The Prairie by Rachel Ashwell • Round Top, TX

by | Jan 6, 2015 | Stay

On The Crush List because

Santa Monica, New York, San Francisco, London, Tokyo, Round Top

theprairiebyrachelashwell.com

Prairie Chandelier

Round Top is famous.  Sort of.  In certain ways.

Way one:  Anyone who’s anyone knows about the Antiques Show. And from what I’m hearing, pretty much every one of those anyones is going to be coming to the Spring Show this year. (I’m thinking of spearheading a fundraiser for the construction of a charming Segway/rollerblade/electric bike/rickshaw trail along Hwy 237; holler if you want to be on my committee).

Way two:  The completely adorable Junk Gypsy TV stars really do live here all the time, not just when their camera crew is around. We all love y’all!

Way three:  Festival Hill.  It may seem like a hidden gem if you’re just now discovering it, but the musical elite from around the world have been admiring James Dick’s magnificent gift to Round Top for decades.

Way four:  Pie.

Way five: This is a 100-way tie among a whole host of Shakespeareans, artists, artisans, galleries, writers, collectors, cowboys, musicians, ranchers, historians and more.  You know who you are.

Tucked into the top of that list of What Makes Round Top Famous should be, of course, The Prairie by Rachel Ashwell. Yes, that Rachel Ashwell, inventor of Shabby Chic. Famous for sure.

Prairie Tower

Prairie Swing

The Prairie settee

The Prairie’s country luxe vibe feels gracious and gentle and rather Englishy, but there’s also a low hum of California cool around the place, all topped off with the sweet twang of Texas. If you’re there during the show, sign the guest book in the Rangers Lounge, but then go peek in the Pearl Barn.  That’s where Rachel and her team store their found treasures before they’re carted away to Tokyo and New York and beyond.

Prairie Bride's Room

Prairie Twin Beds

Prairie Goods

Here’s my list of TPbRA Don’ts.  Don’t visit Round Top without scooting up for a look see.  Don’t forget your camera.  Don’t get married anywhere else. Don’t miss any event Rachel invites you to even if it’s just because you follow her on Facebook and you’re not sure you’re supposed to go. You are! And finally, don’t forget to pick up a set of whisper linen pillow cases while you’re there. Even better, order a Liliput Ottoman in her best of the best yummy amethyst velvet.

Prairie Liliput upstairs

Prairie Greenhouse

Prairie Guest Book

Graham Harmon Art • Warrenton

by | Dec 29, 2014 | Antiques Week, Shopping

On The Crush List because…

Isn’t every decor mixologist looking for that perfect mid-century art garnish?

www.g-harmon.com

Harmon Cockscomb

Harmon Fish

As y’all know, there’s shopping and there’s buying.  I’m a big, big shopper, but I get pretty scrawny when it comes to buying. I try to be especially careful not to overspend at each Antiques Show, but my well intentioned No Purchase Policy usually surrenders to a modest acquisition or two, which is still more than I have room or need for.  Here’s what I bought last show, in its booth and on my wall.

Harmon Bluebonnet

IMG_2352

No regrets, right?  I spotted another great piece that I saw in Lynette’s booth in its forever home, the lounge area over at the Round Top Ballroom aka the fantastic Recycling the Past warehouse/event space.

Harmon Boats

RTP Sofa

G. Harmon served up some wonderful  lobsters and crabs and other assorted still lifes.  I’m also mad for his brown leather chair.  He didn’t just hang around the house though; check out his streetscapes. They’re so sooty and confining and loud.

Harmon Wide street

Harmon Street Scene

 Here’s a parade of pieces Lynette brought to the 2015 Big Red Barn Winter Show.

Harmon Green Bottles

Harmon Purple

Harmon Yellow Lineup

Harmon Bottle of Wine

Harmon Crab

Harmon Wide

And finally there are his clowns.  What is it about clowns that feels so completely 1967?  Well, in reading Smithsonian Mag’s historical recap of the clown as both a cheery and downright terrifying character in our culture it does appear that, thanks to Clarabell and Ronald McDonald and of course, Bozo, clowns did have a strong mid-century uptick.  Since the 1980’s however, the killer clown appears to have taken over, resulting in reports of “a decline of attendees at clown conventions or at clowning workshop courses.”  Good thing no one told the Brooklyn Juggler.

Harmon three clowns