SAVE A SWEATER, MAKE A PUMPKIN

Hello, I'm Vicki and I have a pumpkin problem...
I can't stop making them.

It began innocently with an old sweater
my husband would be wearing this winter, holes and all,
if I hadn't snitched it last year and hid it in my closet.

My original idea was to cut the bottom off of it
and make an infinity scarf,
but now that fall is in the air,
I started thinking sweater pumpkins.

From sweater pumpkins came any kind of fabric 

I could lay my hands on pumpkins. 

(go ahead, say that 3 times)

I love them all, but my favorite is one made
from a very stiff, old paint rag.
Actually, it's an old handkerchief of my daddy's
that I used for a paint rag.
Being the junker artist that I am I couldn't toss it
because the paint turned the handkerchief
such a pretty ocher color.
My weird junk hoarding paid off,

 this pumpkin has a lot of personality about it.

What?

Come on, don't tell me your pumpkins don't have personality?
Later Tater, got to make more pumpkins before bedtime.

Have a
FABULOUS FALL!

JUNKIN' IN HEAVEN

A few years ago I came upon a website for junkers. 

Until that time I never realize there were others who shared my love for re-purposing and bringing cast off items a new life. 

I thought I was the only one with a sickness for
curbside shopping and junk love. 

I soon found out, to my relief, 

there were many junk artists out there. 

Many who understood me and understood 

how a little rust and age 

can make your heart melt.

They got it! 

They too were Visionary or Junk Artists.

This wonderful site is
JUNKMARKETSTYLE!

It's a wonderful place because it is full of creativity 

and  junk art. 

However, what makes it extra special is the friendships 

I have gathered from the other artists 

who post their creations and comments there. 

Because of this site I began blogging and became friends with Lezlee, Laurel, Alice, Linda, Marie and Midge. 

There's also Kathy, Sue and Jim that I count as friends too. 

We've all moved on to be Facebook friends also.

For those who think computer time is a waste I must disagree. Without my laptop connection to these people my life would be a lot less richer.
They make me smile.
They look in on me to make sure I am doing well.
Their prayers went up for me
when they discovered I had breast cancer.
They helped me through.
This group of friends also inspire me and feed my creativity. They encourage me and listen.
That's what friends do, right?

Today we are all very much in shock and very saddened to learn that our friend Midge passed away.
Most of us have never met Midge in person,
but all of us will miss her.
I will miss her wit and creativity.
I'll miss her willingness to share ideas.
I'll also miss hearing about her family
and sharing in little bits of their lives.
How blessed we all were to know Noreen Midgley
and call her our junking friend.

Rest peacefully Midge and have fun junkin' in heaven.

                                                                                                                                                             Midge's  Facebook photo

SIGNS SIGNS EVERYWHERE SIGNS

BUSY BUSY BUSY
THAT'S ME!

This summer I decided it was time to make some room in my Gypsy Room.

That's the room where I create
and
where I keep things special to me.

My Gypsy Room has floor to ceiling shelves.

All are packed full of projects to finish;
supplies for projects yet begun
and
art of all kinds.
That means junk art and art junk.

(Gypsy Room is a nice name for Hoarding Room.)

It was time to stop storing for when I have time
and just do some of those projects!

So...

To clear out some things, and decorate my soul a little more
I made SIGNS this week.

Sorry, the pictures aren't that great...
most have my dining room chair seats
as their background or the dining table.

I mainly just took the photos to remember the SIGNS.

The SIGNS are going to my booth this weekend.

Then I am going back upstairs to my Gypsy Room
and enjoy having a tiny bit more space.

 The top SIGN is a board I picked up for 10 cent
at an Estate Sale...
already stained that pretty green color.
The bottom SIGN is painted with chalk paint...
I love the messy lettering.

Tray chalkboard...wanted to make one forever!

     My favorite!

 Top SIGN is on a canvas and the bottom one is a cabinet door.

 Letters fly out of my booth...plunderJUNK...
booth number 56
Big Peach Antique Mall.
Stop in on your way down to Florida some time.
Over 200 vendors and endless junk and antiques!!

 I found the 24x36 canvas for this SIGN in someone's trash.
It was a painting of a little boy sitting on the beach.
I painted the canvas black and the little boy can just keep watching the waves under there.

It's our secret.
OK?

This is not really a sign, but I thought it was cute to paint chalkboard paint on this tool tote.
A chalkboard tool tote!
It can be for tools, herbs or just a catch all.

Don't you just adore tool totes?

 See the sweet little Grace SIGN tucked inside?

I am going to be on the lookout for more old cardboard pictures...
vintage or otherwise.

I just love the funky letters they create.

Have you been clearing out
and
creating this summer?


Busy Vicki

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!

LONG
MAY
SHE 
WAVE!

GOD BLESS THE U.S.A!

BEST,
VICKI

           

DECORATING MY SOUL

                                

 I found this on ChIC vInTiQuE and thought...

How did she know?!

Of course I haven't stopped cleaning my house!
It's clean enough for us.
(wink, wink)

Really, I've always decorated my soul. 
I'm an artsy person...we do that!
However, as I walk through my valley now,
that's even more important to me...
the house will always be there.

I've taken to decorating my soul even more.
This is how I did it last Sunday...

 The church in Musella, Georgia

 Crepe Myrtles the Queen of the South...at least to me.

  

 It's rusty...that's good enough for me!

 Loved this hall tree!
It was sitting on the peach house porch.
Peach packers and packing machines were behind it.
You could lean on the hall tree as you looked down below at all the commotion of the peach house.
An odd combination, but it decorates the soul.
(who's that bald lady in the pink hat?)

 Have no idea what this is, but it's rusty so, well, you know?
Decorates my soul!

General store just across from the peach house.

 Peach packers eat their lunches here,
under the shed and sitting on these benches.
This thought just made me smile.
While no one was here then, the thought of the laughter and stories shared here was nice.

 

 We left Musella and moved on to Thomaston, Georgia...

 One of my favorite places was closed,
but their porch front displays
decorated my soul big time!

 Wings on the front doors of
Rescue Me Market...
kinda appropriate for me, dontcha think?

I have many angels watching over me.

 Got to go back for a birdfeeder!!
These are made from tires.

 It's rusty dontcha know?

 

 

 Ended this wonderful day exploring this covered bridge.

 Are you decorating your soul?
What have you given

yourself lately?

I LIKE OLD TRUCKS AND I CAN NOT LIE...

I like old trucks...secret's out!

Old rusty, faded trucks just speak to me.

I don't know anything about their mechanics or workings.

If they're a stick shift, I couldn't drive them.

However, if I had one, I could just sit and look at it all day.
I could make up stories and let my imagination ramble.

Just look at their faces!

Yes, faces!

 
Look at their expressions and souls.

Their history is there, their stories are told. 

A little boy who's face is full of wonder.

A bit of a grin and rusty eyebrows say he's mischievous and filled with curiosity.

 

Miss Red here seems a bit confused, but sweet.

 

  Maybe she is confused as to WHY Blue Boy is leaving.
It's a romantic thang.

 

Blue Boy's had a rough life.
Lots of heartache and headaches.

He's losing his head over Miss Red.

 

 

Uh Oh...here's a brawler.
Been in one too many fights.
Maybe fighting Blue Boy over Miss Red.
Fisticuffs.

                                Ole RD is just a little off center,
                            but probably the wisest in the bunch.
              He's played one too many games of Popeye, however.

These trucks were gathered beside the peach house in Musella.

Holding a service I imagine, a revival without the tent.

Don't you know they've seen it all?

All the busloads of Senior citizens and tourists.

The locals and regulars who come for the peach ice cream.

All the field trucks bringing in the peaches. 

Some are probably the original peach trucks themselves.

Brings back the olden days for them.

So much history sitting in the weeds.

I love old trucks, and I can not lie!

Best,
Vicki