Accumulations Preview

Happy Sunday to you all.  I thought you might enjoy a sneak preview into the Accumulations Show that was this past weekend in Driftwood.  It couldn't have been more magical, the weather any better, and the friendships were the icing on the cake. 

The first picture of the slide show belonged to Mickie and Brandy.  Next was Linda Parker's booth.  I always love seeing her take on vintage items and how she displays.  Linda can always be found at Uncommon Objects in Austin.  Then the next picture belonged to Janette's booth.  Janette's eye for detail is always so interesting to see.  I too love visiting her booth at Uncommon Objects as well. 

Next up is Steve Wiman's booth.  Steve is the owner of Uncommon Objects and his space at the show was displayed so interesting as it is in his shop as well.  Next picture belonged to Stephanie Rubbiano.  She takes vintage items and makes them into works of art.  And the last few pictures were of my space.

Thanks to all the great customers that came out.  I unfortunately had to start packing early as I received a call that my mother-in-law has been placed back in the hospital.  For those that may not know she's been told she has terminal cancer.  Please continue to pray for my husband's family, it's been really hard on them and on her as well.  Hope you all have a fun Halloween evening tonight.  I'll show you more of the show this week.

Vintage Halloween Decorating

It's Friday and the weekend is just around the corner and it seems that Fall weather has finally hit our part of Texas.  It's also Halloween this Sunday and I couldn't wait to show who's house I hinted about the other day that I had visited.  My friend Marion, better known as junkin' buddy, always goes all out decorating for Halloween and Christmas.  She has some of the best vintage Halloween that I've ever seen.  Her eye for displaying and decorating is just so unique and interesting.  You walk in her home and you don't know where to start.  Your eye will catch something to the left and then there's something to the right that you have to see.

From the road her place looks very peaceful, on a hill, that welcomes you and beckons you to come in:

Her porch is decked out for each season, it's always changing.  Even on her porch there's something cleaver at every corner.  Her steps always have pumpkins and mums or another pretty kind of flowers blooming in pots as you walk up.

As you walk into her living room, the fireplace is to your right.  It changes with the seasons too.  She has a green cabinet, filled with ironstone, that is in her livingroom in the corner. 

There's a witches hat and goodies that can be seen in the slideshow on her coffee table.  As you walk through the living room you enter into her dining room. 

You never know how her table will be decked out. Her sideboard is always filled with more goodies.  Another cute vignette is always found in the corner of her dining room.  More scary things displayed in the corner as you'll see in the slideshow.

As you walk into her kitchen, her table always catches my eye.  She has a farm table and metal chairs in her kitchen that I have always admired.  I believe she had it for sale once when we were in a shop together.  She always had the coolest displays and I couldn't wait to come in to see how she was going to display her booth for that month.  She redid her booth every month with cool finds she'd come across in her travels. If you look up to your left of her kitchen, you'll see some of the best signs I've ever seen.  She has such a great eye.  Lots of great silver things can be found on one side of the kitchen. 

Her front bedroom is where she displays most of her vintage Halloween goodies.  Old children's costumes, some are still in the original box and some are made from old crepe paper are displayed in this room.  Can you image the child that wore that costume just for that one evening.  Then, I can imagine their mother must have carefully wrapped it back in it's original box knowing next year they will have outgrown it.  The care that was taken into preserving the costume is priceless.

As you walk onto her back porch, it's all decked out as well.  Another sitting area on her back porch can be seen in the pictures above.

I should have showed you her yard because she also has such a beautiful yard.  It's all decked out with pretty flowers, vintage garden statues, an old bike, yard art and vintage furniture.  You could spend hours at her place.  The day she invited me over was during my lunch hour.  We had lunch on her back porch and it was so peaceful and relaxing.  So, you see she can decorate, cook, garden, and display.  I don't know what she can't do.  I always tell her that when I visit it feels like "home".  Her house spells like home, with candles burning and it's always a great experience.  You can find Marion's things at the Heritage Antique Mall in Lufkin Texas.  Hope you enjoyed the tour.  Happy early weekend and Halloween!

Reminder about Accumulations

Just another reminder that the Accumulations Hill Country Vintage Home and Garden Fair starts tomorrow from 4:00 to 8:00 pm (come shop with us and have a glass of wine under the stars) and the show goes through Saturday from 9:00 to 4:00 pm.  There's a unique group of vendors that will be at this show and we've been working on lots of great things as well. 

As a special announcement, Sharon Bright of the famous "Sack Lunch" will be here selling her famous gourmet sandwiches and treats.  You definately want to check out her eats.  She has some of the best herb tea I've had in a while.  We filled up on lots of her tea and eats when we were at the Hico show.

We are also very excited to announce we will have our very own show photographer, Anne of Fiona and Twig will be here capturing the day just for you.  Isn't that exciting news.  I can't wait to see the show through her eyes.

For more info. on the show with directions and info., click HERE!  Hope to see you there.

White Leftovers

Each time we are at the Antique Shows in the April and Fall, the Leftover's Antique Shop always has a party.  They didn't disappoint this year either, it was a White Winter Wonderland.  They were all ready for Christmas and I loved seeing all their pretty decorations.  Hope you enjoy:

Be sure and stop by Kathleen's Blog to see all the other White Wednesday participants.

Accumulations Home and Garden Fair




It's time for another Accumulations Hill Country Vintage Home and Garden Fair in Driftwood Texas.  We are so excited to be joining Brandy and Mickie at their 2nd Show along with several other vendors they've invited. 

Here is the address and directions for the show:  

Accumulations, 3800 Elder Hill Road, Driftwood Texas; from Austin take 290 W to Dripping Springs, turn left on RR 12 and go approximately 6 miles, turn left on Elder Hill Rd. (CR170).  The entrance is the 2nd gate on the left.  They will have signs out so you'll know exactly where to turn.

The show dates and hours are:  Friday Night, October 29th from 4pm to 8pm (Preview Night)

**shopping with wine under the stars**

or come out on Saturday, October 30th from 9am to 4pm

Bring a Friend, Admission is Free!!

I know you'll be inspired by all the great things you'll see here.  I've also been working on several great things to take to this show and I hope you'll find something you'll have to take home with you.  I also wanted to announce that Brenda of Penn River Designs will have her things at the show with me as well.  I'm so excited to start carrying her pillows, lamp shades, and vintage things and I can't wait for you to see her beautiful works of art.  You can see what she has to offer on the Discarded Forlorn Blog or check out her blog and website. 

Here is the list of vendors you can find at this show:

**Mickie & Brandy Shults - founders of the Accumulations Hill Country Vintage Home and Garden Fair.  You can find their things in Uncommon Objects and occassionally at the City Wide Garage Sale.

**Janette Bibby - Feminine & Funky, she's located inside Uncommon Objects and I've posted pics of her space several times.


**Stephanie Rubiano

**Steve Wiman - Ownder of Uncommon Objects, need I say more.  He was one of the best shops in Austin, not to mention I love her booth there too.

**Mary Jane Randolph

**Linda Parker- Fragments & Imperfections and she's located in Uncommon Objects as well.  I'm always drawn to her booth and have posted many pics of things in the past as well.

**Michele Brown
 
**Linda & Ludmil Marcov- Willow Nest

If you'd like to see the previous show that was held here you can either search my blog, on the side bar for Accumulations, or you can just look here.  Hope to see you there!

My First Post

was on October 17, 2006, this is the day I started my blog.  I had no idea what I was doing but after reading Elizabeth and Debbie's blogs, I knew that's what I wanted too.  I had great computer skills and knew that while this was all new to me, I felt I could tackle the new world of blogging, so off I was to start a new adventure. 

When I would tell friends or those in the antique business that I had a blog, they'd get this funny look on their face and then they'd say, "What's a blog".  It's funny now thinking back at their expressions but trying to explain what a blog was then was even harder.  I would just tell them, here's my link, you'll just have to see for yourself.  Before I knew it, they were emailing me that they had a blog.  Now 4 years later with over 600 followers and 596,000+ visits, and with over 640 posts I think I've accomplished a lot in four years, but I couldn't have done any of this without you, my faithful readers!! 

I had no idea where this blog would lead to or who it would lead me to meet.  My goodness, I got to meet the two that so inspired me most through magazines and then their blogs and have met so many other wonderful people as well.  And the friendships I've literally made through blogging is priceless, the doors it has opened for me that I probably would never have had the opportunity to make is just awesome.  A dream of starting an online journal came true.  I started out thinking, what will I blog about, who will read it, maybe I'll do a post just once a week or once a month.  The thought of doing several posts in one day, almost daily, never even occurred to me, but this is exactly what I've done and more in the past four years.

For me, to write a journal, of the events that are forthcoming or to write about something or some place or someone that has inspired me is so rewarding.  I am passionate about blogging, it's a joy not a chore for me.  

You can read my first post HERE.  This first post I mentioned meeting TOT and we've stayed friends ever since our first meeting at Marburger Farms.  I then mentioned my favorite places, Leftover's, Uncommon Objects, and favorite websites like Sue Balmforth's of Bountiful and Gloria of ShabbytownUSA ~ See Gloria you were mentioned way before I got the opportunity to actually meet you!!  What a dream come true to meet all these wonderful people, Elizabeth and Debbie, as well as meeting each and every one of you that have stopped by and told me you read my blog (and some of you even said DAILY~no pressure there to produce something that will interest you, right!) and especially for those of you that leave me such wonderful comments.  Dawn was also one of the first ones to leave me a comment and while we've never met in person, I feel as though I know her.  What a gem she is in this blogging world!

Thank you so much for those of you that stop by to check on me, that have left such wonderful comments, that follow me daily (even though you may not have a blog), I am truely thankful for all of you.

I know that my Anniversary date has come and gone, but I didn't forget it.  I kept thinking all week what can I do to thank you for the joy that you've brought me through blogging.  So, I've come up with two great gifts to give two of you.  If you would like to be considered for this, all you have to do is leave me a comment on this post, or you can send me an email here.  You don't even have to have a blog to be entered for the giveaway, I want to include you too because so many of you have told me you read my blog and I want to be able to include you as well, so just email me. 

Here are the prizes:

1.  One of the lastest issues of the Jeanne D'Arc Living Magazine (if you've never seen this magazine just google it on images and you'll be amazed at the great pictures) or a year's worth of your favorite magazine.

2.  A $10 gift certificate to Starbucks Coffee

I'll choose the winners on November 1st!

White Wednesday of Things To Come

For this White Wednesday, I wanted to give you a preview of a post I will be doing probably next week and it's just a teaser of what it'll be about.  Are you ready:

I can't wait to show you whose house I recently visited!  You won't believe what she does with her home?  Curious, you'll just have to wait and see.

Be sure and stop by Kathleen's blog for the other White Wednesday participants.

Blog Party & Carolyn's New Book

This past shows Blog Party at my booth was just the most fun.  We had so much food brought and so many attended and for all this I am thankful to you.  I had a contest to see who could be the most creative for preparing their food in a unique dish, Renee of A Junk Queen won with her melon bra idea, but I must say there were so many creative people out there.

Carolyn Westbrook had her booksigning at the party, which was a sell out, and if you haven't had the chance to get her new book you really should.  It is over the top fabulous, as I knew it would be.  There is such much inspiration at every page turned.  Beth & Cori of Gypsy Fish and Jill of Gypsy Brocante were there selling their fabulous wares and Polly and Steve of Counting Your Blessings gave out goody bags.  There were filled with the best smelling soap and treasures that were just great.

Here's the fun:

Carolyn and Carla

The Gypsy girls selling their things:



Enjoy the fun and laughs:




There's Cher, good to see her laughing.








Thanks Janet for the candy and cookies, several customers even got to enjoy your goodies.




A great group of fun girls here for sure.




There's Lois, Gloria from California, and our Ms. Trash herself.

There's Shelley:



Of course no party would be complete without her famous Cat Daddy:

This by no means captured everyone that was there.  I know that several others have posted pics of party.  I just want to thank you again from the bottom of my heart if you came and attended the party and/or brought food.  It was one of the best Blog Parties!!

Rachel Ashwell's Booksigning

One of the highlights of this past antique show was meeting Rachel Ashwell at her booksigning event at the Junk Gypsy tent.  When I first stopped by there were so many women waiting to have their book signed so I had to return several times.  Finally, I was able to have my book signed.  I have briefly spoken to her during previous shows but she was so sweet and genuine during her booksigning and she wrote the sweetest words.  Of course, I also got to speak with her assistant, the man behind the muscle of her business.  Now, he has a hard job but yet an interesting one I'm sure.

Here she is signing my book

Here is Beau, who travels, loads, packs and tracks her purchases:


What a nice guy, really enjoyed visiting with him.

In case you didn't know the book signing was held in the Junk Gypsy tent.  Here are pics of their things:









You can click on any of the above pics to see more.

Be sure and check back for my next post, it'll be about The Blog Party.

McKinney Happenings & A Surprise

Yesterday we went to McKinney to spruce up our space at the Antique Company Mall and to see Patina Green's new treasures they'd brought back from England and to check out Mr. Ella's new space.  It was a great day there, my mother and I had the best lunch at PG's that we thoroughly enjoyed, she enjoyed seeing the many treasures here and at ACM. 

Hope you enjoy:

I know you are wondering about the pictures of Patina Green.  So, I have a surprise to announce.  You can see the pictures on Discarded Forlorn, my new blog I started a while back.  This blog was started for my new business.  I hope that you enjoy it.  Happy Sunday to you all!

Fun Day at Hico

We had such a fun day at Hico and saw so much inspiration that I couldn't wait to come back and show it all to you.  Here were the vendors, that are included in this slideshow:

**Mickie & Brandy ~ Accumulations
**Amy ~ Bloom & Bee Swanky
**Denis ~ Ruby Grace
**Brian ~ The Seed Box Antiques
**Brenda ~ Penn River Designs
**Lisa ~ Digg This
**The Screen Door
**Witherspoon's Antiques
**Girls Gone Junkin
**Homestead Antique Store

Hope you enjoy.  I will resume Warrenton post later this week.

What a Fun Time

we had spending the evening with Polly, Steve, Beth, Cori, and Jill.  They had rented the Quebe Farm B&B in Brenham that was just so beautiful and peaceful and during the show they had fixed dinner for myself, TOT, CP, and Lauri one evening.  I think we couldn't have asked for a more prettier evening with great food, great company, and candlelight.  I loved seeing the fireflies in the night.  Then we all sat around the fire and laughed, what a prefect dinner and to top it off with Royer's Pie, well it doesn't get any better.  Here's the fun we had and just take a look around at not only the beautiful house but the grounds were so pretty as well.  You could tell there was a lot of history here and can even read more on their website.  Touring the home was so interesting, seeing the family history and pictures and even hearing a ghost story or two was great.

I had such a great time, thanks girls for making it so much fun and enjoyable and you too Steve!!

October Events Reminder

I can't believe the shows are over and it's almost the middle of October.  I know you'd think with the shows over there wouldn't be any events to go to in October in Texas, but this month is full of places you can go antiqueing. 

October 15-16: Homestead Antique Fair, Hico Tx:

Please click on the website above for more info. and directions.  Several of our really good friends will be at this show and they always bring great things.  You don't want to miss going out to it.  And besides the Opera House where the Homestead Store is located is just beautifully decorated.  Then, down the street you can visit Wiseman House Chocolates for a real treat. 

October 23: Vintage Farmhouse Christmas @ Laurie Anna's Vintage Home, Canton Tx

October 23-24: City Wide Garage Sale, Austin Tx

Last, but not least please join us again in Driftwood Texas at the Accumulations Hill Country Home & Garden Fair on October 29 from 4-8:00pm for a preview with wine and treats under the stars.  I will be posting more about this show as it nears.

It was the People

that always makes my time at the shows so enjoyable.  I first must say that I will be doing a whole other post on my Blog Party, so please stay tuned for this.  I so enjoyed seeing friends and making new ones at the shows.  I'm not going include many words with this post since I've been away from the computer so I'll just let the slide pictures speak for themselves. 

I do want to say that one person that I met at the shows this time was Ann Fox.  I have admired her style ever since I first saw her on HGTV.  She's in the first photo of the slide.  It was such a pleasure to meet her and all the others at the show that stopped in to tell me hello and that they read my blog.

I may not be doing many posts this week.  Please continue to keep my mother-in-law in your prayers.  Thanks for all that left such sweet comments.  Hope you have a great week!

Marburger Love

I know you are probably wondering what the attraction is to the Marburger Farms Antique Show, but what you may not understand is this one of the best shows that is just over the top awesome and after you see the pics you'll understand why.  My day started out in TOT's booth.  There were people right and left coming into her booth.  As I looked to the side of her tent toward the road, they were still lined up on the highway waiting to get in for early buying.  I think is the first time in a while that I've seen the crowds this good at Marburger.

These vendors are just awesome, they go over the top, think outside the box, and are some of the most creative people that I've seen.  Don't get me wrong, there is so much creativity at the shows, not just Marburger, but this just happens to be one of my fav shows.  I guess I'm partial to this show since so many of my friends set up here.

Anyways, I know you are ready to see pics, so here they are: 

Now you see why I was so blown away with Robin's booth.  Just when I think she couldn't create something more unique for her booth, she goes overboard.  She is so super creative.  I know most were there for her awesome clothes, but I really loved her displays.  Look at the huge flowers made out of paper and newspaper and lace and I'm not sure what else. Then there were the wire dress forms that were made of old wire and lamp parts and all kinds of recycled things.  They were fabulous!

I can't seem to get enough of Judy's creative style.  She always has great ideas for her bedding.  Just look at the bed skirt from burlap, loosly woven burlap, so cleaver.

 Lauri has so much talent for creating displays and her slipcovers are just so pretty and well made.

Now Shelley, I have loved her decorating ever since I saw her displays in her previous shop when she first started her blog.  She's always so creative.

Then there's TOT, you would think she does the displaying but we have to give credit where credit is due.  It's Craig that does it all, just kidding.  She's really the creative force behind her displays, he's the builder of whatever she imagines.

This was  Janet's first time to Marburger and I think she made the right decision to move here.  She did an awesome job in her new building. 

I was in awe at all the religious things that Mo had, from a church steeple to the attendance board and the church records.  And look at the Holy Mission sign.  Fabulous!!  I'll take whatever's left Mo.

Now you see why I was in awe at all the talent here.  There were so many more great booths that I just didn't get to take pics of.  Watch the blogs as I'm sure there'll be lots of pictures of Marburger.  Hope you enjoyed it as much as I.

You can click on each picture to get a better view.

White, Chippy, Worn & Loved

and it's White Wednesday.  This is how I would have described my booth at Zapp Hall with a touch of Fall and Robin's Egg Blue as well.  I can't seem to depart from adding touches of blue to my booth.  I love the contrast of this color against the white.  I have to first say that Rachel Ashwell also must have loved this color because she bought two really sweet pieces, a cute blue bench and a medicine cabinet that had touches of pink peeking through the blue.  I always seem so star struck whenever she has come into my space and the sweet comment she wrote in my book during her book signing just added to the excitement.  I'll do a whole other post on her book signing.

What you first saw when you came into my booth was the white table in the first photo of the slide show:

Ironstone, thread, and silver all piled together with raffia ~ does it get in any better than this when these are all my favorite elements.

A mile high of suitcases was also in my booth.  Ready for you use as an end table or wherever your imagination takes you to use them.  During this show, I saw where someone had taken lots of suitcases and attached them together, painted them all white, and that was her checkout counter.  So cleaver.

Silver, White, and Robins Egg Blue.  Can you see the colors I am going to be using for Christmas.  I'll have all these colors at the next show, Accumulations, that we are headed to at the end of the month.  More on that in another post.

I always love ribbons.  I think they add interest to wherever you use them.  Click on the slide show for more photo's of my space.

The things on this galvanized table kept selling and I was constantly redoing.  I just loved what one vendor said.  She said "there's the girl that sells things and just clicks her heals and it's magically redone again".  That was so sweet.

I also borrowed a few pics from Karla's Facebook page.  You can see more of her great photo's here. 

Thanks to all the customers that came out and to all the awesome new friends that I made and to everyone that stopped by.  I have so many posts to do, the blog party, the people I met, places we went, so stay tuned.  I hope you don't get bored on all the posts I'll do.  There are some really talented people in this biz.  Happy White Wednesday.  Be sure and visit Kathleen's blog for all the particpants.

**********************************

On another note, I would like to please ask that you say a prayer for my mother-in-law.  She's currently in the hospital and just this week have found out she has cancer.  Our family is in a tough situation as she's always been such a strong individual and now they aren't giving her much time to live.  This is so sudden as she's only been not feeling well a few weeks.  I know my husband would really appreciate your prayers as would I.

Show Preview

Since I took so many pictures and have so much to share with you, I thought I'd do a preview for you to see just a small snippet of what I saw at this shows.  This is only a very small portion but I wanted you to see what just a bit of the awesome displays that were here:

The first picture is my booth, then TOT's booth, Judy Hill's, and Gina of Country Garden Antiques.

Take a look at the first picture of this super fabulous wire dress form created from the non other Robin Brown of Magnolia Pearl.  I saw this and it just stopped me in my tracks.  Wait until you see her booth, you are going to be blown away.  Talk about thinking outside the box and creativity, well it was going on for sure at Marburger Farms.  The next picture is of my booth.  Then, the third picture is of Janet of Talk Sweet Talk.  The last one is of Leftover's Antique Shop at their party.  They had a Winter Wonderland theme going on and it was magical.  I promise to show you many many more pics for White Wednesday.

Coming Soon

I will have all the pics, people, and fun that we had at the shows, but for now have to work and recoup from the week and half at the shows.  I've swipped (I mean borrowed) these few pics until I can post:

 

Found Here

And look at this beautiful gift I received from Karla:

It was just beautiful!

I've so missed getting to visit all your blogs. I'll make my rounds to visit you as quickly as I can.  I have so much to share, so please check back.  I know it will take weeks to post it all.  There are some posts you definately don't want to miss.