Nodders

Do you know what these are?

These are old, rusty bed springs used for crafting.

I started seeing these all cutified last fall when I was trolling e-bay for craft ideas.

I found these the day my sister-in-law, Amy and I went to Canton. 
Read about it here. 
We both got three.
We paid $5.00 for three of them which I thought a fair deal for junk.
I had seen them for more money on e-bay when you consider shipping.
These are junk, trash, discards. I have a problem with paying big bucks for garbage.  
Anyway...
I had no idea that I would find a whole mess of them in the trash pile at the cabin were I stayed this summer with my brother and his wife.

Typically old homes have a vintage trash pile somewhere on the property to throw cans, bottles and junk. 
A friend of mine found antique bottles at her grandparent's farm. She used them at her daughter's wedding. She gussied them up with lace and buttons and stuff.
(Unfortunately, I didn't find any cool bottles. I think my brother has taken them all.)


I found the spring to an old seat of some kind.
I decided rather than bring the whole thing home, I would take the springs off. 

Wouldn't you know it? I couldn't find a decent tool at the place! The man who owns this cabin must have tools in his truck. I managed to get about 10 springs. I spent hours ripping them apart.

Nodders

Since I was put in charge of figuring out what to do with the aforementioned springs, I decided that it was none too soon to begin figuring out what the heck we are going to do with them.

I can proudly say that after $35.00 is supplies and 4 days I finally have one that looks good. 
Go me!!

It was kind of by accident. 

I bought a pumpkin or two at Hobby Lobby and tried them out on the nodders.
Nope!
I decided I needed to make my pumpkins.
I looked for a tutorial on line and came across this darling blog called The Cottage Home. She had an awesome one that totally helped me out.
Read about it here. 
I got an assortment of orange fabric for my pumpkins.

Thank you, Walmart.
They need to be about three inches in diameter.
I spent hours (days).
Nothing.

I even painted drop cloth fabric orange.

Now don't get me wrong, these pumpkins are cute as all get out but, not right for the top of the nodder.

I kept trying and finally I got it right.
 I came up with a cutie made from some cheesy, orange velveteen that I picked up on the spur of the moment for .50 cents.

I almost didn't even buy these scraps because they looked so cheap and cheesy.

I sort of thought for a minute that I made it too small. But small is better. 

But there was something else I was thinking about.
I went back to Hobby Lobby and bought this sort of rustic pumpkin.

I had been seeing vintage inspired jack-o-lanterns for the past few years.
I wanted to replicate that look.
So I browsed an old magazine.

  and e bay for inspiration.

This one is by far my favorite. It will look sooo cute with my Halloween display.
To think I almost bought one like it for $14.99!!
Remember... I spent $35.00 on supplies?
Sometimes my bargain hunting costs me more than it should. 
Read about some more nodders and pumpkins made during our 
fall crafting weekend. 
Here.
Excuse me while I go get started on some snowman ideas for the rest of the nodders.   

Sprinkled with rusty, crusty, springs,
Katie
Linking with,
Savvy Southern Style  
Cherished Bliss  
I Gotta Try That 
The Ivy Cottage Blog 
My UnCommon Slice of Suburbia 
French Country Cottage 
Primp Your Pumpkin Party