At 65, some big changes are taking place, for many months now we have been discussing how we wish to move forward into the next 10 or so years. We moved to Texas 3 years ago to open a store in Fredricksburg, TX. we spent 6months living there ,made the decision that a store there was not for us. We discovered Burton,I fell head over heels in love with this little village and we moved here..doing shows in Round Top ,only 8 miles away. We also have our Houston and Austin shows, a short drive away, and then there is the other travel to Kansas City, Tulsa ,Oklahoma , Atlanta, the West Coast, Ohio…. the list gets bigger each year… miles and miles of road traveled, days and days away from home, it has been an adventure,  a great adventure, with  rain, mud, wind, hail, and oh YES remember the little tornado up in Canton,..  we have for many months been discussing  just how long we want to stay on this trail AND, we have decided it is time to tie up the horse and go back to our original plan of  opening  our store…  again we  took to the road ,looking for the perfect place ,after many considerations, have picked McKinney, TX. to be our new stomping grounds. We have listed , this wonderful little house  for sale.We have looked at a couple spots for a store on the square in the Historic neighborhood of McKinney ,there are a couple considerations,so we are off to a brisk start.  We are very excited, our wonderful Realtor Pat has a few people asking about this house already,things are moving fast as these things always do once you set them in motion. Our dear friends from Patina Green, are welcoming us with open arms, and that has meant so much. To know that we will simply support and enhance one another is such a comfort, I wouldn’t expect anything but that kind of welcome from them and if you are lucky enough to know them you know this is true, finer people you will not meet.. which takes me full circle on this post…. all the people we have shared this news with have only offered complete encouragement and support .I have many more  love letters to write, for I love that people believe in us and support our decisions.

For Ludmil to have the time to devote to his craft,and his creations is going to be such a  welcome situation, you won’t believe what he has planed.  This need to have more time has been a driving force in this decision. We will have a wonderful place to show case his things for all to see many days out of each month, rather than a couple days out of each month…

NOW for all who think this decision was made because I am turning 65…. oh no, I don’t think so…… you are only as old as you feel, and my heart and soul tell me I still have a lot of life to live, a lot of love to give… and glitter to spread far and wide… I can’t wait to get this show on the road…. long  post I know, thanks for going to the bottom of the page…… and thanks for all the love you send our way, we are blessed. Love Linda..Ludmil too!

Ludmil has created a great Arbor that is self supported, it could be placed anywhere, or even moved if need be,and we have two large white, lovely urns flanking the arbor, a French iron based table with a marble top, a 7ft. white farm table, a very rustic garden table, with a cement top, a lovely maiden statue, and two cement small columns..  a French styled buffet, lovely…. one industrial table, it is tall and long,a beautiful collection of religious saints , some with their original domes.. a  group of  hard to find saints….you simply must come out and see what I am talking about.. also so many other great vendors do this show with us, it is one of our favorite, as we get to see everybody..all together…. set-up is fun because we are all buzzing around saying hell-o.I know some of our blogger friends will take photos so you can see how this all looks, but really it’s best if you just come and see for yourself.

Almost immediately, we leave for Kansas City where we will be joining the Bottoms UP Show, we have never done this show, but sweet Gwen from Marburger and her sister Terri, who gave me a beautiful scarf that I admired from Paris… are hosts, and we can’t wait as this is a real “show off show” where we will have lots of room and can spread out. There will be live music on Fri. nite .This is a very lively area of K.C. off 12th st, by the bridges.

We need to rush right back to prepare for our little Summer Soiree… here in Burton,TX. at Willow Nest….on July 10th..  701 Main St. 77835

Mel and Bryan will be right behind us , as they are joining us, Theresa and Cruz… Camille and Scottie, and Allison and Rick, who you know from La Bahia… and here I thought we were going to have a quiet little summer.. NOT!!! come see us at one of these fun events, at least ,and say Hell-o.. or come to all of them…. !!!

Must go get the final little things ready to tuck in. Love Linda

We are so honored to have been chosen for the cover of Porch Magazine,  now available from Count Your Blessing. I had the pleasure of being asked to join Polly’s group of sellers on line but am a dismal failure for her.I don’t know how to get it all where it needs to go or in the correct format.She even provided a BUTTON…to show you how to order,  to download, or attach or scan or  ….(mind you I am using all my computer language here) but my attempt at getting her button did not work for me, so go to her website and take a peek, you will be glad you did, it is lovely.BUT just this morning, I did learn somehow to capture a photo that was taken in our booth in Hico, I call it , CABBAGES & ROSES…. so I am using it instead , will look for BUTTON..later, sorry Polly and thank-you again for sticking by me.Go to Polly’s site and order the magazine, it is lovely, a lot of people you know and love are on the pages.

I do have just one other giant triumph to report, I posted a note about our upcoming Summer Soiree  on July 10Th , here in Burton.  I knew I had to come up with a postcard to send a.s.a.p ,as the time would fast be approaching… My dear friend Gloria said she used a program on line, so I goggled “invitations” and after 2 hrs….. imagine this.. I DID IT.! Back and front… colors, choose fonts ALL by myself.. now I know for most of you this must seem simply absurd , for me it is a BIG DEAL…. I am so full of myself at this very moment.. Miss Theresa Cano, the champ of all blogging issues , happened to call,  I was so glad as I had wished to tempt her into joining us for the Summer Soiree..guess what,  she has agreed!  Camile and Scottie also are joining us and one more waiting to be confirmed.. stay in touch ,you won’t want to miss out..  it should be a grand time for all… anyway I simply could not wait to shout out about my improved  computer skills today..  now the next trick will be to master cut and paste, and grabbing those buttons….I love little tiny successes it makes me smile all day….. sometimes it dosen’t take much does it?

Love Linda

Hell-o dear friends,

We have had a lovely end of May spree with family and dear friends, and now it is time to get busy getting ready for our upcoming shows..

You can find us this SAT. in Athens, TX. with all our buddies from Winnie and Tulula’s and the Sweet Pea collection.. we have been invited to share in their first year birthday party.. and since I have never had a “FROZEN RITA” I had to r.s.v.p…. and I swoon over mini cupcakes, so it was a must. We will be bringing a collection of Romantic whites, with soft blue accents and several of my little creations… I am in my romantic mood for June, we are looking soft, dreamy, cool and fresh for a summer day. Please join the whole group in wishing them all continued success. It starts at 10a.m. till 5…. but I think the Rita’s will be ready WAY ahead of 5p.m… can’t wait.

Our next little event takes us to Oklahoma, Tulsa , as a matter of fact..  here is their website so you can get the details…  www.VintageTulsaShow.com…the show begins on June 19/20, if you are in the area come see us, we would love to meet the people who follow us in that part of the country.

We come home just in time to set up here in Round Top,TX. for the Big Red Barn summer show, the 26/27 of June… we always see so many people at this show, it’s like old home week, that is probably because it is right here  in our back yard. I still have the B available for rent if someone is looking for a place to stay.. just leave me a comment and I will get back to you.

We have one more  wee surprise, which I will detail later.. but on July 10th, here in Burton, at our store we will be hosting a little soiree of our own, with guests Melony and Brian from Seed Box, and a couple other vendors you all know and love.. stay tuned, but mark your calender now for July 10, as this will be a very special  gathering.. hope you are enjoying these first lazy days of summer, I know I am. Love Linda

As I have awakened these last few mornings, my thoughts have been on a reoccurring theme. Let’s see if I can share it with others out there and perhaps you have your own thoughts on the subject.

When someone says to you” you have you very own distinctive style” what is it exactly, that they are saying?

When you yourself are very clear about what you like , when you repeat patterns of design and placement, are you stuck in a rut, or simply well defined? I know for instance that I am rather alone in my preference for things to be placed head-on, as in a grocery store.I rarely angle anything in my designs, and yet I know that most people do. I like balance, and symmetry, and many layers, I even dress this way. I use one color, with many variations of that color. I am not comfortable with the colors all mixed up together. When I see it that way in a magazine, I love it, I go to try it with my things , because I do have, pinks,blues,some lavanders,&greens to work with…I go play in my shop, and within a few hours, I take it all apart and go back to what I like best, tone on tone all staying in their places. So the question is, am I stuck? Am I stale? Am I closed to  new ideas… or am I simply being true to my own design style? Ludmil and I are always reviewing what we are doing, how we do it, what we buy, what people are buying, what they want, we also talk  about who and what we are, and what we are not. The interest in Industrial, for instance is one we have examined carefully, we have bought it in small doses.. as it is not what pulls at our heart strings, for us the old, soft painted pieces, with a soft edge, and a romantic touch will always win over most anything else. We do wish to stay fresh, for the booth to have energy, and be alive,but we do not need to reinvent the wheel. It is a fine line don’t you think?

Come to Hico,Texas this week and tell me what you think, we will be showing at the Homestead Antique Fair, on May 7th&8th… this is a sweet boutique show, with all handpicked vendors.. you won’t be disappointed.

We have a splash of chartreuse , all by it’s self, and another splash of robin’s egg blue…. along with our whites, creams, taupe,a little silver,galvanized, and rust, a great old worktable and wonderful French day bed…. we have the luxury of staging our space in our shop before we pack it and I must say I am very pleased with how it looks.. again I invite you to come see for yourself, come see us and the many other fine vendors at this show. The town is an old Texas town, that has a special charm, and the Homestead store is dreamy. A beautiful way to spend a spring day in Texas. Love Linda

We always sit down after a show to review what was good,  where we need change, what were the messages from the people who came through the booth, over and over we hear,” this is so inviting, so warm and comfortable, I love being in this space, your things are so special.” ” It’s magical here in this booth, I want to live here.” We listen, we hear you and we appreciate you, our wish is to make each visit to our little world a delight. As many of you who have visited us, and purchased from us, know,we do not have the kinds of wonderful, pure, real antiques that have great value, we have the little pieces of ribbon, some lace,  little doll shoe’s , a baby dress that is a bit worn and tattered, a collage made up of some sweet tiny fragments, of this and that, nothing that any one is purchasing for investment, or even to broaden a collection…. simply things that pull at your heart strings, and speak to your soul. It is fun to find these things, and it is fun for us to send them to new homes. A millinery flower attached to a hat on the spot and cherished in the moment. We exchange many hugs with people, even a few tears at times, a story told, that evokes tears…. not to worry, this is a good thing, when people can be real,  feel real emotion, this is the best compliment.

Ludmil also has such a following of his own…. all the birdhouses sold, with requests for more… his garden stakes are always a big hit, my favorite this year were three little rabbit hutches he created out of tin and wood with his signature details..He so deserves all the praise, as he has worked for the last month, 12 hour days to prepare… he always tells me when I express concern that” I love what I am doing , I do not feel tired, stop fretting”

After being here now for two full seasons we are beginning to see some people over and over and that is what building a business is all about, we are also building friendships.. we are happy!

The picture is of some laundry hanging from my line….. there is nothing I like better than line dried sheets, and pillow cases at the end of the day… it is beautiful  in Texas now, with all the wild flowers, our doves are cooing and the birds around us are  chirping all day now, I cut my first bouquet of Sweet Peas this a.m. as life returns to normal ,after Marburger. ….soon we will visit our  precious grandchildren. We will be on the hunt for more of those precious little items you all so enjoy……hope to  see you soon , somewhere in this beautiful world. I hope your world is as lovely as mine for this welcome spring of 2010. Love Linda

We especially enjoy all the French linen sheets, and big down pillows, and a  pink ticking, from Coco, and our friends Dani and Eric.. and all my wonderful old linen hand towels that I use each day, laundering them over and over , hanging them on the line for the breeze to dry… I  love those linens. We have a small little frame, inside is a tiny bloosom of snowdrops, that Ludmils Mom sent years ago to anounce spring.. I found them hidden away in his drawer, and pulled it out and said these need to be out so we can celebrate your Mom and your old home and country…. they exchanged these snowdrops in the mail when we lived in the N.W. where we could grow them… Ludmil had framed them in an old fadded pink frame, how perfect is that? One other really special piece we have is an oil painting Ludmils Dad had brought back from the war, it was offered to me years ago when we visited Bulgaria, and I could not accept, it was somthing they too treasured…. but last year when Ludmil returned from Bulgaria it returned with him… and now this simple girl sitting, playing her violin rests here for the time being, it to be passed on to his daughter Sophi …….

My list would not be complete without mentioning all the things… well not all.. that would be pages.. but the things Ludmil has made for our home.. I have mentioned the bed,  but the big tall cast iron framed mirror is another item I love and the cabinet that houses my Pink Luster pieces… and the big candlesticks that are created from old balastrades.. are the three items I am especially enjoying at the moment..

The whole idea of this post was to share with people who know us, and our friends who have made our home the haven that it is , how much we think of you and how often , as you surround us, you are with us every day…even though we are unable to see you sometimes for months at a time… I do not miss any of the things we took away, and it delighted me to discover that now almost every piece we have kept has special meaning… don’t you just love a little ah ha moment coming your way ever so often?

Now to the serious news of where you can find us… we will be in Dripping Springs..starts on Wednesday, March 10th from 4:00 to 9:00 pm.  The show is also on Thur. from 9till 4.I hope you are making plans to come out and see the  vendors and enjoy an afternoon of shopping The preview evening includes  enjoying not only shopping but also wine and treats under the stars.You can see all the details on Garden Antiques Blog, and Bloom&Bee Swanky…  following that show on Thur. we will set up at Austin City Wide, for the weekend.. so fun ,busy times… and THEN  …. Marburger , we are in Tent A, right next to Judy Hill and across from Magnolia Pearl, please come see us.. we have some terrific things…  and now I am going to go have a cup of coffee, and think of my pretties and all my dear friends…. Love Linda

These have been made with love ,if you wish one for yourself…. just leave a comment or send me an e-mail and I will make arrangements  to send them  your way…. these are all no bigger than a 6×8 size some even smaller… next time I will put a penny beside the pieces so you get a good idea of size.. this was my first attempt at more than one photo, and I could not have done it without my sweet friend Heidi, from the HeidiClaire blogspot… what a treasure she is.. I swear it takes a village to raise me! It was fun and I am learning little by little.. bear with me please I promise to get better.. Love Linda…. who is forecasting that spring is on the way, I can feel it in my bones….I am warming up, and the feeling springtime  energy returning after this cold winter.

Now I must sneak in another little announcement… we have been asked to join with Brandi at her ranch in Dripping Springs for a show that will held on March 10 and 11Th… the 10Th will be a preview evening…. and then all day  on the 11th…. I will do another post with details as soon as I get them.. BUT you must mark your calender as Steve Wyman, from Uncommon Objects is also showing and Linda Parker, to name just two that I know of so far… and I think Peg and Jon from French Vanilla….we will all head right after that to the Citywide Garage sale in Austin… with a whole new load of good stuff I promise…. we have things set aside for that show already… so spring promises to be a very busy time and I will do my best to keep you posted. You know Theresa at GardenAntiques always has the latest scoop…with all the details on her blog side bar, what a sweetheart she is to do this for all of us, especially me who still is struggling with the simple task of cut and paste…and split screen… what I am not having trouble with is finding great things, and creating sweet little parcels for you to enjoy and take home with you… come see us at Urban Market and let me give you a Valentine kiss….. Love Linda