Hello, hello!  I'm back from Sydney and I know a bunch of you are waiting to hear some news and a little dose of Stampin' Up Convention excitement. 

I'm still unpacking and catching up on cuddles and sorting out photos, but thought I'd do a super quick few snippets, and will be back with the longer version for anyone who likes all the details.  (Ed: OK I got carried away and couldn't shut up so its a little longer than a snippet!!)

About 500 mad keen Stampin' Up demonstrators and guests from all over Australia and New Zealand headed along to Sydney for the annual SU Convention.   It was unbelievably fun to catch up with old friends, new friends, team mates, my gaggle of girls and a whole room of excited women (and a couple of men.) 

Got HEAPS of inspiring ideas for projects and ways to use products, got a few little sneak peeks at some upcoming goodies, found out about some terrific specials and generally recharged the creative batteries. 

Awards night was divine.  We all got to walk in on the red carpet with our own 'paparazzi' (the photographers dressed up in reporter gear, loved the hats!)  

The tables were set so beautifully, everyone was dolled up and looking lovely and the meal was delicious.  (And of course I'll have pics of all the courses to share soon.) 

Then it was on to the awards part of the night.  How exciting!  

Two of my Think Ink girls (Ange and Sue) received Sales Awards and it was fabulous to see their names on the screen and cheer Ange across the stage.  (Took a pic but I flunked focusing so it is a blur of colour!  Will track down a better one.) 

My team mate and buddy Kathryn received a Sales Award, and my roomie and team mate Miriam received several awards including the Rising Star (top new demonstrator for Australia.) 

Lots of clapping, my hands are still sore!!  But wait, there's more .....

There were a large crew of Art With Heart girls there so you can just imagine the thrill when Claire Daly (our upline) was announced as #1 Demonstrator of the Year.  A wonderful achievement and great recognition of lots of hard work and energy and creativity.  Claire has provided myself and other members of the team with an enormous amount of help, ideas and encouragement and it is greatly appreciated.  It was lovely that so many of us could be there to help her celebrate her wonderful evening. 

My camera wasn't up to the job but that is Claire with the rest of the Top 5 demonstrators.  Congratulations to the other girls there too, including my up up upline Angela Sargeant.

I had a little tear in my eye when Jayne Mercer was awarded the Heart Of Stampin' Up award.  She's quietly and without fanfare done such a lot of work for charities and causes such as Breast Cancer Awareness, Camp Quality and Westmead Children's Hospital, plus is a person I admire greatly. 

I had a wonderful night myself  with a few trips across the stage.  Actually I was so excited I think I skipped!  The girls told me I looked just like Hannah beaming away up there. 

Here I am still on cloud 9 with my loot - stamp sets, certificates and gorgeous long stemmed red roses.  

I received a sales award, a recruiting award, joined the Incentive Trip 2010 Earners on stage and was thrilled to find I was #15 Demonstrator of the Year for Australia.  I think I just about floated across the stage for that one!   

What it really means is that I have a fabulous bunch of creative customers and class girls, a talented extraordinary team,  a very supportive partner and family, and great support and encouragement from my fellow demonstrators.  I've found something that I just love to do that has brought such a lot of great things into my life - a creative outlet, a wonderful collection of craft supplies, rewards I couldn't have imagined such as trips and stamps and pins ....... and most importantly a whole bunch of wonderful women friends. 

What more could a girl ask for??!

That'll have to do for now.  Still catching up on these .......

Cheers and a big thanks everyone,    Sue  xxx