Don't Be Chicken! This Transformation is Easy.

It's true! I am cheep, cheep, cheep! It's not that I don't want to pay a lot for things. I don't want to pay ANYTHING for things. But every once in a while I will.


So when I saw this old, dirty, beat-up chicken incubator for just $5.00, I went for it. WAIT!
Don't run away screaming just yet. Stick with me.

It took a LOT, LOT, LOT of cleaning.

And I had to stain it (I chose a dark for a contemporary look) and poly it. I also added 4 chunky legs.

I left on this piece that is part of the original heating system.

Of course I wouldn't do anything to harm the cool door on the end. Not only is it cool, but it opens up so you can store items inside.

Wisconsin Incubator Company, Racine, WI -- A simple reminder of the humble origins of this now awesome.....

COFFEE TABLE! Ta Da!

Midge

Stop by The Shabby Chic Cottage to see more Transformation Thursday blog projects.

Hammer Time!

Well it's actually Wednesday, but it's time once again for Tool School Tuesday! (I'm going to blame it on the Labor Day weekend throwing my days off, yeah, that's it.)



We're still covering some basic stuff. So today -- IT'S HAMMER TIME! (However, sorry to disappoint but there will be no crazy pants, dancing, or "Can't touch this"es).

Which hammer do you choose? What size? What color? Which weight? What about the handle? The head? The claw?

Most of that stuff doesn't really matter. Here's what matters: Use the HEAVIEST hammer you can comfortably use. A grip on the handle is nice but not required. But the important thing is: Use the HEAVIEST hammer you can comfortably use. Contrary to popular belief, you aren't doing the work, the hammer is and the heavier hammer will give you better results.

You know the saying "It's all in the wrist"? -- IT'S TRUE! Your arm is not pushing the hammer (at least it shouldn't be), it's more about gravity and physics (neither of which I know much). But I do know this -- the wrist is the most important pivot point. So hold the hammer at the very bottom of the handle and hold it approx. 90 degrees to your forearm. And again your elbow makes a pivot point, so your forearm should be 90 degrees to your upper arm. In other words, the hammer will be parallel to your upper arm. NOW you're ready to swing. This gives you the biggest bang for your buck. If you're tapping in tacks, you might want to use just the wrist action (but DO use it).

If swinging's not your problem but just using those tiny little nails, here's a tip: old school says to use a comb to hold a nail, but I like to use a thick piece paper. Just poke the nail through the paper first. Once the nail's securely (but not completely) in place, just pull the paper away.

Another tip for holding a small nail would be to hold it with a needle nose pliers until it's securely in place. With either method it might be helpful to use a big nail to first whack a dent in the target spot to give the little nail a nice starting place.

If you want to improve your hammer skills, it's just like anything else -- it's just takes some time and practice. An easy, low-danger way is by first practicing without actual nails. Make some targets on wood, hammer away, and when you feel ready, add some nails. (Sorry if I've offended anyone, I've just never liked fig newtons!)

In the world of junking you're just as likely to need to remove nails as you are to put them in. One time honored helpful hint is to place a block of wood under the hammer (but much closer to the nail than in the photo) before prying up the nail, giving you much better leverage. This also will protect the wood from getting gouged in the nail removal process.

For me, I find it easier to just bend the hammer sideways. Just continue to grip nail as close to wood as possible and bend the hammer down off to the side, and continue and attack from different angles if necessary.

Until next week --

Be cool, use a tool

Midge

P.S. These tips are for nailing into "soft" wood like pine which is the basic wood of plywood, 2x4's, etc (can you poke your fingernail into the wood? if so, it's soft). If you are using oak or other hard wood, you must drill a starter hole first before you nail anything into it.

Guess Who Else is a Junker.....

I'm a junker. And for me there's nothing more exciting than finding some discarded piece next to a dumpster and transforming it into a soughtafter treasure. Yes, taking the broken, ugly, worthless and making it a treasured possession -- that's what it's all about (nope, not the hokey pokey). There are a lot of us out there. And we're in good company. Because there is someone else I discovered is a junker....


"When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Jesus, along with the criminals -- one on his right, the other on his left. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: 'Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!'

But the other criminal rebuked him 'Don't you fear God,' he said 'since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.' Then he said 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'

Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.'" (Luke 23:33-43)


Broken ? Ugly ? Worthless ? That guy wasn't just junk setting by a dumpster, he was next to the dumpster and the dump truck had just turned onto his street!

And now he's spending eternity as God's treasured possession. That's because, yes folks, Jesus isn't just a junker, He's the Master Junker.

Midge

All Righty-Tighty Then

I'm reinstating my Tool School Tuesday plan. And I thought a good place to start would be with the basics. So....


you've probably heard that phrase before, but WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN? Even though I'm a seasoned tool girl, for years I struggled with this. My husband would answer "You know, just like it sounds....righty tighty, lefty loosy. " No, I DON'Tknow. ????????

It didn't make sense to me and probably to other overthinking-it, mathematical types. Afterall, in the world of circles, spheres, and arcs there is no left or right. If I turned the slot above, when one end goes right the other is going left. ????????

The better words to use would be CLOCKWISE or COUNTERCLOCKWISE (but apparently that wouldn't make any cute little sayings!). First consider the object to be turned as though looking at the face of it. Then, in this case, to tighten, turn the slot CLOCKWISE. So if it's straight up and down (12:30)......

turn the top point to the right. (Righty tighty!) I prefer to think of it as 12:00 to 3:00 -- CLOCKWISE! Sorry to overcomplicate a simple concept (I tend to do that) but it has always bugged me and thought maybe others felt the same. Now you know.

One more "simple" rule of thumb to stew on. I THINK this one speaks for itself. And it really is a good one to live by.

Be sure to tune in next week for another exciting Tool School Tuesday when we will cover the fascinating topic of .............. (drama) ................. more drama) ......................... okay, I don't know yet what it will be. I'll cover something, but do let me know if there's something you have wondered about. I'll try to cover it.

Be cool, use a tool!
Midge

Good Food, Good Meat, Good Junk, Let's Eat!

I really had wanted to join in the Gold Rush Days fun in Oronoco a few weekends ago. But traveling from Michigan to Minnesota at that time was more trip than I should tackle (well, I was willing to tackle it, but I believe God was telling me to wait. So wait I did). But I WAS bummed about missing all the junk, the fun, the people, and the blog party Junk Potluck that Amy over at Junkologie was hosting.

So I decided to hold my own family style junk cookout to try out a few ideas.


Care for something to drink?

This caged bird wasn't singing. But it was delicious.

My baked beans might be "out of this world", but in this case, I think they also provided a little bit of global warming. The vintage lunch pail idea for holding plates, napkins, and silverware (and the "global warming" line) were lifted from Candy of Junk Sophisticate. Thanks Candy!

In the back of my car I found an old bucket for chips, the bottom of a cloche for the deviled eggs, and cup/saucer for our pickles. Let's eat!

Dessert came later, but it certainly was not an afterthought.

You can never have too much dessert!

Especially when it's chocolate!


And now that a little time has passed, I've gotten over my disappointment of missing Oronoco. But I WILL get to Minnesota this year. Nothing's gonna stop me from Junk Bonanza in September. Well, my daughters think we're going to the Mall of America, but there's room for it all.

Midge

Just Finished Longest Post EVER! -- Ignore it, just thinking out loud

My previous post, completed just a few minutes ago, was probably more for my benefit than yours. It was super long, so don't feel like you have to read it. In a nutshell:

I'M TRANSFORMING MY SHOP INTO THE ULTIMATE JUNKING WORKSHOP AND CLASSROOM!

I've got some ideas already -- junk signage, tables and tools (of course), lots of usable junk on hand, clean, organized, fun, and INSPIRATIONAL. But I need details!

I would LOVE to hear from all of you on ideas you would LOVE to see in the ultimate dream workspace. (Just a hint: I'm lacking the organizational gene, so creative, out-of-the-suitcase thinking in that department would be especially helpful). Think Crazy, think BIG, think JUNKY!

Thanks for any thougths you can send my way,
Midge

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Well, first of all I want to apologize upfront for any part of this post that comes off as "whiny". It could happen. Not that I'm typically a whiner, but I have been frustrated with certain aspects of what I'm doing and I'm taking this opportunity to vent. Maybe it will be therapeutic for me. Here's the deal. I have a shop that I rent that's about 1000 sq. Not too bad. On top of that I built an "L" shaped loft area that 's probably 500 more. Ooo, even better. Additionally, I have an over flow ministorage of about 500 sq. ft. This is the part where many of you might be saying "Lucky. You should quit your whining."

But like most junkers, I have a lot of "stuff". I mean a LOT of stuff. And in this junker's opinion, ALL of it necessary. This is especially true since it not just for my projects, but for my customers as I want the focus to be on holding junking classes and parties. Mainly, my space has to perform 5 basic functions:

1. store my raw materials (need well over 1000 s.f. for this)

2. function as a workshop for making my projects (500-1000 s.f. would be nice)

3. function as a workshop for classes and parties (preferably separate, but I'm willing to share)

4. store my finished products (at least 500-1000 s.f.)

5. sales venue for my finished goods ( at least 1000 s.f.)

WAIT! That doesn't add up!

No it doesn't. So I'm constantly juggling my space. When my "sales space" is not in sale mode, it becomes "finished storage" space and looks like this:

A lot of work loading in and out, and it's also hard on my finished products. But if it's what I have to do, I'll do it.

And my sales floor converts back to workshop/classroom mode. But I still have miscellaneous piles of "stuff" sitting around with no where to go: But I deal with it. And I'm not even going to show you the piles sitting outside my back door that my kind-hearted landlord has overlooked so far.


So I found that I was building and "creating" in less than dream surroundings in order to make those dreams a reality.

I could still get some things done!


But I knew eventually I'd have to address the space issues. And when I couldn't even get to some of the things I needed anymore, I had to figure some things out. Maybe my cup runneth over, but this was ridiculous:

I knew I HAD to have access to my lumber, so I did make one decision a month ago.

One small display "room" would become a permanent, bigger, organized lumber room. I can't function without that so I compromised sales space for materials storage space.

I'm working on that right now. (Well, no, not LITERALLY right now, RIGHT now I'm typing this post, of course!)

So that only solved the lumber problem. But I still had the 5 functions problem. It was getting even worse. Sales events were becoming not good and or not a good use of my time, I couldn't get things or make the things I wanted, classes are non-existent or at the very least disorganized and less than inspiring, merchandise was getting damaged. AARRRGGHHH!

SO HERE IT IS!

Instead of performing 5 functions poorly, my space will no longer be used for selling or storing my finished goods. Since my vision was always for Refunction Junktion first to be a place for creating and constructing, the space will just be devoted to use as a workshop/classroom with raw materials on hand, organized, and inspirational. It will be the coolest place ever! So take a good look at it in its current condition:

And this is actually, when it was VERY clean and organized. I had spiffed it up for the photograph--I don't dare show you current pictures, I can barely move in there right now.

But it is getting an overhaul! I will keep you posted!

Bye. Bye.

SO WHAT ABOUT FUNCTION 4&5?

Well, to be quite honest I don't know. But something had to be done and decisions had to be made. I was really "stuck" and now I'm moving forward and I feel much better about that. Being the eternal optomist, I believe it will all work out ("if we build it, they will come" and all that). Besides, this is really God's venture -- I'm merely along for the ride, so I'm just going to follow His lead.

Currently, the unit right next to mine is vacant. "There you go! Why don't you rent that?" But making rent is already a struggle and I need more income to justify it. But I can't produce more income until I can do some of these things, and I can't do some of these things until I get more space, but I can't get the space....... Yes, the classic CATCH 22. I hope what I'm doing will somehow break the stalemate. That is my goal, not to give up having my merchandise available(afterall that's what provides the ultimate inspiration), but eventually to move my finished products into the neighboring space and keep them permanently displayed there and sell/inspect by appointment. No more occasional sales in my future. They've been very successful for some junkers, but it's just not my cup of tea. So for now I will try to think creatively about storing my merchandise and probably offer products for sale through the website as much as possible. I don't have all the answers yet. BUT I DO HAVE SOME OF THE ANSWERS AND THAT IS WHAT I WILL FOCUS ON.

NOW I AM NOT ONLY WHINING, BUT RAMBLING TOO!

So I will end now. Just know that changes are coming -- good ones! And I will keep you posted.

Midge

Me? A Public Speaker? .....You Bet Your Sweet @#$%^&* I Am.

Okay. So I mentioned this briefly in an earlier post, but I had a nice treat in March when I was featured front page of Grand Rapids Press' Sunday Home & Garden section. Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood did a great piece and I'm very grateful for that. But to be honest, I was very nervous about it. I mean I was REALLY nervous. I knew I had to do it, but I wasn't sure what to expect from the article.
Click this link to view the GR Press article.

It turned out to be a really good thing. And one result of that article was that I was asked to be the guest presenter for the Hudsonville Fair's Ladies' Day. Now that is something I'm very excited about! I know, I know. Most people would be excited about a newspaper article but nervous about public speaking. But if I ever was scared about public speaking, I was cured after an incident in my college days:

While taking an Anatomy and Physiology class, I spent a lot of time pouring through the pages of my textbook. Though not particularly good at science, I was fascinated with what I was reading (God has designed some awesome machinery ) and was acing the course. As a matter of fact, I was setting the curve with my closest peer earning a mere B. It didn't take long for the others to catch on and to begin giving me "looks". I don't know which was worse, the looks of contempt for messing up the curve or the looks of ridicule for being such a dork. I wanted to shout to them "I'm not a dork, I don't even like science!" (but we all know that would only have been half true).

ANYWAY, we were given the assignment of presenting an oral report on a medical condition chosen from the prof's list. As I waited my turn, I heard a lot of "Oh, I chose diabetes because my aunt has that" or "my neighbor has scoliosis so I picked that", etc. As luck would have it, I was the last one randomly chosen to come forward. There were only 3 left, none of which I had ever heard of before. Naturally, I picked the one with the funniest sounding name.

We were given plenty of time to complete the assignment, but as usual, being the procrasinator that I am, I waited until just before it was due to begin. I was home for the weekend and pulled out the trusty World Book and to my horrors discovered that it is a disease of the male genitalia. There was NO WAY I could give that report! But I couldn't go to my prof and let on that I waited until the last to do it. Or should I just drop the class!?

I was sick to my stomach. But decided I HAD to do it. And I had to say some of those words that I had never even verbalized before. Hey, doctors did it all the time! (What if I had decided to be a doctor, I reasoned.) Writing the report was no biggie. But now I had to figure out how I could possibly say THOSE words OUT LOUD. Back at school, I began "Operation Word Desensitization" by practicing on some of the guys in my dorm. "How's your @#$%^&* , Joe?". "Nice @#$%^&* we're having today, Mike." "Did you guys have some of that delicious
@#$%^&* for lunch today?" Oh, sure, I got some looks, but I was ready!

When the time of my report finally came, I walked confidently up to the front of my classroom. I launched into my report, spouting out @#$%^&* here and @#$%^&* there as needed, without even flinching. Out of the corners of my eyes I could see my peers -- including cute college guys -- giving each other knowing looks and snickering. But I made it through. And when I was done, I looked them all in the eye and announced that when I chose that particular malady, I had NO idea what it was. And that had I known, I NEVER would have chosen it. At that, the class dared to all burst out laughining and I saw a big grin break out across my professor's face.

So THAT'S why I no longer have a fear of public speaking and am excited to share my junk passion at this year's Hudsonville Fair. Me? A public speaker?.....You Bet Your Sweet
@#$%^&* I am!

Oh, you wanted to know how I did on my report?.............I got an A.

Midge

Just more junk!

Okay, I was planning to post something else, but don't want to post too often without including junk or junk projects. So first, this is just some junk I'll share.



Of course my favorite kind of junk is the free kind, but sometimes you have to spend a little money to get those one of a kind items. When my friend Julie called to say she had some vintage waterskis, how could I refuse?

Check out the cool graphics on this pair, straight from Cypress Gardens in Florida. The three skis together would make an awesome hall tree.

Probably can't tell from the photo, but these are child's size and it was the pair Julie and her sisters learned to ski on. Not to worry, I won't harm them, but I will probably convert them into something useful like a shelf or bench. Don't you love the color!

I had already agreed to pay $20 for the skis (a little more than I'm used to paying for junk, but how often do you come across such sweet waterskis?), but then she added this chair to the mix. Always so many possibilities with something like this.

And to make the deal even sweeter, she threw in a few more goodies. All in all, a good deal for both of us.

HERE'S what I got for free later in the week. It's just a sampling because the rest are buried in the back of my trusty minvan, but I got 10 of the small windows and 2 of the big ones. Just sitting at the curb on garbage day! I see some mini-greenhouses in my future (though the one I already broke will probably become a memo/chalk board.

More curbside finds -- 2 cabinet doors, some plywood pieces, rope, and a yardstick. It will all go into my giant pile of junk supplies -- very handy stuff.

Also scooped up but not pictured (also buried in the van) -- metal folding chair, some wood molding, and end and rails from a crib (where is the other end and rails?....hmmm).

Anyway, just thought I'd share. Now it's on to a different kind of post. Stay tuned.

Midge

WE HAVE A WINNER!

We have a winner for the "I heart junk" T-shirt.

Congratulations to ......

PRIM & PROPER!

She wrote the cutest post about the contest, too. Be sure to check it out on her blog, offer your congrats, and see her posts about what she does with old furniture. She's got the trash to treasure thing down.

If you aren't prim & proper but you so wanted a shirt, don't fret. I'll be hosting another t-shirt giveaway very soon. Check back in.

Midge

MY FIRST GIVEAWAY! -- Hope it fits you to a Tee

MY FIRST GIVEAWAY! WooHoo!
Okay, so it's not an awesome prize, it's just a simple T-shirt. But it is a fun one. And who wouldn't want a way to announce to the world how we feel about our beloved junk. If it looks familiar it's because I'm wearing one just like it in my profile photo. I have several and I always get smiles and usually comments (good ones) when I wear it.

Why do I have several? Well, I was experimenting with making some to sell. None came out "perfect", so I've decided to try a different printing method. I kept the Oops'. I have several more sellable ones, but thought it'd be more fun to offer them in giveaways -- much easier to mail than other giveaway options, too.

SO.....

What do you have to do to be entered to win this fine prize?

Since it's my first giveaway, I'm sticking to the program I see offered by most other bloggers:

1 Entry -- for commenting on this post

2 Entries -- if you are one of my followers

3 Entries -- if you post about this giveaway on your blog (please let me know in a comment)

For a grand total of 6 entry possibilities!

YOU HAVE UNTIL THIS FRIDAY NIGHT, JULY 10, AT 8:00P.M. EST. The winner will be announced on this blog shortly after that.

Don't fret if you don't win this time, it won't be my last T-shirt giveaway.

Good luck, Midge

Gather round the kitchen table, I've got a big announcement

I can't think of a better way to make a GRAND KTCHEN ANNOUNCEMENT than by first introducing you to this GRAND KITCHEN LADY. I wish I could say that she's our new mascot, but alas, she belongs to another.


I found this displayed in one of our local charity, thrift shops. Of course, I immediately freaked out and ran to my car for the camera -- no camera. Trip #2 -- camera, no photo disk. Trip #3
-- success.

This was put together by one of the store's volunteer merchandisers. She had seen it in a magazine (don't know which one, sorry I can't give credit) and immediately fell in love with it and had to duplicate it for the store.

SPECTACULAR!

Speaking of spectacular, my big announcement isn't spectacular, but it is exciting for me. My husband has a website selling kitchen cabinets online. So to hopefully send some traffic his way......wait for it........wait for it.......I'VE STARTED ANOTHER BLOG!!!

It's called "Havin' Fun in the Kitchen" and it's all about, ...duh, having fun in the kitchen. There's a link to it in my sidebar. I hope you check it out.

Midge

P.S. If that wasn't big enough for you, check back here in the next day or so. I'm planning another mediocre, I mean exciting, announcement. .......... Okay, it's going to be about my first giveaway. Keep it on the down low.

Happy Fourth! Just saying....

"The general principles upon which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principals of Christianity...I will avow that I believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God." -- John Adams

"Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure... are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments." -- Charles Carroll (signer of the Declaration of Independence)

"In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for Divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciouly answered...do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?" -- Ben Franklin

"God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel". -- Ben Franklin

"For my own part, I sincerely esteem it [the Constitution] a system which without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests. "
-- Alexander Hamilton

"Resistance to tyranny becomes the Christian and social duty of each individual. ...Continue steadfast and, with a proper sense of your dependence on God, nobly defend those rights which heaven gave, and no man ought to take from us." -- John Hancock

It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worshhip here." --Patrick Henry

"[The Bible] is the rock on which our Republic rests." -- Andrew Jackson

"God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure w hen we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift from God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever." -- Thomas Jefferson

"We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We've staked the future of all our political institutions upon our capacity...to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God. -- James Madison

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and Bible." -- George Washington

"To the distinguished character of patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian." -- George Washington