All over for another 6 months...

The retreat, that is. We had a ball! Our 11th Wave Rock Scrapbooking Retreat was a huge success, safe to say 'the best yet' I think. I was the most organised I have ever been (despite having a little break with the family) and with my team - Amy, Ann Smart, Ann Smith, Sharon Morton, Mum and DH (dear husband) we pulled off the best one ever with all the trims. I am pleased to say that the food was great, the classes were awesome and the company was exceptional! We had 7 classes in total that all ran smoothly (well almost) and were enjoyed by all. I taught for the first time at one of my own retreats and my classes were well received, in fact we sold a record number of kits for the 'One of a kind' class, and here are the layouts - very 3D and better IRL...

Then I taught a class using an 'old' school photo from the 70's (love that era - not!) of my baby brother Dean in Pre-primary - he's so cute...

and another sample, my year 12 photo, very simple but some technique in there that the girls soaked up...

We registered the Saturday of the retreat for 'A Girls Night In' breast cancer awareness fundraiser and my target was to raise $500 (small I know, but times are tough) and surprisingly we raised $1346 - a record for us and far exceeded our expectations! So well done girls on money well spent. I asked everyone to wear something pink for the day and everyone did, even one lady - not mentioning any names - who when I asked her where her pink was, showed my her undies! We didnt make a competition out of it but Kylie took the cake for dressing up, with pink rubber gloves, pink swimming goggles, pink t-shirt and a pink tea towel around her waste! Donna rocked up in pink jammies later on in the day, sporting a pink shower cap also and pink toothbrushes in her hair! One other lady worth a mention was Trish, who was wearing pink shirt, capri's and pink unmentionables! I challenged a few ladies to be daring as I had worn a pink shirt with pink bra's on the outside (made my husband laugh and my Dad blush!) so a couple of wags - Belinda, Anna and Sara - also wore their underwear on the outside. Well done girls for raising heaps and making it fun...love ya.

There is so much more I could say about the retreat but it must be very frustrating if you werent there!

On a personal note; I mentioned at the retreat that Friday the 22nd of October was my brother, Dean's birthday, who passed away in June. I spoke of this at the retreat as girls who have been coming to my retreats for years have shared the journey with me and have known of Deans illness and then his passing. Once again I would like to thank everyone for your support, love, prayers and thoughts through this very difficult time. It is far harder dealing with the loss than I ever imagined and it helps to know people care. I was such a bittersweet occasion on Friday but Mum and I were in the company of many friends - our scrapbooking family - then Dad joined us on Saturday - poor bloke had to wear undies on his head! - and my older brother Paul dropped in Thursday night to check out the set up, so we all got to see each other for this 'first birthday without Dean' occasion. Mum and I agreed that being amongst friends was a like medicine and the retreat was a welcome distraction, but didn't go without a tear or two.

Check out the tutors blogs for their class layouts and some awesome photos of the retreat. The next retreat is on the 25th of March 2011 so mark your diaries. Bye for now.