Bears for Adoption

Aren't they cute?  I'm still going through totes of stuff from my storage unit treasures! I seem to have aquired a Boyd's Bears collection. I know there are at least 30 adorable little guys/girls here. I should have counted when I was putting them in the basket.  They're up for adoption, if you're interested, make me an offer on the lot. (Gosh, I feel terrible saying it like that! I feel like I need to give them good homes, but don't really have time to adopt individually, and I can't afford to feed them!) Add about $15. shipping to your offer, in the U.S.
Besides adopting out bears, I'm still uncovering treasures. Haven't even started with listing anything yet, I've been sorting, washing pottery and glass, and trying to manage my real life at the same time! I'm racing the clock to have everything organized so that I can be OUTSIDE when we finally get some sunshine. I know everyone thinks it only ever rains in Oregon, but truly, we get some gorgeous weather here, and when we do, we celebrate it!

Vintage Treasures to the Ceiling

No kidding! I've NEVER bid on a storage unit auction before in my life. I don't know why, my parents even own one! (Well, their customers are usually good about keeping their payments up to date, even the lady who rented a unit for over 10 yrs, and her kids found...junk magazines)  I usually would think I'm too chicken to bid, but THIS was too good to be true. There were 3 units getting auctioned and we WON one!! What a blast! What a LOT OF WORK!
Right away we went through a lot of the stuff, ended up with 2 trailers filled with primitive antiques. We got 2 nice beds, one was a big huge brass one! I ended up with lots and lots of totes of smaller stuff that I can't wait to start listing in my Etsy shop. There are a ton of things I would love to keep, but I think I'll probably end up selling . But 3 things especially were favorites.
See the photo of the trailer, and in the very end, on the right hand side? It's a dye cabinet. At first, we thought it wasn't all there, but yep, my husband came across the tins that go on the door. It is turned around in the photo, but the back has some awesome advertising for dye-o-la (I think that was the name) dyes. It has little cubby holes that dye packages went in, but I might use it in my office.
Another favorite was the Hills Brothers Coffee thermometer. I gotta keep it! And then there is the glass mailbox. How awesome is that?
For days now, I've been washing pottery, going through everything, separated, categorizing stuff, getting rid of the junk. It looks like I'm gonna have plenty of cabinets, etc (as if I didn't already) to take to the Vintage Gathering Sale in July. And how many pottery pitchers does a person need anyway?
The lady that bought the other two auctions beside us was so nice. We ended up having a drawer of hers, she had one of ours. We were pretty excited for each other finding treasures. She got the two better ones, but I'm sure not gonna complain. And it's always nice to meet another treasure hunter! We're keeping in touch, so that when we come up with extra pieces, or missing pieces, we can get them to each other.

What else has there been going on around here? Well, I have a friend who hatches chickens with her little incubator. My sons and I got one and gave it a try. We only were successful with 2 little chickies, but they are spoiled little guys. I hate not succeeding at stuff like this, so, yep, we're giving it another try.  That first hatching had me such a nervous wreck, I felt like a father in a waiting room!  I think this little guy is a rooster, he's acted proud since the day he was...hatched!
Our Oregon rain has been terrible this month, but I'm hoping for some brighter days; they seem to be getting better. I am racing the clock to get my treasures organized so that I can do what I love when spring through fall comes-stay outside! Hope your spring is bright and shiny!!

Makes me laugh!

If your day has been needing a little laugh.... this should help.

Talented Toymakers

When Kristin and I had our little shop full of awesome vintage finds (many from other vendors), we got to know some friends who are local to our area. This brother/sister team, well, actually the whole family, is so talented it amazes me.

Jeff makes some of the most awesome toy boats. They have a ton of detail, are finished so well I think he said they can float in a hot tub.  Although we sold some for little boys' toys, big boys liked them to put on their windowsills, too.

 And these little tiny baskets are so neat, too!









And what about these swords? He's got some neat toys that are not your typical box store toys. If you have a little boy with a lot of imagination, you might want to take a look.

And for the girls? Well, Jennifer is the talented sister. Also a very nice person! She is the marketer for "Friendly Fairies" and she's got some pretty neat party hats. Take a look!



I think she does custom orders, too. And no, she didn't even know I was going to post this on my blog. I just thought you might like to see some really cute kids' toys!

I've got spring fever. I hope you are jumping into spring like a kid in a mud puddle! I've managed to get out and do a little tilling, a little planting, a little walking around my yard, dreaming.

Book Lovers Anonymous

I think I've mentioned before, my husband is a book lover. I don't know how many collections he's had over the years, but a LOT! He recently decided to thin out some of his collection. I wonder why I bug him so much about BUYING and COLLECTING the books, but when he decides to part with some, it's harder for ME to let them go?  Maybe because with some of them, I get attached, and they're like family, and... Well, anyway, take a look at some of these adorable little books that will be leaving home soon.... These are a sweet little collection, he read a lot of them to our now-almost-grown-daughter.

 I think the inscriptions are some of the best parts!

Most of the children's books he has seem to have been gifts from either Christmas, Birthdays, or Sunday School. And probably much more treasured than today's average kid would appreciate. Kind of a sad thought.
Jeepers, he caught me taking photos and just like any book addict, he reminds me, "Karen, be really careful when you open them, the spines are delicate, and they can crack if they're not handled carefully..."  Yes, Sweetheart, I know you love your books.

Junk Shopping Fun

I celebrated getting those icky taxes done. Went junking. And what fun I had! Actually, my husband went with me, he likes junking as much as I do. Sometimes you have those days where you don't find a thing that interests you, at least I seem to have those days. Once in awhile I think I'm going to give up on certain places because you don't find anything good. Well, three places I love to hit please me plenty yesterday!
I found some great vintage games, a cute little metal recipe box, all kinds of stuff. My favorite things were these metal industrial trash cans, pretty awesome:

 Or how about this really great 70s Flower Power Chip and Dip set?

 

But my favorite find? I could not believe there were not one, but TWO of these beautiful wicker baby baskets! My lucky day!

  And now, lucky for you I can't "talk" long. It's "girls craft night" with the girls in my family. Mom, Sis, her girls, my girls, and other friends. I'm gathering all my paper project stuff and my Silhouette SD that I just bought from my niece (because she got the super duper Cameo) and we're going to play, and eat, and TALK.

Check my Etsy for some great finds, including these awesome treasures, when I get a chance to list them!!! 

Funky Junk Sisters at it Again!

Last year's show had this beautiful cabinet! Mmmm.

 
It's not shameless to advertise someone else's show, right? Well, I have to say, if you're in the NW Oregon/SW Washington area, and you love vintage, you will want to go!

Junk Salvation Vintage Market

February 3rd & 4th, 2012 Washington County Fairgrounds~ Hillsboro, Oregon. Friday night early buying/breast cancer benefit from 6pm-9pm admission $15, Saturday 10-4 admission $7.  

I am looking forward to going! AND...some friends will be there: 

A Vintage Gathering Vendors Who Will Be There:

Bee and Mason

BirdSong

Mac and Momma
My Shabby Passion

Vintage Market
Voondi

So, if you're sick of the weather and need a little inspiration, take my advice and head over to Beaverton! 

Life has finally slowed down a bit for me, getting back on a schedule, getting time to do some of the things I love, like work in my Etsy shop. Last week, with all the snow, I took an opportunity to get some new things listed and am considering myself on a roll; I have a lot of things waiting for my attention.

What else do I love? I'm not really crazy about the rain, BUT, I have that greenhouse to retreat to, and every year, I tell myself I'm going to do better. I'm already doing what every gardener does about now, pouring over seed catalogs, planning what to grow, I'm even changing what soil I'm using this year in my greenhouse. You should thank me for doing this, because it brings spring a little earlier. Since I'm always running behind, spring should be here before I get everything done! Always optimistic!