Finally I Can Tell You About Round Top Antique Festival!

Do you see this group???? It’s all the CRAZY IN TEXAS GALS (Except sweet Karen who was back at the hotel not feeling well/next morning got to take a trip the ER). I did a post earlier to tell who was who but, let me re-introduce this group of amazing friends/artist. Everyone but, Rita has a blog so if you click on the gals name you will link with her blog. SOME GREAT FRIENDS ARE WAITING TO MEET YOU! Front row (l to r) is Rita (& Karen is going to do a blog for her because this is one talented lady), Cindy Craine, Riki Shumacher, Diane Cook. And back row (l to r) Sandy Navarro, Me, Susie Hebdon, Karen Valentine & Joy Campbell. We came from near & far all to meet in a tiny town of 77 people. Well, 77 when there aren’t thousands (no exaggeration there) visiting!

Smack dab in central Texas between Austin & Houston. The fields were in bloom with bluebonnets everywhere & the Texas Longhorns let the girls stop & take pictures but, I doubt they knew what they were saying to them while there were out there snapping photos.

We started the party out with The Blog Party at Theresa’s booth on Sunday night. (Karen V, Susie, Joy, Karen & I all shopped Friday afternoon & Saturday prior to the party. And I picked Sandy up at the airport in Houston Saturday night so she could join us. Riki came in Sunday with Diane whew……. it was a technical nightmare to keep it all organized). The photo above (first one) is us at the party.

Theresa Campo is the hostess with the mostest & she takes lot’s of photos of guests at her party. THANK YOU Theresa! And her booth looked amazing! Below is the Junk Gypsy Gals & the antique wheelbarrow full of goody bags they brought for everyone! THANKS Gypsy Girls!

I met some really great gals & got to visit again with others I had seen last fall. Below is Jolie (left again one of the Junk Gypsies) Suzanne & Tracy of The Rusted Gingham (they have a barn sale I NEED to check out & they are here in Texas too).

And I got to meet Wendy Parker from Alabama. She is the owner of the store where my friend Heidi works(Heidi & I were roommates at Petticoats & Parasols).

And I wanted to show you the outfit I had made for this party by my buddy Deb Hodge (I pre-ordered it & picked it up while I was out there for Moulin Rouge Art Event). LOVE the western top… and my awesome boots (last years BDay gift from Hubby). I am standing there with my precious buddy Joy (it’s sad we live so far apart). By the way, Deb made Joy’s jacket too & Joy made her adorable purse. To see more of Joy’s work she has just been featured in Somerset Magazine Haute Handbags current issue. I’m so proud of you sweet girl for you deserve to be published for you are so flippin talented!

And talkin about talent… Sweet Sandy made each of the CRAZZY IN TEXAS GALS a little purse that we could use that weekend or as a nametag for the Blog Party. She won 2nd place for this design. SOOOOOOOOOOOO CUTE! Told ya she was GOOD!

And then a special guest for the party was none other than my uber talented friend, teacher, mentor (two peas in a pod) Diane Cook. Below is her pretty booth set up that night for the party. Doesn’t she look darlin with her sweet daughter Melanie by her side? Love you both!!!! You’ll see more about Diane in another post as she also set up at Marburger Farms to vend for a week.

WHAT FUN THE PARTY WAS! Well, before the girls came they asked about weather & all the Texas gals told them be ready for anything. And we had it all… Saturday was HOT & HUMMID! Like 94 degrees. Sunday not as bad. Monday COLD & DAMP! We told Sandy (HAIR QUEEN OF THE AGES) that it was “spit in” she said what??? Not really rain but, not dry… “Spit in” girl. We have some funny saying down here & the Cali girls all got a kick out of them.

Let’s go out in the fields & see what I mean about row after row in the fields… Below left is a photo taken from the 2nd floor restaurant where we ate Monday lunch & you can see the field, the tin roof of the barn where vendors are set up & the cold dampness with the beautiful LONE STAR FLAG flying high in the background. Next is the vendor stalls housed under that roof I spoke about. And then just another typical row of vendors. Kind of gives you a feel for how it looks… 45 miles of this ladies. SHOPPING HEAVEN!

OK! This will wet your appetite for what is to come in the next few posts.

Right now I am off to watch some more of the Royal Wedding!!!! Oh how I love all the pomp & splendor! I am a HUGE DIANA FAN & I can’t believe her baby boy has grown into a man. I think Kate is adorable!!!! I look forward to seeing happy days ahead for both of them.

And tomorrow… Cindy & I are off to Oklahoma City to visit Jackie (Good Grief Gerdie) for the Glitter Market. And Daddy will stay home & take care of a sick little puppy Elle. She had blood work done today so I’ll keep you posted.

HUGS! Charlene

Shopping In High Style!

Ms Kim KNOWS how to plan a shopping trip!!!!!!! This was the CHARIOT that picked us up early Sunday morning (thank you again Cheryl for the photo as I didn’t think to snap one). And even the inside was filled with treats from none other than my friend Cynthia who took us for all those wonderful shopping trips at the beginning of our visit. She makes handmade designer chocolates & cakes. Below is the creation she made for over 50 ladies on the bus (Lulu thank you for letting me borrow you photo as once again…) This is a MANY step process as the frame is one piece of chocolate, the corset & the red windmill (for Moulin of course) yet another separate pour. And the packaging so pretty.

First stop was the Long Beach Flea Market. Cynthia & I chose to stay on the bus as it was raining & windy!!! It was only Cynthia, Cheryl, Kim (& maybe Terri) & I on the bus but, boy am I glad I didn’t get off into the weather as I got so sick anyway (with the Moulin BUG that went around). They shopped for an hour & a half then jumped on the bus & we were off to San Diego. We had about an hour & a half ride so we passed the time watching Cher’s movie Burlesque. I hadn’t seen it but, I liked it.

We were on our way to see Debbie Beard & her adorable shop called Out of the Blue. We were lucky enough to hit her once a month special event called Mermaid Mercantile. She has great vendors that set up & sell outside of the shop. If you have a chance click HERE to find out what is next.

Everyone saves beautiful shoes & embellishes them for a new Chandi to sparkle & shine… RIGHT????? Debbie does.

Or takes tiny little shoes & makes them sparkle & shine all the while taking front & center on that darling floral settee.

You know I ADORE Shells & Mermaids & all things SHORE but, this pink manni takes my breath away.

Debbi did an amazing job with the shell encrusted mirror reflecting “MY MANNI” Oh how I wish these treasures had found their way home with me. LOVE LOVE … but, let’s move on to our next stop Vignettes (again in San Diego click HERE for a link ).

SERIOUS RETAIL THERAPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You walk in the door & the WONDER OF IT ALL HITS YOU!!!!

The door to this vintage armoire has a shell sea horse added with just the right amount of sparkle & bling…. “Oh HONEY a guestroom redo would be divine”….

Cindy Craine do I have your attention now? Wedding LOTS of amazing vintage wedding & bling!

And Sandy & I will just take the case & all the Channel contents please! See the vintage bling buttons in the photo below/right???? Some of those belong to me! Shhhhh don’t tell Hubby!

Have you had enough BLING yet?

Never enough bling…………..

And the bling purchase of the day was my vintage I Magnum vest seen below. I adore it! Heavy beading front & back. A treasure for sure! I think my manni will have a change in her future. Or maybe I need ANOTHER MANNI!

I loved this top hat & would so love to create one of my own.

And then there were these AMAZING KITES everywhere & they told us the artist would soon be featured in many magazines, so see if this creative outlet speaks to you… It did to Kim as she had to have one!

Speaking of paper… our last stop was over to Paper Tales for the best shopping of all things scrapbooking & beyond. The store is owned by the sweet Michelle (who was one of my table mates at last summers Les Siren's Art Event by Kim) & I can’t believe I didn’t get a photo with her!!!! DARN!!! But, thank you Michelle & staff for a great pizza party & a place for me to leave another $100 plus dollars. Just me helping the economy & killing my wallet! But, below I did get a hug from sweet Karen (another tablemate from last summer) whom I have kept up through our blogging together. Be sure & go HERE to see more of her beautiful creations like that sweet little cake below. HUGS sweet friend it was great to see both you & Michelle.

Well that is it for Moulin Rouge. Thank you for bearing with me because there were a lot of photos & I was late in getting them posted. But, HECK I’VE BEEN BUSY!!!!!!!!!!! Remember 2 days after returning home I had company & was off to Round Top Antiques Festival. Yep! That’s what’s coming next! So, stick around & be sure to come back after you are finished with the Easter Bunny.

Happy Easter My Precious Friends!

HUGS! Charlene

Artistic Affaire Moulin Rouge Post Two

Today is kind of dreary outside & my allergies & asthma is acting up (thanks to the smoke from the wildfires) so I think I will stay inside & work on another post from Moulin Rouge. The beautiful photos (I took many & I also want to thank you girls that shared your photo on our Flicker Group) cheer me up & bring back such sweet memories. Above is the beautiful & talented Christine & the beautiful Make & Take she shared with us.

Above is our table. TABLE 5 Rocked!!!! We had such a good time together. All happily crafting together for two creative filled days. Front & center, then to the left Sandy, me. Debby, Kim, Lulu, Holly, & again Christine.

Classes… Four of them! Above is Debbie & Shea’s class. This is a photo of the finished piece (thanks Cheryl because I did not finish mine). Next wasa class by Jenny & Aaron.

And day two was a great message board

as well as a class with the amazing Colleen Moody for this little can can doll on her tiny stage. Again, I didn’t finish a thing in class & have borrowed photos of the class projects.

Let’s move on to the swaps!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh Be Still My HEART the swaps were wonderful! I only participated in two of them but, let’s peak at what was offered.

Above is my two swap gifts ready to be taken downstairs. Go HERE to see the post about the Jewelry Box I created for my partner Dorothy & HERE for the pillow created for Robin. My dear Sandy was the hostess of the Vintage Pocket Pillow Swap & she did a FabUlous job as she does in everything. Below is Sandy & Kim after Kim opened the pillow that Sandy made for her.

This is the pillow Sandy made for Kim & each of the swap participants donated something to put in the pocket. And below is the back of the pillow as well as the beautiful case Sandy made to present it in… I TOLD YOU SHE WAS A MASTER!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is the pillow I received from Robin! The photo on the right is of the case she made to put it in! I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!

Here is a table full of beauty (sorry the lighting wasn’t better).

Some close ups of a few favorites (click on on photo to enlarge).

The pillow below was made by my precious friend Joy. I LOVE the silver in the pocket.

But, I think my favorite one of all was this one. I wish I knew who made it.

I think this post is long enough. Are you still with me? Well there is still the jewelry box swap & the shopping trip. I promise they will be worth a looky loo. Soooooooooooo be sure to come back & I’ll try to get that posted this weekend. Tomorrow, I keep my oldest son’s children for the day & I’ll be pooped for sure.

HUGS! Charlene

Mail LOVE!!!!!!

What did you do this weekend? I helped this “Little Cowboy” celebrate his 6th birthday! And we looked at Travel Trailers & found a fifth wheel we really like (fingers crossed the “deal” will go through).

But, I couldn’t let another day go by without saying thank you for some treasures that arrived this past week! Don’t you just LOVE MAIL LOVE??????????? You know, when you aren’t expecting anything in the mailbox but, BILLS! And then low & behold treasures!!!!!

Like this little parcel of love from Susie of Vintage Susie & Wings (otherwise known as Susie Pearl to me) After her visit to Texas & her first visit to Magnolia Pearl’s booth at Marburger Farm Fall 2010 show, Ms Susie was star struck with Pearl & she still is as shown by the way she wrapped this treasure she sent using some of her much loved lace found at this years Round Top adventure.

Inside was all sorts of wonderful paper ephemera. Old religious cards, vintage birthday cards & a couple of great old cabinet cards. Also, she hand made me this sweet chandi crystal that says THANK YOU! Thank you indeed Ms Susie! You are a dear & I will treasure my goodies but, most of all our times spent together. HUGS SWEET FRIEND!

And last then a surprise from my new friend Jill of Feathers & Flight.

I hope Jill doesn’t mind me “borrowing” her photo of the work of art she created for I am sure she did a much better photography job than I would have. Last week she posted HERE that she had made this beauty for a friend & I left her a comment teasing her that I sure would love to be the friend that received this…

Sure enough when I opened my package of beautiful Mother of Pearl buttons

I had ordered from her shop Junkin Gypsies she had included that beautiful little canvas named “Simply Sassy”. I was thrilled beyond belief. Jill does the most beautiful digital art work & I know I have shared it with you before with dreams of learning to do the same but, she is such a talented sweet soul in soooooooooooo many other mediums too. So be sure to click on the links above (any name in orange) & it will take you to the blog(person) or post talked about. Each of these gals are a friend just waiting for you to meet & love. WHAT WOULD WE DO WITHOUT OUR BLOGS & ART EVENTS WHERE WE ARE BLESSED TO MEET “LIKE SOULS”?

So, as Coop blows out that candle & another year starts for that sweet boy that Nonna loves so much… I want to say THANK YOU SWEET FRIENDS for being in my life & my heart. Mail love is sweet but, not nearly as sweet as the sweetness of the friend behind it. I LOVE YOU GIRLFRIENDS you give sparkle & life to my days!

Have a wonderful week!

HUGS! Charlene