Life is short. Break the rules, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that makes you smile. We're not quantified; there's no chart of desire. When the roaring flames of your heart have burned down to embers, may you find that you have married your best friend. [Steven Tyler]

Thursday, August 21, 2008

I'm So Excited!

Last Friday I received an email which totally blew me away!

I've been sitting on it ever since and walking around with a silly grin on my face akin to that of a Cheshire Cat - and one that got the cream to boot. Why you may ask? Well, I'm going to let you into a little secret...... unbeknown to me (at the time), Glenda submitted a piece of my artwork to the Craft Stamper magazine for a feature they are running in the next issue. When she told me what she had done I was delighted and hoped, at best, that it would be included - even if it was only a small picture of the piece. Guess what????? I GOT THE COVER!!!! Yes, the email was to tell me that my art work has been chosen as the front cover for Craft Stamper, October issue.

Now that said, I really don't know if it will be the main picture or just a little one to support the main feature on the cover. I probably won't know until I see the magazine on the shelves, but anywhere on the cover is just fine by me. I have offered to do personal signings at my local branch of Borders - but so far, they haven't taken me up on my offer! LOL

Now, I'll calm down and get on with this. If the week started last Friday instead of Monday it would have been the start of a brilliant week. The rest of Friday and Saturday was spent prepping demos for the TV shows scheduled for Monday. I don't know where the weekend went but it disappeared in a flash.

Sunday saw Glenda, Adrian and I setting off on that long trek down the A1 to Peterborough to be in situ for an early start the next morning. The drive was pretty uneventful and we arrived safely, off-loaded the car, checked into the hotel, had dinner and crashed for the night.

One very funny moment and one that I didn't have my camera handy for at the time, was the picture of Glenda and I sitting at the table in the restaurant waiting for our dinner to arrive - both sat with our Tim Holtz scissors in hand, cutting out gold embossed Poinsettia's for an unfinished demo. Anyone would think we were addicted to crafting!!! Poor Adrian must live in constant fear of what we might do next. Our waiter did a very good job of ignoring our peculiar behaviour.

The TV shows were both fast and furious - again!

Here's the finished sample of the Frosted Snowman from the 'Snow is Falling' themeplate which was on the morning show.

I don't have a photo of the 'Crown' card from the Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh Themeplate as it was sent out to the email winner. I will try to make another over the weekend and include it on the blog if I get a minute.

Here's the little Concertina Keepsake that I've been teasing you with in the last two posts. Sorry...... I am naughty! I used to make these many, many years ago and to be honest, I'd forgotten about them. It was only when I was sat planning my demo's and thinking about what I was going to do this time, that I remembered this technique.




It really is a very simple project, I know it may not look it but it's easy to do. There is however, a lot of stamping and it's a great way of using all your Botanical stamps. I also made use of the Butterfly Bliss CD ROM for the printed card on the inside layer. This was made for the afternoon show but unfortunately I didn't get to do the demo as we sold out of all the stamps before I got to it.

Once the last show had finished, we got packed away and hit the road again but going South not North. We were heading for Cambridge where we were staying overnight.

In fact, we had a super evening. Adrian used to be at University in Cambridge so gave us a wonderful tour (on foot) of Cambridge and recounted some funny tales of a not-so-misspent youth. The rain held off, my feet and knees hurt terribly, Glenda had blisters on her feet, we had the most fab dinner (Italian) YUMM! got some lovely photos for the album and laughed - a lot.



The next morning (Tuesday) bright and early, we set off to one of our suppliers located not too far away. Unfortunately, they have recently announced their intention to close the business which is always very sad - but it gave us the ideal opportunity to shop for our up and coming open days at Graphicus in September..... and shop we did!

Adrian left Glenda and I to it and we were like two big kids in a ginormous sweety shop, oh Bliss! We filled box after box, basket after basket and mounded them up in the office ready for them to put our purchases through the till when we'd finished. We kept going back for more, then spotting something else that we'd totally managed to overlook. I don't know how many time we went round the warehouse (I do know now that our feet were throbbing) but you just don't notice it when you're shopping do you? When we finally finished we stood looking at the huge pile of boxes brimming with wonderful goodies and thinking that we were going to have to have them shipped. Then Adrian appeared to see what we were up to (it was mid afternoon by then) and he didn't even flinch when he saw the mountain of stash!

He assessed our selection and said confidently that it would fit into his monster truck and yes, they would still have room for ME! And they did! It was only a little space for me but I was surrounded by all our fab goodies so did I care? Nahhhh! not a jot. It gave me the ideal opportunity to sit and hug them all the way home.

I know this may not look like a lot but remember, I was in the back and we had two large rolling craft trolleys, a big box with all the sample artwork from two TV shows, two suitcases, an ink locker, carrying wardrobe, tool carousel, cuddly toy and a kitchen sink as well! (OK! OK! I'm prone to exaggerating, we didn't have a cuddly toy or a kitchen sink) but the car was filled to the rafters.


Once inside the building, you really get a feel for how much 'stash' we managed to transport. Now, let me at those boxes.

Stand aside Glenda..... let me in! You have no idea just how excited we both were. I don't think we've had such fun since hitting the craft stores in Las Vegas last September. Ordering stock on-line and from catalogues is never as much fun as being able to stroke the stash there and then.

What could this be I wonder? It managed to jump out of one of the boxes and landed right in front of my camera just as I opened the shutter. How fortuitous was that? All I can say is, if you are able to join us at one of the Graphicus Open Days (05th and 06th September) then please do, you're in for a treat!

And finally, I teased you yesterday with an obscure view of a little something I've been working on and here's another little taster. If you're a Graphicus Guild member you'll be finding out what all this is about very soon!!!

15 comments:

Phree said...

Congratulations on the being on Craft Stamper's cover, how exciting, and well deserved too. Your little concertina book is lovely, I do hope you get a chance to demo that for us on TV some time soon. Glad you survived being squashed in with all that stash.. seems to me Adrian must be driving the Tardis!

Anonymous said...

Hi, it's Lisa again from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma!First of all, congratulations on your upcoming publication - that is so exciting! Is that a magazine that is available in the United States? I don't believe I have heard of it. Would love to get a copy if it is.
Now about those grungeboard flowers.....the flowers are unreal and I so want to learn how you make them curl and color them.
I sent you my email in the last comment a week or so agao. Don't remember if I mentioned I tried to join the guild but the shipping was $20 since I live in the US. Is there any other way at all??? The "eye candy" is just too much :) Hope to hear from you soon and congrats again!!! Lisa
lbruno7754@aol.com

Anonymous said...

Oh well done on your Craft Stamper publication I can appreciate how excited you must be. I have just subscribed to this again so will be waiting for my copy to arive!

I do love that concertina book.

Have sent you an email but it is having probs getting to you.

acrylik said...

Congratulations on Craft Stamper, it really is wonderful news! Can I get my copy signed when it comes into the shop?!

A note to all the other readers here - I spent over two hours photographing all the gorgeous stuff Lynn and Glenda brought back from their trip, there was that much of it, and believe me, I was in danger of making a serious dent in my next wage packet ;)

Chris said...

Congratulations on making the front cover of Craft Stamper! :-)) I can't wait to see what you've done.

Love your concertina book. Shame you didn't get to demo it on C&C.

How on earth did you manage to fit into Adrian's car??? It must have been wonderful to empty the warehouse. I don't think hubby would appreciate me coming over to Graphicus for the open weekend to help unload some of it as it's our anniversary.

veronica said...

lovely to see the photos - can we have instructions for the concertina book please..PLEASE, pretty please!!
will await the arrival of my craft stamper with bated breath- congrats on making the cover!fortunately, the next week is a very busy one, so it should arrive before I get too desperate.

craftimamma said...

I'm adding my pleas to Veronica's 'cos I so want to have a go at the concertina book.

Many congrats on making Craft Stamper's front cover. Whatever the piece I know you're well deserving of being chosen. Can't wait to see it and after more teasing about the grungeboard flowers can't wait for my Guild newsletter to arrive either.

I said on Glenda's blog that I thought Adrian must drive the Tardis and having seen your photos I'm convinced that is the case, but having seen glimpses of that lovely stash I'm gutted that once again I can't come for the open weekend. I had it all planned then yesterday realised that I have to collect my Mum and her friend on their return from hols and also collect her cat from the cattery. I am now in a big sulk 'cos something stops me every time.

Hope we get the chance of some of the goodies online!

Lesley XX

Moira said...

Oh Lynn, Congratulations!!! It is fantastic news on getting on the Craft Stamper cover and so well deserved as your work is always stunning and truly inspirational. I am delighted for you. If I make it to the open weekend I shall bring my copy for an autograph.

Moira

Jo said...

Congratulations, Lynn, you so deserve to be featured in Craft Stamper!
I've just come back from holiday to find my Sky+ box suffered power failure and I missed your C&C shows. Hope to do some catching up on demos and new stamps etc at the Graphicus Open Day.

Jill said...

Congratulations are the cover!!! Its a fab feeling when you see it in real life. I was on the cover of an MS mag when I wrote an article about being 'addicted' to craft. I had a 3 page spread inside!! You'll be a like a giddy school girl when you see it!!!

I always look forward to the open days, but this one seems like its going to be a cracker, especially looking at all the stash you brough back!! Can't wait!

Love

Jill
x

PS I've finished the scarpbook I was telling you about on the workshop. I'll bring it with me to the open day. You're seeing it whether you like it or not LOL!!!!!

UKMUMINUSA said...

CONGRATULATIONS on making the cover, make sure you post a pic on your blog when its in the shops so I can see. WOW all that stash what fun!!!!Love the corcntina book too, Sam xxx.

Deby said...

Brilliant news for you Lynn .. as your art and stamping is pulchritudinous ... for those who don't want to look it up - the word means ... Beautifully stunning x

Helen said...

Hey Lynn
You can see your front cover on the CS website now. It looks fantastic!
Helen

artyfartykat said...

Bows her head in acknowledgement of superior artistic ability!!
Wow Lynn that fantastic and well deserved. Ditto Carrie, can I have an autograph please? !!

Jo said...

My Craft Stamper has just been delivered. I'm so pleased you have pride of place on the cover and a full page pic inside. Would you take it as a compliment if I said you are a LEGEND? Of course we knew it all along but I think this makes it official!
Going off to read it now...
Congratulations, Lynn!