WHATEVER CRAFT WEEKEND: DAY ONE.

I can't believe this trip has come and gone. It was a dream come true. It's so surreal to think that I've been to the Craft Weekend. It filled me up to the brim, and then some.

I've read Meg's blog for a long time now. Not sure exactly how long, two years maybe? I've always been drawn to her laid back realness (is that a word?). She tells it like it is. I read her words and I feel like she's talking to me. She doesn't sugar coat anything, she shares the good and the not as good. She's always happy and it just rubs off on others. Obviously.

So back sometime last fall, I was talking with my friend,Tiffany, who also enjoys Meg's blog. She told me she put her name in for the craft weekend lottery, and I was like really?! I had drooled over it since the beginning, but never even thought to add my name to the list. Awesome stuff like that just doesn't happen to me. But I listened to how excited Tiffany was about it, so I thought why not give it a try too? I told her that if I ever got picked I would bring her with me, and she better do the same if her name was ever called.

Well lo and behold, we had just gotten back from a weekend at Tiffany's cabin in August, and I came home to find an email from THE Craft Weekend, saying I was chosen! I just about fell over, I was so excited! I called Tiffany right away and probably scared the pants off her as I was rambling so fast and probably didn't make any sense. Several spots were offered to me, so I randomly and frantically gave shout outs to various friends to see who was going to go on this crazy fun adventure with me. In the end, it was myself, Tiffany, and our friend Bethany who hopped aboard.

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Friday morning we headed out bright and early in my sweet new van. I'm not gonna lie, I was pretty excited to finally have an opportunity to drive it outside of town and get familiar with it. It rode like a dream, and got amazing gas mileage to boot.

We drove for six hours, stopped near Kansas City for lunch and fuel, then pushed on through the last three hours and arrived in Kansas ahead of schedule. It was WINDY, but that didn't stop us from having some fun.

We were given strict instructions to not arrive at the craft house early, so we did a drive by or two before doing a little thrifting on Main Street.

We were greeted warmly by Kimberlee, and let me just say she is the sweetest thing ever. She's a MN gal at heart, so how could we not love her?

We were led upstairs, where I met Meg. I wanted to faint when she gave me a hug. I wasn't nervous, but all the sudden I was. Like holy hot chocolate, it is really her! And I am here, in her house! I wanted to fall over again when I saw that we got to stay in the "yellow" room! Those painted floors are seriously adorable.

We threw our bags down, grabbed our cameras, and went off to explore the house and meet the other gals. I seriously didn't know where to turn or look first. Everywhere I looked there was something else to ogle over!

 

 

Each person I met was as sweet as the next, and it was so great to do a little mingling over dinner. Afterwards, we jumped right in to making the famous ruffled aprons, which is no easy feat, let me tell you. It took us all night, and then some. Oh yes, there was also a film crew there. A film crew! The local news station was doing a story on the Craft Weekend, and wanted footage of the crafters in action. I'm sure Meg will share the link when it airs.

I was so busy working on my apron, that I didn't stop to take pics of it taking shape, but I did manage to snag these ones from my friend Becky, who was also there. (Long story, more on that later!)

Meg!

 

Come about midnight, Meg and Kimberlee rescued us from our pins and needles, and whisked us away to the local donut shop.

 



I was sooo tired that for half a second I thought about staying back and crawling into bed instead, but then I realized how ridiculous that was and joined in the fun :)

I finally crashed around 2:30am. It was a looong day. But so awesome.

You've got to put yourself out there, but dreams really do come true.

More to come...