The Summer Market 2012…we interrupt this fabulous show…for a storm!!

 

We had been praying for weeks, and had fingers and toes crossed for “blue skies”…which we did have, but a bit of a storm blew through and tried to put a damper on things…but thankfully it was only temporary – ya just can’t keep a good show down!!!

So…not sure where to start – but first of all it WAS an unbelievable weekend…show-wise, sales-wise, and weather-wise…ok let me put it in the right chronological order at least… weather-wise, show-wise, and sales-wise!  There, that works! 

This was our second  year at The Summer Market, although we feel so much at home, it seems longer!  (Thanks Erin and Kristen – you make everyone feel so welcome!!)

We rolled into Veteran’s Park about 12:45 on Friday (with a pretty heavy load – we always do that – go big or go home…you know??).  And started setting up right away (under beautiful blue skies). 

Before I go rambling on any further, just have to share (cuz we’re so excited about it…and we’re such girls!!)…a great new addition to our space is our “new” check-out and sweetly decorated  chairs (by Susan and her mom, Ruth – big THANKs!)

We got the dresser at Springfield, it was already painted turquoise (just a little too bright for our “look”), so we added some Annie Sloan dark wax and our name to the back side…now the front side.

Here’s the front side (now the back side) – dry brushed and dark waxed too, with room for money and supplies, wrapping paper and bags, and tools too!  Woo hoo, love it!

And, of course – a little something to hold business cards – and a vintage “cashier” sign!

Aren’t the “new” chairs awesome??  (re-styled by our Susan & her endlessly and fabulously creative mom, Ruth)

Anyway, back to set up…we pulled everything out of the trailer AND the back of the van, and lined it up to be placed in our space (isn’t the view fabulous???).

  

  

And, voila…3 hours later…open for business…  Here’s the tour!

Welcome to Nostalgia’s Cottage (on the lake – of course!!)!

  

We had a lake-look going on!

Terri’s sign and Susan’s bench – great combo!

My wired/quilted starfish – found a perfect spot!

This sweet pink desk was the star of the show…and was SOLD pretty quickly!

            

 

On our farm table (an old door with an antique sewing machine base), I did a tablescape for two…I used a fabulous mirror, some mismatched dishes, rusty springs to hold the silverware, and some fun accessories – well, just for fun!

  

The old photo was marked Jim & Delores…too cute!  (They never did show up for dinner though!)

Some of my old architectural signs…

A corner – two doors hinged together made the perfect spot for hanging “junk” and more!

           

A wooden box redone to make a mason jar centerpiece.  Silver knobs added for feet, just because!

Even the kids were shoppers!

An old wooden ironing board used as a “bar” – and seating for two  – a junky wine holder, and again…drinks for two!  This could be used for so many things – on a porch for plants, an extra table for serving – a multi-tasking piece of vintage beautifulness!  I also used a couple different colors of paint, sanded/distressed, and then used Annie Sloan dark wax – the finish was SO cool!

  

Vintage redesigned jewelry and more handcrafted goodies!  Terri’s cuff bracelets, my watchlets, etc.

 

    Sweet little mermaids for sale…and necklaces too!

      

My little mermaid when she was about one and a half!  So sweet! (Oops…forgot to tell her I was using this picture!)

 

Terri discovered the mermaid.  Isn’t she just the coolest?? – she didn’t last long either!

Stacked books – dry brushed and ready for display!

I think she’s ready for the beach (maybe just a little sunscreen though)!!

This area became known as our back porch (and what a view)…just a lot of random, cool junk!

Our craft cabinet…handy divided spaces inside, and shabby décor outside – hardware and a chalkboard for inspiration!

Miscellaneous…bottles and stuff…

                            

Aren’t these the sweetest??  We had two sets, and still haven’t been able to figure out what the third piece was used for…salt, pepper and ??????  Anybody know?

Seahorses…for hanging!

Chalk tags (made from laminate samples) – so many uses!

We had some great furniture too!

Susan’s keyplates and spoons AND cool boxes!

   

What great customers…and we made some new friends too!

We didn’t have much time to check out the other vendors…and there were some fabulous ones for sure!  Such a variety of art and handcrafted, and vintage treasures!

   

   

And a couple hours later…the skies started threatening…  The winds came (in literally a lightning flash), along with rain and hail and lightning…and did I mention the wind??  It was unbelievable.  If it wasn’t for the help of customers and passersby – a lot of vendors wouldn’t have made it – tents were being destroyed, as well as some artwork, etc…

 

After the rain (but the wind was still blowing like crazy), I was able to snap pics of a few of our “angels” – thanks to everyone who helped!  I’ve never been out in a storm like that before, and it was amazing how people didn’t give a thought to safety (considering the rain, hail, wind AND lightning), but just helped.  There was a lady who came through in the middle of it and helped to get the tents lowered – we don’t know who she was or where she came from…but again…an angel!  And I guess she may have been part of a group of people going from tent to tent and helping to lower/stabilize tents – I know every vendor affected by the storm appreciated each and every person – more than we can say!

  

Here’s the after…it could have been so much worse (the tent beside us was destroyed, along with the artist’s artwork).  We felt so bad for her.

  

   

Everything was soaked, and some things damaged/broken…it was all just “stuff” anyway – and we were so thankful at the end of the day….that there weren’t any injuries, and for us and many others…no major loss of “junk”.  People started shopping again, before the winds even stopped, and even with our tents lowered…they just ducked and came in (it even got a little crowded under there at one point).  Terri actually had a lady hold a pole while she checked her out – now, that’s a serious shopper!

        

Before leaving for the night (another storm was forecast), Erin enlisted her “Market Chicks” (a group of kids made up of their daughters, and possibly cousins and friends) to help us pack up our trailer with all our small items and handcrafted things too.  They also helped us put all our big furniture under the tent and lower it to the ground – they were awesome…even with lightening, we all just kept going (the Market Chicks too) – and got everything buttoned down for the night!  We said a prayer and drove away.  I just have to say for us at Nostalgia’s Cottage – the Market Chicks rock!!!  AND A HUGE THANK YOU TOO!!!

And, then, on Saturday…a rain storm hit early in the morning (we were up at 5:00 am, and started hearing thunder about 5:30), but we were able to start setting up at about 7:30, and were ready for the show to open at 9:00 am.

And the customers came in droves, and shopped, shopped, shopped!  It was a very windy day, so everything that had gotten wet was pretty much blown dry.  Saturday definitely made up for Friday night!

    

     

 

Our friend, Shannon Vance, of Stash Style – was back in selling mode too – right out of the back of her truck!!

     

Here’s the view behind us.  The waves were pretty big all day long – and beautiful blue skies too!

   

It definitely was a “kite” day!

Well, all packed up – wore out – but happy girls!  Good bye Summer Market – blessings to all involved and have a fabulous rest of your summer – we’ll be back next year!

So, now we all feel like…

I’ve done it again – a ton of pictures…just can’t help myself.  Hope you enjoyed our weekend at The Summer Market – and also hope you can come next year – it’s such a wonderful event, with so many talented artists/vendors involved, and The Summer Market crew are the most amazing group of people – see y’all next year!!

Big junk hugs,

Kathy (& Terri & Susan)

Oh…here’s my “casualty”…the vintage watch I was wearing was definitely not even “water resistant” (and we weren’t really either…all of us soaked to the bone!!)…oh well, I’ll use it in a project of some sort! 

P.S.  Just because…there always is a P.S.!! 

My girlfriends and I (6 of us AND a trailer) will be taking our annual girls’ trip in a week…heading north on the “Yard Sale Trail” along beautiful Lake Huron in Michigan.  (and don’t worry “please”…there will be pictures!!)

Can’t wait – big fun to be had by one and all (six of us). 

Watch out Michigan…

the Buckeye Junkers are getting ready to invade!! :)

(I think I’m going to have to make a sign for the trailer…)

After that…Nostalgia’s Cottage will be going into “show mode” and start getting ready for the Vintage Marketplace at the Springfield Antique & Flea Market – September 14-16!

See ya!  (I’m really stopping now…)