It's not very often that you get a chance to go on a retreat with a bunch of talented digi-scrappin' divas like this! There were designers, CT members, and digiscrappers from Nova Scotia to Texas! (yes...we let a Texan slip in...LOL!) We are so lucky to be located in the same general area of the Pacific Northwest, too. Here's a photo of 30 (almost all) of us - some of the gals escaped before the cameras came out! Where possible, I have linked to their blogs or websites.

(L to R)
ROW 1: Barbara May, Lisa May, ME!, Lynn Colwell, Debbie Salter, Lisa Campbell, Shawna Clingerman, Jennifer Cox
ROW 2: (far right) Julie Billingsley, Amy Cheeseman, Lisa Baum
ROW 3: Alissa Jones, Priss, Tracey Monette, Amy Pearson, Jeri Ingalls, Debbie Dunbar, Misty Cato, Monica McLain, Gina deLude, Dani Mogstad, Brittany Farrer
ROW 4: Trina Lankford, Rina Kroes, Joy Gross, Holli Dunn, Sandra Twinning, Kimmi Stewart, Sharon Padilla, Dawnee McCulley
NOT PICTURED, BUT ALSO PRESENT: Barbara Glenn, Colleen Paton, Deb Kooy, Irene O'Neill, Joanne Snow, Phyllis Collins

Many thanks to Trina for organizing us all (herding kittens!), to all the generous designers who contributed to the retreat CD and doorprizes, and to Misty Cato for starting up the group. Trina is busily planning the 2008 retreat already! Rumors are that it will be somewhere in the woods of northern WA...I can't wait!

I'm gonna have a GREAT weekend!

Today I am taking my laptop and heading out for a fabulous weekend of digital scrapping and partying (um, I mean...a serious educational retreat...yeah, that's it...LOL!) on the Oregon coast with Misty Cato and some of the members of the Pacific Northwest DigiScrappers Yahoo!Group! I'm really excited to meet and play with all the talented gals and our hard working facilitator: Trina Lankford. (Yay Trina! You ROCK, girl!)

If you live in the Pacific Northwest area (British Columbia, Washington, Idaho, or Oregon) and you would like to be a part of our Yahoo!Group, click here. We are a fun and creative bunch made up of folks of all ages and all levels...from beginners to professional designers...with one main addiction: doing it digi!


Slainte! {Gaelic for Cheers!}

The Battle of Culloden - remembered

a portion of 'The Battle of Culloden' by Mark Churms

The Battle of Culloden Moor, the last pitched battle on Scottish soil, took place on this day in 1746. The Scottish army of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, the Jacobites, was defeated and slaughtered by the Duke of Cumberland's English forces. In less than an hour, the time it takes to walk around the battlefield, it was over.

The harsh and brutal measures introduced after the battle signaled the end of the way of life and culture of the Highland people of Scotland. After Culloden, many Clan Chiefs fled to Europe and many of their kinsmen fled to America. In the following years, the Scottish people were suppressed, bagpipes and the wearing of tartan were outlawed, and the jurisdiction of Clan Chiefs was ended.

Read more about this dark day in Scottish history at http://heritage.scotsman.com and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Culloden.

The Culloden Memorial Cairn

The memorial cairn was erected in 1881 by Duncan Forbes. It is 20' high by 18' in diameter, built of stones and soil from the battlefield, with a plaque inscribed:

THE BATTLE OF CULLODEN
WAS FOUGHT ON THIS MOOR
16th April 1746
---------------
THE GRAVES OF THE
GALLANT HIGHLANDERS
WHO FOUGHT FOR
SCOTLAND & PRINCE CHARLIE
ARE MARKED BY THE
NAMES OF THEIR CLANS

At the same time as he erected the cairn, Mr. Forbes also had slabs of stone placed on the spots where tradition noted the Highland dead were buried - in trenches and with their fellow Clansmen. Each headstone bears the name of the Clan, carved boldly on the front. Where Clansmen were buried indiscriminately, the inscription says "Mixed Clans." It is a haunting sight I will never forget.

Today, the National Trust for Scotland maintains the battlefield, the Culloden memorials, graves of the Clans, memorial cairn, Well of the Dead, and an exhibition of weapons and artifacts of the period.

The anniversary of the battle was marked today, 16 April 2007, by a piper playing on the battlefield for the duration of the battle - one hour. In that hour over 1,000 people lost their lives and a way of life was lost forever.

And now for a memorial freebie...

...a wee Jacobite rose brad. Click here to get it.

Please, no file sharing...that's digital piracy.
Send your friends to this blog so they can get their own copy.



Slainte! {Gaelic for Cheers!}

Hooray, Hooray! It's Finally Tartan Day!

Are you wearing yours?

Looking for an opportunity to become a digiscrap designer?

DSO (digital-scrapbooking.org) is looking for some new designers! Are you ready to take the plunge?

You need to be able to create high quality items, be a team player (we’re all friends here!), and actively participate in our on-line community.

If you are interested in joining the design team, please go here for more information!

* Note: This call is for a limited time. Please apply now if you're interested!!!

Let them know that I sent you and then let ME know and I will send you a wee gift...just because!

Happy Tartan Day! [6 April]

Are you wearing your tartan?

In the United States and Canada, Tartan Day is held on 6 April, the anniversary of the date on which the Declaration of Arbroath was created in 1320.
(see my blog entry from 29 March)
Last year, 2006, was the first year that the Tartan Day celebration was held in Scotland. In Australia and New Zealand Tartan Day is held on 1 July, the anniversary of the repeal of the Act of Proscription in 1782.

For a list of celebrations and events around the world, click here.

To help you celebrate the day, and because it's so close to Easter this year, here's a free Saltire egg for you! Get it here.
(By the way...the quote on the preview is from the Declaration of Arbroath.)



Please, no file sharing...that's digital piracy. Send your friends to this blog so they can get their own copy.

Slainte! {Gaelic for Cheers!}

Love DigiScrap Forum Challenges?

Do you like to win stuff for participating? I mean, lots of FREE STUFF? Sure you do! Enter the DSO Delights Ultimate Challenge Contest and win, Win, WIN!

What do you win?
The winner of the random drawing will receive a FREE 6 Month Membership in the DSO Delights Club! The membership, regularly priced at $50, includes six Monthly Mega Kits (one each month, starting with the current month) AND another Mega Kit of your choice from any of the previous months. That's SEVEN huge Mega Kits! In addition, you, and the other club members, will receive occasional coupons and bonus gifts. What a great prize!

Contest Rules
1. Complete ALL the April challenges at DSO. (you must register but it's FREE!)
2. Post your name and email HERE, once complete.
3. The 'Contest Contessa' will check all the entries and place your name in the hopper. Only one entry per person, please.

You have from now until 30 April to complete all of the challenges.
The random drawing will be held 1 May.

The Challenges
Ad Challenge
Art Journal Challenge
Book of Me Challenge
Color Challenge
Element Challenge
Font Challenge
Heritage Challenge
It's In The Numbers
Journaling Challenge
Lyric Challenge
Quote Challenge
Scrappin On My Desktop
Scripture Challenge
Shape Challenge
Sketch Challenge
Template Challenge

What are you waiting for? Go visit the Challenge Forums TODAY!