So as a nice change to last year, our beloved Blowout was able to have its own weekend.  Very nice indeed, for us as stall holders.

We had a drama-free set up, after running about 30mins late, and got to park our vehicle INSIDE the gates this time.  Oh Plymouth, you treat me so well, and you are much prettier than the Bongo van we used last time!

All that was left after set-up, was GET PURDY...

Set up may have been drama-free, but the weather sure wasn't gonna let us off that easy!  We may not have had the wind from the weekend before, but instead we got the rain... on... off... on... off....

Which was relatively fine, as it kept our under-cover stall busy while people huddled away from the rain... BUT the corrugated iron cover was dripping and splashing water all over the stock against the back wall! Took a lil while to notice unfortunately; it was mostly only packaging (boxes) that showed any damage.

One good thing about being stuck under covers was that the less we walked around the other stalls ourselves, the less money we spent!  In the morning while there weren't that many people just yet, the boy and I had a look around, and realised that KEITH WEESNER was this year's special guest! (I know! How did I manage to miss that one?!)

For all those who don't know who Keith Weesner is: FIND OUT!  I had been introduced to his art a few years back, and have been a fan ever since.  Sooo, we got to meet him, and score a couple of signed prints for our walls!

We also met the lovely Charlie 'Chaz' Allen , a talented local pin-striper, and scored a striking piece of pin-striping for our lounge.. I'm thinking above the bar...

After much spending so early in the morning, there was nothing left to do but show restraint, and earn those dollars back!  The day meandered on with bands playing throughout the day, until we got to the afternoon entertainment: Miss Hot Rod Blowout 2010 and the Auction.

Devel Women was again one of the sponsors for the prize of Miss Hot Rod Blowout, which deservingly went to the gorgeous Miss Morgie Lee this year!  What more could you ask for as a welcome home present, Miss Morgie?

Yeah, btw, WE MISSED YOU!

As the day wore on, and the curls in my hair died, and the crowd's interest turned to afternoon beers and high-bidding auction items (Weesner's painting, which we ALL wanted!), I had to have a sit-down.  Even though you can't tell from my cool, calm and collected face...

... my feet were freakin killing me!!  Tis a long day; 8-9 hours on heels, on uneven gravelly ground, better suited to cars and go-carts.  But we all get through it, and crash so thankfully with takeaways (BurgerFuel in our case) afterwards.

Thank you Scroungers for having us along once again, we'll see you next year!

What's next?  Retro Vixens Vol.2, watchout!

dan. xx

Up at 5:30am, to get ready in the dark, and drive our way from Pauanui to Whangamata to set up with Rita Sue for the day.
 
And what do you know? My beloved Plymouth was rearing to go, and started at the first turn of the key!  Which believe me, NEVER happens! And as 6am is pratically still night-time, there was no one on the roads, and we made good time through the hills.

Early morning Whangamata is so peaceful...

The stall was set up with very little drama, however we soon found out that our nice lil alley was acting like a wind tunnel.  This kept us busy all day, chasing tshirts and business cards... But hey, that's one way to stay alert!

Another was the entertaining and hard-to-miss Rock'N'Roll parade which was going on in the street first thing in the morning, which was then followed by the cars... cars upon cars upon cars...  There was a classic model for anyone's taste; Bel Air's, Mustangs, Rat Rods, Sleds... Fire Engines?

We also had our good friends Renee, Maxx and Jake come visit us during the day; which was nice. Especially to give my boy some male company, while we sold pretty clothes and accessories to girls all day!

Jake and Steve

I had attempted to make some cupcakes for us to snack on during the day, but unfortunatly due to the heat, they died a lil...

They still tasted good!

The crowd were happy, the day was sunny, the stall was busy; all in all it was a very pleasant Beach Hop.  Thanks to all who came to Whangamata for the Hop, and came and said hi to myself and Rach; thanks for making it an awesome day!

And here's some pics taken by the Hop photographer:

You got nothing on this coming Sunday?  Cos...

Next up:  Scroungers' Hot Rod Blowout

Easter Sunday 4th April 2010, Avondale Speedway, Auckland NZ

dan. xx

So as per usual, I heaped as much as possible onto my plate to get done before heading down to Whangamata for the Beach Hop.  Which meant we left quite late, and arrived at the place we were staying by about midnight, to get up again at 6:30am to go set up our devel men and women stall for the day.

I was lucky enough to have the help of my friend Renee for the day, with set-up and manning the stall while the boy and I were busy with models, sourcing last minute items for the fashion show and its make-shift changing room for the ladies!  It was full-on, and the day just sped past until it was time to move to the stage for the Retro Fashion Show.  We roped in the help of all the guy models available to help build the changing room, and unpack everything from the van.  I was getting messages all over the place from models who were getting lost or unsure of the time, and I was running around like a headless chickadee!  Everyone ended up getting there just in the knick of time, had their instructions barked at them by yours truely, and went on to make an awesome, interesting and exciting show!  But oh dear god the panic!

To see gorgeous shots from the show, courtesy of the talented Nic Fletcher, click here.

So the show went well in the end, and we packed up all our stuff again, as I tried to calm back down after the insanity.  And lo-and-behold, we were trapped in by the thousands of people who'd gathered to see who won the Mustangs the organisers were giving away.  Which, by the way, was our amazingly HUGE crowd for the fashion show, yay!  But that meant poor Renee was left at the stall back on the main street for much longer than we anticipated, after having very little rest beforehand, and with very few people coming through to keep her occupied, because they were all busy at the stage area blocking our way out!

We finally got back to the stall, packed that up, and went for some wood-fired pizzas at Nero's for dinner.  Great food, but as the rest of the town would have found, with the volume of people that come through for Beach Hop, it makes every process take ten times as long.  So we finally got out of town around 10pm, with a couple of stops on the way for safety's sake, getting back home by midnight again, to get up around 6:30am AGAIN for set up at the Scroungers' Hot Rod Blowout.

The Hot Rod Blowout was a more relaxed day, with everything close-by, so I got to see cars and bands while never really leaving the stall.  Oh and it was such a scorcher of a day!  We were lucky enough to be under the shade of the stall for the entire time.  It was nice to be amongst a smaller crowd as well, after the day before at the Beach Hop, where every man and his dog within driving distance attends, blocking up every space, and sometimes even starting unneccessary trouble on the streets. I suppose you always get that with big numbers, and people drinking all day.  So the Hot Rod Blowout on the Sunday was a nicer, calmer way to finish up the weekend.

Continuing on from last year, there was the crowning of the next Miss Hot Rod Blowout.  Devel Women was one of the sponsors of the first prize, giving a devel women shirt or t'alternative of choice, and custom handpainted handbag of choice to the lucky lady.  Miss Sticks was the lovely winner this year...

All in all it was one great  big important, tiring weekend, which was also fun and absolutely worth every moment!  

What's next?  Who knows...  Maybe we'll see you at YOUR place for a Pin Up Party with the girls ;) email RitaSue for more details.

dan. xx