Easter Pecans

When you live in the country, have pecans trees and very creative grandchildren your Easter décor takes a new twist.  The granddaughters love sidewalk chalk and are allowed unlimited chalking privileges on our concrete porch.  The porch wraps around the front of the house to the side and I can watch them from the kitchen door.  They have experimented endlessly using the fat Crayola chalk in different ways: dry or soaked in water, on the concrete or on paper...  But they brought me a wonderful Easter surprise one year when they gathered up some pecans and colored them with chalk.  The pastel colors turned those pecans into Easter pecans.  I had already put my cast iron bunny on the table so the girls filled it with their pastel pecans.  That is where they stayed.  They look just as pretty three Easters later. 

Easter pecans fill my cast iron bunny, which I purchased
at Warrenton several years ago!

Show Edition Friday and Weekend Preview

 

AW Blog Friday and Weekend preview

 

Friday is one of the busiest days for AntiqueWeekend. Expect traffic through Warrenton and Round Top.  Plan to start early in the morning, park where you can and walk.  Saturday is last day for Marburger Farm and many of the other show sites.  Sunday the fields of Warrenton will be shutting down, too. Vendor’s will continue to sell as they load up….If you head for Warrenton on Sunday go early…..many vendors will begin packing up their trucks in the morning.  But until they load it, it’s still for sale.
See map at www.AntiqueWeekend.com


Antlers at Bar W aisle I

Trends we’re seeing:  

 Lot of cast aluminum this year, metal letters, lace and linen clothes, Bar-W "aisle I" tons of antlers and quilts, wonderful vintage linens everywhere! Silver plate silverware at Round Top Hill and La Bahia, Blue glass in a tent on front lawn of Coles. Burlap is still popular and the burlap coffee bags are back again at many show sites.

 

Cool idea: 

Left Rustic

Spinner vents or wind turbines: whatever you call them they're cool! AW snapped a photo of a lady carrying home her treasures from Warrenton, a roof vent, and posted it on Facebook and Instagram.  AW followers responded with suggestions for repurposing it including a pendant light.  Hmmm, imagine my surprise when a Wednesday night episode of Property Brothers replaced a living room ceiling fan with a pendant light made out of a roof vent in a mid-century house in Austin! It looked amazing, like the image above the collar was removed using just the crown….hard to tell if they painted it or left it raw, either way very cool idea.   Blogger "I Love that Junk" has a repost of a Two Scoops of Love photo of a very glamorous pendant lamp, painted black…

Glammed up

 

La Bahia, Blue & White

Show Spotlight:

La Bahia (SH 237 near Burton) Vendor’s fill the old hall, and spill out into tents under the ancient oaks.  This show site is filled with great glass, crystal, silver, jewelry, flow blue, and wonderful vintage linens.  Parking is easy.  Food service is simple, we enjoyed pulled pork sandwiches and coleslaw.  There are tables to sit at and enjoy a great breeze through the open windows. 





Silver plate at La Bahia

If you haven’t been to Chelsea Meadow, Round Top Hill and Arbor International Antiques make the trip.  They had police officers assisting shoppers in crossing the highway and the show sites are encouraging shoppers to park in one place and visit all three show sites.  These are great places to shop, each with a different identity and great finds.



Boots, boots and more boots at Round Top Hill



 

 

At Round Top Hill we spotted great silverware, vintage jewelry, man-cave décor, and other fantastic finds. 

 

The Tin Café serves food with a daily special.

 

Lots of patterns at Round Top Hill

Vintage jewelry at Round Top Hill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





Arbor Antiques

 Arbor International Antiques has Pandora Balthazar’s fabulous linens, “That Mexican Shirt Booth” everyone is talking about, amazing original art, the Martini Bar and live music every night.  There is lots of variety at Arbor International Antiques, rustic bar stools next to elegant French and European antiques.  We have seen amazing unique items at Chelsea's Meadow.  Vintage pieces and repurposed items. Chelsea's Meadow never disappoints with great furniture pieces, and “Mel’s Diner” for hungry shoppers. 

 

Elegance at Arbor Antiques

 Show info for all areas at www.AntiqueWeekend.com

 

Don't miss:

Texas Rose Antiques (SH 237 near Marburger Farm), great vendors and great food.

Lush décor at Texas Rose Antiques

Round Top Vintage Market (SH 237 past RT square) huge variety of furniture, jewelry and art. 



Mustard Seed at RT Vintage Market



 

Don't worry about finding something to eat, there are food vendors at all the show sites and scattered throughout Warrenton.

 





AW Blog Thursday Show Edition

Computer keys and typewriter keys made into Magnets!

AntiqueWeekend Spring 2014 is winding down. Many shows close Saturday, a few will be open Sunday, try Warrenton, but arrive early!

Cool thing....

seen at Zapp Hall, typewriter and computer keys popped off their keyboards and turned into magnets! (before you ask, Melissa’s Garden behind Lone Star BBQ usually has bunches of typewriter keys)

Clever tables at Round Top Rendezvous

Cool idea: 

We have seen quite a few women in Warrenton carrying away doors they have purchased.  Yes doors.  Where are they going and what will they do with them?  I do get it, doors are cool, and I am guilty of making my husband bring home several.  I'm inspired to try a picnic table like we saw at Round Top Rendezvous.  Using old doors make simple picnic tables really special.  And if you are really talented try this garden shed made of doors.  Awesome.

 

Garden shed made from old doors - HGTV rate my space



Show Spotlight:

Round Top Square and The Triangle

People often describe the many, many shows that make up AntiqueWeekend as “Round Top”.  So what will you find in the city limits of the tiny burg of Round Top?  The center of the action is the Round Top courthouse square.  Steps away are Henkel Square, Bybee Square, the Knuztzen’s show site, and across the highway “The Triangle”.  The historic courthouse is surrounded by dozens of booths featuring cowgirl chic clothes, hand crafted decorative pieces and much more.

Across the street from the courthouse at Knutzen’s you’ll find Richard Schmidt Jewelry. Schmidt, nationally recognized jewelry artist who creates his signature pieces out of sterling silver, 14K gold, gems and turquoise.  His imagery of arrows and chiefs is inspired by trips to Santa Fe. They also have fun jewelry, t-shirts and other neat stuff Janet Schmidt finds.



 

Both Bybee Square and Henkel Square feature art galleries and unique shops, housed in restored historic buildings.  In the grand, and air conditioned!, Henkel Hall, Bistro 108 has its show venue, plus the Blue Door trunk show and antique chairs.  AW scouts enjoyed a Bistro beef tenderloin sandwich with apple and brie on French bread, yes please!

On Henkel Square, Pie Haven serves wonderful coffee and famous Royer’s pies sweet and savory.   At Bybee Square Lyn Foley, glass bead jeweler will be meeting shoppers at The Gallery at Round Top.

 

Bonedust and Bodega, I'll have two of each!

  Across the highway (the constable will cross you safely) is The Triangle where you’ll find Bonedust at “Forgiven Texas”, the Bodega, and a collection of great airstreams housing dealers with amazing stuff.  A block south of the square is the Village Green, home of Scotty and Friends restaurant (try the “Whole Hog” pork tenderloin with raspberry chipotle sauce, oh my!), Expressions Coffee and Art, and we spotted a few dealer tents set up there.More show info at www.AntiqueWeekend.com

Don’t Miss

Anna’s Linens- short distance from the square North on SH 237, selling all things linen, apparel and bedding.  And a new happening across from Anna's Linens at the Merry Christmas Store. 

 

Show Food We Love:

Royers at Zapp Hall

AW has eaten at Royers Café in Round Top many times over the years, and we love the Pie Haven in Round Top’s Henkel Square Market.  Royer’s Fall show menu at their Zapp Hall booth did not disappoint.  AW Foodies enjoyed (and I mean enjoyed) the Grilled Shrimp BLT and Beef Tenderloin Tips.  The BLT is four large grilled shrimp with thick-sliced crisp bacon, served on a nice hoagie-style bread roll slathered with the perfect mustard vinaigrette.  The beef tips are accompanied by a wonderful potato salad and a great “Texas caviar-style” cold black-eyed pea salad.  Also available are sodas, beers, and fabulous Royers mini-pies.  We will be back to see what they are offering on the 2014 Spring menu!!!

Don’t Miss Prom! 

 

Tonight is the Junk Gypsy’s celebrated event: Prom.  Dancing, shopping, eating and drinking from sunset until late in the evening at their booth in Warrenton.

 

If you forgot your prom dress, Stone Cellar will have live music and food in Round Top.

AntiqueWeekend.com Blog - Wednesday Show Edition

We are midway through the last week of AntiqueWeekend in Texas.  Its hard to believe nearly three weeks of great shows are almost over!  At AW we get lots of questions about where to begin, where to shop. "Where" depends on you, what type of shopper you are.  We love garage sales and the thrill of the hunt.  I carry a garage sale/flea market shopping list.  It helps keep me focused when there are so many neat distractions.  But what if that’s not your bag….? What if you like to see room-scapes….see my advice below: "To Flea or Not to Flea"

                               COOL IDEA....





Garland by Little Miss Momma, Ashley Stock



seen at the Round Top Vintage Market: fabric garland made from strips of fabric torn for a frayed edge and tied onto twine.  This is a good example of “buy-it” or “try-it”.  If you are interested in the crafty side these are easy to make (just takes patience) but if you want immediate gratification they are inexpensive and can be customized.  One of the vendors at RT Vintage Market has these decorating her both and will make them to order.  A great example of a fabric garland is the one by Little Miss Momma, a wonderful blog for young moms, or grandmothers like me who want to relive those great crafting days with their grandbabies.  Ashley Stock has a complete tutorial on her wonderful blog, I suggest it to anyone who wants to try this neat idea.  They make a great valance, maybe a bed or crib skirt, or a wall decoration.  Thanks Ashley for the great information!! 



Outdoor tents at Cole's in Warrenton



To Flea, or Not to Flea!

For my friends who find the flea market atmosphere of Warrenton a bit overwhelming and hard to maneuver, I suggest they head to two of my favorites: Texas Rose Antique Show (SH 237 near Marburger) and Blue Hills (SH 237 north).  Texas Rose Antique Show is a stand-alone show site with tent vendors and a permanent building.  They have easy access parking in the back of the site.  You’ll find a lot of linen clothing and bedding, great vintage glass, vintage housewares, furniture and collectibles.  The tents are staged nicely, the merchandise is very nice, and the show site is not too overwhelming.  The café is great, see the review below. (try the chicken salad!)

Blue Hills distinctive witches hat cupolas

At Blue Hills there are multiple buildings with parking at the back.  The site has grown over the years.  The buildings have a distinctive style, and are open sided, with great tin roofs and witches hat cupolas, but can be enclosed with clear plastic “curtains” to block wind or rain.  The dealers at Blue Hills always seem to stage their merchandise beautifully.  Room-scapes, artwork, mirrors and accessories show how you could use the pieces in your home.  Several dealers have mid-century modern furniture, a lot of French antiques (we enjoyed visiting with the owners of French Bleu).  Food is served by the Methodist Men, and LaGrange’s popular Latte on the Square. 

 

Check AntiqueWeekend.com for a map to all the show sites.

 

Food we love:Texas Rose Café at the Texas Rose Antique Show

Vicki Davis serves gourmet salad and sandwiches from a cute trailer at the Texas Rose Antique Show site on 237 near Florida Chapel Road.  The parking is easy, the show site is wonderful, great vendors, and a manageable size.  Vicki makes dynamite chicken salad which she serves as a sandwich on artisan bread, or on top of her field green salad.  AW foodies tried the trio salad, a green salad with glazed pecans, feta, dried cranberries and a great vinaigrette dressing topped with a scoop each of pimento cheese, egg salad, and chicken salad, and served with a slice of the artisan bread.  It is easily enough for two hungry shoppers.  She also has canned sodas and cookies.  There is a covered area with tables or they will pack it to go.

FAQs: 

Can I arrange to ship my large items home from the AntiqueWeekend shows?

Many of us shop AntiqueWeekend for “smalls”, the term antique dealers use for little things, glassware, knick-knacks, pottery, etc. Items that are easy to transport home.  But what happens when you find your heart’s desire and it is HUGE.  There are a couple of choices.  Distinguished Transport owner Justin Wells is proud of their licensed, bonded, white glove service.  To take home that one-of-a-kind furniture piece contact Distinguished Transport for more information. Another choice is Rollen Hills, you can reach them at 281-726-2631.  Both companies have served the show sites for several years.

Don’t Miss:

Old Glory Antiques, two locations in downtown Burton.  Owner Holly Kuehn has beautiful furniture and accent pieces, great style!

 

 

Another Don’t Miss:

Old Henry Farm (SH 237) lots of great stuff including a tent filled with French style pieces.

Shout out to new shows: Tin Star Field in Warrenton (between Bar W and Renck Hall), The Round Top Rendezvous on SH237 (lots of linen, chic furniture and clothing, chalk paint and the insanely fabulous shaved ice), Gasoline Hill near Florida Chapel Road specializing in gas station signage.

Tomorrow: Prom! 

Thursday night is the Junk Gypsy’s celebrated event: Prom.  For everyone that fondly remembers their prom, or missed it and wants to do it right this time around, put on your glad-rags and come to prom.  Dancing, shopping, eating and drinking from sunset until late in the evening. 

If prom isn't your thing, the Stone Cellar will have live music and food in Round Top (Mill Street one block off the square).  Martini Bar at Arbor Antiques has live music every night through Saturday night.

Late Tip: 

we hear from our readers that the Warrenton and Round Top area vendors are having periodic difficulty with their cell phone accessed credit card systems.  Good idea to have cash on hand in case you can't use your debit/credit card. 

 

Tuesday AntiqueWeekend.com Show Edition

 

Cool idea….

Bright colors and plants, its Spring!

seen at the Carmine Y, these colorful chairs shout spring.  Take any old chair, cut a hole in the seat to hold a plant, paint it a bright color and bring some spring to your front porch. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Show spotlight:

 

Eclectic mix at Bar W

North Gate Field and Bar-W:  these are two of our favorite haunts.  We usually start our Warrenton shopping at one of these two show sites which sit side by side in Warrenton on SH 237 near-ish to FM 954.

Hand embroidered lines at Bar W

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Both sites have free parking in the back, and room for larger vehicles.  The show sites are well laid out with a variety of vendors.  We have seen piles of antlers, metal letters, patchwork quilts, blue glass, cotton string and the list goes on. 

 

Beds, chairs and tailgates (of course!) at North Gate Field

 

We wander the aisles of North Gate, then Bar-W and then continue South into the heart of Warrenton.  If you are looking for large architectural pieces, the vintage Christmas decorations or brightly colored bar stools, these are the show sites to start with.

 

Visit AntiqueWeekend.com for a show map!

 

 

 

 

After Hours:

Tuesday night: Zapp Hall 8-12 Black Cat Choir, Texas Rose 6:00pm live music, Tuesday:  Coles Antique Show free wine tasting  (corner SH237 at FM954) Tomorrow night, Wednesday, live music at Scotty and Friends, in Round Top at the Village Green (SH 237 and Round Top Road/Bauer Rummel) outdoor deck under huge oaks.

 

Show food we love:

Country Chic Café are the new girls in town.  Cute signage at the road drew AntiqueWeekend to the Country Chic Café at Dillard’s Field on SH 237 in Warrenton, Texas. The Fall 2013 show was their first time as vendors, and they are back for Spring 2014.  Sisters Anna and Angela Mikeska have been shopping the show fields for 20 years.  They found the perfect spot to showcase their catering company, proudly serving Mikeskas BBQ.  It’s a “family and friends” enterprise from Temple, Texas.    Their focus is fresh food, super clean covered deck and kitchen, safe food temperatures and quality ingredients.  They bring some neat ideas to their Warrenton food booth, including a hand washing station on the deck for cleaning up before you eat. 

 

During the Fall show, AntiqueWeekend foodies enjoyed a chopped beef sandwich, baked potato with chopped beef, and sampled a smoked turkey wrap.  The chopped bbq beef was lean but moist, and not greasy.  Tender, easy to eat.  They offer barbeque sauce at a very nice condiment table that included pickles and onions.  Ice tea and lemonade are self-serve with refills of tea and lemonade “until they close”.  The self-serve lemonade and tea were the same price which meant we could mix the lemonade and tea “Arnold Palmer” style. YUM.

The baked potato was perfectly cooked, hot, wrapped in foil, and big, but not so big that it should feed a family of 4!  Nice serving of chopped beef with real sour cream and real butter.  The turkey wrap was impressive, nice lean smoked turkey, a spinach tortilla, crisp lettuce and fresh tomato.  A choice of two dipping sauces, ranch and honey mustard (both yummy, honey mustard was my fave). They also served wine and beer, and pecan pie for dessert.

The booth space is completely covered, has picnic tables and ceiling fans, a great place to sit out of the heat, or rain.  Plan your Warrenton shopping around Country Chic Café.

 

Visit AntiqueWeekend.com for more information on places to eat

 

 

 

Don’t miss: 

Fayetteville square, tents stay open late, and the square is lined with art galleries and restaurants.  From Warrenton take FM 1291 to SH159, right on SH159 to the square.

Fayetteville Square, dealers open late

 

The Carmine Y: on SH 237, show sites on both sides of the road including Gypsy Rose.  Food by Matter of Taste catering company at Grace’s Treasures, Gypsy Rose has Chef’s Kitchen.  If you are a last minute vendor Gypsy Rose has space available call: 832 492 3701.

 

FAQs:

 

FAQ: can I bring my pet?

We are often asked if the show sites allow dogs.  Most of the outdoor show sites in the Warrenton area, on the Round Top square, and beyond Round Top on SH 237 allow pets, however it is not really a suitable environment for pets, especially large dogs.  The weather varies; it can be rainy and hot.  Most of the shows sites are not air-conditioned.  The outdoor fields are just that, fields, and the terrain may be tough going for dogs.  The tent areas are crowded with merchandise and shoppers, and the passageways are narrow, again difficult for dogs.  We cannot promise you that the paid-entry or indoor show sites will allow you to enter with pets.  So, if you must bring your pet you will find plenty of shopping sites which allow it, but the best thing may be to leave them at home.

 

Gypsy Chic!

 

FAQ: What to wear?

Cowgirl sassy, gypsy chic, cute rubber boots, jeans, shorts, dresses, prom dresses, cowboy hats, red hats, tiaras.  It’s all good….and dressing up is part of the fun!  Remember, they are “fields” so if the weather is bad it may get muddy…a lightweight rolling cart is a good idea, carry a small umbrella, a hat and a change of shoes and dress in layers.

 

 

 

                                                

 

 

 

Special AntiqueWeekend Show Edition

All week our blog will highlight show sites, events, shopping ideas and answer frequently asked questions "FAQs" surrounding the twice-annual Round Top-Warrenton AntiqueWeekend.  This event lasts for three weekends and the weekdays in between in the spring and fall.  More details can be found at AntiqueWeekend.com  

Cool idea.......

as seen at the Junk Gypsy World Headquarters.  When you are shopping at AntiqueWeekend, or scouring the garage sales and antique shows in your area don't pass up a pretty patterned plate because of a chip.  And don't toss out a favorite at home because it got broken.  Do what the Junk Gypsies have done and use those pretty plates and platters as garden edging!  Add cottage style to a corner of your yard with this clever idea!

Show spotlight: Marburger Farm

This legendary show site featured in many magazines opens Tuesday morning for early buying 10am-2pm $25 on Tuesday until 2pm.  Tuesday hours are 10am to 5pm. Admission gets you in April 1 through 5.  Huge tents and antique buildings house one of a kind antiques and artisan goods.  Show is located on SH 237.  Parking is free with paid admission.  For more details see their facebook page or their website:  Marburger Farm

AntiqueWeekend After Dark: 

Many shows are staying open later, so you can shop until dark, or later.  Fayetteville square stays open until 9-ish. 

What to do after the shows are closed? 

For live music try:   Stone Cellar in Round Top; Zapp Hall and Marketplace in Warrenton; Texas Rose Antiques on SH 237, Arbor Antiques on SH 237

Need an adult beverage while shopping??? 
Arbor Antiques Martini Bar, full bar, 11:00am to 11:00pm. 
The Round Top Rendezvous Bar has wine and beer and they are open late for shopping and sipping. 

Good eats: 

The food at AntiqueWeekend is as much fun as the shopping!! Every show site has food so you don't have to leave when you get hungry.  This week we'll have a food spotlight every day (see Bistro 108 below) but here is a short list of our favorites:

Dillard’s Field: Country Chic Catering

Zapp Hall, Royers Café show venue

Texas Rose Antiques:  Texas Rose Cafe: awesome chicken salad, pimento cheese

Henkel Hall in Henkel Square: Bistro 108 at in Round Top in Henkel Hall (see below)

Blue Hills: Methodist Men BBQ, and Latte on the Square

The Round Top Rendezvous: Kim’s bakery and Shivers Shaved Ice

Arbor Antiques:  Martini Bar full bar and breakfast/lunch/dinner menu

Food spotlight:

Bistro 108, in town, or show location in Henkel Hall, Henkel Square Market, Round Top

 

Chef Susan of Bistro 108

One of our favorite places to eat is Bistro 108, located just off the courthouse square in the heart of La Grange.  Call for reservations during the show, or visit their show location at Henkel Hall on the square in Round Top.  Many favorites from their La Grange restaurant were on the Fall 2013 show menu.  We enjoyed the field green salad with salmon.  Friends at the table raved about a beef and brie sandwich, and the decadent “fudgie wudgie” cake.  The hall is a pleasant place to eat, high ceilings, good acoustics, and air conditioning, which make it a good destination for visitors to the Round Top square area.  







Beautiful china jewelry from Blue Door

Kathy Johnston of the Blue Door in Henkel Square has a great trunk show set up in the foyer of Henkel Hall showcasing china jewelry, beeswax candles and many more unique items. Henkel Hall also features a charming Smithville antique dealer who is selling wonderful restored antique Texas chairs with hide seats. 



Love these Texas chairs, one from our hometown went home with us!



FAQs

Hours:

around 8:00ish in the morning, till the last shopper leaves in the evening, unless it is a site with specific open/close hours and then they will end at a specific time.  Marburger, Big Red Barn and Carmine Hall have specific open/close hours and days.  Check our calendar here.  Some charge a parking/entry fee. 

Parking:

there is parking adjacent to every show site.  Many parking areas are located behind the shows along SH 237, some are free and some charge a modest fee, $5 is the going rate this Spring.  Some are church parking lots and the fees are a fundraiser. 

Cash, Check or Charge, yes please. 

ATMs, too. The banks in Round Top (Round Top State Bank), Carmine (Carmine State Bank), La Grange (multiples on the square), Brenham and a couple of show sites and gas stations have ATMs.  The vendors welcome cash, many take credit cards and some take checks.  Plan ahead.