The Retreat

No, I didn't surrender, there was no white flag or running away. It was my creative retreat.

Before I go any further I would like to give a huge thank you to everyone that contributed to my previous post. I was, quite frankly, overwhelmed by the response. You were all there in the room with me when I ran my "How blogging changed my life" session and I hope I opened some minds to the possibilities and wonderful people out there. Blogging has shrunk the world for me and welcomed me as a member into creative and inspirational tribes.

I spent a wonderful afternoon in the presence of some fab ladies - some I knew already and others new friends to be made. We learnt hand massage, networked, explored our dreams, checked out this season's fashion styles and trends as well as the aforementioned blogging session.

This week, as I rushed from 'day job' to preparation for this event I began to question my sanity in taking on such an adventure. Why couldn't I be content pottering around the garden on a sunny Saturday or doing the supermarket shop?

Well, of course the answer was always there in my face... Because that's not me. I am happiest when pushing myself, when exploring and stretching out into the universe. I perform best with a bit of pressure. In the end it was all worth it. I enjoyed myself, my fellow organiser Tina enjoyed herself and I'm pretty certain our guests did too.

So Tina... when shall we organise the next one?

(Will I be taking it easy over the coming weeks? Not a chance... Coming up next I'm joining the Experimental Art e-Course; the Inspirational Avenue blog party (see badge in sidebar) and I'm travelling to London to meet the chicklit author Lisa Jewell when she launches her new book and spend the evening with a bunch of Mummy bloggers... Can't wait!

PS: Well, although this picture wasn't exactly the location of today's retreat - I believe in thinking big and this can be an extension of the dreamboard I created today. One day... Watch this space!

It's all about YOU

Hey there bloggers. This post is about you (and I also want something...) On Saturday, my friend Tina and I host our first ladies' creative retreat. I'm very excited, incredibly nervous and in something of a panic because I'm not quite ready yet (still a few days... calm down...).

I'm running a session on blogging. More specifically, I wanted to share my story of how beginning to unleash a bit of myself here in Bloglandia opened up the most wonderful outpouring of creativity which had been shut away in my soul for so many years.

For me it has not just been about the outlet - a place to write and share - but the results. I could never have predicted that within just a few months of writing my first post I would find myself a part of wonderful tribe of like-minded spirits.

Hopping from blog to blog to read the words and admire the work of others took me on a magical journey and introduced me to some of the most inspirational people I have never met! It seemed that one minute I was sitting at home alone in front of the pc tapping away at the keyboard and suddenly a magic wand was waved and I was transported to coaching circles, tea parties, art lessons and craft workshops. I was surrounded by the fun, passion, creativity and empathy of my fellow bloggers from across the globe. I had new friends from a few miles down the road to California to Sydney to Malaysia and I had readers from countries I needed to check on an atlas to see where they were (Guam being case in point - it's a bit East of the Phillipines if you're wondering).

This wonderful journey not only prompted me to put finger to keyboard but also paintbrush to canvas and if I wasn't wrecking journals with Jamie Ridler and her crew, I was inspired by the prompts of the likes of Mixed Media Monday, The Three Muses and a host of others.

I attended parties and through one of these met up with the lovely ladies of Inspiration Avenue who encouraged me to open my own shop on Etsy and join their little team of supportive friends.
I've experimented with fiction and mixed media. I've found and taken part in art courses.

Above all I have found myself and for this I yell to you from the rooftops of England - THANK YOU! It's this I want to share with the attendees at the retreat on Saturday. I'll be sharing links to many of your blogs and singing your praises and I wondered if you would like to contribute to the session by adding a sentence or two describing how blogging has unleashed your creativity, inspired you, led you to new experiences and friendships. It would be wonderful to share this post with the group on Saturday - it's the only way I can think of to get you all there to be presenting with me!

So, what are you waiting for my friends? Tell me what blogging means to you!

With thanks,

WrightStuff

The musical accompaniment is there for no other reason than it popped in my head when I came up with the title for this post!

My new little venture

I am very excited to be sharing this with you. For a long time now I have been reading somewhat jealously about wonderful creative retreats many of my blogging friends are going on. I've loved reading how women get to step off life’s hectic treadmill for a weekend and spend some time just for them – letting themselves be a little creative, making new friends and finding out a little about what makes them tick.

The majority of the ones I have read about take place in the US so are somewhat prohibitive in terms of cost and distance, so initially I put aside all thoughts about attending.

Then I had a lightbulb moment of the mountain and Mohammed variety. Well, why not organise one myself? So, the idea was born. I was a little nervous of doing this all by myself but knew immediately who my partner in crime would be. My friend Tina – a Learning & Development expert as well as a Style & Colour coach would be the perfect sidekick in this little venture. She is also quite good at reeling me in when I get a little too over-enthusiastic – her first influence being to cut down our first attempt to one Saturday afternoon in a church hall just around the corner, rather than a whole weekend in a stone farmhouse in the Peak District which was where my fantasies were taking me.

We had a bit of a think and scribbled some notes. We rang round some friends to rope in on presenting. We formed our agenda and we found our venue.

All we need now is some participants! If you are within an easy travel of Northamptonshire and fancy joining us, then do get in touch and I'll send you all the details! The date for the diaries is Saturday 17th April.

Disclaimer: While the image shown is not actually our venue, by the time we've finished with you, you'll feel like it was... hopefully!