I don't have words to describe the beauty of this past weekend. Maybe it's because I'm so stinkin' tired. Bone-tired. Covered-in-sawdust tired. Coming-off-my-sugar-and-adrenaline-high tired. But I think it is actually because this weekend was beautiful on every level. Beautiful setting. Beautiful people. Beautiful merchandise. Beautiful cause. Beautiful encouragement. Beautiful food. Beautiful friends. Beautiful cows...seriously, they were amazing!!!
Instead of trying to describe every detail of this sensory overload experience, I thought I'd recap in true Emily style...a list of favorites! I especially annoy my husband with my insistence that he tell me his favorite part of a trip or movie or meal or event. Then I go on to ask his second favorite...and third favorite...you see how it goes.
So here are my favorites from little e studio's public debut at the Bella Rustica Barn Sale benefitting Agape:
5. The Venue...Tap Root Farm, a little piece of heaven on earth. Rolling hills, hay bales, baby cows, blue skies, picturesque barn.
4. The Owners of Tap Root...the most precious people. I just want to squeeze them. I want them to adopt me! Watching their reactions to the transformation of their working farm to a bustling marketplace was adorable! 
3. The Food...goo goo cluster ice cream, Elvis cupcake with cinnamon sugar bacon crumbles, burgers fresh from the farm, kettle corn, strawberry lemonade slushie. I felt like I was back at the fair. I don't have pictures because I devoured each tasty treat with supersonic speed. Yummmm.... 2. The Other Vendors...not only did the other vendors have incredible merchandise, they were incredibly gracious and fun as well. I feel like I made new friends and was honored to be part of this community for the weekend.
Kelly Montana of Me and My Canvas
Vintage Junky
Cowgirl Bloomers
TOTEally Posh by Erin Jones1. The Customers...overwhelmed by the crowds. It was nonstop until about 5:00 on Saturday. But seeing so many friends and neighbors coming out to support me and this wonderful cause just filled my heart to bursting! My neighbors from my childhood, whom I haven't seen since I was 12, drove up especially to come to my booth. They were there at 10:00 on the spot Saturday and bought 6 paintings!!! And they brought me a Halloween gourd they had carved. Amazing! New neighbors, oodles of ladies from my church, former coworkers, Matt's coworkers, Matt's coworker's mothers (for real!), dear friends. And then there were all the new people I met who oohed and aaahed over my work and labored over what piece to buy! I wish I could bottle that feeling!
So how did I do? I sold 31 pieces. THIRTY-ONE pieces!! Are you kidding me?!! I more than exceeded any little goal I set for myself. The only downside to selling that many pieces is that I will have to lock myself into the basement for the next two weeks to get ready for the Belmont Community Celebration of Art September 30-October 2. Just keep painting...just keep painting...
On behalf of myself and of Agape and the families whose lives will be positively affected by your support of me and this event, thank you ever so much!
little e
PS. I forgot to mention that i got invited to participate in the Art Event at Lipscomb February 10-12. Yep. That's number 4. More on this great event soon! Let's just say it is a full circle moment. Blessings abound!
