Things I Love: French Ribbon

April 27, 2016

Amy Butler

If I won the lottery, one of my splurges would be to buy hundreds and maybe even thousands of dollars of beautiful ribbon. I adore ribbon especially if it’s intricately designed and beautifully woven.

I have several go-to shopping sources for ribbon including this one and this one , but I am thrilled to have just uncovered what might be the holy grail of beautiful French ribbon.

Renaissance Ribbons was started by Edith Minne whose love affair for French ribbon started over 20 years ago. She turned her passion into a thriving business and today the company designs, creates and supplies their goods to thousands of wholesale companies worldwide and employs 18 designers who create their patterns.

The collection of styles available from Renaissance is vast, each one just as beautiful as the next.

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Paint and Furniture From Magnolia Home

April 18, 2016

MAGNOLIA HOME

Are you a fan of the show Fixer Upper and/or Chip and Joanna Gaines? I sure am. It’s been fun to see how Chip and Joanna Gaines have grown their business and brand over the last few years and I’m excited about Joanna’s newest product introductions, Magnolia Home Paint and Magnolia Home Furniture.

First let me talk about the paint line…

Working with KILZ, Joanna has developed an interior paint collection that include 25 signature colors available in three finishes–Matte, Eggshell and Satin. In addition to interior wall paint, there is also a Cabinetry and Furniture paint available in 2 colors in a Semi-Glass sheen. Although not inexpensive ($40-$50 per gallon), the collection includes a great range of classic colors including lots of neutrals which is definitely the trend in interior colors these days.

One of the things I like about the paint collection is that Joanna kept the line true to her brand and developed colors that are timeless and easy to decorate around. And you just had to know that there would be a color called Ship Lap in the line. My favorite colors in the collection are Wedding Band, Rainy Days and Carter Creme.

All of the colors are reminiscent of colors that have been used on Fixer Upper so it will be easy to ‘get the look’ if it fits your style.

One of my favorite homes from this season was the Carriage House. The house was designed in a neutral color palette with pops of color to keep the design interesting, warm and inviting.

Always a winning combination….Neutral walls with accent colors used on architectural details and statement furniture pieces.

I will never get tired of a white and grey kitchen. The grey adds just the right amount of warmth and depth, and keeps the entire space from feeling stark.

And gray walls in a bedroom can feel causal and elegant at the same time.

Even the design of the paint cans is representative of the Magnolia Brand and I must say it’s pretty cool.

The interior paint collection is available in a 8 oz sample cans and also in a one-gallon size. The cabinetry and furniture collection is available in a quart and one-gallon size.

If you’re interested in trying the Magnolia Paint line, the only place you can currently buy it is through the Magnolia Market shop.

Interior Paint Collection

Cabinetry and Furniture Paint Collection

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Another exciting launch for Magnolia Home happened last week with the introduction of the Magnolia Home Furniture Collection at the High Point Furniture Market. The furniture line in made up of 6 different collections, each with a distinct look. And each collection includes a range of items from bedroom furniture to living and dining room pieces.

Here are a few of my favorite pieces from the line:

This is the Traditional Double Pedestal Table and I just love the design and detail of the base.

I’m sure this Manor Straight Back Iron Canopy Bed will be a top seller for them.

And I love furniture that offers stylish storage like this Primitive Hardware Shop Dresser.

The furniture line began arriving in stores across the country last month so check your area to see it in person. Or you can view the full line here.

It’s evident from my visit to Magnolia Market last month in Waco and the new product launches from Chip and Joanna, the Magnolia Brand is here to stay. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Chip and Joanna and I’m already looking forward to the next season of Fixer Upper.

BaubleBar–Tassel Jewelry Under $40

April 14, 2016

It’s no secret that I love jewelry and every season I try to add a few new pieces of costume jewelry to my wardrobe.

Tassel jewelry is and has always been a favorite jewelry style of mine and BaubleBar is one of my favorite sources for affordable, on-trend jewelry.

I was recently on the hunt for a new pair of tassel earrings and after I got finished looking through the Bauble Bar site, I had found several tassel pieces I wanted to bring home.

These Tiffany Tassel Drops in Ruby are just stunning and the perfect pair of earrings to dress up a simple black outfit. $28

Wrap bracelets became popular a few years ago and since then they have gotten more and more stylish. I love the mix of gold and turquoise with black beads in this sleek Onyx Bracelet Quad. $48

Statement necklaces like this Rockefeller Tassel Bib Necklace are still popular and begin worn with everything from denim to evening gowns. The tassel on this necklace makes it even more perfect for day into evening in my book. $46

You can never go wrong with a classic black tassel necklace like the Bettie Tassel Pendant Necklace. $26

I purchased these Lagos Drop Earrings because of the fun mix of colors that I think will be great during the summer. $34

If you like a bolder earning, the Nolita Drop Earrings will definitely give you that look. The black and gray color combo is classic with a twist. $38

The Cape Town Tassel Bracelet is a nice piece that would be fun stacked with other bracelets. $12

I also picked up the Geode Drop Earrings ($48) because I couldn’t resist the turquoise and pink color combo.

In addition to a great selection of jewelry, Baublebar also offers Free Shipping and Returns on every purchase which makes their site even more enticing.

Iced Tea Pitchers–Southern Entertaining Essential

April 13, 2016

southern living

On my trip to Round Top Antiques Market, my friend Marsha scored a really great deal on a milk glass pitcher and glasses. It’s the perfect set for serving up sweet tea on her back patio, on a lazy summer evening. Make sure to check out her blog because rumor has it that she’ll be sharing her Round Top finds soon.

Now that iced tea season is here, I’m on the hunt for the perfect pitcher to serve up my favorite iced tea beverages. A quick search of the web and I found a several pitchers I love and even better, the prices!

It’s amazing what beautiful items you can find at H and M Home. This Patterned Glass Carafe is an amazing find for only $24.99 and the emerald green is such a hot trend color right now.

You can never go wrong with classic glass pitchers especially when it has a hobnail detail and gold rim. This Textured Glass Pitcher is another H and M Home find. $17.99

I love the scroll detail at the top of this Pressed Glass Pitcher and could see it being used for all types of summer beverages. At $12.98 this piece is a great buy and would also make a great wedding or shower gift.

You know I love blue and white so it’s not a surprised I was attracted to the Azure Design Pitcher from Overstock. This one has Sangria and iced tea written all over it. $32.99

Maybe my favorite of them all is this Meyer Lemon Pitcher from Williams Sonoma Home. I love the lemon image and the vintage enamel ware styling. $45.99

And for those of you that love margaritas as much as you do iced tea, this Tequila Sunrise Pitcher is for you. The color combo makes it easy to mix with any table setting decor. $43.99

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Since we’re on the subject of iced tea, here are a couple of my favorite summertime iced tea recipes you might want serve up in your pitcher.

Since I grew up on the west coast, I didn’t acquire a taste of iced tea until I moved to the South but I must say, summers wouldn’t be the same without it.

The Magic of Magnolia Market

April 11, 2016

Like many of you, I too have become a big fan of the HGTV design show Fixer Upper and Chip and Joanna Gaines. There is just something magical in the way they can transform a worn down house into a charming, personality filled home and make it look as easy as a summer afternoon in the south.

Since the odds of being on Fixer Upper or hanging out with Chip and Joanna are pretty slim, the next best thing for getting a little Magnolia magic is to visit their retail store in Waco, TX. I was thrilled when I got the chance to do just that at the beginning of the month.

Magnolia Market and the silos is a magical place. You can feel it the minute you enter the downtown area of Waco and begin to see the traffic building as the silos loom in the near distance.

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Product + Inspiration: Apothecary Jars

April 7, 2016

via

Apothecary Jars got their claim to fame back in the day on the shelves of doctor’s offices and in drugstores where they held medicines and health products. They were looked as a purely a fictional item that held precious contents that people needed to live and survive.

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Fast forward to today where Apothecary Jars have become a popular decorative accessory and can be found as a decorative statement in just about every room in the home. Not only has the use of Apothecary Jars changed over the years, so has the look and style.

Decorative jars today are bigger and more decorative and are designed so they you can easily get items in and out of them and that make they great for decorating in different ways.

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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…