Last week I stopped my posts before I even got to the main event so I wanted to continue today with a few of the highlights from the Stampin' Up! leadership event. If you think this looks like a blast (it was!) and you want to join my team so you can attend next year I would love nothing more. The benefits FAR outweigh any questions you may have in your mind right now but I am happy to answer them for you. See details about joining my team and see all the FREE you get during Sale-A-Bration.
I took this last weekend off from blogging to spend some time with my family that lives 3 hours north of my rural Champaign County home. I have 3 sisters, their families and my Father in the western Chicago suburbs. I had a nice weekend. The weather cooperated and my oldest daughter Hannah took some time to spend with her mom and I loved every minute of that. I got to see almost everyone while I was up there for a visit, went to a great nephews basketball game (that was awesome and he is probably glad his great aunt lives far away, I can really get into the game)
You think I am kidding...ask my daughter!
I also got to see my 2 nieces who had birthdays on Saturday. So nice to spend time with family. So nice to be home with mine too.
So back to my Orlando Florida leadership event. The actual convention started on Thursday morning with Bag pick up and check in and swapping!

This wonderful lady shared that although this apron is wonderful for showing off her swaps she couldn't wait to take it off. It sure was handy to let others pick a favorite though. I got some fantastic samples to show my local customers!
Next we started out with a State of Stampin' Up! talk with Shelli Gardner who shared that Stampin' Up! is in great financial shape.

But she couldn't end her time on stage without showing us all a little stamping! She is a very talented crafter and has a real eye for the eclectic. We are blessed to have her as the head of the company.

Even though leadership is all about business we are all still stampers at heart so it's fun to see anything and everything the "boss lady" has to show because we know it will be a real wow!
The day was filled with seeing old friends and meeting new friends. My friend Betsy has been following Michelle Last and her blog for a very long time and so when we saw her Betsy needed a picture and I was happy to oblige! Check out Michelle's blog she is a very talented stamper from the UK and a most gracious lady. We really enjoyed visiting with her this day.

Lastly I just HAVE to share something special. A gift from one of my roomies Sue Bell. Gift(s) I should say! These arrived in the mail in a big box the week before we left for Florida. She said she didn't want to bring them in her luggage and you can see why. What a surprise and such an amazing seamstress she is. Check out the bag she sent me. She said this was a gift she "owed" me from the last event we attended together. I am over the moon about it and loved carrying it this weekend when I visited my family. It's SO M.E.!

Isn't it beautiful! There are SO many wonderful pockets inside and out. It holds so much stuff yet keeps it organized too! I carried it this weekend when I went up to visit my family. It was wonderful to hold ALL my stuff!
She also made each of us a lap quilt. She knows I LOVE the color green so I am also in love with this project from the heart. Not to mention I am always cold and almost always am found with a blanket on my lap when I am sitting on the couch with my family in the evening. So this is the perfect gift for M.E.

Look how awesome it is and see what makes it super special? Check out this sentiment that is stitched right on the quilt as a reminder to M.E.

The talented Sue is also a talented stamper so I wanted to share her swap card with you too! Here is her beautiful card using the Irresistibly Yours Specialty Designer Series Paper that you can earn for FREE during Sale-A-Bration.

Click on the links below to order the supplies you may not have to complete this card 24/7 and if it adds up to $50 then you can choose the Irresistibly Yours Paper for FREE!
Enjoy!
M.E.
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