The inaugural Make It Happenings Retreat in Paradise, PA was an overwhelming success! It was a beautiful weekend and we had such awesome guests. Everyone learned new crafting skills, got to relax, make new friends, and found some vintage goodies while we were out antiquing.
On Friday when then ladies arrived we had a delicious lunch (there will be another blog post with recipes!), and settled into the house while everyone got to know one another, then we went over all the amazing things that our wonderful sponsors sent to us.
After lunch, we had a photography workshop with Liz. She gave us all tips on how to take better photos, tips on lighting and composure and how to connect with your subject. We had time to ask her individual questions and to go off and take photos at the retreat house after her workshop. A few ladies have already told me how they are using their new photography skills while taking photos since the retreat.
A little sprinkle of rain pulled us inside so we went over the two crafts for the night. A 4 square envelope pillow cover and the start of our personalized wooden signs.
After some good crafting time we had a mexican dinner and margaritas outside, then we opted to sit around the fire and get to know one another. A few ladies got in the hot tub, it was really a nice relaxing evening.
And of course, s'mores!
Saturday morning after breakfast we took a scenic drive through farms and the beautiful country roads to get to Shupp's Grove. Here there were dozens of vendors selling lots of vintage goodies. Everyone scored some great finds.
On the way back we stopped and had a picnic lunch at White Horse Mill Antiques.
After returning to the retreat house we shared our finds from shopping and got right to crafting. We had to finish our wooden signs from the night before, make reversible fabric headbands, a tic-tac-toe hoop, a gold leaf pot with a succulent, and make some metal stamped necklaces.
We took a break for dinner (and had some delicious whoopie pies for dessert!), then Awbree did a workshop on iPhone photos.
Many of us stayed up way too late crafting and chatting.
Sunday morning we had breakfast bright and early, then Jen Lake who is on the 2015 Project Life team with Awbree (Jen lives in New Mexico, but just so happen to be from the Lancaster area and was on the East Coast for a doctor's appointment this weekend) came by to talk about documenting life, and why it is so very important. Jen was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation, and has used Project Life to document her surgeries and life after her surgery. Jen has developed some complications and will be having another surgery in just about a week. You can read more about Jen on her website,
www.jenniferlake.com or follow her on instagram @sunlightandair.
To finish off our weekend we took lots and lots of photos and bid everyone farewell. It really was an amazing weekend! Thanks to everyone who was a part of it and made it so special.
And this is how we felt when it was done..
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Thanks so much to our amazing sponsors!!
(Click on their names for links to their pages)
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