Round Top Antiques Market Archives

The Ones That Got Away | Thrifting Regrets From Round Top

April 18, 2017

We’ve all been there…shopping at a thrift store and coming across an item that grabs your attention. You approach the item, give it a good once over and then rationalize the decision to purchase it or NOT. The piece looks great, has so much potential and is priced right but the voice in your head says no.

You walk away.

You leave those amazing pieces behind and can’t stop thinking about the ones that got away. That’s what happened when I was shopping during my trip to Round Top and the Hill Country. I walked way!!

Before I show you the ones that got away, let me point out a few things…

I consider myself a seasoned antique/vintage/thrift store shopper. I can tell is a piece is quality and know if something is over-priced or priced right.
One of my rules for thrifting is to buy it if you love it. Even if you don’t have an immediate idea where something will go in your home or how you’ll use it, if you love it, you always find a spot.
Another rule I have is to not overthink a purchase…if you gut says yes don’t let your mind talk you out of it.

So if I could click my heels and transport myself back in time, I would have bought these items when I was thrifting at Round Top…

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What I Bought At The Round Top Antiques Market (and a few other places too)!

April 7, 2017

Happy Friday friends. As you read this the hubs and I are headed back to Atlanta with my mom in tow. She’ll be visiting us for a week or so before heading back to Oklahoma.

I wish you could see our car….it’s loaded to the gills with luggage and the vintage finds I picked up at the Round Top Antiques Market and beyond. If you’re wondering what I mean by beyond, here’s the scope. In addition to shopping Round Top, my travel buddies and I, Marsha, Wanda and Sherry also stopped at antique stores, flea markets and Goodwill stores during our road trip. It was a thrifters dream.

Before I show you some of what I purchased, I wanted to share a bit more about our trip.

We left Dallas at 6:30 am on Saturday morning and made the trek to Round Top. Dallas to Round Top is a 3 hour drive so we had time to chat and plan our shopping strategy for the day.

Once we made it to Round Top we spent the day shopping then drove to Saledo, TX where we were staying the night. We stayed at the Inn On The Creek which is an adorable bed and breakfast. I share more about the inn next week but here’s a little glimpse of this charming spot.

On Sunday morning we left Saledo and headed to Waco for more shopping and finally made our way back to Dallas last Sunday evening.

Two days….lots of shopping and a whole lot of fun!

Now let’s get to the really fun stuff…what I bought.

If you remember from my previous posts, I had a list of items I was shopping for including ironstone, blue and white pottery, old design books and vintage jewelry. Although I wasn’t able to find everything on my list, I did find some plus a few things I didn’t have on my list.

WHAT I BOUGHT IN AND AROUND THE ROUND TOP ANTIQUES MARKET…

I had pretty good luck in the ironstone category. I found this pretty ironstone pitcher at a thrift store in Waco and it is in great condition.

I’ve sold several ironstone gravy boats/creamers in my Etsy store recently and was hoping to find some new pieces to add to the shop. This one has a pretty leaf and vine design on it and it was only $5.00.

This 3-piece English ironstone sugar/creamer set was a great find at a Goodwill we stopped at. And you won’t believe the prices–$5.49 for all three pieces.

I found this large ironstone bowl at Round Top and love the softly scalloped edge. It’s a great bowl for fruit or serving salads or pasta.

Another Goodwill score was a set of Federalist Ironstone cups and saucers. I’ve never come across this brand of ironstone before but couldn’t pass up the set which was priced at $5.49.

There were two of these blue and white gravy boats but one had a chip so I only bought the one. And it was less than $6.00!

My friend Marsha grabbed this blue and white vase but offered it up to me. #goodfriendssharetheirthriftingfinds

I found these blue and white bread plates at another thrift store for just $1.99 each. They are English transferware from Lochs of Scotland.

One of the booths I stumbled upon a t Round Top had bins of vintage lace for $1.00 per bundle. You know I had to add a few to my collection.

I was excited to come across a dealer at Round Top that was selling design books for 50% off the marked price. The books I purchased, were published between 1993 and 2008 and cost $6.00 each.

I spotted this beautiful silver-plated bowl in an antique store in Waco but it didn’t have a price tag on it. When I took it up to the counter to check the price I was expecting them to say something like $48. I was surprised and thrilled that it was only $12! #winning

One of my favorite finds was this cute elephant planter/vase. There were people around me when I spotted it so I played it cool and grabbed it when they weren’t looking.

Thrifting tip: be ruthless in the pursuit of a unique treasures

This cute plaid ice bucket and glass set (6 glasses) was a find at an antique store outside Ft. Worth. What a fun set for someone to use for summer entertaining.

These are just a few of the items I purchased on the trip. I’m coming home with tree boxes full of goodies, most of which I’m planning on putting my Etsy shop. I’ll be sure to let you know when the items are available. If you see something you’re interested in, just leave me a comment and I’ll email you the price.

Before I sign off, I did want to share an unexpected find.

Last night we stopped by my cousins’ house. I’ve been in her house many times but didn’t realized she was a blue and white collector. She has some beautiful vases, ginger jars and a full set of Blue Willow Dinnerware. When I spotted it, I commented how I’ve been looking for Blue Willow chins. Then she said something I didn’t expect…she said I could have it.

I’m happy to say that I am now a proud owner of a full set of Churchill Blue Willow dinnerware.

As I pointed out in yesterday’s blog post, it pays to go off the beaten path when antique shopping in and around Round Top.

Until next time…

5 Tips For Shopping Round Top Antique Market {and a few gems I spotted}

April 6, 2017

If you’ve been following me on Instagram you know I was at the Round Top Antiques Market last week. And boy was it a blast.

I know you’re dying to see what I purchased but that will have to wait until tomorrow. I’ll show you what I bought along with more highlights from my trip.

Today I want to share some tips I have for shopping the mega Round Top market in case you ever want to attend.

If you’re never been to the Round Top before let me give you a few market stats…

The Round Top Antiques Market has been going on for 20+ years.
The show originally started in a single barn facility and now spans miles and miles over several towns.
The population of Round Top is just 99 but during the market season the number of people in town swells in to the 1000’s.
There are over 350 dealers at Round Top (actually, it feels like more than that).
Dealers comes from all across the US and the world. And some dealers even bring containers full of European goods to sell.
Several venues charge a fee to get in (usually $10 or less) but the majority of shopping sites are free. Parking is free in most cases as well.
The market is set up to accommodate cars, vans, trailers and even small trucks and buses.
Shipping services are available if you happen to find a furniture piece that won’t fit in the back of your car 🙂
Lots of the items are Round Top are EXPENSIVE but don’t let that scare you off because there are tons of affordable items too. There really is something for everyone.

SHOPPING ROUND TOP ANITQUES MARKET

#1. Plan To Spend Multiple Days Shopping. There are two major Round Top Antiques Market shows each year, one in spring and one in the fall. Each show last 5 days with many of the vendors actually setting up shop and selling a week or two before the official opening date.

The show spans over several miles with venues set up all along the main route and off the side roads.

Because the number of dealers is so large, the range of items that you’ll find for sale is beyond the imagination. There is literally something for everyone and items are every price-point.

In order to see all that Round Top has to offer, you need to plan for 2 to 3 days of shopping. Map out the areas you want to visit ahead of time based on the kinds of items you’re shopping for.

#2. Know What You’re Looking For. Everyone that attends Round Top has their own shopping list in mind. While many people are looking for large furniture pieces others like me are looking for smaller collectibles.

To keep me focused on what I’m shopping for, I’ve found it helpful to make a visual shopping list with photos.

When you make your shopping list, take time to study the types of items you’re looking for. If you’re a real collector, you want to know the real thing from a reproduction. And even though many of the dealers are selling authentic vintage and antique items you will run across reproductions, found objects and even a few ‘garage sale’ type finds.

#3. Wheel and Deal. If you’re not a natural born negotiator, make sure you have someone with’you that is. Like all flea markets and antique shops, the dealers are ready and prepared to negotiate price. So as not to offend a seller, you always want to ask for a better price in a polite way. I’ve found that asking the question, “what’s the best price you can do” always gets some type of discount. If the price still isn’t what you want to pay, throw out a price and see if the dealer bites.

Tip: If you see multiple items at one dealer that you are interested in, ask the dealer what discount they could offer if you purchased them all. Typically dealers will knock 10% to 20% off the price.

#4. Go Off The Beaten Path. One of the things we discovered last year headed to Round Top is that there are lots of great antique shops in the small towns outside the main market area. Most of the shops had a great selection of small items like collectibles, tabletop items and small furniture pieces. And the prices were more reasonable than the what you find at Round Top.

** Favorite local shop: Whistle Stop Antiques in Giddings, Texas

#5. Plan To Have Lots Of Fun. There is a lot to see and do in Round Top so a fun time is guaranteed. In addition to shopping, make sure to visit the ‘city center’ where Royers restaurant and pie shop are located. And keep you camera handy to snap photos of the beautiful farmhouses and churches as you pass through the city.

I’m already looking forward to attending Round Top again next year because there’s still so much to see and experience.

all images by ConfettiStyle

My Round Top Antiques Market Shopping List

March 30, 2017

If all goes according to plan I’ll be shopping up at storm at the Round Top Antiques Market in just a few days.

I attended Round Top for the first time last year. Even though I had an idea of what I hoped to find, the magnitude of the show (and the cold weather) stopped me from doing my best shopping. This year it’s going to be a different story. The weather is going to be warm, I’ve been brushing up on my vintage shopping skills and I’ve got a LIST!

Over the years I’ve found that shopping with a list when I go to a flea market or antique store keeps me focused and yields better results. So when I hit Round Top this year not only will I be shopping with a written list but I’ll also have photos to serve as inspiration. Want a peek at what’s on my shopping list…check it out below.

Since I love all things chinoiserie, I’ll be on the hunt for anything in that genre. I’m hoping to luck upon some Staffordshire dogs in white both for me and my Etsy shop.

I’ll also be looking for vintage fashion books. I may have mentioned this before but I have a degree in fashion merchandising and spent most of my corporate career as a buyer and merchandising executive. My love for fashion runs deep!

Right up there with my love of fashion is my love of vintage jewelry. I love finding pieces that I can use to make my own custom jewelry and anything tassel and bejeweled is what I’m looking for.

One of the things I sell a lot of in my Etsy shop is vintage toast racks. I show them as a desk accessory holding stationery and notecards which is such a fun way to use these days. I found a couple last year and Round Top and hope to find some unique pieces this market.

One of things on my personal shopping list is vintage dinnerware. Even though I can find pieces locally, I hoping to find a few unique designs to add to my collection.

Two items that I think I might not have luck finding are vintage wallpaper rolls and Asian art brushes. I don’t often see these items when out shopping but I’m hoping that Round Top will deliver.

Also on the chinoiserie list is a monkey bowl and a pair of bamboo stools. I lucked upon a blue and white monkey last year and posted a photo on Instagram. One of my followers wanted to purchase it so I sold it to her. Now I’m on the hunt for another one which I will be keeping.

Bamboo stools….wish me luck!

So there you have it, a look at my Round Top shopping list. And in case you were wondering, I’ll have my eyes open for other items as well like ironstone, blue and white pottery and brass pieces.

You can check out last years trip to Round Top here.

MY ROUND TOP ANTIQUE MARKET SHOPPING LIST

p.s. In route to Round Top we’ll be stopping in Jackson, Mississippi so if there are any great antique stores or flea markets in that area leave me a comment and let me know.

Inspiration Notebook–March 2017

March 3, 2017

Happy Friday! Welcome to the latest installment in my Inspiration Notebook…

Round Top Antiques Market–An Inside Look

April 6, 2016

I’m back today with at look at my trip to the Round Top Antiques Market in Round Top, Texas. If you’ve never been to Round Top before, this post should give you an inside look at the market through the eyes of an avid antique and vintage shopper.

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Attending Round Top has been on my bucket list for some time now. I’ve heard so many great things about the market and was excited to check it out for myself.

Here’s what I thought of the market, what I saw and a few things I purchased.

The Round Top Antique Market spans over about a 15 to 20 mile stretch of road. There are buildings and tents all along the route selling antiques and vintage goods and even some vendors off the main road selling odds and ends. Unless you attend the show for a number of days, there is no way to stop at every shopping spot. If you are only attending the market for a day or two, you’ll definitely want to plan ahead and determine which spots you want to shop.

La Bahia Antiques Show is one of places we stopped and shopped. This area is made up of permanent buildings and tented vendors and you’ll find all types of vintage decor and housewares here. I spotted lots of great items and although many were in my opinion were over-priced, most of the dealers were willing to negotiate.

This outdoor vendor had an amazing selection silver-plate items but most were very over-priced and when you asked for his best price he seemed offended. Needless to say he didn’t get our business.

One of the best blue and white tabletop dealers is located at La Bahia and his selection of items was impressive. His prices were a bit stiff but he was willing to negotiate which gave him two thumbs up in my book.

After La Bahia we stopped at a barn along the road where ‘Poor Richard’ was selling goods. He had a mx of items including large furniture pieces and miscellaneous tabletop and decor items. And Richard was a nice as can be so shopping with him was a pleasure.

This oversized brass urn was $25 dollars but was a bit worn for my liking so I passed.

I did buy these beautiful ironstone bowls for practically nothing! A definite score!

Poor Richard was also selling these amazing tree stumps…so gorgeous!

There was a lady near Poor Richards selling items for $1.00 and my shopping mates scored big with her. They had picked over the table by the time I made it over there 🙁

Our next stop was the Big Red Barn. This is one of several sites at Round Top that charge a fee to get in ($10 at the Red Barn). If you are shopping for high-end antiques this is definitely a place you want to check out.

Check out this antique ribbon holder. So many beautiful details including some of the most beautiful brass pulls I’ve ever seen.

This scale was amazing and I think it was around $2700.

I had a vintage paper roll rack on my shopping list but every one I came across was several hundred dollars. This one was amazing because it held three different size paper rolls.

There was lots of ironstone (check out the prices)

After the Red Barn we traveled up the road and stopped a several different places.

Lots of beautiful Staffordshire Dog statutes…

Beautiful blue and white antiques…

Isn’t this the most beautiful chamber pot you’ve ever seen. I really, really wanted to this piece but couldn’t pull the trigger on the price.

Old doors with lots of charm and character…

I spotted several dealers that also show at Scott Antique Market here in Atlanta and was happy to see that they didn’t increase their prices on some of their tried and true items.

The one place that we didn’t stop at but I will be sure to check out the next time I’m there is the Warrenton area. This area was loaded with tented vendors and the selection of items appeared to be good as we drove through.

All in all, Round Top Antiques Market is a great show and has something to offer everyone. Here are a few tips I have for shopping the market:

TIPS FOR SHOPPING ROUND TOP ANTIQUES MARKET

Create a shopping list so that you stay focused on the items you are looking for. Doing a little research before hand will also help you think about what you’re willing to pay for an item and it will help you when negotiating with dealers.
Take a camera or make sure your phone is fully charged so you can take pictures as you shop. You can always turn around and go back to a location you saw an item at and picture of the piece and location will help.
Take cash. I did see some vendor accepting credit cards and checks but cash is king and you’ll get a better deal if you are negotiating with cash.
Carry a tote bag or rolling cart. Many of the shopping areas are large and you’ll want to be comfortable carrying your purchases as you shop.
Take it with you or have it shipped. There are several shipping business located throughout the show so if you see something that won’t fit on the plane or in the trunk, consider having it shipped.
Dress in layers. Our shopping day started out nice, then it rained a bit and then it got super windy and cold.
Visit the free shopping areas and by-pass the paid spots like the Big Red Barn and Marburger. I promise you won’t miss anything and you’ll find everything you can image in the free tents and buildings.
Negotiate. Most dealers are prepared to negotiate on the price and many of them will offer you a fair deal. Several times I looked items up on Etsy and Ebay in front of the dealer and they offered better pricing because they saw I was up to speed on the prices.
Plan to spend a little time in downtown Round Top which as some cute shops, restaurants and outdoor vendors that set up during the show.
Like most antique markets these days, you’ll see lots of vintage and antique reproductions of if you’re not sure what you’re looking at, ask the dealers to tell you a bit about the history of an item. And, keep in mind that in most cases when you see a true antique, you’re not going to see multiples of the same item. Multiples of an item often signals a reproduction especially with furniture, lighting and some tabletop pieces.

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So, I know you’ve been waiting to see what other goodies I bought so here’s a look at a few of my favorite purchases…

A beautiful brass tray

blue and white ironstone plates

a larger ironstone mold

Bucket List: Round Top Antiques Market √

On Monday I’ll be sharing the rest of our road trip including our visit to Magnolia Market in Waco.

A Sneak Peek at Round Top, Austin and Waco

April 4, 2016

Hello friends. I am absolutely swamped catching up from my trip to Texas and I’m dealing with a bit of a cold but I did want to pop in and share a few sneak peeks of the trip with you. There was so much to see and do so I’ll have part one of my trip for you on Wednesday.

Until then, be tantalized by these photos…

Round Top Antiques Market was awesome but prices like these were few and far between…