Rach-ology: May 2012

Hi Ladies,

The second semester of Handmade U was a fun one! It seems so long ago since my "daytime job" has been crazy busy since then, but now I have a little bit of room to breathe and reflect on the wonderful weekend we had.

Thanks to all the ladies that came back for their Sophomore Semester, and those new Freshmen that came! The group of ladies we had were amazing, fun, and so creative, I can't begin to tell you.
Each semester I am learning so much from these women it is overwhelming!

Handmade U again began with the amazing Michelle Geller coming in Wednesday evening to stay with us.

Cheers to a wonderful weekend!

And behind every successful ART Weekend is a very patient, loving, and supportive husband, thanks JIM!

This semester I was a little more organized and we got some decent sleep the evening before, and got up early to take over Minglewood Lodge, in Gretna, NE.

I wanted each table setting for the students to be bright and cheerful! Number folders contained the schedule of classes for the weekend. Goodie bags filled with fun treats, and a little notebook for notes and thoughts for the weekend. Thanks to sponsors, Wanda Clark, Laurel from Oriental Trading Company,

and my mom Sara from Acorn Ridge Quilting, who did the majority of work on these AMAZING pencil cases.. (from an old vintage cutter quilt I had).

Michelle had her vendor table set up and ready to be shopped!

Anxiously awaiting the students!!

The ladies begin to arrive!! We had states all over represented! Louisiana, Virginia, Oklahoma, Texas, Indiana, Oregon, and Nebraska!

To start Friday morning Shelley and Stephanie were excited to do a SONIC run! Bless them! I love a good Cherry Limeade when the notion strikes! Plus given I was under the weather and losing my voice all weekend, the Limeade kept me going!!

Shelley organized the swap for the ladies. It was a paper doll swap, and the variety of dolls was so fun to see! A couple even made them for everyone, so I was able to add them to my journal, thanks!!

The dolls....sorry for the angle!!

Friday we began the Stitched and Stashed Journal taught by Michelle! Cute bag with all our supplies.

This is the cover I used for my first book...

Here are all the other ladies books. I actually made two one with the America Travels cover at the top right....I used my French Blue Books as the signatures inside. Excited to journal and keep track of all our family travels together in that one!

Michelle loving all the finished journals! We had a fun day of learning the binding technique, and then decorating all the pages with collage materials, stamps, etc.

Friday night was Pizza night for us, but this little lady came to find we had left over Smoked Chicken that my Dad made for us from Thursday night..... Michelle and I thought she was homeless and agonized about who would feed her after the weekend. Luckily, the Lodge owner let us know it was a family cat from the house behind the hill....so relieved!

Saturday morning we spent time working on Prize Ribbons! I showed a few techniques, handed out the bag of goodies to work with and let the ladies create what was in their hearts!

I love when everyone's projects turn out just how they should, unique!

Saturday afternoon we spent a lovely time with Pam Keravuori. Pam is am amazing artist, and she taught us about doodling, lettering and about the right tools and materials to work with! She created this design for us to model after.