WhisperWood Cottage

Store-Front Doors for His New Closet

alvn.mail@gmail.com (ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:09:00 +0000

n addition to the two barn-style doors on the master bath and my closet, RJNJ also made out well on the master bedroom makeover. He has his own newly-built closet with this set of screen doors, which came from an original store-front in historic downtown Duluth, MN. The brass pull, the pull/push signs mounted on either side of the right door, the warm patina...what's not to love?!

BEFORE...icky carpet (ish!), strips on walls, NO closet!!

DURING...closet added, walls done, flooring in, doors installed...

This pair of store-front doors was an antique store find from a couple years ago. I had no idea where or when they would be used! All I knew was that they were special and that they had potential. They ended up being used as our headboard over the past two years. When we were discussing the master bedroom overhaul, the natural place for this pair of doors became apparent. The closet opening was built specifically to fit these doors. Sometimes you find the right piece but have to wait for the right time and place. Don't you agree?

AFTER...closet shelving installed...

THE NOOK...

When the closet was added to the room, a nook was created to the right of the closet near the window. Originally, I put a dresser here. The dresser was later moved to my closet, so I pulled this table (formerly in the guest room) from the junk shed and created this blue and white vignette.

THRIFTY TREASURES...

As I was thinking about this mix of pieces, each item took me back to the time, place, event, and people involved. I think it's often about the excitement of finding a great deal that I remember most! The table and lamp are garage sale/estate sale finds. The shell mirror and duck decoy are both from antique stores. The chair is one of a pair I picked up at one of Minnesota's infamous occasional sales. I had two of the striped lumbar pillows made by a vendor at the Ely Blueberry Festival last year. And those footed urns? They are from a rare trip to Home Goods with my friend, Lani@Cottage Elements. The shape, the design, the patina, and the price were too good to pass up!

Do your finds take you back to the place and time when you found them? Do you ever buy something (like the doors above) that whisper to you sweetly? And even though you don't know where it will go, you know you will find the perfect home for it eventually?

A Simple Way to Revitalize a Wood Finish

alvn.mail@gmail.com (ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:58:00 +0000

ou've seen the two doors we added during our master bedroom makeover. Well, they both received a little TLC before they took up residence in the cottage. Here's a quick little tutorial on how to add a little pep to a slightly tired but fabulous piece.

BEFORE

Here are the doors after they just arrived home...

You can see that the doors had some fabulous patina. And I love patina! I don't mind scratches and other forms of character that age and wear bring to a piece.

These doors would have been good as is, but why settle for good when great is within reach? I thought I would take a few easy steps to put a bit of zip back into these doors. I simply wanted to respect the history and character of the piece while adding some richness to the finish.

ADDING THE ZIP

I started with a scraper and gently scraped off old scotch tape and other remnants of college teaching days. After a light sand over the entire piece, I pulled out the tung oil, which is designed to add some richness and vitality to wood. I used that foam brush to wipe it onto the entire side of one of the doors. I then used a rag to wipe off any excess. After giving it a while to dry, I flipped the door and did the other side. I repeated the steps with the second door. Compare the sheen on the door below to the photos above. Big difference!

ADDING THE HARDWARE

Above is a close-up of the brass "Ship's Nurse" plaque that we mounted on the door to the master bath. For the flat track trolleys, we lined them up on the door and pre-drilled holes. We found screws that had a rustic patina (shiny new screws would not have looked right!) and that were the proper length (always check the length of your screws so that you don't go through the other side!).

Here is one that has been fully attached. Notice how the channels in the flathead screws are all horizontal and parallel to each other. That's an eye for detail! (Nice job, honey!)

ADDING THEM TO THE ROOM

Here they are again...revitalized and moved into their new home at WhisperWood Cottage...

For the full master bedroom barn-style door transformations, check out the posts on door #1 and door #2.

Do you have any simple tips or tricks for revitalizing a piece? What products do you recommend?

Master Bedroom Makeover: Barn-Style Door #2 on Her Closet

alvn.mail@gmail.com (ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:40:00 +0000

second salvaged school door paired with a second set of salvaged barn flat track equals the new doorway to my walk-in closet! Our master bedroom makeover continues!! You saw the first door and track set on the entry to the master bath. This second set is just as fun and it's mine, all mine! [cue maniacal laughter here]

THE TRANSFORMATION

BEFORE...green carpet, strips on walls, brown trim & doors...

DURING...closet clad in wood, new flooring put in, trim added...

AFTER...door and track added...

THE STORY BEHIND THE DOORS

I looove knowing the history of pieces! And I found out some interesting nostalgia for you on these doors!! Remember I told you that I found the doors this summer at the garage sale of my friend, Sue@JunkMarket Style? It turns out that she had gotten them from my other friend, Cammie@Daffadowndilly's, a few years back. After seeing the previous door post, Cammie emailed me and gave me the full scoop. She said she had rescued them from a building remodel on the Wayne State College campus in Wayne, NE. How cool is that?! Along with the 1800s flat track our parents had rescued from an 1800s barn, this project is full of history!

Does anyone else get excited about knowing the history of a junk or antique piece as much as I do?

Monster Mash...

alvn.mail@gmail.com (ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:13:00 +0000

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

appy Halloween! I thought you would enjoy this fun Jib Jab Sendable eCard I customized starring some of my favorite ghouls and goblins!! It's a hoot! Click the arrow to play it. I'm still laughing...I could watch it over and over (and I have!). Now, go make one of your own!!

Moving into 2nd Gear!

alvn.mail@gmail.com (ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:20:00 +0000

adies and gentlemen, start your engines! Here is RJNJ's second gear-inspired lamp made from salvaged auto parts. We are still using the first lamp he made as a docking station for our cell phones in the entry way. This one was made especially as a birthday gift for one of RJNJ's gear-head buddies. It is made from a Chevrolet piston and transmission gears. Who has a talented hubby? Oh, yeah, I do!

Blogging Makes You Lucky!

alvn.mail@gmail.com (ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:16:00 +0000

logging totally makes you lucky. What do I mean? Well, think about how lucky you are to have the blog friends, the blog inspiration, and the blog fun that surrounds you. I have been blogging for just over a year, which means I have known all of the people mentioned in this post (and you!) for less than that amount of time. And I am so lucky to know each of them! I have realized that bloggers are also a generous bunch of folks. Over the past couple months, I have received many great gifts from these warm-hearted bloggers.

FROM THE JUNKMARKET GIRLS...

It all started in August, during Oronoco Gold Rush Days. Kathy@Sylvia's Vintage Daughter and Candy@Junk Sophisticate drove all the way from Ohio to join the JunkMarket crew for junking fun in the sun. Kathy surprised me with a fabulous carafe filled with chocolate bars and blocks that spell out A-M-Y. Candy gifted me with a piece from a vintage grinder (fabulous as a tea light candle holder) filled with chocolates (trust me they were there at one time) and a name tag made from scrabble tiles. Ms. Sue@JunkMarket gifted each of us with a fun tag that says "Sterile Normal Saline"...it's hanging on the handle of that carafe. Last, but definitely not least, the Pfarkel Sisters@Junk {re}defined made me smile when they handed me a fabulous bottle of wine with a personalized Pfarkel label...

FROM BETH@OLD TYME MARKETPLACE

In early September, I won a giveaway hosted by Beth@Old Tyme Marketplace. What did I win? Chicken poop. Yes, you read that correctly. It's an all-natural lip moisturizer...and it works great!! She also surprised me with this adorable monogrammed toile pillow. Looove it!

FROM LANI & GRETCHEN

In mid-September, I attended Junk Bonanza (yeehaw!) to shop "a bit" and spend some time with my girls, Lani@Cottage Elements and Gretchen@Mimi-Toria's Designs, who had a booth at the show. September was my birthday month, so the girls surprised me with a necklace Gretchen made from a vintage cash register piece.

FROM HEATHER BULLARD

While at Junk Bonanza, I attended the blog party. My name was drawn as the recipient of this fabulous bag from Heather Bullard. Love her, her designs, and her photography!

FROM JUNK REVOLUTION

Remember waaaay back in the spring when I won the Ugliest Light Fixture contest over on the Junk Camp blog? To be honest, I didn't even know there was a prize involved (apparently I did not read the details!). I was just doing it for fun. When I found out that my idea was chosen as the winner, I also found out that I won a gift certificate from Junk Revolution. I was able to use that gift certificate at Junk Bonanza. Here is what I picked out...

FROM DEB & DANNY

When RJNJ and I made the trip to Texas for a wedding in late September, we were able to spend one day at Texas Antique Weekend. Deb & Danny@Talking Trash surprised me with these fun koozies that proclaim to the world that I am a "Cat Daddy's Kitten." Deb also gifted me with a thoughtful junk item (not shown)...a tie clip with a precious petite camera on it. With all that they have to do for that show, she took the time to pack that heartfelt gift because she knew I was going to be there. Can I tell you how much I admire these thoughtful people? Smile, CD!

FROM STAN WILLIAMS, THE ELEGANT THRIFTER

While in Texas, we met up with Stan Williams@The Elegant Thrifter, author of The Find. Here he is below doing a book signing at the blog party hosted by Theresa@Garden Antqs Vintage (and her handsome hubby, Cruz...I just love to say that name! Anyone remember Cruz Castillo from the soap Santa Barbara? There's something with that name! Hi, Cruz!). Stan, generous man that he is, gifted me with a copy of The Find. I read it the entire flight home! Normally I sleep on the plane, but I was so enthralled with each page of his book that I just had to keep reading!!

So, tell me...how lucky are you? Have you made blogging friends that you so appreciate? Have you found bloggers that you admire? Have you found blogs that inspire you? Have you won or been gifted some fabulous treasures? Tell me how blogging makes you feel lucky...

Master Bedroom Makeover: Barn-Style Door on Entry to Master Bath

alvn.mail@gmail.com (ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:33:00 +0000

o you remember the master bedroom makeover we've been working on? It's amazing when I think of where we started and the amount work that RJNJ did to transform the walls and floors. I remember the feeling of joy when the rug was laid and the canopy bed was delivered.

If you remember, the room was still not complete when the photo above was first posted. We still had doors to install in other parts of the room. This post is all about the entrance to the master bath. Here's the transformation that took place...

BEFORE...strips on walls, brown door and trim, green carpeting...

DURING...walls and floors done, no door to master bath...

AFTER...door to master bath installed...

No, that is not your standard door! We picked up two of these schnazzy old school doors this summer from the garage sale held by Sue Whitney of JunkMarket fame. After a little TLC and bit of polishing, they were ready to be hung! They are mounted on flat track that our parents rescued from an 1800s barn that was being torn down. They are the real deal!! A brass ship's nurse plaque mounted to the center and a ship's key for the upper deck showers inserted in the keyhole adds a bit of fun to the mix!

Boo or Treat!

alvn.mail@gmail.com (ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:03:00 +0000

(NOTE: If you are viewing this in a reader, you'll have to visit the post to view the effect.)

BOO!

You've done it now! You've unleashed the WhisperWood Cottage Beast! And he wants his treat NOW! He's a bit of an ape if you anger him. I mean he really goes bananas! Did you find the treat yet? Quick!

You Have Been BOO'd!

The air is cool, the season is fall,

Soon Halloween will come to all.

Ghosts and goblins, spooks galore...

Tricky witches at your door.

The spooks are after things to do,

In fact, a spook brought this "BOO" to you.

The excitement comes when friends like you,

Copy this note and make it two.

We'll all have smiles on our faces,

When we see who Boo'd who's places.

I was Boo'd by Deb@Talking Trash. Now...

The following 4 ladies have been officially BOO'd...

Cher@The Texas Woman...witty, clever, fun!
Candy@Junk Sophisticate...junking creativity galore and great photos!
Holly@Life in the Fun Lane...want to move into her house!
Roeshel@The DIY Show-Off...more inspiration than one blog should have!

This BOO party was started by Toni@The Tattered Cottage. Please keep the fun going by following these instructions.

1. You have 24 hours to work your spell

2. Copy and post the Halloween Boo Poem with the instructions for playing.

3. Pick 4 blogs you enjoying visiting and tell why you enjoy visiting them, with a link to
their blog and remember to link back to me.

4. Go to the original BOO Party post at the Tattered Cottage and add your MckLinky.

5. Let's see how fast and far this spreads between now and Halloween.

There's a Hole in the Wall, Dear Liza, Dear Liza!

alvn.mail@gmail.com (ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:39:00 +0000

o you remember that nice fireplace you saw in the last post? Yes, the one above that provides such a lovely backdrop for my the Heywood-Wakefield twins? Well...it is no longer there. The mantel...the fireplace...the wall...all gone. What do I mean? Take a look at what happened last weekend here at WhisperWood Cottage...

MANTEL REMOVED...

SURROUND GONE AND WALL COMING DOWN...

DRYWALL GONE AND FIREPLACE REMOVED...

A high-efficiency wood burner with a blower that works is on order. We never really used the fireplace much over the past three years, because the blower didn't work and all the heat was lost up the chimney. We plan to keep the cottage nice and toasty this winter with the new unit. The wood framing is still coming out and will be replaced with steel framing to accommodate the dimensions of the new fireplace unit. We are also going to add some storage by building in cabinetry on each side of the fireplace. A television will eventually be mounted above the new mantel.

We are working from a general vision I have, but there is no 100% solid plan. As usual, we are doing all the work ourselves, so we are figuring it out and making it work as we go. RJNJ is pretty brilliant when it comes to measurements, code requirements, and how-to abilities. We try to make all of our projects as efficient and cost-effective as possible. Hmmm...I guess he's more about efficient and I'm more about cost-effective. :) I plan, he makes the plan come to life. It's a system that works!!

Do you do your own projects? Do you have a plan laid out or do fly by the seat of your pants?

Heywood-Wakefield Twins Move into WhisperWood Cottage

alvn.mail@gmail.com (ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:39:00 +0000

uess who moved into WhisperWood Cottage! If you read the title, you already know. Not one...but a pair of Heywood-Wakefield chairs. It was love at first sit. Yes, sit. Let me tell you why...

After Junk Bonanza in September, I thought I would head over to visit the ever-brilliant crew for an open house over at Hunt & Gather in Minneapolis. As we lounged and chatted in their store, I found myself perched atop one of the chairs below. I said "Wow! This is actually very comfortable. I wish there were two of them." Lo and behold, another one was available. Finding out they were Heywood-Wakefield was an added bonus.

They looked at me with their big brown puppy dog eyes. I couldn't say no, could I? Could I? No. It would not have been right. I made the commitment to raise them as my very own.

I took them home. They found a favorite spot near the fireplace.

How they love to curl up next to the fire. They wag their tails with glee.

Tanner was helping me with photos that day. He says hi to everyone!...

Would you have adopted these twins? I think they add brilliantly to the loving and eclectic family here at WhisperWood Cottage. Like Tanner, they know how to sit and stay. They hug often and even let you sit on their lap. What can I say? They're cuddlers like we are!

Texas Antique Weekend Fall 2009 & Prayers for Cher

alvn.mail@gmail.com (ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:59:00 +0000

Cher@The Texas Woman on the right. Get the story below.

ere is a sneak peek of our day at the Texas Antique Weekend fall show. The photos above are some of my faves. The full slideshow is over on the Junkologie blog and is rocking photos of an array of booths and people. The displays were amazing!! And Theresa's blog party was a blast as usual. Of course, I found a few goodies there as well. I'll be posting about my Texas finds and my Junk Bonanza finds as they get incorporated into the cottage. I'm excited to show you all fun stuff.

That last photo is one of my favorites. We were at the blog party hosted by Theresa@Garden Antqs Vintage. Cher@The Texas Woman (right) had recently shaved her hair into a mohawk to prepare for chemo treatments. Along came this woman (left) who had a fun spunky haircut. A photo op was born! Cher is now a few weeks in with chemo treatments for breast cancer and is now rocking a more aero-dynamic hairstyle (translation: bald).

Did you know that Cher was one of the first bloggers to ever visit my blog and leave a comment? I wondered, "Who is this Texas woman that leaves me comments and posts about taxidermied animals and tasteless jokes?" I'll tell you, "Cher is an amazingly clever, talented, and beautiful person!!" Through a combination of blogging and grace, she has become a dear friend. You will love her, too! Please visit Cher, enjoy her creative posts, and leave her some prayers.

Meet Me.

alvn.mail@gmail.com (ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:27:00 +0000

eet me. Yes, this is a photo of me...Amy. I usually don't make it into photos on my blog because I am always the one with the camera!! In the last post, some of you posed some great questions for me to answer. Are you ready for the answers? I mean REALLY ready? Let's dig in...

________________________________________

Kim@White Pine Lane asked:

Coffee or tea? Neither...I'm a water girl! :)
Favorite shoes? Flip flops all the way...until the Minnesota winter hits!
How long married? Coming up on 10 years.
Favorite junk project ever? I think my favorite one is still to come!
Best junking find ever? Vintage white metal doctor's cabinet with glass panels.
Do you like Martha Stewart? I admire her for changing the face of home decor and paving the way for women entrepreneurs.
What's TDOG's real name? Tanner.

Roeshel@The DIY Show Off asked:

You're surrounded by all of those beautiful treasures all of the time. What's on your wish list? Great question! I am truly thankful for all that I already have, but I sure love to hunt for the next great find! With junking, I don't have anything specific that is on my wish list. As far as life in general, I would love a sport lens for my Sony Alpha camera, a Bose SoundDock for my iPhone, a trip to Europe, a lifetime supply of Lindt Caramel Fiorettos, the nose-wiggling magical powers of Samantha on Bewitched, and spiritual enlightenment.

Cher@The Texas Woman asked:

How did you meet your Hunk of Burning Love? We met in Stevens Point, WI, at a party thrown by roommates. He was friends with one of them and I was friends with another. He hit on me that night, but I was not impressed and he conveniently doesn't remember! A few months later, we met again and the story began. Within six months, we were engaged. Within one year, we were married!

Cora@Love Letters by Cora asked:

What was your favorite toy when you were a kid? A basketball.

What are your top three favorite colors? Love me some neutrals...black, white, and earth tones...with pops of other colors.

What's your favorite dessert? Milk chocolate!

What did you want to be when you grew up? A cheerleader or gymnast, a police officer, and a teacher.

Which movie title best sums up your life so far? I didn't know how to answer this one, so I did what any self-respecting blogger does...ask the wise Google. Just type in "What movie title is your life?" and here are the results from a quiz I took...

Your Result: Legally Blonde

You will strive to get what you want. NOBODY can judge you based on your looks. You are independent and you can forget about any guy who tries to abuse you. (like the professor) You are a good friend and you definently know Prada.

If you could meet any living celebrity, who would you pick and why? I would love to get some personal dance lessons with Derek Hough from Dancing with the Stars. Cha cha cha!

What's your favorite thing about yourself? My independence, my desire for self-understanding and personal growth, and my life-long passion for learning and health.

What's your least favorite thing about yourself? My tendency to self-criticize.

Oprah or Ellen? Tyra! :) Or Cora!!

Cassie@Junk-Fest asked:

Where do you go junk hunting? Auctions? Flea markets? It depends on how much time I have and the time of year. I love auctions, flea markets, occasional sales, antique stores, thrift stores, garage sales, roadsides, etc. Nothing motivates me to get up early on any given morning more than the opportunity to discover the next great junk find!

Do you have a "day job?" Do I ever!? I work in higher education and teach people about health.

Stephanie@One Crafty Hunter asked:

Do you finish most of your projects in a timely manner or do you procrastinate? When I'm 100% sure on something, it gets done very quickly! Once in a while, there are projects that sit around and don't get done. Either it isn't important or I am not 100% sure that it is what I want to do. I often find that if I wait a bit, a new inspiration hits. The one thing I do procrastinate on is paying bills, balancing the checkbook, etc. I can do it easily enough, but it is not something I particularly enjoy doing.

Does it make you crazy when you can't finish a project? If it is something I really want done, then yes!! If it is something that I am unsure about, I am comfortable with it sitting for a while.

How do you know when to throw something away? For example, I keep alot of "stuff" thinking I will use it for a project eventually but I feel like I'm hourding because I've got PILES everywhere I look. This is a GREAT question! I think a lot of us deal with this issue. When I'm feeling cluttered, I clean things out...mercilessly! Don't be afraid. Ask yourself,

"Do I love this?"
"Am I going to do something with this in the near future?"
"Would I feel better if this were gone right now?"
"Would I rather have this or ____ (space in the room, money I could sell it for on Craig's List, etc.)?"

A trip to Goodwill or sale on Craig's List can work wonders! Less clutter and less guilt results in a cleaner space, more energy, and renewed enthusiasm for the projects you decided to keep. It's okay to change our minds and pass on projects and/or materials to someone else.

Deb@Talkin' Trash asked:

When are you moving back to Texas? Depends how cold this winter is!!

Do you miss me as much as I miss you? More, much more!

Will you be back for the spring show? Fingers crossed! I'm looking into it. You'll be the first to know! :)

Gale@Wizard of Once Was said:

I always love to hear how people got started in this business........Does anyone know how I got here? Some days I wonder! :) If you are talking about the junking business, it is a hobby of mine that really started only about a year ago. I've always loved antiques...probably the influence of my parents and grandparents. Throw in some blogging, some photography, and a whole lot of insanity...and here I am! :)

________________________________________

Passing on the Awards

In the previous post, "I Loved to Feel Loved," I received these two awards from two fabulous bloggers:
Roeshel@The DIY Show Off and Ashley@Ashley's Busy.

THE PREMIO MEME AWARD

This award involves telling seven random things about yourself then passing it on to seven more people you want to know more about.

HONEST SCRAP AWARD

This award involves listing 10 things about yourself and then passing it on to 10 people.

I'm breaking the rules again! I'm giving double awards to each of the eight ladies above. You all deserve the Premio Meme AND the Honest Scrap award. Thank you for taking the time to comment and to show that you care. I look forward to learning more about each of you!! Follow the rules as listed or just make up your own!

I Love to Feel Loved!

alvn.mail@gmail.com (ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:24:00 +0000

e interrupt this regularly scheduled programming to bring you a whole lot of bloggy love. I love me some huggin' and I've been recently "blugged" (that's blog hugged...think it will catch on?) by two fabulous bloggers: Roeshel@The DIY Show Off and Ashley@Ashley's Busy.

"Roe" (That's what I call her. I can, because we're like best buds. Okay, she doesn't exactly know we're best friends, but I'm soooo sure that we would be if we actually knew each other. Anyway, that's what I call her, and I'm sure she doesn't mind. Right, Roe? Roe? Ummm...Roeshel, you there?) gave me this fantabulous award...

THE PREMIO MEME AWARD

This award involves spilling my guts by telling you seven random things about myself. Then I have to choose seven more people that I want to know more about.

"Ash" (We're best buds, too. I'm sure we would hang out more, but as you can tell from her name she's always so darn busy!! Can you see Roe, Ash, and I chillin'? We could have our own show, I'm sure!) threw me some bloggy love with the...

HONEST SCRAP AWARD

Holy buckets! With this one, I'm supposed to list 10 things about myself and then pass it on to 10 people.

Now, let's do the math here...

10
+ 7
______
17 ???

That's a total of 17 things about me. Seventeen? As fascinating as I am, do people really want to know 17 things about me? I can't imagine they do, and I truly can't imagine what anyone would want to know.

Okay, I'm going to spin this idea a bit. How? I'm going to ask for your help! If there is anything you want to know about me, leave me a comment with your question(s). I will choose some questions to answer in another post. I will pass the awards on at that point as well.

Soooo...

Is there anything you want to know about me?

Open Wide!! Make Room for More Junker Eye Candy!

alvn.mail@gmail.com (ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:54:00 +0000

Open Wide!

And shovel that junker eye candy right on in there! That's right! Use two hands if you need to! We're not at the bottom of the "junk or treat" bucket from Junk Bonanza 2009 quite yet, but we're getting close! I still have to show you what junk treats I actually brought home! That means more junk goodness coming up!

More Junker Eye Candy from Junk Bonanza 2009

alvn.mail@gmail.com (ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 23:39:00 +0000

hat is your favorite kind of junk candy? Do you like creme-filled booths, sparkling rock candy, crunchy metal, black & white licorice, gooey caramel-covered pieces, or brightly colored taffy-like bits? Or do you like to mix it all together in one giant grab bag of junk candy goodness? Feast your eyes and fill your junk or treat bags to the brim! Yum, yum, yum!

Eye Candy for Junkers

alvn.mail@gmail.com (ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:22:00 +0000

hat's hot, gooey, and junky all over? Junk Bonanza eye candy, that's what! Who needs trick or treating when you can have junk eye candy handed to you every day? Unlike gobs of Halloween treats, junk candy doesn't add to you waist line or make your dentist mad. Sickeningly sweet and healthy at the same time! Get a heapin' scoopful while it lasts!!

One Thrifty Mom...One Gorgeous Tablescape

alvn.mail@gmail.com (ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:12:00 +0000

was able to meet Jill@Forever Cottage at this year's Junk Bonanza. Jill was asked to participate in the Thrifty Mom Challenge. She did a fabulous job!! I think she even got on tv! Superstar!! (Does anyone else picture SNL character Mary Katherine Gallagher every time you hear that word? Laughing!! Okay, focus!) Here is how Jill described what the challenge is all about.

"Ki Nassauer, founder of the Junk Bonanza, challenged me (yes, little ol' me) to shop one of the sponsors for this years' Junk Bonanza, Arc's Value Village (a local thrift store) for a stylish table setting for eight. I was given a budget of $100. The table will be set and displayed in the Arc's Value Village booth at the Junk Bonanza. Attendees will be able to put their name in a drawing to win all the items on the table! Ki, along with Arc's Value Village, wants to show Bonanza attendees that even on a budget you can find stylish vintage wares for your home." (Read more on Jill's blog.)

Here are my shots of Jill's challenge results...

Stunning, no? My favorite things were the table runners made from burlap and vintage fabric. I also adore the floral centerpieces! Didn't she do a great job?! For more photos and details on the Thrifty Mom Challenge, visit Jill@Forever Cottage!

What's up next? Eye candy for junkers! Photo after glorious photo!! Is your mouth watering yet?

Will Trade for Yacht!

alvn.mail@gmail.com (ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:07:00 +0000

ill trade for yacht! I loved this humorous piece that Cammie@Daffadowndilly's had at the Junk Bonanza show (Cammie & her sister Judy in photo at left). I bought several things from her, which you will have to wait to see in a future post. For now, I hope you enjoy these photos of other fun things in her booth...

For photos of the Junk Bonanza Blog Party, visit my Junkologie blog!

An All-Star Team at Junk Bonanza 2009

alvn.mail@gmail.com (ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:53:00 +0000

eet one of my favorite junking crews at Junk Bonanza this year...Gretchen@Mimi-Toria's Designs, Lani@Cottage Elements, Julie@The French Flea, and Sue@Destination Art. They put together some fabulous eye candy for junkers of all kinds.

Above is a necklace made by Gretchen. Gorgeous!! And Sue makes fabulous lettered pieces like the trunk in the photo below and the autumn art in the photo just below that. Scrumptious!!

Left to Right: Gretchen@Mimi-Toria's Designs, Lani@Cottage Elements, Julie@The French Flea, Sue@Destination Art

Here are some other fun shots of their booth...

Photos of many of the other vendors can be found on Junkologie's "Name that Vendor" post. Go join the fun!

Junk Bonanza 2009-Hold On to Your Junkin' Hats!

alvn.mail@gmail.com (ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:27:00 +0000

here does a junker begin? It's been a whirlwind of travel, work, and junking the past few weeks. I owe y'all some Junk Bonanza photos, don't you think? I'll also be posting about my adventures over at Junkologie as well, so pop on over there at some point so you don't miss out on anything!

On the first day of the Bonanza, I arrived early to get in line with the other Early Birders. Who was in front of me? None other than the infamous Donna of Reinvented Style. She's the cutest darned thing!! Somehow she knew it was me...something about having a camera in tow...LOL!...she's got me figured out! She was with her mom and aunt, and they were ready to junk it up!! As we chatted, the line behind us got longer and longer...

Good thing we got there early! With my Early Bird ticket, I also received one of these fabulously clever gift bags full of goodies...

Check out the stash...

More junking fun to come!!

Do You Have Your Tickets?

alvn.mail@gmail.com (ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 02:29:00 +0000

et your tickets now!...if you want to reserve a seat here! Actually, tickets are all sold out!! I took this theater seat/bench to sell at Oronoco Gold Rush Days. When my brother saw it at the show, he wanted it for his very own. He packed it up and took it home with him that day. Happy early birthday/Christmas, Randy!!

Is anyone else hooked on numbers? How about makeover projects? Now, it didn't start out so pretty. Don't believe me? This is what it looked like when I found it...

Here it is primed...

then painted...

and numbered...

A junk makeover is a beautiful thing, isn't it? And I am completely inspired by the way these photos capture the sunlight. Can you feel the sun and smell the freshly cut grass? Aaaaah, so relaxing. The perfect end to a productive day!

Blogged for...

Hooked on Friday@Hooked On Houses;
Inspire My Saturday@The Boutelle Family Zoo;
Metamorphosis Monday@Between Naps on the Porch;

New Additions to the WhisperWood Cottage Family

alvn.mail@gmail.com (ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:21:00 +0000

o, this does not involve any type of baby! Unless that baby's first name is Sony! Y'all know I love my Sony Alpha 100 Digital SLR camera!! The 100 model was the first in the Sony Alpha series. I'm not sure if they even make it any more. When I decide to upgrade my camera someday (no rush, because this one is fabulous!!), it will definitely be in the Sony family.

In the past month or two, a few additions have been made to the camera family here at WWC...a new external flash (above), a new wide-angle lens (above), and a fabulous new Shootsac (below). The flash is Sony but the lens is actually a Sigma EX 10 mm - 20 mm wide-angle zoom lens. It takes some fabulous shots! All of the photos of Sue Whitney's garage sale were taken with it. I'm still experimenting with it, but here are a few more examples of shots with the new lens...

I plan on putting the new flash (above) and the Shootsac (below) to use at the upcoming Junk Bonanza. The flash is needed because the sale is indoors. And the Shootsac is supposed to be great for carrying multiple lenses so that you can change them out quickly. If you've never heard of Shootsac, you MUST check them out!! All the bags are black and then you can buy different covers to change the look. Mine is called "Classic! Splendid."

Please join us in welcoming the new additions to the WWC camera family. No gifts are necessary! :)

New Autumn-Inspired Blog Header at WhisperWood Cottage!

alvn.mail@gmail.com (ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:42:00 +0000

ike the trees who are changing out their summery togs for warmer, autumn attire, WhisperWood Cottage is turning over a new leaf with the new season. Using those Photoshop brushes I talked about before, a new autumn-inspired blog header is born!! There is also a new tagline..."easy, breezy, and inspired living."

From summery blues & greens...

to autumny reds & golds...

You likey?

How to Get the Look

alvn.mail@gmail.com (ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:46:00 +0000

hank you to everyone who has left such kind comments about the bedroom makeover! I've received multiple emails and comments asking about the finishes in the room. I'll do my best to answer the questions and be as informative as possible.

THE WALLS

To start off, one of the main projects involved the walls. You can see the change in the photos below. On the left is the builder's finish...quarter-inch unpainted drywall with strips at the joints. You often find this type of thin drywall in a trailer home or in a pre-fabricated structure like we have. Every room in our home had these strips and unpainted drywall when we moved in. Room by room, we have been transforming the walls using a standard mud-and-tape application.

We removed the drywall strips and made sure there were no nails remaining. We also removed the trim around the ceiling and the windows. RJNJ took over from there and did the mudding and taping thing. Contrary to what television makeover shows would have you believe, this is not a one-day procedure! Here is a youtube video showing the materials you need and the basic process...

After the mudding and taping, we also textured the walls using a compressor and more mudding compound. After that dried, we then primed and painted. The paint color for the walls and trim is a soft white from Behr called Swiss Coffee. It is available in pre-mixed gallons at Home Depot. I tend to get the satin finish.

THE CLOSETS

We clad the closets in 8" tongue and groove pine boards. We painted them in the same Swiss Coffee color. The closet doors are a set from an old retail store in Duluth, MN. I found them at an antique store in Superior, WI. I bought them shortly after we moved here without really knowing what I would do with them. I just knew they were special! The one door has the brass sliders that hook into the floor and the top of the jamb. The other door has the original in/out sign and brass hardware.

THE FLOORS

RJNJ found this great laminate flooring at Menard's. It is from a company called Tarkett. The pattern is Seagrass and the color is Japanese. I love it because it has light, medium, and dark tones in it, which allows us to mix woods easily. I also love it because it appears so seamless in the room. You really don't see the seams, which are often obvious with laminate flooring.

The dhurrie rug is originally from Pottery Barn, but I purchased it on ebay probably five years ago. We used it in our living room in Texas, then our guest bedroom here, and now in our master bedroom.

THE BED

The bed is new from Pottery Barn. It is from the Farmhouse collection. I've been waiting for them to go on sale forever, and they finally went on sale for a short period this summer!! The timing worked out perfectly!!

THE BEDDING

The bedding is a combination of Pottery Barn, TJMaxx, and ebay. The duvet and euro shams are from the organic matelasse collection at Pottery Barn. I picked them up on clearance (I want to say like 75-80% off!) over a year ago. The bedspread and sheets are both TJMaxx finds that I've had for several years. The sheers across the top of the bed are Pottery Barn items that I purchased recently on ebay.

OTHER TOUCHES

The lamps...another TJMaxx find.
The rolling cart...antique store find that I refinished.
The bergere chair...garage sale.
The window covering...top-down/bottom-up cordless cellular shades in cool white from JCPenney. I absolutely adore these! I have them in almost every single room in the house!!

Whew! Does that cover it all? Let me know if you have more questions! We've made more progress in the closets and with the other doors in the room. I've also moved the dresser and replaced it with a new vignette. More posts to come!!

You "Guessed" It!

alvn.mail@gmail.com (ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:51:00 +0000

es, you guessed it! Y'all know me too well!! There really was no other choice but the wire baskets for me! Thanks again to Kim@Today's Creative Blog for the giveaway and feature!!