Here’s what happened:
I was having coffee with some friends, talking about an idea for an event to help promote my recently published book. (Is that a sentence I am tired of saying yet? IT IS NOT!) I had a simple idea of a ticketed event where attendees received the book, a piece of signature pottery and perhaps a flower arrangement all in a pretty place – like a flower farm or a cute shop. (I still like this idea, by the way and maybe it has a future life as well.)
But that morning, at that coffee shop with those friends, the conversation started with this small idea and ended up with an idea substantially larger.
I think we can blame Jane Howard. Or credit her, that’s the word I meant.
Because, with a couple of what if questions, by the end of coffee we had planned the framework for a truly fabulous spring gathering on what we all hope is a delightfully sunny and pleasantly warm and mostly wind free Friday night.
April 25
5:30 to 8:30
It’s a backyard party and everyone is invited to attend. Bring your friends. Bring your kids. Bring your neighbors. Bring your momma. Please don’t bring your pets.
Here’s what you can expect:
A backyard that kind of looks like my book’s cover.
Live music. Twinkling lights. Flowers around the yard. Photo opportunities with the book cover backdrop. Food and snacks for purchase. Plan to have dinner here. Local vendors set up around the yard. A place for you to drop your picnic blanket and hang out. Chairs around the fire pit. Feel free to bring your own bottle of wine if you’d like.
What will I eat?
You’ll see the cutest horse trailer turned coffee shop in The Blooming Bean. This is owned by my friend’s daughter and it is so sweet! She serves up iced coffee and hot coffee, chai tea, lemonade and hot cocoa, as well as some seasonal specials that are as pretty as they are tasty.
Stop at Crust n Crumb’s table for treats for Friday night and bread and take home items for the next day too. Her sour dough bread? Delicious. As are her scones, challah, granola, brownies, nut & seed bark and basically everything she creates! For this event, the maracons will be book colored! I love a good theme!
How about a make your own charcuterie cart? Yes – that will be in the backyard too. You can purchase plates already assembled or put together your own with Curean GVL. Walk it over to your picnic spot and find an open table set up in the backyard.
How about dinner for the entire fam? Yep – that’s a delicious choice too with my friend Dre of The Carolina Grill. Have I long thought a food truck in my own back yard would be the coolest? Yep. Making little dreams come true all the time. He’ll be serving up his amazing signature Southern classic comfort food – like BBQ and burgers and those sides you love.
What will I shop?
Oh y’all. It’s a Friday night bonanza for your favorite finds.
The backyard will be full of tables from these fine folks:
Addis Jemari
Think soft leather bags and beautiful jewelry for an incredible cause. Many TR locals have worked together over the years to support this unique ministry to Ethiopia. The ministry is still ongoing but the bags and sale items haven’t made their appearance for a while. But for one night – they’re back! All of the profits from this table go straight back to a trip this summer to Ethiopia.
Wilder TR
We are LUCKY. Wilder TR is a Main Street TR shop and they don’t often do pop ups – but for this backyard event – they sure are! Get your green thumb ready or ask Mary to help make your thumb green. If anyone can, she can.
Joanna Bursch Studios
Another rare treat – Joanna is a long time dear friend and pop ups have not fit into her full schedule. You can find her precious zippered pouches at Dear Greenville, but for this Friday night – you can also find them in my backyard! The added charms are too cute and she’ll have many other sewn goodies at her table too.
iViva
If I have a signature scent, it for sure comes directly from iViva. (And it’s called Hippie Love.) My friend Katie has been attending markets since before they were trendy. She is a faithful vendor and her essential oils, soaps and perfume sprays are just delightful. I stock up and use them routinely.
For Laurie, Love Amy
If you love books, you are going to love the jewelry line created by Leslie. You’ll find charm bracelets and charm necklaces – and you can design your own at her table. She has lovely rings and bookish necklaces. There’s even a special nevertheless necklace available for this evening too!
Kindred Makery
If you know Kindred, you know a pop up from pottery pair this is truly a special occasion. They are a sweet small team who stay quite busy with their wholesale pottery orders so having them out for a Friday night is a rare and special treat. Plus – there is limited run on Nevertheless mugs that I just adore!
Koula Keels
It’s so fun to share the talent of my friends with you all for one special evening. Koula creates sweet quilted items – on t-shirts and hats and more. Having her bring her talent out to share with you makes us all so fortunate! She has crafted these precious quilted bookmarks to sell too!
Sawyer’s Naturals
To go along with my signature scent, I guess I have a signature deodorant. Is that weird? Who cares?! Sawyer’s Naturals creates clean good-for-you body care – deodorant (my favorite is Citrus Hippie – is there a theme? I guess yes.), soap, chapstick, tallow and more. And they’re just really cool people.
Made by Magnolia
This is your cutie flower table. Yes, flowers are a giant theme of the evening. You can find a couple options at Erin’s table – made to go bouquets AND make your own bouquets. I love the make and take option. Can you imagine anything sweeter? Lovely tunes and designing your own beautiful bouquet?
Fiddlesticks Woodwerx
I just had to ask my friends Heather and Nathan to join us. If there’s a wooden bowl or wooden knife at my house, they made it! Have I ever given you a wooden salt or pepper grinder as a gift? Nathan turned it. You will love their table full of must haves.
What other authors will be there?
Being an author can be a lonely endeavor. There’s way more time spent behind a computer screen than at a party. Which is why I wanted to share the night with some other folks out there typing and writing away. You all need to see their books and their talented selves too!
Ruth Buchanan
London Clarke
Penny Frost McGinnis
Illustrated by Hannah Wickline
Abby Keith & Carissa Bowser
Michelle Grover
What else should I know?
Another fun part of the evening is a couple special raffles. There will be more details at the event but you can expect one amazing raffle that includes an item from each of the vendors. And there will also be a raffle for a night of camping at TR’s Field Trip Glamping!
You don’t have to buy a ticket and the night is totally free to attend – but of course plan to buy some one of kind treasures from these special vendors. If you’d like to let me know you’re attending via the Event Brite link, that’ll help for plans with food vendors to be best prepared. Thank you!
