{Darren + Fancy + Ed ~ Junk Mafia at Marburger Farm Antique Show in Texas}

Last fall when we were doing our bi-annual Junk Radio Show during Round Top Antique Week Darren and Fancy had the opportunity to audition for a Reality TV Game Show.  After many months of not being sure it would happen, and many more months of having to stay hush hush, we are finally able to say that we did get the great opportunity to be on the show which is called PICKED OFF and the series will start airing this Wednesday, July 11, 2012 on the History Channel!!!!!!!!

{that’s US, on TV!!}

Many, many more details to come but here’s the jist & answers to the questions people have asked so far:

1. The show is called PICKED OFF and is from the producers of the hit series AMERICAN PICKERS.
2. PICKED OFF premieres July 11 at 9 p.m. CST on HISTORY Channel.
3. Darren and Fancy were a team of contestants among three other teams.
4. We were on ONE episode, NOT the whole series.
5. The series will premiere July 11, 2012. We will be on the 5th episode, August 8th, 2012.
6. We might have won. We might not have.

The whole experience was so much fun & we are super excited to promote the show.  We know y’all will love it, PICKED OFF showcases the popular world of picking, giving viewers handy tips and techniques on searching for rare finds.  MORE SOON!!!

Official PRESS RELEASE below……..

Amateur pickers compete for a $10,000 prize in a new competition series judged by renowned antique experts Todd and Ethan Merrill and hosted by Keith Neubert

New York, NY – Thanks to HISTORY’s hit series American Pickers, people are discovering that hunting for collectibles is an exciting pastime – and one that can potentially bring in the big bucks. Now, HISTORY and the producers of American Pickers are giving amateur antiquers a chance to pick their way toward a giant cash prize in PICKED OFF, a new six-part competition series premiering Wednesday, July 11 at 10pm ET on HISTORY,

In PICKED OFF, weekend pickers go head-to-head in a series of elimination challenges to find items they think will fetch top market value. Four teams begin with $100 each to spend on one item…and the clock is ticking. Teams dig through barns and meet interesting characters all in pursuit of the perfect pick.

It takes more than knowledge and a good eye to win this competition. Teams will need to be just as strategic as the pro pickers – and just as tough at hardcore negotiating – if they’re going to out-wheel and out-deal their opponents.

The pressure is on as they hunt for treasure and race back to the Dealers’ Room, where judges Todd and Ethan Merrill put a retail value on each item. The team whose item brings in the lowest appraisal gets “Picked off” and goes home. The remaining teams Go On to the next challenge – this time with their “profit” from the first challenge. In the third and final challenge, the two remaining teams compete for a winner-take-all $10,000 grand prize.

Every episode of PICKED OFF takes place in a different locale, and the challenges reflect the culture and history of each. The Merrill brothers are third generation dealers and highly respected in the antiques world. They offer fascinating facts about the items and their value along with useful information about the teams’ picking strategies. The host is former NFL player / actor Keith Neubert.

Our awesome sponsor, My Sister’s Closet {Weston MO – BEST consignment clothes East or West of the river!!!} is gonna’ help a girl out with TWENTY PERCENT OFF anyone needing a new/old dress, shoes or jewelry for Junker’s Ball!!!!  Here is a tiny sampling of her great selection.

So head up to Weston for a fun day of shopping at My Sister’s Closet & BUY YOUR TIX for the ball TODAY right HERE!!!!!!   we’ll see you there….

We had sooooooooo much fun at the Country Living Fair in Austin this past weekend! You know we love Texas here at BBD, and this was noooooo exception! The people with Country Living treated us so well, we can’t wait to come back to the next show! Speaking of which….we will be at the CL show in Ohio in the Fall!!

Here’s Bobby on friday making all the last minute adjustments! We had an amazing 10×40 booth. We put the jewelry on two tables at the front of the booth and it made a great centerpiece for the booth.

This is how the booth looked at many times throughout the day. Lots and lots and lots of CL customers, and you all came to buy! Thank you so much for stopping by our booth!

We felt so fortunate to get to meet Sarah Grey Miller, the Editor of Country Living Magazine. She took it over a few years ago, and has done some amazing things with the magazine. Super sweet and talked with us a awhile.

new rhinestone bracelets Tricia made

our new anchor necklaces $45

our frames made from 100 year old ceiling tile tin…..

We want to thank everyone again at Country Living and all the new friends we made this past weekend! See you all again soon!

Bobby and the Village

Sometimes you just get the urge to go looking for junk. I get this urge usually about 4-7 minutes after I wake up each morning and my daily routines get in the way of me jumping in my dodge pickup and doing just that.  The children need to go to school and there’s, well, life to live.  But I had Saturday marked on the calendar for sometime as “JUNK DAY.”

I love these days.  I give into the urge, I put my hair high on my head, I get the wad of cash from my normal bag and put it in my “junkin’ bag” (only large enough for cash and chapstick) and set off until sundown or brokedown.

This particular Saturday, I wanted to hit the Raleigh Flea Market. I had been hearing and reading things about it for a while. We’d only been back from Warrenton, TX (Texas Antiques Week) for a few weeks and I was missing the dust and clutter so off we went. My boys accompanied me; I gave them each $10 and their own bag. “How much is your budget Mama?” asked the 7 year old.  “more than $10, Wyatt.”

It was a beautiful day as we pulled into the parking lot. We were greeted with neat booths, well laid out aisles and a ton of socks, underwear, and vinyl handbags. Oh, dear… this may be a short stroll.  But, as with anything worth while, if you keep at it, there’s payoff.

There were as many vintage Star Wars figures as you could ever wish for (went home with 6).  And, yes, your eye’s are not failing you, Beanie Babies were $1.00 each! (still overpriced in my opinion).  I was once forced to chase down the “Peace Bear” in New York City with a friend of my mother’s for over 3 hours.  Popping into every shop asking, “You got any Peace Bears?”  It was miserable, I’m still a little sore over the whole thing. Anyhoo, back to Raleigh!

The next booth we happened upon, of note, was this great old record booth!  This man had his van rockin’ out and was highly organized as y’all can see.

I pulled these beauties out of the Country & Western Box - I often find myself not quite being able to decide on a title either.  It was refreshing to see that I’m not alone in that struggle.  (Thanks, Merle.)

I was truly impressed by some of the vintage jewelry there.  This booth’s collection was expansive but very focused. You could really understand the collector’s passion. One of my favorite pieces was this bird bracelet.  I am drawn to all things feather/bird. I think because they represent freedom to me. I regret that I left it behind.

Another booth had amazing Native American hand-beaded jewelry amongst her other turquoise and western themed offerings.  I’ve never seen the likes of it. The owner of that booth wouldn’t let me take a photograph so you’ll have to make the trip to see it, if you don’t believe me.  The story was her aunt and mother made it all and she slowly brings it out to the show a few pieces at a time. The necklace that was my favorite was mostly yellow and black with larger, tumbled turquoise bits.  There was a section that was woven and beaded (without a loom, I was told) with bright yellow, dull yellow, orange black and white; beautiful… just beautiful!

Nostalgia was strong at the east end of the Market.  There were these beautiful old spice tins (look closely at the black one in the middle), old metal truck toys, glassware, furniture, frames and signs.  There seemed to be a good mix to of items that were fixed up and ready to place in your home vs. truly good junk, must have the eye to see it’s potential, kinda stuff.

Like these “vintage trash cans,” I found the sign to be funny for some reason. This character, who calls himself the “Chair-Man” (spoken like “chairman”), sold me 4 of these beauties.  I have always wanted to learn to work a plasma cutter. Now, I have a canvas!

Being from West Virginia, I just can’t pass up a gorgeous old miner’s lamp.

At the far end of the flea market there are some permanent shops housed in a long building. Some are what you’d expect, military surplus, furniture and décor, country art, etc.  My favorite was the one selling Carolina wood, as you can see, in quite a rustic form.  They had finished pieces too, but this raw wood made me want to build something!  Boys, where’s my hammer and saw?!

As I happened by these old life rings later, I knew just what I should build. Stay tuned for the Suburban Outlaws rowboat, complete with lifesaving rings!

Inspired and tired, we wandered back towards the truck just as it started to rain.  The boys were happy with their first adventure hunting junk. I was dirty from the vintage trash cans, so happy to have shaken hands and heard stories and shared the day with my beloved junk.

Check out the SUBURBAN OUTLAWS HERE!!

If you are interested in submitting a blog post please email fancy at fancytsmith@gmail.com.