AWOL - On the Road in Maine and Texas

I have not posted in the longest time.  I have had a few of those non stop weeks, and I had the good fortune to travel to Maine with dear friends, Barbara and Mary.  Back home for a few days, and I leave again tomorrow for Round Top! Can't wait!

In the meantime, here are a few photos from my trip to  Maine with much more to follow when I get back at the end of this week.

We stayed in a house near an old granite quarry. This is what the surrounding area looked like - gorgeous, just gorgeous.

Amazing sunrise from my room early one morning.

Had lunch in Camden, Maine one day and this was the lovely view from the park.

Got to do some great antique shopping in Wiscassett. Great photos to come soon!

Adios for now - off to the Texas shows!

Yeehawww!!!

AND the Marburger Farm show! 

To read The Howdy, designed by the talented Cynthia Kinney of Houston,  on line, go here. Turn to page 2 to read a feature by yours truly!!

Back soon with lots of photos and antique adventure stories!

Spring Antique Show, Comfort, Texas

I set up at the Comfort Village Antique show a month or so ago and have been remiss in posting my photos.  I love this show. It is the quintessential country antique show, set up in a small town park pavilion and in tents, with a variety of goods, from vintage jewelry to cottage furniture, vintage paintings and folk art, and local, Texas barbecue for lunch. Enjoy!

 My booth, full of tole trays, hooked rugs, old paintings, tramp art,  transfer ware, folk art and painted furniture.

I love seeing familiar faces at the shows. My cute friend, Marcia, enjoyed the show with her grand baby!

I loved these huge wings in the booth of dealer, Ann Sams! They would be wonderful to use as a headboard like those in the bedroom below designed by Rachel Halvorson of Nashville and Nest Egg fame.

 Ann always has the most amazing gathering of tole trays, old tins, and textiles.

I was thrilled to see Dallas designer and dealer John Petty from Dallas set up at the show. I loved this wonderful folk art box made of old dominoes.

John had all sorts of interesting fossils and coral pieces, as well as other stunning accessories.

Great industrial tables and carts, also by John Petty Antiques.

My neighbor at the show, dealer Nancy Carlo, of San Antonio, always has the best primitives - from antique trunks to old kitchen implements. She sells like crazy at these shows to lots of folks who relate to her country antiques with memories from the past.

Vickie Davis, dealer and owner of The Texas Rose Show, always sets up a gorgeous booth.

My neighbor on the other side of my booth was Wayne Ayers. Wayne is a very talented folk artist who sells antiques as well as his own folk art reproductions. He crafts amazing replicas of old weather vanes. He is also just about the nicest person you could set up next to at a show!

On the other side of Wayne were friends, and long time antique dealers, Jim and Sandra Sheffield. They always have an abundance of good country antiques and colorful, seasonal goods. Jim and Sandra travel to lots of different shows, and I am always glad to see them. Hard working and fun loving, they are the among the best of antique dealers.

Love this old red mantel, from antique dealer, Gracie, of Boerne, Texas.

Wonderful side table, lamp and painting, also in Gracie's booth.

Another favorite, Camille McCain, always has great garden antiques and vintage folk art.

Camille's cottage table and folk art swan......

I wish I had a picture of Jack Henson's booth, but a review of an antique show just isn't complete without mention of Jack. A seasoned dealer who sets up at Round Top as well as at all the hill country shows, and all around good guy, Jack gives Nancy Carlo his two cents on something.......something important, I am sure!!

 These bad boys had me the minute I rounded the corner!! Vintage garden chairs  - eight arm chairs, layers of old blue, brown and pink paint, and never met a scroll they didn't like! If only they could talk, the stories they could tell!

These belonged to my friend, Randy Nicholson, of Cypress Creek Antiques in Comfort. (Now they belong to me!!) They were coupled with a 12 foot wine tasting table from France - also part of the "stop you in your tracks vignette", and the whole setting was in the booth of Robert Barrett and Molly Johnson.
Molly and Robert always set up an extraordinary booth and can be found at Round Top in the big red barn every season.

Both of the above links are to a publication that featured the Round Top show and specifically my friends, Randy and Joe, and Robert and Molly - all the best of Texas antique dealers!

So, as the rule goes, "when something comes in the house, something must go out". With the arrival of the garden chairs,  I have eight vintage Windsor side chairs in old black paint, now FOR SALE, if anyone is interested.


In closing, I would like to thank all of the dealers who allowed me to take photos in their booths. One of my favorite times at the antique shows is getting to walk around right before the show opens to see the fruits of everyone's labor. Before the crowds and before the best of vignettes are dismantled as the buyers choose there treasures, I get to see the booths in perfect arrangement.  Setting up at antique shows really is a creative endeavor - hard, time consuming work, but well worth it.

Round Top Report - Spring Antiquing in Texas!

My trips to the antique shows in and around Round Top, Texas are always a great distraction from the responsibilities of real life for me. I can wander for hours, taking in the variety of vintage and antique goods - some merely decorative and some truly historically important, and everything in between!

 Sometimes someone comments that they were disappointed in the shows.  I rarely feel that way when it comes to Marburger or Round Top. I may not necessarily want to buy anything (rarely is that the case!) but the antiques and the design of the booths can entertain me for hours.

First stop, Marburger Farm on opening day. What a treat!

The photo above and the one below are from the booth of Allen and Lindra, of Parkhouse Antiques, and old friends from Dallas. I usually don't even get to visit with them much at the show because they are too busy selling all of their wonderful wares!

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Of course, Linda and Ludmil, of Willow Nest, always set up a fabulous booth full of pretty and curious things. Love the saints all under glass.

Linda can be spotted over in the corner taking a breath after a wild and exciting beginning of the show. Most dealers reported a great morning with lots of excited shoppers and lots of sales! I love hearing that.

One of my new favorite dealers is Shannon from Clutter Antiques in Dallas. She had an assortment of interesting items - a rather eclectic gathering, like I am attracted to - maybe that is why I was drawn to her booth.

This shot of a lovely painting is difficult to see clearly,  but the painting is attached behind the two wire shelves. It is vintage Italian, painted on fabric. It is quite large and is of a young woman drinking from a fountain, in a lovely courtyard. I loved it! It is haunting me and I may have to call her to see if she still has it. I doubt it, though - it was most charming!

I also loved this painting, AND the old pique assiette pots AND the clock faces AND the metal sconces holding the pots.............AND the tramp art box.......need I go on?

 I really enjoyed talking with Gloria Lopez of City different Antiques in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She and her husband had an assortment of great Indian and western items, old trade signs, textiles and lots of good folk art.

Love this old sign from Ft. Worth!

 

I am sorry to say I do not know who this booth belonged to, but I just loved the blue background and the beautiful assortment of antiques.The paintings spoke to me and the gold mercury glass just popped on  that great looking sideboard. I didn't even see the gorgeous painted screen until I just posted this photo. I wish I could go back and see it all again!

I could safely say I could have bought everything in the booth of Margaret Bostick's The Silk Purse. She had an exceptional group of tramp art and other folk art frames, great 19th century pottery from Belgium, some old wire pieces, and some gorgeous lighting.

Did I mention religious figures, furniture and fabulous concrete planters?

Oh yeah, I could enjoy those planters very much.

One last shot of this gorgeous booth. 

I really enjoyed my time at Marburger this season. Looking at my photos I realize how many more I  wish I'd taken. There is more to see and learn about than one can really describe. I would love it if I could go back today and see it all again, but alas, all the booths are dismantled and the dealers headed  to various destinations. I guess that is what makes it all so special - an amazing gathering of people and antiques, all just for a few days. What a feast for the senses!

I headed to Round Top the next day and took a few photos at the Big Red Barn. I did not arrive with the crowd at the start of the show, but got there about noon. There was still a ton to see, but also a ton of SOLD tickets. Great for the dealers! It made me so happy for them I hope they all had a successful show.

 

 It's a good thing this incredible tramp chest had a sold ticket on it. It would have been a huge temptation for me! It was in the booth of Mark Morris of Ohio.

Longtime dealer and friend, Katie Johnson, always has exquisite furniture, early antiques and folk art. This portrait and old wooden car are no exception. Katie reported a buying frenzy earlier in the morning! 

Didn't get the name of this dealer, but again, I just thought there were so many pretty things in his booth. Click to enlarge the photo to see the fabulous papier mache pieces on stands. I wish I had asked about them. I am not even sure what to call them - maybe music stands - but they were fabulous.

The same booth as the previous photo - I just had to get a closer shot of this basket of very old velvet fruit. It was just exquisite and in really good condition. I also love the drop leaf table with original green paint.

Well, there you have it. Another Round Top antique season come and gone. I just wish I had had more than a few days to visit. I didn't even get out into the fields at Warrenton to see so many other great antique dealers. I hope the shows went well for them. 

Now, on to more hunting and gathering for my next show - the Comfort Spring Antique Show on May 1 and 2, 2010. Hope to see you there!