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!

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!

Save the Date

One month away....

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

Coming soon!

Chapter Three...Vintage Rental

My sister and I in about 1966

Here I am in my third year in this business and true to what I said on my ABOUT page when I began this blog, I am trying on lots of hats until I find one that fits...

I'm now wearing the vintage rental hat. It took a year and a friend drawing me a picture for me to realize that I should give it a try. A vintage rental business provides brides, event planners and photographers with unique vintage props and antique furniture for weddings, events and styled shoots. I also want to offer my skills as stylist as well if anyone has a need.

Last year we had a cute engaged couple stop by and ask if they could have their engagement photos taken in and around our barn. We were happy to oblige. It so happened that the day they were to have their photo shoot was the day before our occasional sale and I had lots of the overflow of vintage furniture and other goods out under the studio shed. 

The photographer, Amber Belangia of ASB Photography, hadn't been here until the day of the shoot and as I watched her I could see her cogs turning as she surveyed what we had to offer. She went out behind the barn into the woods...

She went across the road to the cow pasture... 

I just absolutely love this one! 

She went in the barn, and up to the loft... 

and I was pleasantly surprised that she made several pictures at the studio and among the junk! 

Did you notice you're see through a mirror view? So cool!

And I realized, we are at no loss for weathered farm buildings here to use as a backdrop either!  

These are just a few of the photos from the afternoon and I think Amber did a wonderful job! I now realize that we have the potential to provide more in the way of props and opportunities. I'm getting very excited! I can't continue without thanking my friend Lee from Stressed Out Furniture for making the suggestion that I should look into doing rentals. She and another new friend, Cindy from Cabin Creek Antiques, and both from my Design Junkies group, are also just starting their vintage rental businesses as well.

By the time we have our Country Marketplace at the Ranch sale on May 17th and 18th, the showroom will be ready and I hope we will be well on our way to having a completed inventory portfolio including styled photos for inspiration...I'll also have PLENTY for sale that weekend under the shed, and probably under a tent as well, so don't think I've stopped junking or selling...I've set June 1st as the official opening day for rentals to start. Consultations will be by appointment and at your convenience so I'm not going to set days or times.

There will be more to come as I progress. In the meantime you can check out more of Amber's photos on her Facebook page, website and blog.

Thank you Andrea and Robert for letting me use your sweet photos! And thank you Amber for sharing you talent with us! 

Secret Service

I am taking a rare minute of solitude to update my blog and do a little "splainin"...that's southern for explaining...and it usually involves a long story.

If you know me, you know I thrive on change! My husband won't walk through the house in the dark for fear of running into something I've moved...or moved back. Some things, I like to keep the same and never change...like my hair and favorite clothes. I keep my hair long and in a ponytail the majority of days.  I love wearing t-shirts, jeans and boots or flip flops...depending on the weather. But, the rest of my world pretty much changes, or evolves, as I prefer to call it, fairly often.

So, now I guess you are wondering what I'm about to throw at you so I'll just say it in plain English. I'm changing up Ranch Dressing again. No big surprise, you say...I know!  Remember the part you just read about my husband afraid to move around in the dark because I may have moved something, or moved something back? Well, I'm rearranging at the Ranch...AGAIN... and moving some things back where I started.

It's no big deal really, but I thought you should know...I'm not going to keep regular hours after all. I'm going back to appointments again. This worked beautifully in the beginning and who knows why we ever try to fix things that aren't broken...but we get carried away with how good things are and just assume they can be better...speaking for myself anyway.

For being such good sports about this I'm going to tell you a little secret...we are getting ready to offer vintage rental for weddings, photo shoots and other events very, very soon. You'll be able to view our portfolio and see our vintage props in person at our Country Marketplace at the Ranch sale in May.

I'm very excited...and also very busy! I will post more about the sale and the vintage rental as we progress!

The 2nd Annual Country Marketplace at the Ranch...

Save the Date

2nd Annual County Marketplace
at the Ranch

Friday May 17th and Saturday May 18th

Times to be determined

Attention  Potential Vendors

We are looking for a good  balance of each category:

Antique/Vintage

Primitives

Farm Finds/Old Tools/Etc
Vintage Rentals/Country Weddings

Hand Painted Furniture

Upcycled/Repurposed Art

Jewelry 

Farm Fresh Eggs 

Local Honey

?? What do you do or have that we haven't listed??

and...

One food Vendor (Hamburgers/Hotdogs, cold drinks...etc)

Things to consider before applying:

This is an outside show.
Handmade items must be made by you and original.Items can NOT be from a kit of any kind.

We do not supply tables, tents or electricity. 

Spaces are approximately 8 x 10. 

You may rent more than one space.

Vendors are expected to set up and be ready before the show starts and stay until the show closes.

If this is your first show with us it is free unless you want an extra booth. (Please let us know now if you'd like two booths upon acceptance)

Booth fee is $30. This pays for advertising. You keep all of your sales. 

If you can say yes to each and would like to apply, please email your contact info along with photo examples of your wares. If you have booth photos send those as well. Send to angie (at) thejunkranch (dot) com

Selections will be made the first week of April and we will contact you either way.  We'll send contracts with all the specifics at that time. 

Thank you to all that have already contacted us! We are looking forward to another fun and profitable weekend in May!

~Angie

My Name is Angie, and I am a Hoarder

I won't even begin to show you the amount of junk art supplies I have accumulated in the barn, and in my studio, especially under my work table...if you've been in my studio before you will remember that my work table is 8' x 8'. It's a wonderful work space...when it's uncluttered.

I found a few photos from a workshop I taught here a couple years ago that will give you an idea of how much space I have...or should have...

Junk Camp 101

Jan. 2011 

So many good ideas were born here!

Right now, it's this full and it's just my mess! Beneath the table there is so much stuff that it's to the point that I have to dig just to see what I have...it's not good!! Yes, I am a hoarder! 

I really want to begin having workshops once again and have requests every week...I am just terribly ashamed to say that I don't have room so I say, "I am working on that!". 

I've tried for weeks to clean up but all I'm doing is rearranging the mess! So, last Thursday, I decided to challenge myself to use only what I have from all of my junk stashes and fill my shop here at home and my Etsy shop. I am not going to buy anything until I have nearly depleted my materials. 

So far so good...

I started with the abundance of plates sitting along the edge of the wall taking up precious floor space...I don't know if you can tell from the photos but they are all altered in some way with a 3-dimensional element here or there. 

When I can see my floor...including the floor underneath that 64 square feet beneath my worktable, I plan to begin offering workshops again. 

I don't know what I will be inspired to do this week. I made a few more altered plates and several garden totems and flowers. I am loving these pieces for the gardens so much I may have to keep some of those! What's easier to ship I have listed t in my Etsy shop...check it out if you are interested!

...Ranch Dressing Online

Please support your local artists, and in turn, you will receive the same blessing...it's a form of tithing that I believe in and practice...read here about Indie Tithing.

Have a great week and I'll see you back here next Monday!