Dealer Spotlight: White Butterfly Furniture, and Owner Kirsten

So you're wondering how the heck we pull off finding & refinishing & making all those handmade items each month? We don't do it alone, that's for sure. We are so proud to have an amazing, incredible, talented team of people behind the Carver Junk Company brand. They each have a different style, personality, and strength that they bring to the team, and we want to let you get to know them all a little better!

We're writing up a series of Dealer Spotlights. The first few that we share will be focused on our "dealers"  -the folks that regularly and religiously fill space in our stores, re-stock new pieces as things sell, support our crazy ideas, expansions, and who have become our friends through the journey that has been CJC. We'll also feature the artisans that bring in a few perfect pieces here and there, and that make all of those one-of-a-kind handmade-in-MN items for which we've become known. There are over 40 different individuals and businesses that come together behind the scenes to create Carver Junk Company.

So let's meet Kirsten {kIRsten, not Kristen. We called her the wrong name the first time we met her, so we're saving you from the same mistake}. We asked her a few questions about herself, but what you really need to know is that she's a blogger extraordinaire, a mom of FOUR BOYS, strong for her size, and our dealer who is least afraid to use color on her pieces. Those teal nightstands you all drooled over recently, that sold within 10 minutes of posting on Facebook? Kirsten. The red ones we posted 10 minutes later and sold that night? Kirsten. 

Outdoor Fall Decor. Porches, Decks, Patios and Doors.

As we're preparing for our Fall sale, October 16-19, we're browsing Pinterest to see what the hot fall decor trends are this year. Here are a few favorites, and some items we'll plan to have on hand during our sale!

Check out these great outdoor fall displays (photos link directly back to source blogs):

From http://www.wildruffle.com, this cute, understated front porch style. Milk cans, old wooden crates, pumpkins, and mums available at Carver Junk Company for October's sale!

From http://www.stonegableblog.com/, this autumn-colored tartan blanket inspired us to hunt for some vintage plaid and wool blanket for the cooler weather that's on its way in! We always have baskets and crates that will be perfect next to an old rocker, for displaying gourds and pumpkins!

From HGTV's list of favorite fall decorations, this adorable little bench, with a birdhouse and pitcher of leaves makes a great statement on a small porch! We have birdhouses in a variety of colors, lots of enamel, and various vases, along with some small benches!

From http://organizedclutterqueen.blogspot.com. Consider us officially on the hunt for old, rusty birds! We do have framed, rustic bird art painted on burlap, though! And multiple old wagon wheels, milk cans, and antique scales. And a great handmade bench with antique wagon wheel ends! 

Let's just stop and talk about how much we LOVE this porch from LizMarieBlog.com. It is so perfectly fall, without all the leaves and orange and over-the-top decor. Swoon. Drool. Covet. While we just sold our 8-foot church pew, the great news is that we have more coming into stock! We haven't decided whether we'll rent them or sell them yet, but stay tuned! We also have some great burlap pillows, blankets, and baskets. And how about that vintage leather ottoman? I want to live on Liz's porch. 

What's the story with your porch decor this fall? Are you going rustic? Over-the-top colorful? Understated and vintage? We'd love to hear about it, and any items you still  need!

May Sale, 2013

Whoop! Our May sale is just one day away! {and we have so much yet to do, but that's another story...}

Address:  300 Broadway Street, Carver, MN 55315

Here are some fun photos of what you'll find at the store this month. And much, much, more....consider this a little visual teaser. Stop in, say hi, and check out all the fun new {old} junk!

A Fan Challenge: Repurposed DIY Projects. With a Prize!

We've just surpassed 5,000 fans on our Facebook page, and we wanted to do something fun to celebrate!

Remember those Carver Junk Company Mission definitions we posted on Facebook this week? Well, one of them is Repurpose, so....

We're inviting you to share your own Repurposed DIY projects with us, and we're giving away a Carver Junk Company gift certificate to one lucky winner!

Here's the fine print:

• Email us a photo of a project that you COMPLETED, where you repurposed an item for something other than it's original intended use. For example, we fixed up an old railroad cart to use as a coffee table. It doesn't have to be on such a large scale, though - any project is fair game, as long as it's yours!
• If you were inspired by Pinterest, go ahead and include a link to the original pin that inspired you. 
• We will post the photos on our Facebook page {and on this blog}. By submitting photos, you are giving us permission to post them in both locations. {Please only submit photos to which you own the copyright. If you get us kicked off Facebook for violating someone else's copyright, we probably can't be friends anymore.}
• The photo with the most 'Likes' at the end of the contest will receive a $25 gift certificate to Carver Junk Company!
• Email address for submissions:  challenge@carverjunkcompany.com

There are no entry restrictions based on where you live. We love ALL of our fans. However, the gift certificate must be used for an in-store purchase. If you're from out of town, it would make a great gift for your favorite person in Minnesota!

And lastly, a huge thank you to all of you who have loved and supported our vision, our store, and our dreams. This has turned from a pie-in-the-sky bucket list item, into a very real, "holy crap we're actually doing this and people seem to love it and we love it and we can't believe how much fun it is" realization. We've worked really hard, and have met some pretty cool people along the way. We couldn't do it without all of you - and so really, as un-cheesily as possible, we THANK YOU!

Chad and Brandy

Repurposed Mini Globe Pendant Light

We weren't brilliant (oh yes, that was my attempt at a light-related pun...) enough to have come up with the idea of a globe pendant light all by ourselves. I honestly can't remember where I saw it first....Pinterest, most likely. But, we did come across the perfect already-broken mini globe when we were shopping up in the U.P. of Michigan!  The tape had come loose around the center, and it was falling off its base. So, we repurposed it!

We used both halves, making two hanging pendant lights. The pendant light was a kit, and was super easy to put together.

We just cut a hole in the top of each half. Nothing fancy here, I held the bottom of the light socket on the top and traced around it, then cut it with a utility knife. The socket threaded in perfectly, and then for extra security, there is a little round plastic piece that screws onto it from the inside of the globe, sort of sandwiching the globe half within the light socket!  Screwed in an edison bulb from good ol' Home Depot, and hung it up!  It currently plugs into an outlet, but could also be shortened and hard-wired to a switch.

We also use a low-watt bulb in it - still bright enough for light, but the globe is still paper, at the end of the day :)

It's shown here hanging from an antique birdcage stand. {which would also be oh-so-cute for holding a vintage bird cage or wedding decor}!

We think it would be adorable in a nursery or kid's room. Where would you hang it?





Linking Up: Tater Tots and Jello, Be Different, Act Normal,

Vintage Frames - DIY Chalkboard

As we plan for our vintage-styled wedding, we know that we want chalkboards throughout our venue, as signs, welcome notes, and little notes of instruction for our guests.

They'll say things like:  

"Today two families become one, so please choose a seat, not a side."  {near the entrance to the ceremony}

"For your tears of happiness."  {beside a basket filled with vintage handkerchiefs}

"Our love story....."  {alongside the barn door we're using to display a photo timeline}


Ever the DIY-ers, we found some great frames that weren't quite right, and updated them a bit. Here they are Before:

We don't have any in progress photos, but here are the basic steps:

1. Clean, and remove any wires or staples from the back of each frame.

2. Make DIY chalk paint - we use plaster of paris and latex paint. For these frames, we used a grayish white paint.

3. Two coats of chalk paint, and a little distressing with a 220 grit sandpaper.

4. For some chalkboards, we use chalkboard paint on glass, wood, or whatever surface comes with the frame. These ones were empty when we got them, so we bought a sheet of blackboard/chalkboard....board....and cut it to size for each frame. 

5. You could attach the board to the frame in a few different ways. You could use staples, or whatever was in the frame to start with. You could get those little screw-in things that spin, like on the back of Target picture frames. Or...you could glue it. We used Gorilla glue, turned the frames upside down, and put a gallon of paint on them to ensure it set properly overnight.

6. Finish the frame (not the board) with a layer of clear wax. For a little more rustic feel, you could also put on a coat of dark wax!

Ta-Da!  Do you love the little bit of gold peeking through the white paint? 

We're so excited to letter these up, we may just have them done months before the wedding!  {yeah, right...along with all of the other projects on the list. something tells me these will be day-before projects...}

Have you ever made a chalkboard? Did you use paint or pre-made chalkboard? What did you use it for - kitchen, menu, wedding, homework, to-do list??  What questions do you have about how we did these ones??






Linking up to: {Primp}, Savvy Southern Style, Vintage on a Dime, Not Just a Housewife,