Junk Bonanza 2010 - Part 1 - Vendor Space

Junk Bonanza 2010 is now a fond memory for me.  I am sick with the flu, and thankful that it came upon me after I had finished packing up, tearing down and unloading our two vehicles later on Saturday night.  Great timing!

I had stamped these keepsake necklaces (above) for the event.  I donated one to Jill, for the blogger party as a drawing, I gave one to Ki the event owner/planner, and another one was given out as a drawing in my vendor booth area.  The rest of them were offered for sale to whomever was interested in a keepsake of the event and time.

My detailed signature wire-wrapped and vintage charm filled higher end necklaces were a big hit with this crowd.  Need to make more of these for next year.

This was my check out area for my vendor booth.

I was fortunate to have a corner vendor space, and decided to set it up with two sides open for traffic, which turned out to be a good thing.  On Thursday and Friday up until 2:30 p.m. you couldn't even move in my space, as there were so many people in it.  These photos are all taken later in the afternoons of the days after the crowd dispersed to go pick up their kids from school.  It was crazy!  My first bathroom break on Thursday was 3:10 p.m.  The doors opened at 8:00 a.m. for the Early Bird Shoppers, and it was wild the entire time.

Photo was taken Wednesday evening after Robyn and I had the space set up.

This is Saturday shoppers when it was a quieter day and group.

More of the calmness of the Saturday shoppers.

Here I am working with a gal that was purchasing one of my wire-wrapped signature necklaces and I was explaining to her what each element was.

This gal was the "Lucky Friday" winner of my booth.  She chose the necklace she has on for her freebie.

Vignette before the rush began.

Funky stuff designs.

Something for everyone.

I sold 79 pieces the first day!!!!

Everyone of these necklaces shown here were purchased.

The necklace in the foreground was the "Lucky Friday" winners choice for her $50.00 value free.

These vintage pocket watch face necklaces with the bird flying are a signature design of Mimi-Toria's Designs.

Love the aqua door my friend, Carolyn borrowed to me for a backdrop piece.

I had created 380 pieces for this show!

A cool vintage redesign bracelet.

Cash register tag necklaces went well.

Something for everyone.

Looking in on my space to the left.

I had a large cement pillar in the corner of my booth, so used these extra shutters to go around it and than try to display and soften it a bit.  I was trying to get rid of some vintage/antique smalls too, and a few pieces of furniture.  Next year I won't have this, as I feel it detracts from my overall look I'm trying to create.

My second year of jewelry destash items was again a huge hit, so next year I plan to expand the offerings to the public.  So nice to get these items out of my stash and into someone elses.

Check back for the next segment of Junk Bonanza 2010.  I will share friends, the preparation leading up to it and some of the other vendors booths in the future.

Junk Bonanza - New Bangles

Good evening!  I'm finally getting a post of a few more items that are going to be for sale at Junk Bonanza starting Thursday morning.  I've been working 16 hour days to get ready for it, so haven't spent much time on the blog lately.  I hope to get back to a consistently blogging again soon.

Bangles will be $18.00 each

Limited Quantities and Sizes

Each one-of-a-kind

Tomorrow I will be heading down in the morning with help from my friend, Robyn and my husband, Jon to set up my vendor booth for Junk Bonanza.  I have two Jeeps filled to the brim, a trailer full of my booth walls and Robyn will be also driving with a vehicle.  Set-up is from 10-7 p.m. and it will take me most of that time to get the details ready for the following morning for all of the Early Bird Shoppers that start at 8:00 - 10:00 a.m.

I have 375+ pieces of jewelry that I have created and will have on sale in my booth space.  I am located in the Main Building in Section K.  Please be sure to stop by, shop and introduce yourself.  I can't wait to meet you!  Thanks for your support through-out 2010 on my blog.

See you soon!

Gretchen

Junk Bonanza Jewelry - 1-6

Necklace #1 - SOLD

Necklace #2 - SOLD

Necklace #3 - SOLD

Necklace #4 - AVAILABLE

$59.00

Necklace #5 - AVAILABLE

$129

Necklace #6 - SOLD

Being Kind and Meeting New Friends

I love meeting kindred spirits.

It makes my soul grow and that is something I love.

Kind of strange how one comes full circle.

As the youngest of seven children, yes 7.

I was often told what to do

 how to do it

 and when to do it by 9 other people in my life.

Oh, my family may beg to differ,

but as a young girl this is what I remember.

My family consisted of parents,

 six siblings

and a faternal Grandmother that lived with us.

So you must be figuring out from this post,

that I would of been a weeee bit shy back then.

Try picturing a five year old hiding behind a parents leg,
and holding on to that leg to hide.

Since I was used to everyone doing/saying/thinking for me,

I didn't have to do to much talking when I was young.

Those that know me now,

would say I've been making up for this in my adult life.

:)

I do love to talk,

to meet new people,

and to share in their journey,

whatever that may be.

So I'm embarrassed now to say that the story goes like this...

as a young child I could not stand how my parents would talk to everyone they met.

Complete strangers...

people standing in line at the grocery store,

people visiting our church...

even inviting visitors home from church for Sunday dinner with our family.

Now, we lived in a town of 356 people,

so strangers did stand out in our community.

But, my parents were friendly wherever they went.
This is who they were...

So the point in this post is this...

I have become like my parents.

Yep, you read this right.

However, I take this a step further than I believe they did.

They were just being who they were.

Sometimes, I make an effort to be more out going then I naturally would.

To be friendlier than what I may feel like it a given day.

To make a point to hold the door for the elderly,

just because they're used to us youngin's disrespecting by walking in first.

And do you notice the sad and unhappy people around you?

Why not make the world a better place?

I call what I do...

"Sprinkling a little Sugar and Cream on people".

Try it for yourself.

See what happens.

You might be surprised.

I love to sprinkle extra doses on the saddest people I run into.

With amazing results most of the time.

Here's how to do it...

Strike up a conversation  with someone,

while standing in line,

just because.

Hand out a sincere compliment,

instead of just thinking it in your head.

(if it's an insult, best to keep ones mouth shut)

Carry something for an overburdened Mom with children,

the elderly gentleman walking with a cane,

or the harried business woman trying to do it all.

Hold the door open for someone and let them go first,

and show elderly people respect like we were raised to do.

It's rather fun to see how doing acts of kindness,

being friendly,

visiting with strangers,

passing out sincere compliments

and

just plain being thoughtful

can make someone's day!

You can be the reason the crabby

person turns into a cheeful person

on any given day.

We each can make a difference!

Thanks Mom and Dad for teaching me,

the fine art of

making a postive difference

in others lives.

This blog post was inspired by email conversations with a new kindred spirit I recently met through blogland.  Thank you Kim for believing in me, and here's to our new friendship and partnering together through blogging in the future. 

I do hope to meet many of you followers at the upcoming Junk Bonanza event in just 1 1/2 weeks now.  Do stop in my booth, introduce yourself and join in with me by helping me spread a little "Sugar and Cream" around the world.
*Just trying some new techniques with blogging styles and editing photographs. The above photographs are some of the results.  The last picture is the natural color for all of the previous photos, so its interesting what one can do.  What do you think?