Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator Pootles -Spending time with my French team!
Well it’s almost a month to the day since I flew out to Paris to spend time with some of my French team. I have a group of demonstrators in France who are direct to me, all with their own teams, and Sophie Prestrelle invited me to spend the weekend with her and some of their team.
She had rented a Gite for us for the weekend and had arranged that all of the attendees would bring a dish for us to eat and enjoy!
I’d said to Sophie that I would love to eat ‘real’ French food, particularly the breads and cheeses, and they pulled out all the stops! We had 4 courses at pretty much every meal and there was so much food, we even had puddings for breakfast!
I came away amazed at the different way in which our French siblings enjoy a meal. Meals took a number of hours and involved lots of sharing from one pot to our own plates and lots of passing around meats and breads. A very communal affair and I thoroughly enjoyed it. So much so, while I do plate up each person’s meal in our house, (with the exception of a roast dinner), I’ve definitely said I will see what happens in our family if I bring a pot of food to the table and have everyone help themselves. I joked to Zélie that I would end up with half my children starving and half of them stuffed….
Anyway, aside from all the (incredible) food and the real vintage Champagne, we had creative projects and business talks too. Sophie and I both taught projects (you saw mine on Monday) and hers are on her blog too. But I was humbled to receive some gifts from the team too.
Ciloup had made me the most incredible photo frame with rainbows and flowers on it. She has been asked by all of our team to share a tutorial. I think she should do one, don’t you?
Zélie brought us all table gifts and I brought mine carefully home for my boys. They were all full of sweeties!
And then the whole team had clubbed together and bought me some gorgeous jewellery and made the most incredible card. Inside are messages from all the team, in both French and English. To say I was shocked and humbled was an understatement.
What an amazing group of ladies, it was a real privilege to spend time with them and I have hinted REALLY LOUDLY to my other international teams that I’d love to join them all too….!
Have a fabulous Sunday everyone.
S x
I hope you enjoyed this project, please do use the hostess code to get free product! (hostess code shown in the top right of my blog for the current one!) Learn more HERE. If your order is over £150, please do not use this code as You become the hostess and get the Rewards!
Sam Hammond Donald
#1 Stampin’ Up! UK Independent Demonstrator
You can buy Stampin’ Up! online easily through my Stampin’ Up! shop link on the right hand side, or within this blog post.
You can also join Stampin’ Up! through similar links too! I have various FAQ and joining Stampin’ Up! pages on the blog, so do click around!
I cover the UK, The Netherlands, Germany, France and Austria with my shop, but also my team too, so you can join me in those countries also!
And of course, you can find me on facebook, instagram, pinterest and on YouTube as a Guru with my account name as PootlesPapercraft, however, I’m scattered everywhere as Pootles!
On Canada…. we always bring the pot or bowl to the table. We have never served up a plate to make sure they learn to take only what they will eat. I am careful to make enough or we share what is made. Even on roast beef or a full chicken. It is cut up and put on a plate…. we serve ourselves.
Would love to have a video on the Bird Banter card…….. IT’S GORGEOUS!!! VERY CREATIVE!
Sam, it was a fabulous week-end. We were so enjoy to meet you. All petits papiers like you so much.
Thanks you so much and I don’t forget the tutorial, just need time to master the camera. After Onstage, I will have the time.
XOXO
Beautiful projects! Looks like you all had a wonderful time. I live in the USA and in my home if we are having a special occasion dinner, such as Easter, Christmas , Thanksgiving or a family get together. We put all the food in serving bowls and the meat on a platter already sliced, and everyone serves themselves as we pass the bowlss or platters around the table. For everyday dinner everyone serves themselves from the pots on the stove (except for small children, an adult will fix their plate) .
Looks like a great time and the projects are beautiful. The Bird Banter card is awesome! I would love to make that one..