Happy Feet

Life is too short to wear boring shoes, and these lovelies are the latest additions to my collection ...

These came from Journeys at the mall.  If you want a pair of your own and you can't find them in a store, order them online.  They run a little bit big ... size 10 shoes fit my size 11 feet perfectly.

Those of you who are planning to attend the Heritage Rose Foundation conference in New Orleans in November will get to see them in person.  (November 13-16, details and registration info to come soon.  Mark your calendars.)

Day of Rest

Even though Monday's weather was perfect for yard work, I took the day off from the garden.  Instead, I spent time with Daughter #3 ... shopping and eating and laughing.  I don't shop very often, unless you count junk shopping. 

Our daughter is outfitting a new house, so her sights were on drapes and curtain rods and the like.  Me?  I need some fresh items to perk up my very grey, very predictable wardrobe.  I found a few things that I liked ... including a grey maxi skirt at The Gap, which doesn't do anything to alleviate the overwhelming 'greyness' in my closet.  (What can I say?  I like grey and I look good in it.) 

My favorite buy of the day was this sweater from Forever 21.  As soon as I saw it, I knew that I HAD to have it!

Now I can't wait till it's chilly enough to wear it!  It's perfectly perverse, and absolutely, positively ME!!

Oh, No ... This Could Be Trouble

Ruby and I were out earlier today, dropping the painted game table and some other things at my antique booth and running other assorted errands.  One of our stops was at Reigning Cats and Dogs, a shop in Culpeper, to get Ruby a tag collar of her very own ... basic black, to match her shiny black fur.  Another stop was closer to home, at Spotsylvania Towne Centre, to go to Michael's to get some yarn.

As I pulled into the parking lot, I saw this ...

What was once a Haverty's store in front of the mall is now going to be HomeGoods.  I love HomeGoods, and it's a good thing that the closest one to me is an hour away ... that way I can only go there a couple of times a year, and usually it's because I'm looking for something specific. 

Heaven help me when this new one opens.

Huntin' Junk

I'm finally back to my normal energy level, after our big greyhound weekend, and I'm also back to my junk huntin' ways.  The urge struck yesterday, and this can only mean one thing ... a trip to Ashland to 'Class and Trash', the BEST junk store around here.  In case you missed it, I first introduced you to some of the wonders in this store in THIS blog post from July.

(old pic of the front of the store from this summer, because I didn't take a new one yesterday.)

Other folks have discovered what a wonderful place Class and Trash is, because the parking lot was full and it took some effort to maneuver around the other shoppers inside.  Everytime I go there, I find SOOO much new stuff to see!  Owners Ken and Lisa Waldrop work hard to get the old merchandise out and new merchandise in ... prices are low, and things sell FAST.  If you see something you like, buy it NOW because it won't be there later if you walk away.  Trust me, I know this from experience.

Almost immediately inside the front door, I found this cute little loveseat.  I usually see full-sized sofas in this style ... a love seat would go great just about anywhere.

How about this industrial card catalog?  The price tag read $49.  It would have come home with me, but I don't have a place to put it.

Speaking of industrial, look at the goodies on and around this table.

Here's a close-up of what's on the left side, with this completely FABULOUS metal stool.

This bird's eye maple princess dresser would be perfect in someone's guest room.

I just never know what I'll find here!  The place is packed with treasures.

How about this antique folding chair, with vintage carpet upholstery?

This oak bench almost made it into my Jeep for the trip home.  I loved the shape and the size of it.  It needed a little bit of tightening up and some new upholstery.  Alas, I have nowhere to put this either.  (Look at that child-size Hoosier behind the bench???)

The center of the large upstairs at Class and Trash is devoted to chairs ... hundreds of chairs ... more chairs than I have ever seen in one place before ... every kind of chair you can imagine!  Are you in the market for a quirky set of mixed dining chairs?  This could be your place.

I loved this tole tray ... same story, no place to put it right now.

This pie safe was a wonderful size, and it is in really nice condition.  Someone painted the tins white (yuck) but that can be fixed without a whole lot of effort.

The painting leaning against the pie safe was speaking to me.  I left it behind, too.  Maybe I shouldn't have.  My new-found facination with older, amateur paintings could turn into a full-blown addiction, so I should pace myself.

Look how they used this vintage toy bed to display jewelry.  Love it!

This primitive little stand was a great size, and it was completely restorable ... even though it was missing its drawer.  At $14, I was really tempted to add it to my pile ...

... until I turned it around and discovered that someone who-knows-how-long-ago had crudely cut it in half and the back didn't match the front anymore.  It's still really neat, but this is more project than I need now, so it stayed behind, too.

There is so much good stuff in this picture, I don't even know where to begin to describe it.

This vintage ice box has such potential!  How about the school desk in front of it?

The set of gold-upholstered dining chairs, the buffet, the galvanized milk box, the wicker rocker .... does your name begin with G?

I smiled when I saw this Troll in front of these vintage radios.  I have a theory that only Trolls who were most loved by their children got haircuts.  (My troll was big like this one, and it had very short yellow hair.)

How about a primitive bench for your garden?

Or some silver shoes (size 9B, too small for me) and a Smurf tray?

I was sorely tempted by this set of dishes.  If there had been more dinner plates, it probably would be home with me right now.

I have teased you this whole time with wonderful treasures that I didn't buy.  What DID come home with me, you ask?

I couldn't resist this little iron dog.  I doubt it's old, but it has tons of personality, and it looks enough like a greyhound for me to add it to my collection ... I already had the rose angel, and I love her.

How about this roll of vintage-looking rose wallpaper?  I don't know what to do with it now, but I have no doubt that I will come up with something.  The colors are beautiful!

You will see this oriental rug again really soon, as part of a project I'm working on.  It is the perfect size, the perfect colors, and (most importantly) an irresistable price.  I can't wait to show it to you in its new home.

I also bought something for my mother for Christmas.  I can't say any more, because she reads my blog and it would spoil the surprise.

If you are traveling on Route 1 between Ashland and Richmond, you MUST stop at Class and Trash to see what treasures YOU can find.

This post is linked to Linda's Junkin' Finds Friday party.  Linda is the 'Queen of Junk' (I told her so), and I am thrilled to play at her party ... run over there and see what other treasures folks are sharing.

(written by Hartwood Roses.  Hartwood Roses blog.)

There's Treasure at the Habitat ReStore!

The Habitat ReStore in Richmond is another one of my favorite places to shop.  Builders, remodelers, homeowners, and retail stores donate new or gently used building materials and supplies of all kinds, and profits from the store go to the Richmond chapter of Habitat for Humanity.  I never know what I'll find there, and it's always something I just can't live without.

I fell in love with these chairs.

What is a Habitat ReStore?

You can get lumber.

The following is taken from the Richmond Habitat web site.

"The Habitat ReStore is a retail outlet offering building and home improvement supplies for sale to the general public at greatly reduced prices. The new, gently used, and salvaged supplies are donated by individuals, contractors, and suppliers.

How about a bathroom sink?

"The ReStore participates in Habitat for Humanity International’s overall environmental goals by diverting usable materials away from the waste stream, while promoting responsible stewardship of natural resources. Last year alone, ReStores diverted thousands of tons of usable building supplies from landfills.

Tile?

"Not only does the ReStore fulfill its mission of environmental stewardship and allow people of limited means to renovate their living spaces, but it also channels all profits into the building of new Habitat homes.

Lights?  Most of these look like builder-grade lights, but the price is definitely right if you need one.

"Habitat ReStore functions much like a thrift store for a wide variety of building materials and is open to the general public Our prices are well below retail and specific pricing depends on age, condition, quality, and quantity of the item. If you have a project in mind (or are looking for a project), shop often and bring your measurements."

Doors!!  Interior,  Exterior,  Hollow,  Solid,  Paneled,  Slab ... you name it.

I had a crush on this red door ... but no place to use it.  :(

"Shopping at ReStore is an adventure! Every day we have new inventory to choose from, including furniture, flooring, architectural items, cabinetry, fixtures, wallpaper, appliances and more—at prices up to 90% below retail! Some items are new, some gently used, and others come from deconstruction. Not only can you find some beautiful items and great bargains, but you are helping the environment and low-income families at the same time."

Chemicals of all kinds ... most are only $1.   I wanted to buy this huge can of paint stripper, because it was practically free, but I'm not doing any projects right now that need it.

What did I buy while I was there, you ask?

I bought this huge tray for the ottoman in our Family Room ...  (I'll tell you about the ottoman itself another day.)

... a pile of decorator fabric samples for a sewing project that I'll show you on my other blog ...

... and THE CHAIRS!!  There are 8 of them (You can see the other four with the ugly formica dining table in the upper left?)

Everything in the store this past weekend was 25% off.  These eight chairs, which only needed to be wiped down, and the ugly table, came to grand total of (are you sitting down?)  $90 +tax.  I didn't need or want the ugly table, and the store wouldn't separate it from the four chairs that it was displayed with, so I paid the price and left the table behind as a re-donation. 

If you have a ReStore where you live, go in every now and then to see what treasures YOU can find.

(written by Hartwood Roses.  Hartwood Roses blog.)

One of My Favorite Stores!

At least once a month, I have to stop at Class and Trash, on Route 1 north of Richmond.  It is probably the best antique/junk/salvage store I know.

The treasures lined up along the front of the store are only a taste of the wonderful variety you'll find when you step inside!

Class and Trash is owned by Ken and Lisa Waldrop.  It is usually Lisa who rings up your purchases, and Ken who helps load them into your car.

Look at this wonderful cane settee!  With $49 on the price tag, I think it would be easy to look past its two small holes and bright red paint.  See the claw foot tubs in the background?

Here on the side of the building, I saw the usual stacks of doors and columns, and an iron bed frame.  There are stacks of wooden shutters off to the side that you can't see in this photo.

The last time I was here, I found this long wooden store counter right inside the front door. 

On top of the counter was this duck decoy, a wooden box, an old wheel, an antler-handled carving set, and this fabulous collection of crocks.

I fell in love with the shape of this green sofa.

This pie safe is perfect!

I thought these Empire side tables, placed back to back, would make the perfect base for a dining table!

There are treasures stacked on top of treasures.  How about these Victorian side chairs?

There's a jelly cupboard and a wide variety of small items reflected in the mirror of this oak dresser.

More decoys, a collection of hose nozzles, and old soda crates are among the items in the hutch on top of this primitive table.  Did you see the cute little stool and the wicker basket full of quilts?

This pair of old lockers almost came home with me ... they were only $75!!

Here's another primitive table, along with this wonderful wooden tool chest.

I have this 'thing' for trunks and chests.  This one was also calling to me, but I left it behind.

How about this little toy kitchen hutch, with it's tiny canister set?

Here's a perfect pile of old suitcases, in beautiful condition.

In the interest of full disclosure, I have to admit to you that I have NEVER left this store without buying something.  There is always at least one item that I cannot seem to live without. 

On this particular trip, I had to have this old wedding photo.  I love the fact that all of the women are holding huge bouquets of roses.  On the back of the photo, in perfect block printing, it says:

Wedding Picture

Louis F. Luedtke -- Ethel Bader

June 17, 1913

L. R. Cora Luedtke, Herbert Bader, Ruth Bader, James Carlton, & Matilda Penner

It bothers me that this photo was sitting in a shop.  I wonder why no one in the family kept it.  The names of the folks in the photo are unusual enough ... I bet I can track them down.  (I did this once before with a wedding certificate I found in a shop.)

I also bought this fabulous little trunk!  Here it is in its new home, underneath the walnut end table in our family room.  I told you earlier, I have this 'thing' for trunks.

Class and Trash has a little bit of something for everyone.  The prices are super, and the store is full of new things every time I visit.  If you heading up Route 1, just north of Virginia Center Commons, be sure to stop in and check it out for yourself.  You just might see me there.

(written by Hartwood Roses.  Hartwood Roses blog.)