Vintage Button Bracelet Workshop and so much more!

A busy and fun week ahead.  I really only try to look 1 week ahead at a time.  I call not planning too far out in advance being "flexible."  But this time of the year there is just so much going on!  At JB Knacker, we have a full plate of fun stuff coming up.




This Thursday evening (April 29th) from 6-8pm is our Vintage Button Bracelet Workshop led by local artist Mari'l Moses.  Class fee is $35 and includes everything you will need w/ the exception of vintage buttons (but we do have a wide variety available at the shop for you to purchase at a great price for workshop participants).   A wonderful way to make a keepsake piece of jewelry w/ grandma's or mom's vintage buttons.  There are still 4 openings available for this workshop...so call the shop (515 233-2600) to sign up.

This coming Saturday (May 1st) is Gilbert's city-wide garage sales beginning at 8am.  JB Knacker will open early at 8am and have fun May Day favors (JB Knacker style) while supplies last.  We may even get the "$1 table" out in the side yard (everything on that old table will be $1 each) in true garage sale fashion!



Open Market Night begins Tuesday May 4th.  There will be vendors of all kinds set up outside of JB Knacker and our neighbor, Left Bank Studio from 4-7pm.  This will happen every Tuesday evening May through October.  It's our way of creating a little "community" in our great little town.  If you want to be a vendor, just call the shop (515 233-2600) or email me.  And as you know, all of the shops on Main Street remain open on Tuesday evenings until 8pm beginning in May as well.  Oh, and don't forget to grab your $1.50 burger at The Open Flame...lots going on Tuesday evenings!!


So JB Knacker decided to throw open the old doors to all of you creative types on this night.  Come for Open Craft Night at JB from 6-8pm.  There is no fee.  We just ask that you bring your imagination and any supplies you will need.  We will supply a creative space for you to work on your projects and to collaborate w/ others that love making things.

OK...that should do it for this week.  Stay tuned for updates for next week.  Let's see Mother's Day, more Open Market and Craft Nights to come and announcement of the next JB Knacker Workshop!

April at JB Knacker

April...we've made it through another tough winter but we're not quite to the balmy lazy days of summer. It's spring in Iowa and with that comes rain showers, mud...lots of mud, tulips & daffodils, track meets & prom, confirmations & first communions. It's also the beginning of garage sale season and the start of the occasional sales in the barns and sheds. Junk is more plentiful and repurposing becomes easier as the temperature outside allows us to sand and paint and refigure our finds.

April at JB Knacker is all of the above. We are a great place to be on a stormy overcast April day. Daffodils lean out of our old blue canning jars, and moms pop in between their kids' races at the nearby high school track. We have scarves, purses, pins, bracelets, gloves and anything that resembles proms gone by...even a few dresses, as well as great pieces 'n' parts to alter any outfit. JB is also a great place to find that unique faith filled gift for those loved ones receiving their First Holy Communion or Confirmation into the church...bibles, rosaries and religious relics to name a few. And if you can't wait until the weekend to get your fix on occasional sales, we're open during the week to fill that need of finding a great piece at an incredible price!

Wow...I sound like an ad. But I write what's in my head and what's happening in my life. I have to admit, I love a nice stormy rainy day occasionally. And I have been picking daffodils like crazy to place around the shop. Also heading to a lot of track meets to see my senior girl run the 3000 M. And having a good time helping that senior girl create a very cool prom dress from a pretty 1950's prom dress (actually, a good customer and artist friend helping on that front...pictures to come). We just celebrated my daughter, Julia's confirmation into the Catholic church yesterday. And I am just plain having fun incorporating a lot of new old pieces into vignettes around the shop. I sometimes have to remind myself it's o.k. to gather a pile of like-minded pieces together w/ no purpose as my customers like to create and imagine the possibilities for themselves.



Life is good.

Brenda