Friday, January 14, 2011

No. 1 - Good Junk

Well, if you scanned the pictures in the last post you may have spotted the large wooden sorter laying in the back end of my car after the Three Speckled Hens show I went to back in October.  Can you see it?

We paid the early entrance fee to get in and spotted this piece in the very first booth.  Not only were the cubby holes a draw, but the color of blue (under A LOT of dirt and spiderwebs) was exceptional.  It was marked $125 which may seem like a lot, but no so much for California.  The funny thing was, I said I liked it and the dealer said, I could do $100 on that piece. I just looked at her and said, I'll take it.   The dealer looked to be about 9 1/2 months pregnant so I think it was get rid of every thing day....which of course led to my LUCKY day at the show.

Here is how it looked in the booth and then me carrying it out...it's heavy!
After a lot of elbow grease and almost an entire roll of paper towels...
Here it is today, in my work space.
In love.
I have it set up as a mailing center with note cards, paper tape, stamps, return address labels, etc.  Really just all the things I need to write a quick note or package a box and drop in the mail box.  I picked up the large vintage flash card from a dealer at the Remnants of the Past show.  At first I was going to put it in a frame but never could find one long enough, so this seemed like a perfect solution (and reminder).
Here are some up close photos:
Vintage millinery berries in silver
Glass glitter 7G made from wooden type, an gift from my friend Laura.  My favorite black and creme May Arts ribbon and a vintage Eiffel tower.  I love how the person who owned this sorter hand wrote the numbers in both pen and pencil below each cubby.
gift tags ready to go, a silver baby cup for small rubber stamp storage.
If you have purchased items from the Etsy shop, you may recognize these tags or the pages from an old desk top calendar that I often include in the package.  I love having everything at hand rather than spending my time digging around looking for something to write a note on.
Pre-stamped address tags for quick packaging...custom address stamp created by Trial By Cupcakes.
a bottle of old pearls, small envelopes and tags.
a roll of tinsel, a picture of my mom when she was 14 or so in an old flower frog and some words of wisdom I cut from an old book.
paper tape...there is always a need for paper tape.
a lucky horse shoe pin I picked up in Pine, AZ from a roadside vendor.

Well, I hope you enjoyed the first post on Good Junk.  We are hoping to bring you a couple of these posts a month just to keep you inspired about collecting, junking and re-purposing what you have.
Have a great weekend everyone!

Oops!  I almost forgot, 7gypsies new collection sneak peaks start on Monday and of course we'll have a give away!

28 comments:

  1. Hi Paula. You certainly had vision when you spotted this display case. I love how you have organized it and displayed favorite items as well as functional mailing pieces. Fabulous! Happy mailing...

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  2. What an incredible find!!! I would have snapped up this beauty too! I also love how you have it arranged...totally AWESOME! Thanks for all the inspiration!!!

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  3. That piece is awesome! I would love to have a mailing center like that. But you need to turn your horseshoe upside down or your luck will fall out. ;) I'm excited to go check out some of these shows this year.

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  4. i love this shelf.....my brother is sitting by me and I said--"I want one of these!" "and I want it to be antique......he said --well can't help you then......thanks for the share....a great find.

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  5. Amazing Paula! So totally inspiring! I often wish that in Canada we would be as lucky to have vintage markets or good fabulous antiquing spot! Have a fabulous w-end and thanks for sharing!

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  6. Love it...it's amazing...you never get good junk round where we live!!..Maybe I just don't look hard enough...lol...Kirsti xx

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  7. Dang...I almost started drooling on my keyboard! That is just gorgeous!! Now I want to go find one of my own. Thanks for sharing the pictures!

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  8. Would it be awkward if I sent love letters to your beautiful cubbies?!?...yeah, I thought so too! Thanks for sharing...I love it!

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  9. Ohhhh, I am in love with your beautiful find!! It looks great in your space.

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  10. This is a fantastic piece and so beautifully set up (I recognize some of those things)! I love this "new series." Nothing like seeing someone else's junk to bring a smile to my face.

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  11. Oh how wonderful !!! an amazing piece -- just perfect -- I would have bought it that quickly also -- and your display makes me drool !! enjoy !!! KATHY - GA --

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  12. I am LOVING this sorter. What a great place to hold all the little bits and pieces of vintage goodness - just lovely! I'm always on the lookout for things like this. What wonderful inspiration - thanks so much! Enjoy your weekend - I can't wait to see the sneak peeks!!

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  13. That is really inspirational - love all the vintage and newish goodies that found a wonderful home!!! Can't wait to see 7 Gypsies sneak peaks!

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  14. I'm in awe! What a wonderful piece, and even more spectacular with all of your wonderful goodies tucked away so nicely!~

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  15. I would have snatched that one up too....great find and I love seeing all the little goodies you have stashed as well!

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  16. Love all your little jewels. You really found a prize and must have had lots of fun putting everything in it. And it fills a need, not just decoration.

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  17. Love, love the cubby and the fact that you made it into something absolutely useful and gorgeous to look at. The possibilities are endless.

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  18. i think you did find a great piece of junk! WOW! good foryou!

    looking forward to the peaks of the new things!

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  19. I think it's Great Junk. Love what you did with the sorter.

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  20. Just a heads up for all of you 7Gypsie lovers - Blue Moon Scrapbooking has some of the new CHA release in stock! The Lille Collection is gorgeous and something you must have - just bought one of everything for myself. Go check it out! You're gonna love it!

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  21. What an amazing find! What is TRULY amazing though is how fabulous it is now that you have all your goodies in it! TFS!

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  22. Flipping heck - that is an awesome piece!!! Love how you've filled it with all sorts of mail trinkets! xx

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  23. OHHHHHHHHHHH My GOODNESS....this is awesome beyond awesome....I adore it!!!!

    Now I have to keep my eyes peeled at the next Barn Chasing event I am going to!!!!

    Thanks for sharing!!!

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  24. I just love the cubby! I saved that picture for inspiration hoping to find one and today I did!

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  25. When I see something like this, I think of it as a treasure...junk? No, no, no!! It looks wonderful! Great find and I love the way you have used it to hold all the lovely little things that are so pretty when displayed as you have done!
    Gloria
    :o)

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  26. What a fabulous find! Thanks for sharing :)

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