Hello again, junkers! How goes your summer junking adventures? We find ourselves way more than thigh-high in the junk pile and hope you are enjoying the same good fortune. Let me start by sharing some absolutely junktabulous news: AT LONG LAST—for the love of junk—the day we’ve all been waiting for has arrived. The American Junk Club is up, running, and gathering new members as we speak. So if you haven’t done so already, click here and join the fun: www.americanjunkclub.com. You’ll find projects, forums, hot junking locales, and much more. We can’t wait to hear from you!

On another junking high note, we just returned from our first whistlestop on the Junking Journey, the J & J Show in Brimfield, Massachusetts. WOW! What an excellent market.

Our hosts, Jill and Judy, along with their families were as amazing as always. Let me tell you, they know how to run a show. Thanks so much to everyone at J & J for your kindness and hospitality, not to mention the great finds we carted home. We’ll be back and can’t wait to see you all again!

Not only were we at the show, but we brought several junkmarketeers and Country Home junkers with us, as well. Ethan, Chris, Caitlin, and Whaley from the JUNKMARKET, along with Alicesa, Jamie, Rachel, Chris, and Alix from Country Home all joined forces to form one unstoppable junk squad.

On Friday, when Ethan and Chris rolled in with the truck of goodies (after driving 22 hours!), everyone went straight to work setting up a fabulous tent for a fun-filled day of meeting and gabbing with all of the Country Home readers who made the trek to visit us while we were in town.

After setting up, everyone was tired and hungry, so we headed directly to the Ugly Duckling Loft for some food and drink. An appropriate name for a band of hungry junkers, don’t you think?

Saturday was game day, so we got an early start to make sure everything was ready for our visitors. We had sunshine, a breeze was in the air, and the junk was overflowing. We couldn’t have asked for a better day! We had a blast sharing our tips and tricks with all of the kindred junk spirits that stopped by to chat.

OK, I know we were there to work, but all work and no play makes for a grumpy junker. So we did escape a couple of times during the day to scarf up some sweet finds. Our favorite finds of the day came straight from the chicken hatchery. I think one, or both, of us must have been a hen in a former life, because we go cookoo for chicken stuff.

At the end of the day the whole gang was happy, exhausted, and—of course—starving again. This crew sure knew how to eat. We wined and dined lakeside at the Oxhead Tavern. It sure felt fine to relax and reflect.

Then it was off to bed for all, but not before applying a coat of Eucerin Daily Replenishing Lotion to our worn-out hands. Thanks to Eucerin for sponsoring the journey and keeping our hands baby soft!

What’s next on our agenda? So much it will make your head spin. We’ll be speaking at home shows, back on the road with the Junking Journey (this time in Canton, Texas), hosting the Junk Bonanza on September 7 and 8, and of course, scouring the planet for junk. Check out our Web site, for all of the nitty-gritty details.

Until next time, see you on the junk pile or online at www.americanjunkclub.com.

Take care,
Sue and Ki