First Annual Friendship Beading Retreat July 20-22, 2007 "A monumental undertaking! I cannot imagine that anyone who attended this one would not want to come back again." These are the words of Jelcy Romberg of Texas who along with a beader from British Columbia traveled the furthest to attend the First Annual Friendship Beading Retreat held in Mt. Tremblant, Quebec from July 20-22, 2007. Marla Novy, a beader from New Jersey came up with this wonderful idea in February, 2006 when she was sitting and beading, rather than skiing because of an injury. She then met with Maria Rypan and Jo-Ann Woolverton, both from Ontario, in New York City when Maria was about to do a lecture for the Greater New York Bead Society at the Fashion Institute of America. Maria and Jo-Ann loved the idea! Many meetings and emails led to the creation of the www.friendshipbeading.org web site and by the time of the Retreat over 40 new and experienced beaders gathered together to meet, bead, learn and share. It is amazing the friendships that develop when beaders are busy with their favorite activity-Beading! The Friendship Beading Retreat began on Friday afternoon with several class options. In the evening participants gathered together to socialize and talk with the instructors and vendors. On Saturday classes were offered in the morning and afternoon. Jo-Ann's Bead Bingo that night was a real treat! Classes were again offered in the morning and afternoon on Sunday. (A complete list of classes and description of the Retreat can be found on the Friendship Beading web site). Even before the end of the weekend, it was very obvious the first Annual Friendship Beading Retreat was a success!    At the close of the Retreat evaluation forms were passed out to all Retreat participants. These are some of the beader's comments: "It took a lot of effort on your part to accomplish what you did this weekend. You made a lot of people very happy and helped to provide a new direction for their creative efforts." "loved the bags and goodies, thank you." "Pass along my "thanks" to the vendors, teachers, bingo leader and bingo prize givers for making my first beading weekend Gr rr eat!" "very friendly, relaxed, comfortable atmosphere." "brought French Canadians and English Canadians and Americans together in an informal, but educational way." Article Appearing in: SPOTLIGHT ON ... DESIGNER ~ February 2008 ~ www.softflexcompany.com