The Gift of Serendipity & a Surprise

A new week is upon us Friends & along with that comes new Possibilities!

I believe in Serendipity.

The definition is:

1. The phenomenon of things coming together perfectly when you least expect them to.

 2. The effect by which one accidentally discovers something fortunate, especially while looking for something else entirely.

Thus has been, my amazing 'Gift of Friendship' from Diane Cook! 

{susie & diane at marburger farms last September}

Diane found me through my blog, although I don't know exactly how she came across it.

I do know she was taken with my Disneyland post & loved the design of my etsy shop banner.

She contacted me to help design a brand for her to use on her blog rosa & josie's, for hang tags on her beautiful line of jewelry & to help promote her classes on the art of making jewelry.

It was a simple design from a vintage cabinet card she had of two little sisters holding hands.

As I played with this image in PS, there were so many things I fell in love with. The little pleats in their matching skirts, the floral embroidery & piping that decorated them, the crispness of their shirts & of course, how tenderly they held each other's hands.

 

Who could have ever imagined that one design job would make soul sisters out of strangers, inspire me to create my own jewelry, introduce me to some of the greatest talents in the art of jewelry making, get me design jobs, motivate me to travel half way across the US to the great state of Texas to be a part of an Antique Experience like no other, indirectly introduce me to The Junk Gypsy's & Magnolia Pearl, directly introduce me to my gal pal Charlene Pearl of My Heart's Ease & unknowingly change my life forever!

I couldn't have!

{one of diane's displays at marburger farms}

Serendipity, right?

So, I go to Barnes & Noble to pick up an issue of Artful Blogging that I know Diane has been featured in. As I flip through the pages & see her article, I am overjoyed for this amazing & talented woman I now call friend.

Heading towards the checkout, I grab a Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine just for the heck of it, thinking that maybe an ad I recently worked on for Jeanette at fundametal.net might be in this issue.

Again, with the magic of serendipity, what a wonderful surprise I had in store!

As I slowly turned the pages, wanting to take in each exquisite article, I saw one that caught my eye...

A Necklace Round Robin by Cindy Wimmer of Sweet Bead Studios . How exciting, I know Cindy, Diane introduced us & I worked on a design job for her ArtBliss Workshop.
Then another...

Where Inspiration is Hatched by Ricki Schumacher of Riki Jewelry. How cool, she & I had just been emailing each other about setting up a time to work on some blog design, she liked the work Diane & I had done together.

And then, there it was...

The Art of Presentation, Her Grandmother's Wedding Veil

Artwork by Diane Cook...

and spread across 3 glorious pages, were the images of two little sisters holding hands.

{diane at her booth at marburger farm}

One of Diane's favorite sayings is...

Come join me...take my hand, as we travel on this journey called life....we will learn together.

Diane is the embodiment of generosity. She can never truly know what an amazing gift
she is to me.

Serendipity...

The effect by which one accidentally discovers something fortunate, especially while looking for something else entirely.
I BELIEVE!

XOXO

vintagesusie

rosa & josie's, diane cook at marburger farm

It's Saturday Sweet Hearts...what do you have planned for the weekend??  :)

I'm off to Kai's soccer game & then to my little shop, 'Lambs & Ivy Boutique', for my final weekend of sales. I can truly say I have absolutely NO REGRETS. I am thrilled with the idea of being able to travel this winter with my sweet hubby looking for JUNK & livin the Gypsy Life!

I thought I'd share some of my photo's of my dear friend Diane Cook's awesome booth at Marburger Farm. She is an amazing jewelry designer, my inspiration in my own jewelry creations & if not for her, I may never have even known about the fabulousness of the Texas Junky Lifestyle!

I ADORE her postcards & hang tags...

Who created these gorgeous designs? Silly me...I did, what am I thinkin?

{a shameless attempt at self promotion, lol}

Everything Diane touches is done with perfection & class, including her beautiful booth at Marburger!

Here she is the morning of opening day, she's so dear to me. I came to Texas for many reasons, but meeting my friend was at the top of my list!

This fabulous banner looked great as the entrance to her booth!

The image we used is from one of her family cabinet cards of two little sisters holding hands & she had the original photo in her booth. I was excited to finally get the chance to see it in person, it's so precious!

Her designs range from bracelets of leather & lace to necklaces of vintage crystals & beads.

Her Etched Layered Cuffs are beyond beautiful & were published in this Belle Amoire Jewelry magazine.

I LOVED this dress form bedazzeled with her designs...

Soooooo Yummmmmmy!

I was overjoyed when Diane gave me one of her ice resin necklaces that says, "Face Your Journey"!

How perfect is that sentiment for my 'Great Texas Adventure'...Thank You friend!

And then I had to have another one that said, 'Marburger Farm' with the cutest image in it. I wear them together ALL the time!

This is a new design she's come up with & will be teaching a class on how to make them. It's a sterling silver thimble filled with loveliness.

To find out more about Diane & her classes & jewelry designs, go visit her blog, rosa & josie's . You won't be disappointed!

And for me, I'm off to complete a portion of my

life's journey.

One door closing, as so many doors open.

Life's adventures are always unfolding, if we are only able to be brave enough to SEE with new eyes!

XOXO

sunset over tucson, hearts over texas & baby gypsy love

Good Evenin Sweet Hearts...

I wonder how long it will take for me to lose my southern accent? lol

It may take forever for me to lose my southern love.

As I head west following the sunset, my mind & heart are still in Texas.

I take so many delightful images with me like the ruffled britches & cowboy boots of a baby gypsy.

I call this one 'boots & band aids'...

an auntie's watchful eye over the littlest of gypsies...

& my most favoritest Junk Gypsy Model.
{she was very hungry}

For a moment, she had her eye on me...
but then, I had my eye on her too!

This all happened the night of Miss Theresa's Fabulous Blog Party & although it didn't win, my favoritest servin dish for the party was the lampshade!
My Darlin Diane of Rosa & Josie's & Treasured Theresa of Garden Antiques Vintage
enjoyin the evenin.

My sweetest of friends & my dearest of hearts...
they helped me see & find my way.
I never felt lost or alone or scared, cuz they were right there with me, holding my hand on this amazing journey.
Diane & Charlene,
{along with there hubby's Larry & Allen}
you are my Texas Angels!

Enough of that gushy stuff...back to the fields!!
Carolyn Westbrook was there signing her new beyond fabulous book,
The French Inspired Home.
This is a must have book filled with wonderful inspiration an beautiful photography!

This looks like I could be back at the Vintage Trailer Rally, but no...even better!

What could be even better then a Vintage Trailer Rally you may ask?

Sisterbelles Cupcakes!
Does the word yummmmmmmmmy ring a bell? Lemon was my favorite!
I know I ate more cupcakes then the legal limit!
If they had performed a breath analysis on me, it would have come back 100.00 percent sugar!

And who can forget...
The Junk Gypsy's Fabulous
Funny Money
Wheel!!!

Winning Animals...
Winning Numbers...
How does this sucker work???

Place yer bets Ladies & Gentlemen...
you too can be a winner at the Funny Money Wheel of Fortune!!!
How do they find this stuff??? LOL

I had to go to Royers Cafe while I was in Round Top...

If I didn't, it would be like going to Paris & not seeing the Eiffel Tower!

Do you think anybody would notice if I just happened to take this off the porch & put it in the back of the Durango??
Yeah...that's what I thought.

Wow, I feel so lucky!!! Everybody said this place would be packed & during show week, I could expect to wait upwards of an hour just get in the door!
What...their CLOSED!!!
Don't they know I drove all the way from California just to have a piece of pie here?

Well ladies...I got more then pie here!!!
I found a new boyfriend named Larry. Now, I know he's Charlene's hubby & all, but he's got such a sweet drawl & he says things to her like "if you want it baby, go get-it"!
Now how do you not fall in love with that??? Plus he likes cows that look like oreo's, I mean that's just cool! Now again, as usual I haven't told my hubby yet, so I would appreciate it if you would keep this on the down low for the time bein...till I get around to it. ;)

So friends, as I watch the sunset over the skies of Tucson...
I remember back to some small towns & back roads & open fields.
Of a blue sky & a big yella house & some soft pilla's & I think to myself...

I'm happy to be goin home so I can hug all my baby's, but I know I'll be comin back...
probably sooner then later! :)

XOXO

Congrats Judy & more for rosa & josie's

Congratulations Miss Judy for winning my 100th Friends Give-Away! I love the idea that even if I never get a chance to visit New Zealand, my handcrafted brooch, ring & necklace are going on an amazing adventure. They will travel in trucks & be loaded onto planes that will fly over vast oceans, that will land on an island & be delivered to the front porch of a friend. Life is amazing! {if only they could write, lol}

My wonderful friend, jewelry artist Diane Cook from rosa & josie's , & I worked together on another postcard design for one of her upcoming classes 'Rhinestones & Rosaries'. Her jewelry design is awesome & I'm extremely excited about the opportunity to feature some of her beautiful pieces here at my shop.

If you have a chance, stop by her lovely blog to say hi & take a look at some of her gorgeous jewelry, along with her scheduled upcoming classes & workshops. I sooooo wish I lived in Texas & could learn from the best, how to make my own vintage inspired art jewelry. {I don't know when, but I do know I WILL take one of her classes, it's part of my 'MUST DO' list!}

And to you Diane, a HUGE Thank You for all of your business, for your patience with me while I learn, for your insistence of excellence, for your referrals, for your lovely post & most importantly...for your friendship! I can't wait until September Friend!!!!

XOXO