I know, I know...you're probably dizzy from all the Silver Bella pictures going around blogland but I've got more that I want to share! Teresa McFayden, the Queen Bella, just put together the most glorious experience for us so I just have to finish sharing the goodness! :-)
Friday night at Silver Bella was the infamous Vendor Fair. Last year's SB Vendor Fair was pretty spectacular but this year's was something special. MORE gorgeousness than my eyes could behold. And to add to the beauty, there was a vintage prom going on. Here I am with the incredible Ms. Amy Powers...
Before we saw Amy dressed, Hope said that Amy had something special planned and she said, "I'm not gonna give it away but just think 'cupcake'!" He he he!!!
The Chiffon Patrol...L to R: Jennifer, Rosanna, Andrea, Cheryl and Natasha.
And the whole Prom Court...
And oh these gorgeous girls...Jennifer and Jessi...they are just so very lovely and so fun!
The fabulous Janice of Papier Valise was a vendor this year. I am so thankful I got to her booth early because if you know Papier Valise, you know the potential...and Janice did not disappoint! Every last bit was good stuff! And Janice is such a lovely soul. It was a pleasure to meet her and her husband.
Here's a picture of some goody bags that Michele Witchell had in her BEAUTIFUL booth.
I really wanted to take lots of pictures of all the amazing booths at the fair but I just felt too...star struck? The whole fair was seriously the Who's Who of the best online shops.
I did take a picture of my talented friend, Kim and her lovely ladies. These totes are absolute perfection. I resisted buying one for a LONG time! Okay...just since September but that's like 10 years in crafter years! :-)
Here's me and Natalie with our totes, standing with Jezebella, who was keeping Carol company in her booth. It was seriously hard to choose because each one is gorgeous but choose I did and I am SO loving it! The tote is like that Buxton Over the Shoulder organizer bag you see advertised on TV, EVERYTHING fits somewhere perfectly!
Okay, so if there was a vote as to the CUTEST couple at the Vendor Fair, it most def would have been Megan aka Princess Lasertron and her sweet beau/husband. Megan is wearing her wedding dress which she designed. This girl is AMAZING!!!
Saturday I had two classes...Fabric Art Adornments with an artist I completely admire, Rebecca Sower. Here is the class kit...
Here's the kit opened...SO generous!
Rebecca had her beads and baubles organized into little oval-shaped cardboard boxes. I LOVE this kind of stuff!!! When I commented about this, she said, " Oh I did that for you guys." Sigh...just when I thought I couldn't love her anymore! :-)
Here's the bracelet I made...I went a bit different than Rebecca's example. I also finished the ends differently, similar to how Stacy finished hers. I just love how this all turned out. I'll be making lots more of these! It's such a sweet, portable craft! I'm hooked!
Saturday was also the Bella Luncheon that Teresa put together for us. The sweet and lovely centerpieces were created by Cari Kraft, Bella Extraordinaire!
Teresa arranged for Mary Engelbreit to come to our luncheon and speak. She was SO fabulous and so so so down to Earth and humble. This was truly a treat.
After the luncheon, I went into Old Town to do some shopping with Lonnie. We didn't have too much time but we managed to snag a few treats!!! It was a gorgeous day, albeit it chilly.
My last class was with Jenni Bowlin. This was a fairly small class (just 10 of us) and so this was SUCH a lovely way to finish up the day. Very intimate and in addition to working on our projects, we talked about everything else...movies, books, tv shows (Jenni's a Mad Men fan!), family, travel, food, etc. What a delight...Jenni was super dynamic and funny. The kit...
and my little "Home for the Holidays" project...I still have to Mica the roof...
Cute cute cute...and Jenni's kit was super generous too! She gave us enough stuff to make a second house.
Before I get to my Saturday evening, I want to share real quick some of the very special prezzies I received from some sweet Bellas.
I got gifts from my two FABULOUS roommates...
From Natalie...
Yes, your eyes do not deceive...Natalie gave me a special edition "Bella Charm" that she was commissioned to make for Silver Bella event. This one brought me to tears. Thank you so much, dear Natalie.
From Lonnie...
Is this not gorgeous??? Thank you SO much, dear Lonnie!!!
From Jessi...
I LOVE this and just LOVE Jessi! What a sweetheart!!! Thank you SO much, Jessi!
From Kim...
Check out the back...
Aren't these just the coolest? Be sure to click on this pic to enlarge and read the ingredients. SO friggin' clever, that girl! Thank you SO much, Kim!!!
Oh there's more presents too but I don't have pictures of them. Sweet Julie gave me some YUMMY chocolates in addition to a gorgeous Button bracelet. Several Bellas that were in the Button Bella Fabric Fatbook swap sent me little thank you gifts but alas, I didn't pause to take pictures! Thank you thank you SO much Amy, Mollie, Julie, Pam, Stephanie, Stacy, Sandi, Lonnie, and Melissa to you sweeties for all your participation and generosity!
Speaking of the Button Bella Fabric Fatbook, I do want to share that with. I'm not quite caught up with talking pictures of the front and back of the pages so I will save that for another day. If you want to preview, Amy has pictures of the front of the pages on her blog. Even if I do say so myself, this book is just pure GORGEOUSNESS!
Saturday evening a group of us went into town to Upstream for some dinner. I was SO happy to be with this band of gals; unfortunately, I was SO tired and could feel myself slowing down and disengaging. But just look at some of the gals I was hanging out with! I totally felt like I was in high school and I was with the "popular" girls! :-)
L to R: Me, Suzanne, Stacy, Julie, Heidi and Lonnie.
L to R: Lonnie, Natalie, me and Stacy.
As amazing as Silver Bella, I truly was looking forward to getting home. My mind was already thinking of school, the holidays, ArtNest, Art Fest, not to mention the one last swap I'm in (a calendar swap!) and the four circle journals I have to work on (all from one group...there was a back up and now the back up is me!)
So when the captain announced we were beginning our descent into the Portland area, my heart smiled and I quickly packed up my sewing kit and put up my tray table. Then when I saw the view of Mt. Hood out of my window, my face smiled. I couldn't help it. I knew Glen and Miranda were picking me up at the airport and I couldn't wait to see them! I don't usually get homesick when I go to events because I am content and joyful to be immersed in my artsy world but this time, I truly missed both Glen and Miranda.
Sigh...so happy to be home.
Oh, so lovely! Thank you so much for sharing the pictures w/us! Happy Birthday to you!
Posted by: Malou | November 23, 2008 at 06:15 PM
Sounds like a fabulous time was had by all. Thanks for sharing all the lovely photos.
Posted by: melissa m | November 23, 2008 at 06:26 PM
oh man, you warned me to hold on to the glitter, but wowie, what a fabulous show! i loved reading through everything. . .
that photo of you laughing, priceless.
Posted by: julie collings | November 23, 2008 at 07:20 PM
So glad you had fun!
Cheryl
Posted by: fromthepines | November 23, 2008 at 07:39 PM
Thanks for the lovely lovely tour! I feel almost like I was there with you :)
Posted by: Lilli | November 23, 2008 at 09:25 PM
Looks like you had a wonderful time. Missed seeing you gals this year! Thanks for sharing your pics. Happy Birthday! I hope it was great one!
Posted by: Cindy (Junque Art) | November 24, 2008 at 06:25 AM
cool stuff! I posted about my "special gifts" today too... and I think Jessi did also. :) I have made a note to myself: bring more gifts next year! xoxo, Joanna
Posted by: Joanna {sweet finds} | November 24, 2008 at 12:38 PM
I should have taken more pictures....I'm so bad about that.
LOVE the way your fabric bracelet turned out, it's gorgeous. I might have to try to make one of them too!
Posted by: natalie | November 24, 2008 at 03:53 PM
It was so nice meeting you in person Michelle--such great photos--you really captured Silver Bella!
Posted by: Janice | November 25, 2008 at 06:42 AM
wow Michelle, I'm loving all your photos..I can never get myself to take enough pics when I'm on a trip!
Posted by: NATALEA | November 25, 2008 at 02:15 PM