Set up for any Great Lakes Congress show begins at 6:00 AM, and you might be surprised at how many hobbyists were waiting at the door Saturday to be let in before that. (Raising my hand.) It was still pitch black outside and chilly, but the tubs and wagons came pouring through the doors as soon as Liz opened them.
She and I snapped a quick selfie before things got too hectic. (I was eyeing her pin and reconsidering my decision to not get one at this point.)
There had been an early set up at 5:00 PM Friday afternoon, and several of us had taken advantage of that time. That meant that at 6:00 AM Saturday, I was ready to show and sell! But I was also relaxed and not hurrying around trying to get ready for the start of classes.
Friday night after set up, Liz invited any who wanted to go out to dinner with her and Sam. Karen Meekma and I joined them and we had a fun evening at a mom and pop restaurant (where our waitress already knew Sam and Liz well) and chatting. Karen hosts the Sleigh Rally Model Horse Show in Wisconsin every February, a show that is on my bucket list to attend some day. Nice lady. (Sadly, I did not get one photo!)
Anyway, soon after opening the doors on Saturday morning, piles of "Hold these for me, I'll be back with payment" began stacking up on my sales table. I also overheard several compliments about my haversacks that really made my day.
I used to show for the competitive aspect, but now I am far more interested in the social part. I like to win ribbons, but I love to meet up with friends and catch up.
Shannon Rodgers is one of those friends. She has one of the biggest hearts of anyone I know. It's always good to see her. (Jennifer Buxton, she is also part of a story from the day that I will tell in an upcoming blog post that will make you smile. Stay 'tooned!)
Steff Bodamer is another dear friend. She is also an outstanding judge and if she places one of my horses, I know I have a good horse. (Steff wasn't judging at GLC this time, but she will be at Dark Horse next Saturday!)
Lara Heidkamp, shown here judging the Youth Show, is a new friend. When I asked if I could photograph this class, she struck a hilarious series of "judging poses" that made us both laugh. (She was sooooo good with those youth showers!)
This next one is one of my favorite photos from the show because of the kindness behind it. Shelly (in the yellow shirt), her mom in the blue shirt, and another lady whose name escapes me were all in the vendors' section selling models. They were also all quilters and sewists. An entrant from the youth show was a beginner sewist and had made some blankets from felt, decorating them with beads, buttons, and trims.
She talked to me about my pouches and took several bags of my remnants for her own sewing business, and I suggested she show these three ladies the blankets that she'd made to sell. So, she got them and brought them over.
The quilting ladies genuinely enjoyed looking at her blankets and were very complimentary. I took this photo for her mother to see - it was just too sweet to miss. A young and very new sewist went home after the show encouraged and happy. It was one of the highlights of an already very good day.
Not only was I selling, but I was showing, too.
Sweet Amy won the Breyer American Pony class
and went on to be named champion of the Draft/Pony division.
I cringed a bit over taking Nancy's Love because those legs are so fragile, but she made it there and back safely.
Lone Star (middle) won his class, too. And Raineybrook, a Hagen Renaker Morgan Stallion, placed second and NANed, but I forgot to take his photo.
I have lots more to share but this post is getting long. There may or may not be a second post of the day; if so, it will be posted by 11:00 AM Eastern Time.
Stay 'tooned!
