Nearly 20 years ago, Ginger Hanson began shopping at a colorful set of old houses along Jones Road, not knowing she would one day own an antique shop in the same space.

"This place has been in existence for years and years, way before me," said Hanson, owner of Vintage Gifts and Antiques. "They used to have an antique shop and a photo studio here, and I had my son's infant baby photos taken here in 1995. That was my introduction to this shop."

Hanson's love for antiques began more than 15 years ago, when she began taking semi-annual trips with her girlfriends to the Round Top Antique Fair.

"It started as us just buying for ourselves and more for fun, but then we started buying more and more as we continued to go," she said.

By 2011, Hanson was constantly going to Round Top and other antique options, and her house became full of her finds.

"I had so much stuff I thought it was time to start selling some of it," she said.

Needing more room, Hanson rented out a space at Vintage Gifts and Antiques early that year, and then purchased the store from former owner Jean Dryer that summer.

"She was ready to get out of the business, and in June 2011 she offered it to me to buy, and I jumped all over it," Hanson said.

Visitors to Vintage Gifts and Antiques could spend hours winding their way through the maze of items on display, which range from furniture to jewelry to perfume bottles.

"We have everything from furniture to small glassware—china and crystal—to rustics," Hanson said. "It's a very eclectic mix."

Between 25 and 30 dealers rent space inside Vintage Gifts and Antiques, selling anything from classic car models to books to home decor items.

"They can rent the space based on size," Hanson said. "Some have whole rooms; some people have just a corner."

Hanson likes to specialize in rustic items, and a couple of her favorite finds include old railroad lanterns and a 100-year-old bread maker that has to be hand-cranked.

"I typically like anything that you can repurpose, or anything you can take and use for a different purpose, like maybe taking a kitchen item but somehow use it in your bathroom," Hanson said.

Antique terms

• Antique: An item made more than 100 years ago

• Vintage: An item reminiscent of the era in which it was made

• Retro: Items that do not have to be old, but instead reference past styles or trends

Round Top Antiques Fair

For the last 45 years, visitors from around the state have come to this antiques fair, located in between Austin and Houston, near Carmine, Texas.

• There are four antique shows each year, in the spring, summer, winter and fall

• Visitors can find furniture, items from Europe, home decor and other items

• The next show takes place June 21–22, and admission is $5

Vintage Gifts and Antiques, 11503 Jones Road, Houston 281-897-9577

www.vintagegiftsandantiques.com

Mon.–Sun. 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.