BAG CHECKING

This is what the inside of the Pavilion looks like today....


But next Wednesday -- set-up day -- this is what it will look like...The best vendors in the country have already packed their trucks up and are ON THEIR WAY to Puyallup. When they get there, Janet will have them lined up out the back gate -- and with military precision -- the unloading will begin in a very orderly manner. (yes, this is a work of compelte fiction)...

This is my best picture of the outside of the buildings -- and to the right of the Pavilion entrance (you can't see it) -- there is a BAG CHECK. This is REALLY GOOD INFORMATION for you to know...
So you don't have to carry your purchases with you all over the show -- YOU CAN CHECK YOUR BAGS. The nominal fee is 50 cents for a shopping bag...and $1 for a very large one.

HOW REASONABLE, EH??

The people at the bag check are volunteers -- working for their own good cause...(4-H?) -- so, yes, they do accept tips.

This is just one of my recycled-t-shirt-maxi-zebra-striped-dresses...I HAVE MADE FIVE OF THEM SO FAR...but you will only see three or four of them. I think this one makes me look fat...

Ten Day COUNTDOWN

REMEMBER -- From the ticket office:
If you have received your envelope with tickets, please open it and check your tickets. If there is a problem it can perhaps be taken care of before the Expo. Also if you have never received your tickets, please let us know immediately. Our e-mail is expo.tickets@wsu.edu.
NOW WE CAN BEGIN THE TEN DAY COUNTDOWN...

So -- here's a big question -- what's the weather going to be like? Last year, Wednesday (set-up day) was cold and rainy. You SHOULD bring a rain coat, of course.

Here's an email I received yesterday:

Hey, Rita!! Can't wait for the Expo in Puyallup. I live 30 minutes away so I never miss a day.
We were just at a major antique show last weekend, held at the same venue as the Expo. They did not have the rule about carts and suitcases. Soooooooo dangerous for those of us walking behind them.

Would you write again (and again) about this dangerous habit. There are always a few at Expo who ignore the rule on 'drag-abouts' as I call them. Please remind people about checking their bags and purchases. I even noticed a few last year that were using strollers. No babies, just out-smarting the rules. Still dangerous, not to mention annoying.

I have never used the check service because I have my car parked across the street, but I've always wondered if there is a fee and/or should we tip the personnel. Is it run by volunteers or the fairground staff? I'm sure I'm not the only one wondering.........

Thanks for all you do to get the word out about the Expo. I look forward to it every year. I just hope we can give you visitors some decent weather.
Best,
A Sew Expo FAN
***********************
When I received this email, I realized I DID NOT KNOW THE ANSWER...about the bag checking. So I will post the answer by the end of today.

AND the most important thing you should know right now is that the ticket office will be closing ON WEDNESDAY.

But do not worry -- TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SHOW. The ticket office is located in the Showplex. Over by the Mary Bridge PILLOWCASE PATROL booth. They set up a board -- with ALL THE AVAILABLE CLASSES...


I have been walking ONE MILE EVERY DAY on my treadmill...today I'm going to do TWO MILES...trying to get into shape for ALL THAT WALKING...at the BIGGEST, BEST SEWING PARTY IN AMERICA..!!

Got Tickets?

Rita,

Can you blog about this please.

If you have received your envelope with tickets, please open it and check your tickets. If there is a problem it can perhaps be taken care of before the Expo. Also if you have never received your tickets, please let us know immediately. Our e-mail is expo.tickets@wsu.edu.

Thanks Rita
Katy

Rita is Learning New Video Skills...kinda...

Okay -- I am always trying to LEARN NEW SKILLS. Because I've had a lot of issues with YouTube, I am trying a new video place -- Vimeo. And so far, so good. Although apparently, one minute of new video per week is all you get for the "basic" service. If I want to do anything really interesting -- I must upgrade my service. Upgrade...hummm...it's such a tempting word, isn't it?? Anyway -- this is a gem I had on my camera that was never uploaded to YouTube. Vimeo did it WAY quicker -- and I am sorry, Steve -- I don't have that kind of power...(he wanted a whole room at Sew Expo to be equipped with Sashiko machines!)

Steve Jeffery from Rita Farro on Vimeo.

Zebra is the New Black

You KNOW HOW HOOKED I AM on zebra stripes. Although I keep thinking I'm going to get over it -- zebra continues to be a joyful part of my life...

And it goes way beyond fashion...as you know -- I love it for HOME DEC...

Little sofas look great when wrapped in zebra...

I wear it and write about it so much -- people give me many wonderful ZEBRA GIFTS...

And these two women -- Bonne Swett and Jan Potter -- the "Inspired 2 Sew" duo -- gave me the BEST GIFT ever...

The Hey Rita TOTE -- the words say, ZEBRA STRIPES...WOW...

That was the year we did the recycled denim challenge...which, of course, I paired with ZEBRA and some t-shirt fringe to tone it down a bit...

Obviously, I cannot stop myself...

It's everywhere...in bedrooms, bathrooms, on rugs,

And it always circles back to the Hey Rita tote...!!

And I get so many wonderful comments from people -- wearing zebra stripes always makes me smile...

SO WHY DON'T WE ALL DO IT???!! Did I tell you my cousin Jackie is coming to the show this year? FROM OKLAHOMA CITY...I've gotta get her to wear some zebra...her family will not believe it...
JOIN IN THE FUN...BECAUSE THERE WILL BE A ZEBRA-STRIPE CHALLENGE THIS YEAR, PEOPLE. How about FRIDAY??

It's long overdue...