Wander>Home: Round Top Round Up Finale!

Welcome to Wander>Home, a series dedicated to sharing how I bring my travels around the world back into my home! Join me on a journey that goes beyond traditional “souvenirs” as I explore the infusion of textures, colors, art, and even memories that evoke the essence of each place I've visited. This series is an invitation to see souvenirs not just as tokens, and experiences not just as memories - but as elements that can seamlessly become part of the fabric of your home. 

You see, I believe wandering > home, and the collision of the two has the opportunity to not only decorate your home but also narrate tales of your adventures.

In each part of this series, I’ll share key memories of my trip, along with specific sights, sounds, and ways I brought the experience back with me (i.e. incorporated it into the fabric of my home).

WANDER WITH ME…

ROUND TOP: PART 1, PART 2, PART 3

ROUND TOP: DAY 3…

Our last day in Texas was the first day of Marburger! 

Marburger (a separate event from the Round Top antique show) happens down the road a few miles from Round Top and is a pay-for-entry event. Let me just tell you – it was a sight to see!

Picture this: a TON of tents pitched in a vast field. As soon as the bell signals the opening of the show, they slice through the tape and a stampede of eager shoppers rushes (literally RUNNING) towards the tents! You have to be on your toes, or risk being swept away. Sadly, I missed this exhilarating spectacle (the chandeliers diverted my attention)!

Thankfully, I caught up through a video recap. But by the time I arrived, much had already been snatched up. Apparently, major buyers from stores and designers deploy teams of shoppers (identifiable by their sold tags) who dash through the aisles scooping up their desired items. Doesn't that sound like a fun gig? I'm tempted to become a shopper for one of those big buyers myself!

My initial mission at Marburger was to locate Ginny from Maison Du France (a fellow Birmingham native). She's a regular at these shows, and her tent was among the most impressive!

The array of offerings at this show was staggering – ranging from turn-of-the-century French antiques to sleek mid-century modern pieces. I could easily envision myself returning with an entire box truck to transport my newfound treasures. 😅

FUTURE THOUGHT: travel by truck with a group so we can make it a true journey…and most importantly, have plenty of room to bring home our finds! Who’s in!?

–

I gleaned numerous insights from the vendors I connected with and from Paige at The Vintage Round Top. She's incredibly knowledgeable about the area and its residents, offering invaluable insider information. 

–

We made a few more stops on our journey, starting with The Horseshoe, home to Teressa Foglia hats and Prize Home and Garden, among other great vendors. Our next destination was The Compound, a fantastic venue bustling with both new and established vendors. Time was short and I couldn't explore every nook, so I'm eager to return. I did find a stunning wrap dress with a batik pattern and some luxurious French linen towels. Score! 

Continuing our adventure, we ventured to Excess, where the selection wasn’t as curated, but still brimming with unique finds. There, I had the pleasure of meeting Web and Jill Wilson, which was such a treat! Their collection featured remarkable cast iron and soapstone sinks, and we bonded over our shared experiences in Alabama and knowledge of salvaging. Web shared fascinating insights into the hardware pieces I selected, even showing me a book he authored on the subject. It was a memorable encounter, as I discovered unique pieces with rich histories, while Jill offered me a fantastic deal on some exquisite French linen sheets.

By the end of our day at Marburger, I had officially shopped till I dropped and couldn’t wait to find a place to sit. I met my travel companions, Peggy and Joyce at an area called Dead Man’s Stuff and listened to a cowboy sing while we had a beer and waited on the bus to be ready. Again - full-on “Texas” mode!

We were left to fend for ourselves for dinner, and with an early start looming the next day, packing was my priority. I had brought along a couple of spare duffle bags (highly recommend on any “shopping” trip), which ended up being too many for my purchases. So, I loaned one to a friend to accommodate her abundance of fabric and lace finds—she really scored!

For dinner, we opted for Boons (a local favorite), initially gathering around the fire pit with ranch waters beneath the twinkling stars. So picturesque!

As the evening air grew cooler, we didn't have to wait long before being seated. The meal was scrumptious, and afterward, we headed upstairs to the bar to rendezvous with the rest of our group. It was a fitting conclusion to the evening...and as our car pulled up to the Vintage Round Top, we were all belting out Beyonce's "This Ain't Texas" at the top of our lungs. That was the perfect finale of our fantastic journey in Round Top, Texas!

How I brought Round Top “HOME” with me:

A cowboy hat

French oil paintings

French sketches

French love letters

French linen

A great dress

A cool metal cow grain that I’ll turn into a sconce 

Chandeliers

A hotel key organizer

And MORE! Check out my Instagram reels and the live where I showed all of my finds!

“Don’t miss list” for when you go to Round Top…

Blue Hills 

East End Salvage

French Bleu

The cotton Shed

The cotton shed doughnuts!!!

Saints Hats at the Arbors

Food

Rancho Pillow

Lulu’s 

Boons

Round Top Brewery

Duo’s 

Royer’s Pie Haven

Marburger

The Horshoe

Excess

Make time to walk through the tents set up in the fields! 

SOLD OUT Are you on the waitlist?