Open Days and Retreats – 2016
Hi there!
Open Days 2016
Crowborough, East Sussex
Leyburn, North Yorkshire
This year we are celebrating our Clarity Open Day
at the most beautiful venue oop norf!
Tennants in Leyburn
Day Tickets £5.00
We want it to be a pleasant experience
and we want everybody to be able to get round to all the demos comfortably and at their leisure.
Clarity Retreats 2016
Paul always helps me; it’s tradition.
This year, we have added 3 more 2-day sessions in August.
The reason for this?
School holidays. Several teachers couldn’t come in July.
Also, last year people complained that they could never attend because all the places always went to people who had been before or who were Club members.
Newcomers never got a look in!
And actually, it is true.
Had we stuck to the usual plan, all the days would be fully booked now.
Because they have been spread over the whole summer, we do have spaces available on several of the days, which is great,
because now everybody has the opportunity to join in.
It has been a long time since we were able to offer them on the website.
Again, we use the wonderful Rugby Club venue in
Crowborough, East Sussex.
entertaining and fun,
the workshops offer a much more hands on, learning experience.
Not that you don’t have fun!
I love the workshops.
I love teaching and working with all the guests.
And believe you me, I jump about !!!
So does Paul!
You don’t need to bring a thing.
We provide everything.
The whole purpose of the workshops is to immerse yourself in what you love doing, with a bunch of people who love the same thing.
What do we do? Well, course content is usually a healthy mix of all things Barbara, so leave that with me, relax, and enjoy the ride.
To check out the prices and book your place on one of the two-day courses,
If you want to ask some questions, call and speak to Paul directly.
Time to go eat.
Have a lovely evening – whatever the weather!
love & hugs
Barb
xxx
129 thoughts on “Open Days and Retreats – 2016”
Open days and retreats! The summer will be fantastic. Can't wait love Jxx
Pleased to say I have both my Open Day tickets and my retreat place booked. Open Day means weather permitting Fred will join other menfolk on the veranda and chat the day away, he never complains, well only about the amount I spend. So looking forward to the retreat, I learnt a lot last year and met some lovely people. xx
My hubby is coming too Lynne, perhaps they can distract each other on the 17th! x
See you on Saturday, Lynne for another Clarity fest. xxx Maggie
Looking forward to it Maggie. I really need some me time so hectic in our house at the moment. Going to be a good day. xx
My hubby will be coming on the 17th as well. Haven't been to Crowborough before, usually go to Catterick.x
Got my ticket for the Open Day on the 17th June, so looking forward to seeing you all x
Me too Carol ! x
Be great meeting up with you all.x
Can't wait for the Oop Norf event! Always brilliant. Just waiting for my ticket.
If you are thinking about going don't think any longer just grab your ticket and go…you'll have the most amazing time!
And the retreats….worth every penny! It's a time to really get to grips with lots of tips and tricks from Barbara herself and friendships made at the retreats stay with you forever!
Love and hugs to you all at Clarity Towers. xxxx
Fantastic design team samples Jane the wedding dress was just genius…xx
Hi Barb,
You did make me smile with you wondering if you were having a personal summer! We've had another lovely day oop norf! Really looking forward to the Ooen Day at Leyburn – already got my ticket. I would say to anybody who is wondering whether to go to an open day – JFDI! I've been yo the last two at Catterick and loved both of them. Spent way too much money but learned so much from yourself and the very talented design team. Everyone is so friendly and last year I met Fabulous Fiona which was great and am looking forward to seeing her again and many others that have become blog friends. Worth every penny of the ticket price! I imagine the Retreats are fabulous and would love to go one day.
Maria's shows were great today and the Groovi plates were gorgeous – I especially liked the bamboo one – simply stunning. Well done Tina. Love and hugs , Alison cxx
Hi to all my lovely blog friends,
Hope you ve all had a good day and that the weather has been kind to you. After my two lovely days, I came back down to earth with a bump – had to do the ironing which I detest! Still it's out of the way till the next pile ! Love and hugs to you all, Alison xx
Hi Alison – well done getting the ironing done, could I interest you in doing any more? Plenty here! Hugs Gilly xx
Hi Alison. It sounds like you have had a lovely couple of days. The Lakes sounded perfect. We were lucky enough to see some Ospreys a couple of years ago up at Dornoch. They really are spectacular birds. Love and hugs to you too. xxx
I already have our tickets for Leyburn and Sandra has booked the B&B for us. Really looking forward to a lovely weekend away in the beautiful town of Leyburn, which is where we have stayed the last couple of times to go to Catterick. I already have an expanding shopping list which I am saving hard for, although I did spend some at the weekend when the offers were too good to miss! It will be great to catch up again this year, hopefully with badges on so we can recognise each other!
I already have our tickets for Leyburn and Sandra has booked the B&B for us. Really looking forward to a lovely weekend away in the beautiful town of Leyburn, which is where we have stayed the last couple of times to go to Catterick. I already have an expanding shopping list which I am saving hard for, although I did spend some at the weekend when the offers were too good to miss! It will be great to catch up again this year, hopefully with badges on so we can recognise each other!
Hi Alison I did my ironing today too – finally found the bottom of the pile! Ooh it was hot though! That's the downside of returning from your lovely holiday. Xx
Evening Alison glad your managing to get to the open day you can be our reporter at the scene for us that cant make it..xx
Have fun Alison. Have a great time. XX
Evening Alison I agree with Dorothy's comment above keep saving up I'm sure you will need lots of clarity crafty goodies hugs xxx
Hi Alison, love the Lakes. Glad you had a lovely break. Weve had heavy rain all morning, then dull with drizzle this afternoon. Hope tomorrow will be brighter.I may even have met you and Fiona as I was at Catterick for both days last year. Did meet Gilly, only know that because her photo is on the blog. I quite like ironing as long as I do it early in the morning or late in the day, on goes a DVD and anyone here has to put up with me singing away ha ha.xx
That should be Jillybean not Gilly.x
Hi Barbara – I would love to book one of these, but unfortunately can't do that this year, as Hubby needs to get sorted. Hopefully next year I will be able to book something! I loved watching Maria's shows today, and the new plates are beautiful! This is the first time that I have seen the Light Panel in action – amazing! It has now gone to the top of my wish list! Hugs Gilly x
Going on my first Open Day this year Gilly, I'm sure I'm going to want to go again so will hope to see you next year, or even on a workshop. xx
Fingers crossed Jackie! xx
Evening gilly we can always treat ourselves in the clarity members club sale hugs xxx
Evening Sheila, hope that you have been ok today my blog friend! I like your idea about treating ourselves in the members club sale – is it far away? Special hugs, Gilly xxx
Club sale is twice a year in June and its either December or January, Gilly.xx
I'm so pleased that you sound better today Barbara. I've only just caught up with the last two days as for some reason I couldn't get on the blog. I just kept getting a '502 error" message. It took me until this afternoon to simply try rebooting my router!!!!!…who's a silly girl then!! But anyway voila!! Thank goodness, I missed my daily chats very much.
My tickets for Leyburn arrived a few days ago. I had to laugh at your comment about 'oop norf'..I always think of it as on the way 'darn sarf'!! Hugs xxx
Hello to all my lovely blog friends. I've really missed you the last couple of days. I just couldn't get on to the site. It was so frustrating, and a bit scary as I kept wondering if the site had gone down. I know I've only been posting a few months , but I really did feel that there was a horrible hole in my day. Love and Hugs to you all. xxx
Hi Morag – I know exactly what you mean! I have really missed the daily catch-up here, whilst we were away from home. I hope that you have recovered, and managed to get rid of those awful migraines. Did you overdo things with the sewing, do you think! Take care of yourself, love and hugs Gilly
Hi Morag,
Glad to have you back – missed you. Hope you are fully recovered now. Love and hugs, Alison xx
Hi Morag, I wondered where you where, good to hear it was only blooming technology keeping you away. Xxx
Hi Morag glad you managed in same here wi the techy stuff sometimes just want to launch it out the windae..Hug ..Dot.X
Morag, it's not just your computer, Blogger is temperamental on mine. Will post once on bad days and then won't work again for half an hour! Fingers crossed it's working OK today. Glad to have you back. XX
Evening morag lovley your back with us hugs xxx
Glad you are back with us Morag, hope you are fighting fit now. Technology isn't my strong point, if it goes wrong just don't know what to do.xx
Looking forward to the retreat. Sorry, I cannot manage the Open Day.
Maria was superb today as ever – hope she sees this. She is so lovely. Been a funny old day – had a hospital appointment, nearly didn't make it because of an accident on the M4, got there all of a dither to find they had booked me into the wrong clinic. Back again Tuesday and another traffic jam. Still, off to decorate my son's wedding letter box – only two weeks to go and lots to do.
Love to all you lovely bloggers out there – keeps me just about sane in a mad, mad, world.
Love Anne (Reading)x
Anne what a nightmare journey you must have had, I saw the reports on the news, and then to find it was the wrong clinic- aaahhh!!! Enjoy your decorating, is it Lacey or clarity style? Xx
Hi Anne, I read that as a wedding litter box! Thought it must be something new 😉 XX
Evening Anne wow you don't need days like this one sending lots of hugs xxx
What a nuisance of a day Anne. I think the idea of a wedding letter box is brilliant, only heard about it last month when my God daughter had one at her wedding. Hope you have a better day tomorrow.xx
Hi to all of my lovely blog friends – I hope that you have had a good day, whatever you have been doing. Another rest day here in Mizzly Cornwall! Hubby even lit the fire early evening to cheer things up! I really enjoyed watching Maria's shows this afternoon, and loved it all! Take care everyone, love and hugs Gilly xxx
Hello my lovely friend. I'm so pleased that you enjoyed your holiday, but it's so good to see you back. You just make sure that you take it easy. It sounds like you're being well looked after. Love and hugs xxx
Ah Morag – we must have posted at the same time, I left you a comment further up! xxx
Hi Gilly,
What a lovely hubby putting the fire on – Dave would have said its warm enough!! Maria's shows were great weren't they. Loved the bamboo plate – now on my wish List! Love and hugs Alison X.
Hi Gilly it's a shame this weather is playing up isn't it, mind you a relaxing evening by the fire sounds lovely xxx
Beautiful day here again but just taking it easy today just watching the lovely Maria Hugs Gilly…xx
The shows were great, lots of tips and techniques. XX
Have only seen some of the first show so going to watch later tonight the new plates are amazing as Marie is too hugs xxx
Another beautiful day up here in the highlands as well but a bit fresher. I enjoyed Maria's shows today and like Tina's plated so that'll be more onto my wish list.
Hi to you all – I really enjoyed Maria's shows today, and have recorded them to watch again at some future time. Maybe when I have the plates?!? Hugs to you all xxx
Hi Gilly, didn't get to watch Maria today, catch up with the shows at the Weekend. Sounds like you are still taking things easy, that's good. Needed a fire on here today for a little while. Take care.xx
Fame at last. That's me in the blue and white tee shirt standing in front of Barbara at the beginning of the open day video. It was at Catterick and was a wonderful day. I've just ordered my ticket for the one in September and are really looking forward to it.
I'll look out for you at Leyburn xx
And that's me reading the magazine at Crowborough last year. What was the chance! So looking forward to going to a retreat this year. Don't envy you doing all that picking in the heat! I thought we were having a monsoon today!
Looking forward to Leyburn-Tell you all about Alaska,Barbara!!xx
Wet all day today and yesterday but sun is coming out now and I think we're due some rain free days for rest of week! I did finish a card today for hubby's ex-wife who will be 65 tomorrow! I did one of the NDC groovi's on a big background, I've put a pic on the Groovi FB site.
Looking forward to the light plate coming. My cat stamps came today !!
I've got a ticket for the Friday Open Day, my first time, and am thinking I might do a workshop next year all being well. Even hubby has a ticket for the Open Day, someone is going to have to distract him if I want to buy something LOL !! I'll sit him at the refreshments for that bit !
Hope to see you on the Friday then Jackie as that is the day I am going. Will be good to put a face to the name. Don't worry about your hubby they all sit out on the veranda chatting and drinking tea or coffee. X x
ooh just replied on yours without seeing this one LOL !! x
We have a plan there then Jackie. xx
Hi Barbara & ladies, hope you all had a good day. Maria was so good today giving us good tips and lovley demos. Love the new plates both you and Tina has given us. Must restain myself for a while later. I would love to come to the open day but sadly lots booked this year. It would be lovley to meet some of my lovley blog friends. Have a good night. Hugs Lynn xx
I'm doing the retreat😀 It will be the first ever workshop, a little nervous but excited at the same time! Just hope I am a the right crafty level, don't want to show myself up😳
My personal summers are called tropical moments 😅
No need to worry or feel nervous .retreats are very relaxed and friendly .I was nervous my first time especially walking in by myself made to feel at ease straight away .because they contain different techniques throughout the 2days everyone is at different levels you certainly won't show yourself up .just relax and enjoy 😃😃
Thanks Linda, that's good to hear, I promised myself I would do something I have never done before this year👍🏻
Well done Carol, braver than me! XX
Enjoy carol 😊 Xxx
I haven't plucked up the courage yet Carol. Did do a short workshop at Catterick last year with Barbara, very nervous but it soon goes away once you get started.xx
Hi Barbara & ladies, hope you all had a good day. Maria was so good today giving us good tips and lovley demos. Love the new plates both you and Tina has given us. Must restain myself for a while later. I would love to come to the open day but sadly lots booked this year. It would be lovley to meet some of my lovley blog friends. Have a good night. Hugs Lynn xx
Hello Lynn. It is such a shame that you can't make it to Leyburn, maybe next year?!! Hugs xxx
Hi Lynne we can still meet up here daily hugs xxx
Got tickets for crowborough and booked onto retreat now to save pennies and hope for birthday money 😁😁
I wish could get to one of your retreats may be one day. Made me laugh about the heat wave I often go out in car during day after Bob has used it on nights and he always turns heater on and I always think I'm have a personal heat wave a big one then realise car heater is on xxx
Open days, retreat and respective hotels and flights all organised. Making a little 'jolly' out of the retreat to visit other areas of Britain. See you there, Lynne. ;~}
Evening Shelagh xxx
Hi Shelagh, I would love to go to an open day or retreat or both but I don't fancy the travelling. How do you personally get to Crowborough? I presume you are flying from Aberdeen – to which airport and then what. I live along the A96 in Nairn and next year I have a big birthday and I could think of no better way to celebrate it than to go to one of these events.
Fly to Gatwick and then one of us will meet you and take you to the hotel, and make sure you get back n forth xx
Enjoy Shelagh, you won't have to put up with me sitting next to you this year as I can't make it 🙁
Hi Julia, for the open days I'm flying to Heathrow; then Heathrow Express to Paddington, taxi to Charing Cross then train to Tunbridge Wells. Taxis to and from my hotel to Crowborough. I did this last year for the retreat so it's a 'Known' journey.
As for the retreat, it's by car as we're making a bit of a trip of it, including a visit to Mike's mum in Bath – hope this sunny weather continues. It would be lovely to meet you, too. ;~}
Barbara, Shelagh, thanks for your replies. Flying from Inverness or Aberdeen is no problem but it is the other end that scares me but this helps a lot. Definitely something I want to do next year.
Hi Julia – if Barbara publishes the dates early enough for me to block out my booking diary for the B&B we could travel down together, as I live in Inverness, but used to live in London so am well versed with the M25 and all the traffic! Sadly we're already booked up for every one of the dates this year, which I can't complain about as we're self employed, but I do keep hoping for cancellations whilst there are still places x
Hi Susan, yes, I was thinking of you for next year. I can't manage this year either because of holidays and jury duty. I would also need to know around November time so I came book time off work. I really would love to go and it would be made better by having a travelling companion.
Think I've struck Clarity Gold. I'm coming to both the Crowborough and Leyburn Open Days PLUS I'm coming to the retreat too. The open days always leave me feeling so positive, inspired and like I've just been to the best large,family celebration. I'll be bringing my daughter to Crowborough for her first ever Clarity open day and for the retreat too. Can't wait! Love & hugs, Jeanette xxxx
Ps can I just say, Thank you for your brilliant delivery service. I received no light panel today so a HUGE THANK YOU to all of you. You must all be working overtime on top of overtime to get all the orders out so quick. Xx
Think I've struck Clarity Gold. I'm coming to both the Crowborough and Leyburn Open Days PLUS I'm coming to the retreat too. The open days always leave me feeling so positive, inspired and like I've just been to the best large,family celebration. I'll be bringing my daughter to Crowborough for her first ever Clarity open day and for the retreat too. Can't wait! Love & hugs, Jeanette xxxx
Ps can I just say, Thank you for your brilliant delivery service. I received no light panel today so a HUGE THANK YOU to all of you. You must all be working overtime on top of overtime to get all the orders out so quick. Xx
Got my ticket for Leyburn Woohooooooooo x
Hi Barbara
Hasn't the weather down south been awful today! I went out with a coat cardi and umbrella and decided I would melt if I wore a coat, it was sticky but pouring with rain! I'm sorry, I did chuckle at your personal summer being the thermostat , hope you get it sorted soon. I would love to come to the open day but they clash with the Coldplay concert tickets we've got, perhaps next year. I must have a word with my sister and see if I can persaud her to come to a workshop with me. Hope you've had a better day today besides the heating problems!
Take care
Love Diane xxx
Hi Brenda Donna Dot Pam and Sheila and all my blog friends hope you are all ok and have had a good day. Weather hasn't been good but I've got household things done today so I can have some playtime tomorrow. Sending hugs all round xxx
Pretty rubbish here too. XX
Evening Diane Sunny all day here but a wee bit windy but just chilling today like you do ah Coldplay like a bit o them ….xx
Evening Diane we have had rain sun rain sun rain sun toms been in out with the washing all day gave up in the end bless him xxx
Hi Diane, we've had a canny day up here. Great drying weather! I've managed to get through quite a bit of h*******k too. I can't bring myself to write the whole word…cos my Granny always said I shouldn't swear!!! Hugs xxx
Hi Diane – I'm hoping for better weather tomorrow, so that I can dry some washing. Love your comment Morag! Hugs Gilly xxx
Great shows today, my light panel also arrived and oh boy is it light, in all sense of the word, it is brilliant! Would love to come to the workshops but my summer is pretty full already, however tickets for Leyburn have been ordered for mum and me. We end the day with a drive through the Dales on our way back to Manchester.,
How happy am I a Groovi Fan just what I was wishing for some blogs back must have been in the pipeline well done Tina and Barbara so chuffed will be ordered ASAP.
Beautiful design team samples and Maria you were great what a natural on the telly well done girl'
So wish I could make open days and retreats a bit to far for me but so happy that other bloggy friends can go.
Take care….Xx
That's just what I've been waiting for too Dorothy. I seriously overspent at the weekend, but when I saw the fan..I simply said "What the heck" and had a bit bounce on my clarity mattress haha! Love and hugs xxx
Me too, took all of a couple of seconds to convince myself I needed them! I am such a lost cause. XX
Evening Dorothy happy shopping lots of wee hugs comming your way xxx
Evening Dot – pleased that you have now had your wish granted! I loved the shows too, and I agree that it will be nice for so many of our blog friends to meet up! Hopefully they will let us know how it all went. Special hug coming to you – Gilly xxx
Just finished watching the 1pm show on catch up, great demos from Maria and those new plates were ordered as soon as I saw them! Can't wait to make a scene with the bamboo and water house, the DT samples were all gorgeous. Thank you for the inspiration. XX
Hi Donna. I'm away to my bed to watch the whole shows now. I only saw a few minutes of the 5pm one, but that was enough to convince me that I needed the fan!! I'm just waiting for the Christmas plates now!!! Then I'll have to start saving for Leyburn. Take care, sending you a hug xxx
Hi to all my bloggy friends, rain, rain and a bit more rain today. finished off my May challenge card so I will get it sent in tomorrow after I take its photo. XX
Oh aye Fan was a no brainer absolutely beautiful hope your enjoying seeing the light saving for mine Hugs .. Dot XX
Evening Donna late tonight as had a couple of hours in bed early tonight's show couldn't stay awake so going to catch up with the shows after catching up with the blog and blog friends i saw a little of the first show wow the new plates are fantastic no wonder you couldn't resist hugs xxx
Hi Donna – no surprise that you have already ordered the new plates! Gorgeous! Enjoy!! Gilly xx
OMG "Personal Summers"?!! I've been having those, I'm off to check my thermostat… 🙂
This is my first year at the Open Days but my third year at the Crowborough Retreats. The Retreats are just fabulous, crafting with good friends, taught by Barbara with assistance from the ever patient Paul. What more could you want? I will carry on booking in for the Retreats for as long as they carry on and as long as I can still drive.I am really looking forward to this year's events and hope to see as many of you as possible. xxx Maggie
Evening Brenda, Sheila, Pam, Julia, Chris and all bloggy friends hope you have had a good day hugs for all and cuddle fir Brenda…xx
A hug from me too Brenda xxx
Evening Dorothy hugs xxx
Hi Dot, fine weather up here today – lots of washing hung out and ironed. I'd also love to go to the open days or retreats but wouldn't want to travel by myself, I wouldn't know how to get there…maybe next year…do you fancy it?
It would be great Julia I will think about it ….xx
Barbara, do you have a private plane you could send up here, pick me up and on the way down we could stop off and pick up Dot. Big birthday next year and maybe if I can work out how to get there and have enough courage to travel by myself and walk into a room on my own then next year I'll be at one of the events.
Evening Julia what a good idea can it pick me up too .ive got a big birthday this year and my birthday list will be lots of clarity goodies ,xxx
Hi Julia – love your idea, could you pick me up too please! That way we can all get there, without getting lost (my forte) and go into the room together! Hugs Gilly xx
This time next year we'll be millionaires …Lovely Jubbly xx
Oooh! Me too please xxx
Evening Barbara would love to do the retreats and open days but it's not possible but I wish everyone a fantastic time and I have an excuse to spend on your fabulous clarity products as I say look what I would spend if I could go .ive received my light tray and it's fantastic I need to buy the pricking mat as Marie says it stops your groovi mate plate from moving I'm learning so much from the clarity hochanda shows . Xxx
Evening to all my clarity family of blog friends sending lots of hugs and smiles hugs to all on the blog I've been crafting today now I've got my light tray I can craft anytime now, I've got the pricking plates and tools on my wish list too for when I get to the next level of my groovi but so happy at what I can achieve now . Got a couple of clarity parcels to come it makes my day when I get a clarity parcel xxx😊
Hi Sheila – so pleased that you have been enjoying your crafting and the light tray looks fantastic – it is at the top of my wish list now! Take care of yourself – off to bed now, so night night and sending you some special night-time hugs, love Gilly xxx
Hi Sheila, have fun with your light wave – I'm eagerly awaiting mine, although don't seem to have much time to craft presently – too much of the garden to sort out but we're getting there. ;~}
Looking forward to Crowborough open day Barbara, May even get to Leyburn, not sure of our hols yet so if there are tickets left when we've decided I'll get them. Awful weather here today. Should pick up tomorrow. Love Pam xx
Hi to all my clarity friends, sorry I've not commented on all your comments, not got round to reading them all tonight, too tired to read any more. Hope you've all had a good day. Read on in the morning. Take care love Pam xx
I went to a retreat last summer and so enjoyed it.met some wonderful people and learned so much. I am really sad not to be able to attend this year due to a family wedding in Scotland, been trying to make the logistics work but it just isn't happening. I have booked my ticket for the Open Day in Leyburn as my runners up prize though so really looking forward to that
Hi Karen, So sorry we won't be meeting up this year but there's nothing like a Scottish wedding! Enjoy your trip to Leyburn. ;~}
Hello Barb, a huge amount of planning and effort, but I am sure that everyone that can attend and have booked will appreciate and make the most of it all. I would love to go, but have the type of day job that throws a spanner in the works at the last minute. Maybe next year. Thank you as always for all the incredible things you do and all the inspiration you bring. Take care. Bx
It's my idea of heaven couldn't get there but it's great what you do for all the lovely people who love the craft world your very special Love June Horrocks xxxxxxxx
Can't make the open days but have booked my place on to one of the retreats. Will be a first for me but I'm really looking forward to it including meeting some of you lovely people xx
Oh I so wish I could come – my sister and I did workshops with you years ago when they were in a village hall, and we had a fabulous time – I still have the little folder of all the work I did there. Maybe next year if you tip me the wink early on the possible dates! X