Willow Nest : Burton,TX

This photo is Ludmil’s beautiful aviary, we now have 7 doves, they wake us each morning with their song. I thought many would enjoy seeing this work of art.

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 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

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This fabulous, whimsical little compound in the heart of Burton, Texas is the creation of the legendary owners of Willow Nest Farm, Linda and Ludmil Marcov.  Located in one of the epicenters of the antique and collector world, this is the perfect property for someone looking for country living and working at it’s finest.  The 868 sq. ft. guest house would be perfect for a B & B and comes complete with furnishings and antique linens  .Also on the large corner lot is 680 sq. ft. shop, a 828 sq. ft. store and a darling  240 sq.. ft. potting shed complete with an heirloom garden and custom fencing and garden entry.  The possibilities for this property are truly endless, there is even room for expansion of the house or store or to add a B & B.  Offered at $225,000, this is a steal and won’t be on the market long.  For information contact:

Pat Boothe
Coldwell Banker Heart of the Hills
210-213-3441
boothe_pat@yahoo.com

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.