Guitars and Cadillacs

It all started with De Ann rearranging at the shop (P20) and I helped her move some furniture around. Then there was this decorative guitar. What to do with it? I looked at De Ann and her mom and about the same time, we all said that it needed to be painted. Let's be real, it was u.g.l.y.

What if we paint it turquoise? add bling... or fringe... Guitars and Cadillacs! We need a new tee design and a window display! Oh yeah! The ideas were flowing! Let's Channel some Dwight Yoakum, meets Miranda Lambert, throw in some Chris LeDoux and MoMo (De Ann's mom) said she was even thinking Dottie West. We painted the guitar for her and she is working on fixing it up! 

Yeah my guitars, Cadillacs, hillbilly music

Is the only thing that keeps me hanging on

-Dwight Yoakum

Brenna comes to work about that time and (gasp) she doesn't have a clue about Dwight Yoakum or the Guitars and Cadillacs song. I key it up on my phone and she shrugs... Well, Ok, I'm most definitely taking the designing role on this design! Fast forward through the day and I have visions of crowns, wings, guitars, and old cars. A Spotify Playlist was born and put on repeat. I was busy with orders and Brenna was at the computer working on some other projects. I couldn't wait till after 9:00 to come around. After garden chores, supper, and dishes were done, I knew I could sit down and bring my ideas to the screen. It was more like 9:45 pm when I set down at the computer, but my night owl self loves working in the quiet of the evening, after everything else is done. 

Music is medicine... but here's the thing, it's about so much more than catchy tunes, guitars, Cadillac's, or hillbilly music... You know, all the best designs have a story behind them and this is more than meets the eye. 

Back in the day, I drove 70 ish miles, one way, to college each week. It was the same time Chris LeDoux's 20 Greatest Hits came out and the tape (yes, I had a tape deck in my truck!) would get me almost to PJC and mercy, did I jam out to that almost every week! Cadillac Ranch was one of my favorite songs from that album and ranks right up there at the top of my favorite songs of all time.

Well the well went dry and the cow did too

And daddy didn't know what to do

The banker came by the house one day

He said he's gonna take the farm away

Then mama came up with a plan

My brother and me started up a band

My sister put a sign on the roof

And daddy bought a case of 90 proof

-Chris LeDoux Cadillac Ranch

 It's more than just a family building a bar in an old barn. To me it is about a family overcoming obstacles that life presented them. It wasn't giving up or giving in. It was getting creative and making a living. As I always say, "when life gets tough, get creative" and "keep rolling on." Those two phrases have kept me going the last few years. Life has thrown us a few curve balls and we've had to look for creative ways to keep going. 

(Please note, I am wearing a large in both tees. The tank is a ladies, more fitted style, while the v neck is a unisex style.)

Heck, just last week, we should have had our second farmers market of the year, but sadly it's been cancelled for the year. There was another show I was hoping to do this summer and I couldn't get into it... I'm not gonna lie and tell you we haven't been a little concerned about that... I took off one weekend, wondered what was next, what to create going forward since we wouldn't have summer shows... but by midweek, we were back to creating, worked all weekend, and have several things going on and we are brainstorming on some new things to come. (The Texas Farm to Market tee in the window was/is our farmers market theme tee for the year. We already had a big stack of them made, when we learned the Gilmer Market wouldn't be happening this year, so you can find them online and in the shop.) 

                                                                  Sometimes these wheels

Get a little heavy

And I can't stay between the lines but I'm rocking steady

When I can't fly, I start to fall

But I've got wheels

I'm rolling on

And when I find a place to rest

I'll stay just long enough to catch my breath

This life with you will keep me strong

D**n these wheels

I'm rolling on

-Miranda Lambert, I've Got Wheels

Wings, a crown, flowers, glitter... we needed all that in this design.

Look around and see how farmers are diversifying- maybe they have a pumpkin patch and hay maze in the fall or a YouTube channel to subsidize farm income. I know Jeff watches plenty of them!  Maybe we take pictures of our farm animals and use them in designs or some turn an old barn into a vintage market or wedding venue... we create our own version of Cadillac Ranch. 

Now the only horns around here today

Are the ones up on the grill

Of a genuine '59 Coupe Deville

Of course the caddy needed horns on it! Jeff said we have a 68 model instead of a 59, but the cool thing is that I actually had a 68 Texas license plate that I was able to use on the car.  Just a little editing turned into a car plate, instead of a truck. 

10-4 buddy, come on back
A horse trailer on a cadillac
Yeah, we're talkin' to the cowboy
In the coupe de ville
Chug-a-luggin' up one side
Slidin' down the other
Well I'm a lover of the other
Side of the hill

- Chris LeDoux, Cadillac Cowboy

Anytime Jeff or I either one says 10-4, the other follows it up with...

come on back

A horse trailer on a cadillac... 

So what started with a guitar an ugly paint job, led to so much more!

We will update when Momo gets done with her transformation and we will have to add it to the window when it's done. 

 We were had a Texas Road Trippin' theme for our summer window and Guitars and vintage Cadillacs just right in there with it!

Come see us at P20 at 100 Davis St. Gilmer, TX 75644 (My workshop is located in the back room of the store.) Some items are online or you can always message me on social media or my website (I don't always get notifications of blog comments or they show up as "no reply" so I can't always correspond that way.) It's possible that we may pick up a couple of events this summer, we just don't have any confirmation yet, so stay tuned. 

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Why fit in, when you were born to stand OUT? Rustic, Repurposed, Vintage Fashion

Can we talk a little about fashion? I know that is a subject that I never thought I would discuss here, but today, I am launching a repurposed and upcycled clothing line in my shop. Did I just say clothing line? Why yes, yes I did! I doubt my sweet Grandmama ever thought I would be sewing clothes, but over the past few months, I have been working on altering and recreating some one-of-a-kind pieces. I had started last spring and intended to launch earlier in the year, but things happen and I am finally getting them finished up, photographed, described, and listed in my shop. The first set of denim and lace vest, dresses and little girls jackets went live this afternoon!

A little bit gypsy, a little boho, shabby chic, rustic, with a little vintage and a whole lotta love thrown in! 

WHY fit in, when you were born to stand OUT ?

For years, I tried to fit in. Over the past few years (and especially since I quit working in town), I seem to have found my own style and much more confident in being ME. I used to never get comments on my clothing and fashion, but it seems when I starting creating some of my own outfits and not afraid to be different, I get more compliments on my style. I almost always get a compliment when I  wear this lace fringe vest! And now YOU CAN TOO! 

I like rustic, vintage, fringe, lace, denim, lots of neutral colors, plaid, distressed, aztec print, turquoise... 

Things you will never find me wearing: crazy prints, chevron, or zebra. Polka dots and leopard are negotiable, but must be kept to an extreme minimum. 

I can't be the only one with list like this, can I? 

A few years ago, I bought a brown zebra vest. It's soft, warm, fuzzy, and has two great pockets. I wore it a few times, but I never felt right in it. It wasn't me. I'll put it on and take it off and by golly, it will be in the next garage sale! No matter how comfy it is, it doesn't fit my style and I just can't wear it. 

 The vest are available in several different sizes and colors including the white / ivory lace, red, and black. This picture (below) is a hint at some of the other new items coming this week!

 A fun denim skirt, perfect for wearing with your cowgirl boots! No need for an extra slip or peekaboo lace extender - the lace has already been added to the skirt!

 How sweet is this little baby girl's jacket? That is the little bittiest doily I have and I knew it had to go on this jacket!

  Follow your Arrow and Be Unique!

From a young age, my Granddaddy always told me, 

"You're one of a kind girl, you are one of a kind." 

I get that now and I don't mind one bit! 

I hope you all love the new clothes as much as I do and hope they will fit your personality as well! 

Each item is one of a kind, and a lot of the lace is vintage, so there won't be custom orders / reproductions of these pieces. Please stop by my shop and tell me what your favorite new item is! 

Some of the dresses and clothes will make great back to school items for your wardrobe! For anyone in Texas, clothes shopping this weekend, I will refund the sales tax to you, since we have tax free school shopping coming up! (All other states are always tax free.)

P.S. Make sure you sign up for my email newsletter! Email exclusive coupons will be coming out soon! 

Introducing New Spring Fashions!

Introducing a new collection of re-purposed clothing items, purses, and lace headbands for your spring wardrobe and weddings and a gorgeous vintage lace wedding dress in my shop! 

Denim and Lace, how I love thee! Every girl needs the perfect denim jacket and this one of a kind piece offers a vintage doily on the back and lace fringe trim. Perfect for layering over your favorite shirt or flannel, as the days are starting to warm up, yet you still need a light weight jacket.

 Several vintage lace dream catchers have been added to my shop, along with this two toned denim dress, with lace fringe and crocheted lace belt. It is shown here with an optional burlap and lace brooch pin. The brooch pins make great, unique Mother's Day corsage for the rustic mom and it's something that she will wear more than once, since it can be pinned to her favorite denim jacket, dress, or shirt, adorn a purse, tote bag, etc. (They come with a combination brooch pin and alligator clip on the back.)

The dress is a lightweight denim that will be cool for spring and summer wear and would be cute with boots or sandals.

 Here's the front view of the jacket, with another optional brooch pin. (The brooches are in separate listings, than the clothing items.)

This gorgeous vintage lace wedding dress is also available! I have several wedding dresses that I cut up for the lace and trim, but this dress is too pretty to cut up. It's layers of ivory lace and so pretty in person. Originally a size 12, we believe it has been altered and would fit someone about a 9/10. 

I've had fun creating some unique and one of a kind purses! 

This is a corduroy purse with lace rosettes and fringe.  

 I've been carrying a denim and lace cross body, similar to this one on the days I go junkin'. I call it the Lorraine bag, because I found the vintage lace at an estate sale for a crafter named Lorraine. It's light weight and holds the necessities - wallet, phone to keep in touch and show off what you found on the junk trail, keys, sunglasses and lip gloss. Upcycled belts form the handles on some of the purses. It's a great bag to throw over your neck and go to the flea market and antique shopping!

 This one has long lace fringe on it. Makes you want to twirl around and have fun! There are several different styles of the purses available.

 I've also got several burlap round-bottom bags that have been adorned with vintage doilies, lace, buttons and doilies. This one is in turquoise and blue,

 and there a couple of different ones in pink tones.

 "What if I fall? Oh, but my darling, what if you FLY?" - e.h. This quote is featured on  two different tote bags and pillows. I have had several people give these as graduation gifts. The bags would make great gift bag to wrap another gift in or could be a stand alone gift for a graduating senior this year.

 There are LOTS of new burlap and lace headbands in my shop! Most of these are available in child size (fit babies to teens) although there are a few larger adult sizes. The headbands are stretchy lace and would also work for flower girls to wear in your rustic wedding.

Here's a few examples  - several more colors available in my shop.

What's your favorite new item in my shop?

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