Show was a success!!!

Seems I've been gone from blogging forever - and I guess it has been
forever when I looked at the date of my last post.

I don't seem to have enough computer time anymore to get a post done
with all the sewing for our show.

It is over and it was a wonderful success - we are pooped but it was worth it.

I'll put some of the merchandise that didn't sell
on my website and my FB page this coming weekend.

A very good friend came over to help with the garland room. She removed the price tags, wrapped and bagged them when they sold and then brought them into Doug
who was doing the checking out - worked like a charm.
I walked around and greeted - filled in holes when merchandise sold
and helped wrap and bag when needed.

I thank my husband Doug for all his wonderful handi work, helping create
(he has some great ideas) helping with the show and being a shoulder
when the stress go to be a bit overwhelming.
Thanks to my customers for supporting my love of creating -
couldn't and wouldn't do it without them.

Our displays outside got a bit raggedy looking - we had rain for 2 days before and also early the morning of the show...we just didn't go out to fix and re-arrange - things look like we just threw it together...it didn't matter anyway - it was about the show!

A friend of ours let us come to their house and get grapevine for our fences....thanks Tracy!

And my niece let us come get corn stalks...thanks Tina!

I love how it all turned out!

We took a much needed break  2 weeks ago and went to Pennsylvania.
We seem to gravitate that way when we get in the car ... smiles!!

We did a little wholesale shopping plus Doug went to the world's largest cigar store and next to it was the Russell Stover candy outlet...what fun that was. We walked out with $50 worth of candy (plus a huge caramel apple).

We got to visit our cousins in lancaster for one evening and with our friends
Lisa and Jerry Thrush and the two Amish sisters we met last winter.
We went out to dinner with them and then back to the Amish ladies home.
We always have so much fun with NO TV, radio, cell phones....we talked about this and that and the storm and enjoyed looking out the windows at the lightning display. Sounds silly doesn't it? NOPE...we actually enjoyed the peace...minus the thunder!!

Lisa gifted us with a white childs apron to go over the little dress she gave us last winter - plus a beautiful ladies prayer cap.
We are honored to be gifted with these items - they are taken as very precious gifts.

Thanks for visiting me today!
Blessings
Karen

Wow, time got away from me!

I didn't realize I haven't done a post since April 23!!!

Not so sure much of anything' interesting' has happened since but I'll try and get a post done here or you all will forget I'm here!!!

After we finished the bathroom remodel it felt like we were searching for things to do - we loved being busy, strange right? But we both love projects.

Two weeks ago a friend from NC came here for 4 days and just as soon as he left we were out of the house an hour later on our way to Pennsylvania.
We decided that we are having another IN-HOME SHOW in October and then hopefully one again in November, like we did back in 2006-07-08 and 09.

We shopped at the wholesale places looking for HAND-MADE items to go along with things that we will make and we did find a few things.
Monday is the wholesale cash & carry show and hopefully we will find a few more hand-made's to add to what we have.
We want mostly our items though so shopping is very selective.

We stayed at the Clarion Strasburg Inn in Strasburg, PA and enjoyed it so much there - our room overlooked the parking lot but also just  beyond that was beautiful countryside.

So lovely this time of year. 

The food at the Fireside Tavern was exceptional!!

One reason we went when we did was because we had always wanted to go to a Mud Sale and there was one that very next day after we got there at the firehouse in Kinzer's, PA - just a few miles east of Lancaster.

We really didn't know how one operated and were surprised that so many auctions went on at the same time from tools to antiques to quilts to flowers and soooo much more.

We did get a case (12) of Kraft Marshmallow Fluff at .25 per jar LOL
But that's good - I use a lot at Christmas making fudge.

We did get permission for some pictures so please don't think we don't know proper etiquette with the Amish.

We took most of these photos early on like when it first started - it got quite packed by noon.

Crafts and quilts were in this building 

The flowers were gorgeous and went for so little...made me sad we couldn't get some to bring back home.

These here are the small ones. There were huge pots with several types of flowers in them going for $35!

We met up again with Lisa and Jerry Thrush - friends from Lancaster and Mattie and Lydia the two Amish sisters we met when we were there in Feb.

We went back to the sister's house after eating and had another wonderful visit.
I guess we can now say we have some wonderful Amish friends.

One thing for sure in Lancaster is we never hurt for food...

no matter where we went the portions were huge and delicious!

Our favorite place to eat is the Rt. 30 Diner

but you must go in hungry because the portions

are huge and home made.

This chopped steak was over a pound!!

I had the Patty Melt...

This was the only food photo from the Inn - Nacho's!!!

And I didn't even get 1/4 of it eaten - I wasn't feeling all that well and nothing sounded good but they were very good.

We did get a new supply of gourds while we were out there for our gourd garlands.

We are making them earlier this season because we are having the In-Home show and need to have them made ahead.

Our sweet little great-grandson Zayne's 5th birthday was last Saturday and tomorrow is our grandson Aidan's 10th birthday - a busy birthday month here at the Martinsen's.

Check out my selling site to see the finished items I posted for sale.

http://kmprimitives.blogspot.com/

Thanks for visiting!

Karen

Great show - new treasures

Good Wednesday to all - it has finally gotten to feel like Fall today and none too soon.

I can not wait to get my gourds, pumpkins, Indian corn, Bittersweet and all that

is Fall out and start putting it around.

The past few months were totally taken up with creating for the In The Spirit of Friends show in Ohio -  oh what a show. It was fantastic. We met so many internet friends there. Some we knew and several new!

Our space in the barn could not have been in a better place. We were at the end near a fire lane exit and so we could spread out to our hearts delight - sideways and forward....and we did. We got almost another space by doing this.

Here are a few of the friends who stopped by to shop and say hi....some we couldn't get pictures of because of being busy and crowds.

With Linda Fiorita

With Sandy Wise...what a fun lady!!!!

With Kathy Wilcox Landes  

With Sandy Wise and Linda Firoita

With Carmen Erb 

With Lauren Fuqua...this sweet lady gifted me many years ago with

'tons' of rug hooking supplies so I could get started in rug hooking.

She's dear to my heart.

With Cathy Pope and her mother Joyce Mullikin

And a big shout out to 'Lisa' and also Karin Manuel who stopped in

and said hi and gave some wonderful compliments...

among other names I can not remember!

And we topped the night off with Alice Lamar Fraizer and her husband Sonny at the Malabar Inn for dinner.

Very HOT and WORN OUT but what a perfect ending to a perfect day.

I listed several items on my selling site:

http://kmprimitives.blogspot.com/

This is just a peek!

Saturday was also our grandson Joe's homecoming

With his date Megan

We are taking a couple days starting tomorrow to go up north to unwind...

and take a few things to a shop in Wisconsin Rapids (Country Freckles).

And it is also our 54th Anniversary tomorrow (28th)

so we'll be with our very best friends in the world...

my brother and his wife. Couldn't ask for a better way to celebrate.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!

Karen