Monday, November 15, 2010

What I Didn't Buy At the Antique Show


This booth at the Hillsborough Antique Show was filled to the brim with linen, grain sacks, mangle cloths and pillows. It made my heart skip a beat!

I passed up this lovely yardage. Now I regret it! It's unusual to find flax linen like this with the caramel brown stripe. It would have been a wonderful runner for the Thanksgiving table!

There were other colors too. Red stripe, purple stripe, blue and black striped runners. Why didn't I at least get a couple of yards?

I thought these Christmas stockings were adorable! They would have been perfect for my #1 daughter's family. Passed them up....

As well as these monogrammed sachets filled with lavender. They would make great little gifts, but no, I left them there!

There were many monogrammed grain sacks too. My BFF, Maureen found a mangle cloth with her initials. Perfect as a tablecloth. I made her buy it! But again, I didn't buy a thing. What was wrong with me?

As much as I love this look, there is just so much that one can have before it becomes too much of a good thing.
For instance, I had slipcovers made for these two captain's chairs out of grain sacks. If I added a similar runner for the table, it would be too much.

I even upholstered my four French chairs out of coffee sacks!

Which went great with the linen and burlap tablescape I did back in May.

The living room is a study in linen!

I even had a French grain sack framed!

As much as I regret passing up all the great European linens at the antique show, I think it was probably the right thing to do. For once, I listened to my gut and told myself, "you have enough of this already!"

I found it interesting that this was the only grain sack I found in Italy!
Seriously, I did not see one bit of burlap or linen there.
Which also confirmed to me that I shouldn't invest anymore in this look!

I did get the dealer's card though, just in case!
That caramel stripe runner is calling my name!

41 comments:

  1. I think you should have bought that caramel stripe fabric. I really do. LOL It's beautiful and would look fabulous on your Thanksgiving table.
    I know "enough is enough".... but it's really gorgeous.

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  2. Delores, I do like this look but I should be fine because I do not have one thing made form a grain sack or burlap. I am behind in this curve. ♥O

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  3. Sometimes I just get totally overwhelmed and can't pick a thing. You really do have a beautiful home -- I've not yet tried the burlap or grain sack anywhere....but I've sure enjoyed seeing it all over blogland.

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  4. Wow! What a great show! I am going to a huge one this weekend in Orlando and I am going to get myself some grain sacks! I, unlike you have none! Congrats on the restraint!

    Carol

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  5. I share your sentiments. I have enough! Any time I see something in linen or burlap, I take a deep breath and wonder if I really need it or if I have a place to put it. I'm thinking a lot that way when it comes to what I am putting in my home...if I am being true to myself or the trends.

    Fantastic post, Delores!

    XO,
    Jane

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  6. Hi Delores, It would be really hard for me to show willpower when it comes to grain sacks and burlap. Luckily I don't see much for sale in our area. I love seeing photos of your gorgeous home and I have always adored your upholstered dining chairs. Thanks for the entering my giveaway and for the link in your sidebar.
    xo, Sherry

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  7. Hi Delores, As I was reading through each one of your paragraphs with pictures I was thinking "Oh no!! Why DIDN'T she buy that???? By the time I got to the end of your story I admired you for realizing you already had enough. I keep telling myself that when I'm in thrift stores and find one more silver platter or one more this or that...so much, but I can't resist! :(

    Good for you!
    Donna

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  8. Delores, you wow the blog world... I could so move in on you Villa home decor. Of course I love the grain sack and burlap use it is a passionate look for me.

    Is your sofa an oatmill tone or white, hard to tell with camer color settings sometimes.

    I have to leave before I can no longer breath, your home leaves me breathless!

    come joine in on my eco- natural soap and beauty GiveAway from the eco- natural soap company!

    xx
    Dore

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  9. First of all, your photos are fabulous. It would be so difficult to pass up the grain sacks because the display is gorgeous. But I agree with you, enough is enough. Having said that...I think the carmel stripe is calling your name!
    Your home is absolutely exquisite. The linens and grainsacks you have are out of this world. Beautiful!

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  10. Delores I am so proud of YOU!! You were right in all the decisions except for one, the caramel runner! I concur with you on that one. I think when burlap goes out and I agree it is getting ready to leave that runner would stand the test of time. Love the last pict. too funny!! xo Kathysue

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  11. Would you be able to pass along the dealer name and number. Those initialed items were great and would make nice gifts. Thanks!

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  12. I went to the show too--and didn't buy a thing either. I always pause at Merlin Antiques transferware, gasp at the prices on the 8x8" maple picture frames in the booth with all the staffordshire. (I then run on Ebay and pick up pieces without leaving the comfort of my sofa...)

    What caught my eye was that the contrast of antique red toile with the linen.

    After I left, I thought, why didn't I purchase any of those heart sachets? I must be crazy, they're great stocking stuffers, adorable, and would also look great as ornaments on a tree.

    It must have been something in the air...because I didn't have a fabulous dining room like yours to go home to and still walked out empty-handed! Your dining room is perfect, an absolute stunner.

    Great post!

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  13. Lots of eye candy! I have not purchased anything burlap or linen this go round. I remember when it was a hit years ago.
    Hope you are enjoying your evening.

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  14. OHHH! I bet that was HARD to pass all of those beauties up!!! But , you are right... sometimes too much of a good thing is too much. I have a tendency to go OVERBOARD when I love something.
    Have a pretty day!
    Kristin

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  15. Dearest Delores,

    You are quite a sport with the ending image of the burlap feeding sack for the horse...! What a joke but then you are so right as in Italy they will not easily use such course material, they're far more refined. Look at their bed linens from Frette... etc. etc.
    But sometimes it is tempting and it is wise to know when you 'over-kill'...
    Have a great week!

    MariettesBacktoBasics

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  16. Of course two little cushions made out of the caramel stripe fabric would look perfect on those captain chairs.

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  17. * Delores~ I realize (& SURE do RESPECT!) that it took a LOT of RESTRAINT to pass up so many lovelies... (don't know/think that 'yours truly' here could have done THAT!!!)... BUT as your pal, I must say I DO agree with you... once there's "too much" of ANYthing, it's NOT a "good thing" anymore... HOWEVER, surely there must be OTHER parts of/in the house where you can slip in a little more, girlfriend! (Insert happy but sly smile here!)~

    What I DON'T "UNDERSTAND" is HOW on earth you could pass up those sachet hearts... I'm not a "gushy gal", but I just fell in LOVE with them~~~ am suprised you didn't too!!! (Even one with a "G", hanging on the Guest Room door would be sweet, I think, and pretty special for your guests!).

    Then again, you DID just get back from an UBER-incredible trip, and MAY want to have food to feed hubby for the month!!! (Ha ha!)...

    Hugs,
    Linda

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  18. *** Oh yes! A "P.S.": Pier 1 used to have some wonderful "stick" placemats n' runners, which I STILL like and use when they provide the look n' feel I'm wanting... One of them would make a great runner if you really WANT/NEED one, & give you the variety I think you're possibly looking for! XO, Me ***

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  19. That caramel stripe still haunts me . pretty special..... lets go!

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  20. This is such a cute post and I especially loved the last picture! Your home is lovely and the amount of linen, burlap and grainsacking you have is perfect...it's not over-kill because you've used it all beautifully...not trendilly (word?).
    xo J~

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  21. This post made me smile as I too have realised that I have "enough" of this look at our house. That said, I loved all the photos that you posted :-)

    Leeann

    p.s I love the chairs that you recovered and will bear this in mind for our reupholstery classes!

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  22. Knowing when to say when shows great style. I love your home as is! I don't own one bit of burlap, or grain sack linen, I just don't know how to fit it in, without trying to redo everything. I like it, just not using it!

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  23. What beautiful pieces! But I understand completely about not buying more.

    However,the one with the brown stripe...very unusual. You might need to get that one. :-)
    Hugs,
    Penny

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  24. I am proud of you! I am learning too to say, Enough is enough"...how much does one person really need? That being said it would have been hard to pass up the one with the brown stripe...and I LOVE your chairs...I think I missed them before in your posts. They are gorgeous.

    Interesting that you didn't see if in Italy. I suppose that "burlap madness" will pass-just like ruffled curtains of the 80's- after it has had a good long run. It's amazing how things sweep the country and how we get caught up and sometimes overdo it. I think you have found just the right balance! Hugs-Diana

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  25. Oh my... I just love your house and your stile!!!
    Kisses
    ETta

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  26. I do this all the time! Go somewhere and not get anything and then WISH I had!

    Gorgeous things!!

    Lou Cinda

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  27. Great post...beautiful photos..you are sooo funny.
    Italian horse shot is incredible.
    Christmas stockings darling.
    Thanks for getting me out of my house & taking me on your travels with you.
    Sharon

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  28. Beautiful!!! I love your LXVI chairs! Your living is just gorgeous! Congratulations!
    xx
    Greet

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  29. Hello Delores,
    I like your finds in vintage linen,and perfect living room in your house!!
    Hugs from Spain,
    Cecilia

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  30. Hi Delores,
    I also love the look of burlap and have two table runners and a pillow..although the look is great the fabric is so rough and not comfortable. Everyone that sits on the chair where I have the burlap pillow moves it, before they sit.
    I agree with you to much of a good thing at times is just to much. I love the flax linen.Your photo's are great!
    Have a sweet day, Elizabeth

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  31. Hello Delores,
    you are gorgeous!
    Greetings, Johanna

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  32. "I have enough"?! You poor thing, I hope you get to feeling better soon. LOL

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  33. Delores,
    Woman, you have strong will power!
    Fabric by the yard. . .I may have bought the entire bolt! Those stockings were adorable! Oh, and those cute little pillows would have been darling on your French chairs! I do know that we, as Americans, are trying NOT to covet. We live in the land of milk and honey. I agree, too much of a good thing can spoil the look.
    Hm~m~m, if that caramel stripe isn't calling out your name. . .it might be calling out mine! HA! Thank you for such a fun 'eye candy' post!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  34. A kindred spirit...I've had to walk away from so many treasures for the same reason. I've decided that taking a picture is almost as satisfying!
    best,
    pam

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  35. Hi Delores,
    Such wonderful things! They look so much like the items sold at Patine in La Selva Beach - they show at all the antique fairs, too. If so, then I have to get down there right away!
    Your pictures are so lovely they might even inspire me to get up off my you-know-what and get busy around here! I just adore your home, so warm and inviting.
    xo
    Heidi

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  36. Such Gorgeous things!! Looked like Three Fine Grains - not sure though. I think I would not have been able to exercise such restraint. But, you are right, too much of anything (even linens as beautiful as those) gets kitschy.

    Your home is beautiful and warm. I love it!
    xx-Gina

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  37. Hi Delores
    Your pictures and your post is great! Your photos are beautiful and although I would love to be on the market, but I agree with you - it can be too much of everything ... Christmas stockings and the horse with food in the bag is in my taste.
    I wish you a wonderful pre-Christmas time!
    xxx
    Lene

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  38. Wow! I'm inpressed. Not buying one thing would be a major accomplishment for me. I guess it has happened but not too often. I do know what you mean. I have so much dishware in blue and white that I do stop myself before I buy another peice. How many peices can one have? But if it's a tea pot, then I've got to have it!

    - The Tablescaper

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  39. I agree with you....any more would be too much. You've achieved just the right balance. It's so hard not to buy when your friends are buying but you did the right thing.
    Evelyn

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  40. Kudos to you for exhibiting patience in your purchases! Agree, now that you point it out, the caramel stripe linen is lovely, but if that is indeed your room with the linen slipcovered head chair (which I'm sure it is)...you've got gorgeous in abundance. So, smart gal for easy, breezy photos of inspiration for all of us. So much easier to store and they take up so much less space, eh?! Thanks for the eye candy. Any last minute Thanksigivng inspiration these last few days (bascially a recap of your favorite tablescapes) would be REALLY timely.

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