There was a project I had in mind to make, but was hoping for an extra component. And my criteria was it had to be metal and rusty. No surprise there.
I stopped at two local auto wreckers, and the chit chat pretty much went like this…
“So what are ya lookin’ for?”
“…….. rusty junk.”
Quiet stare…
“I make home decor out of salvaged finds. But I like rusty metal stuff.”
Well, it appears auto wreckers don’t allow visitors in their back 40 as they catalogue all they have. But they BOTH recommended Greg’s. Greg’s?! Where’s that?
My instructions were to drive up towards Cultus Lake and watch for an old fence along the left side of the road. There isn’t a main sign so look for the fence. You’ll see it.
Extreme salvaged junkin’ for rust at Greg’s was an experience. When he took me for the tour, I was saying, “OH my GOSH…” the whole time.
This tour isn’t for those that like to go into a retail store and buy off the shelf. THIS place is for the creative types that like to dig for big or small treasures in order to build something.
Ready to shop extreme? Come on in!
The stuff never ended. Even the trucks were full.
There were carts everywhere you looked. I took this picture for the design.
If you’re looking for RV parts, you’ll find them here. And tires. With wheels and without.
If you didn’t walk through it all, you may miss something amazing. Cool stuff showed up in the least expected places.
I liked this… blue thing. Greg told me what it was but I forgot. I think I was too busy getting whiplash trying to take it all in. I think it’s a junk styled plastic bag sorter thing myself. Funky stereo speaker? Or how about a vertical wall planter? What would you use it for? I loved the blue!
I liked these too! Junk styled letter A’s complete with chains.
Look at all that wood!
And then I found my dream part! It was even better than I thought I’d find. For a whoppin’ $10. Greg is very reasonable! Any guesses what I’m making?
See, THIS is the way I love to go shopping.
My shopping buggy truck filled up with some mighty fine delicious rusty metal! Just what the junker ordered.
But I admit I was laughing to myself as I loaded this stuff up. I guess hoard guilt was talking and spurted out loud,
“I’m glad I don’t have to explain this to a husband!”
Because quite honestly, I don’t really know how to explain it to myself!
Greg, thank-you! I had a blast! And my Dodge Dakota shopping buggy and I will be back!
you are just too much! i kinda liked that blue thing too!
You are amazing! What I couldn’t do with all that old wood. And I love the blue thing. I have suddenly learned how to look a what others call “junk” in a new perspective.
Can’t wait to see what you do with it all!
Take care.
I’m with Emily…can not wait to see what you do with the blue thing. I loved the color of it too. My husband just shakes his head as I drag in my finds…bless his heart.
Wow! That is all I can say… oh, and I really need a pick up truck too! And the part about explaining it to your husband… you ain’t kidding sista!
Susan
I cannot wait to see what you do with this… I know how excited you are. Speaking of husbands…in my case, it is best to leave him home when I go “junking”. Have fun! ♥
Gosh Donna what a fun trip to experience! I’d be right there with you, more than likely we would have a smack down grabbing the same things. They would have to send us to our respected corners to behave. LOL
I think we all have a Greg around us if you seek them out.
Check out a back road, low and behold you may find one.
We have a guy that we call Jake the Junk guy.
I love him. Every time I go though, he looks perplexed at the things I pick up. He never asks what I am buying them for, he just has that, “what the heck does a gal want with that C***look”? I just smile sweetly and tell him his items are going to a good home. You know he does not give a rats butt, but (No pun intended), How I would love to share with him what I am going to do with his goodies. But I was taught years ago that “Women write books and men write sentences.” So I always feel that if I over gush and tell him a long story about what I am going to do with the items he will go comatose on me. So I just smile and drive away thinking to myself about all the things I will do with my goodies!
I believe that rust is the new design..much nicer than…no you cannot put your feet up on my coffee table..no you cannot sit on that couch.
I want my home to feel like a home and those who visit to feel that.
So more junk more happy me!
Love ALL your finds Donna can’t wait to see how you incorporate them into your awesome home!! You keep on junkin on girl!
So glad you had a great time in “junk heaven”….I am so curious to see what you will be doing with your stash…especially that rusty pole stand…and as I was reading…I was looking for the “junk yard dog”….
You made me LOL with your “I’m glad I don’t have to explain this to a husband!” comment. Too, funny.
I can’t wait to see what you do with your finds. I must honestly say, I looked at the bed of your truck and wrinkled my nose and shook my head. I wish I could ‘see’ what you ‘see.’
Keep us posted!!
We KNOW you will create some mighty fun stuff with that haul!! Can’t wait to see what you come up with next!
Cant Wait to see what you create. The blue thing would look great with succulents in it.
What I liked most, were the Fall leaves on the ground! But I admire you greatly and look forward to seeing what you create out of these umm, treasures. I think I see a plant stand in the works.
Whoohoo! Fun place to dig….and you got some fun stuff, can’t wait to see what you do with it!
This is great! I love it!!!!!!
I was thinking exactly what you wrote at each picture… I also love the wooden frames on the right in the picture just above the rusty blue multi functional thing. And don’t have a husband to explain things to either, but my kids are starting to complain about my back garden … but how can you just drive by without stopping when you see certain things thrown away like junk on the roadside (I live in Italy) . Last time I picked up 4 real nice picture frames and a small slatted folding table
I love your daily updates!
I have to laugh at the truck load of stuff and think about when I came home from a friend’s house with a bed load of goodies from her old shed. The look on my husband’s face while he was helping me unload was priceless.
can you say SCORE!!! wow, what a “find” you found. (is that a sentence??)
waiting on rust and more rust to see what you come up with!
Donna,
I am so excited to see what you’re going to do with your finds! I was thinking that might be a fun outing for the kids and I!
You are awesome! Thank you so much for sharing you’re creativity!
Many blessings to you and your family!
Arla
Seventh Heaven for you! What fun. Looking forward to what you do with it.
LOL! You have Greg and I have Mike! Oh the men in our life, how good they are to us (giggle). I too don’t have to explain to a mister, but that’s only because he’s usually knee deep in the junk right beside me, which by the way is very dangerous. Very little accountability. And hoarder guilt? ah..yep! Last haul all I could do was say, why? and where am I going to put this? This must be an addiction; how else can you explain the draw and the uncontrollable urge to walk through, sometimes dangerous, junk filled properties? But I guess if this is the worst addiction I ever have, then I am totally blessed.
I am so on board for all of this stuff that you picked up. Not sure what you are going to make with it all but I know what I would make with that lovely old rusty jack, a table of course!, or maybe a mailbox or a birdhouse? I don’t know if you also picked up the “Junk Styled Letter A’s” or not (didn’t see them in with the other booty), but I sure hope you did. They would also make great table legs with a bit of finessing. I just acquired my very own “shopping cart” for my treasure hunts! The sky’s the limit now, or more accurately the truck bed is the limit now! Yah sooo excited!
Nice! What a great place! I WANT those things that look like Letter A – although they don’t look like A’s to me – they look like…parts…of something – that I could BUILD! Once again, I say, its too bad you are 3,500 miles away, friend!!
-b.
I love watching all things you come up with. I admire your mind. I am beginning to think I may have a junky bug, I love to take somethings and make them treasures. People like you give me that added push.
I am moving to a new area and have to start looking for junk shop and savage yards!!
I saw that first entrance photo on instagram Donna… quite scary. I’m surprised you never showed us a picture of the dog. 🙂
Now as to the blue junk…so cool, definitely a cool planter. The “A”… would make an awesome gate for my garden or whatever.
Personally, …I’m thinking of installing a boot scraper near the front porch. I’m fairly certain you passed one up!
Pat
Donna, you are one brave woman! 😀
I liked that blue thing, too. Can’t wait to see what you’re doing with your treasures!
Donna that place was awesome! Thank you for sharing. The photos were beautiful. I bet the guy was shocked you thought his “junk” was undiscovered treasures. Maybe he thought to himself, “someone ELSE appreciates my stuff?” And a woman at that hahaha I bet you made his day, as he made yours. I can’t wait to see what awesome stuff you create 🙂
Oh wow. I’m heading out to update my tetanus shot and then I’ll be right over 🙂
Laura
Did you ever watch Picker Sisters (TV show)? They have been rerunning it lately on the Biography cable channel. They hunt out junk yards & buy stuff to make over. YOU could have your own show as talented as you ARE!!
Cant wait to see what you do with it all.
You’re my inspiration! Can’t wait to see your project, I’m guess it’s a lamp! 🙂
I didn’t see the dog anywhere LOL
This is what I’m talkin about! Now that’s my kind of junkin,I get to do that at my local auto mechanic. FREE.