Happy Joyous and Free !

Happy Joyous and Free !

Hi there

Thanks for popping in! Day 2 of the Retreats – and a good time was had by all. The artwork our guests created was so good!! The mask work this afternoon was pretty impressive! I had to take photos of a few – they were so excellent! It was really heart-warming to watch the smiles on faces, when they stood back and looked at what they had achieved. I love that. And when folks came up at the end, and said they couldn’t wait to get home and try again, well that’s when you know.

So I won’t divulge the project, but I will post a little video I made, using another mask. Just on case you weren’t sure what I mean by mask!

  • Woodland Masks
  • Waimea Falls Designer paper
  • Our Stencil Brushes
  • Black Archival
  • Spot On Sponges
  • This is Our Happy Place Quote Stamps

A few examples using the Woodland masks…

How quickly does the time go! Two days is just not long enough! We say this every year. No sooner are folks settling into the art and the energy, than it’s time to pack up and wend their way home again!

So the second group are probably all headed in the direction of Ditton now, or are already safe at their hotels, in readiness for tomorrow. I’m pretty cream-crackered – but happy. The best thing is – all the projects went down well! AND ALL THE PROCESSES WORKED !!! I am so relieved that the timing was right !

So tomorrow and Friday are much less stressful for Paul and myself, because we know we’ve got everything!

Time to stop for the day. It was pretty hot in the hall today. Hope it will be cooler tomorrow

Love always

Barb x x x

28 thoughts on “Happy Joyous and Free !

  1. So glad all is going well. Sounds fun.
    Will take a look at the video. 😊 still trying to get my head around stamping and composition.
    I bought your DVD’s to help. Missing number 3.
    Have fun for the rest of your time. X

    1. It is a truly amazing time. If you have found that your mojo has gone on holiday, this is a perfect way to get it back with so much varied inspiration, and so much personalized help to work things out. Come along and try it out. xxx

  2. Beat the email but good to read about today – glad it all went well. Now as you say Thursday & Friday will be fine as you just need to repeat the last two days. The weather has been a little fresher & cooler up here today – the sun eventually came out about 7pm so hopefully the cooler weather moves further south for you.
    Look forward to hearing more when it is all finished & everyone has headed home. Its good to keep it all under wraps for the 2nd group x

  3. Flaked out today it has been scorching hot and I cannot afford to drip all over my work. Hopefully cooler tomorrow so more projects can be completed.
    Hope the next few days are as successful for you as the last two.
    Stay cool.

  4. Well done Barb. So glad the well laid plans came together and we’re enjoyed by all. I never had any doubt you’d got this and everyone would love it! ❤️ as the Scots say. you’ll sleep the nite! enjoy the next two days. lots of love. T.xx

  5. I loved the one retreat I was able to attend. Sadly responsibilities at home have meant I haven’t been able to attend since but the work that everyone at Clarity puts in is evident. I hope that the online courses are a success. Not sure the first one is my thing but hoping for a stampy messy one in the future

    1. Having done the first in the series at the Retreat, I thoroughly enjoyed it, despite being wary to start with. The most important result is that it pushed me well out of my comfort zone into a space where my brain really started working and learning. My brain has been full of it ever since with different ideas on how to repair/recover mistakes, and also getting ready to repeat it, and then follow-up with the first of the online event. xxx

  6. Thank you so much for thinking of us and posting a new blog, especially when you’ve had two full on days, with two more to come… it is very much appreciated.

    I feel so chuffed with myself I have completed my very first stamping/inky/masking project today. I followed the ‘is it a hill, no it’s a plate’ tutorial you posted a few days ago and I am over the moon with the results, thank you so so much. You are so generous and kind with your knowledge and time. I would never have thought I could produce something so beautuful. I’m usually quite a clean crafter but that’s given me a thirst for more. xXx

  7. It sounds like everyone had a fabulous two days. I’m sure you managed to infect everyone with your enthusiasm and I know you will have thought all the projects through to the last detail so no wonder it went so well. Hope the next two days will be wonderful too.

    Sue xx

  8. Makes it all worthwhile ! Glad everyone is enjoying it and bet the next lot are too excited to sleep tonight! Have a good week.

    I’m looking forward to getting my new worktop tomorrow but not looking for to getting up at 5.45 a.m. as the kitchen fitter will be here at 6.30 to take my temp bits out ready for the worktop fitter later in the morning !

    Enjoy the ret of the week. X

  9. Just got home from 2 wonderful days at the Clarity Retreat in Ditton. Thankyou so much Barbara and all the team- I could tell that you all worked so hard to prep and plan to provide such a great learning experience. I feel like my head has been reset- I needed this time away and it’s done me the world of good. I’ve come away with some wonderful pieces of art and had some wonderful tuition. We never stop learning- Thankyou Barbara. And thanks to all the lovely people I spent time with and those I met for the first time you all made the 2 days very special.

    If you are going tomorrow you will be in for a real treat. Enjoy!!!

  10. Thank you Barbara for two amazing days. It’s been such a pleasure to spend the days being creative and having you teach us. I have learnt a lot and also been reminded of techniques I need to perfect!
    You and your team have organised the days impeccably!
    I’m in my hotel room and my brain is whirring with ideas of how I can utilise my learning into the artwork I do in the future.
    To the people going tomorrow and Friday… you are in for a treat! Enjoy it. If I could I’d turn the clock back and do it all again. Xx

  11. I was just looking at two of the cards I made at a previous retreat this morning! I’m sure everyone will have had an amazing and inspiring time.
    I had a lovely video call with my mum from her care home today – their activity coordinator is such a kind and thoughtful person xx

  12. It’s been an amazing couple of days. Fabulous projects, great techniques and I have learnt such a lot. Thanks so much to you and the whole Clarity family for all your hard work and support.

  13. I’m still buzzing after two amazing days at the Retreat and feeling very chuffed with the artwork I’ve created thanks to Barbara’s wonderful teaching and inspiration. It was such a delight to share the fun, friendly and creative atmosphere with so many like minded members of the Clarity Community. A big thank you to Dave, Paul, Lisa and all of Team Clarity for the hard work and preparations that make the workshops such a success.
    If you’re heading there for Thursday and Friday’s sessions, have fun, enjoy, be creative and trust the process!
    😊

  14. So pleased everything went well for you, Paul and the rest of the team (although having been on past retreats it’s not surprising as they are so well planned and run).
    Enjoy these next two days and hope it’s not as hot.
    Got to sort out the email getting me here as it goes to “spam”.

  15. Anyone attending the retreats will have a fantastic time. A big shout out to everyone at Clarity for all your hard work & obviously yourself and Paul. I’ve learnt so much so thank you xxxx

  16. Hi Barb, so glad the first 2 days went so well, and no doubt today and tomorrow will as well. I am sure everyone is enjoying all the creative spirit and energy. This is one of favourite YouTube videos. Enjoy yourselves everyone. Bx

  17. Hi Barbara. Glad the first 2 days went well and now you can relax and enjoy the next 2 days. Love the video and the examples are brilliant.

  18. So pleased the first two days went well and everyone enjoyed themselves. The next two will have started and I am sure they will be just as enjoyable.
    Hope you can have a restful weekend Barbara. Take care.

  19. A huge thank you Barbara for an amazing two days – woke up this morning with itchy fingers to get crafting, but have got to do a few other jobs first….! These days are not only about the big new techniques we learn, but all the other little tips and tricks we pick up as part of the process!

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