Jammin' at Hippie Jack's

There are three things I always enjoy about attending conferences...meeting colleagues I rarely see and those I've never met; learning tons about things relevant to my work and the wonderful hospitality of the conference and the stations who host receptions, hospitality suites and exhibits.

For example, I got to see Joan Lence and Kathie Stull who represent nearly a dozen how-to shows that air on public television (including "Cloth, Paper, Scissors" publisher Pokey Bolton's "Quilting Arts"). I've known Joan for years; Kathie is from the Cleveland area, where their programs are taped. To do list: Call Kathie when I head to visit family and see if they are taping or we can have a tour! (Coming this fall -- remember Matt and Shari from HGTV? They have a new show coming to PBS stations through NETA beginning in October!)

Kathleen Unwin (left) and Dru Sefton (right) are from Current, one of our industry papers. Dru had brownies by her table -- to die for!

I was told I won a painting by this fellow -- Roger Bansemer, who with his wife Sarah will have a new travel/painting show. However, I wasn't "present to win." Alas... (but I had a good reason -- that's another post!)

It's being with colleagues -- Tim Zeko produces our series BackStage Pass, which is now in national distribution by NETA. If it is in your area or you come across it in your TV Guide, let me know -- we're trying to make a station list. Next to Tim is Susi Elkins, our content and engagement manager. Susi was one of the many who had flight/connection problems due to the storm that slammed the east. We were glad to finally see her!

And then there are the parties. WCTE, a station in Cookville, TN invited us to taping of their music series, "Jammin' at Hippie Jacks." (That's Becky Magura, Cookville's GM, with Hippie Jack as they welcomed us to the Tennessee State Museum.)

I'll show you some photos from this little gem of wonder in a different post. Here's a preview from their quilt collection.

Then the show began. Hippie Jack welcomed us from the stage at the museum.

He was followed by a performance from Todd Snider. He was fun, funny, insightful. It was a good show.

It was a very relaxed taping experience with folks enjoying food and beverages during the recording, able to get up and move if needed. Made for one of the more enjoyable concert experiences I've ever had.

Back to bed to look forward to the final conference day -- and meeting a friend I've known a long while!

Nashville Cats!

Beware of shuttle drivers who see the digital sign that says "Freezing conditions. Be careful of ice on road" and speeds up.

That was how I was welcomed to Nashville, attending the NETA meeting -- education from the group that really does a fabulous job of training, distributing programs and really making me be better in my work.

For five days, Rick has been giving Mr. Gyps his pets and loves and food while I'm gone. This is the south. Why it has snow all over is beyond me, but the whole south is somewhat socked in. At least there were no flight delays and all is well.

Nashville is pretty nippy -- the pansies are struggling.

Even the lions at the hotel entrance are dressed for the occasion! Truly Nashville cats!

The first highlight was Roasted Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese lasagna at The Tin Angel. To die for.

Took a morning walk through part of the Vanderbilt campus, which is across from our hotel. It's beautiful -- like the pretty part of MSU's campus. (We go from the sublime to the ridiculous in our architecture!).

Loved the graceful, solid lines of this building.

And this view.

There's a good amount of snow here, and I loved the holly berries.

Some interesting campus sculpture -- some obviously designed by trained artists...

Others from would-be sculptors!

Gotta love the sunglass eyeballs and the fork in the head!

Our afternoon sessions were, for the most part, large but interesting. An evening reception provided opportunities for reconnecting with old friends (and wonderful shrimp with roasted corn and butternnut squash served over grits. The secret to the grits, the server told me, is to make them with milk or cream; not diet food, but oh, so creamy!)

More to come!

My Personal Parisian Shopper

When you think"Personal Shopper," what comes to mind?

Well, if you asked me a year ago, I would have said someone that went to all the places I didn't want to go (like shoe shopping or clothes shopping or appliance shopping) and make choices for me -- based on my budget -- that she (probably a she) would bring home. I'd try on, reject, she'd take back, and I'd pay her an exorbitant percentage.

Which is why I never had a personal shopper.

Then one day, my friend Jerry, whom I visited in France (for those posts, check the side bar under Paris and France), made an interesting suggestion.

Jerry is a four-star shopper. He is the best flea market person I know and can bargain a bargain price down to sub-bargain! He has terrific taste, a great apartment and frequents flea markets and the local tag sales like a trouper.

He suggested that if I told him what I'd be interested in and gave him a dollar amount, he'd shop my brains out for me.

Of course I said yes!

This week Jerry came by with my spoils (and Christmas presents, equally wonderful.) And what's extra nice was that everything was a surprise!

"You bought this. You bought this. You bought this. This is Christmas..." No, it was heaven!

What you are seeing in this post are some of the "spoils of shopping" -- done by Jerry on my behalf.

And a few Christmas presents thrown in for good measure. This advertising piece and the one a bit above both have "pockets" that come out. The one above has a 1909 calendar!

These advertising cards are for the department store Bon Marche and others (like biscuit cards).

Love the gold and the whimsical illustrations.

This is part of a military series -- again, lots of gold.

These pages were from a scrap book. The florals and Victorian pieces are called Chroma.

Here are a few others.

On the back of the pages were wonderful vintage postcards.

Now this was a Christmas gift -- a postcard book from my favorite spot in Paris -- Ste. Chappelle.

I loved the Parisian postcard book, with images at the top of this post and another from the Napoleon museum.

And these hat pins! Aren't they amazing?

Loved these sweet lace applique cuffs, too. They go with the collars Jerry sent me this summer.

Menus? You can bet these will be scanned for a someday-party!

Even the '50s were represented with this "kitchen" page...

...and an "airplane page.

These are animation cells --

When you hold them to the light, you get even a better look!

And this postcard -- it will be a baby card someday!

Jerry also brought a Tour de France pin for Rick and this music for us to share!

It's a song printed by a wine company, Suze, to promote drinking their wine, and as you can see above, the Tour 1933 is specifically mentioned.

The good thing? I have wonderful new bits --

AND, soon I am going to scan them and post some so you can use them, too! What good is it to have such fun stuff if you can't share!

I may not be posting for a few days and visiting might be limited -- it's one of those weeks! But soon I'll get these scanned.

And look for a post coming up on a meting with some blog friends I've "known" forever (it seems!)

He's Almost Famous

By "he," I mean Rick. But no one would know this unless they knew his last name, which is Oberle.

Let me explain.

About a year ago, Rick was biking with two triathletes, one of whom was cartoonist Jef Mallett, who does the daily strip Frazz.

(That's Jef with Patty, his wonderful wife and occasional guest blogger.)

In fact, Rick's first venture out after having a terrible accident that day, during which Jef and his friend Jimi helped get him safely to the hospital, was to attend Jef's book signing.

Well, on New Year's Eve Day when Rick checked into the web site as he does each morning, he saw this.

If you can click you can see it bigger! We all laughed!