Where's Waldo?

Not THAT Waldo.....Waldo, FL!

Waldo is a little town with a pretty BIG Flea Market about an hour north of Ocala, and is one of two designated 'speed traps' in the state. No, I did NOT get a ticket! My hubby warned me before I left, so I made sure to set my cruise control just under the speed limit as soon as I entered Waldo. I've never had a ticket (knock wood) and don't plan on getting one :)

It was a beautiful day for the Country & Clogging Festival, although quite breezy. We were lucky to get a booth near the stage, and the cloggers were fabulous! They performed several times throughout the day.

A lady played guitar and sang a counrtyish acoustic version of AC/DC's 'You Shook Me All Night Long' Whoaaaaa! It was pretty good though! Would you be surprised that I DO know the lyrics? lol.

There were plenty of food vendors and concession stands, but I brought my own food and beverages for Laci and I.... like boiled eggs, carrot and celery sticks, red pepper strips, cucumber spears....you get the idea. Healthy munchies! But, oh! There were plenty of things to tempt me, but I only bought fudge for hubs....a few different kinds. But I wanted the bread and pastries one vendor had. They looked wonderful! Things you would find in a really decadent pastry shop/bakery. But I refrained from taking part in the delicious art... of divine turnovers, croissants, pies, and tarts. But it wasn't easy! I could SEE her booth from mine!

My setup was different this time. I was in an open air building, building B towards the front. The tables were long, narrow, and tall. I ditched my rafia (which Anna called 'My Junk' LOL!!!) and flipped my sheets over to hide the snaps....and had to clamp and pin them together underneath the tables because the wind kept whipping them every which way and blowing them out into the passersby, and up and over my items! Thank God I didn't use the rafia skirts!!!!

The day before the show I put together more hang tags to fit more items in this display, as I knew I would only have 2 tables.

They are now arranged according to price/and category.

Bracelets and fan pulls have been added, as I had to eliminate my bracelet board....BUT had I thought about it (cause it just occurred to me...I SHOULD have stood it over at the end by the pole to hang my hair things on!) BUT I was so disoriented by having to do everything differently, that my setup was not the best I've done. I do LOVE this display and the handstamped shell hang cards, though!

I *thought* I brought my extra zip bags, but I didn't.

I have a LOT of things in my booth that aren't listed in my shop yet, but will be soon.

Do you see anything new? :D

I didn't sell a darn thing! (sigh)

But, these were next to us, so I thought of Diane from Lavender Dreams, and also thought of all of you!

What made it totally worth it was our Dear Anna from Harvest Village was there, not far from us! And we did laugh about her calling my rafia 'my junk'. I said... MY JUNK????? Whatdya mean MY JUNK? My Rafia???? LOLOLOLOL! What she said was...."You didn't put your junk around your tables". LOL!

And the ladies with the rag dolls and quilts (Patsy & Laurie) were really nice, too. We had several hours to get acquainted. And they sold a couple of quilts, and something else....a bear, I think.

I was so happy to have Laci with me, she is always great company, even though she has gotten sick EVERY craft show EXCEPT the one when she didn't drink the frappacino. NOW WE KNOW WHY she has BARFED every time....except the ONE time she forgot to bring them. No more frappacino's!

Maybe a little TMI, but hey, it was part of our day, lol!

I'm looking for other places to go to craft shows, but will be back at Harvest Village on Feb 2nd. I have some flyers to pass out, and some errands to run today, and then it's back to listing, taking pictures, and listing.....until I get all those new items in my shop :)

Sooooooo, what did you see on my tables that is new?
Annnnnnnd, do you have any ideas to make better displays for headbands, or anything else?

Your input is greatly appreciated!

Thanks for hanging out for this LOOOOOOOONG and wordy post!

Abalone Seashell Necklace

A couple of years ago I made a double layer glass pearl necklace, before my Etsy shop was just shells. It received many favorites, but never sold. It's one of the few things I didn't take apart, but I didn't add it to my personal collection either. It has just sat in a plastic zip close jewelry bag in a drawer in my craft room. 

I just happened to come across some beautiful abalone shells with this exact shade of green in them. In my mind I saw this necklace remade.

Until I started playing around with abalone shells, I had no idea they came in such a wide variety of shapes and colors.

I am very happy with this necklace, and I made earrings to match the dangle I added to the shell.

Dainty little earrings!

I'm going to love having this in my shop...for however long it takes it to sell.

I think I like the new look better than the old!

What do you think?

The Sun and The Moon

The Sun fuels me with it's fiery orb high in the sky.

Glowing and sending heat into my soul.

Forever my warmth and strength.

Burning and making me whole.

The Moon guides me with it's bright glow.

Lighting my path.

Keeping me in step.

With nature and myself.

Sun and Moon shells gave me inspiration this past weekend. I smoothed the sharp edges, and added a few coats of gloss.
The inside of the shells are very cool.

I especially like the inside of the moon shell. As white as the newly fallen snow.
This necklace is reversible, too.

These will be in my Etsy shop soon!

I'm heading out for a road trip today! There are some things I must find, and they aren't in my town... I've already checked. I'm hoping to participate in the Great Glitzy Hack Off over at Life in Rehab. No, not THAT kind of rehab! Hop on over to Sunny's blog and see what I'm talking about ;) Maybe you'll want to make something too!

I have a cute paper fig shell to show you!

See you tomorrow!

New projects

I finally got around to crossing some things off my ideas board! It feels so good to have completed a few of my projects.

One of them, a vintage Mother of Pearl Leaf Brooch has been on my board for close to a year. I bought it when my friend DeEtte was here last April. I had an idea of what I wanted to do with it, but it was difficult to decide what kind of shell to use. I came across a lightly colored, and still naturally shiny olive shell that was the perfect size. I happened to have some charms laying out at the same time recently, and it just came together.

This would look so awesome on a scarf, lapel, jacket pocket, vest, a blouse... and I can see it on a denim jacket too. So Cool! Yep, you know I love it! If I didn't, you wouldn't be seeing it, right?! It IS a keeper, but it's here in my Etsy shop.

The theme is Olive Shells apparently :D

I've been wanting to do this forever!

This is my Seashell Bolo Tie!

What a cool old Olive Shell!
Broken, tossed, and tumbled smooth through the waves and across the ocean floor for who knows how many years. My grandpa wore bolo ties when he dressed up :D

I think they give an air of sophistication. Anyone can wear a regular neck tie, but a man who wears a bolo has a real sense of self. My papaw knew he was a handsome devil, and he dressed to the nines! I think he would have loved my Bolo Tie, and would have looked so good in it....or ...it would have looked so good on him.

I do have another big Olive like this for another one, but I want less decorative ends for the next one. I also have some smaller olives with the top broken out, and smoothed by the surf and sand. One is already being used in something, but it isn't finished. I'm waiting for supplies. Again. Sigh.

I do have a bunch of new supplies to work with still, while I'm waiting for this one in particular. A pile of shells is waiting to be drilled, my work area is pretty tidy, so it's time to mess it up again!

I crossed something else off of my board, and it's something any mermaid would delight in.....

but that is another post!