Fill in the Blank Friday

1.   New Years is     overrated. I mean it's obviously a great excuse for a fresh start, of course you don't need a specific day to start something a new or tackle a new challenge, but it can definitely be nice to have a good jumping off point and new years is a great motivation to start a new goal. But I say it's overrated because some people put so many expectations on the plans they make and everyone raises the prices on everything because it's New Years and people are out.

2.   One of my New Year's resolutions will be   to make this year better, be a better person, do better at the things I am passionate about, be better at being healthy.     

3.  A New Year's resolution I've made in the past was to   start putting my needs first, which I successfully accomplished  .

4.  This year I will be spending New Year's Eve     watching insane amounts of movies, and eating lots of appetizers and drinking copious amounts of coke since in 2012 I'll try and cut back ;) .

6.  If I could wish one thing for my new year it would be    to take in life's moments.  If I've learned anything this year, it's that the people that are here today may not be in your tomorrows and if you don't take in the time you are given with them when they are gone you may regret putting them off.

7.  2012 is going to be    filled with change! Both personally and otherwise  .

 How about you? Any New Years Plans or resolutions?  

Have a safe one!

Over-N-Out

Just Popping In

Hello Everyone!

Just popping in on my relaxing hanging with the family and friends time to offer you a secret FREE DOMESTIC SHIPPING code for the shops.  Enter code word SLEIGH for the free shipping! Visit Junk HERE or Handmade HERE 

Hope you all had or are having a wonderful holiday season!  I was running around from house to house for a few days but now that has stopped and relaxing can begin:)  Also, the day after Christmas my mom and I went thrifting and I found a few goodies for the shop!  More on that after vacation:)

Over-N-Out!

image via Haley Paige pinterest

On Vacation

Hello Everyone,

Just wanted to tie up some business strings, Junk in da Trunk and Jadarie will remain open through the holidays, you know in case anyone wants to spend some of their gift money:)  However anything ordered from here on out will not ship until Jan. 4th 2012!! Hope everyone has a safe and relaxing holiday. 

P.S. Thank you to everyone that has supported my independent business endeavors by purchasing from either shop an/or by standing by me while I navigate this thing called the small business world.  I appreciate each and everyone of you! Merry Holidays to you and yours!

Over-N-Out 

image via Haven and Home

Fill in the Blank Friday

Happy Friday Everyone!  How are you all doing?  Anyone have any snow to report?  The weather around here has been a bit bizarre lately, I mean 50 degrees in December in Chicago what the heck! Anyway, onto the blanks, which are holiday related since it's so close....

1.   The holiday season is     a time for good food, sleeping in, relaxing/visiting with friends and family. It is also a perfect time to reflect on the good and be thankful for all that has happened throughout the year (It’s easy to get caught up in focusing on the negative).

2.   Snow makes me   excited because it doesn’t feel like Christmas without it but by Jan. 5^th I’m ready for it to go away and come back next Christmas. It’s been such strange weather here in Chicago, it's hard to keep the Christmas cheer .

3.  The best comfort food to eat when it's cold out is    noodles with butter and garlic salt Yummmmm.

4. Winter is the best time for    covering up with a cozy blanket, wearing extra large broken in sweatshirts, and watching movies.

5.  I can hardly wait for    Christmas Vacation!  .

6.  When it comes to holiday gifts I prefer to    give them. I love wrapping them and watching people open a gift that I've spent time making or picking out.

7.  If I were to rate my excitement about the holiday season on a scale from 1-10, I would say I am at about a    5 I like the holiday season, but with all of the hoopla at the full time job I’m already burnt out of Christmas. Hopefully I will rekindle the excitement when it gets closer and I’m on vacation.

How about you how are you feeling with the holidays a week away?

The Cost of Handmade

Happy December! Wow can you believe that Christmas is next weekend?! Holy Cannoli!!  I have been busily making some Christmas gifts for my family and friends since this year I decided to either hand make their gifts or of course support local/independent businesses.

  

Also during this time of year, I do a few area craft shows to promote my Jadarie Handmade Etsy shop.  What happened to me a few shows ago kind of perturbs me.  Here’s the story, at this show I was selling all of my things most of which are not listed on my online shop as they are more of a local craze, which I understand I should be listing online, that my friends is my new year’s resolution however.

 Anywhoodle,  at this show a customer came up to me and was looking at my handbags and made this whistle and expressed to me how expensive they were and questioned how would I ever sell any.  That day I went on to sell some bags but it just disturbs me that some people go to a craft fair and expect to get prices comparable to those of say Walmart or Target.

I found THIS article it’s by Somer Shorwood and she explains why the price of handmade is the way that it is.  But the real kicker of my experience was this customer also asked me if I was going to do another certain local show, and I politely said, “Well if my prices are too expensive I don’t think that I will.”  Pssh, I'll just keep doing what I'm doing:)

Fill in the Blank Friday

Happy Black Friday Everyone! Did you eat enough yesterday?  In case you missed the announcement yesterday, there is FREE DOMESTIC SHIPPING going on over at the Shop.  Since it has been my tradition since I was a Junior in High School to go out and wait in line on Black Friday for some super deals, and my previewing of the ads online throughout the week, there is only one thing I’m itching for so as this posts I am either  bundled up and waiting in line on this cool Chicago morning, or if I don’t get a voucher I am probably back snuggled up in my bed, only to go out much later this afternoon when the chaos dies down and finish my shopping. (Though 80% of my gifts this year are handmade, it's so hard to find handmade goodies for the men in my life alas I have to shop)

1.   A nervous habit I have is    playing with my hair and biting/ picking my nails...although I'm much better about it than I used to be.

2.   Something that makes me sad is   there are too many things, but a big one would be the way that some people treat other people. Everyone is fighting a hard battle whether you know about it or not, so let's show some compassion to our fellow human beings.

3.  Today I am thankful for    being able to get a few extra winks later on today, my silly friend family and my real family.

4. My favorite room in my house is    my bedroom, cause it's so cozy and warm  .

5.  If I had an extra $100 to spend on whatever I wanted today I would   do a happy dance!  But wouldn't this be the perfect day to have an extra $100 being Black Friday and all! I would probably spend it on some real cool techie gadget for the Toys for Tots drive I am running at the day job. Because I feel like this year there will be so many more tots at the toy hand out and people usually donate toys for younger kids when they go all the way to 15.

7.  The last person I hung out with was    my niece Stephie, she was my assistant at my craft show. We played some very competitive games of Uno, and talked crafts since it wasn’t very busy.

How about you do you Black Friday? 

I hope you have a restful extended weekend!

Over-N-Out

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! 

Today I am thankful for

Nights that turned into mornings,

Friends that turned into family,

Dreams that turned into reality and

Likes that have turned into loves. 

Also, on the business side of things,  from today through  Cyber Monday, Nov. 28 there will be FREE domestic shipping!  No coupon code required.  I wanted to start the FREE shipping today because I know that some people *cough* maybe bored * cough* at some point of their family festivities and may just want to sneak a peek at  some of the happenings online.

Please keep in mind this holiday season as you are shopping for unique gifts, to think of the local shop owners, be it in your local downtown area, local craft fair, on Etsy or through someone's own  shop domain for great creative finds.   

We small businesses are all trying to live out / make our dreams a reality, isn’t that the American way?  So if you're looking for something to do on Saturday, Nov. 26 go out and support your local small business for Small Business Saturday.

And P.S. when you are shopping at your local brick and mortar or craft fair try and use cash, they will be forever grateful to you:) Ok time to get off my soapbox, I hope you all enjoy your feast and may you all wear leggings as pants to keep you comfortable, I sure am going too:)  (For the male readers, may you wear elastic waisted pants, unless of course you want to wear leggings, and rock that look, if so more power to you! And please email me a picture)

Over-N-Out
Gobble Gobble

On Some New Treasures

Hey Everyone!  Happy Sunday!  I am putting on my crafter hat today and doing one of my first holiday shows of the season, psst I have 2 more incase you can't make it.  I have been very busy sewing some discarded vintage treasures and transforming them into wonderful and unique handbags.

I also have been busy photographing some new vintage treasures for the Junk shop, you know just trying to get it stocked for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.  O and for those of you that read this here's a head's up, from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday I will be doing FREE DOMESTIC SHIPPING!!!  Tell your friends, there won't be a coupon code as I will be spending Wednesday night getting both shops ready:)

Here are some of the new goodies that I have added to the shop

These Wizard of Oz drinking glasses. One is of the Tin Man and the other is of The Wizard. They are so beautiful.  And a note, I have never seen the Wizard of Oz in it's entirety! The wicked witch freaks me out, maybe someday... 

More Butterprint Farmers... O how I swoon for this design....

Frolicing colts Paint By Number, There is just something about paint by numbers that is so magical to me. Seriously, this one would look so cute in a child's playroom or bedroom or with some of your other paint by numbers.

Just in time for the Holiday season, this set of six stackable Santa and his eight tiny reindeer hot coco mugs. These may or may not be on my secret hope they don't sell list, they are just so magical and I LOVE the kitschy design and colors, la swoon.

Well that's just a peek of the action happing over on the Junk, to see more Click on over HERE, for now it is time for bed as tomorrow is another early morning setting up shop, wish me luck:)

Over-N-Out

Fill in the Blank Friday

What a week! Was this one craziness for anyone else? It be a crazy one yo, so glad it's over! As this posts I will be settling in with my vanilla/cherry coke and obnoxiously large popcorn watching the beginnings of Breaking Dawn Part 1, Jealous?   So now let's fill in the blanks...

1.   My favorite new blog of the moment is   Betty Crafter, love her humor and her style   .

2.   Something I am thankful for is   friends that have turned into family  .

3.  Something that made me laugh this week was    this YouTubevideo of a Senior Community doing a lip dub. Wonder if mine would ever do this...

4. An item that is currently on my wish list is    an Ipad.

5.  I am excited about    having today off from work because I knew I would be exhausted after seeing Breaking Dawn at Midnight and stuffing myself with Vanilla Cherry Coke from the fun mixing machine at the theater. Also the very special evening plans I have today/night.

6.  If I were a color I would be     turquoise, because how can you be sad when you see turquoise.

7.  My favorite way to spend a chilly fall day is by    bundling up and getting a soy hot chocolate and going for a walk in an area with cute shops and window shopping.

Well I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  The highlight of mine will be this afternoon and  vending at a craft show.  Hope to meet some fun new creative people.

Over-N-Out!

Fill in the Blank Friday

Whew what a week, and Happy Veteran's Day Everyone!   This week was chalk full of many meetings and starting to gear up for the holidays at the day job.  This week I also attended my first Etsy meetup, it was pretty fun and looking forward to being able to make it again after the New Year.  Onto the blanks:

1.   When I was a kid I wanted to be      a veterinarian when I grew up.

2.   As an adult, my dream job would be  to be my own boss as a full-time handmade and antique seller, and have my own brick and mortar      .

3.  W hen I was younger I wanted to be just like  Cyndi Lauper   .

4. The childhood Halloween costume that I remember most was when I was   Rainbow Brite, seriously that costume was so bad ass!  Thanks Grandma for sewing that one, I still have it hanging in my closet at my moms in case someday I have a need for it  .

5.  My favorite childhood toy was    hands down My Little Ponies, my mom tells me I had them everywhere, the bathtub, the car oh yeah and whenever I went shopping I always had to get a new one.

6.  The time I got into the biggest amount of trouble when I was a kid was when I     dared this girl at recess to kick over this huge granite garbage can, you know like the ones outside of McDonalds, and she did and it fell over and busted. Turns out those aren't cheap and I got my one and only detention and of course my dad grounded me.

7.  I get daily inspiration from    bloggers, Pinterest, people on the street, my uber creative friends  .

Well that was fun.... until next week:)

Over-N-Out

11/11/11

Happy 11/11/11 Everyone!!

The number 11 holds a special place in my heart as in every sport I ever played it was my number.  Once upon a time on a High School Softball/Baseball bus coming back from an away game the boys coach thought it would be "super" fun for the players with the corresponding numbers to sit with each other on the ride home.  So I sat next to the #11 on the baseball team who happened to be the center fielder and one of my really good friends.  We got to talking and he asked me why I always picked 11 as my jersey and I said because it's twice as good as the number 1. Ha Ha....

So in honor of my special number I would like to over FREE Domestic shipping in both shops all day today. Simply enter coupon code Double 1 to receive the offer.  And tell your friends, o and P.S. the offer will expire at 11 pm:)

Over-N-Out

Recent Treasure Finds

About a month ago, while I was in Wisconsin I went super picking with my mom my junking partner in crime.  We stumbled upon a barn sale and let's just say we pretty much cleared it out, there was plenty of junk in our trunk that day. Here are a few of the things we found that have been recently added to the shop.

A set of Butterprint cinderella casseroles. A 473 1 Qt with the lid and a 471 1 Pt without the lid. This is my 2nd favorite Pyrex pattern.  What can I say I am a sucker for turquoise and the whimiscal folky farmer and his wife. It's like a Pyrex kitschy American Gothic. Love!

This little sweetie.  O what can I say, she's is so stinking adorable! I can only imagine what she was like in the 70's. I'm guessing that she housed a wicked awesome spider plant.  She is in great vintage condition the only thing is that she has a small chip in her pedicure.  I think that she would make a great desk caddy for your pens, pencils and scissors.

This paint by number wasn't picked in the barn pick but found by my other pickers, my dad and his girlfriend. They seriously have the best luck finding the paint by numbers, my dad can spot them out of nowhere. We were at an estate sale and he saw the paint by numbers before I did. This one reminds me of an English country side cottage. and in the bend in the road is this homey quaint cottage.  This painting measures 22 1/2" wide and 18 1/2" long.

My mom and I found so many other treasures so watch the shop for some small updates from now until Christmas. All these gems are ready for new homes and can be found HERE.

What treasures have you found lately?

Over-N-Out

Fill in the Blank Friday

Happy Friday Everyone... can you believe it's November AHHH!!!  Where did the time go?  Anywho let's fill in some blanks


1.   My favorite thing about this week was/is     that it was Halloween, seriously it seems like it was months ago since stores have Christmas out and the pumpkins are barely rotted yet  .

2.   Colder weather makes me   cold, hungry...and sometimes grumpy too, although I do love me some layered clothing      .

3.  Three things that make me terribly happy as of late are    my support system, purging all the things I don't need, wearing tights and boots   .

4. If I could only wear one kind of shoe for the rest of my life, I'd choose    TOMS super duper comfy and have you seen the new ones for spring?  I die  .

5.  My personality type is    INFP at least that's what I've been told. 

6.  I have a serious problem resisting     the urge to go to Target ALL THE TIME.

7.  My favorite color to wear is    grey...and denim usually together  .


This weekend I will be playing tour guide to some of my favorite out of town people. Since I am unable to go back to Wisconsin til Christmas, Wisconsin is coming to me:) Yay!  So there will be ALOT of eating and sight seeing going on in these parts.  How about you any fun plans?

Over-N-Out

Christmas Shipping Deadline

Greetings Everyone & Happy 3rd of November.  I have been sneaking a peak at my upcoming calender of happenings going on from now until Christmas and am wondering if it's a bit too soon to pull out the paper bag to start breathing into as at the full-time job we are heading into the busiest time of the year.

But in happier Etsy related news I have set the guaranteed to arrive and be under your tree by Christmas order deadline date as Sunday, December 11th for both Junk and Jadarie Handmade.  Orders placed by midnight on that day will ship out on Tuesday, December 13.  But you know it's never too early to start your holiday shopping.

 Junk has been getting updated like crazy, and this coming weekend I am getting some more of the inventory I picked in a barn clean out at the beginning of October. So watch for that in the next week.  Maybe I'll even put some sneek peaks on here....

I have a few more upcycled bags to list on Jadarie but I have 2 massive shows coming up that I've kinda been hoarding inventory for.  If you are in the Chicago area and would like the dets please shoot me an email or a comment, I'd love to see you.

Also, if you need a gift wrapped and ready for gift-giving please include that in the "Notes to Seller" I very much enjoy wrapping packages and would do so and no additional cost to you.  Ok I think that's all the businessy related things I have.  Hope you are all enjoying your day, it's a bit blustery and gray today here in Chicago.

Over-N-Out

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from all of us at Junk in Da Trunk Girls!

We'll let lil Sophie be our spokesperson since she's the most A-DORABLE raggedy Ann:) 

Please be safe in all your Halloween ventures.

Over-N-Out

Fill in the Blank Friday

1.  Today I am wearing     all black, because at the day job now I have transformed into Jadie Cash after all my "dress code violations" .
2.  My favorite childhood food was     Chef Boyardee Pizza   and my favorite food  now is   ...Chipotle and GF veggie Pizza .
3.  A day that I am too busy to      just sit around and not be doing two things at once    is a day that I am too busy.
4.  The last movie I saw was      "Risky Business"  ya thats right I rented it cause I've never seen the whole thing   and the next movie I want to see is      Breaking Dawn Part 1  .
5.  My favorite smell is      my moms house   because,     the minute I walk in and smell it I feel like 50 pounds has been lifted off of my shoulders .
6.  When I take personality quizzes they always say I'm      an extrovert, but only by a couple of points.  I'm really more of  an introvert .

Whats everyone up to this weekend?  I am off to visit some friends, visit some museums and get my place in order for some special visitors in a few weeks.  Yea it's going to take me a few weeks to get my stuff in order... did I mention that I am messy....:)
Hope everyone has a great one!
Over-N-Out