a round up from MARBURGER FARM Antique Show!!

10.10.11 Round Top, TX— Marburger Farm has done it again. The twice yearly mega-show in Round Top, Texas has overcome hurricanes, wars, recessions and more. This Sept. 27–Oct. 1, the prospects included all of those, plus the tail end of the driest, hottest Texas summer in decades. But the not-so-little show that could pulled off a winner again.

After two hot days, about noon on Thursday, a clap of thunder sounded. “In our tent,” said Patrick Kenny of upstate NY’s South Porch Antiques, “with each clap of thunder, people clapped back. When the rain started to pour, they cheered and yehawed, as only Texans can yehaw. At Brimfield, we cried over rain. At Marburger Farm, they were cheering in the aisles.”

As the rain continued, someone turned up the volume on “Amazing Grace” and shoppers found that the 10 football field size tents and 12 historic buildings on Marburger’s 43 acre site provided perfect cover for shopping over 350 exhibitors from 38 states and several nations. Kenny sold gilded frames, a pair of nine-foot tall glass doors from an 1890 Pennsylvania building and a three foot wide mirrored ballroom ceiling disc from a 1920s Catskill resort. Like many antiques sold at Marburger Farm, that piece will travel further west to a Seattle shop.

MORE AFTER THE BREAK >>>

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MORE rewinds from years gone by… this morning I posted a lil’ ode to prom and this has been another popular post {originally posted in Sept 2009} about WHAT TO WEAR!!!!!!!!

The last few weeks we’ve been counting down to Round Top Antique Week which is just days away from getting started.

Today we heard from Lindsey, a member of the Junk Gypsy Company, a group of women who are critical characters in the Round Top story… You see, in addition to the piles of antiques, flea market frenzy and plethora of food an drink there is also a legendary PARTY during Round Top Antique Week, held by the ladies themselves, the JUNK GYPSY JUNK-O-RAMA prom.

Junk Gypsy Dimestore Cowgirl Hat * Tall Tops & Tutus TEE * Vintage Petticoat

Every spring and fall during Round Top Antique Week in the tiny town of Warrenton, Texas, there is a little shin dig called the JUNK GYPSY JUNK-O-RAMA prom. For anteekers, junkers and lovers of all things Junk Gypsy, prom is like a royal ball… everyone gets all gussied up, spit~shines their boots & gathers for a night of rip roaring fun. If you’ve not been before then GO, even if you only go once it’ll be an event you won’t soon forget… adults dressed up in all of their finery, sipping on champagne & brewskies, dancing, laughing and getting giddy, all in a cow pasture surrounded by miles of heirlooms and antiquities.

Dirty Dancing Dress * Junk Gypsy Petticoat Dress * Melon Tulle 1950’s Strapless Prom Dress

One SERIOUS question arises when discussing prom, What exactly does one wear?? SERIOUS in the way that you prepared for your own high school prom… Do you remember how important it was to get just the right dress, have your hair done just so and by golly, the boy had better bring me a pretty corsage!! As adults we’re not usually so fussy but still, JUNK GYPSY JUNK-O-RAMA prom is your opportunity, as a grown up, to be anyone you want to be for one spectacular night.

Russet & Lace Bell Bottom Jeans * Junk Gypsy Cowgirl Hippie Necklace * Prairie Jeweler Native Cuff

My gal pal Michele, aka the Prairie Jeweler, and I have spent many late nights sending one another pictures & ideas to create an album of what~to~wear IDEAS, most of which I’ve posted here, along with pictures from JUNK GYPSY JUNK-O-RAMA prom of years past.

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Welcome to CactusCreekDaily.com’s Round Top Antique Week GUIDE. We are by no means experts on Round Top but we sure do LOVE IT & this is our little version of a TRAVEL GUIDE ~ for us and YOU. Since it is online we will be able to update it with new pictures, tips & more as our Fall & Spring trips to Round Top Antique Week evolve.

Round Top, Texas ~ Then & Now

So what, exactly, is Round Top?? First off it’s a small Texas town, population 77+, located in Fayette County. ONE hour East of Austin, an ONE 1/2 hours West of Houston, and FOUR hours south of Dallas. The Round Top Antique Week, as it is often called, began over thirty years ago in the Round Top Rifle Association Hall, when Miss Emma Lee Turney and her company, Antiques Productions, were asked to do an Antique Show in a little German town that was quietly being restored, Round Top, Texas.

The show quickly became a social event for Houston socialites as they retreated to charming Round Top every Spring and Fall. The show was still small but it was the cream of the crop in quality dealers, and had the leaders and financiers of Houston buzzing. The fresh air and country-style shopping gave the society folk a chance to let down their guard, pick for their beautiful homes, and even guzzle a Shiner or two beneath the shade trees. {For a wonderful interview with Emma Lee Turney, and her account of the Round Top Antique Fair, click HERE}.

Round Top is no longer ONE SHOW. {The Map to the left will be updated regularly!!} Over the years it has become a 10 day event featuring 1000s of merchants spread out over four small towns: Round Top, Warrenton, Carmine and Shelby. The Round Top Register guesses that there are now about 35 separate shows with at least 2,500 dealers. Not to mention the surrounding fields, warehouses, and tents covering cow pastures and black tops… Round Top Antique Week takes place every Fall and Spring with the next show beginning WEDNESDAY, September 21st, 2011 and running till October 2nd, 2011!!

So where do you start?? Locals, weekend warriors and dealers alike all say that enjoying the town of Round Top is a great way to settle in before you start your shopping spree. Here are a few of the local venues that make Round Top not just a lovely place to shop ~ but an enchanting way of life for 77+.

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Marburger Farm Antique Show in Round Top, TEXAS begins in a few weeks on Tuesday September 27, 2011 and lasts through Saturday October 1, 2011.

Here are 10 Things you need to know happening at Marburger this Fall… 

1. This fall, a portion of our ticket sales will benefit the Houston Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  Visit the Susan G. Komen tent at the show Tues – Sat to help in the fight, to learn about the upcoming Race for the Cure in Houston and for Susan G. Komen t-shirts, which are also available in the Show Office.

2. Book-Signing by author Leslie Sinclair of Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors On the Promenade

In 300 pages of breath-taking homes, Sinclair’s shares the secrets, tips and techniques of fine plaster and paint wall finishes that will complement antiques, art and a love of texture and patina. “We work on some of the most beautiful homes, with rooms and wall textures that please both men and women,” says Sinclair, who confesses that she got her start painting the walls of her Barbie house. Today Segreto Finishes is the largest plastering company in Houston, offering fine plaster and paint finishes for older homes as well as new construction homes. “Each project in the book is unique,” says Sinclair. “Like the antiques at Marburger Farm, nothing I do is mass-produced. In walls or in antiques, texture appeals because it gives surfaces depth. Texture takes the flatness out and gives multiple layers of interest.”

3. Marburger has a new mobile website designed for smart phones.  Access it through roundtop-marburger.com, which offers complete show information.   Follow us on FaceBook, Twitter and YouTube.

4. Food & Libation News – The Austin catering company, Sterling Affairs, will offer two food and beverage pavilions at the Marburger Farm Café with hot and cold sandwiches and other re-enforcements; try the “Marburger.” Party Thyme will offer a third food pavilion with tacos, as well as coffee and desserts, all on the Promenade. Take a break at the Blacksmith Bar for beer, wine and “Marburitas.”

5. Insider tips: In addition to the ten tents of vendors, be sure to visit vendors in the twelve historic buildings at the show. Many offer air-conditioning. All shoppers will receive “The Howdy”—the official guide to Marburger Farm with maps, vendor locations and information about on-site shipping. Look for the red magazine racks filled with free publications on antiques and home decor. The 43 acre site of the Marburger Farm Antique Show includes an ATM, comfort stations, free wi-fi, free parking and a courtesy parking shuttle.

6. Register for the daily cash drawings by placing your admission card in the “Marburger Mailboxes” or at the Show Office front porch.  

7. In the Blacksmith Shop, Marburger Farm welcomes a benefit booth for the Brookwood Community, a non-profit organization that has supported adults with special needs since 1985. Their wares will include holiday and home décor items, all handmade by functionally disabled adults. See www.brookwoodcommunity.org  

8. Find our new Marburger blog from the website roundtop-marburger.com/blog be in attendance, taking advantage of our VIB program – see website for additional details.

9. Media: We welcome guests from the Maine Antique Digest who will be greeting shoppers and offering free copies of this national publication. Brenham’s KTEX 106.1 FM Radio will broadcast live from the show on Fri. Sept. 30. Kansas City’s Junk Mafia “Junk in My Trunk” radio program will broadcast from the show on Thursday Sept. 29.

10. Marburger Farm is available to host your next event. During the antique “off season,” you can book weddings/receptions, reunions, corporate gatherings, parties or other events. For information, see marburgerfarmevents.com or call Rick McConn at 713-703-6371.

** Click HERE for more from MARBURGER FARM **

** Click HERE for more **
about Round Top ANTIQUE WEEK

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It has been so much fun writing all about Round Top Antique Week these past few days as we gear up for our trip to Texas next week!!  In case you’ve missed it, click HERE to see the complete CactusCreekDaily.com Round Top GUIDE. 

Round Top Antique Week is a culmination of many shows that take place in and around Round Top, TX {MAP Below}.  Once you’ve had dinner & spirits in Round Top, and have spent some time at Marburger Farm, the next “must see” venue is definitely Warrenton, home of Zapp Hall, the Junk Gypsies, and more junk antiques that you cannot live without!!

Like Round Top, Warrenton is another small Texas town {population 65+ } that swells to THOUSANDS during Antique Week.  Over 30 shopping venues blend and cross-market to make Warrenton a great way to spend a day shopping. 
{TIP: Park in a field and WALK.  Traffic is insane and you will save yourself LOTS of aggravation by sporting some comfey sneakers and leaving your wheels behind!!}

First stop when we arrive in Warrenton: the Bar W Field which features the Rustic Art Gallery {pictured ABOVE}, “Vintage and antique treasures imported directly from the heart of Mexico”, ARCHITECTURAL Salvage, IRON, Cowboy BOOTS, Vintage Clothing AND MORE!!

NEXT, before heading over to Cole’s Antique Show, swing through ZAPP HALL where there are several merchants who will make you go ga-ga.  This is also another chance to grab some of Bud Royer’s famous grub {the chunky chicken salad is to die for!!} and, of course, a cold Shiner Bock.

Cole’s Antique Show {ABOVE} is the place to retreat next.  200 vendors ~ 63,000 square feet ~ A/C ~ indoor restroom.  Not only was this a comfortable way to spend the afternoon last Spring, we also found TONS of treasures!!

There are still TONS of vendors to see in Warrenton but the most famous of them all is the Junk Gypsies {BELOW}.  Known for their vibrant brand, “Pedal to the Metal” mantra, and true Texas spirit, this is a stop that you CANNOT MISS!!! 

Located right on Highway 237 as you make your way into Warrenton, the Junk Gypsies’ famous pink Suburban {”Large Marge”} greets the crowd and let’s you know that you’ve made it to the pinnacle of Junkiness!!  I could go on and on about the fabulous goods that can be found in the Junk Gypsies’ booth ~ tees, boots, peely-paint, iron, velvet, belt buckles…  But you’ve really GOT to see it for yourself!!

Topping it all off is the Junk-O-Rama PROM which is hosted by the beautiful Gypsies and is LOADS of fun!!  This is THE place to be next Thursday night, October 2nd!!

Tomorrow we’ll tie things up with one more Round Top Antique Week shopping stop, plus some essential web links to get you where you want to go in Round Top.  It’s almost time to hit the road…  Yee Haw!!

** Click HERE to read more about the JUNK GYPSIES **

** For more about Round Top Click HERE  **

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This week has been all about the Round Top Antique Week that begins next week in Round Top, Texas.  On Monday, in Part I, we talked about Round Top, Then & Now.  Yesterday, Part II, was all about Marburger Farm, a “must see” Round Top shopping venue with character and class.  Today we bring you more from Marburger Farm and some of the vendors that fuel my fire for Rustic * Western * Vintage STYLE!!

These are the QUESTIONS we posed to some of the vendors we met on our Spring ‘08 trip to Round Top.  Here is what a few of the folks who are, themselves, the cream of the crop, had to say about their comprades…

VINTAGE SCULPTURE {ABOVE}
Brad & Sundie Ruppert, the husband and wife team from Vintage Sculpture, typify the “Art of Found Objects”.  Their space, located in Tent G at Marburger Farm, is a fun and vibrant space where you will want to hang out for a while visiting and definitely take home a treasure!!  Here is what Sundie had to say:

1. what is the one thing no one should miss when visiting round top?
SUNDIE: dinner at royer’s cafe… order the steak!!!

HOT TAMALE ANTIQUES {ABOVE}
Jan Orr-Harter, proprietor of Texas based Hot Tamale Antiques, is located in Tent A at Marburger Farm.  Jan offers an exceptional selection of brightly colored textiles, vintage art, and Wild West accessories.  The campy feel is comforting and a perfect fitfor your lake house, cowpoke room, or a sun porch decorated to bring you cheer all year round!!  Here are Jan’s tips for attending Round Top:

1. what is the one thing no one should miss when visiting round top?
JAN: No one should miss opening day at Marburger Farm Antiques Show—Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 10 am for $25 early buying or $10 at 2 pm, admission good all week. Tip: come early for breakfast so you won’t get stuck in the line of vehicles at 9:30 am.

THE SHOP ANTIQUES {ABOVE}
The SHOP Antiques, which happened to be featured in this month’s Country Home Magazine {Congrats!!} is owned by Mandie Murphree, and specializes in vintage relics from Carnivals, Amusement Parks and the Circus. How’s that for a good time??  Mandie’s space is located in Tent A at Marburger Farm. Here is Mandie’s 2 cents:

1. what is the one thing no one should miss when visiting round top?
MANDIE: Marburger Farm Antique Show Sept 30 – Oct 4

2. who is your favorite vendor at round top {in addition to you!!}??
MANDIE: Dan’s Antiques at The Bar W Field (By the Creek next to the 3rd Bridge) Great Stuff!!!!!

QUEENIE TIN {LEFT}

 
We’ll see you there, Queenie!! Thanks so much to all of you for taking the time to answer my questions… See you next week ~ Happy Trails!! Fancy

** Check back tomorrow for two more Round Top institutions: **
Big Red Barn and Cole’s Antique Show.

** For more about Round Top Click HERE  **

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Yesterday, in PART I of our Round Top GUIDE, it was all about the tiny town of Round Top, Texas and how it became an international destination for Antique collectors and dealers alike.  Be sure to go through Round Top’s town square to enjoy the shops, restaurants & spirits when you head to Round Top Antique Week!!  Next stop on your Texas Road Trip: Marburger Farm.

Marburger Farm

If you only have one full day to spend at Round Top Antique Week then Marburger Farm is THE place to be.  Located halfway between Warrenton and Round Top {click HERE for a map}, Marburger Farm is a journey through Parisian flea markets, Western Art exhibits and Country Quilt Bees.  Your creativity will be fueled * your collections will tip with new weight * and your passion for all things vintage will swell larger than ever before!!

Spread through a dozen historical buildings, and 9 large tents, the Marburger Farm Antique Show features over 350 dealers from North America, Europe, Asia & beyond. 

The dealers are enthusiastic and thoughtful, working hard to bring unique items that are sure to delight you.  Not only do the merchants bring QUALITY, they also bring QUANTITY ~ a few of them even fill a semi for their biannual trip to Marburger!!

A favorite for the preeminent Country Living Magazine, Marburger Farm has a long history with the Round Top Antique Week.  First started by Mr. John Sauls in the 1990’s, Marburger quickly grew a reputation as the premiere venue for quality and diversity.  Now owned by Margaret Marsh, Rick McConn and Ashley Ferguson, and their extended family, Marburger Farm’s future is rooted firmly in the traditions of the past ~ while moving steadily with the trends of the future.

This Fall ‘08, Marburger Farm will open Tuesday morning, September 30th, for Early Shopping.  For many, the $25 ticket to attend Early Shopping from 10am till 2pm, is a no-brainer.  Shoppers can even arrive as early as 8 in the morning to park, enjoy breakfast next to Lake Marburger, and wait for the yellow tape to come down at the gate, marking the starting gun of Early Buying.  It’s true that the best of the best is offered, and sold, on Tuesday morning to the die-hard designers * pickers * and shoppers as they fire up the economy in South East Texas.  If you can’t make it Tuesday morning then no worries, a $10 ticket will get you through the gates to Marburger beginning at 2pm on Tuesday and lasting through Sunday, October 5th.  {you only have to buy the $10 ticket once as it is good for all 5 days of the show}

As for CactusCreekDaily.com, we are most excited to attend the 30th Anniversary Party for Country Living Magazine on Thursday, Oct. 2nd, 2008!!  This is a special year for the folks at Country Living, and Marburger Farm is proud to share the commemoration with a party from 11am – 1pm on Thursday, Oct. 2.  In addition to a big cake, and a 30% discount on select items throughout the show, there will also be a meet & greet and book signing with Country Living’sEditor-in-Chief, Nancy Soriano. 

Also coming up this Fall ‘08, a book signingby Marburger Farm vendor Robin Brown will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 30th.  Robin is the founder of Magnolia Pearl, a one-of-a-kind brand specializing in layered designs of “velvet and lace”, breezy, romantic clothing and big bags that are the newest fashion rage.

Marburger Farm is not only the place to be for buying matchless home decor, it is also a place to be seen {and to see} the society folks of Houston & Austin as they work their high heel western boots and short denim skirts, sassy cowgirl clothing they would never wear to PTA meetings, but they MAKE IT WORK at Marburger!!  As a Texas girl myself I love to see a gal who can make Gucci sandals & a cowgirl hat, Shiner Bock in one hand, and a shopping basket in the other, all make sense in a Texas cow pasture!! 

Our Spring ‘08 trip to Marburger led us to several dealers that were particularly intriguing to our Rustic * Western * Vintage style.  I’ve asked them what their faves are and TOMORROW’s POST will be all about their fellow vendors that they insist you CANNOT MISS!!

** Click HERE For more about Marburger Farm **

** For more about Round Top Click HERE  **

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I can hardly believe that Round Top Antique Week is just a couple of months from now!!  I am so excited to head to Texas and be engulfed in all things lovely for a few days.  Last Friday I received an email from Rick at Marburger Farm - just one of the many shopping venues in Round Top.  {SECRET: Marburger Farm is my favorite!!}

The merchants, who specialize in everything from Italian carvings ~ to vintage linens ~ to distressed artifacts ~ are working hard to gather their one-of-a-kind selection of antiquities.  This year will be extra amazing when Marburger Farm hosts the 30th Anniversary Party for Country Living Magazine.  This is an even that is not to be missed!!

{Be sure to follow along when Cactus Creek heads to Round Top by Subscribing to our Newsletter}

AND – to read more about Marburger Farm click “Read More” below and learn about this unique shopping experience that even Newsweek describes as “One of the country’s best venues…”

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What an amazing couple of days Round Top Antique Week turned out to be.  I can hardly wait to return on Oct 1!!  Here is a Round-Up of the creative people and fab businesses that we met…

• Sue Whitney, co-author of Junk Beautiful: Room by Room Makeovers with Junkmarket Style
• Terri Squyres’ Horn Footstools
• Queenie Tin & Mirror Company
• Hot Tamale Antiques
• Brad and Sundie Ruppert from Vintage Sculpture
• Marie Webb and her Sign Writer, Ron Edwards, from Tobacco Road Primitives
• Vintage pennants & more from Cole’s Antique Show
• Handmade log furnishings from Rustic Art Gallery & Crooked Spoke
• Hungarian farmhouse furniture from Singleton Antique Imports
• and last, but certainly not least…  The Junk Gypsy Co.

And finally you can click on “Read More” to see a few more pics from our Round Top (Spring 08) scrapbook…

Be sure to check back next week for daily posts about the Rustic * Western * Vintage stuff we LOVE!!  (HINT: Sign up on the ‘Feedblitz’ over there on the left and you can get our posts delivered straight to your mailbox!!)  We’ll be featuring clever cowboy arts & gifts, an Inspiration Room for your little cowpoke, a builder who has offers rustic style, a Cowboy Festival that I don’t want to miss and MORE… 

** For more about Round Top Click HERE **

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We really did save the best for last – after shopping with the Junk Gypsies in the afternoon we crashed their famed Junk-o-Rama Prom that night.  What a fabulous way to top off our 2-day whirlwind vintage shopping spree…  Everything about prom night was fun: the music, the people-watching and of course the Gypsies!!

Click on “Read More” to see the rest of the Party Pics…

** Click HERE to read all of the stories about ROUND TOP ANTIQUE WEEK **

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