Just a Few

Life is hectic.  Life is stressful.  Life is wonderful.  Life is full of "just a few's".

My mind never stops.  The wheels are always spinning and re-creating.  I've mentioned this before.  I always seem to have "just a few" things going on.  Right now I think I have bypassed my 10 fingers with my "just a few's".

1. Housework that never seems to end.

2. Children that never seem to stop.

3. Photos that I never seem caught up on.

4. Art project after art project that keep getting more involved because I continue to create!

5. Wallhanging's out of various items.

6. Jewelry pieces that I continue to add to.

7. Goodwill purchases that equal a total of $5 but equal double that in time.

8. A stool that needs sanded and cleaned and painted.

9. An old piece of tongue and groove board from my dad's barn that is being converted into either a shelf or a wall-hanger with spoons and forks as hangers.

9. A pile of vintage wooden hangers that I am using as a photo display for my kids.

10. An old printers tray that will be converted as a wall-hanger and divided by three to display my kids individual "treasures" they collect over the years.

11. Quilt pieces that I have endless ideas for!

12. Hankies! Hankies! Hankies!  Will be converting them into curtains in my laundry room.

13. A garden that now will need tending to.

14.......................need I say more!?!

Here are "just a few" of the completed projects!

"1776 Salute"

necklace

 "Vintage Glass Art Nouveau"

necklace

"Little Boy Bow Ties"

"Vintage Florida Pendant"

necklace

Various items

"Vintage Zip Necklace"

"Vintage Zip Button Bracelets"

"Cray-Bottle Initial/Button Pins"

"Vintage Bottle Cap Initial"

reversible necklace

"Vintage Zip Button Bracelet"

"Vintage Ohio Pendant"

necklace 

"Vintage Old Glory"

necklace

"Vintage Mother of Pearl"

clip/pin 

"Vintage Floral"

necklace 

"Victorian Glass Rose"

necklace

"Vintage Delicate Scarf"

pin/clip 

I enjoy my "just a few's" and hope you do too!

These can all be purchased either by custom order or at various shop locations.

ALL of my pieces are one-of-a-kind pieces.  

NO two are alike.

I now only have "just a few" hours until my children will rise.

Goodnight my friends. 

I would love to hear about your "just a few's".

Scrap-Brat

 

Change of Space

My mind goes a million miles per second. Is that how it is said?  I find myself ALWAYS thinking and re-thinking and creating and re-creating.  Do you find yourself to be that way?  I'm sure most of us are, but I am always searching for something fresh and new.  Some would say that is a negative trait, but I see it as a way of making life more interesting and fun.

I have found myself following this hectic pattern of today's life.  Kids, school, housework, family, kids, school, housework, family.  It never ends, but yet it stays the same monotonous daily chore that takes a toll on even the most creative person.  I have found myself in several different directions in life, photography, jewelry design and the ever-changing home space.  As I said before, my mind never stops.

Today I stopped into one of my favorite quaintest of quaint antique shops, "Just Enough Antiques" to see her fresh finds.  I did indeed go in for a purpose, to find bottle caps and silverware, among other things.  I stumbled upstairs, following my 3 tyrants, ahem, I mean Angels!!!  I rounded the corner and there he set, the sweetest and yet probably NOT the most sought after "Soldier Lamp".  Now, let me say that I do collect nutcrackers.  This little guy reminded me so much of a nutcracker and I just couldn't resist!  If anyone knows about vintage toys, they would know about this guy, IRMI made by Nursery Plastics.  Adorable!

I also gathered some silverware which I had a specific idea for, but then once I made my way back home and chased the kids out the door to play, another idea popped into my head.  I proceeded with the latter of the two and this is where it took me....

Obviously not complete as of yet, but it's a start to yet another idea I'm sure I will have tomorrow.  Nothing a little muscle and a hammer can't do!  This old piece of tongue and groove board is from a barn behind Whitmer's General Store in Winesburg, Ohio.  My dad owns it.  It began as a hotel in the village of Winesburg in the early 1900's.  My dad dumped some of these boards off to us for firewood, but as soon as I spotted them I decided that was not what they were intended for!  I'm a sucker, knowing that it was from my dad's business also inspired me to save it.

While all of this is going on, I have new projects going on in my head.  I want to change my laundry/craft room around.  Move several other things around also, but do I have the energy?  Maybe tomorrow.

Remember, if you have an idea, stick to it!

Scrap-Brat

Weekend off. Character Building.

I took the weekend off, that is from the blog.

The weekend was busy as all get out! The kids and I loaded up first thing Saturday morning and went to our local Home & Garden Show.  After that we hunted around a local town's Village Yard Sales.  While in the village I visited a friends Antique Shop. Oh how I love antiques!

As I drive I enjoy listening to music. Who doesn't?! I wish at times it wasn't children's music, but it's noise.  This weekend while we drove from place to place we listened to the grooviest music from the good ol' days......Polka.

Now, I am not a Polka fan by any means. I love music from the 30's, 40's and 50's. Too bad I wasn't born in that era! Polka though never struck a chord with me. However, this time it did. All three of my gloriously giggling, howling, screaming children froze and sat completely still, quiet and calm......that is until the middle man said...."what iiiissss this???!" I laughed so hard and said "Polka". They responded, "What, Poooka"????

As I described it to them as being music people used to dance to back in the days, it led me to discover that the days when couples danced together have diminished. My generation doesn't dance. Couples don't go out on a Friday night and dance together anymore. We have games to watch, tv shows we can't miss, facebook posts to share, blogs to write! Dancing?! Are you serious!?! My neighbor goes out dancing with friends on the weekends. I love him for it. He's keeping himself young and vibrant and enjoying what he did at one time. The man has more of a social life than I do! 

I hope that I can recycle the love for all things "vintage" to my children. Life has become too fast paced and too technology based. We don't take time to sit and enjoy life the way folks did at one time. Maybe it's only because we just don't appreciate the days of old as they did back then.

I on the other hand appreciate everything old. For instance, these hangers I found today! Absolutely adore them! No one can find hangers like this in modern times anymore! They have such classic character.

I save everything! The outfit hanging from the el-cheapo plastic hanger was my aunt's doll outfit from her childhood. My father, bless his heart. He collects and saves everything as well. He has created this monster!!! Anywho, last spring my dad had visited his brother and was given all this old junk that didn't sell at the auction from my Aunt's parents sale. So, guess whose home all the JUNK that didn't sell went to!?! Yes, you guessed it, MINE! My poor husband about flipped! But you wouldn't believe the treasures that were in there! Vintage Thermos', Vintage dolls with clothes, Vintage Music Sheets and Books, some of which are from the 1800's! A Vintage Canister! Marvelous things! It was like Christmas for me, I couldn't wait to see what was in that pile of junk! I kept everything except the dolls, they sort of creeped me out! 

Here is the dress after I put the Vintage hanger with it. Adorable! So much better than the cheap plastic Wal-Mart deal!

Character, that's all I ask for. 

Keep it real!

Scrap-Brat

 

Friends in "Junk" Places

As I grow older each day I realize what a friend is and who friends are.

A "friend" according to our dictionary means:

1. A person whom ones knows, likes and trusts.

2. A person whom one knows; an acquaintance.

3. A person whom one is allied in a struggle or cause; a comrade.

4. One who supports, sympathizes with, or patronizes a group, cause, or movement.

And the list goes on.

Over the past six months or so I have become a "regular" at a few local antique shops.  I began "popping in" periodically as I drove past each day for school drop-offs and pick-ups.  I would "pop" in to check out the fresh finds and would then find myself chatting away and getting lost in "junk" conversation.  The poor gals who listened to my babble probably dreaded seeing me walk through the door.  But overtime as I continued "popping in", I found myself conversing in more than just "junk".  Our conversations led to home, children, being a mom, gardening, my cowboy boots that I am dearly attached to.  These cowboy boots in fact are the same cowboy boots I wore so much that the leather sole was worn completely off, just the thin foam padding insole was showing.  This also meant that I couldn't wear the boots in wet weather or my feet would become rather wet.  After oh I don't know, 8 months of that worn look, I decided to take them to our cobbler for an updated look.  I just couldn't stop wearing my boots! My feet are at home in them!  

Once again, my babbling continues.  Back to the conversing with fellow "junkers". 

My weekly "pop-ins" became a conversing with "friends" time.  

I am a stay-at-home mother of three.  The one's who read this are aware of that tidbit.  I began motherhood working full-time without seeing my sweet little girl much during the day.  Baby #2 came and I began to stay home.  I'm social.  I like to chat.  I like to mingle.  I like to be around folks my height.  It was a major adjustment in the beginning, but I found ways to stay social.  Here I go babbling again!  

Eventually after the third child, I had my oldest in pre-school where I met several beautiful moms whom I am close to and enjoy to the ends of the earth!  This year my baby went to kindergarten!  This also led me to pass these antique shops I discussed previously in the babble FOUR times each day!!!  Yes, FOUR!  Now, if you know me I cannot pass ANY antique shop without stopping, especially FOUR times a day!  And so it began, the weekly "pop-ins".  

It's interesting how life happens.  We are all led down this beautiful journey.  Where we are headed we don't know, but it's what we grab as we go.  I am thankful I grabbed at the chance to have my "pop-ins" even if it meant for five minutes.  I have met the kindest, strongest, dearest ladies and fellow "junkers".  We all connect in a way that is frightening to some (my husband, he always knows when I am talking "junk").  I have a circle of "friends" whom I know, like and trust.  I have a circle of "friends" whom I support and share interests.  I have a circle of "friends" of whom I could not get through the day without because we share a common thread, junk.

Thank you my dear friends for the opportunities you've provided to me.  This mama needed them!

Keep on Junkin'!

Scrap-Brat

Future Junker!

Collecting Collections

I don't know a single person who doesn't have one collection or another.  Some collect glassware, some fishing poles, some collect jewelry, some cameras, but some of us collect so many collections that it becomes a part of who we are.  The collecting of collections takes control and as the collector, you become part of the collection itself.

Today my 18 month old and I visited an auction of numerous household items.  There was a "sport" auction, a "household" auction and a simple "odds and end" type auction.  It is fascinating to watch people.  I am fascinated with what people buy!  Many of the items seen at an auction are just plain JUNK!  Now, I love junk, BUT there comes a point in time when it is just that.  While wandering the aisles I saw people literally sitting in their pile of "junk" waiting to snag the great deal of a lifetime.  The deal of a lifetime that will most likely go home with them and then sit in another heaping pile of more "junk".  Isn't that the great "collecting" strategy though?  We collect to collect and the cycle continues.

I have always been a collector.  I collected arrowheads, rocks and coins as a youngster.  Now that I am a mother, I realize the importance of these collections for my children.  I was thrilled to find a fossil rock in the driveway as a kid.  I was thrilled to go into a shop on vacation with my family and find the special "rock collecting" area of the shop that had all those beautifully, shiny, sparkly gems I couldn't live without.  I still to this day catch myself wandering toward those gems!  I just can't get enough of it!  I can see in my children how their own "collections" are so important to them.  Many times I wonder to myself, "what is so great about those darn squinkies anyway?!"  Or the strangely scattered odds and ends they piece together as their "collection".  Half the time I feel like throwing out the majority of the "junk" they collect!!!  But I catch myself because I realize the importance of the collection to my children.  To them it has a special meaning and purpose.  One day the collections they collect will have more of a "value" than they do now.  Until then, I will gladly watch them collect.

"Childhood Coin Collection"

Tonight for the first time I showed my older two children, 3 and 6 years my "coin collection".  Now this coin collection has been dear to my heart since I was a young child.  I can remember my grandma giving me coins and $2 bills and I would literally hoard them in my dresser drawers.  The special jar was from my mom and it's meaningful because of the carousel horse on the lid.  I also collected Carousel horses growing up, but that's another topic for another day.  I still have my first collection of coins and bills and I enjoy looking through it from time to time.  Tonight was that time.  The kids took baths, ate a snack, read books, brushed teeth and then, the time had come for the great "coin collection" unveiling.  They were more excited to see the great "coin collection" than they were to give their mommy a goodnight smooch!  I have coins and bills from all over the world.  We laid them all on the floor and studied each one.  The ages ranged from 1941 to the 1990's.  Although I am 30 years old, I still enjoy hunting for old coins.  Tonight though was more special than before simply because I was able to share the experience with my kids and watch their faces light up over simple bills and coins.

Keep on collecting those collections!

Truly,

Scrap-Brat

Buttons, Buttons, Whose got the Buttons?  

I DO!!!

Buttons have become an obsession, a fascination beyond my control.

I recently began creating projects, mainly for myself in the beginning.  These projects were something for me.  Something I could easily accomplish.  Something I could wear and receive compliment after compliment.  One day a light bulb went off!  I then decided to follow the light bulb and see how bright it could get.

The creating began.

I have always been an artist.  I've always been a tomboy who doesn't like spiders.  I've always loved animals more than humans, that is until I produced my own humans.  I love them dearly!  I've always been quirky, a bit edgy.  I've always, always, always been fascinated with hunting.  Not the hunting of death, but the hunting of a good find!  I can still remember to this day my first hunt, I was 4 or 5 years old.  My parents had built this beautiful home in North Carolina.  I was a major tomboy, no shirt and all y'all!  I was always digging in dirt and running through the barn.  My dad would take me through the cotton fields next to the house for hours.  We'd ride our horses out with our Thermos of hot chocolate and our freshly baked, subtly crunchy chocolate chip cookies and search for arrowheads.  We found many and I absolutely loved the feeling that overwhelmed me when I found one just peaking from under the earth.  I'd jump off of Ol' Buckwheat and start diggin'!  I also vividly remember when I found a little glass parfum bottle under the earth.  It had a design on the glass and it had a yellow ceramic lid.  I kept it for years until I was in my teens.  It had meaning to me.  I still regret pitching it one day while cleaning out my room.  I believe that is where this all began.  I now cannot throw anything away!

That is what leads me to buttons.

I pass two antique shops on my way to school each day.  I began popping in now and again.  I remember purchasing my first baggy of "vintage" buttons.  I peeled open that crisp plastic and unleashed the inner button queen!  I was completely fascinated with buttons!  Now I continue to buy weekly and even have gals hunting for me!  I frequently receive a call or a facebook message about BUTTONS!  

It's almost more fascinating to think about where they came from, what they were wearing, what they showcased.  Glass buttons are just unbelievable and beautifully cut.  

Buttons, who knew.

Today I received the name of "Scrap-Brat".

While I enjoy another day of "scrappin", you enjoy your day of creativity.  Try a hunt of your own and see what new adventure awaits.

Farewell til tomorrow fellow junkers!

"Scrap-Brat"