Showing posts with label American Antiques Show. Show all posts
Showing posts with label American Antiques Show. Show all posts

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Amoroso Cottage - A Special Hill Country Retreat



I love discovering that someone you know, or thought you knew, "wears a different hat" than you might have ever expected. 

My opthamolgist and friend, Martha, is just that person. 

While she is an excellent physician and highly respected in her field, it has been great fun to see her and her husband, David, browsing through the antique shows that I do.  They both love old things and rarely miss a show around the area. 

One day she told me excitedly that she and David had purchased an older home in Fredericksburg and were re-doing it to function as a bed and breakfast. They call is Amoroso Cottage and it sits on a quiet street in the historical neighborhood, just a short walk to Main Street, shops and restaurants.



The house is classic old Fredericksburg, with two doors opening out onto the front porch. I am not sure why they had two doors when they built these house. Perhaps it was for the use of a boarder who might want his or her own entry. The door closest to the rocker is the official front door, and the other ones enters into a bedroom.   I am sure this is a bit of house history I should know!

 Martha and David have added a beautiful stone patio with stone fireplace in the back yard of their house. They also had a gorgeous rock wall built along the front border and incorporated some beautiful iron work as well.


                                                                                  
 The entry is simple, with no strong hint of the charm and wonderful decor to be discovered upon entering!


  The parlor, or living room, is right inside the entry. I took my photos during the Christmas  season so as you can, Martha and David were expecting holiday visitors!


                                 Every room is filled with vintage finds and comfy furnishings.


The view from the kitchen looking back at the parlor and front door.


The kitchen has a full dining table so lots of people can enjoy meals and good times here.

 The kitchen is quaint and homey, filled with every necessity for staying here comfortably, and has a ton of charm !


 Martha found the iron fixture at Pottery Barn and filled it with vintage cards.

(Hmm....another thing to hunt for at shows and flea markets. I think she may be hooked!)
Very clever and very creative!

 The pewter collection evolved when Martha started noticing it at antique shows and then decided to decorate her cottage.
Funny how we first begin to just stumble upon things at shows and then before we know it,  we begin to hunt for them!

                                                      Wonderful vintage canister collection.


 I am crazy about this chest, and how Martha stacked the smaller painted chests on top! It sits in the hallway downstairs between the bedroom and the bathroom.



       The master bedroom is downstairs off of the kitchen. There are two more bedrooms upstairs. Martha hung the beautiful tapestry behind the bed to cover the second door I referred to. 
Clever, and it makes a beautiful headboard!



                                                         Don't you love the old staircase?

 Both bedrooms are cozy and inviting. Clearly Martha used her talent to create colorful and comfortable rooms for her guests.


 Love the way the vintage and the new are mixed to create just the perfect balance in this wonderful old fashioned house.
                                                                                    


What a fun spot to sit at the end of the day. 
A fire in the fireplace, friends sitting around in the Adirondack chairs swapping stories from their day,  add a glass of wine and some snacks ........makes for a great time!


 
Beautiful iron gate entering the back yard.

If you are interested in learning more about Amoroso Cottage, 


You can find out details, prices and availability. Go now, though, because come spring time in Texas we get very busy. Lots and lots of folks love coming for a weekend to see the bluebonnets in bloom and enjoy our beautiful hill country!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Antique Season 2011 is Upon Us!!

A reader asked me to notify her of the antique shows coming up in the spring in Texas.

 I will be happy to do so, and to go beyond that and list some others around the country that are in the near future. 

Let me know in a comment if you want to add any to the list! All are welcome since we are all over the country as bloggers and antique lovers, right?

As I mentioned here this past weekend was the American Antique Show in NYC. As a follow up I would like to mention some fun facts I learned today here.

Photo Source

According to Nancy Gibson, of VandM.com's Design in TellLeatherwood Antiques had quite the turnout in their booth with Martha Stewart, Bunny Williams, and John Roselli all in the booth at the same time!

Leatherwood specializes in early children's pottery.

This little historical treasure was in the booth of Just Folk, from California.
 

If you didn't visit their website when I posted before, you really should.
 It is so well done and such fun!
According to Nancy, the hooked rug was purchased by a client of Mary Douglas Drysdale, an amazing designer who incorporates Americana into many of her designs.
This would be such a great show to attend......it is on my bucket list!


Speaking of Americana, the big Heart of Country Show is coming up in Nashville in February.

It is one of the prettiest shows I have ever seen. It is held at the Opryland Hotel and begins February 17, with Thursday evening's preview party,  and runs through Saturday, February 19.


I would be remiss if I didn't tell you about two other shows going on in Nashville during the same few days.
 
The Tailgate Antique Show
  is held at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds and is also a fabulous show.
I went last year and saw some stunningly beautiful booths full of really, really good antiques.




February 17-19, 2011
Thursday-Saturday

Show Hours
Thursday early bird:
8 a.m. to noon
$40 early bird admission includes both Tailgate and Music Valley plus readmission all three days.
General Admission
Thursday- noon to 5 p.m.
Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
$12 per day includes both shows


Yet another great show in Nashville is the Music Valley Show.



Click here for the scoop on both shows at the fairgrounds.

It runs in conjunction with the Tailgate show, also at the fairgrounds.
These shows used to be held at different hotels in the Opryland area and I remember trudging through snow and rain, across roads and highways to visit all the different hotel rooms where dealers set up. It was an adventure and fun, but the new set up is much easier on many levels.

The new venue at the fairgrounds makes for two unique, big, incredible shows, offering many more creature comforts!


February 17-19, 2011
Thursday-Saturday

Show Hours
Thursday early bird:
8 a.m. to noon
$40 early bird admission includes both Tailgate and Music Valley plus readmission all three days.
General Admission
Thursday- noon to 5 p.m.
Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
$14 per day includes both shows
CONFUSED? Don't be. Just show up at the fairgrounds during the times mentioned and you will see two beautiful antique shows all in one area.


Another beautiful show is the
 Nashville Antiques and Garden Show, held a little bit earlier in February, from the preview party on Thursday, February 10 through Sunday, February 13.

There will be several guest lecturers, one of whom is Charlotte Moss! Check out the show website for details.



Now, on to a Texas show that is smaller than the above, but a very good show.

It is the Boerne Antique Show, held at the park in Boerne, Texas. Boerne is just outside of San Antonio in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. This year the show will be the weekend of February 26 - 27.

This was my booth last year. It is a little picked over in this photo as it was a very busy morning. This show brings antique lovers from all around the area and is one of the most popular of the Texas smaller shows.

Of course, folks are gearing up all over Texas for the Round Top show and all that encompasses!

During the last few weeks of March dealers begin setting up all along Highway 237 outside of Round Top. Lots and lots of dealers set up around and in Warrenton, Texas.There are so many different shows going on up and down this highway that I could never mention them all. For different dates and locations go to
The Show Daily.


I will mention some of them, and if I miss you and you want to be featured, let me know!



The Zapp Hall show is a fun show. Zapp Hall is on Hwy. 237 between Warrenton and Round Top. There are dealers inside as well as all around the outside of Zapp Hall.

There is good food to be had and lots of spirited activity, music, and great dealers.

This show runs from Friday, March 25 through Saturday April 2.

Zapp Hall is a real place and is chock full of great antiques during the season.


Cole's Antique Show, also on the road from Warrenton to Round Top, runs from March 24 through Saturday, April 2, and is full of over 200 dealers. It is also in an air conditioned building with real bathrooms. If you have ever been to these shows you know why these are worth mentioning!

Another show down the road a piece is Ex-Cess, where dealers like Ed and Michael from Leftovers in Brenham, Texas have set up in the past.
There are other high end dealers in this show and it is definitely worth a stop.



A popular stop as you get further down the road towards Round Top is
Clutter.

Known for great antiques, fabulous displays and good food, this is a must stop. Even if you don't buy, the displays and tons of merchandise is all eye candy!


No list of antique shows would be complete without mentioning the FAMOUS

Marburger Farm Antique Show!

The show will be from Tuesday, March 29 through Saturday, April 2 this spring.

Getting bigger and better every year, the Marburger Show has something for everyone. From the finest of European antiques, to the quirkiest of folk art, to the finest of early country antiques, you have to see it to believe it!



The show is well managed and has lots of spots to rest your feet and enjoy a delicious sandwich or snack, or a glass of wine or margarita at the end of a long, full day.
I can't tell you how much fun this show is. Lots of bloggers will be writing about it in the weeks to come.

Here are just a few of my favorites from years past...............





Last, (for this list, but not for the season)

but never least by any means, is the show that started it all years ago.

The Round Top Antique Show

43rd ANNUAL SPRING ANTIQUES FAIR
Mar. 30, 31, Apr. 1, 2, 2011
Big Red Barn & Tent, Continental Tent
Carmine Dance Hall
Big Red Barn location open
9am to 8pm on Wednesday and
9am to 5pm Thursday through Friday
and 9am to 4pm on Saturday
Carmine Dance Hall open 9am to 5pm all days
Admission $10 Good for all days at all locations.

There you have it - the details.

Now for some photos from past shows.....





All photos from the Round Top show website


This is a show of quality dealers, good food, indoor restrooms and air conditioning.
 Like I said before, if you are a seasoned "Round Topper" you know why I mention some of these details!
If this will be your first trip, it won't take you long to figure out it is usually hot in Texas,
 Spring or Fall,

and port-a-potties get old, really old, fast!


NOW, lest you think I am finished......not so fast!

After you have so much fun at the above mentioned shows, you might find that when you go home you feel a little let down, a little withdrawal, shall we say, from antiquing.

Food doesn't taste as good, your kids and pets aren't as cute, you just can't get excited about anything......
Wait, you are not depressed. You just need another ANTIQUE FIX!


Well, hang on for just a few more weeks, and then make your way to

COMFORT, TEXAS 

for the best little country antique show around!

Comfort Park
403 Hwy 27, Comfort Texas
Only 1 hour from San Antonio on IH-10 West

Saturday - April 30, 2011 - 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday - May 1, 2011 - 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 




Come see me at the Boerne show and the Comfort show, and meanwhile, enjoy the plethora of  spring shows!
Chin up - the fun will begin soon.

Happy hunting!

Friday, January 21, 2011

MORE on Ruby's Incredible Button Suit!

RUN, DON'T walk, right now, to my friend Dixie Redmond's blog


where she has done the homework on

Ruby's Incredible Button Suit




Dixie was the first to comment on my post about the American Antiques Show and let me know that she had posted about the button suit and linked back to me. I was THRILLED to read her post and especially to see the photo of Ruby and her husband, Jake, modeling the suit..... Ruby sitting close by, smiling quietly, but proudly.

Dixie also linked to a wonderful blog site, Accidental Mysteries, which I can't wait to get back to.

I love that Ruby is being honored, as she should be. What talent.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

The American Antiques Show NYC

                                                      

         Oh how I wish I could be at the opening preview tonight for the American Antiques Show in NYC!

The show benefits the The American Folk Art Museum, one of my favorite places in all of NYC. 

 I have to share with you just a few of the dealers who will be set up at the show.

I have chosen a few treasures from some of their websites. 

 These are not necessarily what they will have a the show - I should make that clear.

I have just visited their websites to torture myself since I can't go to the show.

 First up, a BUTTON SUIT......have you ever in your wildest dreams thought of such a thing?

Well, apparently Ruby Ann Kittner from Iowa did, and she created it sometime in the 1930s.

WOW.


                                          
 
                                                                       Harvey Antiques
I found this wonderful oddity at Harvey Antiques. 
Pay a visit for more fabulous and unusual folk art unless, of course, you are going to the show. Lucky.


        The fabulous tramp art hanging shelf and the amazingly clever assemblage of wood, wheels and a fan (created by Paul Hart) in the form of a goose come from Just Folk, an amazing shop in California.

I really, really want to visit there one of these days!
                        
     The Just Folk website is really well done and fun with great music to browse by!                          
                                    

                        These precious creatures were a store window display in the 1930s.
 Oh.My.Gosh. Have  you ever seen anything so funny and charming!?  


                   Leatherwood specializes in 19th century children's pottery and has a grand collection of    little mugs and plates with different names on them. Most charming!


                                                                              
                              If you need any sort of textile, a fabulous quilt, a hooked rug, or a quirky piece of folk art  I am sure that  Stella Rubin will have quite the booth at the show! 

         Her website is phenomenal and I wanted to include more photos than I could!                                   


                               Gorgeous Streak of Lightening quilt circa 1870 from Stella Rubin.

                                 Folk art guitar from assembled parts, also from Stella Rubin.



                       


                                                                                                                  
     
                                                            American Primitive Gallery   

                   "GOOGLY EYED CAT This old cat toy was well worn and loved.It's tail is longer than its  feet, the google eyes can still follow your movements, yet its squeeze meower is silent. Painted oilcloth (with bow tie) red cloth edging and now an AP metal base". 

(from the American Primitive Gallery website) 
What a sweet black cat!


While I can't really choose a favorite among the dealers I have mentioned (and there are a lot more - visit the website for the show) I have to say that the website of Jeff Bridgeman is very interesting, educational and fun to peruse. His antiques are of a really high quality and in many cases he explains why they are valued as they are and what to look for in similar examples. Here are a few of my favorites, but do visit here is you want to see and learn more.


                   RED AND BLACK, MAINE BLANKET CHEST WITH BRUSH-WORK PAINT DECORATION IN WHIMSICAL LINEAR PATTERNS, DATED 1856:

Paint decorated Maine blanket box with a beautiful and unusual form, on a bracket base, retaining its first surface red background and black brush-work designs. The various geometric patterns on the front and sides are punctuated by the two consecutive square medallions on the top. Dated “1856” on the back. Pine construction. Outstanding early condition.

                                         (Text quoted from Jeff Bridgeman Antiques.)

                    TWO-DOOR PAINTED QUEBEC CUPBOARD / SERVER IN ROBIN’S EGG BLUE WITH RED TRIM, 1810-30:

This little Quebec two-door cupboard / server has the nicest combination of Robin’s egg blue and red paint that any collector could wish for on a piece of country furniture. This has been present since the mid-late 19th century and is over an original surface that may have originally been blue as well, but which oxidized and faded to light green, as very early blue often does on rural, North American furniture.

Made between 1810 and 1830, it’s simple and sturdy form has recessed paneled doors with great chamfering on the reverse and is nicely molded on the top and bottom. The top surface is scrubbed and has a very pleasant, honey-colored patina.
                                                  (Text quoted from Jeff Bridgeman Antiques)

While my taste runs towards the casual and folky, there will certainly be some more formal and exquisite antiques at this show. The website of Charles and Rebekah Clark is chock full of fine and beautiful antiques like these sconces.

John Keith Russell has wonderful American antique furnishings and I particularly love this clock from New Hampshire



                                                       and this darling wagon seat, c. 1810.

                  So there you have it - a little sample of a big show in New York this weekend!
Oh, and by the way, some of our favorite designers are on the Interior Designers' Committee for the show - people like Mario Buatta, Miles Redd, and Vincente Wolf. On the Virginia Committee of Honor are Bunny Williams, John Roselli, and Charlotte Ross. Mmmmm...hhmmmmmm - just thought I'd drop a few names!!

Wonder if there any any cheap flights to NYC tomorrow?

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