Wednesday 14 February 2018

WOYWW 454 - post show post

Hi happy deskers!  Last week got away with me and I know I missed some desks... this week I will try harder, but I am going away on Thursday; more about that later .  If you need to know where to go to link your desk, it is here

So, post show post it says... Sunday was the stamp show at Stevenage, always used to be one of my favourites, although like so many it's not what it used to be, so many bargain price stands (nothing wrong with bargains, obviously, but not at the expense of "proper" crafting)
As you may have seen in my report, however, my favourite company, Paperartsy announced that apart from Ally Pally they won't be attending shows any more... I am gutted, as that was the only reason I go to most of them

 the full pics from the show are here

but in case you missed it, these are my small purchases...



ahem







but that was Sunday and since then I have "tidied" ... well,  moved stuff around a bit....to uncover my craft mat




I used some of the new stuff, as I had to make a couple of birthday cards -
this one for my niece (she'll be 18, but this is such a cute duck I couldn't resist using it straight away!)
 and her mum, my sister in law...








JoFY stamps



(arrived on Friday, lol!)
they were a delayed pre-order
and this is what my desk looks like at the time of writing (Tuesday night)

train tickets, a small gift and a list of things I need to pack..

I am heading to Poole (Dorset) to stay with my mate Lin, on Thursday afternoon, and then on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, we are doing a couple of workshops with Antonis Tzanidakis - so I am really looking forward to that.

So, forgive me if I don't have time to visit all of you this week too!  I need to pack Wednesday night as I am working Thursday morning before I go.

34 comments:

Neet said...

Oh I am so envious of your workshops. Please give Antonis my love. You will have a fabulous time he is such a lovely man but he does 'up the pace' so get an early night in. If his girlfriend is there give her a special hug from me too.
Well, you certainly got a haul - and I am just as gutted as you about Paperartsy. I only got to see them at Port Sunny as London is such a haul (and expensive) for me.
Hugs (feeling jealous of your weekend)
Neet 2 xx

Claire said...

Wow, what amazing goodies, and such fun creations!!
Happy WOYWW :)
no. 3
And thanks for the visit - you are SO on the ball!!
xx

Lynn Holland said...

Disappointing when things change at craft fairs and traders leave, I know how you feel. You got plenty of goodies though.
Have a fabulous time,,you’re sure to.
LYNN x 11

Sarah Brennan said...

Wow Helen, that is a great haul. Love the duck and I'm sure your niece will too! Have a great time with your friend and at the workshops. Sarah #14

Lunch Lady Jan said...

I hope you have a wonderful time with your mate down in Dorset! Chatting and crafting, pretty awesome combination if you ask me ;-D. Your haul from last eekend is amazing, I'm glad you've broken into it already!
Hugs LLJ 12 xxx

Annie said...

Fab new stash and how lovely to see what you’ve done with some of it already. Hope you have a lovely time away.
Hugs,
Annie x #18

Anne said...

Hi Helen. Fabulous haul of goodies!!! hate it when things change - if the change is not for the better and you are not the first to say that these Craft Shows are not what they were :-( Have a great time with your friend and at the workshops. Anne x #21

shazsilverwolf said...

Hi Helen, that is disappointing about PA, They used to do Happy Stampers too. And the NEC, but I can't blame them for dropping that one. Love your goodies, there are some fab stamps & stencils there. Enjoy your weekend and the workshop. Have a lovely week, Hugs, Shaz #15 xXx

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Yummy yummy stash again, what fun, indeedy, Helen, welll done, and such great workshops to come. Happy WOYWW, Shaz in Oz.x #16

glitterandglue said...

Morning (just!) Helen. My word - you had fun at the show!!! Some lovely new stash there - enjoy using it all.
Take care. God bless.
Margaret #4

Cheetarah said...

Awesome haul! I love the new Seth Apter stamp sets. Lovely journal pages too. Have a wonderful week! xo Cheetarah #24

craftyani said...

Just a small haul yes. Love the duck, hope you have a great time with your friend. Ani #17

My name is Cindy said...

Happy Wednesday Helen! See you were your usual restrained self at the show. That duck is just adorable and that big flower is on my list. Have a wonderful trip and enjoy the workshop. Big hug, Cindy #22

Latane Barton said...

Wow, you are one busy girl. But, that's what makes life interesting, doesn't it?

Anonymous said...

Happy WOYWW. Now that is one of the reasons why I stopped going to craft fairs - I bought too much! Love that big flower stamp. Will have to doodle a bit and try to get a similar design. Enjoy your weekend. Ali x #30

Mrs.D said...

Ooh, what a fabulous selection of goodies, I really miss going to shows. I like the stencils, especially the diamond one at the back of second pic.
Thanks for visiting my desk,
Chris #5

Kim said...

Wow! You managed quite the haul!! I only have the one show near us, and it has gotten much smaller with the larger, well-known companies no longer attending. Since they are the draw, you would think the show would entice them some how. I LOVE the stencils from Paper artsy...I'll have to research them. Have a fabulous workshop!!
-K #34

Julia Dunnit said...

I love it when I can't see your mat! You scored well there young lady, I love nearly all of it! Shame about PA and their show schedule, understanding doesn't stop regretting though! Have a fab weekend. Am ashamed to say that I'm so far removed that I don't know anything about Antonis. But Neet's comments make me feel very jealous already!!

Lindart said...

What great finds! I love a lot of the stencils you got! We don't have any shows like the one you went to in my area, I'm jealous! Too bad Paper Artsy isn't showing anymore - I hope they are not on their way out. . . I really like their stamps! Have fun with your friend! Lindart #38

Heather M said...

Hi Helen, lots of goodies on your desk! Love the duck! Have a great weekend away with your mate, and enjoy your workshops. Have a lovely week Heather #13

pearshapedcrafting said...

Love how you used the duck! (It's on my list!) Have a great weekend! Hugs, Chrisx

Stacy Sheldon said...

I grinned over the newest pile of loot you have Helen, I love how you did the text inside the flower petals a lot on your sil card too :) ~Stacy #36

StampinCarol said...

That little duck is just adorable! And what a great and fun bunch of goodies! Hope your workshop goes wonderfully! Thanks for stopping by!
Carol N #26

Monica said...

Thanks for visiting and your kind words
Unfortunately shows do tend to deteriorate over time and as more people with limited experience try to cash in. so we have to then try to use up unused goodies we bought in the bright years!
Monica #34

craftytrog said...

Love those cards!
Have a great time in Dorset Helen xx

okienurse said...

I love the workshops and the conventions but around here they have gotten so expensive it is almost impossible to go to one and buy anything. I spent $130 last one I went to and didn't spend much at the booths because as you say it is becoming second rate crafting stuff or repeats of one artist of another artists products (ie Tim Holtz is being repeated by everyone!). Love the cards.
Vickie #39

April said...

Looks like you found lots of goodies even though it's not like it used to be. We have to travel to different cities to find craft shows - it's different everywhere. :-(
April #23

buterfliecrafter said...

Hello Helen, nice additions to your ever growing collection, where do you store everything? Lovely cards. Have fun at your workshops, Vicky

Sue said...

Hi Helen, Lovely cards.

You will have fun with all the new stash.

Hope you have a lovely time with your friend and enjoy the workshops.

Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Happy WOYWW
Sue #27

Annie Claxton said...

Oh wow what a lot of lovely goodies to play with! Enjoy your time away, have fun :o) Annie C #10

Shoshi said...

Sorry to hear PaperArtsy are no longer doing shows - not that they've ever been this far down. I do know that the stands at shows are getting ridiculously expensive and quite a few people simply aren't bothering any more because it doesn't pay. Thank you for your visit - I had a brilliant time at our show on Thurs and I've blogged about it now where you can see all my purchases! Sorry to be so long replying but yesterday I crashed with exhaustion after such a long and busy day but picking up now and trying to catch up again!

Happy belated WOYWW,
Shoshi #29

Dorlene Durham said...

Lots of goodies and great cards. I love that cute ducky too! Have a great time with your friend. Happy WOYWW (late). Dorlene #37

Words and Pictures said...

What a great haul - bargains and lots of PA goodies. It is so sad that they've had to make the decision not to do so many shows... but maybe good for your bank balance!! I love the cards - that little duck is sooo cute, and I'm always so impressed at how you press new purchases into action so quickly. Hope you've been having a brilliant time in Poole, and look forward to catching up with what you've been making there.
Alison x

Marit said...

Due to an unexpected assignment coming in I'm way late with my visit, ohmy, it's almost Wednesday again! But now I'm here, admiring your desk and all the goodies you bought. I hope you had a lovely stay and a great workshop last week. Have a great week! Love from Holland, Marit #19