Junk Bonanza, My Haul



Seems pretty pitiful after all the photos of things I didn't buy, doesn't it? 


I soaked up loads of inspiration from Junk Bonanza, but the reality was I had to stick to my list and buy within a budget. And these purchases made me very, very happy!


I bought everything in my first sweep of the place! 


The little end table was much needed for one end of my living room. I love the distressed, antique blue/Swedish influence in the finish and the lines were lovely.  It was from Beth McIntyre, Wicked Stitches

Image via Decor Demon

I didn't get a photo, but Beth had an amazing dresser painted just like the one in designer Betsy Burnham’s Los Angeles home. If I had a baby boy, that would be a must have, and while I consider myself a DIYer, this one seems a bit to tricky for my taste!

The painting was not on my list. It was a heart stopper for me and from Green Cricket Salvage. Another Beth, and she's from Madison, Wisconsin. I loved her tennis racket mirrors, too. She has a cute blog and Etsy shop. 


The lockers and numbered bucket are for my future laundry room project, more on that later. You previously met my chalkware dog, Violet.  

The letters, F (as in Fine)  and D (you guessed it, Dandy!) are super heavy and you'll see more of them. I just need to find an ampersand but apparently those are hard to come by!


In previous junking outings,  I've just walked past the vintage clocks. But the one I found at Junk Bonanza had such great lines and my accent color, a lovely spa blue. So happy I could bring this one home. In hindsight,  just wish I'd snapped up more of the great old clocks and the vendor's name.


Image by David Prince for Martha Stewart Living, January 2003

It got me to thinking of a photo I'd saved from way back in Martha Stewart Living and always wanted to implement....a full mantle of clocks for New Year's Eve!

Onto the next search!

Junk Bonanza, Part Deux: The Ones I Let Slip Away

Old Hi-Lex Bleach sign. This would have been so great in my laundry room / basement redo. If you’re the vendor from this booth & no one else snatched it up…call me!


I can’t justify everything. Quite a few times at Junk Bonanza, I had that initial ping.

Like a moth to a flame.

Oh! How neat! How pretty! Wow!

The internal conversation with myself usually continues down one of three paths.

a) If I had the money that would be mine.  No question!

b) Seriously. I do not need this. What would I even do with it?  Oh. Yeah. That.

c) I have no idea why I like this.  I’m weird.  Walk. Away.

And sometimes, on occasion…

d) None of the above.  I don’t care. This one will give me nightmares if it is not mine. Now.

Which very well could be one of the primary culprits behind the start of Fine & Dandy.  I’m not confirming or denying.

Here are the ones I left behind. (Cue sad music)

Drat! I want that cupola!

I think the pair of these chairs were $95. Gorgeous!

I would not like this piece had it not been painted. The color is lovely and it just caught my eye. About four times.

Loved this glider and the traditional/modern dichotomy that the finish gave off.

Oh! These shapes! I’m part Irish!  
In hindsight, this would be such a great backdrop display piece for Fine & Dandy.

A potting bench like this could inspire a gal to garden more. Might change the color, but loved the lines.

These fell into the "Am I weird?" category. But I liked them. 

Only $39 as I recall for this star (ya, the one behind the tree!) and it was the old, real deal. 
Pretty over a classic beach house fireplace.

Clock face was only $39 as well.

The chickens drew me over - $55 for the set of 3, how fun for a brunch tablescape! Then I began inspecting that metal table they were on. That was only $65!

That plain ice bucket and wine bottle holder, just lovely.

Cute stainless planter for a nice wide kitchen window sill.



Next up: My Junk Bonanza Treasures

Junk Bonanza, Part I


A few weeks ago, I attended my first Junk Bonanza. Last year, I had a one month old baby around the time of the show, so logistics (like healing from childbirth) have just gotten in the way previously.

Not this year. In 2010, Junk Bonanza was marked as firmly on my calendar as important holidays and family gatherings. I even managed the expectation with Love that I would be spending just a teensy bit of moola. (I’m not always as forthright in these matters.)

Needless to say, Junk Bonanza was amazing.  As many bloggers have noted, there were so many incredible things that it was difficult to focus and yet, it was so inspiring.

At one point, I ran into Ki Nassauer, the brains behind Junk Bonanza. Beaming ear to ear, I thanked her and told her I felt like a kid at Christmas time.  Ki, my Santa.

I heard from a few vendors behind the scenes, that Ki and her crew are trying to gage interest for a spring Junk Bonanza.  I hope this happens!

I’ll let my pictures do the rest of the talking.
I managed to get there before the doors even opened! 

Ms. Macs Antiques had one of the best booths visually in my opinion, with great stuff. The “man of the booth” spent a great deal of time building the booth structure…

Including this amazing back wall that resembled tin clapboard.  
And hello? The fish was pretty amazing.

This poor gal had a broken arm but she was still striking and you have to wonder about her past.

Old ceiling tins. I have one I bought years ago that I just love. I noticed these looked like they were coated with perhaps a poly spray to keep the pesky lead based paint intact. Good idea, noted, although I think I would use a matte poly. 

I’m usually not a fan of something this “shabby” but this caught my eye. Wouldn’t it make a fun nightstand in the right room, even in a more modern setting? Just a bit unexpected.

The industrial, galvanized metal look was everywhere.


As were locker baskets, buckets and medical cabinets.

This bucket of silverware nearly prompted me to sit on the floor.

A pair of neat old "Resort" signs.

Just loved the coloring on this little guy. 
And if you could make him “chill” wouldn’t he be a darling accessory for your next summer party? 



Be sure to catch the next episode of Fine & Dandy: 
“Junk Bonanza - The Ones I Let Slip Away”  












Really?




That was my Love's reaction when I came home from the fabric store this afternoon, having discovered what I thought was a lovely piping combo for some new accent pillows in the making.

It's nothing new, this hesitant, surprised sounding, "Really?"




Violet here, received the same response. 

She's my new JunkBonanza puppy, named by my 3 year old daughter. I bought her at the show a few weeks ago.  I certainly didn't need her but she had me at hello.  

I don't take the "Really?" personally. And whether he likes something I drag home or not, I'm really very lucky as Love doesn't raise much of a fuss.  For the 15 years we have been living together he's let me edit our home with finds mostly old. He's made plenty of u-turns for things I've seen curbside. He's learned that the post card section of any antique mall can generally hold his attention while I scope a place out. And he's given up hope on the basement/garage remaining antique free. 

In that same amount of time, I've learned that it is best if I just hang all the pictures, mirrors and drapery rods myself. 

I'm Jen, by the way. Welcome to my blog and the start of my new venture, Fine & Dandy Vintage Living.

The place isn't decorated yet, as you can see. I hope to have a blog house warming party for the big reveal by the end of the year. Excuse the lack of anything decorative in the meantime!  Trust me: this place has great bones! Can’t you just imagine the potential?

While I'm decorating behind-the-scenes, I'll have a few months to properly introduce myself and catch you up to speed on all things Fine & Dandy!