'running' everywhere

Hi Everyone,

This has been an interesting few days between bridal shows and actually working on bridal orders. Pale pink pearls, burlap, laces and jute are covering my desk right now making for a wonderful creativing event in front of me.

With the Michigan wedding coming up, the bride and groom are adventurous and are letting me have some fun with all of the elements we are preparing for them.

One of the items I am so madly in love with is a HUGE collection of individually designed votives for every table. It has been fun collecting ever scrap of lace, jute, jewels, pearls and trims and just being creative. None of the votives will be the same and I am amazed at how many things you can come up with!

I sent this picture to the bride as an example and she replied, 'Love them!', that pretty much made my day. I am so easy with things like that. 4 down and about 80 to go . . . 

Notice the picture is right side up? You don't want to know how many emails it takes to get it there, literally several.

Although there are a dozen or so projects I am in the middle of creating, one of the items I am desperately trying to get out in front of is our new runner collection.

Every single time we have taken them out, they sell before I can photograph them. It has been wild. So to get ahead, I spent an ENTIRE day cutting out runners, Can we say over 30 pieces? I have been able to get a few stitched up, take time to get the laces ready and actually finish up enough for the next two bridal shows coming up. AND I got a picture. I know, I can't believe it either. Looking back, I have mentioned them four times but no picture.

Ta - Da

This beauty is about 16" wide X 82", that includes the wide lace on each end. They sell for $22 and are so pretty when they are all hanging up at the end of our ladder display. Hopefully I can stay in front of the demand for them so that they make it to all our our shows.

Speaking of which, we are currently getting ready for another couple of bridal shows next week so it has been nice to break from our 'traditional' type shows. Don't fret, we return to Indy in March as well as hopefully, Ohio.

February 28, 2013 -  Munster 2013 Bridal Fair,  6PM - 9PM

                                    Centennial Park Banquet Facilities

                                   1005 S. Centennial Dr. Munster, IN   

March 3, 2013 - The OMG! Wedding, unveiled  11AM -4PM

                             Evanston Golf Club

                             4401 Dempster Street,  Skokie IL

March 9, 2013 -  Indy Arts and Vintage Market  10AM - 5PM

                            Fountains Conference Center Carmel IN

                  

Take care, stay warm and off the snowy, icy roads. I have it on very good authority that Spring is definitely coming.

Suz

the Muze

Yin and Yang

Hi Everyone,

It has definitely been the week from heck, the last 96 lours or so are just a snowy blur with a couple of highlights. But, that's what always makes it worthwhile.

The first highlight was the sweetest thank you note I received out of the blue. Weekend before last was in Carmel IN, a super busier than usual show and the usual hoards of shoppers were present in our booth. So much so, I held most of my conversations from behind the ironing board/desk, basically because I simply couldn't get out from behind the ironing board/desk! Now most of you know that is not okay with me, I love getting out and meeting face to face with all of you.

So imagine my surprise when I received the following email from a name I didn't recognize at first:

Hello,

I was at Saturday's show in Carmel, Indiana and your booth was my favorite!  I bought several vintage white frames and I am having fun trying to decide how I want to arrange them.  You were very busy, yet you took the time to talk to me!

Thank you,

Julie

I particularly love the "your booth was my favorite" part, as a vendor can never hear that enough, trust me. But it is so nice when someone speaks up to say something. So whether I say that to you at the booth when you see us or not, know that I treasure your saying it more than you will ever know. Thank you Julie, your note made me smile and I am glad you likes your frames.

So that little bump kept me going forward towards the 1200 brides-to-be for Saturday at Indie Wed. Boy, did I need it.

Not all of the 'staff' here got the rush and importance level of getting ready for the show. Here is what is going on at George's workspace for all the jewelry boards we needed to get made. 

Notice the wire right next to him, yes he is in the middle of the construction area for a belly rub. What you don't see or hear is the electric staple gun going off when this was taken. he was perfectly fine with all that.  I need to crack down on employee perks here. Lige certainly is on my list.

The real push was to get all the new items made, the cool silverware pouches, new lace and burlap pew bows, beautiful chair covers and my favorite, our brooch bouquet.

I need get the handle photographed with it's burlap wrap and glitter dewdrop accents. Just stunning and it went over really well with the brides.

Here's what it looked like all together

The biggest obstacle tho ended up being the space. That damned 6 X 6 impossible space. Who can do anything with a space that size?

Reconfiguring our sellable bridal wares down to a 6' X 6" booth was hard enough but the frosting on the cake was our neighbor behind our spot. A florist who decided on 6 shades of hot pink netting as a backdrop. Seriously, hot pink?

Yes, hot pink, 8 foot high . . . kinda adds a glow to the area . . .

It was there from the get go but from the huge amount of traffic and business we got, it seemed that it bothered me more than anyone else. Especially not the neighbors next door, they just yoga-ed their way through.

But the absolute best part of the event was making not one but three of my bridal clients tear up when they got to see their new creations for their big day. Words just can't capture how cool you feel when they 'get it'. It nice to know it was worth all the long hours and lack of sleep.

(Written by the person who got in a four hour nap today because I could. Ha! I am feeling a little spunky after almost dead yesterday.)

This will not last too long.

I will post our schedule next week but be advised NA DA just posted their sale dates as May 17 &18. Yep, Spring is right around the corner and we will be out at the barn. Whoo Hoo!

Later,

Suz
the Muze