elbows for you gangster-challenged individuals) I hope so. I hope I have taught you well, and that you get the finds of a lifetime. I want to know your funny garage sale stories, your mission-compromising things, and your tips. Comment away!

Click here for more Things Bloggers Do!

Rag & Stone

Just sharing a post from a friend that I read yesterday and LOVED.  She makes the most amazing jewelry and has so much heart behind each piece.  She has her jewelry at our markets and everyone just LOVES it. I had to share this with you...see you Monday! 

If you look up a town in southeast Iowa, Muscatine, you might not really think much of it. Muscatine is a sleepy little river town stuck right up into rolling hills right off the Mississippi river, and is actually a very pretty part of the midwest. I remember visiting as a little kid all my extended family here, its where my parents grew up.

I remember humidity like you wouldn't believe, cicadas the size of softballs singing into the night, and the blackest dirt I've ever seen. And in that melon-growing dirt you could find the coolest clamshell buttons, all broken up into fragmented white bits.

If the sun was shining at just the right angle and if you were lucky, a whole button would surface its little self, all shiny like the inside of a clamshell, with two funny holes smack dab in the middle. Or even better, a whole clamshell with button holes stamped out of it.

I can remember these little buttons everywhere down by the rivers, in flower pots, in backyards, in green jungle alleys behind my Aunt Pete's house, even in the cement downtown. Buttons Everywhere! Apparently, the Mississippi harbored enough fat little clamshells that the town of Muscatine became the pearl button capital of the midwest, coined the term "pearling the mississipi", and the commodity led a booming economy in the early 1900s.

This is a clamshell antique button that came with a thousand others, some resin, some colored shell, some clam, in an old barnum-and-baileys cookie tin i stole from my mom (which I am sure came from my grandma). I took these buttons a few years ago, thinking...well, I could someday make some jewelry out of them...not knowing then that I would actually know how to make them into jewelry. Funny how that all just plays itself out.

On the back of this piece is stamped " Life's Simple Pleasures". If there is anything simple and beautiful to me, it is definitely a pearl button from my grandma's collection.

 

To see more of Erin's amazing work, visit her Etsy shop, Rag & Stone, HERE.

Things Bloggers Do #7

7.  CAPTCHA. hhhhhh.

This one should be titled, "Things WEBSITES ALL OVER THE ENTIRE INTERNET DO...."

There are few things more disheartening in blogland than reading through an amazing post, getting to the end…smiling, wanting to leave a comment, and coming across the elephant in the room that is CAPTCHA. It turns this:

I actually get nervous when I have to do them…like if I fail, I fail at life and not just some box where you type letters into. You can’t study for it; you just have to hope you can read the jumbled mess…

Who writes them? Do they ever make funny ones? Lets google it.

 Oh my. Ok, honestly, if I ran across that, I wouldn’t be so upset. But no, usually I get these!!!

or...

Awesome.  Just....awesome.  All I wanted was to post this old decor on craigslist...JUST GREAT.

I really feel bad for robots though, they suffer the most…who says they don’t want to blog and read about arts and crafts? I mean I know they have claws for hands but come on…let’s not discriminate!

“Honey! I was just reading about a good recipe for stew and that devil box popped up again! I just can’t take it anymore!”

I actually just found out my blog, until now, has supported robot segregation. I am truly sorry and apologize to the human and robot population alike. All are welcome on this blog. ;)

Of course there are bad spam robots, and if you’ve been repeatedly harassed, moderation of comments is acceptable, and I highly recommend that you purchase Old Glory Robot Insurance immediately.