Dallas Market Part 2

In Part 2 of my trip to the Dallas Market, I will feature photos from the wholesalers inside the World Trade Center. (If you missed my recap of the Vintage Finds show in Part 1, click here!) Both times I attended market, I started in the WTC. The very first time I saw it, I was thoroughly overwhelmed, and this time, I was incredibly excited (and still overwhelmed). I definitely felt more familiar with the layout, and I had more of a reason to shop with the wholesalers since I started carrying clothing for my online store, Barn Chic Boutique, and at shows (Junk Hippy in Rosenberg is the next one - February 22!). I enjoyed getting even more acquainted with the workings of wholesale shopping this trip. 

We made our way to the 13th floor to the "Temp" part of the show. A more experienced buyer said that this is where all the up and coming vendors and new trends are, so we had to check those out. I didn't expect anything to be within my budget, but was pleasantly surprised at the variety of vendors and price points. There are gifts, fashion, home decor, paper goods, bath and body, kids' clothing and accessories, and even team spirit merchandise. This is a view of the WTC looking down from the 13th floor.

I checked out a few of the other floors too. Here are some views of the various showrooms.

These are too chic for Barn Chic. 

This too. 

It is hard to imagine buying holiday decor 11 months before the season...

but then again, for retailers, it is only about 7 months before the decorating begins. 

Santa is already making preparations for Christmas 2014.

Those lamps are fancy.

I've read that the plum palette is the color scheme for 2014. 

Here are some well-dressed mannequins on the 3rd floor. 

This lovely lady has a skirt of lace tablecloths and old book pages. Not sure what happened to her top. 

I fell in love with a store on the 3rd floor. I visited it three times making notes and taking pictures before finally deciding to place an order. This wholesaler's style rivaled Pottery Barn with affordable prices, but with minimum orders - both item quantity and total dollar.  

I loved the sheep theme. This is Barn Chic!

I typically do not like new merchandise made to look old, but I have to admit being really impressed with how some wholesalers were able to make reproduction pieces look so authentically vintage and distressed.

After placing an order with one of the vendors on Sunday afternoon, I was so surprised to come home to a stack of three huge boxes on my doorstep Wednesday! Wow, that is fast! Typically, orders from market take weeks or months to arrive, as many items are still in production. Since so much of what I ordered from this store was from their 2013 line, I got it immediately. (I'm so last year!) I got lots of 'fluff' items for my space and shows, and I instantly knew what was in one box just by its scent - lavender!

Here is a sneak peak at some of the other items I ordered and am anxiously awaiting. They will be online at barnchicboutique.com as soon as I receive them!

Reclaimed canvas bags. 

Wool and leather satchel. 

Rustic Romance. 

Leggings, orange fringe, and turquoise - loving the combination of western and tribal in fashion. 

 And one more display from the Vintage show that I left out last weekend - Stash. I always love their displays at Zapp Hall in Warrenton, but the entrance to their booth at market was spectacular.

It was a great weekend of style and sophistication - still not sure how they let me in, but so glad they did! Special thanks to my roommate Jeanette for joining me on this journey!

Have a chic week and stay warm,

~Sarah

Dallas Market, Take II - Part 1

I am on day 2 of recovering from my shopping hangover. This hangover was caused by overindulging in browsing (and a little buying) at the Dallas Market Center's "Total Home and Gift Market" this past weekend. It was incredible. On my first trip to market, I was there for about four hours and I spent one of them trying to figure out how to even get into the show. This time, I went for two days and with a bit more awareness about how this wholesale buying process worked.

This place had my name all over it! 

I drove past this building on my commute for two years when I lived in Dallas and always wondered what was in there! We stayed directly across the highway but it sounded like we were sleeping on the highway.

Since I was there about 4 times longer than my first visit, I was able to see so much more. For this post, I want to focus on the Vintage Finds portion of the show in Market Center (two buildings to the left of the World Trade Center building). 

I wonder if this sign is there all the time or an addition for this show? 

One of the first booths you see upon entering the hall is Brian and Meloney of The Seed Box Antiques. As always, their space is so well put together and filled with inspiration. I loved their mix of color, material, and texture. Chippy wood, rusty metal, and galvanized steel come together with pops of greenery both dried and live.

My first purchase of the show (after lunch) was a copper cow bell from Dana at Tattered Style. I remember buying something from her at my last show and love her collection of old goods.

Another dynamic decorating duo is the couple behind Weston Primitive Co. They drive to Texas at least three times a year as they also set up at the Zapp show in Warrenton each fall and spring. Their midwestern farmhouse furniture is nothing short of exquisite for Americana primitives.

They had a touch of industrial for this show as well. 

The only other vendor whose space I captured photos of in the Vintage market is Julie of Vintage Soul TX. 

I first met Julie at the Country Living Show in Austin two springs ago, and I am so very impressed with how her business has evolved to capture her incredible talent of painting. She can transform a 1970's dresser into a showstopping centerpiece for a room, but even more impressive is how she hand-paints old wooden pallets with funky vintage fonts. I am in awe of her talent and creativity.   

There were so many other great vendors in the Vintage section that I missed. I have lots more to say about the trip to the Dallas Market, so I hope you check back soon as I will give you a sneak peak of some new merchandise coming both to the Junk Hippie Road Show in Rosenberg (Saturday, Feb. 22) and to Barn Chic Boutique!

Have a chic week!

~Sarah

Reasons to go shopping

Not that I need a reason to shop, but I have several to justify my next excursion:

1) I sold this (these?):

I loved this set of industrial lockers and hope the new owner does as well. I wonder what purpose the lockers will serve in their new home?

Seeing that I made a big sale made my day! I have to admit that sales at the mall have been pretty slow for awhile. I've mostly been paying rent with the sales of ball jars and skeleton keys. But now that I sold a large piece, I get to go find something to replace it (well, replace the item that has been waiting its turn in the garage to get to the mall). 

2. It has been far too long since I have gone junk hunting in Texas. Since November 16 to be exact. I'm pretty sure this is the longest I have gone without a shopping trip since the birth of Barn Chic Antiques. This is unacceptable, especially when....

3. I am going to be a vendor at the Junk Hippy Roadshow in Rosenberg! Yay! I am wanting to do a few more shows this year (I welcome any suggestions!) and am so excited to join the list of super talented vendors at this year's spring show on Saturday, February 22 at the Ft. Bend County Fairgrounds. I hope I get a space sandwiched between Theresa of Garden Antqs Vintage  and Jeanette of Simply J's. Any other friends going to be there?

I think I will head to Market next weekend....and hopefully getting in goes smoother than it did the last time!

I was clueless!  

In case you need a reason to shop, check out Barn Chic Boutique. There are lots of new arrivals in stock and you can save 10% for the month of January with discount code "2014." If a sale isn't a reason enough to shop, I don't know what it is!

Have a chic week,

~Sarah

Inspiration

Happy New Year! I can hardly believe that 2013 has come and gone, or that another holiday season is nearly over. The last few weeks were a whirlwind with last minute shopping, cross-country travel, and fun with family and friends in Austin, New York, and Illinois. Looking back at the pictures from these times, I find much inspiration for 2014 from the times of togetherness in 2013. Here are some of those moments...

Walk with a friend and her (3) babies on a brisk Austin morning.

Seeing the glow of a beautiful tree in a New York City restaurant.

Realizing that even trendy restaurants like FORGE in New York City like rusty signs!

Joining four cousins around this beautiful antique handcrafted farm table.

Enjoying exotic meals like this.

Finding pictures of old barns adorning the walls.

Could this place get any cooler?

Yes - by serving warm chocolate chip cookies for dessert! 

Compliments to the chef, Marc Forgione - we had an amazing meal in a beautiful restaurant. 

Sightseeing in the city.

Taking in the view at the National September 11 memorial.

Remembering a friend who lost his life in the North Tower.

Enjoying the magic of the tree at Rockefeller Center.

Meeting a second cousin for the first time.

 Appreciating little brother's nap time.

Realizing that the box is the best part of a present.

Until its lifespan is over.

Having fun while shopping at the world's best store (Tractor Supply).

Traveling the back roads. 

Appreciating the end of a day and the beginning of a new pond.

Visiting Minnie and Lola.

Spending time with family. 

What a wonderful time we had with parents, grandparent, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins, and great friends. Thank you so much to our hosts for the fellowship, food, and fun.

And thank you for reading this and giving me the opportunity to share my blessings from the holidays. I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and a great start to 2014. 

May the new year bring you health, happiness, and inspiration!

Have a chic week,

~Sarah