Happy Halloween!

and Happy Birthday Josh!

I'm thinking a big bowl of popcorn and some favorite movies are in order for tonight!

I just watched Hocus Pocus last week, but could easily watch it again.... I love Bette Middler movies.

Another favorite is Practical Magic with Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. This is one movie that is really close to the book. If you haven't read the book, or seen the movie...DO!

I also love Halloween Town....the 1st one, The Witches of Eastwick, and The Craft.
I'm not watching The Craft.... I want to sleep tonight :P

I can't stay awake for more than one movie unless I start really early, and it's going to be hard to choose.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Edited to add: I'll show you my great find from the craft show tomorrow....I forgot today was a holiday :)

McIntosh Festival at Harvest Village

We are watching the megastorm closely, and thinking of friends and family in the path of this killer storm. Hopefully it will be over soon, and everyone will be safe and sound. Clean up on the other hand will be a massive undertaking. Things can be replaced, but our people can't be. Stay safe dear friends and loved one's, my heart goes out to you.

For several days we felt the fury that was Sandy passing a couple hundred miles off our coastline. The wind blew relentlessly, and anything that wasn't heavy or nailed down was seen blowing across yards and fields. I watched my palm trees sway and blow for days prior to the craft show, so I took precautions and took some rock pavers to hold my canopy down. Thank you honey for giving me the pavers!

The turn out for this show was better than past shows at Harvest Village, but remember that this is a new venue, has only been going this fall, and people are just now finding us. It did help that the McIntosh Festival was happening the same day right down the road.

We had more vendors on Saturday, and some of them set up their canopy frame, or saved a spot with a table on Friday. Laci and I set up across from where we usually do.

You may notice my necklace displays are in a different spot this time. The winds from Sandy blew them over a couple of times, so I moved them. The big necklace display provided a wind break and kept them from falling over. I didn't even bother to set up the heads for the headbands, as I knew from previous shows that the slightest wind will take them down. I'm working on having something made to keep them in place.

I did move a couple of things around.....

but most things are the same. I do need to make some new earrings as I have 2 entire sides empty now.

I really like, and needed the larger ring display, and have sold a few of them :)

My bracelet board is a few shy of what is was also. I really need to get busy, and before the next show in 2 weeks! I also have an idea for the shell name badge reels....they just need a little something something added to them and I have just the thing in mind ;)

I did make some keychains, and didn't sell a single one :P
I'm nearly out of bookmarks....that is on my to do list.

I really do like the barrettes on the net this way, but sure played hell keeping them straight all day. It isn't normally so windy, so I'll still do this. I'm a few hairpin sets and barrettes down, too. So Much To Do!

THE WIND!!!!!!!! My big display did nearly go over but Laci caught it, and I ran around the other side to set it to rights. It really damn near blew OFF the tables!

Laci made some new things for the show, too :D

Her mini cupcake necklace was the first thing she sold. It is so adorable! Even though it takes a couple of hours or so to crochet such a tiny thing, she will probably make another...or two. It's only about an inch tall!

These are for kids.....except the cupcake pin cushion, lol. I must have taken this after she sold her pie darnit!

These are for kitty cats! Catnip toys! It's hard for me to pick a favorite. I love the whales, and the fish of course. But the little pie, cheeseburger, and toilet paper rolls are so darn cute, too. Laci can literally look at an object or think of one, and make it with yarn. No pattern!

It was a really good day despite the wind :) and Laci outsold me :D

I bought something that is beautiful and amazing, and I'll show it to you next time!

We are preparing for the next show on November 10th!

Is there anything you think we should make?

The Lady Cannibals

The Ocala Cannibals were hungry last night and devoured the Vandalettes of Vero! This was a fast, action packed bout, and Cannibal fans savored every hit and jam. The ladies were in fine form, and the jammers had the track smokin' with their incredible speeds.

Militant Bulstrode #9 3/4 did some excellent blocking!

That's my girl in the red shorts :)

She jammed once, too!

I'm so proud of my girl, and so proud of the Cannibals. They are our hometown hero's!

Some great jams and lead jammers of the night included Erin Go Brawl, Ms. Jax'em, Lil Looney, Majikal Death Pony, and Lashes N Bashes....and Mili :D

Also some great blocking by Bonesaw Betty, and Fingaz Feltersnatch!

Really, all of the ladies did an excellent job last night, and delivered up a feast of fun for their fans!

They stayed in the lead the entire bout....

and kept the Ref's and NSO's on their toes!

With the final score being.....

259-51!!!!!!! WoooooooooooooooHooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!

There is one more home bout in November..... The Feast of the Cannibals!

I'll be there!

Go Cannibals!!!!

Taste of Florida

How are you all? I sure have missed ya!

This past Wednesday I was so very fortunate to participate in the Taste of Florida event held at the Disney Resort Hilton. A lot went into planning this event for 4-H executives and administrators from around the U.S. I was contacted about a year ago and asked to be a vendor and sell my seashell jewelry. I was delighted to be selected, and said YES without hesitation.

I met some warm, friendly, wonderful people at this event, and it was an experience I will never forget. I am so grateful that I had this opportunity! It was really cool, and I loved seeing and hearing people's reactions to my pieces. And I sold.....a LOT!

I took my two middle kiddos, Laci and Kyle, to help me. It's a good thing I did! Not only were they a big help setting up and taking down, Lace helped with writing receipts and packaging, and Kyle handed out business cards. They are pretty good company, too :)

My pictures didn't come out well, but I did my best.

 These photos are not in order, but I realized I had to include the first one after all....
see the green pearl and abalone necklace on the black bust in the 3rd photo? I sold it! This was the first time I have ever had to replace a necklace on a bust because it sold :) so in the first two pics, the replacement necklace is on display....it's the copper sun and moon shell necklace.

I know my table looks really full, but it sure did become less full throughout the day! It also helped that I kept rearranging :)

I moved the bolo ties to the bracelet board, and set the middle necklace displays on my boxes to give them some height so they could be seen.

Like in this photo....

I'm sure you've noticed I didn't use my tables, or my table cloths and skirts. I did take them with me as I didn't know the cloths would be provided. Now I know for future appearances like these to just leave them at home....or at least ask about it! LOL!

The lights above my table produced a very yellow hue to my pics, but I did want you to see the new bolo ties. I love the ammonite fossils!!

This leather is the same wonderful quality as what I used in the last bolo ties. Love it!

Can you tell that Kyle knew I had the camera out? LOL!

We had fun, I sold quite a lot of jewelry, and I was honored to be there :) And the people! OMG the people were so awesome!!!!

An extra big THANK YOU! to Chris from the University of Florida for putting this all together. He did an amazing job! Thank you Chris for inviting me :D

Tomorrow I will be back out at Harvest Village for the McIntosh Festival, also known as the 1890's Festival. I'll have my booth and 3 table set up going on, and hope to attract as much of a crowd as I did at the Taste of Florida event.

It's gonna be a busy weekend with the show on Saturday, and a ROLLER DERBY BOUT on Sunday! WooHoo! This momma is gonna have some fun!

I'll be back Monday with details and photos!

Have a great weekend :D

And The Winner Is...

Danni Baird!


Congratulations Danni!
Email your address to me, and I'll get this out to you asap :D

I must apologize for having my head in the sand yesterday! I'm so very sorry for letting this slip my mind.

I remembered several hours after my post published..... and was immediately mortified to say the very least.

Anyway... we'll have to do this again sometime when I'm not quite so engaged in outside activities!

What's the Difference?

Although I like all of the ring bases I buy, I do have my favorites.
You may be asking, "what's the difference?"

These are really pretty open filigree, and are very thin and lightweight.

Easily adjustable.

But these...

these are my favorite ring bases! They are heavier and strong, and take some force to adjust the size.

Can you see the difference in the thickness? I bought three color variations this time :)

The black one isn't painted, it's powder coated! Powder coating is harder, and much tougher than paint.
Bicycle frames and appliances are powder coated. Sometimes my husband sends fencing materials to be powder coated, and that's how I knew what it was. When I saw that these black ring bases were powder coated, I bought them without hesitation. I can't wait to pull out my mini shells and play with these!

I already played with the others last week ;)

I like, okay I LOVE the finished look of the filigree ring bases. I do know how to wire wrap rings... I've made a few. But as far as a complete and finished ring go, I like using ring bases better :D They have a more 'high end' look to them.

So, that is one of the things I'll be working on this week, the rose stem rings! My favorite ring bases!

Shae says Thank You ALL for the birthday wishes!

Edited 5 hours later to add:

I was supposed to announce a WINNER today! OMG I am sooooo sorry!
I'll do it tomorrow, I promise....I need to unearth my brain from wherever I've lost it in this craft room.