Unpacking From The Junk Jaunt

When I returned from my buying trip two weeks ago, I cruised into town in my sleek 17' Uhaul, 

(such a delightful vehicle to drive . . . ),

 suffering from

 "the flu, or something like it".

With a little help from my friends, I went straight home to bed, and spent several days attempting to regain my strength.

These friends unloaded the truck and stashed a wealth of items in my warehouse.

Architectural fragments

corbels

pillars

wreaths

old peely shutters

gorgeous doors

tinware

cool stuff!

After being away for a week and sleeping through the better part of the following week, 

I 

NEEDED

to get myself in gear

and 

get some of those awesome

finds 

into

the 

SHOP!

Yesterday I finally managed to price and inventory some precious items

and

display them

at

PATINA ANTIQUES.

(OK - again with a little help from my friends.)

I just haven't really shaken this lethargy 

and

weak, tired, worn out feeling

that followed 

"the flu or something like it".

It's wicked!!!

Anyway,

There is a fresh selection of

antique 

tick tock clocks

old bottles

ironstone

skeleton keys

a turn of the century, rolling, store display rack,

pairs of gnarly corbels

shelf brackets,

folkart birdhouses,

and a whole lot of sweet finds.

Come peruse

and

enjoy

and tomorrow I'll be bringing in another truckload!

Sneak Peek From Kansas

Joy has been texting photos to me from Kansas and boy has she picked up some great stuff! I thought I'd show you some of the things she's bringing home...

A wonderful 1908 oak door.

Eleven antique columns.

Three 8' tables, a long bench, grain cabinet, 8 huge corbels and 2 chandeliers.

You'll want to beat me to the store for that bench. It would go perfectly with my farm table!

The Perils of an Antiques Dealer.

What a day, what a day. It all started out so pleasantly yesterday. We found some great items to bring back to Denver...

 Architectural pieces and coverlet pieces from the 1800's.

 Antique honey jars and dinner mint tins.

 Enough doors and windows to build your own home.

And rusty, peely ceiling tins.

But then came the truck...the wrong truck...the one without a ramp, even though we were promised it had one. If there's one thing hauling junk has done for me, it's build muscles, but after loading the truck without a ramp, we came to find that Budget's 10 foot trucks are really only 9'6" - not big enough to accommodate our entire haul.

After canceling that truck, finding a new one through U-haul and loading it all up, we discovered it was the senior citizen of their fleet with 110,000 miles, no power steering and only the ability to get up to 45 mph. With the Kansas wind pushing it back, we could only get to 35 mph and the rain was starting to move in.

We called U-haul to swap out trucks but received little sympathy from them. So we sat, waiting and wondering, with a huge load of architectural items, old 3-wheel adult trikes, cabinets and assorted doors and furniture, hoping we'd make it back to Denver some time this month.

U-haul is off my good list.

The site we rented at claims they're not responsible and the main number for this city gets us to someone who is obviously not up for any Customer Service Agent of the Year award. We were routed and rerouted with answers vague and rampant avoidance. No one was able to offer any answers or advice, even though (or because?) they already had our $979 in their cash registers.

Did I mention that U-haul is off my good list?

After endless calls I finally found Shannon in the U-haul office in Wichita and she has saved the day and the reputation of the company. We were finally on the road again.

{The sweet rewards of manual labor!}

On the Road Again...

Joy is off on another junk jaunt to bring you new and fabulous antiques. She's been sending photos from the road, which make me completely jealous, but her 4 am wake up calls are just a bit early for my taste!

Here's some early-morning Kansas scenery. I love the way the sun is just coming up and shining on the farms.

On the way to pick up some antique cupboards and farm tables...

Stay tuned... As they say, "While the cat's away, her daughter will play!"

~Kellie

It's Time

Well, Dear Ones,

I am

getting ready for my cross country 

antiquing jaunt

with several friends . . . 

I'll keep you posted on our progress through the week.

Packing the gear:

sounds like bad weather - and boy is that a chore.

Mud boots, for sure  . . . 

raincoat and old clothes . . . 

hat to cover the wet hair . . .

loading a trailer in the rain and wind is 

just soooo much fun!

but 

it's what I do . . .

come

 rain or shine 

or wind or hail

sort of like the postal service. . . 

bringing you good stuff

no matter what!!!!

Always prowling through someone's barn or shed, 

and can't wait around for the sweet sunny days to do it!

Gotta get out there and brave the elements.

Sometimes the seller gets discouraged because the weather is poor,

and that can occasionally mean the prices are better . . .

and when the day is done and the goods are packed

and I'm washed up and warm and dry again

and lounging in a comfy spot reviewing the day's haul . . . 

having good food and better conversation with

my fellow adventurers . . . 

there's great satisfaction

in a job well done . . . 

and the sense that even tho' it's a dirty job,

somebody's gotta do it . . . 

and

 I'm

  just a little bit proud 

and delighted that it was

me 

See you soon! 

JUNKIN' WITH JOY JAUNT

And the winner is . . . . 

Congratulations Beth B. !!!!

Your name has been drawn from the many entries in the 

Junkin' With Joy Jaunt

Contest!

You'll be traveling cross country in a few weeks, scouting for the good stuff with 

Joy and Company!

Pack you bags and your boots and sunscreen and granny cart, 

and let's get on the road.

We're heading across several states

to

 get to the fabulous treasures Joy will bring back to

 Patina Antiques & Home.

I appreciate all the entries in this great event - and due to popular demand

 Joy will be offering this opportunity again

in the future.

Keep your eye on the blog . . . 

cause Joy travels regularly.

Love to you all . . . .

Joy

Joy And The Junk Posse

ENTER TO WIN

Join Joy and her Junk Posse

 as we travel cross country 

the first week of May,

 seeking treasure.

HOW TO ENTER

1.)     Become a follower of this 

antiques by joy

blog . . .

leave me a comment, so I know you were here!

2.)     From this page,

click on the Facebook link, and 

"like" the Facebook page.

Leave a comment there.

Simple - you're entered in the contest.

(if you're not on Facebook, 

just join the blog here as a 'follower'.)

May 1-8 are our travel dates!

Drawing on April 15th 

Not able to take a trip with Joy?

Follow the steps above and let me know .

When you're in the shop, claim your 

discount!!!

15%

 off any one "JOY" item

 you purchase!

THERE'S STILL TIME 
TO ENTER THE CONTEST!!!!  

A SPOT IN THE ROAD TRIP CARAVAN WITH JOY AND COMPANY

MAY 1-7  CROSS COUNTRY 

 PICKING TOUR !!!!

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE ENTRY DETAILS IN MY EARLIER POST.

DRAWING ON APRIL 15TH !!!

JOY

Road Trip With Joy

Good Morning Dear Friends.

Welcome to Antiques By Joy!

IT'S A ROADTRIP!!!!!!

Joy has a contest going on,

 and you can enter to win a spot in my

 May

 antiquing trip caravan. 

 If you've ever desired to go on a hunting expedition for antiques, now is your chance.

Join Joy and company as they pack up their boots, jeans, hats and granny carts and set off on the journey for hidden treasure. We'll be gone for a week, scouring the countryside, searching through so many exciting venues for the sort of antiques you'd find at Patina.

 It's a roadtrip! 

****To Enter ****

It's simple, simple, simple!

First:

'Follow' my blog. 

 Just scroll down to where it says

 "FOLLOW"

with Google Friend Connect

in the right hand column and click on follow. 

Be sure to leave a comment in my comment box, with your name!

Second:

Scroll up my blog to the

 Antiques by Joy is on Facebook

link

 and click to my Facebook page. 

"LIKE" my page on Facebook.

Be sure to leave a comment there, also.

If you're not on Facebook, just follow me here!

Now you're entered in the Roadtrip contest.

In two weeks, I will draw a name from the hat, and the winner will be going on the jaunt with Joy and company!

There's nothing quite so much fun as getting to know you. 

 Even if you cannot join me on the road this time, you're invited to follow the blog, and learn more about Joy here and at 

Antiques by Joy on Facebook.  

You're invited to tell me something about yourself and your love for antiques at my Facebook wall,

 or in comments here

 on the blog.

Happy Trails!

Joy's Antiques Road Trip - Day Two

Check out my blog post from

March 24th

 to see how simple it is

 to

 enter the contest! 

Get your name in the hat, to win a spot on the

 Antiques Road Trip

 with

 Joy and Company 

in May, 2011 !

Take an Antiques Road Trip With Joy????

ON THE ROAD AGAIN - ROAD TRIP CONTEST !!!

It's just about 5 weeks away - one of my favorite antiques jaunts, across the country.  

Would you like to win a spot in the caravan?

I'll be on the road with my favorite traveling junk junkies, searching through

 the most wonderful parts of the country for the

 GOOD STUFF.  

We'll be on the road again from 

May 1st - 9th

hitting all those secret spots where treasures are waiting to be unearthed.

Here's how to win a spot:

1. Go and "like" Antiques by Joy on Facebook. Leave me a comment here, so I know that you did.
-OR-
2. If you're not on Facebook (and you really should be!) then "follow" my blog here instead. Just scroll down to where it says "FOLLOW with Google Friend Connect" in the right hand column and click on "Follow". Be sure to leave me a comment on this post.

I wish I could take you all along, but only one lucky winner will be chosen.

Springtime

Happy Monday! 

 Today was warm and sunny and windy in Denver . . . and we reached 74 degrees.  

What an incredible day!  

I was possessed by spring fever - and happy and carefree and energized.

The Round Top Texas antique show is just around the corner - and I'm staying here, looking after

 Patina Antiques and Home, 

while partner goes to shop in the sunshine.  That's OK - I'll be off to parts east in no time, trekking across the country with girlfriends, picking the best old junk!  You'll want to visit the shop regularly to catch the new things before someone else snatches them away!!!

There's nothing more fun than setting off with the girls on a serendipitous foray into parts unknown.  One contact hooks me up with another, and we travel from barn to shed to farmhouse to warehouse to old store to flea market . . . sifting through eras of incredible pieces, limited only by the space on the trailer and the money in my checkbook.  

We eat, and we shop . . . then we eat, and we shop.  I feel it's my civic duty to try the bakeries in each little community - and Zoe and I have been known to buy one of each item in the bakery display - just because we can!  I'm pretty sure that one day last year in Iowa, We ate 4 different kinds of pie. 

 Hey - we were working really hard!

Yep . . . I'd better start dieting right now - so I can eat my way across country next month!

P.S.
  antiquesbyjoy blog
was awarded 
TOP BLOG AWARD
by Online University!!!

see it @ http://www.onlineuniversity.org/top_antiques/

Home Again, Home Again . . .

Well, I'm home from a wonderful trip, and unloading so many terrific treasures that it seems like Christmas! I can't wait to get them all unpacked, washed, inventoried and placed in the shop! Many thanks to Alice and Lisa my travelling companions . . . what fun we had! We scooted across Nebraska to Iowa, and attended the 'What Cheer' Antiques Flea Market. I met so many dealers who do the really killer shows, like Heart of Country and Brimfield, and Walnut and Gold Rush. They were wonderfully informative and we reminisced about the 'good old days' when really old things were abundant and reasonable, blah, blah, blah . . . and they were so helpful in my buying these sweet things for you to enjoy!

Following the market, we visited Walnut - renown antiques town. There were so many options we could only choose a few places to stop and shop - but that means we'll be going back, to catch some more of the enticing little towns, shops and markets!

One of the best places we visited was a shop called Cross Creek, (blogspot is "Simply Iowa" - check it out!!), and what an inspiring afternoon that was!     It was STACKED with everything I dream of in the way of antiques . . . and the proprietor, Barb, was as sweet as can be! What a blast it would be to hang with her on her travels!

I found more than I could carry or afford, but I culled through and chose the best of the best for all of my Colorado aficionados. The shop will be taking on a fresh grouping every day for the next month - and some awesome pieces will be reserved for the Old Glory Antiques Show in June.

Some of my favorite pieces are antique English watch faces, beautiful ironstone, an ancient birdcage with stand, all crusty with patina . . . books from the early 1800's, (including one from 1828), a sweet French breadboard, mellow buttons, a big old chalkboard, great picture frames, and on and on . . .

There's more than I can even remember at this point . . . but each box is a delight! Ooh - here are the linens . . . and the vintage linen toweling with the blue stripes . . . and the silver spooner and the ink wells . . . tiny English clay flower pots and an incredible wooden carrier from the mid 1800's. There are old beach sand shovels to display with your seashells . . . and the list goes on .

You'll really want to come and see this. By Wednesday the 6th a bunch of it will be available for you. Don't wait too long!

P.S. Thanks to Anne for covering for me at Patina!

Early Mornings

Well, I awoke to several inches of snow this morning . . . after an evening of cold drizzle. It's calm and quiet and the first birds are awakening with their songs filtering into the house. That's the most pleasant alarm clock of all . . .

Time for some breakfast, and then just a little blog before my upcoming trip. There is much to accomplish today. I enjoy my early morning "quiet time" and bible study, before it's light out. The morning is fresh and pristine and I always feel as though I'm getting a little head start on the day. Once the sun is up, the cares of the world rush in, the phone begins to ring and there are expectations that crowd my schedule. This is my time, and I relish the peaceful hour.

My suitcase is packed, my travelling gear is ready. Antiques dealers have their own peculiar tools of the trade. Magnifying glass, magnet, tape measure, flashlight, leather gloves, bungee cords, granny cart, bubble wrap, strapping tape, packing boxes, packing blankets, storage tubs, rain coat, wet wipes, tarps, hat, fanny pack, water bottles, camera, notebook, price guides, James Taylor Cd's, walkie talkies, peanut M&M's . . . lots of peanut M&M's ! And batteries . . . camera batteries, walkie talkie batteries, flashlight batteries . . . I actually own and use work gloves which have tiny little flashlights built into the fingertips, (mechanics gloves), and of course they require a minuscule battery. These are great for reaching into my trailer at midnight to locate some other set of batteries . . . (Thank you Roxie - these are one of the best Christmas presents I ever received!)

I'm ready for my day to begin now . . . thank you for joining me for a little nonsense and my early morning musings.

On The Road Again

I'm planning a road trip with my friends Alice and Lisa, to search for treasures for the shop! We'll be traveling cross country for several days, poking into a variety of haunts for those unique pieces you'll love for your homes! It's spring . . . the weather is iffy . . . could rain or blow or be sunny and perfect . . . no one can predict!

The truth is, we don't even care.

We're packing the essentials and our music, and hitting the road. There's nothing quite like the anticipation of a road trip. (I'm smiling, even as I do my laundry.) Of course, I sort of like doing laundry in my well outfitted laundry room.

I have accumulated some delightful European washboards and antique clothespins and the little shelf is filled with vintage jars and baskets which hold essentials such as soap and fabric softener. There is a peaceful sense of things being well ordered, as laundry flows from basket to washer to dryer to hangers and neatly folded piles. I feel content that I have accomplished my task and enjoyed the process.

Back to the matter at hand . . . shopping!

The store is busy, and that means lots of beautiful items going out each day - and lots of new items replacing them. It's a constant turnover of wonderful finds . . .

and necessitates a constant search for special items that will spark your interest, make your home more beautiful and orderly, and help you express your personal decorating style. I loooove my work.

It's who I am . . . it's what I do!

The thrill of the search is one of my favorite parts of the business. I'm travelling with two of the best shoppers I know - and will have to be on my toes to garner the best, before they discover it! We'll be up early, face long days, walk miles and miles, brave weather and all terrain, fight off other shoppers . . . oh the trials we'll endure . . . lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

(Doesn't it still sound like the most fun you can imagine????)

I wish I could take you all along, to share the excitement.

Watch the post for photos and updates. I'll let you know how it goes!

Early Birds

What is more pleasant than meeting with friends and enjoying good conversation?

Hmmm . . . Shopping????

I was an early bird this morning, braving the snow and low temperature to explore an indoor yard sale. There were fewer participants than expected, due to inclement weather, but there were treasures to be found!

I love to rummage through items cast off by others, always expecting some serendipitous find! I was not disappointed.

I found a white enamelware bucket with a wooden bale handle, European in origin . . . perfect for so many chores.

There were little silver butter knives,

majolica-like fruit plates,

a breadboard,

and a miscellany of other items I can put to good use.

I believe the recycling and repurposing of possessions is such an important

value for all of us. The fewer new items we manufacture, the more resources we will conserve.

I was pleased to run into a fellow brave antiquer who repurposes vintage jewelry and other items,

creating fresh and desirable jewelry and lovely home decor. Amy is a delightful and talented woman and you can visit her shop at The Barn, in Castle Rock, Coorado.

I saw several other wonderful women I know, and we shared our finds and caught one another up on recent adventures and escapades. It is good to be hale and hearty and brave . . . adventurous and curious. The temptation at daybreak was to stay snuggled under the quilt, warm and cozy . . . but the decision to jump up and have my coffee, bundle up against the winds and go exploring paid off.

I'm all smiles!