Mabel

Hello. My name is Mabel. I reside in Ki and Kerry Nassauer's foyer. I have heard they might be moving me to a more obscure area in the home as their realtor has expressed concern. It seems potential buyers are a little weirded out as they enter the house. That's ok with me. I understand not all folks like dress forms, particularly those of us sporting voluptuous figures. The hat, not my favorite, I'm told it has sentimental value...Ki's father is a Shriner. How did I get my name? Ki's grandmothers on both sides were named Mabel, along with the family dog. (Now deceased)

Nice to meet you!

Have fun on your dress form adventure, say hi to my cousins! The complete list of us gals is at http://shabbyscraps.typepad.com/
Take care,
Mabel

Awards

RoboJunker Margo honored me with the

Award last week. It is my understanding that I need to pass this on to 7 other bloggers. Since I'm new at this blogging thing I think I'll just pass this on to anyone on my side bar list, who has not yet received it. I think you are all brilliant bloggers. Thanks Margo for the award.

I hope I did this right. This is my very first award!
This is so much fun!!
Ki

Take a moment.

I want to share with you an email we received a few days ago from Debbie who will be a vendor at the Junk Bonanza in September. I weep every time I read it.

Ki:

I would be honored to have you share my letter. I wish more than anything that everyone who reads it will take a moment from their busy life's and give an extra hug, tell that special someone how much they care or just listen. My Friend Pat was the greatest listener I have ever known. I'm the talker and would ramble on then stop and look to her for the answer. She would always smile and in ten words or less tell me the answer.

Though my heart is truly breaking I consider myself truly blessed to have known her. She was a sparkler........Please feel free to use this and I know she would be tickled pink .....she truly was a big fan of yours. Sitting in my living room right now is one of your books that she stood in line at the home & garden show to have you autograph....she loaned it to me to brush up on Junk Market. Thank you for your kind words.

Sincerely yours,

Debbie

Debbie's letter to Emily in reference to the upcoming Junk Bonanza.

Emily,

I must share with you that I was going to do your show with my Best Friend Pat Blesi. Much to my surprise it turned out that Pat was a Junk Market Groupie (standing in line for Sue & Ki to autograph her book etc). When I sent in the application dear Pat would call or e-mail me everyday "did they cash the check??" I had never seen her so excited about an event and I teased her daily.

May 2nd I saw the check had been cashed and when she walked into my antique shop I shared the good news with her and she literally jumped up and down declaring we were "Junk Ladies". She began to talk and talk of our plans for September and we parted with a big giant hug and I can tell you aside from the birth of her Grandchildren I had never seen a happier Pat.

The next morning my world and that of so many crashed when I received a phone call that my dear Friend had suffered a major heart attack and died in her sleep! Pat was only 59 years old.

Losing your Best Friend is terrible.Everyone who knew her will tell you she is one of those rare human beings who truly made the world a better place to be. She knew how to love unconditionally, knew how to pick you up with a smile and a few words, I strive to be a better human being because of her and so here we sit almost four months later.....she is survived by Jeff her Husband of 39 years.

Just a few days ago I spoke with him about the Junk Bonanza wanting to refund him and he started to cry. Trust me this is not a man who would normally do this but since her death we cry a lot. Jeff never got a chance to tell her good-by and he explained to me thru his tears that he had to do this show with me for Pat. He further explained that when she came home her last night after hearing the news of our acceptance she was "on cloud nine" she cooked dinner and talked nonstop about what to bring and how we would merchandise the booth, he says she smiled from "ear to ear" and is so glad she was able to find out. How can I say no to his request?

This is going to be a very bittersweet experience but I have no doubt that our Pat will be looking down and smiling as her dear Jeff who has never done a show before and I stumble thru our first Junk Bonanza together. I share all this information with you just in case you see us and we have "leaky eyes" and smiles on our faces plus you Ladies need to understand how many people you help make happy!

Jeff & I are very honored to do your event....P.S. so is our Patty

Sincerely yours,
Debbie Mucklow

The story behind the junk. Part 3

I'd be lying if I told you I had this junking business all figured out. Everything kinda just fell together. As I noted earlier, people told people, who told more people, who told even more people, about this little junk sale in a warehouse in Long Lake, Minnesota.

My friend Dawn, knew somebody at the local NBC affiliate in Minneapolis and made a phone call. She convinced them to invite me to appear on their morning show. When I heard the news I thought I would die! I had never felt comfortable speaking in public, I was mortified by the thought of giving a toast at a wedding let alone making a fool of myself on TV. My kids who had been involved in acting most of their lives were my cheerleaders and explained to me audiences like to see folks screw up in front of the camera. Their reassuring comments didn't help! I don't remember much of my live TV debut except I thought I would either throw up or pass out before, during, and after. It was all a blur. Once Sue joined me in the business, TV got a little easier...I figured the audience only watched me 1/2 of the time.

I can report I don't get the least bit nervous on camera or stage any more. Why? Everything that can go wrong, has. I've embarrassed myself many times over on TV and at numerous speaking engagements. One of my most humiliating moments happened on KTLA in Los Angeles. On a live remote segment, the remote box, hidden in my waistband, slid down into the crotch of my pants and the camera man continued to film as I desperately dug it out, contorting my face all the while. (I didn't realize he was shooting my distressed reaction until I played back the tape a few months later.) Pretty awful.


I know you're thinking we had these big plans to become editors. Not quite. My dear friend Jane Hall who helped out at the JunkMarket from day one wrote a letter to Country Home Magazine about this wonderful little junk sale she worked at. Guess what? They responded by sending an editor to take photos of the whole gang. (My, we've changed.) The photo is packed away but I will share it with you someday. It was a fun day and we eventually convinced the folks at CH to consider us as their new junk experts and columnists. Back in those days JUNK was a four letter word. A brave Country Home stepped out on a limb and embraced decorating with junk!



Our friends were troopers and permitted us to decorate and shoot every inch of their homes.

Country Home invited JunkMarket to set up a mini sale in NYC's Central Park. My husband and our friend and welder, Doug, drove truck and trailer through Times Square with Minnesota license plates and a load of good old Midwestern junk!

Don't know that I'll ever get used to a camera following me around at a flea. It kinda hampers that whole blend in so you can negotiate better philosophy.


What made JunkMarket sales extraordinary was the variety and sheer quantity of junk. We traveled to obscure junk hot spots to uncover and bring home our inventory.


We visited A-Z Used Restaurant Supply on a regular basis. (Why would anyone purchase new dishes is beyond me.)


We shopped dark, scary, but wonderful buildings filled with private collections.



We made a point to check out The Reuse Center since new (old) stuff arrived daily and we didn't want to miss anything!


My favorite junk haunts were the messy ones. Digging for junk is exhilarating!


Yes, I did say quantity! Tom showed up several times a month with a load.


Cammie and family brought us several trailers full each sale. JunkMarket counted on our vendors to bring us amazing junk. And they did!

The word was getting out! Scripps productions called out of the blue one day and asked if we would be interested in appearing on HGTV's Country Style. Why not?!?! Taping was a breeze...if you screw up you get to do it over, unlike live TV.

We made it to the big time when we were invited on the Today show. We almost made it on Oprah twice...The producer called and arranged for us to take Oprah junking. It fell through just days before it was supposed to tape. My goal is to take Ellen junking at the Rose Bowl Flea Market and I suppose if Oprah wants to come too, I'll let her.

JunkMarket seemed to have a mind of it's own! Determined not to pass on opportunity we made the decision to cut back the number of sales and go for it! Sue and I authored Decorating JunkMarket Style, Junk Beautiful, and JunkMarket Style Magazine. By now I was an old pro at public speaking because I realized my kids were right. Audiences are kind and it is ok to screw up.


The Junk Bonanza was born! We invite our favorite vendors to join us once a year for the best junk round-up in the Midwest.


Summer of 2007 we started the American Junk Club.


Wow! Who would have thought? Had you asked me more than eight years ago if I thought I'd be riding in the backseat of a limo on the way to the Today Show holding a piece of junk...I bet you know what I would have replied. "You got to be kidding!"

It has been an incredible journey. As many already know, I have sold my interest in JunkMarket to Taunton Publishing. I have started a new company, Junk Revolution, and will continue to produce the Junk Bonanza! I credit my success to all the people that shared their talents, energy and enthusiasm for junk. Thank you.
Peace,
Ki

Sunday Mornings

I have never been terribly confident in social settings. (I think that is why I was attracted to my husband 30 some years ago, as he was always outgoing and comfortable meeting new people.) I am not shy, just not usually the first one to jump in and carry a conversation. There is one exception to my timid personality. Flea markets! I never bother asking Kerry if he wants to get up early Sunday mornings and head on over to the Medina fleamarket sponsored by the local Lions Club. I feel at home with the friendly vendors and fellow customers while I stroll the aisles and visit with anyone that is willing to chat.


This past Sunday I met new friends, visited with old friends and rummaged through some really cool junk!


I don't wear vintage jewelry but I am attracted to it! I love seeing old jewelry recrafted as bottle stoppers on old bottles and salt shakers.


I am also attracted to weddding cake toppers...not sure why.


Guess what these are. Yep, vintage car seat covers. They will make wonderful table runners!


Now this is what I call dressed for the occasion!


I couldn't resist!


With the election coming up I was surprised these weren't sold.


I am a sucker for anything in quantity...I got all these for $7.00


It killed me to pass these up.


I couldn't pass these up...to sell at the Bonanza!

What's the deal with the cool peach colored truck you ask? I saw it in the parking lot, fell in love with it, and it is for sale. I called the owner and asked if he would like to display it at the Bonanza. (If it doesn't sell before September.)

Stay tuned for part 3 coming up....

Peace,
Ki

The story behind the junk. Part 2

I wanted to do the same, just different. While waiting for the Gods to tell me what to do next, I dabbled in product design creating concepts for Eddie Bauer Home, Carters Kids, and a line of decorative accessories for a national home decor catalogue. It just wasn't my dream job. I guess I missed retail. I recall visiting with girlfriends over dinner about my dilemma. One gal explained to the group about Rose, a woman in Buffalo MN, that had a retail store selling old stuff and only opened to the public once a month. Now that sounded like it was right up my alley!

I went home that evening, told my husband I was going into the junk business...and oh, by the way, I would only be open two and a half days a month. "You must be kidding!" was his initial response. He did however remember a few weeks prior, I had a garage sale that grossed over $11,000 in a weekend. Maybe I wasn't so crazy after all.

I rented a small warehouse and my son Tyson, 13 years old at the time, helped me to come up with the name. JUNKMARKET


I went to the bank for a small loan, (Which was very interesting when I told them what I was planning to do with their money...) headed out to the country with my SUV and purchased several loads of junk. I was now in heaven! Junk Heaven!


In the beginning it was pretty much me, family, and friends. My mailing list consisted of no more than 50 people. But I'll be darned, somehow the word spread and I couldn't keep up with business. Sue Whitney was one of JunkMarket's loyal and enthusiastic customers and asked to join me in the business. Ten months after JunkMarket began, I took Sue in as a partner.


JUNKMARKET's mission was to make decorating with junk cool. Many Junkmasters had gone before. We were determined to reiterate their message. Junking is earth friendly and Junk is cool!


It took a bunch of folks to make JUNKMARKET a success. Tom was our mentor, supplier, and hauler of good junk. I learned most of everything I know about junk from Tom. I met Tom at Kane County Flea Market in St. Charles Illinois and he has been my dear friend ever since. I recently learned a lot about life from Tom and his family. Tom survived a heart transplant 90 days ago and is planning a trip to the Junk Bonanza!

The people came to JUNKMARKET once a month to buy our good junk! We moved 3 times to accommodate the crowds.


Customers waited patiently in line to get a chance to grab some good junk.



This area was known as JOB. Junk out Back. The really grungey junk!


They came in busloads! I know from experience you can fit several armoires in the luggage compartments under a bus.


A sea of customers flooded the JUNKMARKET every sale. Minnesota nice made for a delightful shopping experience...most of the time. We occassionally drew straws for the One of a kind/I got here first conflicts.


The displays were pretty.


The displays were fun.


The junk was sophisticated.


The junk was edgy.


The junk was good.


The junk was always plentiful!

It took a whole lot of folks with a whole lot of energy to make a JUNKMARKET sale happen!


Irene was the queen of ticketing and headmaster of the check out. You could hear her yell "Next!" from a mile away.


Lorraine shown above powerwashing. Everyone pitched in getting the junk ready to go.


Julie spent much of her time painting...when she wasn't sewing, organizing or ticketing.


Oh yes, the boys...we couldn't have done it without them. Ethan and Chris, brothers, made a great team!


And then there was Emily! She ran the show, always with a smile! You may recognize her as the mayor of the Junk Bonanza.


This junking business thing proved to be right up my alley. I never imagined what was about to happen next. Magazines, books, TV, speaking tours, and even the Today Show. Stay tuned for part 3...

Peace,

Ki