PAPER COWGIRL IS BACK FOR YEAR THREE!!

I am very excited to tell you that the third annual Paper Cowgirl Art Retreat is being held June 24th - 26th, in Waxahachie, Texas, which is off I-35 south of Dallas.
And it's not called the Best Little Art Retreat In Texas for nothing!

It is an amazing weekend with the choice of different classes using different mediums, wonderful teachers and the best Texas (and a few other states will be represented - word has spread!!) artists/women/old friends/new friends that you would ever want to associate yourself.

Dale of Sea Dream Studio will be returning

as a teacher simply so she can strike her diva pose.

The above photo is a picture of the "Crown" swap at the 2009 P.C. Retreat

(Any one of those crowns would make Marie Antoinette beg)

Art + Laughter = peeing your pants Texas fun!! (Photo 2009 Retreat)

Most of you will remember my dear, sweet friend, Tina Wright, a woman loved by many, that passed this last January after a valiant battle with cancer. She was the co-founder of the Paper Cowgirl Retreat and she, along with Cindy Mayfield, co-founder, worked their bums off to make the retreats the best they could be. This year, after much prayer and thought, Cindy decided that Tina would want the retreat to continue on, so she *along with some little elves* have been working very hard for months! And the retreat just keeps getting better!

Sweet, wonderful Tina - she'll be there this summer, don't you doubt it.

If you're looking for a Texas retreat to attend, with very reasonable class costs, give-aways, fabulous swaps, wonderful sponsors (WHERE WOMEN CREATE and T.J. DESIGNS are two that I know of:), amazing food, shopping at antique/junk stores, the BEST scrapbook store I've ever been to, vendor's night *if you can't attend the retreat you are more than welcome to come to Vendor's Night*, and the most amazing women to spend a weekend with, then go to the P.C. blog and check it out!!

Vendor's Night - This is Texas, don't steal or we're gunna hafta shoot ya. Bring $$$

And, you can ask me any questions if you want. If I don't  have the answer I'll find it for you or direct you to the place your question can be answered.
I promise that if you come you will be blessed.

A girl geriatric attendee. We do not discriminate; we are Texans.

Oh! Oh! One more thing.
Geez, this is such an important part of the retreat, I can't believe I almost left it out! Whew *wiping my brow*.
One of the highlights of the weekend is when we have shots. You know, like at a bar? (I keep tellin' ya, this is Texas) Only ours are even better...................we have Frosting Shots! (haha - fooled ya) Homemade Frosting. Oh, man, I have to be rolled to my room every year!


On another note.....
Readers, y'all have been an amazing blessing to me these last l-o-o-o-ng weeks and I want to sincerely thank you. I'm working my way through all of the comments left on my last post and I will get to you eventually because I want to thank each of you individually for your support and kind words. I am so blessed.....

y'all are a blessing to me,
Jan

HECK YEAH, I'M A PAPER COWGIRL

I have a confession to make. It's not a bad thing. In fact, it's a wonderful thing - one of the best things that has ever happened to me!

"Hi, my name is Jan and I'm a Paper Cowgirl."

Y-E--E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E H-A-A-A-A-A-A-W-W-W-W!!

Paper Cowgirl is an art retreat in Waxahachie, Texas, that is the brain-child of Tina Wright and Cindy Mayfield. This past summer we held our second retreat. I had the extreme pleasure of teaching a class this summer and at the first retreat. What a blessing!

The classes that are offered and the teachers are amazing! The fellowship, fun, food, classes, shopping, treats, Tina and Cindy, new friendships made and old friendships renewed...I could go on and on! It's such a great retreat - it's affordable (we work really hard to keep it that way) and it's not too big that you get lost in the crowd............oh, and it's in T-E-X-A-S!!!

I hope you'll check out the paper cowgirl blog and see what I'm talking about. Maybe you will decide that it's something you just can't afford to miss!

xoxo, Jan

BUSY WORKER BEE GETTING READY FOR VENDOR'S NIGHT AT THE PAPER COWGIRL RETREAT

Meaning, I have no personal life, no time for telephone calls - 3 minute maximum, even my mother, cooking (oh, waaaa), cleaning (bigger waaaaaaaa), but I'm getting so much done.
Oh, wait, what I mean is that I'm getting so much done between telephone marathons with T-Moron (aka, T-Mobile), a laptop that is new but needs to be dumped in the trash. Instead, it's at the shop getting a new hard drive! This is after getting an external mouse because the mouse stopped working, and a CD drive that's never worked. All of that is going to be a future post - I have a lot to say......

Today??? I simply want to show you what I've been working on for vendor's night at Paper Cowgirl.......

These first three photos are pictures of lavender sachets I've made. Are these tags too cool? They are copies of hand-colored engravings, circa 1779, and the originals are the property of artist, Sandra Evertson. And, let's not forget the fabulous fabrics (toile and cottage roses), ribbon and the gold brad.

These photos are of wee bitty pots with precious little bird's nests, teeny eggs, mommy bird and a Paper Whimsy fairy to watch over the nest.

These following photos show you wonderful bird's nests, each seated on vintage lace or, as with the pink bling birdie, a vintage ladies glove. Each nest has ribbon, eggs, flowers, a gorgeous bird resting atop the nest and a tag. They're so wonderful! I simply love them!

I have so, so much more to do to get ready for not only vendor's night, but the class that I'm teaching that there's no time for chit-chat today. My three minutes are up - LOL.

Bless all of my readers - especially those that aren't too shy to leave a comment.

You know the comments make my day feel like my birthday....."show some love, leave a comment." (said with an Italian accent:)

xoxo, Jan

TWO GIVEAWAYS AT ONE TIME!! PAPER COWGIRL RETREAT BLOG GIVEAWAY! woooo hooooo!!

Color me crazy............no, color me a cowgirl!
A Paper Cowgirl!
Two blog giveaways AT ONE TIME??? Have I lost my mind???

No, I haven't lost my mind, and I hate to say it "just happened this way",

so I'll say that I'm doing two giveaways at the same time because I love you!!

And, that's true - I DO love you and I'm so excited to be doing two giveaways at once!(The second giveaway is directly under this post until it ends on APRIL 6th)

The reason for this second giveaway is to spread the word about the best little art retreat in Texas this summer!

The 2nd annual Paper Cowgirl Art Retreat is being held in Waxahachie, Texas,

June 26th and 27th. And, I can honestly say it's a HOOT, it's like family, it's full of art and wonderful instructors, classes and students, and food and shopping AND it doesn't cost an arm and a leg!!

I went last year and had the absolute best time so I want YOU to think about going this year! It'll be even more fun if you're there!!

There is the most fabulous scrapbook store in Waxahachie - oh, my gosh - and shopping, food, and VENDOR'S NIGHT.......and, I haven't even mentioned the classes!

And the most amazing teachers. Did I mention that I'm teaching a class? LOL

. . .All of the teachers at Paper Cowgirl are taking part in this giveaway so at the bottom of this post I'm going to give you their names, their blog address and a sample pic of the class they're teaching, so you can go there from here and enter all of their giveaways!

Are we a bunch of fun teachers, or what?

Yi-i-i-i-p-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e!!!!!

My giveaway is full of wonderful things!!! The first being one of my vintage clocks. I'll decide later which one - I have a lot more than what's pictured:)
The second thing included in this giveaway is one of my beaded clutches filled with ephemera. Oh, baby, this is a good one!

And, you never know what else I'll throw in!

Now, before you forget, write these websites down for my shops and go see my Easter offerings. Let me take care of all of your Easter needs:)

http://www.jthom03.etsy.com/ and www.lollishops.com/polkadotbarn.

Enter my Paper Cowgirl giveaway by leaving a comment on this post and then go check these Paper Cowgirl's blogs out for their giveaways!

ANN-DENISE

www.whimandfancydesigns.blogspot.com/

CINDY MAYFIELD

www.yappingcatstudio.typepad.com

CHARLOTTE
www.charlattescreations.com/

DALE

http://www.seadreamstudio.com/

JAN
http://www.polkadotbarn.blogspot.com/
(you're here!)

JOANNA
http://papercowgirl.blogspot.com/

MENDY
http://www.mendytexas.blogspot.com/

TINA
http://www.tina-wright.blogspot.com/

HAVE FUN and come join us for the retreat if you can!
We'd love to have you come!!!

XOXO, readers, you're the best!

. . .Jan

OH, YEAH, BABY, FUN IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!

I had the hardest time deciding what to title this post...there were so many elements to choose from, so I just settled on "Oh, yeah, baby, FUN is right around the corner!" It seems to cover it all in a wide scope kind of way. . .

REGISTRATION FOR THE 2ND ANNUAL PAPER COWGIRL ART RETREAT BEGINS ON MARCH 1ST AT http://www.papercowgirl.blogspot.com/.

This year it's (the retreat) being bumped up and it's going to be amazing! More classes, Vendor's night, shopping at a most incredible scrapbook store, the Hampton Hotel as base, and on and on and on! So, go to the Paper Cowgirl blog, get all the scoop on the classes, shopping, registration information (REGISTRATION BEGINS MARCH 1ST), and, if you can, make your way to the Paper Cowgirl Art Retreat, June 26 - 27!!

Now, I wouldn't be me, would I, if I didn't tell you that I'm teaching one of the classes! So, let's just all say it together. . ."Jan's teaching an amazing class!" LOL

Below is a picture of a canvas I did for my dad a couple of years ago and it gives you a *slight* idea of what my class is about...you'll get more information on the P.C. blog on March 1st and the REAL PROTO-TYPE will be posted there, too.

But, I wanted to give you an idea of what to expect in my class, Home is Where Art Begins. It's going to be so much fun, family themed and I hope to teach everyone at least one thing they don't already know! LOL

That being said, and knowing how wonderful all of the other classes and teachers are, your socks are going to be blessed right off of your feet if you're a part of this amazing weekend!

Thanks for reading my blog! Y'all are simply wonderful!!

XOXO,

. . Jan

THERE'S AN ART RETREAT IN TEXAS!!

"I know!!" An art retreat IN TEXAS!!

NOT in Oregon!

NOT in Virginia!

NOT in Washington!

NOT in California!

IN TEXAS!!

You get it..........I can get to THIS retreat in my CAR with my top down (not "my top", my car's convertible top)

Tina Wright of Glue on my Fingers and Cindy Mayfield of Yapping Cat Studio are the brains behind this retreat. This year is the Paper Cowgirl's second year - last year was a HUGE success so they really didn't have a choice, did they?

I say they're the "brains" but they're really more than that........they came up with the idea (bless you, girls!), set the date, found the site, the teachers, advertised, made name tags (and they were cuh-yoot!), did all of the work that is involved in putting on an art retreat, and believe me, there is a LOT of work! And to say that it was a success would be saying too little! IT WAS A HOOT!!! Oh, and the most fun, delightful women attended - really, they were wonderful and I hope every one of them comes back this year!

This year's retreat is June 26th and 27th, with two full days of fabulous classes taught by outstanding teachers, a glorious vendor's night, access to one of the most amazing scrapbook stores I've ever had the pleasure of spending Frank the Tank's money, yummy food and shopping!

I know the amount of planning that will be put in by Tina and Cindy will make this the best little whorehouse, oh, wait, *yikes!* the best little art retreat in Texas.

So, whether you're a real Texan or just want to play Texan for a long weekend, check out the Paper Cowgirl blog because there's going to be something for everyone and I want you to come! (I'm teaching a FUN, FUN, FUN class)

Got questions? .....You're a loyal reader - email me - I'll get them answered! polkadotbarn@gmail.com

XOXO,

. . .Jan