Events - and more Events! (Images may take some time to load. All photos are the subject of copyright protection.) |
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SSC FEATURE MEMBER Krista began collecting in 1997 with "I Picked This for You," and now her collection numbers over 100. The day she got her first Charming Tails was a doubly-special occasion. . "My father bought it for my birthday," she remembers. Her favorite piece is "Reach for the Stars," because she loves the message it stands for. As with most collectors, her passion for Charming Tails has begun to overwhelm her living space. "Right now I just display them where I can find room," she said. Krista first met Dean at the Pottstown (Carlton Cards) signing in 2002. Also, Krista is a Civil War buff (and re-enactor!) and she enjoys horseback riding, singing, writing and reading.
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Keep reading -- there's more further down! Pictures from the California Regional Event!
Shopper's Paradise!!
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Rosemont - Here We Come! In less than three weeks, many, many collectors will be making their annual "pilgrimage" to Rosemont for the 2003 International Giftware & Collectibles Exposition. Watch out, Rosemont - here we come!! And, of course, THE event of the weekend will be the Squashville Social Club/Bears 'N Buddies PIZZA PARTY! Here's the important info you need to know: Date: FRIDAY - June 27th What exactly will be happening at this Party? Well, of course - there will be lots of PIZZA, lots of PRIZES, LOTS of fellow collectors and LOTS of FUN!!! In addition, we've previously announced, there will our very own Swap 'N Sell. A number of dealers will be setting up a table (or, in some cases - TABLES!) of Charming Tails and many other collectibles just for us! SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!! Word has just reached us that there will be an AUCTION at the Pizza Party, at 9:00 PM, of some very special Charming Tails-related items. What will be offered? You'll just have to be there to see! We have no way of knowing where the bidding will end, so be sure to bring cash and/or checks (we won't be able to accept credit cards. Sorry!) And one thing's for sure -- it's guaranteed to be exciting and lots of fun! So pack up the luggage, gather up your favorite Charming Tails, and set your sights on Rosemont, Illinois. We'll see ya' there!! * * *
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* * A big THANKS to Lauri Nickel for the following report from the Charming Tails Regional Event held May 31th in California! The Garden Grove, CA event was delightful! Pat & I were nearly the last ones in the door, and there was Dean, graciously greeting everyone who came through with a smile (and I got a hug). Dean and all the Fitz and Floyd folks gave us a sneak preview of the buttons that will be available at Rosemont – they feature "We’re Here When You Need Us" (Mack with the fireman’s hat) from the new Professions series. We gave Yvette & Wanda our tickets and received our Charming Tails bags containing the signed Tic Tac Tails figurine set, the matching lapel pin, event brochure, a giant playing card (for a poker game), a Maxine mouse pad and assorted sponsor fliers. We played lots of games! Various forms of bingo, a puzzle contest, elimination games, a tic tac toe (make that tails) competition (using the actual figurine set from our bags). Pat & Talli ended up as the finalists in Tic Tac Toe; it was fun to watch two engineers pit their problem-solving skills against each other! Talli won and received a marvelous set of two Tic Tac Tails lapel pins of Sebastian & Sabrina, which were signed on the backs. Dean made everything so much fun with his sense of humor as well as style, especially when he went into his Monty Hall routine, asking a winner if they rather have something in the box or behind the curtain. Some of the contest prizes were determined by spinning the giant Mackenzie spinner. There were office giftware, plush, ornaments, signed mini prints (the kind given club members for their scratch-off cards), signed figurine-and-print sets of Friendship is the Reason to Celebrate, and something that surprised even Dean when he found it among the ornaments – a Flurry of Fun ornament. Also making the event especially delightful was that Yvette was not only there for the event, but the timing and location were just right for the adoption of her newborn son. We didn’t get to see baby Kevin, but we heard a wonderful story from Yvette. It seems that when informing Dean of the great news by phone, he asked her what she named the baby, and she promptly answered "Mackenzie." Dean was not only speechless, but wondered just how completely indoctrinated Yvette had become by Charming Tails. She did relieve his fears by telling him "Just kidding!" The silent auction items were a sight to behold! Among the offerings were a basket of 6 (out of only 36 produced) Tic Tac Tails ornaments; a Rubber Ducky blown glass ornament; a silver Star in the Making; first samples of Bee My Honey, You’re One of a Kind, Floatin’ in on Luck, the club Let’s Play figurine & lapel pin, and Hangin’ on to Summer Fun; blown glass prototypes of Mouse on a Bee & Mouse on Dragonfly; a Mystery Item (later revealed to be a prototype static ball with three of the Squashville character standing around a wooden vat squashing gorgeously-done purple grapes with mallets); and my favorite item, Dean’s original artwork of Hangin’ on to Summer Fun, beautifully framed. All of the auction items were signed. Each attendee received a Tic Tac Tails print. Among the door prizes were prints of the "Four Seasons of Friends." Even after the games and the door prizes the prize table was still loaded, so Dean kept calling numbers, bundling some things (like various office giftware pieces) into sets, and tossing Small Mackenzie plushes into the audience! We also got to see some of the newest pieces, like It’s a Rosey Day, and the new Longaberger piece, in person. Another sneak peak was the new Army Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) piece (Protector of Freedom was last year’s AAFES piece). It's called "Freedom on Parade," and it’s similar to "Free to Be Friends", except that all the critters are facing forward, marching toward you, and I believe Mackenzie was wearing a Paul Revere-style hat. It should show up on the Member’s Hideaway in August or September, and only 500 will be available to L&A club members outside of the Military Exchanges. The three hours flew by in no time. Afterwards, several of us went to the Charming Shoppe, which hosted a lovely open house. There was a beautiful display of all the new pieces. They had some retired pieces, and gave away a free retired piece (5 different ones to choose from) with a $50.00 purchase. The shop is small, but they had cordoned off space in front of the store to make a large patio-like area, where they had set up tables & chairs, the display of the new pieces, and plenty of food and drink. All of the Charming Shoppe’s staff were accommodating and helpful, and they also had drawings and gave away prizes! It was a great way to continue the party. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * It's HERE!! The 2003 Squashville Social Club Keychain!
And it's a beauty!! The 2003 SSC Keychain features a round piece of blonde wood - and is engraved with the image from the 2003 Club Button! Make your keychain the envy of all your friends - send your order, along with a check or money order payable to "Squashville Social Club" to our Treasurer, Joan Woodruff, 420 South Dara James Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016-2713. Keychains are $9.00 for the first one ordered, $7.50 for each additional key chain. IF you order your key chains at the same time you order a club button - they're just $7.50 each. If you haven't ordered your key chain or Club Button yet - they will both be available at the Pizza Party at Rosemont! * * *
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* * This month's contest is short and sweet!! Since June is the month for Father's Day - just name ANY Charming Tails piece that features a Father (or a Grandfather) and child or children. Talk about simple! Our Contest Sponsor this month is The Charming Shoppe and they have been kind enough to donate "Hangin' Tight to Summer Fun" (98/317) as this month's prize. This is the 2nd of the 4 "Friends for All Seasons" figurines and is only available through select Charming Tails Dealers! So put on your thinkin' caps and email your answer to Susan at Jmsmott@aol.com no later than Midnight (Central Time), June 30th. One lucky winner will be drawn from the correct entries. April Contest Winner Feeding Time * * * * * * *
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In January, we announced the NEW Squashville Social Club button -- designed exclusive for us by Dean Griff himself! If you haven't ordered yours yet - just send $6.00 for the first button ordered, $3.50 for each additional button in the same order, to Joan Woodruff, 420 South Dara James Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016-2713. Your check or money order should be payable to "Squashville Social Club". You can even order right along with the new Squashville Social Club Key Chain! So order now!! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * |
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