Jewelry Re-purposed for The Queen

Jewelry is a "must" for the Cranky Queen...& I have been known to "over do it" on an occasion or two..."Gaudy" is the word that my Mother, Cranky Em, loves referring to it as...But, to defend myself, I must say that my motto is "Adorn, Adorn, Adorn!" 
So, I have been lovin' all of the re-purposed, re-cycled, up-cycled jewelry made from vintage pieces & re-created into fabulous one-of-a-kinds.  Above is one of the Cranky Queen's originals...created using a white beaded choker; mother of pearl shoe buckle & a vintage enamel & fauxe rhinestone brooch.  I will be wearing this, along with the cowboy hat that I have "gypsied up", to the Bella Rustica Barn Event in Franklin, TN!

Take a goooood luck, gals!

The next royal creation is a watch face bracelet. I am so fascinated with old clocks & watches...& everyone (who is someone) is decorating with them. "Timing" is everything in this day & time!

 

 

I used both men & lady's vintage watch faces to create this bracelet. I finished it off with a pearl-filled birdcage charm dangling from the clasp!

The Cranky Queen will share pictures from Bella Rustica when she returns! STAY CALM & ADORN! Tiffany

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Well, I don't know about your "neck of the woods", but in the South, we love football!  Whether it be High School or College...WE ARE FOOTBALL FANATICS!  Now in the Cranky Queen's kingdom, the local high school football team is the Sylacauga Aggies.  Our mascot is the red devil.  Now don't ask me how those 2 got together...that was done way before my "Queenship!"~All I know is that the Royal Family are Aggie Fans!

So, to support our team, I decided to make a door banner (or hanger) & thought ya'll may just want a little tutorial on the "how to." EASY!

Cut a football out of brown paper or newspaper.

1.Fold burlap in half so when you cut, there will be 2 football shapes. 2.Pin pattern on burlap. 3.Trace off the pattern using a black Sharpie. 4. Cut patterns out leaving about 1/2" around the trace line

Sew 2 football-shaped pieces together following along the black Sharpie line. Trim excess. Sew along the edge again using the zig-zag stitch.

Paint burlap football with fabric stiffener on both sides & allow to dry.

Once dry, paint football brown. Dry. Then paint stripes & laces with white paint. Dry. Then add your team's name. Dry. Outline with black painter pen.  Add wire for hanging & ribbon of choice!

STAY CALM & CHEER FOR YOUR TEAM!

Tiffany

The Cranky Queen's #1 Philosopy: All Work and No Play Makes For a Very Long Day...

 

The Cranky Queen & her "Dutchess" friend, Melanie, headed to Montgomery, AL & decided to make a detour before starting their day.  Melanie had been told about this awesome place that specialized in architectural salvage.  The "catch" was...it is only open 10-12 noon...Tues-Thurs.  The shop is named Rescued Relics, & it is operated by volunteers with all proceeds going to help restore Old Alabama Town.

We were "all smiles" after finding so many treasures...a little sweaty and grungy...but grinning like kids in a candy store!

Look at these fabulous lights!

Tons of doors...The Cranky Queen did purchase a cool old screen door with the original hardware!

Roger, the very nice gentleman who assisted us on our "scavenger hunt", hides behind the screen door that I bought!

Three matching mantles...when would you ever find these?

This beautiful arched doorway was already "adopted" & waiting to be carried to its new home.

They had windows...any shape...any size.

We both loved these unique french-style doors with the original door bell.

Vintage enamel sinks & tubs...some still with the hardware attached!

 

We literally "drooled" over this wrought iron fencing & even tried to purchase some of the fleur-de-lis toppers....BUT these are not for sale.  This very old  fencing is used to restore the existing fences in Old AL Town.

Melanie loved these old chairs.  I plan on getting them if they have not been "adopted" this week when I return to pick up the screen door for the castle.

Wrought iron fireplace covers, more enamel sinks...we were in salvage heaven!

So we loaded up the trunk & back seat of the car & promised to return one day! It was definitely worth the detour...Like the Queen said "All Work & No Play, Makes For A Very, Very Long Day...STAY CALM & GO JUNKIN'!

Tiffany

Beds...Not Just For Sleeping Anymore

 

Everyone enjoys a peaceful, uninterrupted night of sleep. The Cranky Queen is even "crankier" when she does not get her beauty sleep! Buttttttt....sometimes, beds become rickety or out of style or even (God Forbid), old...& people find themselves discarding head and footboards.

Above is the Cranky Prince, Logan, who helped me create this "headboard hanger." We found it on the side of the road in a trash pile. No rails. Dirty and chippy...no longer beneficial for a good nights rest!

It started out looking like this...excuse the mess...Cranky King's workshop is NEVER clean! Just because he thinks he is "royalty", doesn't mean he cannot pick up a broom every once in awhile!

As you can see, the varnish was peeling off...it was headed to the "old bed's heaven" before we snatched it off the road!

We added vintage hangers to be used to hang coats, hats, bags, etc.

 

So after power spraying the headboard to get all of the peeling paint off, Logan cut off the legs of the bed using a power saw.  We then added the old hardware & attached heavy duty hanger on the back for easy hanging.

This was our mother-son (queen-prince) "do-it-yourself" project.  And the Headboard Hanger sold last week! WE were thrilled.  And Cranky Prince had a good night sleep. The End!

KEEP CALM & SLEEP WELL

Tiffany

Just Livin Life

Sometimes life can be so simple...We often take for granted our blessings that each day brings. Remember to take a moment each day to slow down, say a prayer of thanks & stop to smell the flowers of life...

Other days...life deals you a different hand...your day may be filled with anxiety, brokeness, sadness..even grief.  My Mamma always says "Child, that is just livin' life!"  So whatever your day brings, remember this...Life is not fair, but Faith will get you through it. The Cranky Queen is off to Louisiana to see her Daddy. Keep us in your prayers.

Art with a Funky Flair

HOOT HOOT!   The Cranky Queen is featuring a "royal" artist friend today who has become very popular not only in Alabama, but in many artist circles.  His name is Darrell Ezekiel & he is from Sylacauga, AL.

Darrell has a vast array of art from Funky Head Paintings to Fun, Decoupaged Pieces to Art Made With Architectural Finds!

Because I am the Queen, & love Funky&Folk Art, Darrell allowed me to showcase some of his unique, fun art in my booths at the Pickle Patch Market here in Sylacauga! His fish are very popular for the lake lovers...

The fish range from $48 to $98.00

The crosses bearing a rusty cross or heart are great gift ideas! 

$26 & $36.00

The Hoot Owls are one of his newest additions to this collection. 

They range from $48 to $60.00

If you are interested in purchasing one of Darrell's original creations, please leave me a comment with your email address & I will be happy to email you with shipping details and payment information. Each piece is signed on the back.  The fish, owls & crosses are made from wood with decoupaged paper, rusty metal, nails, wire, buttons, and other bits and bobs.

 These cool wall hangings are just some of the other art that 

Darrell creates...Funky & Fab!

STAY CALM & "GET YOUR ART ON!"

Tiffany

Gals From Town Getting Down & Dirty On The Farm... Junkin' Gone Country!

A couple of weeks ago, the Cranky Queen & one of her "junkin' gal pals", Melanie, headed out on a journey to junk.  Needless to say, we never thought that we would have ended up in the middle of nowhere digging thru a barn in the country...& when the Queen says digging, I mean climbing over items, brushing spider webs away, & giving orders to the young guy who had inherited all of the land & barn to help with hauling it all to the truck.  The barn was actually home to horse stables & chicken coops that had long been forgotten. One old man drove up & was amazed at what we were buying... he even called us the "Junkin' Sisters"!

 This is just the beginning of the loading...

This is the young guy who thought we were crazy for wanting any of this old, dusty, crusty, rusty stuff! Cranky King's only criteria for us borrowing his new, red truck was to NOT scratch his back seats...

Filthy dirty & sweating, we were smiling like "kids in a candy store" after this haul.  With the backseat & bed of the truck packed, we only spent a total of $100! These "town gals" love the country!

This is one of the end tables that I snagged for $2.  I cleaned it up and "performed my magic" on the re~do!

It sold the next day at my booth in the Pickle Patch Market!

 

Melanie painted & glazed these little end tables that she bargained for...I believe she paid $5 for the set! They are waiting for a buyer in her antique booth now!

This table had been sitting in the mud under the eave of the barn. It was so dirty and painted black!  Was not sure that the top was enamel until I got it home & began stripping it.  I call it the "Picasso" table, because I left various coats of paint to show thru...I bet this little table had been painted about 10 times!

Mel found this under a pile of stuff in the barn...it cleaned up nicely!

This was my "steal of the day"...and guess what??? It sold today. I loved the retro look and it was in great condition.

So a visit to the country proved to be just what us 2 "Gals from Town" needed!  Next time, I will wear my overalls!

STAY CALM & GO JUNKIN' ON A GRAVEL ROAD!

Tiffany