There’s A Song In The Air

As you read this I am retreating with 28 of my PWA pals at a lodge in Cle Elum, WA.  We are stamping the weekend away, sharing projects, stories, games and lots and lots of laughter!  I know you wish you were there too!

The Pennywise Arts retreats are “Shoebox” retreats.  That’s what we call it when everyone brings a project (in a box) to share with everyone else.  I bring one project with enough supplies for 28 gals to create it and over the course of the weekend I create 28 other projects from their boxes!

My project was inspired by an altered spool that I came across on Pinterest a couple of months ago.  Many of the elements are the same as what I used on my Pity Party project and atc swap for the event, just adapted a little differently to go on a spool.

This is my instruction sheet that goes with the project:

1. Put small dabs of glue on the flowers (Prima) and leaves and place the flowers and leaves into a tidy tray. Add bubble beads where desired and then sprinkle bead mixture over all exposed glue and let sit to dry. Return the excess beads to the jar.

1. Use the ATG tape gun to adhere the script circles in the middle of the brown lace papers. (Glue is too wet and may cause it to warp.)

1. Remove just one tape liner on the music notes paper and center it onto cardboard tube. Wrap it tightly then remove the other liner and press down.

1. Squeeze a small amount of glue on one end of the tube and center the brown lace paper onto it. Repeat with the other end.

1. Using the glue “caulk” around the base of the tube to create a thin strip of glue all the way around. Set into tidy tray and sprinkle bead mixture onto it.

1. Take note of where the “back” is before proceeding. Add the leaf vine once around the tube with little dabs of glue. Trim off extra leaves to use on the top.

1. Glue the nest in place, add leaves, vine and flowers as desired

1. Add the verse with just a little dab of glue

1. Stick the bird onto the tube, add flowers, vine and/or twigs to “ground” the bird.

I created this to be a little sweet something to sit on your desk, windowsill or shelf. The basic idea could be adapted to be a hanging ornament or make the top a lid that comes off to put a note inside.

Hugs, Suzanne

Shoebox Party Fun

 

This past weekend I attended a PWA Shoebox Party at a beautiful farm in Garfield, WA.  It was held to honor my friend Tracy’s birthday.  I love these gatherings of women where we share project ideas, our stories and our hearts.  These connections mean the world to me and are a huge part of why I love Pennywise so much.

This business has given me the opportunity to meet women of all walks of life from all over the world.  On our Yahoo group and at our retreats and local gatherings connections are made and friendships bloom.  It’s truly the best feeling ever to be a part of it. 

If you haven’t had the opportunity to play with us in person yet I hope you’ll consider the possibility.  We host free play days at Friends and Company in Issaquah, WA every other Monday and group members often host free shoebox parties (like the one we had at Tracy’s house).

Our next big annual weekend long shoebox retreat is April 22, 23 & 24, 2011.  Wow!  This will be our 7th year!!  We’ve rented the Big House Lodge in Cle Elum, WA. located just 90 minutes East of Seattle.  It’s a beautiful luxury home with beds to sleep 30 people.  Generally there will be 4 people to a room and each room has it’s own bathroom.  Our meals will be catered and the craft space open around the clock. 

Eat when you’re hungry, craft at your leisure, sleep when you feel like it, take a nature walk, connect with other creative souls…..(just sit and let that idea soak in a minute.)  Reread that last sentence if you need to.  Ahhhhh, bliss.  Oh, and did I mention the hot tub?  Ü

We haven’t had a chance to update our website with the new information or 2011 registration forms yet but if you have questions or concerns there is lots of Q & A info on our retreat webpage that might be of help.

http://www.pennywisearts.com/annualretreat.html

We’re still in the planning stages and the actual price has not been set but we always aim for the $200 to $250 range to keep it “pennywise” and affordable.  If you’re traveling from out of town we’re happy to help arrange a ride from and back to SeaTac Airport. 

Once you’ve made up your mind, drop me an email and let me know!  A $50 deposit will hold your spot.  We’ve already got about 10 reservations made and 30 is the most we can have.  You know you want to be there!  Ü

This fun fan name banner was my project to share at Tracy’s party last weekend.  Its funny how ideas spark and grow in our minds and I was thrilled that this one turned out the way it did.  Each person did their own name so those longer names had to work harder!

I’ll be sharing all of the fantastic projects from Tracy’s party soon.

Hugs, Suzanne

Wildest Of Dreams

In my wildest dreams I could not have imagined what awaited me at the 7th PWA annual retreat! 

Just when I think I’ve seen it all, a whole new breed of fun finds it’s way through the jungle of my life and once again I find myself laughing so hard my sides hurt.  Smiling out loud, I mean really loud.  Sleeping as little as possible (so as not to miss anything good!)  Eating way too much (Blame Yvonne and Leola!) and even singing at the top of my lungs to the Mama Mia soundtrack with 13 other ladies and one lip syncer (You know who you are D*b!)  Okay, okay, okay, I know that this wasn’t everyone’s favorite moment, but it was one of mine, most definitely! Ü

So many inside jokes, scary stories and silly moments bonded our group together in a unique and special way.  I like to think that everyone got exactly what they needed that weekend, and a little bit more than what they expected.  I know I did!

I am in the process of editing the photos to upload and share but for now here are a few teasers……..

Brian hooked up his trailer and loaded all of our goodies inside… everything fit no problem!

This is the welcome mat that we put at the front door.  Pretty much sums up the PWA retreat code quite nicely, I think!

Here is an aerial view of some of the tables.  Gosh they look so full of fun stuff!!

Whenever beadie buds get together there is sure to be some kind of money business!

And if you weren’t addicted to Banangrams before the retreat, you’re sure to be now!

Mmmmmmm………  Leola baked fresh chocolate chip cookies for us!

There were “healthy” snacks too…….  Ü

THere is always such interesting trash at these things……..  Ü

Here is a bottle cap project by Mary Wallace!   (I’ll be posting more of the fun things that were made when more photos are ready to share.)

Uh oh!  Who let Marion play with fire?????

Seriously??  I’m telling the truth that we did NOT plan this twins outfit and I wasn’t even aware of it until I got this photo from Susan!  LOL!!  But dang we are cute, don’tcha think?

Stop back by soon, and I’ll show ya more fun stuff from the PWA 7th Annual Retreat!

Hugs, Suzanne