Jasmine and Alec

After being together since they were seniors in high
school, Alec, my firstborn, and Jasmine are finally
tying the knot! Stay tuned for all the details of
this fun, DIY Wedding!

Don’t Hang Up! Callie+Bob Wed at the Palomar

After dialing a wrong number, a romance evolved between Callie and Bob
and a while later they tied the knot at the Palomar Hotel!

Sorelle and Jorden – you grew up!

Through the eyes of a stranger…The American Dream unfolds

I arrived a little late to the bloggers luncheon at Royers cafe in Round Top
just in time to grab one of the few remaining seats.

We were soon served our plate of margarita pie and ranch salad with cilantro
dressing by the Royers staff, just as we had been at the first luncheon a
few months ago out at the Prairie. We ate, getting to know those seated at
our tables, and to learn just how they too ended up here at the luncheon,
mostly from blogging connections.

Soon after we were served our Junkberry pie with vanilla Blue Bell ice cream,
the program began.

I wondered to myself after just a few minutes… just where else does an
“industry” such as the phenomenon of Round Top come from? From the time
you reach the towns near Brenham driving through Carmine, home of my friend
(Emily BarringtonSellers) or Burton where Linda and Ludmill of
Willow Nest Farm live and working your way down one of the roads leading
into Round Top. Passing through Shelby and the Shelby Inn and on down to
The Prairie by Rachel Ashwell just a few miles north of Round Top and all
along the way, one farm after another, you see vendors, all set up out in
their fields…and this happens over and over again…for miles!

Where else in the world is there a place like the Round Top Antiques Fair held
twice a year plus two smaller shows where people come from, all over the
world, even Corey (Tongue In Cheek Brocante, in Provence…and others
(Martha Stewart and Mary Emmerling) in years past to buy and sell?

Hearing all of this for the first time and seeing it for himself must have
been amazing as the visitor from New York city sat there as his friend
Bill Winsor (CEO) of the Dallas Market Center told about the new
Vintage showcase at market. The DMC was sponsoring the bloggers luncheon
this time along with Marburger Farms and Royers and making sure we all knew
about the involvement now that the DMC had on this thing called “VINTAGE”?
The Dallas Market Center has opened a whole new section just to showcase
all of the dealers in one place, the old Market Hall-with food Airstreams
outside and tons to view indoors!

We heard as Bill told about Dallas’ involvement in the vintage market and
Carol Hicks Bolton from Fredericksburg tell us how Homestead started and led
to her eventually, at 40 starting a family and leaving the business for a while
to raise her 2 children, home schooling and all! We heard about being true
to ones self no matter what you do and “Knowing who you are” in your home
and life.

We heard all about the importance of home and making it yours…uncluttered,
having it all…and things that you love, not just stuff to fill a space.

Dwell with Dignity was again featured as a great outlet to help those with less
be given a new start and chance at life, but in beautiful settings that give
a boost and purpose to starting over.


After lunch as I drove south out of town I began to come to the farms set
up for business…from the covered wagons perched out in one field to the
abundance of Texas and American Flags…


I realized then, just what a phenomenon this place truly is…
the land of opportunity, the American Dream of owning your own business
as most of these people do who set up here. Just as Carol and her husband
did about 25 years again Fredericksburg with Homestead and now with
“Antiquites Laboratoire de Design” and how Bud and his wife Karen did with
Royers Cafe and it’s growth and popularity and mainstay in Round Top.

I realized this is what it is all about, being true to yourself, your dreams,
hard work,making long time friends and making a life for your family.

It took me a long time to finally find my way down to see this place called
Round Top Antiques Fair, being born and raised in Texas, I have known of
this place for years. But it wasn’t until I had the opportunity to come a
few shows back and shootas a VIB, “Very Important Blogger” for the
Marburger Farms show that I also got hooked into coming every time to see
what was in store and to experience the greatness of the
American free market and life in Texas!

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Mad Men drop in on McKinney !

well… sort of… take a look at this really retro seating
arrangement at Fringe the Event as you walk in the door…
makes you think you are on set!

all this happens on the East side of Hwy 5 in McKinney!

authentic vintage!

loved these lace and sheer ladies gloves…but oh so tiny!

how about a great ,green glider?

step across the street to the Old Red Lumberyard sale…

or ORLY as it is known…

Blue Blue Texas!

I enjoyed my Easter Sunday driving the Bluebonnet Trail
in Ennis and Palmer! Even a few furry friends enjoyed
seeing me!

What did I do yesterday … you ask?

While having my coffee outside this beautiful morning, I was greeted by Mr. Lovely who begged for his photo to be taken…

After dropping some photos off at a clients house in Princeton, I stopped in to see what all Vince had in store…

why some lovely grey shutters for only 45 each!

and a corbel pretty enough to be a piece of art…

and a vintage birdcage waiting for a new home…

so I decided to head over to Farmersville since I had not been there in several years since my last nephew graduated from high school there…

and whist there I checked out some real estate…

and to see what was playing at the movie theater…

and noticed lot’s going on in the old, vacant buildings like this auction…

and of course on my way home, I stopped in McKinney to see if the roses had bloomed at the Chestnut Square chapel…

when I decided to continue with my iphone snapping a few more photos…

and converting one in a fancy app…

and then at home, my roses looked so pretty…

especially the one my client gave me on Sunday after her daughter’s photo shoot…

that I have to show it twice, in another colorway…so does that answer your question?

Dallas Arboretum

Even though the rain beat the daylights out of the tulips,
they were still full of color and beautiful! Enjoying our
beautiful,spring weather…can hardly sit inside!

Real Men wear Skirts…at least Scottish Men…

or, even if you are not sure if you are Scottish…
you can! Yes, Mr. Seth allowed me to snap his dapper
photo yesterday at the Antique and Vintage Jewelery show
in Grapevine. Yes, Mr Sheet metal worker, Seth. I think
he looks smashing in his kilt and what better place to sport
such an outfit than with a bunch of vintage, jewels, clothes,
cowboy boots and what ever!

Seth

vintage rhinestone mesh from Germany by Katy Schor – Houston

Vintage Martini – Carrollton, Texas

Bess & Evie’s – Kalen Ruiz – Ft.Worth

A Collective Nest- Nova McIlhaney, Austin, Tx

Linsy J’s Jewels, Betsy Kemp, Austin area

I want this so bad! Not seen too often a CLOCHE!

beadsbySandy
VintageMartini
Bessandevies.com
ACollectiveNest
LinsyJsJewels
ManInTheMoonAntiques Lansing,MI. I bought 3 great dresses from Blair Smith!
SnowLeopardAntiques Susan Wright,Garner,NC lav.pillows.vintage linens.clothes

FlowerTime In Dallas

Vince has beautiful Red Tulips in his fun display
today at Treasure Spotters in McKinney! and of course
you can’t beat Turtle Creek and the Arboretum for
an overdose of springtime glory!