Halloween & Vine Trip 2009 !!

I have just returned from The amazing Halloween & Vine, here are the deets! Ghoultide Gathering deets to follow in the next few days!

I flew from Newark, NJ International on Friday, Sept 25th into San Fran. I met my friend Wendy of My Brain Child from Shrevesport, LA who also flew in and we were on our way!





We picked up our rental and upgraded for a nominal fee to a Nissan Altima Hybrid-we both Loved this car. We drove for 4 days all over and never went past a 1/2 tank of gas!

After leaving the airport we started the 30+ mile drive north to The Hilton Sonoma. This drive took us through San Francisco and over the Golden Gate Bridge! Very cool but so super foggy no pics were of any value on the way. Oh and the traffic...$#^@&*^@*&*^...enough said.






Our hotel was nice enough but we couldn't wait to check out Petaluma and to be ready for the next days festivities! Petaluma is DELIGHTFUL! This town was full of great food that is very affordable and tons of charming shops with friendly staff and oodles of Halloween delights! Finally, the next morning we awoke early to get in line. We were 45 minutes early and still were at the end of the building almost around the corner!












To be a part of the most famous Halloween show of the last 14 years was a truly amazing feeling!























Jorge of HoHo Halloween and I vamping for Camera ;)



















Jorge reworking his table after many sales ;)










And look at Miss Laurie Hardin's table of Monkey-Cats Studio! I missed the chance to get my pic taken with her (I am so blond sometimes)







Laurie sold her work like crazy and I was honored to help her and her sweet hubster Kelly along the way. Of course only when I wasn't walking around in a daze shopping!






Here is some of what I brought home with me!!





William Bezel Pumpkin JOL






Scott Smith 2 sided Ornament












Kerry of Paper Moon
Needlefelted Sculpted Bat Boy!!







Arbutus Hunter Paper Mache JOL






Susie Scott Paper Arts Ornament







When we returned from H&V and the local gift shops we put all of our goodies together on the desk in our room and had a lil photo shoot! We had a ball!












The days following the show we were on such a Halloween high! We visited everything we could of visual interest in Petaluma and had a ball!




































Here is my roomie Wendy!








And me, dani!





We fell in love with the AWESOME Halloween Displays in the shops of Petaluma. Totally Inspiring!



*Petaluma Antique Mall*






























*ILeoni*


Oodles of Glitterville goodies with super kind owners who gave us wonderful attention.

This store is a do not miss!


























ILeoni also has this signed Glitterville piece! Only one in stock!!!!

*PaperWhite*



Look at this killer window display!















PaperWhite has this great Day of the Dead collection~






Of course I bought yards of fun ribbons and trims!







*Papyrus*


20% off all Halloween goodies!! Yee ha!













~Marisa's Fantasia-Halloween Store~







And look they had a Janell Berryman of Pumpkinseeds Folk Art Display!

























*Heebe Jeebe*

















































*Heebe Jeebe*

Also has an everyday artsy store of fun!































After shopping & dinner on the water at Dempsey's,








we even even went to a rock show to see these awesome young (very young) men named

~The Lost Boys Band~

From Lake County, California

While walking through Petaluma we saw TONS of moving billboards for these kids who looked like they were 12.



They were playing that night at McNears Mystic Theatre!



An Awesome Venue for sure~








Anywho while walking down the street we met the father of the drummer and other family members who were taking the bands SERIOUSLY pro equipment inside the theater. They said you have to see them, you cannot believe how good these "kids" are. The short of it is we said no thanks as we were not convinced ;) They insisted on giving us free tickets.



WELL...HOLY COMOLY! These kids ROCKED!








We came to find out they have opened this summer for 3 doors down, Kelly Clarkson, Lynard Skynard, All American Rejects, Toby Keith and other HUGE artists! WTH?


I have no doubt these young men will make it and continue to grow their sound which will make them world famous. I was the old chick in the theatre who went up and bought their CD from the Drummers mom..LMFAO!



During the show the Uncle came up and said " I TOLD YOU SO"!! They offered to have us stick around to meet the band (too funny) and get the CD signed. Wendy & I were wiped out and left after the show, just stunned by the talent. My hubster is annoyed that I didn't take them up on it and get it signed. He agrees they will be HUGE! Still laughing that a grown women (supposedly me) was totally crushing on these kids talent.



Oh and you HAVE to see the keyboardist..he spins on a rotating floor at like 20+ miles an hour while playing. Crazy good show.




Finally, After a Full Day of Shopping on Sunday we packed up our mess for our flights home...eep!

















And readied for the morning drive back into San Fran for our return flights ;(



We finally Got a few great shots in the fog!












And even found an awesome cupcake store
(drove by the van and followed the address...lol).











I had them pack up some for the hubster and kiddos and flew them back to NJ! they were a lil banged up but tasted awesome!



This was undoubtedly a trip of a lifetime and I am so happy that Wendy was my roomie. She is not only a sweetheart but truly very easy to travel with. Good Stuff!