And for a new car (or something like that) the right price is.....

Sorry if I'm responsible for you not getting a good night's sleep. I'm sure you've been tossing and turning waiting for the answer to my last post.

So...The Grand total was.....$6.00, which makes Alice the winner of the new car, I mean the winner of a special "Alice" blog post next week.

The crazy thing is that was all based on their standard, everyday prices -- no special sales, free stuff or anything funny like that.

Here's the breakdown:


GLASSWARE old system: 10 cents a piece (I would have paid .50), New system: 10 cents per pound, I had 4 pounds so 8 cents for each of my 5 glass pieces

SEPARATELY PRICED ITEMS old and new system, a few items get priced separately and are tagged and set aside -- that was the case with the chair ($1.00) and the log holder ($1.00).

EVERYTHING ELSE old system: 50 cents each, new system: 30 cents each!

Yes, everything else (12 items) cost me just .30 each including that super cool bird cage -- THIRTY CENTS!

For a grand total of just $6.00.

I think I'm going to have to plan trips to the Goodwill back into my rotation.
Midge

P.S. Thanks for playing along.

"Blog People -- COME ON DOWN!! It's time to play the Price is Right!"

I haven't been junk shopping in a LONG time. Mostly because right now I have too much stuff. But yesterday I had a junk itch that I just had to scratch and I'm so glad I did.

For several years, every Friday I would visit my favorite Goodwill outlet, the area warehouse service center where all junk (good and much bad) goes to die. The prices were great, but so was the chaos -- but I loved to go. About a year ago, they changed buildings and the pricing system and it no longer seemed worth my time, so I stopped going. And then that itch yesterday....so I thought I'd give it another try. Good thing I did! Apparently they've changed the system again and it's even better than the "old days".

SO...I'm issusing a little challenge to see who can guess how much I spent at the Goodwill yesterday (before tax)!

Here are all my treasures, in no particular order.



I believe this is a log holder of some sort, made of quite heavy metal. I don't like the finish or details, but that can be dealt with -- love the base.

Your basic cutely shaped lampshade -- a staple for any junker.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Do I really need another suitcase? (maybe, I think my count has fallen below 80). But the price was SO right.

A bag of wooden acorns and pears, ummm, sure. But I knew it's one of those things that if I didn't grab it, I'd think of a use as soon as I got home and would be kicking myself.

Looks like a little Goldilocks chair. Cute as can be. Slight damage on front corner of thatching but other than that in great shape.

Nothing too exciting here, but again, for the price I couldn't pass it up -- it's pretty good size rustic basket.

Yes, a pair of scissors -- but the good kind! It will be put to good use at one of my workshops.

Ahhh, yes. The REAL prize of the day. Totally cool birdcage. Quite large as you could see (could it become the world's biggest cloche?). It's wire and painted white and just a little rusty.

The handle on top IS plastic but wouldn't be for long.

Wooden folk art chicken. It needs a little doctoring in the beak and tail areas.

So weird! I had just been thinking to myself "Wouldn't it be cool if I found a hamster wheel" and soon after, there one was! Why would I want a hamster wheel? Check out Amy's post at her blog, All Things Home, and you'll know why.

I don't know. I saw metal -- I grabbed. They might just be angel wings in the future.

Metal box -- nuff said.

Vintage potty chair. Sweeeet! (I think.)

I'm assuming it's some sort of breakfast tray or laptop desk. Hey, you can't go wrong with white wicker, some things never go out of style.

And lastly, some glassware. I don't think I need to tell you the possibilities here.

So what do you think? Do you want to play along and guess how much I paid for my pile?

I'll leave a few days for replies and then announce the grand total. Whoever comes CLOSEST (you can go over) will be declared the winner! And what does the winner get? Well not much, afterall I'm very cheap (hint, hint), but I will plan something fun on my blog for the winner.

Slight hint: The total amount could be paid with just bills or quarters.

Have fun! And maybe I'll do more junking games in the future. (And maybe someday I'll do a REAL giveaway. Yeah, right, maybe.)

Midge

The "Yeahs", "Yas", "Yays" Have It!

First of all, let me just say that in no way do I consider this as imparting blog advice to anyone -- I'm very green (no pun intended) in the blog department and am in learning mode. But I did want to share a bit of an education I received this morning (thank you Google!).

I happen to approach the world of junking with a very open mind. BUT, when it comes to anything I write, I'm a bit more anal. So just as another disclaimer, know that this post isn't directed towards anything or anyone I have read. Quite the opposite! I'm not even able to pass judgment on this area because I'm never quite sure of the correct usage of words like: yeah, yay, yea, ya, etc. And I'm not looking to pass judgment, but I do want to use these words in my writing and I've always avoided them for fear of using the wrong word. SO...

Here's what I've learned:

Yeah -- another way of saying "yes" as in "YEAH, Baby!!! I'll go on a junking adventure with you to that scary salvage yard run by that old crazy guy!"

Yea -- also another way of saying "yes" especially in voting situations as in "Who loves Junk? Yeas: everyone Nays: 0"

Yah -- also a form of "yes", but the kind with tone as in "Yah. Yah. Yah. I know I've got a lot of junk. What???? Are you jealous or something?"

Yay! -- it's rhymes with hay and means "Hooray!", "Woo Hoo!", "Awesome!", or "SuperDuper!" as in "You finished your replica of the Eiffel tower made from t.p. rolls and chicken wire! Yay!"

Ya -- another word for "you", "you guys", "yuns" (learned that from my brief time in Pittsburgh), and "y'all" as in "What are ya gonna do with all that JUNK?"

I don't know if I'm the only one who struggles with this, but maybe some of you found it helpful. I know I, for one, am now going to be generously sprinkling the "yeahs" and the "yays" with full confidence.

NOW, as for -ly, to/too, and your/you're -- don't get me started. THAT conversion could get pretty ugly.

Midge

Start a Revolution -- an Industrial One!

So not only am I feeling industrious -- I'm feeling INDUSTRIAL! So much so that it's time for me to start a revolution. We all know that America already had an industrial revolution back in ...., right after ....., around the time of...., well maybe we don't all know. But it certainly was a long time ago. So we're long overdue for another one. This one is going to be more of the home decor variety. And, yes, you caught me, I can't really start it because it's already been going on -- just not exactly where I live. But I'm definitely on board. And I'm going to do my part to let my corner of the world know that METAL ROCKS!

I'm starting things off with this dining table.

I saw a listing on Craigslist's free section for 3 55-gallon barrels. I picked up the barrels and a new customer to boot! However, one of the barrels was a little defective, so I started with that one.

I knew it would be a table base and had to determine if I wanted it standard or bar height. Since the good ones already were bar height, the decision was easy -- this would be my standard height table. It just needed a little help from my cut off wheel.

The 36" round piece of glass I had on hand from someone who had given it to me. The glass really should be a bit bigger, so I am on the lookout for a replacement.

I haven't made any decisions on seating yet, but in my stash I found 2 rusty bar stool bottoms that might be put to work.

I also found this chain with hooks. The yellow color and rust perfectly match the table (and the next piece you'll see). I'm not sure exactly what I'll do with it yet, but probably suspend it over the table with something hanging from it.

The table all by itself would look out of place, even in a hip industrial loft type setting. But pair it up with this next piece and it takes on a life of its own.

This tank cage I've had for a few years. I bought it at an auction for $5.00. I always planned to use it as a bench, kind of foot locker style. But once I saw the yellow of those barrels, I started thinking about it and knew it would be perfect standing up as a cabinet. I knew I definitely wanted it to have cool industrial casters so I added them (I should have taken a closeup -- they are very cool).

I decided a wine cabinet would be the way to go since wine is very hip right now. But it could really house whatever. (Personally, since I'm pretty much a teetotaller, it would probably be filled with Diet Pepsi but I'm not sure if that is quite as cool. )

The glass was basically free since I bought a pile of glass shelves at an auction for $1.00 (for the pile) a few years ago. The shelves are held up by bolts. There are a few metal bands on the sides and back of the box. There were a few holes and I just put the bolts through and tightened them with nuts and the glass rests right on them.

The section for the wine bottles uses pieces of rebar that I cut down to size just a little wider than the cabinet. The ends rest inside the "diamonds". I was going to cut notches to keep them from shifting, but found I didn't have to. The ridges on the rebar keep them in place naturally.

This last piece is probably my favorite. And I think that's because it's something I acutally could use in my own house. (Don't you hate when you're secretly hoping not to sell things!) It's still very industrial and contemporary, but it could also work in many settings.

It started with this frame that I bought -- I don't even remember when, but I'm sure only paid $5.00 or less.

I decided to use more of the glass again. But I had to figure out how. Finally decided to cut it to size that would mount underneath. To keep it up, I did the bolt through the hole trick again. They barely show, but even if they did it would work because I used rusty bolts.

So let the Revolution begin! (or should I say continue) I'm excited! All those metal thing-a-ma-thigs I've been squirreling away for just the right time can finally come out of hiding. I'll keep you posted.

Midge

I'm linking this up to TRANSFORMATION THURSDAYS over at the Shabby Chic Cottage.

I'm also linking it to SATURDAY NITE SPECIAL #16 over at Funky Junk Interiors.

Be sure to go over to both of those great blogs and check out all the cool projects. Peace.

I Get By with a Little Help from my Friends.....

and sometimes they don't even know it!

I've been falling behind on my blogging and was feeling kind of bad about it, but didn't have anything pressing I had to share. "Well" I justified it to myself "One week isn't so bad. Afterall, it's a busy time of year. Everyone knows that and is busy too, they understand. But I CERTAINLY wouldn't want to go 2 weeks."
......So the second week I said "Well,"....
So now I'm entering my third week of not posting. But to my joy entered a post by my friend Lani of Cottage Elements. Lani just has the greatest sense of style and is so good about sharing it with everyone. And she has a real knack for combining beautiful with industrial (though some might say industrial IS beautiful). She's got me jumping on the metal bandwagon and I hope to post something real soon.
In the meantime, I am going to "borrow" her post as my own today. SHE INVITED US TO:

She's having a giveaway and you can find out more about that at her blog -- Cottage Elements.

But what's really got me excited is the content of her post. She talks about JunkMarketStyle, a website that is SOOO Awesome. It's owned and operated by her good friend Sue Whitney, a junk master. No, I take that back, I meant to say THE junk master. And though we don't
exactly go hanggliding together and or get our nails done or wear matching outfits, I consider her a friend too. The website is the ultimate junker's paradise with literally thousands of inspirational photos on how to display, repurpose, and use "junk". Included in Lani's post is an interview with Sue on different junk topics.

So, Lani, thank you for your post and for giving me the opportunity to continue being lazy in my blogging.
For the rest of you, I've got some things I'm cooking up and will be sharing real soon. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are looking forward to a new year.
Midge

Time to put your feet up?

After a very nice Christmas with my family, my mind's already heading towards the new year and what fun junking lies ahead. So I'll be taking down some old things, working on a few new things, and of course enjoying some down time. Afterall, I'm sure that's what Santa and his helpers are doing today...........

So taking my cue from them I made this fun little footstool using a pop crate and one of my favorite Christmas sweaters I could no longer wear.

First I added some little legs to the empty crate by screwing through the inside of crate into some stubby spindles -- and I set it aside.

Then I used four 2x4 scraps to make a rectangle that would fit just inside crate. But first I attached a piece of plywood (so it kinda looked like an upside down crate). I put a small pillow on top of plywood, a little batting, and then the piece from my sweater tacking it down on all four sides.

All I had to do was drop that into the crate (okay, I had to wedge, push, and bang it in -- but there's nothing wrong with a tight fit). A couple screws up from underneath into the wood sections also helps keep it in place.

Time to put your feet up!

Midge

Angels!

I'm junky, but I'm not artistic. So instead of junk people, I make junk angels.


Old table leg and an upside down candleabra with the candle cups removed.

The top section of a waterbed post and metal shelf brackets.

Half of a table leg, half of a ball from top of bedpost, half of plastic doodad.

Part of a quilt rack with keys added to cover holes.

Spindle from mirror frame of a vanity and metal shelf brackets.

Table leg, deck cap, and wooden shelf brackets.

I often have to add a board to the back for attaching wings.

After construction, I paint the angels completely white.

Then I rub on stain. I soon after rub off as much of the stain as I can.

If it's too dark (it usually is), I drybrush white paint over top. I have very little paint in the brush and it's more of a rubbing, highlighting effect. I start on the backside to get the look I want.

And no photo, but the last step is adding the halo. Many things could be halos, but for all of these I used some coiled up piano wire I had in my stash mostly because I had so much of it but also because I just like the idea of it.

Midge

Goodbye to a couple of true blue friends.

I am not a clotheshorse by any means. And I'm pretty much the same way when it comes to my shoes. I don't have many, but the ones I do have I am very loyal to, and wear -- TO DEATH. That's exactly what happened this weekend when these beauties bit it.


I have to admit it wasn't love at first sight with this pair. They were a gift from my daughter who had heard enough of my lamenting about college days and the "cool" topsiders/docksiders I wore (oh those preppie years!) that I so enjoyed. So she went on the hunt for some Sperry shoes. These she found on clearance (big shock there). I did eventually get some real topsiders, but in the meantime I fell in love with my blue, quaisi tennis shoe Sperrys.

Oh, I knew what you'd think "Midge, you can't do it. You know you'll just take the photo and then have a change of heart and duct tape/zip tie/epoxy them back together and get some more mileage out of them". Well, maybe you wouldn't think that, but I did! So I took the ultimate step and smeared them around the garbage, stuck them in the poly cans, etc. I wouldn't say they are completely safe (I do have goof off and wire brushes, too) but I think I can move forward with confidence.

Goodbye my good friends, we've been through a lot together. You will be missed.

Midge

Local Kid Gone Hollywood (Taylor Lautner) Hosted Saturday Night Live Last Night!

Okay, so now I know, or should I say KNEW a Hollywood celebrity -- TAYLOR LAUTNER, star of the Twilight New Moon movie. He also hosted Saturday Night Live last night. I thought he did a great job, but I'm a little biased. He's suddenly a big star, and seems to be getting bigger all the time, both physically and figuratively.


The last time I saw him in person he looked a litttle more like this:

You see, if you read anything about him it will probably say that he left Michigan at about age 11.

Occasionally, it might say Grand Rapids, Michigan. But I don't think it ever says Hudsonville, Michigan, the suburb of Grand Rapids I am from. And never, never would it say Jamestown, an area within the Hudsonville district. But that is where I live and that is where Taylor lived and went to school through 4th grade (maybe 5th too).

If you look in the upper corner of the photo you will see Edgar, the little boy I was an ESL aide for at Jamestown Elementary. So I knew Taylor a little bit from occasionally working in the 4th grade classroom. Taylor was (hopefully still is) a very nice and friendly kid. He was always very nice to Edgar, and Edgar thought Taylor was "cool". I mostly remember seeing Taylor in the hallways doing flips and usually trying to work them into group projects with his peers.

Also, I started an afterschool Spanish club that year and Taylor was one of the kids that came. I can't say that he was there every time though. He missed a few times because according to the other kids he was flying to LA for auditions. He hoped to get started in the movie industry. RIIIGGGHHHTTT. Dream on, Taylor..................................OH.

Midge

It's No Secret -- Sometimes a Negative makes a Positive

I can't begin to tell you the number of times I've been working on a project and something happens along that at first glance seems to be a setback, but eventually actually becomes an asset. It happened again today so I thought I'd share.


The plan: I took a shutter, painted it white, added a pencil holder (actually a Scrabble tile holder) and continued on making it into a desk/mail organizer.

The problem: The shutter had a weird recessed area.

The solution: I decided to cover the hole with something interesting -- enter this doorknob plate (I know what it's really called, I just don't know how to spell that). I think it made the piece more interesting and I probably wouldn't have added it were it not for that hole.

The finished piece: Almost done.

The finished piece all decked out: All done!

The secret: Well, not only did that cover the hole and add interest to the piece, there's a bonus. I only used a top screw and didn't crank it down tightly -- now the plate can be spun to the

side to reveal a little secret compartment!

So if at first something appears to be a problem, no worry! You're probably just on your way to something even better than you originally planned.

Now go have some fun with junk!

Midge

p.s. I forgot to mention that I did attach a piece of cardboard/paneling to the back side so papers don't fall through. I ran a small bead of wood glue on each rail, set the board in place, set something heavy to hold it down while drying.

I'M LINKING THIS UP WITH DONNA'S SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL OVER AT FUNKY JUNK INTERIORS. HEAD ON OVER THERE AND CHECK OUT ALL THE GREAT PROJECTS.