In my last post I promised I would talk about Awards Night at convention. I honestly have to say that it felt like I had won an Academy Award. Isn't this picture amazing? I did a screen capture from the convention video and saved it to my computer. Here's the line-up from left to right: Heather Summers, Heather Stevens, Laura Mellinger, Heather Klump, Cheryl LeFore, Heidi King, Sandra Farrell, Jenn Picard, Connie Collins (me), Shelli Gardner (Co-founder and CEO of Stampin' Up!), and Summer Stone (three-time Artisan Award Winner). Each of these gals are incredibly talented stampers/crafters. I feel totally honored and blessed to be chosen as one of this year's Artisan Award winners along side these amazing women.
As our name was announced we walked up on stage, received a lovely flower bouquet, and had a group photo taken by the SU photographer. When we exited the stage we were each greeted by a Stampin' Up! employee who presented us with a custom engraved charm bracelet commerating the occassion.
Now I have to back up and tell you a funny little story. The past two years SU announced the names of the Artisan Award finalists before announcing the winners. It is such an honor to make it to this level and I congratulate all those who achieved finalist. This year, however, they included the names of the winners on the finalist list. Of course, that makes perfect sense...you have to be a finalist before you can be selected as a winner...but they have never done it that way before. You can imagine how confused we all were to have our names listed as finalists. It was even more uncomfortable for me because they read the list in alphabetical order and I was the first winner to have their name listed. I was a little hesitant at first (thinking they had made some type of mistake) but I finally decided to stand. I found out later that the other gals were just as confused as I was. The other funny thing that happened during this awkward moment was that the cameraman left the camera on some of us a very long time. My good friends, Jenn Picard and Sandra Farrell, were on camera for what seemed like an eternity...to the point that it was comical. At one point I thought that maybe I had dreamed up the phone call and the display board...maybe I wasn't a winner at all. Then, as they called the winners to the stage, my name was listed last. I was soooooo relieved to find out that I wasn't hallucinating after all.
After the awards ceremony we were all invited to attend an "after party". It was so much fun. This is me with my BFF and 1st level downline, Nancy Brown. Nancy wasn't even planning on attending convention this year, but after hearing that I had won, she quickly changed her mind. I can't tell you how much it meant to have her there every step of the way. I love you, Nancy!
Well, that's all I have have for now. Next time I will tell you about our special Artisan Award dinner.
