Willow Nest : Burton,TX

We have just completed our show at Marburger Farm…. We had the very best show we have ever had in our entire 16years of doing shows.I can’t begin to express how grateful we both feel for this lovely affirmation of our work, our efforts, our passion.

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

Ludmil and I continue, in our home to edit , edit, edit….  one morning this week we “played house”. After we had finished moving this here, that there, removing this completely, returning this to inventory, .etc. etc.  I walked around with a cup of coffee in my hand and made a lovely discovery! We had opted to KEEP…. quite by accident, so many of the things that have been purchased or have been gifts from dear friends.  I want for the people and the items that we treasure and hold dear,to know how special  they are.We began the morning by asking , what do we really treasure, and what is simply filler.. here are most of the things we kept. My lovely cast iron angel,old white pitcher with a pink rim, a wee beaded chair, my three favorite books, long white benches, our deck furniture, and most of my ironstone collection, all from Mary Mac….. beautiful dried roses from Bulgaria from Ludmils daughter,a pink wire basket from our trip to Paris, all my original Wendy Addison glitter stars. My cement rooster from Marilyn, and my chalk chicken family from so long ago, something that I may never give up. My sweet baby dress, just the right color of blush, with Willow Nest Farm and the date, embroidered on the hem, from dear sweet Kaci & Luann. A small white wooden box from Julie G. and a handmade paper box from Julie V.

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

Here are a few little offerings for you to consider. Enjoy!A little angel slipper with German Dresden wings, mounted on a chipboard frame, covered with pink vintage paper, hung with a ribbon,in that special little spot. $15.00Dance into the heavens, with a pink  lace angel slipper,there are about 4 more of these and then no more!All one of a kind however.$15.00the perfect little slipper..in a sweet little box! aprox.2″ $10.00A Cinderella slipper…. just slip it on…does it fit? $15.00A gentleman’s slipper, from the Royal Court perhaps? $15.00A pretty ballgown and matching slipper.. just one, where oh where is the other? $20.00

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.

One of my favorite holidays…. Valentines. We will be showing our wares at the Urban Market in Houston…. I tried to cut and paste all the info.. but got the whole website instead… so you can go to Carolyn Westbrook’s site, she has info and will be there as well, and Peg and Jon from French Vanilla, and Bryan and Mel from Seed Box, Hector and Susie… the most famous junkers around, Judith McClellen, with all her antiques linens, and new shipment from France. We were guest vendors at her unloading sale,this past week, and you simply do not want to miss out on the next time hosts one . The things are amazing that she and her son find in Europe, they have been going for over 25 years so they have a network of people over there that help with the shipping, and getting from one faire to another… it is quite impressive how this all comes together, and an amazing amount of work, in the cold and mud, and dirt.. very committed dealers these two, you do not do all this unless you love the business….we are all just a wee bit crazy in this field you know….some of us are just downright insane.. when Judith told me she had to sleep in the truck the night before the container was to be loaded I felt so bad for her, it was freezing cold outside…. but she did it! Anyway… I got distracted, I just admire all my friends and fellow vendors who work so hard to bring our loyal customers the things they desire… I for instance have one sweet very pretty girl who comes to me first at Urban Market, she has the sweetest baby, her Mom told me she calls me “her lady” lets go to my lady first she says…  we are blessed to have many who come to see the sweet little things that Ludmil and I have either made or collected just for this show..

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