You tell me....

I'm on my third cup of coffee this morning, tired & sunburned, but excited from yesterday's flea market benefiting South Brunswick High School's Project Graduation. I had a booth to clear out some of my early (newbie) purchases which, as I'm gaining some focus and direction in my collecting/restoring, no longer fit my needs. My daughter also made the chalk-board sign above, which I added to my display...I gave out a lot of cards, and made a lot of local contacts.

And now, over my third cup of coffee, I am contemplating the balance; the net result. For a day's worth of work, I did not clear a big profit after paying for the space. I did not clear out a lot of inventory. However...I talked to a lot of people, many people "ooohed and aahhhed" over my bags (I needed that...I have a beginner's lack of confidence in these items), and I got my name out there in a local, and as far as I know, un-tapped market.

The best part of the day was the refinishing job I got doing a small table. I keep thinking about this gorgeous piece...it's a gorgeous soft, honey-toned wood (probably pine or oak) with vintage detail (turned legs, and a sweet little cut-out on each side). It is care-worn and scratched, and I can't wait to get my hands on it!! The owner and I saw completely eye-to-eye on the refinishing...she wanted a satin varnish, but when I suggested a soft, waxed finish instead, she was thrilled.

So...was it worth sacrificing my Saturday?? I think...YES!! I wish I could stay home and let my customers come to me...and maybe as I get better with on-line marketing, that will happen too. But I am a people person, and I really like face-to-face interactions. So I think there will be a few early weekend days...I can bring a sun umbrella, and forgo the late June-early September events (they're just too hot in NJ). I also really like the idea of supporting local efforts like the local high school.

You tell me...am I on the right track??

Junking Karma

Like any rookie, I am still learning my way around the "junking world". I'm starting to know where to find the best stuff, what is timeless and what is trendy - who knew there were trends in "junk"? I'm learning where I can haggle, and where I can't (fundraisers, Goodwill shops). I learned early that junking people are nice, and that good manners can pay off in spades.

So this weekend when someone running an estate sale was a bit on the nasty side, I was taken aback, but I kept my temper (not an easy thing for me), and moved on. I hated to miss the cute little chair that I had spotted, but it was not meant to be. When the pursuit of an item stops being fun, sometimes even if I win the thing, I just never have a good feeling about it; it's so much nicer to enjoy the experience as well as the piece you fall in love with!

So I was surprised and delighted when I spotted a darling old chair at a garage sale in my neighborhood on the way home!! No Victorian tufted velvet, padded armed delicate piece.... I instantly fell in love with its character, its almost ugliness.


Imagine my astonishment when I saw the price!


The people selling it couldn't have been nicer; I stayed chatting after I made the purchase. They put it aside for me so that I could fetch my CR-V to load it up.

I don't even care how hideous the upholstery is...it is so delightfully vintage, and VERY COMFY!! I curled up in it this morning with my coffee and nearly went back to sleep.

I believe in garage sale/thrift shop/junking karma, now more than ever. I try to be patient and polite, which is usually pretty easy, because like I said, "junking" people are nice! I'm amazed at how many times I have to forgo an item which has stolen my heart, only to find a different, sometimes better one around the corner....junking is just funny that way.

What has Junking Karma sent your way??

Mona Kay

The Haul

What happens when a person sells a bunch of stuff, clears out a ton of space in her house, has a free weekend, and the BEST ESTATE SALE EVER is on?? I'll tell you...that person comes home with a BOATLOAD of stuff!! I made three trips back and forth hauling my purchases, partly because it was too late on a holiday weekend to rent a u-haul, partly because each time I went back to load an item into my Honda CR-V, I bought something else!




I spied this sweet little cabinet in the corner of the basement, and it was love at first sight. I have a weakness for a chipped, dirty, old, beat-up piece that needs a little love.

This table was waaaay up high on top of a shelving unit, but I caught sight of the gorgeous legs, pulled it down, showed them that it was in pieces, and got it for $15.


It had all the pieces, so with a little wood glue, it will be as good as new!

I saw this gorgeous table pretty early, & asked for a price. When they said $100, I practically grabbed the blue masking tape out of their hands to mark it sold...I never handed $100 over so fast!! I STILL had to guard it, as so many people kept coming over and looking at it...I lost track of how many times I said "I'm very sorry, this is sold". Here it is, cleaned off & set up in my home:

The house was tiny & packed, so while I waited for room to move the table out, I decided to poke around in the garage. That's where I found these old doors. They, too, were filthy...it's a good thing it was warm and sunny out this morning!


I propped one up next to the cabinet once I got them home.

The last item I bought was a cabinet I had been eying from the minute I walked into the house. I literally had my last (I thought) item loaded in the car, and was chatting with one of the people running the estate sale. Next thing I know, I hear myself making a low-ball offer on the cabinet, which was accepted immediately! Maybe he figured since I'd spent my whole day (yep) at their sale, I was entitled to a discount, or maybe because it was 20 minutes until the end of the sale & he didn't feel like loading it onto his truck...but I took it home!! It was awful trying to get it loaded, and worse getting it out of the car & into the house (did it on my own...sorry Mom!!), but worth it...here it is all set up:


I stood on line outside in the rain for an hour to get into this estate sale, and spent the whole time wondering if I would come out empty-handed. Truth be told, I probably could have spent more time and money, but I ran out of both!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Mona Kay

Upcycling Fabric

I have found the most BEAUTIFUL fabric at the thrift shops this week! Adding my Florida thrift shop finds, and I'm sitting pretty in soft cotton florals & stripes, and some gorgeous linens and other textiles for accents and linings for my tote bags. Here's some finished & unfinished:






What have you found this week or weekend??
Mona Kay

Lazy Weekend...

It's funny...I couldn't wait for this weekend so that I could finish a couple of the tote-bags I've been working on....but now that it's here, I just can't get motivated. I did, however, re-arrange the front room, and my studio. I'm very happy...there's SOOO much more room in the studio!



Didja notice the library card catalog? It was last week's Craigslist find, & my new pride and joy (don't worry workspace table and sewing machine table, I still love you...)


Now I'm watching Tombstone on TV, & wondering where my excitement to finish my bags went. Oh well, there's always tomorrow....

What are you doing or putting off this weekend??

Love me a fabric flower!!

I'm not sure when I got bitten by the Fabric Flower bug, but lately I'm obsessed. Luckily, there are a million tutorials on how to make them...here's an example.

Here's my first attempt:



And here's a "rosette" that I'm trying to finish...I need fabric glue, and I bought the wrong stuff :(



I literally woke up at 2am one night, and lay there obsessing. Finally by 3am I couldn't stand it anymore. I got up & browsed the internet, found a tutorial, and gave it a try with tissue paper.



I'm such a geek...I saved it :)

Now that I've made a couple, I have a new obsession...what can I do with them?? I've already bought some pins and barrettes, as they seemed the most obvious...but what I'd really like to do is make a bag, kind of like my new pillow covers, and put them on the bags.



I'm having a little trouble staying focused!

By the way...I'm also obsessed with my new workspace...I finished my "idea boards" over the weekend, and started tacking up random pieces that I'd like to work with. The table is my pride and joy...got it at an estate sale for a song, and refinished it.




What's your latest obsession??

Mona Kay

Craigslist Crush

Oh, how I looooove Craigslist!! It's been a long, cold & snowy winter with no garage sales in sight....but Craigslist is always open!! Here are my two latest finds...I only had to travel 25 minutes to pick them up. Sooo worth it!!




It's raining today, but it was close to 60 degrees here in NJ yesterday. You know what that means....furniture painting and garage sales/flea markets are AROUND THE CORNER!! I think I can hold my breath....



Mona Kay