Butterflies and Flip Flops...

Remember me? The normally prompt and predictable author of this blog who wrote posts on a a regular, timed basis? Well, I'm in there somewhere, and I certainly have been doing enough writing...

In fact, I have been rather glued to the keyboard lately, trying to get the new Flea Market Style blog up and running in time for that promised mid-August release. As those of you who are bloggers know, there is a whole lot of work to setting up the infrastructure of a blog, especially when one wants to have an archives of posts to support the hype once new readers find it! So, forgive me for my tardiness and instead allow me to share a sneak preview of just some of the hype surrounding the new Flea Market Style Magazine.

We have received our first bit of press about the magazine in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. As I told Ki, it is now beginning to feel real to me ( though writing for my features has helped, too) and my stomach had butterflies and did flip flops when I read this:

The Trend: Flea Market Style to Debut

In fact, it just might answer some of the questions you have had about the mag. Oh, and the photo images accompanying it hint at one of the most beautiful features in the magazines. I've said it before and I'll say it again: this magazine is definitely more coffee table book than magazine - it's that beautiful!!

**There is one tiny error within the article, though. Can you spot it? No prizes, but for those who like seek and find puzzles, this one's for you!

On the Cover of a Magazine...

Well… not exactly, but I do have news that is so exciting I could pinch myself (if only I could find an inch…hah!).

Now, let’s make this clear: this is not news that affects just me, but also all of you – especially those of you who love the following:

a)vintage style

b) flea markets, thrift shops, occasional sales, salvage shops and yard sales

c) Matthew Mead and Ki Nassauer

d) magazines and

e) all of the above plus recognition for bloggers like you - finally recognized for the inspiration you so willingly share with your peers and the online community!

Without further adieu, I happily announce (as I squeal inside with excitement) the wonderful news that Matthew Mead and Ki Nassauer have pooled their incredible talents as style and junk experts, respectively, to produce and create a new magazine titled,

Flea Market Style – a 144 page newsstand magazine, chock full of vintage-style decorating, projects, collecting tips, special features and more - to be released in early spring, 2010. The magazine cover (at left) is a mock-up and the actual cover will be revealed when the magazine is released!

Now, normally this would be enough to send bubbles of anticipation through me (I love a great magazine), but here’s the icing on the cake for me: Ki and Matthew have invited me along for the incredible ride, and entrusted me in the role of Editor-at Large!! In fact, as I hinted, I will be in charge of bringing the point of view of the blogging community to the magazine and shining the spotlight on some incredibly talented bloggers, on-line shop owners, and Etsy artists. I will also be interviewing and featuring some of your favourite design celebrities to get their take on vintage/flea-market style and more. Matthew and Ki are also pleased to have Heather Bullard on board as a contributor.
Now, I will need someone to lean on for a second as I process this last detail: Matthew and Jenny Mead will be visiting yours truly this summer to photograph pockets of my home! I am beyond thrilled to not only be a part of such a wonderful magazine, but to be able to be a fly (probably a pretty pesky one) on the actual wall of a magazine photo shoot. It is almost more excitement than I can bear!! The only thing better would be if Ki could come along, too!!

Now, lest you think you will have a long wait until you hear more about this magazine, you should know me better. Matthew, Ki and I will be creating a new blog devoted to the making of Flea Market Style Magazine, where you will be invited to follow along on - via snippets of photo shoots, junking adventures, Ki’s Junk Bonanza, and the overall production process. I am so excited to be part of a magazine for home-owners who strive to decorate on a budget, using and repurposing items that are just waiting to be rediscovered and given new pride of place in their homes. I am also excited to fully engage this wonderful community of bloggers I have become part of and I hope you will follow us along on this exciting journey and feel a part of the finished product. We hope to have the blog up and running by mid-August, and we will let you know as soon as it happens.
Ki, Matthew and I truly hope you are as excited to have this new magazine hit newsstands as we are!

 

Design Crushes...

(photo source: Coastal Living.com)

We all have them...

Considering I am a married woman, I figure a design crush is the safest, most appropriate kind of crush to have. After all, don't we all put some of our favourite design celebrities on a (beautifully designed) pedestal? And really, I have to somehow justify the ridiculous number of design magazines I have purchased over the years...

Enjoy the (growing) list of my favourites, and perhaps you'll develop your own crush on one or more of these talented individuals.

In essence, I believe in giving credit where credit is due, and the following industry leaders deserve the accolades I have given them:

Matthew Mead ...

(well, you knew he'd be at the top of the list, didn't you?)

Matthew Mead is a stylist, editor, and writer whose work I admire very much. I have had the good fortune to interview and do collaborative posts with him, and I can attest that he is as nice a person as he is talented. If you want great inspiration and style tips, read the following posts and be sure to check out his website: Matthew Mead Style.com . But first, check him out here:

Monday Morning Tea...with Matthew Mead

Inspiration from Matthew Mead...and me!

Styling...with Matthew Mead

In the Kitchen...with Matthew Mead

The Gift of Flowers...from Matthew Mead

Some Painterly Advice...from Matthew Mead

Redefining Matthew Mead Style...

The Perfect Easter...with Matthew Mead

Matthew Mead Inspires...

Man of My Dreams...

Peter Fallico...Canada's favourite male HGTV designer. Sure, he may not go around flexing his biceps like Mike Holmes, but he doesn't have to do demo; he does design...cool, smart design. Plus he can make you just about anything you want made; or even better, he'll teach you how to do it!!

Sarah Richardson...if Peter is Canada's favourite male designer, then Sarah is Canada's interior design sweetheart. Though once more girl next door (when Room Service was her media outlet), Sarah Richardson is decidedly more sophisticated city girl now, at the helm of the slick, stylish Design Inc. Either persona, Sarah can do it all - from country cottages and get-aways (like this yurt), to industrial spaces, posh homes and her own decked out (though charming, coastal style) cottage...on its own island!

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Keep checking back as I add more of my favourites to this list!

The Great Pumpkin Contest Winners!!

photo: courtesy, Country Home Magazine

Many thanks to those who participated in the contest I co-sponsored with Ki Nassauer of Junk Revolution. We had some great entries, both through this blog and via email. Who knew such creativity could be expressed through some junk and a pumpkin or two? Ki, that's who... and the talented ladies who took part in this challenge.

The first place prize ($100 gift certificate to Ki's online store) goes to: Terri at Paint 'n' Thread. This pumpkin has personality!!

Second place ($50 gift certificate) goes to the super talented Margo/Robolady of Margo's Junkin' Journal :

Third place ($25 gift certificate) goes to Diane Mazur, who emailed us this entry (what a lot of work!!):

The following are the winners of the random prize draw (they each win a $25 gift certificate to Junk Revolution's online shop):

Primtiques and Poetry and her fun entries (my favourite is the greyish-white pumpkin):

Linda Crispell, a very talented artist who junked up her pumpkin with old bottlecaps:

The final random draw winner goes to Karin at The Style Sisters. She took advantage of the revised contest rules and did a post on her blog about Ki's new business, website, and online store (again, opening November 10th).

**So, ladies, please send me your email addresses (to linda@restyledhome.ca) , and I'll hook you up with Ki and she will look after getting your prizes to you. Congratulations!!

A new way to win!

Ki Nassauer of Junk Revolution

For some reason, this Halloween is finding us all very busy, and doing some last minute scrambling to get organized and ready. Costumes planned, pumkins carved, treats bought...decorating pumpkins is often at the bottom of the list, especially if it is not a job you enjoy. I haven't even carved my own yet, although I plan to remedy that tonight! Either way, because you are all so busy, I am opening up the junk pumpkin decorating contest to include those who simply mention Ki's new website and its online shopping debut (the store opens November 10th).

If you include the following in a quick post, you will have a chance to win one of three $25 gift certificates to her online store. As women, we all strive to support other women and their creative endeavours. Ki is a junk expert, and has branched out on her own, once again, and I am hoping you will help me spread the word and allow everyone to benefit from her creativity, imagination, and expertise!

Leave your link in the comment section for this post. This contest will still be ending on October 31st, so hurry and join in. The prizes are great, but the shopping is even better!!

Here is what you need:

Include this logo:

and this information:

Join the Revolution!! Ki Nassauer, Country Home contributing editor, founder of JunkMarket, and now, Junk Revolution is officially getting her online store underway! Keep checking in with her website (http://www.junkrevolution.com/) as she works to expand it to include valuable tips and inspiration. Beginning November 1oth, wonderful junk items will be available to purchase for yourself or the fellow junkers in your life. To get to know Ki better, follow her along on some of her junking jaunts, and to learn more about the history of her business over the years, check out her blog: http://junkcamp.blogspot.com/

And that's it!!

**For those still wishing to enter a "junked up" pumpkin for consideration, go here! The dollar values for the gift certificates are: first prize:$100, second prize: $50, third prize: $25

Also, check out Margo/Robolday's blog for a chance to win this:

It's a beautiful vintage bag designed by Ki and created by her sister. Just a glimpse of the goodness that will be offered for sale on her new website!! Again, the shopping area will be up and running by November 10th.

Be sure to check it out!!

The Great Pumpkin Decorating contest...with Ki Nassauer

(all photos): copyright of Meredith Corp. (unless otherwise specified)
from: Country Home Magazine October 2006

(used with permission)

Many of you know Ki Nassauer, founder of Junk Market, and her newest venture, Junk Revolution (for those who don't know Ki, or who want to know about her new business, go here). I have gotten to know Ki better, and have discovered she is even nicer than she looks. And did I mention talented?? Ki is most definitely The Junk Queen, although she wouldn't don a crown and gloat about it, now would you Ki?

Ki and I are co-hosting a pumpkin decorating contest, and seeing Ki is involved, can you guess what you will be decorating it with? Of course: JUNK (or junque if you prefer)!

Ki was kind enough to send me over some great photos of "junked up" pumpkins she created for a Country Home spread two years ago. She used bits and bobs from her collection of junk: old keys, finials, wheels, hooks, hinges, washers, tools, upholstery tacks, wire, you name it!

Basically anything you can find in the odds and ends bins at flea markets and tag sales, or simply languishing in your husband's (or your) toolbox, can be put to use in creating a one of a kind pumpkin.

I know what you're thinking: "What do I get for creating one of these masterpieces, Linda?"

Well, nothing from me, but Ki has kindly offered up some great prizes, among them gift certificates to her online store (which will be ready to go November 10th) over at Junk Revolution. There you can choose from great "Junk wear", books, jewellery...even one-of-a-kind, repurposed junk from Ki herself!

How are the winners decided? Another great question! Again, Ki herself will be choosing winners (her top three favourites of your pumpkins) from the entries. First place will win a $100 gift certificate, second place wins a $50 gift certificate, and the third place winner gets a $25 gift certificate. Also, to be fair, there will be a random draw for three additional $25 gift certificate winners, just for participating! To be eligible for the random draw, you can also simply post about Ki's new site, Junk Revolution (get the revised contest details here). And for those who enter a pumpkin and also write about the contest on their blogs linking back here and to Ki's site (http://www.junkrevolution.com/), their name will be added twice to the random draw.

So get out your junk, drills, glue-guns and more, and start decorating! The more creative the better, and I offer up these tips (from me, not Ki):

• Think colour. Not all pumpkins have to be orange. Many farmer's stands offer up a selection of blue-grey, white, and greenish pumpkins. Can't find any? Well, you do remember my painted (blue), glittered pumpkin, don't you??

• Try a theme:

Ki created her Cinderella's carriage for the Country Home feature back in 2006 (see above). Proving that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Hallmark has featured a similar pumpkin in their latest issue (below). You can make one too - just tweak yours a little to make it original. Or, find your own unique theme and impress the socks off of us!!

(above photo: Hallmark.com)

• Give your pumpkin a face. There is nothing wrong with using the tried and true way of giving a pumpkin character. However, can you make your pumpkin look like someone you know, or a popular personality...but using junk??!!
• Feel free to make more than one "junky" pumpkin. It is a lot of fun and it ups the odds of your winning, doesn't it?
• Include your kids! As a good mother, I have to include this one, but really, you can let them make one of their own. Because we all know what they will do to ours, don't we? Good mother aside, I know you know what I'm talking about...We've all re-arranged the ornaments on the Christmas tree after they went off to bed, haven't we? Besides...you want to win, don't you?? It's all about the winning (bad mother, bad sport!!).
• Have a wine and pumpkin decorating contest. Gather up your friends, your toolboxes, junk, pumpkins, junky snacks and some wineglasses, and have a great time creating one of a kind pumpkins. While you're at it, re-use those wine corks...maybe even the corkscrew! Basically, just have fun with your friends, and don't forget to show us your pumpkin party pics...!
• 
  So that's it: you've received your assignment - you know what to do. Start those creative wheels turning, and spend time at home (when you should be doing something productive...like watching the kids :) or at the office, when you should be working on what you are getting paid for) and plan your pumpkin.

Because Ki's nice, and I'm nice, we are giving you two weeks (till October 31st...Halloween) to get your "junk-ins" ready, and either email me your photos (to linda@restyledhome.ca) or post your entry on your blog and add your link to Mr. Linky below:

Good luck everyone, and cheers!

Check out more great give-aways here:

Let the Junk Revolution begin...

Ki Nassauer: artist, business woman, wife, mother, and founder of, first, Junk Market, and now her new business venture, Junk Revolution. Branching out on her own after nearly eight years of partnership, Ki Nassauer is getting back to her roots: junk and junking.

One look at Ki's press photos gives one the immediate impression that she is friendly, self-effacing, and lacking in pretension. Well, I had the chance recently to have a telephone chat with Ki, and I soon discovered my first impression was bang on. In fact, she didn't even miss a beat when I mispronounced her name (Saying Kee, instead of Kiiii)! Oh well, I remembered reading about Ki doing something like this herself a while back...

I have long been a fan of Ki and the JunkMarket brand, so I was perplexed and disappointed to hear of rumblings of change affecting JunkMarket. Happily, I tracked Ki down again, and she eased my fears that the junk world would be adversely affected by the change. The scoop: Ki sold her interest in JunkMarket to Taunton publishing, after realizing that the partners saw the future direction of JunkMarket in different ways. Simply put, Ki wished to return to her junking roots, and spend more time "in the field" actually doing what she loves: junking, repurposing junk, and getting back out there and meeting the people behind the junk. While Ki loves sharing her passion for junk, she wants to spend a little less time talking about junk, and more time finding and sharing it with fellow junk lovers. In fact, while any change can be stressful, Ki is actually excited and thrilled with the challenge of venturing solo, once again, and continuing to take the junk world by storm by returning to the roots of her business!

Ki is also unwaveringly modest. When asked why she thinks her business became so successful, so quickly (considering her hot commodity was junk, after all), she is quick to chalk it up to "simply being in the right place at the right time." She had a love of junk and repurposed it in aesthetically pleasing and functional ways - and the decorating world was ready to accept it as the hot, new thing. Ki is also quick to note that without her incredible team's support, talent, passion, and unfailingly hard work, she would not have been able to do it!

Ki also gives great kudos to Country Home for discovering her and her junking business, and welcoming her into the fold. Ki, in fact, continues to work with Country Home as an editor, and takes Country Home readers along on her junking journeys and then showing them her projects each month. She is, undoubtedly, a much valued member of the Country Home team. Ki is also the co-author of two books about junking, and a magazine.

Ki's new business, Junk Revolution, is up and almost running and one of the biggest kick-offs is her third annual Junk Bonanza (September 11-13, at the Medina Entertainment Center 500 Highway 55Medina, MN 55340).

What's a Junk Bonanza, you might ask? Well, Ki tells it best, but in a nut shell, it is a gathering of "...over one hundred hand-picked vendors toting (and selling) their best junkin’ goods..." and "...this year’s shapin’ up to be the best Junk Bonanza yet. More vendors, more junk, and more fun await the keen-eyed junker." And guess who is going to be there? Besides the "Rodeo Queen", Ki, Joan Steffend of HGTV's Decorating Cents is stopping by and... wait for it...my "hero", Matthew Mead!! Guess who is not going to be there? You guessed it, (~sob~) me!! It pains my heart, it really does... I'd add so much to the occasion...they have no idea!! Ki, are you sure you don't need me to cover it for the blogging world?? I'd step up to the plate and do that, you know...!

Of course, I'd love for the Junk Bonanza to occur a little closer to me, and Ki tells me it could be a possibility. In fact, Ki is looking for other areas in the U.S. to expand the Bonanza. Here's one, Ki: what about Calais, Maine?? So what if the population is tiny? It's a hop, skip, and a jump to my parents' home!!

After the Bonanza, what's next for Ki? Well, more than you can imagine! Her Junk Revolution website will be up and running by September 11, and will serve to inform you about all things Junk Revolution. Junk Revolution will also soon sponsor oodles of contests with fantastic prizes from big-name sponsors. The site will also offer a gallery of advertisers where small business owners and artists can pay affordable prices for advertising on Ki's well-trafficked website. In October the website will expand to include a "shopping corral" where you can purchase unique junking inspired t-shirts (check out some of the possible contenders here), junk items, small accessories, even jewelry made from junk (who needs diamonds when you can wear junk??). Junk-inspired projects will also be for sale, and of course, Ki's books. Speaking of books, Ki is planning a series of Junking craft books, focusing on smaller projects that anyone can create, using beautiful junk!

Wait, there's more!! Ki is also in development with a production company for a possible upcoming television show! The details are secret, but I can say this, look for Ki to be on a television near you in the very near future. Exciting!!

Ki's personal blog is also a great place to learn more about her business, the history of JunkMarket (read about it, starting here), and watch for Ki's upcoming posts on the ins and outs of starting a new business.

Still, Ki knows her limits. She does not wish to live a life where little time is left over for the important things like family, hobbies, personal time. Ki's motto is: "Don't take on so much...that you can't enjoy life".

Wise words, from a down-to-earth woman who has made a career out of finding and selling junk!!

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** all photos, courtesy Ki Nassauer and her blog, Junk Camp, and her website.