I have lots to share with you since I haven't blogged in along time; however, I am going to take care of first things first...Handmade U Spring 2012!
I am SO lucky to know Rachel McGough! I first met her at Silver Bella in November of 2010 and little did I know that our friendship would turn into something very special! Rachel hosted an art retreat, Handmade U , in Omaha, Nebraska, in September, 2011. She invited me to come teach and I had such an incredible time! The venue, the artists...the shopping! :-) You can imagine how thrilled I was when Rachel began talking about a second Handmade U and she invited me to come teach again.
Here are some pictures...this first picture is me and Rachel! I arrived Wednesday evening before Handmade U was to begin and Rachel and her fabulous husband, Jim, treated me to a great meal at Roja's in Omaha's Old Town. We sat outside and it was utterly perfect!
Bright and early Thursday, we headed to Minglewood Lodge in Gretna, Nebraska...
After a busy morning, the lodge was set up Handmade U style...
Rachel and Mollie taking care of some final details...
...and then we only had to wait for the students to arrive! I LOVE this vintage chalkboard Rachel set up to welcome the students!
Tables were set up for some fun and unique shopping at Handmade U too! Here is Rachel's table full of with her journals and trimmings from France!
Pam's table full of cards and labels made from her original doodles and artwork.
And oh yeah, the Hold Dear table full of things you know I love and adore...
The attention to details at Rachel's events are fantastic! That girl is gifted!
On Friday morning...a very special thing happened...Handmade U's first swap! This was a paperdoll swap hosted by the very awesome Shelley!
Sooooo cute!
I don't recall if it happended before the swap or after, but there was a Sonic run!
Thank you, Stephanie and Shelley :-)
Friday was my class, Stitched and Stashed Journal...
The class working...
It was a full day's work and I was so overjoyed with everyone's journals! They were amazing! I was also in awe of what each artist brought to her journal making...things that would have never crossed my mind. I love how that happens.
Look at these spectacular lovelies...
This view makes me extremely happy!!!
See how happy I am? :-)
To help us get through the afternoon on Friday, the fabulous Hope whipped up a batch of her incredible Minglewood Mochas. This is officially now a Handmade U tradition! Sooooo yummy!
Thank you so much, Hope!!!
On Saturday, Rachel and Pam each taught a class. Rachel's class was in the morning...Prize Ribbons! This project was so fun! I could have done this all day!
My ribbon...
All of the ribbons turned out so incrediblely cute...I adored each and every one of them! It definitely was a testiment to how talented these women were!
Pam's class, Doodle Ink, was in the afternoon. This was another fun class! I have long admired Pam's impeccible penmanship and I am also now in awe of her talent and mastery of so many other mediums! Also, seeing as how several of us there are huge Copic marker fans, Pam spoke about these pens and did some demos. She is also a certified Copic instructor so that was such a great bonus!
Here is my doodle, naked...
...and then filled in with watercolor...
As a very fun treat on Saturday night, Rachel arranged to have Bomb Digs, a food truck, come to the lodge to bring us dinner. Her husband, Jim, and her parents, Gerry and Sarah, came to the lodge to join us too! The food was SO.GOOD!
From left to right...Rachel, Shelley, Jodie, me, Paige, Hope, Pam, Michelle, Leslie, Mollie, Laurel and Stephanie.
For dessert, Rachel brought in Handmade U cupcakes!
And since I took so many pictures of this little girl, I have to mention that we almost every night we had an unannounced visitor at the lodge...the unofficial Handmade U mascot!
Rachel and I are both huge cat lovers so having this sweet kitty girl visit helped us not miss our kit kats so much. :-)
Just a few last pics...some views from the lodge...utterly gorgeous and utterly Nebraska!
Thank you again to Rachel and Jim for hosting me and to everyone for your kindness, sweetness, generosity, laughter, and friendship...this was another fabulous and memorable Handmade U!!
Great post! It was so fun!!! Love you and thanks for another awesome class!!! Miss you!
Posted by: shelleyoverholt@att.net | May 07, 2012 at 06:07 PM
....and I want to say I just LOVE Handmade U where I learn SO much!! I miss you Mrs. Geller!
XO~Hope
Posted by: Hope Ellington | May 08, 2012 at 03:41 AM
Oh, gosh, it looks like it was so intimate and FUN! I wish I could have joined you all. 'Love what you made! I want one of Hope's mochas!!
Posted by: Laurie | May 09, 2012 at 04:29 PM
So sad that I missed it but I'm thrilled that you all had a wonderful time! See you in the fall. ;)
Posted by: Lisa | May 22, 2012 at 05:01 AM