Addition to the Show Schedule . . .

Most of the time, our show schedule for the year is pretty much finalized by August or September of the year before.  But for one reason or another, there are occasionally exceptions – and this is one . . .

Last year, we went back to the One of a Kind Rubber Stamp & Scrapbook Show in Madison, Wisconsin for the first time in several years.  Our absence had nothing to do with the show – it always had something to do with my schedule.  But apparently our presence upset the weather gods, as six inches of white death fell from Friday night into Saturday morning (farther south it was more like 18” near Rockford, which really deterred the Chicagoland crowd).

Our friend Chris Mode started this show about 15 years ago along with her friend Ann Lee.  Then Ann took about a 12-year sabbatical before returning last year – and then Chris retired after last year, leaving Ann in charge.  And for a multitude of reasons, Ann and I had talked a couple of times, but as of this morning I still hadn’t gotten around to officially signing up to be a vendor at this year’s show.

Which led to the following exchange today . . .

Me:

“I think I told you when you called me (what was it, two months ago?) that I would get back to you within a few days.  Which obviously didn’t happen.  I have a large number of excuses, most of which are actually valid but none are worth relating here.  I can’t even claim “I forgot” – because it did cross my mind occasionally in the strangest places.

The last of which was yesterday, when Chris Mode’s birthday came up in my Facebook feed and I had one of those “Oh $#&*%^” moments . . .

Gary and I sat down this morning and hashed it out – unlike most vendors, in our company the decision is ultimately mine but the money is ultimately his.

So if you have 30-feet of prime location booth space available, I would love to come and freeze in Madison in 3 1/2 weeks. 

However, if at all possible I would prefer to avoid last year’s situation where six inches of snow fell in Madison overnight on Friday – along with eighteen inches in Rockford, preventing the Chicagoland crowd from attending.  I blame Chris for this, and assume you have more clout with the local weather gods.

Can you tell that I am in a strange mood this morning?  I have no excuse for that . . .

When you have a chance, please let me know if you have space available for us.  And if so, please e-mail the vendor packet – if I have one, I long ago misplaced it.”

Ann:

“You crack me up. Thank you for putting a smile on my face as I read this.

I am happy to welcome you with open, gloved hands to Madison in November and have already put an order in for an unseasonably balmy weekend.

Attached is the aforementioned and aforeforgotten vendor packet. You can email it back at your earliest convenience.”

Me:

“I am pleased that my attempt at humor reached receptive eyes.  Life is too short to be serious all of the time . . .

Will go through the vendor packet and get the necessary pages back to you as soon as I can.  I think it took me forever last year, but I told Chris then that I come from a time when “I’m coming” was as good as a contract anyway.

I’m coming . . .”

And so, we will look forward to seeing those of you from Wisconsin and Northern Illinois and Iowa and Indiana and Minnesota at the Alliant Energy Center on November 19-20.  For more show info, go to http://www.stampscrapmadison.com

Space Becomes Available . . .

Update from late last week, when I announced that Darlene, Picasso and Fred from Stampland would be in our booth next weekend in Sevierville, Tennessee . . .

This is not an x-ray of my hand – or of Darlene, Picasso, or Fred’s hand.  But it is significant to them – this is Linda Malcom’s hand (Lost Coast Designs).  She slipped and fell at Fred Meyer (one of what seems like thousands of supermarket chains owned by Kroger) – and if you look at the little finger and follow it down into her palm, you’ll find the break.  Since Linda is left handed, that means no shows for a while – so her space in the Sevierville show is now going to Stampland, and they will have their usual full-sized booth (at least it was “usual” until they retired).

So you won’t get to listen to Darlene and me go at it – we live to torment each other.  But you are now invited to visit both booths – and all of the others – at the show this weekend.

Go to www.toomuchfunpromotions.com for more info . . .

Coming Out of Rocky Top Retirement . . .

I’m sharing this a few days earlier than I might normally, because I know that some of you are just itching for a lovely weekend in the Smoky Mountains.  Next weekend (October 15-16) might be very enticing, for a couple of reasons – first, the long range forecast is absolutely perfect (upper 70s and sunny) – second, a couple of your all-time favorites (and mine) are emerging from their Tennessee retirement to spend the weekend in our booth.  Maybe even three of your all-time favorites . . .

 

Darlene Domel, the Queen of Stampland, Picasso Gaglione, the Court Jester, and Fred, the Chick Magnet, have been off the road since July – when retirement came a week early after their minivan suffered a premature death.  They have settled near lovely Knoxville – and since they had already planned to work one more show, and since the Sevierville Convention Center is only 45 minutes away, and since the show was already full so there was no space for a booth of their own, it seemed only fitting to ask Darlene to sit at one of our demo tables and share her talents, and fill a couple of our endcaps with their products.

Besides, as much as we love to tease each other, this will provide a whole boatload of “you owe me” for future use . . .

 

Because sometimes after all these years on the circuit, it’s hard to tell us apart . . .

So make your plans now to join us next weekend – you can get more info from the promoter’s website at www.toomuchfunpromotions.com

Pure Energy . . . and Other Fort Wayne Stories

Just returned from a busy weekend in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  If I don’t have as much energy as usual, it’s probably because I spent part of my weekend watching a whirling dervish who reminded me so much of my cousin, Donna, when she was that age.

  

Tanya Fox is the editor of CardMaker Magazine, and on Sunday she did a make and take next door to our booth.  During setup on Friday, I got to meet her daughter, Audra.  Audra really does remind me of my cousin – Donna was a cheerleader in high school and college back in the 80s. Donna used to wow the crowds at basketball games by doing back flips all the way across the gym floor.  At the time, she was the only cheerleader I knew who could do that – these days, I don’t think you can even try out without that talent.

Audra is a ball of energy – she was doing cartwheels and splits and all kinds of cheerleading moves during setup, and while her mom was doing make and takes on Sunday.  She also found creative uses for the table skirting that was originally intended to be part of her mom’s booth.  And I am quite certain that in a few short years she will also be a high school and college cheerleader.

 

I came into the building on Friday bearing gifts for the promoters.  I have brought Bill’s Donuts for Steve and Michelle for several years – sometimes as a bribe to get in a little early for setup so I can head home to announce a football game on Friday evening.  On years like this one when the locals were out of town, I still bring along the goodies.

After all, when the promoter can round up a crowd like this as the show opened on Saturday, it’s at least worth a box of donuts . . .