Awful Lamp? or Awesome Lamp? Not sure!

It'd been awhile, so I made a trip to my local Goodwill warehouse today.  I found this AWFUL lamp...

but at .30, it was worth it just for the hardware.  More about the lamp in a bit.

This glass came to a grand total of .40 -- not bad.

And this vintage dictionary was .30 -- I can live with that.

Oooo!  A Jenga game!  30 cents? -- I'll take it!

Now, I already have a gazillion suitcases.  But it's a nice navy blue one,  and for a mere .30, I guess I'll have a gazillion and one.  BUT....

when I told the cashier there was another one inside, he said "yeah, it's a set".  I said yes, "but there's one inside, so it's two", he answered "Yes, but it's a SET. One thing. 30 cents for the set, ma'am."  Okay.  I guess it's gazillion and TWO suitcases for me.  

So, about this lamp.  My cashier also told me this was a "large electrical" item -- not .30, but $1.00!  Whoa! Hmmm.... Now I had a decision to make.  And when I looked at it sans shade, it kind of looked AWESOME -- like a contemporary craft style design. And paired with a contemporary barrel shade ... Hmmm....

So I said it's fine. But now that I've got it home, it kind of seems AWFUL again.  Hmmm... 

So what do YOU think?  Don't hold back.  I can take it. I want to know the truth. AWFUL or AWESOME?

Midge

Whatever way the wind blows these projects

First a little disclaimer:  If you're into the girlie, frilly, delicate stuff, this post may not be for you.  If you're into industrial -- ENJOY! 

Though I haven't been doing much blogging lately (oops!), I have been doing a bit of dabbling -- holiday stuff, mom stuff, house stuff, church stuff, etc.  But of course I didn't forget my true love -- JUNK!

I snagged these beauties up a while back.  All three rooftop wind turbines for $15.  A little more than I like to spend (afterall, I'm a scavenger), but when I considered it as $5 each, I could justify it. 

                                     

And they are quite large, check them out compared to that chair!

Here's one all ready to be operated on! --  Nurse, my screwdriver please!

The 2 top screws hold the "cage" to the turbine.  The other screw, along with its partner on the other side held them onto the bottom portion.  So, a little elbow grease and some help from WD-40 and.....

the 2 top parts were separated from the 2 bottom parts.

 And this is where the real fun begins!

The metal piping came off pretty easily.  But the roofing flange was the BIG job!  LOTS of scraping!  Tar is not easy to remove (and it's yucky!)

SOOO.....what do I have to show for my efforts?

Well, 3 of these (already have projects planned for them) ....

and the close up (I clearly need to rust up some more)...

6 of these (no ideas yet)....

and the close up (some are still intact, some not)....

3 of these beauties (I'm very excited for the project I've got planned for them)....  

and a little better view (notice the coffe can for size reference)....   

and 3 of these (some fun ideas are floating around my brain!).... 

I did say FUN didn't I?



So considering that I'll be making at least a dozen cool projects from this haul, I think the price wasn't too bad. Sorry I wasn't able to show you any finished goods just yet, it was a project just getting them disassembled.  But I definitely will be sharing more on this.

Midge 

Call the Doctor, Call the Nurse, Call the Lady with junk in her purse!

Okay, you busted me!  I don't even carry a purse (I need my hands free for scooping up cool junk)!  But I do love junk!  And I always want to know when there's some to be had. And lately I've been finding some cool pieces....

Yep.  It's a tall, skinny pillar-looking vintage wooden cabinet that houses a rolled up stretcher.... 

I believe it was used in an industrial setting in case of an emergency.  I didn't even know such things existed!
But it must be true, the sign wouldn't lie!..... 

And just in case the inevitable happens, don't worry, there's a sign to tell you what to do....  

     I'm afraid it's another case of me falling in love with something I've bought, so now I've just GOT to keep it.  I think by adding some hooks to the side it would make the coolest towel/robe rack for a bathroom.  I don't have a bathroom suited for it, so it looks like I'm going to have to build the guest "powder room" I have tucked secretly away.  It will be the world's smallest bathroom, but I think I can fit this gem in.  

     That project may have to wait just a bit....did you know it's Christmas time?  Well, I DO know, I've just been a little slow getting things done.  I am in process, however, and will be posting on that soon.

Midge  

"Where do you get your junk?"

      Wow, it has been so long since I've posted that everything's changed and I've got to relearn how!  Included in my excuses for not posting is that I haven't made anything.  And THAT I'll blame on my space issues -- or as the kids would say "it's complicated!".  I am working on that.

      But in the meantime, when some good junk comes along, you've gotta go for it!  And people are always asking me "Where do you get your junk?".  SO.....I thought I'd share some things I just got and explain where they came from.

 Well, this one I am in LOVE with!  It reminds me of a tiny commercial laundry cart.  That holds extra meaning as my parents for close to 40 years owned and operated our local dry cleaners.  This cutie is 25" x 15", 15" high, with some 1"or 2"casters to be added.  I can envision it by the back door filled with shoes, by the fireplace at Christmas with florals or gifts piled high, in a bathroom stacked with fluffy towels, or even as an end table.  
     I found it at an area Habitat Restore while prowling for a new water heater (don't ask!).  There it sat on a shelf -- marked $1.00.  I was beside myself with excitement but had no cash on me.  So I travelled to my bank (which happened to be just a mile away) and quickly returned to find it still safe and sound.  "Isn't it awesome!" I declared to the cashier.  Her "whatever" expression told me she just didn't get it. 

        

Though these two aren't nearly as incredible of a find, they are very typical of the type of stuff you can find setting by the curb on garbage day.  Which means that, yes, they were FREE!  They are pretty good size and once cleaned up and painted white would make for the foundations of some great display pieces.   

Oh, yeah, I think you're getting hint of what's next....

Is this beautiful or what!?!  Now, sometimes to get something like this you DO have to spend a little bit of money.  I paid $10.00 for it, but I think that's a pretty good deal -- I've seen them go a lot higher.  I bought it through a local online auction.  It's like an actual auction, but all the viewing and bidding is done online through the course of a day.  If I end up as highest bidder I have a week to pick it up -- and luckily for me the headquarters is fairly close to me.

Of course, I could have just ridden it home as it does still have a license on it, but I'm not sure of the roadworthiness of it -- or me!  However, it will look great next spring displayed in a garden area.  Now I'll have to be on the lookout for bike baskets. 

Peace.

Midge

I kinda LIKE Mondays.

I so often hear people lamenting how much they "don't like Mondays!" Now, I'm not saying that I'm crazy about Mondays, but there are some things about them that I like. The main one is that around here it's GARBAGE DAY! I'm happy I can set my accumulated trash out to the curb. AND I can check out other people's curbside deposits.
I don't cruise around town every week (I have to get up pretty early to beat out the variety of trucks squealing their brakes), but today I had "that urge". I think I did pretty good....

so this picture isn't the greatest, then again, neither is this dining table. Pretty unimaginative BUT is was free, sturdy, and all the parts were there.

Next up (and hopelessly sideways) is this pile of vintage cabinets doors. 19 in all, and in all variety of sizes.

And finally, as I was returning home on my new and improved "route" I spotted this large white board. A little warped, but I'll be cutting in into pieces for memo boards anyway.

AHHHH. What a great start to another week of junking. And I was feeling so full of myself that I thought it'd be a good day to visit my beloved Goodwill Warehouse. So far, I've spent $0, but this is the time you might want to start guessing my $$ amount if you want to play along.

I'll reveal the total at the end.

The real goal of my trip -- glass and plates. So I grabbed a white plate and 2 vases.

3 Vintage books -- always good to have on hand either straight up or for the pages. 2 Dictionaries (check out the awesome artwork) and 1 hymnal.

5 wooden frames (ignore any artwork, it will be going!) -- good for chalkboards, organizers,etc.

5 miscellaneous metal pieces, including a lidded bundt pan.

2 silver (you know what I mean!) trays -- perfect for chalkboards, 2 small glam purses, and some faux pearl strings.

Misc. pieces with decore potential.

More misc. pieces -- Christmas tree stand, muffin tin (great for organizing hardward), a softball (can never have enough), and a very tiny ball glove (my daughter works with kids who'll love this!).

Thanks for looking.

Peace.

Midge

Oh, yeah. You want to know the grand total for my Goodwill haul?.........$7.00. :)

Kicked to the Curb?!! Really?!?!?!

Last weekend as I was driving home from the store, I saw something that you KNOW caught my eye!!!!

Since I had already passed it, it took my mind a few moments to process it. "Oh, I've got to go back and check that out."

Boy, am I glad I did! This is what I saw on the circle back.

It definitely was some sort of cabinet. A little out of date, but we junkers just call that VINTAGE.

This front section was with it. A little worse for wear, but it was still there!

It had this big lid on it. Hmmm..... I wonder what's inside?

Well, it does lift up. Is that what I think it is????

Yup!! An old "phonograph"!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT??? Someone had tossed out an old phonograph!

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it, but my wheels are spinning! I'm thinking some kind of cool "beverage" cabinet for starters.

But I could even restore it if I wanted, the owner even included all the necessary parts.

So why did they throw it out? Did they think the cost of repairing it would be too great? Or was it just too much bother? Maybe they just wanted a newer model, or were tired of it, or maybe they no longer had a place for it? ...............They may have kicked it to the curb, but I'm glad they did. I scooped it up and am excited to have it!

Sadly, too many people feel like they've been "kicked to the curb" and are hurting from broken relationships. Is the cost of repair just too great? Is it too much bother? Or maybe people are searching for something new, or have tired of the people in their lives, or no longer have room for them..... So sad...... They seem to not even realize what they already have.

People can let us down, but God never will. He is always there for us, and we never have to worry that he might "kick us to the curb"....

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. -- Deuteronomy 31:8

Midge