....and all of a sudden it is September and fall is knocking at the door!  Wasn't it just May and the summer and longer hours ahead of us??  Didn't we just groan about the "heat"?   Time flies, that's for sure!

We have had some great summer shows with Sauk Centre being absolutely fabulous starting with the beautiful weather, the overwhelming great response and attendance and of course the sales!  I am beyond grateful for the amazing support us art vendors have received at that show!
Thank you Sauk Centre for showing up!!
Also the whole organizer team deserves a huge hug, thank you and applause for such a well done event all the way from volunteer help during setup/tear down as well as the golf cart rides to the bathrooms - YES, very important service! - and the musicians who were fabulous!  We truly enjoyed ourselves!

Now with fall arriving probably really soon, the outdoor events continue into October with Backwards Bread's Anniversary Celebration (October 3) and Popple Creek Farmers Market (October 11) being the last outdoor events before it gets too cold.
​We hope warmer fall weather will stick around until all the outdoor shows are done.


UPCOMING EVENTS:
For September there's quite a show lineup:

Date: Saturday & Sunday, September 12 & 13, 2026   
Event:  Rice Old Creamery Annual Craft Show (NNB & Sauce/Crafts)
Time:  Saturday: 8am - 5pm & Sunday: 9am - 4pm
​Where: Old Creamery, 405 Main Street E.
Town:  Rice, MN
(a note on the Old Creamery.  It now has a new owner and has a new name: LeAnn's Main Street Cafe.  However the tradition of the crafts fair will continue!

Date: Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026   
Event:  St. Cloud East FestiFall (NNB & Sauce/Crafts)
Time:  12noon - 5pm
​Where: Along St. Germain Street East/Our location: far East End by Pan-O-Gold
Town:  St. Cloud, MN

Date: Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026  
Event:  NotesNBling Annual Open House (NNB only)
Time:  10am-4pm
​Where: NotesNBling Studio 
Town:  Sauk Rapids, MN
(this is my yearly Open House where I do sales, giveaways, drawings, draw your own sale, it's a time for hanging out to visit, shop without the rush, have some refreshments and a good time.  It will be outside in the studio back yard (if you've been here before you know how cool it is), but should the weather turn cold, super windy, rain or anything else inclement, I'll have everything set up inside.  
Email: notesnbling@gmail.com for address and directions unless you know already)

Date: Sunday Sept. 27, 2026 
​Event:  Popple Creek Farmers Market
Time:  10am-3pm
​Where: Popple Creek Weddings & Events, 6468 75th Avenue NE
Town:  Sauk Rapids, MN

Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026   
Event:  Backwards Bread Anniversary Celebration (NNB & BBQ food)
Time:  7am-2pm
​Where: 3360 Southway Drive 
Town:  St. Cloud, MN

THE JEWELRY:
My leather macrame bracelets have been a hit, including the sneak peak of the fall designs that had their debut at the Sauk Centre show. I'll be making more in the coming weeks.
I also added a men's line with a different focal stone and leather colors.

The men's line feature a marble tube stone focal and blue leather macrame on dark grey 3mm leather or natural blue 3mm leather with dark grey leather macrame.
I also will be making more of the middle bracelet with the Impression Jasper & Agates with contrasting leather/macrame.  The fall line will feature different focal pieces, either stones or Czech beads with the deep violet 3mm leather and a turquoise or green leather macrame.  They are absolutely beautiful in person.
Also I will have more of the "Denim" Agate bracelets available.  Now with a smaller bead size available in those.
​

LASTLY:
August had us busy not only with shows - but also a garage sale!  Hubby is no longer doing concessions and just focusing on making BBQ sauces and therefore doesn't need all the restaurant equipment, pans, serving trays, dishes and supplies or the trailer we hauled all that equipment in.  So if you know of anyone that's wanting to start up a restaurant or catering business, let us know.

For the garage sale there wasn't much NotesnBling had for sale, just a few jewelry displays I no longer need since making my own and I used the funds from the sale to cover the purchases I made from Amazon for my new "office assistant" named Phoebe, who I thought needed some toys and window perches she's yet to use.  Cats can be SO weird!   Anyhow, we weren't looking for a pet, but this lil gal decided we were 'her people' and.... the rest is history.  LOL.
She does sleep a lot, so who knows how much "assistance" she will give in the studio!

There will possibly be more Phoebe pictures in the future one her "training" in jewelry supervision or modeling has advanced.  :0-)

Let's have a wonderful fall season, enjoy the last of the warm days as much as we can (I will miss my flip flops hugely once I can't wear them anymore) and as the days get shorter, I'm savoring every daylight minute as long as I can.

See you at the shows!

​Sam
​

Here we are - into August already!  Where did July go?  Oh, yeah, it got smoked out and melted away...🤪🤪🤪

Now hopefully we will be good to go with some NICE summer weather to where we all can enjoy the outdoors again instead of sweltering and melting away.

Needless to say, when we had all the wildfire smoke the biggest outdoor event I so look forward to every year (Art in the Gardens at Munsinger Gardens in St. Cloud) was cancelled which was super disappointing, yet the right decision the event coordinators could given the air conditions. 
Then there was a Sunday market with extreme heat conditions and added humidity which kept a lot of people away, yet those who came out braved the heat and we were all thankful for their attendance and purchases., The venue (Popple Creek) for the market is absolutely beautiful!  I can't wait for the next market there towards the end of August.
So now let's hope that August will have much better weather days for our markets and shows.

Speaking of August....here is what's coming up event wise:
​

THE JEWELRY:

With it being summer time, I wanted to have a few more "summery" bling for everyone (including myself).  So through inspiration by a friend who made some macrame jewelry, I used her idea to incorporate that texture into my leather bracelets and anklets some with beach glass beads and others with stone beads.  They have turned out just wonderful and so fun.  Super lightweight as well.
​Now I'll be thinking of more cool things to make by incorporating leather macrame in my designs.

The first two photos are double wrap leather anklets (I have several sizes and color/stone combos) and the last three photos are the leather bracelets with contrasting leather macrame.  First bracelet has an Impression Jasper & Agates, the other two are beach glass beads.   I'll be trying out some necklace/choker designs next, so stay tuned!
​

LASTLY:

This month I'll be spending a few days up in Elbow Lake at the store there.  Our friends Karen and Randy run KR-Digital a gift and frame shop where I also have two display cabinets full of my jewelry for sale there.
So I need to do inventory and make a few new things and rotate others out.  I'm looking forward to some friend time as well.

This will also be the location for my tent pop-up sale during Flekke Fest, Friday and Sunday August 7 & 8.

This Sunday (August 2) hubby and I will be leading worship at our church (SHED Church in Clear Lake, MN.  We meet at the Elementary School there from 10-11:30)
So I've been working on my guitaring skills again as it's been quite a looooong while since I've played a concert and I'm a tad out of shape singing/playing wise.

It's been a full schedule around here with hubby's work, my own designing and getting things ready for shows, doing shows and enduring some hot temps.
But I still love what I do and as long as the Lord is willing and my body holds up, I'll be seeing you at the shows with new bling for you to enjoy.

See you at the shows,

​Sam

With all the fireworks tent selling, the recovery after being outside for 16 days at 10 hours each day, was tougher this year on me than in the past.  Glad that part of our summer activities is done!  ....and I finally got to this news update.

Now on to jewelry art/craft shows at various outdoor events.  They are always a lot of fun for me as I get to connect with so many folks, my faithful "fans" and making new jewelry friends!   However, they can also be very challenging not only with the hard work of tent setup and all that goes with it, but also with the elements, with wind being the most dreaded, of course thunder storms, followed by heat and....this time SMOKE that just blew in today into Minnesota from Canada....  Yikes.  Just in time for the Art in the Gardens at Munsinger Gardens tomorrow. 😳
UPDATE!!! Art in the Gardens is CANCELLED due to wildfire smoke that has invaded the area!  It will unfortunately not be rescheduled.
​
I do hope that whoever can brave the elements will come out and support their favorite artist, even if they might not be able to enjoy a longer time outside and take it all in.  It makes me sad for everyone as so many look forward to this event
​.  

THE JEWELRY:

I've been working up some fun anklets now that it's summer time and also quite a few chokers (different lengths) with turquoise agate drops and adjustable necklaces with freshwater pearls.  The following pictures are just a sneak peek into all what has been designed and created. 

The first photo is the lil agate drop choker on leather, the second picture shows a matching anklet (I have different sizes in those also), another anklet with carnelian and a starfish charm.  Next is a stretch anklet made with Picasso Czech Seed Beads and a Czech heart focal.  The last photo is an adjustable necklace with freshwater pearls on 1.5 mm leather cord.
​

LASTLY:

Although I love this summer "warmth", the heat of the last almost couple of weeks has been a tad challenging for sure, especially at outdoor events.  Thankfully most of the fireworks selling season was actually pretty nice weather except for some storms/rain at a couple of days in June.  

However as soon as July 1 hit, the temperatures also rose with a very bad t-storm shutting us down on the afternoon of July 4.  Thankfully the hail we got was pea sized, compared to golfball sized just a few blocks away at a park where the fireworks festivities were taking place. 

We were drenched to the bones, taking in all the fireworks back into the container, grabbing our stuff and running to our cars after the tent was secured.  Good thing that hubby had re-enforced the legs by tying them into the anchors with pallet wood boards!  Thankfully he had the foresight to do so...and that tent held up in the nasty wind.  That storm just came almost out of nowhere, although it began raining but rain isn't the problem...the WIND always is, plus once a t-storm gets close, it is time to pack up and go home.

Adventures for sure!  Now I pray for the smoke to lift for tomorrow's Art in the Gardens, so that folks can come out - and us hard working vendors stay healthy and safe.   I want to say thank you in advance to those of you who still plan on coming out to support small business.  You are a trooper!!

See you at the shows,

​Sam

It is finally flower pot season around my house!!  Memorial Day Weekend my daughter came up from Chicago and we went flower shopping at a couple places and started filling my flower pots.  My backyard looks so peaceful now with all the flowers, hubby mowed the grass and the lawn furniture is finally out of storage to be used!  It's now safe to say that the warm temperatures are here to stay.  
Let the outside times and grilling commence!  😊

Before our TNT Fireworks tent selling season (June 20-July 5) we have one show in Holdingford, MN at the BOHO Cafe beginning of June and then after the TNT Fireworks my summer art/craft show season will begin.  I'm really looking forward to connecting with all my people and showing all the newest designs!
​

UPCOMING EVENTS:

​Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026  
Event:  Art In Motion (NNB & Sauce)
Time:  10 am-2 pm (or a bit longer)
​Where: BOHO Cafe, 1400 4th Street
Town:  Holdingford, MN

Date: June 20 - July 5 
Event:  TNT Fireworks Tent 
Time:  10 am-8 pm (Mo-Sat), 12 pm - 6 or 8 pm (Sun)
​Where: Coborns Parkinglot
Town:  Sauk Rapids, MN

Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026  
Event:  Hector Corn Chaff Days (NNB & Sauce)
Time:  11 am-4 pm 
​Where: Hector City Park, Elm Ave.
Town:  Hector, MN
​
​

THE JEWELRY:
I'm always working on something and at the moment my goal has been to start clearing off some project ideas which have been stacking up on my design desk and starting to take over a lot of my workspace.  That was the motivation to start working on ideas that have been long awaiting to be finished.

Here are some of the items I've been working on.  The cross was a find in a sale and I paired color matching Czech beads & brass chain with this necklace.  The Howlite Pendant necklace features faux pearls and coral shaped beads on the other side, all on a knotted leather cord.  The earrings (one with brass cats, the other with vintage patina feathers) are on a wire wrapped Azurite Malachite stone with sterling ear wires.  The Acrylic Kitty earrings feature color matching Czech beads with a wire wrap and sterling ear wires.
I have lots more to clear off my work desk - plus SO many new ideas AND I need to re-stock some items like more anklet sizes I sold out of and neutral bracelets and a drop pearl necklace that's been quite a popular style.  So I'll be busy the next few weeks before the TNT Fireworks tent starts....
​

LASTLY:
In May I have had to deal with some medical stuff and during this time I've stepped away from sitting for hours at my design desk, but took the time to relax, connect with my friends from church and piddle a bit in the yard here and there.

One scripture has really stood out for me in this season:  Psalm 138:8.
The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O Lord is everlasting;  Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

Although the medical stuff isn't done and over with, I'm still looking forward to the summer, the shows, visiting with family & friends and keeping a positive outlook.

If you need fireworks for your 4th of July celebrations, please come see us at our TNT Fireworks tent in the Coborns parking lot in Sauk Rapids.  We usually are open from 10-8 every day, 12-6 on Sundays until closer to July when we will be open 10-8 every day.  It would really help us out a lot!

Otherwise....see you at the shows!

​Sam

UPCOMING EVENTS:

 Date: Friday, May 8 & Saturday, May 9, 2026
Event:  Festival Of The Arts (NNB & Sauce/Crafts)
Time:  Friday: 11 am-7 pm
Saturday: 11 am - 6 pm
​Where: American Legion, 265 Co. Road 173
Town:  Melrose, MN

Date: June 20~ish through July 5 
Event: TNT Fireworks Tent (selling fireworks) 
Time: 10 am - 8 pm
Where: Coborns Parking Lot 
Town: Sauk Rapids, MN

More events for jewelry in July. 

LASTLY 

Since i’m not using my laptop at the Craft Show my normal “The Jewelry” section which comes before this one will have to be added later after publishing. 
However, you can go to my Facebook page: facebook.com/NotesNBling
to see some of the latest designs as I post pretty much every single day. Unfortunately, the rest of May, and June will be some quiet months for me as far as shows, events and in person selling is concerned.  I have an upcoming surgery so I will need some time to recoup.

I will see all of you again in July and I will post of course updates in June and July.

​If you are living in Minnesota, enjoy the upcoming warm weather! I’m going to!

Sam