This week I attended an occasion that I look forward to each 12 months. Twice a yr in truth! It’s Texas Antique Week, and every single and every October and April, thousands of dealers carry their wares to modest Texas towns like Warrenton, Round Ideal and Carmine, creating a stream of tents filled with antiques and collectibles. Rather than becoming a mere week, this occasion in fact lasts for two, based mostly on exactly where you focus your efforts. Swarmed with hungry buyers, the place turns into the hottest location in the state, attracting thousands of people from all more than the country. The good news is I don’t reside also far away!
As I ready for my day trip to the festival, I went through my checklist–what to pack, what to seem for, how to be prepared for the Texas heat (yes, even in early October), and how to strategy my day when time was restricted. These days I imagined I’d share my suggestions and tricks for antique demonstrate acquiring.
There’s no 1 correct way to do it, but there confident are some universal beneficial hints that make the experience all the far more enjoyable. And worth your time! So examine on, then share your antique display stories by leaving a comment at the end of the post…
The Appeal of Antique Exhibits
With dealers filling on-line internet websites with incredible merchandise (such as eBay, Etsy and 1stdibs), why even bother going to an antique present that calls for you to traipse by indicates of dusty fields whilst hauling your finds? Due to the truth there’s an outstanding volume of merchandise (each vintage and antique) in 1 area! Merchandise you can see in individual, evaluate, touch, and image in your residence ahead of purchasing. Plus, there are superb provides to be made! Beneath we see an image from my trek. This is Excess Discipline in Warrenton, specifically the place dealers selling chic industrial finds set up camp. It might possibly appear rough close to the edges, but there are some pricey finds in this section of the present. My really very first cease each and every 12 months is Extra Discipline, which brings me to my very original tip…
Industrial finds at a Texas antique display
Tip #1: Make a approach for your day.
That’s proper–even if you don’t stick to it, have a simple believed of where you’ll be at essential events of the day. I took the morning and element of the afternoon off for my journey. Which signifies I nevertheless had to do some perform when I returned residence for the evening. There was no time to dilly-dally. I knew that I would get started with Extra Area (proven above and beneath), devote no a lot much more than an hour there, then head to the outer edges of the festival specifically where the exceptional bargains were waiting. If time, I would hit Carmine, TX to see the products featured in that part of the demonstrate. I by no means designed it to Carmine, so I was glad I began with the places that interested me most!
Vintage loot at Extra Field in Warrenton, TX
Tip #2: Make a wish record.
Yes, just before you commence getting, make a list (even a psychological one) of what you’d actually like to uncover all by means of the course of the day. Believe about your interior. If your home functions Mid-Century present day day decor like the room beneath, you might be browsing for tabletop decor to match in with the design, or probably a lot more furnishings. Are there any surfaces or shelves that you’d like to fill with treasures? [the property of Andrea McArdle, featured on A Gorgeous Mess]
Property featuring Mid-Century modern furnishings and decor
Are there distinct issues you collect? Retro pitchers? A certain brand of vintage dishware? Canisters? Pieces of a specific colour? At an antique show or festival, there is so considerably merchandise in a single area, you’re bound to come across some of your want checklist finds! We’d take pleasure in to hit a festival with Sherri Bemis from the bands Eisley and Perma, whose impeccably curated shelving is pictured beneath in a property tour publish from A Spectacular Mess. She definitely has a distinctive fashion that’s all her very own. When it comes to collecting vintage pieces, what’s your fashion?
Collection of vintage kitchen and dining pieces
Getting ready for the Antique Display
Even when you’ve created a system for the day and you have your want list in hand, there are nonetheless some products to have a tendency to before you hit the open road (or in my situation, the open fields)! Let’s talk about what to pack…
Tip #three: Pack a bag filled with water, snacks, and bags for hauling loot.
You will undoubtedly require a lot of water, as correctly as snacks. Yes, most festivals sell meals and drinks. But if you’re like me and you find your self at the far end of the display in the middle of 90-degree climate, you won’t truly feel like leaving the shade of the merchandise tents and making the trek to the food booths at two:00 in the afternoon on a single of the sunniest, hottest days of the fall season! I was glad to have some provisions in the bag I was toting! [from Magic Travel Weblog]
Water and snacks for the journey ahead
Tip #four: Dress in cozy footwear.
This one’s not optional, folks… Comfy footwear are a need to, ought to, have to. In a number of instances, you’ll be strolling via dusty, grassy fields, so you could even want to place on sneakers or other closed-toe footwear. My choose: Sketchers GOwalk footwear! With the appear of flats but the feel of sneakers, they’re a outstanding way to be comfy and fashionable at the identical time. Also, and this goes with out saying, don’t forget a hat and sunscreen! [from My Bits and Bleeps]
GOwalk footwear from Sketchers
Navigating the Antique Show
You’ve designed a method for the day, you have your want list, and you’re prepared to start the day! What now?!
Tip #five: Begin off early.
The earlier it is, the significantly less rivals you will have! And if it’s a hot time of the yr, you’ll get in some great morning getting just ahead of the worst of the heat kicks in. Not to mention, if you’re driving in from out of town, you’ll have substantially less targeted site visitors to deal with. Fewer individuals all around you indicates you get initial dibs on the day’s goods… [from The Brenham Residence]
A booth in Round Top, Texas
Tip #six: Receive a map of the festival.
You demand to know your way around. How else will you know exactly the place to look for the distinct factors you just have to uncover?! If they’re handing out maps for the festival, grab one. If you’re lucky sufficient to be navigating the display with someone who has attended just before, ask for his input. If you know what you’re hunting for, ask a man or woman who seems like she understands exactly where she’s headed! You could not be ready to pinpoint that one booth delivering that one vase you completely want to have, but a person is very likely to bear in mind a space that prominently displays specific items, this kind of as the vintage letters proven below! [from Maine Seasons]
Vintage letters at the Brimfield Antique Present
Tip #7: Be ready to stray from the fancy tents to learn a great deal.
If you’re at a fancy antique show, there’s practically nothing like air conditioned tents, beautifully displayed merchandise and cost-totally free drinks. Yes, at the really exact same antique festival I attended, my mom located herself in a awesome, pristine tent the place they had been passing out absolutely free of charge margaritas! Who’s complaining?! But usually we have to leave the loveliest spaces behind and be prepared to dig a tiny if we genuinely want to locate the bargains. Under we see a shot of Extra Field in Warrenton. Doesn’t appear fancy, suitable?! Even so, this is one of the nicer places of the festival. Wonderful finds, folks!
Architectural finds at a Texas antique present
So to uncover the items I was quickly soon after (and for a super reasonably priced worth), I at some level left Excess Area behind and created my way to the outer edge of the Warrenton festival. Some may possibly well make contact with it “no guy’s land.” For me, it’s paradise! Fewer crowds, greater bargains…
Texas Antique Week in Warrenton, TX
There was nevertheless shade beneath the tents, incredible merchandise, and fantastic bargains! Allow’s just say I walked away with five beautiful pieces that will be prominently displayed in my house. And I spent no far more than $ 30. I’ll share the finds with you at the finish of the post!
Getting for antiques and collectibles in Warrenton, TX
The Ins and Outs of Vintage Decor Getting
How do you know when you’ve found an outstanding item that you just can’t reside with no possessing?! Some get in touch with it a gut feeling. Other individuals describe the sensation of putting the piece down, walking away, then knowing they can’t reside with no it! Yes, we’re just talking about things right right here, but when you’re traipsing around in the elements and it’s been an hour thinking about that you’ve spotted anything worthwhile, anything at all primal occurs when you spot your subsequent locate! [from Apartment Therapy]
Colorful buckets at the Brimfield Antique Present
Tip #eight: Meticulously examine an item before acquiring it.
Prior to you hand a lot more than your cash, consider a really good seem at the item you’re about to obtain. A truly very excellent appear. Verify for cracks, dings and other irregularities. Does this imply you won’t acquire the item? Probably not! I have a number of s Deco vases in my home that are far from perfect. But I know that it’s unlikely I’ll find out other individuals like them, so it’s well worth it to me to snag them. But if we’re speaking glassware patterns, possibilities are you won’t want to sip out of a cup with a sharp edge, particularly when 3 tents more than, they’re marketing the extremely exact same cup in pristine situation. Which brings me to my subsequent tip…
Vintage glassware at the Brimfield Antique Festival
Tip #9: Know how to bargain.
A fantastic deal is tough to uncover. But not that tough. First of all, if the item is broken in any way, you ought to constantly request if the dealer can give you a price reduction. In addition, I typically request “What is your best price tag?” prior to I open my wallet. Some folks are far more bold and brazen, freely supplying phrases like “I’ll give you $ five.” Whatever operates for you. I employed to be an antique dealer, and I know how considerably function goes into hauling, cleaning and displaying merchandise, so I phrase my bargaining queries accordingly. But there’s completely nothing at all incorrect with turning out to be a lot more direct. Continually ask–just recognize that if the value isn’t as low as you like, there’s almost certainly a purpose! [from Our State North Carolina]
Beautifully stocked antique festival booth
Tip #10: Preserve late.
At the finish of the day, vendors are a great deal much more probably to make you a wonderful deal. Perhaps they’re prepared to pack up. Possibly they haven’t sold as considerably as they like. Perhaps they’re in a exceptional mood thinking about that their function is nearly carried out! No matter what the cause, some of the biggest bargains are designed at the finish of the day, or the end of the festival. For a two week festival, it might spend off to attend shut to the end of the second week. I soon after attended Texas Antique Week on the really last day. I can’t tell you the variety of 50% off tables I encountered. Gotta adore it! [from The Holland Weblog]
Glass bottles on an antique demonstrate table
So how did I fare on my journey? I found a single s Deco vase, 1 modest lead crystal bowl, a single stunning quartz mineral sample, and a pair of hand painted brass and porcelain vases from Holland. Yes, all for $ 30 total. Confirm it out:
Vintage finds from Texas Antique Week
The street to residence was filled with air conditioning, bottled water, pleased memories, and dreamy thoughts of specifically in which to place my new finds!
Headed house soon soon after a lengthy day of antiquing
I’d truly like to hear about your antique display experiences! If you have any ideas or fantastic stories, don’t hesitate to depart a comment below. Satisfied buying!
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