Relaxing and Celebrating in the Dominican

Hola family and friends! I have returned from the Dominican Republic feeling refreshed and recharged...so today I am going to interrupt the creativity posts with some favorite vacation photos. This trip had a special agenda - we were attending a wedding for one of my husband's best friends from high school. We were treated like royalty at the resort (Secrets Resort Cap Cana Resort & Spa) and had a lovely premium swim out suite with stylish Caribbean style décor. We sampled some wonderful foods, ate at most of the restaurants on the property and were spoiled by fresh tropical fruit daily! We spent quite a bit of time with friends (family) at the pool and the private beach and enjoyed fabulous meals and cocktails (and a wonderful coffee house!)...and also met some delightful people. The beach wedding was beautiful and the bride looked stunning. We also went on a private catamaran excursion with snorkeling at a coral reef and cocktail time/swimming at a sandbar. It was a fabulous trip - the islanders were warm and welcoming, the service was impeccable, the views were incredible and the food/drinks were tasty! This was our second trip to the DR and we would be happy to return...in fact, I could have stayed another week and enjoyed the pampering, sun, and sand...

Here is a selection of my favorite photos (as always, I took a gazillion images and narrowed it down to a grouping of favorites)...

Unfortunately, it's back to reality and business as usual in the studio (I'm already missing my toes in the sand and the resort pampering)...I'm busy working on some needlework finishing and project bags, along with model stitching/sewing and finishing up some new designs (hmmm - maybe I should work on one with a Caribbean theme). I have a fun Poppie Cotton Fabric Tour post scheduled for next week (think Halloween) and a new Therm O Web project tutorial that will be posted next Tuesday. Now that we are back, my website and Etsy shop are both open again...and I have responded to all correspondence, so if you contacted me while we were gone, you should have a message from me.

There will be more artistic things to share with you in the near future, so stop back soon!💙

Tropical Paradise

Hola family and friends! I have returned from the Dominican Republic feeling refreshed and relaxed...so today I am going to interrupt the creativity posts with some favorite vacation photos. First of all...yes, we heard ALL the news and had (just about) everyone we know warn us before heading out of the country. I will tell you - we drank from the mini bar, ate at the restaurants, we went swimming in the pool and the Caribbean, drank at the hotel bars and went on excursions - we did it all - and it was magnificent and we came home happy and healthy. We stayed at the Hilton La Romana - an adult all-inclusive resort located on Bayahibe Beach on the Caribbean coast. My husband has been traveling for work for almost three years (with a gazillion Hilton points), so we had planned this trip to unwind after the move to Kansas. We were treated like royalty at the resort and had a lovely premium balcony suite overlooking the preferred pool and the ocean. Our room had fresh chocolates and fruits daily...and even champagne with the gorgeous view! We spent quite a bit of time at the pool and the private beach and enjoyed fabulous meals and cocktails (and a wonderful coffee house!)...and met some delightful people. We also went on a couple daylong excursions - one to Catalina Island (my husband wanted to snorkel) and one to Saona Island (which I loved!). It was a fabulous trip - the islanders were warm and welcoming, the views were incredible and the food was delicious! We can't wait to go back... Click on any photo (especially the panoramas) for a better look!

View from our balcony...

View from our balcony...

Flamingos could be seen all around the resort...

Waiting at the "meeting point" for a couple we were going to dinner with....

Catalina Island

Catalina Island

Banana/Plantain Chips and Fresh Salsa - so good!

Boat ride to Saona Island

Saona Island

Private lunch on Saona Island - Grilled Lobster and Champagne

Private Beach on Saona Island

Private Beach on Saona Island

Private Beach on Saona Island

Unfortunately, it's back to reality and business as usual in the studio...I'm busy working on needlework finishing and project bags, along with model stitching and finishing up some new designs (hmmm - maybe I should work on one with a Caribbean theme). Now that we are back, my website and Etsy shop are both open again...and I have responded to all correspondence, so if you contacted me while we were gone, you should have a message from me.

There will be more artistic things to share with you in the near future, so stop back soon!💙