DEBORAH CROMBIE: I have to admit that I have NOT been writing this week, and to apologize for being absent from the blog since Monday, because the end of March brings not just spring, but the spring antiques show down in Round Top, Texas. This has become an annual event for me and my daughter, Kayti, and I look forward to it all year. I've written about Round Top in the past, and apparently I've been persuasive enough that my friend Francine Mathews decided to see for herself and joined her sister there. Two other friends, also first-timers, attended as well, and everyone had a terrific time!
Our big event was the Marburger Farm Antique Show, which requires tickets. There are more than half a dozen enormous tents filled with different vendors from all over the country. The tents are set up in a big field in the central Texas rolling countryside, which is so beautiful this time of year! And it being central Texas with the usual unpredictable spring weather, on Tuesday, the opening day, it was HOT. Hats, sunscreen, and comfy shoes are essential, but even being prepared, we just about melted this year.
But it was cooler inside the tents, and the vendors go all out to make their booths appealing.
Many of the vendors sell lots of different things, and it pays to look carefully. One booth might have furniture, china, vintage clothes, and jewelry, for instance. Or you might see things that you can't imagine somebody would actually take home, like this enormous shell covered urn.
And many things that you (or at least I) would like to take home, like this handsome pair of dogs.
(And, no, I didn't. I didn't even look at the price, but I'm sure it was way over my budget, and that's assuming I had anywhere to put them.)
Marburger is only one of many places to shop in and around Round Top. Here, Kayti found the champagne vending machine in a new venue we discovered this year.
Here's something I thought Rhys should have to remind her of Georgie's granddad.
And something I resisted buying.
These were circa 1920s bulb forcing vases, and I loved the cobalt blue ones and thought one would look gorgeous in my kitchen. Unfortunately, there were really expensive, so I resisted!
Here's what we did come home with, however!
Two hundred miles further south means plants get started earlier, and we can never resist "the plant lady's" beautiful pots and baskets.
Now, after that little mini vacation, it's back to work on the book for me. But nothing is wasted for a writer--maybe one of my characters will have a giant purple shell urn.
Or at least a few garden gnomes...
Reds and readers, what sort of things on offer would tempt you?
Wow . . . what an interesting antique show!
ReplyDeleteWhat would tempt me? The flowers for sure . . . perhaps the vintage clothing . . . definitely any old books . . . .
Oh, the vintage clothing is amazing! Kayti almost bought a fabulous vintage Gucci handbag--I think she might be regretting passing that one up.
DeleteHmmm, books of course!
ReplyDeleteBut in reality, I have never been to an antiques show!
We saw a lot of old French books this time, not so many in English. Although I have bought some beautiful antique books there in the past.
DeleteCopper molds, tea kettles - almost anything copper! … and brass candlesticks, wooden butter molds … the list goes on…
ReplyDeleteOooh, there was lots of copper! One of the dealers in another venue specialized in copper and it was so gorgeous!! There is also a lot of silver for sale, and I always wonder who wants to polish all that?
DeleteWhat a fun outing, Debs! Love the champagne vending machine. You spend a night or two, yes?
ReplyDeleteI think the blue glass would tempt me, or delightful garden statuary. But I'm trying to figure out the logistics of buying something heavy. You pay, they mark it sold, and you come back with your car to pick it up? Sounds messy at pickup time!
We spent two nights, Edith. Really, you should stay a week, just to see everything. And, yes, anything you buy that's too heavy to carry the dealer will hold for you, and you just pick it up when you leave. That's what we did with the armchair Kayti bought last year. Unfortunately, we never got back to the champagne vending machine!
DeleteI love antique shows and sales! I've also spent way too much money at them. Lately, though, we've been downsizing and I dare not bring anything else home unless it's useful for more than collecting dust.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I'm a sucker for anything that reminds me of my grandparents' farmhouse decor.
I hear you, Annette. We definitely don't need more house stuff, but Round Top is a great place to buy things like hats, jewelry, clothes, and boots. Kayti found some fabulous jewelry this year. And if you like turquoise there is loads of that, too.
DeleteI would be a huge sucker for the turquoise jewelry!
DeleteI am another fan of turquoise jewelry. I also love silver jewelry and love shopping for it!
DeleteAfter cleaning out my parents’ home in 2018 and my own Great Purge of 2024 I shy away from antique shows and shops. It’s hard to see things like those I got rid of, especially if they have a high price on them and I don’t need to fill the new house up with more stuff. We did go to the large Market of Marion recently. It has an assortment of vendors: antiques, flea market old junk and new items, plants, produce, etc. We came home with a key lime tree for the patio and produce.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds fun, Brenda. A little like Portobello Market, where you can buy antiques AND produce! I love it!
DeleteDebs, these plants are gorgeous! What would have tempted me on offer? Old books. Maybe a miniature portrait? Old lace dining room napkins. Vintage clothes. When I was in high school, there were many antique shops on a Main Street in my neighborhood. Sadly I think there is only one left now. I remember buying a vintage ball gown there. I remember seeing antique desks there. I have never been to an antiques show though I’ve seen the Antiques show on PBS.
ReplyDeleteEven though you were not writing, I am sure you collected ideas for your books. Look forward to reading your next Gemma and Duncan mystery. Is there a new book coming out this spring or summer?
There were a lot of linens, Diana! I want to know if you wore thing vintage ball gown!
DeleteYes! I wore the vintage ball gown to several Winter Formals at University. It was the exact same color of a 1950s gown that Princess Grace of Monaco wore. It was Ice Blue / light green. The best thing was it had a built in bra so I had full support! And I love linens!
DeleteYou must have looked gorgeous in that, Diana, with your coloring!
DeleteThank you for your kind words, Debs. Yes, it was perfect with my colouring!
DeleteI love antiques. Irwin doesn't. Lots of beautiful antiques that my father bought for my mother sit inside a cabinet. Our kids won't care for them either, but my niece will!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was single and setting up my first apartment, my step mother and I visited the enormous antiques show in Brimfield, Massachusetts, near Sturbridge. I bought an oak bureau with a mirror and various other treasures. If I were to go today, I would probably buy small boxes or interesting linens. It's too early to put any flowers out here. Your flower display is gorgeous.
I've been to Sturbridge, Judy! On a trip with my ex many years ago, in the dead of winter. But I still remember that there were antiques everywhere!
DeleteThere's show on Hulu, maybe, that has contestants going to antique shows, including Sturbridge, to find treasures that can be repurposed and resold for more money. It's fun, but some of the resulting items mystify me when they actually sell.
DeleteLast time I went antiquing I came home with vintage red buttons to put on my new spring jacket.
ReplyDeleteIf you see me, look carefully because not all the buttons are the same - on purpose!
So much fun to be able to buy something that doesn't add to my household clutter.
That sounds gorgeous, Becky Sue. What a great idea: purpose-bought deliberately mismatched antique buttons!
DeleteBecky Sue, what a cool idea !
DeleteMaking it one of a kind, Becky!
DeleteWhat a great idea, Becky!
DeleteI enjoy poking around to see what little item might catch my eye. I'm a sucker for small bowls or other kinds of containers that might hold pencils or paperclips on my desk. The only way to avoid bringing something lovely home is to not go to an antiques store or fair in the first place!
ReplyDeleteI did bring a couple of small things home this year. One actually not so small--a Japanese fishing float! It's a beautiful green glass ball, and will go on my deck among the pots of flowers. (I think.) I'd have taken a photo last night but it was raining.
DeleteAccording to the vendor, the netting holding the floats broke loose and ended up in Alaska, which is where the floats were picked up. I loved the idea of these beautiful glass balls making their way across the Pacific ocean.
Oh Debs - that sounds amazing. I can imagine it will look fabulous among your pots of flowers on the deck. Great buy!
DeleteMy father had a giant green glass Japanese fishing ball that residing in our living room for as long as I can remember. He also was fascinated by the idea of the float bouncing its way across the ocean. We lived in Seattle where the floats seemed common, but most were much smaller than ours. After my father died, my mother sold their home and I'm not sure what happened to that giant glass ball. I think about it now and then and hope it was appreciated by another family and didn't end in the dump.
DeleteWhat fun Debs! pretty soon you'll be escorting a whole gang of us around:)
ReplyDeleteNow that would be a blast, Roberta! Come on down!
DeleteI'm shedding, not acquiring, but I do have a fondness for watercolors, particularly seascapes.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, there were so many beautiful watercolors! Oils, too, but I'm always drawn to the watercolors. Also a lot of very weird art!
DeleteYou and Kaytie have such a fun tradition, Debs! Maybe someday Wren will start tagging along, presumably when she is old enough to hit that fun vending machine.
ReplyDeleteWhile you were coveting the greyhounds, I was immediately smitten by that Victorian birdcage! Swoon. I showed my husband, and he knew instantly which item in the photo drew my eye. (It would look fabulous in a sunroom/conservatory. Which we don't have.) The vases, too! Someone just gave me a bulb forcing vase, but it's only clear, alas, and not those glorious colors.
Almost all our case furniture is antique, or at least vintage. Even some of the upholstered pieces are. When we got married we combined my sleek contemporary pieces, and Steve's inherited antiques. Over the years I found more low-priced antiques, or we inherited more, or bought them from friends' estates. My eye is still drawn to lovely mahogany or cherry wood, but we don't need any more furniture.
Karen, I did notice the fabulous birdcage! I've always had a thing for birdcages but, again, I don't know where I'd have put it even thought we have a sunporch. Our town used to be a great place to buy antique furniture and we have quite a few things we bought when we first moved here. Alas, it's all very expensive now. We are trying to get rid of Rick's grandmother's circa 1900 sewing machine but have not been able to find a taker.
DeleteLike wooden furniture, enthusiasm for old sewing machines waxes and wanes. A friend was looking for old Singers a couple years ago, to fix up for each of her grandchildren. There are still some collectors around, so don't give up, Debs.
DeleteThat particular birdcage is massive!
Karen, we need to move an antique painted drop-leaf secretary from Rick's office into that spot in the guest room. Rick needs more space, and I am not giving up the secretary, which belonged to my great aunt. So my great aunt trumps his grandmother!
DeleteLove it!
DeleteI'm shedding too! But, would love to have a booth to sell "stuff"!
ReplyDeleteWe don't have any such large antique shows in our large city, but it's fun seeing your lovely reporting every year. Love the blue glass bottles.
I looked a so many things and thought "I don't need that." Still, it's so much fun to look.
DeleteI too would love the cobalt blue glass! My favorite color! Glad you had a great time.
ReplyDeleteIt was the squatty-shaped vase I was drooling over--so unusual. Cobalt is the accent color in my apple green kitchen and I could see just where to put it. Now I'm regretting not splurging on that one a bit.
DeleteSo glad you had a great time--thanks for sharing the photos! My younger sisters would be swooning over the flowers and plants. This time of the year (me too) we're itching to plant color. Still too cold though. If I were at any antique show, I'd be looking at ceramic pitchers--colorful, well-loved ones. Lamp bases, kitchen wares--things that would be used. And goggling over all the other treasures as well.
ReplyDeleteIt is so much fun to look! And people watch!! As for the plants, Kayti and I each got two hanging baskets and two big pots, both with mixed plants. Last year we were a bit limited because she bought an armchair that had to go in the back as well. I also got the most gorgeous bromeliad for my sunporch from the garden shop at Marburger. I should have taken a photo last night but I ran out of steam.
DeleteIn the early ‘70’s, there used to be a Lion’s Club sponsored ‘yard sale’ in a drive-in movie parking lot. Lots and lots of people came with their card tables, and sold what was usually only qualified as junk. However, just like on Antiques Roadshow, there were car-boot items that cost only sheckles and worth thousands of pounds. We went often just for the Sunday sunshine, not looking for something in particular and on two occasions scored. One was an almost-brand new push reel mower – the paint was not even worn off. Perfect for our thumb-nail sized back yard. $5. On another day, it was a rolling golf bag and cart complete with a random set of golf-bats – again $5. Perfect for my father’s nine-hole through the trees golf course. Probably no need to invite any presidents as it was only 3 holes on repeat with a wicked collection of Mint Juleps for refreshment hidden under the spruces. As for the golf bats – choose one – that is yours for the day, none of that switching up stuff. Fore!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun that must have been, Margo. We have a big once a month thing here in our town, too, where people bring things to sell, but I've never been.
DeleteSomehow I missed going to the spring and the fall antique shows. My sister lives in LaGrange, but I was never able to go with her. What would tempt me? Old crockery, goofy yard art, old posters. Colored glass.
ReplyDeleteYou would find them all, Pat, I'm sure. You should plan a trip with your sister!
DeleteI love your writing, Deborah. I love Round Top. I go every year. I like just prowling around. Thank you for this post.
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you! Do you live near Round Top?
DeleteI’m glad you said hello to the gnomes! I would have been so tempted!
ReplyDeleteNow I'm thinking it would have been really fun to put one of them in my garden, Rhys. But I suspect they were VERY expensive. But they made me smile thinking of you and Georgie.
DeleteI’m getting rid of things, too. I’ve worked hard on changing to a mindset of bringing into the house ONLY items that I NEED, not things that I WANT. But I could be tempted to buy old atlases. I’ve been fascinated by maps since I was a child.
ReplyDeleteI have a huge old atlas, Deb. Now I have to go take a good look at it. It's been at the bottom of a stack of books in our guestroom for years. I have seen a lot of globes (which I love) at Round Top, but no atlases, alas.
DeleteOh, that sounds absolutely fabulous! Incredibly tempting at every moment. I am always lured by trays. Isn’t that weird? But they can be so gorgeous, and so useful.
ReplyDeleteBut I agree, I am trying to get rid of things rather than accumulate them. So far, this is not working :-)
Me, too - DEacquisitioning.
DeleteHank, look at the picture with the greyhounds. To the left of the dogs is what looks like a colorful tray in a cabinet. That’s what caught my eye! — Pat S
DeleteI saw that tray, too, Pat!
DeleteTrays would at least be fairly easy to cart home on the plane, Hank:-)
DeleteI'm still giving myself de-aquisitioning points for cleaning out the bottom of our butler's pantry. Now if I will only get to the top... I saw the most beautiful etched wine glasses at one place, but I didn't even ask the price. I have really pretty etched wine glasses--I don't need more. But isn't it funny how we all have our weaknesses?
Cobalt! I love cobalt and have a huge collection of cobalt drinking glasses, mixing bowls, pitchers--Also stoneware with cobalt handpainted designs. Flea markets and antique fairs are so much fun, abd Round Top sounds fantastic! Almost everything in my house comes an antique fair or yard sale (or else Jerry lifted it off the street the night before a garbage truck could get to them).
ReplyDeleteWe are soul sisters, Hallie! I have cobalt glasses, mixing bowls, china, etc. etc. I've had a passion for that color since I was a teenager. And you would absolutely love Round Top. Maybe you could talk one of your girls into a mother-daughter trip?
DeleteI think I might have left with one of those forcing vases. The cobalt is just too delicious to resist. And if I could figure out a way to purloin the champagne vending machine....
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry we didn't get back for the champagne! But we were at that venue in the morning, and there is so much to see and do that it's hard to backtrack.
DeleteI've been looking at my kitchen this morning and feeling a definite pang of regret over that vase! I'd have put it with the art deco tile I bought at Round Top last year. I hemmed and hawed over that, too, but have never regretted bringing it home.
Looks like an interesting fair, Debs. Those dogs are greyhounds, btw. Almost positive. I recognize the muzzle and haunches. I also have no place to put them, but I'd be tempted.
ReplyDeleteOld furniture is my weakness. And The Hubby's. We see things at fairs and on Facebook Marketplace and say, "Wow that's beautiful! Where would we put it?" The downside of a small home. But we are still on the lookout for a good pair of bedside tables.
Yes, I was pretty sure they were greyhounds, Liz. So beautiful! And I'll be you could have found your bedside tables!
DeleteI love this. Antiquing and junking is so much more fun with someone on the hunt with you. Thrift, yard sales, flea markets, I'm your girl. I love anything made from jade, anything that says "home' i.e. Asian art, any old but still useful kitchen ware. Yard sale season usually happens when the snow birds head north, can't wait; but I will.
ReplyDeleteYou'd love Round Top, Coralee! Although we've found a lot of the furniture at Round Top to be shockingly expensive, you can still find good deals. And you can bargain, which I'm not very good at:-)
DeleteOops, the furniture reference was meant for Liz! But so much Asian stuff at Round Top, Coralee. It's very "in."
DeleteI've never been to Round Top but the universe is telling me I need to go - there was a magazine-style insert in the Austin paper this week and now this enticement from Deb.
ReplyDeletePros: Turquoise jewelry! And just wandering around and looking at gorgeous displays.
Cons: I too have a house full of stuff that needs a significant purge and should not allow myself to be tempted by more. And my husband would probably opt for physical torture over time spent at an antiques show.
Deb, is the spring show the best one to go to? Have you been in the fall?
Kayti's been in the fall, which she says is not quite as big, but still fun. I think they may be doing a smaller winter show now as well. Turquoise is the thing at Round Top! There are vendors who deal exclusively in turquoise, but we've discovered that you can get much better deals from smaller vendors who have some turquoise along with other stock. I bought a ring a couple of years ago, and Kayti has a ring, a bracelet and an absolutely fabulous squash blossom necklace. You should definitely go!
DeleteOh, sorry, that was me, Karen R.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip! Definitely when my sister retires, she would love it, too! - Karen R
ReplyDeleteI would also buy plants, Deb, and maybe ONE new vase for flowers, because I never seem to have the right shape. Otherwise, no new objects allowed in our apartment.
ReplyDeleteWhoops that was Kim
DeleteGood policy, Kim! I'm sure my husband would be thrilled if I adopted it. I did pretty well on that this trip.
DeleteJEALOUS!!! But delighted you and Kayti had fun. The champagne vending machine...genius!!!
ReplyDeleteLoved this! Sent the first paragraphs to my sister who LIVES in Tx (Georgetown), to see if she wanted the whole blog. And do these vendors have textile areas? I always end up looking at embroidery, quilting and related areas. No, I don't need any more (we are downsizing) - but that is not relevant now, is it?
ReplyDeleteYes, lots of textiles, which are what two of my friends bought. If your sister is Georgetown, Round Top wouldn't be a big stretch for her. It's a four hour drive for us from DFW.
DeleteDebs, I understand the draw! I may have mentioned Brimfield, MA's giant sale, that any of you New Englanders probably know. I was always a sucker for old quilts, elegant Edwardian linens, and handkerchiefs. Got a table there that was really a pastiche of pieces marketed as "old." It served me well and now I'd like to pass it along to someone who will understand the legs, and table top are antique but not in their original form. In my last move in 2014, I seem to have lost or really misplaced a late 19th C "Texas Star" quilt in original condition. Now how could that have happened?
ReplyDeleteOh, I would hate to lose a quilt, Susan! I didn't even look at them this year, having told myself that we didn't need another one!
DeleteBut I thought of you as the Paul Michael design showroom had a video showing a French chateau being dismantled piece by piece, all the elements for sale.
Definitely those elegant dogs. But failing them -- some champagne from that vending machine ;)
ReplyDelete