The first ever Inspired Bliss Retreat was held in May 2008 and was a great success full of scrapbooking, relaxation and simple fun.
This 3 day, 2 night retreat was based around relaxing scrapbooking in friendly company. No classes, no challenges, no fuss. No husband, no kids and no demands!
The group enjoyed catching up on unfinished layouts or trying out some ideas they had been wanting to make time for and everyone completed an amazing array of projects from mini books to layouts and from pictures to jewellery! We had plenty of time to get out and about with a meal out to a lovely local pub by Carew Castle, a photo shoot in the stunning countryside nearby and a bit of bouncing on the trampoline in the grounds!
Our venue for the weekend was a wonderful converted barn, near Tenby in Wales, where we were surrounded by stunning countryside and close to the beaches of Tenby and Saundersfoot. Our ‘home from home’ was cosy, well appointed, sympathetically refurbished and full of character.
For further information or to book another retreat like this, please e-mail info@inspiredbliss.co.uk
Our fabulous group of retreaters: A selection of work by Flick - completed at the retreat:
SCRAPAJACK MAY 2008 RETREAT REVIEW by Claire (UKS username Hunib) - retreat delegate
What a weekend it was -well technically it was Thursday , Friday and Saturday! - the 1st Scrapajack Retreat.
I arrived on Thursday at 9.30am in a car park in Stratford that belonged to the Swans Nest Hotel, I knew I was in the right place because car boots were opening and the tell tale signs of scrappers was emerging you know the ones totes, totes and more rolling totes.
On arrival I was greeted by the oh so lovely Jakki & Debs the wonderful organisers and was introduced to my buddy Rachel (aka Taniwha) each buddy had made a handmade gift for us, I had a pillow box decorated with Kiwis and filled to the brim with delish Kiwi treats and if that wasn’t enough a calico Scrapajack goodie filled with scrapping goodies also awaited me - after a wonderful warm welcome I found myself seated next to my room mate for the next few days Mary affectionately known as Scary Mary (she doesn’t live up to her name unless of course you are a waitress trying to take her breakfast before she has finished her fried bread!).
Classes began in the afternoon and I took a variety of different ones but as soon as I saw the class examples I wished I could have fitted them all in, in real life they were superb, luckily there were extra kits available at the end so I was able to make a few extra purchases.
Each class was packed with techniques that I wouldn’t maybe have tried - lots of paint techniques from Ness - what a talented lady, she took amongst others the ‘Bits on the Side’ classes, I turned a bird feeder into a fairy house, changed a paper mache frame into a mini work of art and I wished I had done her Potato bag class as the ones I saw around were stunning. She also took the friend layout class which saw me scrap a 12 x 12 page for the first time a couple of years! , we painted and tore up old pizza boxes ( I can now justify more purchases as it is classed as recycling), her Pride mini book saw us stitching, using acetate, more pizza boxes and yet more paint.
Acetate also featured in Steph’s Star mini album where we tried out paint and stamp techniques galore. A Shrink plastic book with lots of stamping was taken by Karen who also showed us a wired beaded binding technique- she made it all so simple and the end was result was beautiful. Jilly had created one of the best Heritage layouts I have seen called Hidden moments with lots of page interaction, Steph had also created a layout class using prima printables and paper piecing, Rachel had a very pink and girly class that used thickers! - I recreated this at home as an 81/2 x 11 lo using her brilliantly written instructions.
OK so if all the classes & bits on the side weren’t enough Home grown had a Banner Buffet late on the Friday night were you could make a Maya road banner decorated with all sorts of scrummy stash - rumour has it that some people stayed up till 3.30am scrapping the night away!.
So three full fun packed days of scrapping with some the nicest people I have met, I finally put faces to names , the laughter I am sure could be heard in the middle of Stratford and guess what in October I’m going back for more- I cannot wait - the chocolate goody bags are already at the planning stage!
If you are looking for your next retreat or have never been and want to try one- book the next one today you won't regret it.
RETREAT REPORT by Vanessa of Inspired Bliss
Autumn Bliss 1: October 2008, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Following the success of our May 2008 retreat, the same group of ladies returned to Pembrokeshire in October for another fabulous weekend of crafty fun. Jewellery making and scrapbooking were on the creative menu and we even found time for a shopping trip in the very sunny Tenby.
RETREAT REPORT by Vanessa of Inspired Bliss
Autumn Bliss 2: November 2008, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Well, word is spreading about our fabulous weekend retreats now, so a second group headed to Pembrokeshire for the second of our autumn retreats in 2008.
The ladies who attended, were a mixed bunch of cardmakers, scrapbookers and jewellery makers which led to lots of different projects being completed throughout the weekend. We even managed to pursude two to take up jewellery in the new year and lots of ideas were shared for future creativity. We had some lovely meals out including fish and chips in Saundersfoot, overlooking the beach and a lovely meal in Carew.
Some really good new friendships were formed this weekend and guess what? They all want to do it again in the Spring!
