Monday, January 12, 2009

Market Favorites - An Insiders view of the Atlanta Gift Show #1

While two-stepping out of a snow storm on route to the first "market" of the year, my mother / biz partner and I wondered what the show would be like as it was stuck between a burned up stock market and the Obama inauguration. Well, it was good...darn good and everyone seemed optimistic and upbeat and as several exhibitors said, "we aren't participating in this recession."

I love the upbeat and vibrant colors that filled the market....it's like a huge bizarre with a million products, thousands of scents and sounds and a multitude of languages...it's a place where you can walk for 10 hours a day for 3 days and still need more time to see it all. Here are a few of the colorful shots from the exhibitors that let me take pictures.



This should be called, KA-POW Orange.








Just huge!



Great needlepoint club-head covers.




These are great wool rugs. Ordered several for my summer / beach vignettes. Barclay Buterra uses them too. They come in dozens of other patterns and colors....I'll have a post on these later.



A cool cow skin side table with 3 drawers.



Fabulous hand painted trash cans, letter holders, tissue boxes and pencil boxes.





Liked the colorful rattan.




A view between Market buildings.




Awesome chest of drawers...I've never seen a pyramid crowned one - it was about 7.5 feet high.




John Wind, the super talented and charming jewelry designer hams it up with my mother.




Bah ah ah at first sight!



But we love these planters...they look great, weigh almost nothing and will not crack or split! How cool and perfect? Oh yhea, Martha Stewart orders them by the dozen. I'll have a post on more of these later this week...and how they can be ordered.



Yep, she's getting tired!




John Wind poses again with my Mother and Opera's favorite bracelet.



Another current trend is the glass Absinthe Fountains / Paris Decanters.







One market theme was Eastern Gods and Dieties from India.






The white Fiddlehead lights were très cool....they have an underwater feel to them.



I really liked the faux bois and faux gator metalware this company made.







These fellows from Finland made their debut this market and I bought a slew for next Christmas.





The iron and galvanized tin gardners table is sweet.


If you have question, please ask.

10 comments:

annechovie said...

Neat to see all of your photos, Alex and explore the gift show vicariously. I lived in ATL for nearly 20 years and used to go to the show with my parents who owned a shop. It was fun, but I think I've rarely been as exhausted. Thanks for commenting on my painting! Have a great week.

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

You know, I could run 15 miles and not be as tired as I get at the Atlanta Market!! Those weightless planters are the thing...I have several and just adore them!!

cotedetexas said...

I should have gone to dallas. what showroom are those rugs from? i love those! and what showroom is the lilac one? your mom is adorable, no surprise - you are too!!!

loved your comment today!!! thanks!

Unknown said...

I love the striped wool rugs. And Joni and I were at the market together at Dallas last year. Maybe we can all meet in Atlanta next year!

Fargerike Dagny said...

So many great items, would have loved to have been there! I really liked that red / white Chinese wallpaper! Wonder where it's from? And those colorful rattan chairs, just beautiful!

J.Covington said...

Both of your reactions to those wool rugs was the same as mine...I can't wait for my order to come in.

I'm coming to the Dallas show this summer. Joni, Are you going to be around for it?

Lauren said...

Wish I had been there! Loving the oversized crazy orange chinoiserie wallpaper & the huge head!!

Things That Inspire said...

Those planters are beautiful. Which showroom were they in? I get exhausted as soon as I walk through the doors of the Mart - there is so much to see it is daunting.

Alkemie said...

What a fantastic spread of Wonderful items. Don't know where to look first lol.

Linda Merrill said...

Thanks for the tour! It all looks so colorful! Just what is needed here in New England in January!