Anticipating Spring Markets

Ground Hog day is just around the corner.  We all hope he ushers in Spring sooner rather than later.  This week Folk’s Journal agenda challenge:  In the near future, what are you looking forward to the most?

Upcoming Spring Markets!

I’m looking forward to spring markets, with Urban Market Houston kicking off the season February 9th & 10th.

Planning displays for the upcoming spring markets is much like the itch I used to get for spring gardening. Throughout the winter, I used to spend hours pouring over magazines looking for ideas for gardening projects in anticipation of spring.  February always made me anxious to get outside, get my hands dirty and do the projects that I’ve been designing.

The upcoming spring markets allow Flown The Coop to create anew. In January I begin dreaming about booth displays and spend hours on Pinterest looking for fresh ideas for the upcoming markets. I’ve learned a lot since Kristie Herlong and I set up at our first market in 2011 and am getting better at pulling ideas together with each new display. Thankfully, Jeff is always up for whatever crazy idea I want to try.

Flown The Coop loads of fun the past few years

I love the community!  The hours spent hunting unique Junque, transporting and refinishing the Junque, and then planning ways to display the Junque is rewarded by seeing all my friends in the field once we arrive to a market.  It is fun to be the first to see the treasures they’ve uncovered in the past months. Their creativity and talent sets trends and is inspiring. I look forward to catching up with them, as well as catching up with the many loyal Flown The Coop friends!

If you are itching to create new spaces in your home or garden, I invite you to come out to one of the upcoming markets!  You will either be inspired by the creative displays or find the items you’ve searching for to finish the project you’ve spent this winter designing.

Urban Market Houston February 9-10

A two day outdoor Antique Market held three times a year in Houston. A fabulous collection of dealers, designers, and shop owners with spectacular antiques, furniture, and home decor.

Cole’s Antique Show (Round Top & Warrenton Antique Weeks)  March 25 – April 6

This rambling flea market that originally started in Round Top now encompasses about 26 miles between Round Top and Warrenton.   Cole’s is located at the edge Warrenton where several halls and dozens of fields are filled twice a year.

Will the ground hog see his shadow?  Regardless, I am looking forward to spring and the upcoming markets.  What are you most looking forward to?

 Linked in 🙂  

~Tiffany

And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky!

 

Adventures in Junque

 

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!
Until then,
~Tiffany