A Texas Antique Show and the French Antique Stimulus Plan

The Stimulus Plan in Action at Marburger Farm Antique Show

The Side Door Booth at Marburger Farm Antiques Show-Fall 2009; Lynn King Proprietor of The Side Door; thesidedoorbluffton@gmail.com

If you are like most of the blog world, you know about our gigantic antique shows here in Texas, specifically in Round Top and in Warrenton. And if you are like me and thousands of other bloggers around the world, who love French Antiques and a great story, you've been following the adventures of antiques dealers, Lynn and Corey A.K.A. Thelma and Louise, via Corey's blog, Tongue in Cheek.

Above and Below: Antiques from The Side Door, plus Corey's French Finds

Corey's Antique French linens and letters

If you are a follower of Corey's blog, you know that she never does things like an ordinary person. Each of us knowing this, another would-be customer and I were still blown away when we attempted to buy antique French letters...Corey gave each of us the letter we had selected for purchase!

This is my 1780 French business letter.

Corey, you are supposed to sell not give the French antiques away. Regardless, I am charmed by the beautiful French letter which you bestowed upon me. Merci, Merci, Merci!!!

Note: More photos from the opening day at Marburger Farm Antique Show are to follow this week.

B & B Blogging

Late night blogging at Ant Street Inn, Brenham, Texas. Room 211.

I don't know the man who looks down at me from the antique portrait, from another century, but I wonder what he would think if he could return to visit our time and see the wonders of the Internet. Then I wonder what I would see if I were to visit the next century.

Name That Blogger

Blog Party at Zapp Hall

1

Who's that Blond Blogger in the perfect little black dress?

2

Can you name those bloggers? They are...uh, uh...

3

What's that Blogger/Author doing? Hint...uh...

4

...I forgot to ask.

5

Who had the most adorable British sandals? Sorry, I didn't get her name.

6

Oh, I was so busy having fun and chatting with fellow bloggers and showing off Tall Husband that I was remiss in my blogger duties. I almost forgot to show you some Zapp Hall antiques scenery, so above is a peace offering.

I promise to be back on the job at the Marburger Farm Antiques Show's opening Tuesday.

Outside Links and joking aside:

• Theresa, our fantastic Blog Party Hostess, Antiques Dealer and author of Garden Antqs Vintage (She is on the right in photo 2.)
• Corey, (Photo 1 and in the middle in photo 2) the blogger from France and author of Tongue in Cheek
• Stan Williams, (photo 3 & 4) author of "The Find," a great vintage design book in its second printing. His new blog is The Elegant Thrifter.
• The Vintage Laundress: Thanks for the great stories. Tall Husband and I loved meeting you and your wonderful family!
• The Texas Woman, thanks for sharing your stories. Keep them coming, 'cause I like knowing that you are out there!
• Above, photo 3, Theresa, Corey and Theresa : On the left in the photo, Theresa of Time-worn Interiors is wearing an adorable slip dress by Gypsy Brocante.

Antiquing: Texas Style

As we say in these parts, Coming to a cow pasture near you! It's that time of year here in Texas. Every Spring and Fall, two tiny neighboring Texas towns, Round Top and Warrenton, host the largest antiques event in the world. The tents are up and the truck-loads of antiques and dealers from around the world are headed this way.

Tall Husband and I will be attending a blog party at Zapp Hall in Warrenton Sunday evening. The event is hosted by dealer and blogger, Theresa of Garden Antqs Vintage.

Stan Williams, a New York based lifestyles journalist and author of The Find, will be at the party for a book signing. I already have his book and it's wonderful...full of photos, by Jim Franco, of unique, magical homes pulled together with antiques and found objects. Theresa also hints that a famous blogger from France may be at her party. Could it be...? Well, I think I know who!

We cannot believe our good luck...yesterday, we found one vacancy in Brenham, Texas, near Round Top. It's at our favorite B&B, the historic Ant Street Inn. So we have a place to crash after the party.

Outside Links:
www.ShowDaily.us, 2009 Fall Show information

http://antiqueweekend.com/indexmain.html, 2009 Fall Show information

http://www.roundtop-marburger.com/index.htm, Marburger Farm Antique Show

www.theobjectofmydesire.com, Author Stan Williams's original blog

http://theelegantthrifter.com, Author Stan Williams's new blog

Photographer Jim Franco's website

Ant Street Inn, Brenham, Texas

Note: Next week...Tuesday, September 29th...Tall Husband and I will attend the Early Buying Party at Marburger Farm Antiques Show in Round Top, Texas. Stay tuned for that!

Un Esprit En Plus

A zinc sign, with a bunny drawn in chalk, welcomes visitors to The Bunny Bungalow.

A tiny zinc heart on twine swings in an Indian summer breeze.

I adore anything zinc, from the zinc bars of Paris to little zinc accessories from the French company Un Esprit En Plus. We found the zinc sign and the tiny zinc heart at the garden shop Thompson+Hanson here in Houston.

Check out Un Esprit En Plus's delightful website for more zinc treasures.

Note: Yaya Chique in Houston also carries French zinc items by Un Esprit En Plus.

Happy Birthday Sis

A sister named Charlie? Yes. Her name was originally Shirley, until she had a childhood friend who couldn't say Shirley and morphed her name into Charlie. She has been Charlie since that friend. Hmmm...I wonder if that's why I became a speech therapist.

Hope you have a great day Sis!

Heights Station Antiques: A Second Look

Here's a second look at Heights Station Antiques. Isn't the gray patina appealing?

White Wednesday: Mum

White Wednesday is hosted by Faded Charm Cottage, where you'll find links to wonderful white stuff.

Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Couture Reopens

Have You Heard?

On 9/12/09 Rachel Ashwell reopened her Santa Monica, CA store. If you haven't already heard the news, go to Rachel's Blog to read all about it:

"Turning on the Lights"

A Mystery at The Bunny Bungalow

I tell you boys, those two are up to something. They've been sneaking off and returning with these strange rolls of paper. This is the latest one.

I can't make out anything from here. Let's unroll it!

Well boys, you're in luck...I've seen this sort of thing before.

Those two are about to build a giant Bunny Hutch out back! What!?

Tall Husband and I are quite excited. We have made the decision to live full time at The Bunny Bungalow in the Houston Heights. As the Bungalow is tiny and has no garage, we found wonderful architects, Rogers + Labarthe Architects, who have designed a magical Arts & Crafts style carriage house with studio for The Bunny Bungalow. Reports from the structural engineer and the soil survey were received. All was well, so the requests for bids went out to builders late last week.

We have also been busy completing upgrades and exterior painting at My Ranchburger, which will be put up for sale early next year (the same great real estate agent who found the Bungalow for us will handle the sale.) Our plans are to then live in the new studio at The Bunny Bungalow while the kitchen and bathrooms are remodeled in the Bungalow proper.

I'll be posting about the progress from time to time.

Heights Station Antiques

Have you ever seen a more precious face? This is one of the custom-made babies used as props in the musical Ragtime, on Broadway and on national tour. Now they await another curtain call in Heights Station Antiques.

Saturday when Tall Husband and I were at Heights Station Antiques, one of our favorite antique venues, we met these cuties (all six of them.) My heart melted and I immediately asked permission to return on Sunday to do a photo session. Permission was graciously granted and we were back on Sunday with camera, tripod and big smiles.

Above are two more baby dolls, who were also props in Ragtime. Note that precious little hand. I wish that I could tell you who the dollmaker is...such exquisite work. These babies seem so real that leaving them makes one sad.

Along the same theme is an antique doll pram.

Below, enjoy a few of the wonderful antiques that we found at Heights Station Antiques:

Heights Station Antiques, housed in an old 1895 carriage barn at 121 Heights Blvd., Houston, Texas, USA (713) 868-3175.

Note: Heights Station was featured in Martha Stewart Living magazine August 2008.

Remembering

September 11, 2001

Links:
Remembering the Victims of 9/11-Project 2,996
September 11 Digital Archive: Saving the Histories of September 11, 2001
National September 11 Memorial and Museum

Where were you that day? Was a dear one taken from you?