"MY NAME IS JAN AND I'M A HOARDER"

My sweet and precious fellow hoarder, Shell, of Bungalow Bling, is hosting this Hoarder's Event.

There's a second part to this party (party??) for

Crafts Gone Bad.

Yeppers, she covered just about everything.

She and I are recent blog buddies.

She's the sweetest thing and we hit it off right away.

Though a bit skeptical at first,

I believe she was sincere when she told me that,

no, this event was not created to mortify me

in front of my fellow bloggers and dear friends.

*Anyone know different??*

So, it is with a wee bit of trepidation that I show you the photos of my studio, aka "the crack house".

Won't it be nice to finally understand why I would nickname my studio "the crack house"??

The photos tell the story.

I just have to tell you first that none of this is any of my fault.

The main area of my work space where I work.

This is to the right of my work area. I try really hard to keep things

out of the front of my sewing machine so I'll actually use it.

 Darlene on the floor. Horrors.

And, she's under foot. My foot; feet.
Right where my chair is

supposed to slide under the table.

Dar' thinks she's pretty hot and can land where ever.

Ahhh, yes, everyone needs an orderly jewelry making area.

See the stamps?? I have about 750 more.

NO, I'm not kidding.

Look at the good use I make of my second work table.

Makes you wanna come and take a class doesn't it?

The Sizzix area on the left and the soldering station on the right.

It's great to have all this room to spread out.

The corner to the left of the second work table.

The paper??

Oh, it's okay, don't feel sorry for me.

I have at least 700 more sheets of printed paper 

and I'd guess about 150 pieces of card stock.

I have a bit of a weakness for Paper Whimsy collage sheets.

I have hundreds of them and her newer digi sheets.

The overflow into the "workroom" of our house.

I like tall paper and messes a lot.

I have tons of the best fabric and lace.

You're seeing about a third of my stash.

OMG, this is so cool.

So I was at this estate sale and I bought a king size

chenille bedspread for 25.00 - a steal in itself.

I cut all of the really large poms off of the edges

and I still have all of that fabulous chenille fabric.

I adore trims.

One could say I collect it,

but that would be snippy.

And though I have a really lot of trims,

it's the fancy, elegant ones that I treasure the most.

If I was sitting at my work table and looked to my right,

this is what I would see.

Oh, hush. I'm talking about Baxter,

dumbest dog on the planet.

If you came for a visit tomorrow

when you walked through the door into my studio

and looked to your right, this is what would greet you....

an amazing dressmaker form that I just bought at a flea market.

If I'm busy or sick and can't work

I make piles.

Lots and lots of piles.

Walking into the studio from the garage

you would look to your left and see treasures.

Bottles.

I've been sick and haven't been able to work.

I'm doing so much better now that

I'm going to get these bottles

and the rest in another big box,

all fixed up so beautifully that you're going to

buy at least two.

That's what I told the Tank would happen.

Blah, blah, blah....but look at those vintage clocks.

The rest of them are scattered throughout the house.

I love, love, love collections of vintage clocks.

More crap.

Oh, come on!

 It's crap.

I'm way past the "stuff" phase.

I have three isles in the studio.

This is the one that runs in front of the built-ins.

We haven't been using this isle; just Maytag.

I still buy Scrabble games at garage sales for the pieces.

I want more.

The neatly stacked ribbon is a lie.

The rest of my ribbon is.....here somewhere.....

Oh, yeah, my sister reminded me that I have

boxes full of ribbon in the built-ins. *sigh*

After being forced to photograph and validate my hoarding

I have come up with some wonderful ideas how to

make groupings of supplies that you haven't even seen

and vintage pieces for you to purchase in my Etsy shop.

Except, I am going to have to give some real thought

about sharing my vintage jewelry.

I'm just sayin'.

We're working our way up to the best vintage jewelry box;

my favorite pieces.

My best vintage rhinestone pieces...

They're even more spectacular in person

and I love each one of them

as much as I love my children.

Oh, good grief, wipe that look of horror off of your face.

I'm just sorta kidding.

Mmmmm, pearl wanna bee's and vintage pearls

living in harmony in the crack house.

The garage takes care of the overflow.

Keep scrolling.

Oops. Turn your computer or your head sideways

to check out this pile.

Junking, the art of it, is what drives me.

......and drives me.

Oh, for heaven's sake!

I am exhausted after taking all of these pictures

and I have to admit that you really haven't gotten a realistic

look at the Crack House.

I have much more that I'm too worn out to share with you....

my creepy baby doll head collection, all of my trims, vintage flowers,

millinery pieces, ephemera, embellishments;

oh, the stacks of boxes full of my jewelry makings

............I'm sure I know there's more.

So, here's what I'm going to do.

In between helping my son set up his classroom for his first teaching job,

and helping Brat set up hers,

and Craig's wedding *rehearsal dinner* invitations, place cards, center pieces

and gifts I'm making for everyone that attends,

and spending two days at the Round Top Antique show,

and out of town company,

I'm going to get organized, take pictures of all that will be listed in my Etsy shop,

get it listed *gagging*

and I'll post pictures of that process and show you what a

decent Crack House should look like.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog!

I appreciate my readers so much - please let me know you were here

by leaving a comment (don't be mean).

XXXOOO, Jan

Baxter - spook

ANOTHER FIVE STAR ESTATE SALE .....oh.....my.............GOSH!!!

I know!! Two hoarder estate sales, one right after the other?? Who'da thought? I was floating like 9" off the ground as I stood in line waiting to get in yesterday. It felt a little like the Exorcist when I realized that I was floating above the sidewalk.
And as I stood in line, I must tell you that my mother said to me, after having attended last weekend's sale and fixin to attend this second hoarder sale, "You ought to have Fitch Estate Sales do an estate sale on your studio."
Oh, really, mother... 
The woman will never understand mixed media art.

These wonderful estate sales that I attend weekend after weekend are put on by Fitch Estate Sales. Rachel Fitch is the owner and we've come to like each other a lot - heck, I see her every weekend when I'm in town because I can't stay away from her estate sales.

The infamous Rachel Fitch with a gosh-awful hat on her head, striking a pose.

I DON'T THINK the "hat" sold.

I'm very excited that tomorrow, Sunday morning in case I don't get this finished until late Sunday or Monday, because her husband is going to be guest pastor while our pastor and his family are at Disney World. I'm so looking forward to it - maybe I'll be able to stay awake for the entire sermon for a change.
(Oh, hush, I'm just kidding)

And, before we get to the part you're dying for....the pics of my treasures, I simply must dedicate this post to my new estate sale, antique dealing, mixed media artist friend, Anne Lorys. She had to work and is relying on my finds to feed her hunger for all things found!
 The way Fitch Estate Sales operates is that the first day of the sale, usually a Friday, everything is full-price, and the second day is 1/2 price or less. So, you buy what you must have or die on the first day and go back on the second day and grab up everything you hid under the beds and buy it for half-price.

And, I have come to a new understanding of how emotional, how stressful, putting on an estate sale is for the family because I know the daughter of the woman whose estate was being sold this weekend. It's so hard on the family to have to go through their loved one's things, decide what to keep, what to part with...I have a greater realization now that I've had a friend have to go through that...
 So, on to this weekend's sale. . .

The house is older, absolutely darling and full of the most amazing light fixtures!

I was dyin' when I found all of these vintage baby shoes!

Dyin'!!

These two vintage baby dresses really touched my heart.

There were a lot of much loved teddy bears. I picked up these two - the one on the left for me and the one on the right is a surprise present for an artist friend.......

Oh, yeah, a vest made out of a gorgeous quilt which I plan on cutting up as needed for different projects. And, the price?

You wouldn't believe me if I told you!

This bunch of vintage lace is a BUNCH of vintage lace and I bought it the 2nd day.....a steal. I should be in jail.

I love it, I love it, I love it!

Believe me when I tell you that you cannot see ALL of the trims, all of the fabulous rick-rack, in this stack.

Add another year to my jail sentence.

My mother thought I was sick when I squeeled as I found these loose limbs and she's seen my "the creepier the doll the better" workroom.

I didn't get it.

Yet another pair of legs and a lady's head, heehee, a wonderful vintage collar and two hand appliqued arch-like pieces and a sequined bunny - so cool. Oh, and that plastic tube-like container is how they used to package zippers!

For my "the creepier the doll the better" workroom I bought a vintage doll body - no head. I love it and my mother is seriously concerned....I also got another pair of vintage children's shoes a small old coin purse and a small, very sturdy hat box.

Now, I've personally never seen a hat quite small enough to fit this "hat box" but whatever it is, it is fabulous.

Here's a close-up of the "hat box"-isn't it great?

The metal handle on the top-love it!

A tin FULL of the most wonderful vintage jewelry.

($2.50 for all of it on Day 2).

Another steal , another year in jail.

Oh, my gosh....Day 2 and that's a vintage hat covered with large pink velvet leaves which are covered with pink netting - somebody shoot me! And the precious cereal bowls...$1.00 each - Day 2. The vintage gold capped bead necklace - $1.00 on Day 2 *that was a real deal*, and a darling small, made in Germany *chipped* pitcher for my small white pitcher collection - Day 2, $1.00. WHOOP!!! 

Are you ready?? .....a long strand of pink mercury beads, a gold chain and vintage white cotton collar-do they have ice cream in jail??

A very interesting shaped Marie Antoinette embroidered piece with a fabulous edging. This is a very wonderful piece. WOO HOO!!

And, last but not least, a suitcase to add to the ones next to the chair in the LR on top of which I'll set the lamp you're drooling over (or maybe not so much) and this really neat heavy iron lid-to-something that will be in my fern bed making me smile whenever I see it.

As you well know, junking can be exhausting so mom and I ate a most delicious lunch at my favorite mexican restuarant in Kerrville, Los Altos de Jalisco no.4.

Oh, baby, it was a great way to end Day 2 of a most wonderful estate sale.

As always, thank you to all of my readers. You make my day with your uplifting comments and I love you all!

Jan