Apologies and thank you's

Apologies firstly to anyone who came to see my demonstration at Topaz yesterday, only to find that I wasn't there. Unfortunately, on Saturday night, I came down with something that made me really sick and dizzy. Think it must have been one of those 24 hour bugs that seem to be rampant these days. So, very unlike me, I had to make the decision to go home on Sunday morning...think I've only ever had to cancel a demonstration three times in....well, more years than I care to remember! Anyway, once David got me home I lay on the sofa and slept for hours, and slept all last night too, and, as I always think sleep is nature's great healer, I was okay this morning apart from the feeling of having been trampled by a horse! Back to normal now, so I'm glad that's all out of the way, but I did feel bad about not being in the shop of course. I will be there the weekend after next however, on both Saturday and Sunday.

The thank you's are for all the lovely cards and gifts which I received for my birthday - I was so touched, because I hadn't even mentioned it to anyone! Special thanks to Joanne and Terry, Gez, Jenny, Martin, Sandra, Gill and Paul (whose card for me is pictured on his Artsiders blog! That's the only reason I mentioned you last Paul...so I could add that!). All so much appreciated I can't tell you. Heather (my sister) didn't make my card (shock horror!) as she doesn't like making cards, so she included one of her brilliant ATC's inside a bought, and very pretty, card instead - I'll let her off!!!

Well, no photos to post as yet, as I am just typing this whilst David is slaving over a hot stove cooking steaks (birthday treat!) so I have to be a bit quick. I'll post the photos from Saturday's workshop tomorrow. It was a really hectic three....er...make that four hours! Yes, we over ran again I'm afraid as everyone wanted to try to fit in as many techniques as we could. David sends his apologies for leaving without saying cheerio, but he had not been too well himself last week and was feeling drained. He didn't want to interrupt our flow so he just snuck away - he'll catch up with everyone next time. Anyway, the afternoon was all about Ranger and we covered all sorts of techniques, including Alcohol ink monoprints, Paint Dabbers Shabby Chic, Nostalgic Batik, Dabbers Acetate transparencies etc. Great fun and we did get messy, though not as messy as I'd feared we might! Sheila and Gez finally got to meet after being swap and blog buddies, which was lovely. Joanne and Terry were back from their holiday too, so there was lots of catching up to do. Hope you all enjoyed the workshop as much as I did teaching it. Oh yes, there were several requests for me to repeat two of my previous workshops - Fairy Doors and the Ranger techniques Mirror. If anyone is interested in either of these, do leave a comment or drop me an email, as I'd like to know if there would be enough people to run them again. Ta!

David and I went out for a drive and had lunch in a pub in Holmes Chapel before carrying on to Trentham Gardens, near to Stoke. It was a very sunny, hot day so we had an ice cream each as a treat! We had a good look around all the little, interesting shops there and David bought me a bracelet...don't know quite what they are called, but it's a silver snake chain that you add beads and charms to. I like the idea of collecting little memories of places we've been to. David also got me a bead and a charm to start me off - really lovely....the bracelet and David! On the way home it began to rain which was perfect to cool down the hot day. So it's just a relaxing evening ahead after a lovely meal. A really happy day.

I'll be back tomorrow with photos, but wanted to do the apologies and thank you's tonight. Don't forget that there's still time to leave a comment for the blog candy. And Heather, it's okay, you can leave a comment if you want...you just won't win anything! (Well, it would look like a fix wouldn't it?!?! Lindsay