a junkin' junkie or treasure hunter?

I could be called a "junkin' junkie" or just simply, a "treasure hunter". The barnies might call me an "upcycle artist" making 'wearable art".
I am the ultimate recycler.
Whatever.
I enjoy combing thrift shops and junk shops for treasures. Sometimes I'll find bits of jewelry on the beach and incorporate it in my artwork. The bargains and 'steals" are fun but it's all about finding "unique" one-of-a-kind stuff. Vintage stuff. Weird stuff. Religious artifacts. Funky shoes. Parrot and pigeon things. Vintage clothing. Furniture.And of course, troll dolls.
I enjoy rehabbing and restoring my finds either changing them or bringing them back to life. It's all about the art.
My latest dumpster dive was a leather and fur coat.
 It was completely disgusting.
I think at one time it was ivory. (I should have taken a 'before" photo) The sleeves were torn off, the lining was completely torn and soiled. It was pretty much unredeemable but I thought to myself "aha! a project!"
 It just seemed like such a shame and a waste to throw out something with fur and leather.
 I had to 'rescue" it.
For the record, as everyone knows I am an animal lover so I would never 'buy' a fur coat.It just seemed to me to be more of a sin to let this go to waste. I am guessing from the style it was from the 1970's.
 At first, I gently pieced it together. It was extremely fragile and I didn't know if it was going to be worth the effort but I gave it a go.
It was also completely filthy and it stunk awful.
 I washed it with oxi-clean which did nothing and then I pulled out the "big guns" figuring at this point I had nothing to lose. I dosed/scrubbed it with heavy duty industrial pet cleaner and the outside water hose. And yes indeed it was an ivory coat but still badly stained.
I washed the fur with blue hair dye. It cleaned the fur nicely ridding it of vermin (I told you the coat was gross). The next step was dying the leather-which I used a tan leather dye. I then used lavender oil/wax to preserve the leather.
I combed out the fur and retouched injured/torn areas around the seams.
And there you have it (see above)
I took it for a "test drive" and wore it shopping. At least three women stopped me and asked "where did (I) get such a beautiful coat".

dive #970 Oct 11 2015

dive #970 Oct 11 2015
Well this may be the last dive of the season. It was cold in the morning (my thermometer read 43F at 6:00AM) But it was sunny and it warmed up into the 60s late afternoon.
We had Fred and Chris running the show, Pete, Andy, John from froggies, Kate and Jackie. So we had a good group of people, but then again we always have a  good group of people!
We headed off to Folly cove. There were 2 other dive boats anchored in the cove as well. Everyone out for their last hurrah.
I had (tried) to patch up the tear on my left wrist seal on my dry suit with something called "goop" which is used to repair rubber soles. The water temp at the surface was 59F but just a few feet below it dropped to 55F. Viz was about 10 feet with a current coming out of the north.
As soon as I started to descend I could feel a pin point bit of wetness around my wrist and then it started to spread quickly. I figured I'd continue on the dive until I froze or it hit my crotch. The viz wasn't that good but as I was groping around the sand I saw that the sand was covered with sand dollars! I made it over to the rocks and by this time I was soaked inside the suit. It was a short dive but at least I did it. I wasn't going to give up my dive without a struggle.
Well I guess I'll have to get the dry suit repaired properly.
It was a good dive season but waaaaaay too short!

any port in the storm

I couldn't decide if I should title this post "any port in the storm' or 'beer goggles".
Anyways, "Teddy" (the dove) is a typical randy male always looking for  some "action" .
And since there are no doves around, he decided to make his moves on Craow Dum in her hide away hut.
Let's face it, Craow Dum isn't the prettiest pigeon.
 She's over weight, missing her beak, her eyes bulge and always has a snotty booger nose. Not exactly a beauty queen in the pigeon world.
Teddy used to attack and pick on her but I guess he figured 'hey..what the heck....she's single ...I'm single...plus she has a nice apartment..."
I think I was more surprised that Craow Dum allowed Teddy to come into her cozy hut. She would peck him and bust-a-move but something changed. I think Teddy is a bit of a smooth operator with his good looks and charms. He would preen and groom her gently.
 I guess she didn't care if he seeing her through 'beer goggles" so long as he was romantic and nice to her. "Hey why not? She thought, "He's  kind of the 'George Clooney" of the dove world."
This wasn't just a one night stand either. I've seen this canoodling business happen many times. Although I haven't seen anything go on other than cuddling and grooming each other.
Regardless, it's kind of funny and cute that they are together.

Trixie part 5

All is going well with Trixie. She mostly flies around perching on the upper shelf on the cabinet to check out all the activity going on. She gets along well with not only Craow Dum but with the entire flock. She follows Craow Dum around and will hang out in the bird room resting on the table with the cockatiels.
When we were sitting in the living room watching a movie with the tiels she flew in to investigate. She knows the "routine" and is fine with it.
She will eat when all the other birds eat and will wait for me to put her in her cage when the birds get covered up for the night.
She fits in perfectly.
She's a cute little thing!
*As you can see in the above photo she is walking A-OK with her splints.

Trixie part 4

Trixie went to my regular vet  for a "look-see". Everything seemed A-OK. The vet was impressed with how Trixie's legs looked with my "foam rollers-paper tape and pipe cleaner" splint to pull her legs together. She has started to learn to walk forward too. She is cute with her splints like a 'tiny Tim" hobbling across the room. I take her splints off every three days to wash, massage and apply Vitamin E to her legs. She will have another vet visit for x-rays to see if anything can be done surgically but it's doubtful. She seems to be managing and adapting with her splints. I give her calcium drops everyday and try to get her outside for the sunshine. Though days will be far and few between as the fall approaches.
 She is upstairs now with the rest of the birds. She has found her fav spots to roost like on top of the cabinet. She seems to like to hang around with Craow Dum and the other birds in the bird room too.
 I was a little worried recently with the sounds she was making. Instead of her usual baby cries when I held her she was making croaking noises. The vet didn't notice anything with her lungs when I brought her in. If it was something respiratory she would not be able to fly. She is, in fact, is an excellent flier. It turns out her voice was in the process of changing not unlike a teenage boy. She no longer makes 'baby squeaks" but a grumbling pigeon coo.
She found her way to the sink and took a bath for the first time. When Craow Dum saw this she joined in as well.
So far, she is doing great.
Our house is absolutely filled to capacity with birds now.
 I almost refused to take Trixie in but I'm glad I did. She is sweet, she is thriving and gets along with everyone.
 I can't save everyone but I was glad I saved this one.