junk posse holiday roundup this weekend...

if anyone in victor noticed their lights going dim, it was probably when we flipped on all the lights at the junk posse.  we are lit up, well, like a Christmas tree.  our holiday show starts tomorrow through sunday, 10 am- 5 pm.  the store is loaded with assorted primitive birdhouses, yule logs crafted from recycled local finds, fresh pine wreaths and swags, handcrafted boot wraps, scarves and infant totes; fresh cinnamon rolls, pies and jellies.  plus vintage glam ornaments, centerpieces, chandeliers, glass domes and more.  come early for the best selection, most items are one of kind.  enjoy a cup of hot cider and Christmas candy and get in the mood for a wonderful holiday season.  and if you can't make it in this weekend, we will be open our regular days wednesday-sunday, noon-5 until Christmas. 

wishing everyone a happy thanksgiving.  remember to count your blessings and be sure to name them one by one!

what to do on a sub zero snowy day...

vintage pillow ticking...I love, gotta have it, can't enough of it.  so when I spotted this old mattress my mind immediately begins to assess the situation.  how would I get it from IN to CO, i'm flying. the only thing to do would be to buy it and cut it apart...right at the store. 

 

 

  I come back two days later, scissors in hand, ready to disassemble it. 

 

 

first the red metal buttons all had to come off.  the ticking and buttons will be reused in vintage camper #3. 

 

 

hoping for the best, I cut one side open and the whole cover peeled off easier than peeling a potato.  just when I thought i'd retrieved everything I wanted from this old mattress I saw at least 100 wire bed springs inside the frame. 

 

 

by now my fingers are almost frozen, snow is starting to fall and I'm realizing that i'll have to leave the springs behind. 

 

 

that's when I grab the manager, who is periodically checking on my progress and probably thinking i'm nuts, and talk him into saving what's left of the mattress; assuring him he can part it out and sell the springs to other crazy crafters like myself.  thank you, doug, from the whistlestop in goshen for going the extra mile for me! 



snippets from the junk posse...

i love it when new customers feel inspired to photograph my store!  the following photos were taken, and provided by donna martinez.  to view more of her work, please visit her at www.donnamartinezphotography.com  

in victor, we have a plethora of old bottles.  even today, new "bottle digs" are being discovered.  following the fire of 1899, nearly the entire town was leveled and rebuilt.  the imaginings of what lies underneath makes me drool!  

we love silver and white ironstone!

holiday potpourri available by the scoop from 1803 candles.  whether it's a bag full or an old canning jar full, the smell is absolutely scrumptious!

our rusty tunnel provides us with plenty of planting containers.  at the junk posse, nothing is ever too rusty or crusty for us to upcycle into something useful.  and the men folk especially seem to love  spending time sifting through our large collection of unusual finds.  

thank you again, donna martinez,, for this great photo op!

the junk posse holiday roundup...

get a jump on your holiday shopping and enjoy a beautiful mountain drive up to historic victor, co.  at the junk posse, we are busy creating one of a kind holiday decorating items and gifts.  our shiny bling mixed with rusty local finds make for some very unique festive creations.

glitsy houses under glass domes

snow girls with off the chart crazy hats

we have great shopping and great eats in victor, so come early and spend the day in the worlds' greatest gold camp!

for junk and country...

love, love the new artwork provided by my WA cousin, kyle.  rosie would be proud of the 'can do' creative spirit that abounds with today's repurposers.  "use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without" was the cry of the day during WWII.  at the junk posse, we save every little unusual thing we come across knowing we might need it for our very next creation.  keeping it all organized is a full time job in itself!  we are currently up to our elbows in german glitter glass, rusty bed springs, burlap and lace creating one of a kind upcycled Christmas  decor.  watch for previews of what's coming soon!

for the love of campers...

what i thought would be a 3 hr drive to the western slope to look at this camper turned out to be a 5 hr drive...each way.  couldn't resist this 1958 fireball that had been parked in a field for several years.  on the advice of hubby i didn't pull it home, but returned a couple weeks later to get it.  after a new set of tires and quick check over we were on our way back over the mountain with my newest prized possession.  hopefully this little beauty will be ready to roll by spring and will be loaded down with junk galore.  can barely wait!

just like with the houses i talk my husband into buying declaring them 'move in ready', the camper will require a little more than 'lipstick' as originally thought.  the deeper i dig into it, the more damage i find.  it was going to get gutted anyway to make room for pop up shop, but i sure didn't plan on taking it down to the chasis!

the princess stove and propane refrigerator have been removed and will be saved for a later project.  i'm sure another will come along!

 

sneak peek...

still a work in progress, but the rustic tunnel is coming along.  this is my favorite spot in the entire store.  lots of repurposing 'fixins', garden and vintage camper items.  only 5' wide, but piled high with everything from rusty buckets for planting, chippy paint plinth blocks, old license plates, cast iron chimney baffles and wooden croquet mallets for garden markers...the possibilities are endless!

the store is piling up with new items daily.  we will reopen memorial weekend with regular summer hours of thursday - sunday.  11-5 and noon-5 on sunday. 

take the short drive up the mountain and stay in our newly renovated olympia hotel, circa 1899.  we have nightly and weekly rates available.  be sure to call ahead for reservations!  719.689.5952.

the perils of traveling with junk...

it never fails.  everytime i fly, my carry on is always searched.  i don't get it, doesn't everyone travel with rusty old trycicle wheels, old license plates, etc?  And then there was the guy at the gate check who gave me the stink eye when he went to lift it and nearly pulled his shoulder out of the socket.

for me it's always about good junk wherever i'm at and doing whatever's necessary to get it home.  you might notice one thing is missing from my baggage...clothes.  i've been known to wear 2 pr of socks, all my underwear, undershirt, tshirt, button down shirt, sweat shirt, vest AND coat...all at one time, just to make room in my suitcase.  after all, who needs clothes when there's good junk to transport!



you might be a hoarder if...

your storage balcony looks like this...

or this... 

or this...

or this...

but, unlike a hoarder, i am willing to part with my "stuff"...grudgingly.  it's all going over to the junk posse for our memorial weekend reopening.  so be sure to stop by and join in my therapy session!

the junk posse rides again...



we have moved from our former location under the historic olympia hotel.  we are now located at 120 s. third, the former marigold mercantile building. 

the mercantile items have been cleared out to make way for droves and droves of antiques, repurposing possibilities and cool handcrafted items fashioned from vintage materials.

we will remain closed while reworking the store, reopening around may first.  be sure to stop in then and check out all the new things!