Friday, March 5, 2010

Workshop of a Lifetime - WHAT A DAY!

Seriously.

What.

A.

Day.

;)

Now, just a warning, this will be a LONG post - as there is SO MUCH to tell... and pictures, and just a gooood time.  There will probably be more pictures added soon - as I only have a couple at the moment.  Jesse will be getting more to me in the coming days, and I will post those!

It was crazy from the get-go, not only because of the group meeting, and the workshop, but also because we have 2 sick boys, one of which (of COURSE, that darn Murphy) had to go for a quick visit to the dr's that morning.

Shelli and Sara arrived here in Williams Lake, on Tuesday evening, so I actually gave them a buzz at their hotel around 8.30pm, to invite them to breakie.  As it turned out, Shelli had TWO (not just one, but two!) conference calls in the morning, so that wasn't gonna happen.  (But, I needed that time anyway to take a sick boy to the dr!)  I was seriously a headless chook (aussie slang for chicken with its' head cut off) for the majority of the day.  The only times I wasn't?  During our group meeting, and the workshop - both of which were AWESOME!

The group meeting started at 1pm and went until 4pm, and we discussed stuff like bookings, workshops, supporting your downline, retired sets we missed, and whole bunches of stuff!  It was so phenomenal to have some personal, relatively quiet time with Shelli and Sara, with just the 10 of us.  Sara was taking notes like lightning - they genuinely care what their demos say, and that was just awesome.  We all enjoyed it immensely.  After the discussion part of things, we went on to do a make-and-take, with a watercolouring technique I love - that I'd learned while watching the Regional training DVD with my upline Cary - called the re-inker spread technique.  Shelli and Sara had both seen the technique demo-ed... but had never done it!  How special did I feel that Shelli and Sara tried a technique for the first time at MY HOUSE?????  Oh my gosh, I was giddy!

Sadly, that meant that the end of the group meeting was there - that 3 hours had totally FLOWN!  And it was time to get ready for the workshop.  Shelli and Sara said goodbye to the girls, and headed off to relax for a bit, grab a bite to eat.

 
Back: Trish, Susan, Cary, Teena, Sarah, Jesse, Heleen
Front: Sara, Me, Shelli

 
 Our make-and-take for the group meeting - card was designed by Cary

Fastforward to 6.30pm, and Shelli and Sara arrived for the workshop.  I greeted them at the door in my pj's... ;)  When everyone had left in the afternoon, I had just needed to relax, get comfy, and give my sick son some mummy-cuddle time... so I did!  I had to get spiffy, and Shelli and Sara just got their stuff out while I changed and got ready.  (If you don't know me yet - I'm really low-maintenance - getting ready takes me all of 10 minutes.)  The ladies started arriving not long after!

I ended up having 18 attendees, so the living room was PACKED!  :) Sara started out with the arrivals by helping them with a quick and easy make-and-take, a cute little tag on a pen.  Then, once everyone was here, we got going.  I introduced myself (as I had quite a few people come that I'd never met before - through flyers and brought by existing customers), and Shelli and Sara - and then handed the floor over to them. 

 
See? Easy Peasy and too cute!


At this point, if it wasn't enough that the CEO and Co-founder of Stampin' Up! was coming to my HOUSE, to do a workshop for me... I got goodies!  Shelli thanked me for hostessing, and I got this cute little favour box with a spool of Soft Suede polka dot ribbon.  Kellene, Shelli's assistant, had also sent out 2 boxes of catalogues sent to me to GIVE AWAY to my guests (no small thing - they're worth $100 to me when I order them!)... AND I also got a personalised stamp (oh yay, I had wanted one SO BAD, but it just wasn't a priority item!)... but to me, the favour box means the most I think - because it's handmade of course!  :)

Favour box made in Old Olive with Very Vintage wheel, 
hodgepodge hardware, and the Beautiful Butterflies die.

Watching Shelli do the demo, and then demo the 2nd make-and-take, was just awesome.  She used the Big Shot, the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Sweet Pea Stitched Felt, Sweet Pea DSP, Choc chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Kraft cardstock, and our EXCLUSIVE Top Note die... (mmmmm, I love that die, and just got mine this week!)  She demo-ed an easy peasy technique that looks just fantastic - called paper piecing - and it took her so little time!  It felt great when she asked me to chime in whenever I chose, because although she's the CEO, she doesn't have the catalogue memorised like us demos!  ;)  (Well, I do often take mine to bed with me... and I have a few friends who take theirs in the bath!)

Gorgeous Friends Card.

The 2nd make and take was a cute little card and envelope, using the Sale-A-Bration set Vintage Labels, The Scallop Circle Punch, the 5/8" Satin Ribbon, the classic Note Cards, and the Designer Series Patterns Paper.  They chose Bermuda Bay, Whisper White and Basic Black, and it just looked SO sharp!  Shelli even stamped the envelope, because she "hates to have a naked envelope!"  It was hilarious, and I've never thought of it that way... I'll probably stamp ALL my envelopes now!

Too cute note card!

After all the make-and-takes, we had picture time.  Everyone got out their cameras, and my dear friend Jesse played photographer for us.  She got an amazing pic of Shelli, Sara and I... and Shelli asked Jesse to send Kellene her pics, because she wanted them for her blog. :)   And I have to say, this picture is getting enlarged to an 11x14, getting framed, and put up in my stampin' space!  ;)

 
Sara, Me, Shelli


 
Our group - none too small!
 
Then, it was time to get serious - while everyone was placing their orders, we had some munchies of COURSE... Nanaimo bars - which Shelli and everyone loved!, fruit and chocolate dip, veggies and dip, yummy ginger cookies; oh, it was a FEAST!  And a fantastic way to end the evening.

And I'd like to insert here that my 2 little men, and my 1 big man, were so amazing and supportive during this crazy time.  My boys were so cute, stampin and punching stuff with Sara while the guests were first arriving and so well-behaved, and then Todd took the boys up to have a bath when we started, and then put them to bed.  My hubby just ROCKS, and I couldn't POSSIBLY have pulled this off had he not been 110% on board.  He just retired to his office to surf the net while we were all watching Shelli and Sara do their "thang."

After everyone had left, I had the privilege of having about 15 minutes with Shelli and Sara and Todd, just chatting about life and stuff... and it was awesome.  I really felt as though I connected with BOTH Sara and Shelli - Shelli because she's my hero ;) and Sara was just amazing, and we actually have a bit in common, being busy mums and all.  The selfish part of me would have loved to have had the day be JUST THAT - chatting and hanging out!  I even told them I'd prefer if we just hung out in my scrap space for the rest of the night. ;)  But, they had Ida's workshop in Vancouver today, so another busy day for them... plus Regionals in Calgary on the weekend - too busy, and they needed their rest.

I was buzzing when they left... just BUZZING.  I got to bed about 11.30, but it took me at LEAST an hour and a half to fall asleep, as my brain just wouldn't shut off! 

What.

A.

Day.

Besides the days I met and then consequently married my husband, and the days my boys were born... this was one of the best days of my life... and DEFINITELY of my papercrafting life!!!

Thanks for reading my novel...  Hope you enjoyed it.  I certainly did.  ;)

Much love,
d. <3

20 comments:

  1. Dinnae -

    That sounds like it WAS a FABULOUS time! And you SHOULD frame that picture. It looks like a GREAT time was had by all!

    Congrats on the Workshop of a Lifetime!

    Dawn

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  2. Thanks for such a detailed report! I live vicariously through all you demos who earn these great opportunities. Awesome projects too! Thanks so much for sharing your day/evening.

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  3. What a great opportunity for you and your downlines/friends. Don't kids always put some sort of emergency into our most hectic days? I hope he is feeling better. thanks for sharing this day.

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  4. Fun hearing all the behind the scenes details of your workshop of a lifetime! Sounds like it was an awesome day! I LOL'd that you were in your jammies when Shelli & Sara arrived for the workshop! Hope they were cute! :) Thanks!

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  5. How exciting for you! Congrats on a job well done!

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  6. Thanks so much for sharing all of this and letting us live vicariously through you.

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  7. Congratulations on earning the Workshop of a Lifetime! You worked hard and are to be commended. Thanks for sharing the workshop with us - I could feel the excitement in reading your post -- I got "tingles"!! Isn't it great that Shelli, Sara and everyone else at SU gives so much of themselves to us!!! Keep up the awesome work!!!

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  8. Hey Dinnae!! I'm glad it was your best crafting day of your life!! Mine was no doubt the best crafting day of my life!!! I had the whole evening replaying in my head over and over last night and couldn't fall asleep!! I was also buzzing and to wake up this morning to go to work...that was a tough one!! I wish I took today off from work! Congrats to you and keep up the awesome work!!!

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  9. Congrats Dinnae!!! That's so great to read about such an exciting day. And see wonderful smiles in all of your photos.
    Having just tweeted with you weeks ago about this wonderful promotion I am so thrilled for you that you were able to take part in it. I'm so happy for you!!! Now if you would mind sharing how you did such a fab job recruiting...? LOL

    Congrats again and thanks so much for sharing it with me.

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  10. Congrats Dinnae, and thanks for sharing your day with us. How wonderful to have Shelli and Sara visit and demo for you! :)

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  11. Thanks for sharing your Workshop of a Lifetime! I loved reading every word. Congrats!! Treasure the memory!!!

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  12. Sounds like the Workshop was a blast and you probably learned so many new things. Congrats and thank you for sharing this will all of us demo's.

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  13. Hi Dinnae: Thanks for sharing all the deets and the great pictures. It takes a little of the mystery (and apprehension) out my future one (May). You obviously had a ball. Congrats! Hugs, M

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  14. Dinnae, Your post was so fun to read. I could "hear" the expression in your voice. It looks like you had a great time. Congrats, once again! I think I will do Shelli's hostess thank you box in my Stamp Set Sampler class later this month. We are doing the Vintage Vogue set and wheel. I KNOW everyone will LOVE it! Just giddy for you....lorijane

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  15. Dinnae, I have tears in my eyes!! I miss you girl and this fantastic dream that you made come true is just testament to what kinda woman you are.... fabulous, I am in awe!!! Thanks so much for all the finer details.
    Love u heaps - Tan

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  16. Wow, how awesome it must of been. Congrats for earning it. Your details of the event made me feel like I was there...

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  17. What a great day! I'm sure it's one you will never, ever forget! Congratulations on earning this!

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  18. What a great day! Thanks for sharing.

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  19. You are so lucky to have them at yourplace for a wonderful workshop. You worked hard and got rewarded.

    You deserve it!!

    I am so inspired.

    Regards
    Z

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  20. What an exciting experience!!! I'm following you...
    Amy
    amysstampincreations.blogspot.com

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