Hi there, Greetings from a rather rainy Leiden. Still beautiful nonetheless. Market Day today, so lots of wonderful cheeses which make the roof of your mouth tingle, and warm artisan breads fresh out of the oven. Heaven for the senses. I thought I’d flag up Maria’s TV show on Wednesday this week. She is showcasing a set of brand new and very special stencils which Mel illustrated. They are so beautiful and rich with images – I think you will…
Hi there, Thanks for popping in. Been a beautiful day in Leiden. Walked miles, found lots of lovely Christmas gifts, and even managed to squeeze my tired self into a few nice dresses! It was very heartening to visit these many tidy little boutiques, filled with original and unique gear. It was also very refreshing to meet the owners, mostly women. Super friendly, very pleasant energy, all really switched on and into good conversation. And the cynic may say they…
Hi there! Thanks for popping in. This is a first! Don‘t recall ever blogging from my phone! Man lernt nie aus, as the Germans say! We left Dusseldorf this morning and headed over the border into Holland. When we were in Delft in the summer, someone recommended Leiden. So here we are. Now I am telling you – it is beautiful! If you are looking for a picturesque, charming, walking town, with wonderful restaurants shops and boutique types galleries, then…
Hi there! Or should I say, Hallo meine lieben Bastelfreunde! Well, here we are in Düsseldorf, the sun is shining on the Rhine, and we are just about to head into town to find the little food market we stumbled across yesterday. It’s Dave’s Birthday today, so I am trying to park the panic, which always creeps in prior to a TV show. Honestly. You’d think after all these years that the nerves would subside, but no. And Germany is…
Hi everyone. Paul here, standing in for Barbara while she heads to Germany for her TV show tomorrow evening. When Barbara and I were prepping for the TV shows the other week, I spotted a piece of artwork that she had created. “Wow!” said I, “how did you create that?” “Using a new mask” said Barbara. “Really?” said I. When designing and manufacturing some of our stamp designs, if Barbara thinks a mask is required, then the lovely Lisa works…
Hi there, Thanks for popping in. Been another busy day after the NEC marathon. Unpacked my suitcase from the NEC by dumping its contents on the bedroom floor, scooping up most and throwing it in the laundry basket. Then routed around for anything else of mine which has been ironed, folded a bunch of Dave’s shirts, and reloaded the case, all set for next stop Deutschland. The handbag and toiletry bags got the same treatment. It actually works quite well!…
Hi there, And there it was. The NEC is over for another year. Well, until March. The stands are being taken apart, and there is a lot of crashing and clanging in the hall. We have lots of help. Brother Steve and Sean, our new General Manager at Clarity, drove up together to help, which is a massive relief. We may have sold a lot, but my oh my – we could keep going for another month with the gear…
Hi there, Thanks for popping in! What a day! Greetings from the NEC day 3. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. The live TV stream with Hochanda and Hayley was so much fun. The building was buzzing. The vibe in the building was just like the good old days. Honestly. I went straight in the office here and booked a huge stand for next March AND November. Got to be done. So on to tomorrow. Paul is doing another Live TV show, and…
Hi there, Thanks for popping in. Haring around the NEC today! So many people, so many Crafters all under one roof. If anybody ever says humans are dumming down, send them to a craft fair like this. You meets hundreds, nay thousands of people – men and women alike – with a real thirst for arty knowledge. It is wonderful. Really makes my heart sing. People of ALL ages , from all walks of life, discussing ink pads, paints, tricks,…
Hi there, Thanks for popping in. Been a busy day here in Birmingham. What a smashing day, actually. It was just great to see so many dear friends and customers. You don‘t realise how much you like people until they pop up in front of you!! The TV show with Yiannis was a scream. He is such a good presenter. So all in all, a good day. Now we are off to get fish n chips, and take them back…