Oh goodness what can we say about HOOT 2011. What a great show. I have read some comments about the show here on FaceBook so I thought I would give you my take on what was a very good show. Of course, we (Pampered Palette) was located on the exhibit floor and to make a point, the floor was not smaller this year. In fact, there were several new exhibitors in attendance that was not there over t...he past couple of years. It was great to see Stephs there and our good friends Elizabeth from SDP, Sandy Scales, Maureen McNaughton, Jo Lutness, Darla Foreman, Cindy Moser, Margaret Riley, Cynthia Coleman, Jillybean, Arlene Linton, Andy Jones, Judy Westegaard, and there are just so many, I know I have left out but really do not mean to.............please know that it was great seeing all of you.
We had such a great time as we were kept very busy over the days of the conference meeting new individuals, our Facebook friends, chatting, buying and of course selling. It really was a great show so those that were unable to attend, really did miss something special. The HOOT chapter members were truly a HOOT as they were always there to offer assistance or answer questions when it was needed.
Most of the time before the floor opened, we did a little shopping and ran around to all the booths/artists that painted pieces for the Museum's 100 Angels book getting the signatures of the artists. We did very well as we have over half of the signatures needed to complete my book of Angel artist signatures. Next stop is the New England Traditions (NET) show for signatures. We are flyng up for a day to attend the show (we will have have a booth at the show this year but will be advertising in their program).
There was a lot of BUZZ (had to use a HOOT term) around our booth as we featured Tatiana Sholokhova's Zhosotovo style paintings for all to enjoy. Tatiana was just at our studio two weeks ago teachng to beautiful Zhosotovo style pieces. We will be lucky enough to have Tatiana return next year (2012) to teach an absolutely stunning tray. We had many many people interested in her work and the seminar next year. We became a business sponsor of the National Museum of Decorative Arts and we brought back new wood, books and the 4 different Angels that will be added to our website for ordering.
I am sure I am forgetting a bunch of stuff, but I just wanted everyone to know that this was a great show (even though I have seen some posts that were negative about some parts of the show and SDP, which just are not true) with lots of painting, fun, chatting and of course eating by all those individuals in attendance. We have already reserved our booth space for next year's HOOT and the SDP and plan to be back even bigger and better with lots and lots of new items. Oh, do not tell anyone but we are even thinking of going to the Houston show with a booth (have to see how much driving is involved). We will probably fly out to Vegas to attend that show just to take some classes and shop the floor. In all it promises to be a great year of conferences. Stay tuned for more information or check out our website for conference information as we post it.
The conference ended around 2 pm yesterday and the race was on to pull down all the booths to get on the road home. We pulled everything down, packed and loaded the trailer in 2 hours 15 minutes (a record for us). So, we were on the road by 4:15 pm and pulled into our home around midnight (we tend to stop at all the rest areas for a little pitstop). Today it is unloading all the things from the trailer and restocking our shelves. Which reminds me, I have to place some orders as we sold out of a lot of items. Anyway, I tend to babble, it was a great show. Hopefully, those that could not attend will attend either HOOT, SDP, Houston, Vegas or NET next year. Deocrative painting is very much alive and well so why don't we all do our part to support the industry. Join SDP, visit your local decorative arts studio, encourage a non-painter to join you in painting.
Have a great and happy painting day.
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