What is a monkeybox?

When I was a little girl, we had a pet monkey named Amanda. My Dad worked in the produce business, so each night he brought home that days culls in a big box - spotty cucumbers, pithy apples, limp celery, moldy oranges and the like. We called it a monkeybox. It was really just trash, but my Mom would take each piece of fruit and trim it, pare it and cut it up to make a beautiful fruit platter for Amanda. Even though it was deemed trash by one, it still had life left in it and was good for the purpose we needed it. That's how I live my life - thrifting, yard saling, looking for another's trash to be my treasure.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

The New Booth: What Have We Done Now

Last week when I shared the small booth that Lara and I share, I mentioned that I have never been upstairs and that I wouldn't want a booth upstairs.  That very night, Lara texted me that the owner had offered us a booth - UPSTAIRS.  Ugh.  We talked it over and decided to wait on the list for a booth downstairs. Well, guess what, they just happened to have one right next to our shelves.  Hmmmm.  I think they were trying to pawn off that upstairs booth first.  I am glad we passed and were offered this new booth.  It was full of stuff, so really hard to tell how big it was until it was emptied out.  It is about 9 x 6 plus it has wire grid racks, a plaster wall, a rock wall and a wooden beam in it - so lots of display opportunities and nooks and crannies to fill.  

Sadly, Lara is currently out of town with her Dad in the hospital who is having some very serious issues.  She could use all our love and prayers right now.  Such a hard time for her.  Since she is gone, I went in yesterday and set up the new booth in a temporary fashion.  It actually looks better than some of the booths do in there (cough SOCK BOOTH cough), but I know it is just a temporary fix until we figure it out together.  


I had the whole thing set up when I was told that the outside of the wire rack was ours too.  Most flea markets would sell that outer part as it's own entity.  I think this will be great with Lara's unframed prints and maybe my flash cards and such.  Maybe a clothes line or just pin things on the wire with clothespins.


We sell a lot of stuff to Frat Boys, which isn't our usual clientele, so I am always looking for bar and game things.  Here's my ode to that.  


There is a shelf up high with a clothes bar on it.  We don't typically sell clothes, but if some vintage clothes or aprons find there way there, we have a spot for them.  

There is a cool old bean that is part of the history of the place.  I hung a lampshade skeleton on it with horse ribbons.  I am trying to fill space in a big way with small stuff until we get more shelving and things to fill it up.  


I use those boards and milk crates for The Junk Ranch, so they will have to come out soon.  Also, I was warned that occasionally a lady that works for the local dairy will come in and take the milk crates out of the booths and declare them stolen property.  Talk about not having anything better to do!  These were given to us by an employee, so they are mine, but how I would prove that is another question.  

The far side wall is rock and has that 2 x 4 frame on it.  We need wood or doors or lattice or something to make that more attractive and usable.  I like the rock, but you can;t use the space the way it is right now.  And, that is the wall you see when you come down the aisle.

  


There's even a short wire grid rack on the side we can use for things.  More prints or extra things.  


This giant spinner rack was given to me by a lovely Mother-Daughter duo at The Junk ranch last year.  It has been sitting in my back yard (classy, right) since then waiting for the perfect spot.  Well, Hello, perfect spot!  I ordered cellophane bags (God, I love me a cellophane bag) that were just the right fit for the sections.  Then I filled them with all sorts of things - flash cards, Bingo cards, tickets, dictionary pages, kids cards, greeting cards and on and on.  I put book cover clipboards on one side and then hung my pendants and yearbook magnets on the pegs that run down the side.  I have a ton of stuff in a small footprint.  It's awesome!  



So, for now, it works.  But it will look completely different before too long.  
Lord, I hope the junk gods keep letting me find the junk.  I've got spaces to fill up!

13 comments:

  1. HOW EXCITING!!
    Have FUN! ...and keep showing us the pictures - We're learning LOTS (and stealing ideas!!!!)

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  2. wow sell, sell, sell,! you are going to be working hard to keep in the junk
    Cathy

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  3. More space = reasons to buy more junk!! Yay on your new bigger booth but boo for Laura's sick dad :-(

    Erica

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  4. It looks good even if it's not permanent. I have great faith in you for keeping the place stocked! I'm sending Lara prayers, we know what worry is about your parent(s).

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  5. Love your new booth and it already looks good. Prayers for Lara and her family.
    hugs,
    Linda

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  6. It looks good and I know it will only get better as you go along. I keep Lara and her Dad in my prayers.

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  7. It will look f.a.b.u.l.o.u.s. after you and Lara put the finishing touches on it. Cuz you are BOSS(Bawwus as our kids say in school) like that.

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  8. Wowzers you busy girl! Its looking great so far and I think your right, if you cover that rock wall with lattice or something you can have even more display opportunities. The sock booth comment made me laugh. Can't they go sell their socks somewhere else? I hate booths like that! Your spinny rack is seriously awesome! I love me a good spinny rack. Plus you have it decked out perfect and you are giving me great ideas for my own unused spinny rack. Hope your booth does great and I will send all the Arkansas frat boys I know your way!

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  9. I can't believe a woman would come in from the dairy and round up the crates! Crazyville for sure. Booth looks great!

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  10. YAY on the new space! Can't wait to see it all spruced up with even more goodies.

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  11. Sock booths bring in people that might otherwise never see your stuff. Everyone needs cheap socks. Those frat boys are coming in for sock and walking out with your bar ware, so it's all good. I had a feeling that you were expanding when you started hinting about a new booth. Good for you that it's right next door. Your regulars will still be able to find you. I love all the elements that you have to play with--very flexible. Have fun! By the way, you are the most blessed person by the junk gods that I know. You'll have no trouble filling it up, especially once Lara is back in action too. Good luck!

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  12. Looks wonderful! I especially love your spinning rack. I'd be there spinning it around checking out all your fun treasures in those cellophane bags. Have fun filling up that booth!

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  13. Congrats on the new space! It's looking great.

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