Renck Hall, Yard & Field

“Mums, a Loud Word in Warrenton”

By Lou Christine

David Lane, 71, was born into the antique business, the trade of his father. The family name has been operating out of Marlin, Texas since 1958. Lane still man’s the shop in Marlin, DBA (doing business as) “Junktique.”

Lane’s been setting up at shows for over a decade right off Texas State Hi-way 237, just a stone’s throw away from the gas pumps at Warrenton Grocery. For the past few years, he’s been specializing in antique lighting, plugging into a customer base that often relies on Junktique finding Lane’s off erings as a treasure trove for hardto-find parts for lighting fixtures stemming from gas-jets to neon.

Lane told me he is personally scaling back while ex-wife, Phikun, originally from Thailand, and a naturalized US. Citizen is taking on the reigns of the business. Then consider, someone like Phukin, from such a colorful culture may not be satisfied just dealing in the sometimes-drab existence of antiques. For some time, she’s been fixing to put a Thai tint on their Warrenton Show. Last Spring, Lane and Phukin, lit up Junktique’s Warrenton location for the firsttime selling roses! At the Fall Show you’d find them showing vibrant mum bushes. The flower portion of the business goes by the name of “Tim Garden.”

According to Phukin and Lane, the added-on to the antique business, blooms and shrubs, created fanfare. Lane’s steady customers were also taken back, while the drive-by and walking traff ic stopped and often gawked flashing

big-time enthusiasm for the potted bushes. Sales at last Spring’s and Fall Shows sales have been substantial according to Lane. The potted mums sold from $10 to $50, depending on size. At the Fall Show after viewing Junktique’s setup, I wondered how those eye-catching shrubs would make out during wintertime? I discovered the plants are able to survive outdoors, leaving them in the pots or by planting them in the ground. Other than cutting them back a few inches they should survive Texas Winters and provide, not one but two blooms in Summer and Fall. According to Lane the cutting back process is always essential after they wilt.

All the flowers come in various colors and there are hybrids as Phukin and Lane will cart in enough flowery inventory to brighten up that side of the road. Lane has great faith in his ex-wife and despite she being an X, seems they’ve maintained an affable personal and business relationship. I hope the same as last show Phukin and Lane’s set-up will light up the intersection. Look for them.

Numismatic Art on Display at The Porch

By: Lou Christine

Ifirst met nice lady, Laurie Libman-Wilson, somewhere in the beginnings of this Century down in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, my hometown. At the time she and her then business partner were on a shopping trip throughout Mexico and my area for their business back in San Diego, California. The part of Mexico where I reside is known for its artistic paper goods, tin, glass, Talavera along with ceramic tiles and too many more items to mention that are popular north of the border. Fast-forward to 2022 Laurie is now based out of Sun Valley, Idaho. For the past four years she has ventured to the Warrenton-Round Top Show. Her business these days is coined, “Studio Pennylane,” featuring her designs and incidentals accessorized with vintage American coins. Pennylane’s inventory consists of belts, cuffs, money-clips and tasteful accessories highlighted with Indian head and Lincoln pennies, buffalo nickels, Mercury dimes, with other pure silver coins minted from mid-19th Century and into the 1950s. The name Pennylane might have to do with the philosophy Laurie harbors in her heart. Perhaps somewhat esoteric, but Laurie has this thing about providing people a penny as a gift as a message with an other-side of the coin philosophy that might suggest to be more mindful and embrace a purpose. The penny might be significant of an initial start or a new start. The gentle-in-nature woman admits she primarily went in business in order to raise kids but one quickly gets the vibe, with Laurie, it’s not about money. There’s a message in her work and her penny philosophy that is harmonizes with nature and order. I sense, in Laurie’s view, without purpose there might not be mindfulness. Coupling the gifting a penny to someone can be the beginning to build a fortune whether it be material wealth or an awareness or a new lease on life. Not to get too heavy, Laurie is very down to Earth, loves to laugh displaying a warm inviting personality as she shows off her wares. These days, Laurie does attend close by home art shows. She does most of her marketing online, all over the world and her becoming more popular numismatic art can be viewed at www.studiopennylane.org, She’s excited about setting up at her new venue tabbed “The Porch,” two barns, located between Warrenton and Round Top on Hi-way 237, just up from The Junk Gypsies property on its Warrenton side. The last few shows Pennylane has been in Arbor and Bader Ranch as she’s been patiently waiting on list of prospective dealers for “The Porch.” She’s been long aware the Porch is selective about vendors they bring in desiring those who are going to flash that great Warrenton-Round Top spirit and treat the happening more like a gathering, perhaps big powwow rather than vendors pushing merchandise.