Tuesday 27 October 2009

Annoncement

I have been very quiet of late - as you know we had the sad news of my Gran passing away, but also I have been making massive, quite frankly life-changing, decisions.

I wanted to put a post on my blog before anything ended up on the forums. I think news is better from the horses mouth.

Well, I am soon to be joining Create and Craft/Ideal World. My start date is the 8th November, I will be on their stand at the NEC in Birmingham, then I will be in studio on the 10th (but hiding behind the scenes to see the goings on before they let me loose!).

They really have offered me a fantastic and exciting opportunity to be a Craft Presenter alongside Stephanie, which will give me lots of new and fabulous challenges.

Of course, anyone who knows me will know my close relationship with Dawn, and trust me this has been an incredibly difficult decision to make. We have not fallen out, I am not leaving because of anything Dawn has done - quite the opposite. I have, and will always, value Dawn's friendship. She is such a talented lady, who I have the utmost respect for and will always be grateful for all her encouragement and praise of my work over the years, and it has been many years, which is why this has been so very difficult and upsetting. It is with great and sincere sadness I leave QVC and Dawn, but with excitement, (and scary wobble belly) that I start the next chapter of my life.

I hope I leave one place, but do not loose those who stay.

I have driven all those near and dear mad over the last few weeks, thank you to everyone who has had me go on, and on and on. Thank you to Dawn and Abbie, who were brilliant and I know you really tried for me. I will miss the customer events, and of course coming up to the demonstrations and seeing all the Topaz Team, who I have always missed being part of. I hope I leave with everyones blessing, and do not loose people who have become an important part of my life.

All this said, I am looking ahead. I am very excited - I have been up to C&C and met lots of great people, and can not wait to start. There's alotta craft out there, so I recon there's plenty of room for two channels to be doing it without having to be bitter rivals, well I really hope that is the case and not my happy clappy version of life. Viva la difference (is that the right expression or have I used it in completely the wrong context?).

Well, that's my newsflash over. I now have time to catch up on all those things on my "to-do" list - and mental space to blog more often! I need to read a dictionary a night in order to improve my vocab though - a presenter!! Not everything can just be "fab" can it. Gulp.

xxxx

90 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your new job!! It sounds a wonderful opportunity for you Leonie ,there`s a lot more variety on CandC for you to get your teeth into,wishing you a great career there, love Sandra Bowen xx
PS Will you still be doing ATC club ?

Leonie pujol said...

Hi Sandra,

Thank you so much for your support. I certainly will be doing my ATC club, in fact the good news is I will have more time again, so will be able to up the anti and keep much more on top of it (phew), felt awful about getting so behind. Thank you again
xxxx

Kym's Crafty Cards said...

Leonie, what a wonderful opportunity. I can understand the dilemma you were in with your wonderful relationship with Dawn and QVC but sometimes you have to go with the change. I wish you so much luck and will look forward to seeing you on Ideal World and Create and Craft. Best wishes, Kym xxx

Mandi said...

Congratulations and wishing you all the very best..
you will certainly be an asset at C&C but you will be missed by Dawn and her team ..

Good Luck
mandi xx

Fab said...

How exciting Leonie !

You're going to have fun with everything new. You're going to be fine, don't worry. I completely agree about the channels, it's nice to have a choice and watch them equally.

Looking forward to watching you on the 10th !

XXXXX
Fab

Joy said...

Congratulations!!! & well done for having the courage to make the change! You will be missed on qvc but variety is a wondrous thing. You've got so much talent & its fab that you're spreading your wings & sharing with more people :D All the best, Leonie & I really must get my you-know-what in gear & get back with the ATC club. xxx

Nicola said...

Well doen Leonie! Im sure it shows your true friendship with Dawn,by the fact it is a fantastic oppourtunity for you!! You might get to show my samples!!.Nicola.xx

angie's blogspot said...

Aww that's brilliant news, I think c and c is the place to be, just try and get them to have it on freeview all day instead of half a day please, good luck for the future you deserve it x

Chrissie said...

Congratulations Leonie, I think this is a wonderful opportunity for you.Wishing you every success and happiness in your new career.
Chrissie x

Nicola said...

My comment meant to say shows your true friendship with Dawn for the fact she is happy for you and a fantastic oppourtunity for you!!xx

Karen Lines said...

Good Luck with your new job !! Hopefully I will see you a bit more as we use Ideal for our products.Looking forward to seeing you at the NEC.
Karen,Sheena's friend.

Unknown said...

I'm thrilled for you Leonie. C&C have gained one new viewer from next month! I hope to see lots of inky fingers and no decoupage! Being selfish, I'm sad that I won't see you at Topaz demos :( Good luck and C&C have got the best!

Lesley said...

Fantastic NEWS on your new job. I do find C&C way of working through ideas with craft materials a lot more interesting than QVC quick demos. I met you at the QVC demo in London and did your make and take of the owl with my neice both yorkshire lasess, we so enjoyed meeting you. QVC are nuts to loose you, I so enjoy your sense of humour. Looking forward to seeing you on C&C.

Foil Play said...

Congratulations, Leonie - wishing you all the very best at Create & Craft. It must have been a very difficult decision, but it will be great to see more of your work :-)

Anonymous said...

Wishing you all the best Leonie, in your new venture. I am sure you will shine, just like the star you are. Well done and good luck, love Jaki.

Anonymous said...

Fantastic news, congratulations.

Looking forward to seeing you have the opportunity to get inky rather than the matting and layering that qvc are so fond of.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Leonie, I am sure you will be missed at QVC, hope all goes well for you at C&C.

Sure that scary wobble belly will soon settle.

Good Luck
Pat xx

Kirsten Alicia said...

Hi Leonie, congratulations on your new beginning at C&C. I will miss you on QVC - as will all the team there, I'm sure - but at least we will still be able to watch you. I'm also glad you'll still be doing the ATC club; I haven't got around to joining yet, but I will - eventually! Very best wishes to you.

cathcrops said...

You go girlfriend !
All the very best for the new chapter in you crafting life xx

Anonymous said...

Hi Leonie. The very, very best of luck hunny with your new job. Oh I'll miss you at the Topaz events - you are a breath of fresh air. QVC will be quiet and not the same without you. Can't get C&C - only Ideal World, so I hope to see you on there soon. Hopefully also at the NEC. Take care. Lots of love She xx

Prudence said...

Well done Leonie. Will be good to see you able to demonstrate properly and really show off your talents. I am sure you will be a great success.

Will treasure my ATC from the QVC recent event.
Best wishes for the future
Prudence

rosie said...

Congratulations on your new job Leonie.
hopefully you will be able to "shine" more and have more focus on you on C&C.

I always find your demos more clear and better demonstrated with explanations than other people

good luck x

Sandra said...

CoNgRaTuLaTiOnS Sweetie!!!! Wishing you bucket loads of luck. I'm sooooo excited for you. Really looking forward to seeing more of you on our screens. Yay!
Hugs
Sandra x

FauxPainter - Dee Paramour said...

Oh how agonising for you. Talk about being torn in two.

Wonderful opportunity though and I'm so glad you took it. A big step forward.

There is room for both channels and there really shouldn't be wars.

Luv Dee xxx

Maggie said...

Congratulations Leonie, its better to say you tried something new than to think in years to come "what if".

I know you will be a very succesful presenter as you are one talented lady.

All the luck on the world,stay happy xx's

Anonymous said...

Good for you!! I must say I have been really impressed with Create / craft recently, there stamping shows / metal shows have been fantastic.
QVC could learn a lot about proper demos from them! I hope you get all the inky products and very little of the stick and cut kits!

Beverley said...

wow what an opportunity for you and very well deserved too.

Have to say QVC were mad to let you go, you are a breath of fresh air and always so enthusiatic, so look forward to seeing you on C&C

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Leonie. Good luck with your new job, its always exciting and scary but I do hope you will enjoy it. Will be watching out for you so don't hide behind the others. Loved watching you on QVC and I'm sure Dawn will miss you, but hey ho that's life. You cant stand still, that's the way to boredom.
Cassie x

gillyflower said...

congratulation on your new job, sure you will be wonderful at it. always love to watch when you are presenting.
lets hope you will have more variety and more time to get stuck into your demos as it must be frustrating to do the same thing over and over and never have enough time to show what you want
i have never bought from c&c but will tune in to watch your shows
so good luck have fun and enjoy
gill

JanieB said...

Hi Leonie, everyone needs a change sometimes, and I think so many people will be behind you in this one. We all love our craft shows, and we love to see you presenting them. So if you are going to be on more, then hurrah!!!

To work in something you enjoy as much as you do must be wonderful, the C&C crowd seems a great lot of people. Good luck and happy crafting..

Hugs Janie xx

Sue said...

Congratulations Leonie!!! It will be great to be able to see you more often on the telly.

Karin said...

Congratulations Leonie, it will be great to see you more often on our screens.

Dealbaida said...

Fantastic news!! Many, many Congratulations Leonie. You are a hugely talented and inspirational lady and Create and Craft will enable your legion of fans to see so much more of you.

November can't come quickly enough!

Marion

Jenz Bitz 'n' Bobs said...

Congratulations Leonie great news. I love Create and Craft etc I hope you will enjoy your new job. Good luck and enjoy. Jenny x

lucy&digey said...

Good luck, Leonie. It's so nice to see a craft tv lady with real talent and enthusiasm so I am really looking forward to seeing more of you! The talent on c&c far outshines any other channel so it is the best place for you. Can't wait to see your demos - you will be 'fab'!!!!

Here's to you XXXXXXX

SDCrafts said...

Oh bless you Leonie. You knew your comments would go bananas, didn't you? What a lovely piece of news for you. Your limitless creative talent and natural presenting ability are one channel's losses and another's gains - we, the viewers, simply have to change channel more often!

Hope you got a good transfer fee - it's like Sky Sports News here today!

Get ready for everyone sending you suggestions!

hally said...

QVC's loss is C&C's gain, Leonie - and ours if we can see more of your demos on TV - and you, you always cheer me up.

love / Hally XXX

Trish said...

Congratulations on your new position at C&C and Ideal world. I am sure you will fit in and help us all. Wishng you lots of luck and I will be watching. Trish:)

Jenny S. (UK) said...

How wonderful for you. I wish you all the luck in the world with your new venture. You will be amazing, you have a great talent.
Can't wait to see you over there.
Jenny x

Anonymous said...

It`ll be lovely to see you doing more Demo`s Leonie, love your sense of mischief! lol
Looking forward to it!
Good luck!
love angie babe (Do`Crafter)

Pamela said...

Leonie, this is wonderful news. Congratulations on your new job and look forward to seeing you both at the NEC and on C&C.
Well done and best wishes.
Pam x

DI said...

What a fab opportunity this is a chance to do it for yourself you will be fab as always all the best good luck for the future.

Cazz said...

Oh Leonie that is wonderful news. And I have no doubt that Dawn will be pleased as punch for you. I firmly believe that the rivalry is only between the companies themselves and not with the presenters. Good luck and I look forward to watching you on IW & C & C xxx

jane said...

good luck in your new job Leonie, am really going to miss you on QVC but I'm sure you will be a great success at C&C

Rainbow Lady said...

Congratulations Leonie I am delighted for you. Now we will get to see more of your wonderful demos. Good luck for the new show and at NEC - you will fit in great with the CC and IW team I know. Love and hugs Cynthia x

Paula said...

this is fab news Leonie, I watch both channels and you are right there is room for both.
I'm glad you have ahd the support of your family and Dawn and team.
looking forward to seeing you on C&C.
good luck though you won't need it.
Paula.x

Anonymous said...

This is the best crafting news for ages! Wishing you a happy time at C&C and may your crafting talent shine through! Let's hope you'll be able to demo all the various techniques you do so brilliantly!
Inky fingers ahead! Way to go!!!

Heather said...

Congratulations Leonie on your new and exciting job...... good luck with it all, heres to watching you on C & C..... you go girl!! Hev xx

T.Cs Creative Space said...

Wow as they say an awful lot on C & C..hope you bring some pazzaz to their cards , it could do with it...cant wait to see you on there....and i think you have done the right thing x x x
go girl.....

LazyKay said...

CONGRATULATIONS! Change is always scary as well as exciting. Look forward to seeing you on the new channel.

You'll soon be settled in and part of the new team.

xxxxxxxxx

Stephanie said...

Congratulations Leonie!! You always made me smile on QVC - your laughter is infectious :) Best of luck - you will be fantastic! Love Steph xxx

Tracy said...

Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Go Leonie, I am so happy for you hon. I know you will just rock at presenting. It's great that you get to spread your creative wings, you deserve it and more. I Wish you happiness and great success in your new career,
Hugzzz
Tracy

Lynne said...

Congratulations Leonie! I'm really pleased for you. I am sure you will be a great asset to C&C. I look forward to watching your shows, I just know they are going to be great fun.

Good luck!

Joanne said...

Leonie, Leonie, at last we will get to watch more of your incredible talent instead of 'times up on this item!!' QVC craft needs this shake up because, quite frankly, it's getting a bit boring. You go for it girl. Can't wait for your first of many shows. I'll be watching wherever I go. Enjoy every minute. Lots and lots of LUV, Joanne & Terry,xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Jacqui said...

I, as I am sure many others are, are looking forward to you joining Create and Craft in whatever capacity. You are warm, wonderful, wacky and by far one of the best. QVC are mad to let you go but I'm sure you have a bright, exciting future with Create and Craft. I look forward to your first show, will be setting the sky plus to record. Good Luck although I know you dont need it.

Love Jacqui Braodhead xx

craftmadgran said...

Congratulations Leonie on taking up your new position. You are a very talented lady and I loved watching your demonstrations on QVC and look forward to seeing you when you appear on C&C. Best Wishes

Maida xx

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Leonie! Hope we get to see a lot more of you as I've always loved your shows. QVC really don't know what they have done letting you go... Helen x

Karen said...

Wow Leonie, that's amazing news. I can imagine how incredibly difficult that decision must have been for you. I'm so excited to see more of you on Create and Craft, you go girl!! xxxx

Momiji said...

Congratulations and wishing you all the very best for this new chapter in your life.
It will be great to see more of your work on C&C ..looking forward to it...

Kath Stewart said...

You go girl...wishing you all the best at C&C and forget the dictionary...we love you just the way you are....hugs kath xxxxx

Lynnda said...

Big move but I am sure you will fit right in with everyone at C&C they are very friendly. Looking forward to seeing you there

Anonymous said...

Step out of the shadow and into the limelight Leonie.
Your success is well deserved.
Best of luck
Averil

Gillian said...

I can only echo what everyone else has said Leonie, well done, looking forward to seeing more of you and your brilliant demos,it's always so intersting and great fun watching your shows.
Good luck xxxx

Sheila - Ginger said...

Congratulations Leonie on your joining C&C....it will be so lovely to see some more of your fabulous work. Good luck at the NEC too... hopefully I might see you there.

Love Sheila xx
PS I've posted once today but it hasn't shown up, so hope this one does.

Lynne said...

Well done Leonie, and I hope that Create and Craft give you the opportunity to show what you can really do. I'll make much more effort to watch now!

Julie said...

Congratulations Leonie, that must have been one of the hardest decisions of your life to make. It'll be fantastic to see you demonstrating on C&C. I really hope you enjoy your time there.
Best wishes,
Julie x

Hels Sheridan said...

Hey Leonie, I just wanted to say I am so sorry to hear of your sad loss...bless you hun...and also...CONGRATS on your new job...I am over the moon for you and it is a much deserved position...you got me into ATCs...**tis allll your fault LOL** but also, you have never failed to inspire me throughout the years you have been either making samples or doing your presenting stints on QVC....C&C are very lucky to have you and I wish you all the very very best of luck in your new venture....lotsa love Hels x

Anonymous said...

Hi Leonie..bless you it cant of been easy...
You will be so missed by Dawn and their Team.....
`Congratulations` to you ..
`Go Forward and be Happy` I wish you every success and Happiness xxxlotsa loves to you ...
scot says `Good Luck` sweetie:)xxx
Must tune back in to watch you now!!!!!!it will be exiting times for sure:)xxx

Unknown said...

Congratulations Leonie what a fantastic opportunity for you you will shine like star on C&C as you are a natural, they will all love you there, but so sad for Dawn & her team to lose you it must have been a hard time for you these past weeks, but you have a grand career ahead of you, sending all the best of Irish luck to you not that you will need it will be tunning in to see you xxhugsxx
Sarah xx
Sarah

Lisa said...

Good luck in your new venture, great to be able to see more of your talent

Lisa x

Anonymous said...

Hi Leonie

We've only just caught up with your news and are absolutely thrilled. What a fantastic opportunity for you. Although we know how hard the decision will have been, we're certain that you've made the right one.

We're going to miss your cheery smile and cuddles, and we really mustn't lose touch. You know where we are if there's anything we can help with, now or in the future. Take good care of yourself and SUCCEED!

Rosemary & Nige x

sam21ski said...

Congratulations - this is a fantastic opportunity - wishing you well on your first airing!!!

Max said...

"OH MY GIDDY AUNT !!"
Fantastic news Leonie - as others have said, moving away from the safety and security of Dawn's Craft Empire must've been one of the most difficult decisions you've ever had to make. I'm sure you had a job for life with her had you wanted it. I truly hope your friendship is strong enough to survive this change. There's no doubt you have left a huge hole in her team which she will find impossible to fill.
BUT ...
"You Go Girl!" it's time to spread your wings and fly solo. Just a shame that QVC didn't snap you up first, but rest assured all your fans will follow you over to C+C.
I hope you enjoy the challenge and wish you every success in this new adventure - that scary wobbly belly is just a 'lickle' bit of excitement and will soon be replaced by the warm flush of success.

Luv'n'Stuff
Max
xx

made by fifi said...

congratulations leonie - look forward to seeing you on C&C :O) xx

jordiegirl said...

A big congratulations on your new job Leonie.

I watch QVC and C&C/Ideal World and it's great that C&C are now on Freeview - but as someone else said it would be good if it was on all day. I record it from 8 til 1 every morning then flick through to the bits I want to see. I don't see why there needs to a channel wars at all.

I look forward to seeing you on there as a presenter. This is a brilliant opportunity for you to make your own way instead of hiding behind Dawn and being in the background, I'm sure will be brilliant. Good to hear that Dawn was behind you and I'm certain you will stay friends.

You say you need to read a dictionary to learn new words for presenting - well, I was watching Amy on QVC on Tuesday when she was standing in for Dawn and I didn't realise how much notice my husband takes of craft!!!!!! Anyway he commented on how many times Amy used the word 'beautiful' and it was a lot!!! Then when he went to work I continued watching what I'd recorded and she said it over and over again until the end of the programme. Perhaps you should lend her your dictionary too!

However, I can sympathise, as it must be very nerve wracking talking and demonstrating and trying to think of plenty of words to describe product. At least Amy made us laugh.

I'll miss seeing you on QVC but you weren't on often enough so it will be nice to see you as a regular presenter on C&C.

Now a little question, I have the Double Do XL and I know in one of your posts you said how much you love it. The thing is I bought mine very recently from QVC and have found there are not a lot of dies out there specifically for this product, so can you tell me which ones I can use. I have seen some lovely Cuttlebug folders but apparently you need some adaptor plates to use those. I am specifically looking for a nice die cut Christmas tree to fit on 6x4 or 7x5 cards for a customer. We were lucky enough to receive a lovely Christmas card from Holland last year which was a die cut Christmas tree made up of holly leaf shapes and snowflakes and the inside of the card was green so it was very effective. I would like to do something similar. I have a Wishblade but I'm not very competent on that, even though I have had it 2 years, to actually make my own die cut tree. Any suggestions please?

Have you now finished Uni or are you still studying?

Thanks a lot, and my best wishes for your new career. Sure you will have great fun there, all the presenters seem very friendly and down to earth. Enjoy the next stage in your career/life.

Yvonne South xx

Sandra said...

Congratulations Leonie i wish you well in your new job ,I'm sure you will do fantastic
Sandra xx

Unknown said...

Hi
Looking forward to seeing you on C n C now I can actually get in on Freeview. Wishing you success in the future.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your new job! There's plenty of room for crafting and try to get C&C on Freeview all day if you can! Just been watching some recordings of craft day on QVC - I did manage to get a few things on the day though! Look forward to seeing you more often on TV. Good luck!

Jackie x

Ali Watson said...

Congratualtions Leonie, life is for living and what is for us won't go by us. As someone already said in later years you don't want to be saying what if... Will def be tuning in.......sending hugs too.

Anonymous said...

Hi Leonie. Although I wish you all the luck in the world for your new venture, I must say I was shocked you are going to C & C. Their presenters have far too much to say for themselves (particularly Stephanie Weightman) which in my opinion meses up the enjoyment of seeing the demos. I realise you want to move on to other things but shock, horror, not C & C.
All the best thoug. Jenny

Mewsli said...

congrats doll .

You will have time for you to be you if you get my drift . Sometimes , you can be rushed through demos ( and I know its the same on all shopping channels ) and you have very little time to connect with the people who are watching .

And you`ll get to work with the WOOLITE man ... :) Id better explain, my two nieces were at my house, and we were watching C+C when Howard one of the presenters was strutting his stuff . BOTH Beth and Caitlin in one voice yelled " Hey, Auntie Carole its the Woolite man, dont buy any , cos it ruins your jumpers Mam says " I didnt know where to put myself. I couldnt keep that straight a face either .

Have fun, and congratulations . Remember after all its your career , and you need to move on to experience new things.

Carole

D said...

I'll really miss you on QVC, but am so pleased for you to get this chance to be more than just a stand-in (or stuntman?) :-) You're going to be fantastic on C&C, and it'll be excellent for you to have more time to do detailed demos instead of rushing and sometimes not getting to show what you've made. I'll definitely be tuning in to see what you're up to, because you're one of those people who can light a show up with your lovely personality and sense of fun. Wishing you masses of luck and happiness in your new job! xx

caroline said...

congratulations on the new job and good luck x

AUNTIE NONIE said...

Congratulations on you new job Leonie.
Fiona

Dan said...

Congratulations Leonie!! Wishing you every success with this exciting opportunity!

Carrieanne said...

Congratulations Leonie on your new job. I will miss seeing you on QVC but wish you well in your new venture, love Karen x

Cynthia said...

Eeeeh Chuck!! C & C are sooo lucky to be getting you! I always watch c & c but used to watch QVC on tuesdays just to see and HEAR you and Dawn to get my 'fix' of my home accent - Lancashire. I am from Nelson but have lived in Yorkshire for 20 years now, so please dont loose the 'lanky twang'!! The presenters at C C & Ideal have been there forever so it must be a nice place to work - and they're allways making us giggle, all the very best chuck, Cynthia xxx

Anonymous said...

Leonie, congratulations on your new job. I'm sure that you will enjoy the challenge and I look forward to seeing much more of you on C & C.
xx

PinksyDoodles said...

Congratulations Leonie. I wish you every success with your new job at C&C - you will be brilliant! I think you've definitely made the right decision, tough as it was.
Clare x

Anonymous said...

Just heard about your new presenter role - CONGRATULATIONS!
Sorry to hear about the loss of your gran, I am sure she is looking down and extremely proud and happy :-)

Look forward to catching your shows when not working, your passion, innovation and knowledge are a true inspiration!

Very best wishes
xx