at long last...

we may have slowed our pace through the winter, but we certainly haven't been hibernating.  the junk posse  has undergone a major makeover.  starting several months ago, we finished out the space in the back that had been used for storage ever since we opened, doubling the size of the store.  after that came the task of setting it up, which included robbing items from the front of store.  then after we totally wrecked the front of the store, we started all over with it.  we are down to the wire, but plan to reopen this coming Easter weekend.  the new look is a mix of industrial, shabby, farmhouse, prim and rusty chic.  we hope you like it!

antique iron bed with toile bedding

lovely french country fireplace

handmade paper crafts in chalk painted frame

great chippy paint cabinet displays

spring has sprung!

we're clapping!

watch for news on our next endeavor, a 1962 mobile scout camper that we've dubbed "little miss sunshine".  we will be taking her on the road may 7th, traveling to wichita, ks to be a part of vintage market days.  look for us there!

a sea of rust...

ah, rust as far as the eye can see!  the ceiling is completed in the backroom expansion and it turned out even better than i expected.  i love it all pieced together with scraps and different degrees of rust.  it's kind of like a rusty quilt!

 two new windows let in lots of morning sunshine.  i had to scrounge through all my old burlap bags to find enough to line the upper walls with and they too, look like a burlap quilt.

and speaking of sunshine, Victor, CO has 300+ days of sunshine a year.  it makes the cold, snowy months so much more bearable.  everything slows down up here in the winter, kind of like hibernating.  it's a time for catching up after busy summer and fall tourist season, time for regrouping and forming new ideas, and time for a long winters nap. (or at least a little snoozer!)

check back in over the next few weeks to see our progress as the expansion set up begins soon!

dream weaver...

it's my pleasure to introduce autumn wallace from victor colorado.  she is a budding young artisan who has developed a very unique way of repurposing the worst of the worst clothing into the best of the best accessories!

 i'm totally in love with her creations she spins into yarn using discarded, outdated clothing.  she begins by cutting the garments into small strips, then attaches the strips together to make one continuous piece.  the fabric is then spun into 'yarn' using an attachment she built herself to fit over the bobbin winder of her sewing machine.

using her spun fabric yarn, she incorporates various spinning and weaving techniques to create her one of a kind accessories. 

below are some examples of her unique boot wraps that triple as belts and scarves

and even if you're not in the market for a baby sling, these can also be used as infinity scarves and could easily be stitched up the sides to make a fabulous purse/tote.

be sure to check out autumn's etsy store, reinfree.  and if you're looking for a special Christmas gift for someone (or yourself) there are several one of a kind boot wraps, pillows and scarves.  you're gonna love them!

epiphany...

with a back area in my store that is equal in size or greater than the store area in front (and full of inventory) it suddenly dawned on me that i should incorporate that space into the store.  next comes the big shuffle, where to begin?  it has felt kind of like playing that little puzzle game where you have to move 15 numbers into correct order.  sometimes it takes 3 moves to get 1 number into it's place.  

first step was to move the cabinets from the unfinished wall and put up some reused plywood, paint and trim.  the wall color was determined by 6 left over cans of paint that we mixed together.  with all of our renovations, we have an abundance of leftover paint and this was a great way to use it up. and i actually love the color!

the next step was to move two sections of shelving and tubs filled with vintage fabrics to their new space in newly designated work room.  (this followed moving lots of junk to make room for them!)

after the shelving and tubs were moved, the brick wall that had been badly burned in a fire years ago was ready to have the crumbling plaster removed.

 dawning a respirator, hubby proceeded to chip and scrape off plaster, completing the task in less than 1/2 a day.  the concrete patch hides a very poor repair job where a window was removed years ago.  after digging thru our scrap metal, he found an old rusty piece of pressed brick pattern tin that will lend character and hide the patch.  

off to bed now so i can get up early and vacuum the area and adjacent room that are covered with a fine layer of dust. watch for more progress in the days to come!

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!