Don't you love a challenge? Sue does!

Over at http://www.junkmarketstyle.com/ --- me and my big mouth (scratch that...) I mean I had this bright idea (oh wait a minute), OK - I sweetly and thoughtfully (and quite innocently) suggested to Sue, head junker extroardinaire, that I thought maybe instead of the traditional "contributors' challenge" where she sends out a pre-packaged bunch of goodies (of HER choice) to the contributors and we then produce a fabulous creation out of her "gift" - and then share it (for all the junk world to see) - AND...ultimately for her delighted junk entertainment pleasure - that we (the contributors) turn the tables (so to speak) and each one send Sue a little something (of OUR choice), for her to put her thinking cap on (or giant metal funnel) and create her little heart out!!! - (for OUR junk entertainment pleasure).

Sue Whitney of JunkMarket Style

To my surprise, Sue said "YES"! I know our fearless leader is just as fearless when it comes to taking something totally "off the wall" (sometimes literally), and creating something spectacular - so I guess it really wasn't surprising at all.

Well, I gotta tell you...now the pressure is on. What the heck do you send to the junker who has (almost) everything??? Sounds like quite a dilemma - but I know the contributors are up to the challenge! Don't tell Sue, but I've got a little collection "growing" in my basement - and will probably have to load it up in Candy's van for our trip west to Minnesota in August - nothing scary - just a LITTLE bit of this and that...

I can see her now...every day when the UPS or US Mail person drives by - Sue is peeking out the window and holding her breath in anticipation (or fear) of that next package................ it's like Christmas in July! :)

So, here's the link - please go and check out the hilarious junking banter going around - definitely building up to some big junk "reveals"!!! http://www.junkmarketstyle.com/item/13651/editors-challenge

Maybe a "watchamacallit" would do...

Or the tiniest anvil I've ever seen...



You can always find a use for an old window or dresser parts, right??



And, when you're done claiming your crown for the "World Championship of Croquet" (is there such a thing??) - I know these pieces and parts are fun vintage project material...

Hmmmm - glass insulators...I know Sue doesn't need any of these (she's selling a bunch at her garage sale this week). See her post for dates and times... http://www.junkmarketstyle.com/item/13104/yard-sale-is-all-done-up-jm-stylethe-details Really wish I lived closer!

This is interesting...an old "air mail" stamp. My junk won't be coming air mail...it would cost way tooooo much.

Old bicycle pieces and parts - Sears would be done up proud, don't ya think??

I should probably rethink that - my hubby might get a little upset if he finds any parts missing... :)

Sue - I guess this could be seen as a warning (or just a cute little flash card - you make the call!)...

Anyway - isn't this just her "type" of junk??

Roller skates - now that could be dangerous...

Boxes - wooden and metal - screaming "organizational tools" don't ya think??

And, isn't this just the "gratest"?? I know this piece will have fun in it's next life...what should it be??

Metal....that's all I need to say - all junkers love a little metal in their projects! (The piece on the top kinda looks like the Tin Man lost his hat...or could it be a "junker's" thinking cap???)

These little guys are playing our song... they're just a little rusty!

Not sure what these are - but I liked the picture...another clue??? Maybe!

I bet she'd love this for some kitchen storage - nah - it'd be something way more interesting than that I bet!

Beautiful old glass doorknobs...any junker would be proud to own these!

A couple folding yardsticks, with a wooden "whatsit" on top... Again, great project material!

Glass bottles - great junk decoration...

Here's a "piece" (clue) of a little something I've chosen for her! :)

Button, button...should I give her some buttons? There are plenty - and I don't remember seeing those in one of her creations yet... :)

I'm really praying that Sue has a short memory, and when the next contributor's challenge comes along - she'll be kind (she may be thanking me for all the great junk the contributors "gifted" her with) - so...this could definitely be in the categories of a "blessing" or a "curse"... ha ha (I chuckle bravely...)

(The old saying "what comes around goes around" comes to mind...)

Stay tuned...challenge results in the coming weeks...!

AMY'S HAVING A PARTY...we're invited - AND SO ARE YOU!!

Mark your calendar now - August 15, 2009

3-5pm at the Oronoco Gold Rush Days...

Well...this is one of my "junk dreams come true"...

...a trip to Minnesota (with my junking friend, Candy Allen of "The Junk Sophisticate" http://www.junksophisticate.blogspot.com/ ) for some HUGE junking fun, AND an invitation to Amy's blog party at the Oronoco Gold Rush Days (click on the button to the right...).

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It's our FIRST blog party and WE'RE SO EXCITED!!! I'm pretty new to the blogging world, and have loved every minute of it (still looking for that "Blogging for Dummies" book though...). I can't wait to meet (in person) bloggers I've "come to know" as well as make some new friends too!

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It looks like Amy has some great things planned for all who attend...

prizes, food (a junk potluck), fun and more...

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Stop by her blog and you'll get the scoop: http://junkologie.blogspot.com/2009/07/save-date-for-junkologie-blog-party.html

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Candy and I will leaving Ohio and heading west to Minnesota for four days (with a junking itinerary that screams FUN), and our weekend will be topped off to perfection by hitting the streets of Oronoco and going to Amy's blog party. We'll be helping Amy out a bit (along with a few other contributors from JunkMarket Style) - and don't you know I'm going to be the first in line to get my "Junk Beautiful Outdoor Edition" signed by Sue Whitney of JunkMarket Style!

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Now my next big dilemma - what does one wear to a blog party???

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Please leave a post and let me know if you're planning on being there - the more the merrier!!

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Here's the link to the Oronoco Gold rush Days website - check it out:

http://www.goldrushmn.com/

Stay tuned for more details!

By the sea...

This song came to my mind today..."By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea! You and me, you and me, oh how happy we'll be!"

What a great old song...AND, yes, what a wonderful place to be...

Well, I wish anyway... My husband (Jim) and I would love to live by the water, and hope that some day that dream comes true. For right now, there's a pool in the backyard...so that's a start! But to give us a feeling of living on a beach (at a lake or near an ocean...either one would be perfectly fine with me!) - for years, I've collected vintage (and some not so vintage) oil paintings and beachy things to create a bit of a beachy cottage feel.


It started with our annual trips to Florida in February. Jim and I travel with some good friends (Kenny and Robin), and the guys go racing - and Robin and I go junking/antiquing - (we do, however, go out with the guys for dinner and have some fun on the beach too). Our junkets have taken us around and about the Daytona Beach area, Deland, Mt. Dora (Renninger's), and Orlando. And, since we drive from Ohio to Florida - there are sometimes stops along the way...our newest favorite spot is Brunswick, Georgia (near Jekyll Island) - what a quaint area! And to see more of what's in Brunswick, you can stop by the JunkMarket Style website and look at my post from our most recent trip...
http://www.junkmarketstyle.com/item/8036/junk-vacation-part-i


Anyway, one of my first paintings was found in Florida...and just took off from there. I try to find "at least" one every year - along with other random "findings" to add to my collection. But, I've also found paintings at garage sales (the best prices of course), antique shops, etc.

Soooooo, just wanted to share a glimpse of the our "beach house"...

This was painted by my friend, Terri on an old cabinet door.

I just love it - the little blonde reminds me of my daughter...

This is a gigantic paint-by-number (not by me...)There is a long shelf above my picture window in my dining room - this is in the center...A "seaside" collection (this is to the left of the painting above).

And to the right of the painting...

I love the colors in this one.

Two more...

A tiny painting - that I drybrushed color onto the dark frame to lighten it up (I drybrush almost every frame to give them a weathered look.).This is the cutest thing...(look, I didn't even touch the frame with a paintbrush)!

In the guestroom (aka Kristen's room) - on the top of an old beadboard cabinet.......a collection!

One of my favorite walls...

Close up...

Our cute little beach baby (just a "few" years ago) & her pink polka dot bikini (yep...I kept a lot of "stuff")

The cover of this old book is just amazing...love the artwork.

Another "little" collection

I bought this print in Charlotte (at the Metrolina - what a great fleamarket) - and it reminded me of my and my girlfriends (sort of...)!

This is the first one I bought...at a garage sale (and never stopped)

This one goes really well with the one above...

The nightstand display in the guestroom...(the little photo is Jim, Kristen & "Bernie" on our boat years ago - at sunset - one of my favorites)

And...ya gotta have a collection of shells in a GIANT mason jar...

This bucket isn't vintage - just made to look that way...

My conservatory - it changes with the seasons.There are lots of great things in here...

Some vintage fishermen...

This is my favorite print - by Frederic Mizen - it's called "Playmates"...so sweet (Can you believe it, I found it at a garage sale for $1.00)

Isn't this sweet too??? In a little tin frame...

Another view...

Some little beach babies playing in the sand - and the photo on the right is my daughter, Kristen, and her friend, Tiffany, when they were about 5 or 6.

I found this at an antique mall in Oregon a few years ago - it's made of seashells...

Another bit of the beach!

I found this step stool at the Springfield Extravaganza - it's got the best chippy blue paint on it - and all my other blues go so well with it!

This "was" a bowling ball - it's got a better life - now that's it has retired to the "beach" - it's a pretty heavy beach ball though (I mosaic-ed it with seashells and sea glass)...

What a cute vintage fan...

This is my "humpty-dumpty" child's adirondack chair. I found it at a garage sale in a pile of pieces and put it back together again! The little stuffed sailor boy was another garage sale find...

Isn't he adorable? And, don't you love the purse?? I couldn't pass it up - it's one of a kind.

I wouldn't carry it to the store, but not everything has to have a function, right??? I think just being cute is enough...
This one is an old watercolor - looks nice with the pink pottery...

One more vignette - on top of our tv armoire!

Hope you enjoyed a tour of our "beach" house - I think it's time to go wiggle my toes in the sand now...

Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by!

Kathy