Goodbye January...

We're approaching the last Saturday in January and it's somewhat bittersweet.  These "Saturdays only" in January have been fun and allowed me a wonderful break during the week (sort of).  But I think most Iowans and most from the Midwest welcome February w/ open arms.  The winter is long in these parts, and we all crave more sunshine and daylight...so mother nature and father time (remember the song from Charlotte's Web...) keep rolling on.

Made a fun road trip this week and loaded up the vehicle w/ the good stuff (globes, wire, mirrors, old jars w/ zinc lids, cool diamond-paned windows, metal totes and funky metal drafting stools).  The little one was wedged between all of this but happily slept the whole way home (was a wild thing while I was searching, though).

Hope you can all make it out this Saturday, January 29th 10am - 5pm.  I do know the free bin will be spilling over...lots of fun free stuff has gone home w/ many a customer this past month.  Their biggest question, "Are you sure this is free?"  Sometimes it's just time to let "it" go and that's how I feel about the cool old stuff in the "free bin."  I'm thinking about having a lace and linen bin as well.  I will never get all of the wonderful fabrics, clothing and bits of beautiful lace I have collected over the years washed, starched or ironed...never...so this will be a fun bin to go through...it may just be a $1 an item!

The upstairs room is getting put back together as a paper and ephemera room...think button and paper flowers, ephemera collections, trinket bags, funky twine and notion tags ~ you'll just have to come and see...it's all in the details! 

 And with February beginning next Tuesday (also the return of our regular hours at JB Knacker), stay-tuned for a festive event that I've been dreaming up...

                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                    ~ Brenda

Life is Precious

This Saturday is fast approaching and because it falls on January 22nd, the anniversary of Roe vs Wade, we will be celebrating Life at the shop on this day.  We will also be donating 20% of what gets put into the old cash register on this day to Birthright of Ames, whose mission statement goes something like this..."It is the right of every pregnant woman to give birth and it is the right of every baby to be born."  Birthright has been a leader in this community in positive outreach to women who find themselves pregnant and scared....emotional encouragement and supportive counseling as well as tangible items such as maternity clothing, infant and toddler clothing and supplies are readily available.  I am so proud of the work these volunteers do on a daily basis and want to help support their outreach.  I hope you do too!  This is a day to be thankful for our mothers and fathers who said "yes" to Life! 

Update:  thank you to all of the wonderful people that made their way to the shop on Saturday...$176.00 was raised to help Birthright of Ames!

To make this day extra special, Tawnya from The Cupcake Emporium in Ames will be whipping up some yummy treats for all to enjoy and liquid refreshments will be on hand to wash all that goodness down.

New vintage items are making their way to the shop all week...cool metal locker units, more funky metal street signs and oh so functional, yet stylish metal work stools (a theme of metal?).  A new look for our windows will be unveiled as well (think paper, old photos and pops of color). 

Come and celebrate Life w/ JB Knacker...it's a wonderful thing!

       Shop hours on Saturday, January 22nd ~ 10am - 5pm

                                                                                              Brenda

This Saturday at JB Knacker

January is flying by...do you all feel that way, too?  This Saturday (Jan. 15th) is just a couple of days away and yes, I am scrambling, juggling and flipping as fast as I can.  Many big pieces have left the shop during the last 2 Saturdays and tons of smalls as well!  But never fear, there is always more to be found, dusted off and placed in just the right spot.  Three wooden bookshelves have found there way into the old shop in the last couple of days as well as a dainty painted coffee table and an old radio cabinet that would make the best wine/liquor cabinet.  Another wonderful iron bed painted chippy white and maybe just maybe, a beauty of a 7ft harvest table will make it's way to the shop before Saturday?!  Lots of fun new old books w/ great colors, titles and probably darn good reads, too (if you're into that).  I'm unpacking fun little stuff as we speak...ironstone, silver platters, linens and creating wall hooks by combining painted old wood pieces with vintage wire hooks.  Also hoping I can recruit the college age son and his friends to move the monster cupboard in the front room to its new location and change up the feel of that old general store room a bit. 

Fresh, fun and feisty are the key words for this Saturday at the shop...would love to have you check us out!  Open Saturday, January 15th from 10am - 5pm...always fun, unexpected specials/sales throughout the shop on these Saturdays in January!  Stay tuned for thoughts & sales for the last 2 Saturdays of this month!  

                                                                                                   ~ Brenda

Soup Saturday

"In January
  it's so nice
  while slipping                                                          
  on the sliding ice
  to sip hot chicken soup with rice.
  Sipping once
  Sipping twice"


              ~ Maurice Sendak

Slide on over to JB Knacker from 10am - 5pm this Saturday (the 8th).  We will be serving up bowls/cups of hot soup...yum!  And while you are sipping, you can be rummaging for crazy, cool vintage!  We would love to have you by the old place!
                                ~ Brenda