October 24-27, 2013, Atlanta, Georgia

Hello Friends! I am thrilled to announce a project that is close to my heart!

I am teaming up with Rosalyn-Sue Smith of The Patriot Girl Society for Operation Stars & Stripes, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia to host Sweethearts on the Homefront Creative Retreat. 100% of the proceeds will go to Operation Stars & Stripes, Inc. in support of their programs to benefit our military and their families at home and abroad. To learn more about Operation Stars & Stripes, Inc., please click here.

Upon arrival, you will be transported back to the 1940’s Homefront, where letters were still handwritten, victory gardens were planted, and sweethearts showed their love of country as they tended to the Homefront with such care.  While husbands were away fighting the war, women rose to fill new roles on the Homefront.  They took pride in their craft, whether it be sewing, baking, tending to the garden, or joining the workforce.  Such tasks were more than just a passion, they were a necessity and became a new way of life for American women.

It is important today that we still remember to cultivate our Homefront and foster creative living in our homes, our families, and our workplaces.  We hope that you will join us for Sweethearts on the Homefront, relish in the nostalgia of the yesteryear, and be inspired to incorporate the courage and passion for the Homefront in today’s America.

Schedule of Events

Thursday night the weekend festivities begin with a WWII-inspired homecoming welcome. There will be plentiful foods fresh from the victory garden for you to enjoy. The talented Heidi Meyer will instruct you during a workshopette on how to create your very own 1940’s-inspired millinery piece to be used to adorn your favorite tote, sweater, or whatever else your heart desires. The evening certainly would not be complete without a Homefront mercantile, where sweethearts will offer their handmade wares and rationed supplies.

Heidi Meyer

Growing up, both of Heidi Meyer’s grandmothers were very resourceful and creative while mending or repurposing items to make a home for their family.  Watching them impressed upon her creative spirit to look at something ordinary and see its potential to be given new life and transformed into something extraordinary.  Heidi adores repurposing textiles, everyday relics, and vintage finds using various mediums.  Living in Georgia with her husband and children, they often go junking together to treasure hunt for vintage finds.  Heidi’s work has been featured in Creating Vintage Charm and Stitch, Craft, Create magazines. It has been a joy for her to teach and inspire other people to see the potential in cast off items and try something new.  To read more about her work and junking adventures, visit Heidi’s blog at www.sugahbeez.blogspot.com.

An American Beauty

From blooms growing beside victory gardens to Sunday hats brimming with millinery, American sweethearts adorned many things in their homes and clothing with beautiful flowers.  Using new and vintage materials, we will be making a vintage inspired millinery bloom with delicate lace, netting, and lustrous pearls.  This American beauty can be pinned to an evening clutch or clipped to a special spot in the home to bring some of nature’s beauty indoors.

On Friday, have your shopping tote bags ready! You will be whisked away to partake in the opening day of the Country Living Fair, presented by the Country Living Magazine. The Country Living Fair is truly a shopper’s paradise – from antiques, to handmades, and gorgeous supplies.

The early bird gets the worm! We will begin our Country Living morning by attending an exclusive coffee and breakfast hosted by Jen O’Connor and Earth Angels Studios. Meet the talented artists of Earth Angels and shop their delightful handmade arts and one of a kind treasures. Jen will have goodie bags and discount coupons for every attendee.

Saturday, grab your pearls, pin curl your hair and wear your loved apron. You will board the Patriot Girl Airlines to be transported to the charming Peachstate Aerodrome Airport hangar for a day of blissful creating. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time while being surrounded by vintage planes and old swing music tunes from the 40’s.

We are delighted to have two amazing 1940‘s-inspired projects from top-artist instructors.

 

Andrea Singarella

Andrea Singarella is an old soul, hopeless romantic, jewelry designer, wife and mother of three.

As a child, she spent afternoons digging through her Grandmother’s jewelry boxes, gathering cast-off beads and fashioning them into all sorts of new creations. Many years later, this love of pretty baubles has evolved into a passionate business of designing and creating jewelry with beautiful details. Andrea’s signature look includes pastel gemstones, vintage religious relics, pearls with patina, old rhinestones and antique brass filigree findings. Her designs are a fresh take on romantic vintage-style jewelry.

Andrea graduated from New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology with a degree in Fashion Merchandising and a strong desire to lead a creative life. It was in New York that she truly learned the power of aesthetic, and the importance of creativity, beauty and art. Many twists and turns have led her to this point in life, fulfilling a long-time dream of creating year round, nurturing her soul and sharing her time and talents with other women through her website, jewelry workshops and art retreats.

Her designs and blog have been featured in national publications including Country Living, Where Women Create, Mollie Makes, and several Stampington publications. You can see more of Andrea’s work and follow her journey on her website: www.andreasingarella.com

Let Me Call You Sweetheart

Inspired by the romantic soldiers, sailors and airmen of the 1940’s, Let Me Call You Sweetheart is a fresh twist on the popular  “Sweetheart Jewelry” that thoughtful servicemen would send back home to their wives and girlfriends during their WWII deployments.

In this workshop, we will use basic jewelry-making techniques as well as wire-wrapping, to create a nostalgic necklace in beautiful shades of blush pink, antique gold and pearl. We will combine faceted Czech glass beads with shimmering glass pearls, vintage brass findings and gorgeous vintage rhinestones for some good old fashioned sparkle. The classic heart-shaped brass locket which dangles from a vintage “Sweetheart” stamping is the perfect place to keep a cherished photo of your love.

Workshop kits will include everything needed to make this necklace just as pictured. Feel free to bring along any special beads and baubles you’d like to incorporate from your personal collection. Please bring jewelry pliers (chain nose and round nose) and wire snips. And of course don’t forget the most important part…. a picture or two of your sweetheart to nestle into the brass locket, so he’s always close to your heart!

Jenny Heid & Aaron Nieradka

Jenny and Aaron are the artist duo behind Everyday is a Holiday. Together they’ve been creating, designing, and living the artful life for over 18 years. They work in a wide range of mediums but at the center of their aesthetic is their love for all things vintage bakery and kitchen, which they fabulously capture in their ever growing collection of original paintings. Besides having an online shop that offers art prints, hand painted signs, paper packs, and kits…they also put a lot of time into their blog, teach online art journaling courses, and teach at art retreats around the country. They’re best known for being the designers behind the Keep Calm and Have a Cupcake line of stationery, gifts, and home accessories available everywhere. As teachers, they possess separate and unique strengths that perfectly compliment one another…and as fairly isolated artists who work from home they absolutely cherish the opportunity to attend art events and meet like minded artistic souls. Together they live on the Jersey Shore with their two chihuahuas. Read more about them at www.everyday-is-a-holiday.blogspot.com.

A Wise Woman Knows Her Baking

Using an array of mediums and skill sets each class member will create their very own recipe scrapbook from scratch. Inspired by old fashioned cookbooks and kitchens, fabulous Golden Age advertising, and the soft pastel tones of vintage wallpapers and fabrics…this recipe book is a visual treat that may even be sweeter than the favorite recipes kept inside. Combining your love for paper craft, art journaling, scrapbooking, and baking, all together to make an artful album that’s sure to fill up with recipes that hold all the ingredients to a warm, loving home.

A wonderful living history presentation will complete the day as you are transported back to the 1940’s Homefront to learn what life was like for the women who are anxiously awaiting their sweetheart’s return. We will enjoy some freshly made treats from our sweet and savory snack bar as you sit back, relax from an exciting day of creating, and enjoy the nostalgia of the 1940’s era.

Also included in our creative day you will have the opportunity to fly with one of our nation’s decorated veterans. A limited number of bi-plane rides will be offered for an additional fee. Please inquire if you are interested. Tickets will be sold on a first come, first serve basis.

Pin-up and sweetheart-styled photography will be offered for a small donation to our troops. Give us your best Vargas girl pose while sitting in a vintage plane.

Accommodations

The Marriott Courtyard of Buckhead is the official hotel for Sweethearts on the Homefront. The hotel is located in the heart of the beautiful city of Atlanta, minutes away from unique dining experiences like Dante’s Down the Hatch, exquisite shopping at Lenox Square mall, as well as many other entertainment options.

October is a wonderful month to visit Atlanta, as the weather is cooling down, and you can enjoy the Fall season setting in and all of its beauty. The Marriott Courtyard has reserved a block of rooms at the discounted rate of $89 per night, not including taxes. The rooms have two Queen- sized beds and can accommodate up to four per room. If you do not have a roommate but would like one, please feel free to contact us and we will do our best to put you in contact with others looking for the same.

To make hotel reservations contact:
The Marriott Courtyard of Buckhead
3332 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA
(404) 869-0818.

Please let them know you are booking a room for the “Sweethearts on the Homefront” event to ensure you receive the special discounted rate.

Transportation

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

For out of town guests you will need to fly into Atlanta International Airport. The airport is 19 miles south of Buckhead and the Marriott Hotel.

Ground transportation and major car rental companies are available at the airport terminal.

Terms & Conditions

We will do our very best to accommodate you and your individual needs. If you have any special nutritional requests or allergies, please be sure to let us know upon booking.
Seating is very limited, and tickets will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. Once the event is sold out, additional seating will not be opened up.

$565 for one payment and $595 for two payments.  If you prefer to pay in two installments, the second payment is due by August 1, 2013.  Please be sure to have your payment made by that day.  If you are unable to do so, regretfully, you will forfeit your ticket reservation and no refunds will be issued.  We appreciate your understanding.

In the unlikely event, we reserve the right to cancel or change elements of the retreat. This will not be done without great consideration and you will be notified prior to any changes and given the opportunity for disenrollment with a full refund.

Sign Up Here

Sweethearts on the Homefront artful weekend includes the following: vendor night with dinner and workshopette, Friday ticket to Country Living Fair with a special early bird pass, an exclusive breakfast and coffee talk with Jen O’Connor and Earth Angels Studios, an amazing full day of classes, lunch, a living history presentation with refreshments bar, souvenir bags, raffle prizes, and the best gift of all…friendship!

One-time Payment $565

Payment Installments $595

Payment 1: $297.50

Payment 2: $297.50

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Sponsors & Vendors

If you are interested in donating, sponsoring, or being a vendor please contact Rosalyn-Sue Smith at Info@OperationStarsAndStripes.org The vendor fee is $50.00 and will go to benefit the troops through Operation Stars & Stripes, Inc.

If you never attended an art workshop event before do not hesitate! It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet like minded creative spirited friends. Everyone has their own level of skills so there is no need to be intimidated. Our instructors are happy to give you one on one attention you need and deserve.

The cherry on top is the fabulous shopping and the goodies galore you will receive!

I hope you will join us!

Warm Wishes,