Saturday, June 9, 2012

My Birthday at Petite Retreat in San Luis Obispo

My Cake Cropped
I just returned from the most AMAZING birthday weekend made possible by my beautiful friends & sweet Hubby!  Diana Frey had a wonderful weekend planned at her Art Retreat called Petite Retreat.  Both she & my gal pal Sandy made it a DREAM BIRTHDAY!!!!
BDay Crown#2
I can not remember the last time I had a birthday party…. at least 20 or more years.  Diana served the most wonderful al fresco lunch & had the beautiful cake (above) from the famous Madonna Inn.   Yellow cake with whipped cream icing, white chocolate swirls & raspberries!  YUMMMMM!
SONY DSC
She made me a birthday crown & I wore it proudly all through lunch & the opening of my many gifts.
DSC06445 DSC06443
There was a beautiful book from sweet Jody (I met Jody & Diana Salvucci-Smith at my very first class with Diana Frey back in 2009). 

Charlene & Jody

In the picture (above this one) on the right shows me holding up the necklace (close up below)that my Ft Worth, TX buddy Cindy Craine had made for me (by Diana of course).  Cindy couldn’t come out for this class but, she’ll be with me next month when I come back out for Diana’s next class “Queens Ransom”.
Necklace from Cindy BDay 2012
It is one of Diana’s Heart to Heart Necklaces which she sells as a Tutorial or Kit  HERE Just click the link to learn more about it.  THANK YOU to both of you & know I will treasure it always. 
Char,Sandy, Joy & Vickie#2
After class my special gal pals Vickie Orlando, Sandy & Joy took me to The Cracked Crab in Pissmo Beach.  We had the BEST time laughing & talking…. Killing 2 bottles of Joy’s personal choice in wine (she loves to go to different California vineyards & always knows the PERFECT choice in wines).  They ordered the special which was 2 BUCKETS of crabs, shrimp, lobster, mussels, sausage, potatoes, corn on the cob all DUMPED in the middle of the table.  We put on our bibs, picked up our mallets grabbed our crackers & went to town.  It was an amazing evening.  THANK YOU!!!!!  There were other goodies from them & I’ll have to share those later when I have time to photograph them but, the flowers below were from Joy & Vickie, waiting for me in my room at the B&B when I arrived.  STUNNING!!!!
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  It is hard to believe that I did not know one of these precious souls before my art journey began.  Diana, found on her blog & instant LOVE when I saw her “Secret Shaker Doll Necklace Class” which I signed up for (2009)not knowing a soul & traveling over 1,600 miles to take a class sight unseen.  WHAT A BLESSING THAT WAS as it started the journey.  Sandy… found at Gilded Life in Dallas back in 2010.  Joy first found at Les Sierens in Manhattan Beach summer of 2010 & Vickie just this May at Affaire at Tiffany’s back in Manhattan Beach.   Since then I have reconnected with Susan Hunt, Jody & Diana Smith found at that very first Diana class…AND ADDED SO MANY MORE PRECIOUS ART SISTERS!!!!   Their LOVE & FRIENDSHIP MEANS THE WOLRD TO ME! 
Thank you for sharing my day & making it so very special.
HUGS!    CharleneMy Birthday In San Luis Obispo

15 comments:

Lynn said...

You must have been a very good girl to deserve such a great weekend! And that necklace is TDF!!
Happy Birthday!!!

Diane said...

Wow! What an amazing birthday....fit for a QUEEN indeed =) I sure would like a bite of that cake right now....yummyyyyy!!!

Lisa Phillippi llelsik@aol.com said...

So glad you had a great birthday, You decserve it!

Julia @ Vintage with Laces said...

Happy belated Birthday, Charlene! It looks like you had a wonderful time and have been spoiled a lot by your hubby and your friends.
Have a great Sunday!
Hugs,
Julia

LuLu Kellogg said...

I am so glad you had a wonderful birthday! I love you so much and can't wait to see you again.

Our house went back on the market three days ago so things are nuts here. Applying for a new loan, looking for a new house, getting moving quotes, etc.....crazy time!!!!

Love you!
LuLu~*xoxo

Tina said...

Happy Birthday Charlene - what an amazing birthday party - sure looks like a lot of fun. The necklace is beautiful

bobbie said...

What a wonderful birthday ~ I'm glad you had such a great time!

C'est moi Claudette said...

What a PERFECT birthday Charlene. I'm sorry Cindy couldn't be there with you, I know she wanted to be. What a great necklace OMG... right up your alley for sure.
THat cake looks AMAZING... oh yum and the wine sounds divine too : )
Happy birth year.
xoxoxoxo

Garden Antqs Vintage said...

Charlene, so sorry I missed your birthday. I can see you had an awesome time! Here's to many more birthdays...

Sandy Navarro said...

Sooo glad we shared this FabUlous weekend together and can't beleive we're gonna do it again next month! Love ya lots!

Kadee Willow said...

What joy!!! It's just bursting from the pages of this post! I am so glad you had a birthday to remember. Try not to let so many years pass before you celebrate again..... you deserve it!! xoxo

UB said...

Happy Birthday Queen. What a delight to read your blog? I feel a smile coming on. You are invited to comment on my blog.

Francy said...

I met you and Sandy at the Church in Dallas....nice to bump into you again.

Happy Birthday!

Fleur de Bee said...

Oh my goodness what a blast!! LOVE your cake too! Happy Belated Birthday!

xoxo Molly

"Create Beauty" said...

What a DELIGHTFUL time filled with beauty and friendship! They are the joys of life.

Birthday Blessings to you!
~ Violet

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