JUNKIN' JUBLIATION

Hey, Y'all! Oh my goodness-just like that we've slipped from September to October! I lost track of time, news headlines, and the latest TV drama because Mattie Mae (my old SUV) kept taking us south toward the "pastures of plenty" almost every day for a week and a half. Not that I minded. As a matter of fact, it was like driving to junkin' wonderland everyday! I used my drive-time to appreciate the blooming cotton fields that looked like fresh snow. I listened to Austin radio and caught up on lots of great live music performed at Austin City Limits. I snacked on almonds, apricots, and drank gallons of tea. I even worked on plotting for my latest Jimmie Rae adventure, VINTAGE MURDER and I drove...and drove!

As I veered off the Indy-paced Texas Highway 290 and onto the take-your-hat-off-and-stay-awhile pace of Texas 237 my heart always fluttered in anticipation of what junkin' happiness could be awaiting in those fields of plenty. 

One day I took a gravel farm to market road and after a washed out bridge, 'road closed' sign, and a few other country road detours, I arrived at The Prairie by Rachel Ashwell. 

 

 It was worth all the extra miles!

 

 

The Prairie is truly a special place. If you can't make it there in person--Rachel has a new book featuring The Prairie and all things Round Top, Texas. 

On other days I hit the fields with my trusty shopping cart looking for unusual and needful things...

 

However, most importantly, I hung out with lots of great junkin' friends--like Betsy from Sisters Treasures at their booth at Zapp Hall Antiques Show. Yes, it was warm and humid as most days are in south central Texas, but we had a great time visiting and meeting shoppers from one coast to the other...lots of new junkin' friends. 

And on Saturday evening, a glorious "Northerner" came through and left us with this beautiful sunset and cooler temps!

Here are a few of my fresh picks.Betsy sold me the wonderful vintage metal peacock garden love seat which I lovingly crammed into the back of Mattie Mae. She actually sold me two! I'll sell one and keep the other...for now. 

 Until next time sweet friends, 

Peace, love, and 

all the good stuff to y'all!

LOOKING DOWN THE ROAD

Hey, Y'all! After a busy summer and a hectic, crazy year, I'm taking a little time off from road-trippin and setting up at Vintage Markets  and Antique Shows. However, being the enthusiastic JUNKER I am, I never seem to take a 

break from "pickin'." So my booth at Hermann Antique Mall will be getting a whole lotta love and attention in the coming weeks. I have totes

and totes of all things rusty, cowgirl, garden, lacy, vintage, 
primitive,  dainty, and industrial that 

will be making its way to Brenham for the autumn junkin' season. 

I'm also very excited to be a part of the Rusted Gingham Barn Sale in Gonzales the first 

weekend of November. I'll be setting up a truckload of FRESH "Victorian Cowgirl" themed treasures!

Until then, I'll be presenting, "Flea Markets, Funky Old Stuff and Murder, Oh My!" to 

the Heart of Texas Sisters in Crime Mystery Writers group in Austin September 8. 

They've asked me to present how old stuff could possibly become incorporated into a mystery novel...I'm beyond thrilled to be asked to explain how that can and does happen (at least to me!) Which leads me to 

mention what is happening with VINTAGE MURDER, the second book in the Jimmie Rae Flea Market Mystery series. To be honest, I'm still working on the manuscript--I know, I know...I said I'd be done already and have it available by the end of the year. I'm still learning a lot about publishing and although the book will technically be "finished" well before then, there's a lot of pre-release marketing and reviewing that needs to happen. I'm working to do just that to the best of my abilities, but it puts VINTAGE MURDER at a LAUNCH date of March 2014...just in time for the SPRING TEXAS ANTIQUES WEEK! In the meantime, look for some fun contests AND GIVEAWAYS, a-hot-off-the-press-Jimmie Rae Junkin' newsletter, the VINTAGE MURDER cover release, and lots of vintage wedding info...hopefully you'll understand and it will be worth the wait. 

Until then, here's the "blurb" for VINTAGE MURDER. 

Love is in the air for everyone but Jimmie Rae. Maxine Huntington and Steve Devine are engaged and the wedding planning is in full swing. Even her Grandmother Star has found romance. All is going as well as can be expected until something blue is wrapped around the wedding planner's throat and she is found murdered near Blessings Antique Mall. 
What's a girl to do when all the clues point back to her best friend as the primary suspect? It's a whole lot easier to host a pin-up girl bachelorette party than to investigate a case with more twists than a funky macrame plant hanger. 
Jimmie Rae goes beyond her duties as maid of honor to hurry and solve the murder so Maxine can be taken off the suspect list and the wedding can go on as scheduled. 
What she discovers leads her to believe she may not know her best friend as well as she thought she did. Only the admission of a strange secret past can free Maxine. But will her revelation leave her broken-hearted at the altar and directly into the trap of the killer? Can Jimmie Rae save not only their friendship, but her best friend before it's too late?
Stay tuned....

My last happy thought for this post...six weeks until FALL TEXAS ANTIQUES WEEK!! 

Until next time,

Peace, love, and all the good stuff, sweet friends!

BLUEBONNETS, FRIENDS, AND JUNK--OH, MY!

Hey, Y'all! Hope Spring has found you in your neck of the woods/prairie. Spring has definitely made its way in all its glory to the Brazos Valley and south central Texas prairie--it has been resplendent with a bounty of Bluebonnets just in time for Texas Antiques Week. This go-around I was only able to do a little junkin' due to family scheduling and threatening spring thunderstorms. Never-the-

less a junker has to do what a junker has to do--wear your rain boots and junk FAST! Here's a glimpse of what I saw in the lovely cow pastures at the Warrenton and Zapp Hall Antique Shows. 

Love this little vintage trailer!

Junkin' to your heart's desire!

Got skates?  I'm thinkin' Roller Derby fun for all. 

This great old truck body reminded me of "Old Blue,"
 Jimmie Rae's trusty vintage truck. It was for sale
as an architectural  piece! Pretty cool. 

This is a fun combo of cool sign with concrete statuary
and olive trees.  They had  wonderful garden stuff.

Here's the inside of their booth--fab french garden items!

The one and only incredible Jill Suzanne!! A wonderful creative soul and person. 

The entrance to Jill Suzanne's whimsical venue.

The Girls at Junk Gypsy had their usual
AWESOME vibe goin' on. Love this star-spangled vignette!

A Junk Gypsified rockin' picnic vignette.

The Junk Gypsies always have a FABULOUS photo booth.  Smile!

Wouldn't ya love to do a little JUNK dreamin' here?
 Find the goods at Junk Gypsy--www.gypsyville.com

And don't forget the Junk Gypsies' "Large Marge!" 

Sharin' some LOVE from the cow pastures of Warrenton Antiques Week!

Isn't this a lovely table scape using lots of cool vintage items? Love the colors!

The Girls at Rodeo Royalty Roadshow had a fantastic
Americana, gypsy-soul, funky booth--including this amazing gypsy wagon!

 This is their granny's crocheted doily inspired sofa--very cool! 

As the clouds got darker and the wind picked up, I took the cue and headed back to my SUV with my fresh treasures, giant ice tea from Royer's, and happy Junkin' vibes in my heart. 

I know the magic will happen in the cow fields again in a few short months.

 Until next time, sweet friends...
Peace, love, and all 
the good stuff to y'all!