It's 4 a.m. Do You Know Where Your Dealers Are?

When the alarm goes off at 4 a.m., I generally make a mental note to find a profession that does not involve getting up so early. However, last Saturday, I managed to convince myself once again to go ahead and get ready, and by the time 5:30 rolled around, Joe and I were 20 minutes into our "commute" to Chicago, sketching out a floor plan for our booth and going over the price and request lists.

By the time we reached the fairgrounds, breakfast had been eaten, and more importantly, coffee had been ingested. The sun was shining, dealers were lining up in the parking lot, and we were ready to get working on the season opener for the 2010 Kane County (IL) Flea Market.

By 9:15, the dealer gates were open, and we were headed to our space in the Main Building. At 11:25, the show gates were opened, and we were off. Excitement was in the air as shoppers streamed in. At some points during the afternoon, the building was so packed that you literally had to walk sideways to get through.


Furniture in all categories sold very well Saturday. We loved the soft green on this pair of original paint dressers.

Smalls also sold well Saturday, with projects and prints doing better Sunday. We were excited to see most of our "Alice" bottles go home with new owners before the end of the show.

When the show ended, we had only 3 pieces of furniture left out of an entire load! We enjoyed seeing many of our favorite dealer friends and customers. The bottom line for me -- what will keep me getting up at 4 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday -- is seeing people connect with the things that we love and create. And so we move on to next week. Be sure to join us at Grayslake. And don't worry, we'll have had our coffee by the time you get there! xo

In other news:

We wanted to congratulate friend and fellow dealer Judy Walsburg on her article, which just appeared in "Belle Armoire," an altered couture magazine. Judy is one of my personal favorites -- her pieces are totally funky, but very warm. I bought this scarf from her several shows ago, and just added this wonderful millinery-wire crown this weekend.

Team Rhubarb once again brought home the gold from our excellent friend and customer Lynda Boyd's annual Cookie Exchange. Although the Joe member of Team Rhubarb was excused this year (all the men went to a friend's house to drink beer and play drums, go figure), I was determined to defend our title in the Presentation category. I would totally never win in any of the baking categories! While the exchange is just for fun, don't kid yourself -- the competition is fierce. Thanks to having the only bi-lingual presentation (ya gotta have a good angle!), we get to keep our trophy for another year, but it was close. Whew!

Our thanks as always go out to the Boyd's for their tremendous hospitality. We were two of 10 overnight guests -- and they do this all the time! We are in your debt, Lynda and Preston.

In closing, we have been made aware that several customers are struggling with some very serious health issues, each with more grace than I could muster in similar circumstances. Ladies, our thoughts and prayers are with you. xo