Thursday, April 26

embarrassing moment No. 1...

First let me start this story with: When I blush, it is not that delicate, Southern Belle, “oh look, you’re blushing!” blush. No. When I get embarrassed or nervous I start to feel the burn. It creeps up my neck like lightning, my ears start to smolder... I think my eyes even turn red... then I forget my words because I think my brain is on FIRE.

Remember all-of-the-above, it is important information.

she establishes her cool factor right away by having a truck on her book cover!


Annie Selke is the founder and creative force behind widely acclaimed home furnishings companies Pine Cone Hill fine linens and sleepwear, Dash and Albert Rug Company, and Annie Selke Home furniture and fabrics. Available at high-end stores nationwide and sold in catalogs such as Neiman Marcus and Sundance as well as online, her products are splashed liberally across the pages of top shelter magazines, including House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Real Simple, Country Living, Woman’s Day, and Better Homes and Gardens.


Annie Selke... my luuuuv for Annie Selke started with Honey, from Honey’s Home + Style. (Bless her heart, Honey has me dogging her footsteps – do you think she knows she opens a whole new world for me every time I see or talk to her?) Annie uses color...


and she has fun with her designs...

she's hooked my red.neck heart with these...

and she uses color...


that makes my heart pitter-pat.


I met Annie Selke in Warrenton. Oh, yes, I did.


She came in my tent. Oh yes, she did.

she has fun with neutrals too!

Did I know it was her? No.

Did I stop her from taking pictures of my pocketbooks? Yes, I did.


Here’s how it went down:

Me: “I’m sorry, I don’t allow photos of my pocketbooks”.
(please please note... I'm not being mean... I'm just protective of my pattern designs and small blips of creativity.)

Annie: “oh, but that’s my fabric!”

Me: *jaw drop eyes start popping out of my face* “Are you Annie Selke?” (insert creeping blush here. about... my jaw line.)

Annie: “yes, I am!”

Me: (the blush is burning the dickens out of my ear lobes)*stutter* I am so sorry, I luuuuv you! Take any pictures you want!”

Annie: “oh, Thank You!”

Me: (my eyeballs are just about red)No, I luuuuv you! Thank YOU!"

Annie: “oh, Thank You!”

Me: *stutter, stutter, stutter* (my brain was officially on fire)

The rest of the conversation went something like this:

Me: “Honey... *stutter*... Honey... *stutter*... Honey in Waco”

Annie: “Oh, Honey’s Home + Style, what a beautiful store – She’s wonderful!”

Me: “I luuuuv you”

Needless to say, she and her friends got the heck out of red.neckville quick.

Am I a crazed stalker? Proll'y.

Annie Selke may never come back to Waco. *sigh* Or, when she comes back to Honey’s, she might have a restraining order against me... I know I would if I was her!

Oh wait - she might not recognize me if I am not FIRE ENGINE RED!

I should have had her sign the "card of authenticity" in one of the pocketbooks that I had hanging made with her fabric samples!

this is one where I used all of her samples from one color-way

Or I should have grabbed “Mama Debinator” to take my picture with her! But, that required thinking and I was busy being star-struck and slightly crazed. And really really red. REALLY red. Annie Selke is my version of a rock star!

I HIGHLY recommend "Fresh American Spaces". Her style, her attention to detail - her EVERYthing is phenomenal!

Annie's book has quickly become a staple for me. When I need inspiration, I open it up. When I just want some design eye candy, I open it up. When I want to remember one of the most embarrassing moments of my life, I open it up.

comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide where when I get locked up in a padded cell for being slightly stalkerishly insane I would like to take Annie Selke, Kate Spade, and Anthony Hopkins with me. Who would you take with you?

*all of the images (except for the pocketbook) were taken out of Annie Selke's "Fresh American Spaces" book. The images (and my design heart) belong to her.*

Tuesday, April 24

cooking a moose.


It's a well known fact (almost world-wide) that I can't cook. At all. But... I have a deep admiration for those of you who CAN cook. And cookbooks... cookbooks seem to find me. Some of my favorites are the Church cookbooks.

casseroles... i like casseroles... all kinds of food in one pot.

I gravitate towards the church cookbooks because of the stories I think they tell... I like to imagine that somebody's Grandmother, or Great-Grandmother came up with the recipes (some for fun - some out of necessity) and started sharing. I like to think that they spent happy hours in their cozy kitchen with their sons and daughters - grand-sons and grand-daughters - passing on their love through time and food. Then the recipes got handed down, and handed down some more...

I'm a mustard girl but I might have to draw the line here...

just think - when a lot of these cookbooks were typed out and published - blowing things up in the microwave wasn't even a thought!


These cookbooks hold recipes for cakes and pies and salads and cookies and casseroles and fish stuff and meat stuff and sauces and dips and jams and jellies and bread and...


someone must have had a farm. With a moose on it.

*big cheesy grin*

Look:


there's even a section for the cooking impaired.

comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide where I'm thinking that these goodies are heading to my space (aka: the "Taj Mahal") inside of the Hillsboro Antique Mall this week-end so someone that knows how to work their stove can enjoy them. Oh, and if you make some Beets with Mustard Butter will you let me know? I'll taste-test it for you.

Friday, April 20

uhmmm...

so..........

his brother's name is "Frac". they are not my cats - i just found them amusing!
you see, MY cat's name is much more prestigious.
his name is "Fatty". see? much more prestigious.

and, no. the cat really has nothing to do with this post..

i just get blogger figured out after a few years of learnin' (sometimes the "for dummies" books are written with me in mind...) and now my dashboard looks different!

i will never tell you how long it took me to get to wherever i am right now "composing".

Have a Happy HAPPY week-end! I'm going to find something fun to do! What are you up to this week-end? 

comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide where before I do fun things I'm gonna have to find a blogger dashboard user manual thingy 'cause I have NEVER said I'm a high-tech/computer genius/software guru red.neck. Single-wides generally don't have dashboards...

Thursday, April 19

seein' stars...

retreauxgirl repurposed jewelry

I saw stars in red.neckville (the fashion district) at Zapp! I got to not only peddle MY wares - but I had a few guest stars that I was INCREDIBLY honored to have!

retreauxgirl repurposed jewelry
Leslie - the beauty and brains behind Retreauxgirl Repurposed Jewelry (my personal Sparkle Queen!) made a trip to bring me sparkles, then made a couple more trips to come hang out with me! I saw a STAR!

Then...

Threadbare Soul
my hat was off to Lonna - the creative genius behind Threadbare Soul for her GORGEOUS hats that she let me put in the "fashion district"! Did I love them all? You betcha!

i didn't have this one in the fashion district... but how CUTE is this!!!

I had been stalking Lonna via Facebook and FINALLY I got to meet her! I'm now stuck to her like duct tape!

THEN! I was and AM DEEPLY honored to have some duct tape wallets from THE Fringeboy himself!

his Momma is Tricia over at The Domestic Fringe
I didn't get to meet Fringeboy or his Momma...

so you know - i stole this picture from The Domestic Fringe.

but this family is my favorite reality show. Forget the TV - I watch The Domestic Fringe antics via Tricia's blog. LOL I carry a polka dot duct tape wallet and GRIN each time I pull it out!!! THANK YOU Fringeboy!!!

Next up:

Duct Tape and Denim (facebook here - blog here - shop here)

Ann wired up some barbed wire bracelets and sent them along to me... I saw stars!!! Have I met Ann yet?

Duct Tape and Denim (facebook here - blog here - shop here)

No. But her time is coming... I stalk. ;-D

So you see? I saw stars in red.neckville...

retreauxgirl repurposed jewelry

and they ALL hold keys to my heart. THANK YOU to EACH of you - you had my tent sparklin' and shinin'!

comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide where the single-wide is still full of various show parts and pieces/tubs and bags... I'll send you my house key if you will break in and clean it. No wait... I like you. I couldn't do that to you.

Monday, April 16

here kitty kitty kitty...

he arrives in his trusty steed hauling some SERIOUS rusty fun...


he knows he looks quite suave and debOHnair...


women go all googly-eyed when he arrives and starts prowlin' the fields of Zapp on Prom night...

Gina of Country Garden in Dallas

Carol of Cookie DuMonde

some lose their head(s)...

Rachel and Tony (check out Rachel's prom crown that she created out of "field finds"!)

he finds two of his favohrite kittens so they can cozy up to him in his litter box...

the beautiful Junk Gypsy, Amie

the beautiful Junk Gypsy, Jolie
he's gotta be the only man that had TWO Prom dates at the Junk Gypsy prom!

he even had to call in some secret service to help corral the petticoat wearin' kittens:

Cruz, secret service code name: "Mr. Sweet T"


he's the ONE!


the ONLY!


he's LEGENDARY!


drum roll please...


he's THE

Caaaaaaat Daddy!



DEFINITELY the Chic in MY red.neck!

comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide where I'm sho' 'nuff purrin' (and also kinda wonderin' how Mama Debinator fights 'em all off...)

Thursday, April 12

You.

While I was at (to quote Mama Debinator) "The Greatest Show on Dirt" I heard and was involved in many conversations re: Blogging vs. Facebook.

Is Blogging a dying art?

Is Facebook taking over?

No.

Wanna know why I say (well... really... I yelled) "no"?

I had a fantastic show in the pasture behind Zapp Hall... but it wasn't necessarily about peddling my wares.

One evening I was sitting at the table in the "Party Tent". I looked around me and was just in awe of the friendship and fellowship surrounding me. Next to me was sitting my adopted Mama, the Trash Talkin' diva herself, "Mama Debinator"...

I wouldn't know or have her as my own if it weren't for blogging. Debbie is that fun-size bundle of love, personality and heart that I will never be able to thank God enough for handing me. Now she can't get rid of me. *insert evil laugh here*

I looked to my left to gaze at my newest beautiful friend, Pam from "One Gal's Trash"...
I wouldn't know her and adore her if she hadn't come from Portland, Oregon to meet "Mama Debinator" and Sue that SHE met through blogging.

Therefore, I wouldn't know Pam and forever be her stalker if it weren't for blogging.

I looked to Pam's left and grinned my goofy grin because there sat Sue from Vintage Rescue Squad cracking us all up. Ask her about speed dating sometime...

I wouldn't know and adore Sue if it weren't for blogging. Or... maybe I should say... I wouldn't have blackmail stories on Sue if it weren't for blogging. Do I plan on meeting up with her BEFORE the next show in Warrenton? You betcha. I'm a stalker... I will stalk her.

And to Sue's left sat my adopted sister, Kristi. There are no words to describe Kristi, so I'm not even going to try. But, I will say, she is one person that I hope to have in my life for the next 89 years. Many many many slumber parties where even while talking we will be watching the woods for Yeti's.

And... I wouldn't know Kristi if it wasn't for blogging.

That was just the few of us sitting around the table... I couldn't even BEGIN to name all who wandered in and out, braving the cow pastures and junk piles, drawn in to visit and dive in to conversation by the tie that binds...

we are all "bloggers".

Facebook is just as equally important to me, don't get me wrong. I adored each and every person that came up to me with a grin on their face saying, "I follow you on Facebook". It was so wonderful to meet you!!! I Thank You for reading my crazy status updates and following along with my shenanigans... half the time I'm not even sure what I'm doing - so I can't imagine what you think! LOL

I will admit - with one picture and one sentence - Facebook is an easier way to reach each of you - touch base with you and see what you're up to.

Would I ever quit blogging in favor of Facebook? No. Why? Because - for me - it is near impossible to build a relationship - adopt a family - fall in love - in one status update.

Through blogging I have built and added on to friendships and love by YOU reading and listening to my insanity - ME reading and listening to YOUR insanity... I've laughed with you, cried with you, celebrated with you and watched you create your magic...

and if I haven't met you yet, you can bet your roll of duct tape I want to. And I hope to. After all... you need a crazy red.neck stalker, right?

I THANK YOU for sharing you with me.


comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide where this post is proof... there is no way I could have told you how important you are to me in one status update...

Tuesday, April 10

Happy Easter! (belated)

I found Mary in Sweet T's (Garden Antqs Vintage) tent... isn't she gorgeous?!
Was it a morning like this
When the Son still hid from Jerusalem?
And Mary rose from her bed
To tend the Lord she thought was dead

Was it a morning like this
When Mary walked down from Jerusalem?
And two angels stood at the tomb
Bearers of news she would hear soon

Did the grass sing?
Did the earth rejoice to feel You again?

Over and over like a trumpet underground
Did the earth seem to pound "He is risen!"
Over and over in a never-ending round
"He is risen! Alleluia! Alleluia!"

Just because I was on the road with a trailer in tow doesn't mean I hopped, skipped and jumped Easter! I just lived it vicariously through YOU! How did you celebrate Easter so I know what I did? Did anyone save me a marshmallow bunny?

comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide where the Easter bunny left before I put him to work unloading my trailer... hee-hee

Wednesday, April 4

red.neck in the box...

Woke up this morning feeling a little boxed in...


so I'm gonna re-arrange red.neckville behind Zapp in a few minutes.

Wanna come help? Just follow the duct tape... and cardboard... and concrete... listen for the belly laughs and giggles... I dropped some SUDZ yesterday and it rained last night so you might follow the bubbles too...

comin' to you LIVE from a cow pasture where we really ARE having the "greatest show on dirt"!
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