This past weekend was the September Scrapstars Retreat in Leeds run by my mate Caroline. She put so much effort into planning and organising this event and I loved it. It was alot of hard work, lugging boxes of stuff about, moving tables and lots of running around but it was so worth it. We did 8 fabulous classes and there wasn't one I didn't love. The teachers were Emma Trout, Rachael Elliott, Kirsty Wiseman and Lida De Witte, all in the photo above with the event organiser Caroline. We did some gorgeous layouts, a canvas (above), a mini album on a page, a suitcase containing a selection of mini albums and an amazing distress ink storage trolley. The suitcase and ink storage trolley were the creations of Lida and she just continues to amaze everyone with her "off the wall" ideas which are always a real wow!
The highlight for me was winning some "teacher artwork", a gorgeous plaque created by Rachael Elliott using Websters Pages papers layered up. I have mounted it onto 12 x 12 cardstock and framed it and it now has pride of place on my craft room wall. I will post a photo of it at some point.
The retreat was held at the Ramada Jarvis Parkway in Bramhope, Leeds, opposite Golden Acre Park. The bedrooms were comfortable and ours had a lovely patio out into the gardens and the hotel staff couldn't do enough for you and were so friendly and polite. Caroline's lovely hubby brought boxes of Krispy Kreme (???) donuts in on the Saturday night and there were bowls of chocolates on the tables throughout the weekend, chocolate sweets and biscuits in our refreshement area and one of the ladies had a birthday so there was lots of birthday cake too. The make and takes were fabulous and the teachers demo'd different flower making techniques with some very unique flowers being made.
I am determined to finish every class kit over the next few weeks, which will be a first for me as I have dozens and dozens of unfinished kits from past retreats going back about 6 years so I have plenty to work on if I go on a stash diet until the new year.
I want to say my own personal thank you to Caroline for the amazing weekend and allowing me to be, in her words, "The I.T. Department". I had a blast and can't wait to do it all again soon.
