Sofa day!

Hello all, and firstly, apologies for not being able to post my nightly reports from Stitches as I had promised to do. Unfortunately, the hotel blocked any free wireless internet signals and, apart from a free half hour on the first night, I just wasn't able to log on unless I paid a small fortune. So...this may be a rather long post!
I'm sorry that my pictures aren't able to be enlarged as they can be on most blogs - David has explained the reason (though my computer technically challenged brain can't really follow it all!) and I believe that if you do the right clicky thing that he posted on my comments section you may well be able to see bigger images. Meanwhile, I'll post larger images of those that I think you may like a closer look at.
So, it's a sofa day today after the manic last few days. The PI team will all be back at work as normal today, but I don't feel guilty as I'll be working at the weekend. I'll be spending tomorrow making last minute extra samples for my day at The Art Shop in Darlington on Saturday, so hope to see you there....Beverley, I'll be looking out for you, so make sure you let me know when you arrive so I can put a face to the name!

Okay then, here are loads of pictures for your enjoyment and amusement! Firstly, here are two more close up shots of the ATC display which I put together for my demonstration stand with the help of my friends who made lots of the ATC's for me using some of my new stamp designs. Each tier was put together seperately, with the cards being stuck together round decreasingly smaller circular bases and more ATC's stuck flat around the top. I could then place each tier inside a larger one for easy transportation. A few people at the show were sure it would come cascading down as they thought I had simply stacked it like a house of cards! So, thank you again to my lovely friends for all your help - your efforts helped to make a really eyecatching display that brought many "ooohs" and "aaahs" from both customers and exhibitors. I was also busy making other samples (photos to follow in a few days) for the show and one was this configurations box which Dawn asked me to make for the Tim Holtz hours on QVC this week...we thought it would be nice to have a more girlie version! I had such fun making this, though it did take just about all day, rooting about for little treasures to include. If you fancy having a go at making one of these (though it won't be the same of course, as every one is different) then check out my dates at the left where you'll find details of my "Shadow Box" workshop. Next is a closer picture of the three canvasses which I made on the Ranger/Personal Impressions workshop on Saturday. It was so lovely to be sat down making something for a change instead of being the one doing the teaching! We made the centre canvas first with Tim, using his new Distress Stains (coming soon and they are just brilliant) as well as various dies, grungeboard and Ideaology items. The stains were just great for using over the wings which had been painted with Rock Candy crackle paint...the ink just sank into the cracks beautifully. The left hand canvas was designed by Dyan Reavely who had printed out the main design onto sticky backed canvas. We painted the edges of the box canvas with the new inproved paint dabbers....so much easier to use now, with softer bottles and an improved cap. On the right is the third canvas we made, again with Tim, who had designed this one in Claudine Helmuth's style using her paints and new stamps. They look great don't they? I'll try to bring at least one with me to my demonstrations! Here's me and Tim after the class...the annual picture! Next is a shot of the side of the Ranger demonstration area on the PI stand. You can just see the gorgeous rose ribbons that have been stained to match the mannequin dies (canvas) and tags using Distress Stains. And on the counter you can just see the printer's tray which was just crammed with all sorts of new Idealogy pieces. Tim was demonstrating his latest products all day on Sunday - not that I got much chance to see what he was up to as I was too busy! Here is the view of the side and back of my demonstration booth, with new stamp designs on the wall as well as two giant Gorjuss girls! More on them later! Sunday was the first day of the show itself, and I was demonstrating until about 2.30pm, when Dyan took over my area to demonstrate her new Dylusions stamps and Andy Skinner and myself went off to do the first of our workshops together. It was great to be teaching the class together, especially as we try to cram a lot into a 45 minute class...not very long by the time all the introductions have been made. There is a very fast turnaround of workshops at the show, so there is only fifteen minutes to clear up and let the next person come in to set up before the next class starts....whew! I'll post pictures of the project we did, but you can check them out in Andy's blog (look at my blog list at the left). Andy is extremely talented and his new stamp designs will be a must have for those of you who love to create collaged or grungy styles.Here's a closer look at the new designs from myself, Andy Skinner, Paula Pascual, Marion Emberson and Sue Dix to name a few. As you can see, I have designed six new sets of fairy silhouettes, along with other new designs which I will post larger pictures of as soon as I can.Here's the front of my booth...posh eh?! I have a tall bar stool to perch on whilst demonstrating and I could have done with some step ladders to get up there I think....let's just say it probably wasn't the most elegant sight! Also demonstrating on the PI stand was my buddy Rachel Greig who is the owner of, and talent behind, Darkroom Door. You'll know from previous posts that I'm a huge fan of Rachel's designs and, as well as being super talented, she's also one of the loveliest, smiliest people I know. Such a shame that we only get to see Rachel once a year!Of course, Sunday night was the annual PI trip to the Wing Wah Chinese restaurant which has become a real highlight of the show week. We always have a lot of fun and it's a chance to relax after a busy couple of days before the next two begin. Here's Rachel, Richard, who works on the stamps and website (amongst other things) and is one of the loveliest men that I know, next is my mate Jan who is the area manager for Scotland, next is Elaine who seems to organise just about everything at PI! She's a lovely, lovely lady and became a great auntie while we were at the show! On the right is Monica who represents the north of England for PI and she keeps me busy with lots of demonstrations! Who'se this? Tim and Rachel taking photos of themselves between bouts of hysterical laughter at the expressions they were pulling! Andy made reference to Tim doing a "magic trick" that evening, so here is a snap of Jan having the "fluence" put on her! Rachel and myself have experienced this in previous years, and I can't explain what Tim actually does, but Jan nearly jumped out of her skin at the sensation which shot through her hand!So, it was time to go back to the hotel for an early-ish night before the long day ahead of demonstrating and teaching on Monday. We also said cheerio for another year to Tim, Mario and Alain as they set off down to London for Tim's midnight TSV launch. Elaine had been saying throughout the show that I was the image of the Gorguss Girl characters......mmmmmm, long hair yes, but that's the only resemblance I can see! It became a running gag though, and a few customers that I know came up to me saying "Oh you are so like the Gorjuss Girl!"....of course, they had been primed by Elaine! Well, what do you reckon? Gosh...we could be twins! Lol! And look who came along to say hello to us all from the Sizzix stand.... .....the lovely Paula. (Note to self....try not to stand next to Paula on photos....she's far too pretty!). This picture was taken on the final day, Tuesday, when I was demonstrating for the whole day. Rachel taught a class in the morning and took over Tim's booth in the afternoon making beautiful cards with her stamps and phot images. David arrived in the afternoon and, amazingly, managed to park quite near the loading area.....very often there is such a snarl up of traffic at the NEC so this was quite something and, after the hard work at the show it was great to be close by. All too soon it was time to pull down the stand and pack away. Isn't it odd that it takes days and hours to set up but hardly any time to tear it all down! It's always sad to see the beautiful displays being pulled down and packed away. So, I'll finish with a picture of the whole team looking far less tired than we all felt! We are missing Jayne though, as she went down to QVC with the Ranger team. From the left, Jan, Ray, Monica, yours truly, Malcolm, Kathy, Billy, Elaine, Leanne, Richard, Steve and John. Not long after David took this photo we all said our goodbyes and were homeward bound. You can see why I enjoy the show so much, catching up with friends from home and abroad, meeting customers, using new products and having great fun. It does leave one cream crackered though!!!

Well, I'll post pictures of new stamps and card samples in more detail as soon as I can and will see some of you this weekend I hope. Lindsay