Greetings from Chicago!
To say that the last four days have been a whirlwind of activity and drama is an understatement.
My CREATE Mixed Media Retreat adventures began on Thursday when I showed up for my 12:30pm flight and discovered that it had been delayed. And then it was delayed some more. And then still delayed. And then it was cancelled. But there was no room on any of the other flights that day, so after seven hours at the airport, I was rebooked on a flight for Friday morning.
Small problem: I was going to miss the book making class I had signed up for on Thursday night with the very talented Bianca Mandity.
Big problem: I was going to be late for the class I was teaching, starting at 9am on Friday.
Couldn't do anything about the small problem, so I headed home. As for the big problem, I got up at 3am on Friday morning and headed to the airport. There was crying and a kind desk clerk. So I ended up on a 6am flight and made it in time for the start of my class! Yay! And what an awesome class it was!
In fact, all the workshops I taught were made incredibly fabulous by the stupendously fantastic students! The thing that makes teaching such a pleasure for me is when the students are curious and excited. And they were!
The students at this retreat were so warm and lovely. More than once I was invited to eat with a group of students or people stopped me to introduce themselves or give me a hug. Nice people are the best. I also ran into several repeat students, which I think is truly the highest compliment one can receive. Overall, I got a big warm and fuzzy feeling from the whole experience!
Alas, my Sunday flight home was cancelled due to Hurricane Irene and once again, I am humbled by the kindness of strangers. Elana (wearing bright green and a black sweater in the photos above) heard that I was stranded in Lisle until Tuesday afternoon. She kindly offered to take me home with her. As I write this post I am sitting in her and her husband Joe's living room, feeling very grateful for their kindness.
Later today I am headed to Chicago's Art Institute — an excellent way to spend an unexpected bit of time.
Thanks for stopping by!
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P.S. I saw on the Scrapdoodles blog that they've got some of my new stencils in! Yay!
Oooh how wonderful! I would love to attend a retreat like this – would you come to Australia? LOL
Oooh how wonderful! I would love to attend a retreat like this – would you come to Australia? LOL
Oooh how wonderful! I would love to attend a retreat like this – would you come to Australia? LOL
Oooh how wonderful! I would love to attend a retreat like this – would you come to Australia? LOL
Glad to hear that you are safe. How nice people can be at times…especially crafty folks! I just love that tree stamp.
Glad to hear that you are safe. How nice people can be at times…especially crafty folks! I just love that tree stamp.
Glad to hear that you are safe. How nice people can be at times…especially crafty folks! I just love that tree stamp.
Glad to hear that you are safe. How nice people can be at times…especially crafty folks! I just love that tree stamp.
so glad youre safe there Julie! good on Elana, and her family. There is always the magic of strangers, the kindness and love thats out there, we forget and then are so blown away by it! precious… glad youre alright, it looked scary from here thats for sure. sounds like you did well with it all anyway.
good on you both
so glad youre safe there Julie! good on Elana, and her family. There is always the magic of strangers, the kindness and love thats out there, we forget and then are so blown away by it! precious… glad youre alright, it looked scary from here thats for sure. sounds like you did well with it all anyway.
good on you both
so glad youre safe there Julie! good on Elana, and her family. There is always the magic of strangers, the kindness and love thats out there, we forget and then are so blown away by it! precious… glad youre alright, it looked scary from here thats for sure. sounds like you did well with it all anyway.
good on you both
so glad youre safe there Julie! good on Elana, and her family. There is always the magic of strangers, the kindness and love thats out there, we forget and then are so blown away by it! precious… glad youre alright, it looked scary from here thats for sure. sounds like you did well with it all anyway.
good on you both
As a rubber-stamping addict for the handmade kind, I was ecstatic to see your class on it. Ah, yes, the amazing FRESH designs and piles of pink slivers make my heart flutter with joy, for this is truly my favorite medium – hey, today I think I need to go make some more!!! Hugs to the family who adopted you – how sweeeeet – Come home safe Julie!
As a rubber-stamping addict for the handmade kind, I was ecstatic to see your class on it. Ah, yes, the amazing FRESH designs and piles of pink slivers make my heart flutter with joy, for this is truly my favorite medium – hey, today I think I need to go make some more!!! Hugs to the family who adopted you – how sweeeeet – Come home safe Julie!
As a rubber-stamping addict for the handmade kind, I was ecstatic to see your class on it. Ah, yes, the amazing FRESH designs and piles of pink slivers make my heart flutter with joy, for this is truly my favorite medium – hey, today I think I need to go make some more!!! Hugs to the family who adopted you – how sweeeeet – Come home safe Julie!
As a rubber-stamping addict for the handmade kind, I was ecstatic to see your class on it. Ah, yes, the amazing FRESH designs and piles of pink slivers make my heart flutter with joy, for this is truly my favorite medium – hey, today I think I need to go make some more!!! Hugs to the family who adopted you – how sweeeeet – Come home safe Julie!
I loved these photos! And I thought about you all weekend wondering how you worked everything out. Hopefully your hubby was safe. Glad you found a safe place to hang out and can take advantage of Chicago.
I loved these photos! And I thought about you all weekend wondering how you worked everything out. Hopefully your hubby was safe. Glad you found a safe place to hang out and can take advantage of Chicago.
I loved these photos! And I thought about you all weekend wondering how you worked everything out. Hopefully your hubby was safe. Glad you found a safe place to hang out and can take advantage of Chicago.
I loved these photos! And I thought about you all weekend wondering how you worked everything out. Hopefully your hubby was safe. Glad you found a safe place to hang out and can take advantage of Chicago.
Wow! What an adventure. I’m glad you found a safe and comfortable place to spend your delay. It’s so fun to see your students at work, and also to see what they create. Their carved stampls look amazing! Safe travels home, Julie.
Wow! What an adventure. I’m glad you found a safe and comfortable place to spend your delay. It’s so fun to see your students at work, and also to see what they create. Their carved stampls look amazing! Safe travels home, Julie.
Wow! What an adventure. I’m glad you found a safe and comfortable place to spend your delay. It’s so fun to see your students at work, and also to see what they create. Their carved stampls look amazing! Safe travels home, Julie.
Wow! What an adventure. I’m glad you found a safe and comfortable place to spend your delay. It’s so fun to see your students at work, and also to see what they create. Their carved stampls look amazing! Safe travels home, Julie.
Looks great – can’t wait til next year – hope you’ll be there again. A few of my friends took your class and loved it. I love your stuff.
Looks great – can’t wait til next year – hope you’ll be there again. A few of my friends took your class and loved it. I love your stuff.
Looks great – can’t wait til next year – hope you’ll be there again. A few of my friends took your class and loved it. I love your stuff.
Looks great – can’t wait til next year – hope you’ll be there again. A few of my friends took your class and loved it. I love your stuff.
Hi, Julie–I would love to take your layered stamp course. Will you ever be offering it online? It looks like a lot of fun!
Hi, Julie–I would love to take your layered stamp course. Will you ever be offering it online? It looks like a lot of fun!
Hi, Julie–I would love to take your layered stamp course. Will you ever be offering it online? It looks like a lot of fun!
Hi, Julie–I would love to take your layered stamp course. Will you ever be offering it online? It looks like a lot of fun!
I sure hope I can get to one of your classes someday. It all looks amazing and so much fun! So very nice of Elena to take you in. Still lots of wonderful people out there, especially the artsy crafty kind!
I sure hope I can get to one of your classes someday. It all looks amazing and so much fun! So very nice of Elena to take you in. Still lots of wonderful people out there, especially the artsy crafty kind!
I sure hope I can get to one of your classes someday. It all looks amazing and so much fun! So very nice of Elena to take you in. Still lots of wonderful people out there, especially the artsy crafty kind!
I sure hope I can get to one of your classes someday. It all looks amazing and so much fun! So very nice of Elena to take you in. Still lots of wonderful people out there, especially the artsy crafty kind!
Wow! Your classes look like they are FUN~TABULOUS!!!! So many beautiful and bright goodies! It is so wonderful to meet nice, kind people. Glad to hear your weekend worked out and you had a great time away from Irene!
Wow! Your classes look like they are FUN~TABULOUS!!!! So many beautiful and bright goodies! It is so wonderful to meet nice, kind people. Glad to hear your weekend worked out and you had a great time away from Irene!
Wow! Your classes look like they are FUN~TABULOUS!!!! So many beautiful and bright goodies! It is so wonderful to meet nice, kind people. Glad to hear your weekend worked out and you had a great time away from Irene!
Wow! Your classes look like they are FUN~TABULOUS!!!! So many beautiful and bright goodies! It is so wonderful to meet nice, kind people. Glad to hear your weekend worked out and you had a great time away from Irene!
it looks like tons of fun is going on in chicago!! i know that all your students are thrilled that you made it there on time (and thankful for that kind desk clerk at the airport….!). one of these days i’d love to be sitting there in your classes!! xoxo
it looks like tons of fun is going on in chicago!! i know that all your students are thrilled that you made it there on time (and thankful for that kind desk clerk at the airport….!). one of these days i’d love to be sitting there in your classes!! xoxo
it looks like tons of fun is going on in chicago!! i know that all your students are thrilled that you made it there on time (and thankful for that kind desk clerk at the airport….!). one of these days i’d love to be sitting there in your classes!! xoxo
it looks like tons of fun is going on in chicago!! i know that all your students are thrilled that you made it there on time (and thankful for that kind desk clerk at the airport….!). one of these days i’d love to be sitting there in your classes!! xoxo
What wonderful pictures. They must all be so talented and definetly not amatures.
What wonderful pictures. They must all be so talented and definetly not amatures.
What wonderful pictures. They must all be so talented and definetly not amatures.
What wonderful pictures. They must all be so talented and definetly not amatures.
Looks like some creative geniuses at work! So glad the class was successful and that one of your students took you in when your flight was cancelled. My son and his wife and inlaws were in DC on vacation this week when their flight was cancelled. They spent two extra days in the area and finally got a flight out of Baltimore today. But they made it home safetly, having had a great vacation in DC, making it through an earthquake and a hurricane.
Looks like some creative geniuses at work! So glad the class was successful and that one of your students took you in when your flight was cancelled. My son and his wife and inlaws were in DC on vacation this week when their flight was cancelled. They spent two extra days in the area and finally got a flight out of Baltimore today. But they made it home safetly, having had a great vacation in DC, making it through an earthquake and a hurricane.
Looks like some creative geniuses at work! So glad the class was successful and that one of your students took you in when your flight was cancelled. My son and his wife and inlaws were in DC on vacation this week when their flight was cancelled. They spent two extra days in the area and finally got a flight out of Baltimore today. But they made it home safetly, having had a great vacation in DC, making it through an earthquake and a hurricane.
Looks like some creative geniuses at work! So glad the class was successful and that one of your students took you in when your flight was cancelled. My son and his wife and inlaws were in DC on vacation this week when their flight was cancelled. They spent two extra days in the area and finally got a flight out of Baltimore today. But they made it home safetly, having had a great vacation in DC, making it through an earthquake and a hurricane.
Glad you made it home safely, Julie. Thank goodness for Elana’s generosity to you as well!! I really enjoyed both of the classes I had with you and will be using your techniques going forward. On a side note – I think the kindness you receive is directly related to the kindess you put forth… Thanks again!
Glad you made it home safely, Julie. Thank goodness for Elana’s generosity to you as well!! I really enjoyed both of the classes I had with you and will be using your techniques going forward. On a side note – I think the kindness you receive is directly related to the kindess you put forth… Thanks again!
Glad you made it home safely, Julie. Thank goodness for Elana’s generosity to you as well!! I really enjoyed both of the classes I had with you and will be using your techniques going forward. On a side note – I think the kindness you receive is directly related to the kindess you put forth… Thanks again!
Glad you made it home safely, Julie. Thank goodness for Elana’s generosity to you as well!! I really enjoyed both of the classes I had with you and will be using your techniques going forward. On a side note – I think the kindness you receive is directly related to the kindess you put forth… Thanks again!
Great photo montage….I had a wonderful time at Create and loved your classes. Hope you made it home without any more incidents.
Great photo montage….I had a wonderful time at Create and loved your classes. Hope you made it home without any more incidents.
Great photo montage….I had a wonderful time at Create and loved your classes. Hope you made it home without any more incidents.
Great photo montage….I had a wonderful time at Create and loved your classes. Hope you made it home without any more incidents.
Im not sure. People who take it in person pay a lot of money ($135 – no supplies included). So I wonder if it would be fair to offer it for cheaper online, kwim? I will have to think about it.
Im not sure. People who take it in person pay a lot of money ($135 – no supplies included). So I wonder if it would be fair to offer it for cheaper online, kwim? I will have to think about it.
Im not sure. People who take it in person pay a lot of money ($135 – no supplies included). So I wonder if it would be fair to offer it for cheaper online, kwim? I will have to think about it.
Im not sure. People who take it in person pay a lot of money ($135 – no supplies included). So I wonder if it would be fair to offer it for cheaper online, kwim? I will have to think about it.
I had a wonderful time in your classes and it was real pleasure to have you stay with us. I’m so glad we could do it.
I had a wonderful time in your classes and it was real pleasure to have you stay with us. I’m so glad we could do it.
I had a wonderful time in your classes and it was real pleasure to have you stay with us. I’m so glad we could do it.
I had a wonderful time in your classes and it was real pleasure to have you stay with us. I’m so glad we could do it.