Firstly Belinda this song is for you!!!!!!
Well what can I say????? Other then I have had one of the most incredible weekends I have ever had in my life. I have been to lots of other Conventions but this one pretty much has taken the cake. There is so much that I want to tell you all and it is running around in my head. So if it comes out all jumbled I so can not be responsible... I am still on such a high.
I headed off on Thursday morning. (after getting bugger all sleep cause I was too excited) After catching almost every form of transport possible I finally made it to the hotel. Then Robyn and I proceeded to take our place in the bar... where ummm we seemed to stay at from 1.30pm until about 1.30am. (We headed to the restuarant for dinner... but then it was straight back to the bar... lol) People started checking in pretty much from about 2pm onwards and then the fun really began.
Poor Donna and Ali were ambushed by a group of us as they came back from a day out when they turned up in the lobby in the afternoon! The poor girls didn't know what to think. LOL. Later on that afternoon we also ran into Cathy in the lobby and had a chat. Just a little later Dan turned up... now that man is HOT!!!! Hee hee hee... and he is a really nice bloke too and could be found most nights in the bar with us.
Classes started bright and early at 8.30am (which was exceptionally early considering I only got 3 hours sleep..... mmmm but I got a lot more sleep that first night.. then a certain Helen Williams did... ROFLMAO!!!) My first class was Freeze Frame with Donna. Totally cool class and I used the photos from my photo shoot with Rach. Next up was Imagine The Possiblities with Donna. We made a handmade journal. I love how we can take pieces of chipboard and paper and construct our own albums. I then headed off to A Simple Life with Cathy. That woman is an amazing speaker and I was just hanging off every word. My last class for the day was Favourite Photos with Ali. I was just so excited to finally get a chance to scrap with Ali. The journal that we made was amazing!! (None of my projects are finished but I promise to share them as soon as I have finished them... which will be sooner rather then later) That night we had the Mega Crop. As per usual I didn't get anything done.... too busy socialising! LOL.... then of course we ended up back in the bar. Did an impromptu Karoke session for Donna, Dan, Heather and of course the 4325 other people in the bar.. ok so there were really not that many but hey.... Went to bed at some horrid hour and once again only had about 3 hours sleep!
Saturday saw me start off with Today You with Ali.... Oh my... awesome project. Then was Perspectives.... wowsers....... have I told you how much I love Ali! The last class that I did was One Year One Album with Donna. This album was really cool and made out of chipboard and envelopes!
So I went to this convention not only to get to have classes by these amazing women but also to connect with everyone else that shares in this amazing thing we call scrapbooking. And connect I did...... It was so great to connect with all my friends that I had not seen for so long, those that I had been dying to meet and those new friends that I made on the weekend. It just blows me away how we have all come together because of our love, passion and NEED to create. I have never laughed so hard as what I did during the last few days. So to each and every one of you that came and shared just a little piece of yourself with me for the last few days.... thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you guys.
Please if you have photos from the weekend that you can email me that we might have had taken together please email them to me. My One Year One Album I am actually going to do an album on this convention and all the connections that I made and fun that I had.
I will leave you with what is probably one of my favourite photos from the entire weekend. I love this girl....
Wow Lee-thanks for sharing bits of your time away-it sounded awesome-you can feel your excitement! It will be great to see your finished products. You'll sleep well tonight I think.
Posted by: Linda | August 20, 2006 at 07:21 PM
Hey girl - love this post and had a total ball spending the weekend with you and I love love this photo!!!!
Posted by: Kylie Tout | August 20, 2006 at 08:27 PM
So glad it was everything you wanted it to be. I may never get over the fact that I didn't go!
Jess
Posted by: Jessica Lothian | August 20, 2006 at 09:00 PM
WHAT a great song!!!! can't wait until the next time we meet so we can sing it together!!! It was fantastic meeting you Lee and your version of I WILL SURVIVE with Zina in Ali's class was sensational. You made the convention a happy place to be!!!!
Posted by: Belinda Howlett | August 20, 2006 at 09:25 PM
I just knew you were going to have an awesome time and I'm so glad you did! :)
Posted by: Michelle Adams | August 21, 2006 at 12:17 AM
wow lee , so love that photo, and love your choice of song, my hubby hates it, lol
Posted by: anna | August 21, 2006 at 05:58 AM
Wasn't it a blast!1 It was so good to catch up with you again, and you are a scream to sit next to in class lol!
awesome pic :o)
Posted by: Roz James | August 21, 2006 at 08:25 AM
WOW!!!! It sounds like an incredible time. I wish I could have been there. Even the first day in the bar sounds good...LOL/ Ali and Donna will be in FLorida this coming Dec. and I will get to take Ali's prespective class. Can't wait to see all your projects from the classes.
Your photo with Ali is great...Lee, How tall are you??? I know Ali is tall and you look taller then her in this photo...
I have missed your post, glad you are back
peace
KIm
Posted by: Kim Bolyard | August 21, 2006 at 08:40 AM
Love you photos! Can't wait to see the finished projects - I want to get mine done this week or they'll never happen!!
I had a great time, though it's taking me some time to recover. LOL!
Helenxx
Posted by: HelenW | August 21, 2006 at 08:49 AM
Lee, I wish I had been there.. it sounds like it was a blast! Totally love the photo, can't wait to see your projects.
Posted by: Sofi p | August 21, 2006 at 09:08 AM
Ok so I have post again...I have missed you girl...thanks for you post on my blog. That she crop was a blast and I was surprised at how many photos of myself that I actually kinda liked
thanks girl,
your friend
Kim
Posted by: Kim Bolyard | August 21, 2006 at 09:15 AM
It was a BIG weekend!
So nice to get a hug from you the moment I walked in the door and to have my name yelled out as I walked into a crowded bar lol!
You have to feel loved by that!
I wish I could have spent more time with you, you are without a doubt a ball of energy woman and it doesnt fade without sleep!
Amazing!
Posted by: Rach | August 21, 2006 at 09:30 AM
Missing you already! Will email the lovely "save Pedro" pic soon! Luv ya JEN xxoxoxox
Posted by: jen | August 21, 2006 at 10:25 AM
hehehe good to see ya lee. Love that pic of you and ali. Werent the ladies all AAAAWesome.
nic H
Posted by: Nic Howard | August 21, 2006 at 10:58 AM
It was the most awesome weekend and it was fantastic to meet you too!! Loved your singing in Alis class!! LOL! That is a fantastic pic too! Cant wait to see it scrapped!
Posted by: Kelley | August 21, 2006 at 01:29 PM
Vote for Pedro!!!! Vote for Pedro!!! Thanks for a great weeekend. I loved seeing you again and hearing your stunning rendition of I Will Survive was one of the highlights of my weekend. We need to meet again in some gorgeous place and take more photos so we can stop using the Bowral ones.Any suggestions??
Alison XXX
Posted by: Alison Shearer | August 21, 2006 at 01:37 PM
Wow Lee! It was the best weekend! It was fantastic to meet you and to hang out in the bar with you....it was a Scrapping Convention right? Could have been a Bar Convention too!!!LOL
You are one amazing lady and I am so glad to count you as one of my new friends......" I will survive...as long as I know how to live I know I will survive......" that bar must be sooooooo quiet now!
Love ya.....
Posted by: Rowie | August 21, 2006 at 02:02 PM
missing you heaps girl!!! - loving the photo!! - thanks for making it one hell of a weekend!!
Posted by: NicW | August 21, 2006 at 05:10 PM
XoX
I didn't realize you got so little sleep!! You were gorgeous every minute of the weekend!! :)
Posted by: glo-girl | August 21, 2006 at 06:08 PM
Hey Lee!
It was an amazing weekend wasn't it? It was so cool to get to meet you - and what an incredible entrance you made!!
Looking forward to doing it all again next year!
Megan xx
Posted by: Megan Stephenson | August 21, 2006 at 07:05 PM
It was a way fun weekend! I'm really sorry I missed the singing:)
Great meeting you....*fiona*
Posted by: fiona leehane | August 21, 2006 at 10:08 PM
Hey Lee,
It was a really really fun weekend and i ended up bringing home some really beautiful projects, a ton of inspiration and countless memories many including you girl, drills and your "to rival aussie idol" rendition of i will survive!!!
LOL
You did make the convention a memorable experience!
Lol
hugs
mwahhhh
Jules
Posted by: Jules | August 22, 2006 at 12:11 AM
Like I said....SO awesome to meet you finally! Lee, I reckon you have a special mention on everybodies blog this week!! Just wouldn't have been the same without you:)
Gorgeous photo of you and Ali!
Posted by: Sarah | August 22, 2006 at 12:51 PM
Was lovely to *not exactly* meet you.
Me and my girls are suffering the "coming down" after the ultimate "scrapping HIGH"....*grin*
I hope you are coping okay.
REally WAS the best weekend EVER.
Bx
Posted by: Bek-Aussie Chick | August 22, 2006 at 03:04 PM
OMG...we came, we did, we survived!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was soooooooooooooooooooooooo worth the wait! Loved catching up chicky babe, it was a giant hoot!
So when does the counter go up for next year??????
Do you know how much I did not want to go to work on Monday (only got home about 2pm on Sunday - yes, I was stretching every last minute out of mama's big weekend away!!) and then I had to deal with all the bits and pieces that I brought home and that have been tipped onto my scrap desk.
I have some **HOT** photos and will burn you a CD real soon.
Posted by: Jody | August 22, 2006 at 06:41 PM