I first became acquainted with Debi Mattingly over a year ago ~ I’m not even sure who contacted who first, I just know that through our few {but long!!} conversations, she has become someone whose brain I love to pick, and whose experience I value. Debi is the founder and creative force behind Yaya Chique ~ a retail store in Houston, Texas, and also debi lynn designs ~ an outlet for custom designed jewelry and home accessories.

Debi has recently premiered a new look on her website, YayaChique.com. The site is a compilation of Debi’s projects ~ a place where you can see pictures of her newest creations from debi lynn designs, read her Treasures Blog about the new Yaya Chique store opening soon, and also find showcased other up and coming designers that have that unique look “Mae West meets Stevie Nicks”.

Yaya Chique is first and foremost the home of debi lynn designs. Boutique owners who are interested in carrying the line can contact Debi directly for one-of-a-kinds and the limited editions that are found at market. Her reproduction work can be found at the Dallas and Atlanta markets with Donna at Virgins, Saints & Sinners.

The original Yaya Chique Store in Houston, Texas closed last spring so that Debi could move to a space closer to home and her core clientele. The store is re-opening soon and Debi is keeping her Treasures Blog readers updated daily with all it takes to open a retail store… The blog will showcase new products of both Debi’s work and other designers at least once a week.  Debi’s posts are fun to read and help you get into the heart and soul of Yaya Chique!!

With her busy schedule, unique spin on style, and infectious laugh, Debi and Yaya Chique are a brand that tugs on the heart strings and makes me want to be a part of the adventure every step of the way!!

thanks, debi!! xo,fancy

** Click HERE for more from Yaya Chique **

** Click HERE for more Stores we Love **

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The Lucky Star Gallery is owned by mother-daughter team Harriette & Missy Allison.  Based in Reno, Nevada, Lucky Star Gallery specializes in Western art, jewelry, home decor and leather accessories. In the last month the duo has launched a new website, The Lucky Star Leather Collection, an exclusive line of leather products that are one of a kind in their designs, quality, and classic Western style.

Each of the designs from The Lucky Star Leather Collection is the brain child of Harriette Allison.  Harriette won the prestigious Best of Show award at the Western Design Conference in 2009 for the beautiful Painted Ponies Chair {below}.  Harriette first began creating leather designs in the late nineties when she was hobbying around at night trying new techniques with wood dying and sewing.  Her first large project was an upholstered set of 1950’s wagon wheel furniture.  It was showcased in a store window and after raving reviews Harriette knew she had found a new art about which she could become passionate.

Every single item that you see in The Lucky Star Leather Collection is hand made in their shop in Reno.  Harriette designs and hand cuts the finest leathers for both inside and outside of each piece, while a local saddle maker hand stitches each item.  The work is the same quality as that of a saddle ~ it will last you a lifetime.

Harriette and Missy recently teamed up with jewelry designer Nancy Anderson from Sweetbird Studio to produce an exclusive line of handmade leather belts {ABOVE}.  Harriette has also been working on a new line of guitar straps like one seen with Juni Fisher {BELOW}.  In addition to offering custom straps for any musical instrument Harriette is also working on another new line of Western-Retro inspired handbags.

READ MORE After the Break >>>>>>>>>>>

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It’s going to be a BIG week here at the Cactus Creek Store in Weston, MO… we have a HUGE, gigantic shipment of Western & Americana antiques arriving late Tuesday evening ~ then two days to redo the whole store with all the new goodies, then next weekend, for Labor Day, we’re going to have a HUGE, gigantic SALE!!! 

I’ll post pics of the new goods as we unload them… Hope to see you this Labor Day 2010 weekend, it’s gonna be a good one.

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Cactus Creek STORE

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Most of you have probably perused Poppytalk Handmade, but in case you haven’t here’s a short introduction… Poppytalk Handmade is the brain child of a Vancouver based couple who seek to showcase handmade art from emerging artists.  They have a revolving selection of artist who show their wares on virtual “tables” ~ think of it as a virtual marketplace that you can visit any time day or night {not just on a chilly Saturday morning once a month in a local parking lot}.

Here are a few of my favorite artists from Poppytalk’s Aug ‘10 selection…

Horse Poncho from the Trendy Tot

Texas Wool Felt Pillow from Love, California
There are other states, too. All of them can be ordered.

Upcycled Sport Coat from Cleverscene

Madeleine Necklace from Nest Pretty Things
Sometimes a girl needs something PRETTY.

 
“Your Baby is Freaking Cute” Congrats Card from Colette Paperie

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New goods now in stock over at SchaefDesigns.com!!  Schaef Designs owner, Bobby, just returned from New Mexico with tons of new jewelry that she’s posting daily.  Check it out!!

** Click HERE for more **
Rustic * Western * Vintage FASHION

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LOVE this new Sheriff Sign in the Cactus Creek STORE… It’s available for your Rustic * Western * Vintage look!!  Super cute in a little boys room or in a basement…

Only $36
25″ x 12″ ~~ Double sided, this side is the best!!

Call 816.386.4013 & we can ship it yer way…

** Click HERE for more **
Cactus Creek GOODS

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Last week’s trip to the LAKE was the last hurrah before the boys started school last Wednesday.  1st Grade for the big boy, new preschools for the other boys.  I’m very ready, like every other Momma in the world, for a routine and some rules to live by for a while.  It was a great, though, having the 1st grader with me in the store every day this summer…

{Delivery basket designed for Shop Kid scooters for the purpose of delivering notes from one store owner to another.}

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Here at the Cactus Creek STORE we are super excited to be the newest home for Artist Cathy Kline.  Cathy is a native Kansas City resident who has been creating and teaching art for over 15 years.  We love Cathy’s aesthetic and are pleased to now have her original work here in the store… Here is more about Cathy in her own words, plus a few images of her fantastic work.

CACTUS: What path led you to become an artist?

CATHY: When I was a child, I picked up a pencil, and was forever changed as I watched it leave its mark. I knew as early as middle school that I would be a commercial artist someday. But even before that it was my mom. She was always making something out of . . . something else. And her creativity has always been an inspiration to me. For instance, what she saw in our ping-pong table. It was not how she hacked it into bits, per se, that was so creative. Instead, it was how each one of those newly worthless pieces of ping-pong table fit together so perfectly to form a quite beautiful, and very functional shelf/desk combination. She painted the shelf white, and added lavender and blue flowers to the desk. I was very happy to have it, even though I had to share it with my sister. Ping-pong was not missed.

There have been so many people and experiences that have shepherded me towards art that to identify all of them would be maddening, and to name them, life-consuming. But one in particular is too influential to leave out. Her name is Pat Lierly.

Pat Lierly was my Blue Bird and Camp Fire Leader. Her creativity nearly rivaled my mothers. Pat was incredibly gifted and will always be an inspiration to me. Her daughter, (and my best friend) Elaine Lierly Jones, is a local artist as well.

Selling an oil portrait in high school only confirmed what I had believed all my life; that I wanted to be an artist. But any type of artistic career, commercial or otherwise, had to come second to four boys. When my youngest entered high school, I finally had the time to get serious about a career. So I began pouring a foundation in hopes that by the time Mark graduated I would have something on which to build.

‘Robin’s Eggs’ original painting Now Available at the Cactus Creek Store ~ call 816.386.4013 for price & details

CACTUS: And you also teach art?

CATHY: At that time in my life, I had painted a float and done some graphic design for one of my son’s football teams. This led to a portrait here or there, and a mural every once in a while, all through word of mouth. This provided exposure, but it was not enough to build a career on. Had I not read the book, The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brainby Betty Edwards and Jeremy P. Tarcher, I might still be lucking my way form portrait to portrait to sporadic mural, fifteen years later, with no source of consistent income whatsoever. That book helped me to wrangle a truth stuck deep within my soul, drag it through the forefront of my mind, and deposit it, almost gift-wrapped, on the tip of my tongue. When I put that book down, I discovered within myself the ability to teach. And not by photocopying the book’s pages or stealing its lessons, but by cultivating my newly found ability to articulate a truth of which I had long been simultaneously aware and ignorant. That book TAUGHT me what I already knew.

Even now, I am not what one might call super successful, and I do not expect to strike it rich as an artist. However, I have had my victories and to this point a surprisingly fulfilling career and it is doubtful that I would feel that way without the anchor that my weekly classes have become. I have had a class, in some form or another, for the last fifteen years, and I have no plans of stopping.

‘Cows’ original painting Now Available at the Cactus Creek Store ~ call 816.386.4013 for price & details

More from Cathy Kline after the break below…

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Good afternoon all… this is a note for all of the BLOGGERS out there who are planning to attend Round Top Antique Week this Fall 2010 & interested in complimentary tickets from Marburger Farm.  Let me start with a quick round up about Round Top for those of you who don’t know about it…

Forty years ago a little lady name Emma Lee Turney launched an event in Round Top, TEXAS selling antiques.  Round Top is located smack dab in the middle of Houston and Austin on Hwy 237 and Emma Lee’s Antique Show was widely attended by Houston’s socialites.  Over the last four decades it has grown to be one of the biggest and best Antique Shows in the country, if not the world.  Round Top Antique Week isn’t just one show, it is now comprised of hundreds of Antique Shows & Sales, all in a 20 mile {or so} area around Round Top, Texas, and takes place twice yearly in the spring and fall. 

One of our favorite shows to attend during Round Top Antique Week takes place at Marburger Farm.  In fact Marburger Farm was named one of the Top TEN by Country Living Magazine…

Sooo, here’s what’s happening at Marburger Farm this Fall 2010… If you are a BLOGGER then Marburger Farm has free tickets & a gift for YOU!!

Marburger Farm is the premiere shopping venue during Round Top Antique Week.  The event covers 43 acres and almost 400 antique vendors who bring everything from fine European Antiques to Industrial Country Antiques to Recycled Art.  The merchandising and ideas that come from Marburger Farm are on the forefront of trends you’ll be seeing in the Antique and Vintage Marketplace.  This is an event that you
SHOULD NOT MISS this Sept 28 ~ Oct 2!!

 If you plan to attend Round Top Antique Week ~ and blog all about your BIG adventures along the way ~ then Marburger Farm would like to know about it and comp your admission to the Marburger Farm Antique Show, plus offer you a few gifts before your arrival.

So here’s what you need to do to receive FREE ADMISSION to Marburger Farm for this Fall ‘10 Round Top Antique Week…

(1) Post about your upcoming trip to Round Top, and your plans to attend Marburger Farm Antique Show

(2) Leave your URL in the COMMENTS section below.

(3) I’ll contact you for your address & info, and voila ~ you’ll receive TWO TICKETS to Marburger Farm + a gift. 

Tickets are limited so y’all hurry.  THANKS!!!  Holler at me at cactus_creek@hotmail.com if you have any questions… fancy

** For more INFORMATION about **
Round Top Antique Week check out
Cactus Creek’s Round Top GUIDE

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Barn Sales, Farm Auctions, Middle-o-nowhere Estate Sales… for me these are the best places to find grungy old garage & gardening elements.  Still, the perfect wooden ladder for re-purposing is becoming more and more difficult to find.  But oh the beauty of a good ol’ ladder… and all the things you can do with one!! 

Ladder Pot Rack ~ you could even hang a chandelier from the LADDER for a fun & funky lighting fixture!!  Image via WomansDay.com

In our Flea Market Shopping List we have a long list of objects you should never pass up, after finding all of these fantastic ideas wooden ladders are on the top of my list!!  Makes me want to run away to a million little towns this weekend and track down the perfect ladder specimen…

LOVE this Ladder Shoe Rack Idea from Country Living, Sept 2009

Sideways Ladder Shelf ~ Image via Ette Studios

Image via Country Living, June 2010

Re-Cycle * Re-Purpose * Re-LOVE

This idea will be featured this morning on the Junk in my Trunk Radio Show {JIMT} which airs every Monday, Thursday & Saturday from 10am till 11am on Kansas City’s 1140am KCXL & 1160am KCTO. You can also LISTEN LIVE on the Internet… visit JunkMafia.com and click on the Little Red Radio at the bottom of the page.