Sunday 31 January 2010

Jetlag and Exciting New Things

Hello Everyone.
We arrived home safely on Friday evening and are slowly recovering from Jetlag.
I have gone to bed at 11.00pm on both nights (very good for me) and have been wide awake at 5.00am (very very good for me haha).
Gordon seems to have swung back into things much easier than me as he can go back to sleep if he wakes up but me when i wake up i have to stay up.
We took some of the new things we are going to be selling soon to the shop yesterday ( and today) and have had a great response from every customer who has been in to visit us.
I will tell and show you more when my jetlag has stopped my head from aching but i just know you are going to love them too.
I have put all the other brand new spellbinders dies up on the web shop today for you to look at and you will find them under Nestabilities, Shapeabilities and Scrapabilities.
The Elusive Labels 10 is now up as it was being saved along with around 19 more new dies for the CHA show.
Harry is back home with us too and we got a fantastic welcome back from him. He hasnt left my side since yesterday and i want to say thank you to Michelle and her family for giving him such a great time. Also thanks for the Doggy Grooming set including clippers i am going to give him a real good haircut on Tuesday.
No pics today peeps as my heads all woozy but i will put some up on the next post.
Smiles Rob Gordon and Harry xxx

Thursday 28 January 2010

Days 3 & 4 of CHA ,Antique Valentines and more Books

Hello folks.

Didnt post yesterday as we got home from having dinner around 8.30 and what was supposed to be a half hour nap before blogging turned into a full nights sleep as my eyes never opened until 8.00 am this morning. I think the missing hours have caught up with us both or we are just geting old haha.

Anyway yesterday was a wet day but still not cold like at home and after we had finished our business meetings around 2.30 pm we went to Gordons favorite place in Anaheim the Antique district. It is the only place in Los Angeles that has a roundabout (as in cars and roads) and all the buildings are very old time american there is even a real diner and drugstore that is 110 years old and we always have something to eat there every time we go, its a really pretty place. Here are some pics.

Heres Gordon with Los Angeles only roundabout in the background.


Here are a few vintage valentine bits and bobs that caught my eye in the antique shops.


I love the colours and the faded distressed edges and the extravagance all so scrummy


I would love this suitcase full of valentine ephemera.



And then i turned a corner and found these and i wish i could have bought just one home.I just love things like this and there were lots and lots of them but even with 30% off the smallest one was $400 woweeeee and they wouldnt fit in my suitcase.


I also loved this



And this too


After a few hours of travelling the antique stores we went and had something to eat and then came back to the hotel where we fell asleep for all those hours.

Today was the last day of the show and we went and finished our business and said our goodbyes to friends old and new.

Oh and look what i won in the Graphic 45 raffle.
A gorgeous scrapbook and journal created by Diane Schultz made with some of the beautiful papers we have ordered from them.

It was a perfect end to the show and i will put these up in the shop for you all to see and inspire you.

We really do have some wonderful new products to entice you with and i am sure you will all be very very happy with our finds.

After the show finished we had to go and get another suitcase to bring some rather delicate and special samples we have borrowed back with us to the UK to display on our stand at the NEC Threads Trade Show and you will be amazed by these when you see them.

Im going to tease you all until we get back home and then i will tell you some of the products we have bought back with us.

Over the last couple of days i have managed to accumulate even more books and the latest Cloth Paper Scissors magazine of course, heres a quick pic of them.


If im not too jet lagged i will post on Friday evening when i get home, but in all honesty it will probably be Saturday when we are back in the shop.
We are both really missing Harry and cant wait to give him his pressies but i bet hes had such a fabulous time with Michelle and her family he probably wont want to come home.
Cant wait to see you all when we get back.
Smiles Rob and Gordon xxx.

Monday 25 January 2010

Day Two of CHA

Hi Everyone
We have had a great day again today ,the highlight being our breakfast meeting with JustRite Stamps. It was our first meeting and i really enjoyed it (even though i was a little late and i appologise again for that). We shared ideas and showed off samples and i know that you are all going to love the NEW things that will be coming out later on this year.
We both feel really privilaged and proud to be part of this fantastic Stamp Company and are looking forward to a successful year with them.

NOTICE TO RETAILERS

As UK Distributors of the JustRite Stamping system we will be launching this Fantastic product at the upcoming N.E.C. Craft Trade Show ( STITCHES) next month. Please drop by and see us.

I took the picture below on the way to Breakfast this morning as it felt so lovely walking in the sunshine after all the cold weather at home. What you cant see however are the snow covered peaks of the Adirondack mountains in the distance reminding me of what i have to look forward to on Friday when we get back.


After our meeting we went into the CHA and looked around for the more unusual things and we found some that i think you will like.

Also i promised you a little gallery of inspiration today so grab yourselves a cuppa and have a look at some of the photo's i took today which gave me ideas.

Love this by Suzy Weinburg.





Heres a few more pics from the rangers stand.









And heres some wonderful eye candy using the most gorgeous papers i have seen in a long time and they will be available from us very soon.







Well i hope you like that little selection as much as i do and i was given some of these papers to play with too so guess what i will be doing as soon as i get time.
Also can i just say a big thank you to Roy and his wife for giving me one of their Scor-Pals and holders and cutting mat and an extra scorer. That was really lovely of you both and i promise i will use it all the time Thank you so much again.
Im going to close now until tomorrow when i will be putting the other New Spellbinders dies up for you to see and anything else that i think you may like.
Smiles Rob and Gordon xxx

Sunday 24 January 2010

First day of CHA trade show and a NEW SPELLBINDER PRODUCT

Well there were no trips out today it was WORK all the way ,but although its tiring its the best feeling in the world when you spot something that you know that the folks at home will love and we found a few things we think will tickle your fancies.

The first stop today was to see our friends at the Spellbinders stand and before i could even get to see Stacey and Geoff i spotted their brand new product and i LOVE IT heres a few pics.

Its our great pleasure to introduce to you the PRESTO PUNCH and what a wonderful useful little machine this is.

It is an Automatic battery powered Punch and Embosser (an electrical attachment will be available later on in the year for running from your main electric supply).

It punches and embosses quickly and easily and when you compare the prices of traditional punches with these you will know you are getting value for money.

Also these punch templates are so easy to store compared to traditional punches.




Heres a pic to show you what this fabbo little machine looks like on its own.
This great little machine comes complete with 7 punch templates (a heart, a circle, a flower, a star, a leaf, a tag and a square) batteries not included.
Prices to be announced on our website very shortly
We will have these on our website as soon as we return from Los Angeles.

In the meantime if you really would like to be at the top of the list to receive this wonderful machine from our first delivery which will be approx end of March - April please phone the shop direct and place your orders for the machine only as the dies will only be available when we have them on the website.

Di and Jean will take your calls from tomorrow morning.



And these are all the sets of the Punch Templates that will be available from April arent they fab. Please note they are much smaller than Nestabilities i would say the largest of them are around 1 1/2" - 2.00".



I hope you are all as excited as we are with this fantastic new product.
Finally heres a picture of Gordon Stacey from Spellbinders and i on her stand this morning at the CHA.

We have some more NEW Spellbinders dies to show you tomorrow and maybe a few more little suprises too.

I am taking photos of different samples as i go along and will post these to give you some inspiration tomorrow and the following days.
I feel so tired today maybe its the time difference catching up on me and my eyes keep closing so i am going to have a few hours off tomorrow afternoon and do the blog then as i will be more awake.
Goodnight all speak tomorrow.
Smiles Rob and Gordon xxx

Saturday 23 January 2010

CHA Craft Trade Show 2010

Hi everyone.

Well we arrived here in Los Angeles on Thursday to torrential rain and a very bumpy landing poor Gordon he hates flying at the best of times but i loved it as i am a white knuckle ride maniac haha.

Friday was still a rainy day so we hit the shopping malls and bookstores (my favorite shops over here i could just curl up with piles of books and read all day,they even have coffee shops in them).

Here are the books i just had to have.




Creative Time and Space ............. Rice Freeman-Zachery




Journal Spilling ............. Diana Trout




The Crafters Devotional ................. Barbara R Call




Vintage Collage Journals ............ Maryjo Koch.




So these will be my bedtime reading for the next few days (cant wait for bedtime haha).


In the evening we went to see Avatar in 3D on an IMAX screen and i must say it was one of the best films i have ever seen i was totally transfixed and i must admit i wasnt looking forward to a film that lasts almost three hours but it was just such a wonderful experience to watch and if you havnt seen it i highly reccomend it.


Today (Saturday) was totally different weather and we woke up to glorious SUNSHINE hooray it felt soooooo good to see a gorgeous day after the winter weather at home and the rainstorms of yesterday.


CHA 2010 Anaheim Convention Centre Los Angeles.
After we had signed in for the CHA trade show which starts tomorrow we decided to go and spend a couple of hors at Long Beach which we both love, heres a couple of pics of us having a relaxing time at the pier.


In front of the old Queen Mary cruise liner which is now an hotel in Long Island bay.

Here we are in front of the Long Island Pier and i just love those buildings.

So thats me catching up and signing out for tonight but i will be taking photos tomorrow and the next few days to show you all whats new and some of the things that caught our eye.

Smiles from the USA Rob and Gordon (who are missing Harry like crazy) xxx

Monday 18 January 2010

Uploaded for Louise

A lady called Louise Phoned Gordon up today and asked him if we would put the scrapbook page of Rome ( that i took on T.V with me ) up on the blog.
Well Louise here it is (sorry its a bit wobbly)

It was made using one of the JustRite Square Decorative Frames, Special Occasions Uppercase Font set, Nestabilities Classic Squares (small and large)

and a transparancy of the domes of Rome which i did on the computer using Paint Shop Pro x2
I am making a Gallery of all the things that have been made for our television shows and the shop using the JustRite stamps and Nestabilities, so keep watching the blog as i will put a message up as soon as im finished.
Smiles Robert, Gordon and Harry xxx

Friday 15 January 2010

DL Size Magnetic Aperture Mat and JustRite Card Making Kit now on Web Shop

The NEW DL sized magnetic aperture mat is now for sale on the web shop.

It is already proving to be a great hit with people and it was designed because you asked us for it.




Now you can make professional DL aperture cards of your own with procision and accuracy and whatever size and shape you like with your Spellbinders dies.

This Magnetic aperture mat works with the Wizard machine, cuttlebug and sizzzix big shot and instructions for all three machines are included.
The NEW Custom Design Card Making Kit from JustRite has also been put on and this is a must have for card makers and scrapbookers of all levels.
It comes with a two inch wooden stamper, ten borders and centres, large and medium alphabet sets to personalise your centres and a 15 point alphabet set for personalising your border. They really have thought of everything you will need and this set sold out in minutes on Ideal World on Tuesday
Happy Sh0pping.

Smiles Rob, Gordon and Harry.

Thursday 14 January 2010

All New Dies and Justrite Stamps now on Web Shop

Hi everyone.
I have now got all the new Spellbinders dies and new Justrite stamps up on the web shop and i thought i would show you the two latest stamp sets to arrive here.

First is Romantic Sentiments which are just in time for Valentines.




The next is the Loving Thoughts set which again could be used for Valentines.



I think they are really lovely sentiments and are sure to be a hit.
smiles Rob, Gordon and Harry xxx

Wednesday 13 January 2010

New Spellbinders Dies Day 7

Well here are the last of the new dies which will be available from us mid February.
I will start putting them up on the web shop tomorrow so that you can pre-order your favorites so that you can make sure you are first to get them.
I just know that today's dies will be very popular.

LABELS 11

I think this is going to be a fave of mine




LABELS 12

This is the one that i have been waiting for




LABELS 13

How gorgeous is this


Well that's the end of the seven days of new dies and i hope you like them.
I don't know if they forgot labels 10 out or forgot to put it up but i will inquire and find out.
Thanks for dropping by and speak again soon.
Smiles Rob, Gordon and Harry.

Tuesday 12 January 2010

New Spellbinders Dies Day 6 and Ideal World.

Hi all
Had a great day today although i woke up with my cold streaming again (had to happen today) but by the time we had reached Ideal World i was feeling a lot better.
I was with Nigel today and we got on really well and he is great fun to work with he had me laughing all the time.The show was very successful with three items selling out in the hour i was on and a few more almost gone.

Everyone was really impressed with our samples and once again i would like to say thanks to our design team who are.
Di, Jean, Sandra, Michelle, Karen, Pauline and Julie.
I dont know what i would do without you girls you are just the best and we love you all dearly.

So here are todays new Spellbinder dies with a nice Summer time theme.

SURFS UP

How fab for holiday layouts and summer cards.





NESTED ICE CREAM CONES

Dont you just love these






SEASCAPE IMPRESSABILITIES

This will be fabulous embossed and stencilled for fabby summertime backgrounds.



SWEET TREATS

Four more little dies for summertime layouts and cards.



Well one day left to go and then i will put them up on the web shop for you to Pre order for mid February delivery.
Have fun deciding.
Smiles Rob, Gordon and Harry

Monday 11 January 2010

New Spellbinders Dies Day 5

Hello again, im blogging from a Hotel in Peterborough tonight as i am on Create and Craft tomorrow at 10.00 am with a new set of just rite stamps for you to see and with the weather so horrible we thought it would be better to come down tonight. Im really glad as i wont have to get up so early now haha.

So here are todays new dies and they are very fruity.


CHERRY PICKIN FRAMEABILITIES

Two frames and a cherry and leaf motif to use together or seperately in your papercrafts.



ASSORTED FRUIT.

Six pretty little dies which i think will prove very popular, I love the jar by the way.



NESTED APPLES.

Three nested apples make up the trio of new fruity dies for today.



Well thats it for day five and i will post the next ones tomorrow.
Im going to have a coffee now and then check i have remembered everything for tomorrow cos you know how dizzy i am haha.
Smiles Rob Gordon and Harry.

Sunday 10 January 2010

New Spellbinders Dies Day 4

Another snowy day here and we are in for more apparently my cold seems to be going though and i will be back at work to help Gordon tomorrow hopefully.
So heres todays dies and they all have a baby theme.

NEW ARRIVAL

Five dies for baby cards and scrapbook pages and arent they cute.


IMPRESSABILITIES NEW ARRIVAL

An Impressabilities with the same characters to match the new arrival dies.



NESTED DUCKS

These are fun what a splashing idea.





BABY BORDERABILITIES

Really like these borders too.





NURSERY TIME FRAMEABILITIES

And the frames just finish it off nicely so come on which ones will you be choosing.

I will be back tomorrow with day fives selection and i cant wait to see them.
Smiles Rob Gordon and Harry.