My Salvaged Treasures: July 2012

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Gold Country Junking Finds

I went on a little field trip out to the Gold Country on Sunday with my son and his girlfriend. We left town around 9:30am (a late start for me) and arrived in Jamestown one hour and twenty minutes later. When we're over this way, we like to stop in Jamestown, Sonora, and Columbia for a day of junking, eating, sight seeing, and more junking.

This unfortunate guy has been hanging here for as long as I can remember.

After some shopping and lunch, the next stop was in Sonora just a few miles down the road. This is my favorite shop in town....In Town Antiques is located at 81 S. Washington Street right in the middle of all the historic buildings.

This picture really doesn't do them justice, but look at these awesome walls. When they removed the old paneling, these beautiful and colorful plaster walls were unveiled. Part of the plaster stuck to the paneling when it was removed and left behind all these interesting patterns. They call the shape on top (just to the left of center) a kangaroo. The larger shape below it is a bat on the left side and an alligator on the right.

Isn't she gorgeous?

I was tempted on these fabulous rusty drawers, but was talked out of them by my sensible side. I did purchase some of the zinc tags.

This is what I came home with. Most of these were purchased at two of the antique malls in Jamestown. The old towel holder in the back will be perfect for displaying necklaces, the wooden bucket needs a paint job, and that brush thingie sticking out of it will probably be repurposed. I love the rusty birdcage even without a bottom.

This is upside down to show off the detail. It's a hanging candle holder with chain and a hook attached to the smaller decorate piece on the top left. Hmm, I can see it with moss and a plant.

I never pass up a good deal on old doorknobs.

A quadruple plate butter dish with an ice well, rhinestone jewelry, and wooden dice.

I spotted this vintage collapsible laundry basket at a yard sale on Saturday; my favorite find of the weekend. This sale wasn't on my list, but I stopped in a big hurry when I saw it sitting in the driveway. It's been a few years since I had one of these and this one was such a bargain!! Found the tablecloths for next to nothing; hope I can get the stains out.

This idea came to mind as I was folding it up...the accidental table.
It's the perfect size for an end table. I grabbed the silver tray and bucket of flowers for a quick picture, but wouldn't this be wonderful with glass on top?

I'm sharing my junk with:
Knick of Time for Knick of Time Tuesday
From My Front Porch To Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday
The Vintage Farmhouse for Creative Things Thursday
The Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingie Thursday
The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday

Friday, July 27, 2012

Repurposed Victorian Ridge Caps

Yes! Another project completed from the stash of goodies I purchased at the salvage yard a few weeks ago. Dozens of these very interesting old metal pieces were displayed inside a vintage Pepsi cooler, and right away I knew what I wanted to do with them. They're decorative Victorian ridge caps that were used like shingles across the top of a roof line.

Now they're rustic little baskets.

Here they are fresh out of the Pepsi cooler.

I purchased ten caps, but only used eight for this project. The rusty ones without paint and the blue ones in the top right corner got two coats of matte acrylic sealer, I used ASCP on the white ones, and the blue pair in the center was left alone.

These were already full of holes from when they were nailed to the roof, but I had to make several more holes with a hammer and nail to get them evenly spaced.

I'm not sure what gauge wire this is because it was something I already had. I probably should have taken the time to go out and buy something a little thinner because this was really difficult to "sew" with. It's a good thing I was wearing gloves.

I couldn't exactly tie a knot in this wire, so I finished it with a little squiggly thing. A separate piece of wire was added for the handle and wrapped between the two metal pieces.

Here they are hanging on the springs from an old crib. The flowers look so sad because it was close to 100 degrees and they had been hanging in direct sunlight for a couple of hours. So much for the rest of the pictures. Switching gears....

Side view. Gotta love those geraniums, I couldn't kill them if I tried.

A glass tube was tucked inside each basket and covered with moss.

Wouldn't these be so pretty with fresh or dried roses?

I'm linking up and partying with:

Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special

My 1929 Charmer for Sunday's Best

Under the Table and Dreaming for Sunday Showcase Party

Keeping It Simple for Motivate Me Monday

Monday, July 23, 2012

Vintage Hardware Necklaces

It felt so good to finally get back into a creative mode last week. After being away for over two weeks, I had to spend the first few days at home just trying to figure out where I left off. I completed a few projects that were half finished just before I left, and then decided to start with some of the treasures I found while I was away.

I got out my stash of vintage watch faces, bits and pieces of old jewelry, and then some of the hardware I found at the salvage yard in Medford.

I started with a few of these keyholes and the doorknob plate. The others are still anxiously awaiting their turn.

Love this disco ball that was part of a clip-on earring. The rhinestones surrounding the doorknob hole are from a once loved bracelet.

I thought it would be fun to be able to customize this necklace, so the &/7 typewriter key isn't permanently glued in.

I glued an old watch face to the back of the key hole, then added a tiny rhinestone in the center. So simple.

Fly away. The colored rhinestone pieces came from another salvaged necklace and the sweet bird is an antiqued reproduction.

Who says you can't mix metals?

Another watch face glued to the back of a keyhole. I think the scratches add to the charm and keep it from looking too new. A faux pearl, a glass bead in a little cage, and a rhinestone button for the finishing touches.

I'm partying with:

Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

No Minimalist Here for Open House Party Thursdays

Knick of Time Interiors for Knick of Time Tuesday

Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays

Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday

Brambleberry Cottage for Time Travel Thursday
The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Monday

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Makeshift Cloche

I've been looking for more glass shades for the longest time. When I discovered this pretty vintage cut glass shade last week during a junking adventure, I knew it would be the perfect candidate for a cloche. Once upon a time, I had several of these in various sizes and shapes and turned them into cloches by covering the holes with glass stoppers from antique liquor bottles. The stoppers I have in my stash right now are all too small, so I tried a few other pieces to get just the right look....

A white plate with a leaf pattern and a vintage crystal doorknob for the top.

A quadruple plate butter dish that's part of a set my great-grandparents received on their wedding day. One of the three other pieces I have is engraved: Curren Oct. 24, 94. That would be 1894.

A pretty rhinestone buckle makes a perfect picture frame.

A little tacky glue on the center bar holds the old picture of my cousin, brother, and me. The vintage salt shaker makes a sweet vase for the silk roses.

Just the right size to fit under the cloche.

Another version topped with a silver lid from a sugar bowl. I saw a silver lid used on a glass shade on Pinterest that was pinned from JunkMarketStyle. Unfortunately the link didn't lead anywhere and I can't find the original source.

I like this version best because of its sentimental value. This one is a keeper.

I'm joining the party at:
A Stroll Thru Life for The Summer Cloche Party
Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

2805 for Potpourri Friday

Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday

My Repurposed Life for Catch as Catch Can
At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
The Answer is Chocolate for BFF Open House Party

Sunday, July 15, 2012

An Overdue Junking Fix

I finally had my first good junking fix in several weeks. A long overdue visit back to Morrow's Salvage at 2784 W. Main in Medford, Oregon was just what I needed. This place is always such a treat with three floors packed full of vintage treasures and the most creative displays.

Isn't this the sweetest camper?

Loved this old built-in set of drawers. I'd have every one of them stuffed full in no time at all.

You'll miss too much if you forget to look up.

What can I say?

A vintage Pepsi cooler full of Victorian ridge caps.

I was so proud of myself for having so much self control, but here's what I had to have:

I was happy to discover that they still had more of the green architectural pieces salvaged from an old bridge; the ones I bought last summer sold right away. The pretty glass light fixture cover looks more like a cloche to me, so that's what it will be.

I couldn't leave without buying a pile of these fabulous Victorian ridge caps. These chippy and rusty tin pieces added charm and decoration along the roof line of Victorian homes. I'll have fun playing around with them....I have a few ideas about what they'll become.