Oronoco Gold Rush Days Stash

My trip to Minnesota this past week can be best summed up using Darren with Junk Mafia's favorite word.

Whooodawgies!

I will share a series of posts in the coming days detailing my experience across state lines. There was just way too much going on those five days to fit everything into just one measely post! The first in the series focuses solely on my AWESOME finds from Gold Rush Days and some of the sweet junky gifts I was given during my stay.

Speaking of gifts, in addition to her offering the amazing comforts of her home, the genuinely kind Sue Whitney of JUNKMARKET Style, provided me this, ahem, keychain. (Don't you see cool pendant written all over it?) This "fitted-jean" chica knows how to make a person feel welcome and I hope to one day be able to exchange the hospitality.



Got me a great black and white sign at Amy of Junkologie's booth! I'm hoping to confuse the heck out of people when I use this sign in the coming weeks. ;) I bought a few other junky pieces from her amazing booth (which was seriously one of the BEST booths in the entire place) and I made sure to purchase one of her awecome ijunk tees! Head to her website to check them out after you finish up here. Very, very cool!


Fellow JUNKMARKET Style contributor, Gretchen, was such a sweetheart and gifted me one of her beautiful creations. I didn't remove it during my entire stay! Her blog, Mimi-Toria's Designs features some of her gorgeous jewelry which is a must see! I can't recall hearing so many people talk about a designer's jewelry as much as I heard this past week. Way to go, Gretchen!






I was in search of feed or burlap sacks to use with a couple projects and boy did I hit the jackpot! The price was right so I snagged up all they were selling except for two. Finished project to come...




These brass letter press stamps were the coolest things ever! I was particularly drawn to the "9s" since the #9 is our family number. (It stems from my birthday being 9/9 and my husband's 9/27).



Can you see using this SPARE PARTS ROLL for an M14 as a fleamarket tote? I can, and it was a nice little freebie a vendor included with my purchases.



This street sign says Junkologie all the way! Amy gave me the pick of the litter as a gift and of course my 10 year old agrees with me this is the coolest thing ever!


My road trip friend, Kathy of Sylvia's Vintage Daughter, was sneaky and remembered a previous post of mine online that said I'd love to have a vintage stamp holder but I felt they were always so spendy. Along with a bunch of other little goodies, Kathy included this cute little number that I'm just dying over. Love it!




So these are my goods from Oronoco. How'd I do?

I'll have more posts to come. I'd love to hear from others that attended Oronoco Gold Rush Days and hear what your experience was! My first time was amazing!

Thrift Store Table Setting

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends! Unfortunately, I had a babysitting emergency to help a friend out so I was unable to complete my assignment for my blog. It's always nice to return a favor for somebody though! In addition, my camera was not cooperating very well. Or it was operator error...not really sure. So I couldn't get many photos. Ugh!



Have a wonderful weekend and remember to keep on junking!

My Thanksgiving Flea and Thrift Challenge

We are having my parents over for Thanksgiving this year so it gave me the opportunity to make a beautiful tablescape. I challenged myself to create a budget-friendly setting using only thrift store and flea market finds. I think I found so many great things and look forward to putting it all together.

Have you set a goal or challenge for yourself this Thanksgiving? I'd love to hear about it.

Please come back to see Rustic Elegance in my dining room.

Flea market finds

We have been so busy lately! We are hosting my in-laws 40th wedding anniversary on the 25th (this Saturday!) so we've been trying to get things done around the house. Replacing the bathroom light fixture, hung new curtain panels and rod for patio doors (great budget idea in an upcoming post, by the way), painting the stairway (balusters, treads, risers and panel moulding), carpets cleaned on Wednesday, washing all downstairs windows by Thursday, (yikes!), decluttering, preparing centerpieces, and I'm sure there's more. Therefore I have had limited time to post and also to junk! I think I'm going through withdrawal.

That being said I did go to a local flea market at 6:30am Sunday morning and I hit the jackpot on some pieces I've wanted. I think I did pretty well with the funds I had.

Probably one of my favorites finds was one of the least expensive and goofiest. This wash room sign is small but will look great in the bathroom. I plan on attaching it to a shelf rather than the door only because I want to minimize any patch work we need to do if we ever sell. Notice the tiny vintage pottery behind it with embossed polka dots. It is covered with crazing however it was too adorable to pass up.



I thought the shoe-shine brushes were great, especially the wood one with old business graphics on it. The clock has art deco detailing on the bottom edge which you can't see from the photo. And it works! I bought two vintage white folding tape measures. One I shaped into an "A" to represent our last name...the other I'll probably just leave folded up.



I finally purchased a corbel! I think it is larger than what it appears in the photo. I was so excited!



This metal file box is covered with a faux leather exterior. At least I think it's faux.


My other favorite piece I found was this pretty sizely shelf. I had hopes I could hang it in the bathroom but when I attempted to do so I realized it would be fine for women, however the men's right ear would be saying "hello shelf". I wasn't too happy. My second option is our living room which I think it will look great in.



I hope you got to go junking this weekend. Let me know how you did! I always love hearing about other people's finds and suggestions for mine.

I also wanted to wish my sister Happy Birthday. We haven't spoken much in the last couple years but wanted to give her a shout out on this day.

Candy