Art in The Parking Lot and the Birthday Bash, Alpine, Wyoming

We fine tuned our displays and spent the week,( ok we played pickle ball), preparing for our last summer show of the year. It was a new show, being sponsored by Raven Lunatics and the Tack Shop in Alpine, Wyoming. Among other things our friend Barbara had asked us if we would bring our equipment and demonstrate how we make cabochons.
The forecast for the weekend was very good as a cold front was going to blast through on Saturday afternoon and evening, but being the optimists we are we loaded everything up and set up our shop. Barbara had found a place where we could have electricity and water and so we were good to go and awaited the massive crowds, (actually as a new show we had no idea if anyone would show up).

I decided to make a crazy lace agate cabochon hoping that the grinding noise would attract some attention, but it didn't bring anyone over. At least I made a beautiful cab that I knew will sell once its wrapped and on display. Finally some people came over and we had our first sale of the day. Of course we emphasize that all of the work is done by us and that everything we sell is made in the USA.
More people came and we sold a Wyoming fossil bracelet. Next we sold a brown swirl algae pendant and matching kumihimo necklace, (Renitas braided handmade necklaces have been a real hit this year).  One thing we have learned this summer is that handmade Wyoming  pendants and bracelets, using Wyoming rocks and fossils, are what tourists and locals want! Its lucky for us that there are so few lapidarists left and so our jewelry is unique.

Things were moving along well, when dark storm clouds came in and Barbara warned us that a strong storm was approaching. It was only one o'clock but we packed up our materials and lowered the tent. Before closing the sides we anchored the legs down with six gallon water jugs.
It was a short drive back to our fifth wheel and we had just got there when it started to rain and hail and blow. Lighting and thunder blasted and roared and we were really glad we we protected in our place. Now our thoughts went to the show tent and if had survived?
The next morning we arrived to find it intact and even dry inside! Even though it was raining off and on, we set everything up. A truck arrived and a young couple walked over and bought one of our new bracelets! That made our day as the rain settled in and we closed two more sides trying to keep open but to also keep everything dry. The people continued to trickle in and we met more fellow Escapes.  They talked of Quartzite, Alaska, and the full timing lifestyle and the biggest benefit which is meeting new people all over the country.
The rain stopped about the time the show closed, but it was still good as we had had a good first show. Hopefully this one will continue next year, and hopefully the weather will be better! Returning back to the house we packed things away for the long trip to the east coast and Florida. We don't have any shows planned till we get to Texas, but you never know what we will find as we travel down the road! Clear skies.