Spring Cleaning

I don't know about you, but I don't see the New Year as a new beginning.  The new beginning in this house is more the first day of school in late summer.  January 1st actually feels more like "spring cleaning" to me...out w/ the old (2010) and in with the new!  At the shop, nothing really gets thrown out...but some does get sent to a new home...Goodwill, a consignment store, Salvation Army or deconstructed to be made into something new and fresh.  What is left of Christmas gets lovingly wrapped and tucked away 'til next year.  The beautifully tarnished soft pink ornaments are grouped together and placed in big apothecary jars for Valentine's Day.  The dry, poky, once-fresh evergreen and tree get hauled outside to the back of the shop for Dan and Gary (Gilbert town crew) to chip and use as they see fit.  Once I dig in, I really start to get inspired for the new look for this new year...2011.  I see soft fresh pastels, organic and natural at its finest, and neutrals with pops of glossy black.

JB Knacker will be open on January 1st from 1-4pm.  And every Saturday in January thereafter (Jan. 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th from 10am - 5pm).  We will return to regular hours on February 1st (Tuesday - Friday 1pm - 6pm and Saturday 10am - 3pm).

My goal at the shop is that each and every Saturday will have different looks, cool new old pieces and fresh decorating ideas for you to tuck away for your own home.  See you real soon!!      

'Twas the week before the week before Christmas...

And all through the shop, not a ... sorry, too much thought to make that work!  But here it is less than 2 weeks before the blessed day!  The kids have been waiting for snow and Santa and most importantly, the birth of Jesus.  Trying hard in our house to keep that order right.  At the shop it can be a struggle to mix retail and the deep religious importance of this date...but I attempt to do it w/ a sense of reverence, elegance and even humbleness to the holiness of this event...and a twist of humor to keep the kid in all of us happy.  So w/ that in mind...let me fill you in on what's happening this week at the shop:

**Tuesday, December 14th after we close up shop at 6pm, the soldered charm workshop begins!  We have room for more!  This is a wonderful opportunity to make a couple more gifts for those on our list.  Many people have taken the "Handmade Christmas" challenge and this would be a wonderful way to stick to that theme of heartfelt and handmade.  The cost is $35 and you get to create 2 custom soldered charms!  Give us a call at (515)233-2600 to sign up.

**Wednesday, December 15th we will be host to a fun make-and-take at the shop w/ local artist, Lara Gustafson  from 1-3 pm.  Beautiful Christmas tags and mini-booklets will be the craft of choice...don't miss it!


**Big News and a bit of a change from last year...JB Knacker's last day of being open before Christmas(and for the rest of December for that matter) is this Saturday, Dec. 18th.  We will have extended hours from 9 am - 5 pm!  Christmas will be 50% off (includes wreaths, vintage ornaments, nativities, old ice skates, Christmas cards (handmade & vintage), sleds...and much of this Christmas is being brought out just this week!  Also, JB Knacker's gift cards will be 20% off on this day!!  We don't do a plastic gift card at JB...these little beauties are altered antique cabinet cards tucked into a burlap sleeve...a beautiful gift to a loved one or you!

Thank you and bless you for supporting my shop this year...it's been a very good year for the little shop, but it couldn't happen without your loyalty and wonderful word-of-mouth advertising you do for JB Knacker!  I look forward to 2011 at the shop...what new events will pop up this year?...what new workshops will develop?...what new vintage inspired handmade items will be created?...and the vintage stuff to be discovered keeps me going!!

 thinking about using this for the Christmas family photo, but the little one is missing (she's to the left in her car seat coloring her bare legs w/ permanent marker)...difficult to get all the kids together at once

 And finally, for the third year in a row JB Knacker will be open only on Saturdays in January.  Each and every Saturday in January (yes, even January 1st!!) JB Knacker will throw open our old doors to a new look from the Saturday prior.  It keeps us on our toes to create new looks and provide fresh vintage stuff!

January 1st (limited hours) ~ 1pm - 4pm
January 8th ~ 10am - 5pm
January 15th ~ 10am - 5pm
January 22nd ~ 10am - 5pm
January 29th ~ 10am - 5pm

                                                      Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,
                                                                                                            Brenda

Main Street Christmas

Join us this Saturday, Dec. 4th in Gilbert...a town just 4 miles north of Ames.  A small town known for great schools, pride in community, a darn good tractor club, and a handful of dedicated businesses.  We are hard workers and it shows.

Now this little Christmas celebration on Main Street isn't all fussy and fancy...but it will be good hometown fun!  JB Knacker and The Left Bank Studio open our doors at 9 am sharp.  We'll be cozy and welcoming and brimming over with Christmas fluff and gifts galore.  There will be hot cider & coffee, gourmet cocoa and tasty Mimosas to quench your thirst and warm your souls.  Nibble on quiche, fruit and baked goods while you shop.  The Left Bank Studio will artistically wrap any gift purchased inside their brick 'n mortar shop.  The Gilbert Historical Society will set up camp inside JB Knacker's doors and will be spinning folklore as well as selling their ever popular Gilbert school slates throughout the day.

Down the street at Open Flame, enjoy wine & beer tasting w/ appetizers from 2:30-4:30 pm.  The old fashioned small town Christmas celebration will conclude w/ carols and tree lighting at 5:15 pm while we wait for Santa to arrive via the firetruck at the fire station at 5:30 pm.  Plenty of popcorn and fellowship for everyone as the little ones share their Christmas wishes w/ Santa 'til 6:30 pm.

And as a nice ending to a perfect small town day, a drawing for a workshop (for up to 5 people) presented by both JB Knacker and The Left Bank Studio plus a $20 gift certificate to The Open Flame! 

Black Friday at JB Knacker

Here's the scoop on Black Friday at JB Knacker...we open at 9am.  Everything in the shop is 20% off!  Our door busters are JB custom pillow covers (eye chart and number) $20 each, vintage typewriter keys $5 each and our chunky hand-cut soaps $2.50 each!  A drawing for a $50 JB Knacker gift card at the end of the day.  Hot cider, coffee and homemade gingersnap cookies all day...we'll break out the wine at 3ish.  Make-and-take craft from 1-4pm w/ local artist, Lara Gustafson... Believe Santa gift tags (only $1) and mini tag booklets (only $2)... really great gifts or decorations for your home!  An abundance of "nature" out in the side yard...bundles of twigs, funky branches, fresh evergreen...and inside, a full shop of new old stuff awaits!!  We close at 6pm to restock and "fluff" for Saturday (10am - 3pm). Can't wait to see you and Happy Thanksgiving!!

Vintage Typewriter Keys $5 each...disregard the date...don't know how to use a camera@#!

Chunky Hand-cut Soap in orange clove, mulled cider and pumpkin cheesecake $2.50 each...again, disregard the date@#@%!

Eye Chart Pillows (these w/ feather inserts)...remember, these pillows also come w/ a fun vintage typewriter key attached to the little tab on each pillow $20 each (feather insert not included, but fits a 18" x 18" - 20" x 20" pillow insert)

 

Hope this shop update finds you all healthy and looking forward to Thanksgiving.  We're possibly looking at our first 1-2 inches of the white stuff the day before and that makes the kids at my house really happy!

Boy, I miss that old orange truck for hauling

Since our Vintage Christmas celebration on the 5th, 6th and 7th, we have helped haul some big pieces out the old shop doors ...big metal locker units, sturdy farm primitive chairs, spoon-carved beds, 7 ft. bookshelves, oak mantles and a whole lot of smaller pretties that will grace homes for this season and beyond!  Can you tell these pieces are missing?  Not even!  The shop is full and as one item leaves a new old piece takes its place...mind you, there is no warehouse, just crazy me on a mission to find the best stuff to keep the shop full, exciting and fun!

 So come check out JB Knacker this Saturday.  I'll bake up a big batch of ginger cookies and have hot coffee & cider waiting.  There will be new old ornaments in all the fun colors for this season, primitive wire baskets in all shapes and sizes, old wood sleds w/ metal runners, chippy green park benches just waiting to grace your porch, sweet crunchy leather kid boot displays, vintage snowshoes, lasso "wreaths" and a whole lot more!

we first introduced these little guys 5 years ago and have brought them back in a big way

 

 

And if you're thinking a gift card might be the way to go for your special someone...no plastic here...way better...vintage photos altered for the season.  You could even nestle one into one of our shimmery vintage Santa Baby heels (vintage high heel glittered w/ a vintage jewel embellishment).  If you're a little more country...we'll slide the gift card into a burlap sleeve.  Either way...a super thoughtful gift.

 

Our German silver glass glitter for all of your Christmas projects will be stocked any day now, and we will even have complete kits w/ said glitter for you to give to that special someone who can't get enough of creating.

Next week, JB Knacker will be open regular hours on Tuesday and Wednesday (1-6pm), closed on Thanksgiving and open extended hours the day after Thanksgiving (9am - 6pm).  Be ready for for a fun day at the shop on Black Friday...more treats, $50 gift card give-away, make-and-takes from 1-6pm (really fun Believe tags & mini journals) and great specials just for that day!  More on those specials next week...

                                                        

                                                                                                 Brenda

And We're Off...

  Last weekend's A Vintage Christmas at JB Knacker was just spectacular!  All twinkly and cozy with heavenly live violin music playing and wine flowing and well...thank you to all who came out...not only on Friday night, but all weekend long!

Next on the platter at JB Knacker...we are hosting our "Junkdown to Christmas" tonight at the shop from 6:30-8 ish ~ looking forward to creating w/ several of our fun customers (Colleen, Monica, Kristen & friend, Mary & daughters, Lauren and Jenna)!  We do have room for a few more...so if you can, give us a call at the shop today (233-2600) and we'll get you signed up!

Black Friday at JB will be fun!  We will open at 9am and stay open 'til 6pm.  As always, a drawing for a $50.00 gift card (you will love this year's gift cards from the shop) will happen at the end of day, and a really good sale (door busters) will be happening...stay tuned for the specifics on that.  It will be warm, cozy and festive at JB Knacker on the day after Thanksgiving so be sure to stop by the old place!!

More to come as this beautiful season progresses...slow down and take it all in.  I can't wait for that first snowfall...can you (be nice w/ your answers!)?
 

                                                                                                      Brenda

A Vintage Christmas Celebration Next Weekend...But First, a Sale

Get to the shop this Friday and Saturday as everything will be 20% off ~ I mean everything!  At JB Knacker, we are preparing for the big turn-over of the shop as the beautiful new season of Christmas is upon us.  A Vintage Christmas Celebration at the shop is very close.  We will be closing the shop on Thursday, Nov. 4th and during the day on Friday, Nov. 5th to whoosh the old place into a shimmery winter woodland.

First snowfall of 2009

The shop doors will be flung open on Friday, Nov. 5th at 6pm sharp.  Beautiful music, divine desserts and  sweet wine will flow on this evening until 9pm.  It will be the BEST time to view JB Knacker's unique twist on this season's decorating.

The joy and fun continues on Saturday, Nov. 6th from 10am - 5pm and Sunday, Nov, 7th from noon - 4pm!  Warm beverages and homemade desserts will greet you at the door.

Are any of us really fans of a fast-paced, commercialized Christmas?  At the shop, we hope to emulate the goodness of nature at this time of the year and promote vintage well-loved pieces that inspire you to decorate affordably, organically and simply.  With the end result being a slow -down of this beautiful season so you can enjoy the small wonders: a snow day w/ the kids flying down the hills on a sled, a cookie session w/ the nieces and nephews or an afternoon at the care center helping w/ a craft (all things I hope to accomplish this year!).

Let's talk repurposed, hand-made and salvaged...not made in China, totally unique and reusable throughout the year...that is what JB Knacker fearlessly promotes in our gifts, furniture and vintage pieces.  This year, there will be an abundance of journals, jewelry, scarves, ephemeral decorations and salvage.

 We have our work cut out for us, but we are happy to do it!  This is an exciting and beautiful time of the year and we look forward to sharing it with you...

                                                                                                             Brenda 

Junk Bonanza ~ JB returns from the JB

Just a few pics of the JB Knacker booth at the Bonanza!  I wasn't sure it would come together, but at the eleventh hour shop girl, Kate and I pulled it off.  When I look at the whole booth from a distance...possibly could have used a better backdrop.  But hauling in one more big thing was not in the cards as the rain came down in buckets and the thunder roared on set-up night.

Once again the Bonanza was run professionally and smoothly by all of those involved.  The crowds were great, the vendors sweet and the prices fair to say the least!  The display in the booths was intimidating...it was soooo good!  Thank you to all of the friendly faces from Iowa...and I mean ALL of you because Iowa had a great showing!

No time to rest as JB Knacker will be host to a little flea market out in our side yard on Saturday, October 2nd from 8am - noon during Gilbert's Harvest Fest.  We will remain open 'til 3pm on that day...I need a little time to spiff up for my 25th class reunion that evening...at least time to clean the dirt out from under my fingernails and put on a pair of jeans without paint on them!
                                                                        Brenda 

Turning Over

Time to turn the shop over to a crisp, fresh & maybe a bit of a spooky autumn mood.  Favorite items to decorate with: bales of hay, corn stalks, crows, cobwebs, old bottles and pops of color in turquoise, poppy and golden yellow.   

Would love to see you at the shop! And remember, JB Knacker will be closed on Wednesday, September 15th as we will need a day to whoosh the shop back into a cohesive look. We are vendors at the 3 day show ~ Junk Bonanza in Skakopee, MN on September 16th, 17th and 18th!! As a thank you for coming by the shop on the days that we are in the northland, you will receive a 20% off coupon to be used on November 6th or 7th toward your total purchase at JB Knacker's Christmas Open House!!

Thank you for supporting the shop! 

                                                    

                                             Brenda