Day in the Heights

I got a text from Susanne last week asking if I would be interesting in hitting a few of the antique shops on 34th Street in the Heights.  Still in our workout dudes our first stop was Janet Wiebe Antiques.  The day was really chilly and Janet's warehouse shop was not heated.  Not to worry.  We worked ourselves into a shopping frenzy that we soon forgot all about our numb toes.  After all, we were in our workout clothes.

Here a few pictures of all the wonderful pieces and accessories.

I took a picture of this lovely chandelier and later found out from Janet Wiebe that Susanne's decorator

had purchased it.

Don't you just love all the ironstone!  I purchased some soup bowls.

Wonderful restaurant ware (Susanne purchased some great pieces)

I have always wanted one of these...although I'm looking for a size 6 for inspiration!

These doors!

I had to pull Susanne away from this wonderful Swedish clock.

As we were leaving I had to take a picture of this wonderful grouping.  Makes the

mind swoon!

Tomorrow I'll post the rest of our journey down the 34th Street warehouse walkway - Judith McClelland and Denny Register.  

Big Red Barn Winter Antique Show

My friend, Susanne Maida, called me last Thursday and asked if I was up for a Saturday day trip to Round Top, Texas for the Winter Antique Show held at the Big Red Barn.  She knows my weakness.  We met at her house with Starbucks in hand, cash in the wallet and dreams of some great deals!  I think my car has a mind of its own...she knows the way to Round Top without any help from me.

Once there we charged through the doors of the Big Red Barn and kept our noses to the ground for that perfect deal.  Our first stop was Fun Dustrial owned by Susan Skinner and Hector the Collector.  They have two locations being the Tin Star Field in Warrenton, Texas and the other at the Texas Rose in Round Top, Tx (across from Marburger).  Susanne has an amazing eye and I followed her around for the first 20 minutes until I got my antiquing mojo going.

Fun Dustrial's booth - there are some empty spots because 

Susanne and I bought a few things

Another picture of Fun Dustrial.  Susan Skinner did a great job of

displaying all her goodies

Look at these wonderful industrial size mixing bowls.  I love

how Susan turned them into beverage containers.

I wish that I taken more pictures of our favorite booths but I got caught up in the frenzy and lost my blogging focus.  Although, I did make some great purchases.  Susanne made some even better ones.  Next trip I will focus on taking pictures of booths and our finds...I promise!

Next stop:  Urban Market 

Gaido's - A Galveston Tradition

My son, Matt, and "brand new" daughter-in-law, Lucy, are flying back to Houston from their honeymoon in Key West, Florida.  The couple were married in Galveston on January 1, 2011 on the beach and it was an amazingly beautiful day.  The rehearsal dinner was held at Gaido's, a Galveston tradition. 

 I remember my first road trip to Galveston with a group of my girlfriends when I was only 25-years old (where did the years go?).  One of my girlfriends was getting married so we decided a girl's weekend in Galveston was the perfect venue.  Ten of us stayed at my roommate's parent's beach house in Pirate's Beach.  Our first stop after a day at the island's first water park on Seawall Boulevard and a quick shower was Gaido's.  I remember ordering the fried seafood platter back then.  It was wonderful!   Consequently, I put in my request for my son and his finance's rehearsal dinner menu - the fried seafood platter!  (A girl can go off her diet when her son gets married...right?)  Of course, everyone at the bride and groom table ordered the mahi mahi while I was the only one that order the fried seafood.  I had no shame!

I know Matt and Lucy will always return to the island and as they drive past Gaido's they will have wonderful memories.  Not a word will be exchanged as Matt turns the car around and pulls into Gaido's parking lot.  I am sure they will order the fried seafood platter.  

A Galveston tradition lives on.

 Matt & Lucy - love you two!

New Year...New Look

I am new to this world of design blogging.  I have found it comfortable to be a spectator and absorb all the wonderful ideas.  As a result, here is my living room which was inspired by Cote de Texas.  Actually, I decorated my entire house in French, French and more French (with a Texas twist).  Thank you Joni for all your inspiration!

Living room decorated for Christmas.  I painted the artwork over the mantle and designed

the lamps.  Most of the furnishings etc. were collected on antique trips to

Marburger Farms, Warrenton, Urban Market and Memorial

Antiques and Interiors.