The Beverly Hillbillies?

I warned that I would blog about EVERYTHING I do! The good, the bad and the ugly. Monday was one of those UGLY days as my estate partner and I purchased an estate. Here we are with our load- looking very hillibilly-ish

Yes, that's a portable "Potty" balancing on the edge of the truck!

We're picking up another estate tomorrow- so if you're in the area (Mesa, Arizona) come by and see our ginormous sale this Friday and Saturday. I'll be posting more pics and the address Thursday night. Hope to see you there. Love, Kelly.

This weeks Garaging Finds!

I had several readers ask about a tutorial on the sweater pumpkins...Here's the link to my original post almost a year ago titled Cashmere Pumpkins.

A great garaging weekend! Here's what I found...Love this super huge chalkboard (a splurge at $22.00) and birdcage ($2.00).
The abacus and clock were just $1.00 each
These metal wall hangings will probably go to the shop- I paid $4.00 for the set.
How excited was I to find brand new bath and body works candles, wallflowers, linen spray, anti-bac soap and fragrances for just $1.00 each- she even had them wrapped in cellophane ready to give as a gift. And this super chunky cheese dome will make a stunning pedestal- when I find a chunky candle stick to attach to the bottom.
My favorite find is this piece of vintage tin ceiling tile. It's REALLY rustic, but has great texture. I'm probably taking it to the shop- should I separate it into 2 smaller pieces? I paid $10.00 for the big piece- and I'm hoping to sell it for around $40.00- Let me know what you think. Love, Kelly.

These Is My Words - A life changing book.

I had the chance to meet Nancy Turner, New York Times best-selling author of These Is My Words, at the March 2010 ANWA Conference.  

She gave an excellent lecture and spoke on common mistakes writers make and how to keep our writing sacred.  At the end of the day, I purchased several books from ANWA and visiting authors, including Nancy’s book These Is My Words and had the chance to introduce myself to her. 

Fast forward to now.  When my sister recommended I read These Is My Words, I pulled it off my bookshelf, committed I’d find the time to read it.  About 2 pages into it, I couldn’t put it down.

Since picking up These Is My Words, my life has been on hold, just ask my starving and neglected children (just kidding about the starving part). 

I’ve spent the last week reading These Is My Words every chance I can get.  I’ve had to be creative.  Reading at the gym while working out on the treadmill isn’t something I recommend, but this book warranted the risk.  I’ve brought it on outings, stayed up way too late, I’ve stolen a few minutes or a few hours every chance I can get because I can’t get enough.

I love Sarah.

I love Jack.

I loved the adventure, the romance, and the life-changing heartache of Sarah’s life from 1881-1901 on the Arizona trail. 

I cried when Sarah gave birth to her first child, I shivered when a centipede dropped from the ceiling of the mud army fort and fell into her bed, I prayed for the death of a rattle snake when it sought to harm Sarah’s young daughter, April.

I was over come with emotion when Jack saved Sarah on more then one occasion.  Last Sunday, I pulled the counselor aside and read him my favorite passages from These Is My Words.  I might add, the romance between Sarah and Jack inspired a few kisses between my love and I.  Added bonus!

The challenges Sarah survives are more then one should have to handle.  These Is My Words forced me to evaluate my relationships with my siblings and parents, especially my mother.  The love Sarah has for her mother grows as she carries the joy and struggles of bearing and raising children.  Relating to my mom as a mother myself has been most bonding, especially when I realize she loves me the way I love my own daughter.

Sarah says it how it is.  She loves her children, but since the format of These Is My Words is like a journal, the reader gets Sarah’s raw and honest emotions to the mess, commotion and hard work of raising a family.  I love how honesty, even when rough and tumble, teaches truth through the sheer reality of it. 

Like when Jack returns from his army duties and request Sarah draw him a bath.  Sarah is 8 months pregnant and exhausted herself.

“If you’re too tired to draw your own bath, then you’re too tired to take one,” she says and leaves him to care for the other children while she goes into the bedroom to rest. 

Jack loves Sarah with a passion fit for the Wild West.  What a treat it was to peek into not just Sarah’s heart, but Jack’s as well.  After their marriage, Sarah finds a love note Jack wrote her, tucked inside his leather satchel.  As an army captain, Jack is involved with many Indian encounters and Sarah is taken back when she realized this love note has a bullet hole through it.     

If I could meet Nancy Turner today, it’d be a whole different experience.   I’d gush, go on and on about how the book changed me, how her writing is amazing and spiritual and raw.  I’d ask her questions about writing, family history and inspiration.  I’ve already ordered Sarah’s Quilt.  I can’t wait to get my hands on that book.  

Authors change lives.   

Nancy Turner changed mine. 

Writing helps, inspires and even changes those around you because when you share a part of yourself through writing, it can be life changing not just for you, but for those who read your work.
I read so many of your blogs.  Thank you for sharing a part of your self and thank you, Nancy Turner.

Fall Craft Madness!

Thank you for all of your amazing and supportive comments- I'm looking forward to sharing more of what I do on the blog- but be warned, sometimes it gets a little crazy around here. Yesterday I spent the afternoon crafting a few Fall items to take to our space at Qcumberz. Hopefully I can remember to take a some after pictures when I'm done. Here's the side effects of spending a few hours with my glue gun...
A wholesome lunch of almond butter and celery sticks finds its way into the mess
Here's some of the finished products...
A coffee filter wreath
A batch of sweater pumpkins
And a few "Thankful" banners. Despite the way my kitchen looks, it was worth it. Nothing like an afternoon with a glue gun and twine. Love, Kelly.

Unique China Hutch Redone (Almost)

When I found this Queen Anne China Hutch, I figured it would sell in a heartbeat.  

Solid wood, all original fixtures, excellent condition.  

Well, it must have been a very slow heartbeat, because it just sat in my garage until my favorite customer decided to purchase it for her daughter’s birthday. 

Just one glitch.

She wanted it white.

And I agreed to paint it for her.

Every morning now, you’ll find me outside painting away.

Eden stays busy, playing here and there.

She’s the best side kick; my little princess with an otter pop, my little shadow in a denim jumpsuit.

I was a bit intimidated by this project, so I thought I’d practice on another piece of furniture before I started.

I found this funky piece of vintage history at Goodwill for $15.00.

I listed it on craigslist for $50.00 and it didn’t sell.

This was the perfect piece to practice on. 

If I messed up, I wasn’t out much.

Although this piece of furniture is partition wood laminate, it is really well built.

I wasn’t sure if spray paint would be adhesive, but it worked better then I thought.

Once it looked perfect, I became a little nervous.

Around here, things don’t stay perfect for long, so I decided to stain it a bit.

I recently sold my turquoise vintage dresser that sits on my front porch, 

so I needed a new piece to replace it.

I love how the details pop now!  What a difference spray paint makes.

Eden found ways to stay busy while I worked.

 “Mama,” she shouts, wanting me to watch her on the big wheel.

I love hearing her say Mama.  Music to my ears.

I hope to have the china hutch finished by the end of the week. 

Can’t wait to show you the end result.
Linking up to:

Why Do I Blog?

Lately I've been in a re-evaluative state. I'm thinking about where I spend my time and wondering if I want to make some changes. We're coming up on our 2 year anniversary of My Dear Trash, the blog, and I'm finding that the passion I once had is not there. Why? I think I've come to the conclusion that I don't like being defined. Since I retired from teaching I've discovered a freedom that allows me to try different hobbies, different jobs, and different passions. Some of these passions have included; teaching theatre, being a special effects make-up artist, thrifting, selling on ebay, decorating, refinishing furniture, party planning, having space in a retail store, crafting, blog reading, estate sale planning, painting, and the list goes on and on. When we started My Dear Trash we had no idea this blog would actually help others, that our hobbies would educate and inspire others. We are so grateful to our readers who write and tell us of their success with earning financial freedom. The glitch? We've been defined- labeled-imprisoned. Because I do have so many different passions I want to share them with our blog readers- I don't want to just talk about my ebay sales, or my craigslist flips. I want to share ALL that I have to offer. I want to show you pictures of how excited my little 2 year old was to get a big girl bed and sleep in it for the first time

I want to talk about the ups and downs of running a business out of my home, The crap-ty craft I made for the latest holiday, my fears, my goals and my REAL life. So what's stopping me? Why has my passion diminished? COMMENTS! About once a week- usually after Laura or I have posted about something other than ebay and craigslist- we receive a comment or an email, reminding us of the brand, or label we carry. "I wish both of you would go back to telling us what you paid for items, then what you sold them for. It's a thrill to read, an inspiration!! Please?" Was one of the latest- but it's one of many. I feel like yelling, "Hey, There's more to me than the $50 bucks I made off a piece of furniture. Did you know I was in people magazine, named as one of 100 extraordinary women by the Nabisco company, or that I've been taking care of my husband's 92 year old grandmother for the past 2 1/2 years, or that I used to write for the Arizona Republic newspaper?" There's more to me than ebay and craigslist. So, what's next? I'm not sure. For now, I'm taking a little break from the weekly sameness in my posts. I'm going to post about what I'm passionate about right now- which usually changes on a monthly basis, so it shouldn't get boring. We are so grateful for our readers and I hate to sound so disappointed, I think I've done this to myself- but I'm ready for change. No matter which direction I go, it seems trash always plays a significant role- so I'm not worried about the title of our blog, because It really is about finding value where others don't see it, especially in ourselves. As I continue to find new value in myself, I hope you'll stay along for the ride- and do us a favor- leave a comment once in a while- we all like to know someone's listening. Love, Kelly.

When it's worth it!

I was sick in bed in the middle of the afternoon, trying to fall asleep when the counselor ran into the bedroom with a newspaper in his hand and flipped on the light, announcing the Phoenix Suns were having an open court later that day.

“We can actually go onto the court with the kids,” he said, sounding like a kid on 

Christmas morning.  He was practically drooling.

Before I knew it, all the kids were in my room begging me to go.

Jumping up and down, throwing on their Suns jerseys, even the baby had a little Suns cheer leading outfit I found at Goodwill just after she was born.

I tried to convince them to go without me, but when Chandler actually got tears in his eyes, I knew it was important that I be there.

I rolled, every so slowly out of bed and with 5, make that 6 (hey, I’ve got to count the counselor as kid at this point) kids, we drove down to the Phoenix Suns Stadium.

And I watched them play.

And shoot.

And climb.

And it was so worth it.

Occasionally, I bring a piece of trash home for resale thinking it will be great and well, it’s just not worth it.

I’ve learned the hard way that kitchen tables do not sell well on Craigslist.

I fell in love with this solid wood folding table with 4 chairs.

Perfect for someone to paint up, but in beautiful condition as-is.

I paid $80.00, thinking I could resell it for $150.00.

And it sat on my back patio and at one point, got dirty in a dust storm.

When it sold a month later for $90.00, it hardly seemed worth it for my $10.00 profit.

To make things fun, I told myself I had to do something great with my $10.00 profit.

I splurged on popsicles.

Popsicle after breakfast, popsicles with the kids, even Eden now stands at the freezer and cries for her popsicle.

What about this bedroom set?

I paid $90.00 for it, thinking surely it would sell for $150.00.

After 2 months, I’ve dropped it to $100.00.  Finally, I have someone interested in purchasing it.

If she does, what should I do with my $10.00 profit?

Popsicles?

Or chocolate!
Or MANGOS!!!

On a side note, I'm finally feeling a bit better, still tired, but on my way to feeling good again.
Linking up to:

Trying to fix a broken mailbox

Payson’s into power bracelets and has found some on eBay that he asked to purchase.

Isn't he so handsome!  I just had to say it!

So anyway, every day, he’s out checking the mail to see if they have arrived.  We have a locked mailbox that requires a key to open and yesterday, Payson came in upset because the mailbox was broken. 

“The mailbox won’t shut,” he said and I thought he was just frustrated because his bracelets still hadn’t arrived.

At 3:00 in the afternoon, I think it was only about 112 degrees, so I wasn’t happy to follow him outside to examine the damaged mailbox.

“What happened?” I asked, looking at the hollow keyhole and all its missing parts. 

“It just broke!” he said, somewhat annoyed.

“Where are all the parts,” I asked, and we started looking in the gutter and road for broken keyhole parts.

And we found 3 out of 4 parts right away.

Payson was agitated and denying any wrong doing on his part, but it was pretty obvious he had pulled and pulled on the key while trying to close the mailbox, causing the keyhole to pop out.

Finally, he found the last missing piece and I was able to fix it, but not before giving him a nice juicy lecture about chilling out with keys when they are stuck in things.

Jump to a few days earlier when I had pulled the camera out of my purse to discover it covered in sticky juice; juice from Eden’s dripping bottle that I had accidentally left in my purse.  I couldn’t get the camera to turn on and realized it was broken.  

As a professional trash seller, a camera is absolutely essential.  

Without a camera, I’m out of business, so I went to Costco and for $170.00, purchased a new camera, promising myself no more bottles in my purse. 

So, jump back to the day Payson had his broken mailbox key lock incident and received a lecture from me about it and he started messing around with my old camera.  He was pushing buttons, popping out the memory card and batteries and since it was broken, I let him go to town.  I was just about to tell him to just throw the camera away, but for years I have told him not to play around with it, so today was his lucky day.

In all that pushing and experimenting and curiosity, that boy fixed my broken camera!

He walked up to me and said, “Look, mom.  I fixed your camera.”

And he did.  It works great.  I’ve already used it for a few pieces of trash I brought home to sell.

Like this sweet locker priced at $60.00.

And this amazing credenza (78 inches long) I've priced at $200.00.

or this antique Victorian hand-painted dresser, that already sold.

“Mom, you fixed something I broke and I fixed something you broke,” Payson said.

And I had that mom moment we all have, where we realize patience is a virtue not easy to come by. 

Things are things and they can be fixed.

Thanks for fixing my camera, Payson and I’m sorry about the whole lecture thing.