In their first book, the Junk Gypsies—sisters and stars of the popular Texas-born brand and HGTV show—combine big dreams, stories of roadside treasures found, and down-home design projects inspired by epic makeovers for friends like Miranda Lambert, Billie Joe Armstrong, and Sadie Robertson.
Amie and Jolie Sikes, the Thelma and Louise of the design world, are the Junk a family with an addiction to flea markets, wanderlust, and Americana inspired design. In their world, cowgirls are heroes, road trips last forever, and junk is treasured.
Beginning with a little bit of faith and a whole lot of heart and soul, the sisters travelled the back roads of America like gypsies, collecting roadside trinkets and tattered treasures while meeting kindred spirits and lively characters along the way. With a mix of hippie, rock n’ roll, southern charm, and big dreams, these small-town Texas girls became restless wanderers and owners and operators of their dream business and bohemian brand, Junk Gypsy.
Filled with stories from their unique journey as well as DIY projects and bohemian inspired designs, Junk Gypsy is a tribute to all the rowdy gypsies, crafty junkers, free-spirited romantics, and true-blue rebels who have ever dared to dream big.
Calling all Junkers, DIYers, Flea Market pickers, and lovers of all things chippy-peely, this book is Magic and Grit and ya'll it's for you. It's not just the story of The Junk Gypsies, it has diy projects, pro tips, flea market guides, road trip playlists, and so much more. I read it in one sitting, I couldn't put it down. Then I re-read it, and then read it again. Amie and Jolie speak openly and honestly and you would swear they are speaking right to you. It's funny, heartwarming, and inspirational. Every time I read it, I found something new to motivate and inspire me. If you are at the crossroads of wonder & wander, if you are struggling to understand that mysterious pull of the open road, if you have a wandering heart, a diy soul, or just a beginner junker, this book is for you. Welcome to Gypsyville.
What an amazing and inspiring story. This book is more than just junk (although it has a glorious amount of that,) but it is a story of family. The Sike's family are amazing people that you think could only exist in fairy tales. Mama and Daddy Sikes sent there daughters off to University with the expectation that they would happily enter corporate America, but the sisters souls were restless. They knew this was not their passion and left their secure futures to pursue their dreams. They knew they had a gypsy spirit and bringing life back to old and discarded items was their mission. They do it with grace, God, grit and a whole lot of glitter! This book will inspire even non junk gypsies to follow their arrow and pursue what they love!
Fantastic book. Beautiful to look at and fun to read. I didn't even need a bookmark because I just kept reading and reading while sipping some sweet tea... now off to make those biscuits & find some good junk!
I actually read every single page of Junk Gypsy: Designing a Life at the Crossroads of Wonder & Wander. This isn't just a picture book, or a book to just skim through, though you could. It's a heartfelt journey with Amie and Jolie Sikes as they find their Gypsy soul. Very freeing and inspiring. As soon as I finished it, before I could sit down to write this review, I had to go in and get my very few pieces of saved jewelry and drape them on the dress form in my room. I had to free a little gypsy soul. It's ok...
Funny story: I was listening to NPR on Friday when they reviewed Miranda Lambert's new album "The Weight of these Wings" ...a.k.a...her divorce album, and decided to listen to it on Spotify today. OMG! So good!! I'm a officially a Miranda fan forever now.. Grab this book on a whim at the library later in the day and guess what...Junk Gypsies designed Mirandas' tour bus and vintage air steams trailers. I tend to go between loving this style and Scandinavian minimalism so we will see where this goes. FIVE STARS FOR A CRAFT BOOK! Well done ! Cheers & Beers!
Great photos, interesting story of how the sisters created their life. Inspiring in that sense. But in terms of diy- the instructions are so generic that if you are a beginner it would probably be a disaster. For example: the curtain made out of T-shirt’s instructions basically says- cut out squares, sew together. Um, ok. If you already know what you’re doing, it could turn out. There’s a lot more to sewing than “sew together”. 🤔
But photos are really great and it’s a fun read of their bio. They seem like neat people. More like a 2.5 Star rating.
In a world full of conventional designers and DIYers, Texas sisters Amie and Jolie Sikes have spent almost two decades cultivating a unique style all their own. So much of design today is all granite and marble and stainless steel, the type of luxe layouts that make Martha Stewart swoon. Enter the Junk Gyspies. Their style is a joyfully low-couture break from the mainstream. Take a little bit of glitter, grit, Texas twang, sass, bohemian, gypsy, rock n’ roll, country, chippy-peely paint, down-home, and biscuits, mix all of that together, and that’s Junk Gypsy.
To those who aren’t interested in haute couture decor or home makeovers, these gals have a unique, refreshing take on design. Shabby-chic is nothing new, but the Junk Gypsies take it to a whole new level. They began their design careers repurposing used items they found at flea markets and fairs throughout rural Texas. They’d take second-hand items like old chairs and tables--and just plain ol’ junk--and remake and re-imagine them into statement pieces for house, barn, or vintage Airstream. Theirs is flea-market design with a “Funky shway” vibe, a harmony of junk refinished and distressed into DIY art.
Designing a Life is a fun and folksy introduction to the world of the Junk Gypsies. More than just a business, the Junk Gypsies have built a lifestyle empire that encompasses apparel, entertainment, design, and the joys of rural life. The book brings you into their world, introduces you to the Sikes family and how Junk Gypsy came to be. The sisters give a wonderful first-person insight into the early experiences that shaped and inspired them. They write poignantly of growing up with their entrepreneurial parents in their small East Texas town. They especially emphasize the family values and work ethic they learned through the joys and struggles of running a family business. Family truly is the heart and soul of the Junk Gypsy brand, because family ultimately inspired the girls to take the leap into their own business.
The most fascinating parts of the book detail their struggle to find careers they loved after college, and their into-the-unknown decision to leave 9-to-5 America for a less-settled life. This story alone really is worth the price of the book, if only because it’s as improbable as it is inspiring. But the book is far more than just biography. There’s a collection of photos showing everything from their family life and early flea market outings in Round Top to their famous Junk-O-Rama Prom. And not least of all, the girls include a sampling of Junk Gypsy-inspired DIY projects for readers to try. I love their projects because they aren’t week-long torture-sessions that require you to be a finish carpenter. These are fun, doable projects that only require a few basic tools and some DIY imagination.
For me, Designing a Life is about so much more than finding junk, DIY, and the open road. This book is about discovering your true direction, following your heart, and pursuing the very thing that inspires you. These gals started out working 9-to-5 jobs like most new college grads. Somehow, though, they found the courage and grit to give up their corporate careers to follow their dreams of becoming DIY junkers—even though they had no idea how they’d make it work when they started. I can’t honestly say this about many people, but Amie and Jolie are truly role models. They are proof that if you are willing to dream big and put sweat equity into achieving your goals, you can make your dreams into a reality. More importantly, they’re proof that we often don’t even find our dreams until we consciously decide to give up our safe lives. In their words, “Grit doesn’t happen when things are good. Grit happens when we’re tested.”
Designing a Life is a great book for those who are passionate about everything Junk Gypsy and are interested in getting their feet wet in the second-hand/DIY world. But even more so, it’s a great read for anyone who feels stuck in their life, and anyone looking for the inspiration to strike out on a new path. In the words of Amie Sikes, “I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to do it my way.” Kim Johnson (aka “PearlGirl”)
This book is the story of two sisters who created a business doing what they love--junkin'. It's full of their history & DIY projects for readers (which are awesome, by the way).
But truth be told--this book is so much more than that. It's about following your dreams & finding what inspires you...living the life you want to live, not the life you think you should.
I don't exactly remember when or how I stumbled upon Junk Gypsies, but let me tell y'all, from the bottom of my heart--these girls are a true inspiration to me. They are so open & genuine & true to themselves that you feel like you are part of their family. I dare you to read this book & tell me they don't feel like kindred spirits by the end.
This is one for all you dreamers, DIY-ers, and free spirits. Do yourselves the favor--this is one gorgeous & inspiring book you don't want to miss. Available for pre-order now--coming October 2016.
*Discloser: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review.
I am a big fan of the Junk Gypsy sisters, Amie and Jolie Sikes. I loved their HGTV show and took a little road trip to Round Top with the girls a few years back to explore their store. The Junk Gypsy style is not for everyone but if you are a fan of it, you'll love the book. It is a treat for the eye and makes you want to hit a great flea market or two. The book is full of great quotes, crafts and amazingly beautiful pictures of tin cans and recycled furniture. Even if it isn't your style you will enjoy the beautiful images and the prevalent idea that you should reach for the things that you find beautiful in this life.
Cool ideas in the book. It was interesting to read about their experiences and story behind how and why they do what they do. It was definitely a very personal-feeling read. I did enjoy the aspect of tieing the life story of the Junk Gypsys into every piece of art they make throughout the book and the inspiring message of being free, fun, and thrifty. 7/10 would recommend and I hope you enjoy if you decide to pick it up!
I loved this book and will check it out again and maybe again. These two sisters are the creators of Junky Gypsy - a business that has embraced them as collectors of "stuff" to re-purpose and reuse. It reads like a story with sections written by friends and family. You will get many ideas for yourself and I loved reading the how to's. Along with the wonderful photography this is a book to revisit over and over again.
I absolutely loved this book. It was very inspiring to read their story and get a glimpse of some of their accomplishments. I am very excited to see more of what these ladies do. Growing up going to yard sales and thrift stores I have just touched the surface of the world of a true Junk Gypsy. Hopefully I will become a pro one day!
This book is amazing! Took this with me on my cruise and had endless joy reading this poolside. I wish the show was still on the air. I love me some Junk Gypsy!
3* A chic book with a lot of flair. Inspiration for flea market finds, decor, and DIY furniture projects. I'm just not sure about the practicality of the "chippy peely" look. It's hard enough to keep a house clean without paint flakes and glitter rubbing off of everything.
So much fun! I get a kick out of their incredibly quirky style— some day I’ll go to one of the really big flea markets, then watch out…I also loved how Amie “found her house by the side of the road, like people find a stray dog…”
We loved this book! There are moments that brought tears to our eyes. It's so much more than just DIY. Listen to our full interview with the Junk Gypsies Here: http://www.thenotboringbookshow.com/2...
DECORATING AND DESIGN/AMERICANA Amie Sikes and Jolie Sikes; photographs by April Pizana Junk Gypsy: Designing a Life at the Crossroads of Wonder & Wander Touchstone, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Paperback, 978-1-50113-568-2 (also available as an ebook), 240 pgs., $25.00 October 4, 2016
Amie Sikes earned a journalism degree and a job in the state capitol—and had been accepted to law school—but she felt like a “messy-haired dreamer in a flat-ironed sea of networking.” Jolie Sikes earned a master’s degree and was working as an academic advisor at Texas A&M University. She requested two days off a month to help out at her parents’ restaurant. The answer was no — and Jolie quit. The sisters went home, where their mother Janie handed over two thousand dollars from her stash and suggested they go to the flea market, fix up some junk, and try to sell it. And thus began the “entrepreneurial rainbow-chasing and windmill-tilting”—the Junk Gypsy Company was born.
Junk Gypsy: Designing a Life at the Crossroads of Wonder & Wander is the first book by the Sikes sisters, part memoir, part philosophy, part DIY. April Pizana’s photography is luscious, the perfect complement (“a thing that completes or brings to perfection”) to the Sikes’ text and creations.
Junk Gypsy is divided into three parts: The Road, The Flea Market, and Home; with chapter titles such as “Grit Happens” and “If Willie Nelson & Janis Joplin Had a Love Child…”. “The Road” is all about road-tripping treasure hunts and what the sisters call “dashboard therapy” (including a recommended music playlist). “The Flea Market” is a “sacred … place that lives and breathes,” constantly changing. There’s a section on Texas Antiques Week, the “mother lode junk Mecca,” which takes over Round Top, Texas, twice each year, temporarily swelling the population to more than 150,000. “Home” is a love letter to Round Top and includes a look at some of their home remodels and the sisters’ personal homes. Amie describes her place as “wayward mermaid who joined the circus on her way through cowgirl country.” Dad calls their style “funky schway.”
The Sikeses have provided practical tips, as well. There’s a field guide for flea markets, a list of must-have items for your toolbox, information on architectural salvage, and step-by-step instructions for DIY projects. These projects include distressing furniture (and jeans), ombré-style wall painting, and making curtains out of your favorite old T-shirts, just to name a few. The DIY projects include a difficulty rating: the more hammers, the more difficult the project.
Seventeen years later, the Sikes sisters’ “organic creation of an authentic brand” is an empire which includes the Gunk Gypsy World Headquarters (“a preserve for wild junk, a habitat in which every species of junk could coexist harmoniously and symbiotically”), a seven-thousand-square-foot store in Round Top, Texas, population ninety; a lodge in the “Gypsyville compound” called the Wander Inn; a popular HGTV show; a line of cowboy boots, Junk Gypsy paint, and décor for Pottery Barn Teen. Amie and Jolie are also famous for their Airstream trailer (“magic in a tin can”) rehabs for Miranda Lambert and Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day fame, among others.
Quoting Robert Frost, Sir Isaac Newton, George Strait, Louis L’Amour, and Rumi, Junk Gypsy is New Age-y, Karma, Zen, sometimes a little too sweet and touchy-feely, and sometimes a little over the top. But that’s also sometimes the point; it’s the antidote to corporate-think doldrums and beige (bone, ecru, taupe, tan, neutral). Junk Gypsy is a lifestyle—totally Texas and totally fun.
I have broken a cardinal rule! Yes, it's true. I have dogeared a page in a book. I have dogeared, highlighted, written in the margins, circled quotes, underlined, and I am on my way back through for a second go. I LOVE BOOKS!!! They are amazing. They take us to a world where we didn't even realize we needed to go. I have never before dogeared a page in a book. That's the thing. This isn't just a book. It's life! It's joy, adventure, imagination, happiness, whimsy, laughter...it's life! Amie and Jolie are an inspiration. You think you can't live your dream? You think you have to live a life of "shoulds"? The Junk Gypsy girls are here to tell you that anything and everything is possible. Their story will make you laugh, cry, and get up off your DIY butt. Need a fire lit in the belly of the beast? This will do it. I would write more, but I have to go paint a chandelier turquoise and add some pearls. Join me?
Ok I just thought I loved the Junk Gypsies before I read this book. Now I absolutely love them!! I have never read a book that felt so personal before. It was likely reading the story of my two best friends. Amie and Jolie are so down to earth and they truly love their fans. And to top it all off, they share some DIY tips!
If you were already a fan of theirs, then you will love this book. If you've never heard of them, then read it and be inspired. Thank you Amie and Jolie for continuing to inspire me to be crafty (even though I'm not) and to follow my dreams. And most importantly, GIG EM AGS!