What is it about Rust?

I have a thing for rust! As soon as I saw these doors I had a plan for them. The white stenciling is new as of last week but, soon I know the iron oxide will penetrate the new paint and begin to creep into the pattern and create a weathered patina that is unmatched in character...in my opinion.

They are metal cabinet doors my husband took off so that he could better use the cabinet in his shop. Knowing I love a little rust, left them out behind the building exposed to the elements for over a year...well, we forgot about them. The little bit of rust that was in a few choice places took over as they blew to the ground during a storm I suppose and became leaf covered in the fall. They remained there through the very wet winter and spring. Early in June, they appeared on the studio porch after the hubby rediscovered them. ...very proud of "his" work, later that day he told me my doors were ready. 

 They make a unique back drop for photo sessions or behind a guest book table. I also envision them separated and used individually behind fern stands...so many ideas!!

As I look around here I see rust in every direction...

This is a great old piece...heavy, heavy! It's an old street light base and makes a gorgeous pedestal...think ferns or other spillover plants or add a flat surface to the top and use as a guest sign in spot.

How cute is this rusty old Radio Flyer? 

What would you do with this old fireplace grate? I love it for flower pots.

Okay, you just never know when you will need a rusty old iron with a bent handle...but you do know where to find one!

If I keep looking I'm sure I could find just as many more pieces around here!

It's a Candy Bar Kinda Thing

A good friend and fellow vintage rental owner asked me recently if I had vessels for a candy bar. I had pinned some pretty photos on Pinterest but, no, I really had not started collecting pretty little jars, bowls or dishes.

When I first opened my shop I had lots of glass, many beautiful crystal and glass pieces, that came from the storage trailer. I had no trouble selling them. At the time, I didn't appreciate them and couldn't see a use for them...for me personally anyway....so they are gone. There are a few pieces now, that I would love to buy back since I have discovered I could use them...for a candy bar!

What is a candy bar? It's a buffet of candy actually. These are popular at receptions, engagement  and birthday parties.

This piece is made from an old
Hormel jar, 2 crystal candle holders, and a lamp finial

When looking through my inventory, I found I only had parts and pieces of jars, lids, and other baubles I had collected for making centerpieces and garden totems....then I had a light bulb moment....perfect! I got busy one afternoon and started putting pieces together until I had a nice little grouping of candy jars.

Jars and bowls for candy

Made from various pieces and parts

Interesting little bowl

This beautiful bowl I kept from the trailer contents

Two brandy snifters and two custard cups...pretty clever huh?..

I hope you like them. I enjoyed making them and now they are ready for rental.

Also, I think it's quite okay to mix things up a little...you know I love milk glass used with vintage aluminum so I spread out a few of my pieces just to get an idea if this would work as a candy bar also... I think so!

Milk glass is the new black!...it goes with everything.

This will dress up or down....

I hope to have some photos soon in situ!

We Are Leaving Easy Street

When our children were younger I was fortunate enough to take summers off for the most part and spend precious time with them. We "played" summer camp and did educational and fun activities throughout the day. We had a schedule that took us from quiet mornings learning to cook and read to chore time at the barn and garden. We spent time caring for and riding our horses, had art time and swam for hours at the community pool. Although I do remember being exhausted, it was a good time in our lives. I was on track with who I wanted to be and lived very authentically...for a few good years anyway.

As the kid's grew and schedules got tighter our lives changed quickly. Once we were very self sufficient here on our little homestead and had planned to teach our children these values...but, that wasn't the case. To make a long story short, we forgot our mission. Our careers took off and our lifestyle changed. We were too busy and because we could, we took a wrong turn down Easy Street.

Day by day we would buy something we could make or repair. We stopped more often to get fast food on the way home from gymnastics or ball practice, and we began subscribing to services we swore we'd never pay for...TV, trash pick up and cell phones for kids under 16!  We stopped planting a garden because we let spring go past without noticing we'd forgotten to  prepare our plot and then...Walmart opened up 5 miles from our country home. Need I say more?

I recognized our wrong turns many times (I wrote a very similar post two years ago) and have seriously tried to get back on track...especially during the years I homeschooled our son. Bless his heart, I'm sure he has repressed memories of planting with the signs and Three Sisters gardening...Google it!

I'm writing this more for myself than for any other reason really. It helps me to feel more organized to see it written in black and white...but here goes...if you are even still with me...

We are getting back on track this summer. My business is in the perfect stage for me to do this and summer is the perfect time, with the long days, to get organized. We are going back to the basics and trying to be as self sufficient as possible. I'm exhausted from trying to keep up with current trends, from social media to the newest business model. Before making this decision, I was at the point of being so overwhelmed I accomplished nothing day in and day out for weeks at a time.

We live in a world of information overload. I've spent countless hours keeping up a website, blog, facebook pages, Etsy and Ebay accounts and now Pinterest boards....and all for what? Business? That's what we tell ourselves. I made the most money I've ever made in my lifetime the last year we lived in our mobile home, before the internet or any paid advertising. We only "think" we have to do things like "they" say to be successful. I've been most successful when I've done things authentically.

My heart and gut tell me to slow down! I'm cutting back. I'm taking back some precious time that I want to spend with family and friends and getting reorganized into a simpler lifestyle...which includes my business.

With this said, this will be my last blog post until about August. You may see photo shoot postings that I will  be working on that I need linked from my website, but for the most part I am going to be pretty busy offline.

If you want information about vintage rentals please visit my website, www.thejunkranch.com. You will find all of my information there.

Your best bet for the most up to date information will be from my Facebook page....And you may certainly contact me for appointments for shopping and rental or design consultations. See the side bar for my contact info.

If you'd like more information on living a sustainable lifestyle there is much "out there" these days. The Urban Homestead  is a favorite and a wealth of info about doing this in small spaces. You don't need to live on a farm or even out in the country to be more self sufficient.

Thanks for reading and I will see you back here in about a month!
~Angie

Bring out the Swans...it's still raining!

Hand Poured Soy Candles in Vintage Swan Pottery Vessels

All of this spring rain has surely put a halt on any outdoor picture taking I've wanted to do this last week...or two! On a brighter note, the time inside has given me the opportunity to get a little more organized and I did happen to get a few more individual inventory shots of my rentals.

In the photo above I'm showing two of my vintage pottery swans that I've hand poured scented soy wax into. These are available for rent for entry tables...etc. They will burn for your entire event or longer and will  greet your guests with a pleasant aroma of your choosing. I stock all of the popular fragrance oils and can order by request....such a special touch for your special day or event!

A chipmunk sipping rain water from a leaf that had blown up on our front porch

The daily rains have also forced me to slow my roll and to try to enjoy a somewhat slower pace...giving me an opportunity also to notice that there is another world existing right under my nose that I'd ignored for quite a while...

A fledgling wren I found in the herb garden

I love my work, but I also love living out in the country and farm life. It takes balance to do it all. I'm still working on that...and focus! 

This summer, I'm making it my goal to live a balanced life. I'm blessed that I can and I'm very grateful! I love my life on the farm and my design and rental business that I run right here from home. It's the very best of both worlds. 

As I look out my window now...it's raining...again, but, that's okay.

Vintage Rental...The Total Package

I'm a week past the sale and still recouping from the time spent daily on all the details involved in putting it together......at any rate, the show went off without a hitch with the exception of a rain shower on Saturday but I think considering the weather we all did fairly well...just the perks of doing an outdoor show.

Cabin Creek Antiques

Stressed Out Furniture and Hennessee Home

Brown Eyed Suzy

These are four of a dozen vendor booths...all were so well done!

Today, I'm finally back on a regular schedule both at home and at work. This upcoming Saturday marks opening day for my rentals to begin...

Garden Tea Anyone?

Because I'm doing this part-time only, I will be doing things a little differently than a lot of the rental companies...I am offering packages so that you can take your rented items to your venue and set them up just the way you choose them. 

Choosing random items, just because you love them won't guarantee that you always find good uses when you are in stressful situations...The best stylist will leave things out if it's not going to work and that's wasteful on two accounts. For most of the people I've already talked to they don't know what they want exactly unless they see it all together. 

Pinterest has been both inspirational and confusing for young brides, especially, because they are running around everywhere looking for every item from every idea they've seen. Most aren't able to afford to buy all these things or have the time to make what they want for their wedding. This is why renting is such a wonderful concept!

I'm interested in renting my handmade and vintage inventory out as props for photo shoots mostly and for receptions and parties. I will never have a bizillion of anything but I already do have many very special items that will add instant charm to your photo or event. 

For example, the items from the photo above will  rent as a whole unit with interchangeable teapots, table linens and miss matched cups and saucers to personalize it, but basically this setting will be what you see here. This particular setting can be used for family photos, engagement photos or a little girls tea party, set with a small tea service ...can't you just see little legs dangling from those chairs?

Of course, if you just wanted the table or a chair or two for something entirely different, and they are available, it's entirely possible! 

I also have multiple spots here at the farm for your photo sessions with a list of wonderful local photographers if you don't have anyone in mind. 

Multi Tierd Bird Serving or Center Pieces 

My catalog, which is still evolving, will have individual inventory pieces as well as the whole unit sets in which to choose from. Renting sets will save time and money which is two of our most valuable assets. 

Of course, if requested, I'm available to style your photo shoots or events if you have a particular need other than what I've already come up with, and we can help with delivery if necessary as well. I'm also on board with making things, if I'm able, that you need...But, mostly this will be a self service rental company for those wanting something simply beautiful that stays within a reasonable budget. 

I'm still quite a ways off with getting everything photographed... but it's evolving and I'm not quite so overwhelmed now that I've gotten started.

I will post more photos here as I get them done, and also on my Vintage Rental Pinterest board, but if you are a local, I hope you will make an appointment to see in person the items in the showroom. 

Open for appointments, beginning Saturday, June 1st 2013. 336-905-0386 

My Vintage Rental Inventory is Shaping Up Quickly

Time is ticking fast now...I've got eleven days to be completely ready for the sale. I'm almost at a place where I can't do much until crunch time...

So...this week I'm focused on my vintage rental inventory. The showroom is almost finished and I've started photographing the pieces. I hope to have a good start on the catalog by the weekend of the sale...hoping. I'm also trying to figure out my catalog and rental system...I hope there is a software system out there somewhere.

I'm having the best luck finding nice pieces to add to the things I already have. I wanted these vases you see on the table, that I saw at an auction yesterday...they threw them in a box lot with the candy dish and a set of 8 green glasses. I probably wouldn't have even bid on the candy dish but I really, really love it!  I've never been much of a green person, but it's grown on me the last year or so. I love green mixed with crystal.

When I first started toying with the idea of vintage rentals I found this table and several other small vintage wedding items all in one place, that seemed to me like a sign that I was onto something meant to be. This will be a beautiful piece used as a serving or gift table.I'm thinking I may paint the chairs now. We'll see.

This was one of the first centerpieces I made when they became popular a few years ago. I've always used it to display vintage jewelry on. I set the figurine on it just to be sitting it somewhere while I was moving things and now I think I really like it as part of the centerpiece.

I don't really know how I accumulated so many vases....and I have two shelves also of green glass and brown glass...oh...and milk glass.  No lack of anything for flowers!

About twenty years ago, I bought my first piece of aluminum. I still have it on my mantle. I remember the man told me that it was going to be really collectible one day and that I should buy all that I could. Well, I bought and then sold some of it...now, I'm buying again. I love it.  It is really fun to use and so pretty for a very vintage wedding.

This is just the tip of the iceberg...remember, I'm a hoarder. I have tons of stuff and you know I'm always looking for more.

I'm shooting for June 1st as opening day for rentals. I should be ready for the most part to begin setting appointments for consultations and for rentals.

Come out on the 17th and 18th for a preview at our Country Marketplace at the Ranch show and sale. We are having two more vintage rental vendors along with those with antique, vintage and handmade things for sale.

...and come back here for more photos! Hopefully the weather will warm up and I will be motivated to set up outside for some styled shots...that's what I'm looking forward to!

Save the Date

One month away....

We can't wait! Stay tuned for vendor profiles and photos.

Coming soon!