"As The Blades Turn"..-- No Soap Opera, But creating some Drama

So I'm still working on improving my workshop for display mode. No wonder it was so bad before! It takes a LOT of time, effort, and experimentation (all of which I didn't bring before). But now I'm trying giving it my best shot and trying to put into practice some of the strategies I've detected out in blogland.

One of the things I've noticed -- CREATE DRAMA!

Okay, so maybe this isn't Jerseylicious, The Hills, or teenage girl dramatic, but here in West Michigan we have a thing for Dutch "stuff". Besides, who doesn't love things that move. So I decided that these windmill blades would look great mounted on a wall in my shop.


They actually, I realized later, are for the windmill body that is sitting in my side yard waiting to be refurbished. That's a big job anyway and may never happen, so up they went. In my stash I found a lazy susan that had a base with 4 legs. I simply screwed the metal plates onto the wall and then attached the blades to the 4 legs.

Now being the good Dutch girl that I am, just looking good was not enough. I had to put it to use and get some value out of it. So I pulled out some photos and clothespin.

Sure enough it worked. And each blade can hold a lot of photos. And, of course, give it a spin and you have a whole other collection of photos to view.

It is for sale, but I don't anticipate it selling real soon. But it certainly is fun and I think it will generate a lot of interest. So I will put it to use in the meanwhile and use it for displaying my customer's project photos. And it doesn't have to hold photos, it could also hold business cards, kid's artwork, messages, and even a reminder or two to go scrub the streets, make some pea soup, or starch your Dutch caps.

So tune in tomorrow when we'll discover...........???.....

OH, THE DRAMA

Midge

Brought to you today by the Ladder....

I love projects with ladders. They are very easy to work with, you can get them free or very cheaply, and the possibilities are endless! Stepladders can make instant shelves and side tables -- and you probably already have some hiding in your garage. But my personal favorite is the rung ladder. You know they are sturdy because they're designed to hold big heavy guys. But sometimes, a rung will break. Those silly men tend to throw them out at this point. And that's when the junker's fun begins.

This is probably my favorite of my ladder projects --
I call it a gossip bench, but I've also heard them referred to as courting benches or make-up benches (for feuding couples). I used 5 ladder sections, with three of them the same heights and facing the same directions. Then I just placed a couple wood planks across the rungs. The other 2 sections are for the 2 back pieces. By placing these on opposite sides it forms two seats that face opposite directions. Just screw it all together and finish however you wish.


Here's another nifty ladder project --

I saw something in Pottery Barn that had the same feel so I put one together with finished shelves I had on hand and 2 long ladder sections. The underside of each shelf has a hole drilled near each corner. Then I put a corresponding short dowel in the rung. I just slide the shelf onto the pegs to hold them in place, but it can easily be dismantled for moving.

Here's what it looks like when it's all dooded up!

This next project is hamming it up for the camera --

It literally is! Because this ladder arbor was used at our church's Spring Tea as the setting for posed photos. Normally it is a bit more dressed down for relaxing outside.

So you can see there are many fun possibilities for rung ladders. I'd like to try a desk or sofa type table next. And even after the projects are down, any leftovers can be put to good use.

Small sections can be mounted flat on a wall horizontally. They make great "frames" for photos, or simple set some shallow objects, or even hang stockings at Christmas time.

Now go have some junk fun with ladders,

Midge

I am linking this up to Donna's Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors

I'm on the bandwagon!

I generally prefer to post original projects whenever possible. This is a project I never intended to post, so I didn't really take any pictures as I made this project. No need -- these Roman Numeral clock faces are all over blogland. So I wanted to make one too and include it in my showroom. And with my newfound determination to post more frequently with smaller posts, well, here it is.

Like I said, these are all over blogland -- but I used Gail's from My Repurposed Life as my guide. The round board I had was extremely nasty, but I had nothing to lose so I used it -- I think it turned out okay.

Gail added a French surname and the word Paris just for fun. In my attempt to not look like I was copying her (but I actually was!) I decided my clock was from Germany. And no need to look up German names, I just used the one I was most familiar with -- Sgt. Schultz from Hogan's Heroes. Because afterall, most days I feel like "I know Nothing. Nothing."

Peace out,

Midge

p.s. I learned something while doing this, when making clocks they used IIII for the number 4 instead of the correct IV. One theory is it helps balance the VIII (the biggest number) on the other side of the face. Who knew?

It's all a Learning Experience!

First a warning -- this post has the potential to be a rambler! I've got a lot on my mind (and on my plate) so it could happen, and I apologize in advance if it does. But I'm going to try really hard to keep things simple and concise -- smaller, but more frequent posts all this week.

MY SHOP --

It has to carry out 5 functions:

1. House my raw materials a.k.a. Junk (which I have TREMENDOUS amounts of)

2. Function as my workshop

3. Function as a workshop for public and private classes

4. Store my finished items

5. Provide a place for holding sales events

That's a lot of function to pull out of a 1000 sq. ft. space. Fortunately I also have a nearby 500 sq. ft. mini-storage for junk overflow, and I constructed a loft in my unit that's probably about 500 more sq. ft. (it is solidly built to hold lots of junk, but no humans except me allowed there).

SO....space has been a huge issue for me from day 1 (the issue is huge, definitely not the space).

I've tried various combinations to make it all work, but I still haven't hit the right formula.

My latest "revelation" was last fall -- since my priority was classes and workshops, I tucked away my products wherever I could and converted totally to workshop/classroom mode. "If you build it, they will come" kind of thinking. Well, it's an inspirational saying, but......

At holiday time I knew I HAD to have a sale, .... but how? Fortunately, my landlord was kind enough to let me use the vacant unit next door -- just through the holidays. "No problem" I thought to myself "I'll do so well during the holidays that I'll be able to afford to keep that space". Hmmm. Again, good thought....but not reality.

So now it's spring. My landlord wants my stuff out so he can rent it to legitmate customers, I've been doing speaking engagements and people keep saying "I want to see your shop and all your stuff", and I just want a space where I can create and help others create.

SO....BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD!

And this is what I came up with.....

1. Raw materials will remain in the loft area, mini-storage, and "storage rooms" (another post)

2. I have set up a makeshift workshop area on my deck at home, not the ideal, but I'll make it work (more about that in another post)

3. This one troubles me as I'd still like this to be my main focus, but for now classes will have to be off-site and/or outside

4. & 5. So, I am now making my space a temporary permanent showroom. I'll probably do this until the fall, then I'll have to come up with something better (create my products on my deck during a Michigan winter?.....I don't think so!) Of course, my terminally optimistic self says "Oh, by then you'll be rolling and you could rent next door if it's still available". We'll see.

SOOOOO....My temporary permanent showroom. I have learned that the occasional sale plan is really not well suited to me so it is probably best that I have more of a permanent setup. But that doesn't change the fact that I have a LOT of stuff and also that I'm not good at all at display. And basically, I just don't get it! Do you group by rooms, or style, or color, or WHAT ? WHERE DO YOU EVEN BEGIN?!!!!

Well I began by visiting and studying blogland. And I think I've learned some things...

1. I overthink and plan too much -- real artists use a lot of "feel"

2. LAYERS -- this is a big one! It makes your products look more interesting and also conserves space (previously I was all about the entire product being visible -- but a little mystery is more fun)

3. Create drama! -- Big, Bold, Unusual

4. Whenever you can, go up - especially useful in my case since I have 15' ceilings.

So in honor of #3 & 4, dramatically UP I went .... (see photo above --it's supposed to be placed here, but... computers! oh well)

That corner is what I call the "contemporary/leather" corner. Several other areas are done or nearly done and I'll share soon. Anyway, I think I'm making pretty good progress on my new showroom. It's been a lot of work, and there's still a lot to do, but I plan on being open this Saturday and probably most Saturdays through the fall. But... somehow, plans have a way of changing. I'll keep you posted.

And speaking of plans, check out the bottom of this page. Another thing that is on my mind is that I really want to post more. I'd love to be one of those bloggers who posts everyday or at least every other day. But I find it very difficult to keep up, and then I feel bad about not keeping up. And then I step back and say "What does it matter? Who am I trying to keep up with anyway?" And I realize that I should be more concerned about whether I spent time with my Lord and Savior today than whether I posted. I'm not saying I don't want to post, (I REALLY do) I'm just saying I want to make my devotional time as important. So the Bible verse at the bottom of this page is my built-in accountability program (I'm not very structured or self-disciplined with my time). Each day after doing my devotions, I will change the verse to something from my Bible reading (hopefully each morning). So feel free to check up on that and yell at me if I need it. This area of my life has always been a struggle for me -- today I'm at three days in a row (WOO HOO!). And just to make myself more accountable, I won't post something until I have done my devotions that day. We'll see how it goes.

So sorry, I think I've stepped into the ramble zone. Anyway, I feel a little more up to date and I'll try to be around more.

Peace Out!

Midge

p.s. The suitcase tower was quite an accomplishment and scary ordeal. I am only 5' tall and the ceilings 15' (oh yeah, and I have a fear of heights!). It took 7 or 8 attempts (I was trying not to cry) and I kept thinking, "If I die in a suitcase avalanche will anyone find me?" And yes, the first person in said "Oh, I'll take the top 4 suitcases." Whereas, we both laughed heartily. Then, she said, "No, I'm serious. But I'll come back for them." Gulp.

Yay! A good excuse to post!

I needed a good excuse to post because it's been awhile, and Donna's Saturday Nite Special party fit the bill. Her blog, Funky Junk Interiors, hosts a great party every weekend. There are always lots of great participants with great projects. It's become so popular that she now divides it into 3 categories -- Home Decor, Sewing Crafts Cooking, and a Special Theme. This week's special theme is Headboards. So this is an old project of mine, but I've never posted it before -- now I will just so I can join the party, and have a reason to post. Thanks Donna!


Nothing ground-breaking here, but I always liked the way this headboard-turned-shelf turned out -- especially since I got it from the curb. I thought the headboard was cute, but one of the legs was broken (probably why some unvisionary person threw it out). I removed the legs, added a 1x6 (with little support pieces underneath), attached some trim I had removed from it, gave it a pale yellow paint job, and distressed it. I was pretty pleased with the outcome!

On a side note (non-headboard related), I have been MIA lately and that's why I was happy to have a reason to post. I haven't created anything that I could photograph yet. I've mostly been busy working on my shop. Space is always an issue, and I had some extra space over the wintertime, but that was just for temporary and I had to move everything back into my one unit (ARGH!). And I really need to host another sale. So I've been working a lot and making progress on that, but nothing I could report -- yet. Next week I hope to be able to share a lot more about all of that. Stay tuned!

Midge

I will be linking this up to: Donna's Saturday Nite Special #30 @ Funky Junk Interiors

No tape measure needed for this one!

Ahh, yes. Measuring. We junkers have to do a lot of it...

"How big IS that dresser on the curb? Will it fit in the back of my car?"....."That end table looks a little tall. Does it need to be cut down?"......"Queen Size? Are you sure it's not a full size?" .....And if you're someone who redesigns items-- OH BOY.


There's even a famous saying about measuring....
But I like this one a lot better....

"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. "
-- Ephesians 3: 17-19

Midge

The Perfect Ending to a Life Well Lived

I know I already did 2 other posts today, but the last of the croquet set projects is now done and I just wanted to wrap things up. And what better way to wrap up a live well lived then as an angel.
Admit it. How many of you out there are saying to yourselves "An Angel! Of Course!" Because if you know me even a little, you know that I've got a thing for angels. And that's how I decided to use the last pieces of the Craigslist free croquet set.


From ball whacking to wing flapping!

Okay, so I cheated just a little. I really only had a mallet and ball left. The set came devoid of the hoops (wickets?), but I found exactly 2 in my stash of misc. croquet stuff. I thought they would be perfect for wings, but I did spray paint them white and then cut them down to get the right angle.

To attach the head to the body I decided to use a double-headed screw. I used a drill bit just slightly narrower to drill the holes in each part.

Then I twisted the screw into ball with the pliers and did the same on the mallet. However, it didn't hold as well because the mallet has a big hollow part. But by the time I gooped up the surfaces with glue, everything held together just fine.

A closer up view. The halo was just a random scrap coil of wire that I spray painted white. The wings and halo are attached with epoxy.

And there you have it. One free Craigslist croquet set, 4 fun projects. NEXT!!!

Midge

I'm linking this up to Donna's Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Croquet Set Project #3

I'm still making projects from the croquet set I got for free off of Craigslist. This is simply a cute and easy way to display photos using vintage croquet balls.


I used three of the four I had left because things look better grouped in odd numbers, and I DO need 1 of them for my last project.

All you need to do is cut a slit in the croquet ball for a place to hold a photo.

I used this coping saw to do the job. I generally prefer power tools, but for this project the coping saw (needed a really thin blade) was the way to go and it really wasn't too difficult.

I used this wooden ring for the base so the croquet balls wouldn't roll. I painted it white and used epoxy to adhere it underneath. A button with an indentation would also do the job.

Here's a closer view of the finished croquet ball photo holder. Ta-Dah!

Now if you're keeping track, I still have 1 croquet mallet and 1 croquet ball left -- I have the perfect plan for them. Stay tuned.

Midge

I'm linking this up to Donna's Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Thank You Kind Sir -- Part Two!

In my last post (the one with the croquet legged table), I mentioned that I still had 1 croquet mallet, 5 croquet balls and one adorable cart. Well, now I'm down to 1 mallet and 4 balls because this is what I did with the adorable cart and 1 croquet ball:


Not sure if you can see it, but the trowel reads "Spring". I did spend $5.00 on the flowers, but they're SOOO pretty.

And, of course, the cart and croquet ball were free from my Craigslist find.

This is what I started with. I don't know if J.C. Higgins items are valuable, but I know they are a popular vintage piece. That label was for many Sears products back in the day, mainly their recreation and sporting goods items like guns, coolers, tennis. Rumor has it J.C. Higgins was someone who at one point actually worked for Sears -- not sure if that line eventually became J.C. Penney, but there might be a connection.

I first drilled holes in the bottom of the cart to provide drainage. I also added a scrap piece of screening before adding the dirt so it wouldn't fall through the holes.

This was when I FIRST thought I was done. But I rethought the yellow paper tag and decided to switch it for the trowel that I had stuck in the dirt.

And there you have !

But, stay tuned, I'm not done yet -- remember I still have that 1 mallet and 4 balls. Hmmm.....

Midge

I'm linking this up to Donna's Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Thank you Kind Sir! And Thank you Craig S. List

I sometimes work in batches. So I hope I'm at the start of a constructing phase. If so, then I'm off to a good start because I'm very pleased with this table that I finished today.


It would be so cute on a deck, in a sunroom, or anywhere at the cottage. And if something about it looks familiar, it's because you've seen it before if you saw my "Free" post from a few weeks back.

Yup. I got this baby for FREE! It was listed on Craigslist and said that it was a partial set. So I took a chance on it and Boy am I glad I did. As I rounded the corner and saw it sitting on the curb, I think I audibly gasped. As I packed it in the car I called out "Thank you" to the homeowner who was working in his yard, and he apologetically explained that some pieces were missing. If only he knew just how excited I was to get it. I so appreciate the people who bother to list things for those who might find purpose and value in their discards.

The color is still so nice and vibrant on the mallets. I cut the ends off to provide a flat surface for when I inserted into the holes in the table top.

These were the goal post (?) pieces. I cut them down and notched them for crisscrossing for the center support piece. The notching was much easier than I thought it would be.

Then I screwed the four end pieces of the center supports into each of the 4 mallets. I did it at the white stripe point because I thought I could hide the screws better after touching with the white paint. This assembly part was a little tricky, but mostly because everything needed to have a pilot hole because it was made from hardwood.

Then I inserted the 4 mallets into the 4 holes I drilled into a table top, whacking until they were flush. Then I stood the table upright, set a second tabletop, and drilled screws through into the "legs" (oh, and I had been adding glue as I went along.) Then I added the third/finishing top. But I found I didn't like it because of the particleboardess of it. So I switched that top and ended up with this table....

I was so happy that everything is straight and level, and it's very sturdy -- Whew! There's always a question mark with these kinds of projects. But I can safely say the question marks have become exclamation marks! Yay!!

Midge

I'm linking this to:

Kimm's Trash to Treasure

Donna's Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Whew -- I Finally Made Something!

I've been really stressed out lately about not getting anything made (not really the "I can't eat" kind of stressed out, just the "this is really bugging me" kind). Not so much because I desperately needed things made, it was more about not having anything to post on my blog and just generally falling behind. Life get's busy! And I can't even blame it on spring break vacation (didn't go anywhere), family illness (we're all fat and happy! -- sadly, literally on the fat part), or some unforseen event (nope -- same ol', same ol'). It just seems hard to keep up with everything sometimes. And, yes, I could post things other than finished projects -- and I do -- but I don't want to go that long without "something".



You might have seen this or something similar in one of my previous posts. They are the inside parts of a piano -- 2 of them actually. They are called the hammers, because they are the 88 "hammers" that whack each piano string when you press down on a key. I haven't been totally devoid of junk action the past couple months. In addition to gathering more junk, holding a few classes, helping a friend with a home improvement project, and some speaking engagements, I've been doing a LOT of dismantling. I harvested MANY bedsprings (posting soon), taken apart some typewriters, and deconstructed a beautiful piano (more of that also posting soon).
The result was I now had THREE of these gorgeous, but clunky sets of hammers and no good ideas on what to do with them. And them it hit me like.....well....like a hammer on middle C......

Why not cut it into smaller pieces?

So that's exactly what I did. I cut one set of hammers into thirds. There was a little bit of metal which was a little tricky to cut, and some tight spaces, but my trusty sawzall handled it all and everything stayed intact. And after mulling it over for a few days, I decided the best use for one would be as a display piece with ways to attach photos.

I mounted it on the wall, but it also can stand on its own, too. And I mounted a board on the wall first. The board provides enough space so the hammers can actually move. By pressing on the hammer base below, the hammer itself springs forward -- big fun! I tacked a few photos to hammers and wedged a popsicle stick behind to keep those hammers permanently (sort of) forward. The bottom area of the piece has a lot of screws, so all you have to do is loosen one, slip in picture and retighten screw. There are a lot of nooks and crannies, so photos could also be hung from the parts with strings or ribbons.

I actually spent a lot of time playing with threading the ribbon through the center area. I thought it would be a nice contrast to the dark, harsh wood, but I'll probably be changing it.-- to what, I don't know. What I DO like are the tags I made for adding a playful ("play"?-- pun not intended, but noticed) element. There is a metal part that juts out and has a hole. So I threaded ribbon through that with some keys (the lock kind, not the musical kind). Then I made tags that hang on it. The tags are made from sheet music and have words that are musical terms -- presto (quickly), allegro (lively), decrescendo (slowing), forte (loudly), etc. They would be fun to accompany some of the pictures.

Anyway, it feels good to FINALLY make something again and to post. I'll try to stay more on track.

Midge

P.S. Oh, yeah. The "RUBATO" tag? The word means a suspension of rules so you can expressly yourself freely! Now that's a word that would make any junker's heart skip a beat!

I'm linking this up to:

Becky's "Under $100 Linky Party" @ Beyond the Picket Fence

Donna's "Saturday Nite Special #26" @ Funky Junk Interiors

It's a Stone Project, For Crying out Loud!

HAPPY PALM SUNDAY

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.'"
They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
"Hosanna!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!"
"Hosanna in the highest!" Mark 11:1-10

The whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen. Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"
"I tell you, " he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." Luke 19:37-40


And have a blessed Holy Week,
Midge

I'm linking this up to Donna's Saturday Nite Special #23 over at Funky Junk Interiors. Be sure to head over there and check out all the great projects.

Tool School Tuesday -- Confession Time!

Okay, so I have a confession to make (actually two).
Anyone who's read even a little of my blog quickly learns how much I LOVE using my tools. But the truth, I realized the other day, is that I don't really love using my tools.
Don't get my wrong, I don't dislike using my tools either. It's just that many people think I'm a "hands" person. You know, one of those people who learns best by doing something with their hands, or who is always "tickering", or dreams of retiring so they can spends their days knitting or whittling. THAT'S NOT ME.
Truth by told, I'm more of a "word" and "idea" person. I love learning, I love the sound of words, and I LOVE thinking up fresh ideas -- whether it be business ideas, house remodeling, event activities, etc., or (you guessed it) junk projects. But what good is it to have ideas if you do not have the means to make them a reality. And THAT'S where the tools come into play. I don't have a problem learning and trying new things. And having the ability to use my tools, opens up a whole world of possibilities for home and junk projects -- without having to ask someone for help, or wait to get it done, or pay someone to do it. I can just do it! -- and just the way I want it done too. So maybe you could say I love having the ABILITY to use my tools.
The reason I'm telling you this is because I don't want anyone to feel that they can't learn to use their tools because they're not a "hands" person. Anyone can learn to use tools! Desire is the number one prerequisite.
Which leads me to confession number 2:
Despite wanting to be more disciplined about posting my Tool School Tuesdays each week, I had nothing planned for today. So I am making this up as I go -- I'm winging it! And here's what I got for you:
I would love to share with you anything I've learned through my years of working with tools. So I welcome any questions you might have. They could be about home improvement/repair, tool use, or whatever. Or if you have a certain topic you would like me to post about, I would welcome your suggestions. Free feel to ask/suggest away in your comments. I certainly don't know everything (I learned in my own way what works best for me), but if I can be of help to anyone in anyway, I say "bring it on!"

That's what I got, fire away!
Midge

P.S. Please don't ask any questions about welding -- also if you'd read even a little of my posts, you would've quickly learned that I don't yet know how to weld but want to very much -- just waiting to get me a welder (the machine, not the person).

It was FREE!

I picked up this great croquet set this weekend...

And the best part was.... it was FREE!

I've picked up a LOT of free things over the past few years. You can do some amazing things with free things.


I've grabbed a lot of these.....

and made things like this......

and this.....

I found this....

and turned it into this...

I've gathered up many, many,many of these ....

and made many things (but this is probably the biggest)....

I was given bunches of these (by the high school janitor, nonetheless)......

and came up with this.....

Believe it or not, I been given 3 of these (so far)...

and I've come away with this....

and these.....

and even this....

No one wanted this....

but now it looks like this....

Picked up this (along with 2 others).....

and it became this....

Came across this....

which gave me the opportunity to make more of these....

BUT...... the BEST thing I ever got for FREE was......

In Jesus Christ, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. Ephesains 1:7

and because of that

to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, you may know that you have eternal life. I John 5:13

Midge