San Francisco Bay Area Christmas 2008

Here's a very nice website I found today with all kinds of Christmas stuff, info, events, etc. I think that you will enjoy it.

http://www.joannegardiner.com/Christmas.html

DandL CREATIONS Arts and Crafts Show

SHELL DESKMATE. Picture holder. Misc/pen holder. Paper clip holder, etc. Or put whatever you want in there. Gemstone tree very attractive.

Here's one of our newest items which was made by Lucy. Price for this colorful piece is $18.95 plus tax ($1.62) and shipping ($4.00). This will be on our website http://www.dandlcreations.com/ next week, but you can buy it now. Contact dstefa4621@aol.com. I can accept paypal for now; credit cards when its on our website or you can phone in your credit card number. A Great Gift.

FREE ADVERTISING

FREE ADVERTISING FREE ADVERTISING FREE ADVERTISING

I have decided to offer free advertising on our Starving Vendors website. I will accept three free ads per week (approx 350x150 banner/graphic or 5 text lines. Offer is for a one time insertion lasting for one week. If you wish to extend the ad, you may pay our standard fees...$50 per month per ad (banner or graphic) or $25 per month for 5 text lines.

You can place your ad on the website on the following pages:

http://www.starvingvendors.com/philly_cheese_steak_sandwich.html we have several pages listing info about Philly Cheesesteaks and locations. Our most popular pages
http://www.starvingvendors.com/pcs_nocalba.html Philly cheesesteak shops in NOCAL
any of the other pages in the 'food' category.
http://www.starvingvendors.com/ Our home page. Ad would be placed in middle 1/3 of page.
http://www.starvingvendors.com/craft_fairs.html in right hand column
http://www.starvingvendors.com/upcoming_events.html Upcoming events; anyplace on page.
http://www.starvingvendors.com/inhaling_helium.html page about the dangers of inhaling helium from baloons. Popular page.

I will offer advertising on just about any page. Just ask. Nothing x-rated or offensive. Your free ad will expire exactly one week after placement unless you 'renew' I will email you a 'renewal' contract with pertinent information two days before expiration of your ad. Contact: dstefa4621@aol.com

Chandler Ostrich Festival

Re-living the Chandler Ostrich Festival of 2006. OUR WORST EVENT EVER.

It's that time of year again when we (vendors, etc.) are all working on our schedules for next year and begin sending in our booth fees and applications, etc. I could never forget the last time we did the Chandler Ostrich Festival. There are a good number of us (vendors) that will never do this event again.....especially if you have to travel a great distance for it.

One of our worst, most disastrous weekends ever. We went a long ways for this one and this turned out to be one of the most stressful weekends we ever had to endure. 145 days of drought in the Phoenix area ended with 1 1/2 days of torrential downpours that turned the vendor area into a foot-deep lake and the parking lot into a mud bog where it was virtually impossible for vendors to get their vehicles out until the mud dried. It started raining on Friday evening. Throughout the night, we listened to the rain coming down on top of our motor home. Periodically, the rain would slow down, but would come down hard shortly after. Earlier on Friday, there were reports of possible rain. As I walked around the vendor area, located in a gully, I realized that if we were to get a large amount of rain, the area is going to flood. The ground was hard and it would take a long time for the water to seep through. Fortunately, when we closed up Friday evening, we removed most of our things from the ground.Upon awakening Saturday morning, it was still raining and we pretty much knew that the day was going to be a 'washout'. All day long the rains kept coming and coming.

As we sat in the motor home in the parking lot we saw it turning to mud, as some vehicles passed by. We began to wonder if we would be able to get our vehicle out of the parking lot as we saw many vehicles actually get stuck in the mud; tow trucks couldn't even get them out. Night-time came and it was still raining. It kept up until early Sunday morning. We finally went to our booth around 8:00AM and found the top sagging with water and a huge lake surrounding the booths located in the gully, What a bonehead idea to put vendors down in here.

We waited for several hours before they began pumping out the water. The rains ended around 5:00AM and they did not even begin pumping the water until after 11:00AM. The promoters claimed that since it was Sunday, they could not contact the workers. You know, you see the area turning into a lake on Saturday, but you don't think about making arrangements to pump the water out. I mean, like...uhhh... the water is just going to dissapear. Many people told me that the ground would just absorb the water and it would dissapear. People, the ground was rock solid and very little of it will seep inside. Am I missing something here?

They proceded to pump out the water. As the time approached 2:00PM, the water was just about gone and we were able to open up. We still had major problems with the parking lot because we weren't sure if we'd be able to get out of there. However, just after it became dark, I figured that the mud had dried enough to enable me to escape. Do you like nightmares? This was one hell of a nightmare and everything bad that could possibly happen, did occur.

You can read my complete story, TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN or NO SYMPATHY FROM THE DEVIL ....a true account of the Chandler Ostrich Festival and Brown Amusements on our website:

http://www.dandlcreations.com/chandler.htm

Santa's Helpers Art Craft and Gift Faire

Santa's Helpers Art Craft and Gift Faire at Napa Valley Expo Chardonnay Hall, 575 Third St.Napa, CA 94559

The 17th Annual Holiday Craft and Gift Fair on Saturday, December 13 from 10am to 5pm Sunday, December 14 from 11am to 4pm at the Napa Valley Expo Free parking and Admission
Price: Free

Novato Holiday Crafts Faire - Dec 6

Novato Holiday Crafts Faire
Saturday, Dec 6 10:00a
at Margaret Todd Senior Center, 1560 Hill Rd.Novato, CA 94947(415) 899-8290

Arts & Crafts Show. A holiday crafts faire to include: fresh greens, gifts, jewelry,ornaments, toys, bath & body products, hand crafted items, wreaths, specialty foods, ceramics, entertainment, quilt raffle, luncheon and baked goods, face painting, photos with Santa, and much more! Admission is free. Call the Margaret Todd Senior Center at 415-899-8290 for more information.

Another Pigfest

Here's another Pigfest that we created and we have placed it on Ebay. Click here to see the listing and to place a bid if you desire. We have another Pig Band a few entries lower. Scroll down. You will also see other products we have just created. Our website is: DandL CREATIONS

Bay Area Holiday Festivals and Craft Shows

Here's a listing of numerous events in the S.F. Bay Area.

Dec 6. Suisun City. Harbor Plaza Open Market. 2 PM to 8 PM at Main & Solano Streets. There are around 60 booths of vendors here and this show is combined with other events in the area with loads of activities for kids, adults. Caroling, Carriage Rides, Santa, Toy Drive, Bonfire (nice and warm), fireworks and a Lighted Boat Parade. If you wish to be a vendor, the listing is in Craftmasters. Or you may contact the promoter of the Market, Debbie Kiikvee, Phone#707 428-4970. Spaces are $75. This is a very nice community event and the people of Suisun come out for it. We were vendors for the past three years and will not be doing the event this year for health reasons. It can get a bit cool and quite windy during the latter part of the afternoon. If your booth is facing the wind, bring blankets.

Dec 5-6. 5TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY ART AND CRAFT SALE, Creekside Community Church, 951 MacArthur Blvd., San Leandro, CA
Get a jump on your holiday shopping with one of a kind art and craft pieces from over 35 vendors displaying all hand crafted items. Show hours are Friday, December 5th, 12:00 noon-7:00 p.m. and Saturday, December 6th, 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Lasagna dinner will be served on Friday evening beginning at 5:00 p.m Donate a full sized bottle of shampoo or conditioner and get a free raffle ticket for a chance to win pieces donated by our artists. Call Sharon for information at (510) 430-0607. www.creeksidecommunity.org

ASD/AMD Trade Shows - Las Vegas

The annual trade show will be held from March 15-18. two weeks later than the usual time. I was surprised to hear this because I thought it was always held during the first week of the month. Perhaps they are using the Sands Convention Center for another 'more profitable' event previous to that. The event has several venues:

Variety Merchandise Show
Sands Expo Center & Las Vegas Convention Center - The nation's largest merchandise show featuring products at all price points and categories. Our specialized floor sections will assist you in finding the products you need more quickly and easily. With so many new sources and products to choose from, you will easily navigate your way to the most profitable merchandise mix for your retail needs.

Gift Show
Sands Expo Center -- The ASD/AMD Las Vegas Gift Show is the largest national gift show in the West. As a component of the three-in-one ASD/AMD Trade Show Las Vegas, this show lets you source products in the powerfully competitive center--the price range that appeals to the largest number of number of consumers--from leading vendors offering great merchandise at unbeatable prices.

Jewelry Show
The ASD/AMD Las Vegas Jewelry Show at the Mirage Events Center & Grand Ballroom is known for its unique roster of exhibitors. Traditional jewelry show wholesalers and exclusive wholesalers and suppliers that only exhibit at ASD/AMD Las Vegas. More than 350 companies in 700 exhibits provide the broadest possible selection of wholesale fine and fashion jewelry at single show. Providing you even greater flexibility with the immediate delivery option on select items.

Military Tactical Outdoor Show
Las Vegas Convention Center* - Since 1961, the ASD/AMD Las Vegas Military Tactical Outdoor Show continues to be the pre-eminent showcase in this market. The show features the most innovative products for military, tactical, and outdoor providing for an unparalleled marketplace.

You will need to register to attend any of these shows, You can save time by clicking here and registering on their website.

Oyster Shell Candle Holder

How about this.... a candle holder/misc stuff holder made with oyster shells (from Johnson's Oysters over in Pt. Reyes.) Will have these in our website, Ebay and events.

Truly unique candle holder. You have never seen anything like this before. This was hand made using a variety of shells, semi-precious nuggets and OYSTER SHELLS. That's right, these oyster shells add immensely to the beauty of this luxurious candle holder. Also may be used for placement of potpouri, candy, etc. Great conversation piece. If you have a business, i.e. seafood, etc., you can use this for your tips (of the bill variety!). Stick a couple bucks in there ...some fives, ones, etc. and watch them multiply as people admire this great looking oyster shell candle holder and customers just toss their bills in there. . Wood base. Oyster shells are from Johnson's Oysters in Tomales Bay, California. Weighs 52oz. Total height 7in, Dimensions are 7x11". SHIPPING IS $9.00 Opening bid on Ebay is $39.95.

Miners in Geode/Cathedral

We have also created a number of mining scenes with amethyst geodes, etc. Beautiful. Will have these on our website, Ebay and at events shortly.

Unusual things - Pigfest

You can bid on this on EBay. Click here to view the auction.

We have created a number of these 'pigfests' and look really great. Will have them on Ebay, our websites and will be bringing these to events. Prices start at $125.00.