Fall is in the Air . . .

With the temperatures dropping, and the leaves falling, it's time to get the front porch transformed from summer to fall!

This arrangement on my front door is an old heat duct that had been cut down. It's metal so magnets stick to it.

I purchased this bird house from someone who built it out of vintage pieces. The tea cart I bought new, but after sitting outside for several years, it started to take on this wonderful patina. I love it more now!

This is a 100 year old Paris park bench. I purchased it from an occasional sale in Lindstrom, MN. It looks fabulous on my porch. The pumpkin sitting on it was etched with a saying while it was still growing on the vine. It looks like it came that way naturally :). The sign and pillows were purchased at the Round Barn Potting Co. in Andover, MN.

I purchased this chicken feeder at the Junk Bonanza. My friend, Julie from Design Cafe, stenciled "There's No Place Like Home" on it. Underneath of it is extremely large kale I also purchased at the Bonanza.

This is a very cool cart I purchased at a store in Rogers, MN called the Vintage Cupboard. It is one of my favorites and Karen, the owner, is awesome! I'm not sure what the cart was used for but it's great by my front door. I love it filled with ferns and I added bittersweet to it to make it more fall like.

Here's an old Turkey feeder that's quite a bit larger than the more common chicken feeders.

Check out the extra large white pumpkin!

This I was told is a pig pen gate. Should be in my sons room! Works great to hold my pots and a couple pumpkins. Also in the forefront is a cupola.

Another pumpkin with the etching "Give Thanks" The cement leaves were made by a gal who consigns with me at the Round Barn.

This is a really simple decorating idea of putting a pumpkin on top of an urn.

This bird bath I actually didn't transform from Summer to Fall, but I loved it so much, I left it the way it was. The piece on the top is another thing I don't know what it was used for, but to me it looks like a pumpkin!

Another urn! What can I say? I have a thing for urns!

Happy Fall

With fall in the air, I felt like putting together a fun little snack of hot cider and cookies. Mmmmmm good!

Here I took a vintage roller skate and added an old restaurantware platter.

I took a toy bowling pin with wire added to the top for a place card holder. Strike!

Then I took a vintage thermos and stenciled "DRINK" on it. Filler up!

Matthew Mead, A New Magazine and The Junk Bonanza

Hot of the Press . . . drum role, please . . . Matthew Mead has a new magazine! It can found now in stores across the US and Canada! Check it out at http://www.matthewmeadstyle.com/index.php?option=com_flippingbook&Itemid=142 for more info.

To be honest with you until I found out he would be at the Junk Bonanza, I really didn't know who "Matthew Mead" was. I don't know if I just had my head in the sand or what! But I have to say since meeting him and purchasing a couple of his books (which I was able to have him sign), I've become a newbie fan-atic! His books have so many fabulous and wonderful things found inside them. He's truly a genius at his craft. and every page is chocked full of amazing things! I was truely excited and honored to meet him (and his wife).

As I scoured his books, I especially loved, from the "Gifts from Nature" book, the Christmas stocking with the added fresh greens at the top . . . or the framed fern leaf . . . or I also loved the Easter Egg Garland . . . or the room with the beach theme. Everything was so extraordinary, it really is hard to pick a favorite.

If you don't know who Matthew Mead is, you definately have to check out his new magazine! I'll be waiting eagerly for each issue! Your rock, Matthew!

Junk Bonanza Update!

It's a sad day today. I feel I should have somber music playing. The Junk Bonanza is over. The tent has been torn down and the ballroom is empty. The wheeling and dealing has ended and everyone has gone home. But oh, what an awesome time was had by all.

This show was such a wonderful opportunity. We made new friends, and reconnected with others we'd met along the way. There were some great deals found, and many items sold. At the end of the day on Saturday, many booths were were left almost completely bear. Yes, it was a good sale!

Here are some pictures taken of this wonderful time!

Ki autographing her book.

Matthew Mead at an Autograph signing.

Awesome Table Scape courtesy of Jane from Mustard Moon

Wonderful old Tub Courtesy of Jan Berg

Amy from WhisperWood Cottage and Me

Sign created on old tin by artist Sue Wolfe at Round Barn Potting Co.

Junk Bonanza

The countdown is on! Junk Bonanza is in less than two days . . . count 'em, two days! After many late nights, I think I'm pretty much ready. I've been painting and building, stenciling and embellishing. It should be a great time, with lots of great vendors and tons great finds. You can't miss it! Please stop by the Round Barn/Cottage Elements booth and say hi! See you then!

Lanette

Buffalo, MN Occasional Sales

For those of you who are not from Minnesota and are not familiar with occasional sales, they are sales that occur only once a month for about four days. The frenzy that occurs at these sales are definitely something to check out. As the saying goes, buy it when you see it, or it will be gone.

This past weekend I ventured out to Buffalo, MN which is the queen of all occasional sale haunts. I started at a placed called Second Hand Rose, which I think was one of the originals around here. They have fabulous finds and prices usually are pretty good. They have great vignettes, and you can get some great ideas.

Next I ventured out to Sweet Salvage. It's relatively new, just two months old, and an offshoot of The Buffalo Nickel. They, too, have some great vignettes, and I was able to find some pretty good deals.

There are a few more sales in Buffalo, The Porch, Three Sisters . . . a few others that I can't remember their names, but my favorites are definitely Rose's and Sweet Salvage. Also, when you're there,the Nickel is a must to visit. They are open all the time and are known for their selection and displays. With two floors of this old barn, there's a lot to see.

Here are a few of the things I found . . .

Cool box I found at Rose's. Don't know it's use, or what I'll use it for, but I loved it!

This is a wash tub I found. Loved the black. Funny thing when I was bringing it to the counter, someone said to me, where'd you find that . . . guess they had missed it.

Okay, how fun is this! It's an ice cream cone holder. I'm gonna fill it with bottles and put flowers in them, if I can find bottles that fit. Loved it!

This is a nice chippy white table I found at Sweet Salvage. It has some pink peaking through. Again, as I was loading it into my car, someone comment "Your getting that?", like they wanted it. Like I said, "Buy it when you see it!"

Elko Traders Market

Last Saturday I decided to venture out to the Traders Market in Elko with my daughter, Rebekah. She's not much of a junker, but agreed to tag along with me so we could spend some time together. We decided to get her started on collecting so she'd want to come with me and have something to look for. She loves dolphins, so she decided this would be what she'd look for.

I had never been to the Traders Market before and it's about a good hour from my home. We didn't get there until about 1:30, so I wasn't quite sure if there would be much of anything left, but we were pleasantly surprised! What we found there was a very quaint old farm with all it's out buildings.

I'm not sure how many vendors there actually are at Elko, but were more than I had expected. All in all, I had a great time with my daughter and this was a great way to get her more excited about what I do. We found a lot of interesting things and we will definitely go back. Oh, and did Rebekah find any Dolphins? See for yourself . . .

Here are some of my finds . . .

Country Home

I don't know why, but I forgot to post my latest claim to fame. LOL. Actually, Ki Nassauer, from Junk Bonanza and soon coming Junk Revolution, did an awesome job on the crib spring in the September issue of Country Home. She puts mine to shame! Love, love, love it! I tend to think so precise, everything even and perfect, but she thinks so outside the box. Her creative talent is exceptional and she did me more than proud! Thanks, Ki!

Inspired By You

Make your desk a model of efficiency with these creative ideas gathered from readers by junker Ki Nassauer. 1. CRIB NOTES Turn a discarded crib spring into a hardworking office organizer. HOW TO Cut two sides of the spring with a metal saw to desired size (we matched the proportion of the table below). Next, screw the original top and bottom of the spring to 1×2s (cut to fit.) Drill two holes in each 1×2 and screw in eye-hooks (we added a washer between the wood and hook, but it’s purely decorative). Wrap the loose wires around the hooks until tight. Clip the excess spring with a wire cutter. —Inspired by Lanette Lorsung, Andover, Minnesota Article and Picture Courtesy of Country Home