Corbel project......

I really wanted to use these corbels in a way to showcase them and display their simplicity without altering them too much.....I think vintage painted wood objects become works of art after generations of weathering and wear. I would love to know where these came from, but it is rare to be able to get the history of the things we buy and sell.

I have wired it to hang either way........can't decide which way I like it best......depends on the wall I guess. I also can't decide if I should put something in the middle, but I should have it figured out by the time I take it to Lakewood in a few weeks.

Family photo charms

(Mom, I know you aren't going to like this picture of you, but I love it!!)

I like all the different things artists do with the soldered charms, but I'm partial to using family photos. I burnished this one dark, and covered it with clear nail polish to preserve the finish.

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!

.
(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)

Durhamtown Plantation......

Another play day down at the coolest dirt track........here are my two boys.....





Ready to race on the drag track........


Here is what I did NOT do..........(it is hard to see, but there is a rider up in the trees)



There are so many trails and tracks here, you can play all day!

Road trip.......

It was such a joy to run across this wonderful place on my travels east of Athens, and meet Jimmy Poss----he was so gracious to share lots of interesting information about some of his many historic architectural pieces, and family history. I could have spent hours talking to him and looking through all the vintage hardware, wood, books, lamps, and so much more--he has it all. I hate to give away my junkin' location secrets, but you gotta check out this place! (open Fri thru Sun)

More show photos......

Stop in and visit us.....we'll be here through the weekend! (www.lakewoodantiques.com)

Picture frame holder project......

This is a pretty simple project, and a fun way to display a special photo.
(I remembered this idea from something similar that Ki and Sue had done in a magazine years ago)

The "after" photo turned out a little dark, but I think you get the idea.

Display door project....

What I plan to use on a project usually changes when I get into it, but I used most of these pieces, and had to add more along the way.


Trying to get a photo of the door but not the messy garage is challenging.......can't wait to take it to Lakewood and use it to display merchandise.

First challenge project......

My first "use what you have" self-challenge project turned out to be a couple of "sorta lamp things that you hang your collections of stuff all over" pieces.

Since I sell to so many shop owners and dealers who like to buy my displays, I decided to go ahead and just make display pieces. I don't have a lot of small treasures stashed away, but I tried to hang what I had on hand on the lamps as an example for the "after" photographs.

(So far I haven't run out to buy anything, but I wanted to go junkin' for another big old lamp shade, as I only had one, and it would have been fun to hunt for things to hang on the lamps....I'll be so glad when I use up all this junk so I can go buy more!!!))

Yu-Lien Yu

Meet Jenny, my good friend that I met while taking riding instruction in Loganville, Georgia several years ago. She is an incredible artist who captures every detail of the horse in her stunning bronze sculptures. From the moment I met her, I was amazed by her deep sensitivity to nature and animals, and I never cease to learn interesting and spiritual things from her every time we get a chance to get together. Her and her husband Charlie are horse owners (I really thought I would be again, but got a motorcycle instead--easier to take care of, I guess) and I'm still trying to get out to the ranch to see "Wawa" and meet their new horse "Razor"-- and smell those barn smells again! Check out her new website www.flyingstallion.com.......


This is Jenny's fabulous new bronzed sculpture of her horse "WaWa". It captures her exact form, expression, and personality!! Jenny has studied her art in Korea, Beijing, Paris, Rome, as well as here in the states. She is just a joy to talk to, and I'm sure would love to hear from any horse/art lovers out there.

More lamp destruction.....

These poor guys are awaiting their turn at re-assemblage into a new form...don't know why I can't just let lamps be lamps.......



Another floor lamp plant stand collage--I like the simplicity of this one

Another funky floor lamp plant holder

Floor lamp/chandelier plant holder collage using bits of lamp parts; globes; china sugar bowls; and little baskets....



Closeup....
Indoors.......
This was the first one I made for the last show....almost didn't bring it in from the car because I was very insecure about it, and it ended up selling pretty quick....you never know!!