THE Quilt Festival

Sandra Evertson, yours truly and Jenny Doh

Above is a lace rosette from the WWC Booth No. 1044.

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I bought some beautiful vintage trim from Virginia, who was working Jennifer Zanetti's Booth No. 1321.

I was so hoping that Sandra Evertson and Jenny Doh would be at the WWC booth on Thursday night when I finally made it to the Quilt Festival. Jenny had mentioned in one of her blog posts last week, that all the women featured in the newest Stampington & Company's Somerset Sudio Magazine, Where Women Create, would be in Houston for the International Quilt Festival. The creator of the magazine, Jo Packham, and all the wonderful artists featured in the premier issue, would be gathering together to celebrate right here in Houston! That was great news for me, so right after work, I scurried down to the George R. Brown Convention Center and did a little shopping AND meeting. I spent most of my very limited time in the Embellishments section. They had it sectioned off with a giant banner hanging overhead ~ EMBELLISHMENT. GREAT! There were so many, many booths to visit, I had to be very selective. Not much time to take pictures, AND I had to ask before I took; so here are a couple of favorite shots of what I bought on Thursday night.

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footnote: I an SO happy I bought Where Women Create, as the articles inside are SO encouraging. Sandra's article~Studio Chic~ was about the small space she creates in (which I can totally relate to)! You will be so surprised with this story, as I was! Jenny Doh's fabulous article told of how her work space evolved from her kitchen table (yes, I have been there and done that too), to a closet, and then with the encourement of her family, to their dining room~which is now her official "home studio". And, another of my blog buddies, Susan Tuttle's cOLd JolTS story was great. This definately is another must read magazine.

one more little story

Earlier this month I posted this picture before my dd and I left for the antique festival. But, it ties so well to a story I have to tell today~
Two of the last customers in my booth on Sunday were sisters. Not only were they buying Christmas gifts & gifts for themselves; they were buying for each other. Talk about fun~this was quite interesting to see one try to buy a piece of jewelry while the other one wasn't looking! It worked out in the end, but just yesterday I received an e-mail that was really neat.
Sister no. 2 had bought the angel necklace I designed, and wanted but didn't get a pair of earrings to match. She was contacting me about buying a pair. At noon she had lunch with Sister no. 1, and while talking to her about e-mailing me & asking about buying a pair of matching earrings, Sister no. 1 went out to her car and got the pair of earrings that matched. They were one of the items she had bought her sister for Christmas!
They both spent the final hour in my booth, and at one time Sister no. 2 had at least 4 necklaces on at one time. They looked beautiful on her. I said I must take a picture! But, I ran out of time, and didn't get the shot. It would have been a great one!
The Sister's necklace was made and left in Belllville at Nothing Ordinary Antiques & Oddities. I specifically made it for that shop, as I had also put the name of the town, Bellville, Texas, on the back. (I graduated from BHS, so Bellville holds alot of special memories for me). The necklace just turned out so beautiful. I must say it was hard to part with. I love how the delicate rhinestone catch dangles perfectly off the bottom charm. And, the faceted mother of pearl beads catch the light and shimmer with beauty and grace. I will be making more.
One more thing, at one point, Sister no. 1 said to me (while Sister no. 2 had all the necklaces around her neck)...."and imagine growing up with her". What I saw when she said it, was her gentle resolve and acceptance. She loved her sister, just as she was and still is.
That was just beautiful to me.

things i learn at shows

Last weekend was my largest show of the year~the Sami Show held at the Merrill Center, in Katy. It was a very good show for me, but thinking back on it, I always come home with lessons learned. Yes, it is good to make the booth rent, but I know & have always known, it is the people I enjoy. Because I am a people person, I normally have alot of good conversation with my customers, and even with those who just choose to look. Did I learn this from my grandmother, Josie, or from her daugher, my mother, Vivian? My great grandmother, Rosa's mother Rosalia, sits in the picture above, in the black dress. I never knew her. She spoke only Czech.

I learned the previous weekend, at another sale, the reason why people did not smile in these photos. You may or may not have noticed. Elsie said, in those days it took so long to take the picture, that the subject was told not to smile, or move during the taking of the picture, as it would ruin it. I never knew that. The only reason we talked about it at all was because in another one of my photos (all family members), now used in my display, is a picture taken of my two uncles and an aunt as children. My uncle, Eldie, is the baby in the picture, and he is smiling. She commented they were never allowed to smile. I told her he smiled all his life, and because he was a baby, they probably couldn't stop him. Eldie never married, and had the best disposition of anyone in my entire family. He smiled alot. I inherited his home, which was my grandparent's, and all the pictures left inside. A box full of cabinet cards and old photos. I am eternally grateful that they landed in my possession. I scanned them for safekeeping, and will not use them forever, but for now they are my muses at shows.

I had so many wonderful compliments on my set-up. Thank you all....I felt like I was sitting in my own little corner of bliss. Was it because of all the family photos that surrounded me? The vintage suitcase to the right held a wedding picture of my grandmother, Rosa's, brother and new wife. The wedding dresses they wore were gorgeous, and the headdresses even more so.
The primitive pumpkin and witch were bought at the Warrenton Antique Festival.

A pair of stick freshwater pearl earrings sat quitely waiting to be purchased.

An iron dove sat on one of the tables, keeping watch for me.

I had the sweetest neighbor, Nona. It was her booth's lattice work that I used as a back drop behind one of my tables. It worked out beautifully, as I hung a lovely guilded mirror and a piece of my art, a collaged Frida, on it. Voila!

Nona designs and sells purses, bags and other fabric items made from vintage fabric and trim. I have bought 4 purses from her in the past 2 years. I just love them.

"The highest courage is to dare to appear to be what one is".

~John Lancaster Spalding

Odd Shots on Monday

All types of people come thru my jewelry booth at sales, but this one last weekend was one of the funniest! I couldn't resist taking a photo of this guy, all decked out for Halloween. The funniest part (to me), was how he was carried~in a doggy sling around his owner's back, just like mother's use to carry their babies. What will they think of next?

For more odd shots today, go see Katney. You will like what you see!

free to believe

Today I received the most nicest surprise!

No, I did not win the Texas Lottery (must be because I do not play it), or get a call from Oprah asking me to design 500 pieces of my "free to believe" lariat necklace to give away to her audience on her Annual Christmas Show!

What I received was a top contender nod from a pretty wonderful author, blogger & photographer, David McMahon; who mentioned my blog in his Post of the Day (thank you David). What a blessing! And even more, I received comments from some special people I didn't even know. Thank you all for taking the time to let me know you enjoyed my Warrenton 2008~Part One post. This is the beauty of the blogworld isn't it? To get to know about so many special people thru their blog pictures and writings. One such person, is Meg Wolff, life in balance....becoming whole.

Her biography:

I just turned 50. I’ve been married for 25 years to an amazing man named Tom. Our kids are Francis and Cammie. I live in a lovely scenic little town in Maine. My real name is Margaret, but I go by Meg. I love photography and art. I've survived cancer twice, and lost a leg and a breast in the process. Although I’ve been through a lot, I'm not at all bitter. I feel passionate about sharing how I've managed to get healthy and live a full life. And I'm so grateful to be here.
Thanks for reading my blog. Please drop me an email and say hello.

Love,Meg

I will leave you with a quote off her website.

“Perhaps we should cheer the loss of control, our failed attempt to change others, and focus only on changing ourselves.”

Joan Anderson, author of A Year by the Sea: Thoughts of an Unfinished Woman

warrenton rhinestones

I may have to rethink the old saying that diamonds are a girl's best friend....these vintage rhinestones were found in a booth at Warrenton, along with several other great pieces that day. The owners come twice a year, all the way from Missouri. She bought them at an estate sale. If only they could talk, I bet they have a great story to tell.

I posted this picture in another group I participate in~see it on the right sidebar. Go to Paintbox Pictures to look at more marvelous effects used by my friends there. You will love the pictures!

Odd Shots on Monday

Another shot I took at Warrenton Antique Week.

I know this grand old chair was left uncovered for the new buyer to decide on the seat cover THEY would like. But, it still caught my odd eye~
You too can participate in Odd Shots on any Monday by posting an Odd Shot and adding a comment to Katney's current Odd Shot post.

warrenton 2008~part one

Each Spring and Fall Melanie & I make our now annual trip to the Warrenton Antique Festival. This show has become a tradition for us, and is our two favorite highlights of the year. Where else but Texas can you walk thru fields, lined with booths, loaded with everything from stuffed grizzly bear to crystal chandeliers.











When we arrived, and stepped out of the car, we felt like two kids in a candy shop. We never know exactly where to start.
We took away more photos than purchases on this day~which is hard to believe. I snapped so many pictures, I had to tell myself to stop; as there was a photo op at every booth. I didn't want to miss a thing, but wait, I need to snap a picture here....and here. Mom, look at that old rusty bicycle tire used as a Christmas wreath. And how about the dragonflies made out of old rusty oil cans. How clever!

There was a soft breeze blowing gently thru the trees, as Melanie and I slowly wound our way thru hundreds and hundreds of booths. Old paint worn windows pulled at us as we passed, now repurposed into mini hot houses. This one came complete with a vintage tricycle and Christmas tree inside.
If nothing more, we come to this festival just to see what people have thought up next. Decorations and collections made out of things I would never have dreamed of using OR collecting.

Once more I have proof that pigs do fly.

Do you think ET could phone home on this old black beauty?

And, Charilie Brown will show up in places you least expect!

Colorful vintage locks hung from fenceposts.


Time worn pieces of lace were quickly snatched up and brought home. Especially when a mother of pearl buckle was still attached.

Hand carved statues looking as if they were taking a nap.

Signs with catchy sayings that were almost passed by, but caught at the last minute.

Plenty of nautical pieces hanging around, waiting to be brought home.

And, don't forget about the bird houses. So many colors shapes and sizes, who could possibly choose just one?

And, if you play your cards right, you may just leave with a little money left in your purse.

This old cash register reminded me of the one that sat behind the counter in Weige's Store, in New Ulm (located not far from Warrenton), when I kid.

I always wanted to push one of those big buttons, turn the crank, and hear the bell ring!

It's good to go home.

Komen Race for the Cure 2008

Tribute to a life lost,

and to those who have not.

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One of the (many) things I did this last Saturday was participate in the 19th Annual Race for the Cure in downtown Houston. There were over 30,000 participants this year, and it was quite overwhelming.

Our small group of 7 was formed from the loss of my daughter's college friend, Michele, who lost her battle with breast cancer earlier this year. She was just past 30 years old. It was a celebration of her life, and a tribute to her courageous spirit.

I myself have faced breast cancer with my own mother this past year. She is one of the survivor's, as it was detected early. She was able treat it with surgery, and then radiation.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Please take the time to have your yearly mammogram. It could save your life.

Odd Shots on Monday-Birds of a Feather

As expected, the Warrenton and Round Top Antique Festival did not disappoint. I took over 100 shots and this one was one of my favorites. This booth had the most unique yard art. These guys were just so coloroful and different. I wish they could have all gone home with me.

Please go see Katney today for more odd shots. Just click on the comments left on her odd shot post, and you will see who's participanting today.

Have a blessed Monday!

sisters

We are sisters.
We will always be sisters. Our
differences may never go away,
but neither for me, will our song. ~
Elizabeth Fishel
*****

I found the most beautiful mop dove shaped beads the last time I visited my dd in San Antonio. I love to stop in a shop called Originals. I had an opportunity to use them this past week. And, I added a faceted mop bead, also "found" that day. I love the delicate nature of these beads. Almost whimsical, and just a little magical. This is the completed necklace I will leave in Bellville tomorrow, after my dd and I leave the antique festival in Warrenton and Round Top. It will be in the shop that has a few of my jewelry pieces ~ remember one of my previous posts about Nothing Ordinary Antiques & Oddities? You must stop in this antique shop, as it is huge.
And as Colette says, "I'll visit any shop that has "Oddities" in its name. I like oddities".
I do too Colette!