I have been a busy bee getting ready for my big adventure which starts next Sunday! That's right - May 8th . . . it's Mother's Day, my 40th birthday (woot!), and I'm taking off for the Do What You Love for Life Retreat in the English countryside. And let me tell ya, I am SO ready to breathe some fresh country air . . . it's been a rough couple of weeks. Whew!
Loving this stamp right now . . .
A big part of preparing for my trip was to get my supplies ready for the amazing book-making class I'm taking at the rereat. And as I pulled my supplies together I realized I have unknowingly been planning for this class forever! (either that or I'm a horrible pack-rat and should feel lucky that I finally have an outlet where I can use all my crap. Ahem.)
The supply list is rather extensive (you can see it at that same link above), but I think I've done well so far. Here's a quick peek at my stash . . .
Rubber stamps - check! Ribbon Scraps - check! Washi tape - check! Cool maps - CHECK!
More maps, postage stamps & collage materials + my alphabet stamp set from here . . .
The roller skate stamp - another one of my old favorites . . .
So not all of what you see pictured above is from my hoard. Of note - the postage stamps are from my parents, who totally came through for me when I asked if they had any randomly stashed away. I guess I know my resources! Mom sent them to me in a little package sorted in envelopes by country. Now that is funny. I also hit them up for some maps - and got that big stack of green topographic maps & an old city guide of Coppenhagen. Sweet!
Love the old cellophane & glassine envelopes the stamps came in . . .
For my real map score however? I have to thank my older son - who has been telling me for months that his friends' Dad owns Metzker Maps. I finally met the guy at a school function a couple of weeks ago, and as it turns out - he doesn't own Metzker Maps, but their sister company, Kroll Map Co. And he said he'd give me a bunch of stuff he was going to put in the recycling, so to just stop by any time.
I went on my lunch hour one day (since it's really close to my office), and let's just say that the map place was so much fun that I got totally absorbed in taking pictures of their office, and was almost late back to work! AND . . . in my hurry I left all my cool maps there. Yes, that was a new low in the "scatterbrained" department. * sigh *. I went back & got them later, and have cut them down to sizes that I think will be appropriate for my project. (I will share my pictures from the field-trip to the map place another day.)
I spent an hour at Dick Blick yesterday buying the items I didn't already have, so the class supply list is all taken care of. Just have to figure out the clothes thing & what kind of carry-on I'm going to take, and I'll be set to go!
Hoping to check back here once more before I get on that plane . . .
love the pics you posted. such a talent you are. wishing i was going on an adventure right about now in the english countryside but i will have to live vicariously through you and your pictures and posts. and....the answer is you have been slowly preparing for this class for years....not(!) that you are a craft and art supply hoarder. what would that make me??
Posted by: merr | May 03, 2011 at 06:03 AM
Love this Eileen! So excited to see you here very soon
BethXx
Posted by: beth | May 04, 2011 at 08:24 AM
Whoo hoo! This is your bookbinding teacher, looking forward to meeting you and wishing all best for the journey...Bookiest, Rachel (impressed by the delicious comprehensiveness of your kit!)
Posted by: Rachel | May 04, 2011 at 10:13 AM
Thanks so much Eileen - I love your post about your preparations for the retreat and your photos are wonderful !
I will be joining you in the same workshop -and I haven't started preparing yet. I think I've been sulking. I changed my mind and wanted to do the painting workshop and I couldn't transfer. Now you've got me all inspired and excited about the book creation and thinking about what materials I have handy (use stamps, bits of ribbon, old map - check). Thank you again ! See you next week !
Posted by: Cheryl | May 05, 2011 at 05:33 AM
Great to meet you here ahead of the retreat. I'll be there. I'm taking Flora's class. I'm so excited too. I'm amazed you are travelling so far! Great to have so many people from around the globe to meet. See you Wednesday!
Posted by: Lisa WrightStuff | May 05, 2011 at 12:35 PM
Green with envy over here. WOW that is going to be an amazing retreat. Can't wait to hear all about it!
Posted by: Jenn Granger | May 06, 2011 at 05:45 PM
Can't wait to see you on Wednesday at the retreat! I'm in Flora's class. See you THERE!
Posted by: Kat | May 08, 2011 at 03:16 AM