5th Annual Trunk Show

This year was really the best trunk show we have had so far!  The Ellie Bluebell Designs Holiday Trunk Show is my way of gathering a group of awesome artists, and creating a great place for friends and family to shop local, small businesses... while having adult beverages and snacks.

It was awesome, if I do say so myself (and I do).

Ellie Bluebell herself reigned over the party, at the same time doing an excellent job of Swiffering up each and every crumb of cookie that fell to the ground.

We were joined by my loyal artist friends Carolyn Buss Jewelry, Gabriel's Aunt, the Julie Ann Collection and Valentina Vitols.  New to the party this year were Modern Little Ones (finally, baby stuff at the Trunk Show!) and Crowandiris.

And most importantly, here's all the food I baked!

Chocolate chunk cookies, Cranberry Thumbprints (from Nov 2010 Sunset), Lavender Shortbread, Parmesan Rosemary Shortbread, smoked salmon spread with creme fraiche (caught and smoked by Casey), and homemade Chex Mix.  Also served, but not made by me, were Cranberry Bliss Bars (by my aunt, from the Jr League's Celebrate the Rain cookbook).  I had an assist on the cookies from the cookie fairy, Tiffany... God bless her.

We drank Garnet Mimosas made with Ellie Blue's Lavender Sugar.  We drank a lot of them.

My card collection is getting revamped - out with the slow sellers and in with the crowd pleasers.  New this year: the Bathing Beauties!  These cards feature sassified 1930's pin up ladies with parasols and lots of bling.  They are named after some of the founders of my sorority, Pi Beta Phi (Fanny, Libby, Clara, Ada, Inez, Rosa, Margaret, and Nancy).  By the way they're selling, they'll be sticking around a while.

Meet Fanny and Inez.

The Ellie Bluebell Smells' line is also evolving.  The Lavender Shortbread I made exclusively for last year's Trunk Show were so wildly popular that I made more this year (a lot more) and also added Parmesan Rosemary Shortbread, made with my Ballard-grown rosemary.

Ellie Bluebell fans have spoken, and they love cookies.  I hope to have these available in my Etsy store very soon.

They also love adult beverages, because they report that the savory shortbread are great with rose, hard cider, Alaskan Amber, and sparkling wine - blanc de blancs in particular.

We ate, we drank, we shopped!  And on top of all that, we collected three great big bags of food for the Ballard Food Bank.  Thank you so much to the friends and family who came and helped make it a festive success.

Happy Meatball everyone!