My 5 Favorite Craft Supplies Right Now!!

This is a list of some of my favorite craft supplies.

1) Clear Spray Paint:
I use this stuff for everything. The thing I use it the most for is on rusty metal. It stops it form      continuing to rust and doesn't let the rust some off on to things.

2) A Good Pencil:
Then I'm drawing or writing a list I start it in pencil. My favorite one is one that my mom got me for Christmas this last year. It is a Paper Mate sharp writer #2

3) A Notebook:
This goes with the pencil but I can't go anywhere with out my notebook. I go through them really fast too. Between notes to list I could have 4 at a time in my bag.  the best one I have found fits great in my bag is the 2 subjects medium 100 sheet college ruled ones from Dollar General.

4) Paint Brushes:
When I am painting I use the Royal & Langnickel Paint brush I got at Walmart. I know there is better ones but I love how these fell in my hand. And because I lose everything I don't have to worry about losing a very expensive one.

5) A Ruler:
Yes a ruler!!! I love a straight line. I can't always get words or objects in the middle of a piece of wood or on paper but it has to be straight.

I really hope this list helps you. And if you have questions about any of these let me know in the comments below.

Happy Junkin'
Sarah

Inspirational People To Me

 

My grandparents are the first people to introduce me to the craft world. They would make what items and sell them at small school crashes. They also had a small booth in a craft mall in Jenks, Oklahoma. My grandmother taught me not only how to sell but how to decorate a booth to show off the item you were selling. You should decorate for holidays and always priced to sell. My grandfather would work all day at Homeland and then come home and build shelves or cut wood for my grandmother to paint. They definitely showed me this life and I remember every time I decorate a booth her a little secrets.

 

 

The next person would be my own mother. She was a DIYer before DIY was a thing. My dad would leave for school out of town and when he came back something would be painted or removed. This one time she took out latticework from the kitchen to the living room and when my dad came home he thought she had gone crazy. She even pulled laminate flooring in the kitchen by herself. To this day she is still doing DIY‘s and I love to help her with them.

 

 

With these wonderful people as an example to me I have learned so much. One day I hope to be like them in someway.

 

Keep Junking'

A Recap of 2017...

A recap of 2017...

2017 start off with 30 shows booked. By the end of the year we did 22 shows, travel to four different states, slept in 15 different hotels , and sold a lot of junk. 

 

 

Planning for 2017

 

Dots are the places we went for shows.

 

 

We had a lot of problems with travel, trucks and more. But God was and always will look over us.

The junk we have found and sold this past year has been our best yet. From awesome gates to truck doors we are just getting started.

 

That time we bought out another vendor!!

 

In 2017 we got to open our own shop. Opening it has been a dream of mine for years. We have tons of great ideas coming and it will be awesome!!

 

To wrap up 2017 it was a difficult year but it was the best year for Junk!! Here’s to an awesome 2018 and we can’t wait to see you along the way.

 

2 Hip Chicks in Abilene, TX

 

 

Junk Hippy Rosenberg, TX

 

 

CountrE Vintage Market Guthrie, OK

 

 

Junklahoma Piedmont, OK

 

 

A Touch of Rust Chickasha, OK

 

 

#Junk #Travel #2017 #2018 #JunkHippy #2FriendsAndjunk #TheFlyingpigoutdoormarket #Rufflesandrust #junklahoma #JunkRanch #Atouchofrust #Texas #Arkansas #Missouri #2HipChicks #heavenlyjunk

Junklahoma 2017

well hello there...

Last Saturday we set up at Junklahoma in Piedmont, Oklahoma. The Old Store puts this show on once a year to go along with the towns founders day activities. This year was our third year and I think this was the busiest.

 

Let's start with #setupday!! We was the first ones at the set up because we needed to get back home for other stuff. Heather (one of the owners) was there with a bi smile on her face as always. This is a great show for bendors  because the girls treat them like superstars. Leading up to the show they promote each vendor on their Facebook page. Then when you  check in you are given a goodie bag with snacks and other stuff in it. They also give away free water to the vendors all day as we set up. After we set up (which is so smooth) we  went to pick up another load of junk.

 

 At most shows we have a 10 x 20 space (10 feet by 20 feet)  so we have a lot of room to set up for large items. The show was no exception and we was on a corner so we got a little more room which is always nice. We had a lot of big items at the show plus a lot of glassware.  I also had to make sure our booth inside was full and fluffed (pretty) for Saturday. 

#Showday!!  The shows are all different and started different times but because this one was outside customers were able to start shopping before 10 AM.  Which to me if someone wants to buy I will sell. It is hard to sell and set up at the same time but it can't be done. As the day went on there was so many people!!  At one point Tim was at one end of the booth and I was at the other selling left and right. It was awesome!! Here is something else the girls do for the vendors. They went around and asked everyone if they needed water, bathroom breaks, food or just anything at all. Then they also teamed up with the food truck to do a pre-order on food. Then the food truck would deliver it at noon on the day of the show.  Best idea ever! Now this year we didn't do that because our friends had food trucks there and we wanted it but in the past we have done it and it really helps.

After the show.

 

At the end of the show we was tired but it was a great show. We left with a lot less then we came with and memories of a lifetime. Next year on the Saturday after Labor Day if you are in the area stop by Junklahoma.  You will see what I mean when I say... " Best vendors, best promoters, best customers, awesome town, best junk around!

From sun up....

 

 ...to sun down!!!

 

Happy Pickin'

Sarah

Wood Signs, Windows Signs, Metal Signs

Well good morning!! Today I wanted to show you some of the things I make for our business.

 

First lets go back tot he beginning. The wood signs is actually the 1st thing we were selling at small local craft shows. A friend of ours (which is no longer with us) was selling me boards that was the left overs from a cabinet company in the OKC area. They were the prefect size for wood signs. I would paint or stain each board. Then I would put vinyl on them. I would either paint again a different color or just seal it with clear spray paint. If I painted again I would wait until it dried and then pulled the vinyl off and sprayed it with clear. That is all. I loved those signs but after our friend passed I had to find something else to do because I didn't want to cut boards. (The saw scares me!! LOL)

 

 

 

Windows. Again a friend of ours does remodels on homes. He changes out the old windows. I asked him if he would sell me the old windows he said yes because he was just going to throw them out. I took them home cleaned them up put new cocking in them and put vinyl on them. Took them to a 2 day show and sold al of them the 1st day. Now that friend is moving and I am running out of windows. So I thought what about metal??

One day I thought man hubby has all of this metal just laying around what if I cut it into cute door hangers. As I cut this cute little camper and flower hubby said cut another flower and put them together to make a 3D flower. He showed me how to rivet the two together and I was hooked!! My favorite is the cotton. This fall more designs are coming.

With every door that closes God opens a new one for me. I sometimes find wood pieces and make signs. At shows there is also someone selling windows and I buy them to put the vinyl on. Those things will always be in my blood.

Happy Junkin'
Sarah

An Urban Farmhouse

Today I am going to give you a tour of my mom's house. She has worked very hard to get it to look the way she wants. It just goes to shows you some of the things you can do in your own home.

The Entry

This wall is simple but makes an impacted on the rest of the house. She found the wood framed sign at the Junk Ranch in June 2017. The 'hi' she found at hobby lobby and used 2 small nails and hung it to the frame. The bucket w/flowers & the tobacco basket came from Hobby Lobby too. The coat hanger I had in some of my stuff.


The Living Room

This space you always want a warm feeling. Somewhere you want to come home to and I think my mom has made it that way. On one wall she has an old window I found with a magnolia wreath on it. She hung the wreath with the peel and stick hook. The wreath she got at the store call At Home. If you have never been to At Home it is awesome. On another wall she has the first farmhouse piece she ever got. A Windmill. She got this one of the shop in Waco, TX call Junque in the Trunk. The flowers on the windmill she made from different flowers from Hobby Lobby. I think the flowers gives it a soft touch to the hard metal. The next wall has a big window looking out to the back yard. There isn't a lot of wall space but this old shutter I found at a yard sale looks great on it and on the wood box below is an old radio that was my grandparents. It still has the glass tubes in it.

The Dinning Room

Tis room and the kitchen has to be my favorite rooms in her house. When she bought the house the barn red wall was already there and my mom knew how she want to decorated it before she bought the house. With the help of my hubby we put up this beautiful shelf. The white corbel book ends from Magnolia Market in Waco, TX. The fresh baked sign I made my mom a few years back. (It is an old window I found in a field.) The black box on the left hand side with the greenery is from Hobby Lobby. The butter turn my mom found in a cabinet when she was moving. She forgot she even had it up there. The scales are from a shop in Branson, MO and it is from England. The white scale I found at a shop in Blair, OK called 3 R's Schoolhouse Collectibles. My mom put a candle on the top of that and it is battery operated that has a remote. Isn't that awesome!!?? Then on the very end on the right hand side is a basket with some cook books.
Now her table... She had just the white pitcher with an ivy in it but when we was at the Urban Farmhouse a while back we seen all the cool table center pieces and she knew she wanted to change hers. I am just going to list the items and where they are from. Tray (beautiful) - Michaels (don't just stick with Hobby Lobby try Michaels out too!), black box with greenery- Hobby Lobby, Tan towel - Michaels (need to get me some to make a cute kitchen window curtain), wire locker basket - yard sale (she was lucky on that one!), white metal pitcher - me (I found it in a trash pile!! I know right?!), olive branches - Hobby Lobby, Chef was my grandma's, Antique Seltzer Bottle - Michaels, Green bush thing - Hobby Lobby, I don't know where the market sign came from but I am sure a shop or show she has been too, Salt and Pepper shakers - Warehouse Antiques Mall in Moore, OK, old song books - from years of collecting and of course a Magnolia Market candle. Now this can be changed out for every holiday or when she wants it a little different but it is something big and makes a statement on the table.

The Kitchen

Oh my goodness!! Look at that Kitchen?!?! She put a lot of thought into this project. Lots of looking at Pinterest and watching every Fixer Upper ever made. But I feel like it is the best kitchen out there right now. She had her cabinets painted gray. The counter tops are quartz, backsplash is the beautiful subway tile. the white and gray makes it so clean and bright. I didn't think in that small of a kitchen gray would make it look bigger but it did.

The Guest Bedroom

This room just got shiplap on the walls, Well it isn't real shiplap but man it looks like it. My mom watched a lot of YouTube videos on this trying to learn how to do it. I loved it so much that it is going in the shop soon. The headboard came from Amazon and the bedding came from At Home. This room is still being worked on.

The Bathroom

 

In the bathroom she used a 2 curtain panels for a shower curtain. She painted the cabinets a gray like the kitchen and left the doors of the cabinet above the toilet. The main colors in the bathroom is gray and green so she tried to add a little green here and there with plants and towels. Just a simple touch to make it homey.

 

The Backyard

My mom has a green thumb for sure. She has made my plants come back to life. So when it comes to her backyard I knew she would make it look awesome. This pergola was just done and it adds another room to her home. The chandelier she sprayed painted black and added the solar lights. I could stay out there forever with a tall glass of sweet tea.


I hop you enjoyed a tour of my mom's house. She has put a lot of hard work into it and I think it has paid off. I also hope this inspires you and gives you some ideas for your own home.

Until next time
Happy Pickin'
Sarah

Truck Troubles

Today I want to tell you the truth about owning your own business. Truth is sometimes it is better to work for someone else then yourself. But the good times of owning your own business out way the bad times.

Then we started tis business we had a new truck and as borrowing a trailer from a friend. We was going great with small shows here and there. Our main jobs was working great too. Nothing could stop us so we thought!! Then the oil field crashed!! Now neither one of us worked (main jobs) in the oil field but our businesses depended on it to be here in Western Oklahoma. With the scrap iron if the oil prices are down so is the scrap iron prices. Then with the tag office if no one has a job or they move away then they don't buy new cars or tags. We wasn't prepared for the hit like we should have been. Within a  few months the tag office was having a hard time making rent. Then we lost both of our new vehicles, bill got behind and we was trying everything to stay on top. But through it all we kept God first and we knew with him we would make it out of the hole. God only gives you what you can handle even if you don't think you can He knows that you can.

Even though we had these problems we was going great with Heavenly Junk. We had more shows booked then we could keep up with. Our inventory was great and we loved every minute of it. I just kept thinking to my self when line gives you lemons (even sour ones) make lemonade. So I tried different things with our little business. One was vinyl on windows, another was sells and giveaways, and another was a booth at The Old Store in Piedmont, Ok. Everything was working I was selling out of the windows at shows, the giveaway was drawing in business on our Facebook page, and we couldn't keep out booth filled at The Old Store. Then round two came!!

Now this is still and on going event so I can't tell you how or when we get out of this mess. In 2017 we started with 32 shows booked. Now when I say booked they are in my book and we wait until closer to time to see if we can do them. Our 2nd show of the year was Junk Hippy in Rosenberg, TX. We made it down there and got up the next morning (set up day) to find a flat tire on the trailer. Afar calling for about an hour I found a shop to help. After a few hours and 2 tires later we was on our way to set up. A few shows later we was coming home from another Junk Hippy show (Junk Hippy is bad luck on vehicles but great in the pocket book) the drive line in my husband's truck broke!! A tow and lots of money later we was back on the road. Then just a few weeks ago we was getting ready for another Junk Hippy show in Rosenberg when I get a call from the hubby that said I don't think we are going to Rosenberg. I said why not we are leaving in 3 days. He said not unless I can find another truck. WHAT!?!? The top a frame bushing had came out and there was a big hole in the frame. So we loaded my short bed truck an headed down to Rosenberg. We didn't think we could fill a 10x10 booth with just the cab and bed full but with the grace of God, lots of prayers and a little hard work we made a 10X20 space look great. At the show we made just as much as we would have if we brought the trailer. God was good to us, but Tim still didn't have a truck when we got home. He drove me back and forth to work for a week. His brother sent him a picture of a truck on Friday so on Sunday we went and looked at it. The guy wanted $2300 and Tim only had $2000. So Tim said to me if the guy take $2000 I fell like it is God's will for me to get it. But the guy said he couldn't do that. So we left with no truck. Monday came around and Tim had a bad day. When he came to pick me up he said we are going to Elk City to look for a truck. As we were driving out of town the guy with the truck texted Tim and said he would take $2000. Tim said we are on our way.

With every turn there is a bump. This business is hard and there is so many ups and downs, but there is one thing for sure and that is God helped us start this little business and God will help us through it. One foot in front of another. It reminds me of the footprints in the sand poem. Where there was 2 sets of foot prints then there was one. God said that is where I was carrying you. Well He must be tired because He has had to carry us a lot lately. You know I still would not trade this in for the world.

Until next time,
Happy Junkin'
Sarah

One Man's Trash is Another Man's Treasure

There is a saying that one man's trash is another man's treasure. Well I have seen that come true many times over. When we go out to an estate sale it brakes my heart that the family didn't want their families' things or we go to an auction and the stuff goes for pennies on the dollar, or just go out to the scrap yard and see all the stuff people throw away. But with our little business it is helping us repurpose, reduce and reuse. You know that saying they tell you in school about recycling.

With junk there is a lot of different ways you can use one piece. I will start with one of my favorite up cycles to date.

The story behind this piece is like most that we have in our world. My husband was out picking up some scrape metal. The owners said there is the pile take it all!!! Hubby pulls the iron, metal, dirt out of the pile and puts it on the trailer. He hauls it to our home in Cordell and tells me to come out to the trailer and see what is on it. So I get some shoes on (REAL SHOES!!! LOL) and go look at the goodies. I see a basket, a bike tire, a thing and a that. Then I see it, the cart!!!! I told the hubby to get it out of the trailer. I was sooo excited!!! He pulls it out and puts it on the ground for me to inspect it. I look to see if it is all there, every screw and bolt, look to see if it has any chips or dings, where the rust is and if it has her wheels on her. We stick her in the trailer for our next show. (I call the fun pieces a her because of the women who might of bought her new.) The next show was the Vintage CountrE Market at the LazyE Area in June (2016). When we got to the show and I pulled her out I couldn't wait to put her on display. The next day a young lady came up and asked how much for the cart. I had it priced for $25.00 then I remembered that this young lady just a few weeks back bought from us at the Junk Hippy Show in El Reno. So like we do for most of our recurring customers I told her $20.00 for the cart. Sure enough she bought it and took it home. She then sprayed it with a beautiful blue spray paint and dressed her to the nine. When she sent me a picture after she was done I couldn't believe it was the same cart.

With just a little time, a vision, a little elbow grease, the little rusty cart became a beautiful cart.

If you all could see where and what condition some of these items come to us in you would run in the opposite direction as fast as possible. But every so often something grabs even my eye. There is the next project on this trash to treasure tour.

This is a grain scoop. They come in all different shapes and sizes. The scoops were used to take the grain out of the elevators to the trucks to go tot the farms to be planted. This scoop came from another scrap pile. If I remember this stories the owner was using it to hold bolts in his garage. After pulling it out of the trailer full of junk I cleaned it up. I used a wire brush to get the dirt off of it. A little soap and water doesn't hurt either. Next I used clear spray paint to help hold the rust so it doesn't get on anything or continues to rust. The clear spray paint we use is AVE brand because it is the only store near us. I normally put 2 to 3 coats on it just because of were it is going. In this case it was going on my wall so I didn't want rust on the wall. The next this is these scoops already have holes in the back due to being on a belt that helps them move the scoop with the grain in them. So because I didn't need to put holes in them I hammered 2 nails in the wall and put the scoop on like a picture you would hang. Now for the fun part. I mean it is all fun but my inter JoAnn comes out now. Decorating!!! I went to hobby Lobby and found a fern to put inside the scoop. I wanted something that would hang off the side. Then I found the tobacco basket at hobby lobby and knew it was the prefect size to go under the scoop. Then for Christmas last year we was a t a show and I kept looking across the way at a booth with these awesome signs. I feel in love with "Lets stay Home" because we are always gone and when we are home we don't go anywhere. My hubby talked to the over of the booth and at the ended of the show he bought it for my Christmas present. So now with all the items I needed this is how it turned out.

With every piece of junk you have there was a story behind it and something you can do with it. Not every piece has an awesome story but it came from somewhere. It doesn't have to e used the way it was intended to be used either. Mason jars as lights or wagon wheels as yard art. There is always a way to make something old into something new. One man's trash is another man's treasure.

Happy Pickin'
Sarah

Things I Have Learned At Vintage/Junk Shows

Well Hello There....

Welcome back to the Heavenly Junk Blog. Today I wanted to share some things I have learned as a promoter (one show many moons ago), vendor (at to many shows to count), and as a shopper. (Man have a shopped.)

There is a lot of shows out there and as a vendor we try to find the best shows for us and our shoppers. There is a mini check list I go through before choosing a show.
1) Pray- I pray before anything and everything I do. I pray that God will show me the right show to go to.
2) Location- I try to pick a location that is no more then 8hrs away so we can make it in one day. A location that is in a good area. I try to find some shops in the area to see what they sell to see if people buy junk.
3) Promoter- I look to see if the promoter is doing advertising for that show. How many people say they might go to the show on Facebook. (Which you can always except 1/2 of them to really make it.) And how long that show as been in the area. We do 1st time locations but we don't expect to make a lot of money at those.
Picking a show is the hardest thing to do but as soon as I pick one I start adverting that we are going to the show. This is to help our customers know where we are going to be at so they can make plans to be there.


After picking a location it is time for a #pickin'day!!! When pickin' for a show I again look at shops in th area, look at what we sold in that area before and my favorite go to JoJo!!! That is right I have watched every Fixer Upper on Netflix 2 or more times. I never watch the show I look at the end to see how she decorates. You know the metal scoops she put flowers in on one episode...Yeah I have sold them. You know the windmill on the wall....Yeah I have sold them. In her shop in Waco, TX she has white milk glass vases... Yeah I sell them at our booth at The Old Store in Piedmont, OK. (More about our booth in another post.) Pinterest is another place I go to find out what to take to shows. Just the other day I heard Pinterest is the new Google because you type it in and you will find it. I also just pick stuff that I would put in my own house. (One day I will give you a tour of our house that we have been working on for 7 years.) But all in all it is just what God has put on our mind to bring.

The next part is the set up or #setupday as we call it. The tings I have learned on set up day. That maybe a whole post by itself. LOL!!! But 2 quick tips...
1) Bring a tool box of every tool you can think you might need during a show. I have my dad's tool box that has Heavenly Junk on the outside. We use it as a check out stand and it has everything in the world in it. From zip ties to duck tape, from price tags to scissors, from sacks to decorations. It has it all.
2) Decorate your booth with flowers, table clothes, burlap, etc. Then we always have room spray that smells like the season we are in at the time. At our first Junk Hippy Show a vendor next to us sprayed a Christmas in her booth. She said if people smell Christmas they buy Christmas. So from there on out we bring something that smell good so people enjoy their buying experience.

The last thing I have learned at show is for the buyer. I have to sides of this, the buyer and seller. I will talk about the buyer first.
1) Bring CASH!! Some vendors will take a credit card but some will not and I don't know of any that will take a check. Just bring the cash and it will talk!!!
2) Bring comfy shoes. Most of the shows we do are inside but even at that you might be standing for hours looking at everything.
3) Bring  something or someone to help you haul your item. A shopping cart or a friend for the inside and a truck or trailer for the getting it home part. I have had a lot of people say I will pay for it and then come back with a truck to get it. Of course I say yes but it will save you time if you bring it because you never know what you will find at a show.
4) Be nice!! As vendors we work very hard to come to your area to sell our stuff. We have climbed metal piles, gone though spider barns, cleaned 50+ year dirt, traveled a long way, set up for one or two days and more to get you the best junk around. So please if we are busy, a little cranky, look like a train ran us over just be patient with us.
Now for the vendors be nice to the customers because they are the one that will put the food on the table for you, put your kid through baseball/ dance class, pay that bill that is two weeks past due, etc. So you need to be off your phone (unless it is business), talk to the customer, say hi to them when they walk by, fix your booth when it looks bare. BE NICE!!!!

Promoters they try to bring the very best vendors to the people, vendors bring the very best they have, buyers buy so vendors can make a living. We all work together to help one another out. So promoter keep the shows going and improve every time, Vendors step up your game to make sure the show looks great and buyers we can't be in this business without you so keep on buying!!!

Happy Junkin'
Sarah