News flash about NSF

Hi Everyone,

This is short and sweet but I am so excited about the North Shore Flea Market in Highwood this coming Sunday July 14th, I am about to burst

Why you might ask?

Because I just found out that two of my bestest friends are joining me.

Live from Grand Rapids Michigan, my buddy Mark Miller, Lost and Found Grand Rapids Michigan is coming down and oh my word look at what he's bringing . . .

Old olive jars, handmade farm table and Romanian dough bowls, serious drooling going on over here . . .

anyone need a great work cart / table or cool bins?

Also, joining me will be my sweet buddy Annie and her family family from 3 Wren Street from Wisconsin. Annie is the queen of cool vintage and just unique things. I am over the moon that they are sharing their great stuff with the market this Sunday. It will be so great to laugh with them all as well.

So make plans to come see us, this Sunday in beautiful downtown Highwood at the North Shore Flea from 9 - 5, we will be the noisy bunch outside, laughing and having a great time!


Or on the road . . . 

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


See you at the flea!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Slips

Hi Everyone,

Another preview here of some of the new slipcovered journals that we are taking on the road. It is nearly impossible to get these photographed before they go flying out of our booth. Since each one of these is a one of a kind, it is a time crunch to grab their debut photo or the opportunity is gone. So many uses and so little quantity.

Here is Journal 1:

Love those little doilies with pearls.

Journal 2

A little bit Parisian

Journal 3

I am glad I got to grab them. One that didn't make the photo op was a slipcover that is making the news down in Zionsville Indiana for a show highlighting The Vintage Farmhouse Enchanted Spring Market on May 24 and 25. It was gorgeous and we are thrilled to be highlighted on the Indy Style show. AMM on TV, what could possibly top that?

I will catch up with you soon I hope. We are about to head to 'our' market in Midland Michigan and it is going to be unbelievable this year. But first we have to build it. Hence the 8 day visit to Midland.

Soon,

Suz 
the Muze

Makes you go hmmmmm . . .

Hi Everyone,

While we are having a great time in Zionsville IN at the Spring Market hosted by The Vintage Farmhouse, our neighbors to the South of us slightly, Indianapolis are gearing up for the Indy 500. Thank goodness we leave here today before it gets any more crazy.

Case in point.

Yesterday the DH, Mr Wonderful volunteered to run and get sandwiches for several of our show neighbors as they had no way of getting out to get anything to eat other than the pizza truck that was on site.

On our way to the hotel, he mentioned that he had seen gas was $3.69 a gallon at the Speedway we were going to pass. I told him since that was .40 cents a gallon cheaper than home, we needed to fill up.

As we pulled up to the pump, this is what we see on the fuel island, you know where the trash can is and people toss the occasional Mickey D's container.

Here's what we see,

which raises a whole slew of questions . . .

 

Who carries 3 - 4 liter boxes of wine in their vehicle to begin with? That's almost 5 gallons worth!

 

Seriously, 3 boxes?

 

We started laughing trying to figure a logical explanation and couldn't come up with a single one.

 

"Honey, I'm taking the trash out to the Speedway, be back!"  Huh?

 

"Okay guys, give me all the empties while we fill up?"

 

There simply isn't a good one!

 

Back on the road to Michigan this afternoon,

 

See everyone at Allegan tomorrow,

 

Suz

the Muze 

432 cubic square feet of . . . .

If it's Friday, it's time to play, 'Who packed all this stuff anyway and do we really need it?'

Yes, 3 shows in 7 days and I am damn sure we forgot at least one item or thing we need.

Wouldn't be a normal road trip without that drama.

Top to bottom, side to side, this puppy is jammed packed with all sorts of great new finds and handmade goodies. 432 cubic sq ft of stuff. 

Yep, that's ours.

More later,

Suz

the Muze

Speed Bumps

Hi Everyone,

I first have to apologize to my wonderful friend Julie from Fragments, an incredible artist and fellow vendor. We got to see her this past weekend at NA DA, where once again she had the best looking booth inside the barn. She is a magnificent free hand artist and the backdrops and canvases she paints are truly beautiful works of art. We are always so in awe of her talents and her sweet wonderful presence.

We physically hadn't seen each other for several months and were catching up while she so graciously helped us unload our trailer in the 30 mph prairie winds that were whipping through. As we were catching up, Julie mentioned something about this blog. I filled her in on some of the details about our lovely Iowa excursion and she said to me, "you absolutely have to start taking more pictures, people just can't believe some of the things you encounter on your travels".

But Julie, sometimes you can't take pictures.

Here's why. Not once but twice this weekend we encountered the dumbest people in the world at the oasis when stopping for gas.

First off, I thought the world had come to an end because gas was .20 cents a gallon cheaper at the oasis instead of where we were headed, (middle of nowhere). Go figure only in Illinois.

On our way home, tired and sick, we stopped once again to fill up and found ourselves behind Harold and Maude, two of the dippiest (new word) senior citizens in the world. Because we are pulling a trailer, we are kinda of limited as to where we can get into at gas stations, so we usually end up in back of someone and wait.   

And wait, and wait. When we first pulled up, Maude was digging in the trunk, for God only know what and produced an empty Good and Plenty box, which she slowly walked over to the trash can and deposited. As she was walking back, I said to DH, "she has her credit card in her hand, why doesn't she at least start pumping her gas?". 

No, she walked around to the passenger side and started rummaging there. She got through there and headed towards the drivers door and we thought we were about to get lucky again but no, she opens the drivers door, leans in and does more searching.

So now my Mr. Wonderful is saying things out loud like, "Gesh lady, start pumping your gas!" and "If you find Jimmy Hoffa, let us know".

About this time, we see an elderly man headed towards this vehicle and we surmise he had gone inside to pay for the gas. Meanwhile, DH sees an opening on another set of pumps, backs up the trailer and we get into a pump. 

I am still watching Harold and Maude ( kinda like a car wreck, you just have to look) as now they are trying to get his credit card into the gas pump. He tries his three times and looks and looks at the screen and she is yammering away at him. Finally, she tries her credit card, that has been in her hand the entire time and again a lot of time is spent trying to read the pump. At our pump, DH has paid for and pumped our truck full and we are about to pull away when H & M finally get the nozzle in their tank. We start laughing as we watch him then reach in the backseat behind the drivers door and pull out 3 movie size boxes of candy.

There's the culprit, those two were on a sugar high and couldn't do much else.

Julie, I would have taken a picture but I am afraid of offending the kids of these two, knowing that their parents are on the loose like that.

You just have to laugh about it and smile, just like when we heard compliments this weekend.

We had one customer tell us we had the best booth hands down and another said I was the sweetest vendor (that was highly inaccurate as I am battling a huge mold allergy attack and am under the influence of Benadryl, so I know I was an ornery smart ass the majority of the time)

Stuff happens sometimes.

But the funniest one was the gal who found us from the Gordyville show, over 1 1/2 years ago. Her comment was we were the only real vendor at the whole show. She was actually correct but it was nice to hear that she thought we outshone all the rest. She loved NADA and was so glad she had made the trip. We were glad too, that she stopped and visited.

We are on a short leash this week trying to get ready for our 3 shows in 8 days.

I will try for more pictures, if I can, no promises!

Schedule:

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

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 

I have to cut runners today so toodles!


Suz
the Muze