I've been a very bad blogger. I know this and I'm sorry! But I also have a few good excuses! And as always, I've been great keeping up with Facebook so hop on over and become a fan if you aren't already!
The end of July started with a road trip to New Jersey to vend at Create. 26 hours of driving. 1500 miles. 7 states! Phewww....
This was our booth in New Jersey. Sorry for the less than great picture, but my good camera was left behind.
So why did I travel all the way to New Jersey you ask? For one big little reason. My new niece Adelaide lives on the East Coast. The trip was not all business!
If you are ever in the Baltimore area, I highly recommend the American Visionary Art Museum! The entire place is filled with 'Outsider Art'. Nothing but awesome mixed media pieces. It was my second visit and just as great as my first. It's pretty much amazing.
Yep, this piece is made entirely out of toothpicks!
I also had a great time hitting up some antique stores on the way home. The best way to break up a long drive.
And then this past weekend there was Stampaway. What a fun show! Here we are all set up in our largest booth yet. And not surprisingly I could have filled an even larger booth.
Friday night's theme was "Prom Night". And guess what? We WON 3rd place in the costume contest! Stampers Anonymous won 1st, so I was happy to be so close behind. With friends Christine Meador, Bianca Mandity, MaryJo Mcgraw, and Elaine Madrid. I'm the one in the tan ($5.00 Goodwill) vintage dress. What a blast!
Bianca and I made the sashes and crowns you see modeled above. We started with 2.5" wired ribbon and simply used Coffee Break Design Stencils and spray paint.
The lettering took a few coats since the ribbon was a bit porous.
To finish the sashes we added a Lady Button, sewn on.
The paper crowns which we bought for just .50 cents each were also spray painted and stenciled. To finish we attached a Lady Button (wearing a tiny brass crown) using E6000. Super sweet and super cheap. It would be so cute to make some Halloween paper crowns using our new Halloween Stencils and Cut-Outs!
In just a few weeks we will also be vending at Create in Lisle, IL on Friday August 24th from 6-9pm. Bianca will also be teaching and you still have a chance to sign up for her awesome classes. The vendor's faire is free and open to the public, so check it out even if you aren't taking classes! We would love to see you.
In between traveling and vending I did manage to list some more NEW goodies on the site (and more to come!). Aren't these colorful carved stone skull beads yummy!
How about a GIVEAWAY!
Simply leave a comment on this post so I know you are still out there! After we get back from Create on the 26th, I'll announce the winner. Winner will receive a set of these lovely skull beads, a Shrine Kit, and some Halloween Charms. If you are also a Facebook fan I'll include some extras too. Let me know if you are a fan in your comment. Good luck! xo
75 comments:
Love the Skulls and spiders...Have a Safe journey!
The booths look fantastic and I love the prom outfits, the sashes and crowns look so fab! Loving all the new Halloween stuff listed too. Oh and I am a FB fan too :D
such awesome stuff you guys are doing!!
You have the most wonderful give aways! I showed my husband and son the toothpick art creation and my husband said, "I think we have a box in the kitchen." Yeah...I don't think so! Thanks for the great blog and inspiration! I'm a huge fan on Facebook and I'm going to share your link for my friends to have a chance to win!
Thank you for sharing pictures from your trip. Looks like lots of fun! Love your shop!
I am a facebook fan and I would love to win those colorful skulls, etc. Thanks for the awesome pics...
FB fan here! Thanks so much for another give-away! =)
The sashes were works of art themselves! The booth looked great and looks like you had a fun trip!
Yes, I'm still here! That was quite a journey. Welcome back xoxox
Your journey looked fabulous! I'll have to see that Baltimore outsider art museum!
Your journey looked fabulous! I'll have to see that Baltimore outsider art museum!
I am a Facebook fan. I love hearing about road trips. Sounds like you had a successful and fun one!! Thanks for sharing.
Wow! You've been busy!! LOVE the Prom costumes!!! Thanks for the giveaway! Loving all the new Halloween stuff! Oh, and I'm a FB fan too! :) Becky
I have a few of the skull beads. They are fun to play with.
Love your stuff!
Fan on Facebook.
Sounds like a fabulous trip you are having :) Thanks for the chance to win the goodies!
WOW, love those colorful skulls!
Smiles~
Marilyn
How fun! Love your shop and the skulls :) Also I'm a big fan on Facebook!
Wow! Your prom sashes are beautiful! I would love to be included in your giveaway! And of course I am a facebook fan!
That is A LOT of driving....but worth it to see your niece. She's a cutie.
Prom dresses are beautiful and congrats on 3rd place. It was the sashes that tipped the scales!!
That toothpick art is AMAZING! And what a FUN trip! New little nieces are the best - I have three of them! Thanks for sharing. My 4 year old grandson would LOVE to help me create with those skulls!
Those skull beads look like candy! I wish I lived closer to you so I could attend all the shows you do! I'd spend a fortune!
WoW, you are a very busy lady, but it looks like a lot of fun! I am a FB fan. Stay safe on your travels!
My grandson would have a blast creating with me and those fab beads!
Facbook fan here! Ty for the giveaway. Enjoy your travels.
Wow at those toothpicks!!
Just love those Skulls!!Fab Giveaway!!
I'm already a FB fan :)
Jan x
Love the skulls.....thanks for another opportunity to score some uber cool goodies! Safe travels :)
Yep, I am a FB fan too!
You are living the life I'd love to have! Thanks for sharing your adventures and ideas.
those skulls are fabulous! Love Retro Cafe Art! Fan for many years already here and on fb!
~Dawn
You're adventures sound so fun! LOVED your costumes for prom!
I'm a Halloween junkie so I am just drooling over these prizes.
FB Fannie fan fan too!
Cute prom pic!
I have been a fan on FB for awhile.
Congrats on your prom queen win and fun adventures on the road! Halloween was my fave long before it became so popular and those skulls are TOO COOL!!! Thanks for sharing, the great products, and the giveaway!
It was so great to read your blog. I love road trips no matter how far I have to go and I can always find some place (store/shop) to stop and look for "treasures". Congrats on the prom dresses; you all looked lovely. It must be so much fun to go to these shows, to talk to other like-minded artsy people and, of course, to sell your goodies. I'm a facebook fan already but I'm going to figure out how to get your blog regularly.
Thanks Sam
Sounds like a great trip- congrats on the costume contest placement/win! I just did the NC > PA trip the other weekend to join some friends at CKC Lancaster. Not as long as your trip but that's ok. :) Much fun to be had and looking forward to doing it again!
I'm a FB fan!
Love those little skulls and so much of the Halloween stuff. I am a huge facebook fan.
Love the little white skulls especially!
it's been years since i took any kind of road trip! your niece is a darling!!!
your booths look..wow! fabulous and your "Prom dresses" marvelous! congrat's on your win!!
the museum sounds like something i'd love to see...that was all toothpicks?
thanks for the chance to win one of your wonderful giveaways!!! i am a facebook fan!
Your travels look like a lot of fun! Congratulations on 3rd place too,that's great. (:
Cute skulls...love Halloween!
FB fan-Crystal Marie
crluckystar at yahoo dot com
Looks like you are having a blast! Love the Prom Night theme contest! Have a safe trip and tons of fun!
Thanx for a chance to win....Love those lil skulls :)
PS I am a Facebook fan
KimMJ
bast830@comcast.net
Sounds like you had a great trip! Love the spiders! Thanks for always having such great give aways!
The older I get, the more I LOVE Halloween! Not just for kids any more. Love the skulls and spiders!
Love all your products and your giveaways. Keep up the great work!!!
love those little skulls.You come out with the most adorable trinkets. I'm sorry to have missed you and all the other crafters at the Create expo in NJ. I hope to make it next year.
ps also on FB :-)
You have awesome products, but those little skulls are simply adorable. Thanks for the chance at a very generous give~away! P.S. Also a FB fan of yours:)
Those little skulls are too cute! I'm also a fan on Facebook.
would have loved to attend one of the Create conventions! Love the prom dresses, looked like you had a "ball". Would love to win some of your goodies. Thanks (also left you a msg on FB)
Very cool charms and skulls. I just love Halloween! And nice booths....
What fun you've been having...I love the prom picture!
Love it! I too realy stink at blog upkeep. You look quite busy so that is a good excuse.
WOW Kristy ,What a whirlwind of a summer you have had. Congrats on placing for the Prom Queens. That looks like so much fun! Love the banners and crowns and your booth looks GREAT!!! And Yep I'm still out here. LO
and also a Facebook fan.
P.S. your new niece is adorable ...well worth the trip.
hugs Lynn
Wow! I was wondering where you were! :) Oh, how I wished I'd known you'd be in NJ, I would have loved to gone crazy buying up your goodies! Well, it looks like you had fun, laughs, family and art, I'd say, that's the good life! :) Travel safe...I'm an FB Fan, too! :)
Wow, what a whirlwind of activities you've been doing!! Good for you. We have missed you!! I am also a Facebook fan!!
Love the little skullies! Dying to get my hands on another shrine kit too! Thanks for being so good to your fans :)
and of course I'm a Facebook fan!
Great pictures. Can't believe the toothpick art...wow! Good to see you and Bianca at Stampaway. Love the prom costumes. I am a FB fan too. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
Love your giveaways! Love CBD even more!
Oh and I'm a facebook fan too! violetlucretiababbage@gmail.com
Have a great time in Chicago! You guys are the best! I'm sure you already know I'm a Facebook fan!
Michael
Your niece is so adorable, what a cutie! I love the photo of the Prom Event! Its nice to see Mary Jo, she is the one who turned me on to Coffee Break stencils. What an awesome teacher she is. It looks as if your long trip was fun and filled with new things. Love all the photos, almost feel like I was there.
Elaine Allen
P.S. I'm also a FB fan.
Congrats on 3rd place! The skull beads look great! I'm a facebook fan.
Looks like you had so much fun! Your new niece is adorable! I'm a FB Fan too!
Tres cool stuff! and tres cool adventures. Mahalo for the op to win.
cool giveaway - love the skulls! and i've been a facebook fan for a while now... :)
LOVE, Love, love skulls in all forms! these beads rock! I love your stuff, am a follower of your blog, a customer and a FB Fan! I have not been able to really shop in months, and sadly I think the trend will continue with only being able to spend a small art 'allowance" a month now that the hubs has retired. I am especially excited about the mini shrines, I've never made anything so small, (other than inchies) would love to learn how.
thanks for the opportunity!
best of luck on your travels :)
Susan
My goodness you do get about don't you? It's those wonderful wide roads you have makes the travelling quicker.
What a great range of skulls and shrines - just fabulous for Halloween and lots of other creations.
Love those colorful skull beads! Great Dia de los muertos items! I am a fan on Facebook!
Love the skull beads! I'm a FB Fan too!! Have a great time at CREATE!!!!!!!!
I'm also a facebook fan!
I love the beads. Really cool ship, thanks for sharing it. I'm a FB fan too! Hope you find this after a great trip.
Congrats on the new niece.... babies are an excuse to travel!!!! Great pics of the shows... love the PROM QUEENS. thanks for sharing and for your awesome giveaways!!!
I'm a facebook fan under Michelle Greg.
hugsnlove36 at hotmail dot com
Halloween is my holiday! I celebrate it 24/7 in my home and my vibe. I love your stuff and would love to work with those awesoe skull beads. I am new to your blog/shop/FB. LOVE it all!
That museum looks awesome! I'm a fan on FB! Love the giveaway!
I was all set to visit you at the Create event in NJ and then I had car problems. Silly tire.
Anyways, so glad you had some fun trips and won a contest.
I love the toothpick piece.
I also love and ordered some plain skull beads, so I'd love some colored ones to keep 'em company.
Yes. I'm a FB fan and also a blog follower and a repeat customer.
Ta Da!
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