Crafty Countdown - 17 days to go folks

By jove.  17 days!!

I'm going to have to be a bit of a skiver tonight, I'm sorry.  I'm full of a cold, and although I've been busy doing secret crafting all day, my mind is now utterly blank!!  I'll do two postings tomorrow instead.  I was going to do the shaving foam technique - but I haven't got any shaving foam - so that was an instant fail.

Instead, lets have a little chat, and reminisce.

For starters, someone asked me about my idea's for the challenges, and did they just pop in my head.  Sometimes, but like everyone, it's good to use the good old internet for inspiration.  For example, the egg shell challenge, I found the mosaic idea on pinterest, and had a go.  Once you learn a new technique, you can then experiment and change it.  This is what I love about the challenges - they take me out of my comfort zone.  And I do love experimenting.

If I'd have planned today's skive, I would have asked people to send questions in, a little bit of a craft clinic, meets truth or dare :)

However, I didn't plan, so I'm going to share some photo's and stories:

2013 haha, our very own Nigel May, and myself.  This was our first visit to the CHA, and my first visit to an IHop.  I LOVED it - the trip more than the Ihop.  If I remember correctly it was the first time C&C broadcast live from the CHA, so it was a big deal, and I was so honored to be part of the team.  I think I was lucky as well, as we didn't broadcast quite as many shows as they do now, so our days weren't quite as grueling. Obviously, for a crafter, the CHA is such an incredible show - there's so much to take in.  The first time I went was with Dawn, many years ago, and we had such a good laugh.  We went to Disney as well - I decided I wanted to stay there and be Piglet (from Winnie the Pooh).

The team.  Nigel is the best person at being able to bring everyone together, and we did bond with the American team.  Look at our Mr Bloodworth :) When I first started C&C John was brilliant.  I had only guested at QVC, and presenting is such a different beast.  John really helped me, and gave me the confidence I needed to do the job.  A good producer will be able to read their presenter - and understand when they need feeding information, if they need help to bring energy to a show - or alternatively when they need reigning in :) John is such an amazing crafter, therefore you trust his editorial, and he was always ready to help me if he could tell I was struggling.

The Neon Boneyard.  Aaaargh, this is so cool.  Myself and Nigel went off to Vegas after the CHA, and had such a good time.  The Neon Boneyard is where the old Neon signs go to die!  Sounds harsh doesn't it.  It's such a spooky place.  The photo's would make incredible scrapbook papers.  I loved hearing about the signs and the history of Vegas.  It was really interesting.  And they did use some incredible fonts :)

One more, otherwise I know I'll be here all night, and this is so self indulgent isn't it! I love going through old photo's.  I had to share one of my nephew, Charlie, brand new!  I was so happy Marianne asked me to be there for his birth.  It was a massive deal for me, to be there for my sister, to see Charlie, and to face a birth, after my own very traumatic experience.  It was very healing to be honest, as it allowed me to re-write the traumatic memories and emotions, with a very, very positive outcome.  And I felt that utter overwhelming love which you feel for a brand new baby. 

Right, I'm going to have another lemsip and trot off to bed I think. I promise tomorrow will be business as usual.