It’s my favorite holiday too! I love the spring antique show! Bluebonnets will be in bloom. The weather is unpredictable, BUT IT’S NOT HOT. Excitement blows with the wind as trailers packed with treasures begin to ascend upon our beautiful countryside. I’m convinced that even the birds are singing about it. What I look forward to THE MOST is visiting with friends who make their bi-annual pilgrimage to Texas to shop for their stores, find out what’s new in design trends and to be inspired by a creative community.
Flown The Coop will kick off our show March 16th and run through April 1st. We’ll be open 9am – 6pm daily. This spring we’ll host a St. Patty’s Day Karaoke Party in the back yard on March 17th 7:30pm. The Kountry Karoake Chick will bring her show to our back yard stage. Bad Girl BBQ will be here serving AWEsome BBQ!
GRAB YOUR BOOTS, or some comfy shoes, a coat (or shorts… who knows), a good hat, sunscreen, AND a good friend! Hope to see you!!!!
Flown The Coop will close for ONE weekend, March 2nd – 5th.
Sorry for the inconvenience, but this shop girl is taking ONE weekend off to visit family.
~And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky!
Life is a journey, not a destination. A hard lesson to learn when you involve the heart in business decisions.
At the end of August Flown The Coop will be moving out of our “nest” at Chippendale Eastlake Antiques. It was a hard decision to make, as I have engaged my heart in the community there. I value what I have learned from the experience and will continue to cherish the friendships I developed.
Where to find Flown The Coop?
Chippendales through the end of August:
Flown The Coop will continue to offer wonderful pieces at Chippendale Eastlake Antiques through the end of August. Mark you calendars for August 17th! Flown The Coop is planning a HUGE sidewalk market at Chippendales! I’ll post details on Facebook and send out a flyer for those who receive my e-newsletter. SIGN UP HERE if you would like to receive the e-newsletter.
By appointment:
I will also be taking appointments to view merchandise shared on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest at the Flown The Coop headquarters.
I am developing a personal shopper program for clients who would like to hire me to shop for specific items. I enjoyed shopping for a few clients during my recent trip to Ohio. Contact me if you would like me to be on the hunt for you too!
Upcoming shows for 2103:
Texas Antiques Week in Warrenton, September 21- October 5
Urban Market Houston, October 26 & 27
New Location at Warrenton
Mark your calendars for the fall Texas Antiques Week! September 21st – October 5th!
Flown The Coop will nest at a new location in the Bar W Field near Warrenton, Texas. To find our booth, enter the Bar W gate off of 237 and follow the main road past the office. We’ll be on the left about half way down the main road, on the corner of the road and the parking access road.
I suggest that you shop early! September 22 my neighbors The Seed Box Designs will be unloading their trailer.
Life is a journey, come travel with me!
I am wholeheartedly dedicated to those who can’t be caged and appreciate all of my friends! It isn’t always easy to fly the coop. Thank you for your interest and support in my journey.
~Tiffany
And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky!
Two years ago I took a leap with my friend Kristie Herlong (now owner of Dorcey’s). We naively set up at the Springfield Antiques Show and Flea Market in July, a traditionally slow month. Kristie and I had NO idea what we were doing, but embraced the adventure and figured it out. We were thrilled with our sales and decided to launched Flown The Coop. I had no idea that a little experiment with junking would turn into a passion and sustainable business venture. Making it up along the way and carving out our individual niches, Kristie and I have both “built our wings.”
These little wings have flown some distance since then.
Last month I shared a space at the Dallas Market Center, Vintage Home section with my good friends and mentors Brian and Meloney Russell of the Seed Box Designs. Needless to say, I am in awe of where Flown The Coop has taken me.
It helps to have talented friends in the business! Congrats to The Seed Box Designs for winning Best of Vintage Home!!!
A flight home
This month I will return to the Springfield Antique Show and Flea Market. Two years ago I would have never guessed that I would travel such a distance to shop the flea. I am still excited about the journey and the unpredictable flight pattern. I’m so glad that I took the leap, Flew the Coop and continue to build my wings!
If you have a dream, take the leap! You’ll figure out how to build your wings on the way down! If you are a leaper, what is your experience? I’m sure there are kindred spirits who could benefit from sharing your experiences.
~Tiffany
And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky.
May was a fun month that seemed to fly by! The buying trip to Ohio was a huge success! My workshop is officially “hoarded” up and the Flown The Coop booth at Chippendale Eastlake Antiques is fully stocked.
Shopping is one of my favorite parts of the business, and is even better when friends and family tag along! You never know who you’ll meet up with in the field. This time I found Mrs. Beasley!
Jeff joined me on this trip. Shopping hours on end is not his favorite part of the business. We joked that he became my personal porter.
Jeff proved to have a good eye for treasures! He found this egg scale, which was immediately sold to a farm in West Liberty, Ohio after being posted to Facebook. The Springfield Extravaganza kicks off the show season in the midwest. I was so excited to shop it for the first time since I moved to Houston. It was fun to see my friends at Dorcey’s set up under their big circus tent. (click on the image to view the Vine Video)
Shopping trips are serious work, but a trip to Ohio would not be complete without spending time with my family and friends! On the way to Ohio we stopped in Memphis to see our dear friend Erin, and heard award winning Blues at the Hard Rock Cafe. We arrived in Ohio in time to celebrated Mother’s day with my family. Jeff and I enjoyed hanging out in the evenings with some of our favorite people. Here’s Kelly, Michele and I after a dinner in Urbana. These ladies always make me smile!
On the way back to Houston, we stopped at Brian and Meloney’s home in Missouri. They own The Seed Box Designs and have a fabulous home in the Ozark mountains. We enjoyed hanging out on their deck, showing them our picks from Ohio, seeing what they’ve been working on and feeding the cows with Miss Ivy. It was exactly what we needed before our last leg of the trip.
Returning to Houston
First thing on the agenda after returning to Houston was a booth redo at Chippendales. My daughter Emily was in town and helped me whip the booth in shape. Many of the new pieces have already flown off to new homes.
The Dallas Market
It’s now June, which means summer in Texas is really heating up! It’s also quickly approaching the time for Flown The Coop’s debut at the Vintage Home Market, going on during the Dallas Gift Market June 20-24th in the Market Hall North across from the World Trade Center. I have a week to finish last minute projects and pack it all up.
June and beyond
I hope to spend more time blogging about my adventures in the future! Time seems to fly the coop. I get busy working on projects and hunting new treasures. There are so many aspects of the business I’d like to share; from buying, repurposing, merchandising, selling, etc. What would you like to read more about?
There are no shows scheduled for July and August, but I’ll hook up the trailer to Miss Dixie for anther buying adventure this summer. Stayed tuned for stories from June and beyond… and follow our flight pattern on Facebook for a daily dose of Flown The Coop!
~Tiffany
And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky.
It was rewarding to see my recent pickings come together in the display at Urban Market Houston. It just keeps getting better as I gain more confidence merchandising with each show. The ultimate gratification is watching my treasured junque leave with excited new owners. I love my job!
Breaking for FUN!
Brian Russell from the Seed Box Designs borrowed his neighbor’s bike and took Miss Ivy for a ride. I don’t know who giggled more, Brian or Miss Ivy. Hanging out with my crazy friends is another reason I love my job! Click on the image to see a Vine Video….
Little Miss Ivy is serious about furniture modeling, click on the image for another Vine Video.
Urban Market Crowd
Urban Market Houston is one of my favorite shows, held three times a year at the Bayou City Event Center on Knight Rd. Excited customers line up early for the Saturday evening preview, a great way to kick off the weekend! A crowd lined up early on Sunday morning as well. The weather was perfect for shopping! Let’s hope we have a repeat of the beautiful weather October 26 – 27th for the next Urban Market Houston.
Thanks to all my Houston friends who stopped by to say “hi!” I was honored to meet a few more friends that had been following the Flown The Coop flight pattern. I love chatting with like minded people who love junque as much as I do! Yet another reason I love my job!
Remember to send me pictures of treasures you buy from Flown The Coop. It’s fun to see the pieces in their new homes.
What’s next?
Next stop: Jeff and I leave for another trip to Ohio at the end of the week. Stayed tuned. Jeff has warned me that he plans on using his new Vine app to document our shopping. This should be fun!
As always, follow our flight pattern on our Facebook Page! You can always let me know if you are looking for a particular piece. I’d be happy to assist you on your search!
Here’s to happy junqueing… It just keeps getting better!
~Tiffany
And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky!
I am so excited to welcome spring. I plan to savor every minute of perfect weather and discovering what is growing in our new yard. The tenant before us had planted a little garden with some unruly looking plants. I was tempted to yank everything out of the bed several times throughout the winter. Luckily, I was too lazy to bother. The other day I noticed that those plants appear to be eggplant and asparagus. I can’t wait to see what else pops up.
Years ago, I spent way too much time drooling over pictures in gardening magazines and planning my garden. In the spring I would plant wonderful herb and cutting gardens. I learned how to companion garden, creating gardens for both vegetables and flowers. When we lived in Mississippi, I would jump into gardening in March. I learned to wait until May in Ohio. Unfortunately, I lost my passion for gardening in the past few moves and feel a little out of touch.
Be FREE to dig!
This spring I am feeling the need to dig! Instead of the elaborate gardens of my younger days, I think I’d prefer a smaller container garden. I want a small vegetable and herb garden, with some plants for cutting bouquets. Container gardening will allow me the freedom to plant without the responsibility of keeping up a large garden, and the time to discover what might already be planted.
The local garden center was my first stop. I was inspired walking around the various colorful and fragrant plants.
It was thrilling when I laid out my new plants with the various old pots and discarded wood containers I found this winter.
For now, I have rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil, eggplant, asparagus and onions. I planted marigolds (to keep away the bugs), zinnias for cutting and various succulents. I still need to buy tomatoes, peppers and more cutting flowers.
My advice is to be FREE to dig! It can be a big elaborate garden or a funky container garden. Do what you can and enjoy getting your hands dirty! Be brave and break out your Green thumb!
Click on the image below to check out the bloggers in the Journal Agenda Community!
Here’s to spring!
~Tiffany
And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky!
A row of hats hanging on my bedroom wall are a daily reminder of our Flown The Coop adventures and tug at me as if to say “what are you waiting for?”
THE WAIT IS OVER … One of the biggest deals in junque begins next week!
Flown The Coop is busy preparing for another adventure at Antique Week in Warrenton, Texas (some call the show Round Top, some call it Warrenton). The Round Top/Warrenton adventure takes place every Spring and Fall, mainly along Highway 237, between Brenham and LaGrange, Texas.
This is Flown the Coop’s second season at our location at Cole’s. If you are headed to Warrenton from Round Top, we are the first field on the left as you enter Warrenton, at the corner of Hwy 237 and Willow Spring Road (FM 954). Among all of the vendors there, Flown The Coop will be in the corner nearest the intersection of 237 & FM 954.
OH THE ANTICIPATION…
Of course Flown The Coop is strictly about business… buying and selling junque. Ha! I think ya’all know us better than that. Jeff and I love to have fun… in fact we boast about bringing the fun. 🙂
So what’s all the fuss about? Here’s a snapshot of last Spring….
The most meaningful adventures involved others in the business and die-hard fans! Kelly (pictured left) flew in from Ohio. She is the best groupie ever! Reconnecting with Kristie (my soul sistah) meant the world to me! And I made some amazing new friends! I am always inspired by the community out in the “field” and am blessed to be able to re-connect with some of these wonderfully creative people at events as awe-inspiring as this one.
Buying frenzies! Early in the morning last Spring I noticed a line formed at one of my neighbor’s booths. I soon learned these people were “patiently” waiting for The Seed Box to unload their truck. What started out as a cordial family reunion, ended in a competitive bid for junque, replete with the unsheathing of elbows. Apparently there are even some unspoken (but well-known) rules of engagement… like not jumping on the truck. You’ll be scolded for that one. 🙂
Marburger Farms. I have to be completely honest… I did not plan on going. I am a die hard “in the fields” kind of gal. Others mentioned their feelings that it was out of their league or that they weren’t keen on the idea of an entrance fee. This show under huge white tents seemed a world apart from the one I was enjoying so immensely, and therefore not worth the time away from my booth or parting with my hard earned money to pay admission. That said, some of my friends talked me into at least experiencing Marburger “just once”.
I WAS COMPLETELY SURPRISED BY MARBURGER FARMS!!!
First of all, I had so much fun with these gals (pictured left)… who hailed all the way from New York and Iowa. Traci Kirfman Gyles, far left, (Shabby Gals Nest) and I had so much fun “oohing” and “awing” over all the cool junque!
Secondly, it is a great way to stay on top of new trends. I was so inspired by the over the top displays and left committed to improving my own. Be sure to check out my favorite booths… J. Hills Designs & The Willow Nest. Marburger was totally worth the cost of admission… and is on my list again this Fall. I’ve even talked some friends into joining this time!
There are so many wonderful fields between Round Top and Warrenton! It would take days to list all of my favorites!!!! Okay, okay, here’s one:
Junk O-Rama Prom. Antique week wouldn’t be complete without getting all dolled up for a wacky night out. Of course I had to wear my “cowgirl” hat for this one! 🙂
Well I have other crazy stories from last Spring… but what happens in Warrenton… stays in Warrenton. You’ll just have to experience this mecca of junque yourself!
Come join our adventure….
Jeff and I have been busy buying in Ohio and Missouri, along with finding great picking places just outside of Houston. With our project list almost complete, we are excited pack up the trailer and head out for another adventure! We will arrive on Monday, Sept. 24th. Be sure to stop by our little spot in the field. We’d love to catch up with all of you, friends and fans alike (those might be synonyms)!
Along with the fun junque… you’ll be able to pick up a Flown The Coop tee while supplies last.
If you’re lost… don’t hesitate to call me (Tiff) at 937-215-4732. At the least, we can both wonder aloud where you are!
We’ll bring the fun… and the hats will be joining us too!
Not one to sit still… we’ve been in continuous motion for several weeks now. It has been hard to write about every adventure. So here’s a little recap of the highlights.
May 30 – June 3 Our last month in the field at Canton was bitter sweet. We won’t miss battling the elements, but already miss our friends!
June 8 – June 17 Trip to Ohio. Oh… where to begin? Life is not all work… we all need to be refueled by fun times with family and friends! This trip was the perfect mix of junking (aka work) and creating memories of fun times!
Ever wonder where I get my spunk?
Grandma Maggie is 92 and loving life. She inspires me! 🙂 She took me to many garage sales over the years and is an excellent negotiator. I got to spend one day taking her to lunch and shopping at the Goodwill. 🙂
Hanging out with my parents… they truly have a better social life than Jeff & I. 🙂 Had lots of fun at dinner with them! They sent me home with a treasure that I’ll never be able to sell. Dad gave me grandpa’s tool chest filled with antique tools. It now has a new home in my living room. 🙂
I was very thankful to see my kids and my sister’s family too! I miss them so much!!!!
Enjoying life with friends
Had more than one adventure with this group of ladies… Kristie Herlong, Kelly Gingery and Michele Savoldi! 🙂
While in Ohio, Michele Savoldi hosted a Girlfriends and Grapes night at her house. The evening was over the top wonderful!!!! Michele thought of every detail creating a wine tasting with three whites and three reds, pairing each with delicious bites! Above is a picture of us on the “step and repeat” she created for the event.
Kelly organized a fun night on the town, hopping from Milestone 229 to The Jury Room… what a fun group of peeps! A few of us even went to Skully’s to dance to the 80’s!
We had the chance to hang out with many of our friends throughout the week. It was also fun running into friends at the Depot Coffee House! Gosh… I miss ya’all so much!
I really DO have the best friends in the world!
Junking… of course!
Isaac Cohn, a young entrepreneur from Urbana, Ohio struck the jack pot while I was visiting. He won the bid on an attic full of vintage clothing. We helped him sort through his booty and had fun trying on his vintage treasures. I am so proud of this young man! Stay tuned for more on his thriving vintage clothing business, Montage!
No trip to Ohio would be complete without a visit to my favorite junk store. I was all prepared with my clip board and everything. I wasn’t prepared for the emotional break down I had though…. who cries over missing a junk store? GEESH! It was worth it. I uncovered some really cool junk and one of my favorite pieces… check out this cabinet I scored! It is proudly displayed at Chippendale. I think it could be a great piece as a vanity in a bathroom or as a buffet in a kitchen or dining room!
A huge highlight for me was spending time with my friend and original Flown The Coop partner, Kristie Herlong. One day, with a bottle of wine and the Dixie Chicks blaring, we had a blast re-staging her shop at The Boston. It was just like ole times. 🙂
Wow… we fit A LOT into those five days!
Sadly, we had to pack up our treasures and hit the road again….
June 18 Redo my booth with all my new treasures!
With only a couple days to redo the booth at Chippendale, I worked hard to fit all my new treasures in. I definitely need to learn the balance of getting a lot of junk in the space and setting up meaningful vignettes. No time to fret with it… I had another adventure to get to.
Driving into the sun once again… 🙂
June 19 – June 22 Dallas Market
Brian and Meloney Russell of The Seed Box Antiques invited me to help them for a couple days at their booth at the Dallas Market, Vintage Home FINDS. I was excited about this adventure for several reasons. I had never been to market before. Seeing the world trade center for the first time was a bit overwhelming. I really enjoy hanging out with Brian and Meloney and am always challenged to work harder on my business. Also, I love seeing all the regulars that set up around Brian and Meloney. I don’t mind being their plus one. 🙂
As always… their display was over the top! Check out my album on my Facebook page for more pics!!!!
June 23 First day working at Chippendale
Starting off with a sidewalk sale! I love jumping right in with Shop Heights 19th Street Summer Tent Sale. It felt like I was back in the field as we set up our tents and filled it with fun “junk” from the shop. It gave us a chance to display a sample of all the great merchandise inside Chippendale.
It was a great day! I love the vibe on 19th and how the locals show their support!!!
What’s next?
Not sure what July will bring. As of this moment we don’t have any July travel plans. I do, however, have a list a mile long of projects that I’ve collected. I am always up for an adventure though! Stayed tuned.
Dedicated to those who can’t be caged!
~Tiffany
And the birds fluttered around her writing “yes” in the sky!
I am very excited to announce Flown The Coop has joined the antique co-op at Chippendale Eastlake Antiques on 19th street in the Heights. You will be able to shop Flown The Coop at our new roost beginning in June!!!
Serendipity!
For months Jeff & I have toyed with the idea of finding a shop location. We love the Flea, but also like the idea of a permanent location to roost in between shows. The idea seemed like a distant dream… but ya’all know we dream TEXAS SIZED DREAMS. 🙂
Saturday afternoon Jeff & I set out to explore our options. We love the eclectic, funky, fun-loving Heights area of Houston and ultimately want to live there. I thought we should start by driving around looking at houses. Jeff wanted to shop… who am I to argue with that? Strolling through the shops on 19th is always fun!
I had already talked to a few shop owners on 19th and was leaning more towards a booth space with a co-op instead of a full fledge shop. A co-op space would provide a coop to roost in, with the freedom to continue flying off to junking adventures… remaining true to our dedication to those who can’t be caged. Earlier in the week I checked with one antique mall in the area who only could offer me a display case as a way to get my “foot in the door.” I wasn’t excited about that idea. Admittedly, I was thinking there was little chance of finding a space anytime soon. We walked in Chippendales Eastlake Antiques to inquire about getting on a dealer’s waiting list. To our surprise, we learned that there is a space available for the first time in three years. Serendipity! (Jeff loves that word) After talking to Heather, I was sure this could be a good fit for Flown The Coop!
Chippendale has been located on the corner of 19th and Rutland in the Houston Heights for twenty three years. Previous to Chippendales, the location was home to a gas station, Lewis and Coker grocery store and a green stamp store. Currently there are twenty one dealers who make up the antique co-op. Jeff and I are excited to be apart of such an established group of dealers and love the idea of locating on 19th street. There is so much scope for imagination!
New space/ new friends
The ideas just keep coming… shifting my paradigm from filling a 20X20 space in the field to filling our new indoor space will be a fresh challenge.
I am excited about getting involved in a new community of “junk” lovers and developing new friendships! One of my first friends at Chippendale… meet Carlos Antonio, the shop dog. He is a rescued long haired Chihuahua. Isn’t he handsome with his summer cut? Seemed to pose when I got the camera out.
BTW: Chippendale Eastlake is a pet friendly shop!!!!! Most of the antique shops on19th have at least one “shop dog” and are open to dog walkers and pets 🙂 Pretty cool.
Our Coop away from Coop….
We haven’t flown away from the Flea all together… the Flea will remain our “coop away from coop.” This month we will be set up in our regular spot at Canton Trade Days (May 30th – June 3rd). However, this will most likely be our last month in the “field” at Canton… we are exploring pavilion options. Please come visit our beloved corner in the field! (Row 52/ Row 98 by the creek between the Civic Center and the Pavillions)
Our flight pattern will also include Warrenton at Cole’s Antique Show twice a year and other possible shows.
Sign says “Walk.”
Jeff and I are enjoying our Flown The Coop journey… we are flying free, taking tiny steps forward and loving where it is taking us. We are thankful that we took the time to explore our options and stepped into Chippendale. Feels like a huge leap, but there is no doubt we will love our new coop!
There are more dreams to dream (Texas size)… all of which build on what we are currently doing. With each step we take I am beginning to believe the sky is the limit… really!
And the birds fluttered around them writing “yes” in the sky!
