Rarely do you visit a shop where everywhere you look is an artfully arranged tableau. Except maybe in Paris, where they invented it. But this is Texas, hun, in the charming Hill Country town of Fredericksburg, where I was last week. Carol Hicks Bolton antiques is an acre of heaven for the vintage/rustic/industrial-chic set, and oh, what fun.

Ladies and gentlemen, start your Pinterest boards…

Who knew a bunch of weeds tacked to a wall could be so beautiful?

Or watch faces in a muffin tin? If that’s what it is (?)

Or what-all in a what-not.

At the risk of appearing lazy, which I am, I give you the description from owners Carol and Tim Bolton themselves, who say it as well as I could, if not better, from their website here:

“For individual decorators, collectors and resellers, … magnificent antiques sourced from Europe and beyond. 

One-of-a-kind beds, french cabinets & curiosities, huge farm tables, fabulous upholstery, romantic bed linens, industrial objects, illuminations, and tons and tons more.

 [They aren’t kidding. Am I nuts? Do y’all think this is as much fun as I do?]

 

[Every now and then my eyeballs would pop out of my head and I would have to walk across the store and fetch them.]

“There is nothing precious here. The furniture we exhibit is a reflection of who we are, what we love, and what we believe in.

[I 100% believe in starfish. ]

 [A few of these you may recognize from my Instagram…]

“It is old and new at the same time – deconstructed and stripped down to the bones to reveal the original story underneath all the layers. Every piece has been found, measured, curated, cultivated, sorted, sifted, adjusted, adapted and loved.

[I soooooo wanted the table below to use as a desk…]

 “Each item offers an unscripted authenticity, and becomes a continuing story of others’ histories that you can write into your own.” 

Preferably involving stuffed weasels…

 

 Love a little slipper chair by the bed…

 These two look smack in the middle of a conversation. “Does this mount make my beak look fat?”

So what did I buy? A wonderful extra-slim oak bench that came from an old railroad station, and a dozen botanicals which I do not need and am not sure where to put, but I just couldn’t help myself. Don’t be like me. Not these, btw. They are attached directly to the wall, with nails holding the glass covering. No frames. Genius.

FYI I was in Fredericksburg for a painting workshop with the talented Michael Workman. We talked more than painted, alas, but I learned a lot. Was insane for me going in middle of The Bee Cottage Story book deadlines but went anyway. 

(Managed to  resist this antique bee skep, but it wasn’t easy.)

Hope my editor is not reading this. Heck it was so close to Hondo, Texas, where we were quail hunting the weekend before, it was practically obligatory, right? And besides, #playinghookyishealthy every now and then, right?

This sweet sign was behind the counter.

I actually met “Daddy,” aka Tim Bolton, at least I reckon he is the daddy mentioned here. He was hospitable and lovely to everyone who came in. I bet lots of people love him. And I know they love his and Carol’s shop. I bet (again) that lots of people thought they were crazy with what they wanted to create here, and now look. Amazing what happens when you  follow your passion.