HYACINTHS FOR THE SOUL

Sunday, October 29, 2017

Autumn in New York ~ It is So Inviting!

friendship

Autumn in New York is always inviting, and especially

so when one is meeting up with a group of friends.

Yes, after more than two years into the series,

Tales of the Traveling Tote,

the girls behind the totes decided to meet up in the Big Apple

and finally meet each other in person.

Seven of the nine of us made the trip,

traveling from California, Texas, Alabama,

Connecticut, Massachusetts, and upstate NY.

It was a weekend to remember!

First up ~ Friday evening @ Fonda in Chelsea.

Each of us arrived in the city at different times through the week,

so a few of us got a head start with Friday Happy Hour.

It's amazing how this group easily connected as if we

had known each other for a life time.

Saturday morning, the girls and totes all converged

for brunch @ The Russian Tea Room.

Clockwise From Left

Sarah @ Hyacinth for the Soul

Katie @ Preppy Empty Nester

Linda @ Life and Linda

Debbie @ Mountain Breaths

Patti @ Pandora's Box

Emily @ The French Hutch

The Birthday Girl

Linda @ More Fun Less Laundry

Jenna @ The Painted Apron and Rita @ Panoply

were definitely with us in spirit.

Look for more about this beautiful

venue in the next Traveling Tote series.

After brunch, Katie was off to the theatre,

but the rest of us headed to our favorite NY store.

~ MacKenzie-Childs @ 20 West 57th Street ~

We were warmly greeted by Greg and Roz.

This duo was expecting us and graciously arranged for champagne

and sweet treats upstairs in the beautiful mezzanine area,

serving us on our favorite dishes.

The girls of the Traveling Totes have been cyber friends for years,

and it was truly heartwarming to see how easily and

smoothly we melded into real time.

You would have thought we all had been life long friends.
As Winnie the Pooh said,
"As soon as I met you, I knew an adventure was going to begin!"

An adventure it was! Even some of the
Men Behind the Totes

joined in on the fun time in NYC.

Needless to say, MacKenzie-Childs is like nirvana,
the idyllic shop that makes us happy!

Shopping with these girls is the best!

"The best things in life are the people you love, the places
you've been, and the memories you've made along the way."

Thank you, Traveling Tote Gals, for a magical
and fun time in NYC!

Let the adventures continue!

Joining

Dishing It and Digging It @ Life and Linda Mosaic Monday @ Normandy Life
Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House

The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Show and Share @ Coastal Charm Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life
Share Your Style @ Vintage Nest Vintage Charm @ My Thrift Store Addiction, Foodie Friday and Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Autumn Traditions, A Blog Tour

antiques

HOWDY, Y'ALL!

I'm joining a group of Texas bloggers for our annual Fall Blog Tour.

Last year I shared fall Texas style around my home. You can view that post here.

Touches of fall added here and there around the house are a nod to my favorite season of cooler temps and the earthy colors that I'm drawn to.

Today's post is more about favorite fall traditions that I thought I'd share with my readers.

If it's fall in Texas, that means it's time for me to head on over to the beautiful area around Round Top, Texas for the annual Antiques Festival.

Photo ~ roundtopantiques.com
Big Red Barn ~ The Show That Started It All

This year was the Golden Anniversary of the antiques show that started the incredible phenomenon of the biannual Round Top Antiques Festival.

Two favorites I left behind.
I admit that I haven't been attending for fifty years, but I can

certainly say I shopped Emma Lee Tourney's original show at the Riffle Hall in the 1980s when it was the solo venue.

Gorgeous Display of Copper and Staffordshire Pieces
Over the years the original show grew, eventually moved to it's current location at the Big Red Barn, and spawned hundreds of other antique venues which open around the same time.

The Garden Company, Marburger Farm
Marburger Farm is one of those shows, and it's a favorite.

I wouldn't miss this show! There are over 350 unique dealers from across the US and Europe, and all offer quality antiques and

vintage finds. Each space is styled with amazingly original and creative vignettes, tablescapes, and displays, all there to inspire.

Cottonseed Trading Company Main Display
One of my favorite vendors is Cottonseed Trading Company from Alabama. Marsha and David Smith are the creative duo behind the incredible visual treats one finds when visiting their space.
Last year most of their booth was sold out within
hours after the show opened.

Cottonseed Trading Company Tablescape
Each show Marsha sets several creative and inspiring tables.
Click here to see a post on one of her spring tables from years past.

More Gorgeous Copper For My Chef
Yes, shopping Marburger is a unique experience,
one that reminds me of shopping the wonderful
antique markets in France and the UK.

Another tradition is the annual purchase of bittersweet and pumpkins. These seem to signal that fall has arrived, and that it's time to add those special fall touches to our home.

This year I added bittersweet to my MacKenzie-Childs three tiered stand, topping off each Courtly Check planter with a baby boo.
The Heirloom Needlepoint Pumpkins are the creative offerings from SM Wollman Designs sold online here.

This darling pumpkin from my friend Patti @ Pandora's Box
is the perfect touch in my home. If you click over to Patti's link above, you'll see lots of fall inspiration in her home.