Monday 8 July 2013

Fun Weekend

Well what can I say about this past weekend that would sum it up, other than I do not think I have laughed so much in my life.

It all came about when PAPERARTSY decided to hold a retailers training day, to educate shop owners and teachers about the fabulous PaperArtsy products, including FRESCO PAINTS and GRUNGE PASTE.

Myself, MICHELLE and GILLIAN were invited to go along to the training day too. partly to help out and partly to brush up our skills with paint techniques etc. (go and see both their blogs, them make awesome stuffs)

Gillian got the train down from Scotland to a station near me and Michelle, we picked her up and set off.

Here we are in the car.

We sang and laughed and tweeted all the way to Art from the Heart, where Michelle was teaching a taster class for an hour. 

While she was busy with her class, Gillian and I mooched around the shop and chatted with DYAN and KATE

Here we all are just before we set off again..


On our way again we drove down to Essex, to PaperArtsy HQ. As soon as we arrived we jumped in the van and went to the training venue to get everything set up. it took us about 3 hours, but looked great. 

Just look at all those awesome stamps!


See that huge..HUUUUUUGE banner at the back, I helped put that together, and took it down all by myself. it was all attached to this weird metal frame and trying to figure it out was like being on the Krypton Factor!


Lots of samples were placed around for people to see and take photographs. All the projects that I had made were on show..


Once we were all set up we went back to PaperArtsy HQ, where the very lovely Leandra and Mark had invited us to stay with their family. We were treated to a great bbq. We also got to see where the stamps are made, that was so very cool. 

Here is Mr.PaperArtsy. 



Sunday morning we were all up early and off to the venue about 8.15am, where we did final prep for the day. 

People started to arrive, claim their seats and wander around the samples on show. I got to try out my painted apron for the first time..


We then got busy,busy. Leandra and LIN taught around 20 samples between them. Everyone was having a great time getting messy.


At lunchtime we stuffed ourselves silly with this gorgeous buffet.


and followed it up with these deserts..


The only problem of the day was the heat, boy was it warm....roasting in fact. but the venue staff kept us supplied with jugs of iced water all day. 



With all that food inside us and the heat it was hard to stay awake lol but the excitement of the wimbledon win kept us alert, and we managed to complete all out samples. 

This one is my interpretation of the techniques taught by Lin.


I was totally thrilled that I got to meet JO, I had missed her at Ally Pally so it was great to chat with her on Sunday. Jo is the designer of the JOFY stamps that I used to make my girls with big hair. 


Such a fantastic weekend, with some of the nicest people I have ever met. Huge thanks to Leandra and Mark for their generosity and hospitality. 



16 comments:

  1. So glad you shared the inside story of the day, and what a great day it looks! Makes me wish I was a retailer.... The buffet looks amazing too. yum yum!! Thanks Darcy.

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  2. I'm so jealous!!! It looks like you had the BEST time. Fantastic photos, especially of the desserts (say no more)....... :) But the samples look gorgeous, as does your tag.

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  3. It looks like you had a fabulous time! The buffet (especially the cakes) look lovely. x

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  4. Wow!Looks like you all had a bal (except for the heat!) Love all the pics, especially seeing you in your apron!

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  5. Awesome post Darcy. What a fab weekend, I enjoyed every minute of it. Can't wait until we do it again. Mr & Mrs PA were so kind and generous, and the kids are really funny. Michelle x

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  6. lovely to see what you all got up to - god that looks fun! lol

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  7. Fabulous post! Loved all the pics (thanks for the one of Dyan lol) and the food, oh my!

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  8. Sounds like fun :)
    Happy craftin
    Rebecca

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  9. Wow Darcy...sounds like you had loads of fun.
    Take care.
    Kirsti xxx

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  10. Looks like you had a lot of fun...very jealous lol!!!

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  11. Fun weekend. Have you all recovered yet?

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  12. You described it so well I could almost imagine being there! Lucky you! It sounds fabulous! I would love to see where Leandra and the Elves make all those amazing stamps too!!! Julie Ann xx

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  13. It was so lovely to see you again Darcy, you took some fabulous photographs and summed up the weekend perfectly. Oh, and I just love what you did with your tulip sample, it looks amazing.
    Lin

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  14. Haha. Was great to have you there darcy.

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  15. ...and you looked right at home amongst all those talented people :D What a lovely way to spend a weekend :D XXX

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  16. I would of loved this fun time AFTH & PA what bliss! love you Darcy Dxx

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