Monday, April 30, 2012

Traveling along Highway 30....

Found what I was looking for.  We didn't find it in the large antique place in Overton, NE.  We found it in a small antique place in Cozad, NE.  Didn't find much else, some silver spoons way cheap, some glass cereal bowls, and an aluminum cake carrier.  Door knobs & architectural pieces were overpriced and nothing else caught my eye. 
I should post some photos, but it's complicated...no internet access at parent's home, which is where my stuff & camera are.  I'll figure it out and post them tomorrow.  I'm missing Tom, my dogs, craft studio and swimming pool!  I'll be heading home soon.  But in the mean time, there's more shops to check out.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Spent hours at an antique place.

Yesterday I stopped in a local antique shop.  It's a large building with individual booths.  I was looking for silver or silver plated spoons, vanity trays and a green glass pitcher.  The green glass pitcher is for my Tia Mary.  She has a set of glasses and broke the pitcher that goes with the set.  So I'm on the hunt for it.  I found 20 spoons and three vanity trays but no green glass pitcher!  Tomorrow I'm going to this very large antique place along old Highway 30 and he has tons of stuff.  My impression of this particular shop is the owner is actually a hoarder and hates getting rid of things.  His prices seem high and his shop is packed full and I notice people leaving empty handed.  Not a good thing.  So wish me luck on finding the green glass pitcher. 

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Texas treasure hunt

I explained  to my Texas family how I recycle, repurpose and redesign things I find, take, or purchase.  I gave them examples of my work and explained how I keep my eyes open for any treasures that cross my path.  Then I go on to explaine how I may "take" something but I will not "steal" things.  I explained if I find something I'll bring it to their attention and explain my need to have it.  I also explain most times I'm given the item without a problem.  So the hunt began.   I stayed with my Tio Tony and Tia Mary....so they felt the most vulernable to my treasure hunts.  Each morning they asked me what if I found anything interesting.  Now let me tell you they had plenty of nice things but I prefer items that are no longer being used, so they won't miss it.  My Tio had a garage I never went there he had a storage shed and I did go there, but with close supervision...haha.  He was in total control & I was allowed in the doorway...well that's no fun.  He gave me a couple of treasures, but who knows what all he had in there!  Our final morning he ask me if I found any last minute items and I said no, that this trip turned out to be more about family that I didn't even take the time to snoop.  He comes back to the room with a bowling pin...a life-size bowling pin and asks me if I can do anything with it...I laugh and say well not a piece of jewelry or jounal...but maybe a paperweight.  My sister sees the bowling pin and makes a big deal about it and so we give it to her.  Next thing you know it he comes back with another bowling pin..haha.  He tells us the story of the bowling pins...He was stationed at Norton Air Force Base in California and the base bowling alley was going to be demolished and he got some of the bowling pins.  So these are no ordinary bowling pins....I have a plan for them.  Here's a hint.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Texas family fun

Last night we had a famly reunion, sharing photos and stories.  This photo is a treasure to us cousins.  This was taken in 1971.  I'm back row second in.  What I remember about this day..
It was my wella's (Juana) funeral. 
I had curly hair and my cousins had straight hair!  I curled my hair in big rollers to have straight hair like my cousins.  But once I walked out of the air conditioned house into the hot humid Texas heat, my hair poofed up! 
All of us in this photo were at get together tonight with exception of my sisters, Patsy & Rhonda and our cousin Sylvia.   Also, cousin Patricia & Jason weren't born, yet.  Also, our sources report my brother Danny (who's also not in the photo) took the photo.  But everyone who notices Danny's not in the photo always says the same thing..."he was probably with Eddie".


A few of us cousins took this photo last night.  Oh how we've grown up.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

On the road again

I'm heading out on another road trip....


....stay tuned

Treasure hunting has begun....

Hit a few thrift stores already...



Found some ribbons and nice handkerchiefs.
I also hit my dad's garage....lots of goodies in there.
Found doorknobs, small cheese boxes, a wire basket, and a tonka dump truck. 
There's many more nook & crannies to explore!!

Idea for the tonka truck!

Trip to Nebraska was an adventure

My brother, Danny with me at Sunset Point, AZ.  Alittle cloudy but still a pretty nice day out.

This is further up I-17, yeah that's snow!

Flagstaff, AZ  snow and a snow shovel.  I don't know how much snow fell in Flagstaff??

We got rain off & on through New Mexico, but...more snow....
Trucker in Walsenburg, CO said tough road from there to Denver!!! Yikes We stayed overnight in Walsenburg....a very well used hole in the wall motel on the exit...Couldn't sleep, my brother snored something awful and the room had the scent of a used ashtray! 

Look what was waiting for us....
More snow!!!

More clouds in western Colorado, but the we kept going and so did the clouds, missing us.

Look what was waiting to greet me the next morning in my Mom's backyard!

Friday, April 13, 2012

Today, packing day...tomorrow....

Tomorrow is travel day, long day in the MINI day, eat on the road day, gas up with the most expensive gas ever day, listen to my other brother's stories all the way home day, playlist survival day, see the Rockies, (mountains) day, humm that might be the next day day, buy scratcher tickets along the way day, win some cash day,  might see snow in Flagstaff day,  will see rain day, my trip back to Nebraska day(s). 
I'm not even packing my traditional neat blue craft suitcase on this trip!  What's a crafty girl to do?   ...shop.  I'm MINImizing packing stuff so I'll have room for treasures to bring home with me.  My trip to Sweet Salvage motivated me to shop for the unusal & unique things to repurpose.  My friend bought the coolest bird bath and I have bird bath envy!  So I'm gonna keep my eye out for one and anything else I can fit in the MINI.  Stay tuned....

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Fed my soul

The other day I met up with two friends, I've known both for a long time, but hadn't really spend time with them until now.  We met up at one of their homes.  Her home is awesome and so comfortable.  We shared stories & got to know each other a little better.  I brought some of my handmade goodies to show them and they offered such nice compliments and praise.  I love the things I make so when others love them it's such a good feeling.  Both of them are creative souls, they sew, they knit, they do stained glass, they have a creative eye.  Our time together inspired us.  I'm excited for the next time we all meet up.
I've had a dream for a long time to open a shop of some kind.  I envision a shop that's a working studio with tables to create whatever we want.  I envision a place to teach, to share and to be creative.  I also see a spot for a gallery to sell all the goodies made in the studio.  I envision this studio creating a  circle of friends, too.

...in my dreams I have wings and I can fly

Special keyring for a friend

My friend saw my keyring and said she would like to have one
I listened to her and came up with the perfect keyring
Have CLARITY + be OPEN = LOVE
Be READY and she is
She loved it


It's just an old doorknob...

I read a magazine called LIFE and on the cover they had a pretty cool item made out of a doorknob.
I remember I have wire, old doorknobs and embellishments.
Why not make one?





It turned out so cool!
 I love new ideas I see, read or hear about.  My goal is always to respect the integrity of someone's work and use ideas to make them into my own.  It's a process and this is only the beginning.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Happy Easter

Isn't this the coolest cake?  My sister, Melinda made it for the family Easter dinner today.  I wonder what it tastes like?  I hate when I miss family dinners. 

Friday, April 6, 2012

Nice day



Couldn't ask for a nicer day...as I always say...77 degrees and sunny. Outside moving dirt, geez this job never ends. We've made great strides in the dirt moving project. Removed about 5 loads of dirt so far. Have atleast 3 more to go. Next step is to level it off. This will be the tricky part...my dogs keep digging and messing up my nice raked dirt.

 Listening to classic R&B...

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Mission accomplished!

ta da....



Under the sink looks just as nice


Tools of the trade...ha ha ha

Sink faucet.....

So far ....
Found the main shut off...good
Tom removed the two under the sink shut off valves...good
Tom showed me how to put teflon tape on threads...good
Tom kindly took mercy on me and replaced both valves....way good
Turned water back on....not good
Very tiny leak on cold water....not good
Tom had a real job to go to ... not good for me
He's like I gotta go....not good, again
He tells me do what I can .... humm
Next step take the old drain pop-up out....good
Ah, not good, can't get the darn thing apart....not good, feeling defeated and wonder if the original leak was all that bad!
But as my friend said, you retreat, so I watched a few "how to" youtube videos
I'm motivated once again.
Wait, I need a cup of coffee and some loud music
I'll keep you posted...

Dollar Theater...blast from the past

My brother & I decided to check out a movie at the dollar theater we used to go to years ago on Bell Rd.  It was the funnest thing we've done in awhile...the whole experience was like being in a movie ourselves.  No one is at the ticket windows...sign says go to concession counter to buy tickets.  It's no longer a $1 it's now $3.  The guy at the counter, well all the guys working looked like guys right off the street, no uniforms or shirts with logos.   The guy told us about the specials, food, popcorn, candy soda...he handed us a laminated sheet with the prices...cracked us up.  We got a combo, cheap enough, too.  Once we turned to walk to the theater area it all came back to us... the lights, the hallway, the old school look.


Texting our sister to ask her if she remembered this place.
 The fun didn't end there, as we walked into the theater, it wasn't the fancy stadium seating with rocking overstuff seats...it was old school all the way.  Could even hear the film projector.  It was fun.
btw, we saw Mission Impossible (whatever number it was)  Tom Cruise looked ridiculously old as he was running, otherwise a good $3 movie.
On Jason's (brother) birthday I took him to a fancy theater to watch Hunger Games...nice sound, nice seats, but lacked the character.

Things that don't fit....hummm

I've been on a roll to fix things.  (Did get the window screens all done and they look nice)Let's begin with doggie door.... it's worn out and been duct taped several times.  I decide it's time to replace the whole dang thing.  I measure and I measure and I measure again.  It's 10 1/2" by 17 1/2" opening in the wall.  We head to the store and we forget the measurements!  We buy the recommended size for our dogs...extra large.  The measurements seem right.  Now, remember this was my idea to replace the doggie door.  I take it out of the box, read instructions and what tools I'll need.  No biggie....ahh yeah a biggie...it doesn't fit.  Too wide by a 1/2" and to short by 2".  I read the box and there are two sets of measurements....cut out size and flap size.  Okay it's not gonna work, need to return and get the "right size" one.  This time I take the measurements with me so not to guess.  None of the doors will fit the opening we have in the wall of our house!   I go to the pet store and none of them will work either!!!  This really sucks..something I'm going to have to ask for help on...ugh.
Next, I got my eyes checked a few weeks ago and got some really cool expensive transitional eye wear.  Only problem is I can't see out of them...blur.  I'm thinking this isn't normal.  I got to eye Dr and they say most times it's the lenses being made wrong.  I go to optical place and they tell me lenses are correct with what my prescription says.  Their solution...I wear them too low and the blah blah blah optic blah blah blah is in the center where the pupil is suppose to be...I say well what are we gonna do about this?  They measure my eyes, measure my lenses, measure my pupils again.  Finally, it was decided they can remake the lenses to accommodate how I wear them.  Two days without them, tho.  Good think I keep my old glasses. 
After this, I take my soldering iron to the stain glass store to return the soldering tip they sold me that doesn't fit my soldering iron!  She takes a look at my soldering iron and says...we don't sell those here anymore, cuz we have so much trouble with that brand.  Turns out to be a bust...the nice lady did explain if I work harder on cleaning the soldering tip it should be fine.  She gave me tips on how to clean it.   Tried that but what the heck I'll do it again. 
Okay, I'm saving the best for last....
Our bathroom sink faucet has been leaking forever.  I decide, again to fix it.  I purchased a simple fixture which matches the tub stuff.  I read the instructions, a tillion times, I get the tools I need, I get a pan for any possible leaks, I clear out the cabinet and I'm ready. 

This is the faucet & instructions, easy enough.
 First problem I have is I can't get the black thing off.  I swear I'm not gonna call Tom.  But it was on pretty tight.  He says (yeah I called) to use a channel lock wrench....do we have one of those, NO.


I got to the store and bought a channel lock wrench and got the black thing off.  No problem...but I couldn't get the pipe loose.  A different tool needed?  I get the pliers and yank on it hard....hummm I  break the pipe connecting the faucet to the water supply!!!!

As you can see it's broke! 

This is the piece I have to replace....
 I take photos, pipe and instructions with me to the store.  A really nice guy helps me out and I purchase the parts to replace the hot and cold shut off valves...he's talking about compression this and teflon tape that...I'm good to go.  AND I haven't called Tom. 

I didn't know Home Depot has video registers!
Notice I have on Home Depot orange!
Tom gets home tonight and I'm like ahh by the way if I ever needed to shut the water off to the house where would I find the main water shut off ?  He's looking at me like don't you know that, "omg Jobi please tell me you're joking"  At this point I must confess my plumbing mess.  He's kind enough to listen and not say much as I explain.  Main thing he said was .... YOU DO KNOW WHERE THE SHUT OFF IS?  I'm like of course I do it's by the bougainvillea plant out front...he smiles...(I'm thinking good guess).  So tomorrow morning after his shower I'm gonna tackle those pipes and stuff and get that faucet installed correctly.  Wish me luck....


BTW, while at Home Depot I saw this flooring....remember my bedroom headboard/wall idea?

Hard to see in this photo but it's super cool color with grey tones.

This is the color I was drawn too, but the other was different from what I've seen.