What a transformation!  My Motorcycle Man and I scavenged this airplane drop tank, from a 60′s jet fighter, at the HAVECO aviation graveyard in Tucson.  We knew that Roland of Roland Sands Designs would know exactly what to do with it.

Roland’s day job… creating the most amazing out-of-this-world custom motorcycles for clients with deep pockets.  And now THIS for his showroom…

Only Roland and his fantastically twisted and creative brain could have envisioned this tank as a spectacular stairwell chandelier for his Los Alamitos Design Center.  I see a bright future!

I love love love flea markets, thrift shops, consignment shops, garage sales… you name it.  If they have cool old used things for sale, I’m there!  Digging through piles of shtuff and imagining where items could go, how they could be freshened up, painted, reupholstered or even repurposed is a blast.  Waaayyy better than a furniture store any day!

SOoo, when these barstools appeared in a vendor’s booth at the Sunday Irvine Flea Market (now moved to the Great Park area next to the giant orange balloon… every 1st Sunday of the month) you can imagine the heart palpitations I was experiencing.  Just perfect for my client’s black, white and red kitchen, and with NO work to be done.  Guess what we paid for these vintage beauties????

$30. For all three. YES, you read that right.

If you’ve shopped for  barstools lately, you know how expensive they can be, especially anything unique or repurposed.  For example, I always love to look at the NapaStyle catalogs and websites… they have loads of really cool and unique items, like these barstools made from old wine barrel staves.

Gorgeous, yes, but $279 each plus tax and $30 shipping each. WOW.  Do the math… that adds up fast!

I know we all splurge sometime on those special, just perfect items.  But don’t forget the rewarding projects, unique products and fabulous bragging rights that come with scavenging.  It feels so good to rescue something from a trip to the dump and re-imagine it into a FAB one-of-a-kind that none of your neighbors will have. And when you tell them what you paid…  now thats fun!

LOVE to see what rescues you have come across. Send pictures!

OMG… It’s 2012!! Our guests have left and both daughters have returned to their homes.  booohoooo. The house is still a mess… Christmas stuff is everywhere. Bills are waaaaay past due. BIG bills. Laundry is stacked up next to the washer. Old leftovers crowd the refrigerator. My skinny jeans don’t fit very well and the bags under my eyes… oh my. (is it true Preparation H works for that?) I’m back to work today and have got to find my briefcase. I’m, well, just a little bit overwhelmed.

I DO plan to clean up from Christmas. Soon. Decorations will be packed away, cupboards will be cleaned and reorganized, furniture will be rearranged and decor will be freshened up. Many trips to Goodwill will be made. I will get on that ASAP. And that list of resolutions, goals and plans for 2012. Definitely. Coming soon!

Meanwhile, I also plan to dream BIG dreams in 2012. One will surely be my recurring dream… one that I’ve been unable to shake for years now. Have I told you about my desert dream?

My love for the California desert is HUGE. I spend a great deal of time imagining the weekend place that Mr. Motorcycle Man and I will someday own in this beautiful part of the state. This will not be a slick home with a giant pool and golf course view in a fancy Palm Desert neighborhood, but a rustic cabin nestled amongst the giant boulders of the high desert near Joshua Tree.

I dream of a place with sand dune and mountain views in the mysterious, fascinating, even magical  areas close to Landers and Johnson Valley. No lights or city views. Just big sky, gorgeous sunsets, millions of stars and QUIET.

This desert home will not be fancy at all. Nothing would be perfect, in fact imperfect would make it just right. It would be a shack where sand and grit, motorcycle and hiking boots, spilled food and wine and lots and lots of family and friends, young and old, would be welcome. It’d be constructed with found items, repurposed materials and a lot of imagination.

It’s possible we will build it out of pallets.

Or… a collection of colorful bottles:

Maybe we’ll consider old shipping containers. They make interesting structures:

AS do retired vehicles of transportation:

Tires, rammed earth, straw bales, wood, concrete, and corrigated metal could also be used to build this dream home in the desert. SO many choices…

As funky as this all looks and sounds, I promise this desert home won’t be ugly. It’ll be wildly interesting, beautiful even, in that perfectly imperfect way.  Gorgeous views, warm breezes, sunsets and the mystical aura of the high desert will be the stars in this setting.

SO. I keep a dream file. Of ideas, pictures, projects for the house that does not yet exist. Nor does the land. Mr. MM and I continue to look and dream knowing that someday this perfectly imperfect scenario will present itself to us… maybe even in 2012. IF meant to be. And if not… the dreaming and planning is just so much fun. We’ll enjoy the process.

And for you, I wish a happy happy 2012:  a year full of good health, joy and love! AND… one where the best of your big dreams and plans come true!