The Fall show is almost here!

Changes.....

Hi everyone...so sorry for the lack of news on our blog, but we are working on a new website!! We will let you know we are in full planning mode for the Fall show, coming up October 18-19th in Colorado City, Texas! Super excited about this show, as our very special guest is Fancy Smith, of Weston, Missouri.

Fancy is a born & bred Texan who now lives in the heart of the Midwest, just outside of Kansas City in a little tourist town called Weston, Missouri. After attending Texas A&M, and a couple of corporate stints, Fancy made a leap and opened her own shop, Cactus Creek.

Cactus Creek has been in several locations since Fancy launched the business almost 13 years ago but is finally in the best location yet, a 100 year old building on Main Street in Weston, Missouri. The shop offers Rustic * Western * Vintage Furniture, Cowhides, Art, Antiques, Home Accessories, Gifts, Jewelry, SALVAGED goods & more. Fancy and her three young sons live in the apartment above the shop, fondly known as their "shopartment."

Fancy loves to travel all over the country finding new people & new things to love, and then taking them back to the place she loves, Weston MO. Fancy and her store, Cactus Creek, have been featured in Cowboys and Indians Magazine, and she has also appeared on "Picked Off" on the History Channel, along with her friends from Junk Mafia!

Make plans now to come to the show!!

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!

 

 

 

 

 

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!