Sara's Blog

Just back from a fantastic trip to the UK! I had a great time but I’ve got to say, nothing beats sleeping in your own bed (as opposed to the human origami required to get comfortable in an airplane seat). I think I’ve finally got my circulation back. One of the best parts was having dinner with Beverley Todd, who owns Crop 'Til You Drop (www.croptilyoudrop.co.uk) in the UK—she’s the one getting Personal Shopper kits out to all our UK crafters. We had a great time chatting…until the waitress at the restaurant told us she needed our table!

I’ve been a very popular girl in the office today as I’ve brought back boxes of Cadbury chocolates (the Curly Wurly is a personal favorite) and Crofter’s Crunch biscuits. Hopefully I’ll burn off some of those calories dancing at my brother-in-law’s wedding this weekend—Keith’s little brother is getting married on Saturday! Of course, pictures (and scrapbook pages) are to come!

It’s been a whirlwind trip so far—and I’ve got almost a week more to go! You wouldn’t believe the prep time it takes for even just a few minutes on TV, so after a day of excitement at QVC, Dawn, JJ and I treat ourselves to dinner on the town. The next day I’m in between classes, so I head straight for Harrods, one of my favorite places to browse. (Of course, the only thing I can afford at Harrods is the tea, so then I do my real shopping for cool clothes and jewelry and stuff at Spitalfields and Covent Garden markets.)

Yesterday was the Crafting Galore workshop—these ladies are so sweet and they loved the new Fold-Back Swirls Template. And even as cutting challenged as I am, I’ve got to say the results are totally worth it! (And yes, there’s a Webisode to show you how!) Check out one of the cards they made, posted here.

See you next week!

PS. Check out more photos from our day at Disneyland in the Photo Gallery! Just click on the “View the Gallery!” link to the right.

This just in: I’ll be on Dawn Bibby’s paper crafting show on QVC London Tuesday, February 13th! If you live in the UK, be sure to tune in…I’m showing Personal Shopper and templates and I can’t wait! Dawn is the sweetest person ever and I’m looking forward to catching up with her.

Where does the time go?!? This week I’ve been frantically packing up all my class supplies, workshop kits and extra bits and pieces for QVC and my classes—at this rate I won’t be able to fit any clothes into my suitcase! I’m teaching a full day workshop at Crafting Galore, then to Birmingham for the big UK craft trade show. (Now, where’s my adaptor and all those pence coins from my last trip?)

It’s great fun to travel—and it’s good to be home! The HOTP crew just got back into town from a week in Anaheim, California. First stop: Disneyland! Between 10am and 8pm I think we went on every ride. (I even talked Paulette into the teacups.) After that, we had to get down to business for the show. CHA-Winter is the BIGGEST crafting trade show of the year, so we were basically booked from morning to night doing classes and presentations and staffing our 70’-long booth...and going to hear Martha Stewart speak! (I love Martha!) Best of all, HOTP was a finalist for 8 awards and won three: Clear & Frosted Overlays, sarapapers and Embellish-abilities and (drumroll, please!) Paper Wishes Weekly Webisodes! Hurray for us! I have to say, though, it does feel good to be home (even with the empty pizza boxes and piles of laundry). By next week I’ll have photos posted in the Photo Gallery. See you then!