Show Spotlight on Shelby, Obsessed with Glass and a Great Idea

Shelby Antique Show, 2nd oldest venue in the Round Top shows

On FM 1457 at FM 389, 8 miles from Round Top in the historic Harmonie Hall

Not to be missed, the Shelby Antique show is tucked away in the small community of Shelby away

from the heavy traffic of Warrenton .  Housed in charming Harmonie Hall, one of the great historic halls that Fayette County is known for.  Covered outdoor space and air conditioned indoor space plus easy free parking adjacent to the hall makes a great shopping experience.  The vendors are personally selected by show promoter Victoria Pierce,
owner with her husband Tim, of Victoria's House.  Victoria took over management of the Shelby show about three years ago, bringing in local and out-of-state vendors.  Victoria's beautiful displays of fine jewelry fill the center of the hall. Each case is organized by type and period, spanning early Victorian through the 1980s, all elegant high end pieces. The show is open 9-5 daily until the last Saturday, April 4th when they close at 3pm.  We have always loved the Shelby show.  The hall is open and bright and the vendors have their pieces beautifully staged.  We saw everything from gorgeous silver, vintage "mantiques", all types of furniture, vintage kitchen ware and handmade quilts.  In the foyer, the local ladies are selling homemade baked goods

and serving up home cooked meals.  The outdoor space is covered and on concrete, a breeze keeps it cool.  The vendors outside have a great variety of items.  I spotted some great vintage hats (Prom?!), cobalt blue bottles, and some great furniture pieces by Larry's Reclaimed Wood Furniture which he makes from salvaged wood out of Galveston.  If you missed it this Spring, put Shelby on your show plan for Fall, they will be open September 26th through October 3rd.  For more information:  www.antiqueshowshelbytx.com  or www.AntiqueWeekend.com for dates and a map to the show.

 

Gorgeous Glass

Bar W

Clutter

The early rains have given way to bright sunshine during the Spring Antique Weekend shows.  It really seemed to make the vintage glass bottles and demijohns sparkle and shimmer.  The shows this Spring have an abundance of brilliantly colored glass.  I have seen vintage glass insulators in cool sea water blues and greens.  Even though American Pickers call insulators "hillbilly stained glass," I don't care I still love them. There are several things you can do with old insulators, line your flower beds with them and let them bring color to your garden, or turn them upside down fill them with flowers and hang them on the fence with a piece of wire. 

Ex-Cess

At Ex-cess one of the

Demijohns, North Gate, Warrenton

dealers had huge stacked glass industrial insulators.  At Clutter they have several more refined displays with antique bottles in soft greens and clear glass.  Some are medicine bottles, others old vanilla bottles.  They are great for creating a table-scape on a spring table, with individual stems in multiples of bottles, or just tuck one onto a window sill or bathroom counter with a single stem.   I have seen small collections of bottles, big wine jugs, throughout the show sites, plus an amazing collection of blue Ball jars at Jimmie Johns booth in Bar W.  Easy to carry, a small, vintage glass bottle could be your AntiqueWeekend treasure this spring.

 You Can So Do This!

As seen on HGTV Blog: Design Happens



Photo from Under the Sycamore blog,
Ashleyannphotography.com

I love gardening, although sometimes the extreme heat of a Texas summer makes it a little hard.  I love having fresh herbs outside my kitchen door, in big pots which I can cover if the grasshoppers get a little out of control.  The plastic pots most nurseries use get tossed away, but the traditional terra cotta pot just has to be saved.  It has so much potential!  I have lots of them around the place, tiny to oversized, and can't imaging getting rid of any of them.  I am always attracted to a new idea and this one just jumped off my computer screen on the HGTV blog, Design Happens by Chelsea Faulkner.  I immediately thought of the basket of small terra cotta pots I saw at Texas Rose Antique Show last week.  They would look so cute wrapped in fabric like these.  Although this project is not designed for outdoors, think how cute they would look in the center of your table, or lining your kitchen window sill or on a desk holding paperclips and rubber bands.  Ashley got her idea from www.christinechitnis.com.  Christine provides the following directions: "This works better in description form, rather than step-by-step: Start by cutting a length of fabric that will wrap once around your pot. Leave extra room for

Tiny terra cotta pots at
Texas Rose Antique Show, Round Top

folding it over on the top and bottom. Cut slits in the fabric around the top, to avoid puckering as you make your way around. Begin by coating a small section of the pot with Mod Podge. Stick the beginning of your fabric length to the pot and once it is in place, coat the fabric with Mod Podge. Continue doing this all the way around, without worrying about the top or bottom of the pot. When the outside of the pot is finished, trim your fabric so that less than an inch hangs over the top and bottom. Begin at the top, folding the fabric into the pot in pleats so that it lays nice and flat around the rim. Coat in Mod Podge. Do the same for the bottom, folding the fabric in pleats so that the bottom edge of the pot remains smooth. Coat any loose flaps of fabric with Mod Podge. Now let your pot dry." 

I think this is a great project for my granddaughters to try with leftover fabric in my scrapbag and those extra pots out on my screen porch, just in time for Mother's Day.  If you hurry, Vicki Davis may have some left at Texas Rose Antiques! 

See more about the Spring and Fall shows at www.AntiqueWeekend.com follow us on instagram (@antiqueweekend), Twitter and Facebook



Let There Be Light - Ideas, Favorite Things, and Show Spotlight

Show Spotlight

La Bahia

One of the oldest of the Round Top area shows, La Bahia is located on SH 237, in and around the charming 1897 Turn Verien dance hall. When you enter the hall, be sure to look up and see the old ceiling fans designed to look like airplanes. This show site has easy parking under spreading oak trees, providing shade and keeping the outdoor booths cool. On the grounds surrounding the hall are booths filled with everything from French style antiques to vintage Corning Glass bake ware.
 



Inside visitors will always find wonderful displays of crystal (look for Rex and Janet Andrews' beautiful cut glass), silver, flow blue, vintage linens and Jeff Weller's trunk full of silver plate tempting you to dig through and take home a treasure. At a dollar a piece you can't go wrong. Jeff also has an impressive collection of old restaurant ware individual creamers in a variety of sizes, shapes and decoration, all reasonably priced. 

The self-described Flow Blue King holds court in the rear of the hall with an impressive display of the popular and highly collected dishware. In the front corner as you enter there are several vintage linen dealers.  They carry European square pillow cases in immaculate white embroidered cotton and linen.  Shoppers will find a variety of vintage linens with their original monograms.  Find your initials, or bring a gift-giving list of family names! Barbeque lunch is served in the "new" section of the hall.  There are also lots of jewelry dealers set up there. 


I've included a photograph of a very sleek, light colored wood and metal chair to demonstrate that even though these shows are located in the beautiful rural country-side of Fayette County, many vendors bring contemporary mid-century pieces.  And there is plenty of man-cave décor at every show site. For more information about this and all the other show sites visit www.antiqueweekend.com You can also find us on twitter, instagram: @antiqueweekend and facebook








 Let There Be Light

DIY or BUY?



Farm and Factory Hay Trolley Light at Bar W

Wandering the show sites we have seen the most amazing lighting.  The creativity of the show vendors is amazing.  They prove that almost anything can become a light fixture, and the more rust the better! Chicken feeders, hay trolleys; simple buckets and exotic chicken wire lanterns from the Far East have all been re-purposed into fantastic light fixtures. Some of my favorite pieces come from Robert at Farm and Factory, set up in Bar W in Warrenton. He has taken chicken feeders and warmers and turned them into extraordinary light fixtures. The hay trolleys are really amazing and unusual.  Robert's reasonable prices on his chicken feeder lamps make me question if its better to DIY, or buy from a vendor with experience and all the parts needed!

Farm and Factory,
Bar W

Junk Farmer in Oldenburg

At Junk Farmer in Oldenburg you'll find buckets turned into lighting ready-to-go, and buckets waiting in her field ready-to-buy. Your choice, DIY or BUY!  Robert assembles his fixtures with UIL parts, extra safe cords, setting his apart.  Take a look at some of these examples of antique weekend  dealers' creativity. At La Bahia, in a booth filled with beautifully staged treasures, a corner was lit by a very unusual light fixture.  Greg and Rebecca Brown said they had gotten the piece unsure of what it was intended for, but loved the shape.  They have since learned they come from Southeast Asia, and originally had rice paper over the chicken wire creating the lantern. This one has already been stripped to reveal its rusty chicken wire.


Lantern to Lamp at La Bahia

I can so do that!

Rosie Knies, one of the La Bahia vendors had the neatest chicken wire-picture frame display piece to hold her postcards.  This is something that could be easily done with inexpensive materials.  If you are crafty, you may even have them around the house or garage.  Take an old wooden picture frame, jazz up the color as you like.  Cut a piece of chicken wire the same size as the back, enough to overlap the back of the frame for stapling.  Staple gun the chicken wire to the back of the frame.  If the chicken wire is too scratchy you could cover the edges with masking tape. Hang the frame so it hangs away from the wall.  A small ball of blue-tack at each corner will hold the frame away from the wall, and keep it steady. Use everyday clothes pins, painted a bright color if you like, to attach keepsakes, movie tickets, postcards or photographs to the chicken wire.  

For more information about the Round Top - Warrenton Antique Shows including our calendar, map and FAQs visit www.antiqueweekend.com
we also post timely photos on instagram (@antiqueweekend) and facebook, twitter and flickr










 





Furnishing Your Great Outdoors!!

One of our readers asked if the Round Top - Warrenton antique shows are a good place to find patio furniture.

Shell back loveseat, North Gate Field

The answer is Yes!  Wandering nearly every show site you will find a huge variety of tables and chairs, metal and glass, wicker, and rattan.While I refer to it as "outdoor" or "patio" furniture, the fact is that a lot of it can easily be incorporated into your home's indoor decor.  Everything from 40s era gliders, classic 50s motel style chairs with shell backs, and 60s era styles, with more modern clean lines. We've also seen plenty of classic wicker and teak.

North Gate Field

Condition is an important variable, and will definitely impact the price.  Some pieces have been restored and repainted, some retain their original paint with the patina of time, and sadly some have been painted with reckless abandon and need some love!  The prices vary from dealer to dealer, depending on age and condition. Don't be afraid to bargain a little.

I saw several vintage gliders some with matching arm chairs, original paint, and appropriately worn condition at North Gate Field along the fence line separating North Gate from Clutter.  That dealer had several others similar pieces in varying condition.

60s or 70s era patio set

At Ex-Cess we found some really interesting choices, including wonderful cast concerete faux bois.  (If you are not sure, "faux bois" is the very chic French way of saying fake wood!)

Faux Bois at Ex-Cess

Before coming on a hunt for outdoor furniture do your research, measure your space, know what you should be paying, and if you don't bring a truck with you, factor in the cost of shipping it home. These unique outdoor accents will add character to your home.  

 For more information about the Round Top-Warrenton antique shows, and FAQs visit our website:  www.AntiqueWeekend.com  We post pictures and timely show news on facebook, twitter and instagram!





 













 

Fixer Upper and AntiqueWeekend at the Shows!

 

 

Chip and Joanna Gaines from Fixer Upper at the shows!

During the Fall 2014 Show AntiqueWeekend was excited to assist the Fixer Upper production company team when Chip and Joanna Gaines visited the shows. Joanna has mentioned the Round Top - Warrenton antique shows in past episodes and we were really excited when they contacted us to help! 

Joanna Gaines selecting light fixtures for an upcoming episode

The Gaines visited Marburger Farm in Round Top and Ex-cess in Warrenton picking treasures.  They brought their entire family and were just as terrific as they appear on television.  Chip tossed a football around with the kids, they tried out a French horn they found in one booth and ate pizza for lunch on the picnic benches.  Great kids.  Joanna found some really great red light fixtures at Ex-cess, which were featured in one of this season's episodes. 

This red light fixture caught my eye!

 SHOW SPOTLIGHT:  FAYETTEVILLE "ANTIQUES ON THE SQUARE"

One of the early opening shows is the Antiques on the Square in Fayetteville.  Antiques on the Square opens on March 21st and ends March 31st.  They stay open later in the evening, selling until 9:00pm.  The show fills the community center building and two huge tents spilling over with treasures and fabulous finds.  On the corner Wayne Burnette has great stuff he calls "mantiques", metal wheels, signs, and in the middle of it all a bright red light fixture which immediately made me think of the ones Joanna Gaines picked up for Fixer Upper!  Emil is inside the community center building and he has a little bit of everything, chairs, books, yardsticks, furniture, windmill parts...He's super friendly so if you are looking for something special just ask!



Great glider and other treasures at the Fayetteville Square

Time Flies!

Wow, my last blog was this time last year!  Its nearly Easter again, and my cast iron bunny, a Warrenton find, is back out on the table.   The Warrenton show fields are filling up as I write.  Every day when I pass through Warrenton and Round Top on Hwy 237 there are more treasures spilling from the trucks.  Old windows and doors, buckets and boxes, cast aluminum dinosaurs, vintage patio furniture, parts of windmills, linens, dishes, cowboy boots, glitter and sparkle.  It’s a feast for the junk loving eyes.



Elegance at Texas Rose, SH 237 RT

Looking back, AntiqueWeekend.com has been online for 15 years and counting.  We arrived in Fayetteville, Texas (population 267) in 2000 with all our worldly goods.  AntiqueWeekend.com was born in the historic Sarrazin building on the town square.  Signs were painted and a website was created.  We designed a map, a calendar, added shows as they arrived, and answered the many questions sent to us by excited shoppers planning their journey to the mecca of junkin’, shoppin’, collecting, and just having fun. 

Silver plate at Round Top Hill

We bought two old houses and enjoyed the luxury of having vendors bring us old house “parts” twice a year.  My old cast iron sink with its wonderful wing-like drain boards came from Warrenton.   Its part of our everyday life, where my grandchildren crack eggs and make pancakes, and know to carefully set their dishes in the sink.  Cast iron is pretty unforgiving!

We have met some amazing people…… the Junk Gypsy family, the Ex-cess family, Chip and Joanna Gaines, the Massey Family, the entire Royers clan…the list goes on…but the common thread is family.

Treasures abound  at Bar W Field, Warrenton

We love it, it’s a circus but it’s our circus and we look forward to it and revel in it.  Keep the questions coming, enjoy David’s photos, look for yourself in the crowds or see what you missed and make your plans to come to the next show.  We’ll do our best to keep you informed!

You can always contact us by email:  david@antiqueweekend.com or linda@antiqueweekend.com

In the coming days of the shows my blog will spotlight individual show sites, vendors, food vendors, and the cool stuff we see wandering through the tents.