Willow Nest : Burton,TX

We just got back from our show in  Tulsa,OK., unloaded the van, pulled new merchandise from the store and began to reload,for the Red Barn.Some people ask,” why don’t you just leave the van loaded and add to it”? but noooooooooooooo that would never do ( some people, is ME…) we always start off with a fresh new look, a change in  the pallet , and this time even a mood change. I was doing a romantic look for Tulsa, also  for our show at Sweet Peas Birthday celebration, but for this show we will be far more tailored than usual.Ludmil is an amazing packer and he likes to take it all out and begin again, so since this is his department, this is how we do it, and I must say I am always glad, although I like to make it a little easier on him when I can, but this method has worked well for us for a long time, so no changes need to be made in that department.

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

Hard as I try I can not seem to do all that I wish to make what I want to happen on this #$%@*** computer of mine!

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

Christie here! Oh it’s been so long since I’d been out to see sweet Linda and Ludmil! Every time I go and visit them, it’s so refreshing. The simplicity of their home in Burton paired with their welcoming arms makes me want to move right in! While it’s not in my future to do so, I do enjoy the visits and want to make more every time I come away from there.

This trip was a bit social and a bit business (for my business!), but I always take my camera with me to capture a few of their lovely things. See the photographs below for a few of their latest offerings!

Large Boxes: $35

Small Boxes : $25

Large Boxes: $35

Small Boxes : $25

Collage : $20

Bridal Cone : $25

These lovely embellished bottles are $20 each.

And my little helper came along with me. Linda dressed her in these beautiful pieces and Juliana couldn’t have been happier!

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