Garage Sale Finds and New Projects!

Jill and I have been busy as ever with our families, jobs, and this biz, but manged to squeeze in a Saturday morning of garage sales!  Although we didn't find a ton this time around, we still had a blast!  Here's just a peak at what we found...



This is Riley, my new rooster.  Actually, he's my first!  He is proudly sitting upon an old bread round from Britain.  The lovely and talented lady whose house was our first stop on our garage sale outing,  just gave me the bread round!  Hopefully, you will hear more about her in our blog (possible interview in the future? hint, hint).  She is absolutely amazing!  We also snagged a pretty cool sconce from Europe, however I neglected to take a pic of that.  That will be a follow-up post!

This ole' burlap coffee sack was a great find.  I already have plans for it!  We also found a roll of plain burlap that Jill took home with her today.  She has something really cool in mind for it as well.  Stay tuned!



The great thing about owning a business that recycles/upcycles/re-purposes junk (for lack of a better word!), is that everyone can help scout out raw materials.  For example, awhile back my dad came across some beautiful old barn wood over in Island County.  It was perfectly weathered and thank goodness he thought of his favorite daughter's thriving business (haha, running family joke there-Love ya sis!) and snatched it up for me!  Jill and I have waited and wondered just how we would use this piece.  Here's what we came up with...

This would be perfect in a garden or indoors in a kitchen nook.  Notice the arrow shape. You can point the way to your own Parisian escape!

The other projects we are wrapping up with are upstairs (fondly known as Studio B) and will be unveiled very soon.  Until then, go out and find some garage sales!  They're a ton of fun and you just never know what you'll find!

Hugs,

Cheree and Jill





Upcycling Beyond Seattle

Last week I returned from a "sister weekend" in Phoenix, Arizona with a very weak suntan but a greater appreciation of the word "culture".  Vintage items, of course, are simply a preservation of past cultures. My first thoughts during the drive to the hotel were about the bland landscape (minus a few cactii), the heat and the monotone way in which people decorate. Everything seems built around rock and clay.  Seattle is abounding in green and blue (and a lot of grey), so to see beige houses against beige lanscape was a shocker.

What I didn't appreciate that day was the reason why things are the way they are.  Native Americans know from wisdom passed down through many generations that the heat is abated with certain colors, that clay is abundant and regenerative and an easy material to work, and that Turqoise is a spark of  beautiful color against a parched background. So those things work into a very specific culture that is recognizable around the world as "Southwest". 

I had no intent to seek out vintage treasures in Arizona.  I hoped to enjoy some very modern conveniences like a pool chair, a beach towel, and a really cool grotto style pool. Not to mention some very nice looking bar boys!  But, as I stumbled upon some cool things I wished that my business partner, Cheree, could have been there to check it out with me. 

Wagon wheels upcycled into chairs!  I love the irony that a wheel, who's main purpose in life was to "Go" is now repurposed into a funtion of "Sit, Wait, Rest". Old Town Scottsdale.

Arizona license plates get a new life as purses.

My dressing room had a garbage can lid as a chair!

My favorite find--though not truly vintage, the basement bar had a "Speak Easy" feel to it with a stone-lined  stairwell and dark atmosphere.

Always keep your eyes open...you never know what you will find!

Jill and Cheree



We Have A Winner!!!!

We gained some wonderful new friends and followers on Facebook through the on-line giveaway.  And, if you'd like to see who was the lucky winner of With A Twist products and a ton of other cool stuff...click below:
http://jonigirvanphotography.wordpress.com/2011/05/07/giveaway-winners/

Have a fabulous week!
Cheree and Jill

On-Line Giveaway!

We are sooooo excited to be a part of a wonderful on-line giveaway featuring vendors from all around the Northwest.  This giveaway is put on by a very talented photographer, Joni Girvan (thanks Joni!).  Click on the link below to find out details and spread the word to your friends and family!!!!

 http://jonigirvanphotography.wordpress.com/2011/04/27/joni-girvan-photography-purple-hippo-photos-fabulous-mothers-day-giveaway/

Good luck and happy Wednesday!

Cheree and Jill

Warning Signs That You Are A Vintage Junkie

1.  Your kids are casing the neighborhood for old fences and "free stuff".

This sign was a barn in it's first life



2.  You are excited by the color grey


3.  You identify yourself as "Vintage" at the first sign of wrinkles. (No picture necessary)

4.  Your family is worried that you will sneak out in the middle of the night to steal barn wood from the Buffalo Barn on 134th Street.  (What? It's just Sitting there)



It's so tempting!

5.  You beg your friends for their broken rake and shovel handles

6.  You are willing to pay money for someone else's garbage.



Yes, we paid for this.  Stay tuned to see what we make out of it.  You will be amazed!


7.  Your heart skips a beat when you see something rusty.



We love the years of rust and old paint on this beautiful backplate!


8.  A "Girls Day Out" includes Dumpster Diving.

9.  You actually think vintage items are speaking to you.  And they are.

Get Inspired!

It has been another productive week!  Hope everyone is keeping a positive outlook with ALL of this rain, wind, thunder, lightening and hail!  Spring has got to be just around the corner, right?  Jill and I boosted our spirits when we visited one of our favorite locations where we love to hunt around for inspiration.  Here's a brief look at what we found...

Vintage back plates of all colors, shapes and sizes.

A little eye candy for the vintage obsessed!

Tons of beautiful old window panes.

In between raindrops, we meandered around town and took in the sights of the city.  We discovered that inspiration can come in many different forms!

Inspiration from an old historic building.

Inspiration from a local landmark.

Inspiration from a stroll along neighborhood shops.

These were all pleasantly interesting and evoked great ideas and got those creative juices flowing.  However, our inspiration of choice on this particular day came in the form of a new found treasure for us...

A  "work  lunch"!  This place was a tip from the workers at our  favorite supply store.  There's nothing like a little brainstorming over fabulous Puerto Rican cuisine!

No matter how busy your life, no matter how depressing the weather, go out and find something that lifts your spirit and inspires you!  Its worth it!

Have a happy week!

Cheree and Jill

What's So Cool About Old Stuff?

My Mom once asked me why I liked old stuff so much. I think one of the words she used in that conversation was "Yuck". I grew up in a house with fresh white carpet, stainless steel tables and leather furniture, mirror-art and crystal chandeliers. My parents enjoy keeping an updated, beautiful home. That's their comfort zone. They both grew up in families with very little income, and "old" may have translated to "not good enough".

I distinctly remember eyeing beautiful crystal doorknobs and stained glass windows in my Great-Grandmother's house, which was otherwise in serious disrepair. Their elegance stood out against the backdrop of yellowed peeling wallpaper.  She was raised in a world where nothing was considered disposable and resources were not wasted. Care was taken to craft excrutiating detail into metal, wood, stone and jewlery. The bathtub had unique "feet" on the bottom. Even handwriting was beautiful, and an art in itself.

Then came the kicker that got me hooked on vintage forever!  I heard the story and saw the pictures of my great-great Uncle, Harry Borcherding, who was a trapeze artist in the 1920's and 1930's. GASP!  I was in love with the past!  I was mesmerized by the old pictures of him in his regal suit, and another of his trapeze group, The Four Lordens. He had the financial means to give his wife and daughter jewelry and gifts from the places he traveled. Cool art-deco jewelry, Great Gatsby kind of stuff.

Poor Harry died in a fall from the trapeze in 1933. His daughter died without heirs in 1992 and left her possessions to my grandfather, who was her cousin and caretaker. And I inherited them from my Grandfather when he passed away.  When I wear her jewelry, I am transported to the past and connected to my ancestors in a very cool way.

When Cheree and I go "dumpster diving" for cool finds, and pick through other people's junk, we wonder what the life story of each door knob was, or who lived in the room with the aqua blue windowsill, and what gossip was told over the fence which became a welcome sign on my front porch. And yes, we believe they speak to us! We love giving new life to "old stuff'.  We enjoy keeping items out of the dump. And we love honoring the past by recognizing a new purpose for each jewel that we find.  What are YOUR vintage items saying to you?

Thanks for visiting with us.  Have a terrific week!

Jill and Cheree