Every single thing in this booth out in the country belongs in an ultra-chic loft in the city. Or in your home, if you think you also belong in an ultra-chic loft in the city.
Eneby was the first place I saw a push for vintage gymnasium equipment. Two or three shows ago their booth was filled with those gorgeous wood and leather pommel horses that then showed up in every issue of House Beautiful and Elle Decor. If you’re wondering what you’ll be seeing everywhere next year, my money is on the chaise longue. (Yes, according to Wikipedia and those who know, that is the correct spelling.)
While we’re trending, I predict that the current popularity of vintage Hemlock apothecary bottles will inspire a rash of odd scientific models. Many around the show this spring are medical, but I prefer Eneby’s more tasteful botanical choices. At least I hope these are botanical.
On a final note: Victoria has her secrets. Ours may be slightly different.
The fashionable Pure Marfa booth reminded me of something I need to share: I forget to look at jewelry.
I’m not proud of the fact, it just is what it is. So remember as you look through The Crush List that you are seeing far less jewelry than actually exists in Round Top, both during the show and all year.
Fortunately, these Vintage Marfa Peso Necklaces did jump out amongst all the distractions (hey, huge stacks of knock off ghost chairs in the booth next door I’m talking about you). And the story behind them is kind of cool. They’re flattened pesos, inspired by the popular childhood pastime of flattening pennies on Marfa’s railroad tracks.
Obviously, if you want to be purely Marfa, quality leathergoods have got to get into the mix. I fell for the pair of stained glass style neo-geo vaguely Pendleton laser cut leather pillows.
This is my first ever sighting of a baton sales display. Yay! Where I come from everyone watching halftime knows the difference between the cheerleaders, the drill team, the color guard and the majorettes. I hope you do too. Beyond the field, competitive twirling is a super sport to follow. Do you know Karrissa Wimberley? If you have time, also look up her work with Fire Knives at the FSU games. Yay again!
And how about the fantastic not-found-in-nature colorway on this citrus chandelier below? Which brings up another The Crush List recipe courtesy of my young adult days living on Espanola Way in Miami Beach.
If you wake up super late on a hot Sunday, the perfect starter meal is a loaf of Cuban bread with canola spread or softened butter (your choice) and fresh squeezed grapefruit juice over ice with just a tiny splash of tequila.
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?
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.
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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