New workshops and a visit to the South..!!!

Oh yes I am still here..!!! I havent blogged much, as you know, but by the time I,ve finished for the day, my eyes are buggered and I can't focus on the screen, lol. Mind you I have been extremeley busy preparing all the workshops up to Christmas. They are now all online for you to see and book HERE.

Heres a load of sneek peeks for you all.

Sooooooo..!!! plenty there to wet your appetite I think.. We already have a sell out on one and a few are getting there, so don't leave it too long now.

For those of you in the South who have complained I haven't been there for a while, I,ll see you Sat/Sun. Yup we are coming to the stamp show at Alexander Palace. We have only taken a little stand, due to me not being that brill, but it will be packed with lots of exciting things for you. Please come and say hello, we are right at the far end of the hall. And don't forget, luvvly, luvvly, blog readers, to let us know who you are, lol..!!

This will mean that the shop and studio will be closed while we are away, but will reopen Tuesday as per usual.

See you soon

Enjoy xx

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

From bad to good...

I need to start tonight's blog off with not a very nice subject, unfortunately. The Friday of Dina's visit to my studio, one of my journals "disappeared" and is still on the missing list. This wasn't just any old journal though, this one represented hours and hours of work. It contained all the artwork and all the samples and promo for my new range of stamps. It really is of no use to anyone at all, but means a great deal to me, and at this moment there is no way that I have the time or the energy to reproduce it.  I know that it wasn't taken accidentally and so I am making a plea from the heart for it to be returned. If anyone has any info at all I would be soooooo grateful. I have no desire to know who , I would just like to have it back.. Thanks :-)

Now onto happier news, I am once again teaching breakfast workshops at The Harrogate Show ( GNPE), here is the description of the class.

Altered Originals Tag delight

In this workshop we will be using my new range of Altered Originals. Gorgeously intense Spray inks combined with paints, masks, gesso and doodling make a stunning backgrounds. Topped off with the premier of the new range of rubber stamps. What more could you want.?? Oh yes a discount voucher and a goody bag, of course.!!!!

If you want to join in the fun you can book your place HERE.  You pay a deposit now and then the remainder of the money on the day. Please can I give a plea that you come with the correct money, then I don't have to give all my change away, lol.

Also running at the show is a new event based on Ready, Steady, Cook. I have been invited to be one of the "chefs" who has to produce a masterpiece from a basket of unknown goodies. So you need to be around Sunday afternoon to witness the fun. I just know I am going to be given peel offs and glitter., lol !!

I,ve also got some design team work to show you. Bezzie Su has been working her magic with the inks, not on a journal page or a card, but a massive roller blind. Yes, you heard me correctly, a roller blind for her daughters bedroom. Take a look at this..

getting the inks out..

Trialing the colours...
 

Laying out the hand cut stencils

Work in progress

The finished blind

Hanging proudly in place

How fabby does that look..??  Nice one bezzie, I love it.

I,ve just eaten treacle tart and custard, purely for medicinal purposes you have to understand, lol. So off for a lie down.

Enjoy xx