i can't even begin to tell you what an amazing weekend i had in Dallas.
Shea and Debbie throw one heck of an event.
from the very first moment driving up to the church it was magic...
amazing.
the church has been converted to their home. 
it was featured recently in Where Women Create and the photos that were amazing don't do it justice.
their studio was like out of control. 
huge. 
beauty everywhere. 
so much handmade goodness.
Shea and Debbie invited me to come to this event being the last one in the church.
i am so glad that i took the time to do it, and so grateful for their hospitality and even more,
their friendship.
what a weekend.
packed with fun, friendship and creativity.
after our tour of the church Thursday we went for traditional Texan BBQ for lunch.
loved it.
nothing better.
then we went back to the church to unpack and help get ready for guests to arrive.
Thursday night there was a mingle where a lot of the women attending the event gathered for Tex Mex.
loved it.
Suze was attending the event so we had dinner together.
Jo Packham from Where Women Create arrived Thursday as well.
it is always so much fun to be at an event with old friends.
Friday the attendees arrived to the church and we boarded a bus headed to Canton.
Canton is one of the most amazing flea markets i have been to.
miles and miles of goodies.
i can't even begin to tell you how much great stuff there was.
i should have driven a truck.
prices were amazing.
but with limited space i bought a few treasures.
tea cups, doilies, hankies for a dollar, linens, some milk glass and the funnest pink glass dish with bees and a beehive.
it was hard NOT to want to buy it all.
the sun was out and it was HOT in the sun, i bought a hat to shade me.
we were hosted to a beautiful lunch at a shop called "girls gone junkin"
LOVE.
no really. i loved these darling women and their shop by far was my favorite.
they treated us to a lovely lunch, tiaras and pearls for everyone. 
the store was filled with so much Vintage goodness and eye candy. 
i die.
after lunch there was more shopping.
then back onto the bus for our ride back to the church.
Jo and i talked, laughed and she told me stories about her amazing start in the publishing world.
what a treat.
Friday the classes began.
tables were set to perfection. 
the swag bags were hung at each chair with care. 
name tags were out of this world amazing.
each women received one.
it was a group effort.
Heather did the soldering and Shea and Debbie did the rest.
they made 50 of these! 
i wore mine long.
love.
the kits were packaged with care.
like everything else.
We spent the day creating our birds.
it was really a fun day.
pleating vintage paper, glittering, creating the bird it's self and making each one our own.
at our table Christy, Jo, Shea and Debbie and I all had different birds creating the same project.
Jo's was an owl, mine was skiwampus, Christy's was a little junkie and of course Debbie & Shea's were perfection. it was fun to see all of the women's birds lined up for display.
50 women 50 birds.
throughout the day we were fed like queens.
the food was amazing.
prepared by Chefs Sarah and Jenny.
not only did these women cook for us the entire weekend they had me in tears with laughter at all times.
LOVE.
Sarah is featured in Where Women Cook this month...
check her out!
she has a great story...
Saturday was a great day.
Sunday was Shea's class...
again the tables were filled with beautifully wrapped kits, goodies and gifts for all.
we were given trays and baubles, and beautiful chains of pearl and crystal.
we all brought some treasures from home and i bought some vintage earings and baubles in Canton to add to my project.
we learned how to wire wrap and created beautiful bracelets.
i made mine into a necklace knowing i would wear it more that way. 
again, 50 different versions of the same project.
glam...
another day filled with creativity, great food, laughter and friendship.
i hated thinking that it was our last day at the Gilded Life.
the last event at the church.
friendships were forged.
my sweet roomie Stacy.
with the chefs...
Monday was bittersweet.
leaving the church.
the movers arrived.
Shea and Debbie are packing up.
moving to California.
it was the last event at the church.
i am so grateful i went.
spent the time with friends.
creating, being inspired.
laughing until i almost peed.
{thanks Jo}
and gilding myself.
i am a gilded girl now.
and forever.
thanks Shea and Debbie.
your friendship is a gift.
what a weekend...
tomorrow i board another plane...
heading to Puerto Rico.
to hang with this group of hooligans...
can't wait...
i need to re-pack...
happy Wednesday!
kiss kiss
m.
What an amazing weekend.
What a great response to Authentique.
thank you all for your kind words and mostly your excitement for the new lines.
i am excited too.
at Authentique we want to create beautiful product that is affordable, highest of quality and that is easy to use.
so far i think we are doing it.
the product is hitting stores daily.
if your LSS isn't carrying it ask them to, or drop me a line and we will contact them!
we want it in everybody's hands!
if you haven't had a chance, get onto Facebook and check out our page.
we will be sharing ideas, peaks at new lines and hopefully you will be sharing all the fun things you are doing with our products!
also you can follow us on twitter @beauthentique
our website isn't up yet.
hoping this week.
PRAYING. lol
it always takes so much longer but it is SO close.
we just couldn't help ourselves to share with you, and product is already on shelves around the country!
exciting!
Friday i promised to do a little give-away...
the first of many.
so if you are one of these lucky ladies...
CONGRATS!
i will be sending you one complete line!
Oh, wow! I am blown away by this! The new products looks stunning! I love the color combo in Blissful, and the others are divine too!!! Yay!!!