~Creative Escape~

So you are asking....what is creative escape?....well let me tell you!! It's an escape from it all..~

A place to release your creative inhibitions with other people in the world who have this same passion in common! We arrived on Thursday morining...after checking in to the resort, we headed down to the technique boutique, and trunk show. All the instructors had table displays of a sampling of their creations, and talk about inspiration!!! WOW!! Classes started bright and early at 8 am Fri morning...4 classes a day with a break for lunch...then sit down dinners in the evening!

Saturday night's dinner started off with DESSERT FIRST...that's Heidi Swapp's idea~ love it!

We all got these little purses on the sides of our dishes and were told NOT to open them till all 500 + guests had theirs.....so we patiently (well most of us!) waited, then all opened them up at once to reveal the contents. All but one had beads in them...and one lucky winner's had a bracelet in theirs which meant they had an all expense paid trip to Creative Escape next year!

We were SO hungry for some real food Thursday night...so we ate by the poolside...a juicy hamburger and some fries!!! Mmmm, it tasted so good...this is me standing with Trina and Trisha. Kole is sleeping in his stroller...as usual...being an Angel!!

I couldn't wait to swim...it was too dang hot to lay out...but still beautiful to look at!

We had the best time!!!! Talk about HOT!! It peaked at 113 the final day of our classes...luckily, we were in freezing air-conditioned rooms learning all sorts of cool techniques!! I did take a dip in the pool and felt the jets in the hot tub at 10 pm....it was very relaxing!! See, I didn't dare venture off too much on my own, because I kept getting lost getting back up to our room!!! Don't laugh!! I have NO sense of direction!!

Heidi's class was wonderful and she is the sweetest lady!! SO down to earth!! It's all about the aprons here!! Trina and I made these the week before we left!!

This is TIM HOLTZ~I do have to say that his class was the BEST!! He is sooooo talented!! This is Trina, Tim, Trisha and ME! (guess I need a name that starts with a t huh?)

Okay...this is seriously the tallest cactus I have ever standed next to!! Look at the boards holding it up....so tall!

Then here is a nice size one at the Shereton where we stayed...
I love them!

Well then...Trina and I found an empty pot and decided to fill it with ~ US!!

This is my New BEST friend ...the Glue Glider Pro...sticky tape for scrappin!!! With a handle!
Kole came with us...and he was an ANGEL!!! I got to bundle him up after his bath in our bathroom sink...such a dream baby!!

Our last night there was quite a memorable experience!!

They had some lamps that each of the teachers had made for IKEA. They sold raffle tickets and winners were chosen. Then Tim and Heidi's were auctioned off to raise money for leukemia and lymphoma society. Of course this charity is close to my heart...because of my dear friend Lisa who lost her life to cancer at such a young age. The live auction was INTENSE...with Heidi's lamp selling for $8,900 and Tim's went for $29,000....very emotional...but a neat spirit, with ALL the money raised going to the charity!!

Heidi's was beautiful pink of course with bling and jewels to boot...with a hidden message inside when it lit up...very pretty lamp!

Tim was pretty emotional as the bids increased VERY rapidly...started at $500 then immediately went to $5,000...then to $10,000 and up from there...there wasn't a dry in the house!!We learned so much...and made some new friends...that's the fun part too!!

Now back to reality!!