Tag: Junk Gypsies

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Life Memoirs miranda lambert

The Junk Gypsies and Me

A little over a month ago I told you that I had been selected to be on the Junk Gypsy Book Launch Team.   I received a digital watermarked copy of their new book, Junk  Gypsy: Designing a Life at the Crossroads of Wonder & Wander by Amie and Jolie Sikes, published by Touchstone Books of Simon & Schuster.  As a chosen member of their team, I was asked to read the book and post about it on my social media.  So I did!

What a cool thing to peruse those beautiful pages, knowing that I was one of only 100 people given the privilege!  Being asked to write posts about the book was not a chore!  It was a natural outflowing of the honor of being selected and jaw-dropping amazing-ness of the book’s beauty and quality!  (Did I just make up a word?)

Not only did I get to read the book earlier than Joe Q. Public (or Joann), I got to join a Facebook group where the other members of the book launch team posted their impressions of the book as well.  We all became sisters in a sense, and the Junk Gypsies would even reply to our posts!

Then the best thing of all happened.  The Junk Gypsies posted a flyer of their upcoming book signing appearances and one of them happened to be at the Pink Pistol in my hometown, Lindale, Texas!

For those of you who don’t know, the Pink Pistol is Miranda Lambert’s store and boutique where she sells not only her music, tee shirts, and other swag, but also her signature wine, clothing, jewelry, and household items.  It’s a tourist destination in itself, run by her parents and located in a new building in the heart of Lindale’s new Cannery development.

Miranda and the Junk Gypsies have had a longstanding relationship that began years ago when she was just starting out as a musician.  The JGs designed her guns & wings logo, decorated her first tour bus, did a makeover of her Airstream trailer and later, her mother’s, and decorated her wedding venue.  And of course, I have known Miranda and her parents since she was in the third grade with my son.  I taught Miranda in high school and my son and she graduated from high school together.    I also worked occasionally at her store before it was the Pink Pistol.

Anyway, I couldn’t wait for the opportunity to meet the JG girls again!  I was sure they wouldn’t remember meeting me at Miranda’s concert in Tyler in 2006 or at a Cause for the Paws event a few years later, or at their Round Top store after that, but they did!  When I finally got to the front of the line and introduced myself and told them I was on the book launch team, they remembered my name!

Made my day!  They were so gracious!  We had our picture snapped, and then I made my way out, but not without speaking to Archie, aka Amy Allen, their model, and then their mother Janie.  I also introduced my mother, who had come with me, to everyone.

My beautiful mom and me.

I floated out the door and continue to walk just a little taller.  They remembered me!  And I love them even more.  If you haven’t checked out their book yet, do it!  It’s full of beautiful pictures, the story of Junk Gypsy, how-to instructions, and inspiration.  You can get it on Amazon here, or you can get a SIGNED copy at their website here.

The swag they gave each of the book launch team members!

What an experience!  What an honor!  What is even better than this whole experience, though, is knowing that my personal decorating style is now on trend.  Junk is cool!

Keep on reading, and keep on junkin’!

XOXO

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home decor Life miranda lambert

Junk Gypsy, a Book, and Me

Ever heard of the Junk Gypsy Company?  Who hasn’t heard of these two beautiful sisters who turned their backs on college-degreed careers and made a life for themselves out of hunting, repurposing, and selling junk?  From selling their wares in a booth at First Monday Trade Days in Canton, Texas to hosting their own HGTV series, running a store in Round Top, and making over homes and Airstreams, Amie and Jolie Sikes, along with their parents, children, and Jolie’s husband, have created a junk dynasty.  And now you can read all about it in their new book, Junk Gypsy:  Designing a Life at the Crossroads of Wonder and Wander available through Amazon.

I’ve been a fan of the Junk Gypsies since I learned that they were working with my former student Miranda Lambert, having designed her guns and wings logo and designed and carried out a makeover of her tour bus.  I visited their website and I was hooked.  I joined the Blacktop Rambler Cafe forum and ordered more than I could really afford from their Gypsyville online store.

Then I met them!  I doubt if they would remember, but I was at Miranda’s concert in Tyler in 2006, and when I walked up to the will call window to get my meet and greet pass, the Junk Gypsy girls were standing right in front of me!  Me being me, well, I had to speak to them.  I introduced myself and said something inane about their jewelry, but they were polite to this crazy lady.  I also met Blake Shelton there at the Lambert’s tailgate party that I crashed.  In my own defense, I have known the Lamberts since their and my children were knee high to a grasshopper.  My son was in the same class as Miranda, and my daughter was in the same class as her brother. Blake and Miranda had just begun dating.

The next time I saw the Junk Gypsies was at a Cause for the Paws event, hosted by Miranda to raise money for a local animal shelter.  I actually had a conversation with Amie about the way their art pieces and style was being copied by others.  Who knew they had started a trend in junking and bohemian fashion?  She was so cute dressed in her striped 70’s flared jeans and vintage band uniform jacket.  (if I recall correctly)  And she was sweet, too.

The last time I saw them in person was in Round Top during Antiques Week soon after opening the Junk Gypsy Headquarters, an amazing store and showplace, and worth the trip!

You can imagine how thrilled I was to be included in the Junk Gypsy Book Launch Team!  The book does not disappoint.  It is the world of Junk Gypsy at your fingertips:  biographies, personal insights and tidbits about the family, beautiful photographs of projects and places, and ideas and instructions for redoing and repurposing junk!  If you are a fan of junk, or the Junk Gypsies, you must. Go. Now.
Amazon.com

Go forth and buy.  If you want an autographed copy, the Junk Gypsies are touring around the country for specific book signing events.  I plan to be at the one in Lindale, Texas on October 15, getting my copy signed!  I hope to see you there!

XOXO

Categories
glamping Junkin' and Thriftin'

Thrifty Thursday: Shopping and Prom-ming

As promised, here is the tale of our day of shopping and going to proms in Warrenton, Texas during Antiques Week a couple of weeks ago.  After my daughter Natalie and I feasted our senses on the junky wonders at the Junk Gypsy World Headquarters, we found a place to park in a field just north of Zapp Hall where hundreds of vendors had set up their tents, booths, and goodies.

Wouldja look at all that junk?

More marvelous junk.
An extra set of hands, or even one, is a good thing, right?
We fueled up with Liz’s homecooked hamburgers and then browsed vendors before the heat and humidity forced us to leave about four hours later.  We would love to have stayed all day for several days!  Natalie did find nesting doll sets for herself and a friend, while I found pieces for my junk crafting and a tote made out of a Purina Dog Chow bag!  As fantastic as this place was, it comes in second compared to shopping at First Monday Trade Days in Canton, and we can visit there once a month instead of waiting for twice a year events that we have to take vacation days to visit.
(Sorry, Junk Gypsies, but I’ll have to remain loyal to Canton and it’s only 20 miles from home!)  However, a visit to the JGWH was totally worth it!

We left the shopping and returned to the campground to nap off the heat and sun overload, waking up just in time to get dressed up and head back to the Junk-o-Rama prom.  

Zapp Hall was the location so we chose the same parking place and followed the folks who looked like they were dressed for a junk prom.  They led us to a large covered area with tables, food and drink vendors and a photo booth where we stood in line to have our picture made.  But I didn’t see any evidence of the Junk Gypsies, who usually have their own photo booth and lots of decorations.  Also, the band didn’t look like the John Evans Band.  But we hung out anyway.

Our picture together.

A cute and outgoing couple befriended us in line for photos.  Her husband took our picture.  She was a hoot.
It wasn’t until much later that I overheard someone saying that the Junk Gypsy prom was farther away under the JG tent.  We had crashed the wrong prom!  So THERE were the JG decorations and their photo booth!  Here is Natalie standing by their sign.
And here is their tent.  The Junk-o-Rama prom was VERY well attended!  And THERE was John Evans!
Well, I can now say I went to Texas Antiques Week, Gypsyville, and the Junk-o-Rama prom.  I hope it won’t be my last trip, either.
Maybe next time the weather will be cooler and I’ll have a rockin’ prom outfit.
And Scampin’ Annie will be ready!
XOXO