Tag: Junk Gypsy

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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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glamping Junkin' and Thriftin' miranda lambert

Soggy Wet Wednesday: Scamping to Gypsyville

We have had two solid days of rainy weather, no storms, just slow and steady rain, the kind I’ve heard Washington state has all the time, the kind that I absolutely love.  Hubby tells me I wouldn’t like constant rain, and he is probably right, but this is wonderful after a long, hot summer. The trees will soon be displaying their beautiful fall colors, and spring flowers and plants are getting the moisture they need to burst into bloom next year.  I’m even wearing long sleeves and socks! No flip flops today!

Rain isn’t such good news for Annie, though, with her leaky vent and windows.  Hubby came through again and covered her with a tarp so I’m hoping she will stay dry through this rain.  Speaking of Annie, it’s time to tell about our shopping day in Round Top and Warrenton, Texas.

After a fairly comfortable night in the Scamp, we rose early and headed first to Fayetteville for ice and an ATM.  (What a cute little town!)  Then we headed to Round Top to be one of the first visitors to the new Junk Gypsy World Headquarters.  It was still a little early so we stopped at an eye-catching junk place where the junk and mosquitos were plentiful, but we left it all there.

This merchant’s wares spread all the way down the hill from his home and even included an old truck and fishing boat.
There was even an old Airstream trailer, a frequent sight in these parts.
Natalie, those toilets aren’t in working order!  She’s such a joker. . .

As the time grew near for the JGWH opening, we headed down the road about seven miles where we were some of the first guests, so we got a great parking spot!  I don’t know about Natalie, but I’ve been waiting for awhile to get to see this!


Ah, here it is, the beautifully crafted Gypsyville store. . .
If you are a Miranda Lambert or Blake Shelton fan, you may recognize this as the piece from their barn wedding back in 2011.
Every store needs a big fat Buddha.  He was under the table, guarding the jewelry.
Natalie even found items that she loved, like this cement mermaid.
So dreamy. . .
By the time we got ready to check out, the line was long!  The checkout counter is under that lighted crown.  We were honored to meet Archie, Junk Gypsy helper and model, who rang us up!  She was very sweet!
We had to have our picture made with Large Marge, of course.
After loading up with JG “stuff” we headed back to Warrenton for a few hours of shopping, and later on, the Junk-o-Rama prom!
Stay tuned!
XOXO

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glamping

Thrifty Thursday: More about our Scamp weekend. . .

I just realized that I posted about our Scampventure on Wednesday but titled it Scamp Tales Tuesday.  I could say I just want to keep you on your toes, but you know better…

Anyway, I promised you yesterday that I would share a bit about what we did once we made it to our destination near Round Top, Texas.  After we set up camp, we decided to head on down FM 237 and see what this hoopla about Round Top and its sister city Warrenton is all about.  Between Round Top and Warrenton is a place called Marburger Farms.  Those who write about Texas Antiques Week say it is the mother of all flea markets, an antique lover/junker’s mecca.  I have yet to see the mini-metroplex in all its glory with hundreds of vendors and thousands of visitors, but I plan to very soon!  That day it was just a couple of little don’t-blink-or-you’ll-miss-it towns set on a farm-to-market two-lane road surrounded by cow pastures.  Peaceful.  Countrified.  Deer country.  Wish we had a lease here. . .

We were almost into Round Top when I spotted her.  Large Marge.  The Junk Gypsies’ old Chevy Suburban featured on their website.  And there it was, the soon-to-be Junk Gypsy World Headquarters.  Right there!  On the highway road!  No gates or high-wire fences or anything!  Really?

Large Marge, live and in person! (Yes, there was a gate, which was closed after we returned from dinner in town.)
Can’t wait!  Rumor (or at least the waitress at Royer’s) said they might open at the end of Antiques Week!
The gate no doubt designed by the Junk Gypsies themselves and probably made by Bediko, the metalworker featured on their HGTV show.
Peeking at the headquarters building through the trees.  You can read all about it on their blog.
If you look really close you can see Amie’s little pink farmhouse and their Airstream, which were also featured on their HGTV show.
We had dinner at Royer’s Cafe in downtown Round Top.  Don’t let the name fool you.  They have a fairly upscale menu with prices to match.  No cheeseburgers here!  But, oh boy, was the food good!  And the pie!  Oh, my!
I thought it was cute that each table provided a pair of reading glasses for oldies like us to read the small print menu.  Yes, that is what was left of my apple pie and Amy’s ice cream.  Mm, mm, good!

A word about Royer’s:  it has the coolest, funkiest vibe with stuff covering all the walls and the ceiling, too, and four old iron gliders lining the porch.  Bud Royer himself greeted us coming and going.  They are famous for their pies and even have a little place called Royer’s Pie Haven a few steps from the restaurant.  Souvenir tee shirts and koozies are also available.

After dinner we headed back to camp and walked down to the pier to look at the lake.  You can see those pictures on yesterday’s blog post.  We then sat outside for a little while and retired to the Scamp for some magazine reading and DVD watching on the laptop.

Me reading from my comfy perch on the bed.
Jimmy watching a bowhunting DVD from the
 “living room.”  My laptop sat on the counter where the cooktop used to be.  This chick ain’t gonna do no cookin’ while campin’!

We had a fairly good night’s sleep in spite of the small space and tiny beds.  Look out, Oak Thicket Park!  We’ll be back soon!

XOXO



Categories
Junkin' and Thriftin'

Wild Wednesday: A new name for our booth!

Look at that sign!  It’s official now!  We have a real shop, even if it is a booth inan  antique mall.  My sister Sharon shares the booth with me, and she made the sign.  We named our business after our grandmother who was the original thrifter.  She always showed off her secondhand clothing finds and repurposed items whenever we visited. She was our dad’s mother, and when my oldest was a baby, he got the junkin’ fever.  He has a stash that would excite the American Pickers! 
Junkin’ is in our blood!
This is what makes Wednesday wild–a leopard print bustier and one of my rag skirts, perfect for a gypsy prom, especially the Junk Gypsy Junk-o-rama Prom to be held October 3 at Round Top, Texas during Texas Antiques Week.

Here is some of the other junk I added today.

Two darling little table figurines–one is a salt or pepper shaker and one is a toothpick holder.
This little guy never wakes up from his siesta!
One of my rag curtains hangs behind a trestle table holding the dress form with the gypsy prom outfit.

Be sure and check out our Facebook page.  
We like “likes!”

XOXO