Polka Dot Flea Vendors Part 2

This is Part 2 of the Polka Dot Flea (Part 1 HERE) 

The Amazing Vendors!  

This is just half of the photo's taken before the doors opened, I will show you the other half in my next post.....I guess I could title this.......Part 1 of Part 2

These are professional photos from the fabulous Lori Barbely at Lori Barbely Photography

 I want to share with you a portion of the letter we sent to the Polka Dot Flea vendors......It says it all

We are so honored that you would take a chance on our inaugural event; we know it was a leap of faith on your part. We will always think of you, our inaugural vendors, with the upmost fondness.  We were just blown away by your creative displays!  Your patience, attention to detail, and positive attitudes had us jumping through the roof with excitement.  You were truly the reason for the success of the Polka Dot Flea!

Aren't these amazing booths....So many great ideas!

Thank you Lori Barbely Photography....Lori does photography all over Florida for weddings, engagements, portraits, and any special event.  One of the best ideas we had, was having a professional photographer.  It was so comforting to know that every special moment would be captured and I didn't have to rely on my shiny red Kodak!

See a list of all the Vendors on the Polka Flea Vendor Page

More booth photos on my next post!

Thank you all, for your continued support, and kind words...I have quite a few Polka Dot Flea posts coming up in rapid succession, so don't worry about commenting,.....Just Enjoy!

Happy Creating

Carol

The Polka Dot Flea Part One

I have sooo much to tell you about the Polka Dot Flea, I hardly know where to start.  

I won't keep you in suspense.....It was a huge success!!!!

They didn't just line up waiting for the doors to open, there was a line out the door for 2 hours and it didn't even start to taper off until about 1:30 pm .  People were still showing up at 3:30 and the show closed at 4pm!!

 Set up on Friday went great...

I was so nervous about having all of the spaces marked off correctly because there were so many obstacles with air conditioners and beams and those that had tents and needed electric....etc. etc.

The vendors refreshment table was set up on the ticket booth.   With chips in the fertilizer spreader on the left and water in the stand on the right......

......Sweets and ice cold lemonade....With polka dot napkins of course

 Yuk,  I hate pictures of myself, but these were the only pictures I have of the windmill outside the venue

And the bike against the railing with garland between the posts and paper flowers in the planters

The swimming hole greeted guests at the door

 I got my booth set up before the other vendors arrived with the help of two incredible ladies.  Eileen who I met through blogging actually drove down from Virginia for the show, it was so exciting to finally meet her! She and her hubby helped with set up and take down and Eileen handed out Polka Dot Flea bags at the door for hours and helped in my booth.   

The other life saver was Becky from Time Washed Who helped set up and worked my booth during the show.  The only picture I have of Becky is her photo bombing these two sweet ladies with their Polka Dot Flea bags...See her on the right lol!

 Here's my mosaic dress form and even though it didn't sell, it started quite a few conversations....

It wasn't long before people started hauling out their treasures

....loading up their trucks and coming back for more!

I have so much more to show you.......The stars of the show......The Amazing Vendors!  Honestly, you would have thought there was a prize for the most creative booth.....Every single one, no exceptions, was amazing!  

I had a professional photographer who took pictures in the morning before customers arrived so, instead of showing you my shiny red Kodak photo's of the booths...... I am going to wait for the professional ones!

To be continued..........

Happy Creating!

Carol

Final Preparations For The Polka Dot Flea

  I wanted to share with you some of the final preparations for the Polka Dot Flea on June 7th...Only 2 days away!!!

Remember when I had you vote on a color for the Polka Dot Flea bags?  Majority ruled and here they are...I love them!

These mannequins look mighty fine wearing ONLY their Polka Dot Flea bags, but........Clothing is NOT optional at the Flea :)

Barr Display one of the Polka Dot Flea's fabulous sponsors, printed 3000 bags!

Here they are, ready to go in their warehouse......Yikkes...This looks like a lot of bags!

Now, if vendors or customers have a question or need help....The Polka Dot Flea staff will be easy to identify in their snappy Staff shirts

And communications among the staff should be seamless with their very cool walkie talkies....All charged up and ready to go

These signs are so cool....When people arrive at the Central Florida Fairgrounds all they have to do is.....Follow the signs!

Chalkboard signs for the vendors refreshment table during set up.  My son did these, I had no idea he had this talent...Bad Mom!

It's going to be a crazy couple days!  It will start Thursday with loading the truck with merchandise for my booth.  Sometimes I forget... The whole reason I organized the Polka Dot Flea was so that I could sell at an indoor air conditioned venue!

We will also be loading all of the decor for the venue

Then we will be at the fairgrounds at 7am Friday morning to set up and mark off booth spaces.  The vendors will arrive at 12noon and set up until 7pm.

Saturday (The day of the Flea) we will be there at 7am and the doors will open at 9am

The Polka Dot Flea will close at 4pm when we will once again load the truck.  After we unload the truck we will be joining all of the customers and vendors at the Polka Dot Flea after party sponsored by Adjectives Market.  A fun way to unwind and chat with customers and fellow vendors in a relaxed atmosphere with music, food, and drinks.....It doesn't get any better! 

I am always good about getting back to your comments, but you might have to give me a few days as I will be a LITTLE bit busy lol. 

 I will, of course, be back with tons of pictures and I will honestly tell you how it all went down.

Wish me luck and thank you for your sincere support!

Happy Creating!

Carol

Turning A Shabby French Pink Lamp Shade Into A Hanging Light

The Polka Dot Flea is just days away.  Since I have everything ready for the Flea (It's good to be a little OCD) I thought I would squeak in a last minute project

 

I was out antique shopping with a friend Sherry@ No Minimalist Here

When I spotted two HUGE vintage lamp shades, they were from the era (40's-50's ?)  when it was in vogue to have massive shades on lamps.  

Right away I thought it would make a perfect hanging light

Great floral details on the sides

I bought a ceramic light socket from Home Depot....

......And attached it to an electrical cord  (Just 2 screws attaches the wire to the socket).  If you're interested in the steps to wire a lamp, you can find great step by step instructions on U Tube 

Here's my little secret...I never buy the full light wiring kit, I use extension cords I find at garage sales for a .25.   I cut off the the part where you plug in other cords, this leaves me with the plug and wire.....Yep saves a ton of money!

I attached a chain and made the cord cover out of fabric that matched  

   Since I am selling this at the Polka Dot Flea along with other hanging lights, I needed something to hang them from.......Another project...A lace covered umbrella.

I took the canvas cover off my patio umbrella..... 

...Then sewed 3 pieces of lace yardage together, trimmed it with a lace ruffle....

...And used Fabric-Tac to glue on lace runners and doilies

I don't know if you caught that I found 2 pink shades.....One to sell and one for me!

I think it will be a perfect Frenchy Shabby addition to my bedroom!

The Polka Dot Flea is just days away!  I will show you some final preparations in my next post and then....

.......It's "Show time"!!!  I'm experiencing that fine line between excitement and fear!!

I would love for you to visit the Polka Dot Flea website HERE

Or 

Follow the Polka Dot Flea on FB HERE

Happy Creating

Carol