Martha Stewart Wing Chair Beauties!

We were so excited today when we scored several great pieces at our Monday auction! Our personal favorites are these two beautiful upholstered Martha Stewart wing chairs in perfect condition!

Here is a picture of what they look like...

Look at them here used as dining room chairs....what an impact!

Look for these chairs on sale at the next Tag Sale! July 16-18...See you there!

Holy Lucketts!!!!

Lucketts Spring Market....THIS WEEKEND!! Saturday and Sunday 10-5....

Come see what treasures are hidden in here!

Chronicles of Junk Girls....

This is a long post, but one that other Junk Girls can relate to and I think will find entertaining!
I think it's about time that we really address the "magical" and "glamourous" life of a junk girl.....
I put the words in quotes because any true junk girl with a passion for trash to treasure projects will tell you that this life is more dirty, grungy and time consuming than most people think!

Let's first address auctions.....
1) Auctions are not pretty. While yes, you can find great scores and unique items, auctions are usually found in smelly buildings with muddy parking lots that leave you feeling substationally dirtier than when you arrived.
2) Auctions are lonnnnnng and tiresome. You scan the auctionzip.com pictures, read the descriptions, check out the preview the night before and get very excited about the possible treasures. However, usually there are 123480734957 items in between each item you want. You so desperately want that vintage oak table with the great knobs, but you must wait for each Hummel, train car, glass dog figure and box of junk to be auctioned off before you ever get to your precious table. By the time you get to your table, your feet hurt, you're hungry and you're a little itchy for reasons listed below.
3) Auctions are full of quite the variety of people. First, of course you have your dealers (we'll refer to them as the ultimate enemies) who usually bid on the nice furniture and put most desirables (you know, the ones that don't take 7 hours of sanding and painting) out of reach. Second, you have retirees who've made a life out of hanging out at the auction picking up all of the $1 items that no one else wants (We don't hate these people). We actually find them rather entertaining. At our Monday auction, we watched a lady drool sound asleep for over an hour. Needless to say, she didn't win any bids. Third, you have the folks that make you a bit uncomfortable with the "revealing crack" pants, excessive amounts of body hair, not a set of teeth between them and an odor, well those of you that have ever been to an auction know what i'm talking about! We like to call these people the "auction folk".
4) Auctions can be very disappointing! You wait an hour to get to those two pieces of furniture you've had your eye on. You set your price limits, we'll say $50 for each piece. The bidding starts, first bid $10, you're excited thinking "yes, maybe i'll get this for 15 bucks". And then the disappointment starts. You don't even get your hand in the auction before that piece is sold for $175. You walk away sad and empty handed.
5) Auctions can make you spend more than you wanted! I'll address this with a story.....Wendy and I attended an auction in Pennsylvania, a good auction with lots of desirable pieces. Well, others thought so too. The first table, beat up, no hardware, and possibly missing a leg, one we'd said we would spend $20 on, goes for $125. Really??? The bidding continues. Furniture goes for ridiculous prices. Finally, the small drop side table comes around....well let's just say I refused to come home empty handed and we spend $35 on a table that we couldn't even sell for that.....Ugh!

Let's next address the strain on your car....
1) Sometimes you think your car is bigger than it is. You buy 10 pieces of furniture and are sure you can get them all in with room to spare. After 4 pieces the car is packed. What's a girl to do? CRAM CRAM CRAM! You fit pieces together like a puzzle, scratch up the interior, rip the roof fabric and almost crack a window just "checking" if the hatch will close. Junk Girls make the most of their time.
2) Most pieces of furniture (again, the ones that have "character") usually have a lingering smell of "old". After loading your car completely, you get in to leave and the smell is overwhelming. I'll also explain this one with a story....Wendy and I went to an auction yesterday. We got this great trunk that I saw potential in. As I went to pull off the "batting" that was coming out of the cushion, I realized that it wasn't batting at all, it was LARGE amounts of cat hair.....Eww. Convinced that I could not put this in a closed up car, I kindly asked for scissors than ripped off the fabric and batting while the other auction attendees watched. I've got no shame.
3) Bugs. Yes, old pieces often have bugs. Again, i'll use a few stories to explain this one. After a day at the auction, Wendy and I were headed for more shopping. Out of the corner of my eye I see something moving. Nope, not a running bull beside the car like I prayed, nope, it was a spider. A big, hairy yucky looking spider crawling across the dashboard looking for one of us to eat. I scream, Wendy screams, then "thud thud thud thud". Yes, that's us running into the rumble strip on the side of the highway almost killing ourselves. We're still not sure where that spider is! How about the buzz you hear in the car but aren't sure what it is until a stink bug flies right into your hair? Also quite hazardous! Bugs are a very dangerous side effect of being a junk girl!

Next, let's take on the risk factor!
1) Old pieces have lead paint amoungst other terrible things. Do we avoid these pieces? Nope! We put on the stylish gas mask and sand away. A junk girl has no fear!
2) Sometimes you get that feeling that your breath's been taken away. Did you just see an awesome vintage dresser? Nope, the sand dust in your lungs just migrated. Rough....
3) Junk girls don't rely on men to move things! We'll use an example for this one. Wendy and I had this great 50 inch table that was extremely heavy! Wendy being pregnant couldn't help me move it, so I built up my adrenaline, picked it up like an umbrella and went on my merry way....Junk girls never let obstacles get in their way!
4) We deal with very dirty things. For example, Wendy and I went to a place with great stuff, but walked away with chicken poop on a purse. That can't be heathly....We just let it wear off with time...
5) You can find yourself on the other side of the law.....let's just say, i'm the only person I know that managed to get a parking ticket while at a yard sale.

Why do we put ourselves through this you ask? It's for the rush, the rush of seeing that piece that no one saw life left in just shine. The fun is seeing past the rough spots of a piece to the hidden potential. Being a Junk Girl is a passion. It's a remarkable outlet for creativity. It changes the way you think. Your mind is constantly looking at things going "What can I do with that?" Being a Junk Girl is a thrill ride. Why do I do this? Because I love it.

April Tag Sale Beauties!

The April Tag Sale is packed full of great stuff!

Two beautiful french blue chairs upholstered in a creamy white linen.

A great rustic table/desk with a white-washed top.

Fun vintage accessories!

And of course our great window cork/chalkboards! We can do custom pieces too!!

A great white dresser with beautiful french gold hardware

A taller matching white dresser with original hardware....wow!

A blue distressed desk and fun spring accessories!

A custom potting bench made from an old door! Don't you love the rod on the top?? The potting benches are not for sale in the Beans and Buttons space this month, but we are always available for custom pieces! Just ask!! What a great way to bring vintage to the garden!

There will be a few potting benches for sale at the great Lucketts Fair next month! Keep checking back for more details!

Come see us this weekend for some great vintage furniture and accessories!

Jump Outside of the Box with Great Kids Rooms!!

If there's one thing in life I truly look forward to, it's when the time comes around to re-decorate or for the new babies, newly-decorate our kids rooms. Kids rooms really allow the creatively to just pour out of my ears. I love how a kid's room just can't be over the top. There can't be too much color, never too much design, and nothing is ever cheesy!

My tips for creating an awesome kids room:

* Paint is your friend. Use paint with some painters tape and walls make a huge impact! In these rooms we did vertical stripes. A lot of work, but so adorable!

We handmade these valances in a great green gingham with ribbon ties

My brother-in-law built the toy box

The rocker was my husband's grandmother's

Creating great kids room doesn't have to cost a fortune!

                        Wendy made this great valance over the window, How adorable!

* Never worry that furniture doesn't match. Mismatching is ok, plus paint can do miracles! The most important thing is that it's durable and practical!

This dresser is near and dear to my heart. It was my grandmother's so we added a fresh coat of paint and some adorable drawer pulls and it's fit for a baby princess!

This dresser was given to my sister right about the time I was having my first daughter. A great coat of paint, some stencils and cute detail, and it's perfect for a little girl's room!

 Wendy found this great amoire, painted it white with some pink detail and it's ideal for a baby's room!

* Kids thrive when their imaginations are allowed to soar. Add fun details and designs around the room. Don't be afraid to cover the walls!

We made sure to cover this room with hundreds of things to look at. My daughter loves to stare around the room and discover new things! We handpainted bugs, flowers and grass, used some great rub-on decals and magically it's like you step into a garden every time you enter her room!

In this room we handpainted a great tree! We used a shade of pink just a few shades darker than the wall color so the impact of the tree wouldn't be too harsh. We hand-painted leaves and flowers (each adorned with a sequin circle). A special touch, and my personal favorite, was the addition of the birds in the tree. Each bird was painted by a different female member of the family. I love adding sentimental touches in kids rooms.

*Mix and match colors and textures. One of my favorite parts of doing a kids room is finding all different accessories in all different places!

The butterfly quilt was found at Pottery Barn, the sheets at Target, the green quilt at Marshalls and the adorable ladybug pillow at Kohl's! I must discourage people from walking into a store and buying a bedding set completely coordinated. (This is ok for baby crib bedding of course!) Take time, look at different stores and group things together on your own. It will be a personal look and will make you feel even more proud of your room!

*Save money by making your own creations! You don't have to be a Picasso to add great personalized touches to a kid's room.

A Pottery Barn catalog inspired these adorable pictures! Not wanting to spend the $75 on the Pottery Barn ones, I created my own using some craft store wood blocks and paint! Simple and it only cost me about $6!

I want everyone to enjoy decorating kids rooms as much as I do! Be inspired by everything around you and don't be afraid to express your creativity.

March Tag Sale This Weekend!!!

It's finally here....so much anticipation, so much snow, so much cold....it's finally here....SPRING is finally here!! Why not celebrate a beautiful weekend with some shopping at Chartreuse and Co. All of the dealers at Chartreuse and Co. have collected some great items and are ready for the fantastic colors of Spring! Here are some Beans and Buttons specialities...

A wonderful Spring display full of goodies anchored by AWESOME vintage garden potting benches made from old doors and windows....Bring vintage to your garden! What a great old ladder perfect for displaying spring potted plants...

Some great green and blue eggs....add to a vintage basket, a pot, a nest or even under a great cake stand (pictured to the right) for some spring fun! Look at those adorable stacked nests!

A tiered stand full of spring birds, eggs and fun green frogs! Don't you just love the colors and textures of Spring??

A fun yellow hand-painted desk perfect for a kids room!
For spring we've added some vibrance to our tin-holders...Look at that great Chartreuse color...perfect for holding spring flowers inside your house. Our tin holders have many other uses too...use for candy, crayons or sunglasses, the possibilities are endless!

What an adorable vintage eight basket plant holder...

A white egg basket full of moss balls...I love the texture combination with the fuzzy moss and the wire basket! We've also added some great brightly-colored frames...My personal favorite is the one with "The Girls" across the bottom...perfect for a group of friends or a household of daughters!

There's that honey-color hutch in perfect condition! Also a great white distressed side table....

An awesome vintage game table...look at that bench made from an old grain sack! What character!

Our custom Beans and Buttons shelf is full of goodies for March!

Don't forget to come see us at Chartreuse and Co. this weekend for the March tag sale! The Barn is packed full of vintage goodies!! Plus, we've added an extra day to this sale! Come Thursday night from 6-9 for the pre-sale party. Guaranteed to be full of fun, food (Carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese icing will be in the Beans and Buttons space) and great vintage items! See you there!!

Check out http://www.chartreuseandco.com/ to see preview pictures from everyone in the barn! Plus, Silk and Burlap (http://www.silkandburlap.com/) will have their great cake bites from Snickety Snacks....a reason in their own to come see us!

We'd like to also give credit to our kids who are of course, a big part of our inspiration! "The Girls"...

Happy Spring Everyone!

Beans and Buttons is on Facebook!

Beans and Buttons has joined Facebook!! Click to become a fan and be the first to learn about new items and upcoming events!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Beans-and-Buttons/344561631706?v=wall&ref=ts

Coming soon for March!!

We are so excited for the March tag sale! Finally bringing some bright colors and warm weather into what proved to be a dreary winter. Beans and Buttons has some great spring vintage finds for March....vintage concrete candleholders, bright serving pieces, an awesome garden stand perfect for planting those spring flowers, and much much more! Pictures will be available soon....so keep watching!

Chase away those snow blues with some Chartreuse and Co. shopping!

Ok, so after a very long day of work at Chartreuse and Co., Beans and Buttons is finally ready for the February tag sale! We are so excited for the great vintage finds and creations that we're offering this month!!

A beautiful, and I do mean beautiful, black with gold detail dresser with mirror. What a great addition to any bedroom!



A great assortment of Beans and Buttons handmade hookboards. What beautiful character and charm! Functional and stylish!



A great red drop-front desk. Plus, a bonus shelf on top. How cute for a kitchen! What a fun game table! (of course, a vintage chess set too!)



That great pine hutch in it's original honey color. Plus, some great mason jar boards. Hang these in your kitchen for a fun way to hold utensils, especially those vintage wooden ones!






Beans and Buttons is full of great vintage furniture and accessories for February. Make sure to join us for the tag sale at Chartreuse and Co. this weekend, February 19-21! Let some fun shopping chase away those snow blues!

February Chartreuse and Company tag sale Items!

Sneak Peek! Here are some of our fabulous vintage finds and creations available for sale at the February Chartreuse and Co. tag sale!

Fantastic assortment of vintage magazine racks!

Great white dresser with beautiful lines and rounded feet...

Vintage pine hutch in great shape, what a great size too!!

Beautiful collection of cake/baked goods stands, some found, some upcycled....

My personal favorite is this beautiful vintage gold light fixture adorned with a gold trimmed flowered plate, and topped with a glass dome!

And of course, what would a Chartreuse and Co. tag sale be without the Beans and Buttons personal creations...

Great hooks, some with chalkboards for those little reminders, made out of old molding blocks..

More great hooks made out of vintage porch balusters!

Keep watching for more items for the February tag sale at Chartreuse and Co.!

Let your Jewelry Decorate more than your body!!

I was going through my jewelry the other day and realized that the most beautiful jewelry I have is hidden away in boxes! And then sparked the idea of creating jewelry holders that allow your jewelry to shine even when not being worn! These three-tiered jewelry holders are perfect for necklaces, bracelets and rings. Made from vintage plates, each holder has unique charm. Never have to sift through a jewelry box again! Come get yours at the next Chartreuse and Co. Tag Sale Feb. 19-21.

Awesome Old Windows!

So the front of my fridge consists of a dry erase calendar and a chalkboard for writing memos. I must say that without these things, my life would be complete chaos! The problem is that the usual white boards are just so plain. Knowing this, Wendy and I have created memo, dry erase and chalkboards out of old windows! I love using old pieces in a new way and even better, making them completely functional! Make sure to come see the newest selection of windows at the Chartreuse and Co. Tag sale Feb. 19-21! These message boards fly like hotcakes so get yours quick!

O is for Organizing!

So i've spent the past three days searching around my house for inspiration for just the right January blog post. The holidays are over, Spring hasn't arrived yet and it's just a dreary time of year. Then it hit me....Organizing! I recently read an article that said that over-organizing is actually less efficient than just being sort of mediocre organized. I find this to be so true! When I get that crazy urge to find order in my always chaotic house, I find that I all of the sudden know where nothing is! So i've come up with a few tips for those of us who hate clutter, but just can't seem to rid yourself of it....
1) Always have a place to put mail, but make sure to go through this mail at least once every two weeks to make sure important things don't slip through the cracks! Equally as important, have a different slot for bills to be paid. I found this great slotted organizer at Chartreuse and Co. in Buckeystown, Md. that has just that. I have a slot for bills, one for important papers, and of course one for keeping the ever-popular post-it notes!
2) As mentioned just previously, always have post-it notes or some sort of great jotting paper readily accessible. Not a day goes by where I don't use my pads of paper for writing down some important tidbit of information. Now, don't be afraid to steer away from the stereotypical, yellow post-it. Paper comes in incredible styles, shapes and patterns. Chartreuse and Co. actually carries some great vintage paper, that is useful and decorative. What more can you ask for!
3) Now, if you're like so many of us, you have the ever-increasing clutter of toys. The best way to deal with toys is decorative baskets and boxes. Make the toys just another aspect of a great room! My personal favorite is finding those beautifully fabric-covered boxes for all of those little toys that just seem to end up under your feet! Simply put the boxes stacked on a shelf or table and bam, you've hidden the unsightly legos, superhero figures and barbies! For extra fun, add a small hanging frame labeling what's in the box. These are useful when teaching kids to put away their toys!
4) One of the most important organizing tips is to get rid of things you don't use! If the kids' clothes are stained, toss them, if you aren't going to use that bread maker again, donate it...Get a hold of clutter before it gets a hold of you! Plus, it makes room for all of those great finds that you just can't live without!
5) And the token organizing tip.....Always keep part of a closet or cabinet empty for quickly hiding the eye-sore clutter for those guests arriving in ten minutes!

For those that come in my house, they think i'm quite the organizer. But the secret's out....i'm just really good at faking it! So I hope everyone takes these tips to stay inside on these cold winter days and organize that holiday clutter!