Sponsor Message And Welcome

SPEAKER_01 0:00

This episode brought to you by Kathy Lwall State Farm Insurance Agent. Visit her website at KathyLwall.com and Hope DeCour, the ultimate food and wine event on April 24th and 25th, benefiting American Heart Association. For tickets and more information, visit Dallaswineauction.com. Hello and welcome to the Bubble Lounge. I'm Martha Jackson, and today we're talking about something that so many women in our community have on their bucket list, Roundtop. If you've lived in Texas for any amount of time, you've probably heard friends talk about their annual girls' trip there. People come home with incredible finds, fun stories, and usually a car full of antiques or vintage treasures. Roundtop actually started as a small antiques fair decades ago, but it's grown into one of the largest antique shows in the country. Twice a year, thousands of vendors set up across miles of fields and barns, and people come from all over the country to shop, explore, and soak up the experience. You'll never believe this. I've always wanted to go, but I've never actually been. And I have a feeling I'm not the only one who's curious about it and maybe a little intimidated because it's so big and there's so much to see. So today we're doing a little roundtop 101, how to navigate it, where to stay, what to wear, what to eat, and how to find the good stuff. Joining me today is Kate Swell of Kate Swell Jewelry. She's a seasoned roundtop shopper and vendor. So she's going to give us the insider tips. So if you're thinking about going this year or planning a trip in the future, you'll know exactly what to expect. Kate, welcome to the show. Kate, welcome to the show. Hi, I'm so excited to be here. I know. I'm so excited to have you. Well, we're here to talk about roundtop, but before we get to that, let's talk about you. Give us a little bit of background about you.

SPEAKER_00 1:59

Okay. Love talking about Roundtop and um what led me there. Born and raised in Dallas, graduated from ESD, went to UT where I was a Theta, and then moved to Atlanta, Houston, back in Dallas, where I started designing and working with artisans in San Miguel, which led me to be a vendor at Roundtop after shopping Roundtop for many years.

What Round Top Really Is

SPEAKER_01 2:23

Well, very nice. Well, I've heard people tell the stories for many years that people go on girls' trip and it just sounds like the best time. And believe it or not, I still have never been. Oh, we've got to get you there, Martha. I agree.

SPEAKER_00 2:35

Well, tell us what exactly is it? Okay, so Roundtop, I've got um the history of Roundtop and what it is now, are very different, but also one in the same because of the spirit of Roundtop. So my mom and aunt were at the very first Roundtop shopping with my grandmother, who had a farm in Burton, which is eight miles from Roundtop and outside of Houston. About how long ago was that? Um, this was in the 1950s, 60s, or let's see. Um, the Round Top Antique show began with one woman in one building in the fall of 1968. Oh, wow. So 1968, Emily Turney established a two-day country antique show with unsurpassed standards of excellence and called it the Round Top Antiques Fair. Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_01 3:26

Yes. Well, that's interesting. Well, I just know that from hearing people talk, it started out with I think the Red Barn, and now it sounds like there's many different buildings and different areas, and it's just grown and grown.

SPEAKER_00 3:38

There are so many different venues. I started shopping there in 2005 because I lived in Houston and had young children, toddlers that you could leave during the day and go find treasures for every the home that we were building and that building out and that everybody else was really wanting to furnish their home. So Roundtop is where you went.

SPEAKER_01 4:04

Okay. Well, that's interesting. Well, Houston's a little bit closer. It's about four hours from Dallas, right?

How It Grew So Big

SPEAKER_00 4:08

Exactly. So Roundtop is definitely a doable day trip from Houston or Austin. Dallas is a destination. It's a little bit of a stretch. Yes. And I love that though, because you really have to commit to at least two or three days and you get to see what's going on there without rushing in and out.

SPEAKER_01 4:28

Yeah. Well, how did this little tiny town turn into such a massive event?

SPEAKER_00 4:32

You know, it it's so classic for a number of reasons. Roundtop has just been a quintessential, um, classic small town, Texas town that people love to go to. And there's all that Royers has been there forever, which is an a an amazing um place to go get fried chicken and a glass of Chardonnay. And, you know, there are some staples there that have always been there. Then you get the Round Top Antiques Festival that spans, I don't know exactly how many miles, but it's to the left and to the right of Hinkle Square, which is the square in Round Top. Okay. And what really happened, what I have seen, is when pop-ups started. And so it wasn't just your antique treasure hunting and vintage turquoise finds. It was where you could really find unique small businesses popping up left and right. And that's my story. And so now if you've already built your home and furnished your home, you can go for rose all day with your girlfriends and, you know, get plenty of accessories and pick up beautiful finds for the shelf that you still haven't completed.

What To Wear And Why

SPEAKER_01 5:51

Yeah, I was gonna ask, like it has evolved into be so much more than just antiques. And it just seems like, you know, westernware, vintage westernware specifically is just really having its moment. And this sounds like the perfect place to go find all that.

SPEAKER_00 6:06

Absolutely. So I have a story. I went down with a couple of mom friends, and I, this was a couple years ago. I was wearing for the day a sequin dress, my chemosabi hat, my Fra Line boots. And the other mom said, I'm not sure if I brought the right things. And I said, You absolutely did, but go big or go home is round top style. It used to be like before Lululemon existed, people wore just their, I wore just random workout clothes. Now it is a fashion niece's dream.

SPEAKER_01 6:43

It looks like a fashion show from the from the photos that I've seen posted. Yeah, but that particular friend must not have known you very well because that's how you dress on a normal Monday. Always, exactly. Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 6:54

But don't let this scare you off. You can go and put on some jean shorts and a white T and your um cute trucker hat and work the fields. And they'll I mean take your money, I bet. Absolutely. They'll actually take it more, maybe, because you look like a professional, not trying too hard.

SPEAKER_01 7:11

Oh my gosh, that's so funny. Well, that's what I wanted to ask is just what should people wear? You know, I would imagine comfortable shoes is pretty important.

SPEAKER_00 7:19

Well, I'm so excited is I get my fits ready for um being a vendor at Round Top, I'm really thinking about it. And of course, as you mentioned, Western heritage and Western fashion is having its moment. And as Texans, I love it. And it really enables one to just be um express their personality through just a heritage that's been around forever. Yeah. Um, and that we call our own as Texans. So I mix between like today, I'm wearing a really fun vintage dress. And this would be this, I bought it round top, and this would be great for going out to dinner at Lulu's at night. Um, during the day, if you're working the fields, you know, a great tee, jean shorts, an R loom Guatemalan belt, um, a sissy light hat and great Kate Swell Designs accessories, of course. Um and, you know, bring your Frline boots or and then you can change into your great tennis at the end of the day when your feet just cannot take it anymore. Yeah. So there really is a, you know, there's a day to night you can you can um always, and I do often, so I can make the sunset at Boder Ranch, kind of juice up whatever I'm wearing the day to make it more um into the night. But the best part is there are actually no rules. Yeah. You know, I mean, you can look as fancy and fabulous as you want, and you can also just uh keep it simple and keep the shopping serious and eat all things go in round top. That's what I love.

Where To Start And Key Venues

SPEAKER_01 9:02

Anything goes, it sounds like. Okay, well, let's paint a picture. I've never been. So I'm pulling up to round top. I'm ready to go shopping. Where do I start? What can I expect to see?

SPEAKER_00 9:11

Okay, since we're in Dallas and we are in the Bubble Lounge podcast, we're gonna talk about coming in from Dallas. Okay. What I love to do, we leave around 8 a.m. This is a as a shopper, of course. Um, we leave around 8 a.m. Um, you know, get our coffee. So it's about a four-hour drive with a gas station stop. And that's where, you know, you can put your cute skirt on, or you can just, you know, wear your um more casual outfit for the drive and be ready to shop in that. So I love going straight to Boone and company to have lunch. So you get there, you get excited, you sit with your group and have a glass of rose, and then you're ready to shop whatever venue you choose. And it often depends also where you're staying. I like to, you know, start at one end one day and work your way down, or start at the end, other end and work your way down. But definitely you start at lunch so you can get um fueled and ready to go to shop. And I do have my opinions about where you can start after that. Okay, okay. Well, how many areas are there? Okay. How far apart are these? That's a great question. Um, the exact amount of venues keeps growing. Um, but Boone and Company is in Hinkle Square and Roundtop proper, the city of Roundtop, and the Hinkle Square is kind of your starting point. Okay. Again, you can go um again, I don't know exactly how many miles to the left or to the right, but to um if you're turning right out of Hinkle Square, you've got um Red Barn, Blue Hills, um, Market Hill, the Arbors, and then if you're turning left out of Hinkle Square, you've got Marburger, which is the second week of the two weeks. You've got the horseshoe, you've got the compound, you've got Excess One and Two, you've got the fields, and you've got one of my favorites, Bada Ranch, which is a must. Um do sunset and dinner and shopping. Ooh.

SPEAKER_01 11:22

Yes. So do you need to have reservations at these restaurants ahead of time with as many people that flood that town?

SPEAKER_00 11:28

Absolutely. The reservations are definitely a must. Um, but they also you can come in and if you're willing to wait, you can often um go get a drink at the bar. It depends on the group size. Okay. You know, if it's two of you, you can you can be a little bit more flexible. If it's 10, reservations are hard.

SPEAKER_01 11:50

Well, how far out should you make reservations?

SPEAKER_00 11:52

Um, let's see. We are we're a few two days outside of roundtop starting. Um, I would say three months. Oh, yeah. You know, there's expert roundtoppers where they go every show. And so when they leave, they're often booking their um lodging, you know, when they leave. And then about three months out, uh the key is to follow a lot of the um venues, and they will start announcing when the reservations are available. Okay, that's a good thing. So that's that's that's a pro tip there. You get on your Instagram and you follow the um, there's a ton of amazing people that have are solely sharing roundtop style tips, what to do, where to go, how to do it. One of my favorite is um roundtop fashion guide.

SPEAKER_01 12:46

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 12:47

And then you have roundtop finds, and then you have totally tikka. And so they're gonna tell you, you know, where to shop. Um, there, as I think about it, I don't know of one that's specifically for the culinary, but there should be. Um, and um again, follow the different venues and the restaurants, and they'll let you know when reservations are available and when you should make them.

SPEAKER_01 13:13

So there's literally round top influencers.

SPEAKER_00 13:16

Yes, there are. And they're it's amazing. And they know the space and they know what they're talking about. And so it is so awesome. And they are just um cheerleading all the brands that are out there. And it is like I I one of them is a dear friend of mine, and I just love what they have done with the um scope of making Round Top available to everybody.

SPEAKER_01 13:41

Well, it's reminding me of, you know, how there's like tour guides that you can hire private tour guides in Disney because that place is so overwhelming. It almost sounds like they kind of serve that type of role, which I think is brilliant.

SPEAKER_00 13:53

Totally. You know, one of my favorite things to do when I went to Disney and Tamra Swaldy did that for me, and you could text her um, you know, on the go about, you know, what where you wanted to go or what you wanted to see or what what you you had your plan, but you could also text her real time. And that when I go to Santa Fe or San Miguel or even Roundtop, I say, okay, you've got your plans, you've got your reservations, but text me real time. And that's what they um, you know, that's just a personal thing for me, but that's what it feels like they're doing on their Instagram feed.

SPEAKER_01 14:25

Well, I think that's brilliant. And whenever I finally go, I'm definitely gonna consult one of those people for help. Absolutely. Okay, so let's plan our first trip. Yes. So how far out should we book our hotel? Three months on that too?

SPEAKER_00 14:37

Yeah, I think about three months. Again, I had mentioned some expert round toppers, you know, some of my friends in Dallas that um book they stay in the same place and they book when they leave. Right. So if you know you're gonna go back. So um, but places like the Frenchie or Lulu's, they're gonna book up. And so you definitely want to, if you're planning to go, you want to be cognizant of um about three months out to book a lodging where you want to, where you prefer staying.

Where To Stay And How Long

SPEAKER_01 15:08

Well, where are the best places to stay and what are they like? Like I'm picturing these really cute little quaint hotels.

SPEAKER_00 15:13

Yes. Well, of course you've got Airbnb and VRBO, and they are awesome. So that's a great place to start if you have a group. And then there's so many amazing people that have really had um many of the lodgings for quite a while because there was designers and um, you know, people have traveled around top uh from the country for quite a while. There's just now the girly trips going and the couples, and you know, it's just gotten bigger. So there's there's some people that have been around for a while. One of the cutest places is called the Frenchie, which is literally all things French. And they've got a pool and they've got a place you can eat dinner and have cocktails. And so that's one of my favorite places. There's also Lulu's where you can stay, which is adjacent to um the restaurant, restaurant Lulu's, and then you've got the Red Antler, and then um, I mean, there are so many cute ones now um that are so fun to stay at. But again, you've got the hotels where you're gonna have full service, but you've also got so many amazing Airbnbs to stay at. Yeah, so lots of options.

SPEAKER_01 16:25

Lots of options. Well, how many days do we need to go to this? It sounds like we need several.

SPEAKER_00 16:29

Okay, great question. Definitely three days and two nights. I have done it um and gotten most in, but coming from Dallas, I would say three nights would be epic because then you get to go back. You're not so rushed trying to see it all. You really can take it all in and you can go back to your Airbnb or your hotel, enjoy the pool, and enjoy some mahjong and just relax before dinner. So it depends on how serious you are about, you know, hitting all the venues and wanting to do all the things. You could totally do it two nights, three days, but if you have a little bit more time, I would take that time. Yeah, it would just be more leisure.

SPEAKER_01 17:15

Well, what about you as a vendor? How long do you go? Because this thing lasts like two weeks, right?

SPEAKER_00 17:20

It does exactly. So Round Top is officially starting this Friday, if not some um venues opening up tomorrow. And so I used to do the span of two weeks. And then when my daughter was a senior and my other daughter's coming up on that, I've kind of scaled back to popping up five days to 10 days. So I will be going, and I usually concentrate on Marburger Week. That is one venue that only opens up um for one week of the show and newly purchased uh by local company in Dallas. And um, and so I will be going next Friday, the 20th through the 27th, is when I will be set up for spring show.

SPEAKER_01 18:03

Well, so as a vendor, I would imagine that those days are so exhausting and you're there multiple days. I mean, yes, can you even walk when you're done?

SPEAKER_00 18:11

You know what? It is so much fun, day in and day out, being inspired by your customers and fellow brand owners. I am so exhilarated and energized. And now there's something going on every single night: a ticketed event, a fashion show, a lovely dinner. I mean, I definitely have to pick and choose. So I have energy for the next day, but it is like a I call it like a reunion or a wedding because you're just seeing everybody, you know, and they are coming to shop turquoise treasures. And I love those people. I love my people.

Best Timing For Deals

SPEAKER_01 18:51

I bet you so many people from around the whole country. Yes. Well, so is it better to go towards the beginning of the show when it first opens, like the first dates, or kind of wait till a little bit later?

SPEAKER_00 19:02

Okay. So again, I have opinions on this. I and I've done all of the above. When you go at the beginning, everyone is fresh. There is nothing that's picked over. You have, you know, fresh vendors and fresh furniture and fresh um accessories. Attitudes, too. And fresh attitude. Absolutely. So that is a good thing. Um, they we are as vendors, we are we are restocking the entire most of the show. So, you know, yeah, you can um rest assured that if you're going the second weekend or the last weekend, that will be okay. The last weekend also is kind of fun because people are ready to leave. So if you're wanting to strike some deals, especially on furniture or vintage clothing, you might find some at the last weekend. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 19:52

Yeah, I definitely wanted to ask you if you can bargain. Are there good deals to find? Because I know it's gotten pretty high end.

SPEAKER_00 19:59

Yes. Just like everything, prices have gone up and the world has discovered round top. So, um, but you know, people are working so hard. I have a, you know, obviously a different perspective as a vendor that I see most everything that is being sold very fairly priced. Okay. And I love a good deal and I love to bargain. So you can go to the fields where they're mainly taking cash and you can bargain, you know, cash is king. So you can bargain bargain at a vintage dealer that's selling, you know, vintage clothing or um more vintage furniture. And also if you're buying even if you're buying a huge, gorgeous French antique, there's a little bit of wigger wiggle room um at Blue Hills. But you know, my casewell designs and um other small business like Miren Crosby, there's they're not we're not really bargaining. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:02

Yeah, I could see that. Well, so what is a big mistake that first timers make?

SPEAKER_00 21:09

They do not bring enough water. Oh, um, and they don't wear a hat.

SPEAKER_01 21:14

Oh, yeah, because you are outside quite a bit, right?

SPEAKER_00 21:18

Yeah, yeah. So we're talking about looking glam, but you gotta look glam and you gotta be smart. So, you know, bring your water, cold water with you, and you can um and wear your hat. There's plenty to purchase around town if you forgot it. And um, and also, you know, pace yourself so you can enjoy the dinner.

SPEAKER_01 21:38

Yeah, I bet one mistake people make is just feeling like they need to do it all. Like you can always come back again. Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 21:45

Exactly. So the venue where I am, Blue Hills, I love and have spent one full day there. You know, there's a couple of other venues that you can spend 30 minutes to an hour. Blue Hills, you can do in two hours. hours or you can do in six hours. Okay. And I love that that is one venue where I, you know, allot the most time to for sure. Yeah. Um and it's just because it's bigger. And the other ones, you can definitely hit, but and you don't have to um, you know, allot as much time. You also, what we, you know, actually my last little blog post about when I went sh to roundtop as a shopper with my friends this past fall, I we did not get enough time in the fields. The fields you could spend forever and ever and ever. The fields is technically Warrington, the city of Warrington. It is where you have your your tent, your people set up in tents with all kinds of treasures. And that is where you quote unquote can find the deals. Deals. Always. Okay. Um so you need some time for that. But you also don't want to spend a whole day there in the hot sun. So you kind of break that up.

SPEAKER_01 22:58

So it happens in the spring. It starts this weekend and it also is in October, right? Yes.

SPEAKER_00 23:03

Okay. We've got fall, spring, and now winter is uh a huge part of it. So winter roundtop used to be just for the furniture dealers to and the interior designers just to check in with you know their dealers and needing more to um outfit a home they're working on. Well now it, I mean, for the past five years and three in particularly, it's where people like myself are popping up and you've got groups that say, well we only come winter round top. We've come for five years and they love it. Cause it kind of has that it's only one weekend. So it has that first weekend of spring or fall show feeling because again everyone's fresh and you get to wear your furs at winter roundtop which is fun.

SPEAKER_01 23:44

Well I was going to say I feel like winter would be the time to go because it wouldn't be blazing hot. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 23:49

Yeah yeah you know and you never know we live in Texas. So uh when I pack and when anyone packs around top pack with layers you know pack with layers and there's again plenty of amazing layers to be bought there as well if you forget anything do not worry there's no stuff to get right exactly yeah well um is there anything in particular people should bring with them I know we've talked about water a hat you know water it if you're in an Airbnb you're gonna you know get with your girlfriends and figure out what you want you bring your breakfast you bring your water and you're um definitely bring your rose gold wine and um I had this is a pro tip you can get there are bars around to get a ranch water or wine now at every venue um which is wonderful and um my friend had her cooler in the back of the car with her rose gold wine and cups in it so that's a pro tip that's pretty awesome. Yes we want you to purchase from the bars that are out about but you can also have it in your cool little tailgate situation. Yes absolutely that would make you look like an expert like you really knew what you were doing.

Kate’s Booth And Closing

SPEAKER_01 25:00

Yes yeah oh my gosh well everything sounds so amazing you have painted such a great picture like I'm I already wanted to go but even more so now. Yeah yeah okay well tell us a little bit about your own booth and people need to come see you.

SPEAKER_00 25:13

Absolutely and before I do that I'm going back on the other question about what not to forget bring your boots and bring your cowboy hat or your sissy light straw hat for sure. And then fill in all everything um in between that but boots and hats are a must priority and your tennis shoes and flip-flops so when you're done with your boots. Of course your cute tennis are also going to make you look like an expert because you're gonna be comfortable. Okay. Okay, so case well designs love being there. It's part of my heritage I said that my mom and grandmother were um at the very first roundtop in 1968 which is so cool. I started um shopping roundtop after seeing my mom shop roundtop for years since in the 70s 80s 90s in the 2000s I would go from Houston with other mom friends for the day. And it was so wonderful and such a blast. I've also done a theta reunion there. You can go to Roundtop not during show and there's a ton of brick and mortars open and you can enjoy the hotels there. Okay so clearly have a lot of tips for Roundtop and I'm very passionate about it. Capesville Design started going to Roundtop in 2020 and first started at Botta Ranch. Now I'm at Blue Hills and it is my favorite time of year because I get to see my turquoise tribe I get to sell my turquoise treasures and I get to hug customers in person and show them what we have new. I'm bringing my core collection which has the um the stackable cuffs I've got my longhords for the Texas fans and um I'm also bringing some rock and clay beads in a cylinder in a different style which is just a fun grab and go and my cabo bangle. Again most of my pricing is anywhere from 250 to 1595 but I've got some little fun things for under$100 for my cute round top girls. So I'm so excited I am going to be tent three with curated by castles which has the most amazing French antiques and European antiques. She goes and sources the most fabulous things. So you have to go see her this week and then I will be with her Friday March 20th through the 27th. Perfect.

SPEAKER_01 27:47

Well be sure and stop by and go say hello to Kate. Yes well thank you so much for sharing all these tips. I know you're gonna help a lot of people out there hopefully me too.

SPEAKER_00 27:56

Hopefully I'll be there at some point I'm so excited and if you forgot your rose gold we are going to have some at Curated by Castle so come and grab some from Kate's little designs in Lindsay Castles perfect.

SPEAKER_01 28:09

Well that's been another episode of the Bubble Lounge I'm Martha Jackson and I'll see you next time