Off I Go!

It's show day! And I am ready to go and even had a spare hour to write.

Setting up the show hall on Thursday meant I could relax Friday. It also means that this morning I am not frantically doing last minute preparations. I don't think I have ever been so relaxed before a show.

The dogs know that something is up and are watching me carefully. But Craig will be home with them all day and so they won't be too lonely.

The Dan Messner building is decorated for Fall and looking better and better every time I see it. Brooke and Tom are working really hard - yesterday Tom took me into parts of the building that haven't yet been restored and the difference is jaw dropping.

I gasped audibly when I saw these original windows - they will also be restored to their former glory. The tin on the walls and ceilings will be restored, too.

Brooke and Tom did not charge me anything for the use of the building. So, to thank them for their generosity, all the money from the raffle and any donations are going straight to them. I really do support their cause in saving, preserving, and restoring the Dan Messner building.

More about the show tomorrow, so stay 'tooned!

 

Indy Blooms Weekend 2023: The Show

Indy Blooms #2 was a really nice show. The venue was large, airy, had good lighting,

and entrants had room to store their tubs and things without being squished against their table neighbor.

And, it is only a 45 minute drive from my home! That meant we could all sleep in a bit and not have to rush down the interstate trying to make it on time.

Temperature control was excellent, too, partly, I think, due to the high ceiling that allowed the warmer air to rise and the cooler air to sink.

I was not showing but I did assist Liz as needed, especially in listening to classes that were called so that she did not miss hers as she was judging.

Barn Buddy Kelsey was judging OF Mini Stones - isn't her blouse fitting for the title of the show?

Each table was labeled for its division.

Steff ready to hand out NAN cards and ribbons in the OF Breyer Arabian/Part Arabian Mares class.

It's always fun to walk around at a show and see tablecloths and pony pad that you've made in use. This is Steff's table and I made everything except the pony pad with the bay model on it.

Kammie Fenwick brought the cutest donkey to show. I don't know what scale that piece is, but I would love to have one, just for fun!

My FAMulous friend and show co-host, Allison Pareis judging.

Liz giving out awards. See her rolling stool on the bottom left? She brings that to shows when she is judging and it saves her back from the wear and tear of all that bending over that judges do.

Like the bending over that judge Amara Kranz is doing to judge a class of minis. Ouch!

The ribbons for the show were so pretty (and real, not paper or cardstock!)

They had not been collated by the show hosts (Chelsea is in late pregnancy; no doubt that slowed her down some); instead, they were set out in piles and the judges collated their own. I was mostly sitting and watching as I listened for Liz's classes to be called, so I volunteered to collate for any judge who wanted a little help. 

I sat at Liz's table and grouped them into stacks 1st-6th and then periodically walked around and put the sets on tables by the NAN cards. It was fun!

Ellen brought a lot of pieces to show so she was really busy, but we were able to stop and say hello once or twice! 

The show began at 8:00 AM and finished up around 5:00 PM. We were tired, but a little rest and dinner at my favorite Mexican restaurant back in West Lafayette seemed to revive us all. 

Photo by Ellen Vogel - thanks, Ellen!

We went back to my home and sat around on the upstairs landing, chatting, petting Pepper, and doing some horse trading together. We didn't go to bed until 11:00 or so!

Robin and Chelsea, great job on the show and thank you for hosting it! Looking forward to the next one!

Great Lakes Congress: The Show! (Part Two)

After a few announcements at 8:00 AM, the show began. I had an entry in the very first class for the China/Resin division.

Windsong Sherif is my most consistent winner and my favorite china.

Tiffany Purdy was judging the OF Plastic division. She is a very knowledgable and consistent judge.

Countryside Strolling, the Honora I found in an antique shop earlier this year, won the gaited class.

You know what I think would be fun? To ask showers how many models they brought with them to show or to sell and get a count as to how many pieces are in the show hall. So much model goodness!

Liz LaRose (left) talks to Liz Cory while Lisa Esping (China/Resin judge) looks at the raffle items.

I bought something from this sales table. Can you see what caught my eye? I will send a prize to anyone who guesses it! (Put your guess in the comments.) 

Tiffany and Liz chat between classes.

I was really excited to show my BreyerFest Slainte Surprise - I'd had an idea for a breed for her and wondered what the judge would think of it.

She liked my idea well enough to pin it in 4th place! I made her a NAPI (National Appaloosa Pony).

I was really excited because that class was so big, it took up two full sized tables and a round one!

I had a trifecta with my chinas - I only brought three, and all three won their classes.

My Anything Goes entry took third.

The other entries were all about Halloween - this is Shannon Rodgers' winning entry.

And her cute felt pony took second place.

Throughout the day, Liz took photos of the classes. (She posted over 500 on the GLC Facebook page that evening!)

Sales were brisk all day long. I ended up consolidating display baskets and taking the empty ones out to the car as the show progressed. I was glad to sell so much merchandise, but now I feel a real need to get sewing and replenish all that stock that sold.

Another thing I love about the Great Lakes Congress shows is that they always end by 4:00 PM. That gives me time to drive home that same day instead of staying over for a second night.

Now I am home and doing inventory to find out what needs replacing, plus I still need to unpack my models and get them back on their shelves. When that happens, the show is well and truly over, at least for me, haha!

Don't forget - make a guess as to what I bought from that sales table. Winning guesses (yes, there can be more than one winner) will receive a prize from me!

Silver Star Classic - Photos of the Fun & the Entries

Lauren and Andrea Maultby did such a nice job on last Saturday's show.

 There was a room off the show hall that was absolutely stuffed with raffle items!

 The assortment was so large, I lost count of how many there were

 but I think it was over forty. 

There was also a silent auction (the table on the right)

And fun games to play, all with the chance of a prize.

Plus, everyone got a door prize! (I got the horseshoe tea towel on the bottom right.)

Here are photos from some of the classes:

 As you can see, the competition was stiff!

Tomorrow's post will be the last one about the show.