Barbara's blog

Warning: Clever, creative & quirky, Impeccable Kids, and Champagne Taste can all lead to Glamour in Mud Season™

Some people (think Mitt and Anne Romney or Estelle Parsons) enjoy Wolfeboro in warm, perfect-for-sailing, -swimming, -hiking, -fishing, -biking summer months. Others of us live here year-round and there are moments when we have to create our own fun.

For the Village Players, that led to the creation of Glamour in Mud Season™, our 3-day bash celebrating New Hampshire's 5th season.

For small shop owners Jacqui Pettit and Barbara Steensma, it led to creating their own shops where their dreams and others' come true.

At Thursday's Glam Night Out!, Jacqui of Impeccable Kids will break out from her (mainly) kids' impeccable consignments on Glendon Street and offer local women crafters' unique jewelry creations. And unique is definitely the word for her Swag Bag gifts. She truly captures the spirit of glamour in MUD season.

Barbara recently opened her shop in the Marketplace. A mixture of old and new,fashion for home and body,everything reflects her sensational style. I can't wait to see her Swag Bag entry!

Glam Night Out! is this Thursday, 5:30-9 at the Downtown Grille Cafe. Admission is free, Judie of the Grille will have small plates and beverages for sale; we have 11 fabulous vendors,and you won't want to miss models from Lord & Tailor, Perform It!, and Champagne Taste's neighbor on the hill, Made On Earth.

It's been almost 2 weeks since I posted. Since then my family has had 3 everlasting colds, 2 fairly routine surgeries, 1 postponed because of 2012's only real snowstorm, 1 backache--the worst of all time, and 1 case of the Noro virus.

I'm not feeling too glamorous. It's definitely Mud Season in the Lakes Region.

I look in the mirror and see pale skin, love handles, and lifeless hair. I look in the closet and see black and brown and everything is shapeless (maybe a good thing, considering the love handles.)

Are you in the same place I am?

I've heard that color is "in" this spring. I saw some really exotic eye make-up in a magazine. I'm sure there are some tricks to hide the crow's feet.

That's why I'm excited about Glam Night Out! http://www.glamourinmudseason.org/glamnightout

Glam Night Out! will help us perk up boring wardrobes with accessories, let us try out new skin care and make-up techniques, and give us a chance to buy the newest fashion arrivals from area shops and entrepreneurs.

Already signed up are Paparazzi, Botanical Skin Care, the Kalled Gallery, Lord & Tailor, En-R-G Nutrition, Made on Earth, Dee Ide, Impeccable Kids, Perform It!, Black’s Gift Shop & Paper Store, and Lakes Region Opticians. There will be silent auction items and drawings, too.

The first 200 guests will receive Oscar-style Swag Bags with gifts from businesses as diverse as Champagne Taste, Avon, Silpada, the Village Players and more.

Invite your friends to come; admission is FREE. It's an Open House event, 5:30-9 p.m. Thursday, March 22, at the Downtown Grille Cafe.--Judie is going to transform the place,and they'll have wonderful small plates available as well as beverages including wine.

Arrive as you are, leave feeling glamorous and ready for spring!

The final segment of Downton Abbey just faded from my screen.

Did you notice those frequent scene stealers, food and drink?

The Crawleys knew you can't have a bash without food. And Glamour in Mud Season takes that lesson to heart.

Already The Downtown Grille Cafe is planning special small plates for Glam Night Out! March 22. But we have 6 other events April 13-15. Wolfeboro-area restaurants and pubs, we'd like you to get involved.

Want to serve your signature hors d/oeuvres for the Gala Art Opening Reception April 13? http://www.glamourinmudseason.org/artshow

How about creating a "mud" flavored drink in honor of the weekend? Mocha or Bailey's "Mud" is such a delicious ingredient in specialty coffees and cocktails!

Ooh! And what about desserts? Chocolate and diamonds are said to be a girl's best friends.

There's a good long lunch break between Glam Animals and before Mud Season band concert Saturday, April 14. A unique sandwich, soup or salad with great title may be just the thing to bring new customers in your door.

Start thinking. We'll be in touch...or send us an email, info@glamourinmudseason.org.

Lucky 13! There are still 13 days for you to get in your art for the Glamour in Mud Season juried Art Competition, Art Show and Art Sale! http://www.glamourinmudseason/artshow

I state juried Art Competition, Art Show and Art Sale so specifically because each is an important facet for artists and art lovers.

The Juried Art Competition: The art submitted will be assessed by professional artists to ensure that quality is displayed on the Village Players walls April 13-22. That's a plus for artists who want to be taken seriously (or want to see if they are able to play in the Big Leagues). It's also a plus for exhibit-goers who will be assured that they won't have to feel obliged to "admire" schlock.

The Art Show will be open the weekends of April 13-22, so people can enjoy the works and even vote for their favorites with a "Viewer's Choice" ticket. This is a plus for artists whose work may be exposed to new audiences, and they can invite their fans to see their work, too. A special Gala Opening Reception, Friday, April 13, will be a great time for artists and art lovers to mingle.

The Art Sale is a plus for both parties, too. Artists will set their own prices for their works, and the Village Players will ask only a small portion (10%) of the proceeds. This is an unusually good deal for artists, and art lovers can know that their purchases are supporting art in big ways.

Half of the Village Players commission will be returned to a single artist who will receive it as a cash prize from the professional artist jury.

What goes 'round comes 'round. Lucky 13! Make sure you submit your art in 13 days, by midnight, Thursday, March 1.

Artist's Call for Submission for Juried Art Competition & Sale?
http://glamourinmudseason.org/artshow
Due Date March 1.
CHECK
Gala Opening Reception & First Dibs at the Sale?
Friday, April 13, 6 p.m.
CHECK that, too!

"Glam Night Out" --ladies pre-event at the Downtown Grille & Cafe?
http://glamourinmudseason.org/Glamnightout
March 22, 5;30-9
CHECK

Wolfeboro Premiere of Noel Coward's Hay Fever?
http://glamourinmudseason.org/hayfever
With optional red carpet entrance peopled by bulb popping paparazzi & emcee Fred Fernald?
Friday, April 13, 8 p.m.
CHECK

Glamorous W.I.L.D. Animals?
http://glamourinmudseason.org/hayfever
Saturday, April 14, 10:30 a.m.
CHECK--them out!

Concert by Mud Season & the Blackfly Horns?
(They're New England's favorite seasonal band, you know)
Saturday, April 14, TBD
CHECK!

Hay Fever redux
Saturday, April 14, 8 p.m.
http://glamourinmudseason.org/hayfever
(No need to) DOUBLE CHECK

Breakfast at the Strawberry Patch?
YUM! Try something with Mud Season's favorite liquid: maple syrup!
Sunday, April 15, TBD
CHECK

Contra Dance
Sunday afternoon, April 15
Time and place TBD
Check

So, there you have it. No need to be Russian around, wondering what you want to do the weekend of April 13-15. We've done the hard work. Now you just have to "Chekhov" your favorites and meet us there!

{Apologies to all literary types who are now livid at the failure of the author to heed the advice re: "Chekhov's Gun" in this post. Low humor is grand!)