A Day at the Show!

It was an 'easy in, and easy out' Show! Yeah! We purposely arrived a little late, on set up, so everyone else could get unloaded, before we came in, with the Big Truck, and entourage! Daughter, Liz, { and mega whirlwind} came to help, as well as Mark's daughter, Kelsey, and my best man, John! We made fast work of it, and had the booth set, and displayed, in about 6 hours! I didn't bring very much, not like usual, but I was so dizzy, packing, that I just stopped after about 4 totes... Mark brought loads of smalls, so, the booth looked full! { I like a full booth!} I bought some darling fresh posies, Liz and I filled pitchers and bottles with them... it just felt like spring! Aletha J. met me at the truck, as we where unloading, and said Bill A, from Iowa City had a wonderful rug, that had my name on it, so I hopped down, and took a peek! {got yelled at, for leaving my post...Too bad!} She was absolutely correct! It is amazing! All florals, and stunning! Bill, and Don J. {From Amana, Iowa} had just laid it down, in their booth, and I said, pull it up, and would they please deliver? Yep, they brought it to the booth, and it looked PERFECT!!!! Since they were at the booth, we talked them, and Matt, {Sarah's hubby, and our neighbor, at the show} into helping us unload, the big daddy, store counter, into our booth! What Great Guys!!!! I think we had 8 people on that counter! It was a piece of cake!{ Mark and I loaded it alone, onto my Ranger, when I bought it...It was a ton of bricks, with just us! So a Huge Thanks, to all that lent a hand!} I got quite a bit of ribbing, for bringing it, but it SOLD! My friend, Don Mc. came through the show, he and his wife loved it, and had the perfect spot for it! YEAH! It was a beautiful piece, I gave him a good deal, so we are all happy! I was thrilled to see Janelle Duwa come to the show! {Duwa's Auctions, from Wellman, Iowa.} I had visited with her, on Friday, and said she should come, and promote their Antique Auction. And she did! They are such a nice couple, and have great Auctions! So many friends attended the show, and bought well! Barb H. {Sisters Garden and Bloom} Kalona, Iowa. Wanda {Gatherings} Anamosa, Iowa. Barb and Dan O. {Park Place} Marion, Iowa. Tom R. {Sanctuary Antiques} Cedar Rapids. Tom V. {Vandeest Antiques} Cedar Rapids. Lou P. { Main Street Antiques} West Branch, Iowa { the prior three are also the promoter's of 'The Midwest Show', coming right up, in April! In Cedar Rapids, Iowa.} Kenny and Julie Moore, Maquoketa, Iowa. Dale F. {Frese Antiques} Watkins, Iowa. And countless 'Bloggers'! The list could go on and on! The crowd was great, and they stayed all day! Mark and I sold very well, and had a great time visiting with everyone! The dealers that set up at this show are diverse. That is a very good thing. I remember Libby Kramer, {promoter, Heart of Country} telling me, 10 years ago, if a Show is going to survive, it must be diverse... How true, how true! Something for everyone!{ She also, to my surprise, stated on her contract, that was sent to all of her dealers, " Bears make money, and Bulls make money, Pigs don't"... Libby was a wise woman, and very gutsy, she put it on the line, and was absolutely correct... Know your merchandise, treat people, like you would like to be treated, fair, and do the very best you can, and that's all you can do...} I saw things from 2.00, to 1200., and make no mistake, one should not be afraid to bring either... Some folks can't afford to spend big bucks, and are thrilled to find a little treasure, and others are filling out a collection, and are willing to pay big money, to complete it! You just never know... With help from Liz, Kels, and Mark, we threw the booth together in record time, and it turned out pretty good! Many folks said, when they walked in the door, they knew we were there... They saw our booth towering, way at the back wall, calling them in! The Old Blue Screens, I bought at Duwa's Auction, last week were clear up in the sky, you could definitely tell I have vertigo... Everything was going every which way! I had the little black chairs, all piled on top of each other, like a stairway to Heaven, around the Amana Harvest Table, and climbing up the side of a Victorian door! It was pretty cool! We were loaded, and gone, also, in record time, an hour and twenty minutes! We had lots of room left, and are very happy with the show! I think everyone did pretty well! Polly, {pollyanns} had, as usual, a darling booth, and when I spoke with Bob, her Dad, he said they had really done great! YEAH! Colleen and Daryl, were selling very well, and Dan and Jo { Jo-Dans, Cedar Rapids, Iowa} Said they had done well! I didn't get out much, and visit, was a little too wobbly, and looking through my camera was a nightmare! So not too many pics... A Big thanks to everyone who had helping hands! Chery, Matt, Sarah, Daryl, Dan, Lea Ann, Connie, Bill, Don, Sandy and all, I hope I'm not forgetting anyone... I really like this show, it's down to earth, and fun...No pressure! It was great to see Cindy, { Lady Bug Antiques, Waterloo, Iowa} and Steve K. { Antiques of Marion, Marion, Iowa} and so many others that set up at the show... I hope you can make the next one, make plans! It truly is so much fun, and something for all! And I am really not saying this, because I am from Iowa, but... Eastern Iowa has some of the very best Antiques Shopping, that I have ever seen... The folks are friendly, and always willing to help out, in any way... We have great, fun, and affordable stuff, and very early pieces, to boot! When you come visit, plan to stay for more than a day, or two...The Shops are wonderful, and you simply can't do it all in a day! 'til next time, Barb C.