photo by Tracie VanWechel
One of my favorite items to shop for at the Junk Bonanza is a new piece of jewelry, specifically a necklace made from vintage pieces. I love the collection I have and am always looking to add a new favorite piece. So look out jewelry vendors, here I come!!
Gretchen Schaumann of Mimi-Toria’s Designs, a local {Minnesota} jewelry artist is quickly becoming a friend. She is a warm and thoughtful person, quick with a compliment or acknowledgement of gratitude. She also happens to design beautiful jewelry pieces with vintage finds that will make you swoon.
photo by Tracie VanWechel
Gretchen grew up on a farm in central Minnesota and was always around antiques and collectors as a young girl. She bought her first antique piece at a garage sale for five cents at a garage sale when she was 8 years old and still has a favorite piece purchased when she was 10 years old!
Gretchen began her jewelry design business 14 years ago using found artifacts and beads – she eventually began creating pieces with junk finds, old buckles, cool chandelier crystals, pocket watches, game pieces, vintage buttons, broken chains, watch fobs, glass pearls and keys.
Last year, the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper featured Gretchen’s jewelry in an article about the Junk Bonanza. And while the wonderful press attention was terrific for Gretchen’s business, many Bonanza shoppers had trouble finding Gretchen because she shared a booth with two other sellers. This year, Gretchen {Mimi-Toria’s Designs} will have her very own booth so you won’t be able to miss her!
See this beautiful piece below?
Gretchen has generously agreed to give this cash register necklace away to one lucky Junk Bonanaza blog reader! Please visit the Mimi-Toria Designs blog and leave a comment for Gretchen and then come back here and leave a comment for me….hmmmmm…..describing what specific item you are hoping to find at the Junk Bonanza or the next time you are out junking. Please enter by noon CST on Monday. I will post the winner on Monday evening.
Really like the car necklace!
Great piece. Count me in. LuAnn
Really wish I could attend the Junk Bonanza, but live too far away! I do watch all the junking gals through blogs and dotcoms (is that a word?) for continuous inspiration. We have a little ‘thrift’ store in our tiny little town and my daughter and I are forever searching for things to repurpose. Lately, I have starting looking at old jewelry (inspired by Gretchen’s blog, of course). I love making jewelry, and have tried my hand at a few re-makes. So, hope my next visit to our little store turns up some old jewelry items. Thanks to you and Gretchen for this great giveaway!
oh yeah! I got your email too Jill, heading out the door, but I’m gonna post about this right now! Only if you pick me though! Just kidding! Glad your doing well, it’s always good to hear from you! xoxo, Melaine
I think I must search for Gretchen’s jewelry while at Junk Bonanza! I had some in my hot little hands this summer in Minnesota but walked away without a piece! Really dumb, I know! Why do we always regret what we didn’t buy instead of relishing in the things we did? Yup, jewelry is definately on my list of what I want to find in September. But it would be oh so much better to win! lol
What a labor of junking love…that is a stunner. Looking forward to hanging out with all these fabulously talented folks.
My eyes will be peeled for patina’d hardware, vintage toys and always…. cool maps.
Love, love, love the crown neclace. Do you think Junk Bonanza could come to Arizona?
Super pumped for the junk bonanza!!! I am a first timer, can’t wait!!! 😀 love the necklace!
Oh, and I will be on the look out for anything French and I love anything with crowns!
These are so amazing and just like Sara, anything with Crowns is a winner in my book!
Stop on over to my blog for a wonderful giveaway and let everyone know!
1funkywoman.blogspot.com
Oh i love them all!!
xo,
LuLu
oh.my.goodness!! absolutely *love* her designs! i so wish i could join you…i would try and snag anything and everything industrial…just can’t seem to get enough of it!! :0)
Becky {Farm Girl
Paints} and I are
hoping to come to
Junk Bonanza together
and we are so excited
about vendors like
Jill and Gretchen….
I follow the J.B.
blog and would LOVE
to win this necklace….
I might have to fight
my 15 year-old for it,
though : ) !!
xx Suzanne
Love,Love,Love the necklace…I live too far away to come to the Junk Bonanza..I have to live vicarously thru the other bloggers as they brag about going..lol..but I love anything vintage or industrial…
I’m keeping my fingers crossed!
Her jewlery is so lovely!!
Although I will not be at the Junk Bonanza this year I do plan to get there next time!!! I love being able to see all of the wonderful people from blogs and shop among the great junk queens!!!
I am on the lookout for an old vintage mantle and also for anything industrial..my new found love!!!
Blessings and y’all have a great time!!
Did I hear someone say jewelry? That is my middle name!
Everyone talks about wanting to come to Texas for the big Round Top/Warrenton Antique Fair and while I am a vendor there, this Texas girl dreams of coming y’alls way for some cool junking! Some day…a girl can dream, right?
Debbie
Darling necklace!
~*~Such a fun and adorable necklace!!! Im a new follower to you great blog!!~*~* 🙂 Rachel
Hello Jill….!
Geez I’m running BEHIND this weekend & I see I’m number 19 to post….hahahahahaha….SEE….LOTS of us are reading…. :o) !!
THANK YOU for bringing the GORGEOUS Gretchen to my attention….I’m GLAD to read she has a booth all to herself this year ’cause I certainly don’t want to miss seeing her YUMMY jewellery myself….!!
Can you believe there are ONLY 18 days to Junk Bonanza….WOOHOO….!!!!!!
Look out Gretchen….Here I come….!!!
Cheers for now,
Tamarah :o)
I’m in… these are great!
Such a great giveaway. Please enter me.
I would so love to win this. It is FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would search for some beads of some sort. Thanks, Stanna
(shabbyloft@aol.com)
Thank you everyone thus far, for your gracious comments regarding my jewelry designs, and for visiting my blog as well. I can’t wait to meet those of you that are planning to come to the Junk Bonanza event this year, and for those of you that aren’t coming, do try to go next year. It is soooo very awesome and worth it. I was a shopper for the the first years, than a vendor for two, so I’m saying this as both a shopper and vendor.
Good luck with the necklace giveaway.
Gretchen
Mimi-Toria’s Designs
What a wonderfully talented gal!! Her jewelry is stunning! Thank you for sharing her with us. I love youra blog and now I’m following Gretchen also.
I wish I could be at Junk Bonanza, but sadly I live too far away.
Toni
Wow, she’s so creative! The more and more fabulous vendors I find out about, the more excited I get for the Bonanza!
What will I be shopping for at the Bonanza?
My list is very long so in summary: furnishings for my 1900 home, or anything I can use to create or improve my current furnishings and projects.
Can’t wait!!
I left a comment for Gretchen, I hope to find some vintage cards next time I’m out junking or maybe an old coke machine, always thought they were cool!
luckysluna(at)yahoo(dot)com
Love Grenchens pcs. Hope to get my very own at JB. Im making the drive over 3 1/2 hours and have my early bird ticket to find some great treasures.
So excited to meet you all. Look for me in the Main Bldg. Section K. That is all I know for now. My business name is Mimi-Toria’s Designs and there will be a sign out front and several mannequins bejeweled that should show you the way. Do stop in and introduce yourselves. I’m so excited to meet each one of you. Thank you for your support through your blog posts as each comment is treasured and appreciated. See you all in 1 1/2 days!
Gretchen
Mimi-toria’s Designs
Wow, she’s very generous give away such a beautiful necklace to readers. Wearing and carrying antique designer jewelry will never fade away, and you will always be fashionable, as you will be the only one to wear such jewelry.
Rochel Faltus