It's the little things...

Who knows why we are draw to the things we love;  old books, colored glass, little boxes...  but if you do collect the best way to display your items are in groupings.  It makes the greatest impact.  

I think I am drawn to hand turned candle holders because my grandpa used to make them for us on his lathe, so whenever I see one I have to buy it.  Collecting old things connects us with our ancestry.   It also tells the story of who we are and where we've been.  They make a house a home.

Brown jugs remind me of the old root beer stands of days gone by, and vintage bar ware of our favorite fried chicken restaraunt in Michigan.

 What evokes a memory for you?

 We also like to adorn ourselves with embellishments.  This dear friend is one person I love to make jewelry for because she likes one of a kind, unique things and can always pull them off. ( Next time Dee look at the camera and flash us your beautiful smile :)  


I've been busy making lots of new jewelry for fall so come in and check out the Urban Twist.  Also next month we will welcome Christine back with her new line on First Friday.

I like to walk about the beautiful things that adorn the world.           _george Santayana

It's HERE!

Pick up your copy today!

Lodginess

There is just something about Fall that oozes the warmth of a log cabin.  We all want that feeling in our homes this time of the year.  Here are just a few examples of items you may want to add to get that feeling.

Flannel, cotton camp blankets, and lanterns for light.

tables made from natural materials

wool

candle light, real or fake.

Look at everything as though you were seeing it for the first time or the last time. Then your time on earth will be filled with glory.

—

Betty Smith 

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Like I always say, new things arrive every single day.  We head them up and move them out PDQ!  So we're always busy in our workshops.  

You saw this in my driveway, but it looks so much better inside.

A silvery grey vanity with beautiful details

craftsman style rocker

oversized coffee table

Back to the size matters....this is Buckley

This is Spike

Vintage smoking stand and humidor

Size Matters

Hmmm we all tend to think some things are just bigger than they really are.  I've found that with women,  it's the size of their cars.  

We want something so bad we want to squeeze it into our homes, but first it has to squeeze into our cars.  

Rachel and I came up with a creative way for her to get this table home, and she was glad to report that it made it home beautifully and fit perfectly into her space.

Band-Aids and tongue depressor jars  make great vases for someone who is
under the weather.

 A new side table

A delicious mix of color and patterns.

Here's an idea,  buy one of these from us and take it down the street to Maigolds
and have her fill it with a fabulous $5.00 bouquet, then make someone's day.

Have a glorious Sunday!

Random thoughts

My daughter Rose used to always tell me that I'm so random, and now I think I'm starting to see what she's talking about!  If you would follow me around for a day or maybe even an hour, you would understand also.  It's just the way my brain works.

Anyways I thought I would share some things that we (junk evolution) find exciting.  Starting with this photo of Myles striking a pose.  He's one of our new favorite peeps.  He's going to IUSB for environmental studies, and was hired by the school to help reduce waste, and make the school greener.  We are working with him on a fun project and I'll tell you more about that later.

 This is my version of a black and tan!  I just finished this piece that has many functions...flat screen tv stand,  storage at the end of a queen or king sized bed,  mud room storage (topped with a cushion for seating).

 Me, coming home from a garage sale with not one, but 2 wedding dresses!  You'll see what I do with this ruffle next February-when we celebrate our ancestry and France vs England oh la la!

 In my perfect world, every house would have a clothes line.  Why?  Because it's green.  You save energy, it whitens the whites and on a windy day it practically iron's the clothes for you.  I savor days like these and miss them when they're gone.

 Our friend Hiromi went to her homeland this summer (Japan) and brought Linda and I these socks.

They're perfect for flip flops and so comfy.  

and speaking of Hiromi she is going to be teaching some fun classes this fall and winter at the shop so stay posted.


Randomly yours,
Char

Reflections

Such a sad quiet weekend reflecting on 9-11.

 I always say out of bad comes good.

 I'm so proud to come from a country that is like super glue in times of turmoil.   We don't give up until the last stone is unturned,  and we find the strength to go on in the face of unbearable sadness.

We lost so many yet life long relationships were made.

We will never ever forget.

photo by Lauren Gonzalez, Downtown Middlebury, IN 9-11-11

It's in the Details

When it comes to decorating, you don't need to re-do your rooms every season, but it is nice to bring out some festive colors.  Rotate your stock, so to speak.  I just told my friend that I love my house in the fall because of my color scheme, it's in all it's glory, but for other season's I add elements to lighten the heaviness.

Amber glass for fall, it's a given.

 Here's our Autumn cocktail from first Friday, perfect served in some amber glasses!

Celestial Seasonings Spice Tea (make it strong)

Motts Apple Juice (just a splash)

Dark spiced rum (to your liking) we used just a splash

We served it over ice because it was a hot day, but it's equally delicious served warm.

Lots of great storage trunks that double as coffee tables.

Shifarobe

 OK, what movie was this line from?  "He's outback bustin up a shifarobe"???

They think the name comes from shelves and a robe?  

Tea time, and a game of checkers.

granite topped tables and vintage wear

a place to hang a hat

Tins and vintage glasses

Turquoise and red-these are a few of our favorite things!

Wood and granite topped table with drawers on both sides.

Shine on!

Coming soon to a city near you......FALL COLORS!

Welcome to the Lodge!

With the high temperatures this past summer offered us, I think we've never been more ready to move into the next season's breezy, cooler days.  The slower pace of hunkering down for a football game or curling up with a cup of warm cider and a good read.    I've already traded in my pink petunia's for some burgundy grass and yellow mums on my front porch.   


So this is what we're offering at junk evolution this month...the colors of fall and the warm fuzzy feeling they bring.

a unique hall tree

warm and cool colors

some new color combo's for fall...mustard yellow, grey and rusty brown.

One simple element is sometimes all it takes for a modern
graphic look.  A hugh antique blacksmith bellow.

A victrola cabinet, turned into a bar, and a bottle capper
turned into a candle holder.

Add something wonderful to serve your tea or cider in this season!

Iron, wood & rust-aged to perfection! 

Linda's layers.

It is neither wealth nor splendor; but tranquility and occupation, which give you happiness.           -THOMAS JEFFERSON