Debi’s Design Diary DIY Bootcamp Recap

As many of you know I became a DIY Paint Retailer last year.  It was all kind of a fluke thing really, I was watching a Youtube video, by my long time mentor and friend Debi Beard, when she mentioned that she was creating a chalk type paint.  I was instantly curious as I love her work and her desire to work with the best products available.

Fast forward a year later and I’m boarding a plane to California to meet Debi in person and be a camp counselor at her DIY Bootcamp!  WHAT?!?!?!?!?!

I got the royal treatment!  From meeting new friends at the airport and having them generously chauffeur me to Debi’s shop, to staying in a beach house with 4 of the most incredibly talented women you’ll ever meet, it was a fantastic experience.  You see, I’ve never been to Cali, in fact guys I’ve never been west of Arkansas!  Shoot I hadn’t been in a plane in 20 years!!!!  I’m just a little country girl after-all.

{Insert cheesy “I’m at the beach in California for the first time photo here”.}

Being in Debi’s shop was like going to Disney Land for me.  There were so many amazing creations and pretty things…..

I guess it’s important to mention the reason that I was invited to go to Cali in the first place.  You see, Debi has this amazing desire to help motivate and inspire other women in business.  Being a retailer for her line of DIY Chalk and Clay Paint isn’t just about selling paint it’s about creating a business that helps others reach their goals and full potential.

And so her DIY Bootcamp was born.  When she called me and told me about it, I knew it was going to be fabulous.

Twenty four women, from all over the country gathered to compete againist one another in Solana Beach.  We taught them about social media, and blogging, making and editing videos and photos.  From going to the swap meet on Thursday morning to hosting a flea market of all their repurposed goodies on Sunday it was an action packed weekend full of work and fellowship.

The above photo is of some of the ladies on my team, the “Paint Pixies”.  They were amazing!  From left to right meet Kristie of The Eclectic Soul, Callie of Bayou Junkin Girls and Donna of Divine Details.

Meet Laura of Turning Leaf Crafts.

We had a paint “bar” on Sunday to show all our customers how to use DIY paint and

so many great classes and make and takes for the public.  It was so much fun to teach the other retailers and learn from them.

It was an amazing weekend!

I’m excited to announce that I’ll be hosting DIY Bootcamp at my shop in Fairview, TN next April.  If you’re near to the area you won’t want to miss the BIG flea market we’ll have, many more details will be coming your way soon.

So from myself and all my DIY friends, have a fabulous day!