Round Top Round Up Part 2

I'm still rubbing aloe vera into my sunburned chest and calves after Saturday's marathon trip to Round Top with Karly, but it was worth it despite the hellish heat. I scored some goodies, saw some expensive shit that made me appreciate what I already have, and got a day away from the tasmanian devil that is masquerading as my baby boy. I'll give the baby report at the end of the post for anyone who cares, but for all the rest of you good people, it's on to the special awesomeness that is the Round Top experience.

Some vendors have a very odd sense of humor.

Too bad there weren't six of these sexy chrome and leather cantilevered chairs, or they may have come home with me.

A pair of unaffordable blanc de chine lamps.

A monumental lucite chandelier for a jaw dropping $4500. No one ever said that Round Top necessarily equals cheap. if you like this, wait until you see what I bought for my dining room on Ebay (for much, much less)...

Awesome hooded wicker chair with groovy upholstery.

Big brass Polly.

Sweet little Asian credenza. The white is fly.

Brass cylinder lamp that Karly spied on Friday. I was considering it for my dining room, but ultimately passed. Hope I don't regret it...

Three of six Milo Baughman chrome cantilevered chairs.

I really liked these barstools but didn't even ask the price because homedude thought his junque should fetch a higher price per ounce than gold.

For unknown reasons, Round Top is very baby head friendly.

If baby heads can be friendly, that is. Somehow the packing tape makes the whole mise en scene much more ominous.

Hot pink poles make everything better.

Enormous 60s abstract that was about $4,400 over my budget.

At some point I realized that almost everything we spied with our gimlet eyes was made of brass. Chalk it up to magpie vision.

If you've got some spare change, you can add these trunks to your Louis Vuitton themed house.

I have a trestle table crush.

I reallllllly liked this long, sexy $900 table for my dining room, but A) it's way too narrow and B) it's 900 freaking dollars. That's not how momma rolls.

Round Top is a haven for dead things -- most of which are garden variety -- but these birds are pretty fabulous.

Ok, on to the stuff that managed to find a way home with me:

60's Italian hot air balloon chandelier for Ike's room. The dealer had it marked at $135 and I took it home for $65. Boo ya!

Initially I thought I would paint it black, but now I'm wondering if I should do white with black accents or black with white accents? Will the details get lost if everything is black?

Crazy deco tripod lamp that may or may not live in my dining room. I am considering painting the shade black or gold... what do you think? Or are you a purist like The Hunny, who wonders why every purchase must be spray painted? Does that question even deserve an answer?

Lest you think that Karly and I only purchased lights, Look! I bought a lucite towel set to match a lucite towel stand I already have. The toilet paper holder alone is worth the $15 I paid for the whole kit 'n' kaboodle.

And finally, on to the baby Ike report:

So, my darling, sweet 11 week old baby stayed home with his dad and my mother in law, who did a very excellent job of keeping his antics under control. He took an uncharacteristically long nap, which was bueno, but then HE REFUSED TO TAKE A BOTTLE. FOR THE ENTIRE NINE HOURS I WAS GONE. They had to feed him with a medicine dropper. Gawd, just writing this makes me feel like the worst mother in the world, but he totally took a bottle from me days before I went to Round Top! I swear, this is the most stubborn child ever born -- a trait he obviously picked up from his father. Anyway, he's back to his normal fussball self, so I guess all is well, but I'm afraid it will be a long time before I get to leave for more than three hours again.

Ike with Grandma, doing the cute act. Don't be fooled.

Round Top Round Up (part 1)

Hello all!  I am back from 2 long hot days in the fields of Round Top.  For those of you new to the blog (welcome!) Round Top is a big, fat flea market that takes place about an hour outside of Austin twice a year.  It's hot as hell and, despite the fact that I always make it a 2 day affair, I've never seen the whole thing.  I always return with a car full of war prizes obtained at bargain basement prices, but don't be fooled: Round Top is not the Shangri La of mid century modern finds one might hope.   First, there's the heat.  As in, drink 4 large ice tea slushies, a bottle of water, and a diet coke and don't visit the porta potty once.  Second, there's miles and miles of "antiques," shabby chic decor, and waayy too many country crafts.  But, with Jen and Freda by my side on Friday and Erin co-piloting on Saturday, I managed to make some awesome scores.  First, a few pics of goodies I saw but declined:

Erin spent the better part of Saturday trying to convince me to get these for my bedroom.  6 months ago I would have jumped at the chance for this $130 pair, but I have since decided that I want table lamps so I had to go with my gut.  I, of course, appreciate having a buddy that has my home's best interest at heart, especially when she has such a good eye.  Who could ask for more?

I know it's kinda hard to tell what's happening here, but a few obsessed readers will recognize this welded chain table base.  I've posted this room twice and we swoon over the custom table every time.  While this base is obviously for a smaller, round table, it's just as delightful and if it hadn't been $650 it would be in my house right now.  

Erin and I spotted this glorious industrial floor lamp in a booth that was well out of our budget.  Rather than haggling over this out-of-reach gem, I snapped a picture and gave it a crappy photoshop treatment.  Well, if I hadn't, you wouldn't be able to distinguish it from the background.  It was pretty stunning in person.

Equally amazing and expensive were these crystal(??) lights.  At $1950 Erin and I had to wonder if the vendors had heard about this pesky little recession we're in.

(BTW, i forgot my camera on Day 1, so you're only getting pics from the trip I took with Erin)

Normally the homemade crap at Round Top makes me want to stab my eyes out, but this giant planter tugged at my heart strings.  I can't remember how much it cost, but it was too rich for my blood so we get pictures instead.

OMG Ribs & Brisket!!!  There's lots and lots and lots of BBQ at Round Top so choosing a vendor can be hard, having a hilarious sign helps to tip the scales.  The ribs were amazing, fyi.

What are these assholes thinking?

$700 for a 4 foot golf ball and tee?  Almost worth it.

OK, now for the items that I did bring home:

Pair of lucite and gold table lamps with gold shades: $50.  As in, $50 for the PAIR.  Here's how they look now:

What do you think?  I love them in person much more than the in the photo, but should I have gone with the hanging lights?

1 cantilevered floor lamp for my office $10.  Yes, $10.  

Giant rattan hanging lamp to be cleaned and repainted white and hung in my office to replace the ceiling fan: $20.  Let me stress that this thing is HUGE.  $20 was a steal.

And finally, la piece de resistance:

Female Nude, Creepy Rock Man looks on, giant original painting signed & dated 1960, $40.  That frame is getting painted black and it will be hung in my dining room.  Appetizing, isn't it?

Side note:  the vendor actually said "it will be a mighty fine painting if you just paint over that guy on the rock, I don't know what idiot put him there."  Are you kidding?!  That guy rulz.  He stays.

I think Erin is bringing part 2 of the round up tomorrow, so tune in.  But then again, maybe she's not, in which case you'll have to wait until April for more.  But Erin will be here tomorrow none the less so, stop on by now, ya hear?

Welcome to PHX!

Hi, I'm Gracie O. You may remember me from such blogs as Woolgathering & Miscellany and Tiger Butter. Allow me to take you on a magical tour of my hometown, the desert destination that is Phoenix.

Upon landing in Terminal 2 of Sky Harbor, you'll be welcomed by artist Paul Coze's best-known work. He created this amazing three panel mixed media mural in 1962 out of what is speculated to be 52 forms of different media, including dirt from Native reservations. Then, once we snap up your bags from baggage claim, we'll make a stop at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale, where you can check-in and grab a margarita.

The original Valley Ho opened in December 1956 and was designed by the office of Edward Varney, it was recently renovated a few years ago. Hungry? Let us go to the Souper Salad in Phoenix for lunch!

The Western Savings MetroCenter (more recently, a Souper Salad) was constructed by architect Wenceslas Sarmiento in 1974. Now, that we've refueled, it's time to get our shop on! Oh, need to make a stop at the bank first?

The Phoenix Financial Center, also built by Sarmiento, was designed to look like an old computer punch card. The building was also featured in the 1993 film Suture. The lucky SOB lived in one of the round buildings!! Alright! We're ready to head to the Christown Mall!

Built in 1960, Christown Mall was the first indoor air conditioned shopping center in Arizona. Check out all those bubble lamps & bird cages! Too much shopping? Feel a sin coming on?

Cleanse your soul to avoid a scorching miserable eternity at the Glass & Garden Drive-In Church in Scottsdale designed by E. Logan Campbell. Jesus Christ! You tripped while taking communion in your new 5" platforms!! No worries... we'll just have to make a pit stop. I hope you brought your insurance card with you!

Good thing the Good Samaritan hospital in Phoenix isn't too far away. This gorgeous amorphous buidling was designed by Bertrand Goldberg, most known for the Marina Towers Apartments on the Chicago River, the concrete corn cob buildings. 

Phew! It's been a long day. Time to have a night cap and tuck in. Hope you enjoyed your brief tour of Phoenix. If you're ever back again, please take a peek at the other mid-century marvels our lovely little city has to offer. Your dutiful hostess & tour guide, Gracie