FuNkY JuNk and JuNkY FuN

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

I am a picker by birth

Last nite on the History Channel at 8pm was a show called American Pickers. It is about two guys that search out the "real fine collectors of Junk" and buy what they can and resell the items. Novel idea! Alot of us junkers have been "picking" since conception. It was a good show and the first stop was in northeast Iowa. It shows that they do have a headquartered shop that junkers can call and then if interested, the American Pickers go picking. The picker went to a collector of any and everything. He had busses parked (and had been parked for many years)out and about the property FILLED with junk. There were electrical items, a HUGE sewing machine he had used for his leather making shop. He had a windshield for an old motorcycle that had vintage state stickers to show where the rider had been, bycicles of any age and parts to who laid the rails. It did reveal that the picker had a collection of bikes and was a great interest to him. They picked up a canister set for $20 and had a resale price of $70! I almost croaked. The same set is sitting on my cupboard and it has been there since 1938. Yes, I will admit that I screamed and giggled like a junior high girl.I really enjoyed the show. They were respectfull of the junk yard and took the time to listen to the many stories that are associated with each piece of interest. The show also gave me a positive vibe that someday, the winds will stop howling as it creates snow drifts higher than myself and the temps will rise. Anything positive in the weather is a big boost here in central Iowa. I enjoyed the show and it really gave me the bug to get out there and start picking.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Buttons, buttons, I have the buttons

I am from a long line of collectors. My dad will be 83 next month. He has ALOT of collections. He began collecting when he was eight years old because his teacher asked for each of them to find something they liked and wanted more of. Being a child of the depression era, they didn't have money to just go buy things and toss after a few days. He found some keys that were not being used for anything. And today he has hundreds of thousands keys, several thousand padlocks, thirty or more safes, rocks, anything that is Winchester, pencils, railroad items, salesmens samples and buttons. The winter weather here in Iowa has been terrible. He has a five gallon glass bottle and thought he would go through some of the buttons and fill the bottle. The mission has been completed. I have no earthly idea how many are in the bottle. So, now I have jars and coffee cans full of buttons that were extra. To say the least, I have been looking for projects using them. They range from teeny tiny to about two inches in diameter, all shapes and sizes, different colors, some are for military uniforms and some are just very interesting. I am thankful that he has had something to keep his mind and fingers busy. I don't know which collection he will work on next. But, I know which one I will be working on!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

The new year has everyone searching for happiness, wealth, success, you know, all the important stuff. My theory on this is...clean the basement. So, a couple of days ago, I took the plunge. Our house was built in 1938, so it has the block basement walls. One corner is the coal room. There is the fruit room. And the main room still has a functioning well pump. I love this old house and I am truely honored to live here. I have some issues with staying on track, so it helps to have several different rooms! I jump from room to room. The goal for the month is to get some organization with all of my junk and make room for the projects that I have not completed. I found old door knobs, rusty and crusty tools, Ball jars filled with nuts and bolts, baling wire, wood chunks and some trinkets. I can't wait to get them all put together and then the creativity will hopefully follow. We won't open the barn until April or May. That seems like a long ways away, but I know we have to get a jump on it! I think I will head to Gilbert, to see Brenda at JBKnacker for some inspiration. Her shop is always a treat. Gotta get, I hear some junk calling me from the basement!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! It seems silly to think that just because the calendar changes that we all should make changes too. But, on the other hand, it is a great chance to begin again. So, to this idea, I am not starting over, just getting a re-charge.

Barntiques is looking mighty lonely and cold these days. The snow drifts in the barn yard are the highest we have seen in years. And, the temps are below zero. Hard to get real excited about being out there. Once I get all of the pine cleaned up from the holiday, we will begin our new year in the barn. We have decided to be open the second Saturday of the seasonal months. This gives us time to gather and restore before displaying. We will most likely open in May, but if we get really good weather, we may have to have a select sale in April.

So, I am going to make every effort to write a new chapter here at least once a week and hopefully have some fun projects and photos too!

Happy New Year to all of you and hears to new beginnings!