Blooming Wild Weekend Recap

On Saturday & Sunday April 15th & 16th 2023, Shara Crane and I taught our first in-person event together in Newark, New Jersey called Blooming Wild Weekend! We also had guest teachers Kelly Daye and Vee Morales!

We've been planning this event since last fall and at last the weekend arrived!

Amy did not want me to go. She launched a full on sit-in protest lol.

Bye bye Denver!

Hello New Jersey! NYC was only 9 miles away!!

I missed my shuttle to the hotel by 2 minutes so I waited outside for nearly 2 hours for the next one. No worries, I met Janelle from Indiana also going to the event and we had a blast!

I dropped my things off in my room and headed right back down to the lobby to go to dinner with fellow teachers and friends.

We went to a cool restaurant and my meal was delish.

Group pic!

Back at the hotel, Shara and I put the finishing touches on our event space. She made these butterflies to match Blooming Wild - aren't they gorgeous?!

I had a table in the back with two of my scrapbooks and goodies for sale.

Ready!!!

When I woke up and looked out my window this is what I saw! Oh my wow!! I've only been to NYC once right after I graduated from high school in 2003. So, 20 years ago. I wanted to go into the city sooo badly but didn't have a second to spare. So close yet so far! We'll have to come back so we can do all the touristy things.

Pumping myself up with some tunes.

Let the day begin! I signed books, took pics, and chatted with all the lovely guests!

For the first class of the event, I taught two 12x12 layouts.

Hard at work.

Nadine & Kelly.

Blooming Wild Weekend in progress!

I love walking around and seeing everyone's take on the techniques taught.

A bunch of us got teriyaki for lunch and then we headed back for Shara's first class teaching us how to make this super cute banner!

Let's do this!

She gave me her extra and it's now proudly displayed in my happy scrappy place!

The hotel gave us this beautiful bouquet of flowers which we had at the entrance to the room.

The first night was a MemoryDex swap and I loved seeing everyone's stunning creations.

The bonus class of the day was a pocket page taught by the amazing Vee Morales! It was her very first time teaching, her very first time traveling (from California to New Jersey no less! Coast to coast!!), her very first pocket page - so many firsts! She rocked it all!

I got a good night's sleep and got a red bull in the morning to give me wings :)

Shannon's daughter brought these yummy cookies from Levain Bakery - mmmmm.

I taught my mini album class in the morning then we took some group photos.

Got a yummy margarita pizza for lunch.

Springtime in the city.

Then Shara taught her chunky charm class.

I now understand the mechanics behind these beauties and am soooo appreciative of those who make and sell them hehe!

Kelly Daye taught the last class of the event, a beautiful layout.

Yui Oku from my cut file design team came!

She made me the most precious and beautiful gift: a folio with every single one of my collections.

15 collections and counting! Can you name them all?

BLOOMING WILD, GARDEN SHOPPE, SPLENDID, BUNGALOW LANE, WONDERS, GO THE SCENIC ROUTE, BLOOM STREET, TRULY GRATEFUL, HORIZON, WHIMSICAL, PICK-ME-UP, TURN THE PAGE, OH MY HEART, TAKE ME AWAY & FANCY FREE.

THREE gals from my cut file design team came! Yui, Heidi, and Kelly. They are all so incredibly talented and a joy to work with!

Time for more pics and wrapping up the event!!

Back in my room I attempted to watch the live Love is Blind reunion. We all know how that went... but it eventually started and I watched an hour of it. Had to go to bed to wake up at 5:45am (3:45am Colorado time!) to head back home.

The Rocky Mountains approaching Denver. They're magnificent. I love home :)

A huge thank you to all of our sponsors who so generously donated sooo many amazing things for our event!

For those who couldn't make it to the event - no worries! I'll be teaching my classes virtually on May 10th - sign up for the layouts class HERE and sign up for the mini album class HERE.

We had an amazing weekend! Thank you to each and every person that came from near and far to attend! We hope to see you again next year - tinkering with the idea of a Halloween event in October 2024??? What do you think???!!