hello everyone!!! i really want to do a quick post about my wonderful weekend i had spent away at the Collins Group Retailer event over the last weekend. i met some really wonderful people and learned oh so much!!! (and perhaps spent a little too much too but you will love it all!)
each day from am to pm was spent in classes learning from some of the industries best teachers and educators. it was a whirlwind of information and ideas that i need to mentally sort out and figure out and then in turn share with you all!
it has taken me this long to not only get caught up on my sleep but to even consider unpacking and playing in the art room. i can’t begin to tell you all how much i learned and how much i enjoyed getting to know a few folks that i have admired from afar including Eileen Hull of the often imitated but never duplicated #ATB, Sizzix artist trading block
the wonderful Amy Bowerman from plucking daisies.
and the talented Anita Houston (pictured here with her ever so faithful friend, Norm!)
i hung out with and laughed and even shed a tear with these lovely ladies most of the weekend. i missed them the minute i left…. which reminds me i skipped out with out paying for my wine…. i owe someone!!!!
and i would be amiss not to mention the fact that i had the opportunity to take some spectacular classes from the Ranger “Royals”.
my first time ever taking a class from the queen of the original messy black pencil loveliness Dina.
i so love her style.. her faces she draws, her pages, all have so much power and feeling behind them and her birds were and are the bomb and it is true, ever so true, her paints are just like ‘budter’ (which is my attempt at pronouncing butter in a fancy ass way!)
i also was so very very smitten to be taking a class from my very first ever dash into the passion of the wonderful messy art journalling world idol the lovely queen bee Dyan Reaveley.
i have had the opportunity to meet her last year during my trip to CHA but was not lucky enough to get into her class so was tickled beyond bubblegum pink to have this opportunity…she even let me use HER camera to take photo’s for her during class.
my final class was with … sigh ….tim holtz!!!!
and for all those who know me know just how much i LOVE that man!!! but i arrived in his class ready to cry…i had finished my highof being in Dyan’s morning class, a missed lunch, rushing to pack, lack of sleep, knowing time was coming to the end, a storm back home….lots and lots of emotions and sugar level ups and downs….. and then he started talking and i was okay..my world was right where it was meant to be at that very moment….
and i can not leave out one VERY important soul, the BTS King. Mario.
i really have no words to describe this silent worker of all the greatest we all reap rewards from. he is truly one of a kind and i feel privileged to know him enough to know that when i get a hug i get a hug.. not one of those clutch and goes. i love that about him. I have to say a HUGE thank you for helping me complete a very important task this weekend. my girlies will be so tickled pink!!!!
it was a total whirlwind weekend and i will be sure to post pictures of projects that i started and have to finish. i learned a lot and wi
ll be offering some new classes to my students over the next while to share with you all what i learned.
i also took oodles of classes from lots of others but alas not a picture!! i will post pictures of those classes/projects at a later date!!
thanks for stopping by!
diana