mission accomplished.

July 20, 2012

from september to december 17, 2011, this was our life.

your mission, should you choose to accept it:

3 days. 12 crew members. 1 client. and a tight budget.

repeat 13 times.

season 1. HGTV. it was a little like design boot camp meets panic room meets mission impossible.

{filming in the JG tent for antiques week episode}

 

{archie & georgia gettin up close & personal}

for each “space”, we would shoot for 3 days.

day 1 (meet & greet, roadside stop, junkin’):

  • call time would typically be between 6-8am. i realize this doesn’t seem too incredibly early but the challenge for amie & me was to be ‘camera-ready’ at this time….hair, make-up, clothes. anndddd considering we rarely take time for our hair or our make up, this was an effort. and no, to those that have asked, we DID NOT have a hair & make up person. (which was probably quite evident in most of the episodes :))
  • travel to the client’s house. meet the fam. chat, discuss their interests, passions…get to know them and what they like/don’t like. (although this portion is cut down to about 4 mins per episode, this would typically take 3-4 hours of shoot time).
  • leave said family’s house and head for our ‘roadside stop’ where we would sketch our plan out on paper. (1-2 hrs)
  • leave the roadside stop and go junkin’. (4-5 hrs)
  • insert between each bullet an OTF. (that’s camera talk for on-the-fly…short impromptu interviews that may or may not be used in final edit)
  • load the truck/trailer and drive home. (at this point, it was usually dark outside so we would get home, spend a few hours brainstorming our current makeover plan of attack, cuddle with our kids, and determine what supplies we needed for the next day’s DIY’s)

    {amie & i stoppin for a photo op at LiZZIE LouS in round top…dreaming of mermaids & salty air….}

 

{from our point of view…filming an OTF at room service in austin}

 

{another OTF outside of HERMANN furniture in brenham…brian, our fearless leader trying to wrangle in the pre-schoolers. :)}

day 2 (DIY day):

  • 8 am call time at the barn
  • for each episode we had 3 DIY’s to complete…typically using some of the found objects from our previous day of junkin’
  • formal interviews were also conducted on this day…at some point between playing with power tools and filming OTF’s, we would change into something a little ‘dressier’, give our hair a quick shake out, touch up our make up, and then run out for a 1-2 hour sit-down interview pertaining to the current episode.

    {gettin mic’d by corey baby}

 

{workin on DIY’s for bane’s episode…yep, our kids were on set every day}

{tara royer steele helping out with dierks bentley’s airstream makeover}

 

day 3 (d-day):

  • 6-7 am call time
  • head back to house for makeover..
  • on this day we would empty the space of the current furniture, unload our trailer, and begin pulling everything back into the space for our big makeover reveal.
  • in a perfect world, this would have been complete by around 3pm on each makeover day…howeverrrrrrrr….it typically took us much longer thus sometimes pushing our reveal to the family, our final interviews, and final pictures to well after dark.
  • after interviews and pics, we would load our trailer and head back home, hit the sack, and get ready for the next morning which would begin a new family with a new meet & greet.

 

{makeover/reveal day at the diehl’s}

now for a few of your FAQ’s…

  1. did y’all have hair and make up? no, we didn’t have hair and make-up people. we were totally hollywood divas with a compact mirror the size of a credit card & a tube of lipgloss in our audio guy’s gear bag. we were so focused on doing a great job with each space, having to spend time on our hair and make-up seemed minor.
  2. did you have a real plan before reveal day for each space? it most certainly would have simplified things to have a ‘real’ plan…but unfortunately, that’s just not how me and amie roll…we have to get in a space…soak in it, hold things up here and there, and then just jump in and start decorating. for each space, we had a general theme (as you see in the sketches)…but nothing was ever set in stone.
  3. was there anything about filming that suprised you? YES!!! we were totallly suprised by how emotional we were at EVERY reveal. we were so emotionally connected to each family and each space that we couldn’t help but bawl like babies at every reveal (as did all of the homeowners). AND we had no idea how completely connected we would become with our crew. AND we had no idea how grueling filming is…we didn’t eat, sleep, or drink for 3 months. we were AWOL from everything else in our lives completely focused on the filming process & our kids. thank gawsh, our kids were involved with us EVERY day… helping on set, eating with us and the crew, shooting hoops with the crew, and hangin with us between takes…
  4. will there be a season 2? hgtv loves jg and we love them! they’ve received great response from y’all (thank you!)! no official word yet… stay tuned…we promise, you’ll be the first to know!

as the season comes to an end, we want to say thank y’all sooooo very much for lovin what we do! thank you for watching our show! thank you for all of your endless tweets, facebook posts, emails, and phone messages!!! thank you from the bottom of our junky hearts!

and amazing thanks to HGTV for letting us do what we do…for letting us be who we are…and for being a totally kick ass network!

{hgtv + JG + meg caswell = happy family}

THANK you to our JG girls! for being our right-hand girls. for having our backs. for picking up our slack. and for being more than employees…for being our friends.

and to trey…our tattooed ace carpenter with a teddy bear heart…our quiet man of zen.

{workin’ around the clock on dierks bentley’s airstream}

 

{creative brainstorming in action in DB’s airstream}

anddddddd to our dear crew…y’all came into our lives, our homes, our world. you invaded our privacy, pushed us to our limits, and made us feel like we really werefilming mission impossible as you would hang out of vehicles, camera strapped to your shoulder while driving 70 mph down the hwy…all the while expecting us to drive as if it’s not a very realistic possibility that you could fall out of your stunt vehicle and me run over you right there. in the middle of the highway.

{clay gearing up our truck for road shots…}

 

{annnd alex gearing up large marge}

{jason preparing for some stunt filming…}

do not try this at home…

{we’ve pulled over here…but this is how we would drive down the hwy…70mph…with his back hatch open…him hanging out of the van…ME driving right behind him…y’all, it was SCARY}

and quite often what our back seat looked like…

{my, what large cameras you have…}

and you became part of our family. part of this community. part of junk gypsy.

{brandon, our production manager, and his texas sweetie, amie’s daughter indie.}

 

{alex (our own personal karate kid) schooling CB in mario bros}

{me and amie with trey…aka, dr. jones (as in indiana jones)}

 

{me & brian…our field producer (aka, our fearless leader)}

 

{amie & corey…aka, audio}

 

{filming an OTF in front of the MERRY CHRiSTMAS bar}

{sarah-our beyond awesome photographer, clay-our beyond awesome director of photography, me & amie voguing at SXSW}

 

 

{dawn, our head woman in charge…in action}

{jason & sarah posing in our half-way complete DIY for the JUNK-O-RAMA prom episode}

 

{the crew…sans sarah (she’s takin the pics), dawn, & talisha}

 

{the whole family at JW’s for some country fried}

and to the countless friends that helped us with this entire process…from physical help to moral support…you know who you are….

and we thank you.

 

You Might Also Like

51 Comments

  • Reply Tricia Samsal July 20, 2012 at 2:36 pm

    Wow, is all I can say. You girls pulled it off, I’ve watched every episode, have several downloaded from iTunes, my parents love the show, have watched the mall as well. I’m so proud of you two and everyone that helped put it all together. I’m so happy to be able to say that I know you and call you friends. Coming to Round Top every Spring and Fall is my “soul vacation”, and you guys are a big part of that. I hope they do make a second season and many more for that matter! Congrats to all of you! Big hugs! T

  • Reply The Farmer's Trophy Wife July 20, 2012 at 2:40 pm

    and we have loved every minute… here’s to season 2!!!!!!!!

  • Reply Jen Robb July 20, 2012 at 3:03 pm

    We love you and vote YEAH on another season!! Watched every single episode (TYG they come on after the store closes here in AZ) and can’t wait for more!

    Jen

  • Reply lisa castillo July 20, 2012 at 3:07 pm

    It has been a wonderful ride! Each and every show a winner! Y’all and I mean all of y’all true rock stars! Can’t wait for season 2! Come on HGTV…we love Junk Gypsies!

  • Reply Oma Linda July 20, 2012 at 3:16 pm

    Couldn’t be more proud if you were my own. I’ve watched every episode. How wonderful that something that is truly beautiful and inspired is shared the Junkgypsy way. Love you two and what you do. Oma Linda

  • Reply Kelly (Seaux Southern) July 20, 2012 at 3:24 pm

    LOVE ~ LOVE ~ LOVE Junk Gypsies!!! My sister and I love your show!!! We tweet back and forth during the show and then talk on the phone the next day about everything we loved on each episode. We are so hoping that there will be a Season 2!!!

  • Reply michaelann July 20, 2012 at 3:26 pm

    I must say that you girls are awesome (and your family), totally inspiring and encouraging to all of us watching and dreaming at home! And by the way don’t bother with hair and makeup you two do great on your own!! The only way it could have been any better is if I was right there with you, and if you ever want to travel to Eastern Oregon do I have a project for you-we live in a 1972 trailer can you say trailer trash but it is our happy little home!!

  • Reply Lennye July 20, 2012 at 4:00 pm

    Love Junk Gypsies!!! Here’s hoping you are renewed for Seasaon !!!!

  • Reply Shabby Cowgirl July 20, 2012 at 4:11 pm

    You all give us something to believe in, the dreamers of dreams look to you to make sure that shooting star wishes really do come true…<3 B

  • Reply Ronna Rochin July 20, 2012 at 4:32 pm

    I also want to tell you all how much I have enjoyed your show, and I’m really looking forward to season 2. You have been such an inspiration to me, my husband thinks I’m nuts when he sees me picking up what looks to him to be junk and then I turn it into a treasure and he is amazed! One day I hope to visit your new shop, it’s on my bucket list. Love you Ladies!

  • Reply Debbie July 20, 2012 at 6:54 pm

    L.O.V.E. Junk Gypsies! By far my favorite HGTV show. Looking forward to Season 2!!

  • Reply Rose Paul July 20, 2012 at 6:56 pm

    Love the junk Gypsies!! So inspiring and FUN! I want more.
    How about a magazine!! LOL

  • Reply Jenny July 20, 2012 at 7:31 pm

    Congrats on such an awesome first season!! We never miss an episode…..even my 6 yr old lil man. He LOVES yall!…..I’m raisin that boy right! 🙂 Lookin forward to seeing yall at Antiques Week again in October. Keep rockin’ ladies!!

    xoxo
    jenny

  • Reply Suzy July 20, 2012 at 7:41 pm

    If HGTV knows what’s good for them you’ll be back!!

  • Reply Diane Stein July 20, 2012 at 7:48 pm

    Got to finally see your shows today on HGTV!!! I loved each one. You all are such an inspiration.

  • Reply Paula July 20, 2012 at 7:58 pm

    I’ve got every episode saved on my DVR. My husband gets a little annoyed because I’ve watched them so often that I’m learning the words! Love both of you, your parents and your kids, your style and your show. I CAN’T WAIT FOR SEASON 2! Can you hear me HGTV??? Now, if I could just talk you into coming to Minnesota to do my living room….

  • Reply toni July 20, 2012 at 8:27 pm

    I am looking forward to season 2 maybe go on the road my house is ready to b gypsified!!!!!

  • Reply Janice July 20, 2012 at 11:21 pm

    I sure hope tomorrows episode is just your *season* finale and not series finale! We bought the whole series on itunes and can’t wait till I can download it each weekend. (no cable here) I dream about one day making it to Round Top to meet yall in person!

  • Reply Heather Mitchell July 21, 2012 at 7:36 am

    What a fantastic new show on HGTv!!! What would I do without my Junk Gypsy fix every week. I have finally discovered my kindred spirits in style and design. My 7 yr old daughter, Eliza Grace is beggin on her knees for me to recreate a junk gypsy haven for her. We are both true gypsies at heart. Love you guys and your family….can’t wait to see y’all next season!! XOXO & gypsy love
    Heather Mitchell…Lebanon, Tennessee

  • Reply Liz Nichols July 21, 2012 at 7:58 am

    Your show is the only thing I look forward to on TV. I emailed the publisher of Austin Monthly magazine, Lyn Brady, saying I think they should do a story on the Junk Gypsies and I sure hope they do. You open a whole new way of looking at vintage and recyling/re-purposing in the best creative way…plus your manifesto is straight from my heart. I sure hope there is a season 2 on HGTV for y’all.

  • Reply Lindsay July 21, 2012 at 8:15 am

    Ladies, I’ve loved you since I first set eyes on Miranda wearing the “Mama Tried” tank and have been smitten ever since. Was ecstatic when I found out about the show, and recorded all of them. Come what may, renewal or no, you have really outdone yourselves. Hope to visit your HQ in Round Top soon. Love from Houston!

  • Reply Sandi ~ A Cottage Muse July 21, 2012 at 8:42 am

    Oh please HGTV…I want season 2 and 3 and 4 and…
    Thanks for sharing your possible mission!!!

  • Reply Debby July 21, 2012 at 8:53 am

    Congrats on a stellar (y’all are definitely Design Stars!) first season. I have watched every episode, rearranging ALL other plans to turn on HGTV @ 6p.m. every Sat. night. Will miss you until I get to the opening of your new store & the new season of your show!

  • Reply Karen Shoemaker July 21, 2012 at 9:36 am

    I love flea markets, chipped paint, family and your show has all of these. Looking forward to season 2. Thanks!

  • Reply Sue Medford July 21, 2012 at 11:44 am

    Can’t wait for season 2! Every show this year was great. You have given ideas and inspired so many…

  • Reply TIffany Halbert July 21, 2012 at 12:02 pm

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE me some JG! You girls are so adorable and make us all feel like we know you! I grew up in a small town in Texas and shop Warrington almost every year! This show was exactly what I needed, it has inspired me to get out in my garage and get to work on some creative things I have stored in my head! I hope that HGTV picks you guys up for a 2nd season! You girls ROCK!

  • Reply Liz July 21, 2012 at 3:03 pm

    Love your show so much. I have enjoyed all the episodes and even have saved some of them to review for decorating ideas! I hope there will be a Season 2!

  • Reply lynn July 21, 2012 at 6:46 pm

    i was my own junk gypsey before I had a stroke. Miss the creative juices that flowed during those days. I watched you the other day and enjoyed every minute of your program. I got that old rush watching you. Can’t do it anymore because I am paralyzed on my left side. To hard to do my old tricks with only 1 hand. Keep on dreaming and junking. You made my day!Thanks to you both

  • Reply Maureen July 21, 2012 at 9:05 pm

    There had BETTER be a season two because we love our Junk Gypsies!! That being said, would you please get your pretty little butts up here to NY and give us some help next season? Not all of us are lucky enough to live in Texas ya know?!! Love ya guys and can’t wait to see more!

  • Reply Lee Turner July 21, 2012 at 9:37 pm

    I surely enjoyed your Prom finale tonight on HGTV but what I wanna know is: how do I get tickets for NEXT years Prom???

  • Reply Rene Foust July 22, 2012 at 8:35 am

    Please please have another season!!!! I loved them all and I love you guys and your message. I can’t wait to come to Round Top this fall. Yahoo is all I can say here we come!!!!

  • Reply Terry Bolduc July 22, 2012 at 1:06 pm

    Thank you and your wonderful family for all you do! I’m inspired to do a Good Juju Prom this fall! Yee haw from Good Juju in New Hampshire! xoxo, Terry

  • Reply Alyssa July 22, 2012 at 2:00 pm

    Your carpenter is yummy, just sayin!

  • Reply Jen July 22, 2012 at 5:09 pm

    I’m not sure how I’ve missed you!!!!!! I’m upset that I have!! I will be looking for reruns and setting the dvr. I saw my first episode last night and am in love!!! Congrats on season 1 and congrats on doing what you love!

    • Reply Gail Rose July 22, 2012 at 5:34 pm

      We moved to AZ. from Dallas area and I’m so homesick. I have watched every one of your shows. They take me back home and I love that. My husband said I’m beginning to even dress like you girls.LOL I’m loving it. See you on season two.

  • Reply Shawn Kosinski July 22, 2012 at 11:00 pm

    I am a huge fan of your show and a huge fan of JUNK. I really hope you do other seasons on HGTV. The other shows just aren’t for people who like to color outside the lines. Not to mention the great family you have. This makes your show truly unique.

  • Reply Penny M July 24, 2012 at 2:22 pm

    My fAvoRite part of the week! Please, HGTV – we have to have a second season! I lOvE the sassy style and creativity, with a big ole dose of southern charm. Y’all rOck!!! Now I just hAve GoT to get to Roundtop! It’s on my bucket list! 🙂 Gypsy love from aLaBama! 🙂

  • Reply Beja {Howdy-Honey} July 24, 2012 at 7:44 pm

    Thanks for having us along on this journey. I have totally been freed by your Gypsy style to make the wild visions in my head come to fruition! LOVE Y’ALL!

  • Reply Stacy Walden July 26, 2012 at 5:34 am

    Loved every minute of it! There better be a second season! Ye haw on that one! You two are just so inspiring! Long live the JG’s

  • Reply Lori Hubbard July 26, 2012 at 11:18 am

    My Dear Junk Gypsy Family,
    Just wanted to add my thanks to you all for making your lives, loves and handiwork such a wonderful part of my week. I look forward to that time with quivering anticipation. I thank you for the hard work and intrusiveness to your families that you’re willing to put up with to make our lives so enjoyable…as a transplanted New Englander who has lived in VA for the last 31 years, I’m surprised by my yearnings to be Texan enough to wear boots and turquoise and say Y’all. Alas, I’ll never be Texan, but I certainly can become a Junk Gypsy wannabe…so thank you for showing me how it’s done! Praying for Season 2+++…off to deal with my withdrawal symptoms by going junktiquing! Fondly from VA.

  • Reply Kimmykw July 27, 2012 at 4:18 pm

    Girlies! Love your show. Love the concept. Love the family focus of the JG brand. Upcyle, repurpose., redesign..”Salvage from the past to make your life richer in the present.” That is my mission statement. I’m sure you get plenty of invites to check out my blog but here goes….please check out my jewelry blog listed above. I won’t use your message board to advertise but I am very interested in getting an opportunity to share my work with you. Thanks for looking!

  • Reply Linda Teddlie Minton July 28, 2012 at 7:25 pm

    Wow, my brother in ATLANTA just alerted me to your show, and I can’t believe it is not shown on HGTV in San Antonio! Any idea why I can’t see your show when I’m right here in Texas? HELP!

  • Reply Eileen July 30, 2012 at 10:29 pm

    Whoa! You girls have been busy. I live out in the boonies and don’t get HGTV so I know I’m missing out on something big here. I appreciate the airstream redo . I’m currently redoing a late 60’s -early 70’s Frolic -I’ve now dubbed the Pink Paradise. Check it out on my blog! Wishing you much more success!

  • Reply Allison A. July 31, 2012 at 1:36 pm

    I just found y’all and am in love. Not in that creepy, stalker kinda way but in the “love their style and that they talk like me” way. I have watched all of the episodes and I sure do hope HGTV keeps you around for a long time to come. The Hubs says when the show is on I have a perma-smile and it’s like 3 of me are in the room thanks to the accent. Being from NC and living in AZ, I’m constantly picked on for how I say stuff like milk and oil. lol

    ANYWAY, love you guys!

  • Reply Diana R August 1, 2012 at 1:30 pm

    havin’ withdrawals and cravin’ a junky fix ….need me some season 2 !!!

  • Reply Shellie Hartsock August 1, 2012 at 2:41 pm

    Luv, luv, luv your show! Keeping my fingers crossed for #2.

  • Reply Darlene Williams August 8, 2012 at 7:48 pm

    I recently discovered your show and just as I set my dvr the season was over. I certainly hope there will be a second season and as I wait, some reruns.

  • Reply Scarlett Fiona Reed August 22, 2012 at 5:24 pm

    That was awesome! Thanks for giving a behind the scenes, it was so interesting! I’m so glad you had your babies with you the whole time, sounds like a ton of hard work but the results were obviously worth it. See you soon! Scarlett

  • Reply Ashley September 7, 2012 at 2:04 pm

    I have known about y’all forever amd love everything. And now yalls new show is awesome. Thank goodness for the DVR. Now that I am a stay at home mom, I think y’all should bring the bussiness out to east Texas, because this is right up my ally. I have been junking ever since I was little girl with grandma.

  • Reply Tony from Rockwall September 13, 2012 at 7:19 am

    Wow – pretty cool. Was showing my girls my old elementary school yearbooks (since they are going to Dobbs now) and I pointed out a little girl named Jolie Sikes and told them she was my first crush. So -just for kicks I googled you and I’ll be darned if you’re not the same little girl that sat next to me in Mrs Gorney’s class. So glad to see you’re doing great! Just wanted to say hi!

  • Leave a Reply to Suzy Cancel Reply