SDV: Burlington

Mom and I (above is our traditional ladies room photo) spent the weekend at the Scrapper's Dream Vacation (SDV) in Burlington, MA.  We have gone to this event for the past two or three years.  We felt like we had soooooooooooo much room this year.  Wide aisles and plenty of room to walk around.  Well, we found out that there were 100 fewer attendees this year.  I think the economy has really made people think twice about optional expenses like crops.  And certainly, with gas prices skyrocketing, more and more people are staying close to home. I wonder what that will do to the companies that hold these massive get togethers?  100 fewer attendees is a lot.  I know that some people don't like crops.  They prefer to stay at home.  But, I love the social aspect of getting together and swapping stories, design tips, and just being inspired.  (Which made the fact that our table mates were unfriendly a bit sad.)  I would really miss being able to sit in a room with 300 people who all love to scrap. 

But let's not dwell on that, eh?

For the first time, Mom and I decided to splurge a bit and buy the big package that lets you arrive on Thursday and set up all your stuff before the crop begins Friday morning.  Frankly, I thought it was a lavish expense (especially since my mom lives half an hour away).  Nevertheless we showed up around 10pm on Thursday with all of our stuff.  We spent two hours setting up, choosing photos, and staring slack jawed at the mighty cropping towers that people were creating all around us.  I didn't take a lot of pictures, but I thought I'd share a few of the impressive fortresses people built:

Amazing, huh?  I spent a lot of time walking around and staring at all the drawers and extra flip out tables and shelves and just amazing stuff.  A major trend that I noticed was the Cricuts.  It seemed like every other person had one at the crop.  If you haven't heard of a Cricut, it's an electronic die cutter and clearly very popular.  The big die cut center was all but abandoned.  I remember a few years ago, you had to line up to use the die cutters.  Almost no one used them all weekend.

Some cool stuff from the crop:

• I bought two things that I haven't seen anywhere yet.  (1) Some *gorgeous* die cut felt from Prima. I found these photos on the web of felt from the same line.  I couldn't find an exact match and I'm too lazy to unpack my crop bag and take a photo.  But trust me, it's sooooo cool!  (2) A very, very cool blank mini book from Chatterbox.  I absolutely could not find a photo on the web.  But, I nearly jumped out of my shoes when I saw it.  the pages are PLASTIC with an embossed image running across the center.  Just so unbelievably cool and innovative!
• I went into a panic on Thursday.  I had ordered some adhesive refills for my ATG and had them shipped to my mom (since we were leaving from her house).  When I showed up on Thursday, the package still hadn't arrived and I hadn't brought any refills.  Grrrr.  I crossed my fingers that one of the vendors at the crop would be selling the refills.  Well, they were. One for $16 and one for $10.  A little outrageous considering the ones I ordered were $3/piece.  Although technically, you were getting two for $16 or two for $10.  Nonetheless, not a bargain.  But, then a miraculous thing happened.  I ended up not needing a single refill!  That's right!  Three full days of cropping and I've still got adhesive left in my ATG.  It is seriously the best adhesive on the market!
• I had a chance to try out my brand new disgustingly expensive zoom lens - a belated Christmas gift from my father.  Check out the difference...

 

• For the top photo, I used my regular lens.  The one that came with my camera and stood at my seat and took a photo of table seven.  I changed lenses and shot the photo on the bottom.  The photo was taken from the same spot.  I've circled where this woman is sitting in the top photo. You can just see the edge of her gray hair.  Pretty cool, huh?  But, it's not just the zoom that's so powerfully amazing. I think the picture quality is better too.
• I entered a page into the page contest and was pleasantly surprised to win for "Best Journaling."  My prize was a bag of SDV themed stuff - a cup, an album, a lanyard, etc.

All in all, it was a very fun weekend.  I finished all of my K&P projects for August (I'll have to share later) and a bunch of other random stuff.  My Mom and I had a great time together and laughed so hard I nearly suffocated!  I'm looking forward to next year!

Finally, I had a bit of good news on Friday.  Somerset Memories picked up three of my layouts.  I really love that magazine and my style seems to fit with their aesthetic! 

I'm heading back home to NYC tomorrow and looking forward to it!  Thanks for stopping by!

Comments

[nat]

Wow- that lense is amazing. What fun to go to a crop like this!!!

[Alli]

I love seeing what people bring to crops and retreats, it is truly amazing. I on the other hand try to bring as little as possible

[Cindy Lee]

Hey Julie - congrats on the layouts. The crop sounds like fun, but yeah I know what you mean about people dropping out because of the economy. I'm probably affected less overall by what's going on in the economy and I still think twice about paying for crops like that. I'm interested to see what kind of response that scrapbooking retreat house in upstate NY is going to get. Those people's cropping spaces is nuts! I can't believe they bring all that with them. Do they like not eat or sleep the entire time either?

[sue brown]

glad you had a great time with your mum Julie, sorry to hear about the unfriendly table mates. Wow I want a lens like yours.

[melina {gingerkitty}]

Wow- zoom-erific

What a tower of scrapbooking power! . I haven't been to a retreat. I was so unaware of all the stuff people had and brought.

[Suz Gray]

Wow that looks like so much fun! That's great you and your mom share this crazy hobby. Great photos.

congrats on the layouts in the magazine and for winning the journaling prize - you are so talented and deserve all the recognition you get!

[Jolynn]

looks like a amazing crop even if there were 100 people less. WTG on the LO pickups!!!

BTW - where do you get ATG adhesive refills for $3???? i can only find them for nearly double that!!!!

[Gina]

Holy crud I can't believe your table mates were off standish. :( I'd totally give a left pinky toe to go to a crop w/ ya. I think from your style we'd totally get along. Well maybe not a pinky toe, maybe just a toe nail? lol

I love crops for the social aspect too.

[Heather H.]

What a fun time. I can't believe all the stuff people brought! That is outrageous to me! Glad you didn't have an adhesive crisis. Those are awful!

[Sue Carter]

Wow - I'm shocked at the little cities some of the people made at the crop. I would never have thought to bring all that stuff. I haven't been to too many crops, but I also enjoy the social part of the crop.
Glad you had a good time with your mom.
Sue from 2peas

[Lily goldsmith]

I am absolutely speechless. I've been to alot of crops but I've never seens such enormous towers of insanity. Don't people prepare page kits for crops anymore? Back in the day when i used to go to monthly crops I got it down to a science. that lens is way cool. You are one lucky gal. I think it's so sweet that you go to these kinds of things with your mom. What great memories you are creating.

[Sue Clarke]

I love that you get to go to this fun stuff with your Mom...she seems so sweet! I've seen similar "cities" at CKC Manchester, NH and I think it's crazy (I pack my own kits to save space). Thanks so much for sharing!

[Christy (a.k.a. Krissynae)]

Congrats on winning best journalling. I really enjoyed the SDV I went to a few years ago. I did not go the last 2 years but I miss it. It was so fun. It sounds like you and mother had a blast. I agree the stuff some people bring is crazy. They just wall themselves in. Congrats again..

[gigi]

so happy to have found your blog!!!

now i can get a regular dose of julie inspo :)

hope you have a great weekend!!

gi