Today is Day 13 of a 31 day series on creating and cultivating an eclectic home. For some crazy reason, I have accepted The Nester’s challenge to write on the same theme every day for the month of October. This may end up killing me. Or you. But, I appreciate you reading and welcome your comments.
A few weekends ago, I took a road trip to the Round Top, Texas area to shop the twice yearly antique market. Although Round Top only has 90 residents, thousands of shoppers and antique vendors descend upon the small town each spring and fall. Quite literally, there are tents set up in the middle of pastures spread out over three little towns (Round Top, Warrenton and Carmine), and vendors ship in wares from all over the world. It is truly something to experience if you ever get the chance to attend.
The first time that I attended, I was so taken by the excitement of it all that I forgot to take any pictures to share with you guys. I had my wits about me this year, and I captured some of my favorite items. The vendors in Warrenton, Texas had the best selection of items at the best prices. It is an eclectic shoppers paradise!
One of the first things we ran across were these great spheres of curly wood. My friend bought one to make a light fixture over her breakfast room table. As you can imagine, her project came out beautifully!
Need a chandelier? Warrenton was the place to find them! There were some real beauties that day.
This loveseat was obviously a reproduction (you have to be careful if you are really shopping for antiques!), but I thought it was a fun twist on a fairly traditional piece.
These rococo style chairs were fabulous!
Just about every vendor had a great selection of old trunks.
The merchandising within each tent was a lesson in eclectic style.
I thought this was a creative repurposing of an old arm chair. It’s been crafted into a new porch swing.
Letters, letters everywhere.
I’m not sure what I would have done with them, but these pieces of rock were just beautiful. The color was such a brilliant turquoise. This vendor had some that were polished, and they really made a statement.
This was a creative way to display two of my favorite things – a chandelier and a birdcage! I’ve seen birdcage chandeliers before, but the birdcages are usually much more decorative. I really like the look of this one.
There were certainly some freaky things, too. I felt like I was on an episode of Oddities at times.
Yikes.
Freaky stuff aside, there’s an overwhelming amount of goodies and deals to be had at the Round Top Antique Market. I ended up bringing home two really amazing items, which I’ll show off to you soon. For the larger spring show in 2012, I’m going to join a group of gals in taking an RV out there and staying a few days instead of just doing a one-day road trip. It is going to be amazing, and I can hardly wait!
Do you have an antique show in your area? I know they have them (on a smaller scale than spread out over 3 towns!) all over the country. I’d love to hear about shows you’ve been to and what types of items you found.
Thank you for sharing pictures of Roundtop with me! It’s a dream of mine to go to the show someday. It would require quite a commitment since I am from Wisconsin so it was fun to live vicariously through you!
ooooooh, where is this?! and when is this spring show?! love. love. love.
Lindsey would you believe I heard about this for the first time this year, but it was too late I already had plans to go to 1st Monday. So you think it is totally worth a trip? I’m gonna put it on my calendar for spring! What part of Texas do you like in, I live in Lewisville/DFW area.
It is totally worth it… They also have another big sale in Warrentown the weekend before… I flew down and met friends there.
WHERE were all those letters when we went in the spring?!? I am looking for those…I swear I don’t remember seeing them….
Glad you had fun!
How big were those rock pieces? A Chihuly inspired creation would have been fun with those. Hmmm…
http://wheretogotravelusa.com/2010/04/02/chihuly-bridge-of-glass-tacoma-washington/
Oooh, I would love to go to a big show like this! Those beautiful turquiose “rocks” are a natural glass that form in the mountains. I have one! We got it at a roadside stand on a highway in nw Arkansas. I made hubby pack it home in his carry on bag 🙂 I haven’t really “done” anything with it. It just sits on our fireplace hearth looking sparkly!
You did not happen to catch the persons name with the rocks did you? I am totally fascinated now…..
Can there be any better place to shop!!!! Just pointing my car south from Dallas towards Round Top makes me smile!
I just bought a curly wood sphere at an antique market- just like the ones you have posted here. Any chance I could see the picture of the light fixture your friend turned hers into?- that is exactly what I want to do!!