As we headed in for day two at the annual Huffhines Art Walk in Richardson, Texas, yesterday morning, as we got closer, we knew things would be different from Saturday – way different. It was Cimarrona’s first year for the Huffhines Art Trails, and we were told to prepare for weather no matter what.
I had gone off ahead of Leslie on Saturday afternoon to ostensibly, go fly fishing, but my fly fishing friend cancelled, so I drove on to Sanger for the opening of the Bolivar Street Art Gallery that night. From there, I encouraged Leslie to pack it up at Huffhines, not worry about the weather, and head for Sanger. In case you forgot, Cimarrona Hats and Wooligans are available at the new gallery in Downtown Sanger, Texas. Thank goodness she didn’t listen to me, because the weather was perfectly clear in Sanger, but later that night it brewed north of Richardson and blew in with a fury – right through Huffhines Park damaging and destroying booths and their contents. The vast majority survived, and because Leslie had diligently secured her tent and its contents, survived as well. Approximately six vendors were blown completely away – gone.
Leslie had some wind that tore loose some of the tie downs, and display photographs were done in, but overall the booth held and everything that was most important was dry. Mud surrounded us and everyone, but we were dry inside. Leaves from the hail were wet pasted to everyone’s tents – top, front, back and sides. We had been on the windward side all day Saturday, but in typical Texas fashion, the storm came from the opposite direction and we were on the absolute lee.
The event limped through the morning, but by the time church let out in the early afternoon, patrons were once again crowding the booth, and we were even able to get some photographs of little girls who couldn’t get enough of Leslie’s hats and other merchandise. The Wooligans are proving to be quite popular, and these new zipper mouthed characters are selling to adults as much as children.
Today, we are still trying to work up the energy to unload the car after two days of selling almost non-stop. The traveling inventory will be built back up in coming days, and we may have to even make another trip to Sanger to see if their merchandise is holding up.
If you haven’t heard about the Bolivar Street Gallery in Sanger, Texas, check back here for more details and video of that opening last Saturday night. The crowds were there and flowed into the streets of Sanger. We are looking forward to continuing to have merchandise in Sanger, and hope you will visit there for your art and gift giving interests. Be sure to tell them where you heard about them.