If you looked carefully during the Spring 2014 Antique Show, you surely spied a tufty new textile trend: The Vintage Turkish Tulu. Peeking through the over-dyed patchwork and silky suzanis, these scraps of fabric or pillows or rugs are ready to become one of the next big playthings for mid-century-modern-global decoristas everywhere.
To fill you in and make you an expert on the topic: The name Tulu means “long haired” and the rugs’ signature element is shiny angora goat hair that’s been dyed in earthy or vibrant colors. Turkish shepherds used these as sleeping mats, so feel free to think of them as rug/guest bed combos, especially if you’re outfitting an upscale yurt. Which apparently more and more of you are.
I love a color-on-color-on-color room aesthetic, but for now I think I prefer these brilliant whiskery rows of goat hair as pillows. Or wait, how about as upholstery on the back of a big old wing chair?
Do you find yourself incredibly inspired by all this shaggy goodness? You might want to contact Marilyn at The Screaming Shopper. She’s a Texan who lives in Turkey part-time, and she’ll happily be your guide through the markets of Istanbul.
If you go, will you write a Guest Crush post about your trip and maybe bring me back one or two small rugs?
To be honest, Barbara and Russell’s artistic talents are a little intimidating. Hand them pretty much anything-textiles, dyes, gold, silver, precious stones, everyday rocks, wax, wood, feather dusters, agave stalks, wasp wings-and try not to be amazed by the results.
Under the name Scattered Light, the couple has developed a devoted fan base for their original jewelry designs, especially their botanical charms, collage necklaces and custom wedding rings. Lucky for RT fans, Barbara and Russell recently opened Lark Spirited Giving, a completely chic and cheery gift shop in Bybee Square. You’ll find the jewelry there, along with a carefully curated selection of artisan chocolates, vintage barware, cards, books, and perfectly perfect gifts.
A sweet story: The name Scattered Light comes from Barbara’s childhood memories of hearing predictions of “scattered light showers.”
Sometimes RT is about breadth and sometimes it’s about depth. These folks go into pottery deep.
Singleton’s set-up at Renck Hall is a boothandahalfful of authentic antique pottery. Hundreds of spattered, etched, glazed, perfect and chipped pieces are displayed in shady warren of tables and shelves.
With such a special collection, it makes sense that Singleton moves over to Marburger for the last stretch of the show. Even in that competitive company, the booth is a stand-out for its sheer number of pieces and smart display. Love the peachy terra cotta that comes through in every photo.
The photos above are from Renck Hall and the ones below are Marburger. See what I mean about both being great spaces?
Here’s one of the many off-season traditions that make Round Top so much more than a semi-annual Antique Show. Each spring, Round Top organizes a Wine Fest and it’s just what it says. A fest. With lots and lots of wine. Your ticket buys you an empty glass and a map, and from there it’s your job to visit the dozen or so participating merchant/winery partnerships for a pour of their best. You sip a little, stroll a little and sip a little more. Please say you’re in for next May.
There’s music all day, from mellow saxophone in the afternoon to the town’s famous Black Cat Choirfor the loosened up evening crowd. The whole thing feels a little Edgartown, a little Beaver Creek & a little Charlevoix, with a hearty splash of gentleman rancher. And of course, it wouldn’t be a weekend in Round Top if you didn’t come across an outdoor wedding set-up in the works.
Isn’t it where everyone starts their Antiques Week shopping day?
Here’s something I didn’t know anything about: Tobacco felts, aka tobacco silks, aka tobacco flags. Apparently, about a hundred years ago, packs of cigarettes were wrapped in these little giveaways. Men did the smoking and women were encouraged to quilt the felts into blankets and coverlets.
Seems like a fantastic revival opportunity for some company that markets to craft-crazy maker-y hipsters. Are you listening American Apparel? PBR? Vilano? Dr. Bronner’s? Imagine free vintage-styled felts with every purchase. Then watch the backyard quilting clubs spring up. Then the acoustic grooves-to-quilt-by playlists. And the inaugural Felties Convention in Kreuzberg Berlin…
If you know me, you know that rug hooking is my hipster craft of choice and that I’ve lovingly created a few mediocre pieces over the years. So one of my favorite reasons to shop Clutter is because of its support for Charlotte Bell’s non-profit group, The Rug Hook Project. She helps folks from a village in Mexico market their hooked rug artworks. Don’t you need one for the back of your jean jacket?
The good news? You've discovered The Crush List. The not so good? I haven't been actively posting here for a few years now, which means the never terribly reliable details about my crushes are even more unreliable. Antique vendors have switched venues, shops in town have moved or passed on, donkeys may or may not be in the same front yards... In spite of the risks of massive misdirection I've left the site up in hopes that it still achieves its goal - to inspire you to visit Round Top for the Antiques Show or any time you have the time.
With that said, I leave you to explore this random list of my very favorite things about my very favorite place. I’ve tried to capture the area’s special pieces and parts. Some are big deal, some are small gestures, some are legendary and some are just tiny pip and squeak.
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Do you find yourself incredibly inspired by all this shaggy goodness? You might want to contact Marilyn at The Screaming Shopper. She’s a Texan who lives in Turkey part-time, and she’ll happily be your guide through the markets of Istanbul.
