It was like going home.  Only I was 2.5 hours away from home.  And I believe if roll call was taken, almost all the Texas junkers I know would be accounted for.  And then there were a couple of virtual blog buddies that I finally had the pleasure of meeting face-to-face.  Sweet.  The highlight of my Warrenton day trip had to be all the lovely conversations.  Low point would be returning to my car — near heat exhaustion, mind you — and discovering that I’d left the lights on all day, and the car battery — much like my OWN battery — was dead.  Luckily a saint, disguised as a man in a pickup, happened to be headed my direction …and ever-so-kindly with hardly a roll of his eyes jumped the car back to life.  Whew.  So after driving around Bar W field until I looked like a crazy lost woman who couldn’t find the highway, I finally felt the battery was charged enough to chance turning off the ignition for a bit more junking.  My haul was pathetic, despite the mass of cool goods offered by so many vendors.  I fell in love with, but didn’t buy, a beautiful $300 Christmas wreath covered in vintage Christmas balls.  The strangest thing I saw was a pair of break dancing gold-leafed cherubs.  (I kid you not.  Go to Carmine and see for yourself.)  MIA:  The Pink Elephant, whose Bar W finale was last spring.  (I miss her and her fantastic accent.)  My theme of the day:  horses.  What I forgot:  Blog party…but I was in the middle of a car crisis.  My feet hurt, my sunburn hurts, my hair has turned into something that’s not usually mistaken for human hair, my feet are filthy, and I’m way behind on sleep.  Would I do it all over again.  Heck, yeah.  And I plan to.  Next Saturday.  Will I see you there?

Just a quick heads up to let you know that Texas Monthly, THE magazine of Texas, will be doing a small feature on Llano, Texas — home to my far-away space in Whimseys — in their November issue.  A reporter and a photographer visited Whimseys, so we’re hoping to get a mention in the article, but since the focus of the article is on the town as a whole, it may only vaguely mention antiquing.  AND…I heard tale that the photographer snagged one of my bottlecap charms on his visit — what a good eye he must have!  In case you don’t remember just how fabulous Whimseys — and Binky la Faye — is, let me share just a couple of pictures.

I feel some junking comin’ on!

Warrenton…really?  I don’t THINK so!  Not THIS Saturday.  This Saturday, September 26,  is reserved on MY calendar for the sidewalk sale at Homestead Handcrafts in San Antonio.  10-6.  Great bargains outside.  Some sales inside.  200 vendors at each store.  Something for everyone, as THEY say (and since I joined the “Society of They” on FB, I guess I am They).  Hey, Warrenton lasts all week.  This sale is one stinkin’ day now…  and another one in about six months.  So there.  What’s for sale?  Well, I can’t give you specifics, but I’m guessing some good stuff and some other good stuff.  I’ve picked up cheap suitcases and art.   Someone had an excellent clock table at the last sale, but I couldn’t figure out what to do with it, so I didn’t buy it. Will it be back?  Who knows?  Why not stop by to find out?!  I’m not sure what I’ll be carting to the sale.  But … I will be having a one-day sale inside.  I haven’t quite decided on the discount, but it’ll save customers a few bucks.  And I have those excellent mirrors from Europe again.  Plus … I’m pretty sure “My Favorite Things,” the space I share with about five other peeps, will be transformed into a rough-and-ready sale in the back of the store by Saturday.  We’ve all got some stash that needs destashing.  Oh… and while you’re at the shop, be sure to check out the perfectly cute Halloween pendants on a tree branch on the front counter.  They are, as we say in Texas, cuter than shit.  Can I say that here?  And since it’s a cardinal sin to post without a photo, here’s a peek inside the shop…

 And after Saturday, you’re free to go ahead on to Warrenton.  Those are my plans anyway!  May your junk be plentiful…

I’m such a slacker.  Don’t know what’s come over me.  Actually, that’s not true.  I’ve gotten a little carried away with the soldering iron.  It’s overtaken all my free time and most of my conversations.  And today I spent all my free time hauling junk for my space in Llano!  (Well, actually that was two days ago!  I’m just now finishing this post!!)

But…let me get to the point of this blog.  The alleged stolen Ouija has resurfaced.  It was stuffed behind a bunch of stuff somewhere else in the store.  The planchette has yet to be recovered.  And since I can’t think of ANY other use for such an item, I’m left believing it’s stashed somewhere in the shop as well.  The question that will never be answered remains … did someone hide the Ouija so they could be sure it was there when they had some available Ouija cash? Or … was it stolen, only to be returned due to the baaaaadddddd curse it was sure to bring to the thief?  Guess we’ll never know.  So, indeed, this little bit of information left me no other choice but to FINALLY sit down and blog.  The soldering iron has been put to bed for the evening, just like my entire family.  And I do have pictures from the shop to share tonight.  They were taken a couple of weeks ago, however, so some of the merch has already sold.  But at least you’ll get an idea of what I’ve been finding.  I didn’t go to many estate sales over the summer.  I’d read the listings, and everything sounded too new.  The couple of sales I did force myself to attend weren’t up to par.  So I’ve been relying mostly on my secret sources — HA!  Some secret — and the flea market.  I’ve always had a theory that there’s plenty of junk to go around.  But after a summer of slim pickins’, I’m left to wonder if, in fact, the world can run out of junk.  The love of old stuff seems to maybe skip a generation, so what if we’re approaching a change in generation, huh?  Pretty morbid thought, I know, but I honestly thought about it after seeing new crap everywhere I went over the summer.  But back to those secret sources… The source I stalked forever is, like, junk goddess to the masses.  I’ve run into a number of professional junkers on my visits to her.  In addition, she’s sold to Robin Brown of Magnolia Pearl and to the owner of a local store called Me & My House.  ::pressure::  I do have one anonymous source that I can’t reveal.  She’ll give me the boot if I do.  She said so.  Our meetings remain one big happy secret.  On my part, at least.  And any success that I’ve earned so far is a credit, in part, to her good eye.

I hope these photos are eye candy for you:

spectacular metal table with glass top is still available.

This is my favorite display space.  While I’d love the cabinet to sell, I’ll miss it when it does.  It holds everything!!

Even with her missing arm, she was a keeper… just not for me.  She’s on layaway for some lucky customer!

Radio is still available, along with 1914 yearbook and boy statue.  Sadly, the pair was split.

Phone cubby only lasted a couple of days in the shop.  Loving cup is still available.

One of my favorite finds ever:  a pair of leather boxing gloves for a child, with laces!  Still available…

old urn is gone.  Book and chair are still in the shop, but have been moved from this empty space, that I kinda just filled to look like a lovely fall garden, to my own space.

I love the colors — or lack thereof — in this photo.  Everything is still at Homestead, with the exception of the spools (which I have more of at home) and the really wonderful crazed and stained ironstone platter.

Bowling balls … they’re not just for breakfast anymore…

Steampunk.  Ahhhh.  Headed to Llano soon, since they haven’t sold.  And speaking of Steampunk, Sari Jane now has her steampunk jewelry at Homestead!  I’m a proud owner of earings and a necklace made from watch parts sans rubies. 

The black book with the cross on it has sold.  It was a turn-of-the-century devotional written in a foreign language that looked a lot like Spanish.  But, according to a Spanish speaker, it was not Spanish.  So … I’m stumped.

The mirror sold a couple of days ago.  The metal piece reflected in it, which is another one of my favorite things, is still there.  It’s an old table top that would be groovy above a fireplace.  Or over a bed.  Or in the middle of a big ol’ empty wall.  Or just about any place, really, since it’s so cool. 

That’s it for now.  It’s 1:08 according to my computer clock, so I must retire.  The flea bites early in the a.m.  Hope your dreams are sweet and junky!

Halloween has arrived … well… at the shop and in portions of my house where crafting has taken root.  And every year it’s the same question from my husband:  “Why do we have a (insert Halloween item) in our (insert room of house) when it’s only (enter a date between August 1 and September 30)?  I understand his pain, but he doesn’t understand that Halloween’s in full swing in my head, and that the window of opportunity for Halloween sales will begin closing in just a couple of weeks!  Whew.  Maybe that’s what the lovely lady pictured below is thinking about.  Maybe she’s designing more Halloween charms.  Maybe she has some candle ideas.  Maybe she’s casting a spell on the person who lifted without paying a Ouija Board and a planchette!

Now, if I were to steal something, it wouldn’t be a Ouija Board.  It would be food for my starving baby.  And since I don’t have a starving baby, I really don’t see a need to steal ANYTHING.  Maybe the Ouija wasn’t stolen at all.  Maybe it disappeared itself through a portal it created to another universe.  My husband — this will be the last time he’s mentioned today, I promise — says surely a portal to another universe would be more complex than a cardboard children’s game, regardless of what my friend Karen thinks.  So … I guess I’ll go with the theory that the Ouija was lifted.  As was the planchette.  I’m not seeing good vibes for the thief.  Only bad can come from such a thing.  But … even though we’ve had a small theft, Ouija board sales now are up 300%!

My friend Sari Jane, who happens to be a vendor at Homestead with space across from one of my spaces, has caught the Halloween spirit (no pun intended), too.  Here’s one of her creations:

Technically, it’s a hat.  But in my house, it’s a table centerpiece.  Or at least it will be.  After October 1.  I have a bit of an obsession with steampunk, so I was highly attracted to the watch parts.  But I must say I dig the beaded dreads, too.  Here’s another shot of the hat:

Sari Jane’s a jewelry maker.  She makes some lovely pieces using glass, crystal and semi-precious stones.  She told me last week that she plans to start a steampunk line, so I’m tingling with excitement.  I’m determined to be her best customer, and I’ve yet to see a single piece.  That’s just how excited I am.

Here are some more Halloween goodies available at Homestead:

Candles, scary bottles, Witch art…are you shaking in your boots? 

Surely someone will see the humor in those shutters this year.

The Ouija Board that was stolen was the same model as the one above, I do believe. The mortuary vase has already sold — not to be confused with stolen.

This week I’m hoping to get more Halloween charms done.  I also need to finish a couple of tombstones and cart some Halloween stuff to my far-away space in Llano, since I’ll be starting Christmas preparations before you can say “boo!”

Here we are nearing the middle of August and I’ve yet to blog once this month.  And there’s so much to tell!  But I have so little to show.  I just can’t seem to remember to get a new battery for my camera!  A few weeks ago, I remembered to take it along on a junket, but right in the middle of a lovely visit with Stephanie of The Chicken Coop in Floresville, my battery died.  So… here’s what I can show you from that trip.  Her business card:

Just be sure to call for her hours before you hit the road.  I think she’s open Thursday through Saturday, but I’m not sure.  And I know Saturday’s a short day for her.  It’s a beautiful shop, and it’s all her very own junk.  I picked up a couple of really cute lampshades that she designed, and many, many mirrors.  Her prices are very reasonable, especially if you’re buying for yourself or for Warrenton!  Here are the very few shots of her shop:

I took the photo above AFTER I’d created an empty space where a quirky plastic mirror used to be!  Now it’s all mine…SNAP!

I really wanted the triple mirror that’s in the background of this photo, but one of its three mirrors was cracked, and it was, sadly, more than what I could pay taking that crack into consideration.  BUT  I did see another cracked mirror, just like it at my next stop… Glory B’s.  Hers wasn’t for sale.  It is rumored that Stephanie and Beverly picked up those mirrors at the same sale.  Great minds, and all… I did find an uncracked one at auction a few days later.  And it was right in my re-sale price range!  Yippeeee!

Stephanie turns lampshade bones into works of art.  I’ll snap some pics of the ones I purchased once my camera’s operable again!

Next stop was the blog-famous Glory B’s:

Just so you know… that music-lined violin case featured on the French Lique blog is no longer in the shop.  It hadn’t sold, but its owner took it back home.  Beverly always has a beautiful white shop that’s candy for the eyes and easy on the nose.  I almost feel guilty planting my sweaty self inside such a fluffy white haven.  You owe it to yourself to visit her shop. It’s more relaxing than yoga.

Beverly’s business card inspired me to seek some for myself, so … warm off the press, here’s my new card:

The past couple of months have been outstanding in my junking world.  But apparently someone thinks I’m a bit pricey.  I was met with o-v-e-r-p-r-i-c-e-d spelled out of my very own scrabble letters a couple of days ago.  Once the shock wore off, I felt a bit of pity for the poor soul who left the message.  It’s hard to know if he or she was talking specifically about my stuff or the shop in general… you can’t get very detailed when working with scrabble messages.  I think my prices are reasonable.  For example, the mirror below sold recently for $46:

Was it overpriced?  This is a business for me.  I love it, but at the end of the month I need to see a profit.  I don’t try to gouge anyone.  If I buy cheap, I’m able to sell cheaper.  The more I have to pay for something, the higher my prices will be.  That’s the way it goes.  I want my customers to be happy, but I’m not going to, as Alec Baldwin said on an SNL episode, “give my pie away.” 

But in happier news, I can report that my Ouija Board sales are up 200%.  And I just found another board hidden in my storage room!  It’ll go to the shop tomorrow afternoon.  Who knows?  Maybe I’ll get a battery for my camera pre-shop re-do and take a TON of photos tomorrow evening!  Miracles do happen…

Thanks for visiting… come back soon!

1. raindrops on roses

2. whiskers on kittens

Okay… I can’t list among my favorites “bright copper kettles”  because I’m more of a matte-finished girl — though I do prefer copper to, say, brass.

At Homestead, I’m among a group of women that share a space together called “My Favorite Things.”  Unfortunately, it really has become kind of a dumping ground for things that don’t quite fit in our own spaces.  So we’ll be getting together on Saturday to install a little “Christmas in August” corner, and the rest of the space will feature some markdowns for a couple of weeks before we undertake a major overhaul.  Just like a lot of things … it might get worse before it gets better.  When we started the booth, all of us were going to put together lists of our favorite things to rotate on a little message board.  Like the rule follower I am, I did my list.  No one else ever did.  But the message board sold quickly anyway — or maybe someone took it home after my favorites tired them out.  Whatever…  I do have MANY favorite things.  I have so many, in fact, that I can’t even remember what I included on my list.  But here’s a randomized list of things I always enjoy:

1.  Chandeliers – especially the ones with lots of old crystals.  But I do love the $40 Target special that hangs over one of my showers.

2.  Graphics –  I have old gas station numbers lining my hallway.  I have at least seven Rodney White prints.  I have a huge “K & B,” originally from a Ben Franklin store, hanging on the wall of my bedroom, which is also home to part of an old peely fabric gameboard that has the most beautiful numbers on it.  I have a big ol’ restaurant menu in my kitchen.  Letters, numbers…love them all.  And I ALWAYS have scrabble letters for sale in my space … and usually a bingo card or three.

3.  Dress forms — the shabbier the better

4.  Doll heads and other parts — I put a bunch of bisque heads in a Halloween display last year that really rocked.  The heads I have now — I think there’s only one left — are composite baby doll heads, mostly peely and from the 1920s.  They don’t really creep me out, so I decided they didn’t need to wait till Halloween to make an appearance.

5.  Empty frames  — great with a hat hung in the middle, or stacked together — especially in front of mirrors, which brings me to:

6.  Mirrors — framed, beveled, hand mirrors — I love them all.  I sell the heck out of celluloid hand mirrors in Llano.  But my hands-down favorite are the silver hand mirrors with monograms… leading me to:

7.  Monograms — on silver baby cups, old loving cups, hankies, pillow cases, suitcases…and speaking of suitcases…

8.  Suitcases — I always try to have a stack on hand.  I really like train cases, and I’ll include hat boxes in this category just because I can.  I like metal trunks with the lift-out drawers, too.  My favorite suitcases ever were a set of salesman cases.  Black.  Yummm.

9.  Rhinestones

10. Pearls — especially fake glass pearls.  Multi-strand if possible, please.

I could go on and on for days, probably.  And I’m leaving out a host of things, such as architectural pieces.  I’d love to know what you love. Do we have anything in common?  I’m betting yes.   

My eyelids are heavy, but my heart is light, as I’m hoping to find some of my favorite things on a junket tomorrow…

A few months ago… back when it wasn’t humid and hot, and a sinkhole wasn’t swallowing up the town I grew up in, my husband and I made our second visit to New York City.  It was December.  The stage was being set for the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center.  It was cold.  Before we headed home, I headed to the shops — to window shop, mind you. 

I’m thinking mid-summer might be a nice time to re-visit the spectacular holiday windows of Bergdorf’s.  So if you didn’t get a chance to gaze upon their beauty last December, now’s your chance.  Hopefully they’ll chill out your summer… if only briefly!  Merry Christmas in July!!

Feeling cooler?

As promised…more, more, more photos from Llano, Texas.  The following pictures were taken at the shop next door to Whimseys.  So … here we go again.  Starting with the business card:

Now I’ll give you a peek at her porch:

and another:

And now we’ll go inside for a look-see and our white daily white fix:

Binky’s one of the nicest people you could ever meet.  Unfortunately, she was out of town Monday.  Her displays are always spectacular.  Below is one of my favorites.  Simple, but oh so creative:

More fun with Binky’s items of eld:

This is Texas, after all.  What did you expect?!

The entire wall of one room is covered in sheet music.

This girl’s not quite as commanding as the corset-clad chick featured earlier.  And I really dig her jewelry.  It’s so dry in Texas, they’ve taken away all our outdoor faucet handles so we won’t waste any water on our lawns.  Here they’re re-purposed.  (Okay.  That’s a bit of an exaggeration. While we are in the midst of pretty tight water restrictions, rest assured our outdoor spigots remain intact.)

Feel a road trip coming on?  Llano’s also home to a wonderful jewelry shop called Create/A Rosy Outlook;  A cool clothing store called Ruby Cowgirl; a non-profit coffee house called Fuel, which frequently features live music; world-famous Cooper’s BBQ; and a handful of other antiques shops across the street from Whimseys and Binky la Faye.  It’s a short drive to Austin, Fredericksburg, Comfort and Boerne, nestled in the Texas hill country.

As I’ve mentioned, I have shop space in San Antonio, where I live, but also in a lland far, far away — 104 miles to be exact.  The shop is called Whimseys, and it’s llocated in Llano, Texas. (That’s the end of the excessive double Ls, I promise.)  I made a trip there today to pick up a cabinet for Homestead in San Antonio and drop off a few items, including some really funky chairs.  And guess what?  I TOOK MY CAMERA!  So grab a drink, sit back, and enjoy your guided tour of Whimseys.

Let’s start with the business card, designed by Avalon Mackenzie of Create and A Rosy Outlook (Llano):

The back of the card has all the info, and is just as cute, but I only scanned the front!  The shop is at 305 Bessemer.

You can’t miss it:

Let the games begin!

Wall behind the counter with bike suspended from the ceiling…it’s a fun and funky place.

For all you lovers of white, so I won’t lose you straight away:

Today was a big re-do day, so I was hard-pressed to find put-together displays.  And I can almost guarantee that most of what I did capture was rearranged later in the day! Most of the pictures are from the Queens of Funk and Junk space, though I did snap a couple in our space, including the one below:

The bottle barely visible in the picture above sold today.  I think Stephanie from Georgetown’s Gatherings may have purchased it, as I heard tale that she was making the rounds in Llano today.  (As I was in a VERY vintage state, I wasn’t meeting anyone.)

Another one of the girls in our space:

My silly little charms:

More from the Queens of Funk and Junk:

And that’s just a start… In my next post, I’ll take you next door to visit another great shop!  I can’t wait?  Can you?  I have met some really fabulous women through this blog, and I’d love to hear from all of you!  Feel free to give me a holler if you’re out there and let me know what you think!