Heart of Country

Ahh, one of my favorite times of the year (the other is the Nashville Needlework Market).  The Heart of County  Antiques Show at the Opryland Hotel.  Aisles and aisles and aisles of antiques.  Walking and walking and looking and drooling and ideas dancing in my head. Here is how Kramer-Hunkins & Associates describes Heart of Country:  American, English, Primitive and Period Furniture, Fine art, Folk art, Pottery, Quilts, Decoys, Sports, Nautical, Historica, Rugs, Baskets, Paint, Pewter, Silver. 

And if Heart of Country is not enough to put me in antiques overload there is the











I'm warming up my walking shoes!

Tailgate Antiques

Today, my partner in crime aka Carmen and I went to the Tailgate Antiques Show at the Hendersonville Expo Center.  The exhibitors/dealers have beautiful rooms set up with antique furniture, rugs, quilts, samplers, etc. We attend these shows to get our creative juices flowing, to learn about antiques and drool.

Aplogizies for the hanging side ways photo--I was taking photos with my new cell phone and my cell phone and I are still in the getting acquainted phase of our relationship. 

Ken and Sue Zippel from Country Corner Antiques were two of the nicest people.  They specalize in antique samplers!  We spent lots of time drooling in this booth looking at Adam and Eve samplers.  Samplers stitched on 45 ct linen, samplers with quirky angels. 

Next weekend is The Gathering.  This is a new to us event.  Hopefully, my cell phone and I will be in a more cooperative relationship by next Saturday.



Heart of Country

If you are an antiques lover now is the time of year to be in Music City!  This year marks the 31st anniversary of the Heart of Country Antique Show Feb 2-4.  American art, folk art, western art, pottery, quilts, decoys, sports, jewelry, nautical, historical, rugs, baskets, paint, pewter, silver, books, and endless decorative accessories from North to South.  This year Jill Peterson, author, American country stylist, and editor of the popular magazine, A Simple Life, is the guest speaker.

In addition to the Heart of Country Antique Show there are two other antique shows happening across the street.  One is The Fiddler's Antique Show and the other is Tailgate-Music Valley Antique Show.  Bring you wallet.

While you are in Tennessee for the antiques shopping consider taking a drive to Athens to see the Schoolgirl Samplers at the McMinn County Living Heritage Museum.  The McMinn County Living Heritage Museum is well known for its beautiful quilts, coverlets, and hooked rugs.  The Museum textiles collection will be temporarily expanded to include rare American and Tennessee samplers.  Ashley Rush, the Museum's executive director says "young women not only created exquisite and unique works of art, but the motifs and phrases they stitched also allowed them to study spelling, geography, and morality, as well as the needlework technique prized in well educated young ladies of the time."

So, if you love antiques and especially antique samplers now is the time to come for a visit.  You are most kindly welcome to stop by Thistle Manor, I'll ask AppleJack to put on the coffee pot!