Friday, June 28, 2013

106 degrees of definite separation

Greetings and Salutations,

After spending entirely too much time recuperating from a nasty bout of strep throat, (hence the 106 degree reference),I am attempting to re-enter the work world tomorrow in Benton Harbor MI at our beloved Harbor Market. 

I may die there.

Just saying, slight chance that has yet to happen but I have felt like that for going on 13 days days. It doesn't help that it so humid and hot outside that you want to die anyway. This will be entertaining to say the least. Stay tuned.

The staff here has been so supportive of my recent illness
You know they sleep for 22 hours a day with no prompting? Oh yea, great encouragement for taking multiple naps a day.

So we will attempt to get up, get dressed and start toodling down the road about 3 AM, hate that hour lost between here and Michigan. Then on to Allegan and a full day Sunday. Two of my dear friends, Becky and Shari will be bringing their handmade jewelry to show with me in our booth so I guarantee a good time will be had by all. I will try to take pictures.

Don't bother looking for me, I will be sound asleep at the ironing board/desk as I will be long over due for a nap by then,

Till then,
Suz
the Muze

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Seriously dude?

Hi Everyone,

If you haven't had a chance in the Chicagoland area to come up north to check out the North Shore Flea, do it soon. Seriously, a great venue put on by my friend and fellow vendor/promoter Melissa Sands. So easy to get to and so worth the effort. One of those something for everyone shows.

It was packed all day, great merchandise selection, you know I am having a good show when you keep hearing me ask, 'where did you find that treasure?'. No, I did not get to go shopping, way too busy in our little world.

And so entertaining. She had arranged for the best Mexican food to be prepared on site by a Mexican/Jewish restaurant, La Casa de Isaac, LOL I know, isn't that the greatness name ever for a restaurant? The food is grilled fresh right in front of you and they are hysterically funny as promoters, 'Get your tacos, tacos, tacos', 'A taco a day keeps the Dr away', and many, many more, he had us laughing all day long. The smells just about drove us crazy, they were so good just like the food.

We met great new customers, saw some old customers/friends and it never rained, so all in all, a perfect show. When was the last time I wrote those words?

Oh and there was this guy. He was with three buddies, all very conservatively dressed and him
Makes you go hmmmm. I think he did it for attention as people were bumping into each other staring and trying to walk, it was pretty funny. Thanks Dude!

Thanks Melissa and Jim for a great day and see you next month,

Here the schedule:

June 30  2013  -  Allegan Antiques Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Allegan MI

July  6  2013  -  Indie Arts and Vintage Market,  Glendale Shopping Center Parking Lot, Indianapolis IN 

July  14  2013 - North Shore Flea,  428 Green Bay Road, Highwood IL


Suz
the Muze

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Indy MIchigan recap

HI Everyone,

As promised, here are a couple of highlights and wind lights from our recent world tour.

At least that's what it felt like to us.

We started our little adventure heading to Zionsville Indiana for Nikki Winkles, A Vintage Farmhouse, Enchanted Spring Market on that first Friday and Saturday.

When we arrived on Thursday to set up, it was windy and sprinkling. Poor Nikki was a little undone and my best advice to her was, "Breathe, as long as no one is bleeding and nothing is on fire, everything will work out just fine".

I was right. The first day of the show was really good and the people that came out to see us, were so appreciative as everyone brought their A game and there was a ton of lace, pink, vintage everything and lots and lots to look at down each aisle.

We had asked Nikki if we could scoot out a bit earlier than the 4 PM close as we needed to drive over 4 hours and get into Allegan Michigan and get set back up for the second show in three days. Nikki's family had us packed and loaded in record time and we were back on the road.

After a slight mishap, missing car keys in Kokomo IN, thanks honey, we finally pulled into Allegan after 10 PM, just exhausted. Our friends Mark and Christian from Lost and Found, the best shop in Grand Rapids, MI, just saying, had called because we were not in our space and they were worried about us. They hung around and help us set up and close up for the night. Bless their hearts, such good, good friends to have.

Bright and early the next morning after 3.75 hours of sleep, 5 AM, we headed back into Allegan. put our tent back together and had our usual, busier-than-a-one-armed-paper-hanger-day! After closing, we packed up again and headed into Midland for our 8 day, work your backside off, show up set for The Shabby Experience and Industrial Way Pavilion.

By the way, we got to sleep in Monday morning, it was divine.

I don't know if I mentioned last year, but the location of our special tent pavilion is directly inside Gate 3 at Midland to the left. I was told by powers to be that this was the worse location because for 44 years folks had been coming in Gate 3, about 89% of the crowds and they ALWAYS turn to the right to start their show experience.

I changed that in one single show last June, much to everyone's surprize and much relief to me when my idea worked! Whew, what a few tense moments waiting for that crowd to start making their way down our section.

My secret? Give them something unbelievable to see.

Last year was our bed of roses, literally an entire pillow covered in full bloom gorgeous roses, remember this guy?
Well, this year I decide on doing something a bit different and it started like this . . .

Take 16 different chairs and add 16 cans of different colors of Krylon paint and you get . . .
Seriously Blogger, get your act together!

They look so much better right side up.

Then take your drop cloth
Why is this one straight up, argh!

I wanted the design student to use it as a piece of artwork, really!

After they finish drying, take them on a ride to their new home . . .
Four golf carts loaded to the brim, all with these beauties, interesting to say the least.

I will post later and show you how they ended up. Basically cuz I can not find said pictures right this second and the SOB's are probably upside down anyways.

I am so tired and need to rest a bit before we go play at the new North Shore Flea up in Highwood on Sunday. Two shows in one weekend, we are definitely certifiable . . . 

Here's the schedule:

June 9 2013  -  North Shore Flea Market, 428 Green Bay Road, Highwood IL

June 28 2013  -  Harbor Market, 519 south Main Street, Benton Harbor MI

June 30  2013  -  Allegan Antiques Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Allegan MI

July  6  2013  -  Indie Arts and Vintage Market,  Glendale Shopping Center Parking Lot, Indianapolis IN 

Night . . .

Suz
the Muze

Saturday, June 8, 2013

New Show in Illinois

Hi Everyone,

Quick note, we are so excited!

We are going to be in Illinois on Sunday June 9 at the 

North Shore Flea Market
428 Green Bay Road 
Highwood IL 60040

from 9AM - 5PM

Come out and say hi!

Suz
the Muze

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Update for Michigan

Hi Everyone,

This is a two second post as we are headed out the door AGAIN to Benton Harbor MI for the kick off to the Harbor Market there Friday  from 11-3 at 510 Main Street Benton Harbor MI.

Our trip to Indiana and Michigan was entertaining to say the least and I will leave with this picture to ponder on.

You know you are in huge trouble when you show up to build a show in the middle of nowhere and the local inhabitants are looking at your property to build a new residence because there is SO MUCH water everywhere.
And yes the flipping picture is sideways. I have sent it to myself four times and same results everytime. I give up.

In the background of the picture you might notice tent frames on the ground. This was Tuesday, tents were supposed to be up long before that. I knew I was in deep poo-poo -ka-ka as we were running out of time quickly. 

And it kept raining.

I will post in a day or so to let you know what happened,

Til then, see you in Benton Harbor at the Harbor Market on Friday,

Suz
theMuze