Welcome to my blog

I hope you enjoy reading my posts, and please leave me a comment. I always enjoy reading them, and will try to visit you in return.

For security reasons for me and for you, I would appreciate it if you would leave your name on your comments.

You are welcome to copy any of my designs, as long as you do not take credit for them yourself. I am very happy for you to sell them. If I have used anyone else's design, I always try to give credit where it is due. If I have missed anything, please let me know and I will put things right.


This is intended to be mainly about my crafting stories, as a personal record of what I do. However, I interpret crafting quite widely, not just paper crafting but other things too. I have a butterfly mind and like to change from one thing to another depending on what I feel like on a given day - knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, cards, baking and several others, including my favourite right now, parchment, both traditional skills and Groovi, very relaxing and calming to do.

I have decided to put some structure into my blog so that each day will have something of a theme.
Monday- for Mindfulness; Tuesday - Tidy Up Day; Wednesday - What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday; Thursday - Technique and Tips; Friday - Finish Off Day; Saturday - Start Something New; Sunday - Anything Goes
These themes are not hard and fast and will be changed if I feel the need.

Wednesday 26 March 2014

WOYWW 151 - Post NEC - now broke!

OK, it is time for our weekly meeting, hosted by Julia Dunnit, who lives over at Stamping Ground, and hosts a huge gathering of like minds.  We all have different ideas in crafting, but we all enjoy taking to each other each week and having a good nose round to see what is going on on our desks.    How else could so many chat in one day and have a really good ferret on so many desks except through the medium of the internet blog meeting.

Last week, I promised some pictures of  the goodies from the NEC Craft Show.  I chose to go on the first day, being the quietest, usually, with less traffic on the roads too.  So, early Thursday morning, I was in the car and off for the 20 minute journey up the M42, armed with purse and credit card and shopping bags and a LIST.  That list will appear later in the story.

I had already had a look to see where my favourite stands would be, so first visit was the the Clarity Stamps stand - where else, I ask you?  It was like being a kiddie in a sweet shop.  Although the show had only just opened, the crowd round Barbara Gray and Maria Simms was already several deep, all desperate to gather more hints and tips.  (If you want to see what we were all desperate to get at, just look at Barbara's blog at http://barbaragrayblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/a-moment-of-clarity-at-nec.html)

I started very well following my list, then it slipped a bit when I spotted something lovely that I NEEDED.  At that point, the lovely Heather took pity on me and took my list in charge and found everything for me.  Then, still with the list in my hand, I fought my way to Dave to pay for my goodies.  That is where things fell apart.  I lost my list (I still blame Dave for stealing it so that I would spend more money).
 The other problem was the amazing special show offers, and it would have been rude not to take advantage of them, wouldn't it.  Not to mention the £20 voucher I had won from Clarity and the £5 voucher printed off the website.  Storage was my main aim, for my remountable stamps and for the growing number of stencils in my collection.  I got that, then proceeded to fill a new stencil storage file.  There were so many brand new beautiful ones brought out as show introductions..  They are not even on the website yet.  Just look at the fabulous butterfly in the folder, and you get the outie as well as the innie.  Then you might be able to see the fabulous gilding flakes, another brilliant offer with all the things you need to start playing, including the stamp of your choice.

I did go elsewhere in the show, including the Pergamano stand, where the lady was demonstrating a new type of embossing mat, and giving us a chance to try before we bought.  She also had good storage, a zipped folder type of bag to carry all the tools you need and pens as well.  So that was two more things that were not on my list that just fell into my bag.

Another stall good for demos was the Derwent stand, where I did pick up a lot of useful hints and tips and ways to extend the uses of all the lovely Derwent things I already have.  I did not actually buy from here, but only because I have most of what they do anyway, being a crayon/pencil addict from childhood.

For me, it was a better show than the November one, more room to move and I think most of the stamping companies were there, and plenty of card and paper etc as well.  Even the dratted Scan and Cut was there with Mel Heaton demoing it.  I did find a quiet moment to ask the question I have wanted an answer to since it was launched - what can it do that my Silhouette Cameo can't at about half the price?  In the end, I think she really could not find anything that I would want that the Scan and Cut could do differently.  Some people seem to think that it is an advantage to not use a computer, but I cannot see how it is better to try to edit on that tiny screen rather than a large colour computer monitor.  We agreed to differ, very amicably, but I did feel that it was the first time anyone had asked that question.

I was a little disappointed not to meet any WOYWWers at the show, and I had my badge on.  Perhaps you were all going on the other three days.  However, it was good to meet up again with Barbara, Maria, and meet, for the first time, four other lovely ladies from the Clarity team, Theresa Pace, Jane Barber, Yvonne Frohlich, and Jo Rice.  It felt to me as though I had always known them, a result of chatting so much online.  Being with them did take me back to the Clarity stand as you might imagine, and as my list had vanished for good, needless to say, I fell for some more goodies, so much so that when I got home and realised I had forgotten to get one particular stencil, I did debate, very seriously, going back the next day to get it.  Then common sense took over, and I realised it was much cheaper to ring Clarity and ask for one to be added to the order I already had in.

I will show you more of what I have once this next weekend is over - the weekend when the collapsing shed is to be emptied, and the good stuff put in the garage and the rubbish removed to the tip.  I also need some things returned into the caravan ready for my first ever solo trip very soon.

 I think I must finish right now, otherwise Julia will put me on the naughty step for going on too long.  Sorry Julia!   I will try to get round to visit as many of you as possible, but that will depend on garage clearing etc.  I am sure you all understand.


26 comments:

Robyn said...

So many goodies! Better you than me! HA!
thanks fsr at the snoop around.
robyn 6

Monica said...

Sounds like a great show and now you have new toys to play with. Be sure to show us.

Monica # 7

Judys Lace Creations said...

Oh I'm jealous!!So glad you had so much fun!!Show are so stimulating aren't they?
Judy #4

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

ah wodnerful post Maggie so glad you had such a wonderfully happy time at NEC and love the stash, esp the glittery gilding fakes..
... does all look lovely, the little glimpse we are allowed today... happy shed clearing and happy WOYWW, Shaz in Oz.x #15

Helen said...

Good shopping!! Glad you had a great day out, even with losing your list...!! Now have fun playing with it all...Helen 11

Ann B said...

Ha, ha, the missing list ploy. Done that myself, just a way of coming home with twice as much stuff as you went for and much more fun than sticking to a list. I made my list for Port Sunlight show yesterday, now where did I put it?
Happy Wednesday
Ann B
31

Sandy said...

Oh looks like you got some wonderful goodies at the show.. Have fun...
Happy WOYWW
Sandy #25

Antonia said...

Oh I am green with envy, you went to the NEC... what a lovely lot of stash you brought home, have fun playing with it all
Toni #57

Lunch Lady Jan said...

Wow, you DID have a splurge!! Good for you!! You got some lovely things there, Maggie :-)
How exciting that you're going off on a caravan trip soon - well done, you are brave.
Hugs, LLJ 27 xx

Anonymous said...

Ah yes, the perils of going to a craft show! I've only ever been to one, in Shepton Mallet last April, people were flinging money around like it was going out of fashion. Including me, lol!! Nice lot of goodies you got though, you'll have fun with those.

Hugs
Brenda 68

Gill Edwards said...

Ooh i can just imagine how tempting all those goodies were. Its lucky i didnt go or i would be broke too. Smashing stash you have there Maggie.
Gill x 75

Di said...

Oh Maggie, you sure didn't exaggerate did you :) Brilliant stuff - so glad you had a super time!

Happy WOYWW, Spring cleaning here so not joining in - agaaaaain :(

Hugs

Di
xx

Julia Dunnit said...

Oh now this sounds like fun..the disappering shopping list seems to be very much a crafter's problem! Your loyalty to Clarity is beyond comapre - I so love you for it. Now make us all jealous and show us what you make!

Mrs.D said...

Oh Maggie, what fun you've had at NEC. I would love to have gone but it is a long way to go and so we went to Manchester in February, as we had had free tickets sent to us. Not as good as NEC but so much nearer.
You seem to have bought half the clarity stamp stall,
Chris #36

shazsilverwolf said...

Hi Marg, seems like you definitely had a good day! Still waiting for the roofer to get back- fortunately, it seems it only leaks when we get heavy rain in one direction, so all is good at the moment. Your cash is safe from Chocolate Baroque for now, lol,as they are starting to produce many of their stamps in a clear option as well, but the Gothic Fragments isn't one of them available yet.That butterfly is lovely, I agree. Speak soon, Love Shaz xx

Tertia said...

I am giddy just reading that! It sounds absopositively wonderful! I am so jealous.
Enjoy playing with your new toys.
Happy WOYWW!
Tertia #67

Andrea said...

wow...my you did shop...seems like loosing your list may have contributed but would you have stuck to it ! ,,glad you had had a great time at the clarity stand she is an amazing lady..an d the products are top quality. . I went last autumn and was hard to drag myself away from watching the demo's and didn't have a list will do so if I go again as was all a bit overwhelming ..have great time with all your new crafty goodies and i hope we get to see them crafty hugs andrea #20

Caro said...

Wow, it looks like you had an amazing time and what a lot of lovely goodies to play with. Sadly I was stuck at work and unable to join you....I will get to a show one of these days I hope. Thanks for sharing. Happy WOYWW. Caro x (#55)

Linda Simpson said...

WOW what a fabulous array of goodies Maggie, glad you had a wonderful day at the NEC.
Hugs
Linda xxx

April said...

What an awesome haul! I cannot wait to see what great things you make with it. April #14

MommaRock said...

Happy WOYWW... Love your desk full of craftyness. That embossing matt... I want, I want! It looks really neat! See you next week.
hugs,
Kimmer #91... last , but not least AGAIN.. LOL

Unknown said...

Great purchases Maggie. I spent quite a bit at the Clarity stand on Saturday. And was drawn back there throughout the day to watch the wonderful demos from Barbara and Maria. There was more space to move around at the NEC compared to my first visit in November.

Glad you are braving a solo caravan trip. I wish you all the best with that and would love to know how you get on.
x

Jo Rice said...

Good morning Maggie, what a lovely read ...I have just sat with my cup of tea and enjpyed every word. It was so good to see you at the NEC and we did have a laugh...hope you are having a good week....hugs...Jo. X

glitterandglue said...

You certainly had a great day out there at the NEC, Maggie. Bread and dripping is quite nice, I gather, after a financially crippling visit to such places....
Sorry you didn't meet any WOYWWers, though. I know that when we come down we always come on the Friday - I always imagined that the first day would be the busiest - maybe not - 'cos the Friday is always MANIC!!!
Have a great week, after the shed is down, playing with all your new goodies.
Margaret #85

fairy thoughts said...

Well after the long drive LOL and paying to get into the show it would have been tude not to have spent any money, and the demonstrators put souch effort into their stands.
Have fun playing with your new toys
Janet

terry said...

Ooo... Ish I cd have been there with U! lol. My bag always grows on leaps and bounds at a stamp show...!