KJ to the Rescue~Save those paintings

Found this Treasure being Totally Neglected by the dealer that was holding it ( in a discarded bad place), and obviously by whom ever inherited it after it's original owner, Wilson Wright.   Looks like it was probably shoved is someones closet, with everything that could be brushed up against, being done so. Mr. Wright paid good money for this precious piece of Americana back in the 40's, And he would be appalled at your lack of consideration.  That being said... This print is is either a litho or gicelle.  I do not have the background in art to make that distinction.  It was produced by the Donald Art Company.

What makes this print so unique is that it's actually depicting a strong confident black man in the middle of a horrendous situation lost somewhere in the Gulf Stream.   Perhaps this is similar to how some of our brave men feel in the midst of war? Where does his confidence come from? How does his courage stand?

 

The poor guy is surrounded by sharks and a tornado is brewing in the distance!

Winslow Homer painted this in 1899 based on his winter trips to the Bahamas. The original oil on canvas is housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

The shot below shows the "rigger" that was re-worked into the painting by Homer after his peer's felt that the painting was somewhat gloomy. They felt that by him adding the rigger it gave the painting a glimmer of hope.

The original went up for sale in 1900-01 for an astounding price tag of $4,000.00. He had much difficulty selling the painting, but he never knew if was because of the high price or the gloomy subject matter.

It's our hope that someone might have a special place for this in their home.  It's so important to preserve our heritage for future generations.  And this is a grand example of strength and endurance.

World's Longest Yardsale - 127 Corridor Sale

I've been trying to work on getting up the video - It's just not going to happen   The download with the audio to clip has just been Way too difficult to work with and I'm just not going to mess with any longer.  Sucks, cause we had some funny stuff going on.  Like when I kept asking "Are we there yet?" and Stan would reply "A Conestoga Wagon would be laughing at us!"  Or "How far is Greenville?"  50 miles, and at this rate we'll be there in 25 days.  And my Fav ~ "Oh look exercise equipment!"  We seriously had WAY too much FUN!  Stop and Go all the way!  Everyone was having a garage sale.  And this Goes all the way to Alabama!  Lordy be, I can't imagine.  There's seriously NO Way to get very far on this trip.  Next year we're taking a van with a trailer!  Speaking of trailers I talked with a guy from PA. who only had one measly motorcycle on it.  I said that's just wrong...could I rent some space?  He gave me that dazed husband look, and said "Oh, I so promise you my wife will have this filled before we get back to PA!"~Dratz!  Guess I'm not getting this dresser then...

 

Of course I consider this a project to refurb~cause it's like ugly as is~but it's got great Curves!

I like Curves!

I also saw another dresser at one of the Amish garage sales and my eyes just lit up.  The price just rocked and Stan looked at me "We are so Not strapping that to the roof of the car - just forget it!"

I sometimes forget that his mind reading ability is as good as mine!

Another one of those pass byes, cause Stan said we already have 2, and this ones too big.  Don't go in your car... seriously take a van, truck, Uhaul, Semi!  You're going to need it and you'll be kicking your self all the way home.

We actually didn't even get out of Indiana before I made my first stop in Rossville at a little antique store named Back Through Time Antique Mall.  Met the owner Michelle Stewart pictured above, she was a real sweetheart!  I'm sure I'll be back in the winter Michelle!

Our 1st stop in Celina Ohio, was at an antique dealers spot on the 127 corridor "THOSE GIRLS",  which which allowed other vendors to set up on her property.  Really cute store!  Julie and her sister ~Nice Gals!  Picked up some hammered aluminum for my collection, and a really cool feathered hat that we'll probably put in a up coming collection.  Think she likes hats as much as I use to before I sold my collection!~

If I can find pictures from one of parties where they played pass the KJ's hat collection, I'm going to post it, embarrassment and All, sorry folks.

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This is a Packard Bell Key Chain, paid an outrageous price for this.  No kind sir there are NO skeleton keys attached to it.

And I leave you tonight with my Coolest Fab Find

the vintage Pinky Green Chippy Steel Cooler!

oops!  I haven't photographed it yet!  sorry, guess you'll have to come to auction and take a peek.

So if you're up for a Junking Adventure, I highly recommend the Worlds Longest Yard Sale!

Perhaps we'll see you there next year!

Creepy Cool Barn and A Wedding at Ross Camp Chapel

Saturday we made our way out to Ross Park to officiate a wedding at Ross Camp Chapel.  I was I antsy so we left early and had sometime to kill.  Stan suggested that we drive up to Black Rock so I could see where the pirates hung out at back in the 1800's.  More scavengers than pirates per say, since they took over the part of the Wabash river where everything as far as Logansport washes up into this weird bend in the river.  Wow, Stan exciting - Not - story was cool, not much to see.  However, there was this old barn on the way that I stopped and took pictures of...

 

I just loved how the vines and weeds have totally consumed this old barn.

It was getting ready to pour down rain and was very over cast - no sun at all - great for picture taking

 Shingles sliding off the roof.

Huge raven sitting across opposite the barn.

So here's the story.  Stan goes to work, I download the pictures.  Stan's always going on about balls of light in pictures being ghost, and I keep saying, yeah right, bad flash, reflection, whatever Stan.  But I did take note that there was this light in the window of the barn on all the shots.  Couldn't have been the sun, it was getting ready to rain, totally overcast.  No other building, houses, etc..  So of course I mention it to him when he comes home, cause I knew it would make his day.  And he said well, I've got a story for you!  I was telling a friend at work that we went up to Black Rock.  This friend was a deputy sheriff and big history buff like Stan.  And when Stan told him that I had taken a fondness for this old barn, Bill proceeded to give him the history.  Back around 1850 with the railroad taking precedence over river traffic, Black Rock pirates started to feel the pinch in their pocket books.  Not being the most savory of character it wasn't beyond the Black Rock pirates to turn to thievery.  Hence, when they found one them with the neighbors horse about 2 miles north they strung him up and hung him in that barn for being a horse thief.

Humm??? Make of it what you will. 

So on to the wedding...

This is great little chapel built sometime in the 1800's, not original to the location, it was moved there.

I've officiated more weddings than I can count at this location. So it's one of my favorites.

Architecturally, this place rocks.  The Gothic, Germanic motif of the window design is repeated along the panel inserts as well as the pews 

 

Our photo of the stain glass representation of the Lord as Shepard doesn't do this awesome work of art justice.

Since my pictures are so lousy, I've thrown in some of photographer Megan Petry's 'Creative Edge Photography' work from another wedding I officiated at earlier this year.  Sweet Lauren & Tim

  

  

 

  

Hope you enjoyed!

Ciao!

 

Jim VanSchepen's Estate Auction

Jim's actually one of Stan's relatives, so we decided to make it an auction weekend, and go say Hi!  Actually I just went because I had my eye on Tonto and the Lone Ranger, but they went for a CRAZY amount.  I had already done my research and If I can't at least double my money I don't buy - period.  It's so easy to get wrapped up in the bidding process and over spend for items.  I saw people buying things for outrageous prices in regards to what the market is paying.  I guess they have stores that they are going to let it sit and rot in.  Don't you think that sometimes when you go into these antique stores?  Like, well I guess you love it more than I do, so feel free to keep it for another 20 years.  Maybe they'll bury you with it.

 

Stan and Jim talking

Ok, now they've got to pose.  Stop it - I get way better pictures without all the posing!

So you know how when you go to these auctions and you're kicking yourself over the one you let get away?  That's why I hate auctions.  Worried about overspending - which I always do, and then not riding the wave to the end.  We'll here's the one that got away.  Only $60.00!  and there were 3 of them!

These old free standing high school lockers would have been Awesome redone!

Dratz!

1950's Silver Metal Filing Cabinet with Drawers

Mine, Mine All Mine!
Look what I found today.  A whole whopping $4.00 and that was with a trash can!  I'm in love.  It even has homemade cardboard separators for the drawers so can store all my trinkets and goodies.  Ill use the top to file my 150 vintage greeting cards.  Hope they all fit!

 

Don't be jealous, there are a lot of cool storage units out their for your treasure.  Just not this one!

World's Longest Yardsale - 127 Corridor Sale - August 5 thru 8th

Game On!  New Caravan Tour going down August 5 to 8th.  Whoo hoo, I'm so excited I've never been to the 127 Corridor Sale before so it will be interesting to see what it's like.  Plus we could use a break, we've had weddings like every weekend, and need some fun.  Of course we're not doing the whole thing - duh, not even possible it extends from like the top of Ohio and goes down to end of Alabama.  We're just going to cut across to Celina and then go down to 70 and cut back over to Indianapolis and come home.

Froggy went a courting and he did ride - Umhum!

Ha, Ha, I love my new froggies!  What kind of cool things can we do with these?  Originally shower curtain hooks, but I'm thinking they should be cut loose from their noose and glued to something!  A vase, a hat or picnic basket.  Other cool card finds from the day's excursion, was the Golden Shred & Golly Picnic series postcard from the Robert Opie Collection in Glouccester.

 

  

Tarnished Silver, Useless Silver - Don't think so!

Some of these are going to get a face lift before take off.

The monogramed letter B is done in a brushed aluminum and looks great and I'll probably Tarnex the cake server set, but the grater and gravy boat are getting painted!  I was originally thinking cottage pinks, blues, and yellows...but now I'm think Black with some artsy white motif...humm, guess we'll see what strikes me tomorrow.

The secret for what to do with doilies or Crafting with doilies

Yes, I have discovered the secret for what to do with doilies.  You too can now make your self a tiara out of these lovely heirlooms.  Watch this is going to become the new wedding rage. jk
I was sorting through the scrapbook clipping of Stan's great grandmother, where she posted all the deaths, returns and marriages of those who lived in Tippecanoe County during WWII, before we took it down to the historical society for the genealogy department.  So if you're missing some info or looking for newspaper clipping from that era with photos and such they just got some new stuff.  When I ran across this...

 

  

Yes, Yes it is, a true doily tiara!

I really think one of you should get some Stiffy Fabric Stiffener and make a couple of them.  See if they take off, could just be the hottest new look in tiara wear.  Hey, side feathers and birdcages are back! 
Who would have thunk?

To look at more great 20's, 30's and 40's wedding head gear visit http://tiny.cc/ahHqp 

 Plus you can listen to some great 20's tunes!

Retro Art Deco Metal Hamper

Yes I have actually been junking since our return, and doing a little refurbishing.  Stumbled across this beauty at a resale shop.  Actually Stan eyed this one.  Good eye Stan!   I call him my little diamond in the rough.

First I kind of went - eh? - but that art deco front, was saying forget that the gold trim is worn and my vinyl faded seat makes you want to gag ~ look at me - "I'm really cool"

Yes, Mr Hamper you do have potential.  So we took him home and gave him a little TLC and wa-la he looks 10 times better!

 

Re-covered his seat with a black ribbed taffeta and applied a distressed gold fluer di lis pattern to the top, then we painted all the gold trim black so he didn't look so worn.  Really wanted to leave the integrity of the diamond front design, even though there are some stains.  But the nice thing is someone else could easily come in and totally repaint to fit their own decor, as well as change out the fabric.

This next piece is going to be way cool too.

Chippy old wall insert medicine cabinet!!!  Has a beveled mirror and original glass knob.

  

  

Since this is a built in, we had to make it functional, so Stan has added sides and back so that it can stand on its own.  That way it can be placed on a dresser, buffet, shelf, even hung from the wall.  It's totally functional as stand alone unit.  So far that's all that has been done, because I can't decide what's next.  I know I want the inside back lined with some vintage rose wallpaper, the front chippy white, but I can't decide if I want to hand paint floral designs to the sides, do mosaic, or repeat the wallpaper.

Ah, either way someone is going to fall in love with this neat vintage storage unit.

Well, I hope everyone had a good 4th of July!  We spent ours with family, and then with friends later in the evening.  Hope all the awareness parties had good turn outs even though the weather was kind of nasty around here.  Keep the fight for your Liberty on your mind not just now, but through out the year.
Ciao!

Mackinac Island

Lot's of history to explore at Mackinac Island.  Of course you know there are no motorized vehicles, except for the golf carts that the resort allows on the greens.  Don't think that's quite fair - Do you?

Views from Arch Rock

 

Views of the Grand Hotel - Where they filmed "Somewhere in Time" with Christoper Reeves and Jayne Seymour.  Est. in 1887 this a true delight.  Room rates start a $235.00.  These are tiny old rooms, such as they were back then.  Think Waldorf-Astoria or the Homestead.  Much character and charm, but tiny accommodations.  Not for the noisy crowd either - that would be us!

We had a nice beach front room.  Not that we got in the water.  Way too Cold!  Nice views of the lighthouses and the boats going back and forth.  Found these two lonely little yellow flowers just blooming where they were planted.  Of course there's the beach rats, which mom and Di find hilariously funny to feed.  I've been having this bird feeding problem with those two for the last twenty years.  If they spot a gull they feed em!  One of these days someone's gonna get their eye poked out or pooped on and it won't be funny then, Missy!

Lilac festival is around the 1st week in June, but you can enjoy them through mid month.  Like our tour guide said "Thank goodness for the lilac's - you get a whiff of them through one nostril to compensate for the pee-u whiff of the horse doo in the other!"  Little Stone Church and the Governor's mansion.

If you like antique you'll Love Mackinac.  These are some great old carriages and a fire engine carriage from day gone by.  Field of wild flowers that I just wanted to float on.

Fort Mackinac & lilacs in bloom

I took some shots of these old pictures with the horses pulling sleds full of supplies out to the island during the winter.  Thought it was absolutely fascinating!

Another photo shot of a barge delivery hay to the horsey's on the island

Found this in one of the shop windows!

It was really just an awesome trip to be able to spend with your closest family gal pals.  I'll treasure these memories for a lifetime - end that's all you have.

So that concludes the Early Summer JunkYard Gypsies Caravan Tour!  Who knows where we'll end up next year, or maybe this fall, or heck summers still here there's surely something on the horizon!

Ciao for now Caravan Cruisers!