the art of time

We made it! After attending our first Antique show this past April, I knew I had to go back. Miles and miles of treasures, art, old and new... and getting lost in conversation with people from all over...

I brought my Mom with me for some overdue Mother/Daughter time, and although I see her every week, it was the one-on-one time of us laughing that made me feel so special to be her daughter. Our drive down south on Monday was filled with stories about her childhood, summer vacations, and raising me and my sisters... we talked about marriage, religion, and the wonders of future plans. Our jaws hurt by the time we arrived at our B&B. The first night we shared a room, we felt like college roommates - flat on our stomachs stretched across our beds from each other... talking on our cell phones to friends and family - with our legs waving in the air... we ate what ever we wanted, and took breaks as a new story surfaced. It was a fantastic 2 days of having her all to myself - leaving me wondering, why I don't do this more often.

We ventured out the first day and walked up and down the streets of Warrenton - weaving inbetween aisles and aisles of booths containing people's collectibles, antiques... and junk.

I saw many familiar faces - thanks to my legs for memorizing my favorite booths - including my favorite vendor, Crystal Greer, who runs an eccelctic shop of vintage jewelry, recycled furniture, her own art work, and pieces of this and that...

Instantly she recognized me, and we were able to pick up right where we left off 6 months ago. We chatted like school girls, giggling and gossiping underneath a tent in a backyard. We have nothing and everything in common - a Mom of 6 children and wife of a preacher - she opened up her own boutique in Houston to fulfill her dreams. I was excited to see her booth - and admire her artwork. She said she painted more than 100 canvases for this show, and on the first day, an Art Gallery came through and bought 70 of them.

The fact of the matter is - everyone places a personal value on their perception. To me, art is in everything - and its how it resonates within each of us - igniting our best selves that makes it artful. Art is even in the way we do things - like raising a family [smile]. I found Greer's faceless artwork peaceful - and was happy to purchase 2 more to complement the children's paintings at home. Everytime I pass by their artwork, I bubble over. And have a better day... remembering the brush strokes that made Ava or Noah squint, curious, and messy....you can't even begin to put a price tag on this feeling...

The sun's rays slowed us down - but not as much as the southern hospitality. I will never forget the beautiful Texan woman, donned in a black cowboy hat and red lipstick who shared her life & death story during a search for a mall - in Italy. And I told her about my travels to Italy, my bond with my mother, and the family I was raising back home. Cultured, smart, and a loving mother - she strung a few chords with me that we hugged and kissed good-bye...

It is all of these moments - more than the shopping - that will keep me going back... and then racing home again to be with my favorite artists of all time.

thrifting for tin toys

I've resurrected my art of thrifting and since then, I've been bringing home more stray things than anyone should be allowed to in a year. I last told you about my adventures finding treasures from this past Spring- and how much I adore the discovery of finding something unexpected.

So off I go again.... It all started a few weeks ago, when we came across a yard sale sign on our street. I pulled over and Aaron offered to screen the parade trail before we confuse the kids. While waiting, I decided to let them loose - there was no telling what Aaron could pass up... Which was a good thing. Because for $5, I brought home an antique tin carousel made in Germany - that literally made my heart fizz with excitement. With a pull of the lever, the couples riding the gondolas spin into a fancy blur. It requires no batteries. Has no fancy lights or sounds. Just simple construction of tin nostalgically displaying a moment of people riding a carousel. And that alone, puts a huge smile on my face.

I felt as though this officially pinned me as a collector, now that I own not one - but two tin toy carousels, thanks to my Mom, who bought me my first from FAO Schwartz a few months ago - The Rocket Ride.



Needless to say - Ava and Noah LOVE these tin toys. Naturally - since the box clearly states, ages 8+. So off to higher shelves they go, but with supervision [so they don't cut themselves from the corners] I'll let them play with it when they ask. Noah makes sure to reach for the rockets while spinning in mid-air - and as a result, the Rocket-Ride looks as old as its original model year - which is what makes it so completely perfect.

Ever since my first pregnancy announcement, I've had this sudden urge to preserve times of our past [and I'm not talking about the 80s that I grew up with...] but with childhood games and toys that our parents and grandparents still talk about...

Reminisce at...

Froggies 5&10 is our favorite place to spend an hour with the kids; racing cars, reading books, playing with trains.. and of course, admiring their wall-to-wall shelves with old classic tin toys.

And of course, nothing beats souvenirs from travels to antique stores & flea markets big and small...[like old globe banks...] or boutiques off of town squares -We make it a habit to dine and shop at Main Streets where ever we go...

wearing childhood fashionably...

One of the greatest wonders since joining the social media arena has been the gift of having a conversation with someone on the other side of the world. Such was the case when I happened upon Julie Alvarez from Buenos Aires. A mother, singer and creator, Julie snaps photos of brilliance captured in days with her family, creativity, and art. She also maintains a blog, of which she personalizes with real stories - straight from a Mama's heart.

What I was most impressed with was Julie's naturalness for being a mom with a creative spirit. To surround her daughter Zoe with all that is beautiful - real - natural - and simple. I truly understand what it means to create out of love [when Aaron and I sat together during my pregnancy with Ava making things for her... stuffed animals... knitted booties....] And that's exactly what Julie does so well with her very own original clothing label, Boton De Amor. Handmade shirts and aprons are uniquely designed, showing off every bit of Julie's "button of love" and more. When our package arrived, Ava pulled out the gorgeous colored tissue paper with a sticky note for Ava - from Zoe. On it was a picture of a heart, balloon and fish [thanks to Mom Julie who labeled them for us!] I was so deeply touched that I had to steal the note from Ava when she wasn't looking and pin it on my inspiration board.

I also giggled inside, remembering how much I loved having a pen pal to write to. Remember those? Strangers we'd share our day-to-day thoughts.... confessions of crushes and betrayals.... and adolescent revelations scribbled on postcards and notebook paper carefully folded and now neatly stowed away in a shoebox with a ribbon tied around it.

My very first pen pal was my best friend Karen, who I have known since the age of 2. Karen moved away with her family to Brazil when we were just 5 years old. We became pen pals at 8. Just this week, I received an email from her -from Argentina - where she is currently traveling. It makes me smile just thinking about the irony of my most recent online order, Zoe's picture... and how wonderful pen pals are...

The linen blouse I ordered was customized for Ava. Perfect for all weather - this blouse was meant to be lived in... Make memories and dance through childhood with.

And just like that, she was off - doing exactly what I imagined her doing in her very own handmade shirt made from Boton De Amor .... Ava ran around the room laughing - having the time of her life...

Get one for your favorite girl to grow into -

1. You can order your very own Ava Linen Blouse here on Etsy. [This divine shirt was renamed after Ava ... ] The shirt buttons in the back, so it can be used to slip on as a smock.

2. Email Julie about specific toddler sizes and colors ahead of time. Each order is customized. You are getting a handmade piece tailored to fit your little one. The prices make you want to order several!

3. Know of any toddlers that would like one? Nothing sings more to a mother's heart than a handmade gift for their child... [hint, hint].

treasures and characters

You'll probably read often how much of a "last-minute" planner I am. This road trip was no exception. I got my first issue of Country Living magazine last week. At 2 am I nudged Aaron in bed and told him that the biggest antique show in the nation was right here in Texas - and it was in 1 week! I'm not sure what he said - no matter. Because I had it in my head that we were going. Kids, hotel, days off from work... didn't seem relevant at the time. The added weeks of constantly being on the run somehow persuaded me to take some time out for myself and indulge on something so unlike me. Antique shopping. In a little town called Round Top, pop 71. Yep, 71. But during this annual one week event - thousands upon thousands come from all over the world to buy and sell... old stuff.

God bless Mom, who at the last-minute arranged to move-in for 2 days. We arrived in Austin late Tuesday night. Before we crashed, there was a pizza delivery and some cable watching [and maybe some chocolate cake.] The next morning, we drove an hour east to Warrenton, where I was told by an insider [who I befriended just 2 days ago] about where to shop. We thought we'd scan the rows upon rows really fast then head over to the Marburger Farm Antique Show. But we never made it. There was just too much junk to oogle over...

I don't know where I got my fascination with antiques - but there's something quirky and cool about having a piece that's got a story. I don't enjoy actually purchasing old things as much as I enjoy looking at how they are displayed. How trunks or jars are used to house unpredictable items. It's creative - and yes, inspirational!

We didn't pry ourselves away until 8pm that night and that was only because we got personal with the sweetest couple that sold us our new bench. Jeff and Sue from Lavender Bay Antiques. So hospitable and open - they shared with us their stories of how they met, what they did before "antiques" and the importance of raising kids. As you can imagine, we talked a lot about our own kids - because by this time, we were missing them dearly. We arrived home late last night/morning and unloaded our treasured finds. Ava heard us come in and woke up. We cuddled and I was in heaven - again.

This morning, we got to show Ava & Noah what a typewriter was. And as expected, they had the same fascination as we do with it - the sound of keys snapping as they karate chop the ink ribbon.

We also picked up a blue bench, circa 1840s, imported from Hungary. Two child-size farm chairs for the kids' art table, a writing desk from the early 1900's [where the wooden chair is attached to a metal box/desk], a painting, Pepsi crate and salvaged art frame.

Ultimately, it wasn't the old stuff we took possession of that made this experience memorable - but the conversations shared between random people from all walks of life. I was deeply fascinated by how illustrated they were about their lives. The preacher's wife who raised 6 kids but found self-worth after discovering the canvas; Wisconsin, riding a rusty old bicycle while selling me his Remington; the estate sale jeweler and her husband who gave me a crash course on what's real; Grandpa with his not-so-funny-story about his last encounter with a Dallasite; Mr. Miami who deals from Paris direct and needed to sell his 150 yr old "sofa bed" and of course, the Yank and Aussie who helped us fit a 7 foot bench in our car.

I feel like I stepped outside of my own storybook life and into another with details and characters I couldn't have imagined alone. It's true what they say about small Texas towns - it's quaint and weird. This much is true: You don't want to be left there after dark.

And, I also know that trips alone with your husband are mandatory and should be free of parenting guilt. Shopping at flea markets and antique road shows are rejuvenating to a crafter's spirit...and children spending time alone with Grandma without me refereeing how much chocolate they eat - priceless.

Here's what you need to know before you go:

1. Plan ahead - make a date with your spouse or girlfriends. You definitely don't want to go alone. The next outrage is Sept 30 - Oct 4, 2008.

2. Stay at a B&B if you plan on staying more than a couple of days. There aren't too many to chose from, and vendors get first pick. However, if you are a last minute planner like us - you CAN find one by contacting the chamber. They send out a mass email to all businesses and owners will call you back promptly if they have a cancellation they need to fill.

3. Start in Warrenton. You can spend an entire day and a half here alone [if you move quickly].

4. Plan a few days for the Marburger show alone. Vendors in Warrenton will tell you that it's not worth the entry fees. But I have a feeling it is and oh, so much more. Especially if you are looking for a particular hard to find piece. It costs $10 after 2pm on the first opening day. If you are really ambitious, you'll pay $25 from 9am-2pm on opening day.

5. There's a "pre-week" sale the week before. So if you want to skip Marburger and the other countless antique paid shows, then consider going the week before. You'll get the best deals at this time I am told. And Marburger vendors allegedly buy antiques here first and sell at their own booths.

6. Who cares. The way I see it, it's an experience. Talk with people and have fun. Get to know the quirky people who travel so far to trade and profit from an American past time.

7. Eat at Legal Tender Saloon if you're in Warrenton - they have huge portions and a friendly atmosphere.

8. Bring your cash, checks, credit cards - not your kids. We only saw 3 children the entire day. And they looked miserable. A babysitter is an investment.

See you in September!