I have been busy making kits and bits and pieces for a craft company and have been learning so much doing it. I didn’t think I knew anything about graphics but I can truly say I have actually amazed myself You will see some of my work on a TV channel near you soon, but I will give you details once I know. Unfortunately, I won’t be demoing them myself, but hope to be doing in-store demos using the products.

As some of you already know I design for Let’s Make Cards and Let’s Get Crafting magazines and if you do buy or subscribe to them, (which really is the best way to go) you will have noticed that I am still actively contributing to them. If you haven’t seen them, then you can pick up your copy at the local supermarket or WH Smith’s. Come on, you know you want to

Apart from crafting, I have been indulging in my other passion, Poker

I went to Kent at the weekend to defend my title to retain the Pace Poker Trophy, but alas, it wasn’t to be. I had a great time though. Instead of cash prizes, all the proceeds went to the Meningitis Research Foundation which is a really worthwhile cause and I have been told that £20K was raised !!! Brilliant. All the prizes had been donated and there were some really good one, but my Poker face didnt seem to work on Saturday

The lovely Mr and Mrs Pace hosted the evening at their home and it was so nice to see them, Holly, Charlie and not forgetting Tippex and Cookie, the 2 chocy labs However, I did miss Liam

It was great to catch up with mates I hadn’t seen for a long time and having the opportunity to meet and make new friends was fab. I hope to see them all again soon.

I am hoping to win back the trophy at some point again, so watch this space haha    

I was over there with Linz and we were meeting a friend, Andy, who races his bike. Being my first ever experience at anywhere like that, I relayed on Petrol Head Linz (she doesn’t like me calling her that, sorry huney, please don’t hit me ) to answer all my questions. I tell you what though, she knows her stuff. I don’t think there was anything I asked that she couldn’t answer!!

Andy was doing extremely well on his very kewl bike, there was only one guy faster then him, so that’s not too bad. There were some such strange looking bikes, I didn’t know whether to laugh or to be amazed, I laughed in the end, I’m sorry if I offended anyone, but they were funny

While we were waiting for the bikes to come around again some cars came on, a few of which were so funky

This is the cool car. It is around 52 years old but OMG does it go. I think it was one of the top runner in the timing while we were watching. I was, for want of a better phrase, gob smacked!! It was just so unexpected. Then again, we took pictures of the drivers and it wasn’t so surprising once we found out who they were.

Much fun was had, Linz and I will probably be doing this again, was a good day …

It was buzzing with activity and everyone kept me really busy with the make & takes and what a happy bunch you all were

Rachel, Ros and I had a great time, well, I did anyway We were lucky enough to be using some of the great tools from the Fiskars range and here’s samples of what we made:

One of the cards I did

This is a card using the Fingertip Swivel Knife, the Scallop Border Punch and a stamp from the new Fiskars Spring set and of course the mini Easy Stamp Press.

Box and Card that Rachel designed for the Make & Takes

Rachel made these fantastic boxes using the Shape Cutter Plus and Box Template, decorating with the Mini ShapeBoss and the Squeeze Punches. She came up with the cards using the Shape Cutter Plus and Punches too - I love them …

Ros’s Chickadee Mobile - just in time for Easter - so cute

These really cute mobiles were made using the Shape Cutter Plus and Heart Templates, Ros suggested that one chick can be made and mounted onto a card for the ideal Easter card, how sweet

We are all working so hard … it’s a hard job, but someone’s got to do it

I must say, and I think I speak for Rachel and Ros too, we all had a great time and can’t wait until next year to do it all over again

The Stitch and Craft show starts on Thursday 19th March ‘09 and you can visit until Sunday the 22nd March. I love these 4 day shows, especially if you are lucky enough to be able to stay over. And, well, lets face who wouldn’t want to stay over in Kensington!!

Apart from the beautiful wares that you will find at the show there is also a chanch to do some make and takes. You can join me and use some fantastic new tools from Fiskars AND make a card to take away in the process :-)  The make and takes are free and will probably only take about half an hour so if you want to rest your feet for a while but not miss out on anything this is the perfect solution.

Even though I will be busy, I will try my hardest to take some pics of the show for the blog.

As before, please come and say hello if you do get a chance to go along, I would love to see you

Til next time …

As I am with Fiskars doing workshops this time, I have been beavering away making up the samples of cards we will be making. It’s going to be so much fun. I have been using their newest tools and they’re so easy to use with fantastic results. There is so much scope with these. I feel really lucky to have been able to use them. And, you can too if you join in the workshops I’m not sure if you have to pre-book, so make sure you come to the Fiskars stall to find out.

I am hoping to have a walk about around the show in between workshops. I can’t wait to see what’s new. I expect there will be so many exciting things, I better hide the plastic. It’s hard when you’re weak

Well, I better get on and start packing. Got loads to do before I leave tomorrow. I hope to see you all there. Have a fab time

I am looking forward to working with at the NEC Hobby & Crafts Show and the Stitch & Craft Show at Olympia. I will be using some of Fiskars newer tools, which I am really excited about, in workshops, so you can join in too

If you are a gadget person like me, you will love some of the new Fiskars tools. Tools are definitely my weakness, I can’t even begin to start counting how many gadgets and tools I have stacked away on the shelves in my craft room. Actually, thinking about it, it’s quite shameful

If you do fancy doing a workshop, please come along. I will be doing 4 workshops a day. These will be approx. an hour long and we will be making about 3 – 4 cards (hopefully :wink:  )

So, if you quite like the thought of test running some Fiskars products before you buy, you can’t really pass up this opportunity. It’s also a great way of having a , much needed, sit down at the shows (and we all know how diffuicult that can be) and doing what we all love doing… Crafting !!

A couple of the new cool tools are, the 2 in 1 Corner & Border Punches, in various designs and the Finger Tip Swivel Knife. Now, if you’ve used the fingertip craft knife before, and loved it, as I did, then you will get incredibly excited about this new swivel version. So much potential for all your projects and so easy to use…

If you do get the time to go along to any of the shows, please come and say hello, it will be lovely to meet you

So, until then …

Happy Crafting

Just around the corner is Downtown Disney, another fab place to go and unwind after a full day of walking the halls, ideal area to put your achey feet up with a cocktail :-D  I boasts some great restaurants and bars, so a little more adult then Disneyland next door.

Downtown Disney & Disneyland in the evening

Its such a shame, I was so excited about the CHA and seeing new crafting gizmos, but unfortunately I didn’t see anything I hadn’t seen before. 

As we all know, America is far bigger with Scrapbooking when we are in the UK, so there were some fantastic papers, etc, but I was hoping to see some new gadgets and designs that I had never seen before. However, there were a few interesting bits. I think we will see a lot more printed acetate and textured papers. Fabrics seemed to be featured quite a bit in papercrafting projects, but then again, we have seen this before now. Swirls and flourishes are still very big, they were featured on nearly every design of paper, embellishment, etc in the vast halls that was the CHA show. It’s like a re-run or remake of a good film I suppose.

WIth regards to colours, the pallet is much the same as last years, what I would call “safe”, lots of muted shades, once again not really anything new. I am hoping that bright and vibrant will be around again soon.

Well, the European trade shows are in full swing right now so I am off to Birmingham NEC next week to see what Stitches has to offer. Hope to see some of you there. Til next time …

Hx

Well, I am hoping to get loads of news from the US of A to update you with the new trends that they are all seeing, so watch this space …

I’m off for a week so will be back in good ol’ Blighty next week.

Til then, Happy Crafting xxx

There is so much to update, I can’t believe that I left it this long :lol:  Firstly I should upload the Wales photos, as I promised. It seems like an age ago that Linz and I visited there, all I can say about the place is just stunning and amazing landscapes and views. I had a great time with Linz, we must have driven through most of South West Wales taking in the beautiful landscapes, :-)  It’s astonishing how anyone who lives there gets any work done, I would just sit at a window all day in awe of the view. I expect that’s why Dylan Thomas lived and worked where he did, wow.
We stayed in a little place called St Clears and visited a few places while we were there, amongst which were, Tenby, St Davids and some places that I can’t remember how to spell

As you will see in the photos, we made a few friends, the Welsh are such a friendly bunch …

Tenby Beach

Don’t do it Linz …

Enjoying the View, isn’t it beautiful !

Lunchtime in Tenby, head for the closest pub

I think she had had a couple by then only jokin’ huney

We never did find out the name of this castle, it was on the path to Dylan Thomas’s boathouse …

Dylan Thomas’s boathouse. Can you image this view from your office window … Wow

This is Carew Castle, we found it by chance when we were driving around. Unfortunately, it had closed for the day

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair,

“I can’t, I’ve just been to the hairdressers”

This must be Rapunzel’s good looking sister hahaha

While in Wales, Linz made a couple of new friends, Casper and Sammy. They were real good fun to be with and remarkably had the smae accent as Linz

The Pool Queen … yeah !

and, Kings of Table Football.

Pals having a great time in Wales on Pebbly beaches

Sun Sea and … Pebbles. We must rethink the next holiday …

So beautiful, breathtaking views that words can’t describe.

The Cathedral in the smallest city in Britain … St David’s

So as you can see we had a great time and I am really sorry for taking so long to put these pics up

I know I haven’t managed to update the site with the Wales pics yet , but I promise to as soon as I am back from the NEC. Yes, it’s that time of the year ago when all will descend onto the NEC in Birmingham for a fun packed extravaganza of all things craft ! It’s well worth a visit as there is so much to see - there will be demos going on at pretty much every stall and I am sure that there will be many things that have never been seen. So, if you are looking for something new to do with your crafting, there is no danger that you will come away uninspired.

I have packed my suitcase and am off in a few minutes so please come and say hello if you are visiting. I will be with the Create & Craft guys with something a little different this time. I will be doing make n takes so book  your places as soon as you get in as they will be very limited.

So, until we meet, bub bye for now

HobbtCrafts show at the NEC runs from Thurs 13th Nov until Sun 16th Nov. Tickets can be bought at the door.