Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Shabby Chic....Rachel Ashwell & Me....!!!!!

I remember back in 1995 when I was living in Dallas, Texas I watched a show on telly where an actress from Y&R was being interviewed in her home....She picked up a pretty floral cup & saucer & said, "Oh & I love this....It's very shabby chic"....I wondered at the time what this 'shabby chic' was but wasn't able to find any info....

Fast forward to December 1999 when Mr SVJ & I were away on holidays....I popped into a bookstore & spied Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Treasure Hunting & Decorating Guide....The cover alone set my heart racing....You know when you discover something so WONDERFUL your body tingles with anticipation of what's to come....?  Well THAT'S how I felt....!!!!!

I raced back to the hotel with my TREASURE....Ran a bath & emerged SEVERAL hours later with the BIGGEST smile on my face & a NEW appreciation for all things Shabby Chic....!

In 2003 Mr SVJ & I were in the US in St Louis & I took the opportunity to fly to Chicago for the day for no other reason than to visit the Shabby Chic store there....**magic**....!!

Then....In 2009 when Rachel's business faced some serious challenges I flew to LA for five days to visit the Santa Monica & Malibu stores before they closed....I drove back & forth....Back & forth between both stores for five days....**heaven**....!  You can't imagine how HAPPY I was to learn Rachel would be re-opening her Santa Monica store....

On travelling to Texas to source Treasures for my business Shabby Vintage Junk in 2010, I KNEW it was one of Rachel's FAVE places to shop....I heard from vendor after vendor, "Rachel's just been by"....DRAT....I missed her by a hair each time....I was dying to spy her in action but three Shows in I kept missing her....

Well....I'm so VERY PLEASED to say I FINALLY had the opportunity to meet the FABULOUS Rachel Ashwell last night out at The Prairie at the opening of her NEW store....And I have to say....The smile on my face is still just as BROAD as the smile you see below....


I have some FAB pics I took of the grounds while I was there....Be sure to pop back in a couple of days....!!



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26 comments:

  1. Gracie's CottageSeptember 28, 2011 at 8:52 PM

    ...and the proof is in the photo! How very fun!!!!!!!!!

    Jan

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  2. JaneSeptember 28, 2011 at 8:56 PM

    How cool!! Your patience paid off!!
    Jane

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  3. SueBeeSeptember 28, 2011 at 8:59 PM

    Oh my! I'm so happy for you and just a little bit jealous...

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  4. Sue (Vintage Rescue)September 28, 2011 at 9:20 PM

    Woo hoo!

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  5. sonyaSeptember 28, 2011 at 11:22 PM

    Oh! You luck girl!!

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  6. UnknownSeptember 28, 2011 at 11:27 PM

    Green with envy...great pic!

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  7. Mon Alisa DesignSeptember 29, 2011 at 2:34 AM

    Woo to the hoo! What a lovely pic of you both. Two very talented ladies :)

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  8. COTTAG3September 29, 2011 at 4:19 AM

    How fun for you!!! The smile on her face is just as big so she must have enjoyed meeting you too.

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  9. iheartsunnydaysSeptember 29, 2011 at 4:58 AM

    Way To Go Tamarah!! You lucky thing :)

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  10. www.MaisonStGermain.comSeptember 29, 2011 at 5:58 AM

    Yea you!!! I met her at Brimfield and was so star struck I just asked for a photo of her and hardly talked to her. She was so sweet and friendly. I just received her new book yesterday and it is so beautiful!!!
    ~Debra xxx
    Capers of the vintage vixens

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  11. leah - moxiethrift on etsySeptember 29, 2011 at 6:08 AM

    what a fun story! with a happy ending, yeah! I still love the words *shabby chic*

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  12. Glimpse of My WorldSeptember 29, 2011 at 7:54 AM

    AWW... LOVE IT!

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  13. KrisSeptember 29, 2011 at 11:47 AM

    Lucky you! I had the same reaction to her book! So jealous! But so happy for you!

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  14. AnonymousSeptember 29, 2011 at 11:59 AM

    I found her book on the shelves of an interior designer I babysat for in high school (15 yrs ago...? Whoa) in Fort Worth. It started my passion for all things shabby! That's so cool!

    -Linsey
    http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/

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  15. OliveSeptember 29, 2011 at 12:29 PM

    You are chic!

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  16. Julie September 29, 2011 at 2:28 PM

    Wow. Lucky, Lucky You.
    I wish I were there too.
    Hurry Home.

    Julie x

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  17. AlisonSeptember 29, 2011 at 5:07 PM

    Hey there gorgeous,

    Yep I remember the first time I saw one of her books way back in the 90's and it was love as first sight. I devoured it hungrily.

    How fantastic for you, lucky girl.

    You both look so happy.

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  18. Alicia ~ time worn styleSeptember 29, 2011 at 6:15 PM

    AMAZING!! well done girl!
    alicia

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  19. Suzanne@Meridian RoadSeptember 29, 2011 at 8:12 PM

    Aaaahhhhh! You found a celebrity! How awesome. :)

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  20. Into VintageSeptember 29, 2011 at 10:14 PM

    You must have been beyond thrilled! And it's interesting you remember the first time you heard the phrase 'shabby chic' -- I think maybe you two were destined to meet. :-)

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  21. Sandi~A Cottage MuseSeptember 30, 2011 at 9:16 AM

    You lucky girl!

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  22. Bell's Belles VintageSeptember 30, 2011 at 7:02 PM

    How cool shabby chic royalty.....

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  23. Rose @ Confessions of a CurbshopaholicOctober 1, 2011 at 3:29 AM

    How cool is that!!! You are positively beaming in the pic. Can't wait to hear more.
    Sounds like you had the best time.

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  24. The Pink PoodleOctober 1, 2011 at 6:08 PM

    WOOOO HOOOO!!!! cannot wait to hear all about it when you return home..

    xx andrea

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  25. Valloittava valkoinenOctober 4, 2011 at 3:21 AM

    Lucky you! I own her book and it's so wonderful!

    Anu

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  26. RazmatazOctober 5, 2011 at 5:33 AM

    That is fantastic Tamarah. So happy for you to meet her. I hear she is very sweet and down to earth. Would love to stay at the Dude ranch sometime.

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