PAPER COWGIRL MUSING....

Yee Haw!! What a fantastic weekend at the Paper Cowgirl Retreat! Tina and Cindy, you really know how to put on a fantastic artsy-craftsy kind-of-party! There really was no such thing as too much fun there.... I am soooo happy that you'll be doing it again next year! (so note that, girls~ Paper Cowgirl will be happening again sometime in June 2009! You will want to attend!) They are two of the sweetest cowgirls you'll ever meet!

As I had said in my last post, Valita picked me up Friday morning to head on down to Waxahachie to do some shoppin' before Vendor Night. And we did just that. Once there, we were off to a slow start, spending two hours in a little home decor shop... they had great selection of trims on clearance that we just couldn't pass up! (The two hours was NOT spent shopping, we had our trims picked out in a matter of 20 minutes. It was the check-out process that took sooo long!) We will know better next time...

It was about lunch time, so we decided to walk to and eat at a little pub that was quite quaint in all it's "pubbness" (?) They had some yummy deep-fried, cornbread-battered pickles! lol After lunch, we headed off to our first (and last of the day) antique store. We had a great time looking and digging, then happened upon a wonderful lady who was in to see the new jewelry treasures of one of the booths in the store.

We talked and searched for wonderful little jewels, all-the-while learning some really great tidbits on what to look for in quality vintage jewelry! Valita and I realize that we have passed up some really fantastic pieces in the past, thinking they were brand new, or almost brand new. But it's just the finish that was used at the time...;)

We checked into our hotel, then pranced off to the Little Pink Cottage where vendor night was to begin... So cute!! It's an adorable, literally pink little house made into a tea room, and was perfect for all the little wares that each vendor had. There was SO MUCH creative bliss in that tiny little cottage!

I purchased this sweet little birdy collage from Dale at Sea Dream Studio.



And this wonderful prayer collage is from Ms. Paper Cowgirl herself, Tina!



There was some wonderful little tidbits I purchased, but I have actually been efficient (ya, surprised me too), and tucked them away where they belong before I thought of a picture... and at the rate I'm going, I should have posted this over the course of two days... oh well.

And my blogger friend Nancy, was so sweet to give me these little vintage cupcake toppers and beautiful clock hands from Round Top! Thank you sweet friend.
We finally got to "hug" each other in real life, and I am ever so glad I have met her. She and her long-time friends all came and you must check out Nancy's blog and see the crazy-packed-car they came in!!!


ANOTHER blogger friend and roommie, Ms. Valita,( such a wonderful friend) gave me these goodies all wrapped up in a cute little bag with pink and aqua cowgirl boots paper topper! The little cowgirl necklace is so adorable. (The back of it is the first photo you see up top...)

She is so super sweet! And we had one rootin' tootin' time together! And I look forward to more fun with her at Silver Bella, as well as, just crafty and fun get-togethers down the road...


SATURDAY, we started out super busy with Dale in her lantern class. She is such a sweet person. She had a ton of extras for trading or adding to our lanterns...


Then we had a quick break for lunch that was catered from Two Sisters Lunchbox Cafe. Both Valita and I had Chicken Salad Sandwich with Cranberries on whole wheat bread and cute little cupcakes that were DEliCIouS!!!!! (I scooped one up before I even thought about a picture) You have got to go there, too!

Then off to Jan's banner class (and I'm not the bad little girl, really!). She had a wonderful selection of fabrics and papers in our kits.

After that, we did Joanna's class of Santa Art (the only project I actually got finished!). It was then time for a dinner break for some more antiquing. And the time went fast.... it was back to class with Sharon teaching her Face on a box class. She had our class kits in these cute little bags she painted, transferred, and such... so adorable...



What a great class this was, in that I reached outside the box (so to speak), and learned some great techniques. She was a wonderful teacher, and I think all of us were pleasantly surprised with outcome of all our boxes:

(Valita's and I's boxes)

Last class of the evening was Tina's Soldered Cowgirl Pendant. I was nervous, but Tina encouraged me to get soldering. So I did, and well... needless to say, it needs a little more work. And I still need to solder the jump ring on, then polish it up. She made up these cute little class kits in a disposable coffee cup! How cute is that?! ;)

It was an absolutely wonderful time. The Crafty Scrapper in Waxahachie is a FANTASTIC little store- worth the little trip, if you get the chance. And I want to thank them, Tina and Cindy, all the teachers, and all the super-fun ladies of Paper Cowgirl! What a fantastic weekend! I can't wait to do it all over again next year! ;)

Go and check out the other blogs for more pictures... and Tina started a Flickr Group, too!

Well, I had better zip-it... This probably goes down as the longest post yet.... ;P