3 weeks away!

Brunch, with Binky, in Ballinger!

We are so thrilled to announce that Binky Morgan is going to be our special guest at the Ballinger show!!  Binky, and her husband Ron Anderson, are owners of a funky antique co-op named, Binky La Faye, in beautiful Llano, Texas. 

 

 

 

Photos from Binky La Faye Blog

 

Binky herself is an internationally known artist and designer.  In addition to designing her own line of flea-market inspired jewelry, she also designs amazing hats for the London based company, Johnnie Loves Rosie.   She has also authored a book, Flea Market Jewelry, that helps to teach others how to create their own unique jewelry from vintage and thrift store finds.  We recently had the chance to ask her some questions and want to share that interview with you!

 

Tell us about a little bit yourself and your family?
For 8 generations both sides of my family have lived, loved and created in Llano County. We have strong ties to the land, to the Creator and to each other. I live in an 1890's house that sits on a little hill only blocks from the town square and that was fortunate enough to retain it's outbuildings. My daughter and 2 precious grandsons live just a few doors down. I feel so very fortunate that I get to be so involved in their lives.

 
Where you artistic as a child?
As far back as I can remember I have enjoyed creating. Both of my Grandmothers were creative as well as both of my parents. I think a lot of what they created they did so out of necessity. I'm grateful that my parents and grandparents instilled in me a desire to create, a joy of making something out of nothing. I have also been drawn to antiques and objects with a history since I was a little girl
 
 
What sparked your creative spirit?

I believe we all have a creative spirit. Whether it's creating relationships, great meals, or just being a genius with numbers, really in everything we do we are creating. So to answer your question I think that for me, just like for everyone the spark is ignited by the desire to imitate the Master who does it all so perfectly.
 

How did you get started with your business in Llano?

We decided to come back to Llano in 2004. We had been in Austin for a few years but my Grandparents were getting older and needing some help and our first Grandchild was a year old. We wanted to help care for my Grandparents and raise our Grandson in the "country". We had sold our vintage clothing store and we were designing lighting and home decor for Carol and Tim Bolton's furniture showroom in Highpoint, North Carolina. I have bought and sold antiques since I was 16 and the opportunity arose for us to acquire an antique co-op here in Llano. Funny thing is Ron was all about it but I was very hesitant to take on that extra responsibility. But of course it has turned out to be a great thing and I'm very grateful that Ron persuaded me to go ahead with it.

 
What are some of your favorite things to do in your spare time?

I love creating, whether it is something tangible like the jewelry, pillows, lighting and re-imagined furniture I make for our shop Binky la Faye, or creating memories with Echo and Epic by playing lively games of checkers and chess or making double chocolate fudge cupcakes with sprinkles. And I love the walks Ron and I take in the evenings. Seeing the slow changes that Nature creates throughout the year is really fascinating. We take a pouch full of doggie treats and each dog in the neighborhood now jumps with excitement when they see us coming.
 
Tell us a bit about your book......Flea Market Jewelry.
Jo Packham approached me about doing a book back in 1999. It was great fun experimenting with different ways to repurpose and remake vintage jewelry. I'm still making jewelry from vintage elements, the look has changed some but the concept is still the same.
  
Tell us about your hats for the company "Johnny Loves Rosie" please.....

Mary Rose Monroe , the owner of Johnnie loves Rosie has been a friend for years. She has been so gracious to allow us to stay in her darling London flat on several occasions when we visited the U.K. I had helped her decorate the guest room in her flat and on various other small projects. She asked me to design a line of hats for her wholesale company in 2010. The hats are all made by hand here in the U.S. I use things such as vintage ties, old lapel pins, vintage pocket watches, bits of silk and lace patchworked into a hat band. We introduce news styles twice a year.  


Ever had an encounter with a celebrity?

I have had several celebrity sightings, I partied with Quintin Terentino and there are many people that I consider to be celebrities that I hang out with on a regular basis. After all aren't we all celebrities in our own way?
 

Please join us for our Early-Bird shopping event, Brunch with Binky, for the chance to meet this incredible woman!  The Brunch will kick off our show on Friday, April 12th from 9:00am till 12:00pm and you can purchase tickets by emailing us at whimsywarehouse@hotmail.com.  A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the historic Carnegie Library in Ballinger. 

 

 

We are back!

Sorry for the absence....we are working on getting our very own website! We are also gearing up for our Spring show, Whimsy at the Warehouse, coming up April 12th and 13th in Ballinger, Texas! It's going to be so much fun! You can apply on our Facebook page, or email us at whimsywarehouse@hotmail.com!

Crunch time?

It's crunch time here in Colorado City!  And no, not this kind of yummy Crunch either!

 

 

This is the week that it all gets done, after months and months of planning, this week actions speak much louder than words!!   We will be meeting to mark off the barns, get them cleaned out, final arrangements with radio and newspapers are being done and all systems are go for what we know will be an incredible show here in Colorado City! 

 

This is Mary, our vendor coordinator for the Fall show.  Her days have been spent sending out vendor applications, answering emails and rearranging arranging the vendors on the map.  She will be the friendly face in the red apron greeting our vendors on Thursday and making sure all of their needs are met!

 

 

This is Janie (left) and Leeann....they are both heading up the "Brunch at the Barn" early-shopping event.  We are at full capacity for this show, 80 folks were clamoring to get in to meet our special guest, Irene Rawlings, and to get to shop before the gates open to the public at noon.  Their days have been filled with ordering Brunch gifts, answering emails and making list after list to ensure everyone is accounted for on Friday morning.  Leeann is also our Sister on the Fly Coordinator for this show, and has made all the arrangements for Irene Rawlings to be our very honored guest the show!

 

 

 

Cecilia has been working her magic on all of the decor for the show, and also is our Public Relations whiz!  Her days have been spent working on all of the decorations that make the Fairgrounds sparkle and shine, meeting with civic clubs and promoting our show! 

 

 

 

If your needing to find any of us at the show, just look for the gingham badges! 

 

 

We always get excited to see who all comes to the show, we enjoy meeting folks from all over Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and beyond.  We love seeing all the excitement on the faces of our shoppers when they will walk in the barn and see what awaits them.  It truly will be a magical weekend in Colorado City!   We do hope you have plans to come and join in the party! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspirator of the Heart.

When people read works that lift the spirit, they find rest and inspiration in a world too often filled with chaos and stress. And once in a while, you meet someone who has that incredible gift of inspiring others. Lara Blair is one of those inspirators.

 

Through her blog, Modern Prairie Girl, she shares her life, knowledge and experiences on a daily basis.  She encourages self-examination of goals, skills and possibilities.  Her willingness to share the raw truth inspires others to strive to be their very best.  Lara is also one of those inspirators who is an exceptional and caring friend.  We were lucky enough to have Lara bring all of her talents to our sparse West Texas Terrain and Petticoats on the Prairie after a chance encounter at a Portland vintage market.  She was our very special guest at our Spring 2011 show at Black Locust Farms.

 

 

It was inspiring to watch Lara doing what she loves, capturing the people and landscapes of West Texas, and making friends every step of the way. 

 

 

 

 

We were also able to share this amazing lady with others during a Photography Retreat held last January at the WindMill Ranch Preserve in Snyder, Texas.  Ladies (and 2 gentlemen) came to to learn about their cameras, but left with so much more. 

 

When I considered attending the Ignite the Heart retreat in West Texas, I thought I was going to learn how to use my camera on manual settings. I received so much more. Lara is more than a photography teacher; she is a teacher of the heart, an inspirer, an encourager, a business teacher, an artist, professor and now friend. I highly recommend attending the study ~ amateur or professional. There is truly something for everyone. Lara is a blessing and a delight!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Retreat was so incredible, Lara is doing it once again!  Today she is flying in to Lubbock and will be hosting yet another fantastic weekend of learning and sharing at the WindMill Ranch Preserve.  More self-exploration will be included as this will be one of her "Ignite the Heart" Retreats, mixing photography and mixed media art.  This event does indeed change lives, and we are thrilled to be a part of it. 

 

 

 

 

Lara Blair is many things-wife, mother, photographer, artist, writer, teacher, singer (even Elvis), an inspirator but most importantly to us, a dear friend.  She is truly unforgettable and her insightful words hang in your heart like a treasured portrait hangs on the wall.  We are grateful to have met this incredible woman, and can't wait for another magical weekend...stay tuned for all the details!

What's your idea of the perfect weekend?

Doesn't everyone love the weekends? I know we do...time to have some fun, spend time with your family and friends, and maybe make a garage sale or two. But one of our very favorite weekends of the year is just 23 days away. Yep, Petticoats weekend is almost upon us and we cannot wait!

Imagine your weekend, starting out on Friday morning with our "Brunch at the Barn" early shopping soiree.  You've gathered your best girlfriends and are soon enjoying a delicious brunch on the grounds!  Your then treated to a special presentation by Irene Rawlings.  Irene is a celebrated author and radio host and is our very special guest for this fall show.   She is probably best known for her book, Sisters on the Fly: Caravans, Campfires and Tales from the Road.  The Brunch has been extended by an hour, to give those dedicated buyers even more time to score some incredible finds before the doors open to the public at noon!  Tickets are almost sold out, so please email us at petticoatsontheprairie@hotmail.com to get yours today.

Very fitting, since we are thrilled to be an "official" Sisters on the Fly event this show!  Our relationship with the Sisters started at our very first show in the fall of 2010, with Beverly Ridenour and her fantastic trailer, Lizzie Blanche! 

"Lizzie Blanche" has undergone a pretty incredible makeover by L. Risor, an artist in Colleyville, Texas.  Her new look will be unveiled for everyone to see at our Fall Show.   We can share just a sneak peak, but you'll really need to come and see her in person!

We have since been joined by other Sisters at our shows and have really enjoyed the vintage element they add to the venue.  Ashley Crim, owner of Texas Trash Jewelry, joined our show in Waxahachie this past Spring, and her adorable vintage trailer was even featured in an article in Cowgirl Magazine, written by fellow SOTP Sherree Duncan. 

The spirit of the Sisters on the Fly is infectious.  In fact, three of the Rodeo Queens are now members of the adventurous organization.  Leeann Moore, Cat Geiger and most recently joining up with the Sisters was Janie Conley.   You will find out all about these women of Sisters on the Fly at our show, and be able to tour their magical vintage trailers! 

Of course, fantastic and unique shopping is always the biggest draw to a Petticoats show, and this Fall is no exception.  With over 65 vendors from Texas and New Mexico, we outgrew the barns and are renting a commercial tent to house even more goodies.  The best part of Petticoats weekend for us is meeting new vendors friends and getting to catch up with our veterans, too!  The show has antiques, vintage finds, clothing, cool junk, jewelry, repurposed items, handcrafted goods and something for everyone.  Food vendors are also on site, so when you get hungry after all that shopping, you don't have to go far! 

So, we have a feeling our idea of the perfect weekend might just coincide with yours!  Good friends, good food and shopping to our heart's content, all in one place.  Please make plans to come and see just why Petticoats on the Prairie was recognized as one of the Top Vintage Markets in the U.S. by Flea Market Style Magazine. 

Rural Women Rock!

We would like to introduce you to Kasse Duffy, the creative force behind Rural Women Rock, on online community that features inspiring rural women.  We love that Kasse is giving a voice to women around the world, allowing them to share their stories and helping rural women connect.

 

The Duffy family.

 

We are very excited to be featured on Kasse's blog today!  We encourage you to check her site out and also find her on Facebook, we think you will be inspired!  Here is our story that we shared with Kasse's readers.

 

 

What a beautiful day it is here in West Texas! We would like to send out a big thanks to Kasse for this chance to share our story with her readers. We appreciate and admire what Kasse is doing on Rural Women Rock!

First things first, as much as we would like to be, we are not actual Rodeo Queens. Brainstorming one night on what to call our little tribe, Mary mentioned how much she always wanted to be a Rodeo Queen and the title just stuck!

We are the producers of Petticoats on the Prairie, a Vintage Market here in the great state of Texas! We are a diverse group of women who were brought together by a mutual love of antiques, cool junk and shopping. Never in our wildest dreams did we think our event would take off the way it has, and we consider ourselves very blessed! The Rodeo Queens are Cecilia Scott, Janie Conley, Mary Smith, Leeann Moore and Cat Geiger.

 

Our very first show was held in the Fall of 2010, at the beautiful Black Locust Farm in Ira, Texas. We owe so much to the owner of this magical place, Fran Farmer. She believed in what we were doing and gave us the chance to share our dream with the rest of West Texas. Our goal was to create a very unique shopping venue that brought together the best of the past and the present. Our shows bring together incredible vendors with everything from junktiques and vintage clothing to homemade beef jerky (which is mighty good by the way!)

 

 

 

 

 

The best part of this journey has been the amazing, kind and talented people we have met along the way. Men and women who are living their own dreams, embracing the creative lifestyle and getting out there and making things happen for their businesses! We are truly inspired by each vendor we have ever had at our shows, and we realize we would not be able to do this without them. The Rodeo Queens do strive to make each vendor feel appreciated, welcome and valued, and they have blessed us in return. We often say we have the best vendors in the state of Texas, and that goes for our shoppers too. Many new and treasured friendships have been made in the last few years!

 

 

 

Time to meet my fellow Rodeo Queens....let's start with Cecilia.

 

 

 

Dale Evans was Cecilia Scott’s role model when growing up in West Texas. After high school, she headed to Texas Tech and graduated with a double major in Home Economics Education and Design. Cecilia taught home economics for three years, moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area and began working with builders on model homes and new construction interiors. She taught interior design classes at several Tarrant County College campus locations. Cecilia began a successful free-lance design business in residential design. Her work on the Ft. Worth Designer Showhouse to promote preservation in the Ft. worth area was her favorite project! After moving back to Colorado City with her husband, Tom, to live in a renovated church, she became the director of the downtown Main Street Program. Cecilia was one of the creative minds behind Junktique Jamboree, a successful shopping event for the downtown area. Cecilia’s focus is once again on her design projects, Rodeo Queen events, and Petticoats on the Prairie!

 

That brings us to Leeann.....

 

 

 

Leeann Moore lives on her 113 year old family farm where she grew up. She left for college and returned home often for visits with her family. In 1999, she returned to Texas after 34 years of living and rearing her children in Spokane, Washington. In 2004, she completed the return to her roots by moving back to the family farm from Dallas and in 2005 marrying Gene Kuhel. Leeann retired from a 42 year career as an elementary teacher and a university professor. Retirement just meant opening up time for things that she and Gene love to do: antiquing, attending estate sales and auctions, managing their book stores, running the farm, traveling, writing, and seeing their five children and their beautiful grandchildren. They love acquiring and restoring vintage trailers. Leeann is a member of Sisters on the Fly (#2011), a national association of women who hold gatherings with their vintage trailers.

And now for Janie Conley...

 

 

Janie Wooten Conley is a retired school teacher who taught for 30 years. She and her husband and“the cutest and sweetest dog in the whole-wide world” live in Big Spring, Texas. She is also the proud mother of two sons—William and Kyle. Once retired, she became involved in the formation of Petticoats on the Prairie. Janie inherited her love of antiques from her late mother, Betty Joe Wooten. She loves antiques and vintage collectibles that can be found in antique stores, estate sales, garage sales, and thrift stores. Going to Antiques’ Week in Round Top is one of her favorite things to do. Janie says that her absolute favorite thing about “junkin’” is meeting wonderful women from all over the United States.

 

Another one of our Queens is Mary Smith...

 

 

 

Rodeo Queen Mary Smith was born to a Sicilian mother and a Polish father and raised an Air Force brat. Returning from Greece, Mary landed in San Angelo, Texas, where she fell in love with everything western. After graduating from Angelo State University with a degree in Nursing, Mary packed her boots in her wagon (a 1980 yellow Camaro) and moseyed out to Colorado City, Texas where she currently resides. Known as “Nurse Mary” for 19 years at the Colorado schools system, Mary and her husband, Alan, now own and operate a local antique store, “What’s in Store”. Mary’s creative signatures are her innovative window displays and quick wit.

Finally, rounding out our group is Cat Geiger...

Cat Geiger is a 40-something wife and mother who makes her home in Westbrook Texas. Cat was born in San Antonio, raised in La Vernia, Texas and went off to study Communications and Psychology at Texas State University in San Marcos. Her husband Roy is a cotton farmer and supervisor at Sid Richardson Carbon Company. Their ten year old son, Will, is the light of their lives! She works at KVMC/KAUM Radio as a broadcaster and loves her job. Cat wears many hats at POTP, serving as our Marketing Director, Photographer and resident Graphic Designer. She confesses to being a "late bloomer" when it comes to her love of junking, but she is currently being trained by some of the best pickers in Texas. Cat is also proud to be Sister #2743 of Sisters on the Fly and is currently on the hunt for her own vintage trailer.

Apart from working on their shows, the Rodeo Queens managed to find the time and put together a cookbook in the Fall of 2011. It was a compilation of treasured recipes from their family and friends and we were all thrilled (and blessed) to have the cookbook sell out within a matter of months! We are so grateful to everyone who sent us recipes!

We would love to invite each of you to our upcoming show in Colorado City, Texas.

We are so happy to be teaming up with Sisters on the Fly and are also bringing Author Irene Rawlings to the show as our very special guest. The party is October 19th and 20th at the Mitchell County Fairgrounds and we would love to welcome you for 2 days of antiquing, visiting and fun!

Again, many thanks Kasse for allowing us to share a little bit of our history with your readers. You can find out more information on our Facebook page, and also on our blog at petticoatsontheprairie.blogspot.com. Wishing you all many blessings!

Happy Junking from the Rodeo Queens!

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