Are you a junk queen?

A while back, I bought 3 of these turbines...  

Here's the closeup.  They're actually quite large.... 

I took them apart... 

And one of the parts looked like a crown.  Hey, royalty is in right now!  So I went with it.... 

Found these pieces:  a random curtain finial from my stash, 4 big washers, and 4 small metal knobbish things (I think from the insides of a piano)..... 

Attached them with epoxy to make it an official crown... 

Added a board I whitewashed white to provide a surface for display.... 

It could be useful on a buffet table.... 

On the bar.... 

As a centerpiece.... 

Or just use for a fun vignette!... 

What a great way to let the world know you're a Queen! -- A JUNK Queen.

So how about you?  Are YOU a junk queen?

Midge

I'm linking this up to Donna's SNS Linky Party #70 @ Funky Junk Interiors

What do you get when you cross a cobbler with a farmer?

THIS....

I'd had the thought that I could use a cobbler shoe form stand to hang something from.  I pulled it out at Christmas and set it by the fireplace to possibly hang a wreath. 

Well, Christmas has come and gone so I cancelled the wreath idea and began looking around.  Found this in one of my piles and liked the looks of it -- I think it's used for planting (if I'm mistaken, please let me know!)  

Decided I'd put some kind of plant or flowers in it, so I cut off the rim of a yogurt cup and slipped it right in -- perfect fit!  

The real question was "How do I suspend the planter thingy from the cobbler thingy?"  Chains, ribbon, burlap strips?  Then I came across this rope -- no hooks or tools required, and I like the looks of it! 

I stopped at the grocery store and as luck would have it, there was a package of discounted yellow tulips!  Okay.  Yellow tulips it is! 



I still wanted to add a little something, and I also wanted to reinforce the shoe idea.  What better to go with tulips than WOODEN shoes!  Those are actually tiny -- Dutch baby shoes, if you will.  And since I live near Holland MI, a happy reminder that the tulips will be here before too long -- spring IS on the way!  

Midge

I'm linking this up to Becky's Under $100 Linky Party at:  Beyond the Picket Fence

Do you "heart" pancakes?

Well, I wouldn't say that I LOVE pancakes (I save my love for junk!) but I do HEART them!

And since my kitchen was relatively clear this fine Saturday morning, today was the day to give my new Christmas griddle the ol' pancake try.  AND, since we're just days away from Valentines, it had to be done "heart" style.

I used to do initials for the kids, but today's art of choice would be hearts...

Once the hearts had a little time to cook I just poured more batter on top to form your basic pancake... 

Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles...FLIP! 

Awwww.....so beautiful.....I think I'm tearing up! 

And to make it even more festive I decided to smother them in strawberries...but...OH NO!!....No hearts! 

So I threw on another pancake, smeared strawberries around edges, add whipped topping and....YIKES.....not good.... 

Soooo.....let's try this again... 

Yup, straight up heart pancakes seem to do the trick.... 

We wouldn't be losing THESE hearts (well, at least not for a few minutes).... 

Much better! 

SOOOO....Do YOU "heart" pancakes?

Midge

I will be linking this up to Donna's Saturday Nite Special Party at

Funky Junk Interiors 

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 

'Twas the week before Christmas.....

I wanted to have lots of things on my list done by now.  I wanted to take pictures.  I wanted to particiapte in all the fun blog parties ...... But I should know better.  This happens every year....I'm a procrastinator.

So, like all hardcore procrasinators, with everything needing to be done, today I chose to write a poem.


'TWAS THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS

'Twas the week before Christmas, and all through the house,
A junker was stirring, not so much her spouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with flair,
In the hopes that a photo would soon take place there.

The kids had done nothing, not even made beds,
Still, visions of Best Buy cards danced in their heads.

And she still with presents to purchase and wrap,
Had waited so long, there was no time to nap.

When out in the kitchen, arose such a chatter,
"How come there're no cookies on mom's great big platter?"

Away to get started, though not flush with cash,
She had some ideas, and of course a junk stash.

The glow of a holiday home decore show, 
Reminded her, she still had quite far to go.

When what to her listening ears should appear,
But, music of jingle bells, joy and reindeer.

With a big cup of eggnog, so foamy and thick,
She started to plan -- she needed to -- quick!

More rapid than eagles, the ideas they came,
And she giggled, and shouted, and called them by name,

Now Angels! Now Santas! Now branches and candles!
On Tables!  On counters!  On doorknobs and handles!

To the top of the porch!  To the top of the wall!
Now decorate! Decorate! Decorate all!

This just might happen, there was no need to cry,
She knew she could do it, she just had to try.

So up from the basement, the stored boxes flew,
With a tub full of lights and some ornaments too.

And then so inspired, she thought of the roof,
"Less is more" she then realized -- "Don't be a goof!"

As she gathered her things and was scrounging around, 
A total of three Christmas trees had been found.

They were dressed all in fir, from each top to each root,
And the tallest one did not even stand to six foot!

A bungle of branches, each tree a sad sack,
But Charlie would tell her, she shouldn't turn back.

The lights how they twinkled! The garland how merry!
The ornaments homey (though a little bit scary!).

No presents beneath, not a tag or a bow,
A gentle reminder there's still far to go.

Candy canes, chocolates -- those poor little teeth!
Poinsettias, and cards, and..oh yeah -- the wreath!

She wanted to cook yummy food for each belly,
Ham, potatoes, and fresh rolls with jelly.

She tried to be joyful, a right jolly elf,
Despite always causing these problems herself.

A close of her eyes and a bow of her head,
Soon gave her to know she had nothing to dread.

She spoke rambling words, but whatever would work,
"If I don't fill their stockings, I'll look like a jerk!"

And she said to herself, "Get'er done, I suppose,"
Groceries, shopping -- that's just how it goes.

She sprang to her van, though the belts tend to whistle,
And away the thing flew, through mud, snow and thistle.

She was heard to exclaim as she drove out of sight,
"Maybe THIS is the year that I do Christmas right!"


Midge

I'll try to post what I can as I move forward this week. 

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  

I think I've fallen for another!

Not just good looking, but practical too!

NO!!  Not him! (Though he definitely IS good-looking, and he appears to be quite practical)

THIS.....

I nabbed this at our local online auction. I thought it would go for a lot (it didn't) -- but I GOT it!

It's an old display case from a creamery.  Check out the cool advertising on it! (don't ask me to tell you what it says, it's got words like nostrils and teats -- ewwwww).....

These are on the front of the doors to little cubbies on top of the piece (for all those dairy unmentionables)!

 And for all the stuff you may want to show off, there's plenty of spots for that.... 

 I'm just crazy about it!  So this is one of those items that I've just got to keep for myself.  It does need a new paint job and maybe some feet or a platform to rest on, but I can imagine all the dishes and whatnots resting in there.  Next year I'm going to remodel my whole kitchen and dining room, and this will be my inspiration piece!  --  Yes??....No??...Maybe so??

Midge

P.S.  Aren't you proud of me for resisting the urge to use a bunch of lame dairy cliches like "Holy Cow", "Cream of the Crop", "It's like Buttah", ....

It's over!!!

I Feel.....

Overworked.... 

          Overfed....

And Overflowing....

So then, just as you received Jesus Christ as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

~~  Colossians 2:6,7

1,2,3...17,18,19...84,85,86...(counting my blessings)...223,224,225...

Midge

Still liking angels -- in a BIG way!

I shared in the past some of my angel projects, so I won't be making this post too lengthy.  But I did want to share with you my latest angel creation.  Did I mention that it's 9' tall?

I bought the saloon style shutter doors at a garage sale and immediately they sang "angel" to me.  So I rounded up a 8' 4x4 from my lumber stash.  Next I needed the head -- this one happens to be the backside of a Chinese checkers board.  The halo is a rusty barrel ring.  And then just for fun and detail I added some miscellaneous doodads. 
     She's currently leaning on the outside of my house.  She's a little scary up close, but looks kind of cool from a distance.  I'm hoping someone will want her to attach to a barn, house, tree, etc.
Peace,
Midge 

I'm linking this up to Gail's Catch-as-Catch-can Linky Party