The Demise of the Fleamarket (as I knew it)!

I am sure fleamarkets have all sorts of reputations by the people who frequent them. This is just mine... I have visit them from time to time in my life. As a child my father would make and sell Soulful Christmas music at our local market. There would be someone selling perfume/incents, another selling cast offs from an estate sale or home clean out. Almost always somebody had a large barrel grill cooking the best ribs you have ever tasted.

I now visit fleamarkets more often than before. You see, I redesign jewelry and small furniture items and accessories. So the fleamarket, thrift store, garage and yard sales are where I can find some of my best buys. Of course curside shopping is the absolute best bargain because it is free!

Anywho, now all I see at the markets are dollar store items! Everything is cheap. Whatever happend to the vintage clothing, tchotchkes, mixed tapes, they old guy selling used hardware and tools? Where's my local farmer selling vegetables and fruit.... Now all I see is junk....and DEFINITELY not the good kind!

During one of my recent trips to a once reliable fleamarket it was SO crowded, I couldn't even find a park. This was in the middle of the day... don't these people work?! LOL

Right off the back I was hit with designer knock-offs of every kind!

 All sorts of stuff... Even things bought in bulk and sold individually... HA! What a rip!

 More socks than you can shake a stick at....(whatever that means..I think I'm getting old)

 Turning-skin-green jewelry.

 But the people were there in full force. Good for the vendors I suppose...bad for me.

 These are cute...but I'd rather buy them from a handmade jewery artist... and the handmade ones are not that expensive... $10-$20.... definitely comparable.

 Loads and loads of stuff... some would say too much stuff..... but nothing for me :(

 Cheap fashions anyone?

 Ah... such a disappointing trip. However, there was one small glimpse of joy on my way out... partially buried deep in the dirt, I found this little gem. Most folks would walk right over it.... but not me. This is what I love to do.... Find old grungy, discarded items and make them neat and interesting!

 So I cleaned that baby up. Sprayed with a clear coat as not to damage anyone's clothing...added a few jeweled letters and a suede cord & silver finding...and...

 Voila! A piece of Found Item Art.

No I understand that this isn't everyone's thing... but it's mine. It's the way I help beautify this earth... one recycled item at a time.

That Girl, Ang

K is for Keys, Key Plates and such!

KEYS glorious keys! What's not to love? Keys signify authority, opporitunity... Key plates signify a door way to the known and unknown. Over the years, I've collected many, many keys.. unfortunately I've somehow hid them from myself. However, I did find just enough to bring you a delightful display. Enjoy!!

Most of these keys came from a great little spot in downtown Greensboro, NC... I forget the name. The key hole plates I got from eBay.

Look at the cool detail.

The piece is unique in it's own right. It is labeled "Bert"

These keyplates (it that the right name?) are just devine. I could only find 2 of my stash.. they'd make great necklaces!

Ooo look! Lovely key plate jewelry.

This key I bent in the spoon bender I purchased off of eBay. I drilled a little hole in it and.....

Voila! A key bracelet!

They compliment each other very well.

Do you use Keys or key parts in your design or art? If so, what do you make? If not, why are you waiting? LOL

That girl, Ang

Please check out my byABPryor Etsy Store.... or my new blog Usable Art for Sale! for unique, fun gifts! Thanks

Remixed Jewelry - Upcycle Recycle Style

I've been busy making jewelry over the past week. They were refashioned out of beads, vintage jewelry, liquors labels, belts, purse chains, skeleton key part, and key hole plate. The most unique part was my use of a destroyed vintage Christian Dior suitcase. I call these pieces REMIXED...as I redesign the findings for a unique outcome.

Please enjoy!

The Bourbon Street Necklace. I paired beads, a birdie charm, a metal liquor label and crystal lettering to make this goreous piece. The chain is from a vintage Art Deco purse clasp (the purse part had been removed).

The Elegant Long Black Velvet Purse Necklace. The tiny purse from the doll section of the craft store was paired with a very long vintage necklace. This is quite the conversation piece; simple yet elegant.

Two of my favorite; The Key Part Necklace and the matching Key Plate Bracelet. The necklace was fashioned out of 2 vintage necklaces. I added a skeleton key part and chandelier crystals. The bracelet is a mixture of 2 necklaces, (one of which was used in the previous design) a keyhole plate and a bead. Many common everyday items can be transformed into beautiful pieces of art.

This is one of my most unique pieces of work. Iwas created using 5 different parts. I used 2 non matching chains (one is beaded), a barrette, an earring and a bead. I love how it all works together.

Finally, I made my 1st bib necklace. I call it the Floral Bibster. It's base is made from the Dior bag I cut up (only after it was alread maimed), silk flowerers, rhinstones from a broken vintage bracelet, velvet ribbons and a very eighties gold chain belt. The final reulst is a cute lightweight necklace.

Just for kicks I created this piece for the love of Jimmy Fallon's song.. "The Jet Blue Song: The Ballad of Steven Slater". I don't condone what the former Jet Blue Flight Attendant did... but the song was funny as heck! LOL HIS & HERS "get two beers and jump" Resin Necklaces.

Although I LOVE to create.. these items are for sale as well. Please check out my byABPryor Etsy Store.... or my new blog Usable Art for Sale! for unique, fun gifts! Thanks

That girl, Ang

J is for Junk! Now selling my JUNK on my Usable Art blogspot!!!

I have a few things for sale now... so please visit me here.

USABLE ART

and in my Etsy Store.....Usable Art byABPryor

Thanks so much for your support!

That Girl, Ang

I is for Inspirational Ideas....

Everyday, I look around to find different ways of doing things. Now, I know, I know...there is nothing new under the sun..or so they say... but look at these inventive creations and tell me if they inspired you..the way they have me! (Click the links to read the stories behind the stories!)

1. A TP Holder - I know some of you are thinking "How can that be inspirational?" But hold on, and check this out. Sue Whitney of the fabulous JunkMarketStyle.com came up with this marvelous idea to make a toilet paper holder out of a brace. Go figure?! I owned one of these and was going to copy the idea but decided to pass my brace along in a junk swap. It will be fun to see what my partner makes with it!

2. Silver Lights -I was so inspired by this next project I made a whole slew of them. I will go more in detail when I get to "N" for nightlights! Janis Gurney of Rust & Ruffles blog made these wonderful lights out of teapots and crystal. Aren't they beautiful?!

3. Mirrored Tree House - This is not your norm craft, but, nevertheless it is incredible! When I saw this I became completely enthralled by the very idea. What could I make using this technology....hmmmm We will see....(insert mad scientist laugh) I wonder if the birds really do fly into it....hmmmmm.

4. Unusual Frame - No really, I've seen almost everything turned into a frame.... well take a look at this baby. This is what you get when you blend together a light fixture, 2 door knobs, some silver paint and an adorable picture! Sue Whitney of JunkMarketStyle.com has done it again. This lady never ceases to amaze me. You take a look and tell me what you think? Inspiring right?!

5. Family Reunion Heritage Tree - This 5th and final project is from yours truly....moi! I hope this inspires you as much as it has inspired me. This started from a junk swap I participated in on the JunkMarketStyle.com board. I sent out a large box of junkaliciousness and received a box full of goodies in return. One of the pieces was a rusty white plant stand. After turning the piece to and fro...upside down and around, I decided on my final project. Hope you like it!

This concludes Inspirational Ideas. I hope this post was (hee-hee) Inspiring! Please tell me what you think.

That Girl,

Ang

Just what the Junker ordered.... Junk Jewels

Today I was very pleasantly surprised.... I saw a cast off train case on the ground. However, I was in a mad rush to take my son to school, 3 towns over.... I marked it in my mind to return home the same way so that I could get it before the garbage men... being as though I absolutely ADORE vintage luggage.


One hour later I return to find it still there... Hallelujah! I quickly pulled along side of the prey, put the car in park (but still running) and pounced on it like a leopard on a gazelle. As I lifted it up I noticed the weight... It was heavy. I opened it up with the intentions to dump the contents in the nearby trash can.



When I opened it broken glass fell out.. clearly from the vanity. I sighed and continued.... "what's this broken vanity mirror reflecting?OMGosh... it sparkled!"I looked down to see heaps f Junk Jewelry staring at me like a deer in headlights.... Woo-hoo Jackpot!

I quickly closed the case, surveyed my surrounding and dashed back to my get-away car.... zoom.. It's all mine. I drove back to my snow covered yard and investigated my new finds intensely on the back stairs.... I couldn't wait to get in the house. I saw that it was filled with great finds... mainly broken... but it had that that je ne sais quoi. I want to share with you. I hope you enjoy the show....

That Girl, Ang

G for Vintage GAMES! CandyLandy Tin Turned Wall Clock

Happy 50th Anniversary Tin turned Wall Clock - JUNKMARKET Style

OK.. I've seen just about everything turned into a clock.. so when I saw this tin, I knew immediately what it would be.....

I will be making a few more of this babies.. I have a ton of tins that will make interesting time pieces.

;) Thanks again Janis!

PS - Here's a tip... don't want to buy clock parts.. then get an inexpensive clock from a discount store for a a $1 or two.. carefully take apart & reuse!

That Girl,
Ang

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Long time no see/ hear nor read... LOL (Projects)

Well yes, I 've been gone for a while.. just a lot going on in my life. But I have completed some projects and will post now... I hope you all enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them...


Old movie fans can probably appreciate this one. I admit.. off beat & warped.. yet so cool! I am placing on Etsy later if you are interested...LOL (and yes, the hanger is attached ;)




I am actually in the process of adding on more flowers & cinnamon sticks.. Mmmmm the cinnamon smells delightful. The board is an edge of an old artist canvas stretcher. It is coated in black board paint.... How about this to hang on a door.. LOL I will update pictures later...





I got this idea from the JunkMarket Website... Lanette Lorsung. I took the wheels off of a Jeep baby carriage, the board is a vintage artist canvas stretcher piece, wire and blackboard paint. I am actually putting more silk flowers and cinnamon sticks on it to take p some of the space on the hanging wire... but yum... it smells delightful! Enjoy! ;)





This piece was made from the frame of an old boxspring. It had too much potential to just throw away. I removed the bedsprings to place in my etsy store ;). Then I painted & accessorize... see if you can figure out all of the items I used.......





This potting chair is a work of labor as it is my 1st and it is labor intensive... I keep changing my mind. Please know it's a work in process.




I WISHED my computer didn't catch a virus and a fever.. as all of my photos and inspirational links & pictures are gone. These pieces were a helluva mess. I was at a gardening show working on the handles when another vendor asked me for the 2 below pieces.. I should them for $15 a piece... I know - I know but I brought them to work on.. still had a couple of flaws. I was so excited she asked that I just blurted out " How's $30?" LOL Well she told me to bring all my stuff to the plant shop and perhaps I can sell to them or cosign other pieces.. so it might be well worth the 45 min trip...LOL Although this show was free, it was poorly advertised with low attendance.. but one of my best shows ever... so by the time she purchased... I was good! LOL




Thanks for being patient....

That Girl, Ang