Shop 'till You Drop!

The last time I blogged, I did say I might be quiet for a while as I had a lot of prep work to do for the TV show last weekend. Well, I was quieter than I had imagined for longer than I imagined.

The night before filming the TV show, whilst still madly putting things together and trying to get my mind, my equipment, demonstrations and samples ready to go, I started with a burning sensation in the back of my throat. I didn't really have much time to think about it but when I got up at six in the morning to drive to the TV studio my throat was on fire and I was streaming. Fortunately, my husband Stuart had agreed to share the driving. It's a long haul, over 350 miles round trip. Anyhow, as soon as we arrived I went to the pharmacy and got Night & Day Nurse capsules, nasal spray, Strepsils and anything else I could think of that would keep me going and stop me from sounding as if I had a peg on my nose.

It worked! but by the time I finished the show I had a raging headache as well. We drove home Sunday night and on Monday I felt like blah! It got worse and by Monday night I had a touch of gastro-enteritis to add to the list. Quite unusually for me, I stayed home and slept most of Tuesday and Wednesday. Just to add insult to injury, on Wednesday night I started with conjunctivitis and on Thursday morning my left eye was welded together and needed bathing before I could get it open even a little. So most of Thursday was spent with and ice pack on it.

Friday I felt much better. Still taking the 'Night Nurse' capsules - they really do work, I headed off to work and got through the day without any major relapse.

By now, I was getting withdrawal symptoms on two fronts. Having not been out all week I needed some retail therapy and I was longing to get into my studio and do some crafting without all the pressure of having to do something specific..... I just wanted to play. I decided to satisfy both yearnings in one fell swoop - I'd shop for 'crafty things'. Bright and early Saturday morning after filling up the windscreen washer on my car, I headed off up the A1(M) to Ikea at the Metro Centre. The wind was still very strong and gusting across the motorway but I got there safely and the traffic was quite light.

Ikea brought a good yield of bargains: I bought a fabulous Zamioculcas house plant reduced from £20 to £9.99, a pack of three metal storage tins with glass tops, and a couple of packs of cards with an architectural theme in what look like pen and ink drawings which have been water coloured - very usable and recommended by friend Kathleen. Also, three stems of aubergine velvet poppies (great for crafting projects) and my best buy of all - several broad frame mirrors just screaming "alter ME!"

I left Ikea and was heading towards my next stop at Team Valley when I realised that I was on the same road as Ward Graphics soooo, my little car decided all on its own, to turn into Wards and have a little rest in their car park. While it rested I did the descent thing and left it in peace and quiet and had a wonder around store. It was quite well stocked and I added a few more things to my Saturday morning shopping stash - a miniature canvas and wooden easel, awe cute. Rob & Bob Studio mini clipboards, a pack of sticky stuff applicators, and a selection of PM brads which were on offer.

Next stop Hobbycraft at Team Valley. Boy did I get some bargains here. A 6"x6" fabric gate fold scrapbook from K&Company at a clearance price of £6.99, loads of Making Memories metal frames, snaps and decorative pewter brads all with 50% off, two balls of beautiful ribbon yarn, one in green/aqua the other in coral/mushroom shades and both reduced, an 8"x8" bevelled edged canvas with 50% off and a lovely selection of ribbons - some of which have adhesive backing, all for 99p per spool. Most surprisingly, I also found a large pack of Freezer Paper (really hard to find in the north east). Oh! I'm on a roll now. Back in the car, the weather is really beginning to look foul and while I'm entering the details of the Scrapbook Shop at Framwellgate Moor into Thomas (my Tom Tom) it begins to throw it down.

Thomas safely navigates to Durham and deposits me right outside the Scrapbook Shop. One of the projects on my 'to do' list is to make a Christmas scrapbook for my brother and one for my parents, so I need to get papers. I'm fancying the new 'Fruitcake' range from Basic Grey and I need some Bazzill card too. Half an hour later and with two more bags full of goodies, I'm finished for the day. As well as a great selection of paper and card I also found some lovely ribbon collections, Making Memories acrylic scrapbook paints, a beautiful tin full of Prima Flowers, some Bazzill Blossoms and last but not least some Playing Cards in a tin for ATC's.

By now, I can hardly put one foot in front of the other, I'm exhausted but so happy and eager to get home to examine my stash more closely. Bliss.......... it was a wonderful day. Retail therapy really does work but such a pity that it's not available on the NHS!

I have taken photos of my haul but having just changed to the new Blogger, I'm having a few problems posting photo's to my blog - strange that I never had problems before. I thought it was supposed to be easier? No doubt, I've done something wrong along the way so the photos will have to wait until I've had time to sort it out. That's enough for now. I'm going to go and admire my finds and swoon one more time before retiring for the night.