ANTIQUE & GARDEN SHOW

NASHVILLE BOUND WITH THE ONE AND ONLY PENELOPE BIANCHI………..

Except the MONTECITO,CALIFORNIA fire prevented her from making the trip with ME!

You see their house escaped the FIRE,but the RAINS brought the MUD and BOULDERS crashing down upon this tiny enclave of GORGEOUS HOMES!Her house was NOT TOUCHED but HER guest cottage (MY ROOM)

GOT MUD!

The car left behind in the GARGAE was SIDEWAYS when they were able to get back to take a look.

They will be out of their HOUSE for awhile as the MUD and BOULDERS have to be removed shovel by shovel…….

I am SO THANKFUL they left when an EVACUATION NOTICE was ADVISED!

TO SEE PENELOPE’s HOUSE BEFORE THE DEVASTATION  CLICK HERE!

 

 

OPENING NIGHT PRE-VIEW PARTY IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

I adore this MAN’s GARDEN ANTIQUES he HALES from CHICAGO!

I always RUN To his booth at the San Francisco SHOW.

He always has the BEST BOOT SCRAPER’s……see at the height of MY KNEE!Every House with a GARDEN needs ONE!

 

In DEEP DISCUSSION about a GORGET!

I had read about them on @pgayetapp instagram and want to FIND ONE!

It will make the PERFECT ACCESSORY!

AS IF I NEED MORE!!!!!!

FOOTBALL STAR!BY MARY LOU MARKS www.southernbeasts.com

She builds creatures by covering them in OLD VINTAGE FABRICS!

GO LOOK AT HER SITE BUT DON’T GO DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE and FORGET TO COME BACK HERE!

DECORATORS………YOU NEED TO SEE THIS!

SHE EVEN MAKES PIGGY FOOT STOOLS!

WORTH A PEEK!

I would  NEVER STEER you WRONG!

A THRONE FOR WINSTON MY CARDIGAN CORGI PERHAPS?

MARY MARY NOT CONTRARY sipping as she is SHOPPING for HER GARDEN!

Take a CRUISE down her SCROLL Of BEAUTY on INSTAGRAM if you can.

Her Handle:mary_mary_not_contrary

 

PUTTI HEADS……….I bet these were once upon a Time on a MIRROR!

OH, TO HAVE LIVED BACK IN THE DAY…….like THE 1700’s would have been MY PICK!

Instead HERE I AM In the land of DIGITAL DEVICES and I just heard on the radio CD’s will NO LONGER BE SOLD AFTER JULY 1.

How will I have the ITALIAN OPERA STARS BELLOWING OUT WHEN YOU COME FOR DINNER?

THE ITALIAN WILL FIX THAT FOR ME!

THAT WILL BE THE TOPIC AT DINNER TONIGHT!

MUST HAVE MUSICA!

 

MARY and THE SEED LADY!

JESUS AND MELISSA!

She wanted to put him in her bedroom the BOYFRIEND SAID,” NO!”

I ADORE THIS PIECE And I Am NOT even RELIGIOUS!

Don’t LOOK at ME!

LOOK AT ALL THE STUFF BEHIND ME!

 

MY BUDDY DOWN UNDER suggested a KAFTAN for this MAN!

I think I might have a SPARE!

He was $25,000.00.

He did not make the VOYAGE HOME with ME!

JESUS, is from the 1700’s…..and most likely stood in a CHURCH for the LAST 300 PLUS years…………..

I GUESS THEY DID A REMODEL!

AND

THAT is how he came to the USA!

I HOPE someone who appreciates HIS AGE………ENDS UP with HIM!

I certainly did that eve………..

 

MELISSA from PROVENANCE ANTIQUES.

I have her phone NUMBER if you NEED a PRICE ON ANYTHING !!

She lives in ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

https://provenanceantiquesatlanta.com

 

YOU do ALL know what these are CORRECT?

A TOAST HOLDER!

VERY ENGLISH………..

People today use them for MAIL on their desks.

I would if I had ROOM!

I use to sell these like CRAZY!

When the doors of THE HEN HOUSE were open!

 

I spied this BOOTH and was so proud of myself FOR KNOWING WHO SHE WAS and that she has a BOOK OUT I NEVER DID Buy!

I bet my BUDDY at 5th IN STATE HAS IT!

OH DEBRA!!!

I was coveting HER Necklace!Which I didNOT GET IN FOCUS!

MUFF~WINE~CAMERA!!!!!

Could have been the PROBLEMO!

She chops up ANTIQUE FABRIC to MAKE these GORGEOUS PILLOWS!

I have a HARD TIME with the CONCEPT!

Yet, I admire the PILLOWS!

I suppose ONE would ENJOY The TRIMs and FABRIC MORE on a PILLOW rather than in a DRAWER wrapped in tissue.

I SUPPOSE BANKSY might like ONE!

HE ADORES PILLOWS!

I MUST GET THE BOOK!

ANYONE HAVE THE BOOK?

DO TELL in the COMMENT AREA!

 

One of the MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS of MY LIFE will be THIS GENTLEMAN from CHARLESTON,

South Carolina!

WE were walking down an aisle of the show when I hear

“EXCUSE ME~ EXCUSE ME don’t YOU HAVE A POT BELLY PIG?”

“NO!!!!”

I EXCLAIM; “HE IS A TEA CUP!!!!!”

WE have a good LAUGH and he explains he follows me on INSTAGRAM!

I ask HOW HE FOUND ME……and he says HUTTON!!!!!!!

THAT MADE MY DAY!

YOU ALL KNOW WHO HUTTON WILKINSON IS RIGHT?

I wrote about his latest book and my REVIEW on AMAZON CLICK HERE!

HUTTON worked with TONY DUQUETTE and continues TONY’s work TODAY!

WHO IS TONY DUQUETTE?

JUST GOOGLE HIM!

HOLLYWOOD SETs ~ DECORATOR ~JEWELRY DESIGNER~ ETC!

HUTTON and MANFRED wrote a book together about ELSIE de WOLFE.

It is called THE WALK TO ELSIE’S.

This book has the memories written down that were told to HUTTON by TONY over the years!

PRICELESS

If you LOVE PARIS, New York and HOLLYWOOD and GREAT STORY TELLNG all of which is TRUE jump on board and READ this TWO BOOK SET bound in delicious colors to adorn your HOME once you have completed THE GRAND TOUR!

PS.A MINI SERIES IS IN the MAKING for TV of this FABULOUS BOOK!I hear by good authority it will rival DOWNTOWN ABBEY!

I am waiting for MY CALL to be an EXTRA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DONNIE GRISSOM Collection on Instagram……..

He DEALS in FINE ESTATE JEWELS.

MY LOOK for the PRE~VIEW PARTY!

Vintage Mink Muff.

Costume Pearls that I SLAPPED a VINTAGE PIN on too!

Costume gold and white Balls that I found in a THRIFT SHOP years ago.

 Ball Necklace I actually MADE with FOUND ITEMS!

EARRINGS by ANGELA CAPUTI.

The overhead lighting  wasNOT KIND to MY PHOTOS but this JUST CALLED OUT TO ME THAT A FLORIST I KNOW named MINDY might need this for her STUDIO!

COULD YOU SEE THIS SIGN IN A FLORIST SHOP?!!

LOVE THIS SIGN……..I of course thought of my OTHER MOTHER as she has a passion for these and PORTRAITS!

Interesting fact, MY STEP MAMA is from ENGLAND!

AND

SHE KNOWS HER ANTIQUES!

A GORGEOUS WOMAN!

I SPIED!

 

I was trying to CAPTURE the woman on the LEFT and I did not even notice the YOUNG thing on the RIGHT.

Is this DRESS FLATTERING to HER FIGURE……….THE WHITE, that ZIPPER that ends with a NIPPLE!

It is FEBRUARY FIRST……….SLEEVELESS?

When it was 20 degrees OUTSIDE the next Morning…………….

Well, I was just as BAD……..

I HAD STATIC CLING ALL NIGHT!

HORRORS!

 

THAN there is I in the long GOLD SILK CAFTAN by YUME WORLD and

I was FIGHTING The CROTCH CLUTCH!!!!!!!!

I had black Velvet Leggings on underneath for warmth and I guess it was NOT A MATCH for THE STATIC CLING!

DROVE ME NUTS ALL NIGHT!Do YOU THINK PEOPLE TOOK NOTICE?!!!!

MARY MARY…………NOT CONTRARY!!!!!!

Was MY PHOTOGRAPHER and companion for the PRE~VIEW PARTY!She only lives 20 miles away in FRANKLIN which is where PATINA MEADOWS is being constructed by BROOKE and STEVE GIANNETTI of PATINA FARM!!!!MARY’s daughter JILL was SHARON SANTONI’s assistant the year I went on TOUR with her in FRANCE!When Penelope said she would NOT be able to attend due to her circumstances I thought who DO I KNOW in NASHVILLE?

BINGO!

MARY has a passion for the GARDEN and was the perfect FIT!

She gave me a TOUR of NASHVILLE in the pouring rain and gave me a bit of the HISTORY TOO!

MILLIE GRAZIE MARY I ENJOYED OUR TIME TOGETHER VERY MUCH!

ME and PAN……………I do not have to tell you I LOVED HIM TOO!

Do you like MY MUFF for my evening BAG?

STYLE CRONE was showing photos with a MUFF and I thought that was PERFECT as mine has a zipper compartment plus, the inside was Perfect for the IPHONE CAMERA!

I was the ONLY ONE with A MUFF!!!!!!!!!!

I bet YOU GUESSED that ALREADY!

I know PENELOPE DID!

XO

I was ASTOUNDED To be recognized a SECOND time within minutes BY THIS STUNNING WOMAN

FOR MY BLOG THE VINTAGE CONTESSA.NET THIS TIME!

She says to me “ARE YOU FROM CALIFORNIA?”

Than she couldNOT find the words but was getting CLOSE for the name of the BLOG!She GOT VINTAGE in there and COUNTESS I think!I WAS BEYOND THRILLED!To be recognized for my little BLOG that is ALL ABOUT me and my LIFE with THE ITALIAN!

I never in a million years would have thought I would have the AUDIENCE I DO SO FAR and NEAR!

The Blog started because I had an ANTIQUE/VINTAGE SHOP and paid a FORTUNE To have a WEBSITE made back in the DAY!Once I had to close the shop I thought WHAT NOW?

As I had been reading BLOGS that caught my emotions and visual esthetics.I thought why not try and see what HAPPENS!Those of you who READ BLOGS know I haveNOT kept up with the TIMES and made that PUSH to MAKE MONEY and ADVERTISE.

It is NOT in me to do so.

I am here for the FUN of it and the JOY I MIGHT GIVE YOU from my OUTFITS to MY MUSINGS!

If I FIND SOMETHING or SOMEONE I LIKE…….. I SHARE!

AN AMERICAN GIRL In EUROPE on THE GRAND TOUR!

I am LUSTING AFTER THIS CHAP……………I may have to make a PHONE CALL!

I tried to sell him overseas for the couple.

That did not work so I AM THINKING and wondering HOW ON EARTH I CAN SNEAK HIM BY THE ITALIAN!!!!

Sometimes that ITALIAN LOOKS AT ME LIKE ARE YOU NUTS…….THERE IS NO MORE ROOM IN THIS HOUSE!

My reply is always…….aren’t YOU HAPPY I did not ASK for a BIGGER ABODE!I am making DUE and filling it for OUR ENJOYMENT when we cannot Move or Travel to see these WONDERFUL TREASURES.I plan on staying PUT UNTIL THE VERY END!

SONS if you are READING TAKE NOTE!

BARBARA FARMER from Kansas City.MO. was a bit shy about her photo!

Her booth was STUNNING with ALL the THINGS I ADORE and her HUSBAND does the PAINTINGS as he has an ART GALLERY!I was SO TOUCHED!THANK YOU BARBARA for SAYING SOMETHING!

 

Her last words to me were KEEP BLOGGING YOU MAKE ME SO HAPPY!

LA CONTESSA and a FOLLY!

I have wanted a FOLLY for 30 years……..still waiting!

This was BEYOND!

It had velvet curtains inside with the MOST DELICIOUS CANDLESTICKS!

How many of YOU get this LOVE I have for this FOLLY and CANDLESTICKS?

A FOLLY Is a a costly ornamental building with no practical purpose, especially a tower or mock-Gothic ruin built in a large garden or park.

NO PRACTICAL PURPOSE says it all……………..

Perhaps, that is WHY THE ITALIAN hasNOT COME THROUGH on this VISION……………………!!!

Everything has to be PRACTICAL for HIM!

WHY?

BEAUTY beats PRACTICALITY in MY WORLD!

WHEN WILL HE GET THAT?

I BELIEVE THE 9th EARL SPENCER has written EIGHT BOOKS NOW!

DID YOU KNOW THE BROTHER OF PRINCESS DIANA  wrote BOOKS?

I had NO IDEA until I got this INVITE!

 

CHARLES SPENCER THE EARL of ALTHORP!

THE EARL signing MY BOOKS!

Me trying to think of something eloquent to say……….NEVER MIND WE HAD PEOPLE BEHIND US!!!!!!

A TON OF PEOPLE!

I did manage to say,”DO YOU LIVE PART TIME IN Los Angeles?”He said, “YES!”I told him he had a BEAUTIFUL FAMILY………..(He has SEVEN CHILDREN!)He said, “THANK YOU!”…….I still had time because I BOUGHT FOUR BOOKS!SO,my LAST STAB at making a GOOD IMPRESSION was “I am VERY PROUD of YOUR NEPHEWS!”

With that he had finished and HE LOOKED UP AT ME AND GAVE ME A GENUINE SMILE and said, “THANK YOU!”

I was HAPPY with MYSELF and felt content even though they did not let MARY take the photos!A volunteer had to take it and I only GOT THIS ONE!

THE FACT I MET PRINCESS DIANA’s BROTHER was my WHOLE REASON for GOING to be HONEST!

THE CROWD BEHIND US!

1500 people were in ATTENDANCE for

Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer

We sat in the back row and made a BOLT FOR THE DOOR as soon as the LECTURE was OVER!

Brilliant Idea as we only had TWO hours before the next LECTURE!Needed to eat something and drop off the books as I bought too many to carry!

Charles SPENCER sharing photos of ALTHORP on a slide projector and giving us a bit of History and how he see’s HIS Life as a CARETAKER of a BIG OLD ANCESTRAL HOUSE that is a FAMILY HOME!

IT has been around for 500 years!

(BAD OVERHEAD LIGHTS = BAD PHOTO!!)

But thought you would like to see him in ACTION!He never sat nor did he read from cards…………OUR PRESIDENT SHOULD TAKE NOTE!

He was a FUNNY MAN and seems VERY DOWN TO EARTH…….THAN AGAIN his SISTER WAS TOO!

I think WE all remember where we were on that DAY AUGUST 31,st  when she DIED!

I WAS BUILDING A WALL WITH THE ITALIAN IN OUR SIDE YARD!

(TO KEEP THE DIRT IN PLACE AND HAVE A VESSEL FOR PLANTS!)

 

Before the LECTURE I felt a TAP on my SHOULDER…………

ANOTHER FOLLOWER of MY BLOG and INSTAGRAM!

ANISSA WAS ADORABLE AND HAD just driven in from DALLAS the night before!

AGAIN I was STUNNED and SO SO TOUCHED by the ENCOUNTER!

 

IN the afternoon I had the privilege to hear A PANEL of well known DECORATORS discuss their business and HOW they GO ABOUT helping their clients………..

YOUR HOME IS YOUR STORY:REFINING YOUR SENSE OF PLACE.

This panel included STACEY BEWKES,TIMOTHY CORRIGAN,SUSANNA SALK,BETH WEBB,and RICHARD KEITH LANGHAM.

I was LUCKY enough to meet TIMOTHY CORRIGAN about 4 years prior at another ANTIQUE EVENT.The other LADIES I have just heard about or READ ABOUT as they are BIG in the DESIGN WORLD!

I actually sat across from STACEY,SUSANNA and TIMOTHY at BREAKFAST the morning of the TALK!

As we left to go I couldn’t HELP myself and POPPED in at THEIR TABLE!

MR. CORRIGAN who owns a CHATEAU in FRANCE and if you do not have the BOOK GO GET IT!It is called AN INVITATION TO CHATEAU DU GRAND~LUCE. HE was so nice and remembered me from FOUR YEARS PRIOR!

I Don’t have to tell YOU that made my WEEK!!!!!

They were all so charming and HUMOROUS.

BETH who is known for her PALE PALETTES hates PURPLE!

STACEY, IS the author of THE BLOG QUINTESSENCE.

RICHARD has been in THE BUSINESS for a VERY LONG time and has done a house for JACKIE KENNEDY!!He loves his wrap around PORCH the MOST of all his ROOMS!

TIMOTHY,Loves to HAVE TONS of BOOKS always in his HOMES.( I AGREE!)In fact, if I was SO LUCKY to have to PICK one of these PROFESSIONALS to do MY HOME it would be HIM!COMFORT and BEAUTY ABOUND!Check out his YELLOW WALLS in the CHATEAU!Who else do you know who has YELLOW WALLS!!!!

SUSANNA,says Just move pieces around.One does not have to spend more to re-decorate!As she found out by visiting her rental house!The LADY had the GALL to move a Round TABLE from point A to point B by a window!Which was a GOOD MOVE AFTER ALL she even admitted!

But MY PHOTO up TOP HERE is of another DECORATOR who I cannot remember her name who approached me AFTER this LECTURE to tell me  …………….SHE READS MY BLOG!

She even sent the VIDEO of BANKSY to her SISTER IN LAW who wants a PIG!

SO, we had a GOOD TALK about PIGS and their BEHAVIORS!

OF COURSE WHAT STANDS OUT IN THEIR MINDS IS THE DIRT FROM BANKSY’s SNOUT ON MY DOOR!

I have to be honest HERE and say I ALMOST did not POST that VIDEO on Instagram as that bothered me!

I was hoping NO ONE WOULD NOTICE!!!!!!!!

HA!

I THINK YOU ALL NOTICE EVERYTHING!

MORE TIME CLEANING and LESS TIME BLOGGING??

DOUBT THAT WILL EVER HAPPEN……………SHALL WE CONTINUE!?

The next night was another PARTY and this MAN DAVID who I met 28 years ago through MY MOTHER was able to join me for a walk about and dinner!

AS we STOPPED in FRONT of a BOOTH and I exclaimed ,”I DIDNOT SEE THIS BEFORE!”The man standing at the COUNTER said,”I think I FOLLOW YOUR INSTAGRAM!”I reply…….”.WHO ARE YOU?!!!!

“HE TELLS ME FIRE STATION GUY!!!!!!!

OMG……….

He was THE FIRST person I FOLLOWED on IG who SOLD ANTIQUES!

HIS TASTE IS INCREDIBLE…………………MY HEART would PALPITATE over THINGS!

He says OPEN the CHAMPAGNE…….and I SAY LETS TAKE A PHOTO!

YOUR CONTESSA with DONALD of FIRE STATION GUY!

THAT MADE SIX people who recognized me from either IG or this little BLOG!

I AM OVERWHELMED BY THOSE STATICS!!!!

THANK ~YOU ALL FOR BEING APART OF MY LIFE!

WHO KNEW A MIDDLE AGED WOMAN COULD HAVE SO MUCH FUN WITH THE INTERNET A FEW YEARS AGO!HECK, I DIDNOT EVEN WANT AN EMAIL ACCOUNT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For those of YOU who do not COMMENT my email is [email protected]

Once again LA CONTESSA was taken for an EMAIL Already by the time I got around to getting ONE so I HAD A FIT and said in ITALIAN, BUT I AM THE COUNTESS!!!!!!!!!

SO,HE USED THAT INSTEAD!!!!!

NOTE TO SELF……..BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY TO THE ITALIAN!

I had NO IDEA the world would have to see that!

 HE told me I needed a SECRET CODE NAME!

THE CAUSE OF THE STATIC CLING!

 THERE YOU HAVE IT.

MY WORLD WIND TRIP CROSS COUNTRY TO SEE THE ANTIQUE & GARDEN SHOW IN NASHVILLE and to HEAR the UNCLE SPEAK on ALTHORP of those TWO YOUNG MEN over yonder in ENGLAND who have made THEIR MOTHER and ME SO PROUD!

THANK YOU for FOLLOWING and EVEN MORE THANK YOU’s If you LEAVE A COMMENT!

AS That MAKES MY DAY

AND

makes ME SMILE!

THIS is hard WORK to write with CAPS, add links,re-size PHOTOS, etc!

  XOXO