Silver Bella Part I-The People (A Ridiculously Long Tale About Women that Sparkle)

This is probably my favorite picture from the trip and it's not even mine! Thanks Hope! This is from the first full day in Omaha, part of which was spent at this huge antique mall. I don't believe anyone walked out empty handed. I know Cammy, Kelli and I didn't.

This is the fabulous Hope Wallace Karney. She has magical powers and can get anyone to do anything. I'm not quite sure how she does it but I sure admire her for it. Plus she's very giving herself, which I'm sure doesn't hurt!

 

This is me and Meg Duerksen from the blog Whatever. We didn't have any classes together but how fun that we got to meet.

This is me and Kaari Meng from French General. I took 2 of her classes. I was only scheduled for one but I loved her, her classes and jewelery making so much that I paid for a 6th class just to be with her. I fancy myself a bit of a teacher's pet. Of course if you ask her about it she will say Jen who? But that's just to throw you off so you don't know she's playing favorites. Kaari is responsible for taking 87% of my money over the week and for my family eating mac and cheese from a box until the next payday. But to be honest I LOVE jewelery making and would rather play with beads than eat and in her defense, she wouldn't allow me to spend my last $40 on some awesome European jewelry tools. And can I just say that her assistant Dawn was hands down the best classroom assistant ever? Oh there I go again sucking up. I can't help myself.

Here's me and Cammy and Kelli. The 3 of us roomed together this year and had most of our classes together. Let me just say there were many nights of very little sleep (a total of only 6 hours in 2 nights at this point) and it shows on my face. Enlarge at your own risk. This was in the evening right before the Market opened and we got to shop til we dropped. The theme this year was aprons, thank God, because aprons are much less embarrassing than vintage prom dresses.

This is me and the extra fabulous Shelly Kennedy of Drooz Studio fame. Y'all, I don't even know why she talks to me. She is so awesome and talented and sweet and gorgeous and I could go on and on. I'm so happy that I got to meet her.

 

Here are the 3 amigos again at the luncheon. Our key note speaker was Jo Packham (Where Women Create) and she was fabulous. And Inspiring. And I could have listened to her speak all afternoon. I would have skipped my next class just to listen to her. What a lady!

 

This is me and my buddy Melissa Danner. What do I say about her? I'm so happy we finally had a class together. She is one of a kind (in a good way) and wonderful and funny and real and cool (even if her teenage daughter doesn't realize it) and I'm so happy that I know her and that she only lives a few hours away and that she's already planning to come see me. That's a lot of ands I know but that was me controlling myself.

There were other amazing women I spent time with that I don't have pictures of like my new Silver Bella Momma Carol and her sister Elizabeth the wonderful, talented and sweet as can be Michelle Geller, the always fun sidekicks Lisa and Karlene, the lovely Kari Ramstrom known to most of you as Artsy Mama. Oh and Jeanne from Bushel and a Peck, what a sweetheart she is. So real, so sweet, so stinkin adorable, so talented. I just know I'm leaving people out but I'm still in a fog from it all.

I just want to leave you with one last comment about the wonderful women at this event. I have never in my life been around women who are so generous, encouraging, talented and warm. I've never been hugged so much as I was in those 5 days and I loved every moment of it. My hug tank is full. That feeling of being a part of something and being surrounded by people that get you is what keeps people coming back to Silver Bella every year. I will miss all of these women but even more, I will miss that feeling of community.