Waste not want not

"There must be a reason why some people can afford to live
well. They must have worked for it. I only feel angry when I see waste. When I see people throwing away things that we could use"... Mother Teresa

It's been a while since we've been in our workshop and even longer since I've been able to sit down and write about our adventures.  Both Bill and I disappear with our careers every summer... and maybe for a trip or two on a rare day off...  we are both thrilled to be winding down and back for the fall/winter to do this hobby/passion that we love.  

Bill and I look for different things when we're out junking.  We'll walk in opposite directions through the same places and meet back up with each other with items that the other person didn't see.  Together though, our visions match and blend nicely.  Over the next couple of days we'll blog about what we're planning for our holiday extravaganza next month... but today I want to talk about reclamation at it's finest.

We are certified barnwood and stone junkies.  We drive by a property being torn down and we pull over faster than when we have flashing red lights behind us... we grab every item that can be recycled that can fit in or on top of my Jeep.  Bought that Jeep before Bill because I come from a long line of Jeep lovers... but I tell you, since Bill, I can say that Jeep was probably one of the best purchases I have made in the past 10 years.  It's the little engine that could and we've have loaded it down beyond imagination at times.  We have a beautiful stack stone wall all around our garden from the fireplaces that have been torn down near us and a garage full of different timbers that are just waiting for the right project - like the sideboard wine bar currently in our booth.

When Bill works on a large scale project he doesn't toss any scraps from it.  He's got a large can filled with pieces of wood.  Sometime last year when I was watching my Master Mudgie in all his glory in our shop, I stared at those lovely chunky bits and an idea started to form in my head.  Bill has a love hate relationship with those moments... because it means more projects for him... and they usually start with a "could you do this to that"... and they finish with him seeing my vision and hitting it out of the ballpark.

This one evening, I saw the scraps of barnwood and thought of all the sugar molds new and old that are out there in shops and asked if he could drill holes the size of votive holders.  I had a bunch of glass holders left from our wedding... and I grabbed a few to show him what I was talking about.  His response was "Yes, of course, and would they sell?"  Then he made a few to try out in the store.  They quickly flew off the shelves.  I recently bought a large lot of silvery glass votive holders to make these pieces more "holiday festive"... and my sweet husband decided that I needed one for my birthday... so he made a custom piece with birds "two crows" for us... he's currently making a bunch for the booth for the holidays, and another custom piece for a special event coming up that I'm not talking about further in case that person reads this...  

I love that we found a way to not waste these pieces... and a niche that no one else is currently doing... it's a twist on the sugar molds that everyone went gaga over the past 10 years... and trust, each one of these pieces were from a building torn down in GA.  How cool is that for local history lovers?  Why fill landfills with trash when you can make a treasured piece as gorgeous as these?

While we are using ours on our breakfast table, we did take it outside last night for a romantic dinner on the patio... fireplace roaring (we LOVE fall), and candles glowing...  I am in love!!!

You can find these in our booth currently.  We're adding more in the next couple of days.  They have 2 to 4 holes and fit anywhere from corner tables to coffee tables to mantles to dining tables.  Imagine throwing small pumpkins and leaves around it for the fall and then greenery, vintage shiny brites (coming soon also to our booth) and berries for the holidays.

As always you can find us at The Queen of Hearts in Alpharetta.  Crow on Broad Street.  Come check us out between the 5th and 9th of November.  We'll be revamping our booth for Christmas and the Holiday Extravaganza on November 9th.  Until then, enjoy your fall, football and fun times on your patio... it's bbq season y'all!!!  With love from our home to yours...