Finding my way Home

Good Morning Everyone!  I arrived home late last night from a fabulous trip to teach at the SA International Scrapbook Convention.  First of all a HUGE "thank you" to 7gypsies for asking me to teach.  The delegates in the 5 classes were amazing scrapbookers, so fast and friendly, and I am glad they wholeheartedly accepted my "off the page" project.  Another huge "thank you" to Glenda and her team put on a wonderful convention which included about 600 delegates in Johannesburg and Cape Town.  I can't say enough about how well planned this event was right down to the packing of the kits.  I do not believe that I had even one missing piece in all 600 kits that were used and that is quite a feat in my book.

My favorite helper, Skylar (can you say, darling!)

 Counting kits

I admit I was sad to wake up this morning and find that there was no one in my kitchen making me breakfast and then my husband had to drive himself to work!

I have so much to share about this journey here and on the 7gypsies blog next week, but today I thought it was appropriate to start this journey where I left off.. the aprons.  If you remember, back on my last post I made an apron to give away in each class I taught in South Africa.  I am reporting that each apron now has a home. So with an apology for an excessive amount of pictures of myself with the apron winners, here they are:
In Johannesburg

my friend Sharon picked "Best of Times"

Roula Aspeling chose the "Little Bird" apron

Renate James picked the apron called "Courage".

Surette Pretorius chose the "Craft Girl" Apron.

 and in Cape Town, the lovely Janine Marais

During class I noticed a few items that the delegates brought to help control the clutter...I thought I would pass on the ideas. 

I love this personal trash bag (I could use one next to my sewing machine!).  The top part is folded over and has a removable weight to keep it in place (like a long bean bag) that slips in and out so the bag could be washed.   It was made from a 'decorator' weight fabric so it would keep it's shape when in use.  It is now on my list for my next sewing project.

This saddle bag was made by Bernice.  You sit on the center part to keep it in place.  Each pocket is large enough to hold a 12 x 12 sheet of paper.  Clever!

Thanks Bernice for letting me show your idea!

This lightweight plastic "TV tray" for extra space worked especially good with the round tables at the event.  She put all her kit pieces here for easy retrieval and her rolling tote fit right underneath.

I will leave you today with some scenes from the convention...

Here everyone is cutting fussy cutting a flower from the Lille Abundance paper.

 Many of the ladies wore matching shirts or aprons to identify a certain group. 

I like to walk around while I am teaching so I can see how everyone is doing.  This room was loooooong I think I may have walked a few miles during the 2 1/2 hour class.  So glad to have not one, but two screens to teach from in this size room.  Thank you Glenda!

 I loved this whole table of ladies with matching plastic bow headbands that light up! 

 Tea time

 Thanks to Ranger for donating the Weathered Wood Distress stain to color the inside of the little portfolios.  Here everyone is working on hammering the 7gypsies metal corners onto the front flap.

Can you see in this picture there is another idea for a hanging trash bag?  You can see the weight for this one is smaller at the top.

 Would you believe that not one of the 600 people punched the portfolio in the wrong place with the 7gypies Binderie Punch?  That's gotta be some kind of class record!

thanks Denise for the fun photo of us after class!

 Well, the laundry is calling and I believe I will be napping sometime around 3 today...give me a couple days to recoup and I'll be back with pictures from this African journey...you're not going to want to miss the friends (Nic, Melissa, Debby, Laura and Ginger, Stephanie and the irrepressible ("oh, I have a song about that"), Rosanne...and the food (my favorite dessert on earth), and the game lodge (heaven on earth), and the cheetahs and rhinos up close (fabulous), the view from Table Mountain (glorious).

But today it's back to reality since I have to drive myself to the grocery store.

Glad to be home,

paula