Wednesday, February 26, 2014

CHERYL BUTTS IN: What We Collect

Please welcome Cheryl to my blog as she takes over for me during the final stages of my renovation craziness!   This is Cheryl..
I put the moon on her picture because that is always what appears when she makes a comment on my blog.  Take it away Cheryl....



Cheryl in Wisconsin here.  I am an expert blog lurker, gleaning inspiration and ideas from all of bloglandia, while I live the high life in leisure, occasionally leaving snarky comments.   I figured perhaps it was time for me to put forth some effort… and since I am too uncoordinated to start my own blog, Danni at Silo Hill Farm has agreed to let me blather on, here on hers.  Isn’t she special?  You don’t need me to tell you that.

Occasionally I feel the need to define my decorating style.   Why do I do that?   It is almost impossible for me to do so.    I believe, at the end of the day, most people’s home’s décor is dictated by what they like, what they buy when they’re shopping, what makes them happy.  Rarely can it all be pigeonholed into a particular ‘style’.

I will do three posts, each one about the three most prominent types of stuff I drag home.

Post # 1   HEAVY METAL

Friends avoid going to flea markets and garage sales with me due to my tendency to get attached to the heaviest piece of metal in the place.  

This is my living room wall, behind my couch.  It took me all day to arrange this, it had to be in such a way that the screws holding it all up went into studs.  Perhaps that is my excuse why some of this looks crooked.  Fascinating how much more a person can scrutinize in a photo vs. in person.  (I’m learning, bloggers!)  You do NOT want to piddle around with 112 year old plaster.


If you look past the dust and computer cables in this next photo, you can see the GINORMOUS iron gate that stands behind my computer desk in the dining room alcove.  This puppy is 7 feet tall and weighs one ton (I’m estimating).  I bought it on eBay and drove to Minnesota to pick it up.  The guy I was dating at the time had impressive muscle strength and a very convenient pickup truck. 


There is also a Hand of Fatima door knocker, also purchased from eBay when I was on a France kick.  It was too heavy to actually put on my door so I made it into a paper holder apparatus for my desk.
 




Miscellaneous metal stuff -  silver, ormolu, keys, your typical metal birds.  Please note the succulent planting in the background.  That was inspired by Miss Danni.

This is the top of my entertainment center .  There is a shelving piece on top one of my friends had made out of an old window.  It houses part of my silver collection.  I started collecting silver a number of years back before the melt value skyrocketed.  Nowadays I have to compete for it at garage sales with old men that see it for it’s salvage value.   Let me ask you this:  What could they possibly make out of the melted silver that would be as fabulous as what it is now?  I will continue my quest, and when I kick the bucket I’ll ask the team clearing my home to NOT allow this beautiful artwork to be melted.  I prefer the tarnished look of these pieces, which makes owning them much easier than if I were to use it all Downton Abbey-esque .



This unit is on my front porch.  It will be obvious to anyone on a similar latitude as Wisconsin that this photo was not taken this week.  I was at an adorable little shop in northern Wisconsin one day when I decided that this had to come home with me.  It didn’t fit in the trunk of the Oldsmobile well, but that did not stop me.

If you have an old iron stove on one side of your porch it must be balanced by another iron stove on the other side, doesn’t it?  This was given to me by a dear friend.

This was on Craigslist for $100.  It is an actual iron balcony removed from an old apartment house.  I had to have it.  Why?,I was asked.  I had no idea.  Fortunately for me, I was still dating the muscle man with the pickup at the time.  I have no idea how much it weighs, but I can tell you that I’m fairly strong and I cannot move this thing.  I have it up against my house in the back and covered it with an old door.  That is roofing rubber covering the top, with a terrible attachment job.  In my defense, it was around 100-degrees the day I decided to staple it to that door.  Do you know how hot black rubber gets in 100-degree weather?  I will reapproach that project some day when it’s nice out and I don’t have anything else to do.  It makes a wonderful potting bench.

My house does not have an actual fireplace.  This is what I put together to fake one.  It started with this gorgeous fireplace surround, taken out of an old mansion out east.  (Don’t you just mourn for the old homes that architectural salvage is obtained from?)  I build the rest of it out of bedposts and a piece of shelf.  The ‘background’ is just textured wallpaper that I painted grey then slopped stain on.

A closer view of the best part:


That is it for this post.  I hope I provided an iota of entertainment, like you all do for me.

Thanks, Danni!
 

 



58 comments:

  1. Yay Cheryl!!! It's so nice to see you out here posting! And I always figured you for a heavy metal girl. =D I'm having major porch-stove envy, by the way. What a great first post, and I'm looking forward to your upcoming posts!

    xoxo
    -andi

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    1. Thank you, Andi. About this time of year I wish those stoves actually provided some heat!

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  2. Hi Cheryl! So nice to meet you! You sound like an old pro describing your collections. Iron gates, doors and grille works are so "in" right now I wouldn't be surprised if you aren't tapped for another feature! You're doing a fabulous job . . . . see you next time!

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  3. She has a face. She has a house. She collects heavy metal. She's real!

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    1. And there's a real risk of me showing up in Minnesota...

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  4. 'Love, love, LOVE!! Wow, Cheryl what a great post! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

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  5. Cheryl are you kidding me? You need to start a blog - this is fantastic
    I'm in love with your fire grate - and that iron railing as a potting bench is just fabulous - I have to have one of those!
    If strongman is an ex - how are you going to get more of this fabulous metal???
    Loved your post - need more!
    xox

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    1. Now taking applications for new strongman. Qualifications needed: muscles, pickup truck, patience of a saint.

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  6. I also love me some heavy metal, just don't ask the husband about what I think the words are in AC/DC's Dirty Deeds. Okay, I'll just tell you, I had no idea what cryptic slang they were singing. Finally I asked the husband, what the heck is dunderchee? hehe Done Dirt Cheap. ohhhhh makes so much more sense. I will never live that one down.

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    1. Heather, you just made me laugh out loud about dunderchee. That will be the only way I'll be able to sing that song from now on.

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    2. Oh Heather...I keep learning more and more.... =D

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  7. I demand a blog! Love everything you've done with those beautiful metal pieces. I'm gonna have to start some weight training for future thrift store shopping now that I've seen the possibilities.

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    1. Weight training is a good idea. I went to move that enormous gate behind the computer desk 2 weeks ago to wash the curtains and it tipped forward towards me. All I could think is "This is how I'm going to die." But I escaped with little more than a coronary incident.

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  8. Wow. I volunteering to go to flea markets with you and I'll even help you lug around any heavy metal you need lugged around. You have some beautiful, interesting pieces with lots of character and charm.

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  9. yay! Great to meet you, Cheryl. Love all your bold vignettes, and that potting table (even though you're still working on it) is such a brilliant idea for reusing that piece. Look forward to more of your collections!

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    1. It is a potting table that will not be disturbed in a wind storm. In fact... in case of tornado, hide under potting table.

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  10. Wow, you've salvaged some fantastic pieces, I especially love the wall display and the gate behind your desk, ooh and the stoves, and the potting bench (so all of it really). I pick up little bits of old metal from the beach (I just love the patina on old metal) but I think I need go bigger. Thanks for sharing !

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    1. I would be fascinated by bits of old metal on a beach. Just to imagine where it originated from!

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  11. Oh my gosh!! What a fabulous heavy metal collection. I have serious potting bench envy... and fake fireplace envy too. I love metal anything and the more tarnished, rusted, and aged the better. Great post!

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  12. My mother would take all the metal I have and have it sandblasted and painted to look new. I respect that some people prefer that look. But like you I love the tarnish & rusted look. It's as if the piece is telling its own story.

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  13. I absolutely love your style, Cheryl ! Why, why don't you have a blog, lady?? I can see more than a month's posts already :-) It's not easy with all your beautiful stuff ... but .... my favorite piece is definitely the old iron stove!

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    1. Thanks, Linda! Danni has been diligently coaxing me to start a blog, but I can't even get my replies here into the right boxes on some of these. If I was in charge of an actual blog I may blow something up!

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  14. Cheryl, you mysterious girl! I've seen your avatar a plenty, commenting away in blogland. Your style is metalbulous!! I love all the different textures found in metal, and I agree the more tarnished, the better. Though I LOVE every one of your pieces, the makeshift potting bench done or not, is brilliant. Hope to see it when you call it complete, and look forward to your next post here on the farm.

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    1. Thanks, Amy. I promise to follow up with a complete potting bench. I am dreaming of the day I get to actually use it for spring flowers, but alas, that possibility is currently eluding the entire state of Wisconsin, and surrounding territories.

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  15. I LOVE your Heavy Metal, I don't have a fire place I think I want a fake one like yours, gorgeous but what I am crushing on most are the iron stoves outside gorgeous!!!

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    1. Thanks, Mel! What would really make my day is if you would sing a song about them!

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  16. Hi Cheryl, It's nice to "meet" you! You have some fantastic metal and I especially love the iron balcony.

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  17. That balcony makes the most interesting potting table I've ever seen! You did a great job of entertaining us with your 'heavy' collection.

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  18. Nice to meet you Cheryl! I like the way you have decoreated your home, it is so unique! And you also got me thinking about haeavy metal :)
    But, to be honest, you had me the first time I read your name - Cheryl from Wisconsin; I liveed in Owen-Withee some 20yrs ago as a exchange student in USA, I have the most wonderful memories!
    Hope spring will come to you soon :)

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    1. I have two aunts that live year-round in a cabin in Clark County - near Owen-Withee. It is beautiful.

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  19. You are fantastic Cheryl. I love old wood stoves and have been trying to convince hubby that we need to build a deck for the one I have in my Dads shed! Love your faux fireplace too!! I am looking forward to your blog.........and thanks Heather for clarifying what AC-DCs lyrics are- dunderchee, that sounds right. I always thought it was done dirt cheep but now I know! Cheers!

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    1. I sang "Dirty Deeds Dunderchee" all night last night. I am not lying.

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  20. All I have to do is stand outside looking at my porch, tapping my finger on my lips in thought, and every single person I know disappears out of sight for days. Like your brothers, they have all been victims of stove-moving.

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  21. I love your collection of metals! You are very talented. You'd be a great blogger.

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  22. As I suspected, you are a perfect fit! You have some really interesting pieces, Cheryl. You need some serious muscle to accompany you. You know, Danni has a tractor. She might loan it to you after she moves from her farm. Big scoop fun!
    And I understand the dunderchee. My little brother could mangle a song with the best of them.
    So glad to have you around!

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    1. Thanks, Tina - for the sentiment and the idea! A 400-mile tractor road trip was not on my bucket list, but now it totally is! (It could always be hauled on a truck & trailer, but that method is for wussies.) Danni, I'm coming to borrow you and your tractor. Who's in? We could film the trek and make it a show for the TLC channel.

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  23. do you make your friends carry the metal pieces you find? lol

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    1. Not intentionally. Typically, I attempt to pick it up on my own, look pathetic, and they resign themselves to helping me. Just kidding. They are all very supportive.

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  24. Wow, I love all your heavy metal!! And that silver...well I love it too, have a bunch and would hate to see it melted down. I'll have to put that in my last will too...not to be melted!
    Start a blog, Cheryl!! You're prettier than the moon and need a profile...
    Debbie :)

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  25. Oh man, those stoves!! Very cool as planters!

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    1. Thanks, Amy! I am counting the days until they can be planters this year.

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  26. Hi Cheryl, so nice to meet you. I hope these comments are proof enough you need your own blog...of course, with Danni renovating right now, she needs you more!
    My fave piece is the old stove your friend gave you. Love it, and love your plants on it. Second favorite is the architectural pieces behind the couch, very cool.
    I lusted after an old iron gate at a plant store and never bought it...you have proven what I always suspected, I just should have bought it and figured out what to do with it later!!
    Thanks so much Cheryl, can't wait to see more:) Di

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    1. I would estimate that 80% of what I buy I do not yet know how I'm going to use it at that point. So next time you lust over an old gate, etc., buy it! You'll have fun working it into your decor.

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  27. Cheryl, you did an awesome job blogging and would love to follow you on your own blog. Love the title. I do anoint you as a fellow rust goddess with your beautiful heavy metal collection - especially the Juliette balcony! I collect decorative stove parts and in envy over owning not one, but two "whole" stoves though I do not have a clue where I would put them. But that is never a problem, is it, when you collect things. Very nice to finally meet you.

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  28. Welcome Cheryl! I LOVE these looks! We have similar taste but you do it too much better! I want you to come do my wall just like yours!!!

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  30. Love your trash to treasure projects. Your heavy metal wall is awesome as well as the old stoves on your porch.

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  31. It's nice to meet you Lurker Butts. I too am a heavy metal lover. I don't have any old metal stoves though! Thanks for giving our Danni a break.

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