Antiques Week: I'm Off and I'm Leaving, too!

So, I'm off! And I'm not referring to mental state, although that phrase has been used to describe my demeanor on many occasions. In this case, however, I'm using it literally, I'm off to Round Top for the next 7 to 8 days to sell some vintage goodies.

If you are planning on attending Antiques Week this Fall, I would love it if you would come by and see me at my spaces at Vickie Davis' wonderful venue at "The Texas Rose Antique Show," located across from Marburger Farms, 2075 South State Highway 237. You can find directions here. The show begins Saturday, September 26th, and runs through Saturday, October 3, 2009. Stan Williams, author of The Find, will be in my space at the Texas Rose Antique Show signing copies of his book and swapping stories about favorite finds on Saturday, September 26th, and then again on Tuesday, September 29th. We will have all kinds of goodies to drink and eat on both days and lots of books for Stan to sign! Stan will also be signing copies of his book at the Blog Party at Theresa from Garden Antiques' space at Zapp Hall on Sunday beginning at 6 pm.

I can't wait for Stan to see the fields and fields and dealer after dealer, offering vintage treasures! Don't forget that we will have all kinds of goodies to drink and eat on both days.

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Want It Wednesdays: The Doctor Will See You Now

Photos courtesy Etsy, 1stdibs, Great Stuff, Tipple & Snack and Heir

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Want It Wednesdays: Chucks, Chairs and Chandeliers

Photos courtesy 1stdibs, Talisman London, Sean Berg and Hot Topic

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Francoise Nielly: A Treat for the Senses

You know I live on the edge here in my little world. For example, sometimes I've been spotted wearing white well after Labor Day. Occasionally, I might even go swimming right after I've eaten. I've even been known to run with scissors and other sharp objects.

Simply scandalous, I know . . . I'm clearly in need of an intervention! But, I thought I'd pull myself away from the adrenaline pumped rave that is my life, and share an amazing treat for the senses.

I stand in awe of this woman and her abilities. French painter Francoise Nielly is no stranger to the grand scale, her works regularly spanning six feet in length. Her massive, colorful portraits are simply delicious and the size only intensifies the captivating quality.



As an illustrator and a painter myself, it is particularly humbling to those of us who take ages to choose subject matter and execute the actual painting, to watch her create them. You must watch this marvelous video, here. As you will see, she maneuvers her palette knife carving beautiful faces out of the canvas, like a highly paid plastic surgeon. Her interpretation of light, shadow, hue, and tone is masterful and seems to come as easy as breathing! Her paintings have a great sense of humor and an explosively sensual feel to them, it seems to me.

I aspire to have her sense of celebration and love of life! But, for the moment, I'll settle for the reckless abandon of opening an umbrella inside the house or sitting to close to the television.

I know, I'm a rebel like that!







Photos and artwork courtesy Francoise Nielly

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Gardenhouse: Vintage With a Twist

There are a finite number of times one can safely visit a website in a single day; after that point the whole exercise becomes kinda creepy and potentially stalker-esque. I have visited my new favorite online vintage furniture store, Gardenhouse, about five times . . . in the last 24 hours.

I believe the clinical term for what I suffer from is gluttony, because I want it all! Gardenhouse, located in Palm Beach, Florida, re-works vintage furnishings with crazy fun colors and fabrics. I find myself thinking things like . . . "I will take one of everything and . . . I’m going to have to give the deck a good power-washing and refresh the stain . . . Oh, and . . . which internal organ will I be selling to be able to afford all the pieces that I would like to purchase."

When I think of Palm Beach, its iconic 1960s prints and sun soaked living jump to mind. Gardenhouse Decor is keeping that heyday look and vibe alive and well. Owner, Cheryl Maeder, a fine art photographer, has gathered her vintage finds, and has given them new life with happy paint colors and modern fabrics. Visit her website the next time you are in need of some inspiration or a mood elevation.

Cheryl met her husband Gary Antonio, an artist, metal sculptor, and constant source of inspiration in San Francisco. She opened a successful advertising and photography studio and worked with some of the country's finest art directors there, and on weekends, she would search flea markets and antique stores, and meet dealers who shared her passion for vintage furnishing. After re-working these finds with her own signature style, she filled her home, studio, and her friends’ homes with these marvelous finds. After she and Gary bought a charming building in Northwood Village, they renovated it with the help of a grant from the CRA of West Palm Beach and they are now living out her dream of creating one of a kind home furnishings and contemporary fine art work. Their retro redo's have been published in several of the national magazines such as Coastal Living, Southern Living, and Architectural Digest to name just a few.

Since arriving in West Palm Beach, Cheryl has also been focusing on her fine art photography. Inspired by a trip to Spain several years ago along the coastal towns of the Costa Brava, she began photographing in an impressionistic style. Shortly after moving to Florida, she began her series entitled Dreamscapes. Cheryl's magnificent work is presently represented by galleries in New York, Paris, Miami, and Palm Beach. You can see more of her work here.

Cheryl believes, as I do, that our homes are our havens, our sanctuaries, our places to unwind and regenerate. Gardenhouse decor expresses a lifestyle of comfort, hospitality, and warm individuality that I strive for on a daily basis. Recycling and being green never looked so good!


Photos courtesy Gardenhouse Decor

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Want It Wednesdays: Smiles, Slippers, Sling Chairs and Side Tables - Oh My!

Photos courtesy 1stdibs, Etsy, Irwin Feld Design, Space107, Archivia, Colormutts

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A Pressing Conversation

My darlin' friend Stan Williams, author of The Find, and I had a little Q & A session awhile ago. Today he has featured that interview over at his blog The Elegant Thrifter.

I'm so flattered by the feature on his blog! The other great news is that, as of yesterday, it's official, Stan is coming with me to Antiques Week at the end of September. Stan will be in my spaces at Vickie Davis' wonderful venue at "The Texas Rose Antique Show," located across from Marburger Farms, 2075 South State Highway 237. Your can find directions here. The show begins Saturday, September 26th and runs through Saturday, October 3, 2009. Stan will be in my space at the Texas Rose Antique Show signing copies of his book, The Find, and swapping stories about favorite finds on Saturday, September 26th and then again on Tuesday, September 29th.

To be honest, I feel a little bit like a drug dealer introducing Stan to this event. As I have said before, this event is just an "antiques freak's" Mecca. There are fields and fields and dealer after dealer, offering vintage treasures and it's my own little slice of Prozac!

Okay, so, this is how it goes every 6 months at my house. To thin my personal and professional collection of vintage textiles and other vintage goodies, I participate in "Antiques Week" in the Round Top/Warrenton area as a dealer/merchant - wink, wink, nudge, nudge. This is the equivalent to taking a compulsive gambler to Vegas or similar to 'make your own pipe night' at the crack house.

If you are planning on attending this Fall, please come by and meet Stan and get an autographed copy of his fabulous book. We will have all kinds of goodies to drink and eat on both days.

Perhaps you could even provide a little diversion, so that Stan and I can steal away for some shopping, because my family has already warned Stan and me that they may have to stage some sort of intervention to get us away from there!

Images courtesy Olivia Stephenson

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Curb Service: Adelante Boutique

To say that I'm so excited that I might just spontaneously combust at any moment might be putting it mildly.

Some people might say I'm over reacting.

Some people might ask, "Have you taken your meds this morning?"

Some people might think to themselves, "This girl needs to reel in her enthusiasm just a touch!"

And, to be perfectly honest, some of these people might have a valid point, but some people don't know about the massive crush I have on Airstream trailers. So, here's what I'm all hyper and buzzin' about:

Adelante is an Austin based boutique owned by my friend, Tricia Roberts. She carries gorgeous clothing, a fantastic collection of vintage boots and jewelry & accessories, and all at a more-than-reasonable prices. Tricia has also introduced one-of-a-kind furniture with a girly twist.

And, since Adelante means onward or forward, Tricia is introducing her very own, very fashion forward rack on wheels! Tricia and her team have retro-fitted an Airstream trailer and made it available for rental for your very own shopping soiree with friends. You can also look for them to be setting up shop on a curb near you, pulling up and bringing sales and trunk shows all around the Austin area.

So, to kick off this wonderful idea, she and others have put together a launch party for Adelante's Website and Curb Service concept. The party is Thursday, September 10th, beginning at 6pm at 26 Doors Shopping Center here in Austin. This event will be sponsored by Tribeza Magazine, Savvy Vodka of Austin, and Coco Paloma Desserts. There will be live music by the Dennis Ludiker Trio, with their signature mix of swing and jazz.

A portion of the sales will benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. And, the first 50 people will receive a swag bag filled with goodies!

Now go, shop online here. And visit there blog here.






Images courtesy Adelante Boutique.

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21st Century Fairytale

I just read the most amazing story about a young woman, who is quite possibly one of the most tenacious and inspirational humans ever. This young woman's name is Brianna Karp, she's jobless, homeless, and a blogger, and she just scored an internship with E. Jean Carroll of Elle magazine fame. The story was written by LeAnne Italie of the Associated Press and was released about 5 days ago. You can read the story in it's entirety here. I've included a link so you can read Brianna's blog entries here, as well. Elle.com also offered Brianna a forum to blog on their website, in addition to her internship with E. Jean Carroll, that can be found here.

Images courtesy Associated Press.

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Quote-Unquote: Wish I'd Said That

Have you ever come across a quote and thought, "How true!", "WOW! Wish I'd said that." or "Yeah! What She Said!" I love words and I admire people who can paint a picture with them. Sometimes words have the ability to heal, raise our mood and give us hope or, just make us laugh as we relate to the thought. To those clever wordsmiths that construct these sentiments, I salute you!

Images of quotes via ffound

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Want It Wednesdays: Black is Beautiful

Photos courtesy: 1stdibs, Bokja Designs, Dorfsmith.com, Naked Decor and Modernism Gallery

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