{"id":1480,"date":"2013-07-05T18:26:31","date_gmt":"2013-07-05T23:26:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.brandonetto.com\/?p=1480"},"modified":"2016-02-28T07:00:38","modified_gmt":"2016-02-28T12:00:38","slug":"2013-nutcracker-collectors-club-convention-day-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.brandonetto.com\/?p=1480","title":{"rendered":"2013 Nutcracker Collectors’ Club Convention – Day 1"},"content":{"rendered":"
– Day 1 of the 2013 Nutcracker Collectors’ Convention<\/strong><\/span> –<\/div>\n
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A huge THANK YOU goes out to Susan and Dave Otto for hosting this year’s Nutcracker Collectors’ Club convention. The festivities started at Susan and Dave’s home on Friday evening in Chesterland Ohio where we got an up close hands on tour of Susan’s fantastic collection.<\/p>\n

I’ve known Susan for a few years and her collection has grown by leaps and bounds both in quantity and quality. Everyone was truly in awe at all the great pieces she owns. It is a fantastic collection and I am very fortunate that she sends pieces over to my studio for touch ups and\/or repairs to keep her collection in tip top shape. It really does help take her collection to that next level and keep it awe inspiring.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Susan's<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Susan's<\/a>

Susan’s nutcracker collection<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Susan’s daughter Erica, who is a great cook like her mother, prepared and served appetizers and food throughout the evening with help from her boyfriend Lou. The food was incredible to the extent that everyone, including my wife, was asking for recipes.<\/p>\n

After dinner Susan’s quick witted and talented friend Chris Welken played acoustic guitar and performed songs from his clever and amusing music CD, Modest Expectations,<\/span> which we all got a copy of to take home as a souvenir. Chris is very entertaining and his performance made for a delightfully fun evening.<\/p>\n

\"Chris<\/a>

Chris jamming out!<\/p><\/div>\n

My wife and I had a blast. We got to catch up with friends we met 2 years ago at Mike Pickwick’s convention in Connecticut and we got to make new friends at Susan’s. I really can’t say enough about all the great people in the club! If you are interested in joining, contact Susan Otto at nutsue@roadrunner.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Membership costs $20 a year for domestic subscriptions and $25 a year for international ones which includes a quarterly newsletter, master list of members, and an invitation to the annual Collectors’ Club Convention. The membership fee does not cover the cost of actually attending the convention; obviously this costs extra. Word has it, the 2014 convention will be held in Roswell New Mexico. That’s exciting!<\/p>\n

\"Susan<\/a>

Susan talking about nutcrackers<\/p><\/div>\n

Coming soon! – My coverage of Day 2<\/strong><\/span><\/a>:<\/p>\n