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Last week, we chatted all about our trip to Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Can you tell we fell in love with this cute little town? As evidenced by the 100000+ pictures we took during our weekend getaway…
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Leather Jacket // Flannel // Converse // Striped Tee
We visited this tiny little coastal town before our big Michaels Makers Summit which was held in Carmel Valley Ranch. As you guys may know, we’re a part of the Michaels Makers team (yep, the Michaels that carries just about every single craft supply you could ever want!) and each month we, along with about 40 other bloggers, are challenged to create a themed craft.
We had an awesome year with Michaels (more about our year of crafts in this post), and we were so honored and excited to sign on for another fun year of creativity! We love being challenged to DIY outside of our comfort zone, and we can’t say no to a fun trip to a gorgeous location #winwin
Carmel Valley Ranch
Last year the retreat was held in Sonoma, and we didn’t think it could be topped. Well, this year’s location somehow outshined our Sonoma trip. It was held at Carmel Valley Ranch, which is a 500-acre resort complete with vineyards, a golf course, hiking trails, 2 pools, horses, fitness centers, and nightly s’mores. Say what?! When we first arrived we walked around with our mouths hanging open for a good 30 minutes. 
Our room was just about the size of each of our homes (we’re not even exaggerating) and it included a living room, large bathroom, and bedroom with a fireplace. It’s a big feat that we even managed to ever leave the room. 
Hanging with the other Makers
One of the best parts of these trips is bonding with other creatives. And since we met everyone last year, it was like a mini blogger reunion.
We absolutely adore Courtney from A Thoughtful Place and loved being reunited with her. She is so genuine and kind and is just as beautiful on the inside as the out. If only she lived closer…
Lucy from Craftberry Bush is another sweetheart, and we are so impressed by her amazing talents. Have you seen some of her watercolors? We absolutely adore her and her plethora of creative skills.
The first night, we enjoyed a dinner in the organic garden with the other 34 makers at the summit. It was full of wine, amazing food, and lots of laughter. Oh and lots of pictures. Because that’s what happens when you put bloggers together in a gorgeous setting. Lots of snapping!
Let’s Get Crafty
The main point of the trip was to get together to get our creative juices flowing and challenge ourselves to try new things. We took classes in everything from jewelry making, to flower arranging, to watercolor painting.
Our favorite classes included wood burning (we are dreaming up some holiday projects with this new fun tool) and shibori dyeing. 
We “tie-dyed” scarves, and had so much fun getting our hands dirty. Courtney may have added a bit too much dye to her scarf and came out with a solid blue one. Ha! Just goes to show…we certainly are not pros when it comes to all of this!
We did another macrame class this year, and were again pretty terrible at it. It’s way harder than it seems and our fingers just don’t seem to work very well when it comes to weaving. 
Other Fun Activities…
This year was also a bit different because 50 lucky winners were able to attend the 2nd portion of the trip. It was so fun chatting with these women from all over the country, and they all were just so grateful and happy to be there. 
Another noteworthy guest? Sarah Michelle Gellar! Yes, BUFFY! She was there for one of the dinners to promote her new business called Foodstirs. We were so excited to get a picture with her…but she was only there for about 20 minutes. Next time we’ll have our selfie stick all ready to snap away. 
We could go on and on, but instead, we’ll leave you with a few more pretty photos of this gorgeous retreat. 
Shoes (similar) // Jeans // Jacket // Necklace
We are grateful for all of the opportunities that this little blog has brought our way. But this trip is extra special. There’s nothing like taking a break from your routine to re-energize. Connecting with close friends, crafting with new friends, and dining in a gorgeous setting was more than enough to recharge our batteries!
We’re excited for another year of craft challenges with our favorite brand. Bring it!
Bridget&Casey
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