We're on Market Warriors Mon Feb. 4 PBS

Catch us, Della and Jan Orr-Harter, on PBS "Market Warriors" Mon. Feb 4, 8 pm Central Time on KERA Ch. 13 in DFW or 9pmET/PT, right after "Antiques Roadshow."
   
Well, it started like this: we left Texas last summer, spent a night in NM with a Paschal High School friend...then drove straight across the desert to LA and put our toes in the Pacific Ocean.

Then we found our way to Long Beach and parked along the curb in the dealer line at Veterans' Stadium to wait all night to set up at the Long Beach antiques/flea market at 5 the next morning. We drove half way across America and we were second in line. It's a great outdoor monthly show, but it was a long way from our prairie home.   

In the early dark morning, we set up our booth, mostly vintage jewelry and mid-century modern. Jan takes off "in search of merch" and looking for dealers to invite to the Fort Worth Show. Della, an old hand after growing up in the antiques business, runs the booth. A tough bargain involved the money that she would get to keep-- most of it. Della was 12.

Arriving back at the booth, Jan sees a camera crew listening to Della's remarks--on what??
Turns out that "Market Warriors" was filming an episode and we were going to be in it.
That's all I'm allowed to say in advance! But you can see the Long Beach episode this Monday Feb 4 on PBS nationwide, 8 CT (9ET/PT). That's me hiding under a hat after sitting up all night in the van. Oh well, so much for my close up!

See the 1970s Milo Baughman cocktail table in our booth? Burl wood and steel, very sexy. It debuted at last year's Fort Worth Show, but was snapped up by a Long Beach shopper. The magazine on the table shows the same Milo Baughman table in Jonathon Adler and Simon Doonan's FL home.

Get yourself to the Fort Worth Show! 
50th Year! Fri. March 8 - Sat. March 9, which will soon be here. www.fortworthshow.com

From California to Curtis, Michigan, this Show was Made for You & Me

This is such a cool job! Driving all over America looking for the very best mix of antiques and art dealers to invite to the March 8-9 Fort Worth Show of Antiques and Art. As far as I know, no one anywhere ever before has had the privilege of creating a 50^th anniversary for an antique show this big, this diverse and this much fun. I’m trying to not screw it up!

The search began with a drive to California. And, as we crossed the Mojave Desert, what did we see in the distant horizon?

A sign of hope: Antiques in the desert!

We made it to Long Beach, CA (you can see Della and me on the PBS “Market Warriors” Long Beach episode on Monday Feb. 4). We drove up one side of the state and down the other. Next we hit New Mexico with Associate Show Director Cissy Thompson, looking for dealers from mid-century modern to Native American and African tribal art. Up to Oklahoma, over to Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, New York and Massachusetts. Spent the night on the edge of Niagara Falls. Back down to Texas, to Round Top, back up to Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and as far north as Curtis, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula, actually about as far north as you can go.  This week we’ll hit Kansas City and tiny Weston, MO, home of our friend Fancy from Cactus Creek Trading Co. We get around.

The show is filling up with over 100 of the most creative, cutting-edge exhibitors from coast to coast. For previews of dealers and merchandise coming to the 50^th Anniversary Fort Worth Show March 8 - 9, sign in to follow this blog at www.go2antiques.blogspot.com or a take a little peek on facebook.com/fortworthshow 

Save the Date. Tell a Friend. Stay Tuned.

www.fortworthshow.com