As I mentioned in my previous post, my mother was an avid crafter. She loved to read every detail of creative/craft magazines and books. She came across information on the Petticoat & Parasols event in Savannah, GA and encouraged my sisters and I to go. Our mother had been sick and bedridden for the majority of the last year of her life. We were currently helping to care for her and knew we could not go to the event and leave her. She passed away at the end of March 2010. When we looked at the calendar it just so happened that the Petticoat & Parasols event was going to fall on what would have been my mother’s birthday. We decided instead of staying home and feeling sad, my sisters, cousin, and I would all meet up and do something that would have brought our mother great joy, while bringing us happy thoughts of her.
The event was held at the Ford Plantation in Savannah, GA.
This was our first creative workshop event so we didn’t know what to expect. EVERYONE was so kind and made us feel so welcome. Jenn was the ultimate Southern Belle hostess. She put her heart and soul into every detail.
Jo Packham (Guest Speaker) & Jennifer Hayslip (Hostess)
The fun filled weekend kicked off with a Southern Belle Soirée with guest speaker Jo Packham (of Where Women Create). It was so exciting…squeal!
Jo (guest speaker), Jenn (hostess), Tiffany & Christine (instructors)
Guest Speaker Jo Packham (inspiring...)
Sherry Jo Ward (my sister), Robin Martin (my sister), Jo Packham (guest speaker) and me
Friday was a day of leisure and site seeing.
Sylvia, Charlene, Robin and Sherry at the Paris Market
We found some wonderful old vintage photos at the Paris Market.
Breaking for lunch. Cold iced tea and...
Fried green tomatoes. Yum...
Big sis telling us ... something about something...
That evening we attended the Cupcake party and Vendor Fair at the famous Back in the Day Bakery.
Me, Jeanie (cousin), Robin (sister) and Sherry (sister)
I love Jeanie's laugh. It's so adorable.
This is why you wear petticoats.
We were chaufeured around all weekend in the Old Savannah Trolley.
On Saturday we attended three artistic workshops tough by Jennifer Hayslip (our lovely hostess), Christine Rose Elle, and Tiffany Kirchner – Dixon. It was so much fun
Jenn was the instructor for the first workshop.
Christine was the instructor for the second workshop.
The previous day, while in Savannah shopping, Sherry found this adorable skirt at one of the thrift shops. She bought it right out of the window display.
Pass the glue please...
Sherry taking a minute to call home (Texas) to check on her husband and two precious boys.
Jeanie made an adorable parasol with the names of beloved women in our family.
Tiffany was the third instrutor. She was ADORABLE.
This is a silhouette collage I made in memory of my mother.
This is a little notebook I made for each of the P&P ladies.
Hats off (or in our case on) to all of the P&P ladies! You are amazing, talented women. We were so impressed, encouraged, and inspired by all of you.
These are just a few of the many friends we met while at the event.
Sylvia Smith (she looked incredible...)
Rachel Velder (cutie pie...)
Sherry Williams (lots of fun...)
Amanda Lebel (so talented...)
Bryanna Lenan (pretty in pink...)
Cassandra VanCuren (fablous designer...)
Charlene (a hoot and so much fun...) and Christine
Charlene (love her necklace...) and Nicole
Heidi (so sweet and friendly...) and Jenn
Cathy Scalise (pink fairy...)
Cynthia Vartanian (I want that purse...)
Joanna Lewis (lots of fun...)
Jodie Lejeune (so talented...)
Misti (she's an OK (Oklahoma) gal...)
Leslie (she's an OK (Oklahoma) gal...)
Nancy Reffle (so nice...)
Nicole Gibson-Rice (love her style...)
Rhonda Voorhis (Teresa's daughter...)
Rosalyn-Sue (so sweet...just like her Southern Sugar)
Shelley Overholt (she's an OK (Oklahoma) gal...)
Teresa Corle (exquisite seamstress...)
Cathy Edmondson (true Southern lady...)
Julie Ann Grakowsky (I think her dress was my favorite...)
Shelley and her mother Paige Henson (two beauties...)
Shelley (gorgeous...)
We laughed a lot and cried a little all weekend. My sisters made fun of me (for numerous things), one of them being…when I sent an email to Jenn regarding the event’s cut-off date, instead of typing in “CUT-off date”, I typed in “CUFF-off date”. The whole weekend, my sisters kept telling me to “CUFF-OFF”. Oh well, that’s what sisters are for. My mother was probably laughing right there with them. Another funny thing that happened was … in one of the workshops, we made silhouette collages. An older woman got on the elevator with us at the hotel and said “Oh, are you part of that group…I forgot what you are called…The Silhouettes?”
Robin, well...being Robin.
I love that vintage beaded cardigan.
Sherry (at least somebody got a cute haircut...)
Beginning of the Soiree...
End of the Soiree...
Jeanie got choaked up at the end of the event while expressing to Tiffay how much the event meant to us.
The friendships we made, the “tricks-of-the-trade” that we learned, and the encouragement we received made this an event that will always bring us happy memories of a time in our lives when we so needed it. Thank you P&P ladies.
The sisters and cousin Jeanie.
The entire time we were at the event, we keep saying, “mother would have loved this”.
That was the short version…
Create a wonderful life ... Today
Love ya,
Lisa
Lisa! YAY!!!! Im thrilled you have jumped on the bandwagon and now have a blog. It's BEAUTIFUL!!! What an AMAZING first post! I am SO thrilled that you and your sister and cousin were all able to attend together in loving memory of your Mother. You each touched my heart and moved me beyond words knowing all you had been thru and choose to attend my event in her spirit. Thank you Lisa!!!!
I look forward to seeing MORE fabulous post from you soon! :)
Big hugs! XOXO,Jenn
Posted by: Jennifer Hayslip | June 28, 2010 at 09:56 PM
Lisa, WELCOME to Blogland!!!!! I am thrilled that you decided to start a blog & what a beautiful way to begin. The story of your sisters/cousin & you joining Petticoats was an AMAZING story! Thank you for sharing it with all of us! It was a pleasure to meet all of you & be able to help you celebrate your sweet Momma's love of crafting & of course her love of family. You can tell she was a very special lady by just being around the 4 of you. I soooooooooooooo enjoyed seeing the photos again & reliving our wonderful time. I will do a little shout out about you in one of my next few posts. Remember, this blog is for YOU! For you to share your journey. Post often & enjoy!!!!! HUGS! Charlene
Posted by: Myheartsease.blogspot.com | June 28, 2010 at 08:02 AM