she was junky when junky wasn’t cool.

March 23, 2011

she’s large. she’s marge. she’s large marge the party barge. our official fleamarket mascot, junky mode of transportation, and all around good-timin PiNK mobile.

but her story begins loooong ago.

remember the post of the sleepy little town amie & i were lucky enough to grow up in? overton, texas…where the pine trees are tall and the twang is thick? well, large marge spent her early years there. at overton isd. amie & i took many a school roadtrip in that white suburban. it was used for many things…FFA events, UIL meets, tennis & track teams…among many others.

{at a state UIL meet after a roadtrip to austin in marge.circa 1993. yes, that’s a GIANT scrunchie in my hair}

when the day came that marge (she didn’t know it then but that was her name) was to be replaced with a shinier, newer ride, she was put up for auction. GypSY daddy & janie hit that auction likes moths to a flame (actually janie hits any auction, junk store, garage sale, or flea market like a moth to a flame…buuuut i digress).  and they walked away with…well, a $300 1980 white suburban. the seats were torn, the dash was dry rotted, and of course, no power locks or windows, but mom and dad just knew they had to rescue ole marge. they knew she needed a new home with our family. they knew she wasn’t meant for the scrap yard, but for great celestial things. she was meant for great adventure.

she. was. to one day be. a … suuuuuperhero (you have to say that oprah-style: suuuuuperrrrr-he-rohhhhhhh) of junky epic proportions.

(actually, i think dad thought she might end up at our farm in arkansas…as a farm cruiser so to speak…but when they brought her home, we loved her and knew that fate had landed at her final and intended destination).

{first trip to the farm for some good timin’ river days…our cousins carved their names in the dash}

that was in 2002.

then, we decided she must be pink…

{one of marge’s first photoshoots…fortune small business magazine, circa 2005}

with horns on the front, flames down the sides, pink striped curtains, and lots of bumper stickers to make her extra fancy!

and then in 2005, we did what any good gypsy with a salvaged-junkafide pink suburban would do…we held a contest to name her. it had to be the coolest of cool and totally bad-to-the-bone. and we knew we needed a little help from our friends…

submissions came from across the globe…from near and far…from sea to shining sea…

here’s just a few (well, that’s a slight understatement….) for you to peruse:

the JUNK deville – claudia from MN
gypsy soul suburban – pete from CA
big PINK – eddy tom from TX
road trippin JUNKER – betty from new orleans
LOLA – todd from TX
gypsy jalopy – julie from bandera
pinky mcpinkersons – nathan from CA
FLO – caye from el paso
rosa enfuego – hj from TX
crackalackin’ junky-smackin’ – buck from las vegas
ROXI – stephanie from TX
big bertha – meghan from houston
hot, pink and righteous – shane from hollywood
sugar shack – joe pete
lil junker – brandi from NYC
petticoat junktion – carol from TX
gypsyville wrecker – kimberly from RI
pink hunk o’ junk – heather from KS
pepto paddywagon – dee ann from Ft Worth
pink lady wanderlust – angie from FL
pickled fink – janis from KY
large marge, the party barge – theresa from HOLLAND
junk yard DAwG – malisa from TX
pepto gizmo – deb from CO
pinky tuscudaro (fonzie’s girlfriend) – susan from TX
junkillac – Denise from HOUSTON
JUNKy COLD MEdiNA – SHaWN from DALLaS
PINK punkaRELLI – TiffaNY from AuSTin
THE pinK BoheMIAN RUBBIsh RIDE – JenNIFER from SAN ANtonIO
JUNque-a-BAGo – THeresa from HOLLAND
 
after hours and hours of deliberation, we narrowed the list down to our top 10…and then left it up to y’all. you voted. and it was henceforth declared that she shall be known across the lands and throughout the world as LaRGE MarGE the PaRTY barGE.
fearless and full of wanderlust…she’s traveled the world. 
from the tour de france…  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

{lance could barely keep up with ole marge…}

and the eiffel tower…

{did we mention she can fly?}

to running with the bulls of pamplona…

{marge in spain, valentines 2007}

and she once flew the coop on a celestial roadtrip through the MiLKY waY…leaving nothing but her rhinestone-studded tire tracks and a taco wrapper (her favorite food, extra spicy) behind.

{marge cruisin like a cosmic cowgirl towards the milky way}

it’s true! read it here!

she’s left her mark at the famous cadillac ranch…

annnnnd she’s also had a few famous hook ups…

{the paparazzi caught her stealin’ kisses from the GeNERAL LEE…who could blame her?}

and recently…MaRGE took a trip to the beauty shop for a brand new PiNK paint job and new custom graphics!

{marge gettin’ fannnncy this past summer}

and she got a new seat cover…

{yeah, that’s right. faux fur. texas longhorn. yeahhhh, baby}

and she’s made a special stop at the service station for a little pre-antiques week check-up…

{in round top at the service station last week…thanks 2 tara royer steele for the shot!}

AND now…we think she needs to be accessorized! we’re putting out a CALL 4 BuMPER stickers!

and we need a little more help from our friends! y’all send us yer stickers! mail ’em in! bring ’em to the antique show!

let’s get margie realllly dressed up!

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18 Comments

  • Reply Missy March 23, 2011 at 9:55 am

    Love that funky, junky ride! Gypsies 4 ever!

  • Reply vanessa johanning March 23, 2011 at 9:59 am

    super cool!!! I love Marge!!
    My truck is painted with art from head to toe!
    I also put on a hundred mcDonald toys and silk flowers on top! hee hee
    Love the seat cover! i think I want to put a rose covered on on mine! Thanks for sharing!
    You can see a pic if you want! ~xxoo Vanessa
    RhinestoneContessa.com

  • Reply Laura Higgins March 23, 2011 at 11:20 am

    Will Marge be taking part in Round Top’s 4TH of July parade? I think it would be fittin. Gotta go get my gear together for Warrenton. RoAD TrIp yEa!

  • Reply Anjanette Howell March 23, 2011 at 6:47 pm

    How about, CrAzY Heifer, for a bumper sticker? I would buy that!!

  • Reply sandy March 24, 2011 at 3:39 pm

    hey, whats your mailing addy? I have a bumper sticker for ya.

  • Reply Misty Marshall March 24, 2011 at 5:28 pm

    Did you know that Large Marge was the name of a character from “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure”? She was a big rig driver and the scene she had with Pee-Wee is HILARIOUS!

  • Reply Bonnie E March 24, 2011 at 11:05 pm

    Will “Large Marge” be at the “MuttNation” Fundraiser in April? Happy trails to you guys in Warrenton, me and a galfriend will be headin’ that way next week…hope to see ya there… ; “)

  • Reply laura venosa dellaporta March 27, 2011 at 8:10 pm

    this post made me smile.. love marge… love your cute & funny cartoon graphics… see how things are meant to be…she was waiting for you girls!

  • Reply Leena Lanteigne March 29, 2011 at 1:55 pm

    This is the cutest story! I am laughing so much I have tears in my eyes. Marge, you sure have lived quite the life so far. Many more happy trails to you! ~Leena~

  • Reply Lyns March 30, 2011 at 4:06 pm

    i love that margie! it always makes me smile!

    i bet i can score a “Yonder Way” bumper sticker fer ya!

  • Reply Melanie @ Lucky 7 Design April 7, 2011 at 9:36 am

    I just found you on Facebook and now your blog, so freakin cool! I dont know where Ive been (under a pile of junk) that I havent found you sooner. I love Marge, I need to get me a Marge. I live in NJ and not many junk loving chicks up here. Hoping to move to SC this year and get me a pick up and become a junkin princess. Love your stuff!

  • Reply Rochelle April 20, 2011 at 6:28 pm

    LOL…..I bet all of the former OHS UIL teams have ridden in Marge at one time or another….lol

  • Reply Stacy April 20, 2011 at 11:01 pm

    The GG email I clicked,dated today, said Miranda Lambert wedding and the latest blog entry is this one. There’s no post listed in April on the sidebar.

    Where’s the Miranda wedding blog post?

  • Reply Jessica April 24, 2011 at 12:37 am

    Wow, Large Marge has her counterpart in my family’s ancient suburban- he’s named The Beast! Gold velour corduroy interior, cream, gold, and navy exterior. Anyway, I love y’alls blog and am hoping to come see you at Antique Week and in your new store one day!

  • Reply Cyndi Neumann April 28, 2011 at 12:00 pm

    Hi Gypsies,
    I was leaving for a mini vacation when I saw this post so naturally I had my head in the bumper sticker spinners and found you a fabulous one, and then I found a second one in another place so of course I got you one and me one! That is my way of buying, one for you and one for me! So,they will be in the mail today and I hope you love it as much as I do!!

    Smiles, Cyndi/frstyfrolk as you remember me, I hope! I WILL one day see you again at Roundtop Antique Week!~< 🙂

  • Reply Kim Key Young May 3, 2020 at 5:32 am

    Hello Ya’ll!

    Not sure if I’m too late for the bumper stickers but I do write word tees which i can send you! One of my favs is “workin on not workin.” Also, Check out my video that i put on youtube in 2011….uncanny timing….https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTPJ8ts4k1w and get back with me …ya hear? Lots of Love!

  • Reply Kim Key Young May 3, 2020 at 5:34 am

    typos suck “)

  • Reply Kim Key Young May 3, 2020 at 5:41 am

    Also, been visualizing a pink limo! Close enough! <3 🙂

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