Bryn Du Mansion show photos

We had so much fun at the Bryn Du show we're ready to do it again! Well...maybe after a couple weeks rest. We so thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the venue we definitely hope to be part of this amazing event again next year. You must join us!

Built in 1865, the limestone mansion and estate with all of it's outbuildings (the understatement of the year as most of them could very well be a feature of a layout in a magazine) is such an idyllic setting it begs to be rambled through. We were directly across from the "laundry cottage", a two-story limestone building with it's original 12 over 12 paned windows(!), that I could just move into permanently right now. Do you think they would notice me coming and going? I better do it under the cover of darkness.

It was very strange weather for the 3 days. Sunny, then cloudy, then sprinkling, then sunny. One thing was consistent though...the wind! We were chilled most of the time and kept rearranging vignettes as pieces left so that we would stay warm. Around on the terrace where lunch was served it was an easy 10 degrees warmer.

We took enough to fill a 14-foot U-Haul four times and we came home with 2 loads so all in all a very successful weekend. We met lots of local folks who did not know of us, saw lots of our own devoted customers and met several fantastic dealers from all over the country.

The entry to our garden area was flanked by two large, round porch columns I brought from the shop. Creating an imaginary fence to either side were ball topiary forms with lush baskets of licorice vine. I sold out of the forms on Saturday and started taking orders for more. There are a few back in stock at the shop now so if you were one of the ones who didn't grab one fast enough hurry in and claim yours now! Available in black and weathered rusty steel. (See larger photo below.)


A fantastic fountain, newly painted "Nocturnal Forest"...don't groan because I painted it, it was fire engine red when I found it! If I painted it white you wouldn't have been able to look at it when the sun is out, so a creamy, easy on the eye black green it was. One piece of the fence sold, one small and 2 large are available. But hey...is anyone seeing that Victorian fence post? I can't believe that came home (to the shop) with me but it did. It is a fabulous piece and would look stunning in a garden. There are four holes on the bottom that are perfect for anchoring it into the earth. You really should see it in person, this picture just doesn't do it justice.
Angel boy made the trip with us and did not fly away in the wind, I did hear one comment about "angels wear thongs?" Well, this little guy is a modest angel. The wicker settee on the left sold, the pigs on the left sold. The fernery is an amazing piece with it's original tin planter inserts and metal bottom rattan birdcage. The rounded out area in between the planters was for a large fishbowl! How fun would that be?
The church pew and four scrolly wire French plant stands in fantastic apple green paint.
A close up of the topiary ball stands. The top closes over your plant/hanging basket and you simply push the stand into the ground or it is a perfect topper for a large urn creating two levels of showy blooms.
Wicker was snapped up right and left, as were gorgeous, impeccable vintage garden pieces like the McCoy pedestal and hand-blown, mercury glass, Victorian gazing ball (between chair on right and sofa) and a c. 1910 Brush McCoy jardiniere with it's matching pedestal (not pictured as it was sold before photo).

Garden chairs, bird baths, trellis' and screens all found new homes
Janet's boot drying rack on the table and the four French door windows all sold. Her fantastic field table sports old robin's egg blue paint and looks so cute with her set of four blue folding chairs!
This 3-tiered plant stand has gorgeous old grey paint with bits of aqua showing through, a great find by Janet. The lightening rods are also a wonderful garden element. One white and one hard-to-find blue with it's original weather vane arrow.
Lot's of interest in the pair of 19th century Kramer Bros. cast iron "Beauty" urns (two on table, one is in shadow). They may be taking a trip to a fine home in Alabama. A true southern gentleman dealer from South Carolina who was inquiring about two of the urns at the show (there is another urn, a five piece set of vintage lawn furniture and lots of iron architectural fragments) asked me in his lilting southern drawl..."Are you the Iron Lady?" After days of prepping, loading, packing and unpacking...my arms were feeling as heavy as iron so I said "Yes, I guess I am" . The soy candles in recycled wine bottles were a big seller as were the double wine bottle caddies (in the galvanized tub).

By Saturday afternoon our entryway had been wiped out as all the topiary basket holders had sold. So late Saturday evening I made a call and my favorite "Emporium" came through for me. On our way back to Granville early Sunday morning we stopped and picked up two pieces of Victorian fencing and re-created our entryway. Janet had some tea-stained patriotic banners on hand to complete the look. I think the other dealers thought we just recreated groupings all the time just for fun! I even had one say "Well, this is your first 3-day show, that explains why you keep moving stuff around" HA! No, it's because we know what our customers want and we spend lots of time making sure they get it. We believe, as we always have, that shopping is so much more then just going out and "getting something". It's special and should be treated as such. We know that sometimes there are items that just make your heart pitter-patter and we try to do just that for as many as possible. After all, isn't that what a weekend such as this is all about? Don't you want to feel and know that vendors did their all for you? I know I do when I am the customer. See...there is so much more than white painted furniture at White Cottage.

Now you can't say "I don't go there because I don't decorate with white". We really have something for everyone! Another urn, this one a classic Kramer Bros. Campagna style with squared handles on plinth, old wood corbels, a darling wicker footstool with pink paint showing through brown, some funky metal half round elements that would make unique covers for candles strategically placed in garden beds around your patio, also, a smattering of mushrooms and dogwood branches.
Cast iron stove base with a collection of items found around the grounds. A lichen covered stick, an elephant ear fungus, dried moss and our concrete mushrooms. This looked wonderful under one of the glass cloches but it sold prior to this picture.
And lastly, one of the four scrolly green plant stands. These could be used in a variety of ways other than plants. Use as a serving piece for muffins at a brunch or to stylishly hold napkins, plates or cups for a backyard alfresco dinner, or a pillar candle with a large glass hurricane fitted just perfectly to keep the wind from blowing out your fun. We didn't let it blow out ours!

See you next year Jay, Jack, Matthew, David and all!! Thanks so much for having us!!