Here Comes Spring!

I know I shouldn’t wish time to pass but I have to admit that I am always glad to see the back of January and February. December is great because we have the excitement of Christmas but when the New Year starts I really only look forward to some Spring sunshine and lighter nights.

Saying that though, the time has flown because so much has been happening.  Nige and I went to Birmingham last weekend for our annual Trade show and had a really good time networking with the retailers and crafters that we have gotten to know. It is always good to see what all the companies are doing and get some inspiration (which I certainly did). Debi and Tracy attended a three hour class on Saturday with Tim Holtz, Suze Weinberg and Claudine Helmuth. They have not shut up about it since getting back and more than half their sentences start with “Tim said.....”. We had a good time at QVC on Tuesday and I was able to have a good look at the samples Tim had done and get some tips from him. This year is going to be a good one for revisiting techniques and really playing with product. Can’t wait!

Debi and I are off to York on Monday for a full day class with Sheena Douglas. We have high expectations of a really good day – I will let you know how we get on.

We were so thrilled to be told we had come runner-up as Best North West craft Retailer and want to thank everyone who voted for us. When I got the call at the shop I frightened half the ladies on a crop that we had running , by bursting in and shouting the news. No wonder they didn’t seem as thrilled as me. (They were when they had gotten over the shock). Windmill Crafts beat us to pole position but well done to them. Can’t wait for the certificate. It doesn’t take much to please me!

We have already started taking delivery of new stock. Yesterday our Wild Rose Studio order arrived with new stamp designs featuring Milton & Co, and also some lovely 6 x 6 paper pads. Didnt even have time to put them out as customers were grabbing them! Love it when you get excited . We now have a very depleted selection and a necessary reorder situation! This week I drooled over the brand new wedding range, Confetti, from Papermania, although a lot of it could be used for birthdays. It is so pretty!  Promarker sets are due in – we have decided to stock both those and Copic as you love both of them.  Our Sugar Nellie workshops will be showing  you  how to use these great pens .Also, any day now we will be taking delivery of lots of Ranger and cosmic shimmer products that we will be playing with on our workshops over the coming months. Those who are booked onto Coffee Morning next Thursday might have to bring sleeping bags in order for me to get through just new products!

Joel, Georgia and I started rehearsals for a variety show in aid of Claire House last weekend. Boy was it good to be rehearsing for a show again – seems ages since I was involved in one. Poor Nige having to cope with three divas in the house.

Will let Boo tell you about how she has been under the weather (and also about how Teddy has been mistreated  recently).

One more thing before I go.  On the kits page of our on-line shop we have uploaded our brand new Paper Bag Book kit.  In this great kit we are including  paper bags (imported from the USA), new Basic Grey Sugar Rush papers, ribbons & a jewel brad, punch outs and full instructions with colour photos on how to make the book you see below, PLUS a very informative A4 book that shows you how to make a wide range of paper bag projects. 

Click the photo below to see the kit for sale

Let’s get crafting!

Rosemary x

19 January 2010
Snow Good!

Who would have believed how much snow we have had over the past month! Like all our winters rolled into one. It was great – for a while – and then became a real nuisance . What was lovely was that so many more people were out enjoying the fresh air. The fields behind our house where we walk the dogs were like Clapham Junction – we saw dogs we never knew existed – maybe they were bought just so their owners could get out in the snow. Our floors stayed so clean – now we are back to mud!

I have battled a stomach bug since last week and on Sunday morning I thought it had gone to my kidneys as I had a lot of discomfort in that area. I then realised it was actually due to the fact that I had been dancing vigorously for a good half hour the night before at the Panto aftershow party. (Oh no you didn’t! Oh yes I did!) And yes the kids were embarrassed!! When did this happen to me – that I can’t exercise a little without finding it hard to walk the next day and becoming an embarrassment to my kids!! When did I turn into my parents? – telling Georgia she has too much make-up on, her heels are too high and that her dress was designed to be worn as a t-shirt!! Is it all downhill from now on! Answers on a postcard please!!

I am working hard at sourcing and ordering new products at the moment. The next month or so is when all our suppliers introduce their new ranges and from what I have seen so far it is going to be a great crafting year. In the next few days we should see the Pepper and friends range arrive  and I will be announcing a date inviting you to join me in the shop for a free make and take using this range.  

Anyway, enough wittering from me. Need to go make a birthday card and order some more goodies for the shop. By the way Sugar Nellie stamps should be with us any day and they are luuuurvly! Watch the March schedule for classes using them with the Copic markers.

Happy scrapping!

Rosemary x

1 January 2010
Happy New Crafting Year!

I didn’t want to wait a moment longer to wish you a happy and healthy new year.  I always love starting a fresh year with a blank sheet and lots of possibilities.  I have already been clearing my craft room at home so that I can fulfil one of my new year’s resolutions – to finish all the unfinished projects I have hanging around.  My mini printer is already set up too, ready for me to print small photos for a monthly journal of our family life.

As I have already mentioned I love the challenge of a new year.  Nige and I started to have a change around in the shop yesterday and we made so much mess that we have to go up today and put it straight even though we aren’t officially open.  Out with the old, in with the new.  We have our half price sale starting in a week and I can’t wait to clear out old stock and get new in!  I can feel another great crafting year ahead.

Christmas was busy but we had a good time with family and also we had a trip to the theatre to see Irving Berlins ‘White Christmas’ and a trip to London to the O2 to see the Michael Jackson exhibition which was a great day.  I have eaten so much chocolate you wouldn’t believe it possible – I blame certain customers and friends who know I have this weakness but still ply me with the stuff (you know who you are Jane and Annette!!)  One last binge day today and then some serious cutting back.  Nige is teasing me today as I had a bottle of babycham last night and I have a dreadful headache today – it was only the small size bottle but this is the person who takes a week to drink a bottle of wine!

I am taking a couple of months out from teaching classes as I really want to get on with the planning for our three retreats this year – already I have lists everywhere!  Also I am doing some retailer classes around the country in January for one of our suppliers.  I really enjoy working at this sort of event and meeting fellow retailers.

Must dash and make the most of the first day of the year! Really hope it is a healthy and prosperous one for you all.

Let’s get scrapping!

Rosemary  x