Over the last month the Cactus Creek STORE has had a bit of a growth spurt.  Mid October we were presented with an opportunity to move into a different space in downtown Weston, MO ~ after about 2 seconds of consideration we didn’t just jump into it, we took a Gi*Normous LEAP of FAITH and moved everything into a 2000 sq foot space across the street from our old place, and also increased our hours to be
OPEN Tuesday thru Saturday from 10am till 5pm.

Before I get into the nitty gritty details of the new space let me tell you what’s happening this weekend {Nov. 21st & 22nd, 2009}… Every December Weston MO hosts a Christmas Homes Tour with several homes dressed in their best Christmas cheer.  This weekend’s annual tour will include four antebellum homes along with two downtown lofts of the same era {I’m especially excited to see the lofts!!}.  

Father Christmas will also be roaming the streets… it’s not too late to get your pictures with him for Holiday cards!!  Sooo, be sure to visit Weston this weekend to fill your soul with a little Christmas Cheer and of course, swing by the new Cactus Creek STORE.  We’ll be open all day Saturday and we’re excited to show off our new space ~ hope to see you!!!!!

For more info visit WestonMO.com

Now that business is taken of I’m excited to share all of the details about the new Cactus Creek STORE.  Let me warn you, this is a long one… As some of you know we opened our first Cactus Creek Store almost ten years ago when we operated out of the barn behind our home, then we moved into a large store in Weston MO.  Before I had boy #2 we closed that space because, frankly, I was totally overwhelmed with such a big store and the idea of also being a mommy to two.  I’ve never once regretted closing that store ~ it was the right thing to do at the time.  I needed a break to spend time with babies {boy #3 came within another year after that}, and I also took some time to help my husb launch his business.  I also had the opportunity to start CactusCreekDaily.com which has helped me to see my own business, and the Western * Rustic * Vintage market in general, in a whole new light.

Last April we opened a new Cactus Creek STORE in a teeny~tiny space here in Weston MO… the idea was to have an office for me to work out of for the website and also to meet with the decorating clients that I’ve continued to work with over the last few years.  We’ve also had several special events featuring artists and trunk shows throughout the summer.  Well, after that new little space was open for about two weeks, I got bit reallllly badly by the ‘merchant bug’.  I quickly realized that I was ready for another real store, even though that was the last thing I was expecting for myself.

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I have recently become acquainted with a couple of uber~talented artists here in the KC area.  They are Beautiful * FUN * Creative women with spot~on Rustic * Western * Vintage STYLE.  This weekend they are all going to get together and steal my money.  Oops, what I meant to say is that they’re going to have a killer Holiday Variety Market that will fill 98% of your gift giving needs {no white socks for Grandpa, otherwise you’re golden}.

Holiday Variety Market, which will take place south of Kansas City in Stilwell, Kansas, is a cozy little marriage of local artisian products, local music, farmers market & vintage market. 

Don’t miss this, y’all ~~  it’s going to be a dandy!!

thanks, melinda…xo,fancy

** Click HERE for more GIFT Ideas **

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Looking for more gift ideas??  Our good friends, Rhett & Kelly Johnson, are an awesome artist couple whose creativity has no bounds.

Both Rhett and Kelly have a spectacular portfolio, in fact Rhett did a show at the Cactus Creek STORE a few months ago {pics HERE} that was a big hit, but he is particularly well known this time of year for his snow dome ornaments…

Rhett and Kelly search antique shops and junk stores for vintage imagery of the holiday. The images are printed and encased in metal cases that Rhett fabricates from flat stock in his studio. He then vacuum forms the lens out of acrylic. On the back is engraved RHETT. A jump ring and piece of ribbon allow you to hang the ornaments.

Many people collect one of Rhett’s Snow Dome Ornaments for themselves and friends each year, always looking forward to his new designs the next Holiday Season and now they’re available on ETSY… just in time for the BIG DAY!!  Click HERE to see Rhett’s entire collection currently available.

Also now available on ETSY are several of Kelly’s WESTERN NECKLACES.  One~of~a~kind art that can be worn with the hippest of Western Fashion ~ who wouldn’t want these as a Christmas gift??

** Click HERE for more from Rhett & Kelly **

** Click HERE for more JEWELRY **

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Cry Baby Ranch in Denver, Colorado isn’t just a shopping venue, it is an ethereal experience that will make your senses come alive…  Whether it is strolling through the vibrant space on foot, or touring the hot inventory via the World Wide Web ~ it is one place that I can always go for BIG inspiration and a serious lift me up.  I recently had the opportunity to visit with the owner of Cry Baby Ranch, Roxanne Thurman.  We had a great time comparing notes as merchants, and I loved learning more about the history of Cry Baby Ranch.  So here’s the poop…

Cry Baby Ranch first opened its doors in 1989.  I was surprised to learn that when Cry Baby started it was as a temporary store for the holiday season that was only going to last for six weeks.  At the time Roxanne was doing collectible shows and had worked on a window display using the 1950’s cowboy kitsch that was her specialty… someone took notice of the spirited window and the next thing she new Roxanne was setting up a small store.  Little did she know that twenty years, and four locations later, Cry Baby Ranch would be an important fixture both in downtown Denver, as well as in the entire Western store industry.

Like many retailers that you talk to, Cry Baby Ranch did not start off with a great vision. Instead it has evolved into it’s own unique setting offering clothes, boots, jewelry, gifts and home decor ~ all with a blast of color, a BIG sense of humor, and a definitive nod toward the Wild West.  In the beginning Cry Baby was a collectibles store that leaned towards vintage western merchandise. 

Roxanne soon realized that she was either going to have to start charging admission to the museum, or else have things that people could buy.  This is a learning curve that many retailers have had to navigate ~ finding and evolving the mix between having a store that “looks great” and “has great stuff

For Roxanne adding wearables made a huge difference for her product mix.  She started carrying clothes and jewelry one bit at a time… one style of boots, then a small women’s section, then a small men’s section.  After all of these incarnations Cry Baby has become a small boutique store that has all of the right categories and combinations of merchandise to make even the most discriminating shoppers flop on a BIG, Happy SMILE. 

 Roxanne’s advice to other retailers:  “don’t look back, you can’t do anything about it anyway. The product mix evolves the way it’s supposed to and sometimes you don’t know what will work till you try it.”

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Just thought that I’d let y’all know… AJ’s Western Wear is holding a GIVEAWAY on its website for a Western Style Horse Shoe Purse.

It’s easy to enter {and, hello??, it’s FREE}.
You’ll find all the details right HERE.

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

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Belinda Bell’s tribute to Native American cowboy Jackson Sundown, the 1916 saddle bronc champion at the Pendleton Round-Up, is currently being featured on the Cowboys & Indians Magazine website right HERE. You will also be able to see it in this December’s 2009 issue {George Strait is on the cover, hubbity, hubbity} ~ in the “On the Horizon” section.

This image, along with a couple more, are now available from our friends at Sierra Western Wear… wahoo!!! Keep on reading to get all the skinny…

“Jackson” Pendleton Saddle Bronc Champion Print

Here’s some trivia for you…

** There is a small buckskin bag tied in his braid behind his ear with a horsefly… he believed that the only way a horse could get rid of a horsefly was to go over on its back ….. the only way a horse could get rid of Jackson was to do the same.

** ‘Weyekin’ is written on the silohuette of the saddle bronc which is interpreted as ”one with horses”.

** Jackson’s traditional Indian name in Nez Perce is written at the top.

“Jackson Sundown” Print  {more trivia…}

** The number on his back was 109 when he won Pendleton.

** The horses name was Angel which is the meaning behind the text “Saddle Up and find your Angel”.

** The buckskin bag with the horsefly is tied in his braid.

** Jackson traditionally wore a big white ribbon to tie down his cowboy hat, he also has on his famous poka dotted shirt, and
last but not least ….. it is Sundown in Pendleton with the sunset and tepees in the background.

……………………………………………………………………………….

Jackson, who was Chief Joseph’s nephew, always wore traditional regalia ….. in fact he was known for his brightly colored shirts.  Another important fact, Jackson was 53 years old when he won the Pendleton Round-Up saddle bronc championship.  Further proof that one is never too old to fulfill their wildest fantasies.

I love the colors and whimsy that Bell has infused in these images… her notecards are also pretty stinkin’ cute!!

 ALL of this {and much more} is now available at Sierra Western Wear… time to get shoppin’!! 

** Click HERE for more ART & GIFTS **

** Click HERE for more from Sierra Western**

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Holy CUTENESS!!  One of my very favorite artist duos, Brad & Sundie Ruppert from Vintage Sculpture, are offering a line of gifts UNDER $35.  Original DESIGNS * Original ART * for a teeny~tiny price. 
Get ‘em while they’re HOT!!! 

** Click HERE to place your ORDER today!!! **

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** Click HERE for more from Vintage Sculpture **

** Click HERE for more ARTISTS you’ll LOVE **

Yesterday I spent most of the day at Will Wyatt’s where Ree Drummond {a.k.a. The Pioneer Woman} was visiting for a book signing. Now I know that most of you know exactly who The Pioneer Woman is and that I might look silly explaining it, but for the 1% of you who don’t know what I’m talking about {ahem, husband, pay attention}, here’s a VERY brief overview.

I also did not know of this Pioneer Woman, a ravishing phenonmenon in American Culture, until just a couple of months ago.  I still don’t know much but here goes…

1. The Pioneer Woman is a blog that is written by Ree Drummond.




2. On her blog Ree Drummond writes about her hubs {whom she affectionately calls Marlboro Man}, their four children, homeschooling, photography, cooking, and her life on a ranch.




3. She is self deprecating in a charming way that people can relate to… much the way you are with your best friends in the most honest of moments.




4. According to what my husband has seen in the few pics I showed him, she is “good lookin’”.  He’s right ~ actually she’s gorgeous, in pics and in person also.




5. On October 27th, 2009, Ree’s Cookbook, “The Pioneer Woman Cooks”, was released.




6. She is currently on a whirlwind book tour that is bringing women and men alike, out of the rafters, and into long lines that they never thought they would endure just to meet a rancher’s wife from Oklahoma.




7. Her readers/fans feel a deep connection to Ree and her journey ~ they laugh with her, cry with her, cook, snap pictures, educate and love with her.  Her followers hold her up on a sturdy pedestal. 

We all need an icon and from my perspective down here, The Pioneer Woman reminds us that no matter how simple our lives may seem, they each have exquisite details that we should embrace ~ what a divine lesson.

Also, you should buy one of these cookbooks for every woman you know ~ they will make for a very merry HOLIDAY.

And now, more pics from Will Wyatt’s Cowboy Couture…
’cause I just can’t get enough… 

Jennifer Becker {owner of Will Wyatt’s}& Ree Drummond

Vintage Sculpture
{note the boots in the reflection… ahh, heaven.}

Montana Dreamwear 

Montana Dreamwear

** Click HERE for more BOOKS **
that would make great GIFTS

** Click HERE for other Blogs we LOVE **

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Everywhere you look you see knee high boots… no doubt they’re all the rage and super hot.  On the other end of the spectrum is the trend for cropped boots {a.k.a. ankle boots}.  These can be tough to pull off, especially if you have calves that are even a tad bit “shapely”… but they are perfect for pairing with boot-cut jeans and I especially love them combined with a sleek suit ~ a sharp look for cowgirls making a big impression during the work week. 

Some fashionistas may suggest wearing the ankle/cropped boots with short skirts or mini dresses.  If you can pull it off then by all means, go for it.  As for me and my “shapely” legs, I’m sticking with jeans…

Which pair is your favorite??  I’m torn between the Moccasin Booties and the Calla Lilly Boots from Back at the Ranch.  And the Gene Autry Boots from Caboots…. hmmm.

** Click HERE for another trend: FRINGE **

** Click HERE for more FASHION **

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After a week of PERFECT weather here in the Midwest, winter is on the way… not such a bad thing.  It’ll get us in the mood for the holidays and who doesn’t love that first snowfall and getting the fireplace started??  With those thoughts running through my head I came across these folks, The Slag Works.  Specializing in custom iron work, Barry Stromberger is the owner and sole artist behind the beautiful iron pieces that The Slag Works produces.

I was extremely impressed by Barry’s work and the DETAILS in his pieces.  They are not overly extravagant, but instead they are quietly beautiful and quite stunning.

I’m short on words today {shocking I know} so I’ll let the images do the talking and hope that this work from The Slag Works inspires something in your home.  Please contact Barry for more information about his work and custom designs.

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