Who likes Junk? Who likes to talk about Junk? And we all know if we are any of those two things, we sure as heck like to SHOP for JUNK!
As most know, I love finding the ugliest pieces of furniture and restoring them. Ever since I was a kiddo, I always had this heart that believed there is and was beauty and good in all things no matter what. Most think I'm not for real, or out of this world. I get the question quite often as to which planet I come from. Actually, I find all that as quite the compliment. I love the fact that I am unique and I am very happy in life.
I just find a great thrill out of helping someone or something that most ignore. With all that said...my passion and kind heart has lead me to great adventures and all kinds of things!
I truly get a healing in my own heart when I create or restore a piece of furniture. It's an art and a talent, yes. But to me, it's comfort and passion. Also, with the great love I have for God, I spend alot of my time while working on these pieces of furniture listening to Bible scriptures, and preachings! It's a rejuvenating time for me, and it's my place for Peace! Did you know that some of my pieces of furniture, depending on it's original state....bare a Bible scripture about "restoration"? I figured maybe, If I place a message on it...when that woman is really mad at her husband and fixing to hit him across the head with the chair....she might just find the message and it change her life!
I do this business to inspire someone..and to show that all things are possible. I never gave up on myself or what I wanted to do. Believe me, it's a struggle. And it's not always glitzy, and you are broke half the time. But as long as you put all the effort you can into it, God will do the rest. And then once you believe that...you will see how everything will fall into place as it has for me. If I had all the time in the world to write my testimony on How God has worked for me....you would all be hooked and understand why I have such a strong relationship with the Lord.
Last Wednesday I had no idea my day would start with an amazing radio interview with the Junk Mafia radio station out of MO. I was able to call into the "Junk in my Trunk" radio show and give a very fun interview! That was so much fun! They guys will be out and about in Warrenton at the Antique show coming up in a month! I would make it a point to hunt them down and let them interview you about your junk! Great guys, and so much fun!
Please click on the link I just provided to listen to my full interview.! Special Thanks to Darren and the Junk Mafia Team!
Rain, Rain, and more Rain. Mud, and just a big ole huge MESS. Maybe I shouldn't complain because this is going to make all my beautiful flowers look so pretty this Spring.
I spent the last week in some kind of FUNK with this weather and all. No fun! Kinda had a pitty party too...which isn't like me. No worry, I pulled my underpants together and quickly restored my brain back into overdrive times 1000!
As you know, I risked my LIFE last week trying out the Little Mexico Flea Market down in San Antonio, Texas. Then I headed over to Salsa Momma's hood. Salsa Momma had the hook up with the fancy mirrors as mentioned in my previous post. Therefore, I was itching to get started on the painting and distressing on one of these bad boys!
So Fabulicious lady here was in a funk and I just told myself get your butt in gear and just GO already! So instead of switching up colors and going all FuNkY as usual....I decided to paint several pieces all the same color...just to make things a little easier that afternoon. Normally I like to make things harder than what they really are. I didn't feel like using the paint sprayer, so I decided to stick with the whole brush, wax on/wax off....bit.
I was able to paint all this, and most of it has all SOLD! Yay for me, but blah for you...so keep checking my inventory so you don't miss out again! I hand painted each item then distressed it myself.
I had a custom job as well, and it was an old pine end table that I turned around and painted a rustic turquoise like color, then distressed too. This time I had to use a putty knife and a bottle opener to distress. My sander is crapping out on me...and honestly I like the really chippy look that you distress by hand anyways.
While I waited on the paint to dry on the custom piece above, I went ahead and turned this table I found wasting away for months outside a vintage shop Into this HOT little minty number. You do know what they say about mints right? this table was SOLD right away. It's going in a baby's nursery. AWE!
In order to keep this business running and help keeping y'all so entertained without having to pole dance...I do have to manage to throw in some small home decor a time or two. Here are a few items that sold this week.
And a few more items below that are STILL AVAILABLE for PURCHASE.
Thanks y'all!
And if Country Living magazine or Nate Berkus (wish he liked women, and I was single. He's so hot) is reading this....I can tone my mouth down for public TV and a page in a magazine. I did work in the Engineering field in Corporate America for almost 10 years...so I do know how to come off softer, elegant, and professional! : ) Actually, I'm pretty elegant, but I like the fact that I'M THE BEST OF ALL THE WORLDS because it makes me so very unique and quite intriguing...along with being a GREAT CONVERSATION PIECE!
Most family, friends, and customers know that I have a little comedian side to me. I love sharing my stories and adventures. Please be advised that I just type and go. I tell it how I see it. I do not sugar coat anything. I would also like to remind you that any story or blog that I write is never intended to hurt anyone or belittle one. I am not racist and I believe in equal opportunity. I have a huge, huge sense of humor and I enjoy life and all people along with GOD and giving to others in need.
HERE'S THE STORY
Some think this job is all about glamour and good times. Boy do I have a different opinion on that. Yes, as a junker and interior designer...you get to travel all over and meet all kinds of new people that are AMAZING! And get great deals on all kinds of stuff. But occasionally we have to get very, very dirty and put our life on the line to find the perfect find. Well, it's more like we are dirty everyday between paint, sanding, waxing..all that good stuff. This job does not come with a warning label.
As you know I like to explore and dig. I love old piles of wood because you can find all kinds of neat and unusual items. Just like my day trip to Luling and Austin, Texas. What about the Flea markets?
Here's my take on all that:
Feb. 1st: Woke up at 4am this morning cuz I found out there is a Flea market open on Wednesdays in San Antonio. Let me just say this. If you ever plan to visit that particular flea market be prepared for a culture shock. Especially if you are not from South Texas. I LOVE, LOVE Flea Markets and Farmer markets! But since I didn't have my snake skin boots or cheap bling on. I kinda didn't fit in with the crowd.
So here comes this blue-eyed, half blonde (by the box), half brunette haired chic chick up the parking lot. Had this parking lot not been in an open field...but with trees or bushes surrounding it...I would be skeered to see a dead body somewhere. Weather was nasty and my hair looked as though it got caught in a fan blade somewhere. I was a happy camper, and my nose was filled with the aromas of cheap "old spice" after shave, and fake Dolce Cabana parfume ed de toilete spray. Along with all the carnival food such as Thrippas (cow intestines that people actually cook, then eat), and cotton candy. With the sounds of 1000 babies screaming and crying and a couple of pedestrians and car drivers yelling at one another over a parking spot in Spanish or Tex Mex LIngo? Whatever it's called? I finally managed to find the entrance.
I get to the entrance..and the guy pretended he couldn't speak English...and told me "You wrong, go the other way!" He was very rude, but I just smiled! UGh! What difference is it if I go in this way or the other way? Same place and same reason to be there! So I walked to the other booth, paid my $1 entry fee....and began the HUNT!!
Here is what I found first:
I'd like to remind all the beautiful Latina ladies out there...that if you are wearing shorts that are stuck in all your fancy woman parts...then you probley shouldn't be wearing them at all. Yet alone with 6" heels? Why wear that to a flea market? I don't get it?
But was expecting to see this:
Big and huge difference. However I managed to find a couple of good things. So I wasn't leaving empty handed. And When do I ever come home empty handed? I did have a hard time bargaining with the vendors...as most did not speak English and I know they would jack their price up on the item when they saw "white girl" here. Reason I know that is because they would tell another customer a lower price in Spanish, then when I would ask...they jacked the price up by $10-$20. I am from South Texas and I do have friends that are Mexican...and I know a little Spanish. When I was looking at all the fresh vegetables, I became insulted by the vendor when I complimented him on how beautiful his cilantro looked. Honestly, do you think they may have thought I was a rat from the Government food department or something? You know, for them to be so cold hearted to a nice lady?
Anyways, I even had to rent one of the stolen shopping carts marked "target" or "walmart"...and had to hand over my Driver's License as a security deposit. When I returned the cart after loading my car, I needed to get my License back...and when I went to the booth to get it..he just stared at me. Once again, no English. and I just wanted to say to him "compadre i'm the only white girl here, so it shouldn't be too hard to find my plastic!"
However, I think this cart was from Home Depot?
Few of the finds that day:
I unloaded my cart faster than a bolt of lightening because there were two cars already starring one another down fixing to open a can of Whoop AZZ on each other for the space. Then God granted me an angel and I got a phone call from my "Hot Salsa Momma"....that's what I call her to keep her real name Private as she requested.
So "Hot Salsa Momma" had some good Stuff!
While at Hot Salsa Momma's casa, I was greated by the Salsa Momma's neighbor's Chihuahua barking at me thru a hole in the side of the house. Yes, a little hole that lead straight into the house.
I'm in Love with Hot Salsa Momma. She keeps up with my blogs and is very in tune with my sense of style. So she lead me straight to all the stuff she knew I was going to buy. Here is what Salsa Momma hooked me up with:
Salsa momma Had the mirror hook up. I was able to get half way thru my Wall Mirror project in my bedroom.
Those above are just a few of the items I came home with. I still have to go back Monday and pick up a desk and two more large mirrors she has for me. She also has some more items I will be getting as well. Spring shows are coming up and I am happy to say that I will have a nice inventory to offer my customers.
Now, Hot Salsa Momma lives in the Ghetto Hood. I say that because it's on the East side of downtown San Antonio where my husband's work is. Fire Station that is. I did not tell him I was going there in fear he would not let me drive alone down there. A couple of the neighbors were scary, but some were normal. Hot Salsa Momma is normal and very sweet. Since I'm down in Ghettoville, While loading all those great finds in my clunker and on top of my clunker...I had some hood rats drive by in Something like this:
The guys in the car were yelling "hey how y'all doin?" But Hot Salsa Momma got concerned because she thought they said "Drop your drawers"! Then I questioned myself and wondered if I heard them wrong, since they drove by a second time. At that point I was getting kinda scared. So we finished loading the junk on top of the clunker. I now looked as though I fit in on that side of town because not only do I have two fenders missing on my car, I also had rope hanging down from where I tied all the furniture on top of the car. Along with a low rider situation from all the junk piled inside the car.
The time came for me to hand over my cash to Salsa Momma. I was only about $300 short since I was not expecting to find all that GREAT stuff! So I had to head on over to an ATM. I was a little hesitant since it was "that" side of town. Plus I had everything loaded down. Driving through the EAst side I ran across a few things such as this:
When I finally returned home and my husband asked where I went. I hesitated, but I had to tell him cuz I am a terrible liar. I told him I went to Salsa Momma's house. See he knows where Salsa Momma lives because he dropped some items off at her house that she has purchased from me. His response was this: "well, it's not THAT bad where she lives. However, we got called to a stabbing just a few houses down a few nights before." GEEZ!
All in all it was a good day and I had a good time. I came home with some amazing pieces for the Spring shows. I was tired, dirty, and in desperate need of a pedicure and shower. But was very, very excited and a happy Junker!
Keep checking back for more GREAT STORIES!
Please check out www.shabbyjunquecouture.com and click on the "events" link to see the latest news and events for Shabby Junque.
This week I had several projects to work on. All that furniture and junk I found over the week and weekend was really tempting me. Not to mention it's time to get ready for all the Spring Junk Shows!!!
I set out a few pieces I was eager to get started on.
Now I believe those are some pretty ugly pieces of furniture...but as a true junker and interior designer, you know exactly what you plan on doing with an item as soon as you see it. Even if it is broken.
I started with the little Frenchy nightstand in the background. I really wanted something unique and different...kinda like me...and something that wasn't like everything else...like me.
Here is a close up of the BEFORE
Then It was time to get out the majic stick and work it. Here is the AFTER:
Oh my, my, my. How fancy this is right? Gosh I love my job! I have no idea what kind of paint this is, but it did make me "high". Ha, Ha, ha! Honestly, I really do not pay attention to the paints I use unless it has to be a certain type for a certain type of project. Other than that, I just slap it on and work my majic. This helps keep the cost down for my customers buying my product.
I'm the Sassy Chick-a-dee behind some Fabulous pieces of furniture, yard art, and design! Thanks for checking out my BLOG! I'm available for custom jobs and for HIRE!
