'Twas the week before Christmas

We're having fun at the shop on these days leading up to Christmas!  I don't believe it's ever looked better.  We decided that this is the time we really need to look our Christmas best, so we continue to gather all the vintage baubles and finery to embellish the place.  I really dislike going into a store this time of year and looking at skimpy displays...depressing!  So head over to the shop and have a cup of coffee and take your time winding through the downstairs, porch, upstairs and finally the old kitchen...there's a lot to see!  Please check on JB Knacker's Facebook page for specials especially the after-Christmas sale (one day only) on Monday, Dec. 26th from 9am-5pm...all vintage Christmas 50% off!

Still have a few of these wonderful little 1940's Christmas pendants at the shop ~ $10 each and will ship!

Hours leading up to Christmas:

**open Tues-Fri 1-6pm this week; open 10am-1'ish pm on Saturday, Christmas Eve (just call 233-2600 after 1pm to see if we're still there)

**open Monday, Dec. 26th from 9am-5pm for the JB Knacker vintage Christmas sale (50% off all Christmas for one day only!)

**open Tues-Fri 1-6pm & Sat (New Year's Eve) 10am-3pm the week after Christmas

**open every Saturday in January 10am-5pm (not open weekdays in January)...each and every Saturday has a different theme and fun specials!

still praying for a white Christmas

                                                                             Have a blessed Christmas,
                                                                                                                    Brenda

Black Friday and Other Updates...

JB Knacker will be open on Black Friday from 9am-6pm.  The shop will have 20% off throughout and fun door busters!  My newest employee, Joan (love her!), made mention that she didn't think we needed to have 20% off..."things are flying out right now...don't think we need to do a discount."  I thought about this a while and then came to the conclusion that it's tradition at the shop and is a nice "thank you" to loyal customers and a nice surprise to new customers!

  

Door Busters ~ burlap wrapped bundle of evergreen embellished w/ vintage ornaments ($3 while supplies last) and "snow" covered mason jars great for luminaries ($2 while supplies last)

We will also be open on Saturday, Nov 26th from 10am-3pm...restocked and ready for a busy Saturday!  And the town of Gilbert will celebrate Christmas next Saturday, Dec. 3rd w/ a home tour and Santa coming into town on the firetruck...also big tradition!  JB Knacker will be ready for shoppers and friends on this day w/ treats and cider and more restocking, whirling and twirling of great new old finds!  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow and hope to see you!!

                Brenda

 And don't forget to sign up for our birdhouse charm workshop on Monday, December 5th from 6-8pm.  Sarah Dorn and I will be demonstrating how to make this fun little balsa wood birdhouse charm.  Cost is $25 and incl. all supplies, a ball & chain necklace and snacks and beverages throughout the evening.  Call the shop at (515)233-2600 to register!

JB Knacker
a vintage home store
Tuesday-Friday 1-6pm & Saturday 10-3pm
123 Main Street, Gilbert, Iowa

JB Knacker Christmas Bash ~ Saturday, November 12th

JB Knacker Christmas Bash
Saturday, November 12^th
10am-5pm

Remember Christmas as a kid…snow & sledding, skating & hot cocoa, family & food and midnight service & baby Jesus…JB Knacker hopes to keep those memories fresh and ready for this next generation!  Join us for a wonderful day!

Junk-Down to Christmas Workshop!

Sunday, November 13th

from 1:30-4:30pm at the shop.

Join us at JB Knacker to create a one-of-a-kind advent calendar.

All supplies provided.

It would be great if you could bring a basic craft kit (scissors, pencil, ruler and favorite adhesive). Beverages and yummy treats provided throughout the afternoon. This workshop will be in the trusty hands of resident paper artist Lara Gustafson w/ Brenda (owner of JB Knacker) assisting.

The Junk-down to Christmas calendar is made using a metal cafeteria tray and all sorts of vintage ephemera. This is a project-oriented workshop which means you will go home w/ a beautifully finished advent calendar to use this season or give as a wonderful gift. You will also learn some tricks on adhesion, staining & stamping and other fun handmade secrets!

The cost of the afternoon is $35.

You will also have the opportunity to gather all the supplies you need to make more of these at home ($15 each). You will find this project addictive…just ask our participants from last year’s workshop! To sign up, just call the shop at (515)233-2600 during business hours (Tues –Fri 1-6pm & Sat 10am-3pm). This workshop is held the day after JB Knacker’s big Christmas Bash Open House so the shop will be decked out and dripping in Christmas…fun!

Limit of 8 participants for this workshop so don’t delay!!

Ghouls Night Out at JB Knacker

I just couldn't let Halloween go by this year without doing a little something at the shop, sooo...
                    
                                  Ghouls Night Out

image via Pinterest

A JB Knacker Halloween Party 

Friday, October 7th from 6:30pm 'til 8:30ish

at JB Knacker

**no costumes necessary unless that helps you get into the spirit

**treats & drinks, wickedly fun vintage stuff, special guests Steve Hosch and Lara Gustafson and just a hauntingly good time...would love to have you by the old place!

                                                                 

                                                                      Brenda

Fall for Junk...September 24th 8am-3pm!

This Saturday, September 24th from 8am-3pm JB Knacker is hosting a really fun event.  We throw the old shop doors open early at 8am, serve a light breakfast, have 20% the entire shop, host 15 creative vendors out in our side yard, hand-out maps to 8 area barn sales and lure you back to the shop between 2-3pm for a junk basket drawing not to be missed!!  Tell your family and friends...spread the word 'cause this is the last event of this type for the season!

 
Our vendors who will be set up in the side yard include: Tricia Hall (jewelry and more), Sarah Dorn (jewelry and more), Jeff Tadsen (vintage refunked), Chris Backes (metal designs), Mary Husske (vintage and more vintage), Pam Hobbs (vintage and more vintage), Michelle (vintage and more vintage), Kate Hinrichs (vintage redesigns), Jenny and Becky (vintage and retro), Ann & Dorothy (vintage and repurposed), Natalie (colorful jewelry and vintage) and Peggy Petersen (vintage garden and more).

Barns on the route will be:

Carter Station w/ special guest Rusty Pumpkin ~ Story City

Junk'in 4 ~ Story City

Barntiques ~ Nevada

Red Barn Rustics ~ rural Boone  ***thanks Carla for the "Fall for Junk" name***

Junk Refunkery ~ rural Boone

Once Was ~ Boone

Bittersweet 'n Berries ~ rural Boone

Dakota Junktion ~rural Ames

I would like to thank you all ahead of time.  There is a lot one can do on a beautiful fall day...and you chose to junk w/ us...and you'll be happy you did...all of us are putting our best junk forward for you to embellish your home & garden, give as a one-of-a-kind gift or just treat yourself to a unique piece of history!
                                                       See you Saturday!

                                                                   Brenda

***Hmmm...what to put in the Junk Basket to be given away at 2:30ish on Saturday...how about an old gym locker basket "tricked-out" w/ a metal # from Urban Forge (see above) and chocolate and a couple of new mags (Flea Market Style, Country Living) and a few more surprises...you'll want to head back to the shop for a chance at this and to grab any junk you missed first time around!!

Gearing Up

September is going to be a wild ride!  The shop has turned to an autumn look w/ metal, wood, burlap and mums.  Halloween will creep into the shop around the middle of September while I am away at the Junk Bonanza in Shakopee, MN.  Not necessarily the Halloween of your childhood, but more of a grownup old world, potions and hexes sort of Halloween...think chandeliers, candelabras and ravens.  The Junk Bonanza begins Thursday, Sept. 15th...early bird entry at 8am and continues through Sat., Sept 17th!  The JB Knacker booth is coming together nicely (in my head, that is) w/ a very quirky yet functional natural history theme w/ pops of color.  The shop will be held down by paper artist, Lara Gustafson.  Lara loves Halloween...so between twirling the upstairs of the shop into a devilish nature, you may find her working on her ever popular Halloween cards and tags.  JB Knacker will also have a nice surprise for those of you who pop into the shop during those days that I am working my booth at the Junk Bonanza!

 
JB Knacker's last Main Street Flea Market will be held on Saturday, Sept. 24th from 8am - 3pm...note the early start!  We will have a light breakfast buffet of donuts, muffins, fruit, juice & coffee, everything in the shop will be 20% off and plenty of vendors in the side yard of the shop peddling their wares.  And our vendors have been good...whether you're looking for vintage, metal, funky jewelry or fall embellishments...we've got it!  We will also have maps to all of the area barn, chicken shed and carriage house sales (so far 7)!!   And will lure you back to the shop at 3ish w/ something really fun...stay tuned!

This day is also our little town's Harvest Festival.  It's a time to celebrate the bountiful harvest, enter the pie baking contest and reunite w/ old friends.  JB Knacker will be on the historical society's tour...a hay rack ride around town w/ stops at historic buildings.  Tales will be spun about the days when Doc barbered/cut hair in the front room of the shop and his wife, Helen sorted the mail.  Or back a little further when the old shop was Bush and Gerstein Music Store in the early 1900's...and maybe a few spooky tales as well - fun!

That will wrap up the special events in September, but I also have to give you a quick glimpse of the fun to come in October.  JB Knacker is reviving the Halloween Party.  Some of you die-hards may remember Julie and I throwing a Halloween Bash back in 2007 ~ a costume party no less.  Well, this year, the old shop will be having another spooky night on Friday, October 7th from 6:30 - 8:30ish pm.  Local artist Steve Hosch will be on hand w/ a shrine of his spooky assemblage pieces and day of the dead masks, treats & tricks will be served and everything you need to celebrate in style this season will be on hand for you to peruse...think beakers, test tubes, candelabras, refunked spooky portraits and so much more!  A fun evening indeed!

                    
                                                                                                                    Brenda