overload or recovery? I haven't the slighest idea!

Hi Everyone,

Not exactly sure where the time has flown by this week, but I am positive it had something to do with sheer exhaustion and being worn out from being in the sun for three days. It isn't fun getting old.

Na Da, just mentioning the name makes me smile. As we expected the setting was drop dead perfect. We arrived around lunch time to set up and also, just as expected, the prairie winds arrive shortly there after. I remembered from last year that in the afternoon, the winds pick up quite high and then settle down in late afternoon. The winds help keep the heat to a manageable level believe it or not.

So we worked feverishly to get set up, display new goodies and get ready for the crowd. And it came just as expected.

People laugh when I explain directions to this event and say, drive, drive, drive and you see hundreds of cars, stop, you are here, because this is what you see,

and if you have cars, you have customers waiting at the gates,

This last picture was snapped 50 minutes before we opened the gates. They waited out in the sun all that time, which just amazes me every year.

Then they let them in and they started shopping . . .

A couple of things that got their picture taken before they got snatched up, thanks Candy!, were the new journals, glitter pins and votive hangers.

First the new slip covered journals,

and all sorts of new colors in our glitter pins, we can't keep these babies in stock! More new colors next week making their debut at Allegan,

We recently were able to get a hold of a bag of glass resistors from old telephone poles and used them in a couple of great ways. Love these hanging votives,



Next time, I will feature the four legged friends from Na Da that made us smile as well as the best behaved children we ever encounter all year long,

In the meantime, the road calls,

May  27   Allegan Antique Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Space 136, Allegan MI

June  2 & 3    Kane County Flea Market, South Trades Building, Space 28, St. Charles, IL

June  8 & 9  Northwind Perennial Farm Antique Garden Show, Burlington, WI

June 13   North Shore Flea, in conjunction with the Highwood Farmers Market, Highwood
                  IL

June 16 & 17  Ann Arbor Antique Market, Ann Arbor, MI


Back to creating,

Suz

the muze

our Etsy address  All My Musings 

our Facebook address  All My Musings



Another side of AMM

Hi Everyone,

Our regular customers are familiar with seeing some of our bridal 'wares' especially our large wire boards that are used for reception place cards or escort cards at the various shows we have done in the last couple of years.

So, when we stepped up to do an entire venue about wedding wares, highlighting what we saw becoming more and more popular, introducing the shabby/ vintage feel into weddings and receptions, we were thrilled, a little intimidated and wary to say the least. The show we just did in Milwaukee was presented by a group called Indie Wed, a brilliant collection of independent wedding businesses that have one thing in common, we are all original not corporate run businesses. People who do what they do because they have a passion for it. Yep, that's us.

Indie Wed was held in the ultra cool building called the Garage at the Harley Davidson Museum in downtown Milwaukee, WI. The staff of Indie Wed and the staff at HD were so incredibly helpful and supportive that they made the set up and tear down a piece of cake. Beautifully maintained and impeccably clean, the building was transformed in just a couple of hours to a fantastic show venue.

One of our next door booth neighbors, Artistic Group, was a great photographer, Dale Stenboten and his super friendly staff he brought along. His display included beautiful books and collages that he had shot at weddings that he had done. Just the most thoughtful and emotional images to capture the special day. Dale was so sweet to lean over and snap a couple of pics of our display.  Thanks you so much for this beauty.

The world's smallest booth ever ! We normally show the majority of our lines in a space that is anywhere from 10' X 16' to about 10' X 20'. So to show what we needed to, into basically 24 sq feet, down from 160' to 200' sq feet, was a HUGE challenge. Apparently, it worked. We stood out fiercely from the satin and lace type of booth to the poultry netting and nettle cloth look we did and were so surpized by the huge number of customers that we interacted with. Shabby and vinatge accents are becoming so popular, giving a little more relaxed and comfortable feel to what can become overly stressed and 'too' formal weddings. We talked about casual table settings, natural papers for placecards, fun coasters and so much more. The four hours flew by. The Mr. & Mrs. banner was a huge hit. We are taking custom orders, all having the drop dead gorgeous German glass glitter shards for the letters in beautiful silver.

We are getting so excited about go to Na-Da farm this Friday. Make your plans to come out Friday from 5-8 PM or Sat 10 AM-2 PM to experience this one-of-a-kind events. Looking forward to seeing all of you.

Here's the rest of the crazy list.

May  18 &19   NA DA Farm Barn Event, Esmond IL 

May  20   'The Pec Thing'  32nd Semi-Annual Pec Thing Antique & Flea 

                  Market, Winnebago County Fairgrounds, Pecatonica, Illinois 

May  27   Allegan Antique Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Space 101, Allegan MI

June  2 & 3    Kane County Flea Market, South Trades Building, Space 28, St. Charles, IL

June 13   North Shore Flea, in conjunction with the Highwood Farmers Market, Highwood
                  IL
Back to creating ,

Suz

the muze

our Etsy address  All My Musings 

our Facebook address  All My Musings

Surprize visitors

Hi Everyone,


Well, as hinted at before, we were at the show I dreaded doing the most each month, Kane County Flea and Antique Show this weekend. Don't get me wrong, the customers and friends that stop by are great and growing by leaps and bounds. It's the show itself. Almost physically impossible to do for us old folk and incredibly tiring and hard.


So, the universe must have known that I need a pick me up on Saturday, Just after the show opened and I was still trying to get everything done, I turned around only to be face to face with
Anne Marie from Na Da Farm Events and Sherrie from Carter's Cottage and A Ruffled Nest! Talk about surprized! For weeks now we have been telling anyone who will listen that the best vintage/shabby chic event is coming up on May 18th and 19th at Na-Da Farm. So it was a thrill to talk to them about the event and Anne Marie was handing out these beautiful postcards for us to hand out in our booth. Recognize the beautiful model?

This chicken has become quite the celeb of lately. Remember her from last October?

This little gal wouldn't stay out of our tents. Seemed all of the farm's four legged residents loved being involved with the sale.

So we talked up the event and handed out almost all of our cards. We are getting so excited about going to the Farm again. Thank's Anne Marie and Sherrie for brightening my day, it was so good to see both of you and we will see you in less than two weeks! .

Here's the itinerary:

May  10   Indie Wed Bridal Show, Harley Davidson Museum, Milwaukee WI

May 12 & 13   Grayslake Antique and Garden Show, Grayslake IL

May  18 &19   NA DA Farm Barn Event, Esmond IL 

May  20   'The Pec Thing'  32nd Semi-Annual Pec Thing Antique & Flea Market, Winnebago County Fairgrounds, Pecatonica, Illinois 

May  27   Allegan Antique Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Space 101, Allegan MI


June  2 & 3    Kane County Flea Market, South Trades Building, Space 28, St. Charles, IL

Back to creating ,

Suz

the muze

our Etsy address  All My Musings 

our Facebook address  All My Musings

We are proud to introduce . . .

Hi Everyone,


As hinted at, we have a new addition to our  IT family. Drum roll please . . . 


It's a girl! The entire industrial line of tassels has been slightly masculine in description. But now, it's definitely a girl.


Meet 'Silky'

Isn't she wonderful? Cue Stevie Wonder folks. A wonderful combination of silky ribbon and rusted washers and nuts. She is soft and full, slightly stained and very elegant all at the same time. I hear angels singing in the background. We sold a whole lot of them last weekend in Allegan, usually a good indication of future popularity!


We have been super busy trying to get ready for the Indie Wed show in Milwaukee. New bridal boards, new guest seating cards, new coasters just tons of pretty things. I will try to get pics up.



Til then, here's the mission impossible schedule and tour . . .  LOL!

May 5 & 6   Kane County Flea Market, South Trades Building, Space 28, St. Charles, IL

May  10   Indie Wed Bridal Show, Harley Davidson Museum, Milwaukee WI


May 12 & 13   Grayslake Antique and Garden Show, Grayslake IL

May  18 &19   NA DA Farm Barn Event, Esmond IL 

May  20   'The Pec Thing'  32nd Semi-Annual Pec Thing Antique & Flea Market, Winnebago County Fairgrounds, Pecatonica, Illinois 

May  27   Allegan Antique Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Space 101, Allegan MI


June  2 & 3    Kane County Flea Market, South Trades Building, Space 28, St. Charles, IL

Back to creating ,

Suz

the muze

our Etsy address  All My Musings 

our Facebook address  All My Musings

The sun will come out, tomorrow . . . .

Hi Everyone,


That Annie chick knew what she was talking about, that's for sure. 


At 4:00 AM Sunday morning, it was cold and damp but as we sat up, in the dark I might add, it started getting brighter and brighter and we ended up with a beautifully warm, sunny day. Yea ! It didn't rain again til we were on our way home. That I could handle.


People came by the droves, local people we found out. This is a very popular event for Allegan County every year, and rightly so. We were so busy all day that my only 'sight seeing / bathroom break journey' was limited to that building and back. But what I saw was fantastic. Beautiful antiques, great primitives and food. Tons and tons of food, nearly every person that came by our booth, was either eating or just finishing. Apparently part of the Allegan Antique Market experience according to most.


We had a fantastic day, met some great new friends, sold lots and lots of things and thank goodness I grabbed these pictures when I did because a couple of these tags are no more! 


First, was the raven tag

 the 'kisses' tag

the industrial tag

the Sherlock Holmes tag

Everyone seemed to love the tags, glitter clothespins and burlap flowers, so much so that I have a date with a roll of burlap and a jar of glitter as soon as I finish this post.


Tomorrow I will be sharing the new addition to our Industrial Tassel line. "Silky' was hugely popular on her debut and I think you will agree when you see her.


Til then, here's the mission impossible schedule and tour . . .  LOL!

May 5 & 6   Kane County Flea Market, South Trades Building, Space 28, St. Charles, IL

May  10   Indie Wed Bridal Show, Harley Davidson Museum, Milwaukee WI


May 12 & 13   Grayslake Antique and Garden Show, Grayslake IL

May  18 &19   NA DA Farm Barn Event, Esmond IL 

May  20   'The Pec Thing'  32nd Semi-Annual Pec Thing Antique & Flea Market, Winnebago County Fairgrounds, Pecatonica, Illinois 

May  27   Allegan Antique Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Space 101, Allegan MI


June  2 & 3    Kane County Flea Market, South Trades Building, Space 28, St. Charles, IL

Suz

the muze

our Etsy address  All My Musings 

our Facebook address  All My Musings