I am so excited!

I have been very busy out on the junkin route. Our junky photographer has snapped some shots and will follow. Here's a teaser...windows, banisters, trellis',rusty tools, a set of wagon wheels on the axis, cast iron skillet, old metal bucket, 2-3 shelves, really, really, really old rusty fencing, lead glass vase, 3 small metal tool boxes,tables and desks to die for. It has been so fun and so innocently acquired. Gotta love life when you can do what makes you happy.
The business cards arrived this week too. I love them, but wish I would have put "second Saturday sales". But, word of mouth, blog and facebook will get the word out.
I am going to go price some of the items now. Can't wait till May 8th! Hope to see you!

We Made It! We finally made it!

We made it! Yes, we finally made it. We made it to the barn and shoveled and picked at the snow and ice. And, we opened the door far enough to gain access. Kind of access. Seriously, we were in snow drifts up to our wahtoosies! But, we did it! There was only a small bit of snow in the hay mow. The barn kitties have done just a few minor repositioning of the displays. Brenda from JBknacker, in Gilbert, just a short jaunt away is having her big shabang on Saturday and Sunday. Go check her out at www.jbknacker.com. I have to say she has the goodies. And some came from Barntiques! It really felt wonderful to be back in the barn. It is filled with junk, pretties, garden items,windows, tables and desks, glassware, mantiques such as vintage camping chairs, rusty tools, shabby chics and the best thing, memories. Memories of mine from my childhood and also the stories that we are told about other precious moments of our customers. I have lots of new fun things for the Second Saturday Sales starting in May. All for now, gotta work on the new (old) stuff! More to tell you about in the next post. Maybe some photos too!

Snow, more snow, wind...

I think I am going to take up a collection, go to Pennsylvania, reach in the hole and pull that damned ground hog out of his hole to show him what he has gotten us into! Seriously, we have set the records for snow, missed work days, missed school days, roads closed and the bill for the nice man we pay to clean our driveways out have hit the high note too! I realize the winter has been tough on everyone. And I believe that God only gives us what we can handle, but even with prayer, I am ready to scream. Good thing about it, I don't have any reason that I have to get out in it. Cleaning houses don't rate real high on the "don't travel unless it is an emergency" list. I love cleaning with my Barn Buddy BFF, but we are fair weather girls! And last nite one of my Barn Buddy BFf came over and we rolled balls of yarn. Yep, doesn't get much more fun than that. I have the pot of beef stew on and it is smelling marvy! And, my table is full of projects. The bowls and blue ball jars of skeleton keys,vintage jewelry, tiny padlocks,tokens,vintage tags, birds nests, old frames, an old bread box that is being painted, and some pretty silk flowers are all calling my name. I have priced and boxed things headed to the barn. Wish I could get out there. There are sooooo many snow drifts and some as high as the garage roof that it would be impossible to get there. Now, that was an unusual comment from me. The idea of not being able to get to my junking? I better go drink some tea. I must be getting sick!

Living for the ones who have passed.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer one month to the day that my husbands sister died after her very valiant fight to this demon. It was 2006. I have swore to do all within my power to raise money and awareness so others don't have to die. Early detection saved my life and I want to save others too. I chose to have a double mastectomy. My medical team was aggressive. Fortunately, I did not have to have chemo or radiation treatments. Sometimes I feel guilty to put myself in the survivorship club. I did not have to bear the pain and agony of what many others have gone through.
My best friend, Kyla lives in Boston, Mass. She saw a commercial advertising the Breast Cancer 3Day Event and she immediately called and said we needed to participate. Boston was one of the twelve cities for the event. My husband, myself and Kyla formed Team Wicked Pink. The planning, preparation physically and mentally was a challenge. Each person had to raise
$2,200.00 to qualify for walking. We all made our commitment and more. I must say that it was challenging, amazing, gruelling, fun, emotional, exhilarating, did I mention amazing, fulfilling and many other words. I have never trained for a three day, sixty mile walk. Again, I will say it was amazing. We camped overnight in a sea of pink tents. Took showers in a semi truck. Ate better than any family picnic I ever attended. Walked side by side with survivors, family member, fighters of the disease while just taking chemo. Talking all the way about each of our stories. We carried penants with Andrea's photo specially made for us through one of my husbands co workers. There were men dressed in pink tutu's and fish net hose. There was one team that attends yearly and they carry back packs with first aid, vaseline, lip balm, tampons and pads! Signs along the path. Horns honking! I get goosebumps now each time I hear the advertisement on tv. And for our surprise 50th birthday party, the guests were asked not to buy the silly black, over the hill, run of the mill gifts. But, to make a donation to the Susan G. Komen foundation. What a lovely gesture.
Barntiques is a blend of many people that have felt the pain of cancer. Cancer is not picky. It attacks young, old, strong, weak, rich, poor, nice or mean. The pain is felt in so many ways. So, this year instead of raising the money solely for breast cancer, we will be donating it to the American Cancer Society. I am not sure what all we will do, that is what the planning committee will handle. (I hope there is a planning committee!)
So, here it goes. Barntiques will be accepting donations and marking those items for a portion of the sale to go to the American Cancer Society. Wish me luck, I think I can smell a taste of victory. Please pass this on to others that may live near or far that would like to participate. I KNOW that we will be able to make a difference. Everyone deserves a lifetime.

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.

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!

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!