camera magic...

now why can't i take pictures like this?  i don't know how she does it, but one of my favorite customers, sarah evans, took this picture of the junk posse front window and out came the most beautiful historic looking, period style photo.  the tones are amazing.

when we started taking off the 'man cave' dark green wallpaper that was put on sometime in the 30's, we discovered 2 layers of beautiful victorian wallpaper underneath.  we left several areas intact as a reminder of when the building was home to a dry goods store and barber shop in the early 1900's.  the following photo of the wallpaper was also snapped by sarah. 

what a beautiful rendering.   thank you, sarah, for allowing me to share these on my blog!

what "Move in Ready" really means...

after living in the old hotel we purchased and renovated for 6 months, what seemed like a fun idea quckly turned into reality of what it was really like for the old miners who lived in small rooms and shared one bath at the end of the hall.  so i frantically started searching craigslist for available properties in victor.  this time it had to be a house that didn't need ceilings torn out, walls moved, foundations repaired, in order to sell my husband on the idea of moving again.  joyously i found a candidate and made an appt. to look at it.  all i could see was space, space and more space, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a rarity for victor properties.  i think the way i put it to him was "i want it, and i want it now".  desperate people do desperate things, but to me it looked perfect...move in ready...well almost.

i didn't get a before picture of the kitchen, because basically there was none.  just a sink and stove that faced each other, and in between was a door to the bathroom with a perfect view of the porcelain throne.  i can tolerate alot of things, but not that.  with all the doors and windows in the kitchen there weren't many options without completely tearing out the floor and replumbing the whole thing.  and after all..it WAS move in ready.  so i had to keep my requests to a minimum.  even though there's still not alot of cabinets, its way better than before.  and with the help of a couple of antique pieces for a kitchen island and bake center, it's plenty big for someone who doesn't cook much.

i've always wanted to do a kitchen with just freestanding antique kitchen pieces and that's pretty much how this one turned out.

and now instead of looking into the bathroom, after closing the door on the kitchen side we left it in place on the bathroom side, added shelves and have what is probably the biggest medicine cabinet in colorado!

and then there was the little matter of painting...the entire interior.  upon closer inspection, someone in the past had painted with a combinatation of semi gloss in some places and eggshell in others...on the same wall.  we figured the time to do it was before everything was moved in, so we had a painting marathon and got it done in 2 days. 

love, love, love this cast iron stairway to the upstairs.  but it's sure not mover friendly with needing to take beds and dressers up.  thankfully, there's an exterior door to the upstairs, but no steps leading up to it.  another minor detail i missed.  no worries, hubby constructed a temporary ramp and everything got moved in just fine.  a new upper deck is on the 'to do' list for this summer.

so, "move in ready" is the new catch phrase with my friends when they refer to me and my house hunting escapades.  our plans to renovate and move into an 1896 log boarding house have been put on hold because we like it here so well.  but if the time comes that we get it done and get the itch to move again, it's gonna be Two Men and a Truck instead of  One Man and a Woman with a pickup.  This last move about killed us both.

passing along the blessing...

seriously?  how is it that everyone thinks i want their old furniture?  now if your talking rusty, chippy paint stuff...bring it on! but to whomever left me the recliner 'calling card'...please check with me first before making anymore deposits.  i have taken it upon myself to pass this lovely chair along to someone else in hopes that they have as good of a sense of humor as i do.  maybe it will become the town of victor 'mascot'...never knowing where it will turn up next!

merry christmas from victor colorado...

although we're closed until mid february when the city of victor will be hosting it's first annual "steam punk" festival, we have the hotel lit up for the holidays.  it's times like this when i wish i had a really good camera instead of just the one on my phone.

to view photos of several of the lighted headframes that surround victor, please click on the following link  http://victorcolorado.com/goldcampchristmas.htm

wishing everyone reading my blogs a very merry Christmas!

Luke 2:11...For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

nowhere left to go but up...

when we first opened marigold mercantile last october, 1200+ sq. ft. seemed like an ample amount of square footage to accommodate all the 'stuff'.  now, a year later, every sq. inch of the floor is full and we're climbing the walls...literally!  we've expanded our new/used clothing to the room that served as my office.  with the help of old planks found in one of our buildings, we were able to add another much needed layer.

just last week the drop leaf harvest table stood alone, but the wheels of expansion were turning.  a pair of double folding slats were added room on each end for display...but wait, there's more.  somewhere buried in all my junk i remembered i had really tall old shutters that would work great for another shelf on top.  sure enough, perfect length and width to make more display area.

a few old hooks on the tobaggan made a great place to accomodate felt Christmas totes.  the shelves are restocked with amish 'crack'.  the locals were getting a little panicky when i was down to 4 bags.  we don't call it 'crack' for nothing!

steam punk weekend...

hey ya'll...don't miss the first annual steam punk festival to be held the weekend of february 15-17 in victor, co.  more details to follow or click here for postings by victor dream team

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Victor-DREAM/167845869993837?ref=hl

the above photo is what's left of a tire rim.  the result of my husband hauling an overladen trailer full of steam punk 'fixins' from IN to CO.  its sets proudly in my front yard to remind me to always see the possibilities.

at marigold mercantile, 120 s third, we have an infamous 5' tunnel that is full from floor to ceiling with treasures yet unpacked that are certain to thrill any steam punk lover.  during the festival, we are going to have 'tunnel diving'.  it will work similar to an estate sale... a shopper will be given a number and 10 minutes in the tunnel to fill their vintage striped canvas shopping basket.  we'd love to let more than one in at a time, but with shelving down both sides, there's barely 2' of space between.

the junk posse, 106 n fourth, will also be open during the festsival weekend.  we have expanded all the way to the back of the building with all things rusty, chippy paint, odd and unusual.  you will find everything from metal mining artifacts to vintage fabric to antique books to primitive furniture parts and pieces.  all that's needed are wheels turning inside your head!

the olympia hotel, above the junk posse, offers lodging the old fashioned way, if you're a lover of the 'real deal' from the late 1800's...translation, 1 bathroom...down the hall.  the rooms have been newly renovated in period style and include some of the original hotel furnishings.  maybe we should institute the take a number and 10 minute rule there also!

and when you're hungry, victor has some for the best burgers, pizza and bakeries in the gold camp.  we promise you won't go hungry.

so don't miss the excitement...american pickers, eat your hearts out!

like gramma, like grandkids...

back in IN taking a much needed break.  we're sleeping in the 9 yr olds' bedroom and i had to chuckle when i saw the 'organizer' labels on the dresser.  i thought...oh  no...i've passed on the 'fanatical need to organize' gene to the grandkids! 

when we left IN, the grandkids became recipient of my beloved vintage camper that they now use for a craft trailer.  it gets a little out of control with 'supplies' so every now and then it has to be organized also.  we had a great time yesterday afternoon getting all the bits and pieces gathered up and put back in their appropriate little organizer drawer.

i guess i could've passed on much worse habits to them...and probably have...if the truth be told.  but another thing i know for sure that won't hurt them that they've learned from their grandparents (and parents) is that hard never hurt anyone.  it makes us proud to see their creative energy.

Proverbs 22:6..."train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it"

"green friday"...

to heck with "Black Friday" shopping...how about "Green Friday" Shopping...in the Gold Camp of course!  our stores and eateries offer a small town shopping/dining flavor unlike the big city hustle and bustle.

at Marigold Mercantile you will find new and used clothing and winterwear for the entire family.  we have one of a kind hand made and repurposed items to truly make it a "Green" Christmas.  our prices are competitive with many major retailers and we offer personalized service with a smile.

so save time, money and big city hassle...shop local...shop unique...shop Victor, CO!

high altitude humor...

we have alot of empty old buildings in victor, and some of our local yocal's put together this humorous window display.  i think it's off the chart cool!  i love all forms of quirky art and this puts a smile on my face everytime i walk by it.  the reflection shows some of the great buildings remaining in this old mining town.  and by the way, a couple of them are for sale.  so if you're adventurous and have a mind for restoring old buildings...make the trip up the mountain to check them out.  i would say "it doesn't hurt to look"...but our track record might indicate something different.  we look...we buy!

bringing the outside inside...

what could make a better wall than old garage doors removed from the lower backside of building?  it was a bit of a challenge getting them up a century year old rickety wooden fire escape, but just as i was figuring out that i couldn't hold up my end of the deal, an unsuspecting fella' came walking down the alley and lent a helping hand. 

they didn't quite go all the way to the wall, so we had to splice in with a rusty piece of metal, also salvaged from the back.  so we now have doors to nowhere.  but they will be perfect to junk up with rusty spikes and relics from the gold camp!