Got hardware?

 Yes the title of this blog sounds quirky but I have my reasons.  One of them is that I am always on the hunt for the stuff (hardware that is), rusty and used.  What is it you ask and why do I need it so badly?  It is the stuff you really have to go searching for inside a dark unassuming place and it is never out in the open.  Most people don't even know they have it until I ask for it and when I do they never know what to charge me because they didn't know they had in the first place, and didn't think it had any value.  I for one, think hardware has great appeal and charm to the birdhouses I build so the quest to find it never ends.  Here is a sampling of some the houses I made for an Upcycling event that occurred over the weekend in Danville, CA.  Please read on and you will see why it is I want $65 a pop for my creations.  Unreasonable not really?  They do take several hours to build and no two are ever alike.

 Here is the organized stack of wood I currently use for the houses and my other never ending projects (well it used to be organized).  Yes I hoard wood when I can find it.  Where do I get it?  On the streets, in alleys ways, scary places sometimes but really most of it is being tossed out or sometimes gets donated to my shop if I am lucky.  If you has some bring it in the next time you are in Castro Valley I always encourage donations.  It keeps my costs down in this ever ending challenge to make a living in this crazy business.  As for my favorite pieces to use for the houses they are redwood fencing, painted preferably, chipping even better.  Redwood is great for the birdhouses as the wood can stand up to the outdoor elements I mean it has to they use it for fencing after all.

This is my stash of hardware.  I collect anything that has appeal including door hinges, drawer pulls,  and just about anything that has a hole in it.  Letters or numbers are my favorite.  I am always adding to this box whenever money permits or when I pull off a piece from some other project.  I really like painted hardware that has a natural aged look.  Any color really.  Rusty pieces are always great finds, old rust not new rust, and yes there is a difference.  New rust has a bright orange appearance and when touched can get all over everything, aged rust has done its job years ago and cannot be rubbed off, it also looks much better.  I am not sure you needed that much information but I thought I would key you in on some of my secrets of rust.  I hereby dub you knighthood of rust.

 

 Ok back to the building here you see me measuring a place to cut the board.  As you can see I have already cut a piece and forgot to take a photo with me and the tape measure.  I get lazy sometimes and just measure the next cut with a previously cut board.  Smart, right?  So for each house I need 4 side pieces, a roof, and a base.  All need cutting.  I don't ever have a template I just get creative and make something out of the wood pieces I have salvaged over the last few months.  It keeps me guessing and the end result will never look the same. 

Here is me using the chop saw as they call it.  Greatest purchase I have ever made to date.  This little guy packs a punch and can cut through just about any wood and with great precision.  The chop got used quite a bit this last week.  Sure my neighbors upstairs appreciated that.  Hey it's not like I build these houses everyday so I'm sure they can live with it for a few days.

 So after I finished cutting all of the pieces for the house but before beginning the assembly I have to drill a hole for the birds to enter.  I use a board just beneath the one I am drilling, it helps keep you bit from breaking.  The drill bit I used is 1"1/4.  Yes those are my big feet in the picture, try not to look at them and focus only on the cutting that is being done.  After doing these houses for so long you start to use techniques that are safer.  This being one of them, stand and drill.  My weight (200+) helps with stability so I can make a clean safe cut.  

 And here you go a piece of wood with a eye in it.  Yes that's me in the background holding up the finished product.  Looks good, right?  The board that is.  One step I left out which I will point out now is that I lightly sanding the wood prior to my cutting.  Some wood can look to perfect and since I am not perfect myself I make sure my houses reflect a little of my image.  Worn, imperfect but solidly built.  Ok enough about me.   

 The assembly of the houses is pretty easy for the most part once all of the pieces are cut.  I use nails (all recycled or purchased from a second use source) for my houses.  I have been known to use rusty nails as well.  They work just fine for these houses.  A little secret, when using a hammer always hide your thumb or tuck it away, trust me on this one.  I am a quick learning and had to learn the hard way years ago in my infancy building days.  I'll spare you the details just take my word for it hide the thumb when banging away. 

 See it is starting to look like a little house already.  This one I built at an angle.  I have made many of these over the years and it amazes me on how many variations of the houses I have built.  By the way I do not follow the standard rules for building a house and there are many for attracting a certain kind of bird.  Diameter of hole, height of hole from floor, depth and length or interior are all specifics to follow if you are trying to attract a certain species of bird.  My houses are made to look good or at least I think they look good.  Some birds will use them others will not.  They are mainly decorative but I still make them with a clean out so just in case it does happen (get occupied) they are able to be cleaned out with ease.   

 After the house is built my creative juices start to flow.  I start grabbing pieces of hardware to attach to the houses.  Numbers are my favorite, I think I said that early.  I take my time with this process and attach the hardware with recycled screws and nails again collected from my weekly treasure hunting.  I take the look of the house into consideration and start with one piece and then the next until I am done.  It can take time for this process and I have been known to leave a piece alone for a while if I don't feel it.  Yes, yes I consider myself an artist not a Van Gogh but a close relative like a third cousin who was married to one.

 Here is the side view of a completed house using a door lock, a house number, coat hanger and metal cover.  All sides get covered with something.  I do wonder sometimes, what do the birds think of the houses?  Do you think they are saying "Do you really expect me to raise our children in that crazy looking house",or "Is this all we can afford?"  Well whatever they say I still love making them and will continue to do so as long as I am in this business of re purposing.

 Front view, say cheese.

 So here are some others that were built in the course of a few days.  The one to the left has a table leg as a perch, still had the wheel attached so I used it.  Kinda a bear getting that leg on but it's all in a days work at Restore & Rework.

Close ups of my creations ready for the garden in someones home and hopefully a possible occupancy, you never know.  Thanks for reading.  Oh and I have to give credit to my daughter Danielle for the taking of all of these wonderful photos.  She was peaking over my back when I was writing this and kept bugging me to mention her.  Cisco

Pop Up Shop and more....

 So I get this invite a few weeks back to attend a "Pop Up Shop" from Justjunk and Green House Supply and I am curious to find out what it is all about.  Since it was way out of my way (Campbell) I decided to make a day out of it.  My wife a little reluctant was the driver.  In this world of junking I am finding the most creative people do the the most creative things hence the creation of "Pop Up Shop".  Here is my definition of what I think it is two dealers wanted to do something fun and open a shop with their goods displayed and for sale at a residence in the backyard and side driveway for a few hours on a Friday.

This is the first thing you see when you walked in, I see a theme at this temporary shop.  Feels a little like 4th of July.  Red, white and blue everywhere.  Where are the sparklers?  This display caught my eye and I had to photo it for you.  Plenty to choose from books, letters, numbers, clocks and furniture my kind of place.

In addition to all the other treasures they had a discount table and I love discounts so of course I had to take a look.  This is where I found my best finds,vintage mail box fronts and the letter "E".  Now I can complete my daughters name in her room Danielle I was missing the "E".  It was a project I started a few years back with mismatch letters.  I'll have to photo it for you someday. 

 More of their great stuff metal file drawers (love metal) and old brushes.  I have had them before the old brushes that is and they look great in an empty mason jar or on top of vintage book just by themselves.  Bingo cards to the right seem to be a popular item although I can never find them.  Actually once at a flea market I did find them but someone beat me to the punch won't mention any names, Lonae. 

 I know this photo isn't very clear however the green stuff is moss (I believe) growing out of a planter.  They used it as a display for the jewelry they were selling.  I like the idea, if the piece doesn't sell it gets grown over and back to the earth it goes.  Of course I am kidding I thought it was a great idea.  I should have zoomed in but with my camera it just gets fuzzy so here is the best shot.  Thank you Donna for the invite and my new finds, looking forward to your next Pop Up Shop. 

 My next stop was just over the hill on Highway 17.  Well not just over the hill since we got caught in traffic on a Friday eve.  Still it was worth the effort even though my wife keep looking over at me.  The place called Saffron and Genevieve Home is a place for everything unique.  The owner Scarlett Fiona Reed was a dear to allow me to photo some of her great finds.  She specializes in found objects and interior design.  I could really use her help on my own place after walking through her treasures trove.   

 I mean look at this display right behind the counter.  It was amazing all of the pieces carefully placed just like a vintage collage only this is the real deal.  I see nature and vintage as the theme here.  After reading the home page of her website I can tell that Scarlett really does travel the country to find these great pieces I mean she has to, look at all these great finds.

So I know what you are thinking, out of a magazine right?  Wrong, I took this photo in her shop and it just resins with character.  The books a staple and the vintage trophies, hey I have some of these in my shop but no one ever asks about them.  I knew they could look good and here is a great example.  The hive or nest just to the right adds the perfect natural element.  The dresser not painted just love it. 

Scarlett also sells jewelry, what impressed me about the pieces was actually how it is displayed with her vintage finds.  Books, vintage jars, in an open suitcase just perfect.  Now if I did wear jewelry which I currently don't this may pursuad me to.  These photos are just a sampling of her inventory as she has so much more.  I wanted to photograph the whole shop for you but I didn't want to overstep my bounds.  If you are in the area this shop is a must check out tell her that I sent you.

Ok so my next stop was at a place called Arbor Antique and Garden shop in Santa Cruz.  I heard of this place through a vendor I purchased from at The Point in Alameda.  She told me that I should check this place out if I was into garden elements and structures and visiting Santa Cruz.  So I was and I did and here I am.  I would have to say she was right they have tons of metal garden object from chairs to benches and fountains.  Some new mixed with the old and plants to tie it all together.

Here is a green garden chair that was being used as a plant holder I am sure only temporaily.  Just below that three galvanized buckets with flowers and moss a perfect combination.  I knew I was on to something on my previous blog with the bucket, see I told you so.

This rusty metal garden bench looking for a new owner.  These photos really only show a small portion of what she has including an indoor section with more home decor.  I have more photos but I thought this blog was going to drag on so you only get a teaser.  You have to check this place out if you are looking for garden decor and a serious garden addict.

So now I thought I was pretty much done for the day if fact my wife and I were looking for a coffee shop for the ride home and we stumbled on to this little shop called Skatter also in Santa Cruz.  The sign outside said Antiques so we decided to check it out.  The owner Kelly Odron was kind enough to show me around and she has alot crammed into a small space but beautifully decorated.  I was only able to snap a few photos (here above and below) due to the camera storage at capacity.  You get a sense of vintage with charm.  If you do make it out this one is a must check out as well.  Here is her Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Skatter/148034285234493 she has more photos and more followers than me, hey howd she do that?

Planted Junk

 So this morning I was thinking about taking the day off since I just had my Open Studio on Saturday and then drove out to the Sacramento Antique show on Sunday and sold my goods in the heat all day.  I made a little money so I thought just relax today Monday.  It's not in my blood, to relax that is.  I got a call from a friend (thanks Natalie) and we talked about some of the pieces that have been sitting at the shop and not moving.  She had mentioned to me that I should show what could be done with them.  I figured why not I had already picked up the house, and yes I do housework.  I went to my shop and gathered a pile here it is. 

 I had heard about this nursery in Livermore called Alden Lane Nursery and wanted to check it out so it seemed like the perfect opportunity on my day off.  So here is my cart loaded with my items of course I had a few other planters that had some real cool dead plants in them but I figured why not recycle the remains and bring them along for the ride.  Awesome cart right?  I could use one of these on my shopping adventures, I know late at night slip in and borrow it, right?  They have security gates everywhere no chance. 

 This is Cyndee, not Cindy.   She was gracious enough to give me the red carpet of the place and even some back secret areas or at least I think they were secret.  Ok maybe she gives everyone the tour.  Still very knowledgeable and sure can talk, a good thing in the gardening world.  You can never have enough info and she was loaded with it.  Thank you Cyndee you made me feel like I was the only customer that day.  I will return.  Impeccable service.

 Ok so the place has plenty of shade due to these very old trees.  As I understand it they are Oak trees.  Some have fallen but still remain a great source of shade for the shade plants they sell.  Wish I had a blanket maybe to catch in a nap, really they were so magical like being in some far off Italian Oak Farm if there is such a place.  Do Oaks grow in Italy?  Hmmm next time I will ask Cyndee, not Cindy. 

 They have scattered throughout these teaser planted junk pieces.  Now you can see why I went there in the first place.  You just go to pick up a few plants and get inspired by these pieces that were created to show you what can be done by using second hand items.  I am really liking this place now.   

 In this photo I am looking out at the many plants to chose from and trust me on this one they have so many.  You really can get lost in it all.  I heard one customer say that she had been there for 2 hours and wasn't done looking.  I told her I understood her concern and was about to fall into the same deep sleep of plants and flowers and trees.  I wanted to ask Cyndee this question but didn't have the guts.  Do you think they would let me bring my family in for a picnic and invite a few friends and just hang out.  I promise I will clean up my mess.

 Now I have seen everything.  Guess what this is?  I know it's not a very good photo (I tried).  This is a birds nest and yes those are little baby birds nested right in the middle of the 5 gallon rows of berry plants.  5 little guys just minding there own business taking in a nap, see they have the right idea.  This nest is literally smack dab in the middle of the nursery table with about 100 five gallon berry plants.  Not sure what the mother was thinking I hope they survive something tells me they will they now have many other mothers at Alden Lane Nursery. 

 Look at these boxes they look like normal boxes they were in the back section of the nursery.  Quite harmless right?

 Get a closer look bees, yikes!  Hope they aren't killer bees.  No I am sure they are not I got a closer look to get this shot and they didn't even know I was there.  It's like I was invisible.  Still I only looked for a brief moment you know to let them do their thing, making honey.  Yes they sell the honey as well.  Local honey I hear is good for allergies so they say.  These bees are an important part of the Eco system so next time you see one just leave it alone and it will do the same to you.

 I know you think I am getting carried away with these shots but they also have chickens in the back area.  They have kids come in and learn about growing vegetables and the chickens are there to give the full effect.  Kids and animals they seem to relate and I am sure there is a story they tell to the kids about the chickens.  Not for eating these guys I am told, too bad they look healthy, kidding.

 This is the resident dog.  Forgot his/her name.  He was hanging out in the gift store just kickn it.  He's very smart he knows where it stays cool.  Maybe I will join him.  I wanted to lay next to him but too many customers to even try next time I will wait until right before closing and see how cool it really is.

 So I told you about the Oak Trees earlier.  They also have Walnut trees as well.  Apparently on the property they have quite a few.  I guess someone figured they should harvest them for some extra dough.  Here is the Walnut cleaner, sorter machine thingamajig.  I should have stayed in school I am sure it has a name.  Maybe one of my 21 followers knows.  Speaking of followers I have added 2 more since my last post.

 These are the original owner's of the place back in 1955, Ruth and Jack Williams, god I hope I am getting this all right.  I am a horrible at research.  I believe their daughter took over the place in 1985 her name is Jacqueline Williams Courtright.  I don't want to give out too much info on the history as I am sure to make some type of mistake.

 Now to the good stuff here are some of the garden elements they sell.  This is just a sampling, this is just the bird table, they have a bunny table, snail table, and so on.  If you are looking for it I am sure they will have it.

 Did anyone say pots.  I mean look at this, way too many to count.  All shapes and sizes.  Amazing.

 Ok and plants for every type of garden you can imagine.  I would have shown you more but I think you get the picture. 

 This display caught my eye.  It's a two sided window box with a faux window window in the middle.  I hope they used recycled wood, I am sure they did.  Cyndee told me they recycle most of what they get and throw little away.  Trust me I have seen the back and they also have a wood shop or creation center.  That gives me an idea on the window.  I feel a project coming on. 

 Yes the photos you have all been waiting to see.  Here is one of the pieces I brought with me to the nursery.  It's an old wooden drawer.  I filled it with shade plants and now look at it.  It is oozing with life, if you look real hard you can still see the pull handle.  This drawer is now re purposed into a planter.  Don't you think it is much better than a boring drawer and now replaces the clay pot. 

 This arrangement is was also created by me an old tool box still functional as a tool box but now even better as a planter.  Just look at it, come on look again.  I am surprised that no one wanted this metal box.  Now I want to keep it.  I wish I could but I have to sell it so it can be yours.  I am taking this one with me over the weekend to one of my shows.  Let's see if it survives the day in my spot.  Maybe someone will like it as much as I.

 Another great piece.  I thought since this one has cubbies just leave it alone with a plant or two and fill it with garden gloves and garden tools.  Once I got started on this one I couldn't stop, I had to fill it now look at it also another piece that can be yours. 

 This galvanized bucket was also a loner in my store by it self most of day waiting for someone to buy it.  Now it has some friends to help grow.  Isn't it amazing what a few plants can do to bring out a recycled piece.

This is the last one of the misfits as I like to call them.  Just a rusty tool box for storage, wrong.  it can also be used to hold plants and this one has shade lovers.  It just pops now.  Ok so this one will stay with me.  Please don't let me kill the plants.  Thanks for reading.