Through a Gothic Looking Glass

Moments I've loved.  I loved this moment in time because I was in an environment created by great talent at Installations Antiques and Tall Husband was close by.

Marburger Farm in the Fall

Oh so dégagé...those Texans!

Found! (above & below)

On opening day, Tall Husband and I headed straight for Found for the Home when we arrived at Marburger Farm Antique Show. Why? Because last year we got there on the last day of the show and Found had sold out! All Ruth Davis and Aaron Rambo, the proprietors, had left that last day were big smiles. After giving Ruth and Aaron hugs, we headed out to explore the rest of Marburger.


Austin Woodhenge had wonderful artisan things. Just look at those wonderful dressmaker's forms, the linens and postal bags they silk screened with antique French sales receipts. We brought one of those bags home!

Ahh, Magnolia Pearl! How could one live without your romantic Victorian funk? That white dress in the center is now hanging in my closet along with last year's Magnolia Pearl pantaloons and blouse. Tall Husband loves being at Magnolia Pearl, enveloped by the whole girlie flurry of excitement.

These old molds at Lance Hoyt's Missing Link Antiques (315-676-5638 in Brewerton, New York, USA) from a doll maker's factory have a new life as sculpture. I wanted them all. But after shopping at Magnolia Pearl's...If I had real money, I would be dangerous!

The French Pear Antiques was melt-your-heart magic. This dealer, Kim D. Hoegger is out of Wylie, Texas (214-837-8871.)

January 27, 2010: Kim now has a blog: http://kimhoeggerhome.typepad.com/my_weblog/.

Tall Husband and I wanted to move into Gerry and Doris Young's booth, which was filled with French, Belgian and German treasures (Weinbrenner & Co. Their e-mail is gerryyoung5@earthlink.net) While we were there we met Anne, who is the fabulous website designer for Installations Antiques. Also, friends, Jur and Becki, proprietors of Installations were there shopping.

Note: Other bloggers who are posting about the Fall Antiques Shows in Texas:
Beadboard UpCountry
Hill Country House
Cote de Texas
Tongue In Cheek

Come back later for one last look at Marburger Farm's Fall 2009 Show. You'll get to meet Zipper too!

Oh, and be sure to click on photos to enlarge.

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.

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!

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.

Antique Show: Texas Style, Part 4

Let's put it into gear and have a last look. Here's great country style at Marburger Farm Antique Show in Round Top, Texas. (I know...you're asking, "What the hell is that?" I have no idea. Don't feel bad, though, Tall Husband didn't know either. He said that he's pretty sure it's not digital! (That's Tall Husband being humorous.)


Some great oak pieces, plus a shabby chic bed to dream in.


How would you like to carry that huge camera around, taking blog photos? (Tall Husband says that he is quite certain that it's not digital!)

Old chest with the odd knob.

There are some interesting pieces here...like those metal mesh masks.

And to think that I threw away all those twigs when I cleaned out the flower beds the other day!

These old wooden commercial crates are lovingly collected and re-purposed by a husband and wife team from Michigan, who have been coming to the Round Top Antique Show for thirty-five years.

One last look at Magnolia Pearl's wonderful world, concludes our visit to the Texas Spring Antique Show in Round Top, Texas. Wasn't that fun?

Note: We went to Found For the Home's display area to meet up with owners, Ruth Davis and Aaron Rambo. However, we found the place bereft of merchandise and two very happy owners. They had sold 75 percent of their things the first day, brought more in and sold that! So, alas, I have no photos of what had been the most beautiful booth at Marburger Farm (Aaron showed me the photos on his Blackberry.)

Give Me Another A

I love A's...wish I'd made more of them in school.  Tall Husband recently bought this "A" for me from Installations Antiques.  The decoupaged graphics are wonderful and are from an 1863 "Frank Leslie's Ladies Magazine," according to a handwritten note on the bottom of the "A."

Speaking of making A's, this could be an interesting project.  The pasteboard letters are available at craft stores.  Just buy your favorite letter; photocopy your favorite antique drawings, and decoupage onto your letter.  Voila!  Inexpensive luxury.

Behind the Garden Gate

There is always fresh drama to delight your senses when you enter Behind the Garden Gate, a boutique in historic Houston Heights that offers international antiques and original floral designs.

Everywhere your glance takes you in this magical shop, you discover evidence of Felix Hernandez' talent for mixing texture, color, light and fragrance to achieve a primitive yet chic atmosphere.

Preserved flowers on an antique metal washstand.

An antique bed with antique Mexican measuring boxes, repurposed to display books and an apple.

Soft lighting, the fragrance of flowers and a romantic bed...

Mystery at the foot of the bed: what does that old trunk hold?

Step back, take it all in and imagine!

A contemplative corner with pale green walls.

A corner of Felix Hernandez' long work table, where he creates floral arrangements for clients.

Small floral designs that utilize pale preserved roses.

Another quiet corner

A sultry moment


Another preserved arrangement.

Some of the antique garden furniture to be found at Behind the Garden Gate

Old French terracotta pots and a garden bench with the perfect patina

Simple tablescapes on primitive tables

The patina of age on garden furniture: enough to melt your heart!

The perfect summer wreath

A fresh arrangement awaiting a client.

An antique Korean mouse of bronze (He's not for sale, as he lives at the shop.)

Old zinc with fragile white flowers: perfect!

Country simplicity

French lavender for sweet nostalgia

Perfect for giving a country-feel to a city kitchen

To bring out the child in any of us

An antique industrial grinder is elevated to art.

An old Boston rocker and other antique pieces exude character.

Can't you just imagine having a candlelight dinner with friends here?

A client's own container filled with an arrangement of exotic flowers, which she will give as a wedding gift to her new husband. What an original, wonderful gift.

Felix Hernandez, shop owner, working his magic.

Just a short walk from The Bunny Bungalow, in historic Houston Heights, is Beyond the Garden Gate, a shop where Felix Hernandez mixes international antiques with flowers to create enchantment. A gentle warning: you may leave his shop feeling as though you have succumbed to some supernatural power. You have! You see, Felix can cast wonderful spells.


Behind the Garden Gate: Antiques, Garden Decor, Dried Florals, Weddings
355 West 19th Street
Houston, Texas 77008
713-864-1679

(Click on any photograph to enlarge.)