These are days......: Bella Bliss!

Ok folks, I'm gonna try this once again. I had taken nearly an hour yesterday to blog a big ol' long post all about Silver Bella full of links, photos & stuff when **BAM** Typepad locked up on me and I lost it all. I nearly thought I was going to dissolve into tears but I managed to hold it together and try again this morning. Maybe it's that glittery fog that I'm still in after returning home from Omaha late on sunday? Who knows but all I know is that the Bella hangover I feel once a year is so worth it. Guess I'll start at the beginning of my adventure so here we go! I took of early on thursday morning to fly to Dallas, then Chicago then finally on to Omaha......this was my view that morning somewhere between Dallas & Chicago at around 33,000 feet.

I left warm Texas to arrive to cool rainy Omaha thursday afternoon around 2:30pm. I walked out of the airport terminal and a older man who looked like a perky Santa Claus asked me if I was one of those "Silver Bells" and I said yes and asked him how he knew. He pointed to my Sally Jean charm I was wearing around my neck......ahhhhh I see! I thought the man looked somewhat familiar but I let it go. Come to find out, that was Frank, the "country" designer who used to be on Trading Spaces! I loved him back in the day and now I'm kicking myself that I didn't get a pic w/him! My ride arrived to pick me up.......the fabulous Becca Sutton and the ever sweet Becky Novacek. I hadn't met Becca before and I was SO thrilled that she wanted to come along and hang with us. The 3 of us sat, drank coffee and chatted all afternoon which is just what I needed after a long morning of flying. Wish I had a photo to document our time together but we were too busy chatting. Becky took me to the hotel and I was greeted by "Perenchio!!!!" by one of my favorite women of all time, Cari Kraft and she had Jenni Bowlin w/her.....oh my heck! What a beginning to my Silver Bella weekend!! I met up with my roomies, Shannon, Valita & Heather and got ready for our evening festivities, a buffet supper and group workshop. This was our group project, a cute little stitchery that I did not complete (of course).

We stitched over a rubber stamp image which was so fun & easy. DUH, why haven't I been doing this for a long time now? I have a bajillion rubber stamps! After the workshop those of us who participated in swaps swapped out our goodies with one another. I participated in 4 swaps, 2 ahead of time and 2 to be swapped at Silver Bella because I didn't want to have to haul a bunch of extra stuff home w/me. I promise to take pics of all the charms I recieved from the 2 charm swaps I did, you've already seen a pic of the one I did (in my previous post) and I saw several girls walking around over the weekend with my charm hanging around their neck which made me feel SO good! If they only knew how long I'd obsessed over those darned charms! This was my bag full of soldered charm yumminess:

The next day I had classes taught by the ever fabulous Kim Kwan and someone I've admired and have wanted to meet for a long time, the mega-talented Sally Jean Alexander. Both ladies were super funny and wonderful instructors and I SO enjoyed spending my day with them. It was awesome being able to sit and watch Sally Jean solder, like watching the master at work, and she made it look to easy & effortless.

Kim and me, love this lady.

Then friday night was vendor night where folks can sell their creations and wares to the Bellas and local folks as well. Hate to admit it but this is always my favorite part of Silver Bella since I just can't seem to find great crafts around here typically and you know I'm all about shopping! Each yr. we have a different theme for vendor night and this year's theme was "vintage prom". I searched and searched for the perfect dress to wear but finally gave up. Thankfully my roomies didn't dress up either so I didn't feel like too big of a slug. Here are some of the pretty Bellas who DID dress up that night:

I was pretty enthralled in my shopping & crafting and didn't take nearly as many photos as I should have, I find myself saying this every year, but here are some I did take with a few of my favorite Bellas. Me and the talented, sweet, adorable Danielle Muller:

Valita with Debbie & Shea who are opening up a new retreat in Dallas which is located in an old regal renovated church! I can't wait to visit them there someday!!

With 2 of my roomies, Valita & Shannon:

My other roomie, Heather......God bless her for making the journey to Omaha 8 months pregnant!

The next day began early with an 8:30am class taught by Jenni Bowlin. I've met quite a few of my scrapbooking heroes at CHA but I hadn't ever met Jenni before and I have to say that she did NOT disappoint. She's every bit the sweet southern belle and I just adored her and her class. Of course she's the one instructor I didn't get a pic with, grrrrrrrrr! Here's one of the project from her Tiny Treasures class:

I've got to stop here for now but PROMISE to finish my story and Silver Bella wrap-up later today or tomorrow. I've spent way too much time sitting on my can at my computer between blogging yesterday (that got lost) then again today and all the fun blog-surfing I've done looking at everyone else's Silver Bella pics and oh yea, those other time-suckers called Facebook & Flickr!! I think I need an intervention. Hope you've enjoyed my pics so far (the lighting was horrid in the hotel so I apologize about the crappy pics) but hopefully they're worth sharing nonetheless. Enjoy your day & thanks for stopping by!

12 Comments

Jana, you got some great photos. Where the hell was I when you were posing with the DFW Bella's??? LOL I am so glad we got the opportunity to meet & hang out. I'm definitely looking you up when I'm in your area. xoxo, Joanna

Posted by: Joanna {sweet finds} | November 19, 2008 at 12:16 PM

I am so so glad you had such a fabulous time!!! I love that bella hangover feeling. :) And may I say that you are a genius, ripping off the rhinestone trim from clothes? So much cheaper than by the yard! I've been wanting to put some on charms and will now have to go search the thrift stores for dresses, lol.

Welcome home!
Jen

Posted by: Jennifer | November 19, 2008 at 09:40 PM

Hey Jana,
So glad you were my vintage jewelry swap partner.....my goodies are out of this world. Hope you enjoyed yours!!! Happy you got the lil girl necklace....she looked so cute on you. Stay in touch and happy crafting.

xoxo
Lonnie

Posted by: lonniejenck | November 19, 2008 at 11:12 PM

awww...sweet! one day, i am going to go! looks like a ton of fun! ;)

i am so jealous of heather being able to go. my MD would have said...no...no...no! lol.

Posted by: kara s. | November 20, 2008 at 08:03 PM

hi jana ~

so great to meet you at SB! it was my first so there were so many to meet, hope we can get to chat and hang more next time!

i'll keep popping in ~ take care!
xo heidi

Posted by: Heidi | November 21, 2008 at 12:22 PM

Oh how much fun does that look like!!!! I'm sorry about your lost post (I HATE when that happens). Great pics - sorry you missed Frank (love him too)!
HUGS!

Posted by: Jen | November 22, 2008 at 08:39 PM

Jana, it was really nice getting to meet you and spend a little time together. I'm already looking forward to next year!

Posted by: Alisa | November 23, 2008 at 09:35 PM

Hey Chicka! I LOVED having met you, rooming with you, and spending time with you! You are soo much fun, and I feel so blessed to know you. Whenever you are up this way, give me a shout... I'd love to have lunch, dinner, shop, or whatever! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Hugs,
Shan

Posted by: Faith and Chocolate | November 24, 2008 at 03:52 PM