Chalkboard Barn Door at Bad Monkey House

A few weeks back, I spotted this great old chalkboard scoreboard at one of my favorite vintage shops, The Furniture Girl. 

The store is only a couple blocks from the house and right next to Mike's Drive-In. Mike's is a great little local chain with an occasional corndog happy hour. Really. 

We were out for a walk, with Mike's corndogs on our mind, but stopping at Jill's, the one and only Furniture Girl is also a priority, because I've found such wonderful things there. 

The chalkboard came out of a bar in Montana and now has found a new home and use.  

The open space is about the same width as two doors -which we first thought about using- but after getting the chalkboard there was no question what to use. (I have two vintage doors with windows in them to play with now, too.)

First, I looked up barndoor hardware and saw the $$$ prices. 

Ack! Really? 

So, Mr. BMH figured out a way to make his own with a couple trips to local home supply stores. He also painted two fence boards black and screwed them onto each side of the chalkboard to help with stability and get the width right. 

The rolly thing is a pulley that was taken apart. It rests on a metal 'L' shaped steel stock. The black metal piece is a fence bracket. 

This is garage door hardware from

Home Depot. We put the same handle on the other side. All the hardware was only about $50-$60. Much, much less than the $300 and up prices I found for sliding barn doors on line. 

It works and looks so cool! I'm super happy how it turned out.  

What do you think?

The wall isn't really that weird color, that's what happens with artificial light, sometimes. This is in our basement, which is currently set up as a two bedroom apartment. Behind the new door is acess to another open space (that I desperately need to empty out), the laundry and the bathroom. 

We are thinking of using this space for Airbnb in the near future and this is one more step getting us ready to give that a try. They have set up offices in nearby Portland and it's been going well. 

Have you ever used Airbnb? 

Would you again? 

xoxo

gretchen 

New Jewelry by Gretchen Nation

Freshwater Pearl with tiny antique steel cut French beads that were used to repair beaded bags and some wire wrapped silver iris glass beads. 

Nice 'chunk of real Turquoise with a chain tassel. 

Vintage Yellowstone Fob with African sand cast tribal beads that are from the 1800's, plus bone and shell beads. 

Some fun neck chains with Indian Head nickels, wings and stones. 

Silver plate heart and small real turquoise stone on a silver plated necklace. 

Vintage advertising knife with tribal beads on a chain long enough to slip over your head. 

Amazing detail on this hand carved Ox bone skull. It's with vintage black crystal rosary beads with silver connectors and a Victorian steel cut button. It's long enough to over your head. 

xoxo

gretchen 

Blind Buddha Guitars in Guitar World Magazine

This really isn't about the band Slipknot, but it could be.  This is the current issue of Guitar World magazine with Slipknot on the cover. There's an article about Slash and Joe Bonamassa, too, but the real reason to pick up this issue is on one page in the back. 

This is a Blind Buddha Guitar in the current issue of Guitar World magazine. Weird it may be, it's still pretty awesome to see one of the guitars here. 

Do you think Slipknot or Slash or Joe Bonamassa were as thrilled to be in here? I bet we won that contest. ;) 

xoxo

gretchen 

Special Order Blind Buddha Guitar

Vintage EKO inlaid guitar neck

Antique Flemish Box

This beautiful vintage Blind Buddha Guitar is now in Texas with Frank, a 6'7" Vietnam Vet, retired Army, Federal Marshal (like Tommy Lee in the Fugitive, but the real deal). We hope is is enjoying it as much as we did. Thanks, Frank! 

New Antique Wardrobe

Just picked up our new antique wardrobe from The Furniture Girl a few blocks away. Funny how the name gradually changed from wardrobe to armorie. All fancy and stuff. Like when did a master bath become an ensuite? Probably for the same reason, the price. 

The BMH moving and everything else 1968 Rooster Run Chevy C110 pick up, pretty cool isn't it? Bought it on eBay, no lie. Shipped out from back east or the mid west, I don't remember.  All that great hand painting was on it. Rooster Run, Ky is an actually place. I've managed to find snap back hats, thimbles, a clock, jacket a T-shirt and more. Funny thing is that one of the T-shirts was in England. 

Moving it from The Furniture Girl's shop, a few blocks away was easier than what came next. 

Rearranging to find it's just right spot was what took time. Of course the temp was in the near 90's and this old house has a large tree for shade, instead of AC, so I was hot and tired by the time I finished all the moving and cleaning. Funny how it was like dominos falling... move one and you have to move three other things. 

xoxo

gretchen 

Published in Stampington Summer Jewelry Affaire

I thought I had shared this. I did on Facebook and Instagram, but not here. Social media and all that. 

This is number six for jewelry

publications, for me. Not that I'm counting. ;) It's a great feeling to know someone else believes what I've made is worthy of this. As in happy dance for days and days. 

This silver focal was a real treasure to find!

Dragon! I wish I knew where it originated and what it was before. 

Six and six. Six pieces, my sixth time being published. It was wonderful times six. 

xoxo

gretchen 

Quick Blueberry Cake

A quick and easy and low low low isugar dessert. 

This is a simple dessert or snack that I've adapted from the many mug cakes. I don't use a mug, I use a small Pyrex or glass bowl. 

Take one box of sugar free cake mix of any flavor or brand and one box of Angelfood cake mix and put them both into a large zip lock bag.  Now shake it up good! There. This is the base for your cake. This mix will make dessert for a long time. I've never measured out how many bowls, but it keeps well zipped up in the bag. If you camp, this is a quick treat to have ready ahead of time. 

I love blueberries. They are grown around here and in season now, so the price of them is quite reasonable. In the winter, I use frozen. 

Measurements - it is up to you. For this one I used 1/3 cup, but normally I use 1/4 cup. Just use equal amounts of your secret mix and water, plus the same of any frozen or fresh fruit or double the fruit (I do like berries). 

If I am using frozen berries, I add them last, after mixing the water into the cake mix with a fork. 

Uncooked mixed cake. When you use frozen, the berries add color to the cake. Don't limit yourself to white cake, I've used chocolate, lemon and red velvet, so far. I also occasionally add different spices- cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom...it's cake, whatever you like is good. ;) 

Pop it in the micro for one minute. If you don't add fruit, cut the time back to 45 seconds or less. Frozen berries take longer, I start with 1 minute and 15-25 seconds. You'll have to play with time. 

Here it is after one minute. It needed a little more time (I doubled the berries) but it tasted fine this way. 

Everything's better with Ice cream! This is Blue Bunny sugar free. After trying several brands, we found this one to be our favorite. So by using a sugar free cake mix and sugar free ice cream, the only processed sugar you are getting is from the Angel food cake mixed into that tiny 1/4 or 1/3 cup of mix. Of course, you don't need to use a sugar free, but it is another choice from the usual. Whipped cream is another option or adding berries afte the cake is cooked, too. 

Enjoy!

xoxo

gretchen 

Blind Buddha Guitars in NYC

One of a kind Blind Buddha Guitars that were created for the new Ralph Lauren Polo flagship store in New York, opening the last week of August. If you happen to be in New York for fashion week, drop in and check them out. We'd love to see photos, too!

xoxo

gretchen 

Florence, An Antique Banjo Neck

This is a lovely old banjo neck that appears to be covered in some type of early plastic, maybe Bakelite? This old gal will soon be making beautiful music again when she hooks up with an equally handsome vintage wood box with the help of Mr. Blind Buddha Guitars. 

On an update from the last post, I figured out what I was doing wrong and can now add phone pictures! I didn't know there was a special app just for blogging (like there isn't an app for everything else,  right?) and I'd been trying to access it from my iPhone web connection. Now to see if this will have me sharing more...?!

Instagram is where you can find way more BMH photos, but I know many people that don't do the daily IG shuffle. If you do, there is a link on the side here to see more of the goings on and other nonscience and images, including cat pictures (naturally). 

xoxo

gretchen

Testing and a Vintage Pick-up Truck

This is such a great old truck. I've been trying to get a shot of it for a while now and finally had the chance. I'm not sure if the 'rust' is real or painted on, in any case it's a beauty.

For some reason, blogger won't let me get into my phone pics. No idea why, but I haven't given up. This also won't let me tag the post.  I would love to get all this worked out, because I know I'd post more if I didn't have to drag out my computer. The quest continues....

xoxo
gretchen

Blind Buddha Guitars Special Order ~

Spring Flowers

It's daffodil season in this part of Oregon.

The flowering cherries have nearly all come and gone.

Ranunculus 

and of course roses.

 Need some flowers that will stick around longer?

How about some flower crowns or wreaths?

 For your wedding, Coachella festival look ...

 or just for dress up fun. Drop me a note if you are interested in one of these

I have more, check Instagram!