What a great gathering!

What a great gathering!

Hi there,

Thanks for popping in. What a fab 2 days we have just had! Such lovely artwork! And such a buzz of creative energy!

 

Great bunch of ladies, lovely art, all round good energy. It has been so good to get together again. For many it was the first time they had ventured out into a crowd since Covid, so you can imagine that was quite something. The Spa Hotel is a beautiful venue, and the staff are so kind, so accommodating. Nothing is too much trouble. If you were going to venture out into the Big Wide World, then the Spa is a great stepping stone back into civilisation and the new normal – whatever that is.

The feedback on what we served up artwise was also very positive, and it was great to hear people genuinely surprised and chuffed at what they had achieved. That makes it all worthwhile actually.

And thus endeth the first of the Two-Day Clarity Parchment retreats at the Spa Hotel in Tunbridge Wells. It has been such a long time coming – and then it’s over in a flash. But I reckon our guests were glad they came.

And so we say goodbye to good friends and loyal friends. And get ready to welcome a second group of friends and parchers tomorrow. They can rest assured, we know what we’re doing now !!

This new Blog format has me stumped. Completely new and different. To be frank, I don’t have the energy or time to figure out how it works with the images today. I shall have more time at the weekend. I took loads of pics, but can’t see how to upload them. So let’s have a gallery on Saturday!

Time to stop and regroup.

Love and hugs

Barb xxx

 

 

 

32 thoughts on “What a great gathering!

  1. What a beautiful room, happy smiling faces, lovely place to be. So pleased it all went well and hope the second helping is as successful.

  2. Glad all going well and first event gone well xx good luck with the second one I am sure it will go just as well xx
    Will definitely be there next year if I can xx

  3. Glad everyone had a good time ! And hope the second lot do the same ! I’m sure they will. Do hope Dave is making a good recovery two and the cats are looking after him. ! Look forward to seeing more photos and what you all made xx

  4. Hi Barbara it looks like you have had a wonderful time. I hope Dave is following instructions. Take care. Hugs xxx

  5. I am so glad that it went so well and can’t wait to hear all about it from my ENGG friends. They all looked very happy in the photo. Enjoy the next two days and then have a well deserved break with Dave. Hopefully he is resting and recovering well. Hugs. Annette X

  6. Thank you so much Barbara and the whole fabulous team, safely home in Warsash (near Southampton) showing my husband and daughter what we made they are absolutely in awe of what we have done. So thank you so so much for all your time and attention. Retreat 2 you are in for a real treat for the next few days, both from the hotel and the whole team. Enjoy yourselves, cant wait to share what we have made but really don’t want to spoil the surprise. Take care of yourself Barbara and thank you xx

  7. Looks like you’ve all had a lovely time so sorry I missed out this year, but I’ll be there next time and can’t wait 😜

  8. How lovely to have a glimpse of all the excitement of the retreat. Lots of happy ladies having achieved great things! Looking forward to more photos in due course. Hope Dave is managing to rest, difficult when he knows what he is missing, but there will be other times. Thank you Barbara. look after yourself too.
    Happy days.xx

  9. Glad the first 2 days have gone well as no doubt the next 2 will as well. Look forward to seeing more pictures at the week end.
    Hope Dave is feeling better after a few days rest.

  10. Really good to be out and learning again. Learned so so much. Brilliantly organised and very patient tutors. I was with three other lovely ladies and do hope we meet again. Shame it is over but hope there is one next year

  11. Thank you so much, Barb, I enjoyed every minute and gained so much from you and your team. Well worth waiting for. I realise it is a lot of work for you all but rest assured it is very much appreciated. Take care of yourself. Best wishes to Dave too. Hugs. Xx

  12. Everyone look so happy and enjoying themselves. So wish I lived closer to be able to attend your fabulous retreats. Can’t wait to see what all you lucky ladies achived. Hope Dave is resting as instructed and is feeling much better. Enjoy the next two days and then make sure you go home and chill now to finish colouring another cracker.

  13. The attendees all look very happy, so pleased all went well. Day 2 will be just as good I am sure. Can’t wait to see what you all got up to with your artwork.
    Hope Dave is behaving and recovering steadily.
    Stay safe.

  14. Hello Barb, it looks like everyone had an amazing time, and enjoyed being creative. Hope Dave is getting better and listening, resting up and taking it easy. Take care and stay safe everyone. Bx

  15. It has been a brilliant two days. As you say went too quick. Personally I have learnt a lot once again and pleased with my achievements. Meeting up with some very good friends after such a long time has been wonderful, picked up where we left off but I also met some extremely nice new ladies. Thank-you once again and best wishes to Dave for his recovery. X X ❤️

  16. I’m up and dressed ready for the 2nd Retreat to start. Had a lovely meal last night with new and not so new friends and can’t wait for the bell to ring at 9am for the start of what looks like it’s going to be a fab couple of days. Breakfast here I come

  17. Everyone is smiling and looks so happy to be together again. I’ve just been down to my nephew’s wedding and it was good to see my family together at last. I’m sure there are some who are still very anxious about mixing with others – everyone’s journey back to normal will be different so be kind to yourself and remember this is not a race! Healing hugs to Dave too x

  18. So glad it all went well. I know how anxious you can feel about it all at the start. It must have been strange for you too being in front of such a large group of people after being by yourself with just a camera for company for so long. Hope Dave is feeling better and the new days go just as well – I’m sure they will. Have a good time everyone xx

  19. We had a wonderful time the last two days. It was so good to be back with other people and the hotel did us proud as usual. Thanks to Barbara and all the other great tutors who are so helpful with the marvellous new projects. I got back to the ferry on time only to be told I had a 2 hour delay ! Luckily they managed to get me on an earlier ferry and I actually got home earlier than I expected.
    Love and hugs
    Yvonne

  20. Hi Barb,
    So pleased 1st retreat has gone well – it certainly looks as though everyone is having a good time, there are lots of smiling faces. Hope the 2nd one goes as well. I also hope that Dave is feeling better and getting some rest with the Vikings. Love and hugs Alison xxx

  21. Loved almost every second. You can see on Friday why I say almost. The retreat was fabulous, wonderful tutors, great equipment, great company, all bottled up together in a great hotel with good food and such helpful staff. Can’t wait till the next time. Glad to hear Dave is improving from his fright. Plenty of cat cuddles, Dave.
    Stroking cats and listening to their purring is supposed to reduce high blood pressure and relax you. xxx

  22. Hi Barbara
    I am gutted that I had to cancel but sometimes life just throws a spanner in the works.
    You all look to have had a wonderful time
    Take care T

  23. Looks like everyone had a great time, and no doubt the second two days went just as well. I am so looking forward to the stamping retreat in 2022!!!

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