Bari J.

Loot

 Today my mission was to find props for book photos. So I headed out to one of my favorite antique shops, Blue Door in Livermore, and proceeded to spend the better part of the morning there. That place is packed with stuff so you have to go around and around to see it all. But here are the goodies I got...

 

Of course, I managed to squeak in a couple of goodies that weren't for The Book (you can guess as to which ones).

But I did resist these things which were kinda' irresistible...

This pile of vintage ribbon had my name all over it:

 

And these totally made me think of Miss Joanna:

 

Now I'm going to clean up this mess of a studio so I can get some work done. And the side effect of that may be to give you a virtual tour using the Flip Cam... Stay tuned.
 
 
 

Collections

 

Hi there. Hope you all had a nice weekend. I have spent mine clearing out a lot of stuff around here in preparation for taking some photos for "The Book" ((I say this in quotes because my kids have started commenting on what I'm doing around here saying, "Oh, It's for 'The Book'." I'm pretty sure this is meant to be an exasperated commentary on my general mindset lately, but I'll try not to hold it against them.))

While I'm not nearly done fixing up and making the place look close to book-worthy, I did find that I have a heck of a lot of junk. My sister would faint if she saw it all, so confessing it here is going to make her go into shock. My sister is "Junk-Adverse" ... or "stuff-phobic". I would say that I generally am too, but while I admit there is probably a fine line between collecting and hoarding, I do make exceptions. And I tend to hide my exceptions. I don't usually have all this stuff out at once, you know. Only to show you.

Because even if my sister would put her foot down and not let me buy one single piece more of milk glass, most of what I have is pretty cool "junk" ... in various categories of "junking". I did notice that most of it is stuff I decided years ago I would "collect", but clearly lost interest somewhere along the way. 

This is one of those starter collections. Really love my puppies. One is a chalkware Scotty and the other three were part of a set. I truthfully would like some more of these (but where to put them...).

 

I had a thing for dress forms at one point. I'm pretty sick of them now, but I do think they look pretty cute all together like this...

 

I'm still pretty fond of vintage wooden spools...

 

And the cute little hens in there with them...

 

And for a while, I couldn't help myself when it came to milk glass. I still love this stuff but have sworn only to buy it if I find a good deal on pink pieces. They are pretty hard to find, so I'm safe saying this.

 

And my favorite. Vintage tins. These are useful junk. They hold other junk and are thereby justifiable junk.

 

Now I must go put all this stuff away before my sister sees this post and calls me up along with my brother and other sister to do an intervention. That way I can say, "but I have a place for all the stuff and all the stuff is in it's place".
 
 
 
 
 
 

Apparently We are Being Schnookered...

Here in Northern California we have unfortunately become used to paying premium for gas, food, clothing, etc... we have some of the highest prices in the country... gas today: $4.75.

On my trip up to Washington I became painfully aware of other items we are being ripped off on: antiques and vintage goodies.

I was all tail-a'waggin' when I saw these at A QUARTER THE PRICE I AM USED TO PAYING. I scooped up as many as I could find.

Then at the Farm Chicks show after a full day of standing on my feet, this caught my eye. Grannie's stool! Just $35, my sweet. I don't even want to think about what I would have been schnookered into paying at the Alameda. Check out it's pink goodness. I have plans for this baby. In fact, it's half done. Just got to grab Super Husband for the finishing touches. Will show off it's new beauty tomorrow.

Vintage Goodie Hunt

Ah, yes, the never ending search for loot.

My favorite find of the day... The gold tone pair of Kramer earrings top left.

Yup. Had to use them right away, and I miss them already.

What do I love almost as much as a great pair of shoes?

Ooooh, baby! Sparkly things!

 

I got a little crazy over at The Button Lady's house today. I visit the most wonderful lady who has been collecting buttons all her life to get buttons for my bags. Did she have the goodies out for me today! I came rolling home with all of these. I'll not have to go button shopping for a long, long time.

Shopping is good for the soul.

 

Ah yes, I am back to a more normal me, and all it took was one antique shop. I was a very crabby person this morning, but a few brooches, a little lace, some rhinestone earrings, and I'm cured! I still have to take those photos which I am not in the mood to do, but give me some vintage ribbon, and I'm a happy girl. Oh, and a stop at the sweet and ever-so-vintage DRIVE THROUGH ice and milk store for a beautiful vanilla icecream on a cone was also very helpful. The only thing that might make me happier is a great pair of shoes... good thing Piperlime is only a click away. I'm just kidding. You don't really think I'm that shallow do you? Shoes do sound good though. I'll exercise some discipline (as far as you know). Muwahahahahahahahaha... (evil laugh).

Vintage Score

Oh-My-Goodness! I am too happy, happy, happy. I search high and low for stuff like this and here all at once comes this never worn vintage stock of enamel and rhinestone brooches apparently from the 40s and 50s. Cha-Yum! 

Scrappy packets...

I've put a couple more scrap packets on etsy ... wow, those goodies are pretty popular! Also there is one of those necklaces I said I was going to list and then didn't. Ooooh, and I also came across a big slew of red vintage goodness hiding in my cabinet... that's there too. Visit if you have time, and have fun. Thanks!

So Sweet.

This beautiful vase arrived today. It is a gift from Junk2Jewels. Doesn't it look great in my studio?

Thank you Tracy! You certainly didn't need to send anything, but I do love it!

Etsy Shop Updated

Vintage Scrap Packs have been loaded on the etsy store. Enjoy!

Applique Day

Paper Obsessed... more on the "who do you love?" list that goes on for infinity...

Leslie Saito of the Paper Princess has it down. Her original designs are scrum-dilly-uptious! I bought a couple of items several weeks ago, and I'm due for some more...

Here's what I have my eye on:

Birdy notecards...

More Twine... Comes in a buncha' colors...

And, though I'm taken care of in the calling card department, I think I need these personalized calling cards...

Pleasanton Antiques

Oooh how I love an outdoor antique market! Today I dragged the whole family along. They weren't very pleased with me, so I had to kind of rush through. I bribed them with ice cream and managed to grab these goodies along the way. They will be enhancing Bari J. products to come!

I'm A Flick-ed.

Pardon the pun... I just had to. I've been having far too much fun on several places on the web. One of them is Flickr. The other is eBay. They are both a couple of time-sucker-uppers! Here's what came today from eBay. I must stop because I have no need for these things. They are just going to sit here taking up space and looking pretty. Also here are my favorites from Flickr... a very dangerous, time-draining toy.

Uh Oh! I dug out the jewelry making goodies!

I had to cut myself off from the bead and bauble addiction when I aquired the fabric addiction. No 12-steps for me. I just replaced one addiction for the other & make it a rule to only have one obsession at a time... Sound good?  But...(whining) I've been working on these ribbon brooches, and getting more and more carried away. I started hunting around for findings and others goodies when I remembered a stash I had buried deep in our guest room closet. Zoinks! The addiction has resurfaced. I thought I had that one licked.  (Don't worry Elizabeth, the best goodies made their way onto your brooches).

These lovlies are going to be great as earrings or something. Wow, I had the best filigree bead caps! What were they just sitting there collecting dust for? Can you see the chippy little pink flower looking ones on the second photo? Oooh! I love that one. I've already started layering these up to make charms. The two bottom photos are a compilation of several half finished projects from years ago. I do need to mention that the idea of using the watches came from Connie... she's brilliant isn't she? Also, the little clam shell the jewels are in was a birthday gift from her too. See the dolly shoe... classic Connie Govea Stuart. Love it!

Well, that was fun! Don't know what I'm doing with any of these jewels (except wear them) because it's not really part of the grand plans for Bari J. as a business, but oooh I love those shiny things!