It’s finally ready, the last Creative Estates recap post that you’ll see from me. If you missed it earlier, I did a sneak peek here and an outfit post + advice here. As you know, I am a picture queen, I bring my DSLR camera with me everywhere and anywhere and take pics like it’s my J-O-B (I wish!) haha. I took over 400 pictures from the weekend, spent some time doing some minor editing in Lightroom and am ready to share the rest. I had to consolidate a bunch into collage form so that this post wouldn’t take 10 minutes to scroll through, you can thank me later. So without further ado, in true Sandy style commentary… here we go!
You know you’ve entered a warm state when you see palm trees. I wish I could bring these back with me to Missouri.
On Thursday evening, it was the Cupcakes and Cocktails event. Bloggers like to eat… and drink.
The venue was the Inspirador in downtown Chandler, AZ. These frames were awesome, I need something like this in my house.
There were tons of speakers and workshops that were riveting, inspiring and encouraging. And really, the take home was that we are all alike, we all face the same struggles.
There was a lot of silliness going on this weekend, Aisle to Aloha really brought it out in me.
And the Handmade Market? Words can’t even describe how amazing it was. Not to mention, I made a purchase or two or three or more… Featured here are Olive Blue, Vintage Rose Wraps, Rock-A-Bow, Flawed Perfection Jewelry, Much Love Illy, Tara Dara, Oh, Sweet Joy!, Amy Cornwell and Whippycake.
Again, more silliness from Aisle to Aloha, Josiah’s Nest, Oh, Sweet Joy and Much Love, Illy.
And lots of colorful outfits and fun shoes, can you guess who is who?
It was a chance for bloggers to take outfit pics for fellow bloggers (instead of having to beg our husband’s or use a tripod). It was tres fun.
And we even met up with for a fabulous Mexican dinner with some local AZ bloggers, Tea Talk and Letters From Coco. They are both so sweet!!
I really enjoyed talking to and learning from Funky Vintage Lovely and Whippycake, like really really enjoyed it.
Here’s some Whippycake headband love, which we’re turning into a fun project, more on that later! 😉
And finally meeting many of the ladies I have talked to online or met through blogging. 🙂 Whippycake, Brassy Apple, SheyB, Apearantly Sew, Be Healthy, Well and Inspired, ChicGeek Designs, Ordy and Joon, Food, Wine and Mod Podge, Craftee Mcgee, Freckles Crafts and Funky Vintage Lovely!
This weekend confirmed my love for blogging and handmade even more. Are you in love?
Finally, we come full circle again, with stuffing our faces with delicious cupcakes. Like I said, bloggers eat well. And, Much Love, Illy was the only person I had actually met in real life before the conference, so it was great to see her again and grow our friendship. 🙂
If you missed out this year, then don’t forget to mark your calendars for next year… the 2012 Creative Estates conference will take place in Salt Lake City, UT from April 19-22, 2012!
Thanks for sharing pictures. Looks like you had tons of fun! It looks so inspiring too! I’ll have to put it on my calendar for next year.
oh it looks like such fun!!!
Sandy, this looks like so much fun! I wish I could have been there too! And now, I want a milk shake.
Love your recap post, Sandy! Makes me miss all of you even more!!!!!
it looks like you had so much fun. I have to say I am jealous AZ is my hometown and I miss it so much. sigh.
Write it in Lipstick
looks like such a fun event with super stylish and creative ladies!
ps love the shoes shot.
It looks like you had a blast!! I’m totally on for next year. Salt Lake’s my city!! Or used to be before I moved:)
The Cheeky Cafe
Sandy thank you so much for sharing these great photos! I can see you had a great time!!
Come over (all of your blog friends) and enter my very Fashionable Giveaway starting on Friday!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Wow! Looks like such an amazing time… Thanks for the pictures! You girls are so gorgeous 🙂
Aw great pictures as always!!! It was so nice to meet you in person! Wish we had more time to talk! So many people – so little time! 🙂
Man, that Aisle to Aloha sure is a goofball…. er, what??
Love these pics, sweet girl. Miss you SO MUCH!!
How fun! And it wouldn’t be a blogger event without cupcakes. So special!
AWESOME.
That cupcake stand in the bottom picture is awesome! I just did an image search for it and can’t find anything even close. :/ So sweet. Anyway looks like you had a lot of fun.
What a fantastic recap – thank you so much. It looks like the best weekend and you are sooo cute, lady – love the outfits!! xo – g
aww, those photos are SO FUN!!! It looks like a blast..how cool!
wow, it looks like everyone had an amazing time!!
I obviously live in the wrong country 🙂
Hi! this looks like lot of fun and super inspiration!!!! must be amazing organize this meetings! I wish here in italy there would be some too! 😀
Looked like a great event! Lovely photos, and the cupcakes + drinks look good!
Sandy! This was such a lovely post and I’m still so jealous of ya’lls trip. So happy that you all had a wonderful time though. What a lovely way to meet blogger buddies and build friendships. Love that!
Oh, loved seeing these pictures! You girls are all adorable! And I think I can actually guess who those shoes belong to…for the most part. 😉
love seeing all the pictures! oh hoping to be apart of the fun next year.
Love your recap; you gals are gorgeous… I swear there’s like a light beaming out of all of you. So pretty! So glad you had such an amazing time.
xo
alyson
http://www.theaveragegirlsguide.com
Wow, fantastic photos! This all just looks like such amazing fun.
xoxo ~ Courtney
http://sartorialsidelines.blogspot.com
I am seriously drooling over all the handmade goodness!
Such fun!!! I love all the beautiful photos and all the fun!!!
xoxo
I love looking at everyone’s little shops! That would have been dangerous!
My farmer tan is awesome. 😉
So glad I was able to meet you! You’re so sweet.
Loving the pictures and so glad you had fun!
I see my pillows are making it in many posts. Awesome!
xoxo!
LOVE this!!! I really do just love you girls!!! I think with all the recaps, Creative Estates will have about 200 MORE bloggers! I better get my ticket SOON!
You girls look like you had so much fun!!!!
love it! you are totally darling! GREAT pictures!
favor? can you send me the one of the panel I was on? We didn’t get any photos and I’d love to stash that one away. I know Becky higgins was looking for one too! 🙂
Sandy, great re-cap! And, for the record, I loved loved loved meeting and chatting it up with you too.
LOVE all the pics sweets…wow, you ladies were busy…..the shoe pic is just too dang cute!! So lad everyone had a blast!!!
It was so much fun to see all of the photos from the weekend! You did a great job. I think photography should be your career!!! It was so wonderful to meet you, I only wish we had more time together. You are just so sweet! Next year in Salt Lake for sure!
Such a wonderful post! It was so nice to finally meet you in person. Glad we had the opportunity to chat some!
I love all those outfits so much. The headbands were even more adorable. 🙂 You guys look like you had so much fun! This makes me excited that it will be in Utah next year since that’s where I am! YAY!
omg how fun! thanks for posting all of the photos! its so cool to see everyone’s booths and really see their personality shine through their products 🙂 also looks like you had a great time!! xoxo jcd :: cornflake dreams
So many fun photos to mark the inaugural event! I think my fav pics are of you and Aisle to Aloha 🙂
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!!!! (and a little jealous!) Great pitctures. I love y’all so much! I am pretty sure I need a whippycake headband; an oh sweet joy turban that you rocked; that “i heart blogging” pillow..where is that from?!; and that cupcake holder!
Hope to see you soooooon! <3
I just LOVED scrolling through this post and seeing all the pictures!
It was so fantastic getting to meet you in person and give you a big hug 🙂 Safe travels this week!
This looks like a ton of fun – love the photos and recaps. And of course all of the cute outfits going on!
looks like a great time was had by all!
I love Becki. I feel so rad being able to say I know her in RL since HS. My Whippy Cakes are some of my most fave accessories.
girl, i love all the collages!!!! such an uh-mazing recap!!!!! it made me kind of sad ’cause i wish it wasn’t over yet. boo.
love ya, roommate!!!!
Yep, I am absolutely positive that you had an awesome time! 😉
aw, looks like terribly adorable fun. yay. sounds like you enjoyed it + learned a lot in the process. the wrap up is great.
You girls are way too much fun and SO friggin’ adorable. I need to start making some handmade goodies just to improve my cuteness.
We have something similar here in Australia, it’s called Finders Keepers and it travels throughout the country.
Very fun! You ladies look like you had a blast!
You can not believe how much I enjoyed looking through these photos! Wow! It looked amazing and you were able to spend time with such beautiful girls.
Each photo just pops with colour and I adore all your headbands! Lovely.
Looks like such fun!!! Wish we could all go to all the conferences!! 🙂
you girls are the cutest!!!!!
i love the shoe pic 🙂
looks like so much fun!
OMG, after seeing your gorgeous CE recap, I wanna be your BFF! Thanks for your comment on my CE-Airport Experience! So sorry you didn’t get to be in our buggy ride with us too!! There was def room for more! hehe. Girl, your post is complete awesomeness!!! LOVE IT!!!
You got the cutest shots. And I am so glad you had a great time. I love conferences. It is like one big slumber party of awesomesauceness.