inspiration from the fields

Inspiration.
I find it in the fields.
I find it in the people.
I find it in life.
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What I find in the fields, will always stay in the fields.
If I could breath it in or hold it in my hands, I would bottle it up, take it home and place it on my shelf. Then, whenever I needed it I would just reach up and pull it down, using a little here and there. But, that is not possible.
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I find way more inspiration than I am able to process at the festival in Warrenton, but this time I believe I found so much more, that my cup has been overrunning ever since.
I've been wanting to share it with you, which leads me here today.
Here is where I will begin, right here in this post, by sharing some of the people, places and things that have inspired me this past year, and even before then!
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The funny thing is that I never get to Round Top anymore. We all know THAT is where the festival began some 40+ years ago. But, the venues that have sprung up in the surrounding area, have captivated me and kept me reigned in for some time....years in fact.
Maybe one day I'll make it back, but in the meantime Warrenton and Marburger, and everywhere in between, is where I will be.
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So, before I leave Warrenton, heading down the road a piece to Marburger Farm, I have to share Garden Antqs Vintage, and show a few pictures of Theresa's booth.
She's an antique dealer who has a shop just north of Houston, in Huntsville, Texas. She seems to be one busy lady. She shared MANY photos & bits of information from the show, so you might want to start here, and then go on to see what inspired her at the festival!

This is part of her booth. Her shabby chic goods always, always catches my eye. Melanie & I have taken pictures together in this booth, in previous years; but it was this time we actually stopped and talked with Theresa. I am so glad I did, because now I know her, and will love getting to know her more, and get involved with her Blog Party at Zapp Hall! Look who was there....talk about inspiration!

Melanie, me and Theresa

I can't begin to tell you how fabulous the weather was this Spring. It made all the difference in the world, as the Texas heat & humidity didn't affect me at all and it usually does.
Yes, I have lived here ALL my life, and it can be brutally hot and humid.
But not this time! What a blessing~

Each year we make it a point to stop by Hope & Glory. Little did I know I would be meeting Kathleen at Adorn Me! And, have her in two of my classes!
Her shop's actually located in Katy behind her house, which is less than a quarter of a mile from mine. She is a master with a rivet gun.
And, her goodies are pure and simple inspiration.

Lookie, she is wearing the necklace she made in the Rhinestone Dreams class!
What beautiful work, Kathleen. Isn't her smile infectious?

One last shot.
Yes, the mirror shot. Once again taken in Sweet Peas.
This booth rocks my soul.
This is where I bought the German glass glitter.
One day I hope to take home some of their luscious bedding.

Isn't this bed gorgeous? Just sitting under a pavilion, out in the middle of a cow pasture?
What do I call this? I call it inspiration.

finding my way

One step will always lead to another.
You don't realize it till you are there, and then you look back over your shoulder only to notice the path on which you've traveled.

Almost two years to the date, I scanned some of my family cabinet cards, this one being one of my favorites. Yes, the sisters.
I loved everything about this picture, from the freshly ironed cotton dresses they were wearing, to the ribbons in their hair, to the tiny necklaces around their necks. Not to mention their dark stockings and black shoes.
But it was the way they were holding hands that really captured my heart.
I don't remember when it happened, earlier last year, I decided to crop a portion of it.
It was their hands I focused on....holding softly together.
Now I could see the embroidery on the front of one's dress, and the delicate piping around their sleeves and waistband. I adore the crisp pleats and simple tucks. I began using the picture on my return address labels.

Then, I used it last Christmas on the Christmas cards I sent to my art friends.
Next I used it on the front of my class handouts.

It states the way I feel, and the way I strive to teach.
I am convinced that I learn as much from the students in my class, as they do from me.

Fast forward to almost a month ago, while following another blog,
I found my way.
No, not that way....I found it over 20 years ago, praise God!
But, I did find Susie.
I first fell in love with the baby on the header of her Etsy shop. Then, I found out she does custom blog makeovers.
But, she also does beautiful design work.
She helped develop my logo (which I have had made into a beautiful banner~the sign people in town were very impressed), hang tags, and several postcards.
She designed my blog button =)
And, she is a dream to work with.
I would love for you to meet Susie Hibdon, of vintagesusie & wings.
Her design blog is VCB.
One more note of interest about Susie is that she is having a Hundred Friends Give Away,
so you better go see her, as it ends on April 25th.
I will leave you with a quote from her blog, and

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
"For what it's worth, it's never too late, or in my case, ever too early to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again."
I could not have said it better.

the hardest decision of the day was....

....where do I begin?

Where do I start?
In the fields at Warrenton, or the venue I had been aching to go to since the Fall show~Marburger Farm?

My mind raced, and then it landed.
Warrenton it is. Decision made.
Begin in Warrenton at Sandy Schor & Co., so I could pour through the boxes of vintage brass, rhinestones, buttons, chains, tassels and vintage montees to my heart's desire.My daughter would be arriving later that morning, so she wouldn't have to suffer thru the hours I would spend in that little house digging, pawing, looking and sifting.

It truly IS a hard job for me to find just the right pieces to stuff into my camo back pack (thanks dd) to come home with me.
I did find one of the most beautiful vintage rhinestone & baroque pearl necklace in one of Sandy's display boxes out front. And, a most beautiful and perfect vintage rhinestone dress clip I had ever laid my eyes upon.
Heaps of vintage clip bracelets dating from the 1940s were in a corner waiting for me to pick thru.
In the back room I found these rare vintage rose montees in lucious robin's egg blue, buttery yellow and sparkly crystal.
I brought home a small bag of vintage brass findings.
This was so HARD!
Sandy had three huge boxes of rhinestone bits & pieces by the front door.
Looking thru these..... like digging for buried treasure!
About 2-1/2 hours later my daughter walked in and thankfully gave me that look. We made our way 'outta there back to her car to drop my loot. Several years ago we found a great place to park, which is located right smack in the middle of where we like to shop in Warrenton, making it convenient to go back and forth....dropping off our stash. Whew!! Now it was time to visit with Jill Suzanne and see what all she had packed into her gorgeous booth.
I just love Jill and her husband. She is a beautiful person both inside and out. We make it a point to visit her first thing, as we always find something in her booth. And, she has the most delicious grungy things!

Next...onto Sweet Peas from Athens, Texas.
I can't say enough about what's inside this booth. Beautiful gorgeous bedding and home decor. I loved how her sheers blew in the soft breeze that day!

I scooped up some German glass glitter and a hand full of cool brooches.

Melanie and I had such a fabulous day together. It was perfect. Check out my slide show from Day One below.
You will likey =)

in the fields of warrenton spring 2010

winner of the crystal princess drop

The bluebonnets are blooming in Texas! There are blankets of them everywhere. The state is covered.
The antique festival in Warrenton and Round Top was fabulous. The best I have ever attended. No joke. That's saying a lot, as I have lost count of the times I have gone.

I have so much to share with you, but actually only have time to give you a sneak peek of two vintage jewelry boxes (before I get to bed =), bought from two cute ladies from Kansas City. This was their first festival, and they were not disappointed in the crowds. I thought I would use one of them as the drawing box of the crystal princess drop giveaway!

I am loving the fleur de leis patterned satin, which is actually inside both of them.

The winner is Daryl!
Please contact me, so I know which of the drops you would like to receive!

Thanks so much to you who played along, either by leaving a comment, subscribing to my feedblitz, and/or purchasing my tutorial.
I so appreciate each of you!