At each retreat I host, I invite guest teachers for a few of the classes. This is to prevent every class being just my style, and it allows people to get to experience teaching a large group of crafters. The classes this time were amazing, and I am now addicted to a few new techniques! Examples of classes that have been guest taught are: flooding iced cookies and cookie decorating, jewelry, kumihimo, a Gel Press transfer technique, a wet felting class, a needle felting class, a magic journal class and more.
There's just nothing more fun than finding out all the cool things your friends know. Crafty friends are the best friends.
We also did a few bits of research while we were there. One Nobel-Prize winning theory I'm working on is one involving some very unique traits of people who were born in the year 1962. I happen to be related to one and have several good friends who were as well. These people all have a LOT of things in common - shockingly specific things. A few examples include: a) The inability to look at a web page and actually see what is on it. So, a #62 will stare long and hard at a search result, let's say, and still be completely unable to find, among other things, the settings menu, the large orange button in the middle of the screen containing the info they want, etc. b) They are afflicted by the removovirus on the internet or on their computer. Symptoms of this include: opening Netflix and immediately screaming that all the suggested videos and saved video icons on the screen need to be removed. They like blank computer screens. c) They fill up their cups with beverages so full that they are actually domed on top and must be sipped from before lifting. d) They use off-brand search engines, computers/devices and obscure software to do things that most people use Google and Iphones for. I'm quite certain that 100% of Bing users were born in 1962. e) They have never been able to successfully log in with any password on any account. f) They have 300 email addresses, at least 299 of which are AOL. g) They start a new Facebook business page every time they turn on the computer.
We even tested our theory this weekend with a NEW 62 friend - we didn't know she was a 62, but certain traits led us to conclude that she was, in fact, one of the 62 tribe, and sure enough - she confirmed that she was.
Actually now that I think about it - I don't think I've ever met a man born in 1962 - all the ones I know are women. Do you know a 62 man? I'd like to include him in my Nobel research.
62s are my favorite little nuts.
So I'm slowly catching up on life after work, and I found a card that I probably made six months ago that I never blogged. I have a big stack on my desk that my goal is to mail, so I'm trying to work through the blog posts as I send them off around the world.
I actually bought this set in the fall, and you all know that squirrels are pretty much my favorite of the stamp animal world. This one might be my favorite of all the squirrels. I stamped him in Fadeout ink and watercolored him with Daniel Smith watercolor. Then I painted a panel of watercolor paper to match the background of him, and painted little swooshes over it with Iridescent Gold watercolor. Then I got the watercolor very goopy and splattered it. I cut the panel into two pieces with this - my favorite stitched edge die. The little polaroid frame is this die set. I stamped the sentiments in Nocturne Ink (perfect for watercolor paper) and added his eye and nose detail back with a multiliner.
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I am now that happy kind of tired that comes after a fun event like retreat. I'll catch up in a week. For some reason, I decided to have my used stamp sale and put together IKEA furniture immediately following retreat. Not sure what I was thinking. But Advil is my friend!
My retreats are open to the public, but alumni get to reserve spots first. Watch for registration for my September retreat - I'll announce a few days before public registration opens.
Here's a link to our "enablers" list from retreat. We do a "my favorite things" swap, where we wrap something that is one of our favorite things - some are crafty, some are food, tools, books, etc. - always amazing, and then there are always little supplies and gifts people bring that we always want to buy for ourselves, so to make it easy - here's the list!
Here's a fun collage that my friend Kat did of the weekend and our post-weekend shenanigans in Austin.
Loveyalittlenutsmeanitbye.
This made me chuckle! My husband was born in 1962 and we always tell him he is the only person on the planet that uses Bing. Good to know there are other 62s using it as well!
ReplyDeleteI <3 EVERYTHING about this! <3 my squirrels (my little buddies) that hang around my house
ReplyDeleteYour squirrel is adorable but the background has me totally smitten.
ReplyDeleteI'm married to a #62 man. A and E apply 100%, Facebook is pretty much irrelevant (though unlike me he does have an account).
Love your card. Squirrels are one of my favorite creatures.
ReplyDeleteNow let's talk about this #62 theory of yours. I AM a #62 & have been for 50+ years. And I'm sorry to say that none of your findings apply to me. a) I'm quite adept at using search engines & finding exactly for what I'm searching. My husband, a #52 refuses to search for anything. b) I do not like blank computer screens. I don't remove anything from Netflix queue. c) Rarely do I overfill a beverage cup ( unless it's an adult beverage, then maybe a bit) d) I'm Google all the way. Very wary of obscure software, websites and such. e) I log into my accounts SUCCESSFULLY with my passwords everyday. And no, "password" is not my password. :-) f) I have 2 email addresses, neither of which is AOL. Have never had AOL email. g) Don't have Facebook account.
I'm sorry to disprove your theory. Maybe I'm an exception to this idea. I know quite a few men born in 1962 as they were my classmates. Perhaps you should expand your geographic area of study.
Your retreats sound really fun! If you ever do RESEARCH on 59'ers.....I am in! ha.
ReplyDeleteI had such a good laugh at your post, Lydia, as I am a #62! I have several of the traits you mentioned, but I'm the opposite when it comes to technology. The more tabs & icons open the better, and AOL was never my friend (maybe because I'm Canadian?). I'd love to attend one of your retreats one day...can you guarantee safe passage into the U.S. for this #62 Canadian? ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm not #62 but filling my cup to the brim and have to sip before lifting is #56 issue also. Seriously! You would think it was the last bit of liquid on the planet. I'm so happy to know I'm not alone. Be sure to invite me to your Nobel Prize acceptance ceremony! The squirrel is SO adorable! Reminds me of my best friend who can't stand them, so they always make me smile. I have my eye on the Kallax, but will have to wait awhile longer.
ReplyDeletecutest card ever! I have serious retreat envy.
ReplyDeleteLooks like your retreat was a blast! And no, I don't think I know a single man born in '62 now that you mention it. LOL. Love your adorable little squirrel card!
ReplyDeleteBEYOND AMAZING!!!!!! I have a #68 male you need to research!!!!!! He was in COMPLETE MELTDOWN over “I need THIS right HERE!!!!” (Major angry yell) so I did what all good wives would do..... I tapped the enter button and like *magic* the cursor went where he wanted it to go 😂
ReplyDeleteOh how fun!!! Well, I am off by a year so not quite a 62 but I totally laughed at trait #1. So me! I guess some of the others don't apply because I am a year off. :) Sounds like you had a blast! Your card is sooo cute!!! I love that gold paint. I need to shop! I just love the look of the gold. It's my thing right now, I guess. I have a card to post next week using some gold.
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