An Awesome New England Visit! Part 1 of 2

Hello fellow crafters! Many thanks to all those that followed along the #PaperTrail and #thecollinsshow, although I was a bad Face Book poster upper. Sorry...I was having too much fun, and had so much to do. The trip was fabulous though, and I met so many people, and created a lot of projects in classes, AND did some helping with Eileen and Amy's large feat of demoing Eileen's fabulous goodies! The sites, projects, and stores were fabulous, and I thought I'd show you some photos of the trip and the show in this post, and then I'll you two of stores we visited in the next post.  Grap a snack and a drink...it's lengthy!

I flew into New York City, and then grabbed a shuttle to meet Eileen and Amy in Connecticut. I finally got to see the trailer in all it's glory, and then it was off to Massachusetts.

The Collins Group are wonderful people who help brick and mortar store owners and studio business owners like me, find and buy products from companies they represent. They have these mini trade shows a few times a year, and they bring in the manufacturers and designers to teach us how to use their products. So fun!!! They were a wonderful group of people who hostessed a great event!

The trailer was loaded with tons of stuff that we toted inside the hotel where the trade show was. Then we gussied it up to have interviews and have people create little works of art.

There was a ledger to sign, and lots of goodies to create with that Amy brought along.

I was the first to be interviewed. That was hard!!! Amy and I created Artist Trading Blocks...so stinking fun!

Dina Wakley and Dyan Reaveley joined in on the fun too, and many more people as well.

 

I had soooo many classes, but along with all my cherished Ranger classes,  my favorite was the Purple Cows class where I was introduced to using those colored waxes I talked about in my 2013 CHA post...remember? Oh my gosh! I have wax on the brain now, and I cannot wait to design some encaustic classes!

My buddy Diana Hetherington joined me in several classes, and we had a great time...especially in this one!

Of course, my favorite project was in Tim's Ranger Class! I even finished it! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

After all the classes were finished, the companies had Make N Takes! Eileen and Amy were busy busy showing how to make Mini Albums!

They housed all the beautiful samples using Eileen's dies in vintage suitcases! They were darling!

 

There is Norman in the middle of the samples! He was one busy gnome! He followed all of our adventures!

After the show ended, we loaded up and headed back to Connecticut so Amy and Eileen could demo at some stores. Along the way though, I spotted an old church that was so beautiful. Eileen stopped and we took a look around. I have forgotten the name of the town...Old Lyme maybe???

In Texas, you don't find many churches like this anymore. There are some in the smaller towns that are off the main highways, but not many.

I loved the old rock walls that are built around the buildings. There is no mortar between the rocks, and all the rocks are found right on the property. They are just stacked up...so unique and beautiful!

 

Graveyards are right behind the churches. Again, this is not something we see in Texas. Cemeteries are huge and usually on the outskirts of our towns. I love the differences! Texas is a teen compared to how old things are in New England, and not even born to the ancient sites in Europe.

The church had one window that was stained glass, but it was behind the other window. I think it's been remodeled to protect it.

After our "Squirrel" visits along our drive, we stayed the night in Old Saybrook, where we ate at an awesome place called The Monkey Farm...delish and so much fun. Then the next day we were off to the near by town of Westbrook, right off of the Long Island Sound. What a gorgeous place! This is where we visited stores, but more on that in the next post.

Of course I had to step on a beach while in New England, so it was off to the Westbrook West Beach.

This gull was a ham for the camera! He kept swooping around so I could take his photo.

If I'm not mistaken, that white cottage in the center of the photo, is where Tim taught classes last year for the Beautiful Impressions Stamp Store.

 

The beach was the perfect way to end the #PaperTrail!!!

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

Heading Down The Paper Trail

 

Hello Crafty Peeps! Today, I am on my way to New York City, where I will take a car to Connecticut, where Eileen Hull and Amy Bowerman will pick me up to join them on Eileen's Paper Trail (#PaperTrail)! She has purchased and redone a 1976 Serra Scotty Trailer, and she is traveling around the country doing demos and fun crafty stuff in it! I am so honored to join the fun for a little bit in New England. We will hit a few stores on our way to the Collins Group Spring Show in Massachusettes and then hit a few more stores on the way back! I know it's going to be a blast!

I've made a few more Artist Trading Blocks (ATB's) to take along on the adventure to add to the others I've already made. FYI...I'll be teaching these soon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are interested in following along the #PaperTrail, check for updates on Twitter, Facebook, and on my Facebook Page. 

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!