garden rivals

Hi Everyone,

Currently we are up to our alligators in coffee bean bags, making them into double wine bags for a charity event happening soon. We were so honored when they asked us the design a bag and tag for their event and with all the other stuff going on, thought we had better get out ahead of this project.

So, I have been nose to the grindstone and had not being paying attention to Mom's gardens until this morning when I noticed the 'glories' as we call them in full regalia.

They are called gloriosa daisies not to be confused with black eyed Susan's. Don't ask how I know the difference please. It is a painful story! LOL!

This is another group that if you don't cull them in the spring, they call a blitz in the garden and pretty soon, they are all you have! Her patch this year is about 2' x 6' and there are more little groups.

Pictures coming this week of new stuff I promise,

Here's the road:

August 11  2013  - North Shore Flea, Highwood, IL 

August 25  2013  -  Allegan Antiques Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Allegan MI

August 31 - September 2  2013  -  Indie Arts and Vintage Marketplace with Warmfest at Broad Ripple Park, Indianapolis IN

Later,

Suz

the Muze

Sights from Midland

Hi Everyone,

Trying to recover from the more than interesting time in Midland last weekend before we head back up to Michigan again for our beloved Allegan Market. Lots of things to get ready and pack up for our customers waiting for us.

I did want to share a couple of fun things that we saw over the weekend. Yes, there were a few fun moments despite the weather woes.

First was a customer that was an artisan herself, not showing with us but she had the most interesting handmade skirt on.

This was the front

isn't that cool? It was from t shirts and my eye immediately caught the phrase 'Are you junk drunk'. What a great shirt let alone skirt.


this was the back

I just loved that phrase 'Michigan is handmade', too cool for a vendor to wear. She said a lot of people, regular folk as well as fellow vendors had stopped her and made comments and then there was me, 'Hi can I take a picture of your skirt'. Never a dull moment in our booth, no siree!

Another fellow vendor came to say hi to us and wherever she goes, her loyal and incredibly well behaved pal Binky goes with her. When Mom starts talking, Binky resigns herself to waiting patiently for Barb to finish, so she plopped her petite little self under my ironing board.

Isn't she adorable? She follows right along side of her Mom when walking, no leash, no wandering and then is patient while waiting.

I could not even fathom taking Jack and Ass anywhere like a market.

This was Lige watching for us to return back home, blinds be damned. Nope, they are definitely not market kitties. No way, not ever gonna happen.

Here's the next couple of weeks

July 28  2013  -  Allegan Antiques Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Allegan MI

August 10 2013  - North Shore Flea, Highwood, IL 

August 25  2013  -  Allegan Antiques Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Allegan MI

August 31 - September 2  2013  -  Indie Arts and Vintage Marketplace with Warmfest at Broad Ripple Park, Indianapolis IN

Later,

Suz

the Muze

The answer is 2

The answer is 2.

Boy am I going to hear about this post, forever. Too bad, it made me laugh and that was a good thing!

Hi Everyone,

Back from a day of oppressive heat and sweltering humidity, our North Shore Flea was busy and packed. We saw a bunch of great customers we hadn't seen in a year or, so it was old home week as well.

But that heat, it was just awful. If you blinked your eyes, you sweat. Turn your head, sweat some more. It took for ever to pack up and and leave just cuz we were so tired and worn out from the heat

And from laughing.

We had the best time visiting with two of my dearest friends and fellow vendors Kathi and Annie from 3 Wrens. We joked around, sat and sweat together and just made the best of an incredibly tough weather day.

Then to top it all off, we got a great laugh in at the very end.

The question is . . .

How many 3 Wrens does it take to get one itty bitty little 10 X 10 tent back into it carrying case at the end of the day?

The answer is two, these two trying their darndest to get it in

We laughed so hard, Annie looks up and sees the DH snapping pictures and the threats start flying, "You had better not be taking pictured of my backside George", all the while I am snapping away on her other side. My answer would have been throw that thing in the car and hope it makes it home in one piece, who cares about a carrying case! ! ! 

Such an incredible fun day with them. Wish we had more and we just might get that wish come October as they are coming to the new market in the suburbs. I couldn't be happier.

Annie, thanks for the hours of bagging help in my tent and for sharing Mom as well. You girls are a hoot! We were honored that you drove in from Wisconsin to show with us.

We head to Midland MI this coming week to do their special 45th Anniversary show, complete with all sorts of celebrations. See you all there.

Here is the rest of the schedule,

July 20 - 21 2013 - Michigan Antique and Collectibles Festival, Midland MI

July 28  2013  -  Allegan Antiques Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Allegan MI

August 10 2013  - North Shore Flea, Highwood, IL 

August 25  2013  -  Allegan Antiques Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Allegan MI

August 31 - September 2  2013  -  Indie Arts and Vintage Marketplace with Warmfest at Broad Ripple Park, Indianapolis IN

See you soon,

Suz

the Muze

Indy = Rain

Hi Everyone,

If you have followed along here for anytime, you are well aware of the running joke about our doing the Indianapolis show, Indie Arts and Vintage Marketplace and the fact that hands down, for two years running, the outdoor shows have the worse weather record EVER known to mankind. Ever, anywhere.

Saturday was no exception.

When we woke up at o'dark thirty, approximately 3:45 AM, it was misting rain. This did not come as a surprise and had it been any other market anywhere else in the world, we would have called off and said, "NO, can't take the chance in bringing all our paper and fabric goodies out today."

But, this is Indy. And Indy is different. 

We have trained these poor folks into thinking that a little bad weather is so worth coming out to see us that they do, REGARDLESS of weather.

This is not an exaggeration. Last month, it was tornado warnings. Last year it was hurricane weather and a tornado and they still shopped. Doesn't matter they come out to see us.

So we have to show up.

Soaking wet, hotter than you know what because it is now sooo humid you could proof bread in our booth!, but we are there and so are they.

On a good day anywhere else in the country this is what we look like

 Burlap and lace panels grace the walls, people coming and going, a really nice setting.

This is the top of our tent Saturday

See those huge raindrops at the top of the tent face? They and about a million others stayed with us all day long.

And so did the customers

See how covered up the tents in front of us are. Normally we can see our neighbors. Not Saturday. We did see umbrellas in every shape, size and color tho.

Thank you Indy for being such dedicated customers and braving the weather every single month. We will be there, slightly soggy, but we will be there. 

I'm the one that squishes when she walks.


Later, after I dry out, sometime next week,

Suz
the Muze
  

Medium Sized Blessings

Hi Everyone,

After a full weekend, two shows and three bridal orders and a whole lot of exhaustion, we are trying to get ready for more bridal orders and heading to Indianapolis this coming weekend. See under the heading, way too much to do in a way too short period of time. 

We had a really great Harbor Market in Benton Harbor Michigan on Friday, where we saw a nice crowd of local folk and over 50 vendors that were there to show off their stuff. It has really grown and we are so proud to be associated with this venue. And as promoter Julie Montgomery says, Buy Local. The Harbor Market is every Friday from 11 - 4 and this week there were loads of early summer fruits available and a fresh pasta vendor. This place is just too cool. We will see you all next month, wish it could be sooner.

We headed north towards Allegan for Saturday, busy business day, a great meeting with our website designer. I have finally found an intelligent, non-condescending artist to work with, (more on him later) and then we traveled on to set up at our beloved Allegan show.

Truth be told, we arrived a bit tired from the one day setup and teardown in Benton Harbor and a busy and entertaining morning at our friends, the Gryzbowski home, earlier. 

We laughed and smiled and had such a great visit with all 10 of them and they too were getting ready to leave for set up at Allegan. So we said our farewells and headed off to the fairgrounds.

Shortly after arrival at Allegan, we started unloading, very slowly I might add, when we saw three of the young ladies from the  G family bounding into our booth. General Victoria, she puts orders out to the younger ones, who quickly move to do as dispatched, soon vanished from my sight inside the tent. As I looked around the end of the tent, I spotted this

and then this 

next time I look, I see this

and with a few minutes, our trailer is completely empty. They pitched in, moved items so fast and before we could turn around, we were unloaded. Such a huge blessing!

Ignore the fact this pic is sideways, they were so happy to have helped

Brian and Michelle are raising such great young ladies, self confident, charming, very feminine and each a delight to hold a real conversion with. They just pitch in and never expect anything in return, which makes a form of payment a bit difficult. But this time, I got around that. Ha, Michelle! They deserved so much more.

When we were packing up and keep in mind their family is packing at the same time, when their said duties for pack up was finished at their booth, I would see them running down towards our booth, all smiles and eager to see if they could help. I can not express how grateful we are for all of their help and the laughter they bring us.

I think the pictures are a bit cloudy because they were shot through their little angel wings. Just pure, innocent joy, each and every one of them.

So to Victoria, Sarah Grace, Isabella and Isaiah, who also popped in a couple times to help, you have our undying gratitude and thanks for making things so much better for us. George and I love and cherish each of you more than you will ever know. To Brian and Michelle, thank you for sharing them so freely. They are truly indispensable to us. 

I am still trying to figure out how to smuggle a couple of them home with us the next time we see them.

On the road, still:

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

July 20 - 21 2013 - Michigan Antique and Collectibles Festival, Midland MI

July 28  2013  -  Allegan Antiques Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Allegan MI

More later,

Suze
the Muze

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

"You write well" and magnolias

Hi Everyone,

These next few weeks are going to be daunting to say the least, lots of shows, lots of work needing to be done and lots of Fran Care.

The other thing I haven't written much about is a big change coming soon in our business. I hinted about it a couple of weeks ago and we will soon be making an announcement about it, but not just yet. In getting ready for 'it', on top of everything else going on, I am doing tons and tons of research. Most of it online and some of it way over my head. While I will be the first to admit I am a bit of a tech nerd, so much of it is way beyond my comprehension when it comes to the behind the scenes stuff, programming, IT and so on.

This morning I read an article about encryption and was so shocked at the end of the article that I actually understood what was being said. Now for those of you who know me, you know I am the first to reach out and thank someone for making anything I have to do easier. So I took a moment out and sent off a short email to the author of the article.

You could have knocked me over with a feather when I opened his return email. This is a professional IT person, 35 plus years, a published writer and he was grateful that I had written to say thank you. I get that part.

Then he wrote:


I visited what I believe is your blog site and it was fascinating. Everything I know absolutely nothing about. And, I see that you are one busy lady, who happens to write well. 
Kind regards, 
Michael

OMG! ! !  "who happens to write well"? I am floating on cloud nine. Thank you Michael, you made my day and I now understand about encrypting my files before I send them to the cloud. A huge win win all the way around.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, it is finally spring at my Mom's gardens. I am trying to get her outside every day, even when it isn't quite warm enough to enjoy these gorgeous babies.

Hold on to your shorts, we are back to sideways pictures, please shoot me and put me out of my misery.

Rows and rows of gorgeous jonquils, daffodils, tulips and hyacinths, all in their glory right now.

So I bundle up Fran and we go out to the gardens. Believe it or not, she is having a good time.

And then we move to the front where it is MAGNOLIA time. I wait all year long for these unbelieve works of art.

All of the trees in our area are in full bloom.

 Just hundreds and hundreds of beautiful blooms.

So while I was out enjoying floral and fauna, the DH was in the workroom working on our newest addition to our line.

For years I have had a soft spot for the hardest substance one could ask for, iron. Brackets, sconces and my all time personal favs, finials.

If it weighs more than paper, I am all for hauling it from show to show. The heavier the better, at least that is what he says! Seriously, these are going to be spectacular as accents. They will be making their debut in Indy this Saturday as we begin our outside shows in beautiful?, (it is going to rain again in) Indianapolis. Really, every single outdoor show in Indy last year was rainy and it looks like it is going to rain AGAIN on Saturday at the Glendale shopping center. Let us not break with tradition.

Oh well . . .  So is the life of an outdoor vendor.

On the road again.

May  4  2013  -  Indie Arts and Vintage BACK OUTDOORS ! ! ! Glendale Shopping Center Parking Lot, Indianapolis IN update IN THE RAIN bring your umbrellas!

May 10 - 11 2013 - Shop the Barn {boutique} Sale @ re-imagined just for you, 10545 78^th Ave, Allendale, MI 49401

  

May  17 -18  2013  -   NA DA Farm Event  2423 South Woodlawn Road, Esmond IL 

May  24 - 25  2013  - The Vintage Farmhouse Spring Market  9180 Hunt Club Road Zionsville IN

May 26  2013  -  Allegan Antiques Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Allegan MI

June 1- 2 2013 - The Shabby Experience @ Michigan Antique and Collectibles Festival, Midland MI

And for everyone who has emailed me about Brilliant Reuse from JdL, we have plenty coming in, so contact me about yours today.

Suz
the Muze

Thank you Allegan Michigan and Mr Wonderful, Larry Woods

Hi Everyone,

Let me start by saying how much I appreciate everyone asking about my Mom's health. This go around has been extremely rough on her but we are making progress and with each sunny day, she has gotten stronger and stronger. She will appreciate me telling her about all the nice well wishes she received. Thank you so much for your kindnesses.
                    
We started our 'outdoor' season yesterday in our all time favorite market venue, Allegan Michigan. When we awoke at 4:30 AM, it was drizzling and all we could think about was being wet and miserable all day. It finally stopped drizzling and it was FAR from miserable, just gray and cloudy. Thanks to all the hard work Larry and his crew does, it was a beautiful, well run, well organized, wonderful market. For all the hard work on all of our parts, this is such a great venue. If we could only work on the food and lodging parts of it. I would never leave!

I found myself telling the same story over and over yesterday as I do believe every single customer and acquaintance we have ever made here, stopped in to see us yesterday! Thank you to each and every single one or groups of you who came in and made us laugh, cry and the wonderful new joke that came about, made us go nuts. (Side note, when I figure how to type it so it won't get flagged, I will post it here. Needless to say, it created a Depends moment for several women!)

Our biggest stir was created by this little guy,

I fully expected to see quite a few of our regular Jeanne d'Arc LIving Magazine customers yesterday but what I didn't expect was the overall reaction to their new book, Brilliant ReUse.Yes, I think it is the best idea they have ever had for a book but I am highly prejuidiced when it comes to the genius at JdL. It literally flew out of the booth and with it, EVERY single copy of the older past six months of JdL. Since our regulars haven't seen us since October of 2012 at this market, they just waited til we showed up and bought every single back issue I had that they had missed. George had given me static about packing the old stuff and was so shocked to NOT have to pack it back into the trailer, and that is always a good thing.

The good news is that we are getting more books and they will be available again.As well as this month's incredible issue of JdL, Outdoors.

The coolest thing in this issue is about picnics. As usual, there are really good recipes but then they have instructions as to how to build your own picnic basket cart. Too cool! Plus all the beautiful florals, homes, accents, everything you expect from them every month.

Well, I have to get to work as we have Indy in just a few days and as per usual, I am no where ready. 

Remember, we are then headed to our wonderful friends at Re-Imagined Just for You for their annual Shop the barn Boutique Sale in Allendale Mi. We are going to have a great time with  Michelle and her family, can't wait for this one! We are so honored that they included us to be part of this fabulous event in the NEW barn no less.

Here's where you can catch up with us for the next couple,

May  4  2013  -  Indie Arts and Vintage BACK OUTDOORS ! ! ! Glendale Shopping Center Parking Lot, Indianapolis IN

May 10 - 11 2013 - Shop the Barn {boutique} Sale @ reimagined just for you, 10545 78^th Ave, Allendale, MI 49401

  

May  17 -18  2013  -   NA DA Farm Event  2423 South Woodlawn Road, Esmond IL 

May  24 - 25  2013  - The Vintage Farmhouse Spring Market  9180 Hunt Club Road Zionsville IN

May 26  2013  -  Allegan Antiques Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Allegan MI

June 1-2 2013 - The Shabby Experience @ Michigan Antique and Collectibles Festival, Midland MI

Is anyone as tired as I am just reading that?

Later,

Suz
the Muze

Sachet this way Dear . . .

One of us is really tired today, can you tell?

Hi Everyone,

Despite rummaging thru 1880's barn doors and corrugated steel roof panels, there has been a huge flurry of activity here the last couple of days. Oh and don't forget the 'estate sale' I stumbled on in my Mom's neighborhood. Sorry folks, but a total of 43 pieces of assorted items, (mostly dirty Rubbermaid) one riding lawn mower and four pieces of furry furniture does not constitute an estate sale! But I did score a 42" round to 60" oval kitchen table for $5. It will make a good display piece down the road. Remember me saying this in about 6 months. Just saying . . . 

After an afternoon of sewing at Fran's, I finally finished our little sachets. Two little packets tied with a stem of our dried lavender finishes them up nicely. 
















Now Mom's house smells like wonderful lavender. And pizza. She was in a pizza mood and who are we to deny her want for pizza? Not I, that's for sure. I didn't have to cook tonight! Yeah!

So, now we have lots of little bundles, all dressed up and ready to travel to Indianapolis next week. And then on to Rockford, hopefully there will still be a couple left.

Here's that schedule again . . .

April  6 2013  -  Indie Arts and Vintage, Indiana Sate Fairgrounds, Indianapolis, IN

April 19 - 20  2013  - The Vintage Market, 919 Garfield Avenue, Rockford IL

April  28  2013  -  Allegan Antiques Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Allegan MI

May  6  2013  -  Indie Arts and Vintage BACK OUTDOORS ! ! ! Glendale Shopping Center Parking Lot, Indianapolis IN

May 10 - 11 - BIG ANNOUNCEMENT COMING   STAYED TUNE ! ! !  

May  17 -18  2013  -   NA DA Farm Event  2423 South Woodlawn Road, Esmond IL 

May  24 - 25  2013  - The Vintage Farmhouse Spring Market  9180 Hunt Club Road Zionsville IN

May 26  2013  -  Allegan Antiques Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Allegan MI

We are cutting butterflies this evening, designing tags and playing with a new box of lace and burlap that arrived yesterday,

Later,

Suz
the Muze

Merci bouquets, lots of bouquets

Hi Everyone,

Now that we are back in reality, (thanks LBT for a great relief effort), I am back crackin' the whip in the ol' production scene. There simply is never enough time to get ahead.

The DH is thrilled that one of our 'projects' has finally met it's end. We literally gathered all our strength and wits to gather lavender the past two days. The whole house, both vehicles and a couple of noisy four legged pests that can not keep their noses or tails out of anything of mine, are all scented in the absolutely wonderful fragrance of lavender.

Our bouquets, that will be available in snow covered Indy in just a few days, turned out very nicely if I may say so myself. Each bouquet is about 14" to 18' in length. I found a beautiful gathering basket to display them in.

OMG ! ! !  I can not believe this goofy Blogger is now turning pictures upside down. I was over the moon that all the pictures I took were right side up and when they downloaded into this format, viola', upside down. This could seriously drive someone to drink beyond all sensibility. So maddening.

Okay, back on topic, I apologize for digressing. Blogger makes you do things like that. 

Anyway, the what seemed like millions of very tender beautiful stems of lavender were all bundled up, about 150 to 200 per bunch, (I was not about to actually count) and wrapped up with our really strong heavy brown paper, a shred of lace and some wonderful jute twine! As I was tying them off, it occurred to me you could actually use these as wedding bouquets if you wanted to and wouldn't that be a cool scent for the bridal party. Maybe keep all prospective brides and grooms a bit calmer.

Our bundles will be on display with our lavender sachet packets as well. Indy will never know what hit them, it will smell so good in our booth. I will try to capture a pic of the sachets, God only knows which direction that will be in.

On to the journals tomorrow as well as new chalkboards. 

Never a dull moment around here, that is for sure,

Here's our schedule again.

April  6 2013  -  Indie Arts and Vintage, Indiana Sate Fairgrounds, Indianapolis, IN

April 19 - 20  2013  -  The Vintage Market, 919 Garfield Avenue, Rockford IL

April  28  2013  -  Allegan Antiques Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Allegan MI

May  6  2013  -  Indie Arts and Vintage BACK OUTDOORS ! ! ! Glendale Shopping Center Parking Lot, Indianapolis IN

May  17 -18  2013  NA DA Farm Event  2423 South Woodlawn Road, Esmond IL 

May  24 - 25  2013  The Vintage Farmhouse Spring Market  9180 Hunt Club Road Zionsville IN

May 26  2013 Allegan Antiques Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Allegan MI

I am headed to be creative,

Suz 

the Muze