Inspired: Letterman-style

The thought of blogging Inspired is kind of overwhelming to me, so I have decided to take Jilliene's approach and do a list.

Most memorable/best/favorite/unforgettable things about Inspired (in no particular order):

1. Wendy Smedley and Cathy Zielske. They were so sweet, down-to-earth and cool. They remembered me and waved hi anytime I walked past them. It just makes you feel good.



2. Tena Sprenger's class. I've been wanting to do an acrylic album forever, even bought several, but never really knew where to start. Now I don't want to do anything else.



3. Heather Bailey and her fabulous fabric. I just want to eat it, it's so yummy. We used it in Christina Lazar-Schuler's class.





4. My "Inspired" Lisa Leonard necklace. I've pretty much worn it every day since I got it. OK, I HAVE worn it every day since I got it. Annnnd ... I ordered matching earrings.





5. My DD camera wristlet. It's so dern cute I can't stand it.



6. My finished Jennifer Stewart project. This photo is before the bottles and lights, but now that it has those, I can't stop staring at it.



7. The hotel was SWEET! Grits every morning? I'm so in. Next year: Can you say spa appointment?



8. Awesome fellow artists. An otolaryngologist who scrapbooks? Wha? Sweet Sue - thank you for my first-ever ATC! Joyous Joyce and her inspiring attitude. My fabulous tablemates Mama Melissa and her BFF Traci.





9. Darling Claudine Hellmuth and my mini-me poppet that she inspired. I love it! Even though she got decapitated at Lambert Airport. So sad. She's got a little crack in her neck now but she's still cute.



10. Meeting Ali Edwards. Thank you for taking two pictures cuz the first one was fuzzy. She's just cool. Plain cool. I'm constantly amazed at the generosity on her blog - always posting the coolest projects and links. Did I say cool?



11. Bill Downey. Thank you for organizing shuttles when all us crazy women started freaking out about airport transportation. Thank you for knowing me as soon as I walked up to you the first time. Thank you for making sure my mom was comfortable, happy and busy. Thank you for spray-painting extra dress forms at 9 o'clock at night in the hotel grass.



12. Soft pretzel day. Need I say more? Brilliant, Donna, brilliant.



13. And last, but not least, Donna Downey. I love you for your "18 cats" story and your funky glasses and for ever even thinking of Inspired and for all the little details and because you're not comfortable with emotion and that you look hot in your size 10s and for stamping and stitching 200 name tags and for saying yes without hesitation when I asked if I could help behind-the-scenes next year and for yelling at me to get back in my class when you were going to do giveaways and for ... well, I guess I could go on forever. Thank you Donna, it was real.


Um, next year, could we maybe get a picture together that is IN focus?!?

Things I have learned/wish I had done/hope to do next year:

1. Get a picture with Cathy Z. What the heck was I thinking? I was distracted by her kindness in signing my book and thus missed the photo op. She's my new favorite scrapbooker. Where have I been?

2. I wish I didn't follow the instructions so specifically and had made the projects more my own. I'm so obsessive-compulsive about these sorts of things - I want it to be perfect and just like it's supposed to be. It's REALLY hard for me not to do that, but I'm always glad when I do, so next time I'm going to try SUPER hard to express myself and to interpret the concept rather than do an exact copy. Watch out Creative Escape!

3. Take advantage of more of the happy hours. Who needs dinner?

4. Not getting my Claudine Hellmuth book signed. I asked her to, but I think she got distracted after signing my Inspired manual. I just discovered it this morning. Boo.

5. No photo with Stephanie McAtee - she's the only teacher I didn't get a photo with. She kind of scared me. Kal's class was already out of the box for me, so Stephanie's just about blew my mind!



6. Be OK with the fact that I am linear (sorry Kal) and I don't like matte accents or color wash all over my fingers. Be OK with the fact that I would rather be teaching and helping to organize and plan rather than be a student. Be OK with not being able to crochet. CD, I'm so glad you can't crochet either. Props to you for sticking the class out at least.




7. I left my rose in my room. Totally forgot it. Blast! I hope the housekeeper took it home and enjoyed it.




Phew. This post doesn't even cover half of it! I haven't even mentioned Renee Pearson or getting to see Mathy's or North Carolina BBQ or all my delicious finds at the mall or ...







If you've read this far, you rock. Please leave a comment! Until next year ...

luv, em