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!

A Beaded Seashell Charm Bracelet

Playing around with that circle chain last week, and wanting to do a little beading at the same time, I came up with a beaded charm bracelet.

Only one real seashell on this one, and two bronze seashell charms. About half of the bracelet is beaded with glass pearls in green and blue, with flower bead caps used to surround the larger green pearls.

The older I get, the more I love old looking things, and this bracelet has that vintage antique look with the bronze chain, charms, and findings.

This little shell has the perfect colors to make it look as if it just belongs on this bracelet.

A very simple uncluttered charm bracelet. I'm really liking these lately.

This has a lobster clasp, but you know I am always willing to make adjustments and change to a toggle at your request :)

I have several listings to do this week, so should have this in my Etsy shop soon!

Right now I am working on a custom order...and gearing up for the craft show this weekend. Have I already mentioned that recently?

I've added a 3rd table, so I'm doing some booth rearrangement. I ordered a couple of more rafia skirts, and can't wait to see it come together...AGAIN! I'm trying to minimize the bulk of my displays so I have room for my passengers for the Orlando show. I have so much to do in the next couple of weeks!

I have a couple of Fall decorating projects lined up to do, too. Wish me luck! I don't know how I expect to cram all of this into this already full month! And my baby turns 25 next week! EEEEK!

I'll be ready for another beach trip in November!

Sea Urchins and Seashells

You know I love all things pertaining to the sea. So, when I saw these darling little green sea urchins, I had to have them. I had no idea what I would even do with them, so they have been hanging out on my shell shelf since I went to the shell shop with Momma P back in late July/early August.

I knew they were going to be too fragile to use as is. I thought about this for a while, and decided to fill them to make them solid. After I made those last two seashell and flower headbands, I knew what I wanted to do with some of them.

I now have a pretty new headband to put in my shop!

The little urchins are still very lightweight, but far less breakable than they were.

The cream and white flowers accent the urchins beautifully!

I'm not much of a headband gal, but I would wear this one, too!

It is perfect for a beach wedding, though. Bridesmaids would look lovely, and flower girls would be so darling in this. I don't think I would wait for a wedding to wear this! I'd wear it anytime!

I have a few more of these cute little urchins, and will probably make another headband, and I don't know what else yet. Right now I have too many ideas, and too many things to play with....but I'm not complaining!

I have a couple of custom orders I'm excited to get started on, I'm just waiting for the rest of my supplies. I also just finished a couple! I can show you one of them. The other is a gift for someone, and the gift giver should have a chance at posting about it first, I think :)

These earrings were made to my customers specifications! Those blue green pearls really pop with the shells! She got the idea from another pair I posted a few weeks ago. You know my pics don't do them justice, and I'm really kicking myself for not taking more pics.

The only pics I took were on the whale tail :(
In my haste to get them listed, I failed miserably in the photo taking department.

These three pics are the only ones I have of these earrings. Shame on me! 

I do love the soft pink in these shells, and the crystals match perfectly. That little pop of sea colored pearls is mesmerizing, and gives these earrings a nice beachy vibe!

You may have noticed I haven't listed much of anything new in my shop. Between my custom orders, selling other things, and getting ready for the craft shows (and doing some serious playing! see my last post!) I just haven't made the time. But I have really enjoyed the time off from being a photographer lol. You know that is so not my favorite part of this. I really do need to get on the ball and show you some of the neat necklaces I've been making....and my new ideas and plans for the next show!

But...today I am taking a couple of hours to take a wire wrapping class! If I do a good job, you will see the results, if I don't...you will never hear about it again. LOL!

I'll see ya tomorrow!

Always have a beachy kind of day :)

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!