Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1066841
20 DESIGN ABOUNDS AT THETA ANNE LEE PHILLIPS ADMIRES AND ACQUIRES. PHOTOGRAPHY JENNY ANTILL CLIFTON, EMILE C. BROWNE. T he Theta Charity Antiques Show was in full bloom for its 66 th year, celebrating the timeless beauty of botanicals with a show that brought together nearly 70 exhibitors of fine art, furniture, and decor, from ancient to contemporary times. Honorary design chair Ashley Woodson Bailey inspired the theme — her breathtaking floral wallpaper decorated the exhibition space and made for an ideal selfie backdrop. More than 550 collectors — many in pearls, scarves, and grandmothers' furs — turned out to the Thursday night preview party for light bites, cocktails, and naturally, to snap up some prime acquistions in advance of general admission. Guests were all abuzz that designers Miles Redd and Suzanne Kasler were in attendance; both slated to speak that weekend along with Bailey, designer James Farmer, and style icon Carolyne Roehm. On Saturday, 150 fans of Roehm attended a late morning talk sponsored by PaperCity. Over coffee and donuts (Roehm's guilty pleasure), local designer Paloma Contreras — in the middle of her book tour for Dream, Design, Live (Abrams), interviewed Roehm on the occasion of the publication of her 13 th book, Design & Style: A Constant Thread (Rizzoli). This is her first memoir, and proves that life can be as messy as it is beautiful. Roehm told the audience that nature is her ultimate teacher in all things, that classicism and history have the ultimate staying power, and leopard is not just a neutral, but also historical. Afterwards, Roehm and Contreras signed books and chatted with guests. Since its founding in 1952, TCAS has given nearly $8 million to myriad beneficiaries; this year the show benefitted eight causes including MFAH Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, Child Advocates, Texas Children's Hospital, and Small Steps Nurturing Center. SEEN: TCAS co-chairs Vicki Lovin and Jennifer O'Donnell; Preview Party co-chairs Giggy Thanheiser and Melissa Schnitzer; Houston alumnae prez Deborah Dunkum; host committee members Mary Kristen Valentine and Laurie Dorfman; James Farmer, Courtnay Tartt Elias, Courtney Hill Fertitta, Randy Powers, and Hallie Henley Sims, who led designer walks; Sarah Foltz and Melissa Grobmyer, leading art walks; and guests Lynn Wyatt, Susie Criner, Allison Ayers, Nicole and David Zarr, Jennifer and Jon Daly, Francis and Wynne Sharpe, Devon Liedtke, Betty and Stephen Newton, Allison Crosswell, Ann Wolf, Ashley Holden, Amy Urquhart, Carolyn Dodson, Liz Anders, and Christie Sullivan. CHARITY ANTIQUES SHOW TCAS co-chairs Vicki Lovin Jennifer O'Donnell Amy Urquhart Liz Anders Lauren Hudson Krissi Reid at Carolyne Roehm Preview Party co-chairs Giggy Thanheiser Melissa Schnitzer Betty & Stephen Newton Bobbie Davis Fionda at Carolyne Roehm Honorary design chair Ashley Woodson Bailey Ann Wolf, Ashley Holden Laurie Dorfman, Margot Shaw Mary Kristen Valentine Susie Criner, Carolyne Roehm, Lynn Wyatt at Carolyne Roehm Anne Lee Phillips Paloma Contreras at Carolyne Roehm Lindsey Herod Suzanne Kasler Courtney Hill Fertitta Jennifer O'Donnell