New Year, New Giveaway!

  

Now that I've had some rest from the parties, the home tours, the holidays, I think it's time to get back into the swing of things.  But man, it's been a little hard with the temps in Minnesota being in the sub zeros, and for way too long!  Some tropical island right now would just foot the bill.  But as that's not in my near future, I thought to pep me up, I'd have a giveaway!  It always makes me feel good when I can give to others.  And what better people to give to then my fellow bloggers and blog followers! 

So here's the deal, as you may know, I am a contributor on the JUNKMARKET style website.  I love this site.  Did I say LOVE!  It is so informative, inspirational, and just plain great.  And to share the love, I am having a giveaway to encourage people to visit the site, and become members.  And in conjunction with this giving, I am including an interview I had recently with Sue Whitney of JMS.  So what is in the giveaway?  Why a set of her books two and three, with magazine and DVD of course!  So how's that to cheer you up!!!

Here's how to enter: 

1. Go to the JUNKMARKET site and become a member.
2. Leave a Comment on this Blog with your user name.  If you are already a member on JMS, great!  Just leave your user name.
3. Become a follower or already be a follower of this blog for an extra chance to win. 
4. And for an even greater chance to win, mention it on your blog, tweet it, facebook it or grab the blogger button below and post it on your blog.  It's really that simple! 

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Contest ends Sunday, January 17 at 12:00 midnight.  Winners will be announced on Monday, January 18!  So without further ado, heeeeeere's Sue! 

1.  Why do you think "junking" is so pertinent for this day and age?

I think junking has always been pertinent, but is becoming more so in light of the difficult economic times we are all facing. All people, even those who did not embrace “junking” in the past are looking for ways to achieve design chic with less cash. The way we live has been changed forever and “junk” is a great answer to all of us who want to remain on the cutting edge of home décor. This approach to decorating allows for individuality, creativity, the opportunity to recycle, and to create a home that ultimately speaks to who you are. There might be a better way to do it out there, but if there is….I don’t know what it would be!! 

2.  How do you think we can encourage the youth of today to catch on to the "junking" rage?

Lead by example. That should be pretty easy. The youth of today are far more educated about recycling and taking care of the earth certainly than I was at their age. I didn’t know what my carbon footprint was, much less how to reduce it. They are learning about the need to be earth friendly from the get go. At home, we can take our kids on junking “field trips”, engage them in re-purposing projects, and share with them the “how-to” for creating a beautiful home with recycled and upcycled materials. We, as junking parents can also help to bring our message into our children's school curriculum. We can offer to be invited as guest speakers in our children’s classrooms, start innovative after school programming through PTOs, and become involved in community outreach programs. 

3.  What direction do you think decorating with Junk or vintage is going?

I think that vintage décor is like hemlines on skirts. While out and about clothes shopping these days I spy maxis, minis, and everything in between. I don’t know about you, but this is a breath of fresh air for me. It allows us to choose a skirt length that is appropriate for our body type. How refreshing is that? I think we can take this fashion freedom and incorporate it in the way we attack home décor. What fits you is the direction you should go. With that being said, I think the current  trends are heading towards a more “Thoroughly Modern Millie”.  It won’t get there overnight, but I believe that is the path we’re headed down. Look for clean and uncluttered, with touches of warmth and approachability. I liken this home design approach to the liberating fashion trends introduced by Cocoa Channel in her early years. The introduction of sportswear for women and gal duds made from fabrics like jersey were a far cry from the uptight corset frocks of the preceding decades. She produced cutting edge fashions while at the same time addressing the need for comfort and sustainability. Junk or vintage finds offer the same comfort and high style to home décor that Cannel established so long ago in the world of fashion. In short, we all want to be stylish, but we need our homes to be livable. 

4.  What is your favorite type of place to "junk"

Ooooo, this one is a toughy! Far too many for me to pick favorites Let it be known; build the junk pile and people will come. Ah, haha! And that is what JUNKMARKET Style stands for…..not just one style, not just one place, not just one kind of junk. There are standard places that everyone knows about like garage sales and flea markets. They are good for sure, but in most parts of the country they are seasonal. So where do we shop all year round. My first stop before I go anywhere is my garage because it is the biggest junk pile that I am personally aware of. Tehe! My point is, don’t forget to check your own home out before you head out. Other ab fab places are used restaurant supply stores, The Habitat for Humanity ReStores, Goodwill stores, and Salvation Army stores. Need more? Salvage yards, farm sales, army surplus stores, surplus in general stores, and automotive salvage yards. More still??? Estate sales, auctions, antique stores (yes, you can find junk there), vintage stores, and architectural salvage stores. And just for good measure…..Ebay, Craig’s List, and Freecycle. Ooppsie doops! Let’s not forget dumpster driving and drive-by freebies. And just one more….the occasional sale.  I think you get my drift ….the places to find junk are countless.  I think the more places you become acquainted with the more fun you will have and the better able you will become at creating a style that says it’s all about me baby! 

5.  Is there a particular type of "junk" you are drawn to?

I love all types of junk and am a big fan of the eclectic blend. Chippy meets industrial is my kind of style. I never wanted to limit myself to one traditional design flavor or one kind of junk so I needed to master the art of the mix. I find that combining well worn woods, charming wicker, luscious vintage textiles, and the cool, clean lines of industrial metal make me one happy, little camper. The best thing about junk design is the ability to set your self apart from everyone else. I believe your home should be all about you! The incorporation of vintage finds in your home décor can help you define your own style.

6.  Do you think this is just a fad, or do you think it'll be around a long time?

Junking is not a fad. It’s been around a long time and is here to stay. Wow, am I happy about that or what?! Not only is it not going away…I believe it is gaining in popularity. I call this the silver lining in our current economic cloud. New people, as well as those who didn’t want to admit to being junkers before are jumping on the junk pile. Do you know what I say to that? Yee Ditty Haw …the more the merrier!

7.  How do you think the internet has affected the industry?

This is a tough question. I think the best answer is that we all have to embrace change. Without that embrace we will never survive in this industry or move forward. I think at first, being able to buy online impacted the flea markets, antique stores, and vintage shops negatively. On the other hand, websites like JUNKMARKET Style, blogs like your own, and the social networking sites have impacted our industry in a very positive way through the ability to spread our message very quickly to a much broader audience. I think the pendulum is coming back to center and both worlds will once again flourish. For instance, I will continue to write, speak, shop at flea markets, etc., but everything I do will be supported and enhanced by the website, JUNKMARKET Style.

8.  What are your future plans or aspirations? 

There are so many things I would like to do you can’t imagine. Plans are being formulated as we speak. I want to stay in the area of industry education and support all of the folks out there (vendors, shoppers, and creatives) who want to make this world we live in a better place by continuing to teach that re-use is not only green, but also economical, creative, and chic. It’s the cool thing to do. JUNKMARKET Style is the premiere website for junkers and will remain my primary focus.  My goal is to continue to grow the site through additional creative content, services, and of course witty commentary. Hahaha! This is where you all can help out. The more folks we get to push that “join” button…the faster the site will be able to reach its true potential. So go ahead…join today. It’s painless, I promise!! OK, maybe the witty commentary is a little agonizing, but you know what they say…no pain, no gain! I’d like to write at least one more book, maybe more if they let me. I’ll be doing some work with a great Better Homes and Gardens special interest publication, Country Gardens. I’m thrilled about this opportunity. Work with other publications is on the horizon. I continue to speak across the country about my love affair with junk. It’s always delightful to meet junkers in person. Television would be nice. Who knows, if I keep whacking away at it maybe one day it will happen! There are plenty of other ideas on the drawing board so stay tuned to the website. I’d love to hear from you….let’s grow this thing together!