Like Alice's White Rabbit ...

... "I am Late" ... but with my posting about my day at Artsy Crafty which included a whole workshop with the one and only Sir Tim Holtz!

Set off Wednesday afternoon via the train to meet my friend Lorraine at Manchester Piccadilly - saw Freema when I got off the Bolton train, which was crowded.  Despite having reserved seats Lorraine and I sat with Freema in another coach, got a taxi at Milton Keynes (rip off - always ring for one - don't get the guys sat outside - £4+ dearer) and made our way to the hotel.

A little later, Lorraine and I met up, as arranged, with Janet and Wendy for a delightful Chinese meal at The Magic Wok and an evening of girlie chat.  (No, didn't ditch Freema she elected to stay and eat at the hotel with her friend, Kay)  I did take my camera along but was so busy catching up with the chit chat and eating that I forgot all about it until the food was gone.  Anyway, back to the hotel and an early night.

Thursday dawned at last - breakfast, registration at 9.30 (ooh what a fab shop! need to spend some monies) and before long into our first session with Lin and Leandra.  Now you will know from past blogging I love the Artsy Crafty weekends.  We always do some fab things but I also like meeting up with the Ladies.

This was my "Make" this time

Exclude the bar at the back

Sorry about the bar at the back - nothing to do with what I made but so eager to get posting I just took it wherever I could.  Here's the sample with one door closed:

A slightly different colourway to mine.  The ladies had worked so hard to get us to do this three hour workshop into two hours (well ok, two and a half) so a lot of the prep was done for us - thanks Ladies - you know who you are (special mention to Karen, Queen of Kits).  It was great to play along with the Tissue Tape, a roll of which I had bought in America but not used.

All too soon the session was over and it was time for lunch - but wait ... Sir Tim was the next session - wonder what we are doing - will we be right in our assumptions?

Yes, it was a CONFIGURATION BOX!  Yeah, Hey!  We saw one or two people walking about clutching theirs as we eagerly awaited admission outside the door.  Yes, I am afraid Lorraine and I were early in the queue, but to be honest it was because where we had sat before in LL's class the lighting had been poor.  This time It "had to be right".  And who is this in the queue - it was Gayna, a friend from way way back who I rarely see - great to catch up and see photos of her ... four year old!  Enough of others ...

Well, here he is:

and that smile stayed all day!

You know, that guy never ceases to amaze me - he is so personable.  I remember last year being at the back of a huge huge queue at CHA waiting to get my greedy mitts on a free die he was giving away.  Even though the queue was massive, and he no doubt had to go and work on the Ranger stand, he stood and answered individual questions, had photographs taken and all the time he was patient with each and everyone of us.

Well, this time, busy as he was with the workshop, as groggy as his throat was getting (yes, he seemed to be starting with a cold - no wonder with his schedule in the UK), he still had time to smile, answer probably the same query over and over again, go and get something that someone wanted .... I could go on an on ... and pose for endless photos and sign endless items.  Nothing was too much trouble - and we had music - and chocolates!

Anyway, we each got a large configuration box - and a bag of goodies to put inside it - Big Screams!  I'll show you how far I am with my C Box later but here is what is left over from my baggie

Tons of Vintage Ephemera

Feet & Corners

But that was not all ... each of us got a little kit to use and keep (my Glossy Accents is missing from the photo)

Courtesy of Alain, from Ranger

Thanks Alain!

Just like the Artsy Crafty Staff had worked so hard putting kits together for us and doing some of the prep the peeps at Ranger had worked hard too.  All the papers we needed to fit into the different sized boxes had been cut and scored ready for us to just slot in.  Count my boxes and multiply by 200 and you have some idea of what was involved - remember to add more because there were spares for mistakes we might make.

Well we arranged, cut, swapped papers, glued, tissue taped and assembled and here is mine in it's still unfinished state.  Just three boxes to fill, corner pieces to attach and feet to put on (will no doubt post in all its glory when complete).

Oops, my car has fallen over my Charlotte Doll is missing and the darned photo is not focussed that well, but hey ho - wanted to get this blog up and running.

Time for another Tim photo?  Here he is with Alain and Mario:

And here is my favourite Essex Girl - Cheryl (aka Lynne) who always has a smile and a cheery word when we are on the Artsy Crafty weekends.  Sorry I did not get a photograph of Courteney, Leandra and Mark's delightful daughter, who sported the most terrific hair colour and style.

Now for some of the other contestants (sorry ... students)

And Tim had Prizes!

I didn't win (boo hoo)

All too soon it was time to go - where had four hours gone - I was sure I had only done about an hour!  So clutching my box, my bits and pieces all safely tucked away in my bag I made my way out.  But not before I had tripped, smacked and stood on Lorraine (my EX friend) who was now the proud owner of none other than Time Holtz's Pokey Tool.  I won't go into detail of how that happened but it is yet another example of a good company standing behind its products.

Down to the lounge where I met Anne who was on the Friday session, goodbyes said to Wendy and a sit down with a Diet Coke whilst we waited for our taxi to the station.  

Freema, Me, Anne, Lorraine and Janet

Two FAB workshops - a Great Day - Lots of Friendships renewed - Lots of Friendships made - and WHEN CAN WE DO IT AGAIN LIN/LEANDRA?

THANKS EVERYONE WHO WAS INVOLVED IN BRINGING THIS TO FRUITION - FABULOUS!

Just one more for all you Timmie fans - this time he is signing something (got my box signed and my pinny - whoo hoo!)

Why no photo of me with him - as usual - I do not like the one of me.  Look at last year's from CHA - the best one ever and that's not flattering me enough.