Over 2000 miles, and almost 40 hours total driving time Miss Sherry and I finally made it home safe and sound after spending an incredible week in Minneapolis attending The Creative Connection.

We left on Sunday and arrived downtown Minneapolis on a Tuesday.

It was the longest drive of my LIFE, but having Sherry's fabulous company made the drive and trip 10x more fun!!! We talked, laughed, talked,laughed, talked and laughed the whole drive to and from. Meanwhile turning lots of heads pulling Pinky the trailer.

 

On the way to MN, we of course had to make a little stop driving thru Iowa. We found the cutest antique store right off the road.

 

This part of the country was SO beautiful! Lots of farmland, silo's, barns, rolling green hills, and dirt gravel paths.

 

Cute Miss Sherry posing next to Pinky.

 

Sherry took some of me standing next to the store sign. How beautiful are these sunflowers???

 

 

It was fun seeing parts of the country I've never been thru before. 

Minneapolis is a beautiful city and the hotel for the event was in a prime great location! Close to wonderful shops and restaurants, and the BIGGEST & NICEST TARGET ever!!!! (it's headquarters)

My booth turned out over the top sweet thanks the BIG BIG help of my amazing big Sis Jessi!!!! This was my first big vending show ever, and I underestimated how much hard work it goes into setting up.

Jessi, Sherry, and I were my roomies for the weekend and it felt like we were the 3 musketeers all weekend helping each other out and offering support.

(click on image to enlarge)

 

 

Hands down I think it's fair to say I won the pinkest frilliest booth.

I even had a Christmas tree. 🙂

 

     

Jessi was my ROCK and Im so grateful for ALL her hard work and help!!!

 

 She was also the BEST saleswoman! She pimped Eye Candy to the max!!! hee! hee!

 

Two of my booth neighbors were Rachel Martin of 2 Martins in a Nest.
 

Across from me was the amazing and talented Krys Kirkpatrick of Hutch Studio. 

 

Krys is most famous for her darling Bunnies by the Bay collection.

 

Miss Sherry and her Rose Cottage table.

 

 

Her doll bottles and vases were GORGEOUS!!!

 

Our beautiful and delightful friend Miss Christine was our other sidekick and supporter for the weekend. We had SO much fun hanging out together!

 

 

It was such a treat to have friends stop by my booth to pay me a visit.

 

The adorable one and only Fancy Farmgirl Tiffany.  

 

My lovely friend Suzanne. She too made the trek from Macon, GA.

 

Precious friend Danielle Muller.

 

Two cuties!!!

 

 

So so happy to have a visit by Shelly Overholt and Leslie Walker.

 

Super happy to see Kari Ramstrom and Hope Wallace.
 

 

I can't say enough kind words about Nancy Soriano. Incredibly personable, gracious,  and friendly.  Always had a smile on her face!

 

   

 

Being I was a vendor I was pretty much in my booth during the entire vendor market hours. 

I  did attend a few things such as the Welcome Dinner and autograph book signing party. WOW! Sooo many talented and published artist everywhere you turned. It was a bit overwhelming to say the least.

One morning I attended a breakfast panel seminar with publishers from Lark, Stampington, Better Homes and Gardens, and Mary Jane Butters.

    It was an incredible panel of knowledgable women in their fields. 

 

My wonderful dear friend Suzanne MacCrone was the featured designer of the breakfast seminar. What an honor!!!!

So so happy for Suzanne!!!!

 

Jo and Nancy hosted a VIP cocktail party for those that worked the event.

The ladies gave a heartfelt thank you to us all.

Some fun shots of the party.

Me & Sherry

 

Beautiful Suzanne

 

Sherry and Suzanne

The super cute and fun Michelle Legler

Sherry and Michelle. My goodness…I think these two could be sisters. Blonde and beautiful smiles!!!

 
Hanging with the fabulous Miss Christine. 

The rocking Miss Fancy Farmgirl Tiffany taking a much needed break from photographing. So so good to catch up with her!!!

 

Christen Olivarez of Stampington . 

  

Im extremely happy to have attended the first Inaugural Creative Connection event.  

It was my first time putting myself  "out there" as an artist. Face to face contact with

 friendly customers and browsers. I learned alot as a first time vendor and was

 constantly inspired and in awe of all the amazing and talented vendors around me.

Thank you to the customers who purchased my treasures and to those who stopped in

 to admire my little cubicle whimsical world. 

I will be listing several of my handmade treasures in my Etsy shop in a few days. So

 please check back!

Now that Im home I can't wait to finally relax, spend much needed time with my

 family, catch up on Tivo shows, and read my favorite magazines and blogs.

Oh and I forgot… unload my trailer that is still sitting in my driveway waiting to be unpacked. Anyone with no plans this weekend? hee! hee!

Hugs & Kisses 

XOXOXO