Vintage on line

This is me and Kaari Meng from French General. I took 2 of her classes. I was only scheduled for one but I loved her, her classes and jewelery making so much that I paid for a 6th class just to be with her. I fancy myself a bit of a teacher's pet. Of course if you ask her about it she will say Jen who? But that's just to throw you off so you don't know she's playing favorites. Kaari is responsible for taking 87% of my money over the week and for my family eating mac and cheese from a box until the next payday. But to be honest I LOVE jewelery making and would rather play with beads than eat and in her defense, she wouldn't allow me to spend my last $40 on some awesome European jewelry tools. And can I just say that her assistant Dawn was hands down the best classroom assistant ever? Oh there I go again sucking up. I can't help myself.
















Here's me and Cammy and Kelli. The 3 of us roomed together this year and had most of our classes together. Let me just say there were many nights of very little sleep (a total of only 6 hours in 2 nights at this point) and it shows on my face. Enlarge at your own risk. This was in the evening right before the Market opened and we got to shop til we dropped. The theme this year was aprons, thank God, because aprons are much less embarrassing than vintage prom dresses.


There were other amazing women I spent time with that I don't have pictures of like my new Silver Bella Momma Carol and her sister Elizabeth the wonderful, talented and sweet as can be Michelle Geller, the always fun sidekicks Lisa and Karlene, the lovely Kari Ramstrom known to most of you as Artsy Mama. Oh and Jeanne from Bushel and a Peck, what a sweetheart she is. So real, so sweet, so stinkin adorable, so talented. I just know I'm leaving people out but I'm still in a fog from it all.

I just want to leave you with one last comment about the wonderful women at this event. I have never in my life been around women who are so generous, encouraging, talented and warm. I've never been hugged so much as I was in those 5 days and I loved every moment of it. My hug tank is full. That feeling of being a part of something and being surrounded by people that get you is what keeps people coming back to Silver Bella every year. I will miss all of these women but even more, I will miss that feeling of community.