Doin up Dallas .......

Well Kelly and I arrived in Dallas to an empty showroom. We knew we had 5 days to pull together a showroom for market. So we did have alot of "proppage" this is what we call "props".
We go "Proppin", instead of "shoppin" when we get into town. Just look at this big open space....YIKES!!!!


after a little architectural interest is addded it started looking like "home" to us. It was getting that wonderful flea market feeling we feel so comfortable in.

If you have never been to Texas in the summer then let me just tell you its H*O*T.... This is an example of an apple that I brought with me to work. I left one in the car, and the other one was in a bag we brought to work........Can you tell it is LITERALLY a baked apple. I mean it was cooked. It was actually hot to the touch when I picked it up and as mushy as it could be........I couldnt believe it....so YES it is hot in texas in the summer. Pack a lunch and leave it in your car to cook, then by lunch it will be ready....who needs a microwave anyway?

This is an architectural piece that we thought would add some interest to the drab entrance into the office, and soon to be kitchen.

Okay, I always say you can make it happen. Well with that in mind I could NOT leave these treasures behind at a hidden flea market that we just so luckily stumbled upon. I know, I know....dont you just hear the "Sanford and Son" theme song playing in the background.

Okay , Then there is that little issue that I want to have live plants in the showroom for market week. These weeping trees were just the ticket. You know that song......The ant that cant etc...etc....well...l.l.l.l.l.l I just HAD to get them....at such a closeout price of 17 bucks a piece, I was NOT leaving without them...I figured we were only 6 miles from the mart building and I will just drive with my flashers on.....I wished we had two cars so Kelly could drive in front of me with the yellow flashers and a sign that said "Wide Load". Anyway with my right tires scraping the curb and the left side hanging clear into the other lane, we did make it back to market....although Kelly had her sunglasses on hoping noone would recognize her.

It is starting to look alot like home. We found that great old screen door for our storage room, and the row of childs desks is soooooo cute, and hard to get into I might say, but it is so worth the look....you know what I say, Form BEFORE function.

I had to bring the carriage to Texas for Petes sake.......and the horse is an antique saddlery display horse with cast iron legs, and let me tell you , he weighs a TON.

The Peacock Antique sign is sentimental....it is the sign from my antique store in Michigan. Kelly dug it out of the dirt behind the building, and said "Look what I found !" I LOVE IT>

Look at how good the new wall is in the office....luv luv luv it.

Here is the metal facade that I found in Round Top last spring....it has its new home. We created a little garden area around it.

Well, Kelly and I were working away, and actually saying how hungry we were when we got a phone call. It was our dear dear dear freinds Todd and Charlie. They are the owners and creators of a wildly successful home decor business called "Park Hill Collection". I am sure you have seen their products somewhere around your town. They are a wonderful.

Well, anyway, they say........come down in 5 minutes. (there showroom is 2 floors below us).

When Kelly and I got off the escalator we smelled garlic, and said to each other, you have to be kidding, it smells fabulous. After days of eating fast food, cookies, or anything that takes the pain out of your stomach , to be spoiled with a wonderful "sit down " meal was pure luxury.......

Now let me tell you....these two never, I repeat Never miss a detail....just look at this sit down dinner complete with candlelight.....I am so blessed to call them my friends.

Oh, yes, water in mason jars, and of course a raspberry.....

Doesnt this look great !! all artwork, dishes and furnishings are all part of their line.

Okay back to reality, we have alot of work to do.....

It looks like an old garage door, but it is just panels of metal that I brought with me from home, and ran them horizontally instead of the usual vertical.

This is the makings of the garden area.

This is an incredible store front from a perfumerie in Paris. I had intentions to put it as a room divider inside my home, but I never have, so I thought it would make a great entrance into the showroom. There was quite a bit of interest in it, so I am not sure how long it will stay there, as we sell most the antiques that we put in our showrooms, and the stores come early to tag the ones for them.

Something about top hats and old bodyforms that I love.

There is Brian in the background....Mr. Talent. He helped me build in all the big stuff. If you ever need someone to hire for build out, hes your go to guy. It is so nice to explain what you want to do, and have them understand what you want, and not think your nuts because its just alot of old junk.

This is one of my newest items in the line....It is suede printed in french labels. There is a throw or wall hanging and pillows to go with......Oh, I love the smell of suede.

One of my personal favorites is my "paper paradise" it is alot of items recreated using antique scraps reciepts, and emphera. Lanterns wreaths, roses ribbons and more......I love the color palette.

This is an amazing pony is an antique that I dragged up from a Michigan Antique Show.

I am posting this from my hotel room in Atlanta, we are just finishing up the Atlanta show and it has been a grueling but fun market here as well. I hope you enjoyed the tour of Dallas, and I will promise you that I will get the Atlanta showroom tour posted as soon as I can catch my breath....

As usual I appreciate all your questions and comments. Thanks for reading my ramble......

xo

Gina