It was a beautiful autumn day in the quiet town of Walkersville, MD, and in a church basement, ten women laughed, cried, ate, and traded their junk. It was a glorious day.
The women who attended were Brittanie, Holly May, Candace, Sarah, Karen (The Graphics Fairy)…
…another Karen, Holly, Stephanie (and her husband), and Jamie, who somehow managed to dodge my camera.
We had yummy boxed lunches from The Corner Bakery and even yummier cake bites from Snickety Snacks made by Brittanie. (I ate three of these and brought four home. Two are in my fridge, but they’re calling my name. Brittanie assured me that these were like eating a forkful of cake, so it was okay to eat a bunch!)
This was an amazing group of women. We hugged, we burst out in laughter, and Holly was crying about ten minutes into our lunch conversation. I told her I was going to blog about that and she was lucky I didn’t grab my camera! 🙂 We were talking about the blessings of children and her heart spilled over. It was like getting together with a group of old and very dear friends. It was nourishment for my soul.
Not only were these girls awesome, but so was their junk. Junque, rather.
Pyrex bowls, a wooden crate, an amazing grocery scale that Sarah found on FreeCycle (I’ll get back to this in a minute)…
…a desk by Karen, my two tiered table, a great pillow made by Lynette…
…and a very cool collection of goodies from Candace (a former antique dealer with fabulous taste)…
…a bird cage…
…a shutter, wood table, milk glass vase…
…a basket of vintage and antique linens…
…and lots of other great pieces of furniture that needed just a little bit of love.
This jelly cupboard was meant for me, but Brittanie took it. I would dislike her, but she makes really good cake bites, so I forgave her. This once.
We also had a wonderful assortment of giveaways, so everyone won at least two things. Thanks to Frog Tape, Mitzi’s Collectibles, Eco Natural Soaps, Snickety Snacks and my fellow vendors at Wild Rose.
So, back to the grocery scale. If you read my blog, you know I love scales and balances. Sarah posted about finding this scale on FreeCycle! Can you believe it? She didn’t know what to do with it, so I suggested she bring it to the swap. I was totally kidding, but she showed up with it! Could this scale be coming home with me? I drew pick number three from the brown paper sack. I held my breath through the first two picks. The scale wasn’t chosen. It was mine. I made a bee-line for the scale and picked it up in triumph. Then, I heard a gasp, a moan, an “Oh no!” Stephanie had her heart set on that scale and I had just dashed her hopes. I paused. What to do? She’s pregnant. She’s hormonal. I might make her cry if I take this scale. She might write nasty things about me on her blog and start a feud. All over a scale.
I’m just kidding, I really didn’t think those things. My thought was that I have one grocery scale already and there was another piece that caught my fancy. I couldn’t handle the thought of knowing that she left disappointed. I told her she could have it as long as she really, really loved it with all her heart. She said she would. I will forever hang it over her head that I sacrificed that scale…sniff…for her. Excuse me. I’m getting choked up just thinking about it.
Don’t feel too bad for me. I left with two awesome pieces. Which two pieces? Well, that’s for another post. I’m off to eat the two cakes bites that are calling my name.
27 Responses
I cannot thank you enough for your sacrifice! I love that scale and will never let it go! You are so lovely to have let me have it, it was so unnecessary I would have been happy with so many of the other pieces…but thank you. I love that thing so much and cannot wait to hang it in my own home…soon I hope! Thank you for a lovely day with lovely women and lovely food. You are right, it was nourishment for the soul. I'm looking forward to the next one!
That sounds like great fun! By the way,how many bites are in a piece of cake? Those things look absolutely delicious!
Glad you had a fun day. It sounds like you had a wonderful event. I can't wait to see what you do with your findings! Love & blessings from NC!
Marian, It was a total pleasure to meet you, as well as all the other amazing ladies today. Good conversation, good food, good junk! Great day! – (the other) Karen 🙂
P.S. Please schedule that slipcover workshop real soon!!
I cannot tell you how much fun this looks like! I wish I had friends that shared my love of "junque". Looks like you were all blessed! LOVE reading your blog. Your pictures are the best
taidye original
This sounds like a wonderful idea for the rest of us to have. Could you review the details again, please? I would love to swap some of my stuff. Ann
Wow, you all had some great Junque! I am sort of envious, glad you all had a great time. It sounded like so much fun when you posted about it pre event.
Wow that sounds like so much fun! Love that jelly cabinet, I have one just like it that needs a bit of attention. The previous owner of our house left it in the basement. They were using it to store cleaning supplies. It still had the Montgomery Ward catalog sticker on the back. Can't wait to see what you chose and what you do with it. Someday I'm going to have to make it out there.
I drooled over the wonderful things or um junkue. How fun! Thanks for sharing.
HAHA Yes I was crying, it was because of Stephanie sitting next to me!! Her hormones were jumping onto me!
Today was great! Can't wait to do the slipcover get together. I am already signed up right!? haha =)
Too cute! What a fun story and so glad you shared with us. I for one would probably have given up just about anything for some of the cake bites! lol.
MMS,
You had me at "cake bites"!
~Kolein
This reminds me of a free ladies boutique that I did recently with ladies from church. If you get a chance, you should check it out.
http://organizingmadefun.blogspot.com/p/contact-me.html
It was a blast and so many ladies got so much free stuff. I'm thinking of doing another one next year for "home goods" and such.
Becky
http://www.organizingmadefun.blogspot.com
Wow, sounds like such a fun day… I would love to do something like that!!
I would have totally kept that scale….Ha!! Cause I don't have one!!! So neener neener!!
Looks and sounds like a fabulous time!! Loved all the Junque!!
Hugs
SueAnn
What a fun day!
Love the chocolate bites- sure they're calling your name..? I can hear a faint calling of mine – hahahaha!!
What a lovely day it sounds!! And you are one heck of a generous friend by giving the scale you had set your heart on.You know giving is better than receiving!!!!!Have a great Sunday.
Wow! A junkers dream! I loved everything! Can't wait to see what you do with your items!
Good Morning Marian,
What a great day! It was so nice to meet everyone, enjoy a great lunch, conversation and of course the "treasures" I can't wait to see what other gathering you have in store. Thank you so much for organizing and taking such great care of your "junk buddies"
Jamie
Thanks for such a wonderful day! I can't wait to do it again. And thank you again for all your wonderful words about *Snickety Snacks*! With all the great things you have to say about the Cake Bites, you'd be a perfect publicity manager for me! We'll have to work out a giveaway soon for all your readers!
Oh what a wonderful time you must have had! Thanks for sharing it. The swap things look gorgeous. What fun!
It seems as if everyone who went to your Junque Swap wants to go again and all of us who didn't go want to go, so you will have to hold the next one in a stadium! What a fun day you had and what a lovely person you are to share. Thanks for telling us all about it. Would you consider planning one in NJ or in PA, but closer to NJ? I would be there.
Ellen
Marian I had such a wonderful time with you ladies! I told my husband I spent the afternoon with "my people". It was the most fun I could have on the day before my birthday! If I ever see another antique scale on Freecycle, it's yours!
Sarah
Hi Marian, I finally made it to Paris woohoo! Found a cute shop that sold music books & pamplet thingies but it was closed so I couldn't check out the prices & everything they had. I did leave my nose print on their front windows for you lol. Hopefully I'll get a chance to go back to Paris in Jan. and/or April. I'm off to Poland this weekend to look at the women go mad over pottery.
You got some great photos Marian! I had so much fun that I barely remembered that I had my camera with me!!
Sounds like you guys had a blast!!
Marian, What an awesome event! I second "Nutbird's" request, I'd love to get the details again. I think I have some junque'n friends that would be all over this!
I'm so blessed to recieve all your posts by email. It's such a pleasant little indulgence for me each day. I've even started reading them when I check my email on my new phone! Of course I delete the bill reminders and such but I love me some MMS posts to brighten up my day!
Hope you have a blessed week!
Missy