Chicken wire dress form.........tutorial

Start with a section of chicken wire (these come in rolls of various lengths and widths) and cut a straight line across, and form into a cylinder. Where the seam up the back joins, you will have to twist the ends to secure each little opening. Below photos show the way I cut and twisted the ends to minimize sharp points.


Now comes the fun part!
Start scrunching the wire into whatever shape you are trying to achieve....mine never come out the same. (You will know you are done when your hands are cramped, and your manicure in shreds!)

Spray paint the color you want---I combine black, rust and brown to get a rusty, vintage look.

These take about 4 hours from start to finish.

Wood and metal collage project.......

These are the before pieces.........just some odds and ends I have had for awhile---trying to figure out a new use for.


Hmmm.......a little dark.........but you get the idea.

I never know what to call the weird things I make. How about..... "wood and metal wall pedestal collage plant holder thingy"?

Lakewood show this weekend......

Here's some repurposed hanging light globe vases with dried rudbeckia. (I was trying to figure out some way to collage these with rusty lamp parts and wire them, but ran out of time--maybe for next show...there is never enough time!)


I needed a dress form to display vintage clothes for the show, so I had to get busy with the chicken wire and make one. (Where do you girls find the cool old ones? I never see them in my junkin' travels)

Backroads wanderings......

You just never really know what you will discover, or who you might meet while wandering the backroads of the south......

After a disappointing trip to the Charlotte market (rain...traffic.....more rain...more traffic) I finally got on the backroads, and felt the stress fall away as I viewed countryside and, as always, great old houses and architecture, and polite small town people who never let you pass by without a "hello".

I am so glad that I turned onto a side street near the quaint downtown of Chester, SC, and discovered this wonderful treasure trove of antiques!

Within this 1941 building, which still has the original tile ceiling and brick walls, I met owners Rhett and Susie Kelsey, who were so kind to share the history of their family business (Hall Lumber Co-founded in 1953) and the interesting little town.

(I was very proud to discover I was the VERY FIRST customer to use the newly installed powder room--they never had one for 60 years! I was very honored---and RELIEVED, too!)


I found great bargains here, and filled my truck with this one stop! But the southern hospitality is what always lures this yankee girl back to the little towns and backroads, and I always find a new shop of treasures somewhere--sometimes in the unlikliest of places!

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(Another great find, which I forgot to photograph, was "Hattie's Antiques" just south of York, SC on Chester highway. The owner also sells at the Charlotte market----- and could have been a stand-in for Clark Gable!)

(I just accidently deleted the scan of Susie and Rhett's business card, but they can be reached at 803-385-2770. She is a power seller on ebay, and they also carry outdoor furniture and hardware/building supplies)

(Hopefully I will get all my treasures unpacked and pics posted soon)