Hello Stamplings!
As promised, I have a recap of my time with my friends at Loll's Eat, Sleep, Craft, Repeat 2019 Retreat! This is my second year attending. You can see last year's post here. Some of the photos were taken by Loll's very talented SIL, Alex, where indicated. The rest I took. Each of us is posting today, so the links below the photo will take you to each stop on the blog hop!
Here we are in our fun aprons that Lolly made:
The place we stayed was located in a beautiful wooded area:
The first few days we had the pleasure of being joined by Nancy's delightful daughter, Jeani (arrow):
We also enjoyed having our very talented friends Colleen and Linda join us for part of the retreat this year. They are in the group photos above and here:
Lots of crafting happened!
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| Photo by Alejandro Garcia |
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| Photo by Alejandro Garcia |
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| Photo by Alejandro Garcia |
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| Photo by Alejandro Garcia |
We shared each other's supplies. Here I am with Bonnie:
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| Photo by Alejandro Garcia |
Besides taking our photos, Alex took the time to teach us how to better photograph our cards and gave us tips on equipment to buy to achieve that. Here is he teaching us. Thank you, Alex!
To save some space, I made collages of some of Alex's photos. Here are some proud "Show and Tell" photos:
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| Photo by Alejandro Garcia |
And here are the beautiful cards we made:
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| Photos by Alejandro Garcia |
Weren't we productive?! We took turns teaching the different techniques shown. In addition to the finished cards, we each came home with lots of card fronts. As I make them into cards and post them in the weeks to come, I will talk more about the techniques shown in the cards above.
My lesson was on painting with watercolor pencils and here is a card I made using the technique. (You can see the other cards we watercolored in the collage photo above: bottom row, far left.)
To color with watercolor pencils, you color your image with your pencils and draw the pigment out with a waterbrush or paint brush. My tip was a simple one. I find I have more control over the color and vibrancy of the pencils if I hold a pencil in my left hand, then touch the tip of my waterbrush to the lead with my right hand, and then paint as usual.
The image and sediment are from my NBUS "Enchanted Iris" by Altenew. The background was made at ESCR by smooching Lindy Magicals on Yupo paper. Lindy Magicals are powdered inks that shimmer and shine. You can find more information via YouTube and Google.
Unfortunately ...
The image and sediment are from my NBUS "Enchanted Iris" by Altenew. The background was made at ESCR by smooching Lindy Magicals on Yupo paper. Lindy Magicals are powdered inks that shimmer and shine. You can find more information via YouTube and Google.
Unfortunately ...
We didn't think the knives were sharp at all, but on our last morning this terrible accident happened:
GASP!
I know, it looks bad, doesn't it? I'm just messing with you. It wasn't knives. It was just the result of the klutz below loosing her grip on a poorly-closed (by her) bag of frozen blueberries:
Thankfully, most of the stain wiped right up with a damp cloth, but that is NOT the way to start your morning!
Hammy
Last, but definitely not least, Hammy was in attendance for the whole thoroughly enjoyable event! Here he is sitting on the Werthers candy bowl to get a better view of everything:
I know, it looks bad, doesn't it? I'm just messing with you. It wasn't knives. It was just the result of the klutz below loosing her grip on a poorly-closed (by her) bag of frozen blueberries:
Hammy
Last, but definitely not least, Hammy was in attendance for the whole thoroughly enjoyable event! Here he is sitting on the Werthers candy bowl to get a better view of everything:
And here he is ready to help dole out double-sided tape to anyone in need:
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Everyone loved the little guy and how he scampered to help out. Of course, he did startle the ladies once or twice by also scampering up their pant legs, as he loves to do!
Thank you, Lolly, for including me again this year! You have everything organized and arranged so all we have to do is have a fantastic inky time! ❤
~~~
Thank you for sharing this recap with me! Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!*
As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to join as a follower! Please let me know you came by so I can be sure and return the flavor!
*Life is too short!
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73 comments:
How fun to see this group photo pop up 4 times in my Blogger feed. I think it's so wonderful to be able to share your crafty friendship this way and inspire each other at the same time. Looking forward to take a closer look at your creations in future blog posts. Love the pretty background on your iris card.
Marianne x
What a great time you must have had sans the blueberry moment. The cards look beautiful and you all look happy.
Gorgeous card Dolly! I love that beautiful iris --- your colouring is AMAZING! ... and so pretty against the beautiful blue oval.
I love the control with taking the pigment from the tip of the w/c pencil and applying it to the image. Thank you for that. I will now be using my w/c pencils more often! It was a fun week ... and as always, you do entertain us, Dolly!! xx
Oh what beauties y'all made and what fun it looks like. So glad y'all had a good time. [Bunny]`
Oh, I'm a jealous...Such amazing meeting!!! Fabulous place, fabulous crafters, fabulous techniques, fabulous cards, fabulous time!!!! You all have been so lucky and very productive!! Such great way to spend time together!! (I think the blueberries were jealous too, they wanted paint a surface!!:D LOL)
Thanks for sharing the photos!
Hugs
Brlliant post great photo's and cards. Just a pity that you didn't spill the blueberries and stuff on paper would have made a great background.
Kath x
What a treat at your re-treat. Being in the company of all these awesome crafters must have really got your creative juices (not blueberry) flowing. And the setting is gorgeous...I'd never get anything done because I'd be looking out the window all the time.
Your card is a real beauty, you certainly are very talented at watercolour - with the pencils anyway, perhaps not so much with blueberries though, although it is a nice pattern!
It looks like everyone had a wonderful time, lovely to see Hammy enjoying himself too. Thanks for sharing your lovely photos with us!
Apologies for being 'missing', I will write soon. Hugs, Annie xxx
Thanks for sharing the photos. Looks like everyone (Hammy too) had a creative week!
Looks like a fabulous time!!! How fun.
Hi, love your iris card. Can you tell me what Lindy Magicals are? Thanks.
Your card is gorgeous, so is your playhouse! Looks like you all had a load of fun! How wonderful! :)
Great photos Darnell and I can see that you had a really fun and productive week and in a stunning location and Hammy obviously enjolyed it too. I adore your iris card and the watercolour pencil work is beautiful, and I agree that taking the colour from the pencil itself using a brush actually works better than scribbling it down and then mixing on the paper. I'm looking forward to going and looking on everyone else's blog to see what they did. I laughed at the blueberries all over the floor. I bet there will be some found in year's to come fossilised in crevasses..lol. x
Thanks so much for sharing your photos of the retreat - I can feel the wonderful time you all had, so many lovely cards and to share and learn new ideas - heaps of fun. Whooops with those berries.... I've done this too, not with a whole pack though. Your card is gorgeous Darnell, I love to use water colour pencils too and finding that I'm using them more this year - same method. Looking forward to seeing more of your cards, hugs Robyn
I thoroughly enjoyed the pictures and your recap of the events, Darnell! Absolutely gorgeous card, too. You're GOOD with those watercolor pencils! I hope you didn't spill ALL of those blueberries!
I love to read about your retreat, such fun :))).
your house looks amazing and I am totally surprised your were so incredibly productive - I always talk too much with my crafty friends :)))
great tip, thank you, I will try this with my pencils, I am always disappointed about their weak colour vibrancy ...
crafty hugs xx
I am so glad to see you had so much fun with all these super ladies!!!
I wish I could join you, but it is impossible since I live in Greece.
I lllllllove your card, Darnell! Kisses, my friend.
Oh my goodness, it looks like so much fun!! The pictures are all fabulous!! It sounds like such a great time!! And sooooo glad it was just blueberries!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)
Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts
Almost crying with laughter here - those blueberries! And such wonderful photos of so many of you I hold dear to me .... how I wish I could have been a fly on the wall! Brilliant work as well of course.
Lots of love
Di xx
What a wonderful gathering to be a part of! I can see you all had a good time by the big smile on everyone's face. Looks like you were fabulously productive, too. What a beautiful assortment of cards! Love the one you shared today, too.
Oh My, but we (10 stampers) had a fabulous inky week and Hammy was so helpful:-)
I loved your technique of using watercolor pencils so much that I ordered a set of 24 Inkpense watercolor pencils. They are suppose to arrive on Saturday...Can't wait!
Your finished iris card is Stunning my friend. I will have to practice to improve my skills. I loved all the special times we all had together...going to the beach, going on walks, going to craft store, out to dinner, out to gelatos, out to the most yummy bakery..ever,hanging out at the airport at 6am and especially all our visits every morning and night:-)
All because of amazingly organized Lolly:-) Love and Miss you...Hugs...Nancy
Darnell your Iris is stunning and I now can use these pencils that have been collecting dust because your tip to touch paint brush to tip of colored pencil works beautifully for me...so much more control...I loved coloring this way! What a fabulous time I had with you and the other ladies. Your pictures and stories are treasures and the memories are tucked in my heart forever! Heart hugs my friend! Col
What a great post Darnell. Thank you sharing your wonderful pictures you all look like you had great fun while learning new techniques. I look forward to seeing the rest of your creations xx
Hi Darnell, Looks like a fab time was had by everyone. Certainly loads of lovely cards made.
You'd have thought Hammy would have helped with the Blueberries:)
Hope you have a fab Friday. Sue
What a fabulous retreat venue Darnell and the cards you all produced look absolutely gorgeous. I look forward to seeing the creations in more detail over the coming months. Loll is amazing, isn't she? Hope you are all settled back home now.
Hugs
Carol x
PS I forgot to mention your beautiful iris card. I love the mix of colours and the flower looks so pretty peeping over the aperture on the textured panel. xxx
Looks and sounds as a great retreat! And such productive ladies all loving techniques; the results couldn't be more beautiful! A fun post to read (and think; what a pitty that is at the other side of the world, but than again I think on how wonderful it is to meet and have stamping friends from all over the world through blogging!) Enjoy a good weekend original and creative (in writing and stamping) friend!
Oh! what a wonderful time you had and so very productive too. Wonderful results from all your efforts too. As for the floor, I thought that was a new technique you had tried, well I suppose you did really, but it couldn't go on a card! although maybe it will be a flash of inspiration. thanks for sharing the photos and experience, just makes me wish I could have been there.
Faith x
Looks like loads of fun!! Your water colored card is beautiful!
Oooh, this looks like it was so much fun getting together with all those beautiful ladies. Your card is stunniing! So glad hammy was able to join you all too.
Looks like a fantastic time was had by all. What a wonderful gathering filled with fun and laughter. Thank you so much for sharing a little piece of it with us. Hugs!
WOW! Great photos .... it looks like you all had an amazing time. What a beautiful place.
Your card is gorgeous .... thanks for the tip on using the watercolour pencils.
Looking forward to seeing more from the retreat xx
Fab pix, Darnell xoxo
What a fabulous bunch of ladies to spend crafty time with, Darnell. And you always find the most wonderful places to stay. You use your Inktense pencils the way I usually use mine although I have been known to partially color the image first. What I'm most interested in are the tips for photographing our cards. I'm really struggling with that even though I have a light box and a photo editing program.
Ooh it looks so fun! How special to have a group of Friends to spend crafty time with! Love you watercolored card! The colors are beautiful! Hugs!
wow, what a fun time you ladies had. Love the group photo and all the photos you shared. Beautiful cards and great techniques. TFS
It sounds like you all had a fabulous time - great photos too! I love the photo of the blueberries!
Kath x
What fun pictures from the craft retreat - looks amazing! I love the card that you taught. So sorry to hear about the spilled blueberries. I'm glad they wiped up easily but still not something you want to have to deal with. Hugs!
Well Darnell...what a plethora of fantastic cards from your retreat...it looks like a great and productive retreat was had by all.i though Hammy was sitting in a bowl of gilding flakes..if so he will now have a gold bum I expect!...lol. Thanks for sharing your photos...as for the blueberries? as you say not a great start to the day but I am sure you will all be laughing about it for years to come now it's all cleaned up! xx
Now where was Hammy when he could have been gobbling up those blueberries? LOTS of fun, Darnell... and gorgeous lessons, too!
=]
Oh so much fun. There is nothing like time playing with friends. And how fortunate we are to have friends who LOVE to make cards.
That looks like so much fun. If I were in better shape I would try to do more things like that myself. But alas, I will instead enjoy your adventure through your eyes. I love your card and so sorry about the blueberries.
What a super post Darnell, you can tell you all had a wonderful time, fabulous photos.
Your card is beautiful, water colouring is lovely, one of my favourite mediums.
What a pity about the blueberries, some mess to clear up, Kate x x
Your photos are awesome, Dolly! How wonderful that we had both you and Alex to document our fun times! Our early morning blueberry fiasco will always be in my memory. Nothing like cleaning up a big mess with a friend and minimal cleaning tools! I enojoyed your watercolor pencil technique and love this iris with the blue smooshed background! It was such fun seeing you again and getting to spend lots of time together this time. Hope it won't take so long to get together again.
Oh what a treat! So fun to see you all together! What? You made cards? I'm so proud of how productive you all were! Your iris is gorgeous! Pretty soon Hammy is going to have his own apron! Especially if you're going to fling blueberries around!
You all sure looked like you had loads of fun and what fabulous photos you have shared.
You sure where productive but I suspect that was because Hammy helped out....LOL x
Beautiful Iris card and thank you for the tip about water colouring with the pencils x.
The blueberries make an interesting pattern on the floor x
Hi Darnell,
what a super fun retreat and such gorgeous work done on it.
Your phtos show how you all had such a super time, and such lovely looking crafty ladies too.
Wish we had something like that in the UK.
I could do with a nice retreat and lots of craft and laughs.
Oh isn't Hammy so sweet dollling out the double side tape and seeing that no one ate too much candy by sitting on it. LOL.
Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.
How awesome was this retreat sis! You all look wonderful and so creative in the photos! and that house was the perfect place to house it all! What wonderful cards you all made using all these techniques! xx
Gorgeous card, Dolly. I’ve had my watercolor pencils for eons (maybe a bit of an exaggeration 😁) and have only used it once before the retreat. Your technique may have me pulling them out more. TFS this technique!
So awesome to see you again this year and to get to know you better. Didn’t think it was possible...
***omg, this was where I was doing the head nod, so I took a little snooze (no FOMO today 😉) and then I woke up to a beautiful birthday card you sent me! Thank you so much! You timed it perfectly.***
Ok, so where was I before that brief intermission. 😂 Ah yes...
I didn’t think it was possible, but I admire your energy, strength and humor (I wish I took more of that vagina Washi tape panels 🤣) even more after hearing your inspiring story. And a BIG THANK YOU for your kind and generous Altenew gift!!! You are incredible and I am so lucky to call you my friend. Have a wonderful weekend. xx
Oh my! you ladies look like you had a blast! Love seeing all of you and your beautiful creations! TFS, Darnell!
Glad to see you had a great time at your retreat. The cards are beautiful
Have a great day!
Marilyn❤
Hi dear Darnell,
Mo said she was there too, saw it on Loll’s as well, would have been so much incredible fun especially as it was productive you made cards, so often things aren’t finished on crops etc. I adore your Iris card. Great colouring balance and design.
Would you be a real hunny, pretty please??
.. know I’ve a cheek but I’ve a dear friend, lady in her 80s who is called Iris, I’m always hunting for new images and can’t justify a stamp, but a few stamped images would meet need perfectly, just one more than one ‘cos might mess one knowing me. 😆
.... how I chuckled at your blueberry smoooooch on the floor. That is soooo me! I’ve two left hands and two left feet! One day it will even out but not in this lifetime I know! 😁
Hope you’re well and Mister,
Prayer hugs,
Shaz in Oz.x
{Wonderful Words of Life - Shaz in Oz}
{Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}
You are so naughty to scare us with the blueberry picture! I don't think there is a cure for klutz as I have it myself and have tried to get over it. Loll is amazing to arrange this and make those wonderful aprons. It looks like such a fun time and there is so much talent in that group. Thanks for sharing all your great pictures. Your Iris card is beautiful and I have NBUS water color pencils never out of the pack. Can't wait to try this.
Looks like you had an amazing time at your retreat.I'm so envious.Looking forward to seeing the cards in detail. Your iris is just stunning as well.
Oh! This looks like so much fun!!! Gorgeous creations and loving the apron! Looking forward to seeing all the cards.
Looks like you had plenty of fun. And you’ve been productive too, so not only eating, sleeping and chatting done:)
First, your retreat looks so FUN!! I would love to do something like this sometime. I don't know anyone close that likes to make cards!! Second, I LOVE your card. That flower looks GORGEOUS and I love the background you created. You all sure made a TON of pretty cards!!
Darnell, it was so wonderful to see and craft with you again. I loved your watercolor technique and will most likely always use that method. It was awesome to be included with all of you crafty ladies. Love your card, it is so beautiful. Till we meet again my friend....
Oh My Goodness! You are all so fortunate to have such a great time, especially with those that love to do the same as you! Great craftiness abounding! So fun!
What a lovely group of crafters and I love all of the smiles! Thanks for sharing with us Darnell!
Looks like you all had a fabulous time! You and Hammy certainly are quite the travelers. Love your gorgeous card. The colors are amazing!
Looks like a fun time had by all! Lots of gorgeous cards! I love your colourful Iris:)
looks like you had a lot of fun!
Oh my! What an absolutely fabulous time you must have all had. Nothing like getting together with a whole bunch of other ladies and just crafting. I'm glad Hammy was good! xxxx
Thank you for the report. Photos are great. Cards are great. I do believe that all ladies have had fantastic time. :-)
Hugs, Sonja
Awww, look at you ladies, looking all fabulous in those amazing aprons! That Loll is one amazing lady for sure, I can only imagine how well organized everything was. I love the place where you stayed, such beautiful scenery and a huge house to spread out in. Fun photo's as well, thanks for Loll's SIL. You ladies made such beautiful cards too, all lined up for a photo. Your Iris card is stunning! That background is so pretty and perfect for the Iris to take center stage. I love how you have watercolored this Iris and agree with you on picking up the color with the tip of your brush from the pencil itself, so much more control that way. I'm not good at watercoloring, but am better when I do it that way. Ok, you scared the life out of me with the next photo! Thankfully I kept reading, this is something I would have done. lol I love the photo of you though with all the blueberries on the floor. I'm sure that was a job to clean up, glad it wiped up easily. Love seeing Hammy watching and helping out too, go glad he was able to go along! Not nice of him to run up the ladies pant legs, but funny anyway. lol Hugs, Brenda
Looks like a wonderful retreat! That's amazing you got so much done & I love your card, Darnell! Beautiful background & painting & design! Oops--for sure not the way to start a morning--haha!
Thanks for sharing your crafty fun time.
You were a very productive group looking at those gorgeous finished cards. Look forward to more pics when you finish cards with your prepped card fronts.
Spilt blueberries certainly are not the way to start the day! I'm sure you had a chuckle about it later though.
I'm late, Darnell ... though I think you won't mind as we've already oooh'd and aaaah'd over this delicious post and beautiful card! It's amazing to me how productive you all were ... wonder if any of that will rub off next time we're together? Still laughing at that photo of Hammy on the werthers!! LYAMYHAHMA! Big hugs and bisous, Anita :)
Ö how I would have loved to have joined you all! Looks like amazing times were had by all l
Oh what a wonderful time you must have had - and productive and stimulating too! So glad to see Hammy enjoyed himself too, and was appreciated and helpful!
Blessings
Maxine
It looks like a marvelous weekend
and an amazing group of crafters!
Don’t we all wish we could do crafty
weekends like this once a month?
If work, life issues and money didn’t
get in the way, I certainly would find a way!
It must have been a wonderful week. I am convinced that such an exchange of experience will win the skills of all participants of the meeting. Well, I just need to be jealous and enjoy that some people can have fun. And your card looks amazing. I love how you colored iris. It is divine
Hugs,
BożenA
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