What's New

Greetings Junque friends.
If you follow me on FB (and if you aren't following me there head over and see the junk goodies I scored while away) you know I spent the past two weeks in the wild tropics of Miami. Interesting sights were all around and I ate more than my fair share of Cuban cuisine. Ah, how I miss my Cortadito...
Meanwhile, thought I'd share a few shots of some jewelry I've been working on. Glad to squeeze some creating in before the Olympics begin. We are a TOTAL Olympic geek family and will be glued to the tv for the next few weeks.



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Well I'm off. Preparing fish and chips for dinner in honor of London (see, I told you we are geeks!).
Enjoy the games and let's go Team USA.

Dorothy, You're Not in Goodwill Anymore...

Greetings Junque friends.

Here in the tropics I have encountered a rather confusing species of thrift store.

Exhibit A:

I had to head back outside and check the sign to be sure I was not losing my mind.

Goodwill.

Yes, Goodwill.

Ummm...when did the displays get so...groovy?

Shredded denim strips form the backdrop and the platform is built out of pallets.  Junk on thrift folks!

Furniture case items arranged "just so" with some potted greenery on the side for height.

Book pages people!  Board backdrops covered in  book pages.  Paperbacks strung on twine and suspended from the ceiling.

Do the Anthro people come here?  Do they intern at Miami Goodwill stores?  Surely there is some sort of crossover here!

And adding to the unique Miami flair...

In case you were wanting some fruit on your way home.  Pop over to the truck and pick up a mango to go with your fabulous thrift/anthro finds!

I never cease to be amazed by the sights I see down here.

Yours in tropical junque,

Carrie



Messing Around

Lots going on at the Junque Casa these days.
Bit of a test post here as I try to figure out blogging from the iPad. Technology has been kicking my rump of late. Anyone else struggling to get their Instagram photos to load to FB?? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller...
Finished these tables up the other day. Sometimes we all need arrows pointing the way. Plunk these down in your house and redirect at will!

Crushes and Creations

I shall let you all in on a secret crush of mine.

Dottie Angel

I discovered her several months back in a Mollie Makes magazine (yes, you have heard of my over the top love affair with this publication a time or two, or twelve).  I read, I drooled over the photos, I visited her blog.  And I was hooked.

The other day in a fit of crafting high jinks I channeled my inner Dottie and created this:

It started innocently enough with a yard sale purchase.

This somewhat tattered linen needed a home.  It appears to be the size of a pillowcase (although it lacks a pillow pocket).  So many lovely details.  So much effort to create something beautiful.  I was certain that only I would love it enough to bring it home.  Visions of leaving it behind to be thrown away were too much to bear so my natural rescuing tendencies kicked in (mental note - the high verbal drama indicates I need to stop watching those Downton Abbey episodes to which I swore I would not succumb).

Quite simply the easiest apron, EVER!  An old doily was turned into a pocket.  Some ribbon remnants made a nice tie.

All done I tried it on and swirled around.  Two thoughts came to mind.

One, I quite think the lovely Tiff (aka Dottie Angel) would rock this apron with some of her spiffy clogs.

Two, "You look like a doily" (and now I have squarely dated myself with a Reality Bites reference)!

Check out Dottie Angel.  Tiff knows not of my existence but I dare say you will find yourself in a bit of swoon with her awesomeness.

Yours in Doily abundance,
Carrie

Linking to:

Vintage Inspiration

Link Up With Me, Liz Marie

Creative Things Thursday

Feathered Nest Friday



Nature's Red...

There is no substitute for the beauty of color found in nature.

I do however enjoy it with a side of junk (thrifted strawberry plate and some vintage napkins from the flea market)!

Of course you all know that I prefer EVERYTHING with a side of junque!

Elevevate the ordinary everyday!

Linking to:

Rednesday

And We Are Back...

Back from our yearly beach sojourn.

Much sun (possibly too much sun for some who are still baked like a lobster!) and sand was had by all.

A few shots of the lovely boat we found in the window of a consignment shop.

It seemed like the perfect remembrance of the trip.

I'm hoping a vintage one will fall into my lap at a yard sale this summer!

Yours in summer fun,

Carrie

Linking to:

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Sail Away

Greetings Junque friends.

Last Saturday was the City Flea down in Cincinnati.  Set up a booth next to the fabulous Miss Pam of Frippery and settled in for an AWESOME day.

Tons of shoppers.  Lots of creative vendors and an all around super experience.

Pam mentions over in her blog how fun it was to do a city market.  I completely agree.  The barn sales, rural vintage shows are pleasant and lovely.  This is a different beast.  It's vibrant.  It's young (oh how ancient those Hipsters make me feel).  It's creative.  It just feels more alive and folks seem to be more willing to break out of the box.  It felt like a shot of adrenaline.

Do I have any photos?

Why no, I do not.  It was a sea of people and very busy (I had Boy Wonder taking money from people on one side of the booth while I helped folks on the other side - not that I am complaining!).  By the time I could have taken photos my booth looked less than blog photo worthy...

The Princess arrived around lunchtime (because the food is a BIG DRAW for the show) and appeared in front of me with a grin and a question.

Pointing to a pair of sequin shoes sitting on one of my tables she asked, "If they don't sell could you let me have them for beds for my LalaLoopsy dolls?"  They were in her hands in hot second.  Seven year old re-purposing?  I'm all for it.  A Princess who "gets" her mom?  Priceless!

And thus we did this yesterday morning:

A wee mattress out of flannel fabric.  Some ric-rac trim on bit of Eiffel Tower fabric (all left over from million years ago when I sewed a zillion burp cloths and bibs to sell on Ebay - yes, BEFORE Etsy).  This way Marina Anchors can dream of Paris just like my Princess.

And we did this:

Princess decided one would be fun as a boat.  A plastic straw serves as mast while dictionary pages make a great sail.  A vintage wooden spool keeps it all together.

Not a single item purchased.  A fun trip through my stashes picking up bits and bobs to craft her vision.

Junque at its finest!

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