I visited Chotsie and Willem’s new Blue Hills booth on Saturday and took a few fresh photos to update my original post. As always, the refinement of their handmade pieces stood out. I hope you get there soon because they almost always sell everything they bring – I’m wishing I’d given in to temptation and snaffled a golden fruit while I was there.
What if you put these on the wall behind your bed for a faux poster effect?
Here’s why I’m torturing you. Since the days of the old, considerably less swanky Weikels, it has been the only place I stop for necessities and provisions on my way out for a day of antiquing at the show. I’m not sure what you’ll need, but my list includes a pre-emptive potty, a half sweet half unsweet tea from the fountain drink area, 3 or 4 bottles of Ozarka water, a pack of roasted almonds, and as many baked goods, including kolaches and pigs-in-the-blanket and honeybees, as I can afford. And FYI, if someone is picking up your kid from school or letting your dog out while you’re off in Round Top for the day, a bag of Weikel’s Texas Trash Snack Mix makes a nice little thank you.
Now I hear that while coming up 71 from Houston, you can accomplish the same at Hruskas, but I’m never coming from Houston so I’ll have to take your word for it.
Recycled, reprocessed, reclaimed, recovered, reused… it’s all here by the highway in a group of buildings and gardens that are completely off the grid. Like the ICM, I could go on forever trying to describe the wonders of the place. Hopefully the photos capture its spirit and encourage you to pull in next time you’re driving between Round Top and Houston.
It starts with the non general general store.
And then behind the store, past the water gardens and the greenhouses and the solar electricity conversion room and the very nice composting toilets, is the art gallery. I have some of Aunt Dottie’s work as part of my collection of Outsider Art.
Sometimes you go to an antique shop and you see a thing or two that you’d like to put in your family room. Other times you find an antique shop that you want to be your family room.
And you want the little camper boy photographer to be your brother. Or maybe not. But you definitely want his vintage camera collection.
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.
Love The Crush List? Please Subscribe! You’ll get a weekly email with an extra image and a link to the new posts. Nice!
