Phew all over for another year

We are safely back from the the Stitches trade show at the NEC. we met up with lot of old friends from the crafting world mainly other retailers I have know for years like Anni Jo from Crafters Dream in Nottingham, other Nottingham folk like Becky. We also saw all our favourite demonstrators like Lindsey Mason and Michelle Saxon who have kept me inspired over the years.

Here I am with Gwen from Stamp Pad. I hope to get over there soon to do some work with Gwen who is a crafter with a great style.

We basically, for three days we ate chocolate and gushed as everyone told us what a stunning stand we had, how striking it was etc...which considering we were with the trade we took as a great compliment, especially when the first person on the stand and taking a photo was Suze Weinburg, she should know.

This is me catching up with Michelle, we thought she was dressed to work on our stand, but it turns out she only came for the chocolate! still love her though
I made one new friend, Carole from Arty Farty, they were straight across from us and they were marvellous, we laughed and enjoyed ourselves so much it was brilliant. I kept calling Carole, Cath or Pat I have no idea why, she never corrected me, she was amazing.

On my team, I had Martin to help with setting up and for the worst part of Sunday. I also had Elaine Kettle who draws some our stamp designs and Ben who was wonderful even if he did get tired. I have an image in my brain of him on Sunday night at the back of the hotel, I wasn't cruel enough to take a photo but we both know what it was like, a shared experience we will have a long time. (Poor boy I wonder if he worked out his Christmas "jumper" was bought to co ordinate with the stand.)

I didn't get off the stand much other than to visit the toilet or to eat, but that was my fault I didn't want to leave my "baby". You can tell how bad I was, I could see Tim Holtz's face from my stand but didn't go to watch his demo!

here is a close up of a couple of the samples we did for the show. I will try and tell you more about the trip tomorrow.

getting there slowly

still getting there, I have made several huge packing lists so that I remember what stock I need to take, what paper work, the samples and then all the domestic stuff like clothes for me and the boys, and a few picnic bits...as a friends mother once said when we were doing a show together "it's a long time to be away from your larder".

anyway here is another sample for you, it is my first attempt at using polymer clay, I feel a new addiction coming on...any one know where I can get a pasta machine?

a finished peice

my space is so full of work in progress, I haven't had anything to post for a while

I have had one of those afternoons where I have lots of things "drying" and they are all at the stage were they look terrible, hopefully they will dry OK, but rather than watching them dry I have come up to post some finished work

It is an 8x8 page of a favourite photo embellished with part of the pansy stamp and some of the journalling blocks that are still in development.


I used Holly Berry and maple red glimmer msits to make some coloured card on glossy card. then stamped and embossed the pansys in silver.

was that Christmas?

well since my last post Christmas was just on hold in definately. I fianlly sucumbed to the many virus that were about. As many will know coughing is something I have had plenty of practise of in the last few years so no surprise really
I made very few Christmas crads and all the new designs are still in drawing mode and need to transfered to electronic files so lost of work to do then.
I am still not quite back to fignting fit but I am going to venture out to meet a few folk on Saturday 10th January.
If you feel like coming to see what I have managed to do design and techneque wise I will be in Springdale Farm shop and Cafe ( so plenty of hot drinks available) from 10am. If you have any stamping problems feel free to ask and I will do my best to answer them.
need more details email me at lynnda@oakhousestudio.co.uk

Christmas Starts Here!

Well Christmas is well and truly under way for our household.

It is hard to think about Christmas until Ben has had his birthday and we have celebrated that this week. Then on Saturday we were able to go as a family to the lighting up event.

Ben was Bertie Beaver last year and he was hoping someone else would do the job this year. Someone was found but they were not well at the last minute and Ben agreed to step in at late notice. At least this year he knew what to expect.

He was as popular as ever with the younger children, however we did get stood next to a couple of youngsters who were not keen on such large furry things but by the end of Once in Royal David's City they were playing with his tail and had to be persuaded to be more gentle.

The other "Star" this year was a girl from the same school who has been in a film recently she was very good and spoke well when it was her turn to speak. Ben of course didn't have to speak just wave a lot and nod his head

Once he was changed and back to normal we walked back through the town to have some tea. We decided to go for fish and chips at a local shop which is always a treat. I am so proud of him when he does this job, everyone seems very pleased with him and always asks if he will do it again next year. It makes me such a proud Mum. It was great that Martin could come along to watch as before he has been left looking after the shop when I have been involved in the sorting out the Children's competition.

After our meal we went back into the town to look at the lights, I haven't been as involved this year and somehow they looked really special.

Christmas can really get started now and this week I hope to get the decorations up around the house and I am having a couple of crafting sessions one with Hazel and one with Denese. I really want to get some new drawings finished and organise some new stamps ready for the new catalogue in February.

By the way I have just about got the new website sorted if not finished pop along www.oakhousestudio.co.uk and watch what I have been doing, another job this week is double the number of pages on there, hmm I'm going to be busy then.

I am back

Well we are back from the NEC I can't rest yet though. I am busy trying to get work completed for a couple of magazine submissions PLUS and the real hard bit for me GET THE NEW WEBSITE SORTED.

Why is this hard? because as always I am doing this myself (something about needing to be in control of everything and thinking no one else understands what I am trying to achieve).

The problem arises because I do something and it doesn't always work straight away (you get notes like this COULD take up to 72 hours), which anyone who knows me will realise I don't do now wait for up to 72 hours, when computer doesn't respond immediately I click again and again...I KNOW!! it doesn't help but I can't stop myself.

I have tried getting my IT co-ordinator to do more but he turns 16 next week so he is very busy resting up. To be fair he was at the NEC with us and even did a bit of painting for me at the demo table, if anyone saw him I hope you know how proud I am off him what it took for him to do that. I have been trying unsucessfully to upload photos for the last two days but then if was too easy it wouldn't be a challenge would it.

You can check out my work at http://www.oakhousestudio.co.uk/

this is a new address and EVENTUALLY this site should be available from either address ( but it could be up to 72 hours!!!!!)

It has been made on a template and you will spot some content (mainly images) that have nothing to do with Oak House Studio and when I have finally sorted out uploading images I will substitute more photos that mean something.....

in the mean time here is a card to keep you going.

Sorry and big Thank Yous

Sorry I haven't been blogging recently, things have been more hectic than usual. Just to make sure I eventually slowed down I managed to have a fall and do some damage to my foot and knee, mainly my left leg but my right leg is pretty sore too. This has meant a lot of my commitments have been left undone SORRY!

It has also meant I have had to rely on others even more this last few weeks. So I have some huge Thank You to send round
Firstly to Karen who took me to the hospital and stayed with me whilst everything was sorted. To Jane who took over the sewing part of my job list. To Elisa and Elaine who took over some sample making. To Martin and Ben who have driven, cooked, washed and generally nursed me.

It has left me desperately trying to sort out the internet situation and http://www.oakhousestudio.com/ could be changing anyday now. If there is nothing coming up at this our usual address check out http://www.oakhousestudio.co.uk/

As soon as I have thing settled with the website I will send out emails to everyone to let them know and will probably add on some great offers too.

If you are coming to the NEC I should be there on stand L09 I will be the one with a left foot that is a very interesting colour propped up under the demo table!! Pleas ecome and see me as I am not likely to be doing much trotting around the show myself.

Lynnda