On the first full day of crafting, Mom and I had to be up and ready by 8:30am.  We were greeted with a menagerie of Moulin awesomeness that only Kim Caldwell could create.

Each place setting was incredible with all the detail and “swag.”  I love the paper doll!

Who’s #1?  We’re #1!  Table #1 that is.  😀

Even the schedule is gorgeous.  I love the little black bow with the bling.  Our first class of the day was with Shea.  She is super sweet and I had a ball learning jewelry-making from her.

Shea is on the left and Kim is on the right.  Now, let me make it perfectly clear — I have never made jewelry and never really been inclined to do so.  Her class was amazing and a great introduction into the art.  I could get into making some pretty baubles.

This is a picture of Mom’s, but mine looks just like it.  I think the coolest thing I learned was how to wire wrap.  This lovely gal taught me how:

I adore this woman!  She is the coolest, most creative “real gal” I know.  See that hat?  She made it!  See that gorgeous purse behind her?  She made it.  See that necklace my Mama’s wearing?

She made it!  There is nothing this woman can’t do.  Plus she’s genuine and sincere — two qualities that are super important to me.  I cannot sing Tina Marie’s praises enough.  She also taught Mama and me how to make the flowers on her necklace — worth the entire price of the weekend.  😉 Thanks Tina!  You’re a doll.

We also got to meet her friend Robyn — she is just as amazing as Tina.  I also felt a special connection with Robyn.  She works with senior adults as well in an independent living facility.  We had a good time chatting about our different jobs and the impact our residents have on our lives.  Oh yeah, and that bag she’s carrying?  She made it!  Such talented women.

So this is a picture of me working with head pins and beads.  Such concentration!  I should be holding my tongue just right.

After Shea’s class, we had a yummy lunch.  The weather was perfect and in fact a little on the cool side.

This is my friend Maija.  I had to get a photo of all of us wearing our Magnolia Pearl duds.  I am a complete junkie and I’ve turned Mom onto the designer as well.

After lunch, we took a class with the dynamic duo of Jenny and Aaron — and yes, Aaron was the ONLY man at the entire event.  Such confidence in his masculinity!  😀  It doesn’t hurt that he’s an incredible artist.

Yeah, I admit it — I have a crush on Jenny.  She’s just so damn cute with that pink hair!  She too is a scary talented artist.

We had some really great table mates.  This is Mom with Tracy.  Tracy was a riot and a big help to Mom who had some problems with her arthritic hands.

Mom finally got a chance to meet Jessie of Scrappy Jessie fame.  She was very gracious despite Mom’s “star-struckedness.”

Here is a shot of our whole table.  I love how Tina looks like a prairie dog — either that or a meerkat.

After a full day of crafting, Mom and I took a quick nap and then headed back down for swap fun and a make-n-take with Dollybelle.

Christine is precious, and despite the fact she was sick as a dog, she helped us make fabulous fascinator hats.  Check out the shoes she made!

And of course there were delicious snacks.

I love macaroons!  You can’t eat just one!

The swaps were even more delicious!

This was the collage swap I participated in.  Everyone’s piece is so different and creative.

I wish I had done this swap — it was a charm swap.  Gorgeous!  I’ll leave everyone with some of my favorite shots of the pillow, box and book swaps.

Gosh these women are crazy talented!

I love Colleen’s little girl.

That book binding is awesome.

I wish I could have done more than one swap, but time just wouldn’t allow for it.  I think my favorite thing about Kim’s events are the swaps — the amount of talent in the room is off the charts so the collaborative pieces are incredible.