Our Vendor List for Country Marketplace

I am getting very excited about our sale in May.  Last year, I was actually a little afraid that no one would show up to buy anything. I started with a handful of my closest friends as vendors, did a little marketing and hoped for the best. It worked and we had a good turnout. Whew! 

This year we have a bigger vendor list. I learned a lot from last year and am working hard to make this another good event. 

Here is our vendor list:  

Crane Farms - Winston Salem

Crane Farms on Facebook

Crane Farms Blog

Cabin Creek Antiques - Lexington

Cabin Creek on Facebook

 Goat Feathers - Winston Salem

Goat Feathers on Facebook

Stressed Out Furniture -Linwood

Stressed Out Furniture on Facebook

Loriginals - Thomasville

The Brown Eyed Suzy - Salisbury

The Brown Eyed Suzy on Etsy

Hennessee Home - Winston Salem

Hennessee Home on Facebook

The Blackbird Box - Lexington

The Blackbird Box on Facebook

Vickie's Jewel Box-Lexington

Vickie's Jewel Box Auction Site on Facebook

Ranch Dressing - Thomasville

Ranch Dressing on Facebook

Website

....and two more on deck from last year if they can clear their schedules.

....and one more good friend if she can get a day or two to finish some projects

And...we have Sweet Scoops and Beyond...to serve up hotdogs, ice cream, tea and lemonade on Saturday!

So, it's looking to be another good sale here at the ranch! Ya'll mark your calendars and plan to come!

See you then!

Feeling Lucky??

We want to beef up our biz in February and thank you in return for being great and supporting small businesses like ours. See below for your opportunity to win a $100 shopping spree here at Ranch Dressing.

1) If you already follow my blog leave a comment for me telling me you'd LOVE to win, for ONE ENTRY.

2) New followers will receive ONE ENTRY.

3) Refer a friend to follow our blog and receive TWO ENTRIES for each friend. (Have them tell me you sent them.)

4) If you have a facebook account you can gain more entries the same way...www.facebook.com/TheJunkRanch

5) If you are local visit the shop. If it's your first visit you will receive TWO ENTRIES. No purchase necessary. For every $10 you spend you will  receive THREE ENTRIES.

Even if you don't win this time we always punch your appreciation card for every $25 you spend with us. When you have 5 punches you will get 20% off your next purchase. We love our friends and want you to love shopping here!

The contest begins today Feb. 1 and ends Thursday, Feb 28. We will put all the entries in a hat and randomly choose one lucky "Rancher". The winner will be announced March 1, 2013.

...Long distance Ranchers are eligible...you will be able to choose from our photo albums on Facebook...you do  NOT need an account to see our page...facebook.com/TheJunkRanch

Good luck and best wishes to you all!!

Our Secret is Out

The Purple Pig Emporium

I'm happy to announce that Ranch Dressing will have a presence at the newest addition to Uptown Lexington's group of antique and specialty shops that line Main Street.  The shop's name, The Purple Pig Emporium, was inspired, of course, by being born in the Barbecue Capital of the World.

As you know, I've had antique booths, in addition to our shop here at home, for a little over a year at both The Depot at Gibson Mill and The Thomasville Emporium. Both places have their appeal for sure but I haven't truly found the right fit just yet...until now.

The Purple Pig Emporium  is a whole lot like what I have been seeing in my mind's eye when I possibly think for a moment, that I would again open a retail store other than what I have here at my studio...and I say that in all honesty. Yesterday, I called it a Live Etsy shop..a combination of vintage collectibles shop and fine craft gallery. Kind of like Ranch Dressing actually. I think I've found the perfect fit! 

It's in a busy little uptown shopping destination. I think there are about seven antique shops within walking distance and this one is just different and edgy enough for me to feel at home in. I quickly found out that I am not primitive or shabby enough for The Depot and not traditional enough for the T'ville Emporium. This one, however has good chi and you feel it the moment you open the door.

The owners, Wanda Cox and Lee Manring, are both interior designers and not only have a vision for a fun shopping experience but they both possess many years of combined retail knowledge that will make the business succeed. They've already shared some wonderful ideas for what's to come and I tell you, I can hardly sleep. 

 I will snap some teasers next week when I'm getting my booth set up. Just so you know...it is purple, pink and green...with wood floors, a balcony surrounding the sales floor...and that's not even the important stuff really. The booths are starting to fill already with great vintage finds accented with handmade wares of all kinds. FYI, I also saw a piece of gallery quality, hand made furniture coming through the front door...see why I feel at home already?

It will open just in time for the Barbecue Festival, so put it on your list to do and see! You will find it right there on the main drag,  221 South Main, Lexington. 

The Booth...again.

The booth....seems like that's all I've been talking about on the blog for weeks is...the booth. It's probably because that's all I've been working on and finally we've taken our first installment down to The Depot at Gibson Mill  for the booth. I don't know why I even bothered to make a floor plan because I had to make changes first thing...but that's okay, it turned out fine. I hope there will be bare spots when I return with more things this week anyway!

Like in our shop at home, I tried to have areas of similar items, which is a challenge in a 10' x 10' space. This month, we are featuring all of our pitchers and creamers on the tiered unit on the left just as you enter the booth.

From the shop, we took out the entire side wall of treasures for little girls and ladies of all ages, including the matching vanity and chair, jewelry, dresser accessories and some vintage clothing, hats and some really, really cute evening purses.

I'm excited beyond measure to have a concrete floor to showcase my floorcloths! I normally have to hang them and no one knows they are rugs if they aren't familiar with floorcloths. Now, I just hope people will go ahead and walk on them. The one in the back is a 4'x6' and took over two weeks to complete and the one in front is a 2.5' x 3' and took nearly a week. There is a lot of preparation work before the art ever goes on them and then there are 6 coats of poly applied for protection...so go ahead and walk on them...it's perfectly safe. I've been making them for almost 23 years and I have it down to a science. About the only way to damage them is to fold them or place them on a carpet instead of a hard floor.

I should have gotten more pictures of the side walls, but I Erin was ready to go, bless her heart for helping me all day, and we had much to load back onto the truck before we could head home.

I hope you can get to Concord soon and visit not just my booth but the other 500+. I see something each trip that I need! Really!

Next week I promise to talk about something besides the booth! See you then.

Have You Read Our Newsletter?

Just a quick note to let you know our newsletter is up and available to view online...

http://www.thejunkranch.com/newsletters.html

...or you can subscribe to receive it in your inbox from the same page or from the link on our side bar here on the blog.

Personally, I still love getting my mail out of my real mailbox and I will be happy to send you a copy to your real mailbox if you prefer. I like having things in my hands where I can put them on my desk, in my notebook or bulletin board for reference. I'm so bad to tell myself I will "print it later" and then completely forget!

Have a wonderful summer day!

 

Now Sold Separately

I recently had a request from a good customer to separate a set of coasters so that she could have one for her desk at work. I thought this was a good idea so in the shop (Ranch Dressing Handmade and Vintage) I have been selling them individually.

Since day one I've offered customers the option of choosing which designs they wanted in their sets so this is obviously a great option!

Remember, these designs are prints of my original art, are printed with archival inks on fine art paper, applied to painted canvas rounds and sealed with 5 coats of polycrylic for protection. Of course you remembered! Too, they are cork backed for your tabletop's protection and are the perfect size for a glass or mug at 3 1/2" in diameter.

They are really a steal for $7.50 each don't you think?

For locals, they are available in the shop and as of today are now available individually, in my etsy shop as well. Shipping is only a buck for one or two. Happy Shopping!

Friday's Featured Shop Items 2-18-11

It doesn't seem much like winter here in NC today. We may hit a record 76. Wooohooo! Bring it! It's been a long winter...and I'm a winter person.

It's weather like this that leaves me wondering what to wear for the day. When I head out to feed the animals at 7:00 am it's been between 20 and 30 degrees all week, but by lunchtime I'm peeling away layers and am down to shirtsleeves. No wonder people all around me are sick.

 If I were small enough, and I worked in a place where I had to dress up, I might choose something like this vintage Saks Fifth Avenue dress. It would work with it's 3/4 length sleeved jacket. It's a woven ribbon dress..well, actually I don't know exactly what it's called...but I've heard this term somewhere and it makes sense to me. Anyway, it's gorgeous and it's tiny, maybe a size 0. I don't know what that would have been back in the day; all I know is that it's not my size so I'm offering it to you. I can see it used as decoration or worn.

There were lots of nice clothes in the estate where this came from, but unfortunately they weren't stored where the little mice couldn't get to them. This dress is one of few that made it out in one piece. I thought this telegram was one of the coolest things that I found among all the papers from the same estate...it kind of tells the story of why so many nice dresses.

And what good dress doesn't need a tapestry bag to go with it...how cool is this? No, I wouldn't carry it!...but I would hang it open on a hook in our bedroom and keep my latest read in it or maybe in the guest bathroom and stuff some rolled towels in it. Yes, everything needs a purpose here.

Or how about a new spittoon. Now, I'm guessing that not many of you ladies dip snuff...and if you do, don't tell me...but this is a very elegant ladies spittoon. Yes, there is such a thing and yes, they are collectible. So if you know anyone that collects them, send them my way. If it stays here, it will become a fancy vase come spring.

I hope you enjoy this beauty of a day!

Friday's Featured Shop Items- Chalkware, Crock and Soy Candles

Featured this week is a new scent in our soy candles...Winter Garden. When you open the shop door you'll notice the refreshingly clean aroma from the lime and menthol first. After you've been in for a while, you will begin to pick up on the Douglas Fir and lavender with a hint of eucalyptus and pine. This is a good scent for relaxing in the tub or to give your house that "just cleaned" smell...and it's a pretty sky blue.

Hand poured -by me- soy candle
Winter Garden

 Also, on the list is the collection of early 20th century chalkware. (sold separately) I've shown you the cat ashtray before...and I'm still so tempted to keep it and put dry cat food in it for Copy Cat. She'd probably hiss and runaway, but it is a cute idea.

Vintage 1910-1940's Chalkware...rare cat ashtray and grape bowl. 

And last, is one of my favorite finds. The crock is in excellent shape with it's original lid and handle. The label is a little worn, but looks considerably bright considering it's around 120 years old. 

Late 1890's Heinz Preserved Strawberries Croc

See you soon!

Featured Shop Items

Each weekend we will spotlight several of the unique goods you can find in the shop and not available in our online venues. Remember, you don't have to wait for our seasonal sales. Schedule an appointment...and bring a friend. We have items for every budget...

Here are today's features:

Hand painted reclaimed vanity and chair

Detail of flower motif on drawer and distressed areas

Decorative paper lined drawers inspired the hand painted details

Matching chair

The chair has colored spindles inside facing the seat...come see!

SOLD 

Chenille Mermaid

How big did you think they really were? Maybe this is why they are rarely seen....
   

I hope to see you soon!

Our First Workshop of the New Year

Like all of you I'm excited to be starting a new year and I'm excited to announce our first workshop of the year.

Remember the clock case jewelry box? Junk find.

It's called Junk Camp for Beginners. Over the holidays when I would tell my friends and family what I was doing with junk these days they looked at me a little funny. So....I thought I'd give others the opportunity to catch the "junk bug" and join me in the studio for an afternoon. I have to warn you. It's addictive. You will never be the same again. 

I've already told you about all the "good junk" I have stored under my work table, in the stove house, in the barn, behind the tool shed and even a piece or two behind the tractor shed. To the naked eye, it is only junk and the typical things you see around farms, but to me I see art supplies.

For those attending, this may be the cheapest afternoon of fun you've had in a while. I know, we are all running a little short after shopping, eating out, partying, and splurging more often for Starbucks in December, but this mini workshop is a DEAL. Registration is $10 and the cost of the class is....what ever you decide you want to spend. 

We are setting up bins with junk ranging in price from $0.25 to $25.00. You choose how little or how much you want to spend on your project. We also encourage you to bring your own junk to swap with other participants. 

We will supply tools and materials for manipulating or connecting your junk into art objects...functional or decorative...large or small. It's up to you. Cool? We think so. I will have new projects on hand for inspiration and I will help you to see the potential in the items you choose to work with. 

When is this workshop?

Saturday January 22, 2011.

1pm - 4pm (you know I am NOT a morning person, and too, I am most likely going to be out yard sale(ing) until noon.)

Where is the workshop held?

Free Rein Art & Design Studio (upstairs studio in Ranch Dressing Handmade and Vintage)

1882 Kennedy Farm Rd

Thomasville 

How do you register?

Online click here 

Or call, text or email. I will pencil you in and you can mail in or stop by the studio with your $10 fee. All of our contact info is in the sidebar.

Is there a deadline to register?

Yes, January 15th. The workshop is limited to 6 students. If we should have more interest, I will offer the class the following Saturday as well.

When you register, be sure to leave me all of your contact info for further instructions for the class. I will send and email or post card before the 22nd. 

Have I left anything out? Ask any questions in the comments section and I'll clear it up for everyone. I look forward to hearing from you and am really excited about the workshop!

Talk to you soon!

It's Crunch Time Again

Chico was the first to investigate the pumpkin

We got our first snow this past weekend and while I was decorating the fence with garland and lights I threw the old pumpkins over the fence for the horses. I loved the contrast of the orange against the new white snow.

Who knew a pumpkin would cause such a ruckus?

The horses weren't playing very nice, and this photo doesn't do justice to their noble breed the American Quarter Horse,  but again, I liked the backdrop the snow presented. I love vivid color as you may have noticed already in most of my floorcloths.

Cheyenne with her stolen pumpkin

And lastly, I just loved this photo because it's typical Cheyenne! She only liked the pumpkin because I gave it to the horses. When they got tired of it she left and found someone else to annoy. 

It's crunch time again for me this week. I had a week to re-coup from the Grande Opening and catch up on some of what I had neglected for the last month. Now it's Christmas decorating and shopping time. Our daughter comes in on Saturday night and we will be celebrating a little early before she leaves to go back to Oklahoma for Christmas there. It's been a crazy year. I don't remember much of it actually...glad I have the blog!

Vintage Costume Jewelry 

I'll be in or around the studio during work hours most days this week and Ranch Dressing will be open for your shopping pleasure. You will want to call or email first to make sure I don't miss you. I really want to encourage you to take me up on the private shopping appointments. This allows you to have my full attention...if you need me...and if not, I will continue to paint or whatever I was doing before you arrived and you can shop at your leisure. 

What are you doing this week?

We Are Officially Open for Business

Ranch Dressing Handmade and Vintage is now open as of 12pm today. We actually had a customer at 11:50. I wanted to snap a few pictures of people in the shop but I was honestly too busy to grab my camera. It was wonderful!

I did manage to snap a few between customers.

As you can see it's full. I look forward to moving some of this out to make room for more handmade things. I've missed being in the studio!

We will be open Saturday 10-5 and again Sunday 2-5. If you can't make it out for the Open House this weekend, I am almost always in the studio weekdays from 10-5, but you will want to call first before driving out here. I would hate to miss you. Saturdays will also be available between 10-2.

We will be adding new things weekly between now and Christmas. The soy candles will be ready soon and we are really excited about having these year round...even though I have no clue where we will put them.

Thank you to those that came out today and we look forward to seeing the rest of you later on.

Talk to you soon.