Rusty Saturday ~ The Salvage Yard

Well, this is one of my Better Late Than Never Posts... and since it's already less than two weeks away before the next Event held here, I thought I better get around to FINALLY taking you with me to RUSTY SATURDAY's July Event before I'm there again next Month huh?!  *Smiles*

 



Source: FACEBOOK PAGE RUSTY SATURDAY

 



If you make the trek it's well worth it since RUSTY SATURDAY and THE SALVAGE YARD are on the same Property at the same address, so Snap... you have two Awesome Junquing Adventures in one... does it really get any better than that?   I think not my Friends it's a two-fer!!!

 

 

 

If you're totally diggin' Architectural Salvage, the Rusty and the Crusty or Vintage Prairie Chic Style of Decor you're gonna be in Seventh Heaven here.  Over twenty different Vendors have Sourced it all for you... and with the two-fer Venue in the back of the building at THE SALVAGE YARD, a grand total of over forty different Vendors have been out Scouting for those Found Treasures you'll lose your Mind for!!!

 

 

Beautiful Vignettes Grace the front Store at RUSTY SATURDAY and the Styling of the Treasures is pure Eye Candy!

 

 

There were so many Awesome Treasures that I would have liked to have brought Home with me... I would have needed a U-Haul in tow I tell ya!  *Smiles*

 

 



You know how I am about Old Doors... and Hoarding them... *Winks*... well, the Old Door Graveyard here was Heavenly... this must be where the best ones come to die?!  *Smiles*

 

 



 And though finding Painted Primitives can be difficult here in the Valley... they have managed to Source the Real Deal Aged by Real Time and having a History and an Amazing Patina...

 

 

Industrial Salvage Style and Old Suitcases abounded as well... so my checklist of things I J'Adore was growing longer and longer... great to find it all in one handy location, especially when it's too Hot to drive all over the place to try to Source things you want or need!!!

 

 



Yes, there were an abundance of Treasures I thought I NEEDED... and in Hues that make me Swoon!  Retro Seafoam Greens, Robin Egg Blues and Sepia Splendor abounded!!!

 

 



But so did some other Hues that aren't as common in Vintage Finds... if you were needing a Patriotic Vignette you could have Sourced the whole thing here!!

 

And there were many Fun Bold Colors too that reminded me of a Fiesta or a Cheerful Caribbean Style.

 

 



In fact, this particular Vignette with the Old Clawfoot Tub as a focal point was my Fav Vignette.

 

 



When it comes to Vintage Storage for your Studio Space... there were too many Options to consider really... I wouldn't have had room for them all... but certainly I'd like to come back and eventually procure some for the Art Studio Cottage Makeover which is still in progress!  I'm so envious of Great Studio Storage Pieces I've seen in so many wonderfully Organized Studios of you all out here in the Land of Blog!

 

 



And even tho' I tend to lean towards Vintage Industrial or Vintage Commercial Storage for my Studio as the Ideal Options... when you see some Creative Possibilities for additional Studio Storage... like Lovely Vintage Dressers with not only loads of drawer space, but a large top that could easily accommodate a Marriage of another piece mounted to it... well, it's all Swoon Worthy!!!

 

 



Anything with tons of cubbies always catches my eye as Studio Furniture Storage Possibilities!  Yes, I could see Trims and Embellishments being Showcased visibly and easily accessible in that Unit!

 

 



And if you needed any small Office or Studio Furnishings they abounded as well... in a Rainbow of Hues and Styles.

 

 



I wouldn't be able to even get it into my Studio Cottage without deconstruction and then reconstructing it... so this Awesome piece I was seriously Lusting over was sadly not a Possibility for my Studio... but perhaps it would be for yours?

 

 



 

 

But there were also Lovelies for the Home everywhere as well as for...

 

 

Your Garden and Outside Living Areas.

 

 

 

And there was an Awesome Selection of Bohemian Bling... Created by some of my Favorite Local Artist Friends like Lilia of CORONA COUTURE.

 

 



As you might recall I did pick up some Bling for myself from Lilia's Line... the Upcycled Bracelet on the Right which matched a Necklace I already owned Created by Lilia perfectly!!!

 

 



I Loved this Necklace with the French Flair too... perhaps another day... which will be coming up very soon August 7th thru 10th my Friends!  Perhaps I'll even see you there?

 

Or having Breakfast at the nearby Denny's?

 

 



 

 

Or at the Waffle Truck parked out front?  Well, a Gals gotta build up her strength sufficiently for an Epic Junquing Adventure, No?  *Winks*  

 

 



 

 

Blessings from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian



Catching Up When You Fall Way Behind

You know how there are Iconic Images that you just never forget?  Well, this was at the top of my List of them... a Beautiful Afghan Child with the most Hauntingly Gorgeous Eyes I have ever seen... growing up in the ravages of Wartime, photographed for National Geographic.  Many years later they found her again and did another National Geographic spread as a Young Woman, now Married with a Family, which was her entire Focus in Life. 

 

 

 The Hard Life she's Lived had taken it's toll, yet her former Beauty and fierce Pride was still Evident, with not a hint of Vanity.   She wasn't the least bit impressed with the Notoriety and Stir this Image of her as a Child had created.  She only recalled the Embarrassment of being Photographed with her clothing in tatters and scorched by a cooking incident.   Thus the fierce intensity and indignation of her gaze towards the Photographer in that Iconic Image.  I'm always Fascinated by the Back End Story of the Person Immortilized in the Iconic Images we never forget.

 

 



So it was a Delight to see that at our Antique Mall an Artist had been Inspired to Paint the Child in that Iconic Image and his Painting was for Sale.   No, I couldn't afford it, but his representation in Oils was as Beautiful as the Original Photograph.   It is a Work of Art that if it were within my budget, I certainly would have added to my Personal Art Gallery at Home.  But I wasn't Shopping this day... I was doing at least a partial overhaul and foofing of both Showrooms... which have been sadly Neglected and in dire need of looking Fresher!

 

 



My main Focus lately has been catching up since I've fallen way behind, both at Home and in the Showrooms.   Since it's really too Hot to be outside, it has given me something to do that really has needed the extra Attention and which I'll Confess, I've been rather Avoiding.  Do you ever do that too... Avoidance... even if you know it's REALLY necessary to get something done?

 

 



One would think that if I was bothered enough by any or all of it that I'd quit Avoiding... but I haven't.   And usually I'm not a Procrastinator at all and rarely leave things left undone or put off indefinitely!   So it's been very out of Character for me.  I knew I'd Feel better if I just bit the bullet and got around to it... even if I just broke it all down into small segments, like eating an Elephant one bite at a time!  *Smiles*  Yes, it had all become the Elephant in the room which couldn't really be totally Ignored.

 

 

I just haven't Felt much like being a Doer lately.  I've needed to spend more time just Being... even if that meant not getting very much done at all.  I knew that eventually I'd get back into Doer Mode... and I also knew it would be best if that switch happened sooner than later!!!  *Smiles*   Some folks might be totally Content and comfortable not doing what needs to get done... I don't happen to be of that ilk though.  It's just not how I'm hard wired to Be.

 

 



Truth be told, I've been having more Fun being a Spectator lately in the Land of Blog than a Participator.  So a lot more lurking has been going on than being Engaged in the Process of Blogging as well... so the Not Doing has spilled over into a lot of areas of Life lately!  *LOL*     I haven't been all that motivated to do some of the Posts that I'd Intended to do weeks ago... you know, the Adventure ones that take you along to some really great places and Events!   I know that by the time I actually Share them, they'll be Stale... but oh well... guess that will have to be how it rolls!  Sorry about that!  At least it will be New to you anyway even if it was Months Old to me!!! *Smiles*

 

 



Because it's not that I haven't been doing anything at all... I've actually been quite busy doing things I don't MIND doing.  But the things that NEED doing... not so much!  *Ha ha ha*   And I really don't even Care as much as I usually do that I've fallen way behind and need to play catch up... though catching up to a point of being up to speed isn't likely to happen unless I got a complete Staff of Help on board with that end Goal!  *Smiles*

 

 

Some days I've awoke with the Intention of doing so much... and then not done any of it!  *Gasp!*  It has just suited me more to go with the flow of the day rather than to immerse myself in drudgery I'd rather not have to bother with if I could Avoid it... and so I have... Avoided most of it!  Until I absolutely couldn't anymore!  *Smiles*

 

 

Today was the Day that I quit Avoiding the Showroom Foofs... and though they weren't Complete Foofs, I was Satisfied with the results.  Of coarse I had 'The Enforcer' with me... you know the one... the other half of the 'G-Kid Force' that wears a lot of Hats, Titles and Labels... like 'The Stylist'... 'The Beast Princess'... 'Princess T'... 'Wednesday Addams Child'... etc. etc. etc...   *Winks*   I guess I got weary and perhaps a bit Shamed of every Morning her Eager to get the Showrooms in Order... and me finding Excuses to put it off some more!?!  *Blushing*

 

Yeah, it's a Total Role Reversal... kinda hard to tell whose the Adult here, right?!?  *LOL*  She's also the One that constantly reminds me of what isn't getting done around the House and Studio either!   As if I could be oblivious to the fact that we still have remnants of Easter still tucked into some Vignettes!!!   {NOT pictured... too Embarrassed to air the Shame of it Visually... LOL}   Well, the Eggs are Pretty and perhaps folks won't notice... or might even Assume we keep them up year round Intentionally... unless they start reading the Scrabble Tiles spelling out Easter?  *Bwahahaa!*

 

 



Yeah, it's THAT Bad... that I couldn't even grab some new Words out of my Scrabble Tile Hoard to replace the Obvious Deferred Maintenance going on around here!   *LOL*   And 'The Enforcer' is NOTORIOUS for Stalking me around the House and not letting me out of her sight, lest I Escape to some Merry Adventure without Witnesses... while everything NEEDING to get done, well, remains primarily undone!?!   *Smiles*

 

 



Now... you MIGHT be Wondering... are Prince R and The Man as 'Remindful' as Princess T about what isn't getting done around here or in the Showrooms?  Nope.   And I'll tell you why... they are the most adept Procrastinators on the face of this Earth, they could win Awards for putting things off indefinitely or being totally oblivious about what isn't getting done!   *Le Sigh*   And they're only Volunteers Under Protest those two!   They're not likely to spark enthusiasm about any Project around here or at the Antique Mall, lest they get Recruited to Assist! *LOL*   They have Refined the Fine Art of Gelling and are of the ilk that is totally Content and comfortable about not doing what needs to get done!

 

 



In fact, those of that ilk realize that if it doesn't get done long enough... someone else will eventually do it... or it just won't get done at all... same difference to them, they aren't gonna Care one iota either way really.   I Wish I could be that Relaxed and Oblivious about such things... but at least I'm not as OCD about it as I used to be.   But 'The Enforcer' is... and she's not gonna be a Martyr about it either... she's going to Recruit sufficient Help if she has to Dog you half to death in order to accomplish that Goal!  *Smiles*    And so yes, Under much Protest she is shaking me out of my Reverie... and prompting me to catch up since I've fallen way, way behind...  and I know I'll be the better for it... or at least that is what I keep trying to Convince myself anyway!  *Winks*

 

 



 

 

Blessings from the Arizona Desert {And Yes, those are 2013's Dia de los Muertos Alter dead dried up Marigolds from last October! Ha ha ha ha ha} ... Dawn... The Bohemian



Christmas In July Event ~ Brass Armadillo West

Okay, so we're having a Christmas In July Event at our Antique Mall THE BRASS ARMADILLO WEST this Weekend.  And it's not as if I got the Memo late or forgot about it or anything... so I really had no Excuses, at least no valid ones, as to why I waited until the last possible Minute to hastily drag myself in there with Princess T in tow as my Assistant and Organizer, to try to pull together a Christmas Theme Vignette in at least one of the Showrooms and Participate!

 

 



Now they had Spaces for Rent for the Event in the Loft, but honestly, I didn't have enough Vintage Christmas Inventory left anymore to actually warrant renting more Space, it would have looked pathetic!  In fact, I had so little Vintage Christmas left to Sell that I was just grabbing whatever was Red or Green as fillers for the Vignette and could enhance the Display... I know, beyond pathetic.  And it's not as if I don't revel in Styling for the Holidays which are quickly rushing up on us, I totally do.  But it's been in the high triple digits and I Confess, it's hard to feel Christmasy Festive or in the right Spirit of that Season in this heat and the humidity that the Monsoon Season is now bringing us. My Pre-Christmas Mojo was flat as a pancake!  *LOL*

 

 



It drains me... to a point that even when I'm inside in air conditioning, working up a sweat changing out Vignettes, adding New Inventory or Re-Syling my Spaces is just too much... I don't always have it in me in the midst of the brutal Summers we Endure here in the Desert to go all out.  It's my Season for just Gelling... and finding any Excuse not to Work too hard so that I don't fall out with heat exhaustion or something... the 'something' usually meaning getting Hot and Cranky!  *Smiles*   I do kind of a reverse Hibernation thing here in the Desert... where I Hibernate during the Hot Months and come out of Hibernation once it passes!  *LOL*

 

 



But, when I went in on Friday to pick up my Check and saw all of the other Participants Creating these Beautiful and Elaborate Christmas In July Displays with loads of Vintage Christmas Inventory to drool over and Photograph... well, I felt a bit Shamed didn't I?  *Winks*  And it's not as if we didn't still have a bit of Christmas tucked away in my Bonus Room of Showroom One-Thirty-Three that couldn't be gathered and properly Displayed for the Event... so we went to Work doing it.

 

 



Now, I wasn't Feeling so Ashamed that I spent a whole lotta Time and Precious Energy doing this mind you!!!  *LOL*   Just getting up on the ladder and taking it all down from the Rafter Shelving was enough exersion for this Gramma... and I let The Stylist aka: Princess T go ahead and Work her Magic Creating the Vignette actually with me just Delegating... I do THAT Well and it's a lot less actual Work!  *Smiles*

 

Okay, so it's no Macy's Storefront Holiday Window or anything, but hey, my Stylist is only Eight so cut her a Break, I think she did a Stellar Job given the Time Element of throwing this together in less than forty minutes on short notice of the Eleventh Hour, because that's about all the steam I had in this Ole Engine for this Gig and Gramma had been Hibernating!  *LOL*

 

 



I haven't Sourced much Vintage Christmas either... even tho' I knew this Event was coming up... I didn't wanna Store it or prep it for the Event or have it languishing if it didn't Sell in July, until Season Appropriate to put out... the little bit I have Sourced recently, some Vintage Elves On A Shelf, still aren't Priced yet... and there's only about three of them!  *Smiles*

 

 



 

 

Seasonal Collections used to be something I was absolutely Insane about accumulating back in da day!    But now I figure, just how many Christmases do I have left in me at this Season of Life?   And my Stash is still pretty Epic, so I don't really need not one more Christmas Item in my Collections anymore... I've downsized the amount of Seasonal Decorating I do each Year so I'm no longer as Obsessed about it.

 

 

I still Adore the Holiday Seasons as much as I ever did mind you... but Decorating for it isn't as Elaborate and Epic as we used to do them.  Now we revel and Focus much more in the Meaning of each Season and the Simple Pleasures of each that we've always Cherished.  The Pomp and Circumstance is Magical and Enchanting to behold if someone else is doing all the Work, but I find that each Holiday Season I'm less inclined to throw myself into the type of Styling on Steroids for it like I used to!  *LOL*

 

  

Lord my Themes and Decorating used to be Off The Hook and it was so much Fun to Source for the Seasonal Treasures that would bring the Themes to Life each Year.   Some Themes took literally Years of Collecting to come together properly... and the Thrill Of The Hunt each Year to add to them was a Rush!   But... after you've Sourced it all... Styled with it all... reached Collection Saturation Point... it's reached a point of the Letting Go eventually.  I had come to that point... and so last Season and the Season before that were the Culling of the Seasonal Items I'd amassed.

 

 



My Epic Collection of Anna Lee Seasonal pieces is now Sold Off and only the two largest specimens remain and are left to Turn!   And I've got a Sizzling Summer Christmas In July Event Deal to hopefully get them Adopted out to their New Homes!?  *Smiles*

 

 



The largest specimens are the hardest to come by actually so any die-hard Anna Lee Enthusiast and Collector will be Delighted to have either one or both of them in their Collection.  I remember having my Anna Lee fetish in the Seventies and I still find them as Charming and Whimsical now as I did way back then when I used to have a Lustfest over the enormous Displays of them that the Dillards Department Store Christmas Vignettes used to Showcase and have for Sale!  I recall them being pricey even way back then... so my Anna Lee Collection began Modestly and built ever so slowly.

 

 



I recall these Styles of Vintage Santas when I was a Kid... did anyone else find them to be a bit Creepy tho'?  *LOL*   Santa on the Right looks a bit Possessed dontcha think?  *Winks*

 

 



Well dontcha?  *LMAO*  Evil Demented Santa... I think he'd make a Stellar Halloween Prop actually!  I know that Princess T concurred and called him Scary Santa!!!  *LOL*

 

 



And this Old Santa is wearing more Make-Up than a Drag Queen!  *LMAO*   Yeah, they don't make 'em like that anymore do they?!   *Ha ha ha*

 

 



 

 

Now, though I'm not as Tempted anymore to amass Vintage Seasonal Decor like I used to be... I was swaying about whether or not to splurge on one of these... preferably the one on the far Right... because our Pre-Lit Champagne Metallic Christmas Tree has been up all Year and Decorated with various Themes beyond the Christmas Seasonal one and the Lights finally went on the fritz.  So an Old Fashioned Light Wheel would Illuminate it very Retro... but, they're a little pricey, so I'm not willing to Splurge just yet... tho' I might regret that later when you can't find them for Love nor Money at any Price!?  *Smiles*

 

 

 

 

That's how it can be with Vintage and Collectible Seasonal Items huh?  I Sold both of my Vintage 1960's Aluminum Christmas Trees because I could never find one of those darned Color Wheels when I wanted one.  Now that my Trees have gone off to New Homes, well, I tend to see these Wheels much more often!  *LOL*

 

But if I should ever get a Nostalgic hankering, I must say, several of the Vendors always manage to Source some of the Real Deal when it comes to the Vintage Aluminum Pom-Pom Christmas Trees from that Era I so fondly recall.   Though I must say each Season the Prices are heading more and more into the Stratosphere so its unlikely I'll replace those I Sold... I'm not THAT Nostalgic!  But... you might be... or the New Crowd of Young People might never have owned one yet to Enjoy going Christmas Retro! *Smiles*

 

 



There's also always a Creative Wealth of OOAK Art Christmas Trees... like this enormous one that seems to have been Created out of Coffee Cans and festooned with Old Shiny Bright Ornaments and Chrystal Chandie Prisms!

 

 



And there are always the Spiritual Collectibles... like this Fab Tapestry of Madonna and Christ Child. 

 

 



And how about a Rare Retro Red Typewriter for the Holiday Season?!  This would look Amazing in a Christmas Inspired Vignette!   I can't say I've ever seen one this Color before... LOVE IT!   And it came complete with it's original Case and Literature!!!

 

 



 

 

And I always Enjoy Sourcing Vintage Inventory for what one could put under the Christmas Tree and present as Gifts!!!   How about a couple of Rez Hand-Made Dolls in full regalia?

 

And one of the Christmas In July Vendors up in the Loft had this Original Vintage Box with Wonderful Graphics that held the Christmas Storybook AND the entire 16 Piece Manger Set... for only Seven Bucks!  Yes, Deals abound so if you're Sourcing your Vintage Christmas Stash... you need to get there for this Weekend's two day Event which will run through Sunday Night!

 

 



Loads of Antique, Vintage and Collectible Christmas Treasures are throughout the Mall and a Special Display Area has been set up in the Loft on the Upstairs Level, just take a sharp Right when you get off the Elevator!

 

 



And don't forget to check out the locked Cases as well... they hold the tiniest and/or high end Treasures.

 

 



And if like me you get a jump on your Christmas Gift buying, now would be the time to start building the Stash of Presents and checking off your Gift List early so that when the Holiday Season begins to roll you can sit back and just Enjoy it properly without any desperation or last minute buying frenzies!

 

 



Because tho' I was quite Lazy about Styling for an Early Seasonal Event... I tend to always get a Head Start on my Christmas Gift buying for everyone so that I can budget it out over Time and Source the best Gifts before everything is picked over!

 

 



 

 

And yes... my Assistant The Stylist was wearing a Sponge Bob Crusty Crab Hat... ain't she a Riot!?

 

Blessings from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian