Monday, September 13, 2010

Well, I wasn't going to tell you just yet...!!!!

This "getting over illness" thing is real hard work..!!!

Do a bit...
Sit down...
Do a bit more..,
Sit down a bit more...
Do a bit more...
Lie down...
Think about getting up...
Pass out..!!!!!!

My brain is addled, my concentration non-existant, my to-do list is getting longer by the day. And thanks to all of you who send me good wishes and tell me to take it easy, but I've not quite worked out how to do that whilst waaaaaay behind due to the weeks lost, lmao.. I,m just hoping that it is, in actual fact, illness recovery and not the onset of premature dementia..!!! Mind you, not sure if anyone would actually notice..!!

Sooooooooooo....................................

onto the news that I wasn't going to spill just yet..!!!  I have biting my tongue for a long, long time, but the cat is out of the bag.................

Yes the rumours are true..Of course its my luvvly jubbly mate, the one and only Tim Holz, who will be teaching at mine in February. I have just got off the phone with him and we will be releasing all the details next week. I think we settled on 2days 17th/18th, but thats if we still have time to shop for shoes of course. (Totally more important in my little world, lol).

You need to keep a look out on the blog and newsletter for the chance to win one of the coveted places.
So keep your ear to the ground and your fingers crossed, and you could be one of the lucky ones getting down and dirty with himself..!!!!

This weekend I took it really easy and spent the whole time with my feet up relaxing... Errrrrr don't think so..!!! We were attending the best craft show in the North, The Great Northern Papercraft Extravaganza.

This is the hall on Friday. Can you see our boxes waiting to be unpacked.?


The morning of the show, set up and ready to go.


Oooh look at the crowds waiting to get in the doors.


Our new Dylusions range of spray inks and paints.




I was teaching a breakfast workshop in my usual calm, quiet, laid back style..!!!!
















Then onto the stand for a days demoing.
(ooh heck looks like Our Ben caught me enjoying myself, lol )

I can't seem to get a good calibre of staff for these events....Mind you if you pay peanuts....!!!!! Sexy Susie was at least trying to appear proffessional, but the Gorgeous frizzle of Frizzleness was beyond help...!!
They were little gems and worth their weight in chocolate brownies.


Here's the extremely talented and gorgeous, Design Team member Kate (hmmmm need a nick name me thinks..??). She was a star and demoed on the stand all day Saturday.


Say no more!!


The gorgeous Grimmers and the dashing Dan from Practical Publishing, with not a lot left to sell!!


Remember me telling you about Ready Steady Craft..?? The challenge where we would be given 5 items from someones stall and given 3 minutes to make a card. What a scream we had. Here I,m showing Ali my secret judge bribing weapon - corned beef and pickle sandwiches. Julie Hickey went a bit further with posh chocolate..!!!


Okay on your marks, get set, open your bag.....


Noooooo.....pretty tiny little flower stamps, ribbon and the dreaded peel-offs...!!! I just knew they'd make me use them.  They also threw in a bottle of glitter glue (aaargh), but I couldn't get any out.  It was only later they confessed that they had deliberatley sabotaged it..!!




After 3 minutes, which seemed much more like 3 seconds, and amongst much heckling from the other competitors, lol, I had a finished card. I was very inventive and used part of the contents bag on it.


I used one of my allowed emergency items ( the Stampotique boy ), made him a hat from the bag and stuck the required peel off on the top. It was instant disqualification if peel offs weren't used. There was a bit of consternation between the others that I had cheated and not used any but they are there plain to see, lmao.


As I am not a card maker, and was surrounded by three others that were extremely profficient, I just entered into the spirit and had a right laugh. Imagine my surprise when I was voted the winner. Unfortunately, it was such a shock, that I had failed to prepare an acceptance speech, so I cried for a while and then thanked, my manager, my trainer, my business/life coach, and my primary school swimming teacher, lol.

Here's my cherished trophy which I get to keep for a whole 6 months, until I have to defend my title. I would like to say how overwhelmed I am with the honour bestowed upon me, but I'm afraid I can't, lol.
Unfortunately I am still suffering from the after effects of being in close proximity to peel offs and glitter, but I am being a big girl and not making too much of a drama about it....,yeah right, ha ha


Right, need to go find a place to put it, any suggestions..??

Enjoy xx

24 comments:

thekathrynwheel said...

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha I KNEW they would give you peel-offs!! Me thinks you cheated a little :-D
Loved demoing all day, wanna do it again. I can't believe I look quite clean in that photo - it has taken days to get the ink off. Loving the new paints and inks mucho x
P.S. sometimes the word verication looks like it should be a rude word. I've got to type in pshallyt. Sounds like what I say when I spray my inks with the nozzle facing the srong way.

Jenny said...

You seemed to be holding up well on Sunday, despite the p££l-o**s incident! *lol* Wish I'd got a chance to chat but DP hollered just as you were coming back to the stand! Oh well :) xx

Clare with paint in her hair said...

Ready Steady Craft was too funny!! Glad I stayed for it!!

Glad you had a good weekend, cyah on Saturday for preview day.

patcrafts said...

Well you look like you enjoyed it anyway and of course I love your card.
I've been waiting for your announcement, I had a little inkling but kept quiet, can't wait,can't wait.
Looking forward to seeing you on Thursday, I changed my working day just to see you.
Hugs Pat xx

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

Glad you're improving Dyan ;-) Am sorry I didn't go to the show now :-/ Love the fronts of your stands they look fabby.
Now then will a bribe of corned beef and pickled sandwiches secure me a ticket for Tim's workshop or do I have to splash out on posh chocs? LOL
Anne xx

Craphty said...

Looks like you all had a great time. Hope you still taking it a bit quieter! I hope to come over Sat for the preview and stay over for Sunday journaling. Loving the colours of your paints can't wait to try them. Seem ages since I had an AFTH fix! X C

Craphty said...

Well my dementia is worse than yours here I am planning a Saturday in Harrogate totally forgetting that I am at PNE watching football. C

cockney blonde said...

Sorry I missed the show this time but I believe my partner in crime, Diane, spent enough for both of us, lol.
Nice to see you up and about and back into the fray.
Take care, Alison,x

Rhayne said...

So glad to hear you're feeling better. I suspected mr holtz would be teaming up with you for a fab weekend when I saw his post last week. so wish I lived closer :o)

Paper Paradise said...

What a great post, it had me laughing all the way through. Hope you will soon be fully recovered Dyan, it has knocked you for six eh? Pleased Tim is making yet another appearance at AFTH. He has been a regular for a few years now and people love to see him. The classes will be well sought after!!!!! Really hope to see you soon, we have lots going on at the mo, so time is all taken up. Take care. x Sue and Paul x

sue said...

How much Treacle tart do I send you for a Tim ticket?

Jude said...

That looked like a LOT of fun - peels offs n'all!! I'm torn...do I come down in December as planned or hold out till February for Timtim??!!?? The 17th of Feb's my Mum's birthday - I think the gift of looking after my 4 angels for the weekend would be perfect - don'tcha think?!? Your looking gorgeously well - keep up the taking it easy Lovely. xx

p.s. Nickname for Mrs Crane - 'Kinky Kate' - she's rumoured to wear a special mask in bed...;0)

bonjen3 said...

It all looks like great fun!

Anneliese said...

brilliant :D ... of course you were going to win lol :D xx

Diane said...

Good to see you getting back on form, Dyan even if you're feeling that you're not quite there yet!
Dyan x

Siobhan Brignull said...

i think right next to the peel of stand in the shop would be a good place, hahah, brill card you can trust stampotique stamps to suck the sweetness out of anyhting. Brill news about Tim, was lucky enough last night to get a ticket for the Artsy craft event with him in Feb, so cannot wait, lovely to have you back in not quite on full form, ur defn getting there. :)

Muckypup said...

Oh Dyan, I think Kate needs to be known as Top Cat (or Kat?) Remember the eighties cartoon character cat who slept in a dustbin and put on an eyemask and earplugs to go to bed every night? Well I have photographic evidence of the similarities, and could be persuaded to part with it for a place on the Tim Holtz course! Just joking - a set of the new paints...(actually I promised I would never share it, but don't tell Kate that I have so much integrity!)
Have you got a special setting on your word verification, mine is tossis!

Debs said...

Enjoyed the class on Saturday, got lots of goodies from your stall too, glad you are learning to rest a bit, not sure we will see your trophy hung up seeing what you had to use to get it lol x Bought some of your new paints, love them.
I hope I can manage to get on Tim's class too, Deb xx

Angela Weimer said...

Glad you are getting better. It was a great class Sun at the show. Belle and I really enjoyed it. Love our new paints and stamps we picked up. Belle loves the new shimmer spray. Ca't wait to hear more about Tims visit. Thanks for a great class. Angela and Belle

Anonymous said...

Hi Di - It's great to see that you're on the mend - and lovely to see the pictures of the Dina Wakely weekend. Keep restin' and workin' in that order! :-) I hope to be up there with you again soon.

Kate Creates - a lot of mess, just ask my family..... said...

So glad you're on the mend and back wowing us with new products in sensational colours.
I hope the allergic reaction to peel offs hasn't been too severe!
Kate

Marie R said...

It was great to see you on Saturday Dyan and congrats on your win! Did they hand magnifying glasses out so everyone could see the peel off?!!
Very nice to meet the Babe and to see Ben again, haven't seen you all for ages; in fact Ben said he thought it was the last show! Angela and I certainly are in dire need of an afth fix.

Take great care of yourself sweetie. See you soon hopefully.
Much love Marie x

FauxPainter - Dee Paramour said...

Hiya hun. just popped by for a pick me up, err I mean a nice read and catch up, lol. Seriously, you always manage to make me laugh, your blog is a tonic. Maybe you should bottle it and sell it. Sorry your still feeling the after effects of being ill. Been a bit poorly myself so know the feeling only too well. Don't seem to be catching up no matter how hard I try! Love all your new stuff looks super lushy. Hope you start feeling betterer soon. Luv Dee xxx

Anonymous said...

Ok dearier dearest! When are your love-lie products hitting us STATES side???? Hmmmmmm.....

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How can you expect anything ordinary to happen to you"


Louisa May Alcott