Jewels and Jitterbuggin

What better way to end our Paris Montana or Bust Mid-Summer Tour than with a farmer's tan and a little spontaneous jitterbuggin in a field of sweet grass with a bona fide ranch hand!

We whirled and twirled and I may have been a little breathless in the end, but I still had all the moves (at least on the dance floor!) of those gorgeous horsewomen we met at the Event at Rebecca Farms, where we spent our last week in Montana.

These gals were the best of the best riders here for the Olympic tryouts. But, just like we suspected...when something glittery caught their eye, they couldn't help stopping by to see what Paris Montana was all about.

As always we made a bunch of new friends and sent them all off with Paris Montana baubles and bling.

We are making our way back to Arizona and will let ya'll know where we plan to be next.

See you down the road!

Paris Montana or Bust Summer Tour 2009

Can't believe it's only been a little less than two weeks since my fabulous friend and amazing artist Meg Harper and I packed the Jeep to the gills and left Arizona with the Paris Montana Airstream trailer (aka Blacktop Jewel Box Boudoir) in tow to do the Montana Circuit!

In this pic is my gorgeous Mom (photographer asked if she was a model) me and my sister Kimberlee at the ArtFest in Livingston.

My future is in bonds
How do you put a value on your family showing up wherever you are to set up and sell all weekend just so we can all be together? And what about my best mate Grant flying in for the weekend to spend some time together?

Some families have a trust fund for security. We have invested in bonds that have nothing to do with money but produce dividends beyond what any one of us will ever need to be well cared for in this lifetime (That and I always have a warm bed, clean towels and People magazine when I show up).

I feel like a grammy winner where so many great people and opportunities led to where you are standing right now that your mind short circuits on what to say and who to thank and the gratitude tears start flowing....

BUT here are a couple of Paris Montana of Bust Tour 2009 Highlights:

Before leaving I got my copy of the totally boho chic mag/rag Blissfully Traveled, published by Divine Diva Tricia Samsal. Paris Montana was on the cover AND we got a full page of wonderful photos. Thanks Tricia! You can find her and her wonderful creations through the Domestic Bliss Studio website/blog.

Driving through Zion National Park, Yellowstone National Park and coming over "The Top of the World" Beartooth Pass with the trailer in tow.

Stopping first in the town of Virgin and then in Beaver to to get "I love Beaver" bumper stickers, hats and tee shirts for our men. (Seriously, you can't not...)

Our first show was in Livingston, MT over the 4th. It is a picturesque town surrounded by 3 mountain ranges. The show was a blast AND Paris Montana won Best Booth and Best of Show! It was a huge honor and we got our picture in the Bozeman Chronicle.

Butte was...well, Butte. Somehow this historic, rough and tumble mining town of 30,000 won the bid for the International Folk Festival. 70,000 people descended over 3 days. The music was amazing and we sold lots of Paris Montana baubles and bling.

This is a week of hiking, biking, writing and rest in Missoula, my alma mater and favorite Montana watering hole.

Gypsies always on the go...we are off to Polson next week for the Cherry Blossom Festival.

See you down the road...

Strawberry Shortcakes

We had so much fun and made a lot of new friends at the Strawberry Festival. Here are pics of some of our best customers...

(Cutie patootie in pink is my wonderful friend Karen's daughter, Princess Leah.)

Favorite Strawberry moments:

Little boy walked up and pulled 2 crumpled dollars and some change out of his pocket and said, "What do you got for $4? I want to buy something for my mom. She likes black."

And the little girl (above with her brother) who, upon receiving her shiny princess ring (dug out of my magic 'stuff' bag that always seems to produce the right thing at the right time), declared, "We just had a litter of kittens. Would you like a girl or a male?"

I told her while I thought it was a very generous trade indeed, I really couldn't properly care for a kitten on the road.

Life is a blessed thing...

Strawberry with Pancakes on Top

Tomorrow we are off to the northern Arizona town of Strawberry for a 2-day festival in the sunshine...How delightful sounding is that? Again, pinch me...Instead of boarding a plane in my black travel suit, I will be wearing a gypsy dress, going barefoot and hanging out in a place much like I would imagine...Candyland (Remember that childhood game? Anyone....) to be.

I imagine the weather will be wonderful; the town cheery and sweet. But what I look forward to most, what will bounce me out of bed tomorrow morning, is the promise of meeting and connecting with wonderful new customers who always seem to find us. And going on treasure hunts through all our latest finds for just the right bauble or vintage piece to complete a look or brighten a day.

I know it's just a little thing, but for me, it's enough, to see somebody who seems a little harried or beaten down, spend some time finding a little something just for herself that doesn't strain her budget and makes her feel like a million bucks!

That and a greasy spoon that serves pancakes with real maple syrup and I will be complete.

Safe travels. See you down the road, Heidi

Let er rip!

So I've noticed that a lot of us high energy creative gypsy types seem to have "been through the wringer" (as my mother would say) a time or two when it comes to our men and relationships.

I had my heart ripped out and trampled on a couple years ago when my husband of 13 years up and left me. I was in the 1% minority of women who didn't have a clue that he was leaving till he was out the door.

I spent the better part of a year blaming myself for being so willful and independent. Why couldn't I have been a little more Stepford and a lot less Mae West? (I tried. I learned to play golf for cryin out loud!)

Then one day I woke up and thought "screw it!" I am going to let my light shine as bright as I want. I am going to be loud and full of ideas. I'm going to grow my hair back long and sing Free Bird out the car window at the top of my lungs.

My true self is what I was owning up to when I recently met my true match and mate. He said I talked to fast. Made his head hurt. Was careless with my heart, time and money and a total pain in the a*** And, that it was vitally important to do whatever it took to protect my childlike nature because that was more beautiful than all the clutter and chaos I could create.

I have felt mostly lucky in my life...But this was one of those moments when I felt truly blessed to have another chance at love being who I really am.

I believe that when it comes to men, and most matters, letting them see you "let er rip" is where Grace lives.

Bless you sistas...and the men who love us...anyway!

Genteel Poverty

When asked during an interview where her creativity originally sprang from, Robin Brown "Pearl" of whimsically fantastic Magnolia Pearldom responded "poverty and imagination."

I love that. I learned the hard way that making lots of money doesn't necessarily make you rich. While I am grateful for the business experience and the lessons (and ok, the Ritz Carlton) I learned in the corporate world, there was not much room for my imagination to roam.

It was only after my mini empire collapsed that I began to feel my life again and to experience everyday stuff in a whole new way. And to appreciate what I already have. And to wear my fabulous jewels...

There is still that business cougar in me that wants to grow my little business into something bigger and better and magically fantastic...And I believe I shall...Only this time I am leading with my heart.

ps-Trust yourself to know the next move - wisdom from amazing fitness instructor I had somewhere along the way.

Duck Tape and Gorilla Glue

Somehow I ended up in this do-it-yourself world without the crafty gene. Creative? yes. Sewing, measuring, sawing? no. BUT I don't let it stop me. My secret weapons of choice? Duck Tape and Gorilla Glue. Works on 92.7% of whatever I need done... (Like glueing my beloved Paris Montana skull back together AGAIN after a particulary nasty crash and burn.)

That and a fabulous pair of pearls will get a girl through almost anything.

You don't throw a life away because it's banged up a little...You patch it with Duck Tape and Gorilla Glue and get on your horse and ride... Seabiscuit Movie + Paris Montana wisdom