French antiques always call to me, but lately I've been getting emails from French antiques... that is, emails from Marburger Farm at Round Top, Texas, one of biggest and best sites for French antiques. Marburger Farm also has dealers with antiques that are not French, but last fall there was an entire long tent filled with French antiques, including some dealers who come every year from France.
Every three or four days I get another email tempting me, nagging me, enticing me to go to Round Top. Here's one of the photos in a recent email from Marburger Farm. The golden weathervane arrow seems to be pointing me towards Round Top, to the colossal antique show that happens every fall and spring. The Marburger Farm site is so large... 43 acres!... that I wasn't able to see everything when I went for the first time in Fall 2014.
As I study the email's photo and read the details about dates, times, and entrance fees, I begin also to daydream about all the fabulous things I saw in 2014. I daydream about everything I left behind, and begin to wonder what treasures will be there this year, like these antique papers and bowl.
Marburger Farm is just one of hundreds of sites at the Round Top Antique Show. Another one of my favorite sites is Blue Hills where I found antique French documents spilling out of an antique French iron bowl.
The antique dealer with the French papers was packing up an order while I was in her booth. Someone had bought a set of twelve framed French antique documents. Can't you just see a whole wall filled with these beautiful gold-framed, double-sided glass documents? Yes, I bought some of the original antique French documents which have yet to be framed, but I left behind so many more.
With each new email from Marburger Farm, I dream about all the French antiques, especially the ones that "got away." I have no place in my house for this settee and had to restrain myself from buying it. Common sense prevailed, and I left it there atop all those other beautiful finds... blue striped linens, glass cloches, white plates and pitcher... But I still daydream about them.
A dealer made me a great price for this beautiful three-drawer chest. As I looked through my house in my mind, I saw it as an end table in the living room, as a night stand in a guest bedroom, as small chest in the bathroom..., but each place would have meant taking out something to make room for the chest. Common sense... I had a strong dose of it last year. This little chest was also left behind. Sigh!
Not French, but a great Fall display using vintage pieces, helped me think of ways to put a little Fall into my own house. Round Top is an incredible source for innovative ideas. Every dealer is a master stylist making the trip worthwhile even if nothing is bought.
Then there are always those whimsical items that add another layer of joie de vivre to the whole Round Top experience.
Just 8 miles away from Marburger Farm is another place that keeps calling to me. The Prairie by Rachel Ashwell is on my list of places to shop. Another place that not's exactly French, but that also entices me. So far, The Prairie hasn't been emailing me.
As persuasive as the Marburger Farm emails are, there is no Round Top for me this Fall. No, I already have a plane ticket on September 29 flying out of Texas. But, Spring 2016 is definitely calling me. Around Valentine's Day I expect to begin getting those emails from French antiques at Marburger Farm in Round Top.
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If French antiques are still calling to you, you may want to see last year's Round Top posts.
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