Stitches 2015! Picture Heavy post!

You can read about the 2011, 2013 and 2014 edition of Stitches the craft trade show, here, here and here respectively. Or 2007, 2008, 2009.

As last year, I wasn't demonstrating this year so it was a perfect opportunity to see friends and walk the show properly.

First stand of course was Sizzix. To see all the wonderful samples and lovely friends.

Of course, one of them is Pete Hughes, who needs no introduction in this blog. We decided that he is my craft twin brother since we were born the same day - Christmas day - though different years! The sample on the right I already seen in it in Paperworld, but it is still striking nonetheless.

Love me some paper flowers! Done all by Debi Potter using Sizzix dies. On the right, Angela Southey. She is my craft mum. Love her! Such a beautiful soul. And what she cant do with a sewing machine isnt worth doing.

Second stand, Paperartsy. Love them all too. Such a great company based in the UK. very passionate about what they do. And their products, I love!

Among their new launches, Emma Godfrey's new collection of stamps and stencils. I have known Emma for a few years, and she is lovely and so talented! I just love her gentle easy going nature that translates into beautiful fresh projects.

I also met the wonderful Darcy Wilkinson. Darcy has a line of stamps and makes wonderful crazy projects. I loved meeting her! Such a lovely personality.

Lin Brown is one of my long time craft heroes. She is one of those who truly inspires me every single time. (Apologies for the bad photo, Lin!) One of my top favourite launches this year are her limited edition of Fresco paints. Lush!

And I love the new calendar sets and paints. (I not so secretly want them all!)

(I missed taking a good photo of another of the lovelies at Paperarsty Jo Firth Young. Her stuff is gorgeous too!)

After that, making my way to the right, I moved on to see my dear friend Lindsay at Personal Impressions. Every time I passed by she was so busy! Everyone looking at what Lindsay was doing.

Then, on to DecoArt. Mark Gould and Andy Skinner. Lovely guys though Andy is as mad as a frog. Great fun and always a good laugh. Again, DecoArt products are superb. I specially liked their Glass Chalk paint and the So Soft ones.

Finnabair was demonstrating as well, as was Marion Emberson at Wow embossing powders.

Marion is another of my dear crafty friends, and I love her style. As I do Tania's too who made this wonderful frame using the embossing powders and a certain butterfly die designed by yours truly.

Another booth I always love is The Hobby House, absolutely gorgeous! And I was very impressed with the new Spectrum Aqua markers.

I also had the pleasure to spend some time with one of my closest friends, Julie Hickey, a true craft miracle worker (there are about a handful in the industry). While she was getting an award at Aceville Publications, I grabbed a copy of the latest issue of Papercrafter, a project and my face on the cover! There is an interview to me as well in there. 

On Monday, I walked part of the show with two crafters that also need no introduction: Mel Heaton and the amazing Leonie Pujol.

Leonie is another of those craft friends that I don't get to see often, but when I do, its like time hasn't passed by. On the right, Michelle Ann Johnson from Stix2, my favourite adhesive company.

I love Pan Pastels, so their pearlescent new colours are on my wishlist as was that Stash and Store drawer, very interesting.

And two other dear friends Jane Gill who was as usual demonstrating for Woodware her new stamps and Marion bellow.

After two days, I was ready to head home, exhausted but with a great big smile on my face!

The Stitches 2014 Report - picture heavy post!

Stitches is the UK Craft & Hobby Trade show that takes place once a year in February at the NEC, Birmingham. I have been going to the event since 2004, so it was my 10th year anniversary at Stitches! The first two years I went as craft shop staff with the buyers for the shop. Then in 2006 I started demonstrating for Kars, a dutch distributor of many craft brands. Five years later, in 2011, I demonstrated for Sizzix and did so until last year. 

So after 8 years of working hard demonstrating at the event, I was delighted to be able to walk the show as a freelance. It was fantastic to see everyone and being able to chat and see everything without a rush. Loved it!

Of course, my first stop was Sizzix. They always have the most impressive booth at Stitches. There was a sweets chart beautifully decorated.

Each area was gorgeous and there were quite a few.

The whole stand was full of inspiration thanks to the hard work of the people above this minus me! Pete Hughes, Debi and Angela.

Among the collections, you could find quilting and the new range by Nel Whatmore.

There were quite a few samples done with the Big Shot Starter kit, the dies that I designed.

Including this beautiful one by none other than the super star that is Finnabair/Anna Davroska.

Spaeaking of Anna... She was there at the Stampbox stand demonstrating her signature line for Prima.

A few more talented people, Andy Skinner and Leonie Pujol, who was over the moon with her award from Crafts Beautiful as she was voted Favourite Demonstrator/Presenter in Crafts, and I must add, very well deserved as well. 

Naturally, PaperArtsy was on my DO NOT MISS booth. I just love their stuff. Jo Firth Young and Lin Brown (one of my long time craft crushes!) both have release a new collection that includes superb quality rubber stamps, stencils and limited edition Fresco acrylic paints.

I was lucky enough to sneak in on one of Leandra's - PaperArtsys - classes. Such a lovely project.

It's always nice to see the magazine people, including the publishers of Cardmaking & Papercraft which is the magazine I contribute to monthly.

Wow embossing powders had lovely displays, made lovingly by my mate Marion Emberson and Tania Ahmed.

Nikky Hall was there demonstrating for Premium Art Brands doing fab things with Pan Pastels, Maimeri paste and doses of fun.

One of my favourite stands was The Hobby House. I loved their metal embellishments, spools and pearl embellishments. I cant wait to get my hands on some of them.

 Other interesting stands were Craft Emotions - who distribute Sizzix so carry some of my die designs -, 3D printing and Tonic because their scissors are awesome.

And of course, Personal Impressions for who manufacture and distribute my clear stamps as well as distribute Sizzix. More importantly, the lovely Lindsay Mason was there demonstrating and I caught this quick snap of two of my best and closest friends in the industry, Lindsay and Julie Hickey.

And of course a bit of fun with friends never hurt anyone!

Although I am tired - not as much as when I demonstrated at the event - I cant wait for next year!

The last few weeks...

Haven been filled by a very busy days both professionally and personally with really highs and some lows, but so its life and we need dealing with all of it.

I know it took place almost three week ago, but I havent talked about my experience at Stitches - the UK craft trade show - this year.

Of course, I was demonstrating at the Sizzix stand, such an honour to be demonstrating at what I think - and many others agree! - one of the best stands in the whole show for a third year running. Forgive the bad quality of the photos as they were taken with my mobile.

This year, though, it was extra special. I had not one but two collections launching: Fresh Moments - Spring available right now!

And Winter Moments - Christmas, available from August 2013:

 I had so much fun putting these areas together. Although, in true creative nature, I was very anxious about them before the show opened. But people were very kind with their positive comments!

I was demonstrating the new Big Shot Starter Set - available from May. The new machine - available on its own as well as part of the new Starter kit - is so lovely.

The samples on the left were mostly made by the super talented and amazing person that is Pete Hughes. I think this new starter kit is great - but then I am biased, I designed them! with many simple and useful shapes in all technologies or type of products that Sizzix produces.

The super star that is Celine Navarro was also demonstrating and teaching the workshops for Sizzix. She is so lovely, an talented too, but that is well known already! And also Celine is the editor of EntreArtistes, a french scrapbooking magazine of the highest quality. In the pages of the latest issue I found this beautiful layout by Karine using the everyday butterflies using vellum. I love it!

On the first day, before the show opens, Pete explained each area concept to the rest of the  team. He and Debi did a fab job in all the areas they had work on.

The flowers from the new Susan's Garden collection were extraordinary, so was once again the inside of the house. Madison Parker from Echo Park and Carta Bella papers came to visit the stand as Sizzix does a collaborative line with Echo Park stamps.

As usual, I tried to get in early (by about 10 mins), eat fast and leave late so that I would have some time to walk part of the show and see some of the new things and old friends. I really liked the Button Company stamp which now do beautiful felt and ribbon is matching colours. And Paperartsy, one of my favourite companies in the UK. My personal style is very different to what they do, but I love

Seeing Kirsty Wiseman demonstrating at Fantastic Ribbons and the always lovely Rachel Greig from the Darkroom Door was at the Personal Impressions - the European distributor of her products - stand demonstrating her great products.

There should be another photo here, of two of my most admired UK crafters, which are Julie Hickey and Lin Brown. But I was forbidden to post it!

But, I had to steal this photo from Lindsay Mason's blog. She is one of my very dear friends in the craft industry. Indeed, I love Lindsay, she is such a talented artist, demonstrator, designer... and yet humble and lovely.

Well, that is it for a Stitches recap. After that I went to Spain for ten days. I shall post more about that soon!

Tim Holtz workshop

So we started by covering the canvas with Tim's new cardstock.

Then we covered it with Distress Stain. They are yummy!

Here you have Nina covering hers.

And Marion with her die cuts.

Tim with some ladies, two of which you may recognize as they are Amy Shaw and Lindsay Mason. 

And these are the three canvases that we created on the workshop. They are not mine, mine were not picture worth it.