TEXAS ROAD-TRIPIN'

Hey, Y'all!! If you've been reading this blog for any time at all you know how much I enjoy road-trippin'. It is pure bliss to let the blacktops take me away from my everyday surroundings to the Texas countryside. 
With Spring Antiques Week literally around the corner, I thought I'd share one of my favorite stops on the way to Warrenton, Round Top and all the other fabulous Antiques Markets located along Farm to Market 237.  Smithville, TX is one of my favorite destinations. This sweet town nestled along the Colorado River, is west of La Grange and east of Bastrop off Highway 71. 

You'd probably be shocked if I actually admitted how many times I hop in my SUV and it magically heads south to Highway 71 and ends up on Smithville's Main Street.

From its incredible historic district to a plethora of antique shops, it is has a distinct personality and Texas spirit.

Years ago, this small town was made famous in the movie, Hope Floats, which was filmed there. 

Beneath hundred-year-old live oaks the romance of the place carries on and you can almost believe Birdee and Justin are still living there happily ever after. It's a quiet type of place where folks are friendly and still "sit a spell" on their front porches. 

Fragrant wisteria blooms wind around rustic outbuildings. Historic churches retain their original

 

architecture and splendor. And the when the 

bluebonnets begin blooming...they will fill the roadsides and fields with their simple beauty.

Here's some of the treasures I recently found there. 

Hope you're finding lots of wonderful treasures and getting ready for a full spring JUNKIN' schedule. 

Until next time,

Peace, love, and all 

the good stuff, y'all!

INSPIRATION AT THE URBAN MARKET

Hey, Y'all! If you've got a teeny bit of the winter blues--take heart (it is Valentine's Week after all!) Spring isn't that far away. Around here in south central Texas, tree leaves are unfurling, daffodils are blooming, and I wake up to the most celebratory song birds each morning, so Spring really must be in the air. 

Another harbinger of the upcoming season is the Spring line-up of FABULOUS Antique and Vintage Market shows!! This past weekend, The Urban Market Houston Antique Show gave many of us spring junkin' fever with wonderful vendors, great antique and vintage pieces, and loads of inspiration. 

My first stop at The Urban Market was to Garden Antqs Vintage. Sweet T had her usual wonderful fresh farmhouse style going full tilt! 

 Garden Antqs Vintage with sweet Robin egg
blue, lace  and paper whites at The Urban Market Houston.

A vintage telephone mixes well with books and frames at 

Garden Antqs Vintage at The Urban Market Houston.

Also from Garden Antqs Vintage, faded pink ballerina

 slippers balance just right with chippy white. 

Love this mix of suitcases and dishes from 

Garden Antqs Vintage at  The Urban Market Houston.

 More farmhouse freshness could be found at The Seed Box Antiques. Hailing from Missouri and "Dealing in useful Junque," I found plenty of gorgeous ideas in their Urban Market Houston booth. 

Rusty chain and an urn full of lavender work 

will together in The Seed Box Antiques' booth.

Such a pretty vignette! Love the wonderful linen

 bags they make and lavender is always a welcome addition.

  I also saw lots of great pieces at Fun Dustrial's booth at The Urban Market. 

 Fun Dustrial's vignette really celebrates Spring! 

Fun Dustrial also had this inviting vignette. 

Isn't this red retro glider fabulous? Also,

love the fresh flowers in the vintage thermos'. 

Flown the Coop had a bountiful abundance of playful industrial pieces, including this great sign and kitchen island made from old lockers.

 More cottage and farmhouse finds were at JHill Designs' booth. Lots of galvanized pots, buckets, and cans mixed with 

fresh flowers and wonderful shabby porch furniture. Doesn't this double rocker just beg for  a good friend and a long visit?

 
 Inside their booth more antique garden loveliness awaited...

 This flower fairy just makes me happy! 

Even a little rain couldn't dampen the smiles and beauty of all the beautiful garden vignettes at The Urban Market Houston Antique Show. 

And even better...JUNKIN' SHOW SEASON HAS OFFICIALLY BEGUN!! 

Until next time, 

Peace, Love, and all 

the Good Stuff, y'all!!

CREATIVE CHAOS

"The world is but a canvas to the imagination." Henry David Thoreau

 Hey, Y'all! Where do you create? Do you have a special place in your home that's just your space to plan, dream, and play? I've had several over the years--from reclaimed closets to dining room niches to a dedicated office/studio space--the where is never as important as just having SOMEWHERE to keep all my treasures corralled. 

Since I dabble in so many different mediums, shelves, jars, and boxes are mandatory. 

Packing up my creative treasures was one of the most difficult parts of our recent move. 

(You just never know when you may really 

NEED GLITTER!) 

However, unpacking my stuff has been like weeks of Christmas--not knowing which box holds what treasure. Each time I open one it makes me smile and say, "Oh, yeah! I missed that!" Then came the slight issue with WHERE to put all my little things?

My biggest challenge was needing lots and lots of shelves. Fortunately, being the JUNKER, I am, I found this shelf for under $30 (!) at an estate sale just after we moved to our new house. 

A coat of white paint transformed it to a lovely spot for lots of tiny bits, fun pieces, tons of magazines, gotta-have books, and sparkly stuff. 

One of my other favorite organizers is this awesome vintage pink rose (1940s?) shoe organizer. It now holds all kinds of letters and pictures next to my desk. 

Above my desk are a few of my favorite sayings and the fabulous Dreaming of Junking Calendar from Vintage Rescue Squad. 

Another of my favorite organizers is this beautiful little drawer box covered in the sweetest vintage floral wallpaper. I found it at Girls Gone Junkin's booth at First Monday Trade Days in Canton, TX. I should mention that's an important component of all my collected treasures--connections to other like-minded folks and passionate gypsies!

I'm the first to admit my creative space is not a tidy, minimalist place. It probably won't ever be featured in a magazine. 

However, it is a place where I enjoy making new Good Ju-Ju jewelry pieces, 

crafting Junkin' Journals,

 or working on my Flea Market Mystery series. 

Layers of sparkly, rusty, floral, and pretty are my creative playground motivating me to try new projects, keep the muses smiling, and fill my heart with JOY. 

Until next time,

Peace, love, and all 

the Good Stuff to y'all!