Whatever Craft House Weekend

It's been a week since I bittersweetly got home from the Whatever Craft House.

And it's taken the entire week to fully recover.

Like summer camp as a child... several days away from home, staying up late with your friends and sharing close quarters, constantly on the go... at the end you leave completely exhausted, but you can't wait to do it all over again next year!

That's exactly how my whirlwind weekend a Meg Duerkson's craft house in Newton, KS went.

This particular weekend was for the Stamping Away group of ladies.

Now, I'm not a stamper myself. But a former co-worker of mine contacted me since there was an open spot. She knew a weekend at the Whatever Craft House was on my bucket list and I am so thankful she though of me. (You're the best, Jennifer!)

I walked into the house only knowing two people, but was met by hugs by some of the friendliest people I have ever met. A handful of us were from Kansas, but the majority of the women were from all over the country!

Although I didn't speak the same crafting language as them at first, these ladies took me under their wings and taught me the beginner's ropes of stamping, watercolors, and copic markers. I loved every minute with them! Aren't they just gorgeous?!

The house itself was just gorgeous, too.

Once a family home, this beautiful old home in Newton, KS has brillantly been turned into a place to hold retreats, with room for sixteen.

My own little corner of happiness for the weekend. My guy thinks we need that giant sunflower print... along with six others.

I feel in love with this giant sign above the large staircase, made by House of Belonging. I think our library makerspace will need it!

The stairway to heaven... or something like that.

Fun hoop art in one of the several bedrooms.

Fun, colorful art everywhere! (That cow is on our list along with the sunflower.)

Doesn't this make you want to find old school maps stat?!

This giant fireplace and unique mantle piece made a great background for all of the amazing cards our group made. I even have a piece up there, but can't share it yet as the set as not been released yet.

Along with the cards we had a mulitude of projects going on all weekend long!

I caught up with my temperature blanket, completed my Heart By CC DIY kit, did a few pages in my bullet journal, and joined the group for a hoop art project.

The farm tables in the kitchen made a great place for coming together to work on our heart kits, string art, hoop art, and eating good food, of course.

Starting the HeArt kit with one layer of kona stain to match the floors in my home.

Finished project! My one little word for this year is "invest" and the verse from Matthew 6:21 really speaks to my focus on the year.

The ladies who organized the weekend provided us all with three crafts to do together. One was this adorable hoopart. I was shocked that these flowers could be made with dies... now I can finally get my die cut machine out that I got a couple years ago, ha.

Bullet journaling is growing on me quickly. Love having my lists organized and looking pretty all in one place.

Learned the stamping basics and fell in love with this set from Concord and 9th. I had a set ordered and in the mail before we left to go home. I'm excited to use these stamps for my journaling bible!

My most time consuming project from the weekend, by far. It was fun to draw from scratch and it will last the whole year, so I think it was well worth the time.

It may have been the fact it was 1:00 in the morning, but I fell in love with this giant date stamp! I am waiting patiently (or trying to) for Studio Calico to get these back in stock. A must have for any librarian. ;)

In the midst of all the crafts we also did a lot of good eating.

From home cooked meals in the house, lunch at the amazing Breadbasket, Drubers Daylight Donuts at midnight, and Dickey's BBQ the final night, our bellies were just as full as our hearts.

In a long line down the block, along with all the high school kids from the surrounding towns, waiting for donut shop to open at 11:00 at night.

Group shot at Dickey's.

It was an amazing weekend.

I did not want to leave. And I will look for any reason to go back.

The house can be rented out for the weekend, so get ahold of Meg if you have the need for a getaway. It is a need. Trust me.

And if you have an extra spot, think of me... okay? ;)

hi > bye,

Audra