maple memories 2010

Just 30 minutes away from home is this wonderful place.

Maple Memories - McPherson, KS

This is the second year that I've gotten to getaway with 11 other sweet girls to this place.

A place to getaway - and be creative.

Or pretend to be creative.

Or copy everyone else's creative ideas.

In all honesty, I'm not creative and crafty at home much.  But when I can plan things out and have a whole weekend devoted to the purpose - all of a sudden I feel really crafty!

 

Jess made an adorable mobile for her little girl's room!
And later she made this...

(picture from Julie J)

 

One of my projects involved mixing up a yummy gift for some friends!

Some found it funny that I brought all my kitchen utensils to my craft table.

But seriously, we have so much fun you don't want to miss a thing.

Ask the girls who went upstairs to go to bed at 1am and then came back down because they were afraid they were missing out on something.

(picture from Julie J)

It's a place to do whatever we want.

Eat, sleep, sew, watch movies, be on the computer, or bang hammers.

A great place to get out all the tools and supplies you wouldn't dare get out at home with toddlers running around.

 A place where we can talk for hours and hours with no children to interrupt.

A place to strengthen friendships and to laugh and learn more about each other.

Julie was so quiet the entire time, we barely knew she was there. (haha!)

Check out her Christmas cards that she worked on.

It's the perfect place to relax. To sleep in however late you want.

Even if you are the last ones to get up both mornings.

You wouldn't believe all the projects that 11 of us worked on.

This ornament tree was fabulous!

 This was my view.

A hot drink, my laptop, craft supplies, and the beautiful Julie - what more could I need?

 Well, other than another sweet girl on the other side of me.

Got that too.

 There are a few girls that are SERIOUS seamstresses.

Lindsay is one of them.

I, on the other hand, spend 3/4 of the time figuring out my sewing machine, what's going wrong with it, and ripping out seams, and 1/4 of the time actually sewing.

 Oh, and the food.  It's fabulous!

We all sign up to bring main dishes or sides, snacks and our favorite drink.

And we eat like queens!

This was my view one morning at 4am.

My last friends had gone to bed at 3:15 or 3:30 I think.

I was a bit lonely.  But plugging away at my blog book and just couldn't stop.

 I really really love this weekend!

I have to pack up a lot of stuff.

And I have to leave Dave at home with the kiddos. Which I'm so thankful he is okay with.

And make sure all the details are worked out.

BUT, once I get there - it is heavenly.

And I never want to leave.

Except for that wonderful (and pretty hot) husband and 2 cute kids back at home.

I guess that gets me.

I LOVE getting to spend 2 days with so many other wonderful girls. I feel truly blessed to be surrounded by such talented, beautiful, encouraging and godly women. 

And getting away with so many of them is absolutely FABULOUS!
The only thing that could make this weekend even better is to be able to have more friends join us.
But the house only sleeps 12.  And I don't think we're allowed to share twin beds.

And just for laughs.

Not only do we eat, sew and craft...

 but a few VERY talented ones, can also jump a car.

Maple Memories 2010.
Need any Christmas ideas, here's a list (linked to tutorials) of lots of our projects:
 book page wreath.
card table playhouse
bird mobile
Christmas candy caddies
clothes pin magnets - you can see versions of both the caddies and clothes pins here too
chili spice mix and printable labels
lavendar sachets
art binders
 a few more cute projects that I didn't get pictures of here
a quiet book - I WISH there was a tutorial - but none that I know of

(picture from Julie J)

 adorable year-in-pictures-ornaments that will change every year and be a keepsake to the children when they are grown - such a neat idea by Julie!

(picture from Julie J)
The end.

I'll share more of my projects soon!