Successful misadventures in traveling - pottery, antiques, and Blanco.

I got to Goodwill on Wednesday, I know, a little late in the week for me.  I'm still looking for the ideal long sewing desk, and a couple of things for my husband. The furniture section was in shambles!  It was picked over, everything that they had was ugly or busted, and there was only one desk, a small one.  I don't know what happened, but I was disappointed.

I came out of the trip with some clothes for Mr. Pants and 2 shirts and a leather vest for me.  Who would've thought I needed a leather vest?  It's brown with a scalloped neckline and fits me really well.  And you can't beat real leather, especially for Goodwill prices. I kinda love it.

Does anyone have any good finds this week?

I decided on a whim this afternoon that I should start a new project to stock my Etsy store.  I can't tell you what it is, but it involves lavender.  And, so, I drove to the nearest area that grows its own lavender. The fields aren't ready at all yet this year, it's way to early (look for mid summer), but the products are carried around the area.  I was looking for Hill Country Lavender, in Blanco, TX, and their products are carried at a potter's shop in Blanco.  Road trip!  I picked up Mr. Pants from school, and went for a drive. It's about 30 minutes from their school, and a very pretty drive, providing it's not drizzly, cloudy, and full of construction.

The shop is called Brieger Pottery, and they carry an amazing amount of things I wanted to buy.  I just walked in and started drooling.  I got the okay to take some photos from the nice woman working there, and with a toddler on one arm and a camera in the other, I set forth trying to get decent photos of the awesomeness. I say trying, because I think maybe 1 of every 15 photos turned out.  Oy.

The coolest beading I've EVER seen.  I didn't even want to look at the price.

 There was a ton of pottery, from many different artists.

cute pottery tea pot!

 And tons of lavender and lavender products.

lots of lavender - this isn't even a small selection of it all.

lavender oils, bathsoap, sachets, totes, chapstick, essences...everything

 And then after I looked at all the lavender, I came around the corner and saw this:

A huge table full of a selection of Mexican Oilcloth.  If you haven't seen or heard of it before, it's essentially a laminated fabric, that is pretty spill/water-proof.  I have been wanting to reupholster chairs in it forever.

I have loved this stuff since I first set eyes on it, and was jumping up and down with excitement when I saw this.  Of course I brought some home.  Mr. Pants picked the yellow one with strawberries to use at his birthday party this year.  I decided re-upholstery was not on my upcoming agenda. 

There was vintage clothing, imported textiles from South and Central America, some antiques, some art, some pottery made by Janis Joplin?! Who knew?  

There were framed sketches:

Embroidered towels and tablecloths:

Gorgeous jewelry (plenty of normal stuff, but I loved these beaded bracelets). Tables and tables of jewelry and accessories, from worldwide destinations to local artists.

 And it all sits by the historic courthouse on the square in Blanco.

 (sorry it's so blurry! drizzly day)

 The buildings are simple but I really liked their style.

 Here's what I came back with:

Limoncello cups (6 for $8) that are sooo cute.  I now need to buy some Limoncello.

 This really cute children's book published in 1965. Cool illustrations and based in London. Can't beat it - $4.

 Of course the lavender I went to get.

And a new pint glass from the Real Ale Brewing Company based in Blanco.

All in all, the day went much better shopping-wise after we went to Blanco.  If you ever get the chance and you are in the area, stop by. There's a state park on the river there, a cute restaurant connected with the pottery store, some antique shops, and plenty of historical sites.  I'm glad I went there on a whim - what a pretty drive!

On a sidenote - I got lost driving home! I never do that, I have a great sense of direction normally.  I let myself get mixed up -  i didn't realize it until I kept seeing signs for decreasing distances to San Antonio.  

As much as I like the Alamo, it's not on the agenda today, especially not at rush hour. However, I ended up driving through some very cute towns and taking some fun country roads I might not ever see again, so not too bad in the end. 

Here's to getting lost!