Escape 2 Create 2014 The Layouts

It's taken me a while, but here are my LO's from E2C. I haven't finished what I started at Kim's class, but I'll get there one day. Maybe.

Hope you enjoy looking at these, the one with Lexi with Mr Potato head is one of my favourites and also the one of Mia and Rocco at Myers Cutting. Special memories attached… 

Thanks for popping in.

Escape 2 Create 2014

This time last week, I was sitting in the scrappy shed at North Shields, well, scrapping!! 

Here is a round up of my weekend.. 

For me I think it was one of the best yet, but I say that every year. 

 Loving my mug!! I've used it a few times since I have been home, but really should pop it with the others. I have accidentally put one through the dishwasher once, it's not quite the same now. Those who know me well, would know that I'm a bit silly like that! 

 The shed! All decked out in gorgeous colours!! It's MINT!!! 

 Lots of detail in the hanging thingies!! 

 Champagne, a happy me, although Champagne and I aren't the best of friends, it goes straight to my head. Say no more. 

 Our table names!! Love that we are all pre-seated so all we have to do is arrive and sit! No worrying about getting the spot you want with the people you want! Love this aspect! 

 Two of the loveliest ladies! Meredith and Amanda welcoming us. Meredith is ever so good with the mike… 

 Getting ready to settle in and scrap.

 The yummy food that we ate. This exceeded all my expectations.. YUMMO!! 

 A mango dacquiri (spelling is wrong) Oh well. These were so yummy, I'll be stock piling mango for a couple of months before next time. The best little cocktail in town!

 The shed open, it was lovely and warm one night, so good to let the fresh air in.

 THE RASKOG!! I won this in the prize draw.. I'm really so so happy with this, I just can't believe it's mine!! Yippee!!!! 

The beautiful Celeste. I've followed her on Instagram for quite a while now and how fantastic it was to get to know her a little bit over the weekend, to talk scrapping and her fitness journey too!! A most motivated woman. And modest too!! LOL!! 

One scrappy doctor! I loved Natalie too, what a fantastic person. Achieving great things in her professional career and also her scrappy life. Works very hard at both. And has a husband and two littlies as well… Loved meeting Natalie!! And loved her class!!! 

Gina!! So so nice to meet her finally after seeing her around on FB and Instagram too. Gina was very nervous, but taught us fantastically and also such a creative person. I hope that we helped to calm her nerves in some small way, I felt so bad that she felt so nervous, I just knew she would be fine.. And she was.. We all loved her class!! I most certainly learned lots! 

Celeste teaching. A natural on the mike too! 

Mardi, I love you!! LOL!! I've always loved Mardi and was so excited to know she was coming again. Yes!! Mardi was sitting at the table behind us and every time she walked past me, gave me a little touch on my back!! I loved it, there's something about Mardi, let me tell you!!

A table of creative goodness. So so glad that Kate was able to come too, I didn't spend heaps of time talking with her, but I loved being able to wander over and have a little peek at what she was up to, Kate is also special to me as we both have a Heartkid, and she helped me more at that time than she'll ever realise. She'll forever be special to me!!

 I didn't get a photo of Kim teaching, but we also had a fantastic class with her. A gorgeous mini album and a project life spread. Two for the price of one. Kim drove across the country with her husband and daughter to be with us, a mammoth effort really. All the teachers travelled a long way, but to drive is huge, I know I would much rather hop in a plane, although it sounds like they made a little family holiday of it. I was horrified to learn that her husband and daughter stayed at the Pier Hotel, nice food and a good atmosphere on a Friday night when there is live music but to stay there, no way!! Another lovely lady, I didn't get to speak to her much at all, but am very thankful that she came for us. FOR US! It's a crazy thought. 

Another dinner. Too good. Really.

The mess, also fantastic to just leave things where they lie for a few days, and just trot off to bed and know that you can pick up in the morning where you left off.. 

Table buddies. My sister in law Anele, Liz, Celeste, Gina, Natalie and Me! Pretty cool table if you ask me!! Heehee!! 

And a top view of our table… 

A wonderful weekend, with such a beautiful group of women, I laughed and I cried, fat ugly tears when it was almost over. I felt emotional, probably the most emotional I have felt at a retreat so far. Connecting, re-connecting, talking, scrapping, admiring others work, dancing, eating fantastic food, drinking perhaps a little too much alcohol, but just filling my cup. It really does fill you right back up and help to remember who YOU are. My hugest thanks to Meredith and Amanda for yet again exceeding expectations, and basically arranging this weekend, putting so much into the behind the scenes so that we can all refill our cups.. 

Hurry up mini retreat. I want to go again!! 

x

Heidi Swapp

The most fabulous two days! 

A while back Liz and I heard that HEIDI SWAPP!!! was coming to Adelaide, so we booked, it seems like such a long time ago now, and then it was upon us before we knew it!! 

I love how Liz described her, the P!NK of the scrapping world!! I do love that description!

A bit of a photo journey coming up of our little trip!! 

SUNDAY!!! 

After landing in our little hire car! It was so nice to have our own set of wheels... 

Can you tell we are a bit excited? 

Off to Marion.

I love Sumo salad so got a nice big one!!! Mmmm!! 

We had a great time having a little shop around and a catchup with Lauren for some Churros and I had a huge sundae! At the new hot chocolate place in Marion, I'm bad with names so can't tell you what it was called! 

Mmm, Vietnamese Chicken!

Had a lovely dinner with Liz, Amanda, Meredith, Nat, Mardi, Tatum and Lauren on Sunday night, and this passionfruit cosmo nearly knocked me over! Twas yummy though!! Potent!!

The salmon special was to die for! I think I was the last one eating, I savoured every mouthful, or perhaps I talked too much instead of eating, either way it was delicious!! First time I had ever had fennel and I can say I would most certainly include it on my shopping list one day! 

MONDAY!! the day!! 

Lord knows I love a selfie and here is one after I had gotten ready to go to Heidi and Kims classes.

My yum brekky.. I only ate about half... 

And after a bit of a hiccup, seated, and ready to Make Pretty Stuff....

Two of the most gorgeous ladies at work during Heidi's first class... 

The beautiful lady at work.

A duck selfie just for Amanda, because I just know she will love it!! LOL!!

I loved using the colour shine sprays... Learnt so much!! 

And yes, I am here, and I think I'd better make the most of it!! 

Kim's gorgeous Christmas Class... 

I've never really been into Christmas scrapping but this year I can feel a change. 

And of course lovely Nat, who is always in my thoughts... 

The most gorgeous funny lady Meredith, her laugh is infectious, and I just think she's fabulous!!  

My special friend Liz, I'm so glad we went together and have been getting to know each other these last couple of years. She's got a wisdom about her, and I find it calming and grounding. I loved our time together in Adelaide!! I hope I can offer her some good things too!! So so glad we got to experience Heidi together... 

This sweet woman, what can I say, I really feel like I am getting to know you more now, and it's a great thing!! Mwah!!! 

Ahhh, lovely Lauren, the sister of a friend that I adore, and I adore this sister too!!! 

Mardi!!! I just love her! Haha!! That's my scrappy crush coming out!! But truly, what a most gorgeous woman! Down to earth, welcoming, lots of lovely things about Mardi.... 

Heidi telling us her first story, she had me in tears, infact it was all I could do to not break right down... What a wonderful storyteller.. I had not one idea that Monday would be so so good for my soul in more ways than one. In a creative sense but also in the sense of my spirit too... I wish I could have recorded her stories.. Thankyou so much Heidi!!! 

And Heidi and I!! It's right at the end of the day, and I'm not looking my best, but truly how starstuck to have a photo with her!! Yes, I am!! She's so lovely. And honest... 

All the EP girls with our aprons and Heidi and Kim, how cool that they popped them on straight away!! And a fabulous happy colour too!! 

All in all, what a fabulous day. 

I learnt so much in different ways... 

I can't wait for Heidi to come back again, I for sure will bend over backwards to go....

Be kind to each other, but most of all yourself. 

Forgive because life is too short. Whether you have to forgive yourself or someone else. 

Life is too short to hold onto that. The days can be long but the years are short and before you know it another 10 years will have passed... 

What a great experience... x