gardenjunkpickergirls: Sweatshop central was in action this weekend in Michigan

Inspired by the recent reality TV show Picker Sisters, we are fans of REAL picker shows. We relate to the thrill of finding something cheep. We love road trips and filling the truck with our unique finds. We love the reaction of your husband’s as we pull in the drive w/ junk. Unfortunately, Picker Sisters is like watching a train wreck. You know you should turn away, but something draws you to it. You try to yell at the TV hoping it will STOP, but they just keep heading straight into a disaster.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Sweatshop central was in action this weekend in Michigan

The goal . . . our version of Glamping (Glamor Camping), and all this was achieved without even leaving the driveway. Two nights in the trailer, but since we do not even know how to drive it an Scott was on a motorcycle trip we camped at home.

The curtains are up so at least the second night we had a little privacy

Sweatshop central was in action this weekend in Michigan. Although we did make some time to pick and explore. The Alma is apparently made of cement...Who knew??? While trying to hang (tiny) nails and hardware, we had to pound like we were tearing down the Berlin wall. At least we know she is solid. Also, Mo does not believe in using a drill, (actually she never asked to use a drill - it was sitting in the garage) so all was done by hand.

My contributions were practical...plastic plates and garbage bags, etc...
We slept in there both nights and it was extremely comfortable.

We also did assembly line sewing. Mo also did not have a seam ripper, but does now thanks to the lovely neighbor, Tina. Our thrifty fabric and bedspreads made for fabulous curtains. Mo had some adorable dishes and decorative items.The vintage barbeque set was found at Goodwill for a few bucks and never used - could not pass it up.

Bailey seems to be at home in the Alma - watching the moon and never jumped out.

The trailer is filled with little touches, vintage pot holder and apron.

The curtain pull backs were painted by Laura.

This original mini oil painting was found at an auction.

A few of the GLAM items - an antique cutting board and sterling silver tea caddy.

The toaster was a gift from a work friend of Laura - fits perfect- matches the original paper light shade. We did find we need very low wattage bulbs so not to burn the wood paneling.

Paper towel holder - painted, oiled and up.

Yes, we did work late into the night but we had music and drinks so all was good.

The clock an auction find last weekend.

Cups were mine and cup holder was found at Gaga's Antiques in Riverside MI

On another note, we did not start working until later on Saturday because we were busy treasure hunting. We both had some good finds....Mo took the prize though. She had so much stuff I had to sit in the back of the car with the dog on my lap on the way home!! We also checked out a campground, KOA in Coloma, to see the different amenities.

Gaga's store was unique, but I loved the building- the facade was added from old columns that were to have been added to "Mary's Fire proof Hotel" in Benton Harbor- the building was never completely finished as designed so these pillars were in a field along the road. I love that hotel!

Sunday was the final touches and photo time. As evidenced by the pics, all our (opps..and Swede's) hard work was worth it. Now we have all summer to go on adventures and fill up the Alma with our Picks!!!

2 comments:

Jean ParkerJune 13, 2012 at 7:33 AM
Great job ladies and Swede! The camper looked really nice!
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MO

I come from a long line of pickers. I learned from my mom, driving the station wagon around on garbage day looking for stuff others didn't want. She taught me how to search through old barns, and find the items everyone else missed. I was refinishing furniture and polishing silver at a young age, always looking for the diamond in the rough. Her passion grew into a fabulous business, but for me, I am still just a picker who makes a living more traditionally. Many of our trips stem from my business trips that Laura tags along on, or weekend adventures. Laura is more thrifty then I am, we are very different . . . I will always have time for picking, gardening and blogging. I have three blogs, none for money, just to share my interests and opinions. Click on my picture to get to my garden blog. There is a reason I do the driving, do not let Laura fool you- you do not want her to drive! Picking is hard work, not a glamorous Hollywood production. You can call us “the picker girls”, “garden junk picker girls” or “the REAL picker sisters”!

Laura

Picker, gardener, not that good of a driver. . . Is one of the "greenest" people you will ever meet. She uses a clothesline, saves everything, is still cooking with some of the pans we had in our college house in the 80's. It’s not about being trendy, it’s how she lives. . . . OK I need to speak for myself here . . . Mo is definitely the blogger, driver and boss. However, I need to clarify a few things in my bio. First and foremost, I am an excellent driver and have an almost clean record to prove it. Also, my job as co-pilot is equally as important. I am, after all, the navigator through unknown country roads; no GPS in the old pick-up for these gals! I also have to rummage in the cooler and prepare sophisticated hors d'oeuvres. Last, but not least, I'm in charge of tunes. If left up to Mo, all we would be listening to is satellite radio's all Grateful Dead station. Not trendy? Without a doubt. I actually started thrifting and picking to save money. I still do for that reason, but more importantly, I want my surroundings to be funky and meaningful, and am always up for an adventure with my "true picker" sister!

Fender Art - has a long connection to "junk"

No it is not a fender made into a chair, just a fender made into ART! DEFINITION: The Middle English word jonk, ancestor of junk, originally had a very specific meaning restricted to nautical terminology. First recorded in 1353, the word meant "an old cable or rope." On a sailing ship it made little sense to throw away useful material since considerable time might pass before one could get new supplies. Old cable was used in a variety of ways, for example, to make fenders, that is, material hung over the side of the ship to protect it from scraping other ships or wharves. Junk came to refer to this old cable as well. The big leap in meaning taken by the word seems to have occurred when junk was applied to discarded but useful material in general.