All work and no play makes Elizabeth a dull girl

So with that thought in mind, my friend Sally and I headed for the Art and Book Fair at one of the larger venues in Wichita, Kansas last Saturday. Obviously, this is a scheduled post, since I'm gone. As we got to Century II (not sure where Century I is--grin),

we got to see the old Thunderbirds and Jaguars and Triumphs, and other old cars that were gathered


on the terrace.


Unfortunately, there were so many people milling around, it was impossible to get a good photo of the cars. And since Sally is not interested in old cars, she headed for the art,


while I held back a bit to take a photo of this and


this. You can see Sally has turned around wondering where I am.


Everything started out fine. I was walking through the exhibits and taking in the art,


while Sally was looking at the jewelry, something that has never interested me.


We hadn't gone more than half an aisle when I discovered these old post office box fronts turned into banks. I had owned one of these years ago. I bought it at the Tulsa (OK) May Day Fair, but it was stolen from me after I moved to Wichita. I was heartbroken at the time because I had special ordered it with the number I wanted and everything. It had taken weeks to get it to me. I realized that both Sally and Kathy (my friend who lives in another town and loves to shop) had given me money for my birthday. Granted, I had spent the money on groceries and cat litter, but I decided I really wanted one of these banks.

And that's when things went to heck in a hand basket.


It took awhile to get the bank I wanted, because there were so many choices. After I bought the bank, I asked the guy who made them if I could take his photo, especially since he


didn't have a web site. Odd how some of these artisans don't have that ability to tout their wares.

But as I mentioned, it was about this time that Sally decided she was sick. Now we had only been there about twenty minutes, but she was ready to go. Not sure why, because she admitted to me on Monday that she went back on Sunday and bought one of the banks for herself. Of course, hers was much bigger than mine, but I wanted the one I bought because it was similar to the one I had before. And why this bothered her is beyond me, because I wait patiently for her to buy $90.00 top sheets and other things when we go shopping. But decided she did that she was ready to go and when she is ready to go, well, all I can say is that's the hazard of riding with someone.


Sally said she was heading to the car, and I told her I would catch up with her, especially since I know how slowly she walks. I was on a mission to see more of the art. I was fascinated by these copper twirlers, but had to keep moving.


I didn't want to miss the color,



the variety,


and the uniqueness of some of the items.


I snapped shots as I walked the aisles,


taking in as much as I could. I remembered this lady from the previous year. She has a no-kill cat and dog farm in Missouri she supports with her art. I remember asking her if she had heard of Bernie Berlin, and was surprised she had not, especially since she calls her art "mixed media."


This guy has been to every show I've been to, and all his art is hand drawn.


Those cats were colorful and I would have loved to have stopped to admire them, but there was no time.


As I turned one corner, I remembered this artist from the Herb Show. I even took a similar photo.


I was really fascinated by this artist's bicycles, but didn't take time to get a card. I would have loved to know if s/he had a web site, but didn't get the name of the booth or the artist.


As I was leaving, I had to take a photo of those flowers. They were made with boards that looked like the tops of privacy fences. It's amazing what "crafts" people come up with.


One final bit of color and I was out the door. I caught up with Sally long before she reached her car. Sadly, the day was short-lived, but I had a really good time and I reveled in my belated birthday gift I gave to myself. That was worth everything!

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