Peter Kay

Tonight we've been to see Peter Kay, it was a bit of an outing - 24 of us!  I'm just glad Steve made it to the North East on the train today!  As most of the people I work with have never met him (I've been there 3 years), they were starting to think he was my imaginary boyfriend!

 We headed off on a coach up to Newcastle and to La Tasca, where we had a mighty feast of fabulous Tapas, I think we had one of everything off the menu.  Even so I managed dessert of Ice Cream with Baileys over it.  We then finished the meal with Licor 43, which Steve introduced us to.  I think we may now need to go on holiday to Spain to get a bottle of it!

As for Peter Kay, he was side-splittingly funny.  I swear he must have been at our table earlier in the night with some of the things he came out with!  Too funny.

Just one card to share with you today that I made earlier in the day.  This one was inspired by the challenge at:

Chicken soup - recipe #20

 Supplies used:

Clearly hand stamped kit - 3 Birds/Crafter's Companion

Sheena Douglass white embossing powder

Patterned paper - SWALK CD2

Ink - distress ink crushed olive
Nestabilities - half moon squares
Border punch - Martha Stewart - two dot punch

Still giggling on my way to bed.

xxx

Cooking with Ainsley Harriott

Yes, you read that right and no I don't mean the packet of his cous cous I often have for my lunch!!  Firstly we had to head out to try and find an Ainsley cook book for him to sign, I have several at home but didn't bring one with me - doh!  The mission was successful apart from the fact the heavens opened on the way back to the hotel and we returned looking like drowned rats.  We needn't have worried though as the accommodating staff at the hotel sent us down to the spa area to get dry and spruced up.  So by the time the taxi came to collect us we were looking human again.  The fun began as soon as we arrived at Mosmann's Cooking Academy, with Ainsley waving at the window and the lovely Sarah who organised the event waiting at the door for us.

After a coffee and a get to know you chat we headed off to our cooking stations and donned our aprons.  As there were 6 stations I thought that was one each and Ainsley would be up on the raised area - wrong, guess who was sharing their work space with Chef!

 

 They even let me loose with a blow torch.

 

 He was exactly as he his on TV  and did olly, olly oil and of course who goes on top of percy pepper, suzy salt!!  He posed for photos, which is quite a feat with several scrapbookers there.

  

We cooked a full three course meal and then got to sit and eat it along with a glass of wine:

Smoked duck with orange and pomegranate salad

 Caribbean Bouillabaisse

Coffee brioce pudding with coffee sauce

 

After our meal it was time for last minute photos and the signing of books.

 Thank you so much to Debbie for inviting to me, to everyone that helped out during the day and of course to Ainsley for being totally fabulous.  I had the greatest day.

xxx

Off to London

Today I'm off to London, via Durham!  Yes I know that's the wrong direction but it makes sense in the whole of the week.  My lovely friend Debbie has won a trip to London for her and 5 friends and I'm lucky enough to be one of those friends.  So we set off from Durham station, with a glass or two of fizz on the way down.  The travel and the hotel were both included in the prize and the hotel we stayed at was gorgeous - The Chelsea Bridge Hotel.

We headed out over Chelsea Bridge and up to Sloane Square to find a restaurant for dinner.

We found a great Italian restaurant - Caraffini.  The food and the service were both amazing, and yes I demolished that whole plate of porcini risotto.

  

We didn't stay up too late as we were looking forward to the next day!

xxx

NEC round up

We've had a great time at the NEC.  Lots of people say it must be tiring but I love meeting other crafter's so much that it's a joy to be there.  I got to see some of my friends, Lucy, KT & Erin (I like you too), Kathryn, Wendy and their Mum, Fiona and Roz.  I also got to meet up with Sarah and go out for dinner with her on the Saturday night, thank you sweetie, it was lovely to see you and thanks to your hubby for driving.

Kam & Simon - the extra help we needed for the weekend

 Dan & Louisa over at Practical Publishing using an excellent trimmer

 Ross with his new friend!

  

Sara doing her stint over at the Create & Craft stand with Martin

Some of our lovely forum members, nice to see you ladies and I'm so excited about Craftaganza!

 

Now the washing machine has finished its cycle, I can go to bed, as I have a very exciting couple of days coming up!

xxx

CSN Stores

You may have seen me mention CSN Stores before and today they've asked me to do a review for them.  Knowing how fabulous their stores and their products are, I'm really excited and looking forward to this.  CSN Stores has amazing online stores where you can find everything from great cookware and bakeware to beautiful bedroom furniture to chic lighting.

Pop back soon to see what I've been reviewing and what I think of it.  It would be great to know what you'd like to review if given the chance.

I'm off for another day at the NEC in a little while, so I'll update you on todays adventures, if there are any later on.
xxx

Just chilling

Here I am sat in my hotel room getting ready for four days of demonstrating at the Hobbycraft Show at the NEC.  I'll be on the Crafter's Companion stand - G12, so if you're coming to the show please come and say hello - I answer to Claire or Ginger.

So I have a couple of cards to share with you.  This one was inspired by the challenge at:

My Time to Craft - Quick and Cute

Supplies used:

Papers and tag - Scrap-a-gogo kit

Stamp - PTI round and round

Punch - Martha Stewart doily lace

This next one was inspired by challenges at:

2 sketches 4 You - Kazan's sketch #65 

A spoonful of sugar - relish to embellish

Supplies used:

Papers, flower and chipboard scallop - Scrap-a-gogo kit

Stamp - PTI round and round

I'd better get some beauty sleep ready for tomorrow but I'm not sure 8 hours is really going to make that much difference.

xxx

New Monthly Challenge

OK who stole October!  Is it really the 1st of November, well it must be as it's time for the new Monthly Challenge at Crafter's Companion.  It's a lovely sketch with an added twist of one for this girls.  As always Sara has put up a great prize, so pop over and have a look at what the other DT girls have made and get your entry in.  Here's the card that I made:

I'm also entering this card into challenges at:

One stop craft challenge -  anything goes

Totally Papercrafts - bling it on

Secret Crafter - anything that flies

Creative Card Crew - Let's punch it

Creative Inspirations - glitter, glamour, girlie
Stamp with fun - all that can fly

Supplies used:

Stamp - SWALK - sunshine

Colouring medium - watercolour pencils

Papers and flowers - Scrap-a-gogo kit

I hope you enjoy this months challenge as much as I have.

xxx