Warrenton in Review, Part 1....

Dumb blonde confession right up front:
About 60 miles down the road, I realize that yes,
I've brought my fancy schmancy digital camera, but that no,
I've left the rechargeable batteries at home. Just great.
So we picked up a couple of disposable cameras at H.E.B.
(to you non-Texans, that'd be the greatest grocery store chain on God's green earth),
and I vowed to just make do.

Here's the skinny if you're new to all this talk of Warrenton... here and here.

My booth space opens up in just 6 days, and this was only a one day trip.
The mission at hand was to cover as much acreage as possible
and score some really good deals to stock my booth.

Mission accomplished on both counts!

My wonderful workhorse of a huband gallantly pushed my
Wonder Wheeler all day long, made numerous trips to the car
to unload treasures, all the while remaining good natured and tireless.
Methinks he's a keeper. Oh, and it's his birthday today! Happy Birthday, Sweetheart!

There's so much to share, so let's just get to it.

Oh, and if I post a pic and don't credit you or your shop,
please, please forgive me! I can match most of the pics with the right dealer,
but hey, I'm the idjit that forgot the batteries, remember?

First up, here's a pic of me and the oh-so-fab Theresa of Garden Antqs Vintage.

She's set up right outside Zapp Hall, and for my money, 

she has some of the very best merchandise I saw all day. 

She is an absolute master with display and setting up vignettes. 

I'm only sorry that my accursed $5 camera didn't capture all the shots 

I snapped. I did manage to get a nifty shot of one of her girls, though....

Theresa was there with her husband Cruz, 

and I was instantly met with warm hugs of recognition. Good people.

I was fortunate enough to get to meet several other blogging buddies, 

each one just as nice and genuine as I'd imagined.

Between Royer's Cafe and Zapp Hall, 

Mindy from Primitiques 'n Poetry is set up.

Isn't she just the cutest little thing?

She's another master artiste from my must-go-see destination shop,
Winnie and Tulula's. This is her first trip to the big show,
but you'd never know it from a quick tour of her tent. Wow....

Girl's got mad skills.

I purchased this sweet little silver vase and platter from Miss Mindy...

She and her boyfriend David, who endeared himself to me 

always and forever when he gave me a furniture painting tutorial, are a great team. 

He's a pro-photog, so check her blog for more pics. 

He was snapping away, and it's a safe bet that his shots look better than mine.

Just to the left of Zapp Hall and within shouting distance of Theresa's tent 

is the awesomely awesome Troy from Junk Exchange.

 I think I remember him telling me this was his first trip to Warrenton, 

but I'm sure it won't be his last. His tent was always packed, 

and he and his partner Rod make you feel at home the moment you meet them.  

Look at the pretties I acquired from Mr. Rash...

Look at that darling nightstand! And ya know what else? 

He has some of the best prices I came across.

Ironstone I scored from Troy. My momentary nemesis Theresa 

was scoping out the Ironstone while I was there. 

I put her in a headlock and walked away with the spoils. 

(kidding, of course. Theresa is a doll).

Random Warrenton Awesomeness...

Right about now, I need to head outside and start cleaning some junk.
Booth opens up in T-minus 6 days,
and I bought a ridiculous amount of stuff.

I have way more pictures to share than I have time,
so please pop in all this next week for LOTS more pics
from my all-too-short day at Warrenton, and for the scoop on Debbie, Cat Daddy, and lots more!

One more thing, if you like my apron, please visit my friend Bunnie at
Apron Unlimited. She made mine, and it got raves in Warrenton.
She'll be more than happy to make you one, too.
~ Anne

Warrenton bound

Where you can find me 

in just under 10 hours from now.

Yee! Haw!

Full report to follow...

The Sandman Awaits....

Yes, I swore that Fiona & Twig, both the blog and the shop,
would never ever feature any cutesy cat tchotchkes
or cat-themed anything (even though my biz/blog is named after two cats).

I have a dangerously low threshold for cutesy.

But I've been sitting on these photos for nigh on a month now,
determined that someway, somehow, I was going to post pics
of my four-legged daughter Winnie in her little antique kitty bed.
And of course, in so doing, not jeopardizing my blog cred
as a cynical, sardonic voice railing against the cutesy.

Blame it on the paint fumes, or all the recent late nights cleaning and pricing
and plotting and planning my booth opening next weekend....
when fatigue sets in, my brain shuts down.
Less synapses firing = less verbosity. So win-win!

You don't have to muddle through another rambling excursion into my pysche,
PLUS you get to ooooh and awwww over precocious kitty pics.

Off to bed now. Say goodnight, Winnie.

Everything you nevah wanted to know about me!

I'd been noticing these Honest Scrap buttons
on some bloggers sidebars, but I didn't really know
what that was all about until my most talented blogging buddy
Marian of Mustard Seed Creations was kind enough to pass this award on to me.
Thank you, Marian!
If you haven't checked out her incredible blog,
you really should. She is a painter extraordinaire.

Sooooo......now comes honesty time.

I am to share 10 honest factoids about myself, pride be damned.

Okie dokie, here goes.

1. I am a spoiled only child. That much is self-evident.
2. I am a spelling bee champion and a spelling snob. If you ever catch me misspelling a word, please mock me mercilessly. Typos don't count.  :-P
3. I am half Danish and half French. The Danish side of me is descended from King Christian of Denmark.
4. I am addicted to Flaming Hot Cheeto's.
5.  I collect Humpty Dumpty's.
6.  I converted to Catholicism 11 years ago, and I love Christ and my Church.
7. My dream job would be to sing the role of Fantine in "Les Miserables."
8. I am an unabashed cat person who unexpectedly fell head-over-heels in love with her two Siberian Huskies.
9. I eat soup right out of the saucepan. Why dirty a soup bowl? (hangs head in shame, Martha Stewart I am not).
10. I love antiques, design, and the idea of having my very own shop, but if one BIG thing came from this whole blogging experience, it would be that I was somehow "discovered" and asked to contribute to a magazine as a writer. Journalism is my first love.

It will be my honor to share the love and pass the Honest Scrap award on,
but factoid #11....I'm up to my eyeballs in projects today,
so I will save that for a decidedly less frantic time!

Again, if you visit no other blog today, please pay
Marian, little Miss Prissy Pants Master Painting Diva a visit.
She is da bomb and the real deal when it comes to being a painting superstar.

Now, off to tackle more vexing painting projects of my own!

Happy White Wednesday!

XOXO,

Anne

Rate My Junk, Tuesday Edition.....

Welcome one and all to the decidedly
white trash version of HGTV's  Rate My Space!

This is a follow-up to yesterdays post wherein I bragged shamelessly
about all the swell swag I confiscated for my booth.

Ready for some more gloating AND the opportunity
to tell me just exactly what you think of my finds without impunity??

Alrighty then, let's get goin'!

First up:

Awesomely creepy little girl doll! Not creepy enough, you say?

Hmmmm, okay, tough audience....

Here's some of her kin just down the way:

Now that's what I'm talkin' about!

You know the whole decorating-with -creepy-doll-heads thing 

we've all been doing forever?

Ever wonder what happened to the rest of said dolly?

Well, wonder no longer! 

Fiona and Twig considers it our civic duty to answer these 

vexing questions which keep you awake at night. Here they be!

Oh my stars, you guys would've gone into an apoplectic fit 

if you'd toured this fab Field of Junk Dreams with me yesterday!

Where oh where to begin?

Feast your eyes....

What the hey??!!

Stroller for 4?

Kiddie-park ride?

No child restraints/seatbelts?

Wheeeee!!!!!

In keeping with our slightly macabre kiddie theme, 

walk another row over and you are met with this:

Do you have to ask twice if I'm going back for this???

And just in time for Halloween, too.

I'm wondering if the genteel locals are going to "get" my 

Curious Sofa-esque Halloween vignette?

Round the corner and all of this 

is pretty much ripe for the taking (dirt, dirt cheap prices!):

I'm in serious love with the garden lounger and birdcage.

As per yesterdays post, I'm breaking up my plentious finds 

from this weekend into several posts, but here's something 

on the more kid-friendly end of the spectrum.

Look y'all, it's Muff's Toybox!!!

Beats me who "Muff" is, but Aunt Jane and Uncle Scottie 

sure did think he was swell...

If I divulged just how cheaply I procured this toy box, 

you might just have to resort to calling me naughty names, 

so let's just say it was decidedly non-spendy and leave it at that.

Coming up on my next edition of Rate My Junk:

Life, Death and a Foe Defeated.

Clear as mud?

Good. I loves me a cliffhanger.  ;-)

'Night All,

Anne

Lock and load, baby....

I'm thisssss close to being ready to stock my booth.

Today was like junking nirvana. Seriously.
The capricious junking gods, with whom I have a decidely love/hate relationship,
were smiling down upon me today.

I've been stressing about not having enough big pieces to stock my booth,
but today's finds put those fears to rest.

I have at least a weeks worth of posts AND pictures
just about todays extraordinary purchases alone,
but due to the fact that I'm pretty much toast right now,
I'm only gonna give you a quick peek and rundown.

We hit Trade Days in Fredericksburg,
which is sort of the local mini-version of First Mondays in Canton.
I met a terrific gal named Effie, who will be set up in Bar W Field at Warrenton.
We chatted for quite some time,
and I was totally jazzed to pick up
these two joined theatre seats from her for $20.

Aren't these just ridiculously cool?

Safe at home!

She has loads more, and not only that,
but she recently purchased the entire contents
of an old small town pharmacy building! How cool is that?
I think I'm staying friends with this chica! We exchanged info,
and she's going to show me the best spots to get rock-bottom deals
while in Warrenton next week.
Wow, did I just say next week???
Should we all just let out a big collective squeal?!

I picked up a gorgeous white dresser w/mirror
which will go over huge with the shabby chic crowd.
I also pretty much stole a vintage 1910 white wicker babies crib
which had been marked down to a ridiculously low price.
Pictures to follow when I go back and pick it up on Tuesday.
Add to that a few roadside finds (including a killer desk)
and about a dozen more Trade Days acquisitions,
and this Texas gal is ready to pack it in and call it a day.

Lots and lots of pictures to follow next week once I refuel and recharge.

Hope your weekend was blessed beyond belief!

Until next time,

Anne

A Heartfelt Thank You....

Sometime this afternoon, my humble little blog
picked up its 50th follower.

(psssst, don't tell anybody, but I'm actually lost! follow me at your own peril!)

It amazes me every day when I sign on and see 

the kind comments you have left for me....the handy dandy tips, 

the generous support, the tireless encouragement, 

even a little hand-holding when I need it.

What an amazing community this is!

I know in the grand scheme of things, and compared to many of you, 

the number 50 might seem small, 

but I genuinely feel that each person who visits my blog 

and deems me worthy of following is God-sent.

I take none of you for granted.

I've only been at this blogging business about a month, 

but I just wanted to thank you all for making me feel not only welcome, but like family.

Have a blessed weekend!

Anne

This post was edited to remove

any photos not taken by myself, Anne Lorys.