49th Annual Dolly Johnson Antique Show Follow Up

Well, the month of March has come and almost gone and a lot has happened around Hill Country House. 

   First things first.

 It's only right that I follow up on the great antique show I did in Ft. Worth, the

 Dolly Johnson Antique and Art Show.

Before I begin I want to say thank you to a few folks.
 The first morning I was sitting in my booth and two women came in to look around.
One asked "Are you Ann Williams?" When I replied yes, she said "Well, we read your blog and your kitchen turned out just great!"
 I was so surprised - I am not sure why, because of course I know anyone can read what I put out into the wild blue blogsophere - but I think more than anything, I was so humbled.
I am not a prolific blogger.

 I write when the spirit moves me. I know I have a few readers, but more than that, I have kind friends who read my blog.
 I do not think of myself as someone who has a big readership, though.
 So, I want to say thank you to those women in particular, and I am so sorry I did not ask your names!
The fact that you came by my booth at the show and mentioned my blog and my KITCHEN,
(which I am still loving sooo much!) meant so much to me.
So to the sweet ladies who came by that morning,  please leave me a comment here so I can properly meet you and  thank you!

Now, on with the show.......................

I might remind you here that I began as a passionate collector of antiques years ago.

 I loved and still love all kinds of folk art.

 I love ethnic things, colorful things, textiles, and quirky handmade objects.

 I am crazy for the patina of things well loved.

This is important because I think there are those who love old things and those who don't - it's just as simple as that. 

 I love OLD things.

 Over the years my collections began to take over my houses and my bank account. 

I needed to sell - sometimes to upgrade, sometimes to simply edit, and sometimes to move on from a particular collection completely.

I began by selling a few items in my friend, Barbara's, booth at Round Top a number of years ago.

Gradually, I filled her booth with more and more items, and she had less and less. 

She began to do more design work and less antique shows, and I began to do more antique shows. 

So, here we are today - I do shows and she sells a few items here and there in my booths!

Does Barbara still love antiques? 

Absolutely. 

Do we still have fun antiquing together? 

You bet!

I have loved this old handmade truck from North Carolina for years. 

My husband loved it too, and for a long time did not want me to sell it.
 He, too, realizes that we can't keep everything we love.....especially if we want to continue hunting treasure.

 I had a collection of fruit still life paintings for a while.

 This one was one of my best.
 Fortunately it went home with a friend.
 It's always good to know our favorites go to good homes!

 These old cigar tins crack me up!

 Of course, "between the acts" refers to an intermission of a live performance, as in a play or musical of some sort.....but some find an implied humor of other sorts in them. 

 I have also sold them to stamp collectors for the stamp that seals the box.

 I had three of these folded books on hand at the show, each folded in a different pattern.

The couple who bought them was going to use them at the table of their daughter's wedding. She was getting married in an old library and the table was to be decorated in flowers and old books. What a lovely idea. 

I was thrilled that they appreciated this old paper folding art form.

I began collecting old Mexican pottery many years ago.

 My best pieces were all found in the United States, as the pottery was made for tourists and many folks brought entire sets home from their travels back in the 30s, 40s and 50s.

 These folky pieces are from Tlaquepaque, near Guadalajara,  Mexico and are very recognizable by their scenes of every day life of the Mexican people.
The pattern is getting more and more difficult to find, and the large serving pieces are really rare, especially those in mint condition.

I love the pottery, but over time have realized that if I don't have room to display and enjoy my collections, I may as well move them on and let someone else enjoy them.
 I only sold a few pieces at the show, but interestingly, those who really expressed an interest in the pottery,  LOVED it, and already had large collections.
 One woman bought one special black bowl for her house in Santa Fe, where she already has every other piece in her collection.

 I fell in love with this white top hat in my friend, Stephanie's booth.

Why yes, so in love was I that I had to buy it!!
 The only person who would love it more is my daughter, who has been on the look out for a cool top hat for quite some time!

 Perfect for her 18th birthday, don't you think?

 I never could catch this dealer in his or her booth, but it was so amazingly clever and creative. These bracelets were made from baseballs!

Yes, baseballs!!
Aren't they so fun!

 The fun of this show was in the variety of objects shown and in the creativity of the booth set ups!
 I passed by this giant horn every time I walked to the front of the building and it made me smile every time!

 LOOK! there is my friend and neighbor at the show, Janet, of Talk Sweet Talk blog.

She is working hard back there in the corner, probably writing up sales tickets!

 Janet is one of the most clever dealers I know. 

She has the world's largest collection of word flash cards and picture flashcards, plus the best ironstone, butter pats, tea cups, dress forms, man forms, jewelry (more on that in a sec) .....just you name it, if it's clever and fun, Janet probably has it in her booth!

Incidentally, Janet took all the great photos of my booth that I have shared here!
 With  all the things I had to remember to get to Ft. Worth for the show, wouldn't you know my camera would be the one thing I'd forget!
Thank you Janet!

See the precious little girl statuary? 

She is holding a ton of ironstone butter pats. She had to unload them at some point on Saturday, though, because she sold and was going to a home in Dallas to live in a girl's bathroom. 

How cute must that be!??
 Can't you see the bowl filled with soaps and shampoos and other girl stuff?

The large cream pitcher, probably an advertising piece once upon a time, used to be mine.

It sold too.  It went to the same home as the concrete girl holding the bowl. 

 I wish I could see that house, filled with such unusual and fun treasures!

This, kind blog readers, is the piece de resistance!! 

Janet makes these charming necklaces and sells them individually at her shows. 

I walked into her booth during set up and fell head over heels in love with the whole lot of them!! 

All stacked up on the neck of this wonderful old dress form....well that thing  happened  where I can't help but grin from ear to ear,   smiling with humor and joy and excitement and  saying without even thinking  "I want it, I want it ALL!!"

Spoken like a true addict collector!!

No, I did not buy it all! 

I did not even buy one, thank you very much. 

But, I still think about the little coffee cup,  the whisk broom and the little green chair - after all, these are some of the things I love.......I think I should have them, don't you ?

49th Annual Dolly Johnson Antique and Art Show

 I am beginning to count down the days until I load up my big old green Suburban and head for Ft. Worth, Texas! 

I will be setting up at the 49th Annual Dolly Johnson Antique and Art Show, a show that has been an institution in the Dallas - Fort Worth area for, well, 49 years now!

 The Dolly Johnson Antique Show is one that I used to attend when I lived in Dallas years ago.

 In fact, long before my dear friend, Barbara, was my dear friend, I remember seeing her set up at the show,  and , and.....well let's just say I spent a little money with her in those days.

She exposed me to many fine antiques back then and continues to have a strong influence on me today. I have featured her home several times on Hill Country House.

In fact, we've even been known to sell each other antiques, only to buy them back from one another later on!
  Crazy?
 Yes, we know.

She was one of my, and many others,  favorite dealers back then and still, today, is my favorite antique loving friend!
 We have made many memories over the years in and around the antique business together!

So, the show was founded in 1963 by Dolly Johnson of Ft. Worth, Texas. 

During the 1990's Dolly's daughter,  JJ Frambes, joined her mother in running the show and eventually took over leadership.

In 2009 JJ sold the show to Jan Orr Harter, owner of Hot Tamale Antiques of Aledo, Texas.

Jan Orr-Harter

Jan has long been a favorite dealer of mine, as well.

 Her classic Southwestern style has always been complemented by the unique and quirky antiques she adds to the mix, which of course, have always spoken to me!

Jan has added art and a broader range of antiques to the show, making it a diverse and fun show in keeping with the times. 

I am excited to set up at this show next to my friend,

JANET

of

 SWEET TALK !!

I took these photos when I met Janet in 2009. 

We chatted for a while and I immediately was taken with her warmth and sincerity.

 I was amazed at her creativity and unique style!

I am still in awe of her creativity and style and it has been fun watch her as she has moved to Marburger Farms to a perfect spot in an old farmhouse where she can be found each spring and fall as a regular dealer, AND she writes the awesome blog,

Talk Sweet Talk!

Another dealer I am excited to be with is also Marburger regular, Stephanie, from Tyler, Texas.
 I have bought from Stephanie regularly over the years,but have never gotten to set up at a show with her.
 Looking forward to that, too!!

 I love the people in the antique business as much, if not MORE, than the antiques!

Photo Source

Also on the list of great dealers is my friend,

Steve Wiman, artist,
and
   owner of Uncommon Objects in Austin.

Steve has an artist's eye for the unique and interesting, both in single objects and in the fabulous ways he pulls objects together.

I can't wait to see his space at the show!


As you can see from the photos of past shows, there will be quite a variety of antiques and vintage treasure to see......

One might see everything from giant hands that must have been from a store display, to vintage western wear, to more traditional antique trunks with amazing early paint finishes.....

What a great show and I am honored and thrilled to be a part of it!

So, if you are anywhere near Ft. Worth, Texas next weekend, come see me and 74 other antique dealers. 

We promise not to disappoint!

More Antique Goodness!

 

 HOW could I have forgotten to mention the Dolly Johnson Show in Ft. Worth?!!

One of my favorite quotes (get ready - this is profound) is in the movie Freedom Writers. Hillary Swank plays young, innovative teacher, Erin Gruwell,  in a classroom of at risk students, hoping to inspire them in many ways.

In one scene, hoping to use their jargon, she says "My badness", misquoting the expression "My bad".

 For some reason the misuse of this expression just tickled me when I heard it, and continues to amuse me.  I think because misusing this expression is sooo something I might do!

So, I use it frequently,  just to watch my girls roll their eyes for the umpteenth time.

(Anyone ever say "thank your"? Know where I got that?)

Oh, how easily I can digress...............OK,  back to antiques.

This morning, as I was enjoying my coffee and my Maine Antique Digest  I came across two ads for shows I really should have included in my last post.

It is a little scary that I actually THOUGHT "uh oh, my badness" to myself. 

 You see, I really only use the expression  to annoy and embarrass my children, really.

 So, the Dolly Johnson Show in Ft. Worth, Texas, will be this March 11 and 12 and has always been a great antique show. 

The show has been in existence for many years and is one of the first I used to attend regularly when we lived in Big D. 

The show was a lot of this.............

and this..........

Not that there is one thing wrong with those things! 

I love good old American antiques, quilts and painted furniture and chests.

It's just that the show has grown with the years and now you will also see

 gorgeous French antiques,

 and all sorts of garden antiques,

and vintage Western wear, and the list goes on and on!

To read the history of the show and find out who Dolly Johnson was, go here.

To read about the show today and about new owner, Jan Orr - Harter, go here 

Jan has long been visible at antique shows with her gorgeous salt and pepper hair, her fabulous finds, and sometimes with her precious sidekick, Della.

You may also know her as the genius behind Hot Tamale Antiques. 

From the looks of last year's show, Jan has figured out how to keep the long standing and respected show just as good and traditional for the folks who love it that way, but has added new blood and new looks to the mix of booths and merchandise.

 Whoa.....talk to the hand!

 I see some gorgeous decorative pieces here.

Love big old advertising things - maybe that is what this flower urn was?

So, if you can make your way to Ft. Worth on March 11 - 12. it looks like another great antique show!!!

Now, back to Nashville. How could I forget the Fiddler's Antique Show, named so because it actually is at the Fiddler's Inn, on Music Valley Drive near Opryland, in Nashville. 

Dealers set up in their rooms and shoppers move from one room to the next. 

It is quite clever, actually, how dealers manage to rearrange their space for the best show display.

Sadly, I have searched and searched for some photos of the show at Fiddler's Inn and cannot find a thing!

If you do this show or have photos from shopping this show and want to send them to me, I'd be happy to post them. 

Regardless, if you find your self in Nashville during February, you really should try to make it to some of the shows. 

They will be good, I can promise you that!

Once again, happy hunting!