50th Annual Shrimp Festival

Friday afternoon we set up the tent, dodging raindrops and wearing our Disney World ponchos with Mickey Mouse on the back. We'd put up the tent before but never the side curtains. Like squeezing 20 pounds of potatoes into a 10 lb. sack, we managed to get the zippers down on all sides. The most surprising part was the front flap ended up at the front of the tent.  A few mishaps occurred by nothing major.  My wet flip flops slipped off the ladder and I fell on my elbow but the picket fence behind the tent broke my fall. 

 

It rained all day Saturday while we, along with all the other vendors, waited patently inside for the heavens to dry up. Didn't happen. The winds blew, knocking over this, breaking that- my main poster frame and glass--bummer. A few patrons walked about town under umbrellas. When someone found my tent, I knew my carefully combed hair and makeup was less than perfect.  "Please excuse the way I look."  "You look just like everybody else," she replied.  How right she was.  Finally, at 5 pm, the official shut down time anyway, we exited the tent, zipping her up and left for the night.

 

It was sprinkling at 7 am on Sunday.  Out came the ponchos but by 9ish, someone shouted, "Look, look!  Blue sky!"  Whoops and hollers roared and the streets filled with thousands of town folk and visitors ready to cram two days of fun into one. It was a good show, at least one day of it, and we were all glad for that.

 

It took longer to tear down than it did set up and we had more stuff to get home.  Bruce explained it was because he'd made several trips home for more things like shelves and racks at my request.  I forgot that part.  With his pickup literally overflowing and tied down as tightly as he could get it, I followed him home, ready to flash my lights if and when something fell off the back.  Despite hitting a pothole or two, nothing landed in the street! We unloaded his truck once home, but were so tired, we left my car packed until---Well, it's still loaded. It's on the list to do tomorrow, two days after the event. 

 

A great big thank you to all the new friends I met at the Shrimp Festival.  Join us here at the Gracious Jane Marie Blog and www.GraciousJaneMarie.com where we celebrate

 heart and home with roses, recipes and tasteful romance! 

 

 

 the tent was up just before the rain - that's Jane Marie peeking out

 

setting up inside the tent while the rains came and came and came,

 note book in ziplock bag for safe keeping

 

Jane Marie's stuff



                                                                     
                    painted art glass, painted crystal necklace, easel art- where the livin' is easel, tea tiles

The Goodbye Lie- what started it all...

                                                             hand painted carafes for wine, water or juice

 

 

Secret Pebbles-hand painted stones, verses with organza gift bags

 

 

and then the sun shown.  Oh happy, happy day!

 

See you next year!



More New Friends!



(left to right) June, Lee, Jane Marie & Edith
choosing JM's hand painted Secret Pebbles

Beverly getting a copy of The Goodbye Lie for her sister, Melisa,
who loved Amelia Island's Velvet Undertow



I snapped a couple photos of new friends at a Book's Plus book signing today in Fernandina Beach, Florida.  It's always such a treat for me to meet folks and welcome them into my Amelia Island's Goodbye Lie world filled with suspense, family and romance and fun.  The excitement is contagious!

 

To join us, email  me at graciousjanemarie@yahoo.com and/or visit http://www.graciousjanemarie.com/ !
                                                  - Jane Marie 

Where Do Secret Pebbles™ Go?

Everybody loves Secret Pebbles™ because the secret in the pebble is what the giver and the recipient share.  I got to thinking. Who can say they didn't have Secret Pebbles™ in 1889, the year in which my historic novel Amelia Island's Velvet Undertow is set. So, just before my manuscript went to press, I wove Secret Pebbles™ into the story in four places.  The last place I tied in the pebble in, I was literally typing and crying, I was so moved.

So moved, too, are those who find the same sweetness and "ahhh" factor in Secret Pebbles™ that I do as I hand paint each of them, and we're talking hundreds and hundreds.  I've heard many a loving comment as to where they will end up.  Here are only a few fine examples that touch me:



The customer picks a verse and a pebble
 and it all goes into a clear ziplock bag,
then a white organza drawstring gift pouch.

• I'm going to have my 50th wedding anniversary.  They are throwing me a party and I want to give a Secret Pebble to both my bridesmaids."
• "I'd like you to paint 100 Secret Pebbles™ in my daughter's high school colors, green and yellow, for  favors for her Sweet Sixteen Party!"
• A returning customer said, "A few months ago, I told you my husband and his son weren't speaking. He gave a Secret Pebble™ to his son and now they're talking!"
• "My neighbor watched my cat for me."
• "As a thank you, I put a Secret Pebble™ on the pillow of my dinner hostess to find after I leave." What a great idea. I now do this.-jmm
• "My friend has cancer."
• "I'd like a cross and angel verse for my sister who is going through a job loss.  She needs to be reminded she's not alone.
• "My son is depressed because he'll be in boot camp during the holidays and I want him to know he's in our hearts."
• "I need six for my girlfriends.  We may be in our 50s, but we're having a slumber party.  I want to put one on each of their pillows as a surprise."
• "My friend is 92 and she lost her son.  I want to give her a pebble that doesn't remind her of her sadness, but that lets her know we all care about her."  The giver settled on the may angels watch over you verse.
• "My husband is serving in Afghanistan and I want a red, white and blue heart for his pocket."
• "My friends and I are going to Ireland next year and I've been looking for something to give all of them. A green heart or rose would be perfect."
• "Can you paint hearts in peach and white for my wedding reception favors?"

As you can see, the reasons for giving Secret Pebbles™ are many and varied.  Those heartfelt reasons only increase my love of the pebbles and make me want to paint more!



To order Secret Pebbles™ for your special occasion, contact me at graciousjanemarie@yahoo.