Taking A Break

I've been a very uninspired blogger lately; I'd rather read your blogs than write mine!  For the time being, you'll find all of our latest info posted on the facebook page:  Please click here and "like" us to keep up with all the happenings! (Or cut and paste this into your browser: www.facebook.com/GraciesCottagePage)

Junk Bonanza - It's a Wrap!

Here's a wee illustration of 'my brain on Junk Bonanza...'  or more specifically, 'my brain the morning after Junk Bonanza'.  We drove home yesterday and as I settled in and took my jewelry off, I discovered that I had been wearing this 'pair' of earrings the entire day.  Ironically, there was an identical pair in my jewelry case - go figure!

Junk Bonanza was an amazing show in every way.  Kathy and I shared one 10 x 12 foot space; it's mind-boggling how much merchandise you can move through a tiny space when the crowds come to buy.  More often than not during the three days our booth looked like this:

The aisles were just as packed, constantly.  It was great to see many familiar faces among the buyers and I appreciated each of the blog/facebook readers that took the time to say hello.I think this was taken before opening on day two as we were cleaning and re-stocking.

My happy little redhead found a great home.

Schnibbles and bits were popular with mixed media artists...

...and we had a wide variety of old treasures for everyone else.

Outside the booth photo-taking time was limited but I managed to catch a few friends.  Janis was hard at work here...

...while Judy caught a very brief break.  Their booth was dreamy, as always!

Our sweet neighbors Janis and Lori manned three beautiful booths.  I missed getting snaps of the other great vendors nearby.

I've loved Itsy Bits & Pieces online forever;  Linda, (pictured below), and her daughter Liana and friend Kris have the best stuff.  If Linda lived in my neighborhood I'd  be begging her to come for coffee every day. (...Or stalking her to see where she comes up with all that great junk!  Sorry about that watermark right across the face, Linda!)

That's 'vendor wrangler' Jane of Oh Mustard Moon on the left. She somehow manages to keep smiling during the entire show, and spent loads of time helping many of us locate our Minnesota tax # when the 'enforcers' showed up one afternoon.

Here's Annie of Three Wren Street. She and her Mom Kathi(?) of All Things White had a great corner in the tent filled with some of my favorite colors.

I have more photos yet to be downloaded from my phone and iPad so will try to add those to my facebook page later this week.  We'll allow ourselves a couple of days to recover and then get to work planning for the SPRING edition of Junk Bonanza, April 18-20, 2012. Get it on your calendar now!

Thanks again to all who stopped in to see us at Booth 140 and a huge thanks to Ki and the entire Junk Bonanza team for the most successful show ever.

Gatherings on the Blue - Nebraska

'The reluctant junker', (aka 'the hubster', 'mr. clean', 'cg'), graciously provided me with some shopping time while we were in Nebraska for a wedding. By far, the best junking moments of the weekend were at Gatherings on the Blue, an occasional sale in Milford.  (You'll note that my photos say 'Gathering' instead of 'Gatherings'...my apologies.)

It's described as a "5 Acre farm setting next to the Blue River which includes: barns, chicken sheds and out buildings filled to the rim with wonderful primitives!..."   I think they could shorten that to just read "Junk Heaven".  Judy is the owner and provides the setting for 25-30 wonderful vendors to set up shop.

The property was covered in cupboards, chairs, cubbies, boxes, gates, benches and tables of smalls. I was flitting around like a bee that couldn't decide which flower to land on.  And then there were the cleanest outbuildings I've ever been in, filled with more fabulous merchandise.

On my own, I could have spent hours there, but in the interest of marital harmony, I got through rather quickly.  Prices were reasonable and somewhat negotiable.  Judy and her vendors are all friendly and relaxed, making for a pleasant experience. They even have 'guards' so you can start a pile and not  have someone walk off with your finds.  It was painful to leave behind wonderful tables, shelves and cubbies but we didn't have room to haul anything big.

Here are a few of my finds:

There are five 'Gatherings on the Blue' events each year; I'm going to be dreaming about heading out there again sometime, (without CG and with a an empty truck!)
:)

Did your weekend involve any junking fun?

You may not see any new posts this week as I continue to prepare for Junk Bonanza. You can keep up with what I'm doing by viewing the Junk Bonanza preview album on ,my Facebook page this week; I'm adding photos as I gather the goods!