Rocky Swap Meet 2011 - Part 4

I hope you've been enjoying the tour of the 2011 Rocky Swap Meet.

This post is about my favourite stall at the swap meet this year as I have NEVER seen anything like this anywhere. I've even tried to find this on Google search but not one image even remotely came up similar to the awesome work done by a lovely chap by the name of Peter.

Just check these out. I'm sure you'll be drooling over the workmanship of this fine metal artist. Take a closer look at the metal work... do you see what has been used to create these beauties?

Yep, I can see horse shoes and various second hand and vintage hand tools that are mostly used on a farm. Chains, hinges, sheep shearing clippers, springs, hooks. This is what I'd call the ultimate in upcycling my friends.

Here are some more pics. Enjoy.

I would love a Queen size head board like this but with a curved top edge

These chairs are actually surprisingly comfortable.

Santa I want two of these on the back patio please :-P

and one of these as well

I hope you enjoyed the tour of the Rocky Swap Meet for 2001. I am looking forward to next year.

Cheers

Jenni (aka Smokeygem) xoxoxo

Rocky Swap Meet 2011 - Part 3

G'day.

As promised, today I will be showing you what I call "Ugly Dolls". These are locally handmade dolls that look sooooooo life-like it's down right creepy but somehow kind of cute as well.

I'll let you be the judge.

Each doll has it's own name and Bronwyn of "Sea-Life" can make them to order and create a Newborn for you from a photo. If you are interested in having a custom made doll, just send me an email and I'll pass the message onto Bronwyn. If you live in the Land Down Under you can call her on 04 395 45 005. At the time of posting this, there is currently no website or email address that I'm aware of.

Cheers

Jenn

Rocky Swap Meet 2011 - Part 2

Ok, I've been M.I.A for a few weeks now but I have a really good reason... really I do. I have just recently finished my STEPS studies at Uni and boy was it full on with assessments and exams. I have taken on an optional study course in maths so that I don't get rusty leading up to the beginning of my Undergraduate studies next year but that should be less time consuming. I hope.

Anyways peeps, here are the pics of my "purchases" from this years swap meet. Unfortunately I didn't get much as I was having some serious back pain that day. I am however happy with what I did get.

The first item I found was this wheel rim and whatever it came from it was small. The diametre is just a tiny 14.5cm but I did have a project in mind when I picked it up. It was late in the afternoon so it would probably come as no surprise that I got a discount on it. I held it up and asked the vendor what he wanted for it... he said I can take it, FREE. Can't get better than that I hear you say? Oh but I did do better my friends. It was sitting with a set of four larger wheel rims and the guy said I could take them as well.

The small tyre rim I got for FREE

... and the four extra wheels also for FREE. Bargain!!!

These guys are 16.5 cm in diametre

The next lot of stuff I got came from another stall. I've got no idea what I'll be using these for yet but I'm sure inspiration will strike... maybe Pinterest will help me on this one.

The final item I purchased is this contraption. When I saw it I thought it was actually a hook, but apparently it's some type of vintage hand held gardening hoe. Sorry for the poor quality on this one.

See that hole at the tip? I'm guessing that's the screw hole for a timber handle. Don't you just love that rust?

Next year I'll be a little bit more prepared an maybe a little bit more fitter and lighter :-P

Part 3 of the Rocky Swap 2011 tour will feature what I call "Ugly dolls" although my Mum absolutely LOVES them.

Cheers

Jenn

Rocky Swap Meet 2011 - Part 1

Organised by the Rockhampton Rotary Club, the swap meet is held every year on the first Saturday of August, at the Rocky show grounds. The local paper said that there would be over 1000+ exhibitors/traders for the event but it certainly felt like twice that many. As usual I had a stall there where I attempted to sell my crafts and jewellery.

Here's a pic of my stall. Sorry for the poor quality.

Unfortunatly I didn't get much of a chance to have a good look around due to my foot and back giving me a bit of grief, but I did make the most of my short walks around my favourite areas of the site. My favourite stall was new for this year and what the gentleman made was one of the best examples of upcycling I have ever seen; however, I'm leaving that for a later post dedicated to his fabulous creations.

Here are some of the stuff that caught my eye this year.

Yeah, I've got a week spot for classic, vintage and hotrod vehicles. The first two are made from fibreglass.

Love the rust on this beauty

How cool is this vintage dodgem car?

Farm implements made into a garden sculpture... sweet

Wood heater... <3

Lovin this cash register.

The guy looked at me like I was weird or something when I took this pic.

I can vaguely remember having one like these as a kid

So you are now probably wondering what I ended up buying... stay tuned for part 2

Jenni

Dining Room Makeover Part 1

Ever had one of those days where everything seems to be going wrong and you need to do a little bit of shopping therapy? Yeah me too; however, my idea of shopping therapy is not clothing, make up or a new hairdo... no sir, it's Bunnings Hardware. So a few weeks ago, I had a shocker of a day at Uni where I was struggling BIG TIME with Algebra. It's not like I chose to do Algebra, but it's was one of the maths modules for the STEPS program and I was just getting frustrated that it wasn't sinking in.

I've been wanting to give my dining room a fresh look but needed a sander for the first project. Oh the choices. Do I get an orbital sander, a random ordital sander or a belt sander? A little research was needed and finally I decided on this little beauty.

Ok so it's not the best brand but it does the job :-) When I get a bit more financial I will probably upgrade and give this to Cody if he wants it.

First kid off the block is this guy. Don't you just love the varnish knotty pine? Nah me neither.

and what about the chipped leg? I actually like this oddly enough.

Here it is again, now in its painted glory. First time I've attempted glazing though and finding glaze where I live is near impossible so I made my own using an acrylic paint conditioner called 'Floetrol' and black acrylic artists paint.

Not sure if I like the black but will live with it for a while to see if it grows on me.

and here it is with one of my future redo's. I've posted about these chairs here; however I'm tired of the crackle finish plus they just don't suit the new look I'm going for.



and one final look...

Before

After

I am linking up to:




Till next time
Jenni

Made My First Banner

WOW! I finally learnt how to make my own banner last night. Yeah, I know it's not as fancy as a lot of banners out there in blog land but...

...it's all mine.

It can only get better from here with a lot of practice, experimenting and Google searches LOL

The tutorial for this can be found here

Wire Jewellery Designs

Ok so I’m not a big fan of wearing jewellery but I LOVE making it.

I started making jewellery in about 2004, after joining a newly formed medieval group and watched with great interest one of the members making a chain maille armor. The moment I got home I went online and Google searched “chain maille”. Not only did I find more chain maille armor, but also chain maille jewellery and other wire based jewellery. Well I was hooked. I saved every image that caught my eye for inspiration and bought every magazine that had wire jewellery tutorials in it. As my own style developed I found that I went from Victorian style wired beads to mostly wire work.

This is one my first attempts at coiling

This is a popular design for beginners

Ouch, by the time I finished this piece my fingers were a bit sore

Another beautiful piece of wire work if I do say so myself

and other pretty piece

When I was a member of an SCA group

I was shown how to braid my own cord

Love these buttons.

They were in my Mum's bead collection

but I persuaded her to give me some for this project

Look What I Found On The Weekend

It’s been awhile since I made my way to the local recycle dump and it totally surprises me what people throw away. What surprises me even more is how people gather in front of the door like a herd of cattle and stampede in when the door is opened. But the biggest surprise was the snatch and grab mentality. Case in point, in order to put some cute little spice bottles into a just as cute little tin case which I will show you soon, I had to put the items I had up (only got two hands like the rest of us), and within seconds a man went to take one of the items saying he could not see my name on it. Guess I’ll just have to take a bag with me next time.

Anyways, here is my little collection of interesting finds.

Candle Hurricane

This is the item I almost lost. Isn’t it a little beauty? 

A view of the candle wax that needed to be removed

Spice Bottles

Tin Lunch Boxes

Salt and Pepper Shakers

Beauty Container

Jewellery

Waste Paper Bin

Love the black trimming with the studs.

And the grand total for all this? $5

Nope that's not a typo my friends. I paid just 5 bucks for this entire stash.

Looking forward to the weekend to see what else I can find for my home and stall.

Cheers