Spraguefest 2011

This time last year I had just arrived home from a fabulous week in Chicago - enjoying the CHA Supershow and SPRAGUEFEST 2010. What an awesome time.

The CHA Supershow (Craft and Hobby Association) was an awesome experience. So many wonderful crafts to try (and buy - heehee) I got to finally meet and spend time with online friends that I have known for a few years. Shown here is my friend Kelly (from Simply Kelly Designs) and our good friend Aprile. While we had never met 'in real life' before this event, we had a great time - it was like we had known each other for years!

Spraguefest 2010 was simply awesome. The crew at jessicasprague.com planned an incredible time for us in the windy city. Digital classes, a walking tour through Chicago and wonderful dining experiences. Here is a picture me of with Jessica Sprague. i was thrilled to finally meet her (after taking so many awesome digital classes from her online) She is down to earth and a fabulous gal.

That was one year ago - flash forward to today - I am 50 pounds lighter and my wallet is lighter too! I have booked my airfare and registered for SPRAGUEFEST 2011 - this year it is being held in LasVegas in October. My bags are packed...I'm ready to go....(okay, not literally - but I am soooo excited)

Hope to see you in Vegas. Here are the details for Spraguefest 2011.

Habe a great day....by the Shore

Spraguefest 2010

Spraguefest 2010 ~ AWESOME!

Following the CHA SuperShow, several of us from the jessicasprague.com site met in downtown Chicago for Spraguefest 2010. What an incredible time - meeting digi-scrappers and designers who (for many of us) had never met before IRL (in real life). And each person was as genuine, knowledgeable, helpful and fun as they are on the messageboards. There were several of us that had spent the last few months together (at least virtually) during the Art of Digital Design class ~ Kelly, Ann, Donna, Gary, Lisa, Meg, Jana, Joan and a few more. Getting to know Jessica Sprague, Carina Gardner and the rest of the JS crew was wonderful. Kim, Susanne, NannaJean, Susan, Rosemary are a few more special gals I enjoyed getting to know. (and I know I am forgetting someone so please forgive me) We spent Sunday exploring downtown Chicago on a walking tour - Millennium Park, the "Bean", the water fountains, and learning the historical perspective of the city from a Chicago native. What a beautiful city. During our stay there - crews were filming Transformers 3. They had a few blocks blocked off from traffic - and the special effects created on the sets were awesome. (a few of the spraguefesters even got a glimpse of Patrick Dempsey) We went on a boat tour in the afternoon - a leisurely ride where we could view and truly appreciate the awesome skyline of the city. We enjoyed some fabulous popcorn (cheese and caramel mixed - to die for) ate at Tavern in the Park, Italian Village, Billy Goat Tavern (think cheezborger, cheezborger, no pepsi-coke) and a few more great places. On Monday, we gathered for an album class and got started on dig-scrapping the many pictures each of us took. Kelly and I headed out on Monday afternoon after lots of hugs and farewells. The trip was simply fabulous - memories and friendships that I will cherish for some time to come.

(I will post more pictures of Spraguefest 2010 and the CHA Supershow over on facebook - come on over and take a peek here - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Colorado-Springs-CO/By-The-Shore-Designs/146483665365414?ref=sgm) And while you're there, follow me on facebook.