rozzy 
July 2010
June 2010
I never thought I was going to get there as hubby was working on all the days of the HobbyCraft Show, but he was luckily able to get cover for yesterday so he could take me.
This was my first ever craft show I had been to and i thoroughly enjoyed it. i was worried it being the last day of the show whether there would be anything left
It was a very long day, we got up around 4.30 and left home just before 6am. The journey to the NEC was about 110 miles, and having never been before we dint know what to expect. I had a quick look on the NEC's website and was glad to see that i didnt have to pay the £8 parking fee either.
we arrived just after 8.30 and were directed towards the Disabled parking area... we were even more impressed to find the designated carpark was undercover too, esp as it had been raining!
We had to take Mindy our dog with as we have no dogsitter. We knew she would be happy enough in the car. At least being undercover it was going to be a bit more 'cosy' for her.
The doors to the show were to open at 9.30 so we had plenty of time for a coffee.
once inside it was hard to know where to start. there was so many loving exciting stalls to look at. we wanted about and steve happen to spot Dawn Bibby.... i could just wal past without saying hello. but by the time we got to her... as i'm so slow.. she already had a little gathering of her fans eagerly waiting to show her their creations... so we wandered up and started chatting to JJ her husband. Nobody gets to see him on the TV... i think he's camera shy, but what a lovely person he is. we were only able to say helo to Dawn, but spent a wee while chatting to JJ which was very nice.
We then wandered amongst all the other lovely stalls and was drawn in my the fab selection of Penny Black stamps that were on display. it was really nice to see so many card examples too for inspiration. i did resist buying any though.
We had only been in there about 30 mins and as s i guessed what may happen, there was a tannoy announcement... could the car owner of registration ****** please come to the organiser's office! Typical...we knew that Mindy would be a little noisy, but she soon settles. We had told teh carpark attendant that there was a dog in the car, just in case she was going to be noisy!!
But unfortunately many others as they walked past got the wrong impression of her, thinking she was in distress..... steve got to the car, only to find her fast asleep!! we get used to thsi now, but I supopose it was only people being concerned. he had planned to keep going back on checking on her anyway. He let her out for a while and she was fine.
Whilst steve was at the car I stayed chatting to one of the stall holder's husbands and it proves ts such a small world. even though they do not come from where we live, one of their relatives recently got married across the road to where steve is working, plus they are very good friends with the owners of Ali Craft in Lincoln, often meeting up with them.
whilst iwas chattering away, a lovely lady came along and said are you Roz? It was Katherine (Lavendercards). how lovely it was to meet her. we both knew each other was going to be there and had arranged that we would try and meet up, but she just happened to come across me, which was really nice. Steve had just got back too from checking on Mindy, so he was able to say hello too.
there was so much to look at and i was already getting tired, but i kept going..... i have no idea how though
I dosed up on some extra pain killers! I treated myself to 4 packs of nestabilities dies as they were on offer, a huge pack of 12x12 chipboard sheets and a new Zutter (Bind it all) Corner Rounder that will cut through chipboard. I was looking for the new pink bind it all, but they had all sold out!!
By this time, even though not buying many items, i had spent loads, so i had to be very careful not to get drawn to tooooo much. it was just lovely to be able to see so many crafty bits all in one place. To all of you who have ben to these shows many times, will think I am mad, but being my first visit, i thought it was fantastic. I bought a few others odds and ends like glue and magazines. I then got another call to say Katheryn from karacterKrafts had arrived, but was in the Crafts For Chrsitmas Hall. I have known Kathryn since before we joined Trimcraft, but we had never actually met. so I said i would call her back once we had made our way over to that side of teh hall. It was lovely meeting her after all this time too. Both Katherine and Kathryn were a pleasure to meet.... hubby thought so too.
We stumbled across a lovely demo of the new Cannon photo printers.... of how I wish they were selling them... its just what I could do with. They were just demo'ing them rather than taking orders..... that was lucky... the credit card was saying
but the lady on there did a great demonstration of the printer and took a photo of us and printed it out there and then in front of us, I have attached that below. I love the addition extra icons that cant be overprinted onto the photo. I may have to look into buying one of these 
Steve went and checked on Mindy again whislt I wandered around, but by this time I felt I could drop... unfortunately I couldnt even sit on the floor, like some people were doing around the edge of the hall...once iget down i wouldnt be able to get up!!
I was struggling to see some of the stalls as by this time it was very busy, but i looked around a little more then just waited for steve to get back. I was tring to ask some questions about the new Craft Robo lite, but the ladies on the stall didnt seem to be able to answer my questions, but there were two men who were there they thought perhaps could help, unfortunately they always seemd to be very busy. I waited a while, but standing still is painful on my spine. i said i'd pop back on the way round. i did this, but again no one around... the men had dissapeared by this time... never mind, I wasn't going to buy one anyway, but was interested in the machine and wanted to ask a few questions about it.... in case i changed my mine at a later date!!
I liked the look of the hot foiling machine. I have no idea what these cost, but after seeing a demo and then they let some of the customers have a play, i decided that, that wasnt for me either!! I need a steady hand to get good results on something like that...It was nice to see these things being used rather than buy them online only to find out that they really aren't for you!!
we walked over to Art materials side as I had a question or two and then we called it a day.
I think we left just before 1.30pm
the journey home was as good as the one tehre, no problems at all.... thank heavens for Sat Navs!!! after stopping for a quick bite to eat when we got as far as Grantham, we finally returned home around 6pm.
A thoroughly good day was had by both of us. I was worried taht steve was going to get bored and just think he was there to carry my bags!! (He does a great job of that
), but I am pleased to say he was impressed too with teh show and had a good time.th eonly thing is I still ahvent recovered and poor Steve has had to go to work today. he will be so tired by the end of his shift at gone 10pm tonight!!
If it wasn't for Trimcraft, esp Sarah I would never have gone, so Thank You Sarah, I really apprecaited my 'prize'...even though I am still sooooo tired today, i thoroughly enjoyed my day.xx
just adding a picture of a quick card i made using the nestabilites dies that i bought at the NEC
it was still all worth it.
